Bungee Jump (7 page)

“Ouch,” Caitlin says.

“Sorry, Caitlin,” Gord says as he uses his knife to slice Craven’s ropes off us. We’re free!

“How’d you—?” he starts to ask.

“Was wearing the new harness. Slipped the bungee rope onto it when they weren’t looking,” I say.

“So glad you’re okay,” he says, leaning forward to squeeze our shoulders as we sit up. “I’m sorry,” he adds. “I wanted that cash box so badly. I didn’t think it would hurt anyone to poke around and—”

“They tried to kill us,” I say, looking up at the bridge.

“I know. And they beat me to a pulp,” he says, lifting his torn shirt to point at bruises. “But I got myself to
Craven’s boat. I called the police on my cell. And I was hoping I could rescue you if they…”

Caitlin faces Gord. “You left us without helping us out of the hatch,” she says.

Gord hangs his head. “I’m sorry. I just wanted the box. I only meant to delay you for a few minutes. I didn’t know what those two were up to.”

“Why were you up there?”

“I came up when I saw flashlight beams. I heard the pipe door slam. I went on the catwalk, looking. Then I heard you.”

“And as you ran off with the box, they caught you,” I say.

“Yes,” he says. “After they beat me up, I saw them go back onto the catwalk. And I saw them throw the money into the water.” He stares at the black water around us, a tragic look on his face.

The sound of police-car sirens shatters the night’s quiet. They’re heading
up the peninsula toward the bridge. Meanwhile, a police boat speeds up the channel. It beaches on Hospital Island. Police dogs bark excitedly as they jump to shore.

“Are you a real engineer, Gord?” I ask.

He takes the oars and studies the floor of the boat. “No, Chris. I’m a draftsman and contractor. I studied to be an engineer but flunked the exam. I faked some papers when I heard your dad was looking for someone. I’m sorry. You’ll turn me in, eh?”

“Not till after the opening tomorrow,” I reply.

Caitlin looks surprised, then smiles.

Gord winks and grins. Then he rows us to the police boat.

“Yahoo!” screams Tom as he drops off the platform.

“That’s an enthusiastic one,” Chuck says, grinning at me. “Okay, Gord, winch Tom up,” he says a few minutes later.

“I’m next!” insists Caitlin. “Can I go upside down?”

“If you’re brave enough,” Chuck says.

“And I go after Caitlin, right?” comes a deep voice.

I spin around. I envelop Dad in a bear hug. “You made it, Dad!”

“Wouldn’t miss it for anything,” he says. His arms reach out to hug Caitlin and me. Mom is behind him, smiling.

“You did it, Chris. You really did it,” Dad says.

“Caitlin helped,” I say.

“Yeah, and I’m about to go on the jump upside down!” she enthuses.

“That’s my girl,” Dad says with a chuckle. “I swear you’ve grown in the last few weeks.”

“Look at the lineup,” Mom says, beaming. “We’ve taken in a mountain of money.”

“And this is only the first day,” Gord says, smiling wide.

I high-five him.

“Chris!” Mr. Roth has worked his way up in line. “I’m so proud of you!”

“Thanks for your help,” I say at the same time as Dad, and we laugh. As Dad shakes hands with my science teacher, Mom watches Chuck weigh Caitlin.

“Did you hear they’re going to hire a new librarian?” she asks us.

“Yeah. A younger one, I hope.” I chuckle. “And you know what I’m going to ask the new one?”

“What, dear?”

“To set up a special section in the library about Hospital Island. History and posters that honor the leper kids. And the people who took care of them.”

Mom draws me into a hug. “And I hear you and Caitlin have rounded up a bunch of kids to clean up the island.”

“Yeah. Clear the garbage out. Cut the grass. Put up some plaques. Maybe offer tours.”

“Tours?” Mom raises her eyebrows.

“For donations. The money will go to leprosy projects around the world.”

“There are still leper colonies? Even though there’s a cure?” she asks.

“There are still kids with leprosy who need help. Even though there’s a cure. And someday, when I’m an engineer, I’m going to build hospitals.”

“Hospitals? That’s my boy!” Dad rejoins the conversation.

“With a tower on the children’s wing that has a bungee jump,” Caitlin teases.

“Now that would be interesting,” Mom says.

“One of a kind,” Dad says.

“Go for it.” Gord laughs.

“Oh, go jump off a bridge,” I tell them all with a grin.

“Just waiting our turn,” Dad says.

Special thanks to engineer Tony Kavelaars and contractor Bruce Richmond for their patient consultation. Gratitude to Melanie Jeffs, Liz Kemp, Tanya Trafford and the rest of the Orca Book team. Also a shout-out to Colin Thomas, Silvana Bevilacqua, my husband Steve Withers, my literary agent Lynn Bennett and the members of my writing group: David Burrowes, Leanne Dyck and Ben Bergman. And, finally, thanks to my teen readers, Malcolm Scruggs, Bella and Anya.

Award-winning author Pam Withers has written seventeen bestselling sports and adventure books for teens, including two Orca Currents titles:
Camp Wild
and
Daredevil Club
. Pam is a former outdoor guide, journalist, editor and associate publisher. She lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, with her husband and tours North America extensively. For more information, visit
www.pamwithers.com
.