Chereads / The New D Street / Chapter 5 - Chapter 5: Starting Excavation Work

Chapter 5 - Chapter 5: Starting Excavation Work

Morning At 8.30 AM

"Morning! Johnson," – greeted Walter entering the bar.

"Have you found the papers?" – asked Sedrick to Johnson.

"No, my effort to search them is lost in vain," – said Johnson

irritatingly.

"Then how can we start the work?" – asked Sedrick.

"No problem"

"I have a clear view of the route map, because I examined

them carefully the last night," – answered Johnson.

"We will start our work today, I try to get one more copy from

our head office," – said Johnson.

"Oh! Wow!"

"So, we are going to start today," - said Sedrick.

They all started driving to the D-Street. Johnson team was

driving in their old jeep whereas Walter and Sedrick were coming

in their car and reached the D-Street main gate. On Sedrick's

request, the car was stopped near the main gate. Walter observed

Michael talking with a woman who was holding a broom. He

moved to him and asked –

"With whom are you talking"

"I have seen her never before in the D-Street" – asked Walter

showing his hand toward the woman.

"She is our colony sweeper‟s wife. Our sweeper has fallen

sick so she is taking charge of his work, am showing her from

where to start the work and explaining the D-Street rules and

regulations," – said Michael.

"Ok. We will use the watch house for sometime," – said

Walter moving to the watch house.

They all moved to the watch house and sat around Johnson

observing him carefully. Johnson took a piece of paper and began

drawing the route map, as far he could recall from his memory.

Everyone was observing him carefully. Johnson has drawn a Ushape route map. No one could figure out what it was and where

the places are located in it.

"It‟s the D-Street new highway route; the U-shape signifies

the structures of old rock hills," – said Michael excitingly, who

was standing near the watch house entrance, observing them

carefully.

"Wow! You made a spy, Michael," praised Walter.

"Wow, Michael! You are really intelligent," – said Johnson.

"Thanks for your compliment Sir!"

"I have much experience with the highway road and I have

visited there many times, for this reason, I felt that it might be the

place, what I remembered."

"Oh! Sorry for interrupting your work," – said Michael

leaving the place respectfully.

"We will start our work from the rock hills near the highway

road as Michael said," – explained Johnson to everyone.

They all moved to the D-Street highway road. They finally

reached small rock hills. Walter brought Michael with him as he

could help them. Michael saw Erlin and said to Walter that he had

seen him somewhere. Meanwhile …

"Yes. This is the place."

"You are great, Michael."

"This rock pits are very ancient."

"We possibly will find any ancient antique here," – shouted

Johnson out of happiness and excitement.

"Antique?"

"Are you searching for something," – questioned Walter.

"No. No"

"Nothing"

"I am excited that our work will be successful by seeing this

hill," – answered Johnson looking at Walter.

"So, are you going to start your work from here, Sir!"

"The right side will be very comfortable for tents," –

suggested Michael.

Time: Morning 10:40 AM

Everyone was busy in cleaning, wearing tents and chatting each

other casually.

"Michael! Will you please help me tying this rope," –

requested Erlin, who was at some distance apart.

"Oh!"

"Of course, I help you" – came Michael to him.

"Have we met earlier?" – asked Michael tying the rope.

"We"

"No chance"

"Am new to the D-Street"

"We are from the archeology department. It is very rare to

visit places like the D-Street."

"You may have confused me for someone," – answered Erlin.

After finishing their tent work, they all brought some rocks

and sat on them. It was a sunny weather. It looked more like noon.

The highway road could be visible clearly from there.

Meanwhile, Sedrick saw Peter riding a bicycle on the highway

road to the D-Street and called him shouting. When Peter came to

them, Johnson recognized and said that he saw him somewhere.

"Peter is a paper boy and news agent," – said Sedrick

listening to Johnson.

"Yes!"

"You are the one I saw early morning near cartage."

"Glad to meet you, Mr. Peter!"

"I saw one more person with you, is he not in the D-Street?" –

asked Johnson to Peter.

"No"

"He does not stay in the D-Street."

"Rob is a truck driver as well as the D–Street trash master, he

is very busy with his work," – answered Peter.

Everyone brought the necessary equipments from the jeep.

They took them to the tent and started digging. Everyone was

holding some tools in their hands. Everyone chose different places

and started digging.

After 3 hours, something touched Johnson's crown bar.

Immediately, he shouted at everyone and called them.

"Hey! I found something"

"Come. Please help me" – shouted Johnson.

Everyone came to Johnson and started digging.

"What‟s this?"

"It looks so abhorrence"

"After a lot of effort we found this!"

