The Proverbial War

He held it over the abyss I had fallen part way into and its light revealed a grim site. The drop-off was a sheer forty feet or so down and there were quite a few skeletons at the bottom both of man and beast alike. I could've been one of those.

"Do you think whoever stashed this treasure intended all this?" I asked gesturing to the hole.

Colt cocked his head to the side and regarded me with a wry smile.

Okay that had been a dumb question.

Colt chuckled then and I couldn't help but notice how nice it sounded. What did his laughs sound like?

"Look." He said pointing.

I followed his finger and saw a narrow ledge along the one side of the abyss that led off into a darker passageway. Colt without saying another word headed for the narrow ledge.

"You're not going back there are you?" I stammered out in sudden concern.

He glanced at me and shrugged, "Why not?"

"Why do we need treasure? It's too risky Colt. Please don't go!"

"You sound concerned, how touching. Call me curious, but I want to see what the real treasure is."

"What are you talking about? The treasure's right there before us you can see what's there." I said puzzled.

"Correction, that's the lure if you will, intended to protect something much more important."

"And you know this how?"

"Gut instinct. Wait here, I'll be back."

I shook my head vehemently as I gave the mouth of the cave a quick look.

"Nothing doing! I'm coming with you."

He shrugged and moved on.

I approached the narrow ledge and after a moment I stepped out onto it. Colt's hand came out to press reassuringly against my back and it helped to relax me. Before long we were past the ledge and together we started into the dark passageway.