"Whoever drew this map was likely illiterate," Dan muttered, standing over Nola's shoulder. She nodded.

"Quite likely, given the time period. There's no writing test for being a pirate." His closeness was very disruptive. She could smell his aftershave and he was standing right behind her, almost touching her. The spicy, masculine scent teased her thoughts away to a different type of treasure trail she wanted to explore.

Trixie peered around them at the map, oblivious to the crackle between them. "Looks like teeth."

"Or mountains," Nola murmured. "But that doesn’t make sense."

"We're kind of under a mountain aren't we?" Dan pointed out.

"Let me see?" Brian asked. Nola passed him the map. He studied it thoughtfully. "If it's not a set of mountains, it might be another trap. It really does look like teeth. It says 'leep of fate'," he chuckled.

Nola stood studying the tunnel in front of them.

"A leap of fate indicates we have to jump something," she said, more to herself than the others. "But we've done that already, of sorts. Had to cross over the river."

Honey was walking ahead slowly, stepping gingerly, Trixie right behind her.

Dan turned with a smile to whisper something to Nola, and Honey screamed. He turned as Nola shouted "Honey!" and dove forward, as Honey dropped from sight, followed by Nola. Trixie was teetering on the edge of something. Brian grabbed her in time and pulled her back. Brian pushed his way up to the edge as he and Dan knelt.

" Nola? Honey?" he called.

"We're all right," Honey called.

"I think we found out what 'Leep of Fate' is," Nola replied. "As well as the teeth. And believe me, they are teeth!"

"What's down there?" Dan called, worried.

"Some big old nasty spikes that could pass for teeth by a bad artist.”

"Are you hurt?" Brian demanded.

"No," Honey answered in a shaky voice. "But we are somewhat midair."

"I dropped my light," Nola added. "But I saw those spikes."

"

Hang on," Trixie called, swinging the lantern down. Both girls closed their eyes at hte light and Dan felt his heart sink.

Nola was clinging to the side where she had dove after Honey, and Honey was holding onto her for dear life, the other hand reaching for the edge to hold onto. Nola had braced her feet on a tiny ledge, but she had no idea how long it would hold. One arm was gripping Honey’s, and Honey was trying to wedge her hand into a small groove for a hold, the way Nola had. Below them were the spikes, various heights and threatening.

"Spielberg got it right," Trixie said breathlessly.

"Damn," Dan muttered. “Straight out of the Goonies!”

"Nola's got the rope too," Brian added.

Dan was peering over the edge. "Nola, can you throw the rope up here?"

"Um, no. If I let go of Honey, she'll fall."

"I didn't get enough of a grip," Honey said. "It was too slippery."

"Nola, you're pretty tall, you think you can drop?" Trixie asked.

Dan turned and stared at his friend. "Are you nuts?"

"Well, it doesn't look like it's a long drop," Nola answered, turning her head to look. "It's what's at the end that worries me. There isn’t a lot of space."

Trixie was still leaning over the edge, holding onto Brian so she wouldn't pitch forward.

"I have a feeling if we can get past through those spikes, we'll get to the treasure faster," she answered. “I bet this is a shortcut because over to the side is something else on the map. I bet it’s snakes or something.” She shuddered.

Nola grinned up at her. "Good thinking. Leap of Fate indeed," she laughed.

"What about Honey?" Brian asked.

"I think I can reach over where Nola is," came the answer. "When she lets go, I'll grab the dry rock."

“Try to wiggle your foot over here too,” Nola instructed. “See if you can brace it on this little rock jutting out.”

Honey nodded.

"And if you both fall?" Dan demanded. Brian ran one hand through his dark hair.

"We don't have much choice, Dan," she answered. "You can't get us up without rope, which we have. And I can’t balance the two of us to throw it up to you."

"I don't like it," he muttered.

Nola was looking down, calculating. Trixie's lantern was providing plenty of light. Dan watched her with a worried expression while Trixie looked thoughtful.

"I think I can do it," Nola finally said. "Worse care scenario, I hit one of the spikes."

"Yeah, which could kill you," Dan muttered.

Trixie glanced at Dan. She was used to Dan's revolving door of women but this was different. He seemed as concerned as it if had been her down there. Was it possible Dan was developing feelings for her? The Bob-Whites had a betting pool going on when and how fast Dan would eventually fall.

