Jack Canyon and The Wiccan Stones | CHAPTER SIX

Words: 1824

Jack didn't remember much about the fall or how he ended up at
the temple. A small pool, or lagoon, reached up to the front
door of the temple. He lay motionless in it. Perhaps he had
drifted in, or was dragged.

Hiroshi and Taku helped Yuriko onto dry land near the entrance
to the temple. Kisho stood by with the other armed men as Kin
jerked Jack to his feet.

Jack was soaked, but so were the others. He dripped as he
moved to the entrance of the temple. He didn't speak. He
just handed the stones over to Yuriko and continued onward
into the temple.

Yuriko and Hiroshi followed him inside. Kin, Kisho, and the
other men followed behind them.

Jack's mind went back to five years ago when he was inside
another water temple, where he found the Book of Origin.
Though, with that memory came memories of Sophia.

Yuriko stayed close to the clever Jack Canyon, for she
believed he would do something in order to stop her or at
least escape. However, one wrong step caused the ground
beneath her to break open and swallow her.

Jack turned as she screamed and jumped forward to catch her
hands. He slid forward as her weight pulled him toward the
void. He looked down into the darkness as he held onto her.
"I have you! Stop moving!" He glanced back at the others.
"Help me!"

Hiroshi and Kisho helped Jack get Yuriko onto solid ground
again.

Jack rolled over after she was pulled up to safety. His arms
hurt as did his body from the slide. He breathed deeply as he
tried to regain himself.

Yuriko was speechless as she looked at Jack. "You saved me,"
she spoke in confusion.

"What can I say?" Jack asked as he slowly rose to his feet.
His eyes met hers as he moved on down the hall.

Yuriko was still confused by his words and actions, but
nevertheless, she continued to follow the archaeologist deeper
inside the temple. She was beginning to see just how insane
this man was. All the stories she had heard were true.

Jack kept his eyes open for booby traps, but he had not yet
found any, which made him weary. He led the entire expedition
team into a large chamber filled with large glass tubes of
water. He closely examined one of them with Yuriko as the
other men observed the other tubes.

"What are these?" Yuriko asked.

"I don't know," Jack replied as he tapped on the glass.

One of the Japanese men knocked on a glass tube which began to
bubble viciously. He began screaming aloud in Japanese.

Jack turned and looked at him, when he noticed the angry
bubbling. "Why do I have such a bad feeling?"

The bubbling intensified even more and the five tubes broke
violently. The water spilled out, but some of it stayed in
the form of a bipedal figure.

"What is that?" Yuriko asked fearfully.

"Water guardians!" Jack announced.

Yuriko shouted out in Japanese, and her men started firing
upon the water monsters, but the bullets passed right through
them. She jerked around and eyed Jack. "What do we do?"

"Give me the fire stone!" Jack cried as he stretched out his
hand.

Yuriko threw him the bag that had the stones.

Jack pulled the ruby from the bag and neared a water guardian.
Hoping for the best, Jack shoved the stone into the midst of
a guardian's liquid body.

There came a monstrous groan from the beast as it evaporated
in an uproar of steam.

Jack turned to do it to another one, but he was knocked back
by another guardian. He lost his grip on the stone and
dropped it. He moved as quickly as he could to avoid the
monster's attacks. He raced around the chamber.

The guardians were drowning their enemy.

Jack tripped and fell onto the steps on the far side of the
room. As he turned to see where the water monster was, he was
overcome by water. He was inside the belly of the beast as it
used its power to contain Jack and drown him.

Yuriko had picked up the stone and made her way over to Jack.
With swift and fast movement, she thrust the ruby into the
heart of the beast as if she were punching it.

There came a groan and it erupted into a puff of steam.

Jack fell to the ground and caught his breath. He was soaked
to the bone.

"I saved your life," Yuriko told him. "We are even."

Jack brushed his hair back with his hand as he got to his
feet. "This way," he urged her. "Come on!" He grabbed her
arm and forced her to go down the hall. He ducked into the
hallway as a water demon smashed itself against the wall as it
attacked.

Some of her men even broke free and followed them into the
corridor to continue their search.

A loud popping sound came from behind the walls, which caused
everyone to stop in their tracks.

"Not again," Jack said to himself.

Then came a grinding sound, which eventually broke into a
rumbling and crumbling sound as large spokes burst through the
wall closest to the exit near the chamber they had recently
escaped.

"GO!" Jack yelled as he pushed Yuriko ahead of himself. As
they moved, more spokes ripped through the wall in sections,
until the entire corridor was shredded.

Yuriko stood with Jack in the next chamber looking at the
demolished hall they had just left. "I am beginning to hate
this."

"You and me both, sister," Jack said as he turned and moved
inward into the temple. He broke through the cobwebs in the

next chamber's entrance to find the water stone on an altar in

the middle of the room.

This chamber was different. It was darker than the others and

seemed completely empty, where the others had booby traps and

water guardians. Those were the first guardians of the stones

the team had run into. What more was in store?

Yuriko looked around in amazement at the wall of water that

surrounded the chamber, as if the walls of the chamber were

made of water. She stepped forward, but was quickly stopped

by Jack.

"Don't move," he told her.

"There is nothing here to fear," she replied.

"There's always something," Jack said as he cautiously stepped

forward. "Step where I step."

Yuriko waited for him to move forward before she stepped where

he did. She knew he didn't want to set off any traps, but she

felt as if nothing would occur here.

Jack moved up a small incline of steps and then stood a foot

away from the altar. He could not help but grin like a

madman. This was it, the third stone, a large sapphire.

"Grab it!" Yuriko urged him.

"Just give me a second," Jack stated as he examined the altar.

He remember the incident at the Sphinx. The removal of the

stone made the sands collapse into the maze beneath the Giza

guardian. He also recalled the collapse of the volcano after

the stone was removed. Chills flooded his body as the

memories of all this flooded his mind.

"What are you waiting for?" Yuriko asked.

"Nothing," Jack replied. "Just. . . get ready to run."

"Run to where? The way in is blocked by those gears." Yuriko pointed at the destruction in the corridor.

"I don't know, but just be ready," he told her again. He pulled the stone from the cradle that held it so gently as if it were a new born baby. He held it close and looked around the chamber, awaiting for the water wall to collapse into the room and drown them all.

To the left, a stone door began to rise, revealing an exit.

"Go," Jack said as he pushed Yuriko along. He followed her for the exit, but paused as the other men tagged along as well. He spun around and punched the closest man to him knocking him into the others, causing a domino effect. He was about to join Yuriko again when the water wall collapsed.

The chamber flooded in mere minutes and the corridor was next.

Yuriko reached the end of the tunnel to find a dead end. "There's no way out!"

Jack dropped the sapphire into the bag with the ruby and emerald. He hoped they would do something with their combined power.

"Hurry up!" Yuriko shouted as the corridor continued to flood rapidly.

"I'm working on it!" He yelled back.

"Work faster!"

Jack could barely see in the dim hall. He shook the bag, "Work, damn it!"

Yuriko held her head high as the water level rose even more. "If you have a plan, I suggest you put it into motion!"

The small part of the wall behind them broke open, spilling them and the water out into another chamber.

Before she could get to her feet properly, Jack helped Yuriko up and forced her onward. He tried to keep his footing as the chamber flooded swiftly. "There!" Jack pointed out at another corridor.

Yuriko moved toward it as the water swept them away. She slid head first down the hallway with Jack close behind her. They found themselves in the next chamber, one they had left before.

The final two water guardians standing in the chamber jerked around to see the gushing water just as it splattered them.

Before Jack could continue his escape with Yuriko, the last of her men cocked their guns aiming them at Jack, who froze in place.

"It's good to know you're alive Ms. Mushanaokoji," Kisho said as he knocked Jack down.

"No time for this," Yuriko told him. "Where is Hiroshi and Taku?"

"They aren't with you?" Kin asked.

Hiroshi and Taku came from the flooded corridor with only a few men.

