“Yes. All of us,” Ronni told him.
Everyone cheered.
“Don’t start cheering yet. We’ve got to win first!” Ronni exclaimed.
She went around the circle, giving the batting order. Since I was the pitcher, I batted ninth.
But since I had a bat, I decided to take a few practice swings. I stepped away from the others, behind the third base line.
Easing my hands up on the bat, I took a soft swing. I like to choke up pretty high. I’m not very strong, and it gives me a harder swing.
The bat felt pretty good. I took a few more soft swings.
Then I pulled it behind my shoulder—and swung as hard as I could.
I didn’t see Buddy standing there.
The bat smacked him hard in the chest.
It made a sickening thocccck as it crashed into his ribs.
I let the bat fall from my hands. Then I staggered back. Stunned. Horrified.
21
Buddy’s smile faded. He narrowed his blue eyes at me.
He raised a hand and pointed a finger at me.
“I like the way you choke up,” he said. “But maybe we could find you a lighter bat.”
“Huh?” My mouth hung open. I couldn’t move. I stood there, gaping at him. “Buddy—?”
He picked up the bat from the ground. “Does it feel comfortable? Let me see you swing again, Wendy.” He handed the bat to me.
My hands trembled as I took it from him. I kept my eyes on him. Waited for him to cry out. To grab his chest and collapse in a heap on the ground.
“Some of the aluminum bats are lighter,” he said. He brushed back his blond hair with one hand. “Go ahead. Swing again.”
I took a few shaky steps away from him. I wanted to make sure I didn’t hit him again. Then I choked up on the bat and swung.
“How is it?” he asked.
“F-fine,” I stammered.
He flashed me a thumbs-up and went to talk to Ronni.
Whoa! I thought. What is the story here?
I swung that bat into his chest, hard enough to break a few ribs. Or at least knock his breath out.
But Buddy didn’t even seem to notice!
What is the story here?
I told Jan and Ivy about it at dinner.
Jan snickered. “I guess your swing isn’t as hard as you think.”
“But it made a horrible sound! Like eggs breaking or something!” I exclaimed. “And he just went on smiling and talking.”
“He probably waited until he was out of sight. Then he screamed his head off!” Ivy suggested.
I forced myself to laugh along with my two friends. But I didn’t feel like laughing.
It was all too strange.
I mean, no one could take a blow like that right in the chest and not even say “Ouch!”
Our team lost by ten points. But after that thocccck, who could think about the game?
I glanced across the room to the counselors’ table. Buddy sat at one end, talking and laughing with Holly. He seemed perfectly okay.
I kept glancing at him all through dinner. Again and again, I heard the sickening thocccck the bat made as it smashed into his chest. I just couldn’t get it out of my mind.
I kept thinking about it as we trooped out to the track after dinner for the Winners Walk. It was a windy night. The torches flickered and nearly went out.
The trees around the track shivered and bent. Their branches seemed to reach down for the ground.
The marching music started, and the winners paraded by. Rose waved to me as she passed. I saw Jeff walking proudly near the back of the line, his gold coins jangling around his neck.
After the ceremony, I hurried back to the room and climbed into bed. Too many troubling thoughts whirred around in my brain. I wanted to go to sleep and shut them out.
The next morning at breakfast, Rose and Jeff were gone.
22
I searched for Rose and Jeff. And I searched for my brother all morning. I knew he’d be playing hard at one of the sports. But I walked from the soccer field at one end of the camp to the driving range at the other end, and I didn’t see him.
Had Elliot disappeared, too?
The frightening thought kept tugging at my mind.
We’ve got to get out of this camp!
I kept repeating those words to myself as I made my way along the crisscrossing dirt paths.
King Jellyjam, the little purple blob, grinned at me from the signs posted everywhere. Even his cartoon smile gave me the creeps.
Something was terribly wrong at King Jellyjam’s Sports Camp. And the more I walked, my eyes searching every face for my brother, the more frightened I became.
Buddy caught up to me after lunch. He led me back to the Softball diamond. “Wendy, you can’t leave your team,” he said sternly. “Forget yesterday. You still have a chance. If you win today, you guys all win King Coins.”
I didn’t want any King Coins. I wanted to see my parents. I wanted to see my brother. And I wanted to get out of there!
I didn’t pitch today. I played left field, which gave me plenty of time to think.
I planned our escape.
It won’t be that hard, I decided. Elliot and I will sneak out after dinner when everyone is watching the Winners Walk. We’ll make our way down the hill, back to the highway. Then we’ll walk or hitchhike to the nearest town with a police station.
I knew the police would find Mom and Dad for us easily.
A simple plan, right? Now all I had to do was find Elliot.
Our team lost the game seven to nine.
I grounded out to end the game. The other kids were disappointed that the team lost, but I didn’t really care.
I still hadn’t won a single King Coin. As we trotted toward our dorms, I saw Buddy watching me. He had a fretful expression on his face.
“Wendy—what’s your next sport?” he called to me.
I pretended I didn’t hear him and trotted away.
