Meadowview Acres (37 page)

Feeling came back into Darren’s arms and hands as soon as he was lying in the back of the Blazer. His sensation of falling was fading. The curse had certainly taken its time getting to him, but then it packed a wallop.

He was exhausted. He was too tired even to sit up. Being far away from the safe was better, but the damage had been done. Sheriff Buchanon was not about to let him anywhere near the dig.

“We’ll have to do the rest with shovels,” he said. “Darren, don’t you move from that spot. Are we clear?”

Darren nodded his head with effort. He wasn’t going anywhere.

The band of four retrieved the shovels and went toward the pit. Hunter stopped at the top of the ramp to look inside the cab of the Catepillar. He knew how to drive a stick shift. He didn’t think it looked much different. He thought if he played with it a minute he could get the hang of it.

“Hey, Sheriff! You mind if I give this thing a go? It doesn’t look too hard.” Hunter was standing at the door to the cab.

Sheriff Buchanon thought for a second then said, “Ten minutes! Go ask Darren for a few pointers and then you’ve got ten minutes. After that, you’re digging with us! We can’t afford to waste time! That thing’s getting to all of us!” With that, he jogged down into the pit with the others.

Clara drove like a mad woman all the way to the woods. They were there in record time, pulling up to Bill and Mark in the Hamilton’s car.

Rolling down the window, Clara told the men, “We’re going in as far as we can. Shasta had some kind of weird vision; we think something’s happened.”

Bill spoke up first. “No way, young lady. You’re not going anywhere near that site. What’s happened with Shasta?”

Just then his phone rang. It was Valerie. Snatching it up, he said, “Val! What’s going on with Shasta?”

On the way to the site, Agnes and Clara had discussed the possibility of meeting with resistance. They had decided that since Agnes hadn’t been around the artifact, she would distract the men so Clara could drive on through. Clara looked at Agnes and said quietly, “I’ll be as fast as I can getting back with news.”

Agnes winked at her and said, “Be careful.” She got out of the VW and walked over to Mark’s car. Clara took the opportunity to throw the car into first gear and take off down the gravel road. She heard shouts behind her but she didn’t stop. The VW Bug was bouncing all over the gravel. It was barely staying on the path.

Clara was exhilarated. She didn’t need to stay at home waiting for her man to come save the day. The VW hit a low spot on the road forcing Clara to hold tight to the steering wheel. She wasn’t sure how far her car would make it down the path, but she was determined to get to Hunter.

Deciphering the instructions from Darren had been difficult. He was so weak. Hunter thought Darren was more affected than they realized. He didn’t seem to be getting any better. Hunter knew time was not on their side. He bolted from Darren to the Cat and climbed up into the cab.

It smelled earthy and musty in there. There were pictures of Agnes and Darren taped to the dash. It made Hunter sad to look at them. He turned the key and the engine came alive. Remembering the instructions from Darren was easy – putting them into action was a little harder.

Hunter found the clutch and the gas pedals. Then he played with the controls for the bucket. Up, down, tilt, left and right. He repeated those several times. When it came time to actually move the bulldozer forward, there was an awful screech from the motor. He had obviously done something wrong.

Looking out the front of the cab, he could see the other three shoveling dirt. The sheriff looked a little panicked and Hunter knew Eli felt horrible. Deputy Clay’s shirt sleeve was covered with the blood that he continuously wiped away from his nose.

“I’ve got to get this,” Hunter said to himself. He felt the responsibility sitting heavily on his shoulders. He spit more stomach acid out of the window. His stomach cramps were all but natural to him by this time. Pulling together all of his concentration, he moved the controls and the Cat crept slowly forward. Hunter practiced a scoop with the bucket. He got some earth and backed up the rig. Repeating this a few times, he seemed to get a little more efficient.

“Hunter!” Sheriff Buchanon yelled from below. “Have you got that thing under control?” He had been watching Hunter’s progress as he shoveled. He had given him more than the ten minutes because he could see that Eli and Michael weren’t going to be able to shovel for very long, and it looked like Hunter might be able to work the rig.

“I think I’ve got it,” replied Hunter. “You all get out of there and let me try!”