"This is it?" Yuriko questioned them. "This is all that made it?"

"Yes, ma'am," Hiroshi answered. "Why don't we get out of here before the entire place floods or collapses."

"Good plan," Yuriko said as she jerked Jack Canyon up. "Bring him. He may be of use once more."

Kin and Taku grabbed Jack by his arms and escorted him toward the exit. Hiroshi walked with Yuriko as Kisho and the other men took up the rear to watch Jack from behind.

Yuriko led them all back to the lagoon, but the water still flooded the temple and began pouring into the lagoon. She stopped at the edge of the lagoon where the waterfall resided. She looked back at the temple as it vanished behind the water. "I think there is only one way out of this." She looked forward at the misting waterfall.

"I am tired of water," Hiroshi said as he watched Yuriko step forward. He sighed heavily and followed her, as did the other men.

Jack Canyon and The Wiccan Stones | CHAPTER FIVE

Words: 1310

Jack and Erin both stood with their arms raised high as the Japanese gang had their guns trained on the two archaeologists.

"Friends of yours?" Erin asked him once more.

"It's a long story," he replied as he stared down Hiroshi's gun barrel.

"I think I have time," Erin stated looking from Yuriko to the other men one by one.

"Well, I was in Japan a few days ago," Jack started, "on a return trip from Nepal. My late partner, Logan Scott, introduced me to this woman." He pointed out the female leader of this gang. "She wants the Wiccan Stones."

"You thought you could get them before her?" Erin questioned him.

"You know me so well," Jack said as he turned to her. He shifted his weight and threw a punch at Hiroshi, who quickly took the man down. Jack landed hard on his butt when the Japanese man kicked him.

"So do they," Erin spoke not surprised by Jack's attempt to escape.

"We only need Jack," Yuriko told her. "You are free to go."

"I think I'll stick around to help, just in case Jack--"

"No," Yuriko interrupted her. "Leave. NOW!" She paused in hopes that Erin would leave peacefully. It wasn't the American girl that they needed. It was Jack. When the red head would not leave, she nodded to Kin, who fired shots at Erin's feet.

The bullets fell short, hitting the sand instead.

"Alright, alright," Erin pleaded as she jumped at the shots. She quickly turned and walked towards the vehicle they had arrived on.

Taku and Kisho pulled Jack to his feet and held him in place.

"Do not try to escape, Mr. Canyon," Yuriko said as she made her way toward their SUV. She opened the rear cargo door and folded out a map on the floor. "Show me."

Jack sighed and set the emerald stone on the floor next to the map. "Okay, watch." He let go of it and it began to move slowly across the map and stopped somewhere in North America.

"Where is that? What is that?" Yuriko moved closer to the map. "I am unfamiliar with this place."

"As you should be," Jack told her. "It's nothing of archaeological importance. . . or so we thought. It's Niagara Falls."

"Okay, so the fire stone is in a volcano. The earth stone is found in the earth. It's only logical that the water stone be found in water."

Jack listened to Yuriko's words carefully. He had a very bad feeling that this wasn't going to be the easiest one to gain. Niagara falls was a vast place to search.

"You will lead us to Niagara Falls," Yuriko ordered him. "You will take us to the Water Stone."

Jack looked around at all the armed men for a moment, when Yuriko started to talk again, but Jack interrupted her. "Or you'll kill me. I know." He shook his head and looked to the sand. "Fine. I don't suppose you have a plane."

"You would be surprised, Mr. Canyon," she said as she rolled the map up and put the stones into a bag. "Get in."

"The back?" Jack asked, feeling claustrophobic.

"No, back seat between Hiroshi and Kin," she answered. "Taku, drive. Kisho, take the rear."

***

Erin Sawyer reached her desert vehicle and sat down in the driver's seat. She felt something tap her back and was about to turn to see what it was.

"Don't turn around," the deep voice spoke.

"Who are you?" Erin asked frantically.

"A friend," he stated confidently.

"What do you want?"

"To help Jack Canyon," he told her.

***

The roar of the water was deafening and the mist was a relief. Niagara Falls was quite the spectacle from the Niagara Falls, Ontario side. Jack leaned against the railing near a bench as Yuriko stood nearby.

"What do we do, Mr. Canyon?" Yuriko asked in a thick Japanese-American accent.

Jack looked around at her and then all the tourists before he replied to her question. He needed time to think. Now, he had an answer. "I don't know."

"Wrong answer," Yuriko said angrily.

"Ok, wait," Jack pleaded as he threw up his hands. "Let me think!" He spun around on his heel and looked out at the Falls again. He examined the area for a few minutes and spun around again. This time he faced Yuriko. "I need the stones."

Yuriko narrowed her eyes at the American before continuing. She needed to know if he was planning a daring escape. She looked at Kisho and nodded.

Kisho pulled the ruby and emerald stones from a bag and gave them to him.

Jack held the stones in separate hands and touched them together hoping their magical power would show him the way.

Yuriko watched him in wonder. She was stunned at this man's ingenuity.

Nothing happened, so Jack held them closer to Niagara Falls.

Yuriko literally gasped as the water became clear and a temple was visible beyond the waterfall. The power of the stones revealed the temple that was normally hidden from the human eye. "How do we get there?"

"You're not going to like this. . ." Jack said simply as he turned toward her and handed her the stones. "At all."

Yuriko took the two stones and gave them back to Kisho. "Now, Mr. Canyon, why won't I like this? Hm?" She perked her eyebrows slightly at him.

***

"You're insane!" Yuriko shouted.

"I told you, you aren't going to like this," Jack said in return. "This is the only way."

"Luckily, I brought more men," Yuriko announced. Then she shouted something in Japanese to her men.

Kisho and Taku carried out her orders by leading a several men down into the docks where they could steal a few boats. Once they obtained three boats, Yuriko forced Jack down to them. She stayed with him, as did Kin and Hiroshi.

"More boats," Jack said sadly. Before he could step into the boat, he was shoved down into it by Kin. He shifted around to get situated in a seat.

The three boats filled with six men each set sail down the river toward the Falls. Everyone was nervous due to the danger of Jack's plan. It was stupid and probably going to cause their deaths. The trio of boats moved in close proximity to each other, which was giving Jack ideas.

Jack looked left and then right, since his boat was in the middle, but his mind was giving up on escape plans. He fought a battle in boats days before, which did not end well. He looked at Yuriko, who was still in dismay that she was even entertaining Jack's ludicrous plan. "So, am I living up to my reputation?" He gave her a cocky grin.

"I had heard you have done some really crazy things, Mr. Canyon," Yuriko replied as she looked from him to the horizon. "I had no idea I would actually participate in them."

Jack just continued to grin like some child. However, that smile subsided as the boats neared the waterfall. His mind suddenly remembered all the facts of Horseshoe Falls. "Its one-hundred and sixty-seven feet down. I hope you remember to wear your life vest." He took a deep breath and kept the stones tightly against his chest.

The stones would allow them passage to the hidden temple, but it required the combined powers of two separate stones.

Jack took deep breaths as the boats neared the edge of the waterfall. In his mind, he kept remembering the tourists on the Maid of the Mist, the Niagara Falls cruise boat. They had looked at the trio of boats in awe. Then his mind went blank as the boats dropped off the edge.

Screams and gasps came from all over, but it was the tourists standing in the parks.

Jack Canyon and The Wiccan Stones | CHAPTER FOUR

Words: 2826

Jack stumbled and fell as the earth shook beneath him. The
volcano quaked violently, causing rock slides which forced
Jack to slip and slide down Mount Fuji part way. He shielded
the ruby as if it were a football. Once he was on his feet
again, the ground would shift once more. Jack tumbled
forward, as if he were doing a somersault. The trek down the
angry volcano was harsh, but he made it. He dusted off his
fatigue-colored pants, though most of the dirt stuck and
stained them. He kicked to force the dust off his boots and
shook his head to turn his dirty hair normal again.

