by Dixon, Jeff
“Stop, let me get this straight. Farren Rales, the most recognized Imagineer in the Walt Disney Company, gives you a key that is the first clue of a scavenger hunt?”
“Yes.”
“Yes? Just yes? So you think that gives you license to ramble around Disney property creating mayhem in your wake?” Kiran crossed her arms.
“I don’t think I have license to do anything.” Hawk turned and began to walk back toward Main Street. “But I am going to solve the puzzle.”
Kiran trotted after him. “What did you just say?”
“I said I’m going to solve the puzzle.”
“And just what do you think you’re going to find?”
“I won’t know that until I solve it.”
“Have you found something else?”
“For someone who told me to let it go and that there was nothing to figure out, you sure do ask a lot of questions,” he said.
His statement caused her to be at a loss for words as they continued to walk. As they passed the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor, a street cleaner was washing down the street. They waited for him to finish the area he was working on. Looking up and seeing them, he nodded and turned the pressurized nozzle in the other direction so they could pass unsplashed.
“So you really chased down the guy who stole your Pal Mickey from Tomorrowland to Fantasyland in an all-out sprint?” Kiran changed the subject.
“That’s another question,” Hawk pointed out. “But yes, I did.”
“He was significantly younger than you.”
“And significantly slower.”
“Apparently.” A slight smile laced her lips for the first time during their conversation. “I’m impressed.”
“You know, for a minute I was impressed with myself as well,” he said with a smirk. “Then I got up after sitting in the holding room in Fantasyland. I can barely move; my impressiveness is the real fantasy.”
His statement drew a soft laugh. Hawk smiled back at her. They continued their walk down Main Street in an awkward silence, passing the Market House on their left.
“Ha-ha!”
The sound was followed by the distinctive vibration as the stuffed hip hugger sprang to life. Hawk stopped in his tracks, as did Kiran. She looked down to the mouse at his side.
Hesitantly Hawk unfastened Mickey from his side and held him out between them. Kiran studied the little mouse intently as the pastor applied pressure to his middle.
“You are doing great, pal . . . Now remember to keep your head up, Hawk. But let’s be frank, we have to do something he never did . . . please don’t drop me! That would be awful!”
“The stuffed animal called you by name again,” Kiran said with the same expression she had shown the night before.
“I’ve kind of gotten used to it.”
“Mickey talks to you a lot . . . by name?”
“Not always by name. He calls me pal a lot.” He realized how silly that sounded.
“But it has been saying things . . . recorded just for you?”
“Uh-huh. Earlier tonight he said, ‘We have a mountain to climb . . . and together we can scale any summit,’ and now this.” His mental gears were grinding. “I need to keep my head up.”
Hawk was standing in the middle of Main Street looking up. He looked at lights, buildings, and windows. If there was something to see, he didn’t want to miss it. A few minutes ago he was content to leave the park and go home; now he was trying to figure out the latest nugget of information and the one from earlier tonight. Kiran shook off her amazement at the personalized greeting from the mouse and was looking upward as well. Catching Hawk’s eye she pointed skyward. He moved next to her, following the imaginary line stretched out from the end of her fingertip.
“What?” His eyes were darting across the third story of the building in front of them.
“Look at the window,” she said softly.
The highest window in the merchandise shop was in the center of the building on the corner. It was the custom for the windows along Main Street buildings to contain tributes to the creators of the theme park. This was considered by cast members to be one of the highest honors an individual could ever be given within the company. You could read them like movie credits that rolled from the Train Station and down Main Street, USA. A quick look to either side gave Hawk the reason to conclude that the window they were looking at was the highest window to be found on the street. He read the window silently.
Seven Summits
Expeditions
Frank G. Wells
President
“For those who want to do it all.”
“We have a mountain to climb . . . and together we can scale any summit.” Hawk repeated the message from earlier. “That has to be it, Seven Summits Expeditions. But what does it mean?”
“Remember what we just heard?”
“Uh . . . ‘Let’s be frank, we have to do something he never did . . . please don’t drop me.’”
They both performed mental gymnastics trying to understand the hidden meaning in the window. Frank Wells was the former president and chief operating officer of the company. He was loved and respected throughout the organization. His reputation as an adventurer who loved the thrill of mountain climbing and exploring had made him even more endearing to all who knew him. Tragically he had lost his life in a helicopter crash. The sense of loss had been overwhelming, and in the loss people realized how much heart and soul he’d brought to the company. Hawk knew who Wells was and some of the things that had been written about him. Still, he did not completely understand the secret message the window hid, but he was sure they had found the right window.
“Kiran, what does the window mean?” Hawk hoped she would be able to explain it.
“The window is one of the highest on Main Street, USA. It was an honor that the company wanted Wells to have for his leadership during the resurgence of the company after some of the rougher years. The seven summit reference is one that is familiar to mountain climbers. There are supposedly seven summits that any real mountain climbers will want to scale in their lifetime. Hence the name, Seven Summit Expeditions.”
