Jack James and the Tribe of the Teddy Bear (39 page)

FIFTY-TWO

A CHILLED BLAST swallowed Jack whole. Suddenly, he was no longer weightless. He slipped off his sodden jacket and right away felt lighter. Thousands of shimmering bubbles encompassed him, dancing in the filtered sunlight. The bubbles toyed and teased him into following them up. Coughing, he broke the surface, receiving the air with a grateful gasp. He shook the river from his eyes and searched the waves for his protector.

“Takota! Where are you!”

The old growth cedar floated nearby, an unruly, tangled mass. He swished his legs in a feeble effort at getting to land. On one particularly deep kick, he felt his foot catch something. Taut and thin, it dug into his calf, stinging the skin through his jeans. He tried to wiggle free. His struggle tightened the snare even more. He screamed, but was cut short when a sudden force rushed him through the water backward, pulling him further and further from shore.

He held his breath just before being dragged under. The line hauled him deep, then pulled him up to breach the surface again. He took in a big gulp of air, fully prepared to be brought to the depths. Instead, a pair of strong, stout hands dug beneath his armpits and heaved him out of the water. He landed on a hard, cold, soggy surface, choking on the pungent smell of fresh fish.

“Hey!” said a man with a deep, brusque voice. “You’re not a Coho!”

Jack heard a resonant laugh, muffled by the steady droning of an outboard motor. The sun blinded him. Then a round silhouette stepped in front of the light, staring down.

His vision adjusted and he made out a man wearing frayed chest waders which fit snug against his pudgy stomach. His face was sun parched and weathered. Beneath his ample snout, a thick, silver mustache gave him the appearance of an elderly walrus. He smiled, though in his expression Jack also sensed a big dose of concern.

“What are you doing out in the middle of the river? Trying to swim? That’s absolutely batty. Good thing I showed up when I did. Good thing, indeed—hey! I know you! You’re the inventor’s kid. Just what in blazes has gotten into you?”

Jack coughed up water. He blinked and recognized the man—Captain Kimbo.

The captain chuckled grumpily. “Doesn’t taste so good, does it? Doesn’t feel so good when it fills your lungs, either. What kinda stunt were you trying to pull?”

Jack stammered. “I…I…”

“You what?” the short, heavyset man plopped down his fishing pole. “You just wanted to take a little swim? In one of the most dangerous currents in the world? This is the Columbia River, son. Not some backyard creek. And we’re getting pretty darn close to the mouth—where it punches into the ocean. Do you know what they call it around here? They call it the Graveyard of the Pacific. And do you know why?”

“Uh…”

“Queenie the River Dragon, that’s why! She’s been the cause of untold shipwrecks since the seventeen hundreds. People say she doesn’t exist, but I know better. I’ve seen her. And one of these days, I’m gonna catch her! She’s big and mean and, and—what are you doing out here, anyway? What’s the matter with you? Where’s your mother?” he searched the shoreline. “Don’t tell me you’re all alone!”

“No,” Jack regained some strength. “I’m not alone. I’ve got my…”

“Who? Who’s with you?”

“My teddy bear,” Jack’s stare journeyed to meet the captain’s.

“Your what?” Kimbo crossed his arms. It seemed he wanted to say something else when a noise surprised him. He swished his concentration to the water and scanned. Then he squinted.

“Well, I’ll be gutted and fileted,” he said. “You
do
have a teddy bear with you, after all.”

“Be careful, mister.”

“Don’t worry, son. I won’t hurt your little toy,” he leaned over the side.

“No,” Jack clarified. “I’m worried about
you
getting hurt.”

“What are you talking about?” he reached for the furry clump floating in the river. “This thing’s not gonna—
AAAIIIIEEEE!
”

Arms flailing, he fell against his seat with Takota clamped to his crown.

“Takota! No! Stop! He’s a friend! He’s a friend!”

Takota shot him a determined look. “How do you know? He could be one of them!”

“Help! Help!” Kimbo felt for and found his CB receiver. He pressed the button. “SOS! SOS! Captain Kimbo of
Dragon Huntress
to…to anyone! SOS! I’m being attacked by a-a teddy bear!”

Jack leapt and seized Takota. “He’s on our side, let him go!”

Takota groaned and issued a heavy breath. He withdrew his claws and released the man. Jack removed him like taking off a hat. The captain sat still, wheezing.

“You
are
real. The boy was telling the truth—and you can talk,” he admired Takota some more. “What is he?”

