The Trip to Raptor Bluff (5 page)

Brenda shouted and shoved Rick backwards before he could plunge his hand into the coals.  The force of the shove knocked him off his feet, and he hadn’t yet hit the ground when spurts of blue flame shot from the location where the phone had fallen.  There was a ten second span of shocked silence before Andrea gasped.  “I am so sorry!  I am so sorry, you guys!”  Huge eyes looked pleadingly at Lucy when she cried, “It was an accident, Lucy!  I swear on my life!  It was an accident!” 

“Get away from us, Andrea,” sneered Lucy, turning her back in disgust.  “I swear, I will kill you myself if you don’t just stay the hell away.”

Andrea sobbed as she stumbled towards the area where she and Tara had spent the afternoon.  Tara, her eyes downcast, shivered once and followed her mother. 

Rick’s temples throbbed with tension as he rubbed the bite on shoulder.  “She didn’t break the skin, at least.”  He went silent and stared glumly into space. 

Lucy sat down with a sigh and put her face in her hands.

Brenda watched the distraught teens with near despair. Expressions of deep anxiety, grotesque in the fire’s dancing glow, once again marked their faces.  She forced as much calm into her voice as she could manage when she said, “Listen to me, everyone.  We are going to get you out of here, we promise.  The phone was a convenience that we can live without.  Joshua Zeem will do everything in his power to rescue us as soon as possible.”  She took a deep breath and tried to keep her voice devoid of anger. “You just saw what happens when worry and fear get the upper hand; it just makes things ten times worse.  You are going to have to put your fears to rest and trust us.”  She let her gaze touch every face and received slight nods of acquiescence before she said, “Lights out, everyone.  Let’s get some rest and deal with tomorrow when it comes.” 

Abby lay down with the rest of the group, closed her eyes, and listened as the sounds of crying slowly diminished.  She wasn’t overly worried about the safety of her own family; on a Saturday afternoon in early June, her sisters would be at cheerleading practice at Saint Mary’s and her parents would most likely be at home with her little brother.  All of them knew to run outdoors in the event of an earthquake, and both her home and the high school were out of the tsunami danger zone.  Still, sleep would not come to her.  She lay silent and helpless as Rick, Lucy, and Brenda, believing that the children were out cold, quietly cried themselves to sleep.

When Brenda awoke at sunrise, Rick, Abby, Leanna, and Caleb were already gone.  She cried silently for a minute before she rose and tossed some sticks on the fire: a fire Rick had considerately built before he went in search of water.  She shivered in the chilly air and began to organize breakfast for the remaining three adults and eight children.  Rick and Caleb emerged from the woods on the south side of the picnic area with Abby and Leanna close behind as she was finishing up. Rick broke into a smile of triumph and gave her a thumbs-up gesture as she hurried towards him.

“Caleb found a natural spring about half an hour south of here.  It’s small but it is good enough.”

“Good boy, Caleb!”  Brenda bent to kiss the top of the panting dog’s head.  “You may be the only dog I’ve ever liked!”  Rick laughed until he saw a dark expression cross her face.  “Rick, we need to talk.”

“Now is good.  Abby and Leanna are trustworthy.”

“Someone is hoarding food and toilet paper.  Two rolls of toilet paper went missing last night, and when I uncovered the food this morning, a box of candy bars and a box of power bars were down to two bars each.  Both of those boxes were almost full when I finished passing out dinner last night.  Believe me; I am counting each food item so I’m not imagining things.”

“Lucy stole the food and a roll of toilet paper, and Andrea stole the other roll of toilet paper.  Caleb was sleeping beside me and he woke me up when he heard them sneak over.  Lucy took her stuff right after everyone fell asleep.  Andrea took the toilet paper a couple of hours later.”

“That does it!” cried Brenda with angry tears filling her eyes.  “Come with me, Rick.  It’s time we put an end to Lucy and Andrea acting like they and their children are the only people who count.  These kids are scared and hungry, and they are being such troopers!”

Rick laid a calming hand on Brenda’s arm and said, “Abby told me about the thefts while we were on our hunt for water, and I’ve had plenty of time to think about it.  We are going to let Lucy and Andrea keep their loot so we don’t subject the kids to any more drama.  We just can’t afford another Andrea tantrum, and we definitely can’t put Lucy on the defensive.  She’ll pull her superiority crap and start making decisions that affect all of us.  You and I are going to keep the peace at all costs until everyone is safely at the spring.”

“But Rick, it’s just so unfair and so… wrong.  It is just so
wrong
!”

“It stops today.  It stops today because we are going to divide up the food, the drinks, and the toilet paper into equal portions.  We will do it right after breakfast and everyone will be responsible for carrying and watching their own stuff.  That will also free you up from having to monitor the food and organize meals for fourteen people.”

“Can we at least take back the food that Lucy stole?”

