by Pamela Davis
As they pulled the cars over to the side of the road, rain started falling in big fat drops. Andy and Waldo walked back to Lisanne's car. She rolled down the window. "Merlin says this is a bad storm. He says Janine and the horses have found some caves, back a ways from here to the north. We're too far east of Branson to get there in time to beat this storm."
"Those clouds are pretty dark. I would say just ride it out here, but I'm sure Merlin has a reason for wanting us to hide in a cave."
Woof! barked Waldo.
"Okay, okay," Andy said. "I hear you--we'll go to the caves. Lead on, Merlin!" Saluting the cat, he ran back to his Range Rover.
Cape Fair, the Samuels' House
Finally everyone was seated in the large den, some on couches and chairs and the youngest on the big braided rug. John finished setting up a large white board and stood there with a marker in his hand.
"Start with what we know," suggested Mrs. Philpott.
"And what we need," Jessica put in. "Supplies and skills--people who have skills we need."
Gracie said, "Also, what skills do we have now."
John divided the big board into three sections and began writing, mumbling his thoughts aloud. "What we know--flood coming. What we need--that's where all of you come in, expand on the lists we have so far. Skills--thank god you're a vet, Clay. We'll definitely need you."
"Uh, oh," Samantha said. "This is not good!" Jumping to her feet she ran to the windows.
Startled, John and everyone else watched as the large owl, White, spread his wings and Perceval paced over to Sam, fur ruffled on his back. Harry barked once and trotted over to nudge Sam with his head.
"Now what?" Rachel asked plaintively.
"They're in trouble," Sam said tensely. "Why didn't Merlin get them to safety sooner?"
The little girl sounded frustrated, and Jessica looked concerned as she walked over and knelt down in front of Sam. "What is it honey? And who is Merlin?"
"Oh! That's the cat," Mrs. Philpott said. "The cat Samantha was talking to earlier today, well, Sam and Perceval were talking to him. He's with some crazy girl and a weatherman. That's all I know."
"Crazy girl?" Harmony asked.
"Weatherman?" Black asked at the same time.
"Merlin?" Rachel said, loudly. "Like, the wizard? What is this, some kind of fairy tale?"
"Rachel--hush!" said Gracie.
Sam stood very still for a minute, and then her shoulders relaxed. Opening her eyes, she looked at her mother and said in relief, "It's gonna be okay. Merlin knows where they're going and the caves should protect them. And I think all the horses are safe. I'm not sure there's room for all of them, but if they don't put the cars in there they should be okay. The black bear got out of there already so I think they'll be okay."
"Caves?"
"Horses?"
"Bear? What bear?"
Caves somewhere in southwest Missouri
Janine 'listened' to the horses. Ah, yes, there it was, the news that Andy and Lisanne were almost to the cave. She marveled over the information flowing like streams through the horse awareness. She'd found that she could immerse herself in it, or just tiptoe along the edges, sometimes wading in a bit and then jumping back out. The herd of horses was comprised of numerous smaller herds, which had all come together as they traveled. When fully submerged into the river of conversations, Janine found lots of random bits and pieces, like single leaves floating on the surface of a brook. Things like this bay mare had a twinge of pain in her leg, and that black gelding was hungry. Then there were larger pieces of information, made up of the back and forth between single horses or small groups of horses. Still larger were communications between leaders of herds exchanging info on the route ahead on locations for water and food. Finally there was a vast pool of knowledge deep in the waters of this horse mind. Here was where the most vital information came from--where the warning came about this current storm and what it might do. That they needed to get to Cape Fair. And Janine couldn't tell what it was, where it was coming from, but one thing was clear--it wasn't any particular horse or group of horses. It was something else.
She heard the sound of car engines being turned off and ran out to the cave entrance to hear Lisanne complaining loudly to Andy.
"I'm telling you, I saw a bear, a big, freaking black bear, running off from here as we drove in. I know what a bear looks like and that was a damned bear!"
"Okay, Lisanne, okay. I heard you the first time. I just didn't realize black bears lived around here and I didn't think we'd be going into a bear's cave, that's all." Andy replied. "Now can we hurry up and get into the cave? I'm soaking wet."