"Nola, be careful," she said needlessly.

"I will," Nola answered with a laugh. "This is the kind of hunt I've been dying for!"

Dan and Trixie both winced at her choice of words.

"Honey, you ready?" Nola asked. Honey nodded.

"All right, here I go!" she called. Letting go of Honey and the rock, Nola dropped to the ground, sliding part way along the edge. The Bob-Whites held their breath, and Dan realized he was gripping the edge where the girls had fallen.

Nola's feet hit the ground and she pitched herself sideways to avoid falling on a spike. Losing her balance, she toppled over, crying out as a spike grazed her arm and she crashed into another.

"Nola!" Brian grabbed Dan before he could go leaping over the side.

"I'm all right," she called but her voice lied. "Just a flesh wound. Little bruise."

"Can you throw the rope up?" Brian called.

"Yeah, hang on," she got to her feet slowly. Dan couldn't see blood because of the darkness, but the flashlight illuminated her and her grimace.

A minute later the rope came flying. Brian was able to catch it and looked around for something strong enough to tie it to.

"We can hold it and steady the girls down," Dan suggested.

"Good idea, my arms are getting tired," Honey called up. The two men lined up and Dan, at the front, tossed it to Honey. They held against her weight as she cautiously made her way down the rope.

"Trix, you're next," Dan waved her over.

The petite blonde just shook her head and snickered. A moment later, they were holding against her weight.

"I can probably get you down," Dan said to Brian, "but not sure how I’ll get down."

“It might be a couple of those spikes can be moved,” Brian suggested.

“Forget that,” Nola called up. “They look like they were buried down in the ground a long time ago.”

"What if we're being followed?" Honey asked.

"Doubtful," Dan was shaking his head. "We're following someone else, remember? I thought I was following Nola."

"I hate to leave the rope behind," Brian said. "We might need it somewhere else."

"We'll just have to do without it," Dan answered. “I might be able to secure it to that rock. Worst case scenario, I climb down on the rock, and you’ll have to help me from below.”

Brian nodded.

Meanwhile, Trixie had joined her friends down in the cavern. Holding the lantern up, she could see the ugly gash on Nola's right arm. Her left hand was gripping it for pressure, but Trixie could see the blood seeping through the fingers.

"That doesn't look good. When did you last have a tetanus shot?"

"Last year," Nola said through clenched teeth. "Get the knife out of my boot. Cut my other sleeve off and wrap it around."

"Wait for Brian to look at it," Trixie countered. "He is a doctor, you know."

Nola nodded. Brian was the first to descend, and took a look at her arm.

"I have no supplies, all I can do is wrap it," he frowned. "Know when your last tetanus shot was?"

"Last year," she sighed.

Brian cut the sleeve off and wrapped her arm to staunch the bleeding.

“Bri, a little help here. Looks like it’s gonna be the hard way,” Dan called down. "I decided we might need the rope after all."

The women watched as Dan carefully shimmied and slid his way down the side of the drop off. All three women took a moment to appreciate the view. Brian reached up to secure his friend’s foot and together with Nola’s good arm, they managed to get Dan down, the rope tied over his shoulder.

Dan’s body slid down against her and Nola inhaled sharply, knowing this was not the time to be thinking about sex, but it was hard not to with the detective around.

"I suppose talking you out of this is moot," Dan said to Nola. She flashed him a dazzling grin.

"Not on your life, Detective."

Dan just shook her head.

Trixie was studying the map. "All right guys; let’s figure out what's next."

The group huddled around the crudely drawn map.

***

“You all right?” Dan asked in a low voice.

“Yeah, don’t worry,” Nola flashed him a smile as they made their way through the tunnel. The cool air was wrapping around them as they worked their way lower under the cave.

Nola was grateful for the semi-darkness, so no one could see the pain in her face. Her arm was throbbing, and she didn’t know how much longer she could take it.

“A dead end!” Trixie exclaimed. She and Honey were in the lead. They had learned the lesson and made sure to sweep the ground in front of them with light before walking.

The group looked around.

" The tunnel doesn’t end. It can’t!” Nola made her way to the front. “No freaking way!”

She began to run her hands over the smooth wall. Dan stepped up behind her to help as the others studied the map.

