The Treasure of Mosa Laga: Adventures on Sun Stone Island, #1

By George Landon

Can two genius kids find the mysterious Sun Stone before it's too late?

 

When Mike and Sam discover a message leading to ancient treasure on an uncharted island, they plot to escape their orphanage to hunt for the treasure. With no time to lose, the genius boys must fix up an old plane and fly it to the island before the cruel administrator, Ms. Schwartz, can stop them.
Upon arriving, they quickly find themselves in over their heads when they encounter a tribe of large lizards intent on sacrificing them to a malevolent entity named Mosa Laga. With few supplies and no contact with the outside world, the boys must rely on their wits to survive. But that may not be so easy, since they're not the only ones seeking the mysterious treasure.

 

Secret codes, talking marsupials, a powerful relic...It's an adventure you'll want to read again and again with its exciting action, delightful characters, and timeless themes of friendship and family!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Axis Horizon
• Release date: May 14, 2022
• ISBN: 9798985745719

Book preview

The Treasure of Mosa Laga

GEORGE LANDON

THE TREASURE

OF MOSA LAGA

Axis Horizon TM

CHATTANOOGA

TENNESSEE

This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places, and events portrayed herein are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to real people, living or dead, places, or events is entirely coincidental.

The Treasure of Mosa Laga

Copyright © 2022 Axis Horizon LLC

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations in critical articles or reviews. No part of this copyrighted work may be used for the purpose of training artificial intelligence under any circumstance. For more information, please visit https://axishorizon.com

ISBN 979-8-9857457-0-2 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-9857457-1-9 (ebook)

ISBN 979-8-9857457-2-6 (audiobook)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022907668

Adventures on Sun Stone Island, its logos, Axis Horizon, and its logos are trademarks of Axis Horizon LLC

To Mom: blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank my editor, Debby Drust, for her kindness, support, and professional work, making this book the best that it can be.

I would like to thank Mom, who is not only a beautiful, humble, and selfless person, but also a blessing to anybody whose life she touches. Thank you for trudging through my earlier works, and offering your feedback, even when I wasn’t so appreciative.

I’d like to thank Dad, who would scale any mountain and cross any ocean to support my efforts. Thank you for your help and advice, and for being a dear friend.

I’d like to express my thanks to my childhood friends. We had such fantastic adventures on the school playground, and I intend to share some of those adventures with a new generation through this book, and many others.

S.D.G.

Contents

Chapter 1: The Message

Chapter 2: Explosive Rejection

Chapter 3: The Cipher

Chapter 4: Escape Plan

Chapter 5: A Turn for the Worse

Chapter 6: Hot Pursuit

Chapter 7: The Island

Chapter 8: An Unexpected Encounter

Chapter 9: The Orpin Village

Chapter 10: The Slyzards’ Lair

Chapter 11: Hatching a Plan

Chapter 12: Explosive Escape

Chapter 13: Disagreements

Chapter 14: Island Life

Chapter 15: The Truth Comes Out

Chapter 16: Loyalties

Chapter 17: The Pit

Chapter 18: Mosa Laga

Chapter 19: Yuncivice

Chapter 20: The Sun Stone

Chapter 21: Amends

Chapter 22: Journey’s End

Chapter 23: Sun Stone Island

Chapter 24: Ms. Warts

THE TREASURE OF MOSA LAGA

Chapter 1

The Message

Sam slipped a vial in his shirt pocket and Mike clasped a small motherboard to his chest while Ms. Schwartz wasn’t looking. They both boarded the small, white bus along with the other children. Before the two of them could sit down, Ms. Schwartz turned around and wagged her finger at them.

No, no, no! she said. You two aren’t sitting together, not after what happened last time! Sam, you go take that seat in the back.

But Ms–

You heard me! she snapped.

Sam turned and ran down the aisle and took a seat next to Melissa who was reading a reprint of a nineteenth century novel with a smug expression on her face. Sam gulped.

Hi, he said.

Melissa looked at him, then went back to her book.

So, what are you reading? Sam asked while adjusting his glasses.

Melissa did not respond.

I like to read too, Sam said. I like reading about physics and biology and…well, I also like fantasy, you know, for fun.

Eww, Melissa said.

She turned toward the window, still peering at her book. Sam looked at her in silence. Then he faced forward, taking off his glasses to place his head in his hands. A few rows up on the other side of the aisle, Mike pulled a magnifying glass out of his pocket to examine the small motherboard.

Whatcha got, Mike? Pablo asked from the row behind him while leaning forward.

A motherboard from some kind of pocket computer somebody threw away, Mike said. I think it may be a prototype from Boot Sector Technologies.

Cool, what’ll you do with it?

