"Got it."
"The rest of you, do not look around. Do not talk, cough, or sneeze. Do not blow your nose or scratch your bug bites. Look only at the footprints in front of you and move quietly like a cat. Okay?"
All the kids looked at each other but they all nodded that they understood. He could tell that he had really scared them with that. "Let's go and remember, quiet like a cat." Jeremiah turned around slowly, slanting away from where he had heard the last twig snap. Jeremiah said a silent prayer for the kids and himself. Adonai, calm their beating hearts and soothe their fears, and guide my feet to the safest path.
Thirty minutes later they had walked more than half a mile from the camp and could only see a soft glow from the fire that had been the cabin. The walk had been surprisingly quiet and uneventful.
Thank you, thank you, Jeremiah prayed.
They were moving up toward an overhang near the top of the hill. Jeremiah stopped at the edge of a small clearing and waited for the kids to gather around him.
"I want you all to sit down and rest for a few minutes," Jeremiah said.
Stuart asked "What is happening?" in a shaky voice.
"Shhhh," said Sarah.
"That's okay. I don't know what is going on. Someone didn't want us staying in the cabin tonight. Maybe they needed it for firewood." Jeremiah knew the joke fell flat when not one kid smiled back at him. "Rest and catch your breath while I look around this clearing, and no talking."
Jeremiah waved Sarah and Noah over to him as he moved away from the main group. "Sarah, you watch out for the other kids and keep them quiet. Noah, go back down the trail about ten minutes, then sit and listen. I will whistle when I want you to return to the group."
Both kids nodded and moved offto their duties. Jeremiah waited for the kids to be out of sight and then he moved to his left skirting the clearing. He took deep breaths to steady himself as he assessed the situation.
I never thought that it would happen again. Outnumbered and unarmed in the wilderness. Jeremiah shook his head to chase the thought from his mind.
He made it all the way around the clearing having heard nothing but the creatures of the night. Whistling once, Jeremiah slowly walked up to the rest of the kids. He had been gone for half an hour. Sarah stood and walked over to him.
"I told them to close their eyes and relax their muscles one at a time. In two minutes they were all asleep," said Sarah.
"Very good thinking."
"Thank you, sir. What are we going to do now?" she asked.
Noah came into view walking very softly. When he reached the other two he held out his hands in a questioning gesture.
"It is going to start raining soon. We need to find shelter," Jeremiah whispered to the two kids. "I saw a small cave on the other side of the clearing that should be large enough for all of us. Did you hear or see anything down the trail?"
"All quiet," Noah reported.
"Good. Let's wake the others and get to the cave before we all get drenched."
With mild amusement, Jeremiah noticed that the kids lined up in the exact same order as before and also stepped in the tracks of the person in front. Maybe there is hope for them after all, Jeremiah thought.
A few minutes after they were all in the cave the rain began to fall. "Whew, that was close," said Noah. "What now, sir?"
"I think we should take inventory," Jeremiah said.
Cindy sat straight up in bed, heart racing. She glanced at the clock. It was midnight. She was sweating profusely and shaking. She struggled to figure out what had awakened her.Had it been a nightmare, a sound? She got up and checked her phone and cell phone. No calls. She made the rounds of her house checking the doors and windows. Everything was shut up tight.
She sat back down on her bed, hands still shaking. She had a sick, twisting feeling in her gut and she thought she was going to throw up. She hadn't felt like this since Lisa had been killed.
In a blind panic she picked up the phone and called her mom, waking her for a change.
"What on earth is wrong?" her mom asked.
"Hi, I just had—are you and Dad okay?"
"What? What kind of question is that for the middle of the night?"
"The only one that matters in the middle of the night. Are you both alive, well?"
"Yes."
"Daddy too?"
"Yes, he's right here asleep."
"Are you sure he's asleep?" Cindy asked, her throat constricting.
"Listen for yourself," her mom said.
A second later Cindy relaxed as she heard her dad's snoring."Thank you, God," she whispered.
Another, terrible thought occurred to her. "Did anything happen to Kyle?"
