Sguagmore Mountain

By Rowlen Delaware Vanderstone III

For many years Mike Jones along with his Father Terrance Jones explored the old mine Terrance father had first dug through the mountain side of Sguagmore Mountain. Mike's grandfather had Died after a mine accident, and for the last 2 years as a young teen he helped his father mine the last of the rare minerals to be found in the tunnels his grandfather had dug into the mountain. It had been many months since Mike’s father had passed on, that Mike found the courage to return to the mine. Not since his father had been seriously wounded in the mine when one of the older tunnels had collapsed. His father had barely managed to escape the worst of it and suffering from head wounds for days did he finally succumb to his wounds. Before his last breath when he had clarity of mind he told his 18 year old son that he had made a fantastic discovery at the end of Tunnel five when his drill broke through a stone wall to revealed a small cavern. Just has he was about to make the entry into the cavern bigger the mountain trembled one of its more frequent tremors of late. He managed to race out of the tunnel and down the main tunnel to the exit when a section of the main tunnels support beams broke striking him in the head, and knocking him unconscious. Terrance Jones last words where, he saw treasure. Months later, after Mikes father passed away, Mike hires his best friends to reopen the mine to find that treasure, instead of treasure they find a time capsule that leads them on an adventure to find a lost civilization on their 26th century colony world of Omega-Terra. Mike and his friends are not the only ones who want what they are looking for. Only it is not knowledge Dr. Sheffield wants, he wants treasure he can loot and sell in the black market of Antiquities and with his Antiquities pirates he follows Mike Jones to lead him to that treasure. Dr. Sheffield is willing to kill for it, and has killed many times for treasure.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rowlen Delaware Vanderstone III
• Release date: May 24, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005268985

Rowlen Delaware Vanderstone III

I am a Award winning Poet, Writer, Artist, Sculptor, Pop Sociologist, an Inductee into the National Deans List, a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. I have been active in Community Service: Past Board Member of the Vine Neighborhood Association (3 terms), Membership Chair, Fund Raising Committee, Board secretary and interim Board Treasurer. Past member of the Recipient Rights Committee, County Mental Health Board. KVCC Public Museum Volunteer for 20 years. Involved in Community Theater for 50 years off and on most recent with the Kalamazoo Civic Theater since 1985. I have been apart of a Disaster Relief team for Hurricane Andrew in Florida helping feed 5000 people a day. I have be a home missionary worker with a local church administrating a shelter program for the homeless, Minister of the food Ministry, cook, and procurement of emergency food pantry items 1991-1992, I am a graduate of Kalamazoo Valley Community College 1998, Studies at Western Michigan University, Studies at Lansing Community College 1975, Graduate of Davenport College of Business 1974. Graduated Portland High School at age 21 in 1970. I was born in 1951 premature Twin with developmental issues, Learnings disabilities, and hearing impaired.

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Sguagmore Mountain

By

Rowlen Delaware Vanderstone III

Copyright 5/24/2022

Smashword Edition

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Introduction

For many years Mike Jones along with his Father Terrance Jones explored the old mine Terrance father had first dug through the mountain side of Sguagmore Mountain. Mike's grandfather had Died after a mine accident, and for the last 2 years as a young teen he helped his father mine the last of the rare minerals to be found in the tunnels his grandfather had dug into the mountain. It had been many months since Mike’s father had passed on, that Mike found the courage to return to the mine. Not since his father had been seriously wounded in the mine when one of the older tunnels had collapsed. His father had barely managed to escape the worst of it and suffering from head wounds for days did he finally succumb to his wounds. Before his last breath when he had clarity of mind he told his 18 year old son that he had made a fantastic discovery at the end of Tunnel five when his drill broke through a stone wall to revealed a small cavern. Just has he was about to make the entry into the cavern bigger the mountain trembled one of its more frequent tremors of late. He managed to race out of the tunnel and down the main tunnel to the exit when a section of the main tunnels support beams broke striking him in the head, and knocking him unconscious. Terrance Jones last words where, he saw treasure.

