CHAPTER 8 - ALARMING EVENTS
Toby put on his backpack, and headed out to school. Today was the day. He would have to face Carson and give him back the book. But how should he approach it? As he was passing the public library, he had an idea. He could say he found it in the library. Technically speaking, he did find it in a library of sorts - Carson's library. Then a flaw in that plan occurred to him. If he was claiming he didn't take the book, then how did he know which book it was that was taken? Bummer. He could say the person who took it asked him to return it. Or, he could say, "Hello, is this the book you're looking for?" This wasn't going to be easy.
He was close to school when Arnie and Magnus stepped out from behind a tree. He stopped. Almost made it. What new scheme did they have planned for him today he wondered.
Arnie stepped up, "No vanishing act today, runt. You won't give us the slip this time."
He tried several ways to get around them. But it was just like playing basketball. They were too quick for him.
Magnus grinned. "What's the hurry? Going to be late for school? That won't look too good on your spotless record will it?"
At the mention of his record Toby panicked. Being late wasn't part of his plan for returning the book. He surprised them by turning around, and running back the way he had come. This gave him a slight lead, but pounding footsteps and laughter told him they were gaining on him.
The library was right ahead. He dashed up the stairs. As he reached for the door it suddenly opened. He was barely able to stop before stumbling into a startled Alice. Before she could say anything he mumbled, "'scuse me," and slipped past her.
"Very curious," she said as she continued on down the steps glancing back several times.
Toby tried to walk casually as he passed the front desk. Nitika looked up and raised her eyebrows.
"Shouldn't you be on your way to school?" she asked.
Great. It would have be Nitika. His mind raced as he tried to think of an answer. "Uh?just remembered?needed a book for?uh?study hall." Moving quickly into the stacks of books, he paused to listen. I'm breathing like Darth Vader, he thought as he tried to quiet his panting.
The front door slammed as Magnus and Arnie bolted into the library. Nitika's soft voice was calm as she said with authority, "Slow down boys. Where are you headed? No, let me guess. You need a book for study hall?"
Toby didn't wait to hear any more. If anyone could handle those two, Nitika could. If his luck held, she would give him the delay he needed. The library was an old mansion that had been converted. There were many small rooms, halls, and alcoves branching off in all directions with very little rhyme or reason. It was a virtual maze until you knew your way around. Toby knew the layout perfectly.
He quietly made his way to a back room where the shelves were filled with old books from before World War II. Some of them had never been opened. The books muffled all sound. The silence was so complete it was almost tangible. He walked to the end of one of the stacks and turned. Ahead of him was a dark area about two feet wide. Light from the overhead fixture didn't quite reach that far. He stepped into the darkness. It was a narrow hallway that went several feet before it turned and opened into a tiny alcove with one window. This was his special place.
Sunlight streamed in revealing the rich grains in a highly polished mahogany bench. On the opposite wall was a framed picture. It was a stark, nineteenth century black and white print of a sandstone arch. Ponderosa pine trees grew on both sides of a path leading up to the arch. He sometimes imagined following that path, and walking under the arch into the shadows on the other side.
He had discovered this room shortly after he arrived in town at the end of last summer. It was still hot then, and he had worked carefully on the old window until he could open and close it almost soundlessly. With the window open he could sit on the bench and feel the breeze as it blew through the lilac bushes and filled the room with cool, fragrant air. The alcove was an oasis from the heat and confusion of the world outside. But right now all his thoughts were on escaping though that window.
He climbed up on the bench, and slid the window open. The windowsill was dirty from the last rain. He sat down, swung his legs over the edge, and scooted outside. Balancing on the narrow ledge, he closed the window.
He turned to look down on the parking lot about twelve feet below. There were several cars including a brown, mud spattered jeep. A real adventurer, he thought with a smile, would simply drop down into that jeep and drive away. As a wave of dizziness swept over him, he reconsidered his plan. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea, he thought, and turned back to the window. But now that it was shut, there was no way to open it from the outside.
He inched his way to the corner of the building where a drain spout ran from the roof. Swinging his leg around the rusty spout, he started to make his way down. It creaked and groaned and started to give way. Frantically he grabbed at the ivy that was covering the building. Debris trickled down his hot sweaty arm and inside his sleeve. Something wet fell on his hand. Looking up, he saw the leering face of one of the gargoyles. A small pool of water from the last rain had collected in the statue's mouth and was dripping from one corner. Gross, he thought. The gargoyle is drooling on me. He jerked his hand as another drop fell. The movement threw him off balance. He slid about a foot before his flailing feet caught on one of the stones in the wall. The ivy made it hard to find footholds as he continued to work his way down.