Lisanne shifted the strap of the computer carrying case to her other shoulder and marched off.
Andy looked down at Waldo. "You know she's all wrong for me, right, boy? Then why do I think she's adorable with all that black mascara running down her face in the rain and with her hair plastered to her head, dripping wet, yelling at me about something?"
Waldo barked once and took off running for the cave.
"Yeah, I know. She's nutty, but I think I'm falling for her." As he jogged to the cave entrance, Andy laughed at himself and decided if he could survive Lisanne, the disasters would be a piece of cake.
Cape Fair, the Samuels' House
Before anyone else could bug her about caves and bears and horses and Merlin, Samantha headed out of the room. "Come on you guys! We got more company coming! It's gonna be a big surprise!" Then she took off running for the front door.
"More company?" Jessica said blankly. "A surprise? I live in a constant state of surprise these days!"
"How does she know these things?" Abby asked, with a concerned look at Jessica.
"I don't know, Mom, I just don't know. But if she says we have more people coming tonight, I guess we ought to just follow her lead." She headed off after Sam.
"Clay?" Abby turned to him. "Clay, this worries me. I don't know what Jessica is thinking letting that child just run wild with all this--this--this--"
"Abby, honey, you've got to trust your daughter. She knows what she's doing. Always been a good, level-headed girl. If she's okay with this thing with Samantha, then you have to be okay with it too." Clay put an arm around his wife and kissed the top of her head. "Some fantastic things are going on here, amazing things. I won't tell you not to worry because I know you'll worry anyway. But, honey, we just have to go with the flow, as they say, and see what happens next."
"Clayton Ames, you're just so happy about finding animals that can talk to you that you aren't even looking at the big picture! I know, I know I worry too much. But she's just a little girl, Clay. She's my granddaughter and I'm going to worry about her because this isn't right."
Clay sighed. "Yes, it is strange, Abby. But that doesn't mean it isn't right. It's just something new. Maybe something wonderful."
"Aha! You said maybe--maybe it's wonderful. So even you aren't sure."
"Well, honey, we just don't know enough yet – and I'm not sure Jessica and John know all that's going on either. You notice they seemed mighty surprised by Sam just now. They aren't used to this thing she can do yet either. But we've got to be supportive and not question them too much. In time it will all get sorted out."
Abby nodded slowly. She turned and hugged her husband tightly. "I wonder who the company is."
In a Cave, Southwest Missouri
"Do you all have anything to eat?" Janine asked.
Lisanne rummaged in the backpack she'd dragged into the cave. "Sure, kiddo. Here's some Doritos, some chocolate-covered Oreos, Cheetos...now where did I put that can of cashews?"
"Lisanne, I thought you said you had stocked up on food at that little store we were at," Andy said, frowning at her.
"This is food. Here, have a Snickers."
As Janine tore open the cookies, Andy looked at Lisanne quizzically. "Do you do anything, anything at all, that's healthy? I'm not judging you. I'm just curious."
"Hey, ther
e's nutritional value in the peanuts in that Snickers bar. And have you ever read the back of the Doritos bag? You can get some minerals and stuff from them." She smiled broadly as she pulled a can of cashews from the backpack. "There you are, my lovely salted cashews! Here," she thrust the can at Andy. "Open these up and quit complaining. I'm sure there will be veggies and fresh fruit when we get where we're going. Then you can be all healthy all the time. You probably jog too."
Defensively, Andy started, "Jogging is good for you! Better than smoking."
"Oh, no! I left my cigarettes in the car!" Jumping up, Lisanne headed out of the cave.
"Stop her!" Janine said urgently. "It's about to get bad out there."
Andy looked out at the pouring, blowing rain and said, "About to get bad? It's already pretty bad."
"Andy, just go get her. The horses are frightened. Something's about to happen."
Andy walked to the cave entrance and then heard a scream. Running out into the rain, he heard loud, cracking sounds. Lightning was flaring through the trees as the wind picked up, and he was bent almost in half as he struggled against it. "Lisanne! Lisanne!" he yelled.
"Over here."
Coming around his car, he saw Lisanne sitting on the ground, slumped