Damper! I know it well Craig, good tucker. I've got lots of salt n pepper. I even know how to do Louises's Turrtle soup. The bleeding improves the texture and flavour well worth the effort. Hardly worth collecting the blood though except for bait. I love blood sausages but turtles blood tastes yukky. Mixed with Barley, it makes great rivet bait. Salmon love it.
Craig, the cement is so that we can cover up the evidence if Ernie tries to double cross us. I have eaten turtle stew. It's not too bad if you don't think about what you are eating. It looks like we are well supplied. If our food gives out, we can always eat Terence's mule. We'll take this trail over to the next valley. Be careful, though. It's kinda narrow. Once we get there, We can begin to look for the Jadaculla Rock.
Are you saying we dispose of Ernie, bury him and cover his grave with concrete? There is no reference to the Jadaculla Rock in the book I borrowed from the town library.
Craig, I'll cook up some rich man's damper tonight for us all I have the new n fresh butter and will add some dried bacon bits and onions to enrich it even more. I even use castor sugar. Some add raisons. I prefer savory. I'm not poor like those old Aussie swagman. They had it hard. I was luckier with the Gold and have several pounds locked away in a bank safe. Well, 4 banks. They call me Sir which is nice. I try to have a bath before I visit them. I even have a golden coloured suit, a white silk shirt and a tie with green shamrocks. I love the green n gold. I soar like an Eagle in that clobber. That track sounds very narrow Shirley. Can Ernie's taxi van navigate it. Bruce could easily. Beast again is better that engines! Shirley, over my dead body will you eat Bruce my mule. I'm sure his flesh would be like leather anyway. Eat Ernie before Bruce, or Craig? Joking. The cement is to support the legs of a mining hoist if it comes to it, not to bury Ernie. I'm a law abiding man and would only kill anyone in self defence or in a war. I hate war, it's the most immoral of all things. When we cross a stream Louise, I'll have a quick look for a turtle. Lets cook it in its own shell to be authentic. I have many herbs n spices in Bruce's saddle bags. Curried Turtle, rice n greens Halal style? All Fresh. Got jabbed by a Covid bush today with one of its sharp needles. Despite rumours, I had no reaction at all. Not even a sore shoulder. Don't wake me tho if I'm dead tomorrow morning.
There is no reference to the Jadaculla Rock in the book I borrowed from the town library.[/QUOTE] Maybe that's why it's a secret Craig. Books don't have all the answers. Still worth a Butcher's chook, or look. I have a pocket radio that tells me heaps, fact n fiction. The signal is poor up here. I bet there's no mobile coverage up here neither. You or Shirley got one of those flipflop phone bricks? How about you Ernie? Saw none when I searched you; got one hidden? Or a 2way? I see no cables.... Well?
Terence I think you are being cheeky. You can keep the location of something secret but still name the object. Makes for greater intrigue. Yum I can taste that damper now. I am originally from the great southern land and my mum often made home made damper in our little regional town in the Southern Lowlands where I grew up...
I didn't mean to be cheeky Craig, I just don't like books, nor trust them. Good grief Louise, brick flip flops. What will they think of next?
Guys, I'm going to be away until Sunday. I might not be back online until Monday. Y'all can pause the story or be checking out the surrounding area to see if you can find anything interesting.
Once we had our supplies packed we set off along this narrow mountain path hopefully to lead us to the mysterious Jadaculla Rock. The book tells us that there are three burial sites in Tennesssee but only one in Sumner County.. Castalian Springs Mound Site. Map says it is about a days walk from here.
Along the way the party had to ford a shallow stream. Water bottles were filled, ablutions, short rest as Bruce the mule drank long and deeply from the clear n cold mountain waters. A moose could just be heard in the far distance baying out its passion and zest for life. An Eagle soared far above. Splashing back Terence had a long necked turtle clenched in his hands , shouting 'Turtle soup tonight!' and put it in a sack tied to Bruce's saddle bags. He continued "I reckon the money's under the money tree which is why we have to blast, chop n dig. That's my theory anyway, and I bought and brought the gear for that job, all on Bruce's strong back. I'm not stupid just cus I can't read or see too good close up. I have other tools too." said Terence quiety looking at the others, including Ernie whose eyebrows raised.
I have a long necked Australian Eastern turtle in a tank in my home. They hibernate half the year same as bears..
Yes Terence I tend to agree with you that procuring the money will be no easy task. That is unless mad uncle Eddie or the spectre of Shirley's grandmother intervene. Exhausted we camped for the nite by a small stream. Terence's turtle soup was most welcome and rather tasty. We knew that on waking we only had a mere 25 miles left to reach the burial site.
The next early dawn brought smells of freshly brewed coffee, baked beans and damper. "Barley n turtle bits in the beans too" said Terence handing out steaming plates n cups, helped by Louise. "Caught another 2 rabbits in my traps last night n Ernie's at his toilet. I sleep lightly. His van didn't make it too far being blocked by only one fallen tree. Not Bruce tho who just stepped over it and others. My magnificent strong mule now carrying almost everything. Sorry you had to walk Louise. I must also see a man about another dog sometime."
Thank you Terence for adding me to the story,, i do not mind , as long as im just in the background now and then is ok by me..