Treasure Sleuth by Amy Shaw

standing in complete darkness, staring at the stars. Then the guy moved his hand and Mark froze again, watching as he sucked on a cigarette turning his whole face green with light. Both men standing in complete darkness but for Mark he could see everything as clear as day. A green day.
    Slowly, as if not to set off a motion alarm, Mark stepped backwards careful not to crunch on any stones. As soon as he was out of site, Mark turned and carefully treaded his way up the lane towards the barn. Then Abby's voice blared into his ears.
    "Big Joe, Big Joe, you may have company. A truck pulling a trailer just turned down the lane with an off-roader following."
    Shit, Mark thought.
    "Okay, thanks Little Jo," he whispered.
    "Can you hear me Big Joe?" Abby asked.
    Frustrated, Mark snapped back, "Yes I can hear you, I just can't talk very loud. There's a guy here."
    "I can hardly hear you."
    "Turn your bloody volume up then, I can't speak any louder."
    "Is that better?"
    "Is what better? I can hear you fine."
    "Okay I can hear you now. Did you hear what I said, you have an off-roader…"
    "And a truck with a trailer, yes I heard thanks. What makes you think they're going to come down the track?"
    "I don't know. They look dodgy. The off-roader is full of men. Looks like a gang."
    Mark started jogging back to the barn area but it was too late. Lights in the distance beamed down the track in the direction towards Mark. He knew he'd never make it to the barn. The trucks were moving too fast. He couldn't turn back either, because of a security guard with an astrology fetish.
    Mark scanned the hedge rows for any openings to climb through or sit in. A few feet away on the other side of the track was his best bet. A pocket of brambles to the right of a small tree that protruded the hedge. He lowered himself to the ground and shuffled across to the other side doing his best to stay out of the headlights which were growing bigger and almost reaching where he stood. Carefully and quietly he climbed the grassy hedge, gripping hold of the tree and waited.
    If he jumped now he would make too much noise and the security guard would hear. He would have to wait until the last moment where the trucks were close enough that their diesel engines would cover his twig snapping leap, but still far enough back to not see his shadow bounce in the hedge. With his hand turning white from gripping hold of the tree, the moment was almost upon him. He lowered an inch to get full thrust but then the lights veered away as the convoy turned into the barn area. This was as close as the trucks were going to get so Mark took his moment and leaped into the top of the hedge sinking down into the brambles, the thorns tearing at his hands and face.
    Mark lay motionless, his dead weight being held in place by a blanket of brambles. It was a good jump. He was positioned so well into the hedge line that passers-by would do just that. Pass by. Getting out of the hedge would be another issue all together, but for now this would do. Mark listened for the security guard. Had he heard the brambles snap with Mark's jump? Mark could sense no presence in the lane beside him so it seemed like the security guard was none the wiser. Probably still stargazing. The diesel engines shut off and several doors closed. Mark moved his arm as slowly and as quietly as he could to bring the night vision goggles back into line with his eyes and adjusted the focus.
    The world was green again. He waited and watched out of small gaps in the brambles as the distant voices got closer. Mark held his breath as a gang of men walked along the track right by where he lay in the hedge. They were carrying an assortment of weapons and were using red light torches. That confirmed their status with the farm or the building site. They were not supposed to be here anymore than he was. Mark knew the red lights would allow them to see in the dark without drawing any unwanted attention. Unlike normal white light, the red