was no rumor.”
“Trust me, Becky, nothing’s gonna happen.”
Just then, another earthquake swept over the island as unexpectantly and as quickly as summer lightning. When she Sea Duck began careen dangerously on the waves, Rebecca shrieked and threw herself into Baloo’s arms.
Then, the earthquake ended as abruptly as it had begun.
However, Rebecca didn’t seem to notice. Her eyes squeezed shut, she clung to Baloo with all her might.
Baloo’s feelings were badly mixed. On the one hand, he liked being hugged by her. In fact, he really liked it. On the other hand, he was becoming increasingly embarrassed, because now he felt as if they were being watched, not by some mysterious strangers, but by Kit and Molly. The embarrassment finally won out. He tapped her on the shoulder. “Uh, Becky?”
“Hmm?” she murmured absently.
“Earthquake’s over.”
“Oh! Right!” Blushing, Rebecca let go of Baloo and took two steps backwards. She cleared her throat self-consciously. In an overly nonchalant way, she said, “Well, better get to bed. We have to get up bright and early. And don’t even think about sleeping in.”
Baloo chuckled a little. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“Yes, well...” Without another word, Rebecca disappeared into the dark cargo hold and climbed into bed beside Molly.
Shakenquake Island
The Next Morning
As they climbed up the broad, somewhat gently sloping hill that led to the lake, Rebecca’s anxious eyes darted around at the jungle that seemed to press in around them. It was eerily silent as if the island was devoid of life. Not only were there no animal calls, cries, or snufflings, but there didn’t seem to be any insects, either. There was just the ‘shh’ of the wind tickling the palm trees and a low, intermittent rumbling from deep within the island.
The bearess turned her attention back to the path. Ahead of her was Kit, and ahead of Kit was Baloo with Molly perched on his shoulders. Baloo was slashing through the vegetation with a machete. “Where are we? How much farther?”
Letting the machete fall to his side with a tired sigh, Baloo swiped his arm across his sweaty forehead. Molly offered him her handkerchief. The big bear took it with a grin and tweaked her toes.
Kit, compass and sketchbook in hand, said, “According to the map, the lake shouldn’t be much farther. Just up and over this hill.”
Rebecca peered over Kit’s shoulder at the map. “Why would anyone throw jewels in a lake?” she wondered.
“‘Cause they wanted liquid assets?” When his boss shot him an annoyed look, Baloo added, “What? I picked it up from you.”
Hearing a twig snap, Rebecca said, “Hush!”
“No need to bite my head off, ‘cause I ain’t an MBA or ABD like you, lady,” Baloo growled.
Rebecca clamped a hand over his mouth. Her voice sank to a whisper. “I thought I heard something.”
“W-w-what kind of a something?” Baloo stammered, drawing Rebecca and Kit closer to him as they peered, frightened, into the forest. “Large animal somethin’ or cannibal somethin’ or...?”
Molly pointed to a rustling bush. “It’s over there!”
Rebecca whispered, “Baloo, go check it out.”
“Me?” the big bear exclaimed.
“Yes, you.” Rebecca gave him a little push forward. “You’ve got a knife.”
From the bushes came a low, scruffy voice: “What are ya mangy swabs doing on my island?”
“Your island?” For good measure, Baloo tacked on, “Sir?”
“Aye, for ‘tis the feared pirate Captain Juan Toomanie.”
End of part 3
Baloo’s Clues
Part 4
TaleSpin and its characters are the property of Disney / Buena Vista Co. and are used without permission. All other characters are mine and cannot be used without permission.
Shakenquake Island
Kit squeaked, “Captain Juan Toomanie? The scourge of the Seven Seas?”
“The greatest pirate ever?” Molly added.
“Not to mention the handsomest...” Rebecca said with a dreamy look in her eyes.
Baloo was the only one who wasn’t impressed. “Wait a doggone minute! You’re that guy who has a flea-brained parrot for a pet!”
A green parrot with a tuft of blue feathers atop his head flew out of the bushes. He looked indignantly down his hooked beak at Baloo. “Who are you calling flea-brained, tubby?”
“A talking birdy!” Molly squealed happily.
“It’s Ignatz!” Kit said, recognizing his friend.
Baloo groaned. “Aw, man, now we got trouble.”
As Ignatz circled around Baloo, he said in perfect imitation of Grouchy Marks, “I never forget a face, but in your case, I’ll be glad to make an exception.”
“Why, you...!” the big bear growled, attempting to swat at the bird.
“Why me?” the parrot rejoined with an exaggerated sigh as he easily dodged around Baloo’s hands.
“What are you doing here, Ignatz?” Kit asked.
Ignatz settled on the boy’s shoulder. “The Museum of Natural History let me have a vacation, so I thought I’d revisit my old home. Bwak! What are you doing here?”
