Tunnels (15 page)

SOUNDS IN THE TUNNELS

"On the day Pearl Harbor was bombed, the president left immediately and never came back." George was taking us through some other tunnels to what I now know is the Roosevelt room. He was pretty quick for an old guy, and we were totally struggling to keep up. Guess all the bike riding has paid off for him.

"Must be why the letter I found was never finished," I said, remembering the date it was written to Eleanor. I couldn't believe I'd held a letter Franklin Roosevelt had been writing to his wife.

"I don't know anything about a letter, but I do remember the day I had to help him get over to the airport." Pointing to the right with his walking stick when we came to a fork in the tunnels, we began heading in that direction. "It was early morning December 8, 1941. I just turned sixteen, but I remember it like it was yesterday. I'd just helped him and Old Bessie—that's what he liked to call his wheelchair—into the elevator."

"Wait a minute," Evan said, stopping to get a drink, "why were you allowed so close to the president?"

"Cause he was the groundskeeper, silly," I answered for George. "President Roosevelt called you an 'inventive cuss' in his letter. Means you're a pretty smart dude for figuring out how to help him, right?"

"That's right, and it was high praise from him, I assure you." He chuckled. "And it sure made Em proud. Roosevelt had a way of making you feel special. Once you earned his respect, he was in your corner and always listened and asked questions about your life. Surprising, since he had so much on his mind with the war and all."

"Wish I could have met him," I said, truly meaning it. This was a president who had to get America through a tough time and from what I'd read, he never backed down. He was on my top ten people I'd like to have dinner with. It'd be interesting to have him, Madonna, Margaret Mead, and Louisa May Alcott at the same table. And Gwen Stefani for sure. That could be one pretty funny conversation as long as Gwen and Madonna don't start wrestling for best singer ever.

"We almost there?"

"Almost, son, almost," George answered. "We've just a bit further."

Using the tunnels to get back to the Roosevelt room was pretty awesome. This meant we could avoid any historical tours or nosey security guards on the mayor's property. Or earthquake disasters. Maybe the worst of the damage was in Pops's neighborhood and around the library. I hoped everything was cool at my house and the General hadn't missed me. All I needed was to be grounded again when all this was over. It was then my cell phone vibrated in my pocket.

"Hang on, guys. I've got a call." I stopped and pulled the phone from my shirt pocket. It was surprising I had reception in the tunnel since there hadn't been any above ground earlier. Hopefully this meant stuff was getting back to normal up there. I looked at the screen. PRIVATE CALLER. Usually don't answer calls without the I.D., but what if it was important?

"Hello?" I could hear static as soon as I picked up. I pressed my finger into my other ear to try to hear better.

But my name was all I heard before the line went dead. And if I didn't know better, it sounded like David. My stomach did a somersault. Why would he be calling? I had to be wrong, though. He obviously hated me and I could think of no good reason for a miracle to have occurred.

"Who was it?" Evan asked as we followed George.

"Beats me," I answered, shoving the phone back into my pocket, wondering if I could be right. But even if I was, it didn't matter now…because I wasn't so sure
I
wanted to talk to
him
. A girl's got to have some pride, right?

"Can you tell us more about the elevator?" I asked, needing to get my mind off David. I had more important stuff to think about.

"Yeah, tell us," Evan said. "We didn't notice one when we found the room."

"Makes sense. The elevator shaft isn't in the room. It's right outside of it. Probably a bit beyond where you two entered from the tunnel."

"It must have been a lot of work to make it," I said, walking beside him now.

"Not so hard. Since my background was in architecture and civil engineering, I understood what it took to build it and make it safe. My father taught me all he knew, then I went to college early at sixteen years of age to learn the trade. I was quite aware of the fact I had the safety and trust of the leader of the free world to think about. Just wish I could have finished my education. But there was a war on and I did my duty."

"Did you build it all on your own?" Evan asked, now on George's other side.

