“From day one, the emphasis was put on making everyone submit to the counselors’ authority, through relentless physical activity designed to break down our will to resist. As the newest member to arrive, I was punished for every little infraction of their rules. But I refused to give in, and would drive them crazy by constantly screwing up my punishment so that I would have to do it over and over again. No matter how hard they pushed me, I would push back and complain about our treatment at the camp. They tried to use peer pressure against me, but I refused to let it get to me. I told the other red cadets to let me be the lightning rod for the squad’s discipline, and by screwing it up so badly, they would get extra rest time. Eventually most of the other guys accepted what I was doing, and I think were happy that I was getting all the attention of the counselors.
“As the days and weeks went by, it became clear to most of us in the camp that the main purpose of the camp was to basically turn each of us into compliant slaves. The counselors were not interested in teaching us any useful life skills. All they wanted from us was blind obedience. Once in a while they would take us on hikes, but there never was any discussion of what we were seeing or learning about survival in nature. We were made to sit through classes during the week, but they were nothing more than rote recitals of rules and policies, or attempts to brainwash us into thinking that their system was going to make our lives better!
“To further divide us so that we could be better controlled, the counselors used our bandanas to show status in the camp and for discipline purposes. Kids first admitted are given a red bandana, and put into a red or cardinal squad like I was. If they buy into the system and begin to become compliant to the authorities, they are given a blue bandana after about eight or nine months and moved to the blue cadet level. A few kids, who achieve leadership status by helping to keep the others in line, are given a yellow bandana. I grew to really dislike those kids. They became total toadies to the leaders of the camp. They were just as mean to us as the guards.
“If one of the counselors became angry with a squad, the bandanas were used to punish us. If a squad was too noisy or acted defiantly, they were ordered to tie their bandanas in their mouths as a reminder to shut up. Or if the counselors wanted to physically punish one or two individuals in the squad, they would order the squad to blindfold themselves. Then they would take the offenders and work them over or even tie them up. This happened to me several times, and later to Cody, the only other kid in the camp who regularly fought against the counselors. The counselors didn’t like to do this publicly very often, because it really riled up the other cadets. The last thing that the counselors wanted was more cadets deciding to protest their rules and regulations.
“With the arrival of Cody about a month ago, things rapidly came to a head between the counselors and me. Cody is this big bluff surfer kid from southern California who was brought here against his will. There was some big family blow up in his house, and somehow his older half-brother had custody and power of attorney over Cody. The two did not get along at all, and as a way of getting revenge against Cody, the brother signed off on all of the paper work to put Cody into Camp Chinquapin. Cody was furious when he found out, but it was too late. Just like I was, he was brought here unconscious, stripped of his rights and belongings, and placed in this nightmare!
“After he was brought to the Red Cadets, he teamed up with me to disrupt things, and we became a real irritation to their system. With his natural strength and fearlessness, I guess from being a surfer, Cody really could dish it back as much as the counselors gave it to him!”
“Yes, we heard about that from your fellow cadet, Arthur,” Jason said.
“Eventually, the counselors had had enough of the two of us, and they went to the camp director, Roland Thomason, and demanded that he do something about it. Thomason is an absolute autocrat, apparently, and he was furious that his camp system was being made a mockery of. He looked in our files, and when he saw that the camp staff had been given Phase II permission over us, he figured out a solution.”
“What exactly is Phase II permission?” Jason asked.
“What it means is that our parents or guardians have given the camp total control over us,” Tim explained. “They can restrain, punish, beat us, or play mind games on us without any fear of reprisal. That’s what Thomason told us, anyway. One day he called the two of us into his office along with Walter Gaither, the man who had brought both of us to the camp, and told us that he was very disappointed that we had chosen to reject the discipline and learning system of Camp Chinquapin. ‘It is clear to me that the two of you have real anger management issues and need special training in that regard. I have the authority to do so, and I am sending you to a special anger management training program elsewhere. Mr. Gaither here will be taking you there in the near future. You will need to inform your parents of this in your next letter to them.’
“When I asked Thomason what the anger management training program consisted of, he replied, ‘The program will give you the specialized and individualized attention you need to break out of your constant need to express yourself through anger and negative behavior. Until that issue in your life has been straightened out, you will remain in the training area under the personal supervision of Mr. Gaither and his specialists.’”
“So the head of the camp is party to your treatment here?” Jason asked.
“Yes, I am sure that he probably planned all of it,” Tim replied. “I don’t think that he can face the fact that his camp system doesn’t work on all kids. I believe that his plan was to break us down through constant torture until we accepted their system. Then they would really have a trophy to show the other kids in the camp. If that didn’t work, I think their plan was to kill us rather than admit failure!”
“What did your anger management training consist of?” Jason followed up.
“You can see some of the wonderful facilities that they have for it here,” Tim went on. “I told you before that once we arrived here, all we were given to wear was a pair of plain cloth shorts. This way we were always ready for a beating, physical torture, bondage session, or other humiliation. At first I was mostly kept in my cell and then regularly put through interrogations about my attitude followed by beatings or whippings when I wouldn’t cooperate.