“Treasure hunting.” Kit quickly brought his feathered friend up-to-date.
“That sketchbook was part of Captain Juan Toomanie’s plan to pass on his legacy to one member of his pirate crew,” Ignatz explained. “The way he meant it to work was that whoever could decipher the clues would gain control of all of his wealth as well as become Captain. But before he could tell any of them about his plan, he died. After his death, the pirates, who weren’t very bright, sold everything they thought wasn’t of value, including yours truly, to that flea market.”
Before Baloo could make a snide comment involving Ignatz and fleas, Rebecca said eagerly, “You mean there really is treasure here?”
“Yes. Bwak!” Ignatz replied, nodding. “Juan Toomanie was a smart old pirate. He hid his loot in several places all over the world. The largest stashes were Carlsbear Caverns and here. But thanks to a fat bear, who shall remain nameless...” he shot a pointed look at Baloo, “the loot at the Carlsbear Cavern is buried under two tons of rubble. Hey, that’s almost as much as you weigh, Baloo.”
Rebecca giggled.
Baloo glowered at her, then glowered at the bird. “Anyone up for a little snack, say, fricasseed parrot?”
Kit asked, “Can you take us to the treasure, Ignatz?”
“Sorry, Kit. I solemnly promised Captain Toomanie that I would take that secret to my grave.”
“Which might be sooner than you think,” the pilot said, rolling his sleeves up menacingly.
Rebecca chided him. “Oh, stop arguing with the bird, Baloo.”
Sullenly, Baloo muttered, “He started it.”
At the Lake
After going over the hill and through the woods, er, jungle, the Higher for Hire crew finally made it to their destination - a sparkling, sprawling lake cupped in the basin of the extinct volcano.
Ignatz took a deep breath as he took in the beauty of the calm waters, the gently sloping vine-tangled banks surrounding them, and the puffy clouds lazily floating overhead. A faraway look came into his beady black eyes. “Captain Toomanie always thought this place was the cat’s pajamas, the bee’s knees, the best thing since sliced bread, the...”
“Speakin’ of bread, where’s the dough?” Baloo interrupted impatiently. Ignatz was getting on his nerves. Ever since the parrot had met up with them, he hadn’t stopped chattering.
Kit consulted the sketchbook. “In the picture, the letter ‘S’ is written in the middle of the lake.”
“The treasure is at the bottom of the lake?” Molly cried. “How are we s’posed to get it?”
As Baloo moved closer to the lake, he slipped on some wet vegetation. Arms flailing wildly, he slid down the embankment and banged into a vine-covered rock. “Yeow!”
“What are you doing, Baloo?” Rebecca said sternly.
“It ain’t the jitterbug,” he said through clenched teeth as he hopped up and down in pain. “I stubbed my toe on somethin’.”
Smiling sarcastically, Ignatz said, “You know what they say: Time wounds all heels.”
When Baloo noticed something gleaming through the vines covering the rock that he had just stubbed his toe on, he began to rip off the vegetation. “Hey, guys, take a gander at this.”
It turned out not to be an ordinary rock, but a grey stone dias. It stood about four feet tall with a narrow cylindrical pedestal and a round top. There were six small indentations in the center of the top - five round, one oblong.
But what really caught their attentions were four large jewels sunk into the perimeter of the top of the dias like the four points of a compass. Each had been carved into a different shape - a ruby heart, an amethyst flower, an emerald bird, and a topaz sun.
Baloo turned to Ignatz, who was sitting on an overhead branch. “Does this have something to do with the treasure?”
Ignatz folded his wings and gave the big bear an impudent look from his lofty perch. “I’m not saying one single word.”
“Aw, c’mon. A minute ago, we couldn’t shut ya up.”
“Fiddle-dee-dee,” Ignatz replied in imitation of Scarlett O’Mara.
Kit brushed the remaining leaves and dirt from the top of the dias. “Look, there’s an inscription carved around the outside. ‘In time of need, turn to what you treasure most.’”
Rebecca, who was almost salivating over the jewels, asked, “How can you choose?”
“Whatever you do, choose carefully,” Ignatz warned. “Juan Toomanie sure liked booby traps.”
Rebecca traced the six indentations with her finger. “What could these be for? They’re in the shape of a...a triangle with a stem?”
“Looks like an arrow to me,” Kit surmised.
Molly piped up, “What about the marbles?”
“Honey, this is no time to be playing marbles,” Rebecca said absently, trying to pry the amethyst off the dias with her fingernails.
“Molly’s right,” Baloo said. “I bet the marbles would fit in them holes. Wish we had ‘em now.”
“But we do, Baloo.” The little girl fished the five marbles that they had collected from all over the world out of her pockets
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