Adventures of the Aviatrix Read online

  Turn the crank

  Ignore it and explore further

  “Sorry!” You reply helplessly as he flails one final time before screaming as he plunges through the hole. The scream is abruptly silenced, but you hear a splash of water far below. “Noah?” You inquire, your heart thumping in your chest. No answer. Guilt begins to claws at your soul, knowing you could have done more to try to save him.

  “Elyse!” You hear Noah’s breathless voice echo through the hole a moment later. “I’m okay!” You breathe a sigh of relief. “Come on down! I think I’ve found it!”

  Having secured a rope around a nearby rock, you slowly lower yourself into the hole and begin to climb down. The abyss is now somehow illuminated and you can see a lagoon within the vast cavern below. Moored to a jetty to one side, you can see an ancient pirate ship. While its rigging and sails are in tatters, it’s impressive nonetheless. Noah has hauled himself up onto the jetty and is beckoning you to join him. You reach the bottom of the rope and kick out towards the jetty, swinging back and forth before dropping onto it. The rotten timbers creak beneath you and you stumble as one gives way. Noah catches your arm and helps you to your feet.

  “At least you were there for me.” You flash him a rueful grin.

  “Don’t worry about it.” He shrugs. “I fell into the water hard. Knocked the wind out of me for a moment there, but I could see the rigging of the ship in the gloom and found my way to the jetty. There’s a series of angled mirrors arranged around the chamber. I adjusted one, bouncing the sunlight off it and the whole place lit up.”

  “Looks like your map was right after all.” You reply, nodding towards the ship and reading the name carved into her bow. “‘Nemesis’.” You murmur, glancing quizzically at Noah.

  “Anne Bonny served aboard her.” He tells you. “The Nemesis was as successful a pirate vessel as there was at the time, a rival for Blackbeard’s Queen Anne’s Revenge or Charles Vane’s Ranger. Strangely, the identity of her captain has been lost in the mists of time. His fate is equally uncertain. Some say he was sacrificed by a savage Mayan Priestess, others that he was entombed within a vault of untold riches, an irony for any pirate. There are other accounts, however, that he escaped and used his riches to buy Anne Bonny’s freedom, saving her from the gallows and that the two of them lived the rest of their days in the American colonies.”

  “Sounds like a cheap pulp romance novel.” You sneer. “If this mysterious captain and his pirate broad settled in America, why would they leave their treasure here?”

  “I’m an archeologist, not a treasure hunter.” Noah replies stiffly. “As I told you, I’m only seeking the compass. I believe it is still here, otherwise, why hide the ship and set traps to protect it?”

  “I guess.” You reply.

  “Listen, you got me this far.” He tells you. “Why don’t you wait here and I’ll go aboard and see if I can find it?”

  Wait for Noah to explore the ship

  Insist you go with him

  “I agree.” You reply, shining the flashlight along the ledge. “It looks like the ledge continues along the side of the cavern. Let’s see where it leads.”

  “Ladies first.” Noah replies, gesturing ahead.

  “And I thought chivalry was dead.” You growl, rolling your eyes. You carefully make your way along the narrow ledge, one hand on the rocky wall to steady yourself. As you shuffle forward in the gloom, you feel a cord against your ankle followed by the click of a latch being released. Something swings up out of the darkness and you scream as spikes are driven through your body.

  “Elyse!” Noah lets out an anguished cry. You try to curse, but it comes out as an unintelligible gargle as your mouth fills with blood. Impaled by several spikes, darkness mercifully consumes you.

  THE END

  Go back a few moments and rethink your actions

  “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.” You grin, boldly stepping forward and grasping the crank handle. As you attempt to wind the handle, you find the mechanism stiff and unyielding, two centuries of dust and grime no doubt clogging the gears. Grunting with effort, you put every ounce of strength into it before the handle gradually begins to move, the gears beginning to slowly turn. Noah’s flashlight swings erratically from the machine to the rocky ceiling and the uneven ledge beneath your feet, no doubt suspecting some devious trap to be sprung at any moment. You hear his feet drag on the ground as he backs slowly away.

