bee. “Shakenquake Island!”
“Why’s it called that?” Molly asked, turning wondering eyes towards the pilot and navigator.
“‘Cause the ground shakes an’ quakes when you least expect it,” Baloo said.
There was a greedy look in Rebecca’s eyes as she scoured the cover for clues. “Now that we expect it, it won’t be unexpected.”
Baloo glanced apprehensively at his boss and nervously fiddled his fingers on the control yoke. He would rather have a root canal than go to Shakenquake Island. Unfortunately, he knew that he had little chance of dissuading Rebecca, especially with the prospect of treasure staring her in the face.
“Ah-ha! There’s a little ‘S’ in the middle of the lake in this picture. That means that the secret word is ‘jewels’.” Rebecca let out a gasp of excited realization. “Maybe that means that there’s more than one jewel!”
Baloo looked crestfallen. That money-hungry look that he hated was in her eyes. “We’re goin’ there, ain’t we?”
Rebecca nodded in determination. “We’re going there.”
Shakenquake Island
The setting sun was sinking in the western sky when Kit announced, “There it is. Shakenquake Island.”
As if she expected to be able to spot the treasure from 10,000 feet above, Rebecca pressed her nose to the window. It appeared to be a typical island: a speck of green in a vast sea of blue. However, centuries before, this palm tree covered, peaceful-looking island was a raging volcano, belching fire into the sky. When the eruptions ceased, the crater filled with rain water, forming a huge lake in the middle of the island. Over time, the fertile black cone, eroded by the elements, became covered with vegetation. But the island never quite seemed to forget its volcanic origins.
What was even more mysterious was that anyone who visited Shakenquake Island - from scientists bent on discovering its secrets to pilots making emergency landings - never came back.
A few minutes later, the Sea Duck pulled up alongside the black sand beach. Just as the propellers came to a stop, the cargo hold door flung open and Rebecca said, “The faster we get the treasure, the faster we can get out of here. Come on!”
Baloo grabbed her by her arm before she could jump out. “Feather your props, Becky! I ain’t trekkin’ through some jungle in the middle of the night. If the treasure’s waited this long to be found, it can wait a few more hours.”
“I can’t!” Rebecca snapped.
Baloo threw up his hands. “Fine. Have it your way, but don’t come cryin’ to me if you get eaten by a wild animal or drown in quicksand or...”
All of a sudden, their ears were filled with loud rumbling. The entire island, from the top of the cone down to the beach, trembled, causing the palm trees to sway. Coconuts, hurling through the air as if shot from slingshots, pelted the seaplane’s exterior. The sea surrounding the island was whipped into a white frenzy, thus causing the Sea Duck to violently rock from side to side.
“Mommy!” Molly cried out in fear as she bounced across the cargo hold.
“It’s okay, baby. Just hang o-o-o-on!” Rebecca yelled, teetering in the doorway.
Both Baloo and Kit attempted to grab their boss, but before they could, she completely lost her balance, toppled out of the plane, and did a perfect imitation of a Baloo belly-flop onto the beach.
When the tremors ceased, Baloo hopped out and assisted his boss to her feet.
Rebecca spit sand out of her mouth. Wearily, she said, “Okay, Baloo. You win. What was your suggestion?”
“Camp here tonight an’ start out tomorrow mornin’.”
Rebecca’s impatient retort died on her lips when she looked at the jungle. Baloo was right. She hated when he was right. It was getting darker by the second and it would be dangerous to try to traverse it in the dark. Moreover, the longer she stared at the jungle, the more nervous she felt. Not only was it deathly quiet now that the rumbling had stopped, but it seemed as if someone was watching them, “All right,” she said with a surreptitious shiver.
Baloo grinned, glad that she finally would listen to reason. “Great. You an’ Miss Molly scout out some wood for a fire while Kit an’ me start catchin’ the fish.”
“What I’d really like is a bath,” Rebecca said, shaking sand out of her hair.
“You’re in luck, boss lady.” Baloo made a sweeping motion with his hand. “We got us the whole ocean for a bathtub.”
“That’s almost big enough for you,” Rebecca said, jabbing at his rotund stomach with her forefinger.
“Hardy-har-har.”
A Little While Later
Shakenquake Island was so peaceful that it was difficult for the Higher for Hire crew to believe that the earthquake had ever occurred. The ocean, upon which was reflected the fiery sunset, spread smooth and calm all around them. The palm trees lining the beach were silhouetted dark against the sky, swaying gently in the breeze. Besides the quiet lapping of the waves and the ‘shh’ of the trees, the only other sound was the crackling that came from the cozy campfire built on the beach near the Sea Duck.
