Truffle Hunters: Secret of the Mountain (The Lost Temple Book 1) Read online

  Truffle Hunters

  Secrets Of The Mountain

  The Lost Temple

  Part I

  By Stanimir Mirov and Ivan Mirov

  Copyright © 2016

  Truffle Hunters by Stanimir Mirov and Ivan Mirov

  Copyright © 2016 Stanimir Mirov. All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any written, electronic, recording, or photocopying without written permission of the publisher or author. The exception would be in case of brief quotations embodied in the critical articles or reviews and pages where permission is specifically granted by the publisher author.

  Although every precaution has been taken to verify the accuracy of the information contained herein, the author and publisher assume no responsibility for any errors or omissions. No liability is assumed for damages that may result from the use of information contained within.

  BOOK DESCRIPTION

  Two former prisoners are organizing a brigade to hunt truffles in Mount Strandzha in Bulgaria. The situations in which they will fall during their adventures in the wild will satisfy every taste. With typical Balkan temperament, the characters are involved in lots of action including auctions, secret agents, archaeological discoveries, Turkish customs officers, Italian mobsters, Russian oligarchs, English lords, Freemasons and many others. Expect to meet unique characters that will take you in many different and rapidly changing world. The eccentricity of one of them is rare among men.

  The authors of the book gathered materials for her from many people for nine years, and most of the events are true stories.

  FROM THE AUTHOR

  If you enjoyed this book or received value from it in any way, than I’d like to ask you for a favor: would you be kind enough to leave a review for this book on Amazon? It’d be greatly appreciated!

  You can also check some of the other author books, like: Gangsters In Time

  Harry Kidman

  Table of Contents

  Truffle Hunters by Stanimir Mirov

  FROM THE AUTHOR

  Chapter I

  Chapter II

  Chapter III

  Chapter IV

  Chapter V

  Chapter VI

  Chapter VII

  Chapter VIII

  Chapter IX

  Chapter X

  Chapter XI

  Chapter XII

  Chapter XIII

  Chapter XIV

  Chapter XV

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  FROM THE AUTHOR

  Chapter I

  In Jail

  It was August, and the significant heat was felt even in the dungeons of the crowded Varna prison. Ivan was laying on his back on the floor in solitary staring at the ceiling and sweat bathed his big body. The unpleasant thoughts didn’t leave him, “Will they extend my verdict? I may have broken the jaw of Manol "The red-haired" ... I’ll fuck their mothers!”

  Ivan aka "Ninth", nickname left from the army, was Bulgarian with exceptional physics, 30 years old, six feet and three inches tall, typical Balkan person. His handsome, cute expression had misled a lot of people in prison where was serving a two-year sentence for unlawful use of force. The incident happened in the Iskar river gorge, in the restaurant "The Cave", while he was drinking beer in the evening with three or four girls from the village. From somewhere came out the son of the mayor and uninvited sat between them, holdingchallengingly. Ninth made him a remark and dropped his hand. Blood, however, flowed from the nose of the mayor's boy. The implications are clear - with expensive lawyers, strong connections and fictional witnesses, the judge gave him two years in prison. He was serving his sentence in Varna because he was living there in years.

  The ridiculous incident last night, aroused fury in his chest because a week later he had to walk free. He was again facing a fait accompli, and his intervention was inevitable because of nearly two years he was sharing a cell with Vasil "Fantomas". Going into the bathroom, he saw two guys beating his cellmate. There was no time for reflection, and his reaction was far-sighted. With straight right hook, he knocked one of them to the ground, and the other saved himself by escaping. This led to three days solitary confinement.

  The door opened, “Ivan, you are a lucky guy!” the guard winked, handed him a cigarette and while lighting it, added, “Your sentence won’t be increased because Manol is a thorn in the eyes of the director for quite some time.”

  The giant sighed pleased, and he smoke deeply from the white Marlboro, as well as a sick person takes a deep breath from breathing apparatus filled with oxygen.

  “It was about time for luck to shine upon me, Georgy. Let’s go my corridor because I badly need a bath.”

  After bathing, the Ninth passed by the cells, from which the others greeted him with common lines, typical for people from the bottom of society. Before he joined Vasil, he wondered why the red-haired and his bitch, attacked him.

  “Bro, I understood that they didn’t increase your sentence. Once again you saved my skin. After four days you are going out, is something expecting you?”

  “Nothing exciting, we are in Bulgaria after all. Do you have something in mind?”

  “On September twenty-ninth, I’m going out too. You're my brother, for two years, we have shared the bucket. I have an idea for lots of money. The scheme is with truffles.

  “I've heard that there are many hunters in our lands.”

  “I have information about a place where no one can go because it is on the border. There grows one of the most expensive truffles in the world and in quantities. For them, I have a market in Turkey, where the price starts from 2000 euros, according to quality.”

  Here Ivan dragged interested neck, and a ray of hope lit up his face.

  “And if nobody is allowed to enter, how are we gonna go in that place?”