  “You’re a real hero, you know that?” You growl as the chains clank on the sprockets. Across the chamber, you see something move in the gloom. Abruptly, the chamber is filled with light. You blink in surprise as you take in your surroundings. The ledge you are standing on is a short distance above an enclosed cavernous lagoon. Floating in the center of the lagoon is an ancient looking sailing ship. The sails and rigging are bedraggled and thick with dust and cobwebs, but she still looks a handsome vessel. Cannons bristle from numerous gun ports and high atop the main mast, you can see the limp though unmistakably black flag of a pirate vessel.

  “The Nemesis.” Noah breathes, reading the name carved into a wooden name plate fixed to her bow. “Anne Bonny served aboard her. The Nemesis was as successful a pirate vessel as there was at the time, a rival for Blackbeard’s Queen Anne’s Revenge or Charles Vane’s Ranger. Strangely, the identity of her captain has been lost in the mists of time. His fate is equally uncertain. Some say he was sacrificed by a savage Mayan Priestess, others that he was entombed within a vault of untold riches, an irony for any pirate. There are other accounts, however, that he escaped and used his riches to buy Anne Bonny’s freedom, saving her from the gallows and that the two of them lived the rest of their days in the American colonies.”

  “Sounds like a cheap pulp romance novel.” You sneer, noticing that the light seems to have been produced by an elaborate series of angled mirrors fixed into the sides of the chamber. The mechanism must have somehow opened an aperture somewhere, allowing sunlight in, which has been reflected around the entire cavern. The narrow ledge continues around the perimeter of the chamber, gently sloping down to a jetty where the Nemesis is moored.

  “The artifact must be on board.” Noah tells you. “Come on.” He steps forward and you reach out and grasp his shoulder, yanking him back. “What the hell?!”

  “Look.” You growl, pointing to the floor. A barely visible cord runs across the ledge at ankle height. You drop to the floor and peer over the side of the edge. The cord is connected to another mechanism, this one leading to a spring loaded plate with a series of spikes fixed to it. Noah blanches when he sees it.

  “Thanks.” He murmurs grudgingly. Stepping over the cord, you slowly and cautiously make your way along the ledge before reaching the jetty. The Nemesis bobs gently in the water and you wonder how she ended up inside this sealed cavern, like a ship in a bottle. You guess it was once a cave open to the sea and the pirates must have used explosives to seal it, hiding the ship.

  “What makes you think there’s anything aboard except cobwebs?” You ask Noah. “If this mysterious captain and his pirate broad settled in America, why would they leave anything valuable behind?”

  “I’m an archeologist, not a treasure hunter.” Noah replies stiffly. “As I told you, I’m only seeking the compass. I believe it is still here, otherwise, why hide the ship and set traps to protect it?”

  “I guess.” You reply.

  “Listen, you got me this far.” He tells you. “Why don’t you wait here and I’ll go aboard and see if I can find it?”

  Wait for Noah to explore the ship

  Insist you go with him

  “I don’t think so, pal.” You snort. “If that ship’s full of treasure, I want my cut!”

  “I thought you might say that.” Noah chuckles. “But remember, the compass is mine.”

  “Sure, AFTER I get paid.” You grin. “You still owe me a thousand bucks, remember.”

  “I remember.” Noah nods, striding along the jetty towards the Nemesis. You b
oth clamber up the side of the vessel and onto the deck. The timber deck is caked with dust and you both leave a trail of footprints in your wake as you explore the ancient ship. Cannon line each side of the deck and a few crates and barrels are still securely lashed in place around the bases of the three masts.

  “She must have been quite impressive in her day.” You murmur, gazing up at the now ragged rigging and torn sails.

  “Impressive and feared if you sighted her from the deck of a merchant ship I would imagine.” Noah grins. “It feels strange to be walking her decks.”

  “Where do you think the treasure will be?” You ask him.

