“I’m sure those pesky agents from the IAA will be clamoring to get their hands on it for their museum.” He coughed as he finished the sentence.
“It will be of no concern. I have already contacted the best stone worker in the country and requested a duplicate be made. By the time those fools have their artifact we will be well on our way to the next chamber.”
“Good. I knew I could count on you. God be with you, my son.”
“Thank you, Prophet.”
The old man hung up the phone and retreated to his enveloping leather chair by the fireplace. He raised his glass of brandy in satisfaction, filling his nostrils with its rich, warming aroma. Curious, he thought while eyeing the half-filled tumbler that alcohol was forbidden by the church’s teachings. Soon enough, though, they would be following his doctrines, as would the world. He finished the drink in one gulp and set the glass back on a stand near the chair.
“Who were you talking to?” Morris asked as he met up with Will at their car.
“Oh, that was just my girlfriend. Had to tell her I would be home late tonight.”
“Alright buddy, let’s get back to Atlanta. Good job, Will.”
“Thank you sir.” The young detective stood for a moment as his partner entered the car. “Thank you,” he repeated, almost inaudibly, peering back at the totem poles nearby.
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Author’s Notes
With any good piece of fiction I have ever read, there are always notes from the author at the end. So in keeping with what my favorites have done, I thought I would provide some of the details behind The Secret of the Stones.
Gold really was one of the biggest reasons the United States government wanted to relocate the Native American tribes. In North Georgia, there have been several documented finds of Indian Gold in different places. Talks about the “Indian Problem” began as early as the Jefferson Administration and ended with the Trail of Tears moving the last great tribes to the west. The government never did find the enormous treasures they had hoped for.
The IAA and the Georgia Historical Center are both fictional. However, at Dalton State College, about an hour north of Atlanta, a new North Georgia Historical Center has been opened and contains a tremendous wealth of history and artifacts.
Chief Vann’s House and the story as relayed in the book are real. His home is situated in the small town of Chatsworth, GA. The 200 year old plantation house is still one of the best preserved historic sites in the United States
Etowah Indian Mound State Park, Fort Mountain, Track Rock, Red Clay State Park, and Rock Hawk and Rock Eagle are all very real. The mysteries that these locations present are truly amazing and I highly suggest visiting them in person. The original location of the Cherokee Capital was actually near Cartersville, Georgia.
The riddles and theories concerning the arrival of the first Native American settlers were entirely my concoction. It was extremely interesting, though, to find so many similarities between the Ancient cultures of Egypt and the Native American tribes during my research. Also, the likeness of the wall at Fort Mountain when compared to the Nile River is quite fascinating. Though, that monument’s purpose continues to remain a mystery to historians.
One historical note that I did have to alter was the relationship between the Mormon settlers and the Native American migration. All of the details are true except for one. The Mormon church was not actually founded for almost another decade after the Trail of Tears. That fact does not mean that the Mormons could not have helped the tribes later on, though. And their paths certainly crossed many times in the mid-west and beyond.
During the course of the story, the characters find themselves in a church called “The Beacon Tabernacle.” This church does exist in the small town of Collegedale, Tennessee. I changed the name of it to better suit the flow of the story but, all of the details are as close to the truth as I could make them. The Bible verse that appears in Morse code on the stained-glass windows also exists, but I did take the liberty of changing which verse is displayed.
As to the Golden Chambers themselves, I must admit that they are only a theory of mine. However, much of the research I have done seems to point towards the number four in conjunction with the existence of a Native treasure. And the more research I do, the more I start to realize that the chambers could be a very real possibility.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thank you to everyone who has ever supported me and told me to keep writing. My parents, siblings, teachers, and friends, I am grateful to all of you. I’m also thankful for the ones who told me to quit dreaming. Your words have been the fire to push me onward.