Jack James and the Tribe of the Teddy Bear

by J. Joseph Wright

  “Warn us? About what?”

  “About Davos Mann. What he is, and what he’s got planned. I must admit, what I’m about to tell you might sound a little farfetched.”

  “You mean more farfetched than a talking teddy bear,” Kristy gestured to Ayita. The little animal’s spirit clothes darkened again.

  Amelia said, “I didn’t truly believe until I saw it for myself. Something’s here, in Willow. An evil presence.”

  “Evil?” Kristy sounded suspicious. “You mean the evil of greed and animal cruelty?”

  “Well, yes. And also another type of evil. Pure, so strong it manifests into a living being that walks and talks, and does much more. He can change his appearance at will, move things with his mind, destroy with a thought. He’s here. And he wants the Tanakee.”

  “Okay now,” Kristy took a breath. “Let’s calm down. Things are starting to get a little bit weird.”

  “Enough of this, already!” shouted Ayita, her spirit clothes blazing. She jumped from Amelia’s grasp and ran to the cyclone fence, climbing to the razor wire on top. The cameraman followed her every move while she scurried side-to-side on the chain-link.

  “Hey in there! Listen up!” she shouted. “Give me back my friend and my brother! Do you hear me! Let them go or you’ll be sorry!”

  Kristy hurried to the fence. Even in high heels and a short skirt, she moved fast. Amelia was faster. She ran past Kristy and screamed up at Ayita.

  “What are you doing! You’re gonna get captured!”

  “I want my brother back! I want my friend back! What about Jack? Aren’t you worried about him?”

  “Of course I am, but what happens if they get you, too? You’re supposed to protect me, remember?”

  Ayita caught her in a deep stare. Amelia felt the pull of her hypnosis. She knew Ayita didn’t want to put her under the eyecatcher. She only wanted to get her undivided attention.

  Amelia, she said without words. I am protecting you.

  Ayita concentrated again on the fence, rattling the metal links, causing the posts to quake in their concrete footings. When she’d done enough damage to make the wire mesh come loose, she dropped to the ground and found an easy entry point for her tiny frame.

  “Wait!” Amelia pointed at the main building in the corporate compound. Two sets of double glass doors opened and several of Savage’s well-dressed security agents poured out, all pointing forbidding rifles and rushing toward Ayita, their aura’s blacker than night.

  Savage emerged. Strangely, he seemed to have no spirit clothes. Amelia guessed they were almost invisible, the sign of a hollow soul. He looked right at her. Her heart palpitated. Then he shot his icy glare to Ayita.

  “Catch the creature!” he commanded. The security team ran even faster.

  “No!” Amelia dove under the fence and snatched her protector. She crawled to the news crew, hiding behind Kristy.

  “Uh, Hank?” Kristy asked. “Are you getting this?”

  “I’m rolling,” he peered into the van. “We’re still live!”

  “Give me the creature!” Savage approached the barrier. “It’s my property!”

  “Mr. Archer Savage,” Kristy cleared her throat and stepped forward. Amelia stayed in her shadow, carrying Ayita. “Owner and president of Archer Savage Industries, a major defense contractor. This girl tells us you plan on exploiting this incredible little animal. Do you have anything to say?”

  Savage lowered his brow at Hank and his video camera. He squared his shoulders to the lens. “No comment,” he waved his hand. “Get the creature!”

  One of the agents ran to a small shelter near the compound entrance. A second later, an electric motor droned and whined while the main gate opened. The security team filtered through, spilling into the large, empty lot.

  Kristy stood firm, allowing Amelia to stay behind her.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, what you’re witnessing is a travesty. This creature should be allowed to live a free, natural, happy life.”

  Hurriedly, the agents formed a circle around them.

  “Lady, I’m warning you,” Savage barked. “You’re interfering with matters of national security. You don’t know the first thing about those creatures. They’re dangerous, and need to be controlled. Now move aside and let us have it.”

  A dull roar directed all eyes up at the solitary road into and out of that part of North Point. An old, dented pickup rumbled down the hill, followed by a newer, white sedan, then a red, sporty number. One vehicle after another rolled in, straight for the center of the commotion.

