The Incident at Pine Hills Mounds
Black-eyed kids and other shenanigans.
Like A Pharaoh’s Tomb
It was the first weekend of October, and Mackenson County farmers and ranchers were already prepared to endure the upcoming fall rainy season and the winter that would follow it. Fields had been broken up for next year’s planting, and enough hay had been secured to feed the livestock. Most work on the farms now consisted of making sure the cattle were fed, maintaining the equipment, and performing preventive maintenance on the fences.
In the northwestern fields of Theodore Lang, a landowner who was something of a gentleman farmer, three girls trekked across the land and entered into the treeline. They were trespassing, of course, but this made their adventure that much more exciting. Technically it didn’t matter, as they wouldn’t get in trouble even if they were caught. They, or rather their parents, were known to the landowner.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been back here,” said Elisa Decker. “Sure is muddy.”
“Me either,” said Esmeralda Olson. “I’m glad we wore our hiking boots.”
“I know I’ve never been out here,” said Grace Howard. “Notice how the woods look like an old-growth forest.”
“Yup, just trees and no brush. Just the way I like it,” said Esmeralda.
“It is old growth, or it’s getting that way,” said Elisa. “It’s a little darker in here, but you can still see some of the sky. Do you feel the temperature change?”
“Wow, it must be 15 degrees cooler in here. Is that unusual? The sky is so open in spots,” Esmeralda spoke, looking upward at the ceiling-like canopy.
“I think we should head back soon. This place is creepy and I certainly don’t want to be out here when it starts getting dark,” said Grace.
“Agreed,” said the two other girls, in unison.
“Wait, what is this?” Elisa spoke. She pointed.
“It looks like a good place to play king of the hill,” Grace laughed.
“It looks like it’s man-made,” said Esmeralda, gesturing at a very large mound of earth. It was situated just inside the treeline, and it seemed too perfect to be natural. It was a circular earthen structure with a flat top. It was definitely artificial, Esmeralda thought.
“Oh my. Look at this, y’all,” said Elisa, forgetting about the mound and pointing to the ground in front of it. “Is that what I think it is?”
“I think so,” said Esmeralda. “I’ve seen pictures like that on the internet.”
“What is it?” Grace asked.
“It’s a below-ground burial vault,” said Elisa. “At least I think it is. It’s supposed to have a stone slab on top of it, and it’s supposed to be sealed. This one is missing the slab. I’m surprised it’s not full of water.”
“Yuck and gross,” said Grace. “I wonder why this one doesn’t have a slab?”
“Well,” said Elisa, “the grave could have been moved. I mean, it’s situated right here where the river’s only about a quarter of a mile away. If the river ever floods, someone’s grave site could be in jeopardy. Or the slab might have collapsed. It could be down inside the grave, broken. Not that I’m interested in finding out.”
“I don’t see any other graves. My guess would be that the family moved the burials and left the vault behind,” said Esmeralda. “Or there could be others close by that we haven’t found yet.” She took out her cell phone and started taking pictures. She also got a couple of selfies with Grace and Elisa, who were taking their own pictures.
“This is, or was, a fancy burial for wealthy people,” said Elisa. “I’m surprised there isn’t a marker here.”
“Weird,” said Grace. “I wonder if Mr. Lang knows it’s back here?”
“Well, we can ask him when we get the chance. It totally might be the grave of someone in his family,” said Elisa. “Let’s walk around the mound before we go.”
“Let’s do it,” and “Let’s walk,” responded Grace and Esmeralda, simultaneously.
The girls began to walk around the circumference of the earthwork. The structure did seem to be an almost perfect circle. It was steep, but otherwise seemed featureless. No trees or brush were growing upon it. In fact, it was simply covered in grass. The surface looked almost manicured.
They made it about halfway around the mound before they saw it. The near-manicured surface suddenly appeared to be imperfect, about three-quarters of the way up. They could see the earth at that part of the mound, and while it didn’t look like it had been excavated by human hands, something had indeed thrown up some dirt.
“Let’s check it out,” said Elisa.
“We may as well go to the top,” Grace replied.
“I’m ready,” said Esmeralda. The girls started climbing the hill. In a short time, they were standing at the place where the earth had been disturbed.
“I don’t think anyone dug here,” said Elisa. “This looks more like a huge molehill. It’s like something dug out, not in.”
“Oh my goodness,” said Grace. “Look at that!” She gestured toward the hole. “Is that something from a grave?”
Esmeralda and Elisa looked at the place where Grace was pointing. Upturned and shining even in the dim light of the forest, was a collection of jewelry!
“It’s beautiful,” said Elisa.
“No,” said Esmeralda. “It’s not from a modern grave, anyway. All this stuff looks vaguely European, like from the Viking Age. It’s defo not native to the area. You don’t have to be a scientist to know that much.”
“I totally agree with you,” said Grace. She walked to the treasure and stirred the earth. It wasn’t packed at all, and she found a few more pieces of jewelry. There were no necklaces that she could see, but there were arm bracelets. She counted seven golden rings, three bangles, and a total of nine arm cuffs. The items appeared to be made from gold and the blackest obsidian. The jewelry depicted a large cat’s head. Balam, Grace thought immediately, without knowing why. “Come on, ladies!” she said excitedly. “Try it on!” She pitched a bangle to Esmeralda and Elisa. She then put one on herself.
When Grace put on her bangle, she had a quick flash of vertigo. Her ears popped. The bangle dug deeply into her flesh. She felt pain, and then a brief darkness overtook her. The sensations quickly ceased. They stopped and then they were gone. Grace was disoriented and dropped to her knees. “It’s Mayan,” she said, quietly, to no one in particular.
Elisa and Esmeralda saw what befell Grace. They saw her fall to her knees and they heard her speak. Then she looked up and smiled at them. Her eyes were large and black: No irises or whites. Just big black circles where her brown eyes used to be. For a while this would be their last memory, for in a few short minutes they too would be kneeling.
“The bangle is causing this,” Esmeralda thought to herself. Before she could take any action, she and Elisa were gone too.
“We need more slaves,” said Grace, standing to observe their small number.
“More slaves,” answered Esmeralda and Elisa, in monotone voices.
“We require workers for our god,” they all proclaimed in unison.
“Jane Blackmon is closest,” said Grace. “She will not turn us away.”
“Perhaps we should call upon our families,” said Esmeralda.
“Yes,” the other two agreed. “They will open their doors to us.”
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