“We don’t have time.” answered Jack.

The radio crackled.
“
Dragon Huntress, this is Pelican Two. Did you say you were being attacked by a…teddy bear?”
Laughter in the background.

Kimbo turned the volume down on the CB, swapping his glare between Jack and Takota. “I want answers.”

“Listen,” Jack stated. “We can’t tell you the whole story, but someone is chasing Takota. Some very bad people want to capture him and his entire species, and I won’t let them. They’ve already taken one Tanakee. Now they’ve kidnapped my family and my friend, too. We
have
to save them! Please, Captain Kimbo. Can you help us?”

“Hmm. Where’re you headed?”

“Archer Savage Industries,” Takota said.

“Archer Savage, huh?” the captain twisted his mustache.

“You’ve heard of him?” asked Jack.

“Oh, yeah,” he nodded. “That guy doesn’t mess around. You sure you wanna tangle with him?”

“The Nagas is worse,” Takota said.

Kimbo crumpled his brow. “The Nagas?”

“That’s who Savage is working for. Can you take us there or not?”

The crusty little man narrowed one eye at Jack. He stretched his leathery face into a grin. A glint of sun reflected off the water onto his surprisingly white teeth.

FIFTY-THREE

THE TALLY LIGHT flickered on. Amelia had been warned to watch for it, though nothing could have comforted her once the camera went live, and now thousands of people were staring at her.

“This is Kristy Blades, live in North Point on the banks of the mighty Columbia,” she gestured over her shoulder at an ostentatious series of concrete structures. “I’m standing at Archer Savage’s state of the art defense research and development facility. Why am I here? To answer that, I thought it best if you hear from a new friend of mine. Her name is Amelia Klein, and she has a very special friend of her own. Amelia, can you tell us your pet’s name?”

Kristy pointed the microphone at Amelia’s mouth and her stomach fluttered. She tightened and squeezed away her nerves.

“She’s not my pet,” she cleared her throat. “She’s a Tanakee.”

Ayita forced a smile at the camera.

“A Tanakee?” Kristy leaned in. “What’s a Tanakee?”

Amelia steadied her breath, staring dead center into the lens. “Good people of Willow, I have a message, one of peace, and also of heartbreak and unspeakable evil. Tanakee are our friends. They’re extraordinary animals with special abilities, sent here to help us. To protect us.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Kristy stood straight. “Slow down. We want everyone to understand. Let’s go back, okay? You said they have special abilities. What abilities?”

Amelia glanced at Ayita. She wore a sour face and her spirit clothes darkened to a heavy gray. “No,” she scarcely moved her lips. “Don’t.”

Amelia bent and lowered her voice. “I have to.”

“Is, is everything okay?” Kristy asked quizzically.

She lifted Ayita to her chin. “Everyone, I want to introduce Ayita. She’s my friend.”

Hank tilted the camera to follow. Ayita didn’t move. For a second, Amelia thought she’d lapsed into her ‘play dead’ trick. She hadn’t. She was just being stubborn.

“Ayita? Do you want to say something?” Kristy pointed the mic at her fuzzy face.

Ayita lifted her eyebrows and gave the woman the onceover. Her spirit clothes lightened to plain gray. “What do you want me to say?”

Kristy stepped back, clutching her chest with her free hand, the microphone still aimed expertly at her interviewees. The reporter’s surprise seemed genuine, yet her aura’s amber color hinted at mild deception.

“Oh my,” she turned to the camera. “It’s just so thrilling!” again she addressed Amelia. “And it isn’t just repeating phrases and words, is it? It’s actually communicating with you, with us.”

“
She,
” emphasized Amelia. “Really is communicating with us. She’s extremely intelligent. And so gentle and kind. They don’t deserve what these people want to do to them,” she pointed behind her, over the razor wire fence at the giant, electrified logo—a bold red
ASI
emblazoned against a white background. Underneath, in smaller lettering, it read, ‘
Archer Savage Industries.’

“Archer Savage and his client Davos Mann want to put devices in the brains of these peaceful little animals, and use them as weapons of war.”

“Oh, no. That’s terrible,” Kristy pleaded with the camera. “Think of it, ladies and gentlemen. These wonderful, intelligent little creatures being sent to the battlefield. Is this something we really want done in our name?”

“We want our friends back,” Amelia said. “And we also want to warn everyone.”

“Warn us? About what?”

