Dark Ride (20 page)

Chapter 66

Outside the ride, Gwen and Clyde are doing their best to keep the Carnahans at bay. Time was wasting, he and his companions were ready to enter the ride when Houston Carnahan started getting really loud, he decided to help keep things calm before re-entering. At one point Clyde thinks he is going to have to physically restrain Mr. Carnahan. The man is younger and much stouter than Clyde, and he is relieved Gwen is with him for support. He wonders if he might be making things worse by not going in now, thinking,
Gwen is much better at this type of stuff. Let her do her thing. The other parents are on their way. Maybe their arrival will give the Carnahan man somebody to gripe with?
He steps away from the parents to join Oliver and Colton, who await his arrival at the front of the ride. Just then, from the corner of his eye, the figure of a dumpy, footballshaped man saunters around a corner. “Great. Just great,” thinks Clyde, “Snodgrass is here.” The squat little man is tugging up on his pants with every step, only stopping to occasionally wisp the dozen or so remaining long hairs on the top of his head down over the rest of his balding scalp.

Ignoring the parents and Gwen, Howard Snodgrass, grim-faced, makes a beeline for Clyde, who fires a pre-emptive strike over the bow by saying, “You told me to not disturb you.”

“Clyde, that was a stolen prop. These are missing kids. Completely different. I might need to call the lawyers. If Sparkman there hadn't called me—”

“They're just lost in the ride,” Clyde says while shooting a look of irritation at Oliver.

“I don't care if they're playing hide-n-seek. This place is already a sieve with money, and I'm not getting sued ‘cause some kids decide to pull a prank that gets their parents' panties in a wad.”

Pulling out a cell phone the size of a brick from who knows where, Snodgrass types a message by bashing away at the keys with pudgy fingers. Before he finishes, he asks, “Are you sure they have not gotten out? They are not having a good laugh drinking some milkshakes over at Sonic or something?”

“No sir, Gwen's been standing here all night.”

“Just find the kids, Clyde. Do your job.”

Snodgrass pauses, waiting for some voice on the other end of the phone. Then he says, “Pritchard? We got a problem at the park. No, no, no,
not that again. It's with the Enchanted Forrest…the Dark Ride. For crying out loud, Henry, haven't you ever even been here? Never mind. Look….”

Things have gone from bad to worse for Clyde. His only escape is to get back inside the ride. With a nod and a gesture, Clyde leads his crew through the front gate into the ride.

Chapter 67

The laboratory, the sight of Jack's near-death experience, is disheveled. Dozens of broken vials and books are toppled over, and the vent shaft is flush with the cement floor, which is awash with liquids from the broken bottles and vials. A slender lady looks over the room in a pleased manner.

She states, “Well, I cannot say much for their housekeeping skills. They made a complete mess of the study.” This good-natured observation is followed by a pleasant laugh from her.

The grey squirrel is resting gently on her folded arm and begins clicking and squeaking.

“These brave children, bless them,” says the lady. “I see they have tried to make their own way.”

The squirrel makes more clicks and squeaks.

“We were lucky. I had forgotten about the viper.”

The lady listens to more noises by the squirrel.

“Yes, the bear. I knew that would be, shall we say, hairy?” says the lady, laughing at her own quip. “But they overcame, and neither you nor Victor had to interfere. Did they receive the gift?”

She pauses for another brief response.

“Excellent, we are in luck. The whole ordeal was too close of a call. Perhaps Victor will need to be more assertive. What?…Perhaps another gift? The danger will only grow. It is a fine line we walk. They need to do this on their own. They must fulfill the prophecy for the good of all. If we interfere beyond what we have already done, then all could be lost.”

Squeak
,
squeak
,
click
,
squeak
, pause, and
squeak
.

“Any sign of the wolf?”

More clicks and squeaks.

“They have outwitted him thus far, yes. He will not give up.”

Again, more squeaks and clicks.

“Yes, dear, in the end I am certain he will get his due.”

More chatter in the squirrel dialect.

“Yes, they are. They are truly the ones of whom the prophecy speaks. Now go. Be my eyes, kind one. Gently push when needed, and give Victor my thanks yet again.”

Pleased with the events thus far, the lady is encouraged.
There is hope
, she thinks.

Chapter 68

A gentle push of the door reveals the most massive garden any of the teens has ever seen. From the bottom of the ruddy floor grow wild green clusters of plants. Exotic looking flowers reach toward a yellow ceiling. The colors are almost dizzying in their splendor. This is the brightest room they had encountered since entering what they had, until now, known as the Dark Ride. The density of the growth gives little room for walking.