Dropping the last couple feet to the ground, he landed hard and brushed off his arms. His fingers were now stained green, and he had a scrape on one cheek. He rubbed his hands on his jeans, dusted off the seat of his pants, and raced off to school.
The bell was ringing as he panted up the school steps. He pulled off his backpack as he pounded down the hall. Rounding the last corner, he ran full force into Buz. The backpack was knocked out of his hand and fell on the floor. Buz picked it up.
"Special delivery boy," Buz snickered. "Wouldn't have any rare and valuable books in here would you?" He shook the bag. Toby grabbed for it, but Buz jerked it out of his reach, grinning. "Not so fast little boy. Old Kick Carson has a fancy for a book that has come up missing. Maybe we should just run this through the Lost and Found." He twisted his face into a goofy grin at his own joke, and reached for the fire alarm on the wall. "Lo-ser," he chanted as he pulled the alarm and turned to leave.
Desperate, Toby scrambled to his feet and made a dive. The freshly waxed tile threw him off balance. His hands fumbled on the pack, but missed gripping it. The floor came up fast as he landed hard on his left arm. He just missed being kicked in the head as Buz spun around. Toby's efforts had managed to jostle the pack from Buz's grip, but it landed out of reach and skidded across the hall. With the alarm blaring, Buz turned and ran.
From his prone position on the floor, Toby could see the pack sliding to a stop at someone's feet. He raised his eyes. Carson picked up the pack as he looked down at him disdainfully. Pain shot up his shoulder as Carson gripped his arm in an iron grasp, and hauled him to his feet. As the halls filled with students heading outside in response to the fire alarm, Toby again found himself making the long trek to the Principal's office. Thoughts raced through his head. How long had Buz been working for Carson? No wonder they got away with everything!
Carson released him and shut the door. Slumping into the now all too familiar chair, Toby rubbed his throbbing arm and waited for the inevitable. Carson sat down behind the big desk and set the bag on the desktop.
"You look like you've been in a brawl. You arrive late and disrupt classes by setting off the fire alarm. Care to explain?"
"It wasn't me," Toby declared sullenly as he tried to hide his dirty hands. He thought about adding it was your henchman, but decided against that show of defiance.
"Sit up boy." Toby reluctantly drew himself up in the chair. "You were the only one in the hall. The alarm had just been pulled. Do you expect me to believe it turned itself on?"
Toby said
nothing. No one else would have seen Buz running away. Even if they had, they wouldn't be likely to speak up.
Carson fingered the zipper on the backpack. "This is the third time you've been in my office in the last couple weeks. The fire alarm is a serious offence. I'll have to make a report to the fire department and to the school board over this. Of course I don't want to suspend you, but unless you can give me some reason to think you're moving towards improving your behavior, I'll have no choice."
He laid his hand on the bag where something was bulging through. "You know my book came up missing the same day that you had that little problem in the cafeteria. Imagine that. It will go bad for the student that is found with that book." Toby tried not to stare as Carson poked at the bag.
"You were the only one that day who was alone in this office. Logically the evidence points in your direction. Of course if you return the book on your own, I think I could avoid making any mention of the incident on your record."
There was a knock on the door, and Mrs. Hightower looked in. "Mr. Carson? Mr. Simmons is here to see you."
Carson scowled.
"He said it's urgent." She picked up the bag from the desk and handed it to Toby. Carson glared at her and started to say something. Then he turned away disgusted.
"Think about what I said, Toby. I want to see you first thing in the morning before classes. Now get out."
Toby clutched the bag and ducked through the doorway. His heart pounding, he hurried through the deserted hall. The alarm had finally quit blaring. He stopped and looked around. Walking through the front doors with everyone outside staring at him was the last thing he wanted to do. He turned down another hall, and went out a side door.
Buz and the others were leaning lazily against a tree. Their attention was focused on the front door where they obviously expected him to appear. Giving them a wide berth, he circled around. When he reached the edge of the crowd he thought things were turning in his favor. It was then that one of the girls spotted him. It was Ressa. Her short curls were ruffled by the breeze making a dark halo around her head. She was smiling and waving,
"Hey Toby! Over here!"
His heart sank. Not now, he thought! How come she only notices me when I'm in trouble or about to be beat to a pulp! He turned and ran the other direction.
