Stagecoach Mission Option Bb2: Hide in the Stage
Welcome to the conclusion of the adventure. Reader’s have chosen to hide in the stage in hopes of catching the thieves by surprise.
Good luck!
Stagecoach Mission Option Bb2: Hide in the Stage
Letting the stage driver know what’s coming might be a good idea, you decide. So before the thieves show up, you head toward the edge of the forest to catch the stage before it enters the trees.
The sun is just touching the line of the horizon as you arrive at the edge of the forest and lean against a tree to wait.
A short time later you hear a low rumble with the sound of wheels squishing through mud. The stage is moving at a pace slightly faster than a horse’s walk. You see it appear over the edge of the hill and step out into the road so the driver can see you.
He slows down but doesn’t stop. You can’t exactly blame him considering he’s probably anticipating an attack.
To reassure him, you flash the inside of your cloak, which is lined with blue and green, the colors of a King’s man.
The driver pulls the horses to a stop.
“Hello, stranger,” he says.
You introduce yourself and explain to him what’s going on. A deep frown covers his face but he doesn’t appear surprised.
“All right,” he agrees. “Go ahead and hide inside.”
Getting down from his seat, he unlocks the stage and lets you in. Then he leaves it unlocked so you can surprise the thieves when they attack.
You settle onto the seat in the small space not taken up by the King’s treasure. The stage starts forward again.
It doesn’t take long for you to reach where the trap is set up. You hear the snap of the cables and the crash of the rocks in the forest but then you feel the stage slowing. In such a situation, you know the driver’s trained to keep going unless he has no other choice.
The stage stops.
“Guess what I’ve got for you, Erik?” It’s the voice of the driver. It dawns on you he’s part of the thieves just as the lock on the stage clicks shut.
“It’s a king’s man!”
They continue to talk, discussing their next move. The trap was set up to make the driver look innocent. He would have wandered into Shelton with the ‘horrible’ story of being robbed. But now that was ruined. They couldn’t wreck the stage with you inside of it…unless they killed you.
At this point you decide you’ve heard enough.
As they continue to discuss, you move the treasure off the floor to uncover the trap door you know the King keeps in his transport stages. Picking the lock on it, you slip out the bottom, then drop to the ground and duck into the trees before they realize you’re gone.
You didn’t catch them but you have information. That, as a spy, is as good as gold. You head into Shelton to contact the lawmen there.
***
You’re information leads to the capture of the thieves in the town after Shelton. The lawmen take the praise for their capture and your part, sadly, is unknown by anyone but yourself, the Shelton lawmen, and your Master who simply advises you that that’s the way it goes for a spy.
The End
Congrats on catching the thieves! And thank you for participating in the adventure.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend=)
Blessings,
Jennifer