  “Get the Tanakee! Hurry!” Savage commanded.

  Amelia tried to hold onto Ayita. The little creature’s strength seemed a hundred times greater than hers. Ayita shoved away and hopped to the roof of the news van. She scurried and dove on one of the agents, knocking the gun from his hands. They both tumbled. Before the man reacted, she sprang to her feet and struck him, rendering him unconscious on the spot.

  Three more rushed her from opposite directions. She pushed off the ground, straight up fifteen feet. The agents stopped before they ran into each other, smiling and sighing in relief. Then they glanced up in perfect synchronization. Frowns replaced grins. Ayita fell on top of them, forcing them all to their backs.

  Vehicles continued to show up. Cars, pickups, motor scooters, RV’s, even people on bikes—they started to clog the parking lot. Folks congregated. Chants flared up, along with tempers. Amelia heard a woman yell something about not harming cute, defenseless animals. The impromptu crowd roared in agreement.

  If Ayita noticed the gathering, she didn’t let on. Her focus remained on the agents. She scurried to meet the advance of another small squad, rushing through their legs with the precision and swiftness of a humming bird. They had no chance. She sent each of them to the ground in agony, holding their sore extremities. She even punched one particularly stout man in the groin, dropping him like a stone.

  With his agents beaten, on the ground, moaning and writhing, Ayita turned her attention to Savage. He shielded his eyes as she moved toward him, each stride quicker than the previous. He stepped back, searching the corners of his vision. After two reverse paces, he spun and sprinted to the entrance of his massive corporate center.

  As Ayita pounced, Amelia held her own head, abruptly throbbing with a strident sting. Her tiny protector seemed on the verge of victory, yet she felt something was wrong.

  POP!

  One solitary rifle shot rang out. A bright orange dart hit Ayita while inflight, slamming her shoulder blade. She landed on the manicured grass a motionless, silver and black ball of fur.

  A communal gasp gained momentum. Amelia searched the crowd for the shooter. She noticed someone holding a tranquilizer rifle. She blinked, feeling sick.

  “Dillon Shane! Why!”

  Dillon seemed ashamed at first. Then he stood straight, scowling. His buddy Mike slapped him on the back and he lowered the rifle.

  Amelia’s stomach tightened. She threw her body over Ayita and within seconds felt someone pulling her. She kicked and thrashed, thinking it was Savage or his goons.

  “NO!” she screamed until her lungs burned. “You can’t have her! You’ll have to kill me first! You’ll never get her from me! Never!”

  “Amelia?” a familiar voice made her freeze. Her pulse thudded in her ears. Then she heard it again. “Amelia? Is it you? I’ve been worried sick!”

  She opened her eyes. Someone stepped toward her and two arms reached down, pulling her into an embrace. She noticed the familiar, dark green spirit clothes.

  “Mom!” she gasped for breath. “Don’t let them take her! Don’t let them take Ayita!”

  Two agents approached cautiously, noticeably hurt from Ayita’s thrashing. Amelia pushed away from her mom and scooped Ayita into her arms, cradling her.

  “She’s not the animal. You are! Stay away!”

  “Amelia,” her mom spoke calmly. Her thick brunette bob was salon perfect, as usual. “Honey, you’ve got
to listen to me. Can you do that?”

  Amelia burst into tears, chin chattering, hands trembling.

  “Honey. I know you think you’re doing the right thing, but you have to let these people have their animal back.”

  “It was never theirs in the first place,” she pointed. Savage maneuvered closer. “He’s a liar! He stands to make a fortune off the mistreatment of the Tanakee, but we won’t let him!”

  Other agents began to recover. They stood, shaking off the pain. Savage oozed confidence. He strode to Amelia, putting out his hands.

  “You heard your mother, little lady. Hand it over.”

  A buzz permeated North Point. She heard some agreeing with her, saying Ayita should be set free. Others sided with Savage, arguing loudly about the town needing jobs, needing the revenue, and saying naive little girls should stay out of the business of an important defense contractor.

  “Amelia,” her mother wore a grave expression. “I just think it’s best if you give it back to the man. It’s his property.”

