“Sla—Kelile,” Morrigan interrupted, “Lance has already decided which way we’re going. Didn’t you look at the map he drew or read his instructions? We’re not changing things now.”
“Don’t you be talkin’ to me.” He flipped her shoulder with the back of his hand.
“And you keep your grimy hands off me!” She grimaced and stuck her tongue out at him.
“Quiet.” Lance repositioned the flashlight lying on the floor and smoothed out the national forest map between them. “We won’t make the final decision until we get closer to Wesser.” He pointed it out on the map. “By then, we’ll know how things are going. Maybe we will need food, or decide to go to Andrews first.” He looked up at Kelile. “But, you said it was your mother who wanted you transferred somewhere else. You don’t even know how she’ll react when she sees you. Right now, we’ll keep to my plan.”
“Lance,” Aishling said in a barely audible voice, “I don’t understand why we can’t paddle to Lake Fontana from Franklin instead of going to Otto. We could work our way to Santeetlah Lake by canoe. I bet we could get there a lot quicker and not have to be on the Appalachian Trail at all. Wouldn’t that be easier?” She smiled, having finally summoned enough courage to suggest it.
He began folding his map. “You guys, it’s my canoe and camping gear we’re using. It’s my experience you’re depending on. We’ve got to agree on what we’re doing or we’ll screw up and get caught. It’s that simple. You let me know by tomorrow if you’re willing to do this my way or not. If you’re not, you’re on your own.” He stood.
“I’m not trying to cause problems,” Aishling said. “Can’t you just tell me why you don’t like my suggestion? I would think you wouldn’t want to leave your canoe behind, anyway. You may never get it back.”
He blew air through his mouth in a loud huff and sat again. “Because, Aishling, I’ve never canoed on the Little Tennessee in that direction. I don’t know how populated it is along the river, whether there are heavy rapids, or places we can’t get through. But, I have canoed down to Otto. I have hiked with my parents along that part of the A.T. I know what to expect. And, I know the A.T. is not as crowded. I don’t think anyone would believe we’d actually do something like that. Also, Kelile and I have hinted to a couple of guys that we’re thinking of hitchhiking to Gatlinburg. When they start looking for us, that’s the direction they’ll go. And … I think someone around here might figure out that I had lied about my canoe being stolen. If they do, that’s the route they’d likely think we had taken.”
“But they gave up looking for it. Didn’t the police believe it really was stolen?” Aishling said.
He reached for her hand and squeezed it. “Yes, but I don’t want to take any chances. Please, trust me on this.”
Her hand tingled from his touch, and everything but his eyes faded from her sight.
Morrigan clutched his forearm and pulled his hand away. “I trust you, Lance.”
He slipped his arm out of her grip. “So, are we all agreed for now to stick with my plan?”
Kelile placed his fist in the middle of where they sat. “Agreed, brother, but I’m takin’ the first chance I get to help Mom and the twins.”
Lance nodded and stacked his hand on top of Kelile’s. “Okay.”
Morrigan shoved her hand over his. “Agreed, Lance.”
Aishling—connecting to Lance’s eyes once more—smiled and completed the stack. “Agreed.”
*******
April 24
We had another meeting last night. What’s neat is Lance and Kelile keep saying how lucky we are that no one has caught us. Well, each time we meet, Morri and I take care of that before they get there! I craft a repelling spell, and she conjures her fire ant spell. Her ant spell is not very nice. If anyone comes too close, it will make them feel like they’re being bitten all over by fire ants. How does she get away with spells like that? But, I guess I’m glad to have backup in case my spell doesn’t work. I’m so glad Lance and Kelile haven’t realized what we’re doing, though.
Lance isn’t scared about leaving. I am. I think Kelile is too. I know Morri is. And he is so stubborn about the route we’re taking. But he’s so calm and brave, and he seems sure about what he’s doing. I like him so much! He held my hand last night and seemed to stare at me. Even after Morri had pulled his hand away, he looked at me again. I had better stop thinking about him, though. Sometimes I think she can read my mind, and she’s up writing in her diary this morning too.