  “The compass,” He pointedly corrects you, “Will either be below decks…” He shines his flashlight towards an open hatchway a few paces ahead of you, “Or within the captain’s cabin.” He gestures towards a door set into the face of the raised quarterdeck at the stern of the ship. “You’ve been lucky so far. Which do you think?”

  In the captain’s cabin

  Below decks

  “Let’s try below decks.” You reply.

  “Sounds good.” Noah nods as you both walk towards the open hatchway before pausing as you gaze down into the gloom of the gun deck below.

  “Think there’s any traps down there?” You ask him.

  “Probably.” He nods, shining his flashlight into the darkness.

  “Then after you.” You grin, gesturing into the hatch. He grimaces before nodding and slowly climbing down a timber ladder. As he descends he abruptly drops with a cry.

  “Noah?!” You shout out, peering down through the opening as your blood runs cold.

  “I’m okay!” He calls up. “A damn rung broke is all. Looks safe down here.”

  “Famous last words.” You mutter to yourself as you carefully descend the ladder, stepping past the broken rung and dropping to the deck below. You shine your flashlight around, seeing more cannon lining each side of the gun deck, their muzzles protruding through the open gun ports. The deck boards creak underfoot as you join Noah. The beam of his flashlight illuminates a heavy iron door set into a partition wall dividing the forward section of the deck.

  “Great. How are we going to get through this?” You groan. Noah glances over his shoulder and flashes you a grin before reaching into his pocket and pulling out an ancient looking key.

  “Found this with the map.” He smirks before slotting it into the keyhole. As he turns the key, the mechanism clanks and the door swings open.

  “My God.” You murmur, your eyes widening at the sight of all the gold and jewels reflected in the flashlight beams. Noah, however, seems to barely notice the riches before him.

  “Where is it?” He mutters glancing frantically around him as he steps into the strong-room. You notice three chests laid out at the back of the compartment. A timber chest, an iron chest and an ornate, jewel encrusted chest with a mysterious symbol on the front.

  “In one of the chests?” You suggest.

  “Perhaps, but which one?” He asks.

  “You’re the expert, pal.” You reply.

  “Your guess is as good as mine.” He shrugs, glancing at each chest in turn.

  Open the timber chest

  Open the iron chest

  Open the jewel encrusted chest

  “It must be the one with the symbol.” You tell Noah.

  “You’re right.” He nods. “I don’t recognize the symbol, but it must represent some link to the compass.” He stoops and carefully lifts the lid. There is a small mechanical click from within, immediately followed by a louder click behind you. You both glance over your shoulders just as a thick iron plate drops across the doorway.

  “Shit, we’re trapped!” You gasp, shining the flashlight around at the walls, ceiling and deck, but seeing no other openings, just thick timber planks. Noah tries to squeeze his fingers under the plate, but it is tight to the deck.

  “Don’t panic.” He tells you, though he is wide eyed and breathing hard. “We’ll be okay, we’ll be okay.” Beyond the iron plate, you hear a series of muffled bangs and you can feel the deck moving slightly underfoot.

  “What’s that?” You ask fearfully, glancing at Noah. As you both listen, the only sound seems to be your elevated breathing but then you hear something else that makes your blood run cold. “Is that… water?” As if in answer, seawater begins to seep through gaps between the deck planks beneath your feet.

  “Oh no!” Noah groans as the water sloshes around your feet.

  “They must have set a device to trap thieves and scuttle the ship!” You groan. “We’ve got to lift this plate.” You pick up a sword, the ornate gold hilt studded with gemstones. You jam the blade beneath the plate, before grunting as you try to lever it up.

  “It’s working!” Noah gasps as it shifts upwards, seawater pouring through the gap. His exuberance is short-lived as the blade abruptly snaps, the iron plate dropping back into place. The seawater is up to your knees now and rising rapidly. You both try to force the plate upwards, but your hands just slide up against the surface.

  “Shit, shit, shit!” You growl, the water up past your waist and rising.

  “It’s futile.” Noah moans. “We’re going to die in here!”

