Free The Map Maker's Quest by Matthew J. Krengel Page B

his ends. It could be he’s managed to place someone into the rebellion already.”
    With those words he vanished into the darkness and left a very confused trio of humans and one hidden fairy.
    â€œSo what now?” Jacob muttered. He felt like things were spiraling out of control and he disliked that feeling.
    â€œWe follow the clue and see where it leads us,” Jane replied. “What does it say again?”
    Jackie removed the glass shard and turned it over so she could read the words.
    Â 
    The grandest of homes, built from iron,
    Fire and stone, call it home,
    Ghosts rise up and sadly watch,
    Down the tunnel, a rod of iron
    Take this shard, to light your path.
    Four markers wait, to find the treasure.
    Â 
    â€œSo what do you think it means?” Jane asked. She repeated the words in her mind over and over, trying to decipher where they could lead.
    â€œWell, there are plenty of mansions around Lake Superior,” Jacob pointed out.
    â€œYes, but Uncle Ernie lived in Duluth,” Jackie replied. “He would have only had access to things close to Duluth.”
    â€œWell, it has to be Glensheen then,” Jane replied. The big mansion by the lake was the only place she could think of that fit the bill perfectly. “We need to get back to Duluth. Where did you guys park the car?”
    â€œAre you sure it’s Glensheen?” Jackie asked. “There are a lot of big old places along the lake, and Glensheen isn’t made out of iron. It is a grand home but . . .”
    â€œYes, but how many of them were built not out of iron but from iron wealth,” Jane replied. “It doesn’t say it was built out of iron but from iron. I think that means from the money the owner and builder made selling and shipping iron.”
    There was silence for a moment.
    â€œBesides,” Jane said. The clincher came to her suddenly, “Remember the murders that happened at the mansion . Ghosts rise up and sadly watch .”
    â€œAh,” Jacob said at the same time Jackie did. That brought it more into focus for them.
    â€œI see it,” Jackie agreed. “It does seem to fit.”
    â€œAnyway,” Jane said. “Where did you park the car?”
    â€œWe didn’t,” Jacob said unhappily.
    â€œHow did you get here?” Jane asked.
    â€œYour grandpa’s motorcycle,” Jacob replied.
    Jane immediately felt a surge of jealousy as she thought about Jacob and Jackie riding for an hour on the bike. She wanted to be the one with her arms wrapped around Jacob and leaning against his back. Suddenly that sounded very relaxing, and if there was one thing she wanted, it was to relax.
    â€œThe sidecar was still hooked up to it, so we brought it,” Jacob explained. He looked at Jane curiously as her face suddenly turned beet red and she looked away sheepishly.
    â€œWhy didn’t you bring your Mustang?” Jane finally managed to squeak out. She felt foolish, and she kicked at the smaller rocks on the ground around her feet. There was a sniffle from where Jacob was standing, and Jane looked at him in surprise, there was moisture in his eyes and a tear slipped down his cheek.
    â€œThose jerks blew it up,” Jackie said after a moment. She’d noticed Jacob was having a hard time saying anything so she filled in the blanks.
    â€œI’m sorry, Jacob,” Jane said. She stepped over to where he was standing and gave him a big hug. Jacob held her tightly, and Jane almost melted in his arms, he smelled of smoke from somewhere and it mixed with his cologne to form a unique smell. She felt the tension slowly leave him, and when she laughed and pulled back they both chuckled again.
    â€œThink the motorcycle can carry us all back to Duluth?” Jane asked. There was a thin trail that led from the lake shore back up towards the highway. She followed Jacob up the trail until it reached an opening in the trees. The sounds of the highway were