Cobb Mt Mystery: Konocti Caves Part 9

Remembering the close proximity of the neighbors Jimmy said "Shh!" but was still laughing himself. "Alright, you guys stay here and I'll be right back." His back pack had been emptied a long time ago, but he knew where he could find some more food.

Jimmy looked out the door and made his way to the rock where the key was hidden and once again let him self into Mrs. Capra's welcoming home. He hurried to the pantry and rummaged through it gathering into his bag food that he thought would be least missed-food that he knew was bought for him months earlier. He also took a large bottle of children's chewable vitamins and vitamin Cs.

Jimmy returned the key and headed back to the garage, where his brothers rejoiced over a package of chocolate donuts. "Okay, guys. In just a little while you can make all the noise you want, but for now we better calm down," Jimmy warned with a grin. The happiness he felt at this moment was beyond compare.

He first pa.s.sed out vitamins and then, as the boys ate the food from Mrs. Capra's pantry, he fed Hero an apple. "Good Boy. Hero, you're such a good dog," he said as the dog crunched the apple.

"Why is he named Hero?" Denny asked him.

Petting his dog, Jimmy related to the boys about finding the dog on the Ridge the morning after he escaped- omitting how he had looked up seeing him through tears. He told them about the cabin and how he and Hero came up with the plan to rescue them; and how he first had to prepare for them. He told them about how he was heading to Konocti when he heard on the news about the search for him up there.

"What are you talking about?" Timmy interrupted. "You mean they were up there looking for you? Why didn't they find us?" he demanded.

Jimmy remembered that they had traveled through the night and the kids had not realized that they were on Walker Ridge.

"That was not one of the Konocti Caves. Melbourne lied to us," he said, "We were on Walker Ridge. I don't know why he lied; but my guess is they were trespa.s.sing themselves. I think they had jumped someone else's claim and that's why they went to such an extreme to keep anyone from finding out. I'll bet the gold we were pulling out of the mine for Melbourne, belongs to someone else." The boys stared in bewilderment. "I'm sure of it," Jimmy said. "That's the only thing that makes sense."

"Maybe Melbourne thought we might tell someone and if they tried to find the mine they would be looking on Konocti. Then no one would believe us," Timmy offered.

The six boys were quiet for a few minutes. "They are worried that I can't take care of them," Jimmy thought.

Finally Jimmy broke the silence. Looking at Timmy he said, "It must have been hot in that tiny trailer."

"Yeah," Timmy replied, "It was so hot I thought we were going to die at first! But then it got better because we were able to work during the heat of the day in the cool cave and sleep at night instead of..."

Jimmy didn't want the boys to reminisce the days of working all night and cat napping during cla.s.s, so he quickly interrupted, "Why did Melbourne moved you to the trailer?"

"Melbourne never said anything, they just took us there," Joey replied.

"But The Henchman said it was so they didn't have to send us back to school," Little Jon said.

"I think they were worried that too many people would be asking us questions and they didn't want to give us a chance to spill the beans. And..." Timmy's voice trailed off and he grew quiet and looked away. Jimmy saw his expression change to distrust.

"The Henchman said... he said... he said..." Joey stammered, "He said we should be glad you fell down the hole. He said it was your fault we ended up with Melbourne."

"Yeah, he said that you gave him a list with our names and that's why Melbourne chose us." Marty said with eyes pleading for Jimmy to deny the accusation.

Timmy started to open his mouth but paused for a moment before looking directly at Jimmy and whispering, "Did you give him our names? And more names of..."

Jimmy reached over and put his hand on his friend's shoulder, searching for an explanation. Wanting this to stop. He didn't know how to make it stop. He didn't know what to say so he just said, "Well, that's all behind us, Timmy. Forget it... just don't think about it." Looking at the other boys he said, "We better get some sleep." The boys lay back down and stared at the ceiling; the excitement of just moments before had left them.

"They are blaming me for ending up with Melbourne. And I don't blame them. It is my fault Melbourne went after them. And they are mad at me for leaving them when I escaped." He rolled over and pretended to sleep.

