Crocs, p.11
Crocs, page 11
“You poor nasty goose,” she whispered. She reached and stroked the bird’s powerful neck. “Don’t bite me. I’m tired of you biting me. Hold still!”
Using her fingernails, she ripped the tape free. Carlos responded with a mighty hiss. The bird’s chest heaved, breathing in fresh air. After a few croaking attempts to make a sound, the goose used her wings to charge into the fog where the dragon had been.
Sabina heard explosive sounds. The goose’s outraged honking. The crash of a huge tail slapping the water.
Her dream was turning into a nightmare. But when she heard a thunderous growl, Sabina’s mind cleared.
Finally, she understood.
The dinosaur object in the distance was a dead tree. Luke had used the tree to anchor their boat while watching Leon and his partner throw a cast net.
And those weren’t birds chirping in the distance. They were baby crocodiles calling for help.
The log wasn’t a dragon. It was their mother!
Sabina hugged her knees to her chest while the crocodile and the goose battled. Carlos gave a bugling cry. The splash of wings flapping away suggested the goose had escaped—hopefully.
The girl fingered her blue-and-yellow necklace and waited.
Beneath the dark water was a powerful swirl. Something with sharp, rough skin brushed against Sabina’s legs. The crocodile spun around and surfaced. Its massive head was only a few inches away from the girl’s face. She stared into eyes that were black and catlike. Teeth bristled from the animal’s jaws.
There was a chant Sabina had learned from the magic women in Cuba. Her teeth were chattering. It was hard to breathe. It was impossible to remember the exact wording. But she grasped her beads and whispered the magic chant in Spanish.
“I will not fear the terror of night, nor the evil that stalks by day,” the chant began. The girl stumbled over several more lines, then concluded, “Danger will not come near me. I am protected. Go away, go away, go away!” She yelled the command three times, as required. “Find your babies and leave me alone!”
The crocodile gave a whuffing grunt. With its pointed snout, the creature nudged the girl.
Sabina couldn’t hold it back any longer. She yipped a shrill, chirping scream, “Maribel, I need help!”
The giant croc nudged the girl again after a gentle series of grunts. With a flick of its tail, it swam in the direction of the sinking cabin cruiser.
The high-pitched calls of several baby crocodiles still vibrated through the fog.
TWENTY
LUKE TO THE RESCUE, SABINA DISAPPEARS
Maribel felt trapped when she heard Sabina scream. The men in the dinghy had chased her and Luke into the circle of pilings called Bones Gate. Even a small dinghy couldn’t squeeze through the thick poles. For now, at least, they were safe.
Frustrated, Leon stopped paddling. “Why are you kids running from us? We’re only trying to help. Climb in. There’s plenty of room. Then we’ll go find your sister.”
There was an oily smile in his voice, threatening.
“For all you know, she could be drowning right now,” the man taunted. “Or don’t you care? The cops aren’t going to like it when I tell them you’re the three little thieves who caused my boat to wreck—and wouldn’t lift a finger to help that poor little girl.”
Luke, desperate to find Sabina, felt his face redden. He and Maribel were clinging to the same piling. They had tied their backpacks there, lashed to a pair of big orange life jackets so they wouldn’t drift away. Every time the kids had tried to swim toward Sabina’s voice, the men had followed. They had slammed at their legs with paddles and tried to yank them into the dinghy.
“We didn’t wreck your boat, mister,” the boy hollered. “That’s a crock of horse manure.”
“Watch your language, kid,” Leon snapped, then turned to his partner. “That’s how we remember it. Isn’t it, Donny? These brats broke into our cabin. The little girl scared you with some dumb witch’s mask and you lost control of the wheel. Knocked me overboard. Could’ve killed us all.”
“Yeah,” Donny muttered. “Guess so.”
The skinny man was still messing with the garbage bag, too scared to look inside. “Boss … this weird chirping noise is, like, freaking me out, man. And there’s something big slithering around inside there. Why don’t we just dump the whole stupid mess overboard?”
Maribel sensed an opening. “Go ahead,” she said. “What do we care?”