The three vacated the hole and watched as Hunter guided the rig shakily down into the pit. He scooped a small amount of earth, but on his way back up he lost control of the bucket and dropped the load onto the ramp. Cursing to himself he tried again. He did better that time and better, still, the next load.

Sheriff Buchanon said a silent prayer as he watched Hunter improve. He didn’t want to let on, but he was really worried now. Eli had mentioned a couple of times how strange it was that it was getting dark so early in the day. The Sheriff looked at the dappled sunlight shining through the woods. He looked back at Eli. The boy was squinting at the bulldozer. Sheriff Buchanon wanted him out of there.

“Hey, Eli!” He called to the boy. Eli came jogging over ready to help.

“Yeah, Sheriff?” He squinted up at the sheriff with a questioning look.

“Go back there and keep an eye on Darren for me, would you? I don’t feel right leaving him alone.” He thought that was better than saying, “You look like hell, and I think you should get far away from that rock.”

“Sure, but what about shoveling?” Eli was determined to help put that thing into the ground.

“I’ll call you if we need you. Right now, I’m more concerned about Darren. Go on now.” Sheriff Buchanon felt relief as he watched the boy leave the site.

Eli trotted back to the Blazer and Sheriff Buchanon turned his attention to Deputy Clay. “How’re you holding up, Michael?” He asked.

“Reckon I’m fine. Just that sickly feeling and this dang blasted nose bleed,” Michael said. “How much longer you think this’ll take?”

Sheriff Buchanon looked back at Hunter on the rig. He was getting better with each pass but still a far cry from Darren’s expertise. Maybe another hour until the hole would be deep enough. Would that be too long? The spots in front of his eyes were sparkling bright blue.

Clara was making good time on the path. Her little VW was just light enough that it felt as if she were on an ATV. She had left the gravel path some six miles behind her. The dirt one she was on now was easy compared to the gravel. The path that the convoy had left was easy to find. The tire tracks from all the heavy vehicles stretched out before her like a beacon.

“I’m coming, Hunter,” she said to herself inside the empty car. “I waited too long to get you to lose you now.”

Shasta had been frantic after Clara and Bug’s theory had been revealed. She was convinced now that something horrible had happened to Darren. She knew their connection was strong. She had no trouble believing it was possible for her to sense that he was in trouble.

Val and Ann had calmed her down as much as possible. Val had learned from Bill that Clara was on her way down the path to find the site of the dig. Shasta seemed to settle down a little after hearing that. Help was on its way. She didn’t know exactly what Clara could do, but maybe she could get him out of there and back to safety.

The room had taken on a stressful quiet. Bug had retreated to one of the chairs by the window. She looked small and frightened as she gazed outside. Her mind was frantically working – willing someone to come back.

Margy Buchanon was sitting with Lara. They were holding hands and looking somber. Communication wasn’t necessary. Everyone in the room was thinking the same thing.

Come back safely…

“Stop!” Shouted Sheriff Buchanon. He was sure about twenty minutes ago that Hunter had hit twelve feet down, but he had wanted him to go a little farther for peace of mind. Now he was positive – it was time to bury the safe.

Hunter backed up the ramp, cut the engine and hopped out of the cab. He bent over to spit then asked, “Are we there? Is that it, Sheriff?” Hunter was pumped. He had gotten into the rhythm of the work. The repetition of the controls had made it easy for him to improve steadily and, forty minutes later, they were finished.

Eli had heard the shouts and run back to see what was happening. He got to the dig just in time to see Sheriff Buchanon struggling with the safe. He seemed to be stumbling. Eli could tell that it was getting darker outside, but he could see well enough to help. He ran over to the Sheriff and relieved him of the load.

“Let me take it, Sheriff. I’ll get it down there,” he said. As the weight of the safe transferred over to him he felt a shift in the earth, like a bump, and his knees buckled. He recovered quickly and started down the ramp with the safe.

Sheriff Buchanon didn’t argue when Eli took the safe from him. The flashing blue lights were assaulting him with fierce brightness. A sharp pain had started over his left eye. He watched as Eli walked down the ramp with the safe. The scene had a strobe-like quality. “Bury that son of a bitch,” he thought.