"A dead dog‟s skeleton." – said Johnson being irritated.

"Sorry! I thought there is something antique here," – said

Johnson leaving the place and walked to the tent.

"Wait, this looks odd!

"It has two fore legs and only one hind leg,"

"Sedrick, have you noticed this?" – asked Walter curiously.

Listening at Walter's words Michael came running.

"This?"

"Oh! My God!!"

"It means, the D-Street story is true."

"Sir! This is not a dog."

"It‟s a „Howsil‟ – an ancient monster that protects the evil

spirits," – said Michael trembling with fear.

"Sir! It would be good if we leave this place."

"Walter please, forgive me for not saying about this."

"It is said that the D-Street is enclosed with evil spirits," –

said Michael.

Meanwhile Johnson came.

"Are you mad!"

"It‟s just a dog‟s skeleton."

"You are fearing of this!"

"What a shame."

"This dog might have lost its one hind leg accidentally. Out of

pain, helpless in finding food, it might have died, and we found it

here. That‟s it!" – said Johnson.

"Michael!"

"Being an intelligent man. I never expected such an

intolerable words from you."

"You are talking of ghosts and evil spirits?"

"Pity on you," – said Johnson at Michael walking to tent

angrily.

When Walter was about to touch the skeleton, Michael refused

him from doing so.

"No Sir! Do not."

"It looks like a skeleton, but it is alive"

"Believe me," – warned Michael alerting him.

Till now, Michael had never involved in any external matters,

so his interference with a sheer confidence made Walter astonished

and afraid at the same time. As Michael said, Walter again buried

it without touching and silently moved into tent.

Johnson was eating relaxingly. Everyone sat together and

started eating the frozen items and discussing. Their conversation

proceed as ….

"See! We come here for some specific purpose. Your

cooperation is highly expected. Please don‟t carry any

superstitions in your mind."

"The place we dug might be wrong. We will start again

tomorrow from the other side. If papers were with me, we would

not have faced this trouble."

"I will once again search for the papers in the cartage."

"Meanwhile, Erlin and Stephen will continue the work," – said

Johnson to everyone.

Everyone was listening at Johnson's words with rapt attention

except Walter, who was still thinking about the incident.

"Are you thinking of something Walter?" – Questioned

Johnson.

"No. Nothing" – replied Walter.

"Walter!!"

"I need to talk to you," – said Johnson.

Evening 4.30 PM

"We will have our dinner today at the Highway Bar."

"Peter, Michael!"

"You could join us!" – invited Johnson.

"No Sir! It‟s already evening. I need to go to the watch

house," – said Michael and left the place. That evening, everyone

reached the Highway Bar. Meanwhile ….

"Stephen!" "Erlin!"

"You be waiting at the Highway Bar".

"Peter! Give company to them," - said Johnson and started

walking to cartage.

Meanwhile, Walter sighed at Sedrick and called him …

"Sedrick! You just keep spying at Erlin and Stephen," – said

Walter approaching the cartage. Sedrick too moved to the Highway

Bar.

Johnson and Walter entered the cartage.

"See, Walter! I need to say something important. We did not

come here to perform excavation, we came here for the ancient

temple."

"Yes!"

"There used to be an ancient temple in the D-Street. It is so

valuable. It is said that the temple is protected by evil spirits.

Those who tried to find it out were found to be dead. Many reasons

found lying before it. We are also searching for it. This is why, we

have come here. Forgive me for not saying this to you before," –

said Johnson to Walter.

"Temple, in the D-Street?" – Walter got stunned for a while.

"Walter!"

"After a long effort, I found the temple‟s way and where it is. I

have scripted every detail in papers. But our luck is on the other

side, we lost them. I still do not understand who stole it. The hills

shown by Michael is ancient, I thought the temple will be right

there, when something touched my crown bar, I thought it as the

temple so I called you excitedly, but I felt bad after seeing the

dog‟s creature as ghosts, spirits or something rubbish," – said

Johnson to Walter.

"No problem, Johnson."

"I also wanted to know about the D-Street."

"But I too did not know about this."

"I will surely help you, on the other hand we need the

papers," – said Walter.

They again started searching for the papers but did not find it.

[here in the Highway Bar, Sedrick was observing the conversation

of Erlin and Stephen]

The sun was setting down. That evening, the whole sky turned

out with deadly clouds. Here, Walter and Johnson did not find the

papers. At last, hopeless Johnson lost his patience and left the

cartage.

"Walter! Leave it."

"Close the cartage and come back to the bar," - said Johnson

irritatingly moving to the Highway Bar.

