McKenzie

by Shari Barr

  After taking pictures at the top, the group headed back down the stairs to the trail leading to the parking lot. When the bus was loaded, the driver headed toward Cape Perpetua for the final tour stop.

  After the bus parked, the girls followed the group and the tour guide down the trail to the shore. McKenzie breathed in the tang of the ocean as they approached a black rock ledge. The woman with the two small children pushed the baby in a stroller and held the hand of her young daughter.

  Crash! The waves hit the rocks below them, exploding over the sides and sending a towering spray of water high into the air. A fine mist floated on the breeze. Despite the warmth of the day, McKenzie shivered as the cool droplets touched her skin.

  “Wow! I see why they call this Devil’s Churn,” McKenzie said as wave after wave struck the rock. The spewing water reminded her of erupting volcanoes she’d seen on TV.

  Alex clicked away on her camera, focusing on the spraying water. She snapped shots of the craggy cliffs. On the distant beach, McKenzie saw a group of sea lions gathered on a ledge and heard their barking. She zoomed in with her camera and snapped a picture.

  Stepping away from the group, McKenzie wandered down the rock to a tidal pool set back from the shoreline. She noticed a small pool left behind from the high tide. It was filled with sea stars and shells.

  McKenzie reached into the cool water and pulled out a shimmering white stone. As she turned the rock over in her hand, she heard a cry from above.

  She turned to see a look of horror etched on the face of the woman. The woman screamed again. Her outstretched arm pointed to the Devil’s Churn.

  McKenzie gasped. A flash of a yellow dress disappeared beneath the surface of the spouting, churning water!

  The Hero

  McKenzie froze as shrieking voices cut through the roar of the crashing waves.

  “Help!” the woman screamed, trying to dash down the steep path with the stroller.

  Everything seemed to move in slow motion. Out of the corner of her eye, McKenzie saw someone jump into the water. She gasped as she recognized Alex’s thin figure plunging into the water and disappearing beneath the surface.

  “Alex!” she screamed. Her knees trembled as she ran toward the Devil’s Churn.

  Oh, dear God, save them both! McKenzie prayed urgently.

  McKenzie’s heart raced.

  Alex, where are you?

  She scanned the dark water. Her stomach twisted like the fury of the Devil’s Churn.

  Please, please, please, God. Don’t let the little girl or Alex drown. Help them!

  Suddenly Alex’s dripping form rose from the churning black waters, clutching a small figure. The little girl’s tiny arms clung to Alex’s throat like a necktie. Her dripping yellow dress was plastered to her tiny body.

  “I’m coming!” the mother yelled.

  “Somebody grab the little girl!” another voice cried.

  All around her, people scurried, frantically trying to help. McKenzie heard an ambulance siren. Someone had called for help. She realized she needed to stay out of the way.

  Instinctively, McKenzie raised her camera to her eye. She snapped a picture seconds before a teenage boy jumped into the water. He pulled the little girl from Alex’s grip and carried her to safety. A middle-aged man grasped Alex’s arm and pulled her out of the swirling water.

  The crowd cheered as the mother grabbed the soaked child. An older woman stood a distance away with the stroller. The mother stroked the little girl’s wet hair, clinging to her sobbing daughter.

  Scampering up the rock, McKenzie threw her arms around Alex’s trembling body. “Are you okay?”

  Alex nodded and panted. Water ran down her legs. She flung her wet hair out of her eyes and shivered.

  “I’m fine,” she said through chattering teeth.

  A white-haired man slipped his jacket around Alex’s trembling shoulders. He guided her to a rock out of the wind so she could sit in the warmth of the sun.

  “You were quite the hero, young lady,” he said, patting her shoulder.

  “Are you all right, dear?” his wife asked, settling beside her.

  Alex simply nodded as a crowd of people gathered around, fussing over her. She kicked off her tennis shoes. After pouring a stream of water out of them, she set them on the bench beside her. A young man in a blue uniform arrived with a first-aid bag. He raced to the little girl, still huddled in her mother’s arms.

