The Great Scavenger Hunt (8 page)

What if we never find our way back to society again?
Maeve wondered. Maybe they would have to learn how to make houses out of leaves and tree branches, eat berries and squirrel meat, and start their own society. Maeve shuddered to think of the awfulness of it all.

When the Boggers had been wandering around the woods for more than an hour, Maeve had to tell herself to stop thinking that any moment a space ship would land and they would all be taken off to another planet where people had big huge bug eyes and collected human beings to keep in hamster cages. Her one consolation was that at least Riley would be with her, and they could hold hands and sing their troubles away.

“Isabel,” she whispered. “Doesn't it seem weird that in a place as tiny as Cape Cod we can't find any signs of intelligent life around?”

“I was just thinking the same thing,” said Isabel as she clutched her friend's hand. “I mean, what if we've like stumbled through one of those portals into another time
period, you know, like those kids in
A Wrinkle in Time
?”

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a voice boomed in the distance, “Arg, avast me buckos!”

Everyone froze—just like in the statue game. Riley looked like he was drumming. Betsy had her arms crossed like a stern first-grade teacher, and Fabiana looked very perplexed, with her head cocked to one side.

Maeve would have giggled if a horrified Isabel, her brown eyes wide with fear, hadn't said in a trembly voice, “What was that?”
Poor Izzy.
Maeve knew her friend hated anything scary. She reached over, grabbed her hand, and squeezed it gently.

“It sounded like pirates—real ones,” said Danny in a high-pitched voice.

Betsy nodded. “In pirate lingo that sentence translates to: ‘Who goes there, mates?' He sounds angry.”

Riley and Maeve looked at Betsy, who turned to look at Fabiana, who for some strange reason didn't seem nervous at all.
Is that a good sign,
Maeve wondered,
or has Fabiana already been taken over by the alien pirates?

Finally, Riley asked “Where
are
we?”

Betsy's face turned white. “The path should be right ahead….”

“Betsy!” Maeve exclaimed. “There is no path. The bug-eyed aliens are going to come join forces with the pirates, and the prince will never make it out of the swamp…. Oh,” she wailed, grabbing her hair, “why, why didn't we follow that map?”

“Are you okay, Maeve?” Riley looked worried.

For once, Betsy had nothing to say. She just hung her head, and shoved a couple of twigs around with her foot.

Fabiana ran ahead and turned around. “Please tell me someone else can see that.”

Isabel crept up to join her and gasped. “It's a…a…
village
! And is that a—”

“Pirate ship?” Fabiana finished and exhaled deeply. “Yes! Thank goodness. I thought I was losing my mind.”

“Thank goodness?” Isabel squawked. “No, no, no,
not
thank goodness. A pirate ship is a bad, bad, very bad thing.”

Maeve agreed and began to feel a little dizzy. Before them, in the clearing, was a village full of pirates and women in shabby gowns, carrying buckets of water. There was even a cow walking down the street.

“They look like real people,” Danny said matter-of-factly.

“And that's where they live,” Isabel whispered, pointing to the tiny little thatched houses and huge, colorful Native American tepees surrounding an enormous, very old-looking pirate ship. Men in raggedy britches were hoisting sails and shouting “Arrgh!” and “Shiver me timbers!” at each other, and the women, looking angry and feisty, were carrying trays of silver mugs overflowing with frothy liquid.

So this isn't just my imagination
, Maeve thought. They really had stumbled into another century, maybe even another dimension.
Could we actually be in Neverland?

“Oh, no,” groaned Isabel. “That man over there just saw me. Should we run?”

Fabiana touched Maeve and Isabel on the shoulder and motioned for the Cranberry Boggers to stand still and be quiet. Just as Maeve was wondering if Fabiana would be able to protect them, she heard a voice yell, “CUT!”

W
ith mouths agape, the Cranberry Boggers watched as the villagers stopped what they were doing and began acting normal. The pirates stopped talking like pirates, and, from out of nowhere, regular-looking people appeared, handing them coffee and water bottles.

“Oh, wow!” Riley exclaimed. “It's a real movie set.” He turned to Maeve and grinned. “We have just landed on Planet Pirate Movie!”

