The Year of the Lumin Read Free Page A

both can do… things.  Weird things.  In some of them I’m all old and homeless and gross.  I don't know.  I told you they're weird.”  She turned and looked at Noir again.  “And you know how you told me about the stairs and wall drawings in that cave?”
    “Yeah?”
    “Well, after you told me that, it bugged me so much that I had to go back and see for myself.”
    “What?  You went back to the cave by yourself?”
    “Yes.”
    “Well, what happened?  Did you see what I told you about?”
    Aimee leaned toward Noir with her eyes watering and grabbed his hands with hers.  “Noir.  Along with all the other drawings, your name is carved on that wall.”
     
    ~~~
     
    Steven took another step toward his daughter's door.  He usually tried to respect his daughter's privacy, but he was anxious as to how they were getting along.  He heard them talking about the insignificant cave that Noir was looking at when the rock fell on him.
    He listened closer to more of their conversation.  “She went back to that cave by herself?” he thought.  “When was that?  And how did I not know about it?” 
    He continued to listen.  “Noir's name was carved on the wall?  That's impossible.”  He had to ask Aimee what she meant.  He knocked in the same catchy rhythm like he usually did.
    “Dad?  What do you want?” he heard through the door.  He opened it and saw his daughter sitting at her computer facing away from him and Noir was on the bed near her, looking off into space as if he had just seen a ghost.
    “I'm sorry, I was coming up to see if you wanted a snack and I overheard.”
    “Dad!”  Aimee threw her hands up in disbelief.
    “I'm sorry.  I really didn't mean to.  It's just that I know how hard the incident was on you Aimee, and when I heard you talking about it, I got interested.  What was the last thing you said?”  Aimee said nothing.  “It sounded like you said Noir's name was carved on the wall in that cave.”  Aimee still said nothing, but Noir turned his head toward his uncle with the same shocked look still on his face.  “So that is what you said.  If it's true, we should go and see.  It has to be a coincidence.  It could be another language that looks like N-O-I-R.  Or it's just graffiti or something.”
    “I do not want to go back there, dad.  That place has...” she paused.  “It has too many memories.”
    “I understand, Aimee.  You don't have to.  Me and Noir can go, though.  Right kiddo?”
    Noir barely moved his lips.  “Yeah, sure.”
    “Plus,” Steven continued, “If there are stairs and cave drawings, it might be some sort of archaeological dig.  It might be a Native American burial site or something.  It could be a big discovery!  I’ve heard that Medicine Mountain has some of the oldest geological rocks in the world.  What do you say?  We could go first thing in the morning.  It'd be a fun hiking trip.”
    Noir finally snapped out of his daze.  “Yeah, I'm in for it.  I have to see what she's talking about.  That cave has been in my mind for a year and I just have to explore it more.”
    “Aimee, what about you?”  Steven asked.  She did not answer.  “Well, I'll let you think about it.  Noir, do you remember how to find the cave?”
    “I think so.”
    “Well, let's plan to leave tomorrow morning.  I hope you packed some hiking boots, kiddo.”  With that, Steven left the room and closed the door behind him.  He walked to his bedroom and plugged his professional level digital camera into the wall to charge.  He thought to himself, “If what they are saying is real, then this could be a huge news story.  I'll have to take pictures.  I'd better not tell the others where we're going.  They'll worry.”
     
    ~~~
     
    “Jeez.  I can't believe he was listening to our conversation.”  She turned to Noir.  “Why do you want to go back to that cave anyway?”  Aimee asked.  “I told you what I saw.”
    “I have to go back,