The rumble subsided moments after he set foot off that
horrible mountain of fury. It was just a small tremor. The
volcano didn't erupt. Pity.

Jack figured he had enough time to spare since Yuriko and her
gang was trapped inside Mount Fuji. He needed to get to the
next stone, but there was no rush. He made his way into a
local antiquities shop.

"Can I help you?" An elderly Japanese woman asked as she
moved toward him using her cane to support her.

"Do you have any ancient maps?" Jack asked hoping for good
results.

"Mm, yes," she spoke in a feeble tone as she shifted around
and walked away from Jack. "In the back. This way."

Jack followed the woman into the back room where dozens of old
parchment maps resided. "I guess you don't come back here
often." He looked to her, but received no reply. The room
was dusty and contained cobb webs in various places. He even
spotted a rat crawling across a rack of maps.

"What are you looking for exactly?" She asked as she peered
at him with gray eyes.

"I'm not sure exactly," Jack admitted. He really wasn't
positive. He didn't even have an age on the stone. "Just any
old map will do." He nodded gently.

The woman tilted to her left and felt along the maps. She
pulled one out and placed it onto the dirty, cluttered table,
where she rolled it out.

Jack examined the map, which must have been over five hundred
years old. He pulled the ruby from his back pocket and set it
down on the table. Upon releasing his grasp, the stone slide
across the map.

Both the woman and Jack could feel a coldness in the air which
chilled them to the bone.

Jack hadn't realized it, but he had jumped back when the ruby
moved on its own. So, he leaned in to see where the ruby had
moved to. Narrowing his eyes, Jack pinpointed the central
location on the map that the ruby had landed on. "Cairo."

***

Cairo was a bustling city. People were all over the streets
in pubs, markets, and shops. Jack found himself a nicer
place, though. He had the upper-hand in the matter, so why
not relax? It had been one of the roughest days for Jack, so
he found a massage parlor.

"Oh, that's the spot," Jack moaned as the dark-skinned
Egyptian woman chopped at his lower back. He closed his eyes
because he was in heaven, in bliss. Having a painful day was
worth it if he could get a massage everyday.

Once it was over, Jack dressed himself in tan-colored Carhartt
pants. His scars on his torso showed through his slightly
muscular body. Then they were covered up by a gray T-shirt.
He kept a change of clothes in a small backpack. The backpack
that Sophia usually carried for him.

Jack stood at the window of the second floor of the parlor
looking out at the crowd. Most of the people were Arab, so it
was noticeable when a red-headed white woman pushed her way
through a few men. Jack narrowed his eyes to see if he knew
her. He was interrupted by the masseuse who demanded her
money.

After paying her, Jack made his way into the streets and
crowds. He still felt the need to continue his adventure and
search for the Wiccan stones. However, he was drawn to follow
this red-headed stranger.

***

Jack sat in the balcony of a coffee shop on the corner of one
of the streets. He faced the view of the city with his back
to the door. The red velvet chair had a high back which
shielded him.

"I'm looking for a Professor McAvoy," the red head stated as
she entered the balcony. She looked out of place in her khaki
pants and blue button down shirt with a dark tan safari vest
on.

Two Arab men shook their heads and went back to their coffee.

She eyes the red velvet chair and moved toward it. "I guess
you're McAvoy," she said as she moved to the chair across from
Jack. She turned and sat down. The shock and awe on her face
told the story of her surprise. "You dirty, lying dog."

Jack gave a cocky grin. "I guess you're not mad at me, huh?
The last I recall you were calling me more names, and sure as
hell didn't say dog. It was ba--"

"Bad," she cut him off. "You lied to get my attention? Why?
why did you do this, Jack Canyon?"

"You remember my name?" Jack asked as he shifted forward.
"Why, Erin Sawyer, I can't believe it."

"Jack, a lot of years have passed by," Erin admitted. "Now,
why did you lie to get me here?"

"You wouldn't have come otherwise," Jack replied.

Erin didn't speak, but the expression that came over her face
told Jack that he was right. "So, now that I'm here, what do
you want?"

"I need your help," Jack told her sincerely.

She laughed and scoffed at him.

"This is serious, Erin," Jack said with a straight face.
"It's cost my a partner."

"Fine," Erin said changing her tone a bit. "What is it?"

Jack looked around the balcony and then pulled the ruby from
his bag. He set it down on the table between them.

Erin's eyes widened tremendously. "Wow. I'm surprised you
haven't been robbed carrying such a large ruby around. It
must be worth a fortune."

"It's one of the four Wiccan stones," Jack stated boldly.

Erin was still shocked from the size of the stone, but more so
now about what he said it was. "That's just a story, Jack.
Just because you found a large ruby that's perfect in shape. .
."

"But its perfectly smooth and round," Jack told her. "That's
impossible, even with modern tools."

"So? It could've been left in a river for a thousand years."

"I don't think so," Jack said. "No one will leave something
like this alone for very long. It was forged out of the earth
by supernatural means."

"Okay, let's just say that you're right, though, by a long
shot," she started. "Where do I come in?"

"I've been sent here by this thing," Jack announced. "I heard
rumors that the stones could pin point the others. It moved
all on its own when I placed it near a map. Egypt was where
it stopped."

"Jack, Egypt is a large place. You'll never find the other
stones here. It would be like trying to find a needle in the
sand."

"But we have a compass that could lead us directly to it,"
Jack said as he tapped the ruby.

"Okay, so where do we start?" Erin asked as she ran her hands
through her curly red hair.

"I think I may know where," Jack told her. "Listen, when can
you be ready?"

"Give me half an hour," Erin said as she stood up. "I'll meet
you back here."

"Sure," he replied as she headed out, but she stopped and
turned back. "It's good to see you again, Jack."

"Same here," he said nervously. Then she was gone. Jack
reached out to get the ruby and noticed someone in the crowd
watching him intently. They knew they had been spotted and
mixed in with the people. Jack jumped up to try to find the
person again, but they were gone. He sighed heavily and sat
back down. He placed the ruby back into his pack and awaited
Erin's return.

***

There she was. That big, beautiful nose less stone structure
that had withstood the sands of time for so long.

Jack and Erin stood between the legs of the Sphinx where a
large inscribed tablet sat.

"You look nervous, Jack," Erin spoke through the silence.
They had been there for an hour trying to figure out the
riddle of the Sphinx. "Never been between someone's legs
before?"

"Not legs this big," Jack said with a cocky smile on his face.

"Do you know what you're doing?"

"If I did, I wouldn't still be standing here," he replied. "I
think this tablet is a door. I think the stone is beyond this
door."

"Jack, I've studied the Sphinx and many other structures in
Egypt," Erin explained. "I have no reason to believe that
this is some kind of doorway. And why would a Wiccan stone be
here? Why would Wicca have any ties to Egypt and the Sphinx,
especially when they're thousands of years apart?"

"I don't know, Erin," Jack answered. "I'm just following my
instincts, my archaeological instincts."

"Well, we both know where that can get you," she stated.

"Let's not dwell on what happened in the past, Er," Jack
pleaded with her. He didn't want to go there.

Erin could feel regret pouring from his words. She nodded and
concentrated on the tablet/door. "What's that?"

Jack looked over at her and saw her pointing at a lower corner
in the tablet. "I don't know what that is." He dropped to
his knees and began to dig sand away from the corner. "You've
never seen this before?"

"No," Erin replied.

"Wait a minute," Jack said as he pulled the ruby from his bag.
As he put the stone closer, the hole became more visible.

"That's creepy," Erin stated. "Now, what?"

Jack placed the stone inside the hole and the tablet opened.
"Ladies first."

"No, no," Erin argued. "You should go first."

Jack entered the Sphinx only to find a deep, dark staircase.
"Got a light?" He asked as he turned to Erin, but the door
closed quickly behind them. "No!" He beat on the door.

"I don't think anyone is going to hear you," she told him.