I also wonder sometimes if she’s been reading my diary. Is it possible? I don’t know how, but she seems to know things I’ve written in it. She said yesterday that she knew I was hiding my amulet. I decided to wear it at least when I go to bed since she suspects I have it anyway. And you know what? No nightmares last night.
*******
April 27
I can’t believe my amulet is gone. I’ve looked everywhere for it. It just disappeared. I don’t want to leave without it. Where could it be? Could Morri have it? No, she kept getting sick that night when she got near it. Could Ma summon it to her?
Since I didn’t have it on last night, I had another nightmare. I dreamed I was walking in a forest and came upon a flock of ravens. They were eating something. I don’t know why, but I kept walking closer and closer to where they were, and then I saw it. Goddess it scared me! The ravens were eating Lance and Kelile. I tried screaming, but the same thing happened in that dream that happens in the others—no sound comes out. I ran over and tried to get the ravens to fly away. Some of them did. But when I hit one, it looked at me, and its face turned into Morri’s face. She had a horrible grin. Ugh! I’ve got to start remembering what Ma taught me about controlling my dreams.
9:13 p.m.
I found it! It was under my bed. I know I looked there this morning and didn’t see it, but when I got back from supper tonight, I saw the silver chain sticking out. I tried enfolding it around my neck, but I couldn’t tell if it had worked. So, I enfolded it back inside my old diary and wrapped my diary in a pillowcase. Then I packed the pillowcase in the bottom of my backpack and enfolded it inside. That should keep it safe!
I can’t believe we leave tomorrow night. Morri and I had to figure out a way to get to the canoe first so we could remove the spells and move it away from the bushes. We didn’t want Lance and Kelile to question how it had been kept hidden all this time. We decided to tell them that we‘d sneak out first and meet them by the swings with the canoe. Morri’s going to say that that way they can make sure all is clear before they come. I think it will work.
Oh, Ma, I’ll be there soon. I can’t wait to see you!!!!!!!!
*******
21
Sunday, April 28
“Man, listen to me! It’s not gonna work tonight!” Kelile said. “I know it’s a full moon. I know we’re running out of time. But can’t you see?” He pointed at the thundercloud visible even in the dark. “It’s gonna storm any minute.”
“We have to go now!” Lance removed two large trash bags and a pocketknife from his backpack. “I’m going whether any of you come with me or not.”
He wrapped his backpack with one of the trash bags, and then he cut a hole in the bottom and on both sides of the other one. He slipped it over his head like a poncho. “Well, is anyone else coming?”
“I’m going with you, Lance,” Aishling said, latching onto his knife. She mimicked him, wrapping her backpack and making a poncho.
“I’m going too.” Morrigan followed with the same routine.
“Are you coming, Kelile?”
“Yes.” Huffing, he made his own poncho and covered his backpack. He handed Lance back the knife. “But it’s still a bad idea, man.”
Streaks of bright light flashed in the near distance, followed by thunder echoing off the surrounding mountains.
Aishling smelled the rain moving closer. She shivered.
“We’ll store our gear in the bow”—Lance pointed to the front of the cano
e—“and the stern.” He pointed to the back. “You’ll sit on the bow seat, Kelile, and I’ll sit on the stern seat. Do you have any more questions about how to paddle?”
“No.” Kelile placed his backpack in the bow.
“Aishling, you and Morrigan are going to sit in the middle of the canoe and distribute your weight toward the center.”
After securing all the gear and floating the boat, Lance steadied the stern and held the canoe in place while Kelile stepped in and grabbed both sides of it. He squatted and worked his way to the bow seat.
“Okay, Morrigan, remember to step into the center of the canoe.”
She balked and moaned before hopping in, almost tipping it over.
“Morrigan!”
“I’m sorry, Lance.”
When Aishling stepped in, her heart fluttered and it took her breath away. She had very little room to maneuver before squeezing down into the middle next to Morrigan.
In one smooth movement, Lance shoved the canoe away and sat. “Okay, Kelile, paddle on the left side with my count. One. Two. Three… .”
