Dark Ride (15 page)

Chapter 47

The radio call for help has been answered. The rotund Oliver Sparkman arrives first on the scene.

“What's up, Clyde? The Enchanted Forrest giving you fits?”

“Yep, it's been moody all night,” Clyde answers.

He doesn't want to take the time to explain the entire story to the middle-aged public relations manager, nor does he have the time to be picky. Oliver Sparkman is a likable type but not the sort of guy you would call for any heavy lifting and possibly one of the last people Clyde would have called for in this situation

“I came as soon as I could. I was taking care of a kid who was puking his guts out on the roller coaster. Apparently, too much popcorn. That butter gets ‘em every time. What amazed me is just how much—”

“Oliver, come with me. We're going into the ride,” says Clyde. Although he likes Oliver well enough, his babbling sometimes gets on the old man's last nerve.

“What's this all about?”

“Four teens inside”

“Practical jokers, eh? Reminds me of that time that Bailey kid—”

“Oliver, we need to go now.”

“Geez, Clyde, you sure are all hot and bothered.”

Another employee ambles up to the duo.

“Oh good, Colton is here. I caught him trying to clock out. I told him you had called for backup and he would be staying for a while.”

Colton Spurlock is obviously testy and says, “But I was supposed to get off 20 minutes ago.”

“What, you got a date tonight kid?”

The older teen glares at the two men and says, “Yes.”

More pleased with the athletic and younger arrival, Clyde declares, “You're with us now, captain. Let's get in there.”

A voice from across the way calls, “Clyde!”

Now what?
Clyde thinks.

Gwen walks deliberately up to the other employees accompanied by a large man with a black ponytail and flannel shirt, who is followed by a blonde lady in an aqua tank top and jogging pants with a small child clinging to each hand.

“These are the Carnahan's,” informs Gwen. “I told them what's going on.”

“Houston Carnahan,” the large man announces. “My kids are stuck in there, huh?”

I don't have time for this
, thinks Clyde. “Look, Mr. Carnahan, we're going in there to bring the kids out. There is no reason to be alarmed. We just wanted to make sure you knew—company policy. Now, if you'll excuse us.”

This time the lady speaks and asks, “Our kids aren't causing any trouble, are they?”

In spite of Clyde's attempt at deadpanning the situation, she is obviously concerned.

“No, ma'am. Just stuck. This thing happens every day. We will go in and get them. Stay here, and I am sure they'll be out here in no time. Look, will you call the other parents? The Braddocks and, uh, the Chick kid's—”

“Father. Mason Chick lives with his father,” says the Mrs. Carnahan, finishing Clyde's thought.

Clyde thinks,
Titus Chick—that's right. How could I forget him?
He tells Mrs. Carnahan, “Yeah, good,” and then says, “Gwen, make sure the Carnahans are taken care of.”

“I'll go in with you,” Houston Carnahan declares.

“Sorry, Mr. Carnahan, I can't let you do that. Really, everything is fine.”

Oh man, we're losing time
, thinks Clyde.

This time, Oliver chimes in and says, “Company policy, Mr. Carnahan. Listen, if I had a nickel for every time we handled a situation like this, I'd have like fifty-eight dollars. Ha ha!”

Clyde thinks,
And if I had a dollar for every time I heard Oliver tell that anecdote….
In spite of the lame joke, Houston Carnahan seems appeased for now.

Why did you leave them in there by themselves?
Clyde asks himself as he heads for the entrance.

Chapter 48

Amy is reading and re-reading the recipe to Scotty. Her brother carefully pinches a second moth wing and removes it from a glass bottle.

“You think Mason'll be okay?” Amy asks.

“It's Mason,” says Scotty as he pours a blue liquid into the concoction he's brewing.

“Are you sure you got three ounces of harpy spit?”

“Amy, that's the fourth time you've asked that. I know what I'm doing.”

Scotty is standing over a counter looking down at a wooden mixing bowl. Amy thinks,
This is the boy who cannot make a grilled cheese sandwich and now we are trusting Jack's life to him?

“Does it matter which order you put them in?” Amy asks.

“Were mixing them together. What does that matter?”

“I don't know, it's just—”

“Maybe you should check on Jack?” Scotty asks, although it's not really a question.

