THE MYSTERIOUS MATT BARNES

For the first time, I was going to see the bold, courageous and mysterious Matt Barnes. He disappeared from civilization for years at a time. Where had he been—the Mendenhall Ice Caves in Alaska? Pharaoh’s Treasury in Jordan’s Petra? Wherever he had been, he suddenly reappeared. What would coax Matt to return to the civilized world?

Then Matt stepped into view. Under a brimmed hat and long leathery overcoat, the superhero globetrotter was here. But Matt came and went in a single night. He disappeared again, leaving me a mysterious package—the wrapping had no name, address, or markings to show where it came from. And I quickly discovered I wasn’t the only one who desperately wanted what was inside of the package.

Matt Barnes had two orders: Follow the salt train and don’t get caught. He failed. But he nabbed a valuable salt block. After an innocent visit, he connected me to a rare metal embedded in the block.

Scientists and researchers wanted the element—an essential part in developing an advanced cloaking material. Extreme measures had already been taken to seize these similar salt blocks, and soon my connection made me invaluable in obtaining the balance of the material required.

Everyone gave me good reasons why they needed information about the rare metal. But how could I figure out who was for me and who was against me when everyone was lying?

Listen to Matt Barnes's story about the escape from the salt train in the Sahara Desert.