El Apache

in Freewriters11 months ago

el Apache.png
My own photo, edited with Paint

This land is a land of mystery. It is rife with tales of ghosts, gnomes, witches, angels, and the like. While some might be hoaxes, others hallucinations, still others appear to be entirely true. The stories I find most sincere come from the simple folk who just mean to make their honest living and gain nothing from the extraordinary tale. This is one of those stories.

There's a man from down The Road in the next town over who lives in fear; let's call him Pancho. Pancho has wheat planted on his parcel of land, which is just a few hectares. It is situated amongst many other parcels of land owned by others in a fertile tract of land that was once underwater long ago.

Pancho refuses to go back to his land these days. He saw something there that scared him half to death. He stays in his home, letting his wheat field get overrun with grasses and other weeds. What did he see?

He witnessed a tall, roaring flame on the edge of the field near the irrigation ditch that divides his land from the next. The closer he got to the blaze, the more it seemed to wane. Curiously, there was no heat present. Nor was the fire spreading or even burning anything for that matter. As he finally approached it, the inferno went out entirely. In its place a spirit took form. The spirit appeared in the form of an "Apache" and pointed down into the nearby ditch with his right hand.

*The spirit spoke to Pancho, "You and two others must dig here if you are find my treasure," Pancho stood there motionless, jaw dropped, and eyes widened. The spirit continued, "One of you will not make it out alive..." and with that, it dissipated. *

Pancho dropped everything and raced home and has yet to return to this wheat field. For a few days he spoke of this to nobody, until it was apparent that something was wrong and it was finally pried out of him. Evidently, he has no interest in deathly treasures.

Would you risk your life for a buried cache of wealth? I think I would. Legend has it that three people are required: one to dig, another to hold a candle, and another to pray. Without the proper precautions, a spirit may appear to to defend the booty in the form of a bull or venomous snakes. One must also take care not to be envious or the riches may turn into an angry swarm of stinging ants.

In the past, people have obeyed the spirit that advertises bounty to be found. Others, like poor Pancho, prefer to know nothing of the sort and just want to continue with their normal lives.