"No, you worry too much."
"But he was doing that bungee jump . . ."
"You didn't watch it?" her mother demanded, her voice suddenly icy.
"No, I—"
"Cindy, you should support your brother."
Cindy wanted to scream. "Mom, it's not the time! Is he okay?"
"You want me to go wake him up and ask him?"
"He's there?"
"Yes, he came home to visit for the weekend. It wouldn't hurt you to do that occasionally."
"Yes, Mom, please go check on him."
A minute later she could tell her mom was holding up the phone again, her brother's snoring was as just as loud, but still distinguishable from their father's.
"Thanks, Mom," she whispered. "I'll call in a day or two."
She hung up before her mom could ask her any questions.She cradled the phone to her chest. If her family was safe, what else could be making her feel this sick?
Jeremiah.
She dialed his cell, knowing that there was lousy reception at the stadium, but hoping for a miracle. It went straight to his voicemail and she didn't bother leaving a message.
You knew he wouldn't pick up, she told herself, trying to stem the rising tide of panic that threatened to overwhelm her. He's fine; there's nothing wrong. Her stomach twisted harder and she let the phone fall from her hand as she hit the floor on her knees and began to pray.
"Inventory?" Sarah asked Jeremiah.
"Yes. We need to see what we have with us that can be used.Not all of us are in pajamas, so we may have useful items in our pockets."
Everyone not in pajamas began emptying their pockets, placing all the items on Jeremiah's handkerchief. It looked rather meager.
"Let's see. One flashlight, one pocketknife, one half empty pack of cigarettes and matches, one lipstick and one compact, and one of the ten-page camp information booklets."
"What are we going to do with makeup?" one of the boys sneered.
Sarah jumped up ready to pound on the boy, but was restrained by Brenda and Noah.
Before Jeremiah could answer, Noah said, "Well, the mirror in the compact can be used to signal planes or rescuers and the lipstick can easily write on paper. Did you bring a pencil?"
"Everybody calm down," said Jeremiah. "I'm not even going to ask who provided the cigarettes. We all need to get some rest. Boys, please all go to the left side and Sarah and Brenda and I will be on the right."
Noah, Brenda, and two others had been sleeping in their clothes, including jackets, as had Jeremiah. "Boys, give your jackets to those in pajamas," Jeremiah said as he handed his to Sarah.
Jeremiah signaled Noah and Sarah to the mouth of the cave. "We need to keep watch. Sarah, could you take the first shift for two hours and then wake Noah?"
"Yes, sir," Sarah replied.
"Noah, you wake me after your two hours, okay?"
"Yes, sir," said Noah.
"Listen you two, stop calling me sir. Call me Jeremiah or Rabbi, but not sir."
"Yes, si . . . er Rabbi," said Noah.
Jeremiah heard Sarah wake Noah around two in the morning.After Sarah was asleep, Jeremiah got up slowly. He stripped offhis overshirt, leaving his black undershirt on, which blended into the night. He pocketed the knife and flashlight and moved to Noah's sid
e. "I am going to scout around the area. Can you stay awake till I return? It may be more than two hours."
Noah nodded affirmative. Jeremiah patted his shoulder and before Noah could turn his head to acknowledge the gesture, Jeremiah slipped into the darkness. Moving at a speed that only years of training could provide, Jeremiah made it all the way back to the campgrounds. He eased his way into the administration building, checking his progress every few steps.
He wondered why the bomb makers hadn't bothered to take out all the buildings, or at least that one. He checked the phone but it was dead.
He searched around and retrieved three dark blue blankets, a well-stocked first aid kit, and two spools of fishing line plus a package of fishhooks. Using one of the blankets as a sack, he also grabbed several bottles of water, a small pan, and a dozen cans of soup. He raided the cabinet with camp logo sweats and T-shirts and grabbed what he could, using it to wrap the cans so they wouldn't clink together.
He searched quickly for anything else that might be of use and finally picked the lock on one cabinet. Inside he found paintball equipment and he grabbed a pistol and loaded it.