  Another young man in a blue uniform appeared at Alex’s side with a blanket. The bus driver rushed up with a thermos and poured some coffee into a Styrofoam cup. “Take a drink of this. It’ll warm you up.”

  Alex lifted the steaming cup to her mouth. She shuddered as the liquid touched her lips. “Yuck,” she cried.

  Everyone laughed as Alex handed the cup back to the driver. A man came out of the visitor’s center with two T-shirts from the gift shop, and handed them to Alex and the little girl to put on.

  “Some people will do anything for a free T-shirt,” he said with a grin.

  Alex thanked him and slipped into the visitor’s center to change. When she returned, she carried a large bag of caramel popcorn and an orange slushy.

  “It pays to be a hero—you get all sorts of goodies,” she said with a giggle.

  Now that the little girl had been pronounced okay, the young mother pushed through the cluster of people and hugged Alex tightly. The little girl shyly clutched her mother’s legs. Alex bent over and hugged her.

  When Ally announced it was time to leave, everyone climbed onto the bus and found seats. The other passengers smiled at Alex as they walked down the aisle. Several shook her hand.

  “You were so brave, Alex,” McKenzie said, turning to her friend. “I just stood there and did nothing. You saved that little girl’s life.”

  Alex brushed her damp hair out of her eyes and blushed. “I guess because I’ve grown up around the water, I jumped in automatically.”

  “Weren’t you afraid you might drown?” McKenzie asked, taking a handful of popcorn that Alex offered.

  Alex’s eyes grew serious. “I didn’t have time to think about it. I could only think about that little girl.”

  McKenzie shuddered at the thought of what might have happened. Gazing at the camera in her lap, she thought, I sure hope the picture turns out. I want to surprise Alex with it.

  As the bus traveled down the road, McKenzie rested her head against the seat back and stared out the window. She watched the waves crash against the jagged rocky shoreline. Beside her, Alex leaned her head to one side, her eyes closed.

  McKenzie’s eyelids began to droop. Beep! Her eyes popped open as she dug her cell phone out of her pocket.

  The message read that one message was stored.

  How did that happen? Maybe it rang during the excitement, and I missed it, she thought.

  She punched buttons on the phone and listened to Kate’s message. “Hey, McKenzie. I’ve been doing some research and have found out some weird things. I did a background search on Mel and Tia Franks and printed off tons of articles.

  “I wasn’t going to be able to look at them until later, but guess what? Biscuit the Wonderdog pulled a page out of the printer and brought it to me. There was a picture of the Frankses and a story about them leading a spelunking expedition about ten years ago. You know, they explore caves and stuff. They even helped that guy write the book of Mr. C.’s that is missing. Give me a call when you can. Bye.”

  “Who was that?” Alex asked, opening her eyes and yawning.

  “Kate.” McKenzie snapped her phone shut. She glanced about at all the tourists and then said softly, “Biscuit has done it again. Finding that dog at Discovery Lake Camp is the best thing that ever happened to us—next to all of us meeting each other. I’m so glad Kate kept him. I’ll tell you about it when we get home. We’re almost back to the resort.”

  After the bus had parked, the girls said goodbye to the woman and her children. The woman asked Alex her name and where
she was staying. Then she hugged her once more.

  “Okay, what was the call from Kate all about?” Alex asked as the girls walked to their beach house.

  McKenzie relayed the message to Alex and said, “So, now I’m really confused. I thought for sure that strange woman I saw in Mr. C.’s cabin was the Frankses’ daughter, Nina. And I’m sure she tucked something under her arm that night. When he told us his book was missing, I was positive she had stolen it. But why would she want it if her parents helped write it? It doesn’t make any sense.”

  “It is weird,” Alex said, trudging up the back steps.

  “Kate wanted me to call her when I had a chance,” McKenzie said as she unlocked the door to the beach house.

  “Why don’t you do that now? I can’t wait to get out of these wet clothes.” Alex headed down the hall. “I’m taking a shower.”

  McKenzie grabbed her camera and settled in front of the computer while she called Kate. The line was busy, so McKenzie put down the phone to try again in a few minutes.

