The Secret of Serpent Pass

Anya lived in the quiet mountain town of Pinebrook. She was a park ranger, a woman who knew the forests and the trails like her own hand. Anya was strong, quick, and she loved the quiet life. But sometimes, the quiet life found trouble. One Tuesday morning, an old helicopter flew over Pinebrook. It did not belong there. Anya watched it from her small cabin window. It flew low and fast toward Serpent Pass, the highest and most dangerous part of the mountains. Serpent Pass was a place where few people went. It was famous for a hidden cave where people said an old treasure was kept. Anya never believed the stories, but she did believe the helicopter was a problem. She quickly put on her hiking boots and her strong jacket. She packed a small backpack with a radio, water, and food. She grabbed her binoculars and started her climb. She had to be fast. The trail to the Pass was long and difficult. The ground was steep, and there were many loose rocks. Anya moved carefully but quickly. She was focused on the sound of the helicopter, which was now silent. This meant it had landed. After two hours, Anya reached a high ledge. She stopped and looked down through her binoculars. She saw the helicopter on a flat area near the entrance to the famous cave. Three men were standing near it. They were not hikers. They wore dark clothes and looked serious. One man, tall and skinny, carried a heavy metal box. The second man, short and strong, held a long rope. The third man, who looked like the leader, pointed to the cave entrance. "They are looking for the treasure," Anya thought. "I must stop them." Anya knew the mountains better than them. She knew a secret path that went around the main entrance and ended on a high point above the cave. It was very dangerous, but it was the fastest way. She started to climb again. She used her hands and feet, pulling herself up the rough rock. The wind was cold and loud. She had to be very careful. Finally, she reached the high point. The three men were now inside the cave. Anya took out her radio to call the police, but there was no signal up here. She was alone. She looked down at the men's equipment near the helicopter. An idea came to her. She saw the rope the strong man had carried. It was tied to a large rock to secure the helicopter. Anya quietly began to move down the slope. She reached the rock where the rope was tied. It was a thick, new rope. She pulled out a small, sharp knife from her backpack. Snip. Snip. Snip. The rope was strong, but Anya’s knife was sharp. The rope began to break. She cut it almost all the way through, leaving just a few strands so it would not break immediately. Then, she took a deep breath. She threw a small stone down toward the cave entrance. Clink! The sound was small, but the men heard it. The leader shouted from inside the cave, "Who is there?!" Anya did not answer. The men ran out of the cave entrance, looking up. When they saw the rope was cut, they understood the danger. They looked angry. "She is up there! Get her!" the leader yelled. The men started to climb the slope quickly. They were strong, but Anya was ready. She started to run on the high ledge. The men were close behind. Suddenly, the tall, skinny man stepped on a loose rock. He slipped! He grabbed the strong man, and they both fell back against the large rock holding the helicopter rope. CRACK! The few remaining strands of the rope broke completely. The helicopter, no longer tied down, began to slide a little on the steep ground. The three men did not wait for the helicopter. They did not wait for the treasure. They ran away, down the mountain path, running as fast as they could from the noise and the danger. Anya watched them go. She sat down, breathing heavily. She was safe. The men were gone. The quiet life was back in Pinebrook, but Anya knew she had an adventure to tell the police when she got back to a signal.