I may use it to upgrade Gordon. He’s a bit slow sometimes.

Suddenly, a greasy hand snatched the motherboard out of Mike’s hands. He looked up to see Rob grasping the delicate component.

Hey! Mike said. Give it back!

Why, so you can lecture us about mini threading and capacities? Rob asked.

I think you mean multithreading and capacitors!

And there you go, talking nonsense again! You think you’re smarter than the rest of us?

Mike grabbed at the motherboard, but Rob pulled it back.

Oh, is that a yes? Rob said. Well, let’s just see how smart you are after I rattle your brain around a bit.

Quiet everyone! Ms. Schwartz called from the front. Don’t make me call off this field…trip… She turned around and looked at them all. Actually, make lots of noise! Get up out of your seats and run around!

They just stared at her and blinked. After staring back for a moment, she threw her hands in the air.

Fine, be that way, she said with a scowl. She faced forward, brushed her salt and pepper hair out of her glasses, and started the bus.

Rob grabbed Mike by his spiky, brown hair. Listen, I have to sit by you this whole stupid trip, Rob growled. So keep your trap shut if you know what’s good for you!

Rob scrunched the motherboard in his pocket and sat down shoving his side into Mike, forcing him against the window. The bus finally made its way onto the road. Mike stared through the window as they passed a scrapyard. He could see the hull of a small, dented airplane. He pressed his face against the window until the plane was out of sight. A huge grin stretched across his face; he couldn’t wait to get a closer look later.

The traffic on the highway lessened once they were out of town. They passed through farmland where wide open fields stretched for miles on both sides with only the occasional fencing to separate it. After nearly an hour they approached a coastal city.

Slowly, they made their way through the traffic and turned onto a quaint, brick-paved road with ornate wrought-iron street lamps. They gazed out at all the old fashioned shops and restaurants. Ye Port Shoppe was painted on the first window they passed on the two-lane road lined with parked cars. Finally, they turned into a parking lot and stopped. Ms. Schwartz and her assistants filed the children out of the bus. They stood beside the bus, which had a mural depicting a yellow sun and colorful text that read Radiant Dawn Orphanage and Where children are loved and grow with happiness.

Once off the bus, Mike found Sam. What did she say? he asked.

She wouldn’t talk to me, Sam said, running his fingers through his mop of red hair.

Well, what did you say to her?

Not much.

Well there’s your problem! You should have said more!

Like what?

Tell her about the fuel you invented.

I don’t know about that.

You have some with you, don’t you?

Yeah, but is it really a good idea to brag?

Of course not! Girls don’t like it when you brag, but they do like it when you can prove you have a unique skill.

Sam scratched his head. That sounds confusing.

Now you’re getting it! Mike said.

The staff ushered them along. Rob pushed past Mike with a glare. Once Rob was out of earshot, Mike scowled. Ugh, I can’t stand that guy.

None of us can, Sam said.

"It’s much harder for me. I have zero patience for stupid people to begin with. It’s even worse when they are big, smelly, and stupid."

Don’t be like that.

Why not? People like him have nothing to contribute. You need a brain to be useful.

Sam didn’t push it any further. As they made their way down the street, something in one of the shops caught Mike’s eye. He turned and saw an old parchment covered in what appeared to be gibberish. Displayed along with it were other antiques from early America.

Move along, Mrs. Palmer, one of the assistants, said.

They turned toward a large building with a sign that read Museum of Maritime History and entered through wood-framed glass doors. Inside, a large pirate’s flag with a grinning skull greeted them. A tour guide approached them wearing a pirate costume and a fake beard.

ARGH! he bellowed. Are ye scared to look upon me?

NO! yelled one of the kids in the group, and a few others laughed.

Well ye should be! For I am the great Cap’n Blackbeard!

That’s a stupid name, Rob said.

Ye may thinks so, but after today, at the mention of me name, ye will…TREMBLE! He lurched forward with his fake sword as steam billowed out from a dispenser under his hat.

Indeed, me pirate kin used to kidnap men from this here port town, he said. Nay, this very building, and shanghai them onto their crew. And perhaps they still do. So ye better watch yer backs, or ye may be swabbing decks before ye can say ‘yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!’

The tour guide led them past the reception desk where a large captain’s wheel stood. One of the kids ran up to it and spun it left and right.

Come on, Jimmy, Mrs. Palmer called to him.

Oh ho ho! the tour guide said. Ye thinks ye be cap’n material?

Yeah, seems like fun, Jimmy said.

That be the spirit, lad! But beware lest ye be swept away by the tide. She be an unforgiving sort, she be!

