An Oshin of Trouble

In the morning, VW and Oshin had a hearty breakfast of eggs, hash browns, bacon, and coffee. They cleaned up the camper, then gathered their hiking gear and packs.

They left at dawn.

The first two petroglyphs were easy to find. The third took them nearly an hour of searching. When they finally found it, they discovered that it pointed toward an area where there was no trail.

They followed the direction of the carving anyway.

The ground became rougher, and the trail seemed to disappear completely. They climbed over rocks, pushed through thick brush, and followed the occasional small marker carved into the stone.

They found the fourth petroglyph near lunchtime.

Oshin studied it for several minutes.

“This one is different,” he said.

VW looked at the carving. “How?”

“It isn’t telling us where to go.”

“Then what is it telling us?”

Oshin smiled.

“I think we’re about to find out.”

Around the corner, they came to a sheer cliff face. Across the raw rock wall, Oshin could just make out what appeared to be a narrow ledge.

“We must be careful,” Oshin said. “If we choose the wrong path of hand and foot holds, we could end up stuck halfway across that cliff face.”

Near the base of the cliff were three possible starting points. Beside each one was a petroglyph of a stick figure.

The first figure was standing.

The second was sitting.

The third was standing on its hands.

VW studied the carvings.

“What do you suppose those mean?”

Oshin didn’t answer.

He stared at the third figure.

Then he reached into his pack and carefully removed the notebook. He opened it to the drawing of the turquoise idol.

He turned the notebook so VW could see it.

Just like the petroglyph, the idol stood on its hands.

Oshin smiled.

“Now we know which one.”

VW looked from the idol to the carving.

“You think that’s the key?”

“I know it is.”

In two other places along the rock face, Oshin had to choose between possible paths. Each time, he found the petroglyph with the figure standing on its hands.

The handholds were small, and some of the footholds were barely wide enough for the toe of a boot. Far below them, the canyon floor seemed to grow smaller with every step.

Oshin moved carefully, testing each handhold before shifting his weight.

Soon he reached the narrow ledge on the other side of the gap.

He turned and watched as VW began his climb.

“Take your time,” Oshin called. “And remember—the one standing on its hands.”

VW nodded and slowly followed Oshin across.

A pebble broke free beneath VW’s boot and bounced into the canyon. Neither man heard it strike the bottom.

They found more petroglyphs along the trail until finally the path ended at a sheer drop-off.

Oshin stepped carefully to the edge and looked over.

Far below, the canyon floor seemed impossibly distant.

Then he saw it—a narrow ledge running across the face of the cliff.

The pair got their climbing gear out and made their way down to the narrow ledge.

They searched the rock face for nearly an hour before Oshin finally found what they were looking for.

“A keyhole,” he said.

He carefully cleared away the dirt and dust that had accumulated around it, exposing the ancient lock mechanism.

Oshin took out his pick set and carefully worked the lock. One by one, he tripped the hidden tumblers.

Click.

The lock released.

Oshin pushed against the rock.

With a deep rumble, an entire section of the cliff face slowly slid upward, revealing a passage into the mountain.

Above the passage hung a massive slab of rock weighing several tons.

VW stared at it.

“How the hell is that staying up?”

Oshin looked into the darkness beyond it.

“Apparently, it is supposed to.”

Beyond the stone was the Sky Shrine.

But to reach it, they would have to walk beneath the massive slab of rock.