Jack rummaged through his pack to find the flashlight. "Ah,"
he said as he pulled it free and turned it on. "Follow me."
He led her down the stairs, which suddenly shifted and turned into a slide. The steep incline sent them down into the maze. They rose to their feet and dusted themselves off. Jack shined his light around to see their surroundings.

A breeze raced down the corridor and the lanterns were lit all
at once.

"I'm starting to hate this," Erin admitted as she watched Jack
put the light into his bag.

"You get used to it," Jack told her as he stepped forward into
the maze.

"Really?"

"No," he answered as they turned down another hallway.

Erin shook her head. He was the same old Jack Canyon she knew from eight years ago. "I guess things could be wo--" Jack's hand snapped tightly over her mouth.

"Shh," he told her. "That sentence always makes things worse." He heard a noise behind the walls and looked around. "Not good."

Erin forced Jack's hand away from her. "what is it?"

"I don't know," he replied as he continued to look around the hallway. "But I'm not sticking around to find out." He started to move down the hallway when the walls began to move inward. "That's the walls closing in. I hope you're not claustrophobic."

"Just shut up and run!" She yelled as she ran with Jack down the narrowing corridor. She got ahead of him and leaped out into the open chamber.

Jack's shoulders began to rub the walls so he had to turn sideways, but it wasn't good enough. A quick jerk and he fell. He thought he was dead, but when he looked up, Erin stood above him.

"I saved your ass," she told him. "You owe me!"

"You got it," Jack responded as he rose to his feet. He looked at the closed walls and sighed relief. "That was close."

"Stare at it later," she said forcefully as she dragged him along. "We have work to do."

Jack followed the red-headed woman through the maze that was lit by torches throughout. "Now, I know why people can't solve the riddle of the Sphinx."

Erin moved around the bend and stopped abruptly, causing Jack to bump into her.

"What is it?" Jack asked.

Erin pointed down the hall as stone pillars that crashed down then rose. There were four or five moving in various combinations. Dust was stirred by the pounding of the pillars.

"Ladies first?" Jack asked nervously.

"Not this time, cowboy," Erin replied as she stepped back and motioned for him to continue.

Jack slumped his shoulders in disappointment. He inched forward until he neared the first column. He waited for it to come down and rise, before he moved. "Do as I do!"

Erin followed behind Jack. She was passed the first pillar when he was at the third. She rolled passed the next one and made it to safety. Memories of their past exploits came flooding into her mind as she continued her dodging of the booby traps.

Jack waited on the other end for her, searching his mind for some kind of joke. He smiled as he watched her dive under the final pummel and come back up toward him. "What took you so long?"

"You're never short of wise cracks, are you?" Erin asked as she shoved him to the side. "Finding this stone is impossible. No way will we make it back."

"That's why it's called a maze, sweetheart," Jack replied as he moved ahead of her.

"I just hope the nightmare of all these gizmoes is over," she spoke from behind the infamous archaeologist.

"Well, you're not going to like this, then," he told her as he spotted horizontally moving pummels.

Erin's face shouted what she was thinking. She wanted to give up. This entire adventure was tiring, and she wasn't as young as she used to be.

Jack placed his back against the wall and scooted along, but as the pummel came rushing at him, he rolled out of the way. Too close, he thought as he continued to move quickly passed the rams. Once on the other side, he stopped, but heard a popping sound. He dove to the ground just as two pummels collided near his head. When it receded, he stood up and look across at Erin. "Alright, your turn!"

Once she was through, Jack took the lead again. The next few halls were empty and free of traps, much to the relief of Jack and Erin. The next turn revealed a large chamber with an altar in the middle of a staircase.

"Pretty simple," Erin said as she stepped forward, only to be grabbed by the collar by Jack.

"Not so fast," he warned. "You have forgotten what happened in Cambodia eight years ago, haven't you?"

"That wasn't my fault," Erin argued. "A little wind blows my hat off and onto some trap, and I get blamed for it. It's getting a little old, Jack."

"I just want you to be careful," Jack stated as he stepped forward onto the steps and up to the altar. "So far, so good."

"Get it and let's get out of here," Erin pleaded.

Jack grabbed the emerald off the pedestal and placed it into his pack. He turned around to look at Erin, then looked around at the darkness and silence.

The altar fell apart and the steps collapsed. The entire room began to cave in and fill with sand.

"GO!" Jack yelled as he pushed Erin into the direction of the exit. It was the only lit pathway. The entire maze was filling with sand one section at a time.

The duo managed to escape each section, but it was getting harder as the sand got faster.

"Whoa!" Jack cried as he spotted natural light. "That way. GO!" He shoved Erin toward the exit and followed closely behind. The entire corridor was collapsing, so Jack grabbed his friend and jumped out into the desert. Jack's breathing was heavy as he lay on his back.

Erin was flat on her stomach as she looked up to get a view of the area. "Friends of yours?"

"Huh?" Jack asked as he rolled over to his belly to see. He spotted Yuriko and her men with guns hovering over them. He also noticed Yuriko had pulled the ruby from the Sphinx's front door. "Oh, crap."

Jack Canyon and The Wiccan Stones | CHAPTER THREE

Words: 2156

Jack Canyon's mind raced with ideas on how to escape this predicament. Before he could act, gunfire rang out through the bay. He dove for cover as the bullets hit the water near the boat.

"Whoa!" The driver yelled. "This is my father's boat. If this boat gets damaged, my father will kill me!"

"I promise nothing will happen," Jack comforted the man.

Gunfire blasted across the bay once more. This time it shattered the glass of the speed boat.

Jack looked up from hiding and looked through the frame where the glass was. "Okay, I've broken promises before." He glanced at the disheveled look on the owner's face. "I'll replace that."

Again the enemy boats fired as they drew closer. Holes ripped through the bow of the boat and nearly hit the passengers.

"We have to do something or we're all going to die," Jack spoke as he scanned the deck of the boat. "Do you have any extra cans of gas? A flare? Anything?"

"Yeah, I think so," the driver responded. "Why?"

"I need it," Jack told him.

The man pulled a flare from the glove box and tossed it to Jack. "Now what?"

"Gas can," Jack told him as he checked to see if the flare gun was loaded. He slammed the barrel shut when he was sure it had a flare. When the driver brought back the gas can, Jack took off the top and placed the flare gun's barrel inside it.

"That's not such a good idea," one of the girls stated fearfully.

"It's the only idea I have," Jack replied as he taped the flare to the can. "Do you have any string or rope?"

"I think so," the man said as he searched the storage areas. "Ah, here!" He pulled some rope from under a seat and handed it to the archaeologist. "What are you, MacGyver?"

"Everyone out," Jack ordered. "This is the end of the line."

"You're going to blow up my boat?!"

"I told you I would replace it," Jack said. "Contact the IAI, here." Jack handed the Japanese man a business card. "They'll take care of all the damages. I promise."

"And you promised nothing would happen to my boat."

"Just trust me," Jack pleaded as he pushed the man out of the boat. The other three occupants followed him. Jack got closer to the stern with the rope in hand. He was about to jump when he was fired upon again. He fell into the bottom of the boat, accidentally triggering the flare gun.

As one of the other boats drew closer, the gas can exploded. The fire took out the speed boat and enemy boat.

Jack floated dead in the water as the second boat sent by Yuriko pulled up beside his body. He was pulled into the boat by one of the men and the boat took off for the docks.

***

"You just never learn, do you, Jack?" Yuriko asked as Jack knelt before her with his hands bound behind his back. "That was quite a daring escape for an archaeologist."

"I'm full of surprises, sweetheart," Jack said with a slightly angry tone.

"Now, will you take us to the stones, or do I have to force it out of you?" Yuriko continued with her questioning. She lifted Jack's chin to look up at her.

"No," Jack replied coldly.

"Have it your way," she said kicking him across the face. She jerked him upright again. "Tell me where I can find the stones."

"They're not together," Jack stated as his jaw tightened. "They've been lost in separate locations for centuries."

"Then I suggest you get busy soon, Mr. Canyon," the woman told him in a threatening manner. "Time is wasting."

