Chapter 21
Katherine, inheritress to Camp Clearwater
Katherine, a forty year old mother of three, just returned from a four day trip to Hawaii to celebrate her son, Blake’s graduation from high school. He had graduated with honors and she had promised him a trip to Hawaii ever since he was twelve if he did that, so she felt she had to keep her word, even though the timing was terrible.
She was apprehensive about not being there the day the camp opened, but she didn’t know when she and her children would be able to get away again. There was never a good time to leave and this was Blake’s graduation. He had worked hard and all her kids pitched in around the camp, made good grades, and they had never had a real vacation before. Her sixteen-year-old son, Cole, had just brought their bags inside their log cabin behind the welcome center of Camp Clearwater, when a frightened and filthy looking girl came bursting through the door.
“H-help! Someone help me,” Maria struggled to spit out the words buried in her throat. “I need to find the owner of this camp and a phone,” she said winded.
“I’m Katherine Starkey, the owner of Camp Clearwater. Who are you?”
“I’m Maria Marks. I arrived a few days ago. Everything has gone wrong. I want to go home,” she rushed her words together.
“Slow down, honey, everything is going to be alright. Who is your counselor, and where is she?” asked Katherine.
“Her name is Cindi… I honestly don’t know where she is.”
“How were you separated from her?” asked a concerned Katherine.
Maria said, “We were trying to go white water rafting, but no one would listen or do anything Cindi told us to do, and then one of the campers fell down a slope, wild animals attacked us, we were out of food and water, Cindi and some others left, we were hungry, so I went looking for food and found a mountain man in a cabin, and he gave me directions and a compass to find my way back.” It was clear she was traumatized by the events.
“What are you talking about? How many campers are hurt? Is anyone seriously injured?” asked Katherine.
“A mountain man?” asked Daisy, Katherine’s thirteen-year-old daughter.
Maria told her about Sarah Beth’s leg, Jorgina’s feet, Cody’s wounds also, and about the man she met who lived in the cabin.
Katherine’s kids were all talking and asking questions at the same time. There were more questions than Maria could answer, and she became even more agitated by the onslaught of questions. “Stop, I can’t answer all your questions. All you need to know was I went looking for food and water, and I met a man who said he would find everyone and help them. I didn’t ask him any questions about himself because I was trying to get help for the others… however when I saw a chance to leave, I took it. I really want to go home.”
“Enough talk, get quiet, I’ve got to reach Cindi,” Katherine ordered. She tried her walkie-talkie, but there was no answer. She kept trying while her kids talked to Maria.
Cole said, “I bet the man you are talking about is the man who lost his wife in a car crash. I’ve heard lots of rumors about him.”
“Yeah, me too,” agreed Blake. They started asking Maria more questions about the injured campers, but she didn’t have any more to say. With her eyes glazed-over, she completely shut down. Katherine frantically continued trying to get in touch with Cindi, but she couldn’t, however she was able to get a call through to a helicopter pilot .He indicated he would start looking for the missing campers as soon as he could get a rescue team together. When she got off the phone, her kids were still talking about the mysterious man Maria called Jack.
“Well if that’s him, the campers will be lucky, because he was once a doctor, or so the papers said,” said Cole. “It was really a tragedy. Everyone in town talked about it and felt sorry for him. People see him occasionally, but he never says anything, just buys what he needs and leaves.”
“Can I use your phone?” asked Maria. “I left a message for my mother some time ago asking her to come and pick me up. I want to see if she got it,” said Maria.
“Just a minute, I have to get a search party started,” Katherine said as she got on her walkie-talkie once again and signaled for the other counselors who responded and reported that they hadn’t seen any of the missing campers. She ordered all campers to report to their bunkhouses and to suspend wilderness training until the missing campers were found. Each of her kids left and went to meet the other counselors which left Katherine and Maria alone.
Katherine looked at the phone and the light was blinking indicating she had numerous messages. “I need to call my mother,” demanded Maria once again.
“Reception is bad; sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. You can try it, but let me see if there is a message from Cindi, or news about the other campers. I haven’t had a chance to check anything, because I literally just walked in the door from our vacation.”
“I don’t care about your vacation. I just want to talk to my mother,” demanded Maria.