Donny took that as permission until Leon growled, “Sit down, you nitwit. You still don’t get it. There’s a hundred thousand dollars’ worth of baby crocodiles in that bag. These brats were trying to steal them.”
Meekly, the skinny man replied, “Oh. Yeah. But what about that thing in there slithering around? Think it could be—”
“Shut up and pay attention! The moment we look away, those two will make a break for it. It was hard enough to find them in this freakin’ fog.” Leon thought for a moment. “You got your pocketknife, Donny? Swim over and convince those kids that all we want to do is help. Cut their packs free just in case they’re carrying phones.”
“Me?” The man’s nervous laughter was like ice tinkling. “Boss, I’m not much of a swimmer. And I’ve never, well, you know … I’ve never hurt a—”
“Do as you’re told,” Leon ordered. “Those little monsters know too much. Understand?”
The sun was high enough to cast purple light on the nearby mangroves. A dead tree towered above them all. Its trunk was curved like the neck of a dinosaur.
Luke remembered tying up to that tree. Bonefield Key was only a hundred yards away. Close enough for them to wade to shore on this outgoing tide.
He put his mouth close to Maribel’s ear. “They’d be stupid to kill us,” he whispered. “I think they just want to scare us into not telling the police the truth. But we can’t take the chance. We’ve got to do something fast.”
“Like what?” the girl asked. “They’ll chase us down. Hit us with paddles again and try to grab us.”
Luke came up with a desperate plan. The dinghy was made of rubber. Its flotation tubes were filled with air like an oversized pool toy. Bonefield Key was within easy distance. He and the girls didn’t need a boat to go for help.
Their backpacks were tied to a piling and two puffy orange lifejackets. Luke unzipped his pack and took out the heavy camping knife, saying, “Captain Pony said it was an easy walk to her place if the tide was low.”
Maribel was close to tears she was so worried. “No! We’ve got to find Sabina first.”
“That’s what I mean,” Luke said. He was sucking in air and blowing it out to expand his lungs. It was a trick he’d learned while snorkel diving. “I’m going to sneak over there and jab some holes in that rubber boat. When it starts to sink, those jerks won’t care what happens to us.”
“They’ll see you!”
“Not if I swim underwater they won’t. If I’m quiet, they won’t even know.”
“It’s too murky,” the girl said. “What about all the pilings? Hit one, you could crack your head open.”
“I can see better than most,” he reminded Maribel.
As they whispered back and forth, Luke laced his belt through the knife sheath. He continued to suck in deep breaths while he pulled on leather gloves. Next, he removed his inflatable vest, then stuffed it into his backpack, which was still secured to the piling.
This was too much for a responsible boat captain. “Absolutely not!” the girl said. “You have to wear your vest.”
“I won’t be able to dive to the bottom,” Luke argued.
Maribel refused. They finally agreed that he could deflate the vest, but he had to keep it on. Later, when needed, he could fill it with air using the manual mouth valve.
“I’ll make this fast,” Luke said. “If they hear me, take off. Swim with the tide. Find your sister.”
“But what about you?”
“Don’t worry,” he said. “There’s something in that garbage bag those guys don’t know about. If they catch me, I’ll make sure they find out.”
After another big breath, Luke submerged and followed the piling to the bottom. The mud was mushy beneath his boots. The barnacles on the piling were sharp.
He pushed off through the darkness toward the dinghy.
TWENTY-ONE
SABINA, A GOOSE, AND A MYSTERIOUS GIRL
Sabina understood why she still felt dizzy and dreamy when she touched the back of her head. Her hand was covered with blood. Several times she stroked her hair. More blood.
The girl’s voice was weaker, too, when she called to warn her sister about the giant crocodile. The croc had been swimming in the direction of the cabin cruiser when it disappeared.
“Get out of the water” was the warning she mumbled. “The croc hears her babies calling. She’s coming to find them.”
The truth was, the fog was so thick, the girl had lost all sense of direction. Was the sinking cabin cruiser to her right? Or behind her? Even the dinosaur-shaped tree had vanished behind a sparkling curtain that hid the rising sun.