“My treatment changed for the worse after I was left outside by myself one afternoon. The guard had handcuffed me to a light pole outside and for some reason left the area. With no one around to prevent it, I yelled ‘help’ as loud as I could to try and attract attention inside the regular camp. The guard came back, angrily stuffed a ball gag in my mouth, and then beat me to the ground. Ever since then, I have been kept restrained somehow most of the time. A typical day might include several hours of interrogation with beatings while my arms are attached to those chains over there. Or I am left handcuffed and gagged in my cell or somewhere else like you found me. At the most I get two or three hours of unrestrained movement a day, usually around meal times.”
“What you are telling me is incredible!” Jason exclaimed. “What a horrible nightmare to be in!”
“It’s getting worse,” Tim continued. “The guards are now adding psychological torture to the mix. One day I was placed in an isolation room, and forced to listen to really annoying music for hours on end. Another time I was staked out on the ground, blindfolded, and then subjected to creepy crawly things walking on my body. I shudder with fear just thinking about it. I have come very close to reaching the breaking point. The last time I was left staked out, the guards arranged it so that a tiny drip of water would fall on my face every few minutes. That was the first time I realized that eventually I would lose it and crack up! I have fought back as hard as I can. Every day, though, I find myself becoming less able to resist!”
“Tim, you have been incredibly brave and courageous!” Jason said with feeling. “How have you been able to resist caving in so far?”
“It has been very difficult,” Tim replied, “
but for some reason I keep focusing on an imaginary life on a South Pacific island, and that has kept me sane! While they are doing everything they can to inflict mental and physical torture on me, I think about luaus, sunning on the beach, playing in the sand, and swimming in the surf!”
“That shows will power and great determination, Tim! You really have heart! Are you aware of what has been happening to Cody?” Jason then asked.
“We have been kept isolated from each other a lot of the time, but even if we were together, we couldn’t communicate very much due to the gag I constantly have to wear. I’m pretty sure that he has been treated even worse than me. I think that the guards have beaten him up almost every day, and that they are working to break his will using stake outs and drip torture. They only time that I can actually see him is when they have their interrogations or kangaroo court confession sessions. As much as I have suffered, it really gets to me every time I see what they are doing to Cody!”
“I find it amazing that a parent or guardian would ever willingly sign over the authority to do what was done to you, Tim,” Jason replied. “I know some of the story, but I can’t imagine that your mother wanted this type of treatment for you!”
“Unfortunately, everyone in our family handled my parents’ divorce very badly except for my sister,” Tim explained. “I handled the hurt, rejection, and anger with rage, taking things out on everyone else, at school, at social events, and even with some of my friends. When my mother hooked up with Frederick, our relationship quickly deteriorated, because I couldn’t stand Frederick. He could never make up for the loss of my dad, who just walked out of our lives. I felt abandoned by my parents and made my mother suffer for it. My rebellious behavior was a constant thorn in her side, and I’m sure that was her motive in sending me here with Phase II permission. I realize now that I was out of line a lot of the time, but this treatment is outrageous! Where is the respect for a human life? Where is the love? I don’t see how I could ever go back and live at home after this!”
“What you have had to endure is clearly illegal and these people need to be stopped and punished for it!” Jason said. “That is our immediate goal, to get you out of here and to a hospital, but I want you to know that there is a lot more help for you on the way!”
Jason then told Tim about the Whatever Foundation and how it was set up to help teens like him. “I would very much like to get you into counseling, both individually and with your parents to see if you can ever reconcile, or at least work out some of your differences. The brutality and isolation you have had to endure has taken a physical and mental toll on you. You will probably need some long term counseling for that. I know of an excellent counselor for you to work with. His name is Dr. Louis Agoura, and he really helped another kid, Eric, who we were able to rescue from a violent and abusive stepfather. The foundation will pick up the costs of this therapy because I know it is so essential to your recovery. We also have programs to get kids like you who are crime victims involved in the arts again as part of your therapy and entry back into regular society. I know you have a lot of talent in that area. I would like to get you into playing the drums again or doing some more acting. The foundation will cover the cost of lessons and even equipment for you if you are interested.”
“Just hearing you tell me these things is music to my ears, Jason!” Tim replied enthusiastically. “That is the first hopeful thing I have heard in months!
Chapter 20
The Plight of Cody
(Before Dawn Friday Morning)
About forty-five minutes had gone by since Daniel began his watch outside. Suddenly, Martin and Dominic were there. “Wow, you guys are good!” Daniel said in a whisper. “I had no idea anyone was even in the area.” They quickly and quietly talked over the next stage of their plan.
“I want you to rejoin Jason,” Martin said to Daniel. “You will need to make sure Tim is left exactly the way you found him until after the guard comes and reports in. Then I will take him out. Once the guard is immobilized, the three of us, you, Jason, and myself, will need to get the two prisoners ready for our escape. Dominic will stay out here in case someone else comes along. Have you actually seen Cody yet?”
