“How did you know I was here?” Waylon asked Gretta. “Do you think I was kidding when I said only I see you when I close my eyes?” she smiled. Waylon was fluttered. Is this time for romance? Roderick felt awkward. He would have looked away if he had known it wasn’t ending like this. The couple ended up kissing …

Barry also arrived there. “Look.” Barry tried his own method, “Please contribute.” “Contribute?” “Yes. Little or more, but please do something.” “Tafadzwa has left his dogs in forest to search for you two. That’s all I can contribute.” “You don’t understand. We are very close to the treasure.” “How close?” Waylon showed him the decoded portion, “I can give you safety from …

“Where is Waylon?” Tafadzwa asked again. “He had an accident. Perhaps he died.” Pthuy muttered. “So the jeep was his?” Tafadzwa scratched his chin, “But one thing, my ugly friend, we did not find any bodies there.” “Maybe forest hounds did.” Tafadzwa nod. He saw a coin covered in slime. Tafadzwa didn’t touch it, but pointed at it. “Was anyone here before …

Another hour of walk later, they reached infront of a desolated house. The house smelled of rotten flesh. Waylon and Barry were unaffected, but it was stinging Roderick’s nostrils. Waylon knocked six times on his door. “Waylon?” the hoarse voice came from inside. “Yes.” Waylon said. Roderick heard splattering coming towards the door. When his friend opened the door, he realized the sound …

Three of them reached in Tafadzwa’s house by foot. They were glad to not have met the grumpy Ranger again. Waylon took responsibility of Roderick’s and Barry’s safety. He went inside the house, telling them to wait outside till he signals them to get in. Both of them waited behind the bushes. Barry seemed nervous for Waylon. Roderick was ready …

“I had warned you, Waylon.” Ranger said. “Why don’t you want Tafadzwa? You can only oppress weaker people.” “Leave them alone.” A female voice came, “Or I will kill your horse.” Gretta had her gun pointed at neck of Ranger’s horse. The ranger trembled. He did not plead for mercy by his mouth, but his eyes were. Ranger uttered nothing …

They were on their full speed but had to stop the jeep near a trial. A person dressed like a forest ranger was in their way. Roderick would have turned the steering to other direction if he was Waylon. But he could not dictate Waylon’s choice. Waylon opted to sort out things through conversation with the ranger. Ranger came towards …

After an hour of walk, they reached to Tafadzwa’s house. The broken door was as it was. Both could smell the dog’s scent and its fur was scattered around the living room. Roderick looked around the house, looking for any person lurking to shoot him. “Everyone must have gone to search us.” Roderick said, “Maybe they took Barry with them …

Without proper road in the forest, their jeep had to roll over rocks, thorns and rivulets. They were driving in muddy surface when their axle broke. Waylon and Roderick came down off the rocking jeep. Waylon searched for a wrench in the toolbox but couldn’t find it. Roderick was not sure if a wrench was enough to fix axle. He would not have even thought of …

In his room, Tafadzwa also woke up because of loud barking. He could tell something was out of order just by the way how the dog barked. Tafadzwa went straight for the room where he had kept the cipher. It was gone. Tafadzwa rushes at the panicked dog. It fell silent when Tafadzwa checked its snout. He found no difficulty …