Looking like she wouldn’t take no for an answer, Katherine gave Maria the phone, and she began to call. Nervously, Maria began dialing the numbers and in her hurry, she misdialed three times before she dialed and got through. Hysterical, Maria wept when she heard her mother’s voice. “Mother, where are you? Please come get me. Yes, I’m okay, “she said as she nodded her head. “Yes, okay, I’ll put her on the phone,” nodded Maria, and she handed Katherine the phone.
“Hello, Mrs. Marks, calm down. I understand you are very upset about your daughter, but let me assure you she is a little shaken, but she will be alright. Yes, I will provide her with counseling if she needs it. I’m sure we can work something out. Remember you did sign the release clause on the registration form which stated we aren’t liable for anything that happens while your child is at camp?” she sighed and then continued. “Where are you exactly?” asked Katherine. The phone service ended. “We were lucky we got through,” Katherine said.
“Call her back. She needs directions,” Maria screamed.
Katherine tried several times before she was able to get through. She gave Mrs. Marks directions and decided not to mention that Maria’s fellow campers were missing. “Sorry about the bad connection. Things will be fine. Would you like to speak to Maria again?” She put Maria back on the phone, who sobbed and collapsed like a rag doll into the chair.
After the phone call ended, several counselors came running into Katherine’s cabin. There was complete mayhem. After she had spoken to each of them, Katherine was relieved all the other campers were back at base camp. Her kids and the counselors quickly put a rescue team together. Some stayed behind to keep the remaining campers calm and safe, but most left on foot to search for Cindi and her group.
A rattled Katherine asked Daisy to fix Maria a sandwich, show her where the bathroom was, and to find her some fresh clothes. “After she finishes eating, run some bathwater for her, and lay out some clean clothes. See if you can find her things in her cabin and bring them to her. Hopefully after she eats and bathes, she will be able to go to sleep,” said Katherine.”Ask one of the counselors to stay with her while I go check on the rescue team.
A few hours later, Maria’s mother arrived. She was more frightened than angry, but most of all she was relieved to find Maria asleep and alright. She woke her up and whisked her out the front door. The counselor staying with her followed behind them and apologized for Katherine’s absence. She said, “Maria, I hope you will come back next summer. I’m sure Katherine would give you a good rate.”
“Never, I never want to see this camp or even hear its name again. I just want to go home,” said Maria.
“Come on Maria, let’s go,” said her mother as she put her arm around her waist and lead her like a toddler to her car. Away they left leaving a trail of dust behind them.
The counselor called Katherine and told her Maria and her mother had left. She said, “Sorry, Katherine, but I don’t think she will be coming back.”
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nbsp; “I’ll call her and try to make things right later. Right now, I have to find Cindi and her group. Please stay there and look out for everyone back at the bunkhouses.”
The counselor said she would.
The Search for Jacob and C.J.
Jack was true to his word. He took Eugene, Luna, and Cody to his cabin who all thought it looked like a mansion compared to the wilderness. Luna literally kissed the bed when she saw it. Cody tried to put his arm around her, but she pushed it back and said, “No Cody, I’m not interested in you anymore. I know you are just a player, and I deserve better. I’d go out with Eugene before I’d ever go out with you again,” snarled Luna.
“What did I do?” asked Cody batting his innocent-looking eyes.
“For starters, you asked out every girl at the camp, the second I turned my back, and when I needed you the most, you weren’t there for me. You are only into yourself, and I just don’t need you anymore. You promised me if I came to this camp, we’d have lots of time together. I nearly killed myself getting the money to get here, but it has been nothing but a disaster,” returned Luna.
“So are you asking me out?” blushed Eugene.
“No,” shouted Luna. “I was just trying to make a point.”
“I’ll go out with you if you want me to,” said Eugene.
“Eugene, would you put a cork in it and mind your own business?” said Cody arrogantly.
Luna walked out of the room disgusted and started running some bathwater.
“Let me know if you need any help,” laughed Cody.
“In your dreams, weirdo,” Luna shouted back.
“Alright I see how it is. You are just playing hard to get.”
“Forget it! Leave me alone. I don’t even want to look at you again,” shouted Luna.
“I’m confused. Do you think Luna likes me?” asked Eugene.
Both Cody and Luna yelled at the same time,”No!”
The three of them ate, bathed, and rested while they waited for Jack and the others to return.
By the time Jack got back to Cindi, Sarah Beth was almost lifeless. She had been drifting in and out of consciousness and was in shock. Jorgina was writhing with pain and almost delirious.