An explosion of sound and light struck close by. Kelile stopped paddling and tried standing up, rocking the canoe.
“Sit down!”
A chill spread in Aishling’s fingers and nose first, then through her whole body as a ferocious wind bit at her face.
Another explosion of thunder brought a downpour of rain. Had Kelile been right? Tomorrow night might have been better.
“Lance!” Kelile shouted.
“Keep paddling! We have to keep moving.”
Aishling had an idea. “Morri,” she said over the howling wind and rain. “Help me push the storm to the north.”
Morrigan shrugged, and then nodded.
Following the same process as when she worked enchantments, Aishling set her intentions first. As she breathed deeply, she visualized what she wanted to happen and focused all her energy, her will, on moving the storm. Maybe Lance knew about canoeing. Maybe he had walked some of the A.T., but she’d been taught how to use her powers. Powers that had been sleeping all these past months at Herald Home. Powers now arousing and quickening within her.
After a couple of minutes, the rain stopped. Lightning still flashed, but in the distance to the north. Thunder merely sounded like a muted roar. Overhead, the full moon promptly revealed itself as the clouds raced to the north as well. Aishling looked at Morrigan and smiled. They had moved the storm!
Once the storm had passed, Aishling fell into a trancelike state. Having lost her sense of time, she now had no idea how long they’d been gliding in the canoe. No one had said anything, either, just Lance counting aloud occasionally so Kelile would keep in rhythm with him. Were the guys tired of paddling? How far had they gone already? Had anyone from Herald Home discovered they were missing yet?
The bottom of the canoe scraped against something, breaking her reverie.
“Now what?” Kelile asked.
Lance scanned around the canoe. “We must be in a low rocky area. We’ve got to get out and walk.”
“All of us?” Morrigan shrieked.
“Yes. Kelile, I’ll get out first on the right side and steady the canoe. Then you follow and get out on the left side and help me steady it for them.”
Morrigan muttered, “I don’t want to, Lance. Do I have to? I don’t know what’s swimming around in there.”
Lance got out and held the stern of the canoe. “Okay, Kelile.” After Kelile had stepped out, Lance said, “Now, you two, one at a time. Careful.”
“Lance?” Morrigan cried.
“Come on, prissy queen. I’ll help you.” Kelile gripped her hand and guided her out of the canoe.
“Thank you.” She froze in place.
Aishling, surprised Morrigan had let Kelile help her, said, “It’s okay, Morri, we’re making so much noise we’ll scare everything away.” Yet, would they? Soon, however, Lance’s steady cadence of instructions began to calm her nerves.
They guided the canoe around rocks and over the muddy riverbed, each of them occasionally slipping. At times, her sneakers sank into the sludge, making a loud, sucking sound when she lifted a foot.
After a few minutes, the water was deep enough to paddle again. Why didn’t Lance tell them to get back in the canoe? Aishling realized the answer when she spotted the large tree limb hanging low across the river. He must be guiding them around it first.
Then it happened.
It happened quickly.
They were at the tip of the limb—Kelile and Morrigan closest to it—when Lance said, “Hurry, move the canoe around and get past that limb.”
Aishling glimpsed a blurred movement as she turned to look at Kelile. He yelped and flailed his arms. Alarm exploded within her when she saw the outline of a black garden hose—no, snake!
“Get off. Get off!” Kelile squealed.
Morrigan screamed.
“Ow! Oh God, I’m gonna die!” Kelile.
Aishling formed her mouth to scream, but no sound came out. Was she in one of her nightmares?
Kelile threw the snake in the air. It splashed behind Morrigan. “It bit me! I’m gonna die! I’m gonna die!”
Morrigan shoved the canoe into Aishling, screeching, “Go! Go! Let’s get out of here!”
“Stop, Morrigan!” Lance shoved the canoe back. “All of you stop screaming!”
Aishling had no recollection how, but they had moved the canoe to a small section of the riverbank, clear of debris.
Kelile constantly moaned.
Morrigan whimpered and kept trying to crawl into the canoe.
