The Mojave Heathen - Robert F. Clifton (best books to read non fiction TXT) 📗

animals adapted to living in desert conditions. Right now the Timbisha Shoshone, Indians live in Death Valley. They’ve been there for at least a thousand years, It s very possible that they are the decedents of what is called, “The Ancient Ones.” If so, then there might be signs of things they left behind,” said Ben.

“I find it hard to believe that anyone could live there under the current conditions today, let alone a thousand years,” said George.

“Well, you can believe it. When in the valley they cared for the mesquite trees. They harvested the pods from the tree and grinding them into a sweet flour. From the flour they made cakes. They took the cakes with them into the mountains where it was much cooler than the valley floor in summer. With the cakes they ate pine nuts and game.”

“I think that’s enough history lessons for one day. Tomorrow, I’ll introduce you two to the student archeologists that will be assigned to work with us. At the same time I’ll see how the permit is taking shape,” said Edith.

“Fine, now if you’re ready I’d like to see your personal

collection of artifacts, George,” said Ben.

“Fine, come with me. Edith are you coming with us,?” asked Bingham.

“No, I’ll sit right here. I’ve seen your collection more than I’ve seen my own,”Edith replied.

****************

Edith and Ben sat on the screened, back porch of the house sipping from glasses of ice tea. “So tell me, what do you think of George?.” asked Edith.

Ben thought for a moment and said, “ He comes across as a guy who grew up as a rich, spoiled, kid. The only difference today is that he is no longer a kid”.

“Really? Anything else?”

“Well, I’ve only met him today, but off hand I would say that he is use to being in charge. That probably comes with being the boss in all of his businesses. I foresee a problem if he, out of habit attempts to take over control of the operation.”

“I won’t let him and certainly the university would put a stop to any such move,” said Edith.

“We’ll just have to wait and see,” Ben replied.

“Anything else?”, asked Edith.

“About the preparation for the dig? No.”

“Well, somethings on your mind. What is it?” she asked.

“I keep thinking about Chester Hopkins mentioning in his journal about the piece of metal he found glowing in the dark.”

“What about it?”

“Let me ask you, as an archeologist that has been on many expeditions all over the world have you ever come upon any rocks or stones that glowed in the dark?,” asked Ben.

“No, no I haven’t.”

“Yet Hopkins mentioned that there was a glow being emitted from the bag that held his gold and the piece of metal he found.”

“And, this is what is bothering you?”

“Yes.”

Edith got up out of her chair and said, “Let me call Gary Bennington. He’s a geologist. I’ll see if he can come over and shed some light on this problem of yours. He lives just up the street.”

Fifteen minutes later Ben Cortland shook hands with Doctor Gary Bennington, Ph.D. Doctor Bennington then took a seat on the porch and after making himself comfortable said, “Now, what is it that you would like to know?”

After explaining the existence of Hopkins journal and the

mention of the glow from the nugget bag, Edith said, “ we are trying to determine what the old prospector saw that night he mentioned.”

“Do you happen to have the journal available?”, Benson asked.

“Yes. We have a copy right here if you should want to read it,” Edith replied.

“Please,” said Bennington.

After reading the page where Hopkins wrote about the glow, Bennington said. “From what I can take from what he wrote, he mentioned two things that stand out to me. First he uses the word “nugget”. To me a nugget is a solid lump. One definition is that a nugget is a native lump of precious metal. In this case gold is mentioned. Gold normally does no glow in the dark. However, some minerals do, due to fluorescence. All minerals have the ability to reflect light. Now then, since we know that a nugget is a native lump and in this case, a lump of precious metal we can also assume that Hopkins gold stash also had other minerals attached. Some minerals have the ability to temporarily absorb light and an instance later release a small amount of light of a different wave length. Therefore, in my opinion your man, Hopkins woke, lit his lantern and when he did the light from the lantern was absorbed and then released back as what he called a glow.”

“That makes perfect sense. don’t you agree Ben?”, asked Edith.

“Not quite. Hopkins also mentioned an eight by six inch piece of metal that he placed in with his gold stash. From what I read I get the impression that on that night in question, he thought that the glow was coming from the piece of metal. My question is could he have been right?”

Bennington thought for a moment, then said, “Let’s dwell on the word “fluorescence.” I believe that this is the key for what we are looking forward to finding. Ben, you in focusing on the word metal and one that glows in the dark gives us, zinc sulphide. Zinc sulphide is an inorganic compound, an ore. It exists in two, crystalline forms which is a form of polymorphism which is found in metals.”

“What is it used for”, asked Edith.

“Mainly as a phosphor for, let’s say cathode ray tubes, X-ray screens and to any glow in the dark product,” said Bennngton.

“Anything else?” asked Ben.

“Let me think. Oh yes. It’s also used in scintillators.”

“For what purpose?”, asked Edith.