His mind was racing. As much as it hurt to know that he was the cause of the nightmare these young boys had lived the past few months, the pain in his stomach right now was because there were more names in his notebook. The overwhelming guilt that was just heaped upon the small framed boy was too much. Just too much for him to handle. His urge was to bolt! To run out of the garage and leave all this behind. Head back to Sawyer Island and play with his dog in the tules. His skin was crawling as he strained to resist the hyper attack that was trying to break free. If he could only run. He needed to run! But as difficult as it was, the months of captivity in Melbourne's house taught him that he could control his actions. He lay still. The only racing that took place at that moment was his mind.

Jimmy was searching his mind trying to remember if he ever let his notebook out of his sight at Melbourne's house. He didn't think so. He kept it in his pocket until he started leaving it at school.

"Not even the first night when he barged into the room..." Jimmy murmured quietly remembering the notebook tucked into his pajama s.h.i.+rt pocket.

"What?" several little voices asked in unison.

Jimmy sat up and found himself staring into five pairs of eyes looking at him wanting to trust him again. Jimmy drew in a long breath and reached out for Hero to hug while he told the boys about his notebook. He told each of them when their name had been added to the list of boys he had planned on rescuing someday. And then he told them about the letters he wrote to them which he had sent to the foster agency.

"I didn't get any letters," Marty said. "Me either," the other boys said almost in unison again.

Jimmy just looked at them for a few moments; and then looking down he barely whispered that there were more names on the list. He heard gasps coming from the boys and looking up he saw the fear on their faces. He knew that they realized exactly what he had already known.

"Melbourne will be getting more boys from my list to take our place." The only one who didn't look shocked was Timmy.

Jimmy fixed his eyes on him. Timmy finally said, "A couple days ago I heard The Henchman talking on his cell phone outside our trailer. He asked which room he should get ready for the new arrival. I heard him say 'Lonnie. Wasn't Lonnie the name of one of the boys in the gymnasium that night we met?"

"Oh No!" Jimmy cried out as if in pain, and gathered his knees to his chest and rocked back and forth for a few moments groaning. Then he suddenly looked up.

"Melbourne must have gotten my notebook and made copies of my list. How else would he have known about you guys... and the others?" Jimmy shot to his feet, "I have to go back there and find his copy of my list!" he said determined.

"No!" the other boys cried and grabbed his arms trying to pull him back down to the floor, as if they were afraid he meant to leave right then. "You can't, he'll throw you down the cave! He will! I know he will!"

Only Timmy stayed calm. "How would you even find the list?" he asked, logically. "I doubt if Melbourne will have it just laying around. It's probably locked away somewhere." Jimmy knew he was right. He had no idea where to look. Sinking back down to the floor Jimmy gathered his knees to his chest and buried his face again. Hero whined and lay down beside him.

"Let's go to the cops!" Timmy said.

"We can't!" Jimmy said looking up, "No one will believe us." He got up and walked to the window and looked out at his former home. "They will just put us back in Melbourne's foster home. Or s.h.i.+p us out to different foster homes and we will never see each other again." Jimmy buried his face in his arm, "I just couldn't stand that!" Turning around he looked at his brothers and said defiantly, "We have to stay hidden. At least until we can figure out what to do."

Little Jon got up and walked over and hugged his older brother, "What about that sheriff you know? The one that took you to the real Konocti... Can't he help us?" the small boy asked hopefully. "He looked like a nice guy."

Jimmy looked down at the pitiful face; and patted his little head sadly; but said nothing.

A car engine brought the discussion to a halt. Jimmy looked out the window and sadly watched as the nurse helped Mrs. Capra out of the car and pushed her into the house. He wished it could be him that was pus.h.i.+ng her wheel chair. Taking care of her.

The garage remained quiet. Pretty soon Jimmy looked at his watch and then reached for his walkman out of his back pack and turned on the news. The realization that they were not out of danger started setting in and the boys looked to their rescuer for guidance.

"We're gunna be fine," Jimmy said, "Don't worry. I have a plan. Right now get some more sleep because we have a long voyage tonight. Tonight, we're buccaneers!" He forced a grin as he said the last part, hoping to get them in a lighter mood.