Chapter 1

Sguagmore Mountain

Mike, slept that night uneasy, as every night since his father passed away his fathers last words haunted him, ‘he saw treasure’. He tossed and turned fighting himself, daring himself to enter the mine and find out what his father meant when he said ‘he saw treasure’, that he had broken into a small cavern at the end of tunnel Five. Not since he felt the tremors of the mountain and he raced into the main tunnel, to find his father under a rumble of wood and rock, had he returned to the mine. In his dreams he was lured back into the mine to see what treasure did his father see in that small cavern. Every morning he would awake debating if he should go back into the mine. The mountain had grown silent once again. As it would often due for many months to years after a tremor. He debated if he should wait a few more months to make sure the mine was safe once again. Last night his dream was different. This time it saw him in the mines not alone but with others who aided him in putting up new support beams to replace the collapsed one, clearing out the fallen rock and dirt to clear the main tunnel so he could reach tunnel Five and see for himself this small cavern his father broken through to. To see the treasure his father saw. That morning encouraged by last nights dream, he sought out his best friends Zack Taylor and Ben Miller from Sguagmore town below the mountain. He found both boys at the local hangout for young men sipping soda’s and playing Holo-video games. He was greeting by his friends with slaps on the back and an offer of buying him a Soda.

Mike, it is about time you came down from the mountain buddy. One would think you where going to become a hermit. Zack stated, an 18 year old teen 6 feet 3 inches tall, Brown hair, eyes to match and build like a brick wall with muscles and brains.

I have been tempted Zack. Mike said. Now Mike was nearly 19, 6 feet 2 inches. Red hair, Green eyes. Though he was thin in his stature, he had a strong back and muscles to match Zack, and brains to match Ben and Zack.

Lighten up old friend, it has been months since your father passed on. We all miss him Mike. There was nothing you could do when Sguagmore decides to grumble and rumble. Ben never one to hold his tongue back, always spoke without thinking first. Was 18 a few months younger then Zack, 5 feet 7 inches, blond hair and Hazel eyes, more brain then brawn, yet could best Zack and Mike in stamina.

Ben, when are you going to learn to think before you speak. Mike knows the risks of being a miner we all do. The Jones have been digging into old Sguagmore for decades now. This town owes that mine a lot with the ore the Jones have dug out and made Sguagmore town what it is today. Mike, Ben is right thought the mountain has its bad days and its good days. No one can predict when it is going to wake up. I am sorry your father got caught in the mine on one its bad days. Listen, Ben and I were going to pay you a visit later today to warn you that the town council was going to visit you in few days to discuss that mine. They want to know if that main tunnel entrance can be cleared. Some folk are thinking that it may still have some ore left in it to mine. The council been thinking that maybe its time they give you a good price for it, as you don’t seem to be interested in mining it now. Zack told Mike.

They can forget about offering to buy it. I intend to reopen that main tunnel entrance myself. That is why I am here looking for you two. I need help and I am willing to pay well for that help. We need to talk but not here to many ears around. Come back with me up to the house and we will discuss my plans there. Mike asked the two boys.

I don’t know Mike, the town council is keen on owning that mine. They plan on making you a fair offer and do the labor themselves to reopen it. Ben said.

They can have the mine when I am done with it, in fact I will give it to them. But not now. Please come up to the house and I will explain everything. In fact come for an overnight and I will put on a feast for us. It will be like old times. Mike said.

Now you know I can’t refuse an invitation like that. Come on Ben it is getting boring around here. We can at least hear Mike out. Zack said.

Okay I am game if you are Zack. Ben agreed.

That settles, just one problem, we need to stop at the market if we are going to have a feast. My larder is empty of anything good to eat. Mike said.

I knew there was a catch he wants to make pack mules out of us. Ben moaned.

***

I want to thank you for coming Zack and Ben. I need you to promise me you won’t tell anyone what I am telling you. It is my fathers last words before died in my arms. There at the last moment his delirium cleared up, and he spoke clearly to me. He told he that at the end of tunnel Five the West tunnel his father had excavated. He had finished what my grandfather had started two years ago. What he told me was that his Sonar detected a void behind the end of the tunnel and with his Laser drill he opened up a hole into a small cavern. Before he could make the hole larger to crawl into the cavern Sguagmore decided to have one of its rare fits and started trembling. He dropped everything and made a made dash to the main tunnel and exit. He just about made it out fellows until one of the tunnel roof beams cracked, fell and hit him on the head. In his last dying breath he said he saw treasure in that cavern. For the last 4 months I have been dreaming about those words He saw treasure. I have been fearful of going back into the mine fellows until last night when that dream haunted me again. This time it showed me with others helping me get back into the mine, clearing out the blockage where that support beam fell. Before coming into Sguagmore town to find you fellows I took our spare Sonar equipment and tested the depth of that blockage. It is only 4 feet thick, mostly small stone gravel and dirt. Sguagmore is a solid mountain and rarely does it bring down any large rock when it does rumble and shake. We have spare support beams, this time steel not wood. We use steel in the deeper tunnels what with the weight above us. I need help to put up a new beams before and after the cave in. First we remove a section of the stone and gravel, add new beam, then another as we finish clearing up the main tunnel. Sguagmore has been quiet for now. I don’t expect anymore tremors.