  “Not yet.” You snap at him, diving beneath the surface to try to find another sword or something else that you can use to lever open the plate. There’s a fortune in coins, gold bars and jewels but nothing you can use. You pull yourself up to the surface to find the level has now risen to just beneath the ceiling. Taking a deep breath, you dive again, panic threatening to overwhelm you. Noah is pounding against the plate, bubbles of air spilling from his lips. You watch in horror as he takes in a mouthful of water, thrashing wildly next to you before falling still. Your chest burns as your body craves air and you cannot stop yourself breathing in seawater. As the cool salty water fills your lungs, you claw wildly for a moment before you too succumb.

  THE END

  Go back a few moments and rethink your actions

  “Let’s try the iron chest.” You tell Noah before stooping and lifting the lid. The chest is filled with rows of neatly stacked gold bars. 1715 is stamped into each one as well as a coat of arms.

  “Spanish gold by the looks of it.” Noah comments, reaching in and lifting one up. “The compass was plundered from a Spanish vessel.”

  “I guess we’re getting closer.” You reply, wondering just what is so special about this compass as Noah casually drops the gold bar back into the chest.

  “It’s got to be one of the other two.” Noah murmurs, glancing from the jewel encrusted chest to the timber chest and back again.

  Open the timber chest

  Open the jewel encrusted chest

  “The timber chest.” You tell Noah confidently.

  “You think so, huh?” He replies doubtfully before shrugging his shoulders and dropping to his knees before it. He carefully lifts the lid, which creaks on its hinges. You crane your head forward, the beam of your flashlight fixed on the inside of the chest. It is lined with what might have been velvet two hundred years ago, but is now just gray, moldy matter. In the center of it, is a circular silver case, perhaps four inches in diameter.

  “This is it!” Noah breathes. “I’ve found it! They didn’t believe me, laughing into their sleeves, but I’ll show them now!” He slowly reaches into the chest, clearly reveling in the moment. His fingers close around it and as he lifts it, there is a mechanical click. Beneath, you see a flint and striker and the sparkling end of a fuse wire.

  “Shit!” You gasp. “Put that out!” Noah reaches for the fizzing fuse and grunts as he tries to pinch it between a thumb and forefinger.

  “Oh no.” He moans as it disappears into the bottom of the chest.

  “Quickly!” You snarl, wrenching the timber chest up off the floor. The fuse wire has already disappeared through a narrow hole bored through the deck boards beneath.

  “Let’s get out of here while we can!” Noah tells you, slipping the compass into hi
s pocket, scrambling to his feet and running out of the strong room. With a rueful glance at all the treasure, you set off at his heels, running back along the gun deck. The ship trembles with a series of concussions beneath your feet. The boom of an explosion behind you sends you both sprawling. As you pick yourselves up, you can see the forward section of the vessel has been ripped apart and engulfed in flames.

  “Shit, shit, shit!” You curse, both of you running for the ladder and scrambling up as quickly as you can. The deck of the Nemesis is on fire, the rigging and sails ablaze and raining down in glowing orange embers. The whole ship begins to list alarmingly and knowing you only have moments to act, you both throw yourselves over the side and back onto the jetty.

  “Time to leave!” Noah shouts, sprinting along the jetty in the direction of a cave at the end. As you glance over your shoulder at the blazing inferno that had been the grand old pirate ship just a few minutes earlier, you are inclined to agree and run after him. His flashlight sweeps from side to side as he disappears inside the narrow passageway. As you reach the end of the jetty, another huge explosion rips the Nemesis apart, the concussion cracking the walls of the cavern and dropping huge sections of rock into the lagoon.

  “No!” You gasp, dashing into the cave as the whole chamber begins to collapse in on itself. The passage climbs steadily upwards and you run as fast as you can, trying to put the thought of any more traps out of your mind. The rocky ground trembles beneath your feet and you know this passage too will soon collapse in on itself.

  Just ahead of you, you see Noah slide to a halt, his flashlight shining first to the left and then to the right. You follow his gaze. To one side, the cave winds upwards perhaps up towards the top of the cliff, while to the other side, a narrow passage leads steeply downwards.