The Problem with Dreams

Chapter 6 - A Visit for Matt

            "Why did you need to expose the rock?" Matt asked curiously.

            "Our intent once we uncovered it was to try to stablize this side of the hill in order to prevent the same thing happening again. To do that, we needed to expose the rock so Mr. Sato and Mr. Van Kirk could construct what they are calling the lips of the cave. It's purpose is to hold the soil back, away from the opening. They also created this grotto and built the retaining walls on the uphill side of the valley to manage water run off from above and to contain minor slides. Mudslides are a hazard in this area and they are trying to protect our house from that," Greg answered.

            "That would be good," Matt agreed. "I guess it could happen again if it rained hard enough."

            "Yes, it could," Greg agreed.

            Matt nodded as he looked thoughtfully around. "That is so weird though that you found somebody's stuff here."

            "Yeah, it is, Greg," Zackary agreed.

            "Why?" Greg asked as he studied the expressions of the two boys.

            "You said his stuff was in here because it was raining, right?" Zack asked.

            "More than likely," Greg agreed.

            "Then where was he?" Zack asked.

            "I was wondering about that too, Greg. If all his stuff was here, where was Max when the slide happened?" Matt asked.

            "There is no way to know, Matt. But the evidence suggests he wasn't here. We found the coffee pot buried within a fire ring, along with a heavy skillet which was still resting atop charred coals," Greg said.

            "You mean he was cooking?" Zack asked.

            "I don't think we can say for certain that he was cooking, but the presence of the pan on top of the coals does suggest this happened either at the beginning or the end of the day. It's probably the reason he didn't become trapped. He may have heard the rumbling sound from the slide and been able to get out in time," Greg theorized.

            "Yeah, but he lost his stuff," Zackary said.

            "Yes. If he did have warning, it wasn't much," Greg commented.

            Matt nodded, looking around as though trying to imagine the scene.

            "So where would he have gone if he did get out?" Matt asked.

            "Probably out into the valley and up the otherside to get out of the way. It would have been deeper at that time than it was when we originally saw it," Greg explained.

            "Because the same slide that filled up the cave filled in the valley too?" Matt asked.

            "Yes," Greg said.

            "Did you dig out that also?" Matt asked.

            "Some of it. That's how we came across the cave in the first place," Greg explained.

            "Then what happened to all the dirt?" Matt wondered.

            "We used it to do some contouring work in the first and second valleys," Greg said. "Come look," he invited.

            Matt nodded then followed Greg and Zack along a much more finished walkway which led around the water basin in the cave and the stream bed beyond, and almost immediately they were on the underside of the bridge portion of the house.