Sguagmore has its cycles this last one was out of the ordinary, yet it does quiet down for up to a year or more. This tremor was a mild one so I don’t expect any more blockage further in and tunnel Five was through some very dense and solid granite. If my father found a cavern it had to be either a natural void in the mountain or someone dug it out from the other side of the mountain, or there would have been a tunnel from this side to it. You both know that on the other West side of the mountain is the roughest wild lands where there is evidence of ancient Earthquakes, upheaval of the lands surface, canyons, and ravines. Sguagmore shows on that West side landslides that may have covered any cavern entrance. Dad told me that he believed tunnel Five would take him right through the mountain to the other side to where he was hoping to find a new vein of ore. We already know that there is ore in that wasteland of ravines and canyons. Just can’t get to it from here what with all the debris and obstacles of the upheaval. Grandfather always reckoned that Sguagmore split in half on that side. He was hoping that if he laser cut through that mountain he have access to that ore. Mike told his buddies.

Mike your grandfather was a dreamer I’ll say that for him. He was seldom wrong my Dad would say when it came to guessing there would be a new vein of ore down this tunnel or that tunnel. Your dad had that same quality about him, determine to prove his dad was right about tunnel Five. I just don’t know if he was right about what in saw in that cavern if it was treasure or just an illusion Mike. Don’t get me wrong, it is just folks around here have been here for 65 years and there has been no signs of any previous folk being here on either side of the Sguagmore. Where would treasure come from, better yet, what kind of treasure is it. There has been no precious metals or gems found in Sguagmore, or any other mines around on this planet. Just iron and copper ore around here. Zack told Mike.

Zack is right Mike. What ever he saw in that cavern could have been plain old quartz, like what we find in a geode. Plenty of that around here and nothing new to find a small cavern full of it. Great for tourist business to have found the largest geode around. But the real treasure is the Iron ore, and Copper ore. Better yet Zinc, Titanium, Cobalt, or Nickel. Your family mine has been very productive for many years. Yet, mines eventually pan out when there is not more ore to dig out. Ben explained to Mike.

Then why does the town council want to buy the mine if it has panned out as you said? Mike asked.

I don’t know Mike. Maybe they are hoping to finish what your grandfather started and what your dad completed. Ben said.

I see, they want the easy part of mining for ore. Let someone else do all the digging and they the get the ore without lifting a finger to dig for it. I won’t be selling the mine. Even if I needed the money, which I don’t fellows. The family did well in the mining business. Grandfather left everything to dad, and now it is mine, as well as a legacy from my late mothers side of the family. Enough to get me by into my old age. Anyways, what is that town going to do with a mine they can’t get to? Mike said.

What do you mean Mike? Zack asked.

What I mean is that the Mine property, the mountain is a separate deed and ownership from the land around it. Where this house sets, and the road to the mine is a separate deed from the mine. Those are lands that surrounds Sguagmore to the West into to the wasteland, and to the East to the river gouge, and the North side is just as bad as the West side. The band of land on the South side here is a barrier of all woods, gullies, and rock. The road to the mind is the only cleared road to it. That road is not apart of the Mines deed. I can sell the mine, but refuse the town folk to have access to the mine. That’s what Zack. Mike declared. Both deeds are now in my name. That natural barrier is protected by a force field fence, I control from inside the barrier keyed to my DNA to get in or out. Fellows I am not interested in the mining business anymore, even if there was twenty years worth of ore left in Sguagmore. What I want is to discover what my dad saw in the cavern before he could get access into it. To put the rest, these dreams of mine. I will not sell the mine for them to discover it. If it is treasure it is mine to do with what I wish, and what I wish is for you two to share it with me for helping me get to it. I will pay you for labor twice the going rate and a bonus for getting me into that cavern. If it is treasure what ever value it has I will give each of you 1/3 share of that value and equal credit for the find. If it is just another cave of quartz then you still get 1/3 its value. Either way you get a hefty wage and bonus regardless. I will pay the wages in advance, and the bonus when I get to the end of Tunnel Five and into that cavern. The labor involved is mostly using mechanical equipment, laser excavation, and the running of the equipment. One week tops, 2500 credits for the labor each and another 2500 credits bonus each when we get into that cavern. We find marketable treasure you each get 1/3 the value. Think about it, what ever the value is you still get 5,000 credits plus that 1/3 share. Not bad for a weeks worth of work. Mike laid it out before them. I will put it in writing the whole deal between us. Transfer the wages to your accounts as soon as you put your signature and prints on the deal. Just one problem. You two must remain at the mine lodge with me, no visit to town or contact with your folks, well check in’s, but no mention of treasure to anyone. At the end of the week we will go public with our find. Then I will consider selling the mine to the town council with access to the mine, with a fee of course. I am a Jones after all. Mike said.