Even though rowing across the lake at night was precarious, Jimmy reminded himself that it was the only way. Because- as he realized earlier- six boys and a dog in a boat was bound to draw attention in daylight. He was glad that although there would be moonlight, it was not a full moon. That would be too much light. But the crescent moon should be just enough light to see where they were going, but not be seen from the sh.o.r.e.

"Oh, I almost forgot," Jimmy said, and started gathering up some life jackets, sleeping bags, a pop-up tent and some old discarded back backs and from a shelf; some his and some left by Mrs. Capra's former foster kids. He quickly stuffed the back packs into the much larger backpack taken from the cabin.

As darkness settled on the lake the five boys, each wearing a life jacket and carrying a rolled up sleeping bag, quietly followed Jimmy who had strapped on his backpack and carrying the pop-up tent; led them single file down the dock to the row boat. Piling all the gear in the bow of the boat, Jimmy padded the pile and whispered to Hero, "Place!" which was the word he used to tell him where he wanted him to be. Hero quickly jumped up proudly taking his place as captain, and Jimmy helped Joey crawl up beside the dog, taking his place direct behind them to keep an eye on them. Despite the seriousness of the situation the boys were excited about the boat ride. As soon as Jimmy got them clear of the dock he let his brothers take turns paddling and was happy to be the instructor and not the rower for a change.

As they got out on the lake Timmy suddenly grabbed the kids closest to him and said "Shhh!" and pointed back toward Mrs. Capra's dock. Headlights had just pulled into the drive way and stopped near the garage that they had just vacated. The boys stopped rowing and all eyes were on Jimmy. "It is definitely an SUV, but it may not be Melbourne. Maybe it's Ron, the sheriff deputy you met at CMAS. He drives an SUV." Jimmy said hopefully. "But I can't tell for sure." He could see the terror on his brother's faces even in the darkness, "It's okay," he whispered rea.s.suringly, "No one can see us out here. It's too dark." Again, Jimmy was glad that it was not a full moon. He was also glad that he took the time to make sure not even water bottles or candy wrappers were left in the garage. The boys watched in silence and as flashlights bounced towards the dock and flashed on the larger fis.h.i.+ng boat on the lift. No one dared to breathe. Jimmy was notice that the flashlights weren't being aimed where the dingy had been tied. Who ever it was didn't know about it.

The porch light came on and the flash lights went off.

"It's Melbourne, alright!" whispered Jimmy trying to keep the fear from his voice. "If it was Ron he wouldn't be sneaking." And to himself he thought, "And Ron would know to look for the dingy." Jimmy continued to stare at the porch light, holding his breath.

Soon the backup lights of the SUV came on and the kids watched as the SUV pulled away from Mrs. Capra's house.

Jimmy sunk down on his seat in relief. "They didn't go into the house. Mrs. Capra is safe. For the time being anyway." He thought.

He motioned for the kids to resume paddling. And soon the boys were joking and occasionally splas.h.i.+ng each other with the cold water, as the dingy glided over the smooth water.

Jimmy was glad to see that his brothers were so resilient. He was glad that the months in the cave didn't rob them of their boyishness. This time he didn't try to quiet them. He felt sure they were far enough out to not be heard. Anyway he hoped so.

But he had a new worry. "Were the evil men scared off by the porch light? And had they been there before and knew about this little row boat... and would they return to find it missing?" he worried. "Would they soon be out on the lake searching for us?" Trying to hide this new fear from his brothers, as they pa.s.sed Sawyer Island he told the boys how he and Hero spent a few nights there and how they played in the tules. The boys wanted to go explore it, but he said "You just wait! I've got a better island for you!" He knew they were going to love Windmill Island as he preferred to call it.

The moon went behind some clouds; making the night darker as they rowed up near the dock of Windmill Island.

"Good! No boats." Jimmy said. The boys looked at him wide eyed. The possibility of anyone being on the island never occurred to them as they approached it. Jimmy took the oars and rowed skillfully and quickly around to the other side of the island, where he had stashed their supplies. Jumping off the boat he grabbed the line; and started pulling the boat to sh.o.r.e. Without being asked Timmy jumped off and helped him, then they both helped the younger boys off the boat. The five boys worked together to pull the boat out of the water, onto dry land.