My next sport is running, I thought unhappily. Running away from this horrible place.
The ground began to rumble and shake as I passed the main lodge. This time, I ignored it and kept walking to the dorm.
I didn’t find Elliot until after dinner. I saw him heading out the mess-hall door with two buddies. They were laughing, talking loudly, and bumping each other with their chests as they walked.
“Elliot!” I called, chasing after him. “Hey, Elliot—wait up!”
He turned away from his two friends. “Oh. Hi,” he said. “How’s it going?”
“Did you forget you have a sister?” I demanded angrily.
He narrowed his eyes at me. “Excuse me?”
“Where have you been?” I asked.
A grin spread over his face. “Winning these,” he said. He raised the chain around his neck to show off the gold King Coins he was wearing. “I’ve got five.”
“Awesome,” I said sarcastically. “Elliot—we’ve got to get out of here!”
“Huh? Get out?” He twisted up his face, confused.
“Yes,” I insisted. “We have to get away from this camp—tonight!”
“I can’t,” Elliot replied. “No way.”
Kids pushed past us, on their way to watch the Winners Walk. I followed Elliot out the mess-hall door. Then I pulled him off the path, onto the grass at the side of the building.
“You can’t leave? Why not?” I demanded.
“Not till I win my sixth coin,” he said. He jangled the coin necklace in my face.
“Elliot—this place is dangerous!” I cried. “And Mom and Dad must be—”
“You’re just jealous,” he interrupted. He jangled the coins again. “You haven’t won any—have you!”
I balled my hands into fists. I wanted to strangle him. I really did.
He was such a competitive jerk. He always had to win everything.
I took a deep breath and tried to speak calmly. “Elliot, aren’t you at all worried about Mom and Dad?”
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He lowered his eyes for a moment. “A little.”
“Well, we have to get out of here and find them!” I declared.
“Tomorrow,” he replied. “After the track meet in the morning. After I win my sixth coin.”
I opened my mouth to argue with him. But what was the point?
I knew how stubborn my brother can be. If he wanted to win that sixth coin, he wouldn’t leave till he won it.
I couldn’t argue with him. And I couldn’t drag him away. “Right after the track meet tomorrow morning,” I told him, “we’re out of here! Whether you win or lose. Agreed?”
He thought about it. “Okay. Agreed,” he said finally. Then he trotted off to find his friends.
Four kids marched in the Winners Walk. As I watched from the sidelines, I thought about the kids I knew who had marched before.
Dierdre. Rose. Jeff…
Had they all gone home? Were they picked up by their parents? Were they back home now safe and sound?
Maybe I’m frightening myself for no reason, I thought.
Everyone else in camp seems to be having a great time. Why am I the only worrier?
And then I remembered that I wasn’t the only worrier.
Alicia’s tear-stained face floated into my mind.
What had Alicia seen that had frightened her so much? Why was she desperately trying to warn us to get away?
I’ll probably never find out, I told myself.
When the Winners Walk ceremony ended, I didn’t feel like going back to the dorm. I knew I couldn’t get to sleep. Too many thoughts troubled my mind.
As the other kids made their way to their rooms, I ducked into the deep shadows. Then I sneaked along the path to the sloping hill that led up to the main lodge.
Hiding behind a wide evergreen shrub, I dropped down onto the grass. It was a cool, cloudy night. The air felt heavy and damp.
I raised my eyes to the sky. Clouds covered the stars and the moon. Far in the distance, I could see tiny red lights moving slowly against the blackness. An airplane. I wondered where it was headed.
Crickets began to chirp. The wind rustled my hair.
I gazed up at the starless sky. Trying to relax. Trying to calm myself down.
After a few minutes, I heard voices. Footsteps.
I pulled myself up to my knees and ducked low behind the shrub.
The voices grew louder. A girl laughed.
Carefully, I peered out from between the piney branches. I saw two counselors, walking rapidly along the path that led up the hill.
Behind them, I spotted another group of counselors making their way quickly up the hill. They all seemed to be in a hurry.
I lowered myself behind the shrub and hid in the darkness.
They’re heading to the lodge, I decided. Must be some kind of counselors’ meeting.
Their white shorts and T-shirts were easy to see, even on such a dark night. Keeping out of sight, I watched them make their way up the path.
But to my surprise, they didn’t go to the lodge. Several yards from the lodge entrance, they turned off the path and ducked into the woods.
Where were they going?
I saw two more groups of counselors make their way into the trees. There must be a hundred counselors at this camp, I realized. And they’re all going into the woods tonight.
I waited until I thought all of the counselors had passed by. Then I slowly pulled myself to my feet.
I stared into the woods. But I could see only darkness. Shadows upon shadows.
I ducked back down when I heard two more voices.
Peering through the evergreen branches, I spied Holly and Buddy. They were taking long strides, walking side by side.
I waited till they passed by. Then I jumped up.
Creeping in the deep shadows, I followed them into the woods.
I didn’t stop to worry about getting caught. I had to know where the counselors were all going.