***

Well what do you think Mike. It would appear the rumble does not reach the ceiling of the tunnel at the center of the cave in. I was thinking we could use the plastic polymer spray sealant on the ceiling to assure there will be no more lose dirt and gravel coming down to start with. Then we clear a channel through the center rather then clear the whole tunnel out. At either side of the center the rumble reaches up to the ceiling supporting any further ceiling falling down. We encase the sides of the new tunnel with the Plastic polymer spray to stabilize the rumble from shifting downward on the side. Then we clear a foot or more rumble from the center top so one of us can get the spray hose through to the other side. We repeat the process at each end toward the center. After that we work from the top down in the center clear a foot then secured the sides with polymer until we get at least 12 feet to the ground level cleared by 3 feet wide. Then secure everything with another layer of polymer to encase the whole pile of rock and gravel from shifting. Add some support steal above the channel and a wall of steel plates to create a hallway to pass through. A temporary fix at best until Sguagmore decides to rumble again. Add a beam across the ceiling from wall to wall on both sides and ends, and you get a very stable hallway that should last even Sguagmores rumbles. Or we do the labor intensive work and clear the whole rumble out risking another collapse before we can shore the ceiling up. Save us a few days of labor with the plastic polymer spray and cutting through the rumble. No telling what might be down further the main tunnel to number Five. Zack pointed out.

Your right Zack that would save us time in labor. Dad took delivery of a supply of the Plastic Polymer spray a new formula akin to concrete. Fast drying and expands to 2 inches. We have enough for up to six inches all around to create the walls and on the ceiling. It has an adhesive property like flypaper, only a 1000 times stickier. It will bind the rock and gravel together as one as it expands and dry. We need to get our front support steel in place first though so we can use the polymer on that as well, glue everything together. It would be like a plug with a tunnel through it keep the ceiling supported where it is the weakest. We can add a secured door to it later to close the mind off when not in use. Ben, you need to hook the tank of polymer up to the tractor and bring it over here so the hose can reach inside the entrance. Zack there is some prefabricated steel supports that have power jacks on the legs. Once we get them in place we can jack them up to the ceiling, then lock them in place. The steel plating will be our last application after the polymer is set, then a last layer of polymer over the plating and everything else. You two get everything in place at the entrance, while I crawl over the rumble and take a look down the tunnel. Mike said.

While Zack and Ben started the gathering of material and hauling equipment around to the main tunnel entrance. Mike managed to crawl over the rumble with the minimal of disturbing the rumble. With a strong lantern he saw the tunnel ahead was clear and where his father had left the 4 wheeler when he jumped off and tried to race through the fallen rumble. It still had a full charge on the batteries, batteries designed to last 8 months before they needed a charging. He jumped on to the seat of the 4 wheeler which started up the motor and soon Mike was cautiously heading down the tunnel to tunnel Five. He was pleased that the main tunnel was clear to tunnel Five. Again taking caution he turned down tunnel Five to reach its end where he saw the laser\ drill had been dropped when his dad took off when the tremors started. At the end of the tunnel he spotted a hole about the size of a small table where he could put his head through and one arm holding a light. He poked his head through and one arm to light up the cavern. The first thing he saw was an alter of stone where a large stone shaped chest sat upon it. His light set off sparkles of light, spears of light off precious gemstones. The Treasure his dad had seen just as Sguagmore startled to rumble. Just thinking of that moment, made goose bumps run up his back. Mike pulled his arm and head out of the hole and loaded the laser drill onto the 4 wheeler and headed back to the others.

***

If I have to say it, and I will pat myself on the back, I did a good job here. Of course Ben helped and you to Mike. Zack boasted.