“Did Frank Wells climb all seven?” Hawk wondered.
“No, he didn’t. He only managed to climb six of the seven. He never successfully scaled the seventh.”
“Let’s be frank . . . we have to do something he never did,” he once again repeated the message. “Which mountain did he fail to climb?”
“Everest. He never was able to scale Mount Everest.”
Instantly Hawk had the next move he was supposed to make.
Kiran studied his face. “What? What is it? You figured something out.”
“We have a mountain to climb, we can scale any summit. . . the window clearly indicates seven summits or mountains. The other clue says we have to be frank—the reference has to be Frank Wells . . . and do something he never did—you just said it. He never climbed Mount Everest.”
“So you have to climb Mount Everest?”
“No, of course not.” He smiled. “I’m going to climb Expedition Everest!”
He turned and moved off quickly toward the exit to the park, listening for a sign the implication had hit Kiran. Moments later he heard her footsteps chasing him down Main Street, USA, and she fell in lockstep with him.
“You are out of your mind!” she whispered in his ear.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
* * *
Day Five
Late Night
EXPEDITION EVEREST HAD BEEN a monstrous challenge for the Imagineers to create. They had to figure out a way to bring the world’s largest mountain to the state of Florida. Inside of the mountain, which was named Forbidden Mountain, they wove a marvelous maze of roller coaster track. The track would enable guests to ride aboard a steam train in, out, up, and down the mountain. Before the thrilling experience ends there is an upclose-and-personal encounter with one of the largest, fastest-moving robotic creatures in history. A twenty-five-foot-tal
l, 20,000 pound yeti waits to take a swipe at the riders in an attempt to protect the Forbidden Mountain. The entire attraction plays like a mini-movie for the guests.
Expedition Everest embodied all the elements of storytelling that Farren Rales had been emphasizing to Grayson Hawkes over and over again. As Hawk raced toward Disney’s Animal Kingdom, where the Forbidden Mountain was located, he wasn’t thinking about the details of the attraction; instead his mind was trying to design a plan for getting a closer look at the mountain. Sitting next to him in his car, Kiran was trying to derail or at least slow down the steam train of direction that Hawk was intent on riding.
She had followed him back to his car after they exited the Main Gate of the Magic Kingdom. Their walk beneath the monorail line along the red-bricked path was laced with short bursts of conversation as Kiran peppered him with questions about what he was planning. Arriving at his car, he popped open the trunk and stripped off his shirt. Throwing the remains of the shredded shirt into the vehicle, he pulled on a lightweight jacket, shoved the sleeves up to his elbows, and climbed into his car. Uninvited, Kiran had jumped into the passenger side and now they barreled together past the front of the Ticket and Transportation Center, leaving the Magic Kingdom area.
“Just slow down and think about this for a minute,” she implored.
“I didn’t ask you to come along,” he reminded her as he drove along the roadways connecting the Walt Disney World Resort.
“I know that, Hawk.” As they careened around a corner, she grabbed for the dashboard. “But I can’t keep getting you out of trouble. What you’re trying to do is—is—”
“Crazy?”
“I guess . . . a little.”
“What do you mean a little? It is crazy on steroids!”
“Okay, you’re right,” she admitted. “However, you aren’t crazy.”
“I’m not?”
“No, you’re passionate and believe you have to do what you are doing. You are on a quest. That’s what scares me, because you aren’t going to stop and let this thing go until—”
“Something bad happens,” he finished.
“Right.”
He braked and followed the signs that compelled visitors to come closer to the theme park.
“So what’s your plan?” Kiran inquired.
“I told you.” A smile crossed his face. “I am going to climb Expedition Everest.”
“How?”
“Well, since you’ve decided to come with me, I’m going to let you help.”
“I can’t help you.”
“Sure you can, you’re my ticket into the park after hours.”
Hawk drove toward the Animal Kingdom. As the road began to funnel toward the theme park he veered away from the main entrance and chose to drive toward the resort area next to the park. He was confident this would take him to the back side and cast member areas of the Animal Kingdom. Out of sight of the guests was a whole backstage area that kept the operations of the park going. For the last two nights Kiran had been his pass and license to wander through theme parks after hours, so her participation would make what he was planning to do easier.
Although he was pleased she had come along, he was dogged by the gnawing sense of confusion her presence brought. Over the last two days Kiran had managed to show up in just the right place at the right time. This was not a fact he could easily dismiss. On one hand her explanations were plausible. After all, his explanations as to what he was doing were extremely implausible, but still true. On the other hand she had become a piece of the very puzzle he was trying to solve. He couldn’t figure out exactly how she fit into it, if she fit at all. He hadn’t told her about the other discoveries he’d made. Perhaps later he would let her know.
“You think I’m going to get you in?” Her question emerged from his jumbled thoughts.
“Of course. I figure we’re going to run into a security guard up here, and after all, you’re a big cheese in the land of the mouse. I have confidence in you.” He tried to be encouraging.
“Have you already figured out what I’m going to say to this security guard to get us in?”