Just a little way down the beach from the seaplane, behind a large rock, Rebecca was helping Molly undress. “Stay close to the shore. You don’t know what might be out there.” The thought of sharks and giant squids crossed her mind.
The little girl, now clad only in her frilly undies, said, “I will, Mommy!” as she ran, giggling, into the water.
Rebecca paused with her fingers on the top button of her cardigan. She was reluctant to undress, but after that swan dive onto the beach, she felt like she really needed a bath. Every square inch of her felt gritty. She peeked over the rock screening her. Only Baloo’s cap was visible. She could hear the murmurs of her flight crew and the quiet splashes as they threw their lines into the ocean and reeled them in. They weren’t paying any attention to her.
Still...she had the eerie sensation that she was being watched.
She forgot all about it when Molly shouted, “Hey, Mom, lookee at how long I can hold my breath!”
Rebecca turned in time to see Molly’s head sink below surface of the water. Angrily, she shouted, “Molly Elizabeth Cunningham, you get up here right this instant!” When a moment turned to a minute, her anger turned to fear. “Molly? Molly!” Without further ado, she ran into the water and dove under the surface.
A little while later, Baloo felt something tug on his line. Then, his entire fishing rod bowed under the strain of something heavy. “Whoa, baby, this is it!” The big bear scrambled to his feet and dug in his heels to avoid being pulled into the water. Swiftly rewinding the reel, he shouted, “Get the net, Li’l Britches. I think I caught me a whale! What in the...?”
Instead of a fish, Rebecca and Molly came spluttering and coughing to the surface. Kit immediately dropped the net and ran to get blankets.
“Whale?” Rebecca choked out between coughs. “Who are you calling a whale?”
Kit draped blankets around the Cunninghams’ shoulders. “What happened?”
Molly, who was shaking with chill and fright, gasped out, “Big hole...under island...sucking me in.”
“Big hole?” Baloo cried.
Rebecca nodded silently as she held a coughing Molly. She alternately rubbed and slapped the little girl’s back. “That’s it, baby. Get all that water out.”
Kit shared a look with Baloo. “Earthquakes and now big holes. What kind of island is this?”
Shakenquake Island
That Night
“Why can’t I sleep on the top bunk?” Molly whined as he mother tucked her in.
“Because Kit’s sleeping there,” Rebecca explained. “Besides, you might fall out during an earthquake, Pumpkin.”
“No, I won’t.”
“Molly, don’t argue. Just go to sleep. We have to get up really early tomorrow to find the treasure, okay?”
Reluctantly, Molly muttered, “Okay.”
With a loving smile, Rebecca smoothed her daughter’s damp hair and kissed her cheek. “Goodnight.”
“Night,” the little girl echoed, a little petulantly.
Standing up, Rebecca smiled at Kit, who was lying on the top bunk. She gave his shoulder a fond squeeze and whispered, “Goodnight.”
“Night, Miz Cunningham.” He then leaned over the bunk to say, ‘goodnight’ to Molly. When he saw the little girl stick her tongue out at him, he returned the gesture. In spite of herself, Molly giggled; she could never stay mad for very long.
Rebecca got a coarse grey flannel blanket out of the closet and made her way towards the open back hatch doorway where Baloo was stringing his hammock. “Thought you might want this,” she said, offering him the blanket.
“Thanks.” Baloo flipped the blanket over his shoulder and returned to hanging his hammock.
From the safety of the cargo hold, Rebecca gazed out at the dark, forested island. The full moon hung over the top of the cone, now protruding from a misty cloud. Even though she would never admit it, she sensed that the island was giving her a fatalistic warning to stay away. Hesitantly, she said, “Do you think there really is a treasure?”
“Sure, don’t you?” Baloo gave the knot one last tug.
With a conviction she didn’t feel, Rebecca replied, “Yes, of course.” She wasn’t able to tear her eyes away from the island.
Following her gaze, yet seeing nothing of interest, Baloo said, “What’s up?”
“I keep having this feeling that we’re being watched.”
“Aw, that’s just your imagination,” Baloo said with a dismissive wave of his hand. “Nobody lives on Shakenquake Island.”
“But what about all of those stories that you and Kit were talking about at supper? The cannibals, the man-eating tigers...?”
“Probably just some crazy rumors to keep folks away from the treasure.” Under his breath, he mumbled, “I hope.”
Unconvinced, Rebecca murmured, “I suppose so. But that gigantic hole that tried to suck Molly in definitely was no rumor.”
“Trust
7659 visits
Report this fanfic