“Brenda, Lucy is going to choke on the memory of that stolen food for the rest of her life because when the time is right, we will confront her.  But now is not the time.  We have to let her keep it.  We just can’t afford to set her off.”

“Can we trust the kids to manage their own food?  What are we going to do if one of them gorges on their stash and runs out?  Everyone is starving and we are barely managing to feed them enough to keep their energy levels up.”

“We warn everyone in advance that they are out of luck if they don’t manage their own stash.  It’s all we can do.”

“Shhhh.  Lucy is coming,” whispered Leanna. 

If facial expressions could suck the substance out of someone, Lucy would have withered to dust at the glare Brenda gave her.  Lucy averted her eyes before she said, “We have a couple of problems, you guys.  Tara looted Andrea’s windbreaker pockets while Andrea was passed out last night and stole the OxyContin.  All three pills are gone.  Tara admitted to taking them and said she took two last night and one this morning.”

Rick heaved a frustrated sigh and said, “This isn’t good, you guys.  One of my wife’s cousins was addicted to Oxy when he got busted for dealing in northern Utah. He ended up having to cold turkey in a county jail.  He said it was the worst experience of his life; the withdrawal symptoms were like the most awful flu he ever had, times ten.”

“Tara looks fine now, but I guess she would since she still has the drugs in her system,” said Abby.  “She looks a lot better than she did last night.”

“Yeah, but when she crashes, it will be a full crash and burn,” answered Rick.  “We need to rush through breakfast and get everyone down to the spring before the drugs wear off.  She’ll never make it otherwise.”  He turned to Lucy and said, “We found a fresh water spring a little south of here.  We need to move everyone down there as soon as possible.”

“Well, here comes problem number two.  Andrea, Tara, and Reba only brought flip flops with them.  They have nothing to hike in.”

“You are kidding me, right?” cried Brenda.  “I didn’t let any of the kids get on the bus without asking them if they remembered to pack their sneakers.  The one mandatory requirement for working at Raptor Bluff was close-toed shoes.  Tara and Reba told me they packed sneakers!”

“Tara and Reba lied to you, with Andrea’s blessing.  They weren’t planning to go into the raptor center at all.  Andrea assured them that I would sign their community service forms even if they didn’t do any work.  Reba told me a few minutes ago.”

“Of course Andrea counted on you to lie for her kid, Lucy!” retorted Brenda.  “She’s always been above the law because you let her use her relationship with your family to do anything she damn well pleases!  She is also a nutcase when she doesn’t get her way and you know that!  I can’t believe you even allowed her to come on this trip!”

“That’s enough…,” Rick started to say but Brenda cut him off.

“That was one hell of an example she set for the kids last night!  Who cares about my family, or Rick’s family, or those poor kids’ families, right?  Andrea expects to use the phone to check on
her
family and attacks when we tell her ‘no’!”  She spun on her heel and walked away.

Lucy flung a nasty look at Brenda’s back before she said, “What am I supposed to tell Andrea, Rick?”

“Tell her that she, Tara, and Reba can hike to the spring in flip flops or stay up here and die of thirst.  We are leaving in less than an hour and if they are not packed and ready, we go without them.  Oh, and Lucy?  You and Dakota need to sift through your stuff and put aside anything that you can’t carry.  Tell Andrea, too.  Abby and Leanna will let the other kids know.”

“How do you always stay so calm?” Abby asked him as they walked towards the fire with Caleb bounding beside them. 

Rick ignored the question and said, “You have to carry what you pack, so throw out anything that isn’t essential.  If I were you, I would take a change of clothes, all of your socks, your warmest wraps, and your rain ponchos.  You aren’t going to need cute clothes, makeup, or shampoo where we are going.  And leave plenty of room for food.  You will probably want to pack your water in your backpacks so it’s easier to carry.  Collect some empty water bottles, too.  We will fill them at the spring.”

While Brenda divided the food and drinks into fourteen equal portions, Abby and Leanna instructed the other students on what to keep and what to discard from their own belongings. When the packing was complete, the pile of abandoned items was double what they planned to carry out with them.  Brenda pulled Abby and Leanna aside when it was time to leave. “I want to thank you girls for your help.  I mean it.  Thank you.”  She kissed each girl on the cheek.  “Rick and I had a short talk a few minutes ago.  We will probably split up into teams once we get to the spring.  I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate what you have done, in case we don’t have a chance to talk again.”  She gave the girls a quick hug and said, “Hey, Rick is signaling that it’s time to go.  We better hurry.”

“Rick! Rick! Where are you going?  Wait up!”  Lucy shouted, running after Rick as he led the line of people towards the woods. 

A scowl of irritation rippled across Rick’s face but he stopped walking and waited for her to catch up. 

“You can’t leave yet!  I packed all of our heavy stuff and our drinks in one bag for you to carry.  Dakota and I can’t manage on our own.”