Buz shouted, "There he is!"
"I see him," Magnus said.
"Get the pack," Arnie called. "That's where he'll have the book!"
The sound of heavy running feet spurred him on. A small pebble had gotten into his shoe, and was poking different parts of his foot as it rolled around with each step. Carson must have sent them after him to get the book. It didn't matter now, because he had the picture at home. His breathing was getting more labored as a pain developed in his side. Realizing he could never stay ahead of them, he made his decision. He shrugged off his pack, and let it fall to the ground. They descended upon it like vultures as he escaped around the corner of a house.
With his load lightened, he easily leaped over a chain link fence and cut across the yard. Loud barking gave him a sudden burst of energy he didn't know he had left. He made the last dash to the back fence and vaulted over the gate. Something big hit the fence making the chain links rattle alarmingly. As he raced down the alley he glanced back. A large black dog with its paws on the fence was barking ferociously. Even one of Alice's cookies wouldn't have tamed that monster he thought.
He dumped the pebble out of his shoe and shuffled on towards home. No books, no homework, no backpack, and leaving school early again. He was beginning to feel like the delinquent that Carson insinuated he was.
The trees in his backyard shaded the entrance through the kitchen door. Fortunately he carried his key in his pocket instead of in the backpack. The house was eerily quiet as if it knew he shouldn't be home this time of day. Digging an old backpack out of the closet, he filled it with some sandwiches, snacks, and water.
He checked his e-mail. Pete had either written late last night or early that morning.
Let's not add time travel to your fantasies! I have trouble enough keeping track of your adventures as it is without adding a time travel dimension. I'll take a look at this in study hall today.
Toby took the picture of the hut out of the drawer. He looked around the desk for the cryptic paper, but it was no where to be seen. Guess I put it back in the book, he thought. Carson must have it by now. Then he realized he didn't need the paper. He had a scanned copy in the computer. He quickly printed out a copy and stuffed it into a pocket of the backpack.
Focusing on the picture, he once again found himself outside the hut. He tucked the picture into the pocket with the scanned paper.
The hut was empty. A few glowing embers were banked against one side of the fire pit to keep them burning until the hermit returned. There was no sign of Sirius.
Adjusting his backpack, he headed out through the Valley of Rocks. It wasn't nearly as ghostly in the daylight, but he felt a faint apprehension like someone was watching him. He tried to ignore the feeling as he moved deeper into the rocks. The path wove and twisted around the huge boulders. As he came around one of the large stones, he stopped.
There in the middle of the path was a rock about the size of a football, but it was moving slowly across the path. He felt prickles on his neck. His uneasiness increased, but he tried to stand still. The rock marmot stopped. Pulling in its feet and head, it became motionless. He could not distinguish it from the other rocks. How many of them are alive too Toby wondered anxiously.
Sitting down on the path, he closed his eyes. Enya's song ran through his mind along with memories of the last time he was in the valley. He focused his thoughts on Janie, snickerdoodles, and the Science Center. The fear began to subside. Concentrating on breathing normally, he waited for his muscles to relax. When he opened his eyes, the rock marmot's tiny head was turned towards him. Small dark eyes were looking his way.
He sat very still and waited. It extended first one foot and then another. Then it scuttled across the path and into the shadows. Still he waited. A slight movement caught his eye followed by a shower of pebbles as another marmot scampered into a crevice. He sat there for about half an hour trying to guess which rocks were rocks, and which were marmots. Several more times he caught a glimpse of one running away, but the fear did not return.
His legs felt numb from sitting in one spot so long. He got up slowly feeling the tingles as the circulation returned. Trying to think calming thoughts, he continued on his journey. A couple times he lost the path, but was able to retrace his steps and find the missed turn. The sun rose higher in the sky chasing away the chill of the morning. He finally arrived at the path that led down to the cabin. Giving the building a wide berth, he turned and walked away from the village.
Music from what sounded like a pipe faded in and out with the breeze. All thoughts of school faded away. He left the rock valley behind and enjoyed the pleasant walk through the grass. The sun warmed his back. A faint breeze stirred his hair bringing with it the faint intermittent sound of bleating sheep. The ground started to rise gently. He found himself climbing a small hill. When he reached the top he looked back. The Valley of Rocks stood like giants gathered together for a big meeting.
