The Treasure of Monterey Bay

By James Garvey

Th Birch kids discover there is something hidden in the rich and beautiful Monterey Bay. They know the sea otters are protecting it. But they are not alone in their quest to find what it is. Pirates still haunt the bay looking for the treasure and fending off any curious kids with a sea and land creaturea that that are thought to be only myths. Will the kids survive?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Apr 11, 2011
• ISBN: 9781257536528

Book preview

The Treasure of Monterey Bay

The Treasure of Monterey Bay

By James E. Garvey

Copyright © 2008 by James E. Garvey

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or scholarly journal.

First Printing: 2009

ISBN 978-0-557-92176-8

Publishing Lulu Press

This story is dedicated to my son Willy;

Your sweet nature is a gift to the world

Dad

Chapter 1:  A Chance Encounter

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Greg Sprint was thrilled to be biking in the back country of Fort Ord.   Fort Ord was located on the Monterey Peninsula in California.  It was an old Army base that had closed years ago.  The giant training base stretched from the sand dunes of the Monterey Bay, to the scrub brush woodlands tens of miles into the interior. 

The land, which includes miles and miles of wilderness, also had trails and roads that were unused and in pristine condition.  Most people did not realize that after the base closed, the thousands of acres of land were open to public hiking and bicycling.

"It is amazing here!" he declared, slicing through a light mountain mist.  Although he was tired, he was overjoyed with the scenic views and the peaceful solitude all around him.

"This is huge!"  he noted to himself as his bicycle rolled forward off the main road and onto a dirt trail.   Ahead a flock of turkeys meandered across the path.  He stopped his bike and rested his aching legs.   It was a good ache.  He drew a sip of water from his water bottle and surveyed the hills around him.   He was well off the main road in the deep recesses of the old base.  

It was getting late in the day and he was a bit worried – it would be difficult to find his way back. To make matter worse - a fog was also rolling in.  The Monterey bay was famous for the tulle fog that quietly sweeps in and shrouded an area in thick, damp mist. 

He was also nervous about the wildlife.  He had heard that these woods were teaming with wild animals – especially at night.   There were bobcats, black-tail deer, coyotes, brown bear and most importantly - the mountain lion.  He had heard of a few hikers attacked and killed by mountain lions in the past few years.

He started up the dirt path toward the top of the hill, one of the hundreds that rose and fell on the land. He was careful to avoid the deep sand that slowed his ascent.

A deep howl pierced the fog. 

He guessed it was a wolf – and reasoned it was a harmless wolf.  Greg spent a great deal of time in the backcountry but he never heard a wolf howl. 

Back at you, buddy! he teased in mock bravery.  He doubled his effort figuring that if the wolves were howling, maybe other animals were out – like mountain lions. 

He found comfort in the fact that it was most likely a fast and smooth ride down the other side of the hill.  But he was tired, and the hill was getting the best of him.  He gave his last strong pedal and felt the strong burning sensation in his front leg muscles.  He decided to walk his bike the rest of the way.  For a moment, he caught his breath and marveled at the silence of the fog as it moved through the woodland.  Then, something happened.

He heard the growl of an animal – an animal that he realized was only yards away.  A sense of panic set in.  He was alone in the middle of an enormous expanse of land.  He was frozen with fear.

His first instinct was to put whatever he had between himself and the threat.  He gathered his courage and carefully moved around the bike, putting it between himself and the sinister sounding creature.  He decided it was futile to try to outrun the creature up the hill.  But if he could get on his bike, he would have a good chance to outrun the creature down the hill.  Although the fog would limit his visibility and he would risk wrecking into one of the hardy scrub trees, it would be a risk worth taking.

With his plan firm in his mind, all he needed was the courage to execute it.  He knew his movement would put him further at risk.  As he prepared, he sensed a motion very close to him – the creature was moving toward him.  He caught his breath, his eyes bulging out of the sockets as he tried to focus on what it was.  He moved around his bike and hoped he was again putting the bike between himself and the creature.  He trembled, mounting his bike.  He prepared to bolt down the hill, his frantic eyes scanning the fog.

A small stick spun through the air from the suspected location of the creature and struck him on the helmet.  The creature could throw – no mountain lion, wolf, or bear for that matter could throw!  He reacted quickly.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! he screamed as he released the brake and pedaled madly down the steep hill.  He could barely see as the mist made droplets on his riding glasses.  Onward he pedaled like a lightning bolt through the mist.  He distanced himself rapidly from the threat, and did not hear or see the creature following.

He knew the bottom of the hill was just a short distance away and he also knew he was covering the ground at an impressive rate.  No creature could follow him he thought.  His confidence rose as he wiped off his glasses.

Ahead was a large dark tree just off the path that he did not remember on his way up.  It moved to the center of the path and to his horror, now had two red glowing orbs that pierced the fog.   This was no tree.

As the bike rocketed him toward the object, he was frozen in the bike seat, holding tight to the handlebars.  As he gasped in horror at the impending collision, he let out a blood-curdling scream.  He covered his eyes with his arm and grit his teeth at the last second.

In moments that passed like hours – the impending doom did not happen.  He was unharmed.  There was no collision and he was safe.  Now he must focus on the path and