Abby nudged Leanna and nodded at Brenda, who was so outraged that even her ears were red.

Rick also noticed that Brenda was at the edge of her tolerance so he squeezed her arm in warning before he said to Lucy, “So unpack your heavy bag and redistribute the weight into your backpacks. Then repack your duffel bags with your lighter items.  I told you exactly how to pack almost an hour ago.”

“But Dakota and I…”

“Don’t argue with me, Lucy.”  Rick’s voice was still calm but there was an undertone to it that caused Lucy to take a step backwards.  “You and Dakota are responsible for carrying your own supplies just like the rest of us.  Right now, Dakota has almost nothing in her backpack and both of her hands are empty.  Your pack looks light, too.  What’s in there?  Empty water bottles?”  He looked at his watch and said,  “You have five minutes to reorganize, and then we are leaving whether you are ready or not.  Everyone
carries their own weight.”

Lucy’s eyes were narrowed with indignation when she hissed, “Dakota is only twelve years old and I can’t carry for both of us!”

“Mom!” cried Dakota, mortified that her mother singled her out as the weakling of the group.  She had already slipped her backpack off her shoulders and was loading it with bottled drinks from Lucy’s duffel bag.  “Shelly is only thirteen and her backpack is full.  I’m not a baby!  I can carry my own duffel bag, too.”

Rick handed Caleb’s leash to Abby and said, “You know where to go.  You and the others can get started.  I’ll be right behind you with the slower folks.”

“I’m not one of the slower folks,” stated Dakota.  “Mom, I’m going with Brenda and Shelly.”

“Dakota! No!  You stay with me!”  Lucy was kneeling on the ground with clothes and supplies scattered around her.  She blinked back frustrated tears when Dakota trotted into the woods after the others.

Rick arrived at the spring thirty minutes after the first group.  A sweaty and breathless Lucy walked behind him, her face still furious.  Andrea was next.  Her flip flops were made of leather and had survived the hike.  The thongs on Reba’s and Tara’s rubber flip flops had broken and both girls were barefoot and crying.  All three of them had cuts and scrapes where the rocks and undergrowth had torn at their exposed feet. 

“We’re here! Oh, thank god!” puffed Reba.  She collapsed on the ground and shrugged out of her backpack.  The hike had clearly taken its biggest toll on her.  Her thin, shoulder length hair was plastered to her head and neck, and her obese body heaved as she struggled to catch her breath.  Her face was an alarming shade of red.  Tara and Andrea dropped to the ground beside her and immediately began inspecting their feet for injuries.

“Can I get some first aid supplies over here please?”  Andrea looked at Rick and snapped her fingers.  “Hey, I’m talking to you!  Our feet are a mess!”

“You ladies get exactly three-fourteenths of the first aid supplies,” snarled Brenda, taking the bag with the first aid kit away from Rick.  “I will divvy things up right now.  Then you can come over here and get them yourselves.”

“Get your own first aid supplies, Andrea,” said Lucy, stabbing her with a warning glare.  She ignored the tearful doe eyes that Andrea turned to her and clapped her hands together to get the group’s attention.  “OK, listen up, people!  Here is what we are going to do.  We are going to take a short rest, we are going to drink and fill our water bottles at the spring, and then we are going to walk to Port…”

“Hang on a minute, Lucy,” said Rick, holding up a hand to silence her.  “We have other plans.” He didn’t wait for her reply before he addressed the watching teens, “Kids, why don’t you start filling water bottles at the spring?”  He turned to Lucy, Brenda, and Andrea.  “Follow me.  We need to talk.”

Andrea held up a hand so Lucy could pull her to her feet but Lucy walked past without acknowledging her.  Andrea was the last to join them as she made a show of limping forward. 

Lucy placed her hands on her hips and was looking at Rick when she said, “I’ve made the decision.  We are going to Port Fortand.  I know we will just have to walk back the way we came, but it’s the only thing that makes sense.  Help will be heading for Port Fortand as we speak, since everyone has to know that it was hit by the tsunami.”

“I disagree, Lucy.  Port Fortand will be overflowing with dead bodies and injured refugees in need of serious help.  There won’t be any food or clean water, and the people who can still walk will be walking away from town, not towards it.”

“We are going to Port Fortand!” ordered Lucy. “I’ve made the decision and it is final!”

“I agree with Lucy,” said Andrea. “I’ll start asking around to see if anyone has extra shoes.  If not, we can take turns going barefoot so Tara, Reba, and I have shoes at least part of the way.”

Rick made no effort to hide his disgust when he said, “You have no say in where we go, Andrea.  Tara will be too sick to move in a few hours and you know it.  You, Reba, and Tara are staying here where the water is.  And Andrea?  Even if Tara were well enough to hike out with us, I would not allow any of the others to share their shoes with you and risk injuring their own feet.”