For Mike Smith, it was just another rainy afternoon in Wales. He had been metal detecting since he was twelve years old, usually finding nothing more than old pennies or bullet casings. But on this day, his machine let out a sharp, loud beep in the middle of an empty pasture.
He started to dig. About a foot down, his trowel hit metal. It was a large, rusted iron ring attached to a heavy chain that disappeared vertically into the soil.
Mike grabbed the chain and pulled. It didn’t budge. He dug deeper, clearing the mud with his hands, but the chain felt like it was anchored to the core of the earth.
As darkness fell, Mike had to give up for the night. But he couldn’t sleep. He had a sinking feeling in his chest—a mix of excitement and dread. Why would someone bury a massive chain in the middle of nowhere?
[readalso]