Secrets of the Spiral Tower Read Online Free PDF Page A

all-day rains during winter and the sudden, severe thunderstorms during the summer.
    Connor and Willow discovered that cave one winter day while slipping away from friends. The entrance was grown over and barely visible. Willow, always the more adventurous one, said, “Let’s go inside.”
    Connor was reluctant and apprehensive, but Willow put on her “enticing face” and he couldn’t refuse.
    Connor grabbed and tugged at the vines as Willow cautioned, “Don’t completely uncover it. I want this to be our secret spot.”
    Connor parted the vines just enough to stick his head in.
    “We’re going to need a flashlight or lantern.”
    Willow looked in beside him.  She took Connor by the hand. “Aw, c’mon. I can see.”
    The south facing entrance to the cave was partially blocked by many years of soil erosion. But, once inside, even six-foot-tall Connor had no trouble standing straight, except for ducking an occasional spider web.
    For the next several minutes, the young couple cautiously explored part of the cave that would become a secret and special hideaway, one they would visit many times during their teenage years.

Chapter 5
     
     
    Now, more than thirty years later after discovering the secret hiding place, Willow stood atop Fort Hill. During the siege of Vicksburg, Fort Hill served as the anchor of the left flank of the rear Confederate defense line. The fort’s position commanded such high ground and was so strong the Union Army didn’t attack it when the major assault on Vicksburg came.  Overlooking the Mississippi and Yazoo Rivers, the fort’s cannons and the artillery on the hill bank below controlled all of the traffic on the rivers.
    Grant called for naval assistance. The fort’s artillery bombardment sank the Union ironclad USS Cincinnati as it tried to run the gauntlet. But eventually Union supply ships were able to pass, losing only one out of the armada. This was a decisive victory for the Union Army, and some historians say that the true strategic turning point of the Civil War was at Vicksburg, not Gettysburg.
    Knowing the history of Fort Hill, Willow stood with tears welling in her eyes as she looked westerly.  Connor hung back, allowing Willow a private moment with the view.
      “Connor, I surely hope we never have to endure a tragedy like the Civil War again,” Willow said as Connor came up beside her. Then she abruptly added, “Let’s go to the cave.”
    Connor was astonished by her sudden request.
    “Willow, I don’t think we can find it. You know it’s been thirty years since we were last there. And besides, it looks like it might rain any minute.”
    Willow smiled at the old memory.
    “Oh, Connor!  Just like the day we found it, you’re scared!  Come on. I’ll bet I can find it. And if it rains, that would be perfect.”
    Connor was still reluctant to move.
     “Are you sure you want to go there now? Who knows how grown up it is? And you remember the last time we went there.  You know what we did and you felt terrible afterwards.”
    “Yes, I remember quite well. The years haven’t diminished my memory. I want to correct some of the mistakes we made. I want to do it right this time. You know what some famous person once said, ‘If you have made mistakes, even stupid ones, there’s always another chance. What I call failure is not the falling down, but staying down.’”
    “I just think we need to concentrate on the house,” Connor said.  “Later, when we’ve prepared ourselves, we can go back to the cave.”
    Willow considered for a moment.  “Connor, you’re right. I was just overcome by emotions when I saw all of those grave stones in that cemetery. Let’s go to one of those sandwich shops on Washington Street and have lunch.”
    A smile replaced her sad face.
    “And afterwards, we’ll go buy the house.”
    “That’s a good plan. I guess you still like Memphis-style barbecue?”
    “Yes, I do, and I haven’t had any in several years.”
    “Then