  Mickey trotted over and laid his head on her lap while she downloaded snapshots from the tour. She glanced at each one quickly, stroking Mickey’s head with her free hand. When she got to the one of Alex rescuing the little girl, she stopped and examined it.

  I’m not the best photographer in the world, but this one is pretty good. At least, I think it’s good enough for the contest. She smiled as she unhooked the camera from the computer.

  McKenzie glanced at the clock on the wall. She picked up her phone and clicked on Kate’s name again.

  “I’m so glad you called,” Kate said. “I’ve been thinking about this whole thing. Maybe the Frankses’ daughter did steal the book on caves from Mr. C.”

  “But why would she steal a copy? She must have one of her own. After all, her parents helped write it,” McKenzie said.

  “I found a summary of the book online. It’s supposed to be one of the best ever written on caves along the Oregon coast. I also read that the maps are thorough. Maybe Nina Franks didn’t steal the book for herself,” Kate explained. “Maybe she doesn’t want you to have the maps. Didn’t you say you were talking about borrowing the book from Mr. C. the night you discovered someone was listening from the Frankses’ back porch?”

  McKenzie thought for a moment. Then her pulse began to quicken. “That’s right. She and Mr. Franks know we’re looking for Mario and Bianca. Do you think they’ve got the sea lions hidden in a cave somewhere, and they don’t want us to find them?”

  “That’s what I’m wondering,” Kate answered. “I’ve contacted Sydney, Bailey, and Elizabeth. Everybody is searching the internet trying to find a copy of those maps. So, check your email often. If any of us finds anything, we’ll let you know.”

  McKenzie’s mind whirled as she hung up the phone. Could it really be that simple? Are the Frankses trying to hide the maps from us so we can’t find the pups?

  She looked up as Alex walked into the room drying her hair on a towel. McKenzie relayed everything she and Kate had discussed.

  “So, what now?” Alex asked, pulling a brush through her damp hair. “We just can’t sit and wait for them to find the maps. We could search the internet too.”

  McKenzie drummed her fingers on the desk. “I agree. We need to actually be out doing something. We see the Frankses a lot, so they can’t be going too far. We have to come up with a way to watch them and find out where they’re going.”

  “You mean spy on them?” Alex asked.

  The back door banged, and the girls turned around. Aunt Becca stepped inside and set a pizza on the counter. McKenzie sniffed the cheese and Canadian bacon wafting across the room.

  “How’s the celebrity?” Aunt Becca asked, grinning at Alex.

  “How did you find out?” Alex asked with a shocked expression.

  “The whole resort knows. Everybody is talking about it. They’re all saying, ‘You should have seen that little girl jump in the water to save that preschooler from drowning.’” Aunt Becca’s eyes sparkled.

  Alex groaned. “They called me a ‘little girl’? That’s disgusting. I’m twelve—almost a teenager.”

  “Hey, I am so proud of you,” Aunt Becca said, giving Alex a hug. “That woman was so thankful that she wanted to do something for you. She wants you and McKenzie to take your pick of the tours the resort offers, and she will pay for both of you. You only need to decide what tour you want and pick your tickets up at the resort lobby.”

  Alex looked at McKenzie, her eyes wide with surprise. “Really? We can go on any tour we want?”

  “That’s what she said. So, talk it over and decide what you want to do. Then we’ll set it up.” Aunt Becca placed three paper plates around the table and poured two glasses of milk for the girls.

  After saying the blessing, the girls each grabbed a slice of pizza. While eating, Aunt Becca talked about her day at work.

  “I even learned a few things today,” she said, laying down her fork. “I took an older gentleman, Mr. Tagachi, up today for a Skyview tour. Years ago, before Emerald Bay Resort was built, he ran a fishing boat off the coast here. He told me about an old sea lion harbor just up the beach a little ways. People used to go there and watch the sea lions.”

  “Yes, we went there the other day,” McKenzie said. “Remember? You picked us up.”

  “No, not that one,” Aunt Becca said. “That’s the tourist one. This is another one that sea lions hang out at. The fishermen used to refer to it as a sea lion harbor.”