“Well, at least we know we are on the right path. The map is accurate. This must be the granddaddy of all gardens!” exclaims Mason.

“It appears to me that the plants are actually lined up by species,” Scotty states as he squints his eyes at a particularly verdant plant.

“Chalk another one up for the guy who listens in school,” Mason muses. “So just ahead should be a room called ‘The Grove.'
”

Ignoring the dripping sarcasm, Scotty continues, “If every room inside this place has a theme, or is based on some sort of tale, then my guess would be this is Mary's garden.”

“'Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?'” Amy absently calls as she runs her hand along the stem of a tall tulip.

“I would say a little too well,” Jack answers.

Mason, who is investigating a little further ahead, calls back, “I can barely make out a path through these weeds. There should be a door straight ahead. It will lead us closer to the vault!”

Scotty rushes up to Mason's side.

“Come on, Jack, let's catch up,” Amy encourages.

Jack thinks,
What's her hurry? Mason had gotten them into this mess in the first place: he had left the ride, he had tried to play snake handler, he had tasted the porridge
. Mason looks at the map and then back at the foliage. He uses one of his arms to push a tall plant to the side and says, “It's got to be—”

“Filthy, filthy hands!” cries the voice of a female from somewhere behind the foliage.

“Filthy, filthy little hands!” reverberates the female voice through the garden. And then, in measured beats, it oozes, “Do…not…touch…my…pets.”

Scotty whispers in hushed tones to the others, “I'm gonna guess that's Mary.”

Taking a stab at diplomacy, Jack answers the strange new voice. “Uh, we are trying to move on. Just tell us where the door is, and we will
kindly
be out of your way,” emphasizing the word “kindly” in an overt attempt at graciousness.

“A door? A door? They want to find a door?” says the voice in almost a sing-song fashion.

Jack answers, “Uh, yes ma'am, if we could find the door, we will be out of your hair.”

“Well, if you simply want to get out as you say, kindly desist from touching my plants and take a right at the cockle shells.”

“What is a cockle shell, Scotty?” Amy asks, looking for direction from her trivia-enriched brother.

“Honestly, I don't know. I guess we just have to make a guess.”

There is a bustle in the plants to their left. All four turn at once to face the cause of the commotion. A lady with long red hair steps into a small clearing just ten yards behind them.

She asks, “What are you waiting for? Leave. Be on your way.”

“We don't know what a cockle shell is,” Jack admits.

“You don't know what a cockle shell is?”

She snickers a self-righteous laugh and steps back into the foliage. Once she is out of sight, she calls, “Then I suppose you had better find out quickly.” Her sinister laugh fills the air.

“Is that a warning?” wonders Jack. Turning around, he sees the gaping jaws of a very large Venus Flytrap opening just above Amy's head.

“Amy!” he shouts.

The girl looks at Jack innocently, not aware of the danger.

Jack leaps at her, tackling her and, thus, saving her from the two jaws that slam closed at the exact spot where Amy's head had been.

Another set of enormous Venus Flytrap jaws bound down toward the toppled bodies of Amy and Jack, but Mason rushes in like a linebacker and knocks them clear with his shoulder.

“This way,” commands Mason.

Scurrying to their feet, Amy and Jack look over at Mason, who has found a path of some sort. Jack backs away from the carnivorous plant, takes Amy by the hand, and makes a wide swath over to Scotty. Another
plant bends down to block their path, but this time, Mason raises his axe at the plant. With his point made, the plant moves out of their way.

“Stop that, you vile brute, you will hurt her!” the hidden voice cries.

“Those have to be cockle shells!” Scotty calls, pointing towards several plants with what look to be oysters on top.

They head to the right, and just as promised, a door looms ahead. Although the maze of plants prevents them from running, they move as fast as they can toward the exit.

While they do, the voice makes one last ominous declaration: “If you come back into my garden again, you will be plant food. Plant food!”

Chapter 69

In the icy room, the wolf hovers over the caged snake.

The reptile says, “If you will simply take me out of this frigid room, I will tell you where the children went.”

The wolf is craving food. His hunger gnaws at his rumbling stomach. Unfortunately for him, the small viper will not make much of a meal, more like a snack.

The wolf asks, “So, you want to make a deal?”

The viper lifts its head above the cage floor with excitement and answers, “Yes, that's it—a deal! Perhaps you would kindly remove me from this cage and let me rest inside that warm coat of yours?”

“Well, I could…but how ‘bout this instead: you just tell me where the children went, and I will not make a soup out of you.”

“There is no need for hostility, friend. Simply take me out, and I will give you the information you want.”

The wolf considers this, but time is passing quickly. Every minute wasted is precious.

