Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4 "Grounded on our last night here!" Michael whined as he lay on his cot, sketching. "Well, we wouldn't be if you would've listened to your dad in the first place," Justin replied. "It's been a fun summer, though. Hard to believe we'll be back in a boring old classroom in a couple days." "Yup." Michael sketched quietly for a moment, then asked, "Hey, when we entered the cave, did we take two rights and a left, or three rights?" "Three rights, I think," Justin replied. "Um, what are you doing?"

"Drawing a map." Justin knew Michael well enough to know that this could not be good. "Michael, you are not going back into that cave." Michael showed Justin his map. "Check it out! Here's the ledge. Don't you want to know what was up there? It could be a treasure. What if we made THE discovery of the summer? Wouldn't that be amazing?"

"WE? Don't bring ME into this! And YOU are not going back into that cave." Justin crossed his arms. "Remember what your dad said? 'Never go into a cave without an experienced guide.' Those were his exact words." "Exactly! I've been into that cave, and now I have a map of it. If that's not experience, I don't know what is!" Michael reasoned. "Do us both a favor and forget about whatever is up on that ledge," Justin said. "I'm not sure I can," Michael replied. "We leave tomorrow, and we may never come back. What if I go my whole life wondering what was up there?" "I think the real question is, are you going to listen to your dad or not?" Justin said. He blew out the lantern between their cots and rolled over. "Good night." "Good night," Michael replied, but his mind was racing, and he was not feeling the least bit sleepy. So many questions, he thought.