Setting the book down, Amy walks over to the table where Jack lies. The boy is breathing deeply and doesn't show any movement aside from an occasional shudder. The wound has turned a hideous dark green with traces of purple lines circling around the fang punctures.

She had always liked Jack. Ever since her family had moved north from Louisiana when she was four, he had been kind. While Scotty's other friends, especially Mason, had tormented her, Jack was always gracious. One winter's day four years ago. she decided that she liked Jack Braddock. They had all been over at the Zuckermans' for a Christmas party, and the kids were down in the basement seated around a pea green card table, killing time playing Uno and eagerly awaiting the signal from upstairs that it was time for presents. The TV was playing the old black and white movie
It's a Wonderful Life
. None of the kids were paying much attention until a scene depicting a school dance played. The conversation that ensued became etched in her memory.

Mason was already oozing with confidence and announced, “When I'm in high school, I'm going to date every cheerleader in school. What do you think, Scotty?”

“Uh, I don't know. Girls are gross. You don't live with three of ‘em,” said Scotty as he placed a yellow card on the discard pile. “Draw two, Teddy.”

“You may not like them yet, but just wait, Scotty boy,” Mason continued. “I already have a girlfriend, and I even held her hand at the basketball game last week.” He discarded a red card on the stack.

“Yuck,” Teddy Zuckerman mocked.

From over a large fan of cards, Jack looked in awe of the bragging Mason and asked, “You held Ginger Lopez's hand?”

“Yep, I'm gonna kiss her, too. I'll be the first one of us to kiss a girl. I bet you're thirty years old before a girl will kiss you, Braddock.”

In defense, Jack looked around the room and said, “Yeah right, I'll kiss a girl before you'll ever talk Ginger Lopez into that.”

“Who you gonna kiss Jack, Blair?” Mason challenged.

The other three boys laughed mockingly. Scotty in particular snorted in violent laughter.

At this point, irritation was visible on Jack's face. He said, “Maybe I'll kiss your sister, Carnahan!”

Laugher erupted from the boys all around the table, and Amy blushed a dark hue of red.

“Boom! Oh, he got you good, Scotty. Nice one, Jack,” Mason chuckled.

Embarrassed beyond belief, Amy looked at Jack.

He grinned wryly at her and winked as if to say, “Nothing personal.”

But from that day on, the idea of being close to Jack Braddock made her heart beat faster. He had been joking, she thought for sure, but sometimes found herself wondering, “What if….?”

And now, here he is, fragile and suffering on the table. Earlier that night, she had, for the first time, felt like Jack had shown real interest. Something had been stirring in him, she is sure and thought he had even been close to taking her hand.
Things had been going so well
, she thought,
until that jerk, Mason, convinced them all to get out of the cart.

All she can do is hope—hope that the jerk would come through and bring them the viper.

Chapter 49

“Cautious, very cautious. We don't want to end up like ol' Braddock back there, do we?” says Mason to himself.

He thinks it is only natural that “Mason the magnificent” would have to save the day again. However, previously it took all the courage he could muster to pick up the thing, and his bravado fades as he makes his way through the snow-filled room. He asks himself,
What was I thinking?
“Here, snakey-snakey,” Mason says as he cracks open the door to the cave room slightly. “Okay, snake, you got one of us. Are you satisfied now?”

There is no response, and Mason wonders if he is in there.

“Look, we need your help,” Mason says.

After another moment of silence, Mason hears a hiss from across the room.

“Why would I help you? You tried to kill me, twice?”

“You are the one who started the biting stuff.”

“Only because your friend tried to smash me.”

Sensing the snake is still far away from the doors, Mason steps into the room. The snake lays coiled in front of the woodpile.

“Look, you got what you wanted. You are here in the warmth, out of that cold room.”

“You are right. I am perfectly content here. There is no reason for me to help the likes of you.”

“Just listen, snake. Here's the deal. There is another warm room just back a ways. In it there are a couple of fat mice. I am sure you would like a little dinner.”

The snake appears to consider this and then says, “This does interest me, but how do I know you have the mice? You tried to deceive me once.” He hisses coolly and uncoils.

“Now, look, no funny business. I thought you might like a little proof.”

With his right hand, Mason reaches into a pocket of his shorts and lifts one of the mice by the tail. He asks, “How's this for proof?”