“This looks like rain,” Honey pointed to the next obstacle on the map.

“But it’s brown, not blue,” Brian pointed out.

“The ink could have changed over time,” Trixie countered.

“This wall isn’t natural,” Nola announced. They all glanced up.

“What do you mean? It feels like rock to me,” Dan said.

“It’s too smooth. There’s no way possible that a natural wall here could be so smooth. This was put here.”

“Another trap?” Brian tensed.

“Likely,” Nola answered. “The trick is to figure it out before one of us springs it. Move very carefully.”

Trixie had stepped up to the wall and was inspecting it as well. “It almost seems like…” she was muttering to himself as Dan joined her.

“What’ve you got?”

“I think it moves. Give me a hand,” Trixie answered, bracing herself against it.

“Um, Trix, I don’t think that’s the best—” Honey started to speak as Nola turned around.

“Don’t!” she cried.

But the wall moved, revealing itself to be a big boulder, blocking a tunnel. Dan and Brian finally stepped over to help push it and the three moved it enough to leave a slender opening.

“See? Nothing happened,” Trixie said confidently, looking down for a trap to suddenly swing open.

A rumble made his smile vanish.

“I hope that was someone’s stomach,” Trixie said softly.

Nola and Dan looked up at the same time.

“Oh, God,” Nola said softly. “Move!”

“What?” Brian looked up. Above him was a boulder swinging. A quick glance back the way they came revealed more. All were swinging. No one had thought to look above them instead of down at the ground.

“Those aren’t going to hold long!” he said.

“Through the tunnel. Now!” Dan grabbed Honey, who was closet to him, and shoved her through the small opening. There was a flurry of activity as they scrambled through. Brian grabbed Nola and shoved her through before following.

Dan pulled through Trixie through the opening as the swinging boulder dropped. It landed where Trixie had been only seconds before, blocking the passageway completely.

“Damn,” Dan muttered, breathing heavily, holding his old friend tight up against him. “You all right?”

“Yeah. Thanks,” Trixie said.

“No prob.”

“Where now?” Trixie demanded. She didn’t catch the stricken and peeved look on Nola’s face, as Nola stared at the now blocked passageway.

The passageway they were in was even more dank and damp. Honey started to lean against the wall but quickly decided not to when she felt something squishy on it. Skin crawling, she stepped closer to Brian for comfort.

Nola held her lantern up to the map.

“I don’t know. But I think those were the circles. We should be close to the X.”

“Didn’t you watch Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade? He clearly said X never, ever, marks the spot,” Trixie answered.

“But then he found it in the library, under the X meaning ten, in Roman numerals,” Honey replied.

“Not to mention, this is a bit more Goonies, than Indiana Jones, Trix,” Dan answered. “I wonder if Spielberg ever saw this map or heard the legend. Maybe it inspired him.”

“Hang on,” Nola said. “How did Matten get through the boulders?”

The group stared at each other.

“What if he went the other way?” Honey asked. “Look at the map, it appears to be a split. We went the way of the spikes; I bet Matten went the way of this.” She pointed to the other set of squiggly lines and shuddered. “I bet its snakes.”

Nola sighed and closed her eyes. She was tired and her arm ached. She felt a strong arm slip around her waist and she could smell Dan’s cologne.

“You sure you’re all right?” he asked.

She nodded. “Yeah. Just tired.”

“Brian,” Dan called. “Come look at Nola.”

“I’m fine,” she argued.

Brian made his way over, holding up his lantern.

“It’s hard to judge her color with this light,” he said. “But let me look at her arm.”

Nola winced as he untied the bandage and frowned.

“I really don’t like the way this is looking,” he muttered. “It doesn’t seem to be clotting. Do you have any issues with blood clotting?”

“Not that I know. Look, we’re almost there,” Nola said quietly. “Once we’re back above ground, you can do whatever. But we can’t go back now anyway.”

Brian nodded. “As soon as we’re out of here, I can treat it properly.”

Nola nodded and started walking again.

***

The five made their way through the tunnel, Nola and Dan in the lead.

“Check this out,” Nola said, flashing her light ahead. Dan squinted into the darkness, adding his light.

“What is it?” Trixie asked, almost running into them.

“The tunnel splits,” Dan answered. Nola studied the map.