Jeremiah was back at the cave a short two hours after leaving.He was beside Noah before the boy even knew he was there. Startled, Noah asked, "Where did you get all the loot, Rabbi?"
"The campgrounds. Now help me cover up the kids."
"But the cabin was blown to smithereens."
"True, but not the administration building."
They didn't expect anyone to survive the bomb blast.
Sunrise in the mountains was always dramatic and this morning was no exception. The problem was that the cave faced east and the sun's rays entered the cave early. Everyone was awake before 6:30. Several of the kids looked worse for wear and to Jeremiah looked like they could easily go into shock. To prevent that, he got everyone with clothing on to look for some dried twigs and branches while he passed out the clothes he had gathered to those in pajamas. They looked like a group of carnival clowns in baggy sweats and oversized shirts, but at least they were dressed.
"Rabbi, how do we open the cans?" asked Brenda, holding up the soup.
"Here, use the P38," said Jeremiah, taking a small metal device from his wallet.
"What's a P38?" asked Sarah.
"It's really a can opener," said Jeremiah. "The U.S. Army issued them in cases of rations. It is called a P38 because some smart-mouthed GI said it took exactly 38 pushes to open a C-ration can."
"Does it take 38 pushes?" asked Noah.
"You will soon find out, but to answer the question, yes, 38 pushes is all you need."
Sarah, Brenda, and Noah all tried using the can opener but without any luck. Jeremiah took the device and quickly opened two cans of soup and poured them into the pan along with some water from one of the bottles. It took no time for the soup to cook over the small fire they had set in the back of the cave. Each of the kids took turns drinking their share straight from the pan. Bobby asked, "Is this what real camping is like?"
"Pretty close," said Noah.
"Okay, everyone, come here so we can talk," said Jeremiah.All the kids gathered close to him and as he looked at each and every face he could tell that this group would do whatever he asked without question or discussion. They were starting to move and act as one, behaving perfectly. It reminded him of a movie he had once seen. Stepford kids, he thought. I can't believe these are the teenagers our congregations are always moaning about.
"This cave is too exposed from below. We need to find another location for shelter that will give us some protection.Noah, Brenda, and I are going out to look for a better spot while Sarah and the rest of you stay here. Sarah is in charge, so listen to her, please."
"Sarah, keep everyone away from the entrance. You position yourself in the opening behind the bush and watch below.We will be back soon."
Jeremiah could see that everyone understood and that there would be no problems. What he was unsure about was having Noah and Brenda with him out in the open but he knew that three pairs of eyes were needed.
Ten minutes into the scouting expedition, Brenda whistled, signaling that she found something. When Noah and Jeremiah approached Brenda they could see that she had found another cave with a well-concealed entrance. This cave was even larger than the first one. In addition there was a small stream not thirty feet away.
In no time at all, everyone was relocated to the new hideout.
"Rabbi, are we going to catch fish in the stream?" asked one of the boys.
"No, no fish in that stream I'm sorry to say. We are going to use the fishing line and the hooks plus this morning's empty soup cans to set a warning signal, though. I think some of you would call it 'fishing for men.'"
The boy looked puzzled until Sarah said, "A burglar alarm."
Jeremiah took the fishhooks and tied them onto the fishing line every two feet. Sarah placed some stones into the soup cans after Brenda had punched holes in the sides close to the can top. She then tied short pieces of fishing line to each can and gave them to Jeremiah. Jeremiah and Noah then took the fishing lines with the hooks and cans attached and stretched them out around the hillside about fifty feet away from the cave. Using the knife, Jeremiah cut branches from several aspen trees. He then sharpened one end of each branch making a simple spear. These he took back with him to the cave. When he arrived there he found a large pile of mountain apples lying on one of the blankets. "Where did these come from?" he asked.
"I found them when we were looking for a new cave," said Brenda, flushing. "When you men went to set the burglar alarm some of us went out and picked the apples."
Okay, not automatons after all.