“I’m glad you’re back,” said Cindi. “I’m worried about these two,” pointing to Sarah Beth and Jorgina.
Charlie was crying and confused. Obviously, the last few days had been hard on him. He had been strong, but his strength was weakening. Fear covered his face. Emotionally, he was a wreck. Mumbling, he said, “I wish I could go home.” Then he switched gears and began worrying about Sarah Beth. “Do you think Sarah Beth is going to die?”
“No, I think she will be alright, but we need to get her to the hospital. She needs an IV and pain killers I don’t have at my cabin. Help me get her and Jorgina on the back of my four-wheeler. We need to strap them on securely,” said Jack.
Charlie and Cindi helped him. “I’ll go slowly. Just follow my path and you two walk along behind me. I’m taking you on a short cut,” said Jack. “In just a little over an hour, we will be at my cabin. You all need to rest. I’ll tend to everyone especially Sarah Beth and Jorgina, and then I’ll go to the river where I keep my rafts and get the other two. What did you say their names were?” asked Jack.
“C.J. and Jacob,” Charlie and Cindi said in unison.
“Let me go with you. I’m worried sick about them,” fretted Cindi.
“Do as you like,” said Jack, “but I think it would be best if you stayed with the others at the cabin. I can find them. You don’t look so good yourself.”
“You don’t even know what they look like,” retorted Cindi.
“But I know what my raft looks like and where I left it. They should be easy to find,” coaxed Jack.
“Okay,” said Cindi, too weak to argue.
Jorgina, Sarah Beth, Charlie, Cindi, and Jack arrived at the cabin with no mishaps. Sheer determination forced Cindi to put one foot in front of the other as she helped take Sarah Beth and Jorgina inside.
She let out a huge sigh of relief, when she saw Eugene, Cody, and Luna. “If I had just an hour’s rest, I think I could go with you,” Cindi said to Jack.
“In just a little over an hour, I can have the other two back here. Don’t worry, I’ll find them and bring them back. You just need to get some rest and keep an eye on Jorgina and Sarah Beth,” said Jack.
He left on his four-wheeler before Cindi had time to protest. She collapsed like a house of cards on the sofa and fell asleep.
Jack went immediately to the river where he left his rafts. His mind began to play tricks on him when he reached the place he had left them. It was in a remote spot, and he thought he had hidden them pretty well in the brush. Apparently, he didn’t because the campers had found them. He thought he left them by a particularly large rock nicknamed the turtle because the rock had a distinctive rock on top of it that resembled a shell, but they were not there.
Jack yelled cupping his hands to his mouth and letting out a scream that could break glass. “C.J., Jacob, can you hear me?” Moving up and down the river, he called their names over and over again. Nothing. Jack decided to go back to the spot he had left his rafts and looked for clues.
Darkness was setting in making it more difficult to see, so he pulled out his flashlight and started shining it up and down the river. The light shone on a trail of red dots. He investigated it further and knew it was a trail of blood that led through some rocks. He wondered how he had missed it the first time. He followed the trail, and it went back into the water.
Sighing, he said, “I wish those kids had stayed put like they were told to do.” The brush was too thick for him to take his four-wheeler, so he hid it under some brush that hung over like a mini cave, and then set out on foot walking down the river. He decided they probably went downstream with the current. Off he went, calling for them every few steps. Finally after several hours, he got a response.
“We’re over here,” C.J. and Jacob both yelled. Jack followed the sound of their voices and found them just as the sun was rising. Hearing their names, even from a stranger was a welcomed sound. They were happy to be found, but in the hunt, Jack forgot to bring any medicine or food from his four-wheeler.
He looked at the gash on Jacob’s forehead, the cuts on his arm, and the wounds in his legs.
He explained who he was and briefly told them about Maria and all the others. They were glad to hear everyone had gotten help and that perhaps their nightmare would soon be ending.
“It would not be a good idea for you to try to walk, Jacob,” said Jack.”It’s quite a walk.
“No, I’m sure I can make it,” Jacob insisted. The three of them inched their way back. Jacob hobbled and moaned holding back tears, hoping he could make it. Never had he felt so helpless and weak. He finally gave in and rested. C.J. stayed with him while Jack walked quickly back to his four-wheeler, and then went back to get them.
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