The only pat on the back you are going to get is a from a sonic hammer it might knock some of that inflated ego out of you Zack. I must agree we all did a good job here, even Ben here. Its a shame I wasn’t paying you by the amount of stone weight you moved Ben. You would have earned more then Zack and I did put together. Mike said.

Hey, that’s not fair, I moved just as much weight of stone then he did Mike. Zack claimed.

You did Zack, but Ben drove the excavator that had to weigh at least 6 tons, plus the stone and dirt he moved. Your shovel was what about 10 lbs of weight. Mike explained.

Now you just wait here, that excavator don’t count and we are not getting paid by the lb either. Zack said.

Your right you are not Zack. Nor am I paying for that ton of ego you keep carrying around on your shoulder. Mike pointed out.

Oh very funny, my ego isn’t the problem here, its you Mike and your sense of humor. Zack said.

I haven’t got any sense of humor. I am just telling it like it is buddy. Take it or leave it, just leave behind that ego of yours Zack. This is a venture of co-equals not who can out shine the other. I am sure Ben did his work not trying to best you Zack. He did what he was asked to do, so did you, and if you think I am lacking in my part. Remember, I paying you to do the work and as your boss, I have nothing to say bad about that work. You did what your where told, and I accepted your ideals. They saved us time, and they worked. So why the ego trip, that isn’t like you Zack. Mike laid it out for Zack.

I was just joking about the pat on the back Mike. It was a bad joke, and I am sorry Ben if I made it sound like you were not doing your share of the work. Mike I should be pleased you accepted my idea’s on saving us that intensive labor. By all rights you are the boss paying us to do a job and we should do that job as you dictate to us. Not once have you been overbearing, bossy, or standing aside and letting us do all the work. You put your share in when you could have sat on your butt and ordered us around. You worked just as hard as we did. Zack apologized.

Darn right I did, so did you and Ben. I learned from my grandfather and father that it isn’t easy to be the boss when you could take advantage of that kind of ego and boss people around while you set on your butt reaping the value of others labor. They both taught me that I have to do my share of the work, and to also allow others to have ideas, or innovations that save labor. That is not having an ego when they use their experience or their wits to figure out how to do something differently or better. Many keep their mouth shut afraid to tell the boss their ideals. Afraid the boss will ridicule them tell them that idea is silly, or fire them for thinking they are better then the boss. Zack, my dad and grandfather always saw their employee’s as equals for one reason. It reduced the risk of failure in mining, it often saved time, and it saved life’s often too; to listen to others. A new ideal may have not worked, but if it didn’t cost a life, it was a lesson learned for the next time. It often lead to improving the idea so it did work, got people thinking why it failed and if there was a reason for why it failed. You two got to remember where our ancestors came from and having an equal share in the colony government, innovations, and yes accepting failure equally. We have managed to take the risk, and turn it into several communities that are thriving based on the concept we all have an equal share in making the colonies survive. Remember I could have ask for your labor at the going rate. I could have told you another reason I wanted that blockage open. I didn’t. Instead I let you in on the secret, give you a chance to double your wages, a bonus, and a reasonable share of what we find in that cavern. I could have kept my mouth shut

Well I am not going to keep it shut anymore. Remember that little excursion down the tunnel to see if it was clear to number Five tunnel. I made it to the end of number Five and sure enough my father did break through to a hidden cavern. I was able to see what he saw, and by all appearance it is a treasure chest studded with precious jewels. That is all I could see for now. So why don’t we go and see if we can make that opening bigger before Sguagmore decides to drop a ceiling on us. I have the laser drill recharged and a larger bore head on it. Shouldn’t take us long to open a hole up we can all crawl into. First we will need to secure our new front door better and make sure we have full oxygen tanks and our breathers. The ventilator shaft appears to be clear of any rumble. Always have portable air with you when entering a new area of the mine just in case you find yourself in a gas pocket. The door will keep unwanted visitors out while we three are exploring that cavern. Unless someone wants to volunteer to guard the front door? Mike asked.

Hey, I thought this was an equal venture Mike? Zack asked.

Just asking good buddy. Even if someone did watch the front door, they would have still gotten their share of the treasure. I was thinking that maybe it would be best to have someone out here watching our backs and just in case something happened to us inside. Sguagmore is a fickle lump of rock and I would like to know someone can go get help for us if Sguagmore did drop a ceiling on us. What do the two of you say?

"I say we take the