Jesper’s Adventure

The sun was warm and delicate, cascading it’s soft tendrils upon the earth. Grasshoppers leapt about lazily in the heat and quiet. A sweet smell of clover hung heavy in the air while blackbirds warbled to one another. Taking flight, their wings tickled the air. It was a glorious afternoon, undisturbed, but for two travelers.

Brixon was a tall, lanky, towhead of a man, with an old sweat-stained bolero; plopped happily upon his brow. He sat coolly next to a dozing mutt. Sighing, he stretched luxuriously, crossing his legs and proppping his arms behind his head to lean against a fallen log. Brixon settled deeper into the clover that pervaded the field he occupied. “This is the life eh?” He crooned, opening one lazy eyelid to inspect his four legged companion. A tried and true mutt, Jesper was the perfect pal. Dark glistening fur, big strong paws for digging and a perfect wet nose. Jesper twitched his ear to his old friend. Brixon chuckled quietly, leaning back he pushed his hat forward, jauntily shading his eyes.

On the verge of blissful siesta, Brixon was lurched awake. The log had shifted. Rigidly, Brixon sat up. Hat still over his eyes and hanging from his forehead, he presented a wistfully comical sight. His faithful companion was up on four paws, having been startled awake by Brixon’s sudden movement.

Jesper stalked forward, sniffing. He began to nudge Brixon roughly, pawing at the log and butting his head between Brixon and the log. Still not quite aware of what had happened, Brixon groggily swatted at Jesper. Each time Jesper shoved his head behind Brixon, he was bounced forward. “Getcherown,” swat, swat, swat, “spot Jes!” Grumbled Brixon.

Having had enough of his sleepy companions antics Jesper barked voraciously. Brixon slowly pushed his hat back with one rigid finger. “What?!”

Jesper huffed, continuing to scratch behind Brixon’s back. “Alright! Gimme a second will ya?”

Pushing himself from the ground, Brixon slowly stretched up, craning his arms back and his chest to the sky. He gave his haunches a hardy rub, yawning and turned about slowly. Sorrowfully he gazed down at his once cozy bed of clover. Another yawn. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, Brixon looked down, stopping. There, wedged beneath the loam covered log, was someone’s long lost little black book. Smiling ruefully, Brixon seized hold of Jesper playfully. Lifting him tail over teakettle, Brixon bounced Jesper up and down. Jesper’s paws flailed about helplessly.

“You wake me up!!! For someone’s lost ole hookupbookanook?!?!?! Hahah hahahaaar haarr!! Imma get ya, you smarmy daug!! Ha ha ha!” Brixon crowed

Cavorting about, Brixon held his best friend aloft, laughing uproariously, as Jesper barked happily; tongue lolling about. Winded, the pair collapsed in a heap, Jesper licked Brixon’s face. Grinning widely, he ruffled Jesper’s ears.

“Ah well, since I’m up now,” sighed Brixon, “may as well have a looksee.” Turning, they both took a gander at the little black book beneath the fallen tree.

Reaching out, Brixon pinched the binding firmly and tugged. The book was ever so typical. What had once been clean, shiny, black leather, was now partially dry rot and the worms had been at it. Brixon slapped it against his palm, “ Hmmm, something’s in the middle of this little black book Jes,” he tilted the book, “wonder what it is?” Jesper nosed the back of Brixon’s hand as if urging him to hurry and open it.

Conspiratorially, Brixon lifted the book eye level and glanced down at Jesper, raising an eyebrow. “Ya think so?” He muttered to Jesper. Whining, Jesper rose up, planting his sturdy front paws on Brixon’s chest and growled an affirmation.

“Ha haarr!! Ok bud....ok. I’ll open ‘er.” Brixon chortled. Cracking the spine, he slowly let the book fall open. In the middle. Someone had placed an old, iron looking, arrowhead in the center. The tip of the arrowhead was pointing at Brixon’s’ belly. Lengthwise, above the arrowhead, two words were untidily scrawled, “THIS WAY.”

Kneeling, Brixon allowed Jesper to sniff the book and its contents. “‘THIS WAY’ huh....You figure they meant it pointing - thisaway?” Inquired Brixon, rotating the book back to how it would’ve sat beneath the log. Jesper looked up at his companion with big brown eyes. “Yeah, I knew yews thinkin’ that weren’t ya Jes?” Winked Brixon. “Well.... le’s go..........’THIS WAY’.” Hooking a thumb at the wind.

Holding the book out in front of him as if it were a compass; Brixon’s gangly legs led them down a dried irrigation ditch. Not having travelled far, the pair came across a cottonwood tree, that had years ago sprouted, stretching its roots above and over the ditch, creating a natural tunnel beneath. Arms akimbo, his hand crookedly holding the booklet, Brixon whistled, “Don’t see that everyday do ya?” Jesper sat.

Just above what would’ve been the base of the tree, had it properly rooted, an arrow shaft stuck out. Brixon looked down at Jesper raising his eyebrows, “‘THIS WAY’ indeed eh? Whaddya figure there’s something in that tree Jes?” Scratching his ear, Jesper barked, “I think so too.” Brixon stated evenly.

Stepping down into the irrigation ditch, Brixon eased his way underneath the trees base. Squinting up into the darkness he could just make out a sturdy old two-by-twelve, wedge deep inside the trunk, pinning a bulky object in the darkness.

“Summthin’s in here!” Brixon’s voice echoed dully inside the big tree. Stepping back out, Brixon looked hither and tither for something to help him leaver the board out of his way. Hearing a low growl he turned to see Jesper poised and pointed. Peering past the dog’s nose he caught sight of the sturdy limb lying in the grass. “Clever hound.” Whispered Brixon.

Grabbing the limb, Brixon swung it up and under wedging it above the board. Adjusting his grip, he heaved down. The two-by-twelve hinged at the corner and the object fell from its solitary perch. Scrabbling back to avoid getting hit, Brixon sat down hard, as a large chest thudded solidly into the irrigation bed.

“Jes, I think we’re on to summthin’!” Exclaimed Brixon as he kneeled peering closer at the chest. Brixon wrapped his fingers underneath and heaved mightily, tossing it up onto the ditch side. Jesper sniffed the chest warily. Brixon examined an old lock hanging from the chest. Searching about, he found a good sized rock and smashed the lock with one blow. Jesper jumped back.

Gazing at his faithful hound, Brixon took a deep breath rubbing his hands together. Shanking his wrists out he poised himself, winking, “Moment of truth, exciting isn’t it Jes? Feel just like ole Mel Fisher.” He blew the sweat from his nose.

CRRRRRRREEEEEEAAAAAAAAKKK!

Jesper fidgeted on his paws. Brixon’s breath sucked in. There, before his eyes; a second, smaller chest, sat.

Letting his air go Brixon laughed nervously, “Wheeeew! Talk about suspense! It’s just another box Jes.” Despite himself, Jesper whined.

Resetting, Brixon hooked his fingers into the second box and heaved up and out. “Heavy!” He grunted.

“Well....here’s to nothin I guess.” Whispered Brixon. Shakily, he opened the second chest. He found it hard to swallow, as the lid lifted his eyes bulged and a lump had formed in his throat. Eyes welling with tears he hastily look up at Jesper and smiled ear to ear. “Silk doggie beds from here on out old chum.” Prying it up and out, Brixon lifted out of the chest, a 10oz bar of gold, holding it above the box.

Jesper, head tilted, wagged his tail.