Jack looked around him for a moment. There was no escape in sight. The only plan was the usual Jack Canyon plan, a risky one, a stupid one. "Alright," he nodded. "I'll take you to the fire stone."

"Good," Yuriko smiled. "Where is it?"

"Mount Fuji," Jack admitted sadly. This was a bad plan, but it was the only one he had.

"You had better not be lying to us, Mr. Canyon," the woman warned him.

"Then you're just going to have to trust me," Jack replied just before he was jerked up by Kin and Hiroshi. "Be gentle, will you?"

***

A short train ride later, Jack found himself atop yet another mountain. He could remember Sophia's words about how his adventures always placed him on a mountain somewhere. It never failed. Jack smiled as he thought about Sophia for a split moment. His mind would have lingered longer on the thought, but someone shoved him hard. He lurched forward, almost tumbling into the volcano.

"We are here, at the peak, show us the stone," Yuriko ordered strongly.

"It's inside the volcano," Jack told her fearfully. He knew she would either discount it or throw him in. He looked directly at the slender woman. "Ladies first." He motioned into the volcano with his hand.

"No, I insist that you lead the way," she spoke through a harsh Japanese-English accent. "And no funny business."

Jack stepped off into the large cavern that lead to only one place, down. The active volcano was hot and steamy, but there were no signs of it erupting anytime soon. The stone ramp-like structure around the edge gave way. Jack almost fell into the center of the volcano, but Kisho grabbed him quickly.

"Do be careful, Mr. Canyon," Yuriko told him.

"Yeah, no kidding," he replied as he stepped out again and began moving down the spiral ramp that followed the wall of the volcano.

"I hope that you know what you are doing," Yuriko warned him as she followed behind him closely. "I would hate for this to be a wild goose chase."

"Listen, you seem to know all about me, Ms. Yuriko, so why don't you tell me something. What do you need me for if you know I have a journal on these stones?"

"Simple," Yuriko answered. "You can do the leg work for us. We get your journal, we read it. What if it is in a code that only you understand? Without you, we are lost."

"Good point," he said simply, not sure of what else he could respond with. He stopped suddenly, causing Yuriko to crash into him. She nearly shoved him into the fiery pit without knowing why he stopped first.

"What is going on?!" She demanded.

"Look," Jack pointed out. The slope ended abruptly and dropped off into the lava lake.

"What now?" Yuriko asked.

"I guess we turn back," Jack replied with a fake saddened tone.

"I am no fool, Mr. Canyon," Yuriko stated. "I know that there are booby traps and false entrances and exits to such places as this."

"I guess you've seen Indiana Jones, huh?"

Yuriko didn't respond. She simply glared at him in hopes he would continue with the expedition. After several minutes of silence, she folded her arms across her chest.

"Fine," Jack said in the midst of the silence. "Does anyone have a compass?"

"Is the stone magnetized?" Yuriko asked.

"Not exactly," Jack answered. "I just need to know my bearings."

Yuriko nodded to one of her men, who handed him a compass.

Jack immediately plotted his axis and located the possible location for the stone. "Alright, here we go." Jack stepped out onto a platform of rock near them. "There should be an alter closer to the lava where the stone is kept. From what I gathered, it should be this way."

Yuriko scanned the area and saw five directions in which they could go. It seems as if the rocky platform had been formed in a similar fashion as the pentagram. How did Jack know which direction to take? She shook her head, knowing not to ask. The only important thing was the stone.

Jack led the Japanese group down a corkscrew-like stone staircase that stopped at another long platform. "This has been too easy."

"Is it a trick?" Yuriko asked.

"No," Jack told her.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, positive," he stated. He stopped at the end of the platform which dead ended into the volcano wall.

"Still positive?"

Jack looked at the wall closely for a release lever of some kind. "The altar should be right here."

"This was a waste of time," Hiroshi said. "We should kill him now. Cut our loses."

"No," Yuriko argued. She started shouting at Hiroshi and the other men in Japanese.

Jack ignored them and continued working to find the altar. He knew it was there. He placed his arm against the wall and rested his forehead against it to relax himself some. A small part of it sank into the volcano wall.

Four pillars arose at for corners of the platform. Each of them had symbols on them.

"Where is the stone?" Yuriko asked as her attention was drawn back to Jack.

"I don't know," he told her as he examined the pillar closest to him. He moved on to the next pillar and closely scanned its symbol. "These markings. . ." He spoke to no one in particular. "They're Wiccan."

"Yeah, so?"

Jack glanced over at Yuriko for a moment. "It's a puzzle. I thought you watched Indiana Jones. Keep up."

Yuriko's facial expression grew angry and annoyed. "Can you solve it?"

"Just give me a moment," Jack said as he moved to the last pillar and took note of its marking. He rubbed his chin as his mind worked on the problem. "I think I have it! We passed four pillars on the way down. I need the small boulders on top."

Yuriko stood firm with a blank stare on her face.

"Do you want the stone or not?! I need those pieces to complete this puzzle. NOW!"

Yuriko nodded at Hiroshi and Taku, who raced back up the way they had come.

Jack continued to admire the workmanship in the pillars and the genius behind the puzzle itself as he awaited his boulders.

When the men returned, the boulders were set down. Jack studied them just as closely as he had the pillars. There were rods extending from the bottom of them. The stones each had matching markings like on the pillars. Jack had to reach up, as the pillars were as tall as he. He slipped the rod into the hole at the top of the pillar and slid it into place.
However, when all the rods were in place, nothing happened. Jack stood back and noticed what was wrong. He turned the boulders so the markings were parallel with those on the pillars. An altar arose from the center of the platform, gaining a cocky smile from Jack.

"Good work, Mr. Canyon," Yuriko told him.

Jack stood before the altar and scanned it for booby traps. He knew there were always traps. Slowly, Jack picked up the softball sized stone. It was large, but flat on the top and bottom. The stone was a beautiful ruby color and as smooth as Jack was.

"Hand it over," Yuriko ordered him.

Jack was hesitant for a moment when she extended her arm with an open hand. He was about to hand it over when the entire place shook violently. He almost fell down, but kept his balance. Now was his chance. This had been his plan all along. Stupid, Jack. Real stupid.

Yuriko tumbled over into the altar as her men lost their balance too.

Jack raced up to the spiral stairs and climbed them as fast as he could. The ground was breaking beneath him, which made it harder for him to escape. The closer he got to the peak the worse off the spaces between the broken bits of the path.

Yuriko and her men had discovered Jack's escape and were closing in on him.

Taku reached him first. He attacked Jack on a large chunk of the breaking landscape.

Jack punched the man, but stumbled as the ground shifted again. He jumped up to a crumbling shard and then over to the path again. He was almost out, when a hand grabbed his ankle, restraining him.

It was Hiroshi. The Japanese man jerked Jack down, but it didn't keep the archaeologist down for long.

Jack used the momentum from the jerk downward to slide into Hiroshi and knocked him off the shard of the path. Quickly, Jack was on his feet and clambering for the falling pieces of dirt and clay that were his only way out. Jack pushed off one large piece and crashed into the mouth of the volcano. He held on as the volcano crumbled beneath him. He pulled himself up and out. He lay motionless for a few moments, but fear that someone would come out the volcano pushed him onward. Jack checked his pocket for the stone and headed down Mount Fuji.

Jack Canyon and The Wiccan Stones | CHAPTER TWO

words: 1727

"Why is it that someone always wants to bring back some
ancient ruler to a world they'll never understand, a world
filled with technology and weapons so much better than they
had before?" Jack asked almost scolding the woman's plan for
worldly domination. "Unless you want to overtake the Amish."

The woman's nonchalant face shifted into an enraged death
glare at the American archaeologist. Without much force she
thrust her hand into Jack's throat, which knocked him back and
knocked the wind from him. He choked slightly before taking
another blow, which knocked him out completely.

Logan stood in silence and fear as the woman single-handedly
took out his boss.