“Today?Radiation contamination,” Bennington answered.

*************

Ben Cortland and George Bingham smiled and shook hands with the students that were assigned to work the expedition at Furnace Creek. Emma Blake, a slightly plump, blond standing almost five foot ten was introduced as a straight A student. Harry Barns, a tall thin kid with a case of acne also had top grades. Helen Kemp was the small petite brunet who wore eye glasses, insisted that she could carry and move buckets of sand and stone when called upon. Finally, there was Alex Green a young man who gave up a football scholarship so he could devote himself to the study of anthropology without any interruptions. Ben was impressed with the four, intelligent, and what seemed to be, mature students.

Everyone took a seat in Edith’s classroom While Edith took a position behind the lectern. Addressing the four students she said, “The four of you know why you are here. You were selected to work on this expedition to gain not only knowledge, but credit towards your desired degrees. I can’t promise you that we will find what we are looking for, but I can assure you that we will try. All of you are fortunate. Those of us that have been involved in the sciences of archeology and anthropology have worked under extreme, difficult conditions. We have worked in heat, cold, rain, drought, snow and mud. At times we have been successful. Other times we found nothing. At this time I can promise you only the fact that you will work and the work will be hard. Hopefully, we’ll find what we are searching for. Now, I would like to introduce you to the two men of importance to this project. Mr. George Bingham. Mr. Bingham in his generosity has agreed to finance this project and as an afterthought has also agreed that all of you should received a salary for your work. Please sir, a few words to the students if you will.”

“Thank you, Professor Shipley. Let me first say that as an amateur archeologist, I envy you. You not only have the opportunity to study in your chosen field, but through your advanced knowledge have been selected to work on a project,

not only approved by the university but also a scientific endeavor approved by the federal government. Personally, again as an amateur I look forward to working with each and everyone of you,” said Bingham.

“Thank you Mr. Bingham. Now, I turn the lectern over to Doctor Benjamin Cortland,” said Edith.

Ben thanked Edith then took a position at the lectern. “Let me start with the fact that each one of you have been given a copy of Chester Hopkins journal. By now you should know that Hopkins was a gold prospector who worked in Death Valley in

eighteen forty nine. I don’t want you to just read it . I want you to study it. Develop your own opinions and at the same time do not be afraid to discuss your opinions with us. Now, allow me to mention my personal interest in this operation. Hopkins mentioned in his journal, that while digging for gold he uncovered the dead body of what he called, a “heathen.”

My particular interest in the science of anthropology is the study of Paleo Indians. Actually what I seek is evidence of the Anasazi or “The Ancient Ones.” Hopefully, we will find some evidence of their existence at our chosen site. Keep in mind that the site selected has been designated due to the written words of Chester

Hopkins. Nonetheless, I’m very certain that we will be working in or very near Hopkins prospecting digs. Thank you Doctor Shipley.”

Edith returned to the front of the room and said, “Now then, I want to go over some of the conditions of the permit that allows us to do research in a National Park. First of all we must follow and obey all rules and regulations of the park. It is possible that our actions and conduct will be supervised by a park representative to make sure that we comply with regulations. Second, the permit can be revoked at any time for the breach of any condition. Third, collection of specimens, including materials. This means that all specimens found must be reported as new specimens to the National Park Service.

There will be no specimens found by anyone of us taken and kept by us as souvenirs of this dig. Most important is this fact and I ask you to listen carefully. I’ll keep it brief. All, I repeat all, specimens taken are federal property. Specimens can not be destroyed or discarded or removed from one place or another without National Park Service authorization. The rest of the regulations deals with my responsibility as permit-tee and the reporting system. We leave for Death Valley in two days.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Four

Furnace Creek

 

While Edith made sure that the students were situated in their cabins and arrangements made for their stay Ben walked out towards the Funeral Mountains. He saw them first in the distance, a brownish gray against a bright. blue, cloudless sky.

In his hand he held a small compass. The needle pointed due east. East towards Nevada, the place that in the mind of Ben was where Hopkins came from and into the valley. As he walked it suddenly came to him that he was on a road. A paved roadway

that wasn’t here in the year, eighteen forty nine. “Is what I’m looking for buried under sand, stone and tarmacadam?,” he asked himself.

He looked at the shoulder of the road and saw white and gray stone. The stone appeared to have been broke or shattered and he thought that the stone material collected on the side of the pavement was the result of bulldozers breaking rock as it sliced through the valley floor. Now, that part of the valley floor

lay covered with a tar-like material.

As he walked he eventually came to a place where a sign reading, “Caution Extreme Heat Danger” had been placed by the Park Service, warning hikers of desert conditions. He stopped walking, realizing that because of the changes made by man in the valley he would have to re-examine the landmarks

mention by Hopkins in order to locate the prospectors digging location.

Back in his room, he found it a bit warm and turned down the thermostat of the