  “We're not nobody. I have a brother in the vicinity, keeping English Cocker Spaniel and Lagotto, who knows the trails in the mountains. We also have a man in the Border Police.”

  “I'll pick you up on twenty-ninth,” smiled the con. “It’s true what Vaptsarov said a long time ago, "I went to jail and came across people".”

  The next four days passed quietly in conversations on the topic. Before he was released from Varna Prison, Ninth made an agreement with few people to watch over Vasil the next two months.

  “There is no problem, Ivan!” answered "The Beetle". “And those two write them off if they get near him. Just do not forget our deal!”

  “Relax, you'll get your money.”

  Chapter II

  Outside Prison

  “To drink or not to drink,” Ivan, was mentally quoting Shakespeare, striding towards the bar. With dynamic movement of his hand, he threw the cigarette butt in the fountain in front of the district court and jumped into the first taxi.

  “Drive to Kranevo!”

  The car stopped in front of a large villa but didn’t go unnoticed by the guards. Immediately, from the door came two guys from different security firms, who had to leave one by one because there was no way to pass both at the same time. One of them recognized him instantly, “Oh, brother. Are you alive? Did your tour finish?”

  “Yo, Jordane, didn’t the plague caught you yet? Is the boss here?”

  “He is drinking vodka by the pool. There were some Russian guests and an hour ago they were shooting down at the range. Now he is relaxing, but he is in a bad mood, he may have lost.

  “It doesn’t matter, tell the boss that I want to talk with him. I'm here now.”

  “Wait here with Pavkata, you kno
w I can not let you go inside without permission.”

  The mobile rang shortly after and Pavel motioned Ivan to head to the pool, but only after he checked him for weapons. Reaching the courtyard, his former boss gestured Ninth to come closer.

  “Two years holiday, was it sufficient? You know that except for a personal driver, I can not legally hire you for anything else. You will still get the money as my personal security, but under the table.”

  “When do I start?”

  “Tomorrow at 9:00. Take now the Audi Q7, and wait for a moment,” the boss dialed a number on his gsm. “Hello, Maya, bring me five hundred euros.”

  Ivan jumped inside the audi and went for a special massage on "General Parensov" street, number 39, in the city center. Hired a VIP room in oriental style with two female masseuses and lots of whiskey.

  “Do you know girls, for two years I went to bed early, I did not visit whores, barely smoked and drank, in close space ...”

  The blonde rose head, “Did you work on a submarine?”

  “You are very thoughtful,” Ivan pushed her head gently down again, but don’t get distracted too much because the torpedo will be fired soon.

  The other one, which was two times smarter than her colleague, while was pouring whiskey into his glass once again, intervene in the conversation, “Ahh, I understand now why you are so tough. You were a rower.”

  Ivan laughed, “You are worth every penny.”

  The rest of the evening he spent in his hotel room. In his head were spinning only thoughts about the Fantomas and the scheme. He had a great desire to do something with his life and felt that this was his chance.

  His work was passing calmly, he drove his car, the boss was generous, and everything was in okay. On September twenty-eight his phone rang after the working hours, “Ivan if you had drinks, get a taxi and come to the villa. I need you urgently after two hours.”

  “Okay boss, I’ll be there.”

  ***

  The Albanians were late. After quite some time, was heard car horns in front of the villa. All went out to welcome the guests. In front had stopped four Mercedes with Tirana numbers, but in the villa entered just their boss and his personal bodyguard. A swift action was taken, and after minutes, four security cars of TIM SOD and SOD Varna, stopped around the house as security measures, because the host did not trust the Shqiptars.

  “Artan, welcome to my home.”

  “Thank you, Sergei.”

  “Come, sit comfortably.”

  Both went private at the bar, and their personal guards stood by and watched. The security of the Albanian, Barmal, was rarely ugly guy with impressive size and vicious radiation. The conversation was short, the boss laughed loudly and ordered, “Ivan, give vodka.”

  The Con stood behind the bar, pulled two cups and a bottle of vodka "Putinka". He filled their glasses and again took its old position. During dinner, arose a dispute between the bosses. Artan with slight hints of anger said, “Fifty percent is a lot. I can not agree to more than thirty.”

  “I see that you are a hard nut to crack. Because I'm bored, I'll offer you another deal. If your boy beat mine, you will you give me thirty percent, however, if Ivan defeats Barmal, you will give me fifty.”

  “Hahaha, it’s done, brother. Let’s take them out to the grass.”

  The two men in the heavyweight category began to undress their costumes and stood on the lawn against each other barefoot only with pants. Both bosses sat by and watched with interest. Sergei took his personal golden TT and shoot in the air, giving a sign to start. Albanian strengthened directly with all his weight, drag Ivan and hit his spine on the edge of the bar. The pain was terrible, but there was no fracture, otherwise the ex-con would have been in a wheelchair. During this encounter opened a chance to use his skills of combat sambo. Instantly with both hands caught his right, issued right foot forward, pulled his opponent and turned him on his back on the floor. Jumped over him and began to inflict heavy blows in his face. Followeda tearing of the tissues in the face andexcessive bleeding. Part of his bone was uncovered, and the fight was over. Ninth stood up, his back was hurting like hell, but he did not show in any way that is in pain. Ivan put on the suit again and helped Barmal to stand on a chair. Handed him a glass of vodka for disinfection and took his old position.