She had to find her way to Captain Pony’s house. Maribel and Luke needed help. They required a telephone. But how would she find one?
Sabina made some more feeble attempts to be heard. But her head hurt. She was tired. So she lay back and let her buoyant vest drift her along. Water swirled. Leaves of yellow glided past. The girl couldn’t see more than a yard beyond her legs. It was like floating in a silver bubble.
A sudden honking startled her. Carlos skidded through the fog, close enough for Sabina to stroke the bird’s powerful neck.
“Sorry I called you stupid,” she said. “I’m glad the crocodile didn’t eat you—but you’ve got to stop biting me on the butt.”
The goose’s orange beak clattered a response. For a while, the bird cruised along beside her, then paddled ahead as if to lead the way.
“Where are you going?” she called.
The goose looked back, then used her webbed feet to paddle faster.
Sabina followed, using her hands and feet to steer.
A low black ledge appeared. It was an island. Mangrove limbs boiled with mist as if on fire. Once again, the goose looked back, then flapped herself through an opening in the trees.
It was shallow here. The girl stood on shaky legs and slogged ashore. There was a path that led to a low mound of shells. She recognized the spot. It was where they had found the graves and wild oranges a week ago.
“Bonefield Key” she whispered, then called to the goose, “You’re going the wrong way. There’s no telephone here. Take me to Captain Pony’s house, you dumb bird.”
The goose continued the waddle uphill on the ancient Calusa shell mound.
Sabina stumbled along behind. But not fast enough to keep up. Soon she was lost. Maybe this wasn’t the island. Everything—everything—looked different. Tree limbs drooped. Water dripped from leaves as if in a heavy rain. Shadows cast an eerie purple light.
Ahead, a massive tree had fallen. Its trunk curved over the ground like a bridge. Beneath the bridge was an opening into spooky darkness. The opening was as black as deep space on a starless night. That vast darkness echoed with the honking of a goose … and then what might have been voices.
Sabina felt goose bumps. She stopped. Words on a whispering wind floated from the opening to her ears.
“Stop there,” a voice said in Spanish. “It’s too dangerous to come closer. I’ll find you, sweetie—bless your little heart.”
Had Sabina imagined the drawling Southern accent?
Something the girl had not imagined was Captain Pony’s warning about Bonefield Key and the Bone Tunnel. Bad things happen to people who go ashore there, the old fishing guide had told them. Some folks never find their way out.
The opening beneath the tree looked like a tunnel. Maybe it was. How else could Carlos have disappeared so fast?
Sabina’s heart was pounding. She took a step closer, then spun around. It was wiser to wait near the shore. Less scary, too.
The girl retraced her steps and sat on a sandy area near the water. The fog couldn’t last forever. When the sky cleared, her sense of direction would return. Somehow she would find her way to a road, or a house, and phone for help.
She felt sick with worry about her sister and Luke.
Behind her, a branch cracked. Bushes rustled. Sabina jumped to her feet, ready to run.
“Don’t you be afraid, sugar,” a voice said. “You’re hurt. Your head sure ’nuff is bleeding. That happened to me once a long time ago.”
Sabina turned to see a girl about her age. She wore baggy coveralls with patches on the knees. Red ribbons added color to her long black braids, one over each shoulder. The girl looked small because Carlos was cradled in her arms.
“Who are you?” Sabina said. “Be careful—that goose bites. She hates everyone.”
The girl grinned. “Naw, we’re old friends. Carlos comes here nosing around a lot—when the moon’s right or the sun ain’t too bright. This goose is one of the few who knows how to find me.”
Sabina touched the back of her head. More blood. She thought, Am I dreaming? I must be dreaming.
“Don’t matter if you are,” the girl replied. “You can see me. Most can’t. That’s all that matters. Ain’t this fog wonderful? It’s so … private. On mornings such as this, I can go anywhere. Feels like I’ve got wings.”
Carlos fluttered to the ground when the girl offered Sabina an outstretched hand.
“Come on now, little miss. I want to show you something special. You wouldn’t have found me if you weren’t meant to see it.”