Duh! How could I, with all my professional actor experience, have missed something so obvious?
Maeve thought, looking up at the bright lights and wires hanging from the trees and the gigantic cameras lurking behind the houses.

Me and my imagination…,
she scolded herself as she clasped her hands together in delight. After all, a movie set was way more fun than a lost princess trying to battle
aliens while time traveling to some weird galaxy.

All of a sudden Maeve heard footsteps, but before she could turn around, a shadow fell over Isabel. Maeve had never before seen her friend jump so high!

“Who's there?” Izzy yelped, and, feeling shaken, turned to see a scowling woman wearing moon-shaped sunglasses and a backward baseball cap.

“Where have you kids been? Call time was over an hour ago.” She glanced at her watch and sighed. “Oh, well. I'm Bethany, the costume director. Come with me. Hair and makeup are waiting.”

“I think there's been some mistake,” a calm and in-charge Betsy began to explain. “We aren't with the movie. We're just on a field trip and we got a little lost in these woods.” Maeve knew that honesty was the best policy, but would it have killed Betsy to keep quiet just this one time?

The woman in sunglasses frowned. “Bummer. Ozmond is going to flip! How am I ever going to find replacements for extras at the last minute?” she sighed and walked away, slapping her hands against her legs in frustration.

Maeve's heart was thumping. “Wait!” she called out.

Bethany frowned and peered over the top of her glasses. “Look, I'm very busy here, in case you haven't noticed.”

“We could be your extras,” Maeve blurted.

Bethany turned around. “Hmm…you are the right age…. We needed more boys, but with the right costumes…We'll just need to get you some release forms,” Bethany
said, as her expression changed from
My life is quite possibly over
to
Things are definitely looking up
.

“Maeve, have you forgotten? We have clues to solve and we should be getting back to the bike path….” Betsy scolded. “Besides, who's going to sign our release forms?”

“
Dude!
” Fabiana whispered to Betsy. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!”

Betsy looked skeptical. “But—”

“We can take a break for a little while to
be in a movie!
” Fabiana assured her. Then she chimed to Bethany, “We'd be happy to fill in. In fact, I have signed photo and film-release forms right here!”

Bethany scanned the papers and nodded briskly. “Great! Everything seems to be in order.”

Fabiana to the rescue,
thought a grateful Maeve.

“After losing that map, I made extra sure to keep track of the envelope with all the papers,” Fabiana whispered to Maeve. “Lucky for us I did!”

Fabiana, who had played a starring role in the high school musical
West Side Story
, looked as eager as Maeve to be part of a real live movie. The other Cranberry Boggers' heads bobbed up and down enthusiastically. Being in a movie was something to tell their friends and family. The scavenger hunt was completely forgotten. “Follow me,” Bethany instructed, and marched toward the chaos.

A chorus of yays and woo-hoos erupted from everyone in the group. Except Betsy.

“What time period is this supposed to be?” she asked in a vintage Betsy
something doesn't look right
tone.

“1717,” replied Bethany. “This movie's about Black Sam Bellamy and the
Whydah
.”

Betsy put her hands on her hip and stared at Bethany in disbelief. “Has anyone here ever read a history book?” Betsy's eyebrows were furrowed in annoyance.

As the Boggers followed Bethany to a nearby trailer, Maeve chatted up a storm, hoping to distract Bethany from Betsy's comments.

“This isn't my first movie, Bethany. Last winter I was in an original remake of
Roman Holiday
, you know, the classic Audrey Hepburn movie?…It was called
Boston Holiday
. Isn't that cute?” Maeve scrambled to keep up with the determined girl who marched forward like a U.S. marine.

“Anyhoo,” Maeve went on…and on. “I wasn't the lead, even though the director wanted me to be…long story…it was a political thing, my dad said. You know how it is. I did play the supporting female lead, a charming little character called Nanny Nuna. Critics—mostly my mom and friends—said it was the most exciting portrayal of a kung-fu fighting nanny—”

Maeve stopped in mid-sentence. Two men in full pirate gear, surrounded by techies in black T-shirts, had passed behind the costume trailer. The pirates' faces were shaded by huge feathered hats. Maeve strained her neck to see…a familiar nose? She put her hand to her heart.
No, it just can't be. Not here on little old Cape Cod!
She would have heard about it…wouldn't she? After all Maeve Kaplan-Taylor was an official member of his fan club.
Somebody surely would have contacted me!