"Idiot," Yuriko stated sharply. She turned her attention to
Kin and Hiroshi. "Take them away."

"Wait, this is all just some kind of mistake," Logan tried to
reason, but no one would listen. "This is all Jack's fault."
Still, no one cared. "If we make it out of this alive, I'm
going to kill you, Jack."

***

"You're an idiot," Logan said kicking Jack's foot. "Wake up!"

Jack lay unconscious on the floor still from the beating he
had received from Yuriko Mushanaokoji.

"Wake up!" Logan yelled as he kicked Jack harder.

Jack was startled at first as he jumped up and looked around.
"I thought she killed me," Jack said rubbing his throat. "How
long was I out?"

"Nearly a day," Logan replied. "Are you sober? Can you
function properly enough to get us out of here?"

"Where is here?" Jack asked as he scanned the dark, empty
room.

"I don't know," Logan explained as he sat down on the cold
floor. "It's some kind of storage room."

"They didn't store much here," Jack said.

"They continuous checked on you throughout the night," Logan
told him. "I think they're waiting for you to awaken to get
information out of you. They haven't been in this morning."

"Well, they're not very good hosts, are they?" Jack asked as
he searched for the door. "Is there any kind of light in here
other than that dim one in the middle of the room?" Jack
turned and looked at the hanging light. He squinted his eyes
and moved closer.

"What are you doing?"

Jack reached up as high as he could trying to grab the light
fixture. "Do you have anything I could use to change the
direction of the beam?"

"Oh, yeah, I carry a mirror in my pocket, you know?"

"I need to find the door," Jack stated. "We have to get out
of here. These stones are not something I want this Japanese
bitch to get her hands on."

Logan sighed heavily at Jack's words. "That's always the
case, isn't it? Stop the bad guys from doing something stupid
that could destroy the world, right?"

"Yeah, that's usually the case."

"Why don't we get out of here and find them ourselves?" Logan
asked.

"I don't think that's a good idea," Jack answered. "They're
not meant to be disturbed."

"But you did the research on them and even found possible
locations," Logan responded vivaciously. "Why throw it all
away?"

"It's too dangerous of a trek," Jack argued with his partner.
"These stones are nothing separate. You put them together and
the magnitude of their power is devastating. Their power is
unlimited. The four sisters brought their friend back to life
and killed a man. With the right Wiccan incantations, the
world could be destroyed before you can even blink. That kind
of power should never be disturbed."

"But we cou--"

The door was opened abruptly interrupting Logan's sentence.
The light beamed into the room from the entrance. The flip of
a switch and the entire room was illuminated.

Jack stood directly beneath the center light as Yuriko
Mushanaokoji entered with Hiroshi Fukushima, Kin Mizoguchi,
Kisho Osaragi, and Taku Saeki. "You need four men to
accompany you to meet me? Last I checked you didn't need body
guards."

"They're not my bodyguards, Mr. Canyon," Yuriko told him.
"You have already met Hiroshi and Kin. This is Kisho and
Taku. These four men are my associates, so to speak. They
are my aids. They do my dirty work."

"Hey," Jack protested, "I'm not a dirty job."

"Mr. Canyon, please, come with us," Yuriko said as she turned
and headed out of the now-lit room.

"And if I refuse?"

Kisho poked Jack in the back with a gun forcing him forward.

"Hey, not on the first date," Jack joked, but was still forced
outside. Jack followed Yuriko out onto the pier behind the
warehouse. He felt quite uncomfortable with this situation.

"Now, as I was told, you would help," Yuriko announced.
"Logan Scott informed us that you were the best archaeologist
in the world."

"Well, I'm honored of such a title," Jack said acting as if he
was surprised and receiving some type of award.

"Now, tell us where we can find the stones," Yuriko ordered
him with a forceful tone.

"No," Jack declined.

"Then take us to them."

"I can't do that," Jack told the Asian woman.

The woman sighed hard enough to cause a the water in Tokyo Bay
to form a hurricane. She pulled a gun from under her gray
suit which fit to her form. She jabbed the barrel into Jack's
forehead and cocked the hammer.

"Killing me won't solve anything," Jack told her with a cocky
grin on his face.

Yuriko's face shifted from anger to realization. "You're
right. Tell me or I kill Logan Scott." She turned her gun
toward the other American.

Logan's arms shot up into position as if he were in a hold up.
His gut began to churn as he grew nervous. "Jack. . ."

"I don't know anything!" Jack yelled. "I never did. Don't
do this. Don't kill him."

"Take Mr. Scott away," Yuriko said. "Dispose of him."

Taku and Kin forced Logan down the pier and around to the
other side of the warehouse. Eventually they were out of
sight and behind the warehouse where no one would see the
events.

Jack jerked slightly as he heard a gunshot and then a splash.
"You bitch!"

"You have a very bad track record with partners, do you not,
Mr. Canyon?" Yuriko asked with a wicked look on her face. "I
think I see why you switched to men partners. You feel less
guilt than if they were women."

Jack jumped at Yuriko, who quickly grabbed him by the throat
and threw him down with great force. This woman was going to
be tough to beat with her martial arts technique.

"Tell me what I need to know. NOW! I know you know where two
of the stones are. Scott has informed me of your research and
notes."

"That idiot. . ." Jack muttered to himself as he rose to his
feet.

"So, tell me or you die," Yuriko said urgently.

"What's with all killing?" Jack asked. "Come on. It's not a
very lady-like thing to do. You might ruin that lovely suit."

"Take him back there and get rid of him," Yuriko said. "We
shall search for his journal ourselves. We do not need his
help."

Hiroshi and Kin forced Jack to move down the pier to where
Logan had been killed and dumped off into the water. Kin
pushed Jack close to the edge of the pier, causing him to fall
to his knees.

"I just bought these Carhartts!" Jack cried as he slowly got
back onto his feet. He dusted off his knees and checked the
moss-colored pants for tears.

"Where do you want it?" Kin asked as he readied his gun for
Jack.

"How about nowhere?" Jack pleaded.

"Just kill him and lets go back to work," Hiroshi stated.

Jack turned around to face the water. He made sure to take in
the entire set up of the dock. He made special note of the
crane arm not far from where he stood.

Kin pointed the gun at the back of Jack's head. "See you in
the next life."

Before Kin could pull the trigger, Jack spun around and
knocked it from his hand. He moved to punch the Japanese man,
but he ducked and came up with a kick to Jack's jaw. Jack
winced in pain and held his jaw.

Hiroshi was upon Jack before he knew it and delivered a
massive chop to his back knocking the American down. Quickly,
he did a roundhouse kick, which Jack avoided.

As Jack spun out of the way, he met Kin on his right. The
Asian man punched Jack multiple times with lightning fast
speed. Jack could barely recover in time before Hiroshi was
attacking him again. Finally getting back his footing, Jack
blocked their assault. Swiftly, Jack threw a few punches of
his own, connecting with Kin's nose and breaking it. With
Kin's nose broken and eyes watery, he could focus solely on
Hiroshi.

"American street brawl style?" Hiroshi asked with an amused
look on his face.

"I take it that you guys like this stuff, huh?"

"Makes for great enjoyment," Hiroshi responded as he kicked at
Jack and then punched at him. He landed a few good licks on
Jack, before Jack was able to come back.

Without great effort, Jack punched Hiroshi in the mouth
causing blood to flow. He jerked around and jumped out onto
the cable of the crane arm and swung out into Tokyo Bay where
a passing boat was. It was just some Japanese kids having a
joy ride in daddy's new speed boat.

Hiroshi and Kin looked from the dock in disbelief at what the
American was capable of.

Jack let go of the cable as the boat neared and landed right
on top of its bow. He held on for dear life as the young
driver ordered the other man in the boat to help the American
out. He was then pulled onto the boat and safe.

"Are you okay?" The man asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Jack replied. "Thanks for helping me out."

"Who are you?" One of the ladies on the boat asked.

"The name's Jack Canyon," Jack said with a wink.