Buddy and Holly moved quickly through the woods, pushing tall weeds out of their way, stepping over fallen tree limbs.
To my surprise, a low, white structure came into view. It appeared to glow dully in the dim light.
The building was built low to the ground. The top was curved.
I squinted at it through the trees. It looks like an igloo, I thought.
What is this strange building? I wondered. Why is it hidden away in the trees?
A dark opening had been cut into the side. Holly ducked into the low entrance. Buddy followed her in.
I waited nearly a minute. Then I stepped up to the opening.
My heart pounded. Such a strange, little building. Round and smooth as ice.
I hesitated. I peered into the entrance, but couldn’t see anything inside. I didn’t hear any voices.
What should I do? I asked myself.
Should I go in?
Yes.
I took a deep breath and lowered myself into the opening.
23
Three steep steps led down to a dim entryway. A single red light down near the floor gave off the only light.
I stepped into the dark red glow, then stopped and listened.
I could hear voices speaking softly in the next room.
Trailing my hand along the bare, concrete wall, I moved slowly toward the voices. An open doorway came up on my right.
I stopped outside it. Then I slowly, carefully peered in.
I stared into a large, square room. Four torches hanging at the front of the room sent out flickering orange light.
The counselors sat on long wooden benches, facing a low stage. A purple banner hung over the stage. It proclaimed: ONLY THE BEST.
It’s a little theater, I realized. Some kind of meeting hall.
But why is it hidden away in the woods? And why are the counselors all meeting here tonight?
I didn’t have to wait long for my answer.
Buddy stepped on to the small stage. He walked quickly into the flickering orange torchlight. Then he turned to face the audience of counselors.
I crept into the doorway. There were no torches in the back of the hall. It was pitch-black back there.
Walking on tiptoe, I edged my way along the back wall.
The door to a closet of some kind stood open. I ducked into it.
Buddy raised both hands. The counselors instantly stopped talking. They all sat up straight and stared forward at him.
“Time to refresh ourselves,” Buddy called out. His voice echoed off the concrete walls.
The counselors sat stiffly. No one moved. No one made a sound.
Buddy pulled a gold coin from his pocket. A King Coin, I figured. It dangled on a long gold chain.
“Time to refresh our minds,” Buddy said. “Time to refresh our mission.”
He raised the gold coin high. It glowed in the torchlight as he began to swing it. Back and forth. Slowly.
“Clear your minds,” he instructed them, speaking softly now. “Clear your minds, as I have cleared mine.”
The gleaming gold coin swung slowly back and forth. Back and forth.
“Clear… clear… clear your minds,” Buddy chanted.
He is hypnotizing them! I realized.
Buddy is hypnotizing all the counselors. And he’s been hypnotized, too!
I took a step forward. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing and hearing!
“Clear your minds to serve the master!” Buddy declared. “For that is why we are here. To serve the master in all his glory!”
“To serve the master!” the counselors all chanted back together.
Who is the master? I asked myself.
What are they talking about?
Buddy continued chanting out slogans to the crowd of counselors. His eyes were wide. He never blinked.
“We do not think!” he shouted. “We do not feel! We give ourselves up to serve the master!”
And suddenly I had an answer to some of my questions.
Now I knew why Buddy hadn’t cri
ed out, hadn’t collapsed to the ground when I swung the bat into his chest.
He had hypnotized away all feeling.
He was in some kind of trance. He couldn’t feel the bat. He couldn’t feel anything.
“Only The Best!” Buddy cried, raising both fists into the air.
“Only The Best!” the counselors all repeated. Their unblinking faces appeared strange, frozen in the flickering orange light.
“Only The Best! Only The Best!”
They all chanted the slogan over and over. Their voices echoed loudly off the walls. Only their mouths moved. Like puppets.
“Only The Best can serve the master!” Buddy shouted.
“Only The Best!” the counselors chanted one more time.
Buddy had been swinging the gold coin over his head during the entire performance. Now he lowered it back into the pocket of his shorts.
The room grew silent.
A heavy silence. An eerie silence.
And then I sneezed.
24
I cupped my hand over my mouth.
Too late.
I sneezed again.
Buddy’s mouth opened wide in surprise. He jabbed a finger in the air, pointing at me.
Several counselors jumped to their feet and spun around.
I turned to the door. Could I escape through it before one of them caught me?
No.
No way I could get over there.
My legs were shaking. But I forced myself to move. I backed against the wall.
Why had I stepped so far into the room? Why hadn’t I stayed in the safety of the doorway?
“Who’s there?” I heard Buddy call. “It’s so dark. Who is it?”
Good! I thought. He didn’t know it was me.
But in seconds, they’d grab me and drag me into the light.
I took another step back. Another.
Darkness fell over me.
I spun around. “Ohh!” I cried out when I saw that I had nearly toppled down a steep stairway.
It wasn’t a closet after all.
Black stone steps curved sharply down. Where did they lead?
I couldn’t guess. But I had no choice. The steps were my only chance of escape.