The Map Maker's Quest by Matthew J. Krengel Page A

they all hurried inside.
    â€œQuick close the door,” Jane said. The man was nearing the bottom of the stairs, and he seemed to sense that something was out of place. Jane turned, scurried into the open door, and watched as Tasker slipped the door shut and held it.
    â€œWhere’s the padlock?” Jackie asked suddenly. She watched as a look of horror crossed Tasker face, he looked down and then pointed to the bottom of the door.
    â€œIt’s outside on the ground,” he whispered.
    Jacob rolled his eyes as he groaned quietly. He sneaked a look outside the lighthouse and saw the lighthouse keeper round the corner. He paused as he examined the door. Jacob saw his eyes widen slightly and then he hurried and bent over to grab the lock.
    â€œI told Jim to lock this a dozen times,” the man muttered. “When will he learn to double check his work?”
    From inside the small main room they heard him shake the smaller lock to make sure it was secure. Jackie frown as she heard the thick lock slide into place and the thick iron lock click shut. The man pulled once on the lock and padlock and then turned and vanished into the darkness.
    â€œNice job,” Jacob muttered. He glared at Tasker and wondered once more if the dwarf was the one feeding information to the Adherents. “How do we get out now without alerting everyone.”
    â€œLet’s just find the clue,” Jane muttered.
    â€œWhat are we looking for again?” Tasker asked.
    Â 
    Set in iron,
    Etched in glass,
    Revealed by light,
    Read the words,
    Follow the path.
    Â 
    â€œHmm etched in glass,” Jacob muttered. “Lights?” He turned and began inspecting the lanterns and lights around the main room.
    â€œI don’t think it’s down here Jacob,” Jackie said with a smile.
    â€œWhere else would it be?” Jacob replied.
    â€œUncle Ernie would have needed something he knew would never go away,” Jane explained. “Lanterns and lights could break or be replaced.” She stepped into the next room that was circular and housed the steps leading up into the air.
    â€œThere’s only one light in this place Uncle Ernie would have known would never be replaced,” Jackie said. She pointed up into the air and nodded her head towards the circular stairs leading up into the upper floor of the lighthouse. They climbed around the wrought iron steps and entered the upstairs room of the lighthouse. It was dark and Jane knew that they dared not turned the lights on.
    â€œI’m going to climb up into the mirror and see if I can find it,” Jane said. She looked around until she found the switch that would stop the light from circling. “Jackie, when I get up there flip this switch. Hopefully, when the mirror stops spinning no one will notice for at least a few minutes.”
    â€œDo they ever turn it on?” Jackie asked curiously.
    â€œCouple times a year at most,” Jacob replied. “You know I’ve lived this close to Split Rock all my life, and the first time I visit it is after dark and without paying. How horrible is that?”
    Jackie nodded and smiled at him.
    Jane walked to the green housing that protected the mechanism and climbed up on top of it. She remembered from her last visit that the massive mirror turned on a container of pure mercury and was rigged to a counter weight that had to be wound every couple hours. Pushing those thoughts from her mind, she continued to work her way up until she reached the top she called down to her sister, “Okay, throw the switch.”
    â€œIt’s off,” Jackie shouted up to her.
    Jane waited until the light stopped moving, and then she pushed her way up into the interior of the light. She examined the glass shards and immediately spotted one that was different. There was one near the top of assembly with a three etched into the surface. It could have been there for decades and no one would have ever seen it.