"Well- were here!" Jimmy grinned. He handed out the rolled up sleeping bags and strapped on his back pack, then with the pop-up tent under one arm he grabbed Little Jon's hand with his free hand and said, "Everyone join hands. We can't chance turning on a light." Although the moon was peeking out from the clouds the trees and tall tules made the island very dark. Jimmy guided the boys to the tarp where he had stashed the supplies. He rustled through the pile until he found an extra tarp and spread it out and with in moments the boys were inside the tent giggling and eating apples. Jimmy and Timmy had spread two sleeping bags, that had gotten wet on the boat ride, on top of the tent; so Jimmy felt safe turning on a flash light, although he kept it inside a back pack to m.u.f.fle the light into a soft glow.

"Apple core!" Timmy said, looking at Little Jon. Jimmy stiffened.

"Oh no! Is Timmy going to start picking on the boys again?" Jimmy thought. But he need not to have worried.

"Baltimore Little Jon" laughed.

"Whose your friend?" Timmy laughed back.

"YOU!" cried Little Jon gleefully, and Timmy tossed the apple in the air letting it land on his head. The boys rolled with laughter.

The laughter continued amidst practical jokes, funny stories and then as the boys lay snuggled up in the tent while sharing two sleeping bags zipped together, the conversation drifted into more sentimental areas.

"I saw you watching that old lady in the wheelchair today. Was that your mama?" Little John wanted to know.

"Yes," Jimmy said without hesitation, then added, "Not my real mama, but the only one I ever knew. That was the only place that I ever really felt was home."

"Why did you leave?" Denny asked.

"She got sick. She almost died. And while she was in the hospital they made me go to Melbourne's." Jimmy said sadly. "She's too sick to be a foster mom now. But she will always be my mama here," Jimmy said patting his heart.

"I never had anyone like that," Little Jon said. "Never. I guess I never will."

"How about your real mom?" Timmy asked.

"I never knew her. I heard she died. But I don't know for sure," the little boy whispered.

"My mom and pop died in a wreck," Marty said. "I lived with my grandma for awhile, but then she died too. That's when they took me to that place," looking at Jimmy, "you know, the place where we met.

The boys' conversation turned to what they remembered if anything about their days before becoming foster kids.

"Where were you before then? Before that night?" Marty asked Jimmy.

"I don't know, I can't remember. All I know is that I can't remember ever not being in the system," Jimmy said. "I don't even know if my name is really Jimmy Maldoon. I overheard someone saying once they weren't even sure if my parents gave their real name before dropping me off at a firehouse. I'm not even sure I'm Irish. But I guess maybe I am with my blue eyes and red hair. I always hated how they made me stand out in a crowd. It attracted bullies. But I learned to fight," he tried to laugh it off. "But everywhere I went it seemed like old ladies would say, "Oh look at that cute little Irish lad. And one of my foster fathers used to call me 'Fire Truck'. I thought that was cool until I learned that I was dropped off at a firehouse."

"Maybe your hair is fire truck red when its clean!" Timmy joked trying to lighten the mood. "But now you look as Native American as Denny!" causing all the boys to laugh. Jimmy looked down at his once freckled white arm and saw what he meant. These months of sun gave him a tan like he'd never thought possible. And of course no real baths added to the dark color. He tugged at his hair and saw that as it grew the curls straightened.

"Well, it's a good disguise!" he laughed, and then looked at his brothers trying to remember how they looked when they first arrived at Melbourne's. Timmy, though tall and thin seemed so much taller now with the weight loss brought on by the months of not enough food. Tall and stringy. And his hunched shoulders were even more hunched over causing his chest to sink in. His white skin had taken on an eerie paleness from the months of no sun, even through the cave dirt and dust that still coated his arms.