Finally, a wild smile lights up the wolf's face, and he says, “Okay then, snake.”

The wolf lifts the cage cover from its base. The snake remains still and says, “The coat, please. It is very co—”

But, before the snake can finish the sentence, a paw has him by the throat. The wolf picks the viper up in mid-air and snarls, “Where are they?”

The snake gasps for air.

“Tell me, snake, do you prefer to be souped or skewered?”

“Um, neither.”

The wolf lowers his head, allowing his saliva to drip freely, and says, “Then tell me which way they went.”

The snake considers his options. There aren't many. He tries to swallow but has cotton mouth. Finally, he says, “The cave. They must have gone into the cave because they didn't come through here.”

“Thank you,” says the wolf, but he doesn't let go.

“You can let go now. I told you where they went.”

The wolf starts to let the snake go, but stops when his stomach rumbles. He thinks that perhaps a snack is in order.

“No. No, no. Please. I told you where they went.”

The wolf is already licking his lips for a bite.

Chapter 70

After he's clear of the garden, Mason looks around confused. While taking out the map, he scans the new surroundings.

This room is a return to the darker rooms they had grown used to. There is just enough light for them to make out toys scattered everywhere on the floor: bikes, scooters, a hula hoop, tin soldiers, dolls, and little model cars. In one corner of the room, casting a rather formidable shadow, is a gigantic shoe.

“Looks like a school yard. I don't think this is a grove,” Scotty points out.

Mason retorts, “Ya think?”

Jack looks at Scotty, expecting the all-knowing declaration that this scene is in fact from the “Old Woman Who Lives in a Shoe.” However, it does not come. Jack thinks,
Maybe Scotty is giving us a little credit to figure this one out on our own? But where are the kids?
Amy walks over to inspect the shoe from a short distance while the three boys, feeling no immediate threat, take a seat for a brief rest on the floor amongst the scattered toys. Scotty picks up a tin solider and examines it, and Mason quietly scans the map. Seeing the others occupied, Jack subtly removes the backpack from his shoulder and unzips it. He reaches in and runs his hand over the smooth shape of the goose. It is his prize. A thought crosses his mind:
If I had not gotten off of the ride to grab it, we would not be here now?

The thought troubles him for a second. He glances nervously over to Amy, who is still staring the shoe up and down. Jack thinks,
What if
Amy finds out? That would be bad, way bad. Maybe I should get rid of it”
He peers into the backpack and looks down at the golden statuette. The small goose glimmers in the dull light, and Jack marvels at his prop. A feeling of satisfaction overtakes the guilt. He contemplates,
No, this is quite a souvenir now. If we make it out of here alive, I'll at least have something to show for it.
He quickly zips up the backpack and steals a glimpse back at Amy, who turns and begins walking to the where the others sit. Jack hastily lifts the pack back over his shoulder.

With his evaluation of the map finished, Mason says to the others, “So here we are.” He points out for all to see the small box labeled “The Shoe” on the map and adds, “I wonder who that shoe belongs to? What is it, a size 212?”

“It's from a story,” Scotty advises.

“I know, Scotty, just making a joke, okay? Anyways…”

Mason looks at the map again and says, “Guys, we should have gone straight just like I thought, but we followed Scotty and we took a right.”

“Wait a minute, I went the way you said,” Scotty argues.

Jack can't help but be irritated at Mason, thinking,
Another reason we should not be following you.
He says, “Well, you have the map. Couldn't you tell we were going the wrong way?”

“Jack, we were kind of fighting off an attack from 12-foot tall plants, and I went the way she told us to go. I was only trying to get us outta there.”

“
He's right
, thinks Jack. In spite of this, though, he can't help himself and says, “Well, maybe you should give me the map? Or better yet, let's just toss the thing and do this on our own.”

Mason responds, “What's your deal, Braddock?” and stands up.

Scotty also stands, but he is uncomfortable by the rising tension and starts drifting toward the shoe.

Jack tells Mason, “My deal is that you're the one who decided that this map was legit, that if we followed—”

“Jack, you're just mad because we did what I wanted. You've been out of your head all night. You want to just settle this now?”

Mason drops the map to the floor and, clenching a fist in front of Jack's face, says, “Maybe if I beat some sense into you this—”

“Okay, that's enough!” interrupts Amy, who steps in between the two boys. She looks for backup from her older brother and spots him just as he is reaching for a small door on the side of the shoe.

Amy yells, “Scotty, get away from the door!”

Scotty stops. Temporarily, the actions of Scotty have restored order for Jack and Mason, who break their mutual glare. Mason gives one last scowl at Jack before turning fully toward Scotty.