“About Davos Mann. What he is, and what he’s got planned. I must admit, what I’m about to tell you might sound a little farfetched.”

“You mean more farfetched than a talking teddy bear,” Kristy gestured to Ayita. The little animal’s spirit clothes darkened again.

Amelia said, “I didn’t truly believe until I saw it for myself. Something’s here, in Willow. An evil presence.”

“Evil?” Kristy sounded suspicious. “You mean the evil of greed and animal cruelty?”

“Well, yes. And also another type of evil. Pure, so strong it manifests into a living being that walks and talks, and does much more. He can change his appearance at will, move things with his mind, destroy with a thought. He’s here. And he wants the Tanakee.”

“Okay now,” Kristy took a breath. “Let’s calm down. Things are starting to get a little bit weird.”

“Enough of this, already!” shouted Ayita, her spirit clothes blazing. She jumped from Amelia’s grasp and ran to the cyclone fence, climbing to the razor wire on top. The cameraman followed her every move while she scurried side-to-side on the chain-link.

“Hey in there! Listen up!” she shouted. “Give me back my friend and my brother! Do you hear me! Let them go or you’ll be sorry!”

Kristy hurried to the fence. Even in high heels and a short skirt, she moved fast. Amelia was faster. She ran past Kristy and screamed up at Ayita.

“What are you doing! You’re gonna get captured!”

“I want my brother back! I want my friend back! What about Jack? Aren’t you worried about him?”

“Of course I am, but what happens if they get you, too? You’re supposed to protect me, remember?”

Ayita caught her in a deep stare. Amelia felt the pull of her hypnosis. She knew Ayita didn’t want to put her under the eyecatcher. She only wanted to get her undivided attention.

Amelia,
she said without words.
I
am
protecting you.

Ayita concentrated again on the fence, rattling the metal links, causing the posts to quake in their concrete footings. When she’d done enough damage to make the wire mesh come loose, she dropped to the ground and found an easy entry point for her tiny frame.

“Wait!” Amelia pointed at the main building in the corporate compound. Two sets of double glass doors opened and several of Savage’s well-dressed security agents poured out, all pointing forbidding rifles and rushing toward Ayita, their aura’s blacker than night.

Savage emerged. Strangely, he seemed to have no spirit clothes. Amelia guessed they were almost invisible, the sign of a hollow soul. He looked right at her. Her heart palpitated. Then he shot his icy glare to Ayita.

“Catch the creature!” he commanded. The security team ran even faster.

“No!” Amelia dove under the fence and snatched her protector. She crawled to the news crew, hiding behind Kristy.

“Uh, Hank?” Kristy asked. “Are you getting this?”

“I’m rolling,” he peered into the van. “We’re still live!”

“Give me the creature!” Savage approached the barrier. “It’s my property!”

“Mr. Archer Savage,” Kristy cleared her throat and stepped forward. Amelia stayed in her shadow, carrying Ayita. “Owner and president of Archer Savage Industries, a major defense contractor. This girl tells us you plan on exploiting this incredible little animal. Do you have anything to say?”

Savage lowered his brow at Hank and his video camera. He squared his shoulders to the lens. “No comment,” he waved his hand. “Get the creature!”

One of the agents ran to a small shelter near the compound entrance. A second later, an electric motor droned and whined while the main gate opened. The security team filtered through, spilling into the large, empty lot.

Kristy stood firm, allowing Amelia to stay behind her.

“Ladies and gentlemen, what you’re witnessing is a travesty. This creature should be allowed to live a free, natural, happy life.”

Hurriedly, the agents formed a circle around them.

“Lady, I’m warning you,” Savage barked. “You’re interfering with matters of national security. You don’t know the first thing about those creatures. They’re dangerous, and need to be controlled. Now move aside and let us have it.”

A dull roar directed all eyes up at the solitary road into and out of that part of North Point. An old, dented pickup rumbled down the hill, followed by a newer, white sedan, then a red, sporty number. One vehicle after another rolled in, straight for the center of the commotion.

“Get the Tanakee! Hurry!” Savage commanded.

Amelia tried to hold onto Ayita. The little creature’s strength seemed a hundred times greater than hers. Ayita shoved away and hopped to the roof of the news van. She scurried and dove on one of the agents, knocking the gun from his hands. They both tumbled. Before the man reacted, she sprang to her feet and struck him, rendering him unconscious on the spot.