“Sooo,” Bethany said vaguely, completely ignoring Maeve's starstruck look. “Costumes are in here. See Corrine; she'll suit you up. Once you're dressed, go to that trailer for hair and makeup. And hurry, please…we don't have much time…and thanks for doing this, kids. Ozmond, he's the director, would have had a serious meltdown if I hadn't found you little lost-in-the-woods lambs!”

“No prob, Bethany!” Fabiana replied, leading the way into the trailer. Suddenly, the girl who couldn't find her map was in her element and in charge. Fabiana introduced herself to the costumer and directed the Boggers to line up. “Come on, guys. Chop, chop. These people have a movie to make.”

“Ozmond?” Isabel snickered to Maeve. “That's such a weird name. Do you think he's as weird as his name? Maeve…what's wrong?

“Oh, nothing, I just thought…”

Maeve was off in her own little world, which Isabel couldn't understand because they were standing right in the middle of the dreamiest trailer. Costumes were everywhere. They were practically hanging from the ceiling. The effect was dazzling.

Isabel's artist heart was enchanted by the racks of colorful silky dresses, rows of leather boots, slippers with ribbons, and boxes full of bonnets and felt pirate hats with big feathers. She wished she could paint the mix of colors and strange objects. And she especially wished Katani was here. The two of them would have a BSG blast creating outfits.

Corrine, the costumer, was a pale girl with choppy bright blue hair, and looked right at home among the wild outfits. She smacked her bubble gum noisily and tapped her foot as she scanned the Cranberry Boggers.

“You! Scullery maid,” she barked, dumping a maroon and brown folded pile into Isabel's arms. “You, kitchen wench.” She handed Fabiana some green and brown fabric and examined Danny and Riley.

“Just so you know, I was in my camp play
The Man Who Came to Dinner
,” Danny shared proudly. “I played THE MAN.”

“Awesome,” Corrine responded dryly. “Now you'll be the cabin boy.” She turned to Riley. “And powder monkey,” she pronounced.

“Cool!” breathed Riley. “I guess once a monkey, always a monkey, right?”

“You're the coolest mustard monkey I know,” exclaimed Maeve. Riley's band, the Mustard Monkeys, was his pride and joy, so he gave her a high five.

Corrine tilted her head at Maeve and Betsy.

Betsy prodded Maeve in the back. She blinked and gave Corrine her camera-ready smile. If Maeve got a starring role, she
might
get to meet those two pirates face to face! And if one of them was who she thought he was—well, life would be beyond perfect. But first things first.

“So Corinne,” she informed the costume mistress, “my best colors are magenta, light magenta, hot magenta, and French rose. Red hair, you know the deal. If there's maybe a princess part…or some kind of Tinker Bell
fairy-ish role…” Maeve raised her eyebrows hopefully. “I do a
great
fairy princess.”

Corrine loudly snapped her gum. “Well, today you'll be cleaning the poop deck as a
great
cabin boy.”

“The poop deck?” Maeve's face turned green.

Danny leaned over and explained, “The poop deck is a small deck that's also the roof of a cabin near the back of the ship.”

Corinne ignored him and nodded at Betsy. “You too, cabin boy.” The rest of the Boggers snickered as Corrine placed a pile of dirt-colored clothing into Maeve's once hopeful arms and handed an identical costume to Betsy.

Maeve raised her eyebrows. “I'm sorry, it sounded like you said ‘boy'….”

Corrine nodded. “I did.”

“Well, that won't work. See, I'm a girl.” Maeve held up a long, curly strand of hair to prove her point.

“No problem. That's what these are for.” Corrine held up two short-haired brown wigs.

Maeve gulped. Brown was so not her color!

