Jim Gallegos is an American financier on holiday in a Caribbean island with his wife when he recognizes an investment opportunity to own a mountain with an abundant source of spring water. After quickly jumping into the venture, Jim soon discovers that owning the mountain may be more challenging than he ever realized. Jim's obstacles include opposition from local farmers and the government. Undeterred, he embarks on a one-day exploration to the top of the mountain that unfortunately results in the death of his guide, an injury to his wife, and a near fatal mishap that leaves him marooned from the rest. After a search party is mobilized, a murder suspect is fatally shot, attracting speculation by the locals that the occult is playing a part in the course of events. But when the others are finally plucked from the mountaintop by rescuers, Jim is still missing. Will he reunite with his wife and somehow move past the calamitous events on the mountain? In Pursuit of Running Water shares the compelling tale of an American businessman's dangerous journey to the truth after he uncovers a potential lucrative investment on an island.
In Pursuit of Running Water
By Cornell CharlesAuthorHouse
Copyright © 2009 Cornell Charles
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4490-2035-4Chapter One
'I watched as the hoe wielded by his bared back and arms plunge into the mountain's side and soon after a metallic sound split into echoes throughout the valley. As the diminutive figure way up the mountain again thrust the hoe among the lace of potato vines into the cliff's side the valley air snapped again. He seemingly tossed into the valley those sounds not in accord with the solace of the cliff-dwelling clan who dwelt on the cliff as long as there was enough light to turn the soil. And when the night obscured all sight the cliff dwelt over them in huts squatting on long spindly front legs and short stout hind legs.' Jim Gallegos remembered reading this scripted excerpt in a travel magazine and was convinced he stood in the very spot where the writer had observed this scene.
A mid morning sun highlighted the lace of potato vines adorning the lower south side while at the mountain's base Jim and Betty Gallegos were listening to Cosmos the taxi-driver as he narrated the Tourist board's history of the Mountain. He stood facing them and ignored the intermittent clicking sound interposing his speech,
"During the wars in the eighteenth century between the British and French for possession of the island, a team of engineers from the King's regiment were on the mountain to build a fort and gun emplacement. You know they had these big canons and they had to install it on the mountain and in those days without cranes you can imagine how difficult that was, but don't forget they had slave labor. However one of the engineers was an en-to-mol-lo-gist, which is a person who studies insects. He was that in real life and so he discovered some types of butterflies on the mountain that you could not find anywhere else in the world. We alone have that kind and so that is how the island got its name Butterfly Island after this discovery."
"Now on, on," Cosmos turned around and pointed towards the mountain "on the other side of the mountain facing the sea, it is very steep and rocky, the soldiers said there were wild goats, but I hear da was goats belonging to runaway slaves."
His tone and diction suddenly turned fretful, "Dem soldiers was slaughtering goats wid rifles to prevent survival of dose slaves dat runaway so dey could not get de milk and meat and dey had even let go snakes to chase dem out of de bush so on de udder side have poisonous snakes, fer-de-lance." Cosmos was repudiating the official history as the two visitors listened attentively.
"It was for this reason they named the mountain, Goat Mountain." His official tone returned briefly to announce this headline but he soon reverted "but never mind dat, de people calling it by the local name, but only sometimes, dat is because de church de officials and dem feel it is bad for the image of the island."
"This mountain has a lot of history," Cosmos teased in a lower keyed voice.
"It is now called Goat Mountain, but if you hear the local name don't let it give you a bad impression of the island."
"So what is the local name?" asked Jim.
"It won't mean anything if I tell you, but the trouble is IF and a big IF I have to tell you what it really means to the locals"
"Do you always make fun of your passengers?" The disdain in Jim's voice was evident.
"Is the word offensive, why, is it taboo" added Betty Gallegos.
"I don't know taboo but you can say it offend a lot of people" Cosmos backed up his statement, "you know some people already get fined by magistrate for this word, but it is better if somebody of class tell you what it means."
"You have to have class to inform visitors of the local name of the mountain" scoffed Jim.
"Do you know I was explaining the local name to some visitors and they got annoyed with me and told me I had no morals and that they were going to report me to the Tourist officials." Cosmos defended his reason for being guarded, "one has to be careful in this place and I have kept my nose clean."
Cosmos intent on curtailing further discourse abruptly turned and pointed to a diminutive figure of a man on the mountain a few hundred meters above them. Cosmos cautioned the two visitors,
"You see dat fella up dere how he looking small, small, small, his name is Edison John, he is one huge guy you hear, if you see dat man muscles!" He did not elaborate further but considered his observation enlightening.
On weekdays, Edison John shoulders his hoe like a soldier and leaves his four-legged hut at first light to work in his garden. Every Saturday with a bulging sack of swollen roots expertly balanced on his head, he negotiates the steep slope of the mountain to the valley markets below.
Cosmos was hustling the visitors into the taxi for this was the last stop of the tour and his mind shifted to a next fare perhaps awaiting him at the hotel.
"Do you know if he owns the land?" Jim Gallegos inquired when seated in the taxi.
Cosmos understood it as prying but felt he had the appropriate response,
"From the time I know myself Edison is the only one I ever see on the land."
Jim followed with a related question,
"Do people have to pay taxes on their land?"
"I have a piece of land and I never pay any tax on it."
"You are very lucky, aren't you?" applauded Betty Gallegos.
Lucky! Cosmos mused on the word and concluded luck to him is an American visa or green card.
"What price per square foot would you say your land is worth?" Jim Gallegos inquired abruptly.
Cosmos winced and felt his entire body evading the question.
"I am not selling," he advised and fearing the next question would be equally intrusive he added, "I am keeping the land to pass on to my children so I never study about price."
A taxi-license was granted to Cosmos Richards after an uncertified training course prepared him to conduct informed tours of the island and promote the island as a land with friendly people. Cosmos was willing to meet those objectives but Jim Gallegos's questions reminded him of his community's dislike for anyone who meddles in other people's business. Such persons usually have an unsavory personality and are viewed as indiscreet. His mother had warned her six children to show respect and don't get involved in things that don't concern them.
"How do I go about purchasing land on the island?" While on the way back to the hotel Jim popped the question.
Cosmos made a sudden U-turn and was heading in the opposite direction.
"Why are we turning back?" demanded the startled Jim.
"Oh I thought you wanted to know about land for sale. Just down the road, a Mr. Joshua has an office and he told me anytime anybody is interested in land to contact him."
"But why didn't you ask me if I wish to see him"
"Okay do you want to see him?"
"No not right now, he can make an appointment to meet with me at the hotel."
Another u-turn and they were back on the way to the hotel.
"Have no fear, we will be back to invest on the island, we love it here" Betty assured soothingly.
Cosmos became convinced that Betty Gallegos acted as a moderating influence after an invitation that surprised him.
"Why don't you and your wife join us for drinks tonight after dinner?"
He chuckled and took one hand off the wheel to scratch his chin; he needed time to think, but the questions were cascading smoothly out of the lady visitor:
"Do you have a...
