Timecachers by Glenn R. Petrucci Page B

plain horse. How do you do?”
    “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” said Adam, sending Sal an admonishing “cool it” glance. “Please excuse me and Sal for being surprised. We were doing some exploring in this small gulley, and didn’t expect to find anyone else here.”
    “You surprised me as well when you began climbing down, so I kept quiet and out of sight to observe you for a while. When your colleagues discovered my horse, I felt I should announce my presence,” said John. Any trace of annoyance, if it had ever existed, had vanished from John Carter’s tone as he continued to speak to the group.
    “I am returning from a journey and my horse began to show signs of irritation and swelling in his fetlock,” John said, pointing to the horse’s bandaged front leg. “I may have over-stressed him, as I am anxious to return home to bring the news of my trip to my people. I was aware of this secluded area where I could rest him, and also find tassel flower, willow and chamomile to treat him. I made camp here yesterday and prepared a poultice for him. I was just about to remove it when I heard your approach.”
    He squatted and began to remove the bandage on the horse’s fetlock, revealing a soggy, green clump of vegetation. “Yes, it looks as if the poultice has done its job, so I may resume my journey. I will walk alongside him for a while until he is fully recovered.”
    “I think we are about finished here also,” said Adam. “We still need to compare notes, but it seems that our explorations this morning have been unproductive and disappointing. We may have to content ourselves just with enjoying the scenery today.”
    “A worthy undertaking. Although, one never fully realizes the remunerations of a journey until it has been completed,” John answered. “The day is still young. Perhaps the benefits of your explorations are yet to come. As for me, I must gather my few belongings, climb the slope out of this valley, and continue my own journey. Good luck to you in your endeavors,” he said as he led the horse away from the group.
    “And to you in yours, sir,” Tom replied as the others nodded their goodbye and moved off in the direction where they entered the valley.
    “Man, what an oddball,” said Sal as soon as John was out of earshot. “I could have sworn I heard banjo music back there.”
    “C’mon, Sal,” said Alice. “You think anyone without a Jersey accent is a hick.”
    “Yeah, what’s your point?” replied Sal.
    “He seemed a bit assertive at first,” said Tom, “but I think he was okay. He had a strange way of speaking for a Georgian, I thought, and a couple of his statements were somewhat odd. Just before you walked up he asked if we were searching for gold.”
    “Gold? Odd for sure,” said Sal. “What was with that ‘my people’ crap?”
    “He sounded like he was a Native American,” Adam said. “His accent was more northern than southern. Maybe he’s on vacation, or part of some reenactment group, trying to stay in character.”
    “Sure, dude,” said Sal. “My people do lunch with your people. We find gold. Take home to Great White North. Buy much beer and bacon,” Sal quipped, drawing laughter from the others.
    “Seriously,” said Tom, “I don’t know what he was getting at with that ‘gold’ comment either. It’s not like it would do anyone any good to find gold in a state park. He certainly is an interesting character. I believe your guess is correct, Adam, that he was Native American. And I’d bet that you’re right about the vacation part, too. His ‘people’ are probably just the folks he came here to ride horses with.”
    “We can ponder the mystery of John Carter later,” said Adam. “Let’s consider our own mystery for a while. Alice, did you guys discover anything that might account for the anomaly beacon?”
    “John Carter and his horse was the most interesting thing we came across,” Alice answered. “Other than that, all we noticed