"Mostly on my own, because FDR wanted to keep the room hush-hush," he said. "I fashioned it out of an old dumbwaiter. If you know how pulleys work, it's a piece of cake. He and his chair fit perfectly in there. If you go to the utility room in the mayor's mansion, it's hidden behind a panel and larger than most dumbwaiters I've seen. Doubt anyone even knows it's there anymore. Swore Edward to secrecy—"

"Wait. You mean my Pops?"

"Yup. Speaks to what a good man he was. Never told anyone about it," he answered. "He helped me dig out the rest of the shaft so it would reach beyond the basement level. Then we shut off any other access so it couldn't be seen when you were in the basement. After a while, folks forget about that stuff. Bet the mayor today doesn't even know about it."

I wondered. Guess there'd be no way of knowing unless we asked her. But I'm thinking Mayor Delaney has no idea, otherwise the Roosevelt room would have been disturbed. Not untouched, the way Evan and I found it.

"So he used it for secret meetings?” I asked. “Seems a long way for him to travel for that."

"Well, there's more to it than that," George answered. "At the time, lots of famous people and celebrities would come here for the great weather in the winter time. We called them snow birds because they'd fly away from their cold hometowns. Roosevelt had a lot of health issues and the weather here agreed with him. He could relax better and his friends would join him when they could."

"Guess that makes sense."

He nodded. "Well it's the truth so it should. And as soon as he arrived here, he'd ask me if things were up to snuff in the room for company. You know, double check I'd done my job right…glasses were clean, the decanter filled with bourbon, fresh cigars in the cigar box, the cards waiting for a rousing game of poker. He liked it down there because no one bothered them. No wives to nag, no security guards to interrupt what he wanted to do. And who would believe he'd be out here in California in some underground tunnel? Said it was like being a kid with a club house."

Just like I thought—a place for friends or a group to gather. I couldn't believe we had such a special place in Citrus Grove, a place full of history. But why didn't anyone seem to know about it besides George?

"I closed it up good when he left," he said, answering my thought. "I had a feeling he'd never be back. When DiMaggio, Ruth, and the others showed up I had to tell them. It was bad. The country was falling apart and we were scared."

I nodded, remembering the documentaries I'd seen in school and on TV about September Eleventh
_.
It was probably the closest kind of fear any American had felt since World War II. The videos I'd seen showed how awful and scary the day was, and I was glad I hadn't been born yet.

"He liked to hang out with the athletes, huh?" Evan asked. "Babe Ruth was pretty wild, I hear."

"Always respectful, though. Otherwise he wouldn't have been invited back time after time. And Joe DiMaggio was a perfect gentleman."

"So each had their own glass with their initials engraved on them?"

"Yes ma'am, and they were shined up and ready each time they gathered." His voice sounded full of pride. "It was an honor to be the one taking care of it all. Haven't been back since I came home from the war."

We walked a bit more in silence when George stopped. "Do you hear something?"

I did. There was a high-pitched noise off in the distance, but it was hard to tell how far. Almost like an animal in pain.

"What
is
that?" Evan asked.

"Haven't heard it in a long time." George took a step, as though ready to go find it.

"Haven't heard
what
in a long time?" I asked. I'm all for discovery, but this was super scary sounding.

He didn't answer, so we had no choice but to follow. About a hundred yards further, the air became thick in the tunnel. Wet fog surrounded us quickly, much like the stuff I'd seen when George had been after me, but denser.

"Ree, Ree, Ree!" whatever it was screamed again.

"It's a machine or something, right?" I yelled. This can't be coming from something alive. If it was, we were in trouble.

No answer.

"What is it, George?" Evan yelled.

"Ree, Ree, Ree!"

"It's them," he finally answered. "Em was right."

EARTH-SHAKING DISCOVERIES

We were running after George, toward something or somebody I was sure could fully kick the you-know-what out of us. A strange light appeared in the distance, and I wondered if it was the end of the tunnel where some door had been opened. What else could it be? It's not like light just appears out of nowhere, with no source. Wanting to turn back, I fought against a magnetic force pulling me toward the unknown but it was a waste of energy. It was too strong.