  “Where is it?” McKenzie asked with her mouth full of pizza.

  “Just up the coast a little ways, but the sea lions no longer use it,” Aunt Becca said. “When the state blasted dynamite through the rock for a new highway, the ledge the sea lions used for nesting collapsed. That’s when the sea lions migrated farther down the beach to the current Sea Lion Harbor.”

  “What else did this guy tell you?” McKenzie asked as she flicked a piece of cheese at Mickey. He snapped it between his jaws and stared at her, waiting for more.

  “All sorts of stuff. He was quite the history buff.” Aunt Becca picked up her empty paper plate and stuffed it in the trash. “He knows all about sea lions and their habitats. I’d introduce him to you girls, but he’s heading back to his home in Texas in the morning.”

  Aunt Becca grabbed the leash from the hook by the back door. “Will you girls finish cleaning up? I need a good long walk before dark. I’ll take Mickey with me.”

  The girls agreed. Aunt Becca stepped outside with the dog dancing and yipping about her feet.

  McKenzie sighed as she sat in silence with Alex.

  “Maybe this guy would know where someone might hide sea lions, but now we can’t ask him,” she said. She popped a cookie in her mouth and thought for a moment. She pushed her chair back, propping her legs on the corner of the table. Then she glanced at Alex, and their eyes met.

  “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Alex asked after downing her last swig of milk.

  McKenzie grinned. “I’m thinking we need to use our free tour and go up with Aunt Becca in the Skyview. If we can’t talk to that guy, she can at least show us the old sea lion harbor!”

  Up, Up, and Away!

  “Are you sure you want to take the Skyview for your free trip?” Aunt Becca asked after breakfast the next morning. “I might be able to arrange a free trip if the plane isn’t already full and the other tourists agree.”

  “We know,” McKenzie said, “but then we’ll have to fly the regular routine. We just want you to fly us along the coast and look for caves. You can do that, can’t you?”

  “Sure, all flights are paid by the hour. So we can fly anywhere you want to go as long as we’re back in one hour. I can take you up later this morning.” Aunt Becca glanced at the clock. “But right now I need to run to the grocery store. Anyone want to ride along?”

  “Not me,” Alex said, sitting at the kitchen table in her pajamas. “I want to take pictures this morning while the light is
good. I’m still not sure what picture I’m going to enter in the contest.”

  “I’ll go,” McKenzie announced, thinking of the picture she wanted to print as a surprise for Alex.

  “Okay,” Aunt Becca said as she cleared the table. “When you’re dressed, we’ll go.”

  Twenty minutes later, McKenzie entered the supermarket and headed for the customer service department. While Aunt Becca shopped, McKenzie stuck her camera card in the machine and printed off a large picture. She quickly chose a mat frame from the rack and paid the cashier for both items.

  When she and Aunt Becca arrived back home, Alex was standing on the dock taking nature pictures. After hiding the framed photo under her bed, McKenzie joined her friend on the beach.

  Later that morning, Aunt Becca took the girls to the airport as promised. Within minutes the Skyview took off into the clear morning sky. The plane skimmed the treetops, and Aunt Becca circled above the resort before heading north along the beach.

  “Okay, look to your right,” Aunt Becca said as she managed the controls. “It’s high tide, but you can still see the cave in the side of the cliff that Mr. Tagachi told me about.”

  McKenzie peered out the window. At first she couldn’t see the cave, but then she spotted a dark hole in the rocks. Water from the cove rushed through the entrance, disappearing into darkness.

  “Doesn’t that look like the cave we found the other day?” McKenzie asked quietly so her aunt wouldn’t hear. “Right after the Frankses about ran us over.”

  “Yeah, I think you’re right,” Alex answered, lifting her camera and snapping a picture.

  “So there used to be a ledge there for sea lions?” McKenzie asked. She tried to imagine what the cove might have looked like years ago.

  “That’s what Mr. Tagachi told me,” Aunt Becca answered from the front seat. “When the ledge was destroyed, the sea lions moved farther south.”