Forest

Dear Matthew,

Don’t reveal the existence of this map to anyone. "From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit.”

Take a boat to the head of the Pitt Lake. Beach and hide it at the old fish hatchery near the abandoned town of Alvin. Take the road that goes through and out of town heading north. After about three miles the road forks. Go right on an overgrown logging road (northeast) until you reach a washed out bridge across a dry creek. Leave the road and follow the creek east. Watch for a tributary coming in on your right. Follow the tributary (southeast).

Now the journey becomes arduous. The ravine is steep and very overgrown and blots out the sun. Stay low, sometimes it might be necessary to crawl under windfall and through debris jams. The travelling is terrible, over slime-covered rocks and rotting logs with moss six inches thick, slugs the size of bananas and salamanders as big as small dogs. Dinner plate size plagues of fungus thrust out from trees and eight-foot high devils club, with thorns to match, sting with the touch of a leaf.  The air is thick and damp with concentrations of unhealthy mist.  Though exhausted and afraid you must keep going.

When you reach a dam of debris and windfall that towers over you and plugs the small canyon, double back. Look for the large mark of the cross I made on the east wall. Here, and only here, can you scale the canyon wall and traverse a narrow ledge above the debris dam. Beyond this wall of boulders, huge splintered trunks, and tons of detritus is a wonder.  

The walls have been scoured smooth by the torrent released from above and you must descend to the streambed. But the ravine widens and sun warms you like a blessing. The creek is “like the river of life, clear as crystal” and sweet. On either bank a parade-route of delicate flowers welcomes you. There’s the cream flowers of Western Trillium turning pink as they age; the pure white Bead Lily with its turquoise seedpod, the lavender flower clusters of Bleeding Heart drooping above fern like foliage. It’s like Eden, son, compared to hell you’ve come through.

Another quarter of a mile through this paradise and you discover the source of the stream. It flows out of a fissure high on the east wall. If the sun’s right and you know what you’re looking for you can identify small seams of gold in the rock face. The water forms a pool at the base and in the shallows lies your fortune, enough gold to change destiny.

Don’t camp here, rather try to plan your trip so you arrive well before dark. Take what you can carry and leave while there’s still daylight. “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you.”

Emerson said, “The desire of gold is not for gold. It is for the means of freedom and benefit.” If I’ve learned one thing these last twelve years it’s that “The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender. Proverbs 22:7”.  I don’t want you to be a slave, neither do I want you to rule over the poor. Be independent, continue to do good.

Matthew, you might not consider me a good man, but heed the scriptures “For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. Romans 2:13.” I point this out not so you’ll reconsider your feeling towards me, but for the sake of your own happiness.

This is my legacy to you. “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous. Proverbs 13:22”

 Love, your Father.

PS I’m sure you’ll feel as I do that this is a scared place. If the location becomes known it will be destroyed, desecrated and you will lose everything. Do not allow this to happen.