Off to the side he could see the village spread out before him. Sounds drifted up. People in the streets called to each other as they hurried in and out of shops and homes. A horse whinnied in the stable. The rhythmic ringing of a hammer hitting an anvil echoed from the blacksmith shop.
Someone was calling his name, and he turned to look down the other side. A giant oak tree with red and orange leaves still clinging to the branches dominated the little dell. A boy was lying in the shade on a large flat rock at its base. Next to him, a girl with long braids was waving and calling. He hurried down the slope to join them.
Marnie rushed up to meet him, and slipped her arm through his as she led him to the rock. She chattered in one long stream of words abou
t the governor appearing and disappearing and Berren being pardoned. Toby couldn't follow it all.
They sat down on the rock, and Toby pulled off his backpack. Berren and Marnie were just thinking about eating, so they all spread their lunches out on a cloth and everyone dug in. In addition to the sandwiches, Toby had brought granola bars, potato chips, and tangerines. There were nuts, cheeses, sweet and crusty rolls, and grapes. After they had eaten everything, they lay back on the rock.
Toby said, "Now tell me everything again. You said the governor appeared and disappeared? How did that get Berren a pardon?"
Marnie rolled her eyes. "Did you follow anything I said?"
Toby smiled sheepishly.
Berren laughed. "The governor has been missing for days," he began.
"The imposter Governor you mean," Marnie interrupted.
"Let me tell the story, Marnie," Berren said with a smile. "We've already confused Toby enough."
She grimaced, and curled up her feet. Wrapping her arms around her legs, she rested her cheek on her knee and said, "Alright. You tell it."
Berren turned back to Toby. "As I was saying, the governor hasn't been seen for over a week. Then this gentleman shows up in town, and claims he's the real governor. He was very surprised that we already had a governor in place. So he had a meeting with all the elders of the village. After that they called everyone to gather outside the library. I can tell you we all showed up to hear what he had to say. He was furious about the new laws and all that had been going on. Said he would deal very harshly with that imposter if he ever showed up again."
"What about the men the imposter brought with him?" Toby asked.
"They have been sent to the King for questioning."
"And the guards and other villagers who helped him?"
"Well, they didn't really break any laws. There are a few people who still grumble about them, but most seem willing to overlook it."
"So does anyone know what happened to the imposter?"
Berren shook his head. "Some folks say that he got wind of the Governor arriving and ran off. Most just say good riddance."
The afternoon passed quickly. Toby missed hanging out at home with Pete, and it felt good to be with friends again. Before long it started getting cooler, and he realized he had to get home.
"I almost forgot!" Toby said. "I found a paper in the Worlds Within book and brought it with me."
"What does it say?" Berren asked
"I don't know. I couldn't figure it out." He zipped open the pocket, and pulled it out. They peered curiously at the paper. Along one side was a list of figures. Next to each number was what looked like an abbreviation. It still didn't make any sense to him.
"Maybe Caedman will know what it means," Marnie said. "Do you want me to ask him?"
"Good idea," Toby handed it to her. "I really have to get home. Who knows what tomorrow's going to be like? I don't want to make it any worse by getting home late."
Berren looked sympathetic. "Do you want to just stay here with us?"
Toby smiled. "Thanks, but Janie will be expecting me. It will be okay." He pulled the hut picture out of his backpack.
"Where's your book?" Berren asked.
Toby stammered, "Well, actually, the book was?well the book wasn't mine." He looked up to see their reaction.
"We know that," Berren said confused.
Marnie added, "The book belongs to Caedman. He told you that when you first showed it to him."
Toby said, "He did?"
"Didn't you read the inscription in the front of the book? He told you what it said."
Toby shook his head. "I thought the book belonged to Carson, and I was going to give it back to him. But I didn't want him finding this place, so I cut the picture out of the book." He held up the page.
"So you gave the book back to Carson?" Berren asked.
"Not exactly. I was having a run in with some bullies at school," Toby said. They were chasing me to get the book for Carson. I'd already taken the picture out."
They looked at him surprised.
"Well, it was me or the book. There were three of them. They were going to get the book anyway. It was just a matter of whether or not they pulverized me in the process."
"So Carson has the book?" Berren asked.
Toby nodded. "I was feeling bad because it was like I stole it. Now that I know it isn't his, I should get it back."
Marnie smiled. "You're goofy. If Caedman wanted the book, he would have said something to you."
"She's right," Berren said. "Go home and don't worry about it."
"Okay," Toby said still unconvinced.
They said goodbye, and soon Toby was standing outside the library.