  “No, Mom! It’s not!” her protest didn’t matter. Her mother took Amelia’s elbows while one of the agents tugged at Ayita. “NO!”

  Shrieks erupted. The agent wrestled Ayita from her grip. Savage snatched the Tanakee immediately. Another agent sprinted and placed a metal box wrapped in a series of copper wires at his feet. Savage opened it and stuffed Ayita inside. After he locked the container, he picked up his prize and smiled, waving his hand.

  “To those who understand and support the important work we at Archer Savage Industries are doing to protect this country, I say thank you. Now, we must get back to that critical work. I just hope my specimen wasn’t tampered with by this, this child.”

  He started for the building, his agents following, limping, hopping, cradling their injuries.

  “Where’s Dad!” demanded Amelia, shaking her mother’s shoulders. “Where is he? He’d understand! He’d help me!”

  “He’s away, working right now,” she answered. “He won’t be back until next week.”

  “He’s always working!” she released her mother and started for Savage with every intention of stopping him. She didn’t know how, she just knew she had to do something. Before she took a step, though, another feeling washed over her—a warm wave carrying a message. She saw her friends coming to help. Then, right out of her premonition, a black, 1950s hearse rambled down the hill, honking wildly. That’s when she knew. Her friends were on their way.

  FIFTY-FOUR

  JACK TASTED THE WIND whipping past his face as Captain Kimbo’s Dragon Huntress sliced the waves, racing to their destination. Something about the river that close to the Pacific captivated him. The salty marine air, the abundant sea life, the lush greenery all colluded to create a bounty for his senses. Though shivering wet in his shirtsleeves, he smiled at the scenery. He knew Takota also appreciated the view.

  He noticed his protector also saw something else. Takota’s eyelids narrowed and he scanned the river, focusing on one particular area in front of them.

  “What is it?” Jack had to yell over the outboard motor.

  “I’m, I’m not sure,” his eyes widened. He took a quick, shallow breath. “There! Something’s below the waves! And it’s huge!”

  Jack whipped about to look, grabbing onto the back of the captain’s seat for support. The river had become choppy. Whitecaps flickered past, tossing them hard.

  “Ahoy!” Kimbo eased down the throttle. He gestured into the channel. “Deadhead, just ahead!”

  Jack examined the river. Off to their left, far up in the broad waterway, a giant freighter steamed beneath Willow Bridge, propelling long, rolling wakes. The big ship was a skyscraper at its peak, radar arrays twirling, dozens of colorful flags showing. Two smoke stacks issued sprawling puffs of white into the atmosphere. On the side of its massive hull was the name, ‘Pacific Star.’

  “You mean that ship?” Jack wondered aloud. “What’s the big deal? Just steer around it.”

  “Not the ship,” Kimbo pointed in front of them. “That!”

  It was hard to focus with the boat rocking and the waves cresting. Then a trough in the swells formed, giving Jack a perfect view of an object bobbing in the current.

  “What is it?” he watched its slow progress toward them.

  The captain scratched the salt and pepper scruff on his chin. “A giant log. They call ‘em deadheads because they float there dead in the water and all you really see of ‘em is the tops, their heads. They’re icebergs to the Titanic out here. You hit one of those suckers at top speed and you can kiss the tuna!”

  He laughed at Jack, then at Takota. Neither of them cracked a smile. Kimbo straightened his face and cleared his throat.

  “You’re right, though. I can just steer around.”

  Cranking the wheel, he pushed the throttle handle. The engine noise once again picked up. Dragon Huntress veered left toward the center of the channel, and Pacific Star.

  “What are you doing!” shouted Jack. “You’re taking us straight for that ship!”

  “Relax,” the captain said.

  “But you’re going right at it!”

  “I have to. For now. Once I get around the deadhead, we can get back on course. I can’t go toward shore or we’ll run aground. Now let me do my job. I’m the captain here.”

  A few tense moments brought them closer to the path of the mammoth vessel. Jack saw people in white, peppered along the bow, gawking down at them. He thought Kimbo would never find the end of that deadhead. It was much bigger than he’d expected. Finally the captain spun the wheel, guiding his boat away from the freighter.

