| Elusive Proof by Jude Keenan |
| Here is a story I wrote for a homework project. The assignment was to write about a given illustration, which you can see by using the 'link' at the end of the story. My grade for the story was an "A". |
| Do you know those fiction stories about monsters and dwarves? Have you ever wondered if they were true? I know I have, especially during this expedition. My name is Jack Noital and I'm an amateur explorer. I've been exploring places all my life during weekends and Summer vacations, but I have never had an experience quite like this one. Well, let's start at the beginning. |
| It was a beautiful Spring day and I was on vacation with my wife, son, and daughter. We were having a pleasant week at the beach during our children's Spring Break when I received a letter from the founder of the corporation I was working for. I read the letter: |
| Dear Jack Noital, I have been aware of your part-time interest in exploration. Rantucket Inc. would like you to accompany us on an expedition to explore a little known part of Ireland. We have found evidence of a brand new species of animal among bones of a dinosaur. The dinosaur seems to have resembled an alligator with wings, but you will have to see the new species with your own eyes. Find enclosed plane tickets and a map to our present position. Our expedition is almost ready to break camp, so you will have to arrive by May 30. We will make it well worth your time and effort. |
| Sincerely, Reginald Rantucket |
| "May 30th!!!", I yelled. "That's only five days from now!" I quickly discussed it with my family. Our vacation was about to end, and this helped us decide that I should go. I hurried packing my things and arrived at the airport just in time for the flight to Ireland. |
| While I was on the plane I saw a friend from Accounting, George Chummy - don't ask about his last name. He is also an amateur explorer. We have met in a few places, and were becoming best friends. George had also been invited by Rantucket Incorporated to participate in the Ireland expedition. George is kind of chubby, but also as jolly as Santa on Christmas Eve, and it was easy to catch up on our situation. Soon we started to discuss the current expedition, in particular what we might find there. We had received similar letters about dinosaurs with wings, and a new animal species, but George seemed most curious about what food would be at the camp. |
| After landing, a taxi took us to the very end of a paved road. Unfortunately, our map went on for a few more miles. We rode those last miles in the back of an ox drawn cart, until we neared a swift flowing brook. There, on the other side of the brook, we saw a few tents. Someone should have thought to build a bridge, but we only found rocky sections. It took a few minutes to jump from rock to rock, but we finally made it across the chilly Irish waters to arrive at the Rantucket campsite. |
| We were surprised at how small it was - just a handful of tents, a campfire and a few camp dogs. As the dogs barked, George and I walked up and introduced ourselves to a bearded young man watching over a pot of coffee on the fire. He said we should report to tent number three for news on what had been found to date. After finding tent three, we raised the flap and stepped into the darkness. As our eyes adjusted to the lantern light we were greeted by Mr. Reginald Rantucket himself. I was relieved to have finally met him. His eyes and hair were brown, but he wore common clothes that you might not expect a wealthy person to even own. |
| "Well, now that the slow-pokes are here we can get started! We leave at dawn!", announced Reggie. George and I felt embaressed about being the last ones to arrive. We might have held back the expedition, but that would have to be behind us now. "Gentlemen, we have found bones of what we first thought were dinosaurs. After testing, the bones date back only to the dark ages - nowhere near the time of dinosaurs." Reggie continued, "One of our clever scientists is trying to suggest they might be dragon bones from the time of myths and legends. We have also found many other interesting artifacts, but have you gentlemen ever heard of a creature that makes sounds like a harp being played?" Of course we had not, and said so. "Good! Tomorrow you might be able to say differently! So rest up for the morning, mates! Don't wander away from camp - this is leprechaun country, you know...bwa, ha, ha!". |
| I walked along with George until we came to an empty tent which we claimed as our own. We felt very tired after our long flight, cramped taxi drive, bumpy hay ride, and wet jump across river rocks. Both George and I decided to get some sleep. |
| I awoke to the sound of a beautiful instrument being played far in the distance. When I stuck my head out of the tent I saw that dawn was just beginning to break. Pulling on my pants and jacket and grabbing my camera, I crawled out of our tent and began to walk towards the music. The dogs looked at me sleepily and let me pass without barking. The musical sounds became louder and louder as they led me back towards the brook. I knew I was close now, and used great care in picking my way through the Irish brush, not wanting to disturb whatever was making such beautiful music. There, not fifteen feet in front of me, was a young woman playing a harp. Looking closer, I could hardly believe what I saw - she had the tail of a fish instead of legs! I do not know how long I sat silently in the bushes listening and watching her play. Sharp pains in my legs brought me back to reality. Then I remembered my camera! Slowly - ever so slowly - I began to raise the camera to my eye. I centered the creature in the viewfinder of the camera, and slowly moved my finger towards the shutter release. Then the morning air was shattered with a loud voice yelling, "Hey Jack! Is that you over there?!" It was George Chummy coming down to the brook to wash the night from his face. The woman was startled, and stood for just a brief second. I knew I had just a moment - I stood and snapped a picture just as the dogs began to bark. I should have brought a Poloroid camera, but my camera held only traditional film and the nearest shop that could develop photographs was miles away. |
| We took the harp back to camp, and I told my story amidst thunderous laughter from all the camp's members. I had one chance to prove my story, and chose not to accompany the group as they broke camp and began their expedition upstream. Instead, I rode in the back of another ox cart to the nearest main road, until a nice couple stopped their car and asked if I needed a lift to town. In the village I quickly asked directions to the nearest photography store. I dropped off my film for developing and had a small lunch in one of the town's pubs while I waited. Two hours later the clerk handed me a crisp packet of newly developed photos. After paying, I ran from the store and found a bench under a shade tree. I tore open the packet and looked through its contents. There was a photo of my children making a sand castle, another of my wife cooking dinner at the barbeque, five shots of ocean waves and family, one of George Chummy on the plane, one of the Rantucket camp site the day we arrived...the next would be my prize...my proof...my masterpiece! The countless mountain hikes and canoe trips were finally going to pay off - the Smithsonian might even name this creature after me: The Noital Lass! My hands shook as I lifted the photo of the camp to see what was underneath. There, in the photo, was the brook and the harp. Even George and the camp dogs were there in the background. Where was the Noital Lass? Where she will always be, I suppose. She is deep in my most timeless memories, just beneath that circle of ripples on the brook. |
| ~ the end ~ |