The Time Travelers' Club -- Chapter 110: To the Cave

Uncle Griff steered the fishing boat as best he could toward the Isle of Straffa in the Hebrides off the coast of Scotland.  He held tight to the steering wheel, praying that it would get them there and back.  The waves rocked the boat back and forth.   That didn't bother him.  It was the thunderous storm brewing to the west out over the ocean.  Soon, it would be upon them.  Everyone else stayed below.

"We're in for some rocky weather," yelled Uncle Griff to Mrs. Steers who came up from below, steadying herself.  "We are going to need to move quickly.  We’re lucky.  I’ve not spotted any ice so far."

"We'll be fine," said Mrs. Steers, then mumbling to herself.  "I hope."

Down below, Xavier watched the storm clouds through a port hole as the boat chugged its way towards the coast.   Rose, gripping the wooden seat she sat on, glanced nervously over at Sam from time to time.   The pitch of the sea worsened as they approached the island dock.

"Are you sure the boat will be fine?"  Darren called to Uncle Griff, glancing back at Xavier, then to Ari.  Darren and Lewis had persuaded Trenda to let them take his place.  Trenda agreed since he had other leads to follow about more copies of the book as well as a possible location of the original scroll from Mrs. Labuler.

"You bet ya."  Uncle Griff shouted back then said a silent prayer.  Ari sat perfectly still, riding the waves and trying not to be seasick.   They journeyed their way towards Fingal's Cave.

This was it.  The time had come.  The entire Council, the Time Travelers Club chapters, and this small band had been waiting for this moment.  Huddled next to Rose, Sam would soon be put to the test.   Mrs. Steers silently prayed for his safety.   She, and everyone else in the boat, knew what the consequences could be.  It was too horrible for her to think about.

Mrs. Steers continued to hold the travel bag tight to her chest.   The strap wrapped around her shoulder.  Its contents were of high importance.   Everyone knew what was in her bag, except Sam.  All he knew was they were on their way to see where his ancestor had found the original papyrus scroll with the incantations.  The beginning of the modern-day Time Travelers Club had begun with the scroll’s translation and publication.

"So, tell me again, what are we doing?"  Sam turned to Rose.

Still gripping the seat, Rose forced a smile as a bigger wave rocked the boat.  "Well, we are going deep into Fingal's Cave to find the secret cavern where the scroll originally was hidden."

"And how long ago was that?"  Sam had read what they already knew about the cave and some of its contents, but still wanted more.

Mrs. Steers chimed in.  "We're not sure.  We know that the scroll was taken around 1833 or so, but we think that early members of the club placed some relics there in the 1500s... Maybe."

"Oh," said Sam, beginning to wish he hadn’t asked. He could tell Mrs. Steers was about to launch into her tour guide mode.

"The papyrus and other materials were placed in Fingal’s Cave by an unknown member of the club.  The hidden cavern was discovered in 1833 by someone named T. Woods. According to research, this "T. Woods" had left in 1830 to search for the cave.   He eventually found his way to Fingal's Cave where he located and entered the hidden chamber somewhere in the cave.”

Mrs. Steers paused to adjust her travel bag which was slipping down. “There is much speculation behind the history of the items stored in the cave.  There's also speculation as to who Woods was.  Some members of the club think that this is the legendary lost archives, but others argue that the real lost archives are somewhere in Northern Africa or the Middle East. Some argue the things in Fingal's Cave are the only the most important ones taken from the lost archives taken during the crusades and put there for safe keeping.”

Outside, the waves began to slam with a little more might against the sides of the boat, but that didn’t stop Mrs. Steers.  “Legend has it that sometime in the 15th century the archives were placed there for safe keeping and it’s location was then lost over the years.”

Sam glanced around, losing interest, but Mrs. Steers didn’t notice and went on.  “The origin of the name ‘Fingal’s Cave’ is a mystery. Around 250 AD there was a man called Finn MacCumhaill, also known as “Fingal”, who was possibly an Irish General.  He had something to do with the Gaels or something like that.  I forget the whole story.  I do know that the cave's name in Gaelic is “An Uaimh Bhinn.”  That means "the melodious cave."

Finally, she just stopped. Sam looked over at her.  Mrs. Steers was gazing out a pothole.   Sam turned to see the coast of the island through another port hole.

“We’ve got to dock there and walk the rest of the way.”  Bellowing down at them, Uncle Griff pointed to a landing and a wooden walkway running along the rocky coastline.  He then pointed to where it disappeared into the side the cliff.  “And there’s Fingal’s Cave.”