"The infamous archaeologist?" The driver questioned in shock.

"That's me." Jack turned slowly around to see in the horizon
boats coming his way. Yuriko had sent her own armada of boats
after him. Damn, he thought.

Jack Canyon and The Wiccan Stones | CHAPTER ONE

Words: 1967

Just a few days more than a week after the incident in Nepal,
Jack Canyon had made his way from Nepal and through China to
Tokyo, where he stopped off for to rest. However, he found
himself in a local bar drinking sake, which was making him
sick. He had asked for something other than Nihonshu, which
was the fermented rice drink referred to as sake, though no
one seemed to care what the American man wanted. He slammed
down the small shot glass onto the bar. "Uno mas," he shouted
in Spanish, though he wasn't really sure if anyone understood
him.

"You're going to kill yourself," a voice called out from
behind him. "You shouldn't be drinking so heavily, my son."

"The Irish accent says you're a long way from home," Jack said
lifting up his next shot of Nihonshu with shaking hands.

"Are there troubles so bad you need to drown them?" The man
continued.

"And the constant talk about my drinking says you're a man of
God," Jack stated as he threw back the drink and slammed the
glass on the top of the bar again.

"Aye, my son, I am a priest," the man spoke. "Now, tell me
what ails you."

"Ale. . . I need ale!" Jack shouted, feeling almost drunk.

The man touched Jack's shoulder only to have Jack jerk away.

"Go away," Jack warned. "Haven't you heard that God isn't who
you think he is?"

"I have heard that," the man spoke, sitting down next to Jack.

Jack smiled when he looked over at the man, who was Logan
Scott.

"I thought I might find you here," Logan spoke. "Find what
you were looking for, though?"

"Not yet," Jack replied. "I think I'll keep looking until I
find it."

"I don't think a pretty sandy blonde headed British girl is
going to be in that tiny glass, Jack."

Jack didn't speak, instead he glanced at Logan and then back
at the glass. He knew the man was right.

"If you want to stay here and die, be my guest, but Tanga and
I are ready to go our separate ways," Logan told him. "In
fact, he is already gone. Now, if you want to do more
archaeological work, then come with me. If not, then I guess
I'll carry the torch on."

Jack looked over at Logan Scott for a moment in thought and
sat back from the bar. "What kind of work?" Jack asked out
of curiosity.

"I met this Japanese woman yesterday," Logan explained. "She
was asking me all about you. Her name is Yuriko
Mushanaokoji."

"That's a mouthful," Jack said. "What exactly is it that
she's wanting?"

"Some kind of stones," Logan replied. "I told her you would
meet her today and go over the details."

At that moment, two men in suits entered the bar and made
their way to the two American men.

"Mr. Canyon," one of them spoke with a thick Japanese accent.
"Please come with us."

Jack turned around and examined the men and then looked at
Logan once more. "Know these guys?" He took note of Logan
shaking his head before turning his attention to the two men.
"I'm sorry. You must've just missed him."

"We know you are Jack Canyon," the man said. "Come with us.
Now."

"We haven't even been introduced properly," Jack stated. "I
can't walk out of here with a complete stranger, now can I?"

"I am Hiroshi Fukushima, and this is my partner Kin
Mizoguchi," the man told them.

"Life partners?" Jack wondered aloud.

The two men stood with the same expression on their face as
they had when they entered. Through out the conversation they
had remained nonchalant.

"What are you guys, Japanese versions of FBI and CIA agents
with no sense of humor?" Jack asked. Then he sighed. "Who
do you work for?"

"We work for Ms. Yuriko Mushanaokoji," Kin stated.

"I like how he says that with no problem at all," Jack said to
his sidekick. "So, Kin and. . . Barbie?"

"Hiroshi," the man said.

"Right, so, let's go see this mystery woman," Jack said
hopping off the stool. "Is she hot?"

"What happened to Sophia?" Logan asked as he walked along with Jack.

"Aren't I allowed to ask?" Jack questioned his partner.

"You're drunk," Logan realized. "You really don't need to be
doing this if you're not sober."

"I feel fine," Jack argued. "I feel like Superman."

"Well, if you feel like leaping off buildings because you think you can fly, count me out," Logan replied as they exited the bar.

The sun blazed throughout the entire city of Tokyo, and it nearly blinded Jack. The exterior differed dramatically from the bar, which had no windows. The dark, smoky atmosphere didn't cause massive migraines.

Jack suddenly stopped as he saw a long black car through his fingers, as he used his hand to shield his eyes from the sun. "Classy."

"Get in," Hiroshi told him as he opened the door.

Jack and Logan both filed into the car after Kin. Hiroshi was the last to get in. There must have been another guy, a driver.

"So, when do I get to meet this Yuriko," Jack asked holding his head in pain. Trying to remember the Japanese names was giving him a headache.

"Soon," Hiroshi stated abruptly.

"Take these," Kin ordered as he tossed a small, unmarked bottle to the hung over archaeologist.

Jack examined the bottle for a moment. "What the hell is this, some kind of truth drug or perhaps poison?"

"Neither, Mr. Canyon," Kin answered. "It's a drug to help with the migraines."

Jack continued looking at the plain, blank bottle before opening it. He was going to have to do something. If it killed him, it was better than the throbbing pain in his head. He took out two pills and tossed them into his mouth and swallowed them without water. He put the top back on and threw the bottle back to Kin.

All four men kept silent as the car moved through the streets of Tokyo. Jack's vision was fixated on the passing buildings as the two Japanese men kept a close eye on Jack.

Logan had met Yuriko Mushanaokoji just days before and had not needed this type of security. Maybe these men, this organization they were with, knew all about Jack's habits.

Jack leaned over close to Logan so that he could whisper to him. "I think we should've tried getting out of this."

Logan gave his friend an odd look as if he just told him a big secret. Though, at the same time, he was confused.

"These guys are obviously bad news," Jack continued. "I mean, they're so secretive about everything, except their names. Then again, are we sure they're using their real names?"

"Jack, give it a rest," Logan warned him.

"We're here," one of the men said. Since most Japanese men sounded the same to Jack at this point, he wasn't sure which one spoke.

Jack took in a deep breath and then released it slowly. He noticed Tokyo Bay not far from where he stood. It was hard to see between the lot of warehouses that pervaded the area. "Where is she?"

"This way," Kin motioned.

Jack proceeded cautiously with Logan at his side. "I get this sinking feeling that they're going to toss us into Tokyo Bay."

"In here," Kin stated as he pushed open a door on the side of a warehouse. He followed the two Americans into the building.

Jack stopped and scanned the entire place. There were few boxes stored within and it was dim. A figure in the middle of the room turned to face Jack. She was a radiant beauty, which didn't get past Jack. Though, there was an underlying mischievous air about the woman. That made Jack very cautious.

"Doctor Canyon," she said as she stepped closer to him.

"It's just Jack, or mister," he corrected her.

"Mister. Canyon. I was under the impression that one who taught at a university must have a doctorate of some kind."

Jack gave a cocky grin. "I'm much more interesting that way. Though, with your extensive research on my colleagues and I, I figured you knew everything about me."

"Some things have eluded us," Yuriko stated coldly, like she was disappointed. "However, the important facts are well aware to us."

"And you speak such perfect English," Jack mocked, scoffed really.

"I am a well educated woman, Mr. Canyon," she told him blatantly.

"I don't doubt that one bit. What do you want with me? Is it my dashing good looks, my breeding capabilities, or my brain? Maybe all three?"

"Americans have such a need to show off their sense of humor," she replied.

"And you don't have one," Jack said. "Let's just get down to business."

"Fine," she stated as she started pacing the floor. "I understand you have been doing research on the legend of the wiccan stones."

Chills literally raced across Jack's entire body. He was shocked beyond words. He simply stood there staring at the lovely Japanese woman for a few minutes. "Very thorough. . ."

"Now, tell me what you know of these stones," she spoke, stopping in front of him and folding her arms across her chest.