Even Denny who was Pomo, and Joey who was Italian were pale and sickly looking. Marty's once close cut black hair had now grown into a full Afro, and was full of tangles, and his chubby body was gaunt. Little Jon had lost the gla.s.ses he had arrived at Melbourn's with, causing his naturally almond shaped oriental eyes to be a constant squint; as he tried his best to see clear the world that had turned so threatening.

Yes being in Melbournes so called 'care' took its toll on his five brothers. The guilt once again rose up like a giant boulder in Jimmy's throat making it hard to swallow. He became aware that his brothers were still talking, and Timmy had just related that other than them he had no family.

As the boys talked it became apparent that they all had one thing in common. Just as Jimmy was thinking it, Timmy looked at him and raised an eyebrow and said, "We are all orphans."

Instantly the six boys knew that that was why they were chosen. Why Melbourne chose them. They were all orphans. No one would miss them when they disappeared.

Nothing else was said that night.

The boys woke up to the sound of the radio. Jimmy was sitting on a rock outside the tent listening to the morning news. They all heard the news at the same time.

"The search has been called off. It has been determined that the lost boys are not on Mt. Konocti. The grieving foster parent has announced that he is certain that the boys have fallen down the bottomless pit in one of the caves on Konocti. The first missing boy, Jimmy Muldoon is suspected to have snuck back and convinced the boys to follow him up on the mountain. Whether it was an accident or a suicide pact is undetermined. The mountain road has been gated and twenty four hour security guards has been posted there to keep other boys from going up onto the mountain."

Jimmy turned around and looked into the wide eyes of the five boys not knowing what to say.

After a few moments Marty asked hopefully, "Does that mean they aren't looking for us anymore?"

"No, it just means no one except Melbourne and The Henchman are looking for us," Jimmy replied. "They just don't want anyone else to find us." The boys grew quiet again, until Jimmy jumped up and said, "Hey- they won't find us! We've proven that we're too smart for them!"

The brothers jumped up and a spontaneous game of hide and seek ensued. The five boys chased each other up and down the stone stair cases, followed by Hero; and hid from each other in the bushes and tules; finding better and better hiding places as the morning wore on. Following Jimmy, Timmy climbed a rail and hugging the side of the upper cottage they inched their way around to the balcony where they perched on the rail looking out at Konocti, while the younger boys continued their game.

"So, they don't think were up there..." Jimmy said.

"Well, we're not." Timmy replied, looking questionly at him.

"No- not yet!" Jimmy grinned back. "But we soon will be. There's a cabin up there. Mary Downen the first homesteader on the mountain, built it in 1903, and it's still standing. We can stay there. There is also a spring near by, until the late summer, and I have tablets to purify the water." As if thinking out loud, Jimmy added, "And walnuts trees and grapes... we'll be fine." Then looking at his brother he said, "We can't stay here much longer because they rent this island out for parties and weddings. And honeymoons," he added wondering if Ron and Kat sat on this balcony when they spent their honeymoon night here. He remembered their big wedding at Rancho del la Fuentes', and how proud he was to be their ring bearer.

"How are we going to get up there?" Timmy asked, bringing Jimmy back to the present.

"We can row almost straight across." Pointing he asked, "See those rocks?"

Timmy strained his eyes, but said, "Not really. It's too far."

"Well, Ron and I explored the sh.o.r.e over there and I know a place where we can stash the boat and then we can climb up onto the mountain through the Black Forest. It is really cool there. It gets a little steep but we will be able to stay out of sight no problem. And we won't have to travel during the night until we get closer to the top. Even then there's so much brush, I think we'll be fine."

"When will we shove off?" Timmy asked already in the pirate role.

"Arr! Avast and becalmed! We're marooned here fer a few days. But we'll be weighing anchor as soon as you and the boys take a caulk, me Matie. Arr! s.h.i.+ver me timbers! I'll be wantin' to listen to the news a few days to make sure no landlubbers are up there looking for us." Jimmy replied, thoroughly enjoying showing off his Pirate Talk abilities. His pleasure was only slightly lessened by the knowledge that it was Ron who taught him. Timmy was by then rolling on the balcony deck laughing heartily.

Jimmy joined him in his laughter; but kept his eyes on the mountain.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.