“Geez, Scotty, what are you thinking? Who knows what's in there?”

“Well, I was thinking that since you two were arguing like babies, maybe there is an old woman in there, or some kids who could help us.”

Both Mason and Jack are shocked by the scolding.

Amy says, “Like anyone in this crazy place has been helpful.”

Scotty shrugs and backs away from the door. As he does so, a small golden handle begins to turn downward. He yells, “Someone is coming out!”

Mason raises the axe, Amy clutches the stick, and Scotty shuffles back behind the others, lifting Lucky like a shield. Jack, with no weapon in hand, slings his backpack from his shoulder and prepares to fling it.

The door opens slowly, and a large black boot emerges accompanied by a voice saying, “Greetings, travelers.”

A man steps into the room. He is clad in a purple frock coat and red leggings, the kind of outfit Jack remembers from school trips to Shakespeare-type plays. His black hair is slicked back with some oily substance, and a pencil-thin mustache rests like an inchworm above his lip.

He proclaims, “You are most welcome here!”

Jack thinks,
That voice is familiar.
The stranger continues, “I bring you greetings from the Queen of the Wood. She is most pleased that you have finally arrived. We have all been waiting for you.”

Jack realizes that this man is the one he heard in the vents talking to the woman.

“Have I startled you?” the man asks.

The group relax their weapons.

“No—well, yes,” Jack confesses. “Uh, sir, who are you?”

“Oh, yes, let me introduce myself. My name is Victor. I am but a humble shoemaker, but I also serve our benevolent majesty, the Queen. I have been sent to give you aid on your journey.”

“Our journey?” Amy questions.

“Yes, your journey. Your journey through the wood. The Queen has interest in seeing that you make it out unharmed.”

Too late for that
, Mason thinks.

“Because of that interest, I have been instructed to give you something that may help.” Victor reaches into his purple frock coat and pulls out a velvet bag the size and shape of a baseball.

Mason cuts an angry eye toward Jack, places the axe back in his waistline, and steps forward to take the pouch.

He asks, “What is this for?”

“All in good time.”

“Are you going to lead us out?” Amy questions.

Victor gives a high-pitched laugh and then says, “Lead you out? I am afraid I cannot do that. The prophecy prevents…. But perhaps I have said too much.”

“The prophecy?” Jack inquires.

“All in good time.”

Mason asks, “Can we meet the Queen?”

“All in good—”

“Yes,
time
—I get it,” Amy curtly says while fiddling with the end of her stick.

“Oh, such spunk—delightful! It is that kind of spunk that will aid you in your quest.”

“We have a map,” states Mason, a little too smug for Jack's liking, and offers up the map before the man.

“Oh, how wonderful! This will be a help indeed,” informs Victor. With one of his white-gloved hands, he lifts it in front of his face, and after a brief examination, declares, “Excellent, excellent indeed. Why, I never knew a map of the wood existed.”

The look on the man's face and his remark about the map strike Jack as a little dishonest. He thinks the man has seen the map before but wonders why he would lie about it.

Mason says, “We seem to have taken a wrong turn, in the garden, you see.” Like a tourist holding up a map before a gas station attendant, Mason continues, “We are heading to this vault room.”

“Splendid!”

“So that is where we should go?” Mason asks to confirm.

“All in good time.”

Amy raises her hands in total frustration.

Mason goes on, “Yeah, okay, well we took a wrong turn here,” pointing to the block marked “Garden.”

“Ah, yes, Mary's garden. She steered you here? Well, that's simple. Merely do the opposite of what she says.”

Scotty snaps his fingers and says, “Right, she is quite contrary. That's so obvious now.”

Jack sees some hope and asks Victor, “Well, are you coming with us at least?”

“Mary does not hold me in high esteem. It seems during my last foray into the garden she claims I broke the stem of a dandelion.”

“But that's a weed,” Scotty declares.

“Oh yes, I know, but not to Mary. They are precious, living things. And to cut a long story short, because I did not do as she indicted, I agreed to never enter her garden again. Take courage, my friends. You are doing wonderful for yourselves. Think of how far you have come. You will be out of this place before you know it.”

Mason raises his eyebrows and asks, “Uh, Victor, is there some treasure or something we have—”

“I have said too much. Simply take the pouch, conquer, and prevail, brave travelers! Luck to you all.”

Before any of them can offer another question, the man disappears into the shoe.

“Okay, that was strange,” Scotty declares.

Frustrated with the cryptic words of the man, Jack says, “I'm not done getting answers,” and marches to the shoe and tugs on the handle.

It is locked.