“That might be this figure here. Look. I thought it was a chicken foot or something, but it may be here.”

“Three tunnels.”

“Any idea where they go?” Trixie asked.

“Nope. Map just shows the sketch. It’s quite crappy as far as maps go,” Nola answered.

“We could split up,” Trixie suggested.

“No way,” the others answered in unison.

“Not without knowing where they go,” Nola answered, leaning forward and shining her light down one of them.

“Hey, be careful. It looks slippery over here,” Dan said.

Brian and Honey were peering into one of the other tunnels.

“Hey, I hear something,” Brian said excitedly.

Nola turned and looked at him. “What?”

“It sounds like . . . water rushing,” Brian said thoughtfully. Honey came closer, leaning towards the tunnel.

“But the water was back there, running . . .” Nola was mumbling, then gasped. “Get away from there! Now!”

“Why, what—” Honey started to ask.

“Bats! Heads down!” Nola cried, dropping to her knees and covering her hair.

Honey screamed as the bats came flooding out. Brian grabbed her and forced her down to the ground, covering her. Trixie stepped back just in time and quickly hit the ground, followed by Dan, who instinctively tried to block Nola’s body with his.

The beating wings echoed in the small tunnel as the bats rushed over them.

Brian held Honey close, feeling her slender figure trembling in his arms.

After what felt like an eternity, the sounds faded away.

“It should be clear,” Nola said weakly, looking up. Her gaze met Dan’s and she swallowed hard. She hated to admit the bats were easier to wait out with his protective embrace around her and his body covering hers.

“I hate bats,” Honey whispered, shaking.

“It’s okay, they’re gone,” Brian assured her, helping her to her feet.

Trixie ran her hand over her sandy curls, shuddering. “Remind me to stop chasing criminals through tunnels. You run into bats often?” she demanded.

“On occasion,” Nola shrugged. “It took me a minute to realize what could sound like water rushing. I’ve been out of the field too long or I would have clued in faster. ”

“Well, it’s a good bet our flighty friends know we weren’t hanging out in a tunnel with an exit,” Dan said.

“No, bats like to hide where there’s security,” Nola flashed her light down the tunnel, just for confirmation. Looking around she found a small rock. Weighing it in her hand, she threw it with force into the now empty tunnel. She heard it hit the back. “I’d bet money that’s one way only. That leaves door numbers two and three.”

“Brian, since you so cleverly found the inhabitants of the last one, how about you try again?” Dan asked with a smile.

“Forget it, Danny,” Brian said cheerfully. “Who do I look like, Batman?”

“You brood enough,” Trixie muttered to her oldest sibling.

“Bats, crocs and boulders, oh my!” Brian said gamely. “What’s next?”

“Don’t ask,” Nola answered, studying the map. “I don’t know what this pattern is. It looks like the right tunnel will wind in an S.”

Trixie was cautiously peering into the third tunnel. “I don’t hear anything or see anything, except some slime.”

“Slime?” Nola perked up. “Any slime in the middle tunnel?”

“No, dry as a bone,” Brian answered, looking into it.

“Then we go with door number three,” Nola said with satisfaction.

“How do you know?” Trixie asked.

“Slime means condensation. Which means somewhere there’s a water source. Look how the river seems to run along the way,” she held up the map for Trixie to see it.

“Good eye,” Trixie said in admiration.

“Thanks. Just watch your step. Otherwise you’re likely to find yourself on Splash Mountain, sans the boat.” Nola shined her light into the tunnel and stepped forward. “Here goes.”

Dan was close behind her as he followed her into the tunnel, carefully placing his feet on the ground. He could hear the others following and their flashlights bobbed along, casting eerie shadows on the tunnel walls.

They had walked for a while, when Nola realized the air temperature had dropped. Running her hand along the wall, she realized the moss and slime was thicker.

“I think we’re near something,” she murmured. She shined her light ahead and began to walk faster. “Definitely close to the water source.”

“Hang on,” Dan said sharply, moving to keep up with her.

“There’s an end somewhere!” she called excitedly.

She turned a corner and disappeared, causing Dan to bolt after her. He almost crashed into her when he came upon her standing still, and staring.

The tunnel opened into a huge cavern, and there, standing at bay across the underground lake, while the water gently lapped at its sides, was a giant pirate ship with tattered sails.