The snake hisses in delight and says, “Yes, excellent.”

“There are two more where this came from, but listen here,” commands Mason. He then reveals an item that had been dangling behind his back. It is the silver head of the hatchet, which glistens under the low lights. Mason states, “Don't make me use this. You come with me peaceably, and I'll let you at the mice.”

“No need to threaten, child. We have a deal,” says the snake as it glides close to Mason. Summoning courage and thinking again of Jack, Mason picks the snake up again. Trying not to envision the snake's gaping jaws and the horrid strikes, Mason holds the snake away from his body. The hatchet is held with his other hand, poised tight in his grip ready for trouble at any moment.

After crossing back through the snow-covered floor Mason leans into the doors that lead to the lab.
This has to work
…. he thinks,
for Jack's sake.

Chapter 50

“Look who's here for dinner!” Mason announces their arrival.

He holds the snake out for Amy and Scotty to observe. Both teens seem relived that Mason has accomplished the first step of their plan. Although Mason is still far from feeling comfortable about holding the cold-blooded fiend, he is at least keeping up appearances while dangling the critter before them.

“How's Jack?”

“His wound is getting worse, and he's started to shake and wheeze,” Amy informs.

“The mixture is ready, Mason,” says Scotty as he pours the ingredients into a glass vial.

The snake looks at Jack, and says, “That was a good bite, near his heart. I venture he has less than ten minutes.”

Amy growls lividly at the snake's remarks and says, “You, you horrible little creature! Does this make you happy?”

Mason resists the urge to chop the snake into bits with the hatchet. Instead, he tells the snake, “Okay, now you will do your part. We need some of your venom.”

“What are you doing? What for?” The snake asks.

“I don't think it's any of your business,” Amy fiercely retorts.

Mason keeps a cooler head and says, “You are going to help us make a potion that will cure our friend here.”

“You're wasting your time.”

“Do we have a deal or not?” asks Mason.

“Where are the mice? Let me see them.”

Amy walks to a shelf and removes a cage from its perch. She sets it gently on the floor beside Mason. Two other small cages rest on the floor there as well.

Mason shoves the snake at the cage and says, “There they are. Satisfied?”

“Oh, yes—they look so delicious. It has been months since I have had a mouse.”

Mason nods at Amy. He knows the girl does not like the idea of feeding the rodents to the predator.

“Venom for the mice. Okay?” Mason asks.

“Absolutely. I am at your service. But I must tell you there is no cure for my bite. If this concoction of yours does not work, I still get the tasty little morsels, right?”

“A deal is a deal,” says Mason and then adds, while thumbing the axe head, “but any funny business….”

Scotty rounds the table and approaches the snake nervously.

Mason readjusts his grip on the snake and asks, “So how do we do this?”

“I saw this on Animal Planet,” Scotty says. “Take your hand and push down on the top of his head. Uh, Mr. Snake, place your fangs over the rim of the vial.” Scotty holds the vial out away from his body and up to the snake. “When the fangs are there, push down gently, Mason.”

With his right hand Mason positions the axe under his arm. Then using both hands, he pushes down on the head of the reptile. Two small drops of clear liquid drip from the serpent's mouth into the vial and slide down the glass.

Mason moves the snake away from the vial.

The snake says, “There. You have your venom—now give me my food.”

Before Mason relinquishes his grip, he asks, “Is that enough, Scotty?”

“I think so.”

The group and the viper watch as the small drops blend with the red-colored potion. Scotty jiggles the vial to make sure the liquids combine. As he does, the ingredients turn a bright purple and a small puff of gray haze escapes from the vial.

Scotty nods, satisfied with his creation.

“Now, now! Let me have the mice,” the snake hisses.

“First, we make sure Jack gets the potion. Then you get the mice, just in case we need more,” Mason says and pulls the axe from under his arm and motions it in the air to remind the snake of just what could happen if he makes a sudden move.

Scotty walks over to the table where Jack, white-faced, sweating, and shivering lays.

Amy does not move from Jack's side, hoping and praying that the plan will work.

Watching with heightened anticipation, all parties look on as Scotty pulls at the bottom of Jack's jaw. With his other hand, he pours the contents down his friend's throat.