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What does everyone think of this prologue? This is from a mystery book I’m writing.

 

Prologue

A man gazed out into the distance. His squinted eyes swept across the scene. Trees, full of leaves were planted in rows, the sun illuminating their leaves to a neon-green. Farther on were mountains, rising high into the air and sloping low to create a valley. Someone said the property was owned by a man named Jonathan.

His eyes burned in the sunlight. He shaded them with his hand. If he got to the trees, he’d be able to see better.

 

With a determined step, he wiped the sweat from his brow and set off for the rows of trees. His shoes plowed through the tall grass and while he marched, he kept his eyes searching. Searching. What for? He really didn’t know.

As he neared the rows of trees, he could make out small green objects hanging on them. A few more steps and he could see what they were. Apples. This was an apple orchard.

 

He stepped between a line of trees into the shade, halting to scout the perimeter. Woods surrounded the area and cooled the air around it. Maybe he would hike for a little bit more but not for long. His legs ached and he was feeling exhausted. This property appeared too large to search the entirety of it.

He took a pace and stopped. Something in the grass was glinting brightly. It was gold colored and so small, anyone who passed it would have thought dew was reflecting the sun.

 

With a dash, he made his path to the golden item. It was under the ground except for a corner that protruded out of the dirt and soft grass.

He took a pocket knife from his pocket and flicked it open. What was this? Maybe it was what he was looking for. His fingers thrust the blade into the grass near the gold, sinking into the dirt.

 

He wiggled the knife in all directions and speared it again and again, loosening the soil. In a few minutes, he was satisfied that he’d be able to pull out the object.

After pushing his fingers into the moist dirt, he grasped the gold. It was larger than he thought. He pulled on it, biting his lip in concentration. It was moving some. More yanking. Almost there.

He lifted it from the hole, gasping as he saw what it was. A small golden chest. Turning it in all directions, he scrutinized it. His face fell in disappointment. It wasn’t what he was searching for.

But he hadn’t seen the far-right corner.