“You see,” Corrine continued, “We asked for two female extras and the rest were boys. I'm sorry, but I'm fresh outta girl parts.”

“That's okay,” said Betsy in a haughty voice. She placed the costume on a chair. “I have three things to say. A. I am not an actress. While I regard the craft of theater as a noble talent, I myself am more invested, first and foremost, in academics. B. I would never
dream
of participating in a historical reenactment that peddled such—such well, let's
face it, historical inaccuracy.” She paused to take a breath.

“Honestly, there are tepees out there, tepees! And frankly, Corrine, anyone with half a brain KNOWS that the Native Americans in Massachusetts and Rhode Island were Wampanoags, and they didn't live in tepees, they lived in
wetus
.”

Betsy sighed and tossed a braid behind her shoulder. “And C. Corrine…I
don't
do wigs. Gosh, haven't you people ever heard of head lice?”

The rest of the Cranberry Boggers' mouths dropped open. Even Maeve had to admit, it was a pretty impressive performance. She was about to jump in and explain away Betsy's unique world view, when Isabel interrupted.

“Me too. I mean, not me too for the same reasons, even though, Betsy, your reasons were very, very good ones….” Isabel bit her lip and put the dress costume on top of Betsy's. “I just, I'm really, um, not big on…you know, acting or being filmed. I want to be an artist someday.” Isabel let out a
whoosh
like she had been holding her breath the whole time. Maeve felt for her. Isabel hated to make speeches in public.

Her hand shot up. MKT would save her friend from the horrors of being an actress. “I can take her place!” she volunteered and ran over to Isabel, dramatically clasping a grinning Isabel's hand. “I will be the scullery maid that you…could not. I will make you proud.”

“Oh boy, aren't you something!” Corrine tossed the maroon dress at Maeve, who clutched it to her like a bridesmaid cradling the bouquet. “Okay, girls, you change here.
Boys, go to the trailer to the left labeled—big shocker—MEN. I need you in hair and makeup in five. You two”—she pointed at Betsy and Isabel—“come with me.”

“That means five minutes,” Maeve explained as Corrine, Betsy, the boys, and one very relieved Isabel hustled out of the trailer.

Maeve and Fabiana were both in love with their costumes, which had glorious white puffy sleeves, tight waists, aprons, and long, flowing skirts complete with fake rips and patches.

“It's called
distressed fabric,
” explained Fabiana.

“I'm kind of worried,” Maeve confessed, tying a dark blue bandana around her red curls. “What if Betsy and her hysterically correct speech about this movie gets us all in trouble?” she asked.

Fabiana burst out laughing. “The word's
historically
, Maeve!”

“Whatever,” Maeve said as she twirled around to see how far out her skirt would spin. “The point is that Betsy was kind of obnoxious—the movie crew people might not like that.”

“It'll be fine.” Fabiana assured Maeve. “Drama types love take-charge people. It makes it easier for them to concentrate on their craft.”

Maeve pondered that wisdom for a second.

“Well, okay, “she said, “But personally I think that Corrine girl was kinda snobby, don't you?” Maeve asked confidentially as she looked around to make sure no one was listening.

Fabiana agreed. “Well, she sure wasn't what I'd call Miss Congeniality, but I still think that people who really care about what they do appreciate some honest feedback. And Betsy definitely shot her some of that!”

“You know, Fabiana, when you lost that map I thought maybe we were in trouble, but you really are a very sensible girl.” “Sensible” was the word Maeve's mother used whenever she was complimenting someone. So why wasn't Fabiana beaming? “Did I say something bad?” Maeve hated hurting people's feelings more than anything.

“No, it's just…well, I felt bad about that map,” Fabiana confessed as she looked over at the clock. “We'd better get over to hair and makeup.” At that both girls burst into giggles. Hair and makeup and a real movie set! Maeve and Fabiana were in heaven.

When she and Fabiana arrived at the hair and makeup trailer they found a very distressed Riley and a displeased Danny, both of whom were surrounded by lipsticks and brushes and jars of potions and lotions. Corrine was practically on her knees pleading. “Come on, guys. It will only take one minute,” she said.