"I think we should go back…but I can't stop!" Evan yelled.

It felt like all the breath had been sucked out of me. I remembered then what George said about Emily being right. Did he mean she'd been right about the lizard people? Am I on the verge of a major discovery with my courage-challenged best friend and the man who seemed to have wanted me dead not twelve hours ago?

"Ree, Ree, Ree!"

There it was again. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw them—pictures, scenes from another world, decorating the wall. Spears flew through the air by…were those lizard people? And the people being speared? People of my own kind but different—like early humans, I think, because they were barely dressed and had wild hair.

"Evan, look!" I was finally able to speak. I needed a witness to this, someone else to see the walls. But there was no answer. Just dead quiet as he followed behind George.

Then, a second later, George stopped and we could too. "It's one of the ceremonies Em told me about," he said. "Can't remember which one, but she said they make a strange sound when they celebrate."

Celebrate? What he said sent chills down my spine. It was different when I thought of the lizard people as extinct, but the possibility there were some still around? No, this couldn't be. Squinting, I saw movement in the distance. I seriously needed to go pee now.

"What is it?" I asked. "Do you see it?"

Please say no, please say no,
I thought.

But no such luck. Both of them were nodding at me so we ran to hide against the wall, flattening our bodies against the rock. I ran my hands over the surface.

Even scared as I was, I realized something big.
I
'
m touching history
. Who'd painted the walls with scenes from their own lives?

"It's getting closer," Evan whispered. "What is it?"

"I think it's one of them."

Whatever it was had gotten closer now. And here's the other thing. There was more than one.

"Let's go!" Evan got up and grabbed my hand. The magnetic pull was broken and we needed to get out of there.

"Come on, George," I urged. "We won't leave you behind!"

He let me pull him with us, but then a loud rumbling started before we got too far. Our hands separated as the world began vibrating violently around us. Rock and dust began falling from the ceiling and I just knew we were dead. Was it another aftershock? I stared into the distance and could still see the figures, but not how far away they were. Just wish they were closer to see who or what they were.

"This way," he yelled over the rumbling. "To the room—let's get to the room. We'll be safe there!"

I started running toward his voice, but stuff began hitting me in the head and I lost my footing. Circling my arms around my head, I rolled. Holy crud that hurt. Which way was up? The air was thick with debris and I couldn't help but start crying. All I could hear was Evan yelling for me, but he probably couldn't see me either.

In my mind, I saw the General. How she wasn't so bad, and Dad, the best one around. Even Sam. I'd never see any of them again if I just sat there. I began crawling as fast as I could, but stopped when I felt a hand on my shoulder. Evan!

He slid his hands under my armpits and lifted, then pushed me forward, guiding me toward George's voice. I felt blind and the light in the distance was gone. Thank goodness my best friend was behind me, leading me out of this. Completely turned around now, my whole life flashing before my eyes…I realized I must be dying.

Before I knew it I was next to George, who grabbed me out of the chaos. He pushed me inside just as the door to the room came off the hinges and threw him back into the tunnel.

Evan stood there staring at me. How'd he make it into the room before me if he'd pushed me to safety?

No time to ask. I ran back over to where I thought George was. "Do you still have the flashlight?" I asked while on my knees, feeling around for him.

"Hope it works," Evan yelled as he handed it to me.

It did. Just long enough for me to see George lying unconscious under some rubble before everything went black.

SURPRISING RELATIONS

"But how could this have happened?" I heard Mayor Delaney's voice, which seemed strange. What the‒? Where was I? I tried to open my eyes but they felt glued shut. My head throbbed and something gooey was sliding down my forehead, but I couldn't lift my arms to feel what it was.

"It was just a small aftershock from the earthquake, but the retrofitting we were doing to the mansion probably didn't help," I heard a man say. "Caused some sort of massive cave-in down there."

"Cave-in of what? What could possibly be down there?" the mayor asked. Her voice was all shaky and kept breaking up, like she was trying not to cry. I knew how she felt. This was the worst day of my life.