He pointed to a painting of a ship in battle. "Take her for instance. The USS Insurgent. She were a fine frigate, she were. But alas, that fateful day in eighteen hundred and naught, when the mighty ocean did claim her, vanish she did. Clean without a trace."

He leaned in toward the group of kids. She and her crew was never seen nor heard from again! he said.

All the kids stood silent and wide eyed.

That’s not even from the same time period as Teach! Melissa said.

Beggin’ yer pardon, madame? The tour guide tilted his head.

Edward Teach! she snapped. The real name of Blackbeard?!

Right, right! he said. Of course. It’s been so long since anybody did call me that. Anyway, if ye would just be following me this way.

The tour guide showed them the many displays of tools and equipment from old ships. The walls were covered in text explaining the history of each antique and various historical figures whose names nobody remembered. The kids were mostly interested in the cannons, muskets, pistols, and swords on display. By the time the tour concluded, they had looped back around to the front of the building. The only way to exit was through the gift shop. The kids lingered around the various trinkets and toys.

Come on, kids, Ms. Schwartz said. Let’s get out of here already.

Oh, please, one of the kids said. Can’t we just look for a while?

Oh, let them look around a while, Mrs. Palmer said.

Ms. Schwartz sneered. Fine! But if they break anything, they’re going to have to pay for it themselves, one way or another!

The kids browsed the gift shop while the Radiant Dawn staff stood on either side of both doors. While Sam leafed through a book about Caribbean marine biology, Mike peered through the window at the antique store across the road where the parchment stood on display. He looked at the doors where the assistants stood watch. He slowly made his way toward Mrs. Palmer, who stood on the left side of the door. When she glanced at him, he pretended to be looking at some T-shirts on a shelf along the wall. Mrs. Palmer and the assistant across from her were in a heated discussion over lunchroom issues at Radiant Dawn. When Mrs. Palmer stepped toward the other assistant, Mike saw his chance and slipped behind her and out the door. In that instant he was across the street and at the door of the antique shop. Inside he looked around. Hello?

No answer. He looked around at the old maps and other maritime charts that covered the walls. He squeezed by a massive antique globe in the center of the room until he reached the parchment at the front window. He peered at it and reached toward it.

Why hello, an elderly voice said from behind him.

Mike started and turned around. Hi, he said.

Excuse me, I didn’t mean to startle you, the bald man said through his large, gray beard. You interested in that old document?

Yeah…what is it?

The old man laughed. It’s a piece of a larger puzzle. Or so I thought, once upon a time.

Huh?

Everything you see here. He gestured toward the wares surrounding them. This is all the result of a lifetime of searching for a treasure that doesn’t exist.

Treasure? Mike’s eyes widened.

A Mesoamerican treasure as impressive as El Dorado! The great treasure of Mosa Laga!

Mike furrowed his brow. Moosa whosa?

The old man chuckled. I should have known from the start it was a fool’s errand. Mosa Laga doesn’t mean anything relevant in any known language. Plus, I found only one correspondence that mentioned him, claiming a tablet was found in Yucatan pointing to the exact location of his treasure. Somewhere east of the Caribbean. He looked over at the page of gibberish. And that document was part of the same collection of letters from this mysterious fellow.

Mike looked at the message, then back at the old man. So what did the letter say? he questioned.

It spoke of a largely forgotten legend, the old man said. The legend of an ancient kingdom on an island far from where any land should be. As a reward for their honor and reverence, the sun granted this kingdom his fiery power in the form of a magical gem, the Sun Stone. With its might, they amassed great wealth and prosperity. But eventually, the kingdom grew arrogant as a result of this power and ceased to revere the sun. So in retaliation, the sun destroyed the whole kingdom and placed a curse on the island.

Mike gasped.

The old man adjusted his glasses. That’s how the story goes, anyway. So that island, the kingdom, the Sun Stone, and all its priceless relics remained untouched for centuries. None who found the island dared to explore and uncover its secrets lest they be cursed themselves. Eventually, the location of the island and its secrets died with the few who escaped its clutches. Except the mysterious letter writer, Douglass Johnson, who claimed he hid the answer in a document that is nonsense to anyone but himself. I believed this was the document and spent years trying to decipher its meaning.

Mike looked at the message. It looks like it’s encrypted to me.

That’s what I thought as well, the old man said. I learned all about cryptography trying to decipher it, but every time I thought I found a message, it turned out to be a dead end. But that didn’t stop me from trying to solve the mystery anyway.

Then he leaned back and laughed. "And boy, did my mind run away with me! Why did so many ships go missing in the same area over the centuries? The Albany, the Pickering, the Heureux? Was it all connected? Could this cursed island be the reason behind it all?"

He stopped laughing and leaned forward again.

"But years passed and I got