CANYON CAVES - SECRETS OF THE EARTHBORN

Professor Marvin Jennings had just fixed his morning cup of coffee and picked up his newspaper when there was a knock at the door of his apartment. His was a modest apartment, consisting of only the bare necessities, inexpensive furniture, a small TV his parents had given him years before, a small kitchen table and a bookcase filled with thick reference books with worn bindings that only a very few would find interesting.
Jennings grew up in a middleclass household and like most boys of his generation he was fascinated with the idea of superheroes then in early adolescence with cars and girls, pretty much in that order. But his real and enduring fascination had always been with the past and the mysteries it held.
As far as his finances were concerned he really only ever spent much money on his wardrobe. His father’s favorite saying was, “The clothes make the man,” while his mother stressed staying in shape, hence her favorite saying was just the opposite, “The man makes the clothes.”
He always tried to stay in shape, dress well and hold himself to a standard his parents would appreciate and held all things old in high regard, especially where all things ancient were concerned.
Jennings was the Professor of Archaeology at Montclair College, a small college in the township of Montclair Massachusetts. He chose that particular college because for one it was close to home, but mainly he chose it because in a roundabout way it had chosen him. They, that is the college, was looking for a professor familiar with artifacts, antiquities old bones and someone who could pass on that knowledge to others easily. Oh, and also they were in desperate need of someone who had a good head for figures. The math tutor they’d had for years was recently retired.
Just the day before he’d been speaking with an old colleague of his who was telling him about an ancient artifact. A stone tablet complete with strange symbols and hieroglyphics he’d found while at a dig site in British Columbia. He’d gone on more than a few expeditions with that particular colleague during which important discoveries were made, even if they were only important to them. But, on occasion some of the finds were of importance to the powers that be in the world of archaeology. Jennings was mulling over his discussion with said colleague when he answered the door.
It was Jack McKinney, a student in his third period class. Jack was smart, handsome and personable. However, he needed the professor’s help. Jennings had multiple degrees not the least of which was one in advanced mathematics and he’d agreed to tutor Jack and his girlfriend, Lila Harper at the beginning of the year. Lila had a 145 IQ and was on the Dean’s list every semester. She was on the modest side of good looking but had a personality that drew everyone to her. For both of them though, advanced mathematics was their Achilles heel, hence they were in desperate need of Jennings’ help.
“Hey Professor, Lila and I wanted to change the day you tutor us from Tuesdays to Thursdays, if that’s okay? Lila has a job babysitting her neighbor’s kids on Tuesdays and Wednesdays to make extra money while she’s taking classes. She said that the kids are a handful but that their parents pay well.”
Jennings smiled and asked them to come in. After they were seated he assured them that the change was fine and began sipping on his now lukewarm cup of coffee. The three of them chatted for a while between the Professor’s sips and Jack could tell that he was preoccupied with something. He took his eyes off the professor momentarily and happened to glance at a piece of paper on Jennings’s kitchen table and said, “Uhm, Arabic hieroglyphics. Strange looking symbols too. Have you translated them yet, Professor?”
Jennings gave him a questioning look and commented, “You know the Arabic language, Jack?”
“Yeah, my grandpa Jack was an amateur archaeologist and taught me from the time I was six years old. He always said God gives each of us a gift and he said mine was learning languages and understanding and translating symbols. He was surprised at how good I was. I’d figure out a symbol, he would research it and find out that I was what he called, spot on, crazy, huh?”
Jennings was not only intrigued but somewhat perplexed too. He’d known Jack long before he’d had him for a student. “You mean to say you’ve been in two of my classes now and I never knew this about you? What else have you been keeping a secret? You’re not some kind of an alien are you?”
He grinned as he turned around and said, “No, take a look, no implant in my neck, no antennas protruding from my head, just a regular guy. To answer your other question; I never had to use what I knew in class and the subject never came up.”
Jennings smiled as he looked at Jack and thought to himself, this young man might be useful to me. How to approach him though, that was the question? He’d figure something out.