Lovelock Caves by Samantha Wymer This Sentence Starts The Story contest entry Artwork by avmurray at FanArtReview.com |
“We found the cave,” Professor Waya shouts out as he wipes away sweat from his forehead with his lucky handkerchief. “We must be careful before we enter to preserve the history of our ancestors.” When the professor’s teacher assistant Grant doesn’t reply, he turns his body around to see Grant bend over looking at something on the muddy ground only a few feet away from the cave. He quickly pushes his glasses up on his nose and tucks the handkerchief away in his back pocket to get a glance at what Grant is looking at instead of listening to him. “Snakeskin,” Grant whimpers, the color draining from his face. “A snake recently shed its skin a few days ago.” “Don’t touch that,” Professor shouts out, startling Grant. “Never touch snakeskin with your bare hands.” Grant stands in a straight position. “Why?” “Seriously?” The professor narrows his eyes at his Teacher Assistant when he asked the most absurd question. “You have been my TA for almost a year now.” Grant half shrugs his shoulders. “Just don’t touch snakeskin,” Professor Waya grumbles, slightly shaking his head. “I need my most knowledgeable folkloristic with me when I enter the cave. One of the first thing I teach in my class is about dangerous snakes.” “About fifteen to ninety percent of snakes,” Grant shouts, “carry salmonella bacteria on their shred skin.” “Never touch,” the professor states, “with your bare heads unless you want to be at risk for bacterial infection.” Grant gives a thumbs up. Why do I put up with him? Professor Waya looks at Grant who walks in his flashy name brand sneakers, nearly stumbles over a loose branch sticking up in the muddy patch. I told him to wear hiking boots, but instead Grant decided to wear expensive sneakers to hike up in the mountains. The professor shakes his head. Grant is highly intellect in his course of studies, but lacking in common sense in all essentials of life. He’s been collaborating with the professor for a year as his teacher assistant to gain a secure position at the university as a professor in the future. Outside the classroom, Grant has been helping the professor’s tribe translate some ancient stones with symbols that told the location of the Lovelock Cave. The Lovelock Cave held ancient traditions to the Paiutes, a Native American tribe in Nevada, Professor Waya’s tribe and ancestors. According to the legends passed from generations to generations, The Lovelock Cave is a portal between this world and the world of giants that came to these lands as protectors of the Paiutes tribes and the sacred lands. Other legends say these giants are the direct descendants of fallen angels that was cast out into the earth as punishment for the rebellion in heaven. Professor Waya is chief of his tribe, and he is honored bound to find these caves and discover the truth. Multiple billionaire companies threaten the lands of the professor’s ancestors, wanting to buy the lands for shopping malls, car lots, and use all the natural resources of the lands for selfish gain. Professor Waya has a strong connection to the lands of his ancestors, he will do anything to protect the past, present, and the future of his people against the greedy heart of the white man. The giants of the Lovelock Caves fought and protected the sacred lands against white man the moment they came to their lands many generations ago. As the legend goes any weeping heart that cries out in the caves will awaken the giants once again, calling them to protect what is rightfully theirs. Professor Waya will do anything to protect the lands of his people. Grant started college at the age of fourteen to become a cultural resource lawyer, next he went to the United Kingdom to major in historical archaeologist. After he finished majoring in the UK, he came back to Nevada to finish his education in palaeography, the study of ancient writing. Along the way he studied anthropology, a branch that studies folklore and mythology of diverse cultures and civilizations from ancient to modern day society. He is brilliant in his field of work, and the youngest to major in many degrees throughout the world. Grant is also the grandson of the Professors Waya late best friend and his second in command Jalen Johnson. As much as the Professor like to give Grant the boot, he tolerates him for his expertise, the promise he made to his best friend Jalen Johnson to watch over Grant, and for the sake of his people and tribe. Grant has a significant importance when it comes to the Lovelock Caves, and the fight against the billionaires that threaten the sacred lands. “We will make an observation of the entrance first,” the professor shouts out. “We will need to see what we are dealing with first before we enter the caves.” Grant slowly walks up the muddy bank, sliding every other step in his sneakers, but he finally manages to catch up with the professor. “What are you going to do if the legends are true?” Grant asked. “Shouldn’t we go to court and fight this legally.” “The legal system is for the white man only,” Professor grumbles as he walks closer to the entry of the cave. “When it comes to Native American tribes, nobody cares about the people, only the land and resources they can find to make money.” “What about the legends?” “They are true,” the professor replies stopping right were he stands. “These white men must be stopped before they destroy anymore land. Without land there is no life for us at all. No future. Do you understand, Grant?” “I do.” They both head toward the entry of the Lovelock Cave.
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Samantha Wymer
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