“Nope, that’s your area of expertise.”
The car grew quiet as Kiran stared out the front window. Hawk knew the key to the kingdom, the opening of Walt’s old desk, and the talking stuffed tour guide that offered personalized messages would intrigue anyone with a smidgen of curiosity. He believed that Kiran was curious. He made a right turn onto a roadway clearly marked for cast members only. Flanked by foliage on both sides, the street yielded into an opening, and a security booth blocked their progress. The time had come to see if Kiran was really going to help him. Braking as the security guard stepped out, Hawk rolled down the window. The guard leaned down and peered in the window as Hawk leaned back to allow Kiran to take the lead in the conversation. She cast an unsure glance at Hawk before looking past him and smiling at the guard.
“Good evening.”
“Evening, can I help you?”
“We have a meeting with Gwen Black in Guest Relations.” She passed her identification card across Hawk and handed it to the guard. “I’m Kiran Roberts.”
“Does Gwen know you’re coming?”
“Yes, we just found out we have some special guests coming in tomorrow so we don’t have much time to get their itinerary set up,” Kiran cheerfully fabricated her reason for the after-hours visit.
“Let me call her and let her know you’re here.” The guard stepped away and back into his station.
“Is this going to work?” Hawk asked after the guard was inside and out of earshot.
“How do I know?”
“What happens when he calls Gwen Black?”
“Nothing, I hope. She’s gone for the day.”
The guard exited his station and leaned back into the car.
“Kiran, Gwen didn’t answer her extension,” he said as he handed Kiran back her ID.
“I’m not surprised. Like I said, we’re ramping up for these guests at the last minute. I’m sure she’s busy.” Pulling out her cell phone she continued, “If this is going to be a problem, I can call her on her cell.” She began punching the numbers, feigning irritation.
“No, there’s no problem, Kiran,” the guard interrupted her number punching. “I suppose you can go on through. You know where her office is, right?”
“Sure do, thanks.” She snapped the cell phone shut and put it back on her belt.
Accelerating away from the security booth, Hawk followed Kiran’s directions.
“That was very nice.”
“Like you said, I’m a big cheese in the land of the mouse. Pull in here.”
The car pulled into the parking lot adjacent to some prefab buildings. The offices located within these buildings housed various departments that kept Animal Kingdom operating smoothly. Only two other cars were in the lot this late in the evening. As they got out Hawk looked across the top of the car.
“So what happens now?”
“Maybe you should tell me what you’re planning,” she demanded. “I’ve gotten you this far—before we go on I need to know what you’re going to do.”
“I told you, I’m going to climb Expedition Everest.”
“And how will you do that?”
“Ah . . . that’s the beauty of my plan,” he said with a raised finger. “I have no idea.”
“I could lose my job—not just my job, my entire career—for helping you.” She stared at Hawk. “You know that, don’t you?”
“Kiran, I know.” He searched for what to say. Honestly he didn’t know why she was willing to help him. But she had, and he hoped she was still willing to do so. “I’m not asking you to climb it with me. Just get me to the mountain. Please.”
Hesitantly she started to speak. Then she motioned for Hawk to follow her. Kiran knowingly navigated between buildings and along a service pathway that was lined with various maintenance hubs. Moving through a gate, they suddenly found themselves within the guest p
ortion of Animal Kingdom. The area was designed to resemble an Adirondack mountain retreat. Walking through the theme park at this time of night along the dimly lit pathways gave Hawk a chance to see things he normally would not see when the masses of humanity clogged the park.
On one of his visits in the past he had found out that often the cast members would create their own background stories as to why they worked where they worked in the Animal Kingdom. They were designed to perpetuate the story line of the park itself. The cast member Hawk had spoken to had described a shipwreck that caused them to be washed ashore. He pointed to the second story of a building and explained that was where he lived. The saga was told with a straight face and he never broke character. Hawk vividly remembered the moment. Walking past the same building the cast member had said he lived in, he found himself glancing up toward the window he said was their home.
“Do you know what you’re going to do yet?” Kiran inquired as they weaved past the Tree of Life across a bridge over Discovery River.
“Not yet, but I’m sure I’m supposed to be here.”
“So we’re just going to Expedition Everest, and you’re going to figure out what to do next?”
His lack of an answer was further evidence that he had no clear plan. They arrived at the mythical village of Serka Zong that had been brought to life by the Disney Imagineers. The village served as the home to Expedition Everest, nestled on the edge of the Discovery River. Moving through Serka Zong they passed a hotel, the Yak & Yeti Restaurant, an Internet café, and a hiking supply depot. All of the buildings and design in this area were based upon Nepalese culture and architecture. The village wrapped around the base of the Forbidden Mountain and tucked it away in a perfectly created illusion that become one of the most talked-about thrill adventures in the history and legend of the Disney Corporation.
“All right, Hawk.” Kiran stopped as they stood alone in front of a sign that read Gupta’s Gear, a climbing gear supply store that was a part of the exterior of the attraction queue area. “What now?”