  His boss was pleased because won a lot of money. Artan shook hands with Sergei, and the evening ended. From the whole event, Ivan was the happiest, because now there was a reason to get a vacation for a few months because on the next day Vasil was getting out of jail.

  The next day he came to work with bandaged waist and recommendations from the doctor, for which he paid.

  “Boss, this is from the physician. He recommended rehabilitation for several months. For me, two is enough if it’s not a problem?”

  “No problem, son. You've won me a lot of money, and we know each other from a long time. You earned a holiday. When you're ready, you know that there is always a place for you in my organization. The question is how much money do you need? Five, ten grand?”

  “Ten are enough!”

  “I'm glad didn’t lose your sense of humor after this fight. Maya will bring them to you.”

  Chapter III

  In Front and Far Away From Jail

  The portal of Varna prison opened, and Vasil "Fantomas" showed grinning. He raised both hands in the air and shouted to Ivan, “Whores and booze ...”

  The two men hugged and got into a taxi.

  “Where do you want to go?”

  “Drive to General Parensov 39, with the masseuses.”

  After they arrived, followed several hours of sexual pleasure and awkward questions about submarines.

  The next day they took the bus from the bus station"South" and went in Bourgas. From there they transferred to another bus and went down in Malko Tarnovo. After a short walk arrived at the house of Vasil’s brother. A dog barking was heard, and a young man walked out in front. They embraced each other.

  “Just in time! The Magnatum should be ready for picking.”

  “Ivan, this is my brother. Everybody call’s him Pisco.”

  Both strangers shook hands.

  “I’ve heard a lot about you. You have perfectly trained dogs.”

  “Yes, brother. Work flawlessly. They smell the mushroom from afar. Let's talk inside because even the walls have ears around these places.”

  In the yard near the furnace with a pinch in hand, skinny guy was tossing deer meat and was chanting some old song of Lepa Brena.

  “Meet Pesho "The border guard", he will provide information. The situation on the Turkish border is tragic because of those refugees. This way we will be secure.”

  All greeted and sat at the table to eat and discuss things.

  “How are we with the equipment?”

  “Everything you need: camouflage, boots, knives ... We have two revolvers and a shotgun for self-defense. Because we will work at night, Pesho supplied us with professional military night vision goggles, taken by him from the warehouse. It’s a big plus because flashlights won’t do the job, and the equipment is very expensive.”

  “Tomorrow night,” began the Captain, “you can go out on river Veleka after 22:30, because before this there will be an action on the border.”

  Pisco intervened, “Tomorrow morning I'll leave the van to the river, where it intersects with Road E87, and after our night walk, on the morning we'll go home with him so people won’t see the dogs.”

  “Eye cheers everybody. Let’s drink for the mushroom. My brother, how was in jail? Was there love at first sight?”

  TheTable burst into laughter.

  “Forget about the jail, when we go in Varna sometimes, I will take you to the coolest massages with some submarine girls.”

  “Are these skewers with goat mean?”

  “What goat, we shot a deer yesterday ...”

  Chapter IV

  White mushroom?

  It was already 23:18 when the equipped brigade
took over thru the dark forest with the dogs. Jackals howledgrievously as a child crying in the distance. Behind them were still glimmering the night lights of the small town.

  “Put on the goggles, from hereafter the terrain becomes dangerous,” warned Pisco.

  While they were adjusting them, noticed below the big rocks, a large moving spot. From a narrow path, they climbed on a rock.

  “Hold the dogs, those are wild pigs! Be as quiet as you can,” whispered the younger brother.

  The herd, consisting of hundreds of hogs, shifted again and headed to the nearest fields of corn, and the earth shook for a minute like in an earthquake. Uppermost were the biggest specimens, and behind them lined up like apothecary bottles, tucked into one another, walked the rest. The sound that was coming from them was incomprehensible resembling something unearthly.

  Once the danger passed, Pisco vigorously dialed some phone number, “Hello, Stoycho, pick up the hunting party, that by the corn fields are heading a herd of wild boars.”

  “Well, we're in the tavern, and we are ready. Siyke, prepare the oven, after a while will come lot’s of meat,” Stoycho yelled to the tavern owner, while he was still on the phone and then again started to talk to Pisco. “The first pig is for you, come and get it tomorrow.”

  “Thanks, good luck with the catch,” the brother finished the conversation. “It’s good that they came from below, we're in another direction. If they had been passing thru our place, no mushroom would remain. People used to seek truffles not with dogs but with pigs. Release the dogs and let’s go to work.”

  They followed the goat path and stopped to a forest spring to get water and the dogs to drink too.

  “A little more and we will reach the river. Where did Vasil go?”

  They started looking around and saw him quietly sneaking up to the gutter with water. He splashed his ass inside and began to wash it.