When Walter came out closing the cartage doors, he found

something near the street light flying in the air. Walter moved

toward it and saw papers. All the papers were scattered randomly.

"Johnson!! Johnson!!"

"Come back"

"I found the papers," – shouted Walter at Johnson while

walking to the bar. After listening to Walter's words, Johnson

came back running excitedly. He was overjoyed seeing the papers

and jumped in the air with delight and started gathering them.

"Johnson! How they come here? We did not find it

yesterday," – questioned Walter.

"Whatever. We found the papers."

"I will protect them carefully."

"No one can read the information inside, because I have

scripted it with code language after working hard for 6 months." –

said Johnson happily and walked to the bar.

Everyone was excited to get the misplaced papers back again.

Sedrick stared at Walter with a blank expression. Walter looked at

Sedrick and signed with his hand something.

Time 8.00 PM

There was a lot of happiness and everyone was enjoying a lot. The

bearer came to Johnson.

"How was your work Sir?" – asked the bearer.

"The first day was very bad. We found a dog‟s skeleton." –

said Johnson.

"Behind it is good, they have not found three-leg animals." –

said the bearer to himself and moving.

"The dog we found had only three legs," – said Johnson

moving to the bearer. The bearer was shocked for a moment and

dropped the wine glass.

"What!"

"Three-leg animal?"

"Howsil?!"

"It means Howsil does really exist," – said the bearer out of

fear.

"Why are you so tensed for this, we will take care," – said

Johnson and moved to the relax room.

"Good night!" – said Walter and Sedrick leaving the bar.

When they were about to move into his car, the bearer came to

them.

"Sir! Am scared".

"Have you really found any three-leg animal?" –questioned

the bearer.

"No"

"We were just joking," – said Walter and left the place.

Time Night 8.30

Walter and Sedrick were driving through the highway. While

driving the car, Sedrick spoke to Walter.

"So, Walter you found the papers."

"Why did Johnson not find them?"

"And, how did you find it?" –asked Sedrick.

"Actually, I found them on the right side of the cartage wall.

They were scattered randomly."

"May be there could be one reason for them to come there."

"When archeology team was on their first visit to cartage, the

climate was cloudy and rainy. That evening when they were trying

hard to open the cartage lock, the papers in Johnson‟s bag pouch

might be carried away by air. Johnson did not notice it out of

tension to open the door," – said Walter as per his analysis.

"How can you say that they have struggled hard to open the

door?" –asked Sedrick curiously.

"Actually, Johnson irritatingly told me to close the cartage

door and to come back, when I tried to close the door, it was hard

to lock and there I found the papers on the right," – said Walter.

"What about Erlin and Stephen? Why did you distrust them?"

– asked Sedrick.

"That evening when Johnson came out for the cartage, Erlin

and Stephen were in the cartage. So I thought that one of them

might have stolen". – answered Walter.

Time: Night 9.30

It started raining heavily. They both were driving to the cartage.

Meanwhile suddenly ….

"Stop the car. Walter! – asked Sedrick. Walter stopped the car

suddenly.

"I have some work here, Walter!"

"I will meet you later!"

"You go to the D-Street" – said Sedrick. Walter silently left to

the D-Street.

Walter came to the D-Street main gate, Michael saw Walter

from the watch house and came to him.

"Evening Sir!"

"Is Sedrick not with you," – asked Michael looking at him.

"No."

"Sedrick has some work at highway so he got down there."

"Ok. Good night!" – said Walter leaving the gate.

The raining was heavy. When Michael was sitting in the watch

house, he saw something glowing far in the highway road. It

looked as if it were coming from the archeology workplace.

Michael thought that someone should be there. In that heavy rain,

he walked to excavation place where he saw a person digging

something. Michael touched and saw him. He was shocked seeing

Sedrick there.

"Sedrick!?!"

"You?"

"What are you doing here at night" – asked Michael out of

surprise.

"Nothing. Nothing."

"I am just searching for my ring, which I lost in the afternoon

while digging," – answered Sedrick tottering.

Meanwhile some sound was heard. The place was very silent

and too dark. The wind was blowing hard. Someone was observing

both Michael and Sedrick. Michael ran fast to the tent as he felt

someone was observing him. He saw the person tying the rope of

the tent. Michael was surprised seeing him.

"Walter!?!"

"You. This night."

"Are you searching for something," – questioned Michael

surprisingly.

Sedrick kept something in his pocket when Walter saw him.

"Walter! You too lost something. I came here for my ring," –

said doubtfully.

"Forgive me Sedrick! I inference you."