  They all jumped at a loud Thump! on the hull. The captain turned the key to kill the engine, then ran to the rear of the boat.

  “What did we hit!” he climbed onto the transom, dangling over the water. “My prop! Don’t tell me I damaged my prop!”

  The boat heaved up and sideways, tossed by a giant wave from nowhere. The captain gasped at the sky with his eyes wide.

  “We’ve got a squall comin’!” he shouted. “It’s gonna be a doozy, too!”

  Jack faced the wind, watching a thick, gray cloudbank roll toward them. He found Takota on the seat, his face turning a little green.

  “You okay?” he asked. Takota held his stomach and waved.

  The dense fog encircled them with a spiteful curtain, blocking everything from view outside of ten yards in every direction. Then the wind died down. All went silent, save for the gentle lapping of tiny waves against the hull.

  “What the..?” Kimbo stared out at the channel. “Well, guys. You’re witnessing a first. I’ve never seen anything like this before!”

  A booming horn barreled through the fog, rumbling in Jack’s chest. Kimbo hurried to the helm and fired up the engine.

  “That freighter’s a little too close for comfort, if you ask me. Hang on!” he hit the throttle. Takota fell into Jack’s arms as the boat surged, twisting from the source of the foghorn.

  Dragon Huntress made it a total of fifteen feet before the shriek of scraping metal signaled they had hit something below the surface. The abrupt stop pitched all three of them forward into the windscreen.

  “What was that!” Takota rubbed his neck.

  “Must’ve been the deadhead!” Kimbo leaned over the side of the boat.

  The freighter’s air horn blared again, its echo deadened by the dense, low lying marine layer.

  “It’s getting closer!” the captain sat in his seat. “Gotta get outta here! NOW!”

  He slammed the throttle controls forward. The boat went nowhere.

  Another low, loud hoot from the freighter’s horn.

  “That ship’s right on top of us!” Takota yelled.

  “I know! I know! I’m trying to get out of the way! Something’s holding us back!” Kimbo inspected the waves with a sharp eye. “I’m beginning to think maybe that deadhead ain’t so dead!”

  “What!” Takota climbed to look over the side. “What d
o you mean!”

  The captain didn’t need to answer. In the water, a tremendous, pale gray, cylindrical bulge broke the surface, rising and rising until it dwarfed even the twenty foot Dragon Huntress. While the curved, scaly spine ascended above the waves, Jack saw an immense face coming straight toward them from the murky depths, bubbles streaming from its flared nostrils.

  Stunned, he toppled back, holding Takota close. They both watched while two gigantic, pointy ears appeared over the side. Then a rough, scraggy brow and a pair of enormous, yellowish eyes outlined by angled, boney sockets. The eyelids narrowed into a malignant glare as it continued to climb from the water, exposing a tremendous jaw with gleaming fangs. Jack shuddered when it issued a hot breath, stinking of rotted sea kelp and fermented fish guts.

  It rose over them quickly, extending its neck at least thirty feet. He knew the monster was even larger. Much of its mass still lurked under the river’s surface. He heard screaming and wondered why he hadn’t thought of that. Then he realized he, in fact, was the one crying out. Dumbfounded, the captain joined the terrified chorus.

  Takota showed no such fear. He squared up to the behemoth, a creature even larger than Teresa’s Gedegwsets. Jack felt his protector tense up, readying for an attack.

  “No!” Jack held him. “Don’t do it!”

  The monster thrust its bulky snout toward them, its jaw wide, ready to take a bite right out of the boat. Takota leapt from Jack’s side and clung to one of the beast’s pointed teeth. With a mighty tug, he snapped the fang clean off, leaving an empty hole in the gums.

  Howling, the giant serpent lifted out of the water, unfurling an enormous wing, lined sparsely with feathers and barnacled spines. It unrolled the other one, stretching them both wide and blocking what little light penetrated the fog. Snorting a puff of steam, it flapped twice, creating a gust which drove Jack and the captain nearly overboard. They held tight while the waterborne creature became airborne, its dripping, webbed feet the size of small cars.

  Takota climbed over the bow, the tusk in his grasp. He hurled himself into the boat and watched with Jack and the captain as the winged monster glided into the fog.