Opening The Briefcase
The men looked at the half-frozen briefcase on the ice. Their curiosity was now like a burning fire inside of them. They couldn’t wait any longer. They had to know what was inside. The frozen clasps were hard to open, but they managed to with a bit of force.
But once they saw what the plane wreck had been hiding for over 60 years, they felt their hearts begin to race. They knew there was no going back now.
Bern, Switzerland
Just a few miles away from a 60-year-old secret lies the city of Bern, Switzerland. It was the place where Alexander Muller grew up and met his lifelong friend - Peter Keller. They two grew up across the street from one another and did everything together.
After growing up, they decided to move into an apartment together. Being best friends, they shared a lot of common interests, including hiking.
Hiking
The two men loved nothing more than hiking to the many glaciers that Switzerland had to offer them. The men had become so experienced with the glaciers that they found extra work as guides.
But even though the men were veterans of the glaciers, one day, they’d melt enough to let them see a 60-year-old secret that was buried beneath the ice.
Relics Beneath The Ice
Both Alex and Peter had heard countless stories about what others had found beneath the ice once glaciers melted in spring. Some people have found things as strange as Viking equipment on the ice.
From ancient arrowheads to helmets, the finds are usually one of a kind. Alex and Peter had dreamed about finding something spectacular on the ice, but once they actually did, they’d regret it.
Aletsch Glacier
Of all the glaciers in and around Switzerland, the Aletsch glacier is one of the most well-known and Alex and Peter’s favorite to hike across. The glacier changed a lot between the summer and winter months.
New paths would emerge, and they’d have to learn new routes so they could keep being guides for the general public. But they’d find one new path that would lead to a dark secret better left buried.
Saturday Hike
One warm Saturday morning, Alex and Peter decided to go for an early hike. It was settling into summer, and the two were excited to see what they’d find. With the weather getting much warmer, they were sure they’d find some new routes to explore.
But as the men got deeper into the glacier, they’d see something sticking out of the ice. It wasn’t a natural object, but it looked like metal. They decided to get closer, not knowing their mistake.
Going Through A Hole
The men had to carve out a path to climb down to get to the object. After using a hand drill, they managed to climb down to get closer to the strange man-made object. But as they got closer, they had a strange feeling.
They had never found anything like this, even after exploring the glacier for nearly a decade. When they arrived at the site, they couldn’t believe what they’d found.
A Plane Wreckage
It was clear now what had been trapped underneath the ice until now. It was a plane. That’s when bells went off in Alexander’s head. They knew about a plane that had crashed into the glacier.
But that was in the 1960s! The wreck had stayed hidden for over 60 years until they stumbled upon it. But that was only the beginning. The wreck itself was hiding something.
Investigating
Alexander and Peter couldn’t believe their luck. They had accidentally solved a 60-year-old mystery. They were over the moon with their find. But that’s when their curiosity got the better of them.
They decided to investigate the crash even further, looking through the wreckage. That’s when they’d find something they didn’t expect.
Something Strange
It looks like most of the plane was still in the glacier. Most of what they could see was debris and plane seats. But as they sifted through the wreckage, Alexander called to Peter. Peter ran to his friend’s side to see what he had found.
It was a black object half frozen in the ice. Eventually, it budged, and they managed to pull it out. But they weren’t ready for what was inside.
A Briefcase
The men looked at the half-frozen briefcase on the ice. Their curiosity was now like a burning fire inside of them. They couldn’t wait any longer. They had to know what was inside. The frozen clasps were hard to open, but they managed to with a bit of force.
But once they saw what the plane wreck had been hiding for over 60 years, they felt their hearts begin to race. They knew there was no going back now.
Jewels
The briefcase was loaded with what looked like precious stones. They had never seen anything like it before and knew it was something special. They must have belonged to someone important.
But the line of whose property is blurred when it’s been lost in the ice for decades. They knew they had to find that out before it spelled trouble for them.
Notifying The Authorities
Alexander and Peter notified the proper authorities about the plane crash. Finally, the mystery from over half a decade ago was solved. But they knew they had to do the right thing and declare the gems they had found.
Dozens of thoughts flooded through their minds. Would they be able to keep them or get into trouble for just having them?
Finding Out About The Jewels
Now that they had notified the police. They needed to find out more about the precious stones they had found. They decided to take them to the University of Bern to find out more about them.
They found a professor there who could teach them about the history of the gems. But they weren’t sure if they’d like the news.
Stolen
The professor examined the gems once they got there and gave them the unfortunate news. The gems didn’t even belong on the plane. They had been stolen 70 years ago and had never been found until today.
This meant that they tragically couldn’t keep the gems. But they took it on their chins and were happy enough to be able to have made the amazing find. In order to protect the privacy of those depicted, some names, locations, and identifying characteristics have been changed and are products of the author's imagination. Any resemblances to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, are entirely coincidental.