Jeremiah did not want to bring everyone down but this could not be allowed. "Thank you, Brenda. That showed initiative.However, until we know who else may be out here, we must avoid leaving the cave in daylight unless I am going also.Does everyone understand?"
Everyone nodded.
"Now we're going to stay put for a while."
"Rabbi, we are down to one bottle of water," said Sarah.
Jeremiah took the three empty water bottles and quickly and silently went to the stream and filled them. When he returned to the cave he opened the first aid kit and removed the water purification tablets and dropped one pill into each bottle.
"What was that you put in the water?" one of the boys asked.
"Iodine tablets."
"Isn't that like poison?" asked Brenda.
"Well, it can be, but these are specially made to make water safe to drink. It will taste a little funny but will not hurt you. You just have to wait for the pill to dissolve, then gently shake the bottle and it is ready to go," explained Jeremiah.
"Is that another army thing?" Bobby asked.
"Yes, armies everywhere use them. Where is Tray?" Jeremiah asked.
"He's checking out the back of the cave," said Sarah.
"How long do we have to stay here?" asked one of the boys.
"Yeah, and where are we? I'm lost," said another.
Suddenly Jeremiah was being swamped with questions.Don't let them panic now.
"We are about a mile to a mile and a quarter from the campgrounds which are on the other side of that hill over there," he said as he pointed out of the cave's entrance.
Tray returned from his scouting the rear of the cave. He was carrying something that was wiggling. It was a mountain lion cub.
Jeremiah was up in a flash and through clenched teeth hissed, "Take it back now!"
Startled, Tray dropped the cub. The cub let out a loud cry when it landed on the rocky floor. Jeremiah grabbed the cub and vanished into the depths of the cave before anyone could blink an eye.
He could hear the kids muttering in surprise behind him.
"How did he move so fast?"
"Where did he go?"
"Is he like a ninja rabbi?"
When Jeremiah returned to the kids at the front of the cave he was doing all he could to control his anger.
/> "Rabbi, I . . . I . . ." stammered Tray.
Jeremiah held up his hand to cut offthe boy. "It's okay, you didn't know that you never handle wild animals, especially in their lair. This place is not safe. We have to leave now."
"But it's daylight and you said—" one of the boys began in a very small voice.
"I know what I said, but we don't want to be here when the mother lion returns. She is not going to be happy and neither will I," Jeremiah barked, startling all the kids. "Pick up our stuffand let's move now!"
Jeremiah gave one spear to Noah and the third to Brenda.Taking his own spear and tucking the paintball gun into the back of his waistband, Jeremiah moved slowly to the front of the cave and began checking the surroundings for any signs of their attackers.
I should have checked the cave myself. He came to a sudden stop. No, please not now.
"What was that?" exclaimed Noah.
"What is that smell?" Sarah asked.
"She's back," Jeremiah said.
"Who's back?" Tray asked.
"Mother!"
16
JEREMIAH SLOWLY LOOKED AROUND THE CAVE ENTRANCE AND FINALLY SPOTted the big cat lying directly above. At that instant the burglar alarm was tripped. Looking quickly down the slope Jeremiah could see two men coming up the hill. One of the men was hopelessly entangled in the fishhook- laden line and had fallen onto a large boulder, hitting his right shoulder. The fall had caused the man to lose his weapon and he could not reach it while still tangled in the trap. The second man was yelling at him to be quiet.
Jeremiah saw his chance for action.
Gesturing to the kids to stay put and be quiet, Jeremiah jumped out of the cave and while in the air he spun around to face the lioness. The lion, having been distracted by the two men down the hill, was startled when Jeremiah suddenly appeared below her. She immediately coiled her muscles and flew directly at him. Holding the spear above his head crosswise with his hands close together, Jeremiah caught the lion's front paws on the spear, and in one smooth movement, he fell backward, pulling the lion with him. Jeremiah hit the ground on his back and placing his feet on the lion's belly, he flipped the animal about fifteen feet down the hill and directly on top of the second gunman coming up the hill. The crash of the 300-pound cat into the man's chest killed both him and the lion instantly.