Sabina realized she didn’t have to speak in Spanish or English to be heard. “See what?”
“The Bone Tunnel, silly.” The girl’s soft laughter had the sound of wind chimes. “The entrance is up there where I just came from. But it’s too dangerous for someone like you to risk it alone.”
Sabina held back. “I want to go to Captain Pony’s house first and call for help. Do you have a boat?”
“Don’t need a boat,” the girl insisted. “Her house ain’t far. The water’s shallow if you know the way. I’ve done it hundreds of times. So has Poinciana. I’ll lead you there myself later.”
“Poinciana Wulfert?” Sabina wondered.
“My sister.” The girl nodded, pleased by Sabina’s quick thinking. “Our folks moved here from Cuba before we was born.”
“Your sister!” Sabina exclaimed. “Captain Pony and I are friends. We’ve shared secrets. Did you know she’s in the hospital?”
“Of course I do. But my sweet sister is soon to be free” was the reply. “Always claimed she wasn’t pretty enough to be named after a beautiful flower. That big old tree I just come from? The poincianas that grow nearby have the brightest red blossoms you ever saw—but they ain’t bloomed in years. Come on, sweetie,” the girl urged. “We don’t have much time.”
Sabina took the girl’s hand. They hiked uphill single file. The wind freshened from out of the moon. An icy light pushed them faster and faster to the top of the mound.
Ahead was the fallen tree. It looked like an amber bridge. Beneath the tree, a curtain of silver fog funneled into darkness.
“That tree’s the entrance. Take six steps only,” the girl warned. “No more, no less.”
Sabina had to hurry to keep up.
“One … two … three.” The girl counted aloud as she advanced, one long, slow stride at a time. “Four … five … six.”
The girl stopped. Sabina peered over the girl’s shoulder into a tunnel of darkness.
The silver curtain swirled in the breeze. Scarlet blossoms sprinkled down like snow from the branches of a beautiful poinciana tree. Wind gusted. The curtain parted and revealed a large, misty world below.
“Mother of stars!” Sabina exclaimed, stunned by what she saw.
In the distance was a row of pyramid-like mounds. They were built of shells as white as bone. Sparks from cooking fires swirled up from a village of thatched huts. In a valley frosted with fog and moonlight, shadow people danced. Were they members of the ancient Calusa tribe?
That was impossible!
Or was it?
There was something else: An old sailing ship, the kind pirates might have used, was anchored near the mouth of Dinkins Bay. Along the shoreline, men mounted on shadow horses approached. Their swords and silver armor gleamed in the moonlight.
“Who are they?” Sabina wondered.
“Spanish conquistadores!” the girl replied. “The tunnel leads to what happened on this island five hundred years ago. If you took a step further, you’d be trapped there. To me, it don’t matter no more.”
The strange girl turned in the swirling haze and confided, “My name’s Periwinkle. I want to thank you for the prayer you whispered over my grave.”
Sabina felt dizzy. Again she touched the back of her head and saw blood on her hand.
Her thoughts shifted to Maribel and Luke. “You’ve got to take me to Captain Pony’s house,” she said. “My sister’s in trouble. And the boy she’s with is the worst you’ve ever seen when it comes to getting lost.”
TWENTY-TWO
REVENGE OF AN ANGRY CROCODILE
Luke pushed off underwater and took three long, slow strokes in darkness, then glided. He searched ahead with his hands and found another piling. The thing was covered with barnacles that tried to slice through his gloves.
He waited for a moment, then pushed off again and took a few more slow strokes.
The key to holding his breath for more than a minute, the boy had learned, was not to rush. Take his time. Use the least amount of energy needed while swimming along the bottom. Trouble was, he had failed to squeeze his life vest completely empty, so he had to battle to stay down.
That seemed like a problem until he banged his shoulder on an unseen piling and shot to the surface.
A big surprise awaited him there.
The dinghy, only few yards away, was barely visible in the fog. The men had found a flashlight and were blinding themselves by shining it around while the baby crocs chirped for help.
