Beneath the Sands

I just needed to keep an ear out for the bleep. I will eventually cross something of value and the metal detector will lend me a reward. It wasn't a cheap machine, but surely it would do its job and make up for it. Of course my luck wasn't the best and the first thing I discovered wasn't worth anything. However, I felt if I continued scanning the beach I would find some kind of treasure and secure enough riches to keep my happy. It was a large beach that had been through all kinds of history, so I was bound to find something.

​The detector beeped and fell to the ground. I had a spade in  hand and began to dig at the surface. Large amounts of sand flew from the spot as I made my way towards the prize. Eventually I found it. A metal badge attached to an ancient skeleton. I plucked the badge off the bony corpse and inspected it. Made in China. Worthless. Chucking it to the side I continued my search. The last thing I needed was a strange skeleton with a badge that couldn't get me enough money to buy a stick of gum.
I walked ever onward, following the shore and tree line, detecting buzzing and whirring with each step, waiting for that wonderful, sharp sound. However, the next sound I heard wasn't a beep, but an old friend.
"Hey, what are you doing?"
I recognized the voice. It came from my good friend Eric and sure enough he dashed up to me. He was taller and more muscular with crossed eyes. The local women called him, 'Mr. Almost Perfect' behind his back. Still, he was a good guy and I could count on him for most things. Most things that required brawn anyway. Eric stood tall and expectantly and I had just the job for him.
"I'm looking for valuables, Eric. Soon I will find something of worth and celebrate in the bar tonight!" I announced to him. He was quite amused by my plans, but after all, my plans usually had merit and his amusement soon turned to wonder upon further thought.
"No way, that's awesome! May I try out the machine?" the man asked me with almost puppy-like enthusiasm. I could not deny such a wish. Especially since I was going to offer him the metal detector to use while I took small break and admired the ocean.
Yet, I handed him the detector and a spade with reluctantly. It was an expensive tool and I would like to believe a fragile one at that. The last thing I wanted was for it to break in the large hands of Eric. After explained how it worked he trundled off down the beach. I watched him closely and smiled to myself. He certainly was a strange man sometimes, but indubitably he could be the most helpful as well. It wasn't long before the machine beeped and he dove at the ground similar to the way I did before. For a moment I grew tense. What if he found something amazing and claimed it for himself?
The moment Eric plunged the tip of the spade into the dirt an explosion went off. Eric lifted into the air and separated. His separated parts separated as well, mingling with the chucks of dirt and sand. It was a terrifying display of fireworks.
"Oh no!" I exclaimed running over. There was a hunk of smoking metal, but I recognized it as a mine, before the war. However, my fears were unfounded and I sighed with relief. The metal detector was undamaged.
Careful not to step in any of Eric's remains I continued my search. Hours passed and the battery was running low. There wasn't much time left in the day either. On the very edge of giving up the detector beeped and I started digging. I didn't know what to expect yet my heart was beating like a drum played by a maniac with the a shirt that said, "I love drums!" as he preformed at the drum festival.
The pit grew in size as I dug, getting ever closer to the source. The beeps got louder and I only got more excited. I passed many objects as I dug. Bones, plastic toys, full body bags and a burrito, preserved in a clear baggy, yet nothing to exchange for beer. The beating however only grew louder. I felt the detector had picked up on one of the worthless trinkets, but the burrito gave me hope that there was something good here, so I continued my digging with Eric-size amounts of enthusiasm.
The spade hit something hard. I began to dig around it until glowed before me. A rock, but not just any rock. A bright, perfectly cut ruby the size of my head. My heart had reached bursting point. I ran back to the village, past several mobs of people on the beach crowding around something. I heard crying and screams, but I didn't have time to waste and find out what could draw so much attention to the beach.
Eventually the neon sign came into view. I burst into the bar, not looking anybody in the eye. Instead, I ran straight up to the barman who eyed me suspiciously. I had a reputation, of course, but now I had a reputation as his favourite customer.
After showing him the ruby, which he stared lovingly. He held it in his hand, the weight was size-able and the value tremendous. I asked how many beers it got me as I sat on the very edge of the bar stool.
"Um...let's see here...four sounds about right," The barman answered shakily as well as shiftily.
"Four?!" I exclaimed and inquired at the same time.
"Is that a problem?" The barman asked growing more nervous.
"That's fantastic!"
I enjoyed those cold beers as I patted the metal detector happily. You never know what you might find beneath the beach. Truly, there are treasures of all kinds beneath the sands and you must seek them out to truly enjoy your evening, like I did that day.