Where were Evan and George? Had they made it out? George's unconscious face is my last memory, and I felt tears rolling down my cheek. I remembered the lizard people then. How I actually found
them,
and not just some pile of bones. What if the cave-in killed them off for good? It had to be one of them who'd saved my life. Who else could have pushed me toward the Roosevelt room where Evan was already safe and sound?

"Katherine," Mayor Delaney interrupted my thoughts, "you're going to be okay. Your mom and dad will be here soon."

Finally, I felt like I could talk. "My friends…are they alright?" I croaked.

That's when I heard him. "Take the kid first!"

I finally was able to crack my left eye open. The right one wasn't cooperating, so I didn't even try. "George!" I said as loudly as I could. "You okay?" It hurt to even say just those few words.

"He's okay, Kat." I glanced up and there was Evan. Nothing feels better than realizing you're alive, except maybe realizing your best friend and an old man you'd come to care about had made it, too. "He's definitely got some broken bones, but they say he'll survive. I was able to climb out and go to the mayor's house for help."

"But, E," I said, grabbing his hand. "What happened down there?"

Before he could answer, the firemen squeezed him out of the way as they surrounded the stretcher I was strapped to. Then Mom and Dad were there too, crying and reaching for me. I could see everybody rushing around us, like a real emergency situation. Had I caused this much trouble? I wanted them all to go away and just crawl under my covers at home, with Jenny lying at my feet. I made a promise to myself to be nicer to Sam and not complain so much about veggie soufflés.

"Oh my, Kit Kat!" Dad was suddenly beside me, grabbing my hand with Mom next to him.

"We were so worried, honey! Why didn't you tell us where you were going?"

"I'm okay, you guys." But then I burst out crying because I couldn't stand to see Dad so scared and upset. Nothing has ever made him like this before, so I knew the situation was big-time serious.

But before we could say anymore to each other, they were pushed out of the way when the emergency crew moved in to put a long splint on my leg. I groaned. Not again. I tried to turn my head but realized I had another one of those big collar thingies on me. Man, twice in a month's time? Gotta be a record.

"Sir, ma'am, we'll have to ask you to step back further," one of the firemen said. "We're still trying to assess her so we can load her into the ambulance."

"She's got a black eye, and what's with all the blood on her head?" I heard Mom cry as she moved back in, ignoring the EMTs. Then, "We're here, honey." She began stroking my hair, and it felt good. The General will move back when the General wants to, I guess.

"Sorry you were worried, Mom." I could turn my head enough to see Evan, right beyond the circle of EMTs. I mouthed
thank you
to him. By going for help, he'd saved my life and George's.

"Alright, Mayor, everyone," the fireman yelled, "let's clear a path to the ambulance."

They began rolling me across the mayor's lawn, past the naked statues and camera crews who'd appeared out of nowhere. Boy was there going to be one awesomely pathetic picture of me on the evening news. It'll probably even beat out the embarrassing hair photo. Before I go back to school I'll have to borrow some of Evan's concealer for my black eye. He says it's the best one out there.

"I said, take the kid first!" It was George's voice again, but clearer now because they were rolling him over to the ambulance too.

"I'm so glad you're okay!" I said when they parked him next to me. "The last time I saw you I thought you were dead!" The tears began to spill onto my cheeks as I reached my hand out to him. I know we'd just met but I felt like I've known him a long time. His and Emily's story had really gotten to me, I guess.

"Not dead yet," he replied. "But I was all set to go see my Em. Too bad they pulled me out of there. It would have been a proper ending for me and I could have gone out in style rather than by my own hand."

"Don't talk like that," I said. "
We
need you."

I didn't hear what he said because two (yes, extremely cute) guys collapsed the stretcher I was on and loaded me into the ambulance. Even in emergency situations a girl can appreciate cuteness.

"We'll see you at the hospital," I heard Mom yell.

And then I heard another voice, right before the ambulance doors were slammed shut, and they just about had to add heart attack to my list of injuries. "Uncle George, what are you doing here?"

It was David.