“No, apparently he is being kept in some sort of underground torture chamber they have. Did you bring along the stretcher?”
“Yes, we will be able to carry Cody out if you and Jason can help walk Tim out,” Martin replied.
“Another thing is that Tim and Cody have no clothing other than a pair of shorts,” Daniel continued. “We will need to find some shoes for Tim if he is going to walk out with us. Maybe we can find where the guards stashed their camp uniforms when they were brought here.”
“Even if we can’t,” Martin answered, “we can always take the guard’s shoes. He won’t be needing them for a while! I will give you guys a couple of beeps on your tracking device if and when we spot someone. Be sure you have everything you brought with you when you go to your hiding place.”
Daniel walked back to the rear entrance of the building where Jason and he had found Tim. He walked back inside, re-taped the door shut, and turned on his flashlight. He opened the door into the main room and walked over to the cell where Jason and Tim were. “Martin and Dominic are now in place, and they want us to return Tim to the way we found him, so there is no last minute dash to get him in place. I’m sorry, Tim, but that means that we have to tie you up again.”
“It’s okay. I understand that everything has to look normal to the guards.”
Jason then buckled the ball gag in place, and Tim moved back to where the handcuffs were attached to the bars. Daniel and Jason closed the open cuffs on each of Tim’s wrists. “I’m sorry you have to wear that gag and those handcuffs again,” Jason said, “but this should be the very last time you are tied up. Once we get out of here, you will be free again! Hang in there, Tim!”
As they were walking away, Jason said, “I know we are supposed to go and hide, but I would like to find where Cody is being kept, check on his condition, and at least offer him a few words of hope!”
“If he is being kept down in some cave-like chamber, I don’t think that the signal will go through and we could miss it, messing up the escape! Do you even know how to get there?” Daniel responded.
“The entrance is through that door over there,” Jason replied, pointing to a door on the far side of the building. “There is a ramp that takes you down into the area where there are some natural caves that they are using for torture rooms, I guess. Maybe just one of us should go, then. That way someone is up here at all times.”
“You should go then, Jason. I’ll stay up here and keep an eye on Tim and wait for Martin’s signal. Be quick about it! We have gotten this far and I want to keep the surprise factor on our side!”
“I’ll hurry as fast as I can, Daniel. I am going to use whatever lighting they have in there to speed things up. If you get the word that the guard is coming, blink the lights a few times. I will then turn any other lights off and hide.”
Jason opened the door to the cellar. There was a light switch, which he turned on. He entered and went down a long ramp. There was another door, larger than the entry door. When he opened it and went through, Jason found himself in a large cave-like room. The room had some sort of natural lighting, because he could see without turning on any lights. Apparently there was some phosphorus or other glowing rocks in the formation which gave the room a ghostly looking appearance. There was another light switch, which Jason turned on. A few incandescent bulbs had been strung along a wire. As his eyes became accustomed to the light in the room, he looked over and saw where Cody was being held.
Just like Tim, all he had on was a pair of shorts. He was staked out on the ground, his wrists and ankles bound to metal stakes that had been hammered into the rocks. When Jason got closer and shined his flashlight at Cody, he was appalled by what he saw. There were bruises and welts on his arms, legs, and chest and marks on his ankles and wrists from where he had b
een struggling against the ropes binding him to the stakes.
“Cody!” Jason said in a sharp voice. “Wake up for a second! My name is Jason. I am a friend of Tim’s, and I have a team of people here to rescue you and get you out of here!”
Cody’s eyes fluttered open, and he looked up. It took him a minute to focus and take in the fact that he was seeing a teenaged boy, and not one of the guards who had been torturing him. “Are you for real?” he asked in a weak voice.
“Yes, I am for real,” Jason told him. “It’s the middle of the night, and we are just waiting for the guard to return and give his ‘all’s okay’ report. Once that happens our operation will begin. We have a stretcher to carry you out of here to the place where we broke into the camp. Eventually you will be airlifted by helicopter to a hospital. I can’t release you just yet, not until the guard comes through and checks on you. But know this, it will be for the last time! Would you like some water to drink?”
Cody nodded his head yes. There were tears in his eyes. Jason kneeled down on the floor, propped his head up, and held a water bottle to his lips. Cody took a few sips of the water. “Thank you for the drink and for coming here. I don’t think I could last down here much longer.”
“In a few hours you will be out of here, and under the protection of the law, safe from those bastards who did this to you,” Jason told him in a reassuring voice. “I wanted to tell you this so that you can last out these last few hours knowing that the end is in sight. You and Timothy will soon be free! I have to go back and hide out now. Hang in there, Cody, your ordeal is almost over!”
As Jason looked at Cody, he saw that a big smile was starting to appear on his face. “That’s the spirit, Cody. I promise I will be back as soon as possible. Remember that the guard will be inspecting you one more time. Don’t let him know that anything is different! Just play like you are asleep! Okay?”
When The Chips Are Down Page 16