Three more rushed her from opposite directions. She pushed off the ground, straight up fifteen feet. The agents stopped before they ran into each other, smiling and sighing in relief. Then they glanced up in perfect synchronization. Frowns replaced grins. Ayita fell on top of them, forcing them all to their backs.

Vehicles continued to show up. Cars, pickups, motor scooters, RV’s, even people on bikes—they started to clog the parking lot. Folks congregated. Chants flared up, along with tempers. Amelia heard a woman yell something about not harming cute, defenseless animals. The impromptu crowd roared in agreement.

If Ayita noticed the gathering, she didn’t let on. Her focus remained on the agents. She scurried to meet the advance of another small squad, rushing through their legs with the precision and swiftness of a humming bird. They had no chance. She sent each of them to the ground in agony, holding their sore extremities. She even punched one particularly stout man in the groin, dropping him like a stone.

With his agents beaten, on the ground, moaning and writhing, Ayita turned her attention to Savage. He shielded his eyes as she moved toward him, each stride quicker than the previous. He stepped back, searching the corners of his vision. After two reverse paces, he spun and sprinted to the entrance of his massive corporate center.

As Ayita pounced, Amelia held her own head, abruptly throbbing with a strident sting. Her tiny protector seemed on the verge of victory, yet she felt something was wrong.

POP!

One solitary rifle shot rang out. A bright orange dart hit Ayita while inflight, slamming her shoulder blade. She landed on the manicured grass a motionless, silver and black ball of fur.

A communal gasp gained momentum. Amelia searched the crowd for the shooter. She noticed someone holding a tranquilizer rifle. She blinked, feeling sick.

“Dillon Shane! Why!”

Dillon seemed ashamed at first. Then he stood straight, scowling. His buddy Mike slapped him on the back and he lowered the rifle.

Amelia’s stomach tightened. She threw her body over Ayita and within seconds felt someone pulling her. She kicked and thrashed, thinking it was Savage or his goons.

“NO!” she screamed until her lungs burned. “You can’t have her! You’ll have to kill me first! You’ll never get her from me! Never!”

“Amelia?” a familiar voice made her freeze. Her pulse thudded in her ears. Then she heard it again. “Amelia? Is it you? I’ve been worried sick!”

She opened her eyes. Someone stepped toward her and two arms reached down, pulling her into an embrace. She noticed the familiar, dark green spirit clothes.

“Mom!” she gasped for breath. “Don’t let them take her! Don’t let them take Ayita!”

Two agents approached cautiously, noticeably hurt from Ayita’s thrashing. Amelia pushed away from her mom and scooped Ayita into her arms, cradling her.

“She’s not the animal. You are! Stay away!”

“Amelia,” her mom spoke calmly. Her thick brunette bob was salon perfect, as usual. “Honey, you’ve got to listen to me. Can you do that?”

Amelia burst into tears, chin chattering, hands trembling.

“Honey. I know you think you’re doing the right thing, but you have to let these people have their animal back.”

“It was never theirs in the first place,” she pointed. Savage maneuvered closer. “He’s a liar! He stands to make a fortune off the mistreatment of the Tanakee, but we won’t let him!”

Other agents began to recover. They stood, shaking off the pain. Savage oozed confidence. He strode to Amelia, putting out his hands.

“You heard your mother, little lady. Hand it over.”

A buzz permeated North Point. She heard some agreeing with her, saying Ayita should be set free. Others sided with Savage, arguing loudly about the town needing jobs, needing the revenue, and saying naive little girls should stay out of the business of an important defense contractor.

“Amelia,” her mother wore a grave expression. “I just think it’s best if you give it back to the man. It’s his property.”

“No, Mom! It’s not!” her protest didn’t matter. Her mother took Amelia’s elbows while one of the agents tugged at Ayita. “NO!”

Shrieks erupted. The agent wrestled Ayita from her grip. Savage snatched the Tanakee immediately. Another agent sprinted and placed a metal box wrapped in a series of copper wires at his feet. Savage opened it and stuffed Ayita inside. After he locked the container, he picked up his prize and smiled, waving his hand.

“To those who understand and support the important work we at Archer Savage Industries are doing to protect this country, I say thank you. Now, we must get back to that critical work. I just hope my specimen wasn’t tampered with by this, this child.”

He started for the building, his agents following, limping, hopping, cradling their injuries.

“Where’s Dad!” demanded Amelia, shaking her mother’s shoulders. “Where is he? He’d understand! He’d help me!”