"If you want them, then you must know what they do," Jack said trying to delay things.

"Tell me now!" She urged him. "I don't have time for games."

It was the first sign of hostility Jack had actually seen to prove his theory that these people were not friendly.

"Fine," Jack responded. "During the dawn of witchcraft, there were four sisters who had a dear friend. Apparently, this friend was taken by a man in the village. This man was a deviant. He lived alone, and had no children nor a wife. It is believed that she was raped. Somehow, she escaped and made her way back to the village, where she met up with the four sisters. After telling her story to the sisters, the four of them used elements and witchcraft to create four stones."

Logan was closely listening to Jack's story. He somehow wondered if there was a way for him to make money.

"The four stones represent fire, water, earth, and air. Separate they were nothing. Together, they were all-powerful. The sisters began to hunt down the rapist, but he had found the victim before she could go to local authority. He killed the girl and stashed her body in his cabin in the woods. When the sisters arrived, they used their stones to kill the man and bring back their friend."

"So, resurrection is the power behind these stones?" Yuriko asked.

"Yeah, but its very dangerous," Jack answered. "After seeing the power of their stones in killing this man, they sent their stones to separate ends of the earth. Four separate places far enough apart so that the stones could never be used again, or found, for that matter."

"But you think you've found them," she stated.

"I do," Jack replied sadly. "At least two of them. Now, why do you want these stones?"

"I don't think that concerns you, Mr. Canyon."

"If you want my help, it does," Jack told her coldly. "I'm not taking any action unless I know this is not going to end with the world's destruction or something."

"These stones aren't that powerful. You know that."

"So, what do you want with them?" Jack repeated.

"I'm going to resurrect the most fierce and ancient warrior of Japan to lead us into the dawn of a new era, where Japan shall rise to power. I shall be the hand the smites the great powers of the world. I shall be the right hand of first emperor of the world."

Jack Canyon and the Wiccan Stones | PROLOGUE

Words: 1288

It's over the next ridge, Jack Canyon thought as he trekked the heavy snow of the Himalayas. It was awful weather as the wind beat down on him. It pummeled him and stung his face. His arms and legs were carefully wrapped in warm clothes, as was his torso. He covered his eyes as the blizzard whipped harder on him and his small expedition. His goggles were breaking under the pressure of the wind.

With him on this ridiculous adventure was an American archaeologist named Logan Scott. He too was wrapped in heavy winter clothes that you would see someone skiing in. He had joined Jack about four months ago on a crazy adventure to find a mystical celestial bowl of the Aztecs, which was the equivalent to the chalice Christ used in the Last Supper. Now, he was somewhere beyond Mount Everest on a stupid adventure that just might kill them all. All for what? A damn big pile of money.

The only other member of the team was Atawhai Tangaroa, a New Zealand tomb raider. Jack never would work with these types before, but now he needed the ruthless cunning of a desperate treasure hunter to find what he wanted in the deepest snow drenched mountains on the face of the earth. He was a big man, and it wasn't because his clothes were bulky. He was muscular and simply large. He had joined Jack only weeks prior to this. He had been approached in a tavern in Nepal. His reputation and obsession for Shambhala drew Jack's attention.

Jack's feet dug deep into the snow. He was getting more tired with every step he took. The conditions of this expedition to find the lost Buddhist city of Shambhala. His heart was turmoiled with the death of his love, Sophia Stone. Shambhala was fabled to be a city of peace, where only the most enlightened and peace of mind and soul Buddhists could reside. He hoped to find his own peace there. Of course, if the city was still inhabited.

The other two of the team had different ideas on what they wanted. They wanted riches and fame for their discovery. These two were the kind of archaeologists that Jack hated with a passion and never would have run with before Sophia's death.
"Maybe we should turn back," Atawhai urged as he blocked the snow and freezing wind with his arm. "This is crazy. We should not be trying to do this in a blizzard." His voice was hoarse from the cold wind, but it still had the scruffy sound to it.

"He's going to get us killed," Logan shouted back at the taller, darker man. "I honestly don't think my white ass could stand to be paler."

"That's not an image I wanted in my head, mate," Atahwai replied as they both continued to follow their fearless, or perhaps stupid, leader.

Jack's feet felt so heavy, as if he were wearing cement shoes. His breathing was getting heavier and his lungs felt like they could explode from the cold air intake. He fell to his knees as he stumbled. He immediately rose to his feet and continued.

"Hey, Jack-o," Logan yelled out to Jack's back. "Tanga and I think we should turn back before one of us, or all of us, end up dead." He waited through Jack's silence before saying anything else. "We can pick this up once the storm clears."

Jack turned and gave Logan a glare that shut the man up. His eyes were dark as coal, and filled with pain. Even after a year, he was still hurting.

Logan backed off and rejoined his Kiwi friend. "I don't think we're leaving this party unless someone passes out. Wanna place bets on who might go down first?"

Atawhai just grunted and continued marching toward the top of the ridge.

Before Jack could reach the top, he slipped once more, but this time he didn't get back up. He fell and rolled down the ridge toward the other two.

Atawhai reacted quickly and grabbed Jack's jacket and stopped him from falling too far.

"Good catch, Tanga," Logan cheered.

"No thanks to you," Atawhai stated coldly. He pulled Jack to him and slapped his face. "Hey, Canyon!" There was no response.

"Jack-o?" Logan called out.

"He's out cold," Atawhai announced. "Could be anything. Let's get him back to Patan." The Kiwi man tossed the lightweight man over his shoulder and started their descent toward their snowmobiles.

***

Atawhai had hauled Jack's sorry ass down to Patan, Nepal, where they had been staying for the past week or so. He got Jack into the local hospital so they could take a look at the man.

According to the doctors and nurses, Jack was suffering from exhaustion and dehydration. He was near death. Jack lie in the bed motionless with an IV in his arm re-hydrating him until he recovered.

"How long will it take for him to recover?" Logan asked from the hall.

"As long as it takes," Atawhai replied as he stood and the edge of Jack's bed. He had removed his shirt, exposing his tribal tattoos. He had been trained in the ways of a medicine man. With a bowl of burning sage and other plants, Atawhai did a ritual for his fallen companion.

Logan scoffed the Kiwi and moved back to the chair he was in down the hall.

***

One week later, Jack had slowly recovered to the point where he could move around, but not much, and absolutely no adventures. He also had an unexpected guest, who wanted to ring his neck and drag him through the mud.

Jack sighed heavily as he sat erect in bed with his back against the headboard.

"Are you mad!?" The thick Indian accent rolled off the dark woman's tongue. "Are you wanting to die, Jack Canyon?" She paced the floor in her black skirt and white blouse. She had been on a business meeting in New Delhi, India when she was called by Tangaroa. "You are one dumb son of a bitch!"

Jack's stare went from the edge of the bed to Maya Rajah.

"Sophia died a year ago," Maya told him. "You have been going all over the world trying to find relics to bring her back. Jack, listen, get over it. She was my friend, too. I miss her alot, but you don't see me trying to resurrect her."

Jack hung his feet off the edge of the bed as he turned toward Maya.

"You've been lucky so far," she continued. "The next time you might not make it." She moved closer to him. "I care about you, Jack, because Sophia did. You should be continuing your life in her honor, not destroying her memory like you are. If she were here, she'd kick you in the balls for that stupid stunt in the Himalayas. Why did you go? Shambhala has been out there for ages. It can wait out a blizzard."

Jack shook his head and stayed quiet.

"Say something, you prick!" Maya yelled out forcing everyone in the small hospital to turn around and look.

Jack rose to his feet and glared at the woman. He had gotten right in her face. Jack raised her hand and pointed a finger in her face.

"You know I'm right," Maya said in the absence of his words. "A great archaeologist like you is just wasting his life in the snow when he should be out doing something worth while. I can't believe you're the infamous Jack Canyon. I'm ashamed to know you. I'm ashamed to even be in your presence." She turned and headed out with a heart filled with disappointment.