“Morrigan, stop! All of you listen to me,” Lance said. “We’re going to rest here. Morrigan, I’ll hold the canoe so you can climb in on the back seat.” He guided her in. “That’s good. Aishling, you get in up front.” He offered his hand to help her. “Good.” He waded around to Kelile, who was now quiet and still. He put an arm around his shoulder. “Kelile, climb in the middle. I’ll help you.”
“I’m gonna die. The queen was right all along. I’m gonna die, and you all are gonna get caught. She knew it would happen,” he said as Lance helped him into the canoe.
22
“Everyone calm down,” Lance said, still standing in the water. “Where did it bite you?”
In a strained motion, Kelile lifted his right hand.
Lance reached for his backpack. “Everyone sit still. I’ll take care of you, Kelile.” He took out his flashlight.
Aishling winced when he pulled out his knife.
“Hey, man, just tell me, am I gonna die?”
“Let me see the bite.” Lance shined the flashlight over Kelile’s hand and blew out a deep breath. “No, thank the Creator.”
“How do you know?” Aishling asked, relief surging through her body.
Lance kept the flashlight focused on Kelile’s hand and said, “Look at the bite. Do you see the horseshoe shape with little puncture marks around it?” She leaned forward, examined the bite, and nodded.
“Let me look,” Kelile said. “Yeah, but what does it mean?”
“That’s what a nonpoisonous snakebite looks like. The poisonous bites will have only one or two large fang-like punctures where the poison goes in. It was probably a brown water snake. I was afraid of that when I saw that large branch hanging over the river. Sometimes they lie in trees or branches over water and hunt for prey.”
“Can I see too?” Morrigan asked. Kelile moved his hand toward her, and Lance shined the flashlight for her to see.
“Man, am I glad you know all this stuff,” Kelile said. “But, what now? Do you have to cut it open?”
“No.” Lance searched through his backpack again. “I used to have a first aid kit in here. Here it is.” He asked Morrigan to hold the flashlight and Aishling to hold Kelile’s hand while he cleaned the bite. “Kelile, you were right. We shouldn’t have left tonight. Do you want to go back? We can have them look at your bite and make sure it’s okay.”
“After all this?
Are you crazy? I’m not goin’ back that way. That snake is still swimmin’ around back there. If you think I’ll be okay, let’s keep moving. You’re sure, right?”
“Pretty.”
“Not encouraging, man.”
“Well, I’m sure the snake wasn’t poisonous, but I don’t know what else I should do. The bite could still get infected.”
“We’re good,” Kelile said, pushing himself up. “Let’s trade places, girl. I’ll try paddling.”
Aishling lost her sense of time again during the hours of paddling—her paddling. Kelile had tried, but it hurt his hand too much. At first, she and Morrigan had taken turns. But that hadn’t lasted long. Now, her shoulders were sore. Her feet were still wet and cold. And for the last hour, Kelile had been asleep, leaning against her back because Morri had kept shoving him away. Her back ached from twisting and trying not to jiggle him.
“Aishling, hold up a minute while I get my bearings,” Lance said.
Kelile sat up. “What’s goin’ on?”
“How’s your hand?” Lance asked.
“Sore. But I don’t feel bad.”
“That’s because you’ve been asleep for hours and not doing anything.”
“Hey, don’t you be rackin’ on my bones, prissy queen. You ain’t the one with the snake bite.”
Aishling, too tired to say anything, too tired to think, sat with her eyes closed, waiting for Lance to tell her what to do next.
“Okay,” Lance said. “The cemetery is off a side creek ahead on the left, about a quarter mile from the highway.” He put his paddle back in the water. “So, what do we do now?”
In unison, the three of them answered by reciting the handwritten instructions he had given them days before leaving Herald Home—“Veer left under 23 to cemetery. Stash canoe. Short walk to church. Take break.”
“Let’s go.”
When they reached the cemetery, they got out and pulled the canoe up on the bank. Kelile said, “Where are we gonna stash it?”
“I don’t know,” Lance answered.
Dead Moon Awakens: A tale of Cherokee myth and Celtic magic (Mystic Gates) Page 9