"When you got down near the highway, I moved to the DStreet main gate, parked my car. I found something gleaming near

archeology work place. I ran very fast, came here hiding beside the

tent observing you. Meanwhile, I saw someone coming very fast to

my side, so I acted as if tying the rope." –said Walter.

"I found my ring"

"It fell near the buried place" – said Sedrick showing the ring

in his left hand.

"It‟s very nice," – said Michael looking at it.

"Sorry for inferring you," – said Michael and walked to the

watch house with a torch holding in his hand.

It is too late. Walter and Sedrick left to the D-Street. Walter

stopped his car near the Sedrick's house. When Sedrick was

walking to his house ….

"One minute Sedrick!"

"Are you hiding something from me?"

"I noticed you hiding something in your pocket," – said

Walter.

"Oh! You see it."

"I thought to tell you about it tomorrow," – said Sedrick

taking it from his pocket showing to Walter.

"What‟s this?"

"Looks like a bone?" – asked Walter surprisingly.

"It‟s the dog‟s skeleton bone."

"I felt, it will be helpful for me, because I have the habit of

collecting." – answered Sedrick with a smile.

"You are really a silly fellow," – said Walter and returned to

his house.

Time Morning 8.00

Someone rang the Walter's door bell.

"Johnson!"

"Very Early Morning"

"Come be seated" – greeted Walter inviting him to sit.

"Pleasant Morning, Walter!"

"We are going to start our work today."

"We should find the temple." – said Johnson.

"What temple are you talking about?" – asked Sedrick who

came right then standing near the entrance of Walter's house.

"Oh! Sedrick!"

"I thought to tell you about this, but you were busy in

finding your ring, so I forgot to tell you about it."

"Come. What are you still doing there?" – invited Walter.

Walter explained everything about the temple to Sedrick.

Morning 9.50 AM

Everyone went to the highway for digging. Johnson sat in the tent

observing the documents.

"Walter. See this?!

"The arrow mark you are seeing are the D-Street subway

ground. We must find this. If we find this, we can find the temple

easily." – said Johnson curiously.

The moment they heard to Johnson's words, everyone's eyes

filled with curiosity.

Michael saw the code language and just shocked.

"It‟s an ancient cuneiform script!" – said Michael with

excitement to everyone.

"The arrow mark is not the subway ground, it signifies the

southeast part of Pictohills," – said Michael surprisingly.

"Sir!"

"I want to tell everyone about the D-Street."

"D-Street is an ancient place. It is said that one monk cursed

the D-Street. So it is my advice that you please stop your work," –

said Michael warningly.

"You need not tell us how to guide."

"I know everything about the D-Street."

"Be in your limits Mr. Michael!" – angered Johnson fiercely.

"Forgive me, Sir!"

"Sorry for my inconvenience. It is my mistake disturbing you,"

– said Michael and silently walked to the watch house.

When Michael went away, everyone came out of the tent.

Meanwhile, a phone call came for Sedrick.

"Hello! Who?"

"Oh! Doctor."

"Umm!! OK. Am coming," – said Sedrick ending the call.

"With whom are you talking to?" – asked Walter.

"With the Doctor?"

"I had a friend named Stevenson."

"Someone attacked him cruelly."

"An unknown person admitted him in the D-Street Care

Hospital."

"The doctor said that he is little ok, we can talk to him," –

answered Sedrick.

"Can I talk to the doctor?" - saying Walter made a call to the

doctor and asked about the health condition of Stevenson. He

slowly walked to some distance talking with him. Sedrick felt

delighted seeing Walter caring his friend.

Time Morning 10.40 am

Sedrick and Walter both went to the D-Street Care Hospital to

meet Stevenson.

"Stevenson!"

"Patient‟s name."

"Will you please tell me the ward no.?" – asked Sedrick to

receptionist.

"Room no. 104 Sir!"

"Second Floor," – answered receptionist seeing at Sedrick.

"Morning, Sedrick!"

"Very happy to see you here."

"Stevenson is alright, he is little recovered."

"You can meet him," – said the doctor leaving the room.

Sedrick felt happy seeing Stevenson healthy.

Stevenson slowly raised his left hand and showed it to

Walter's side.

"Hi! Am Walter."

"Sedrick‟s best friend."

"Happy to see you again," – said Walter seeing Stevenson.

They spent some time with Stevenson, then they left the

hospital in order to return to the D-Street. They were driving along

the D-Street highway.

"Am very happy seeing Stevenson."

"Oh! I forgot to say, my wife has got promotion, but on

nightshift."

"We will party tonight," – said Sedrick happily.

"Oh! Of course."

"I too feel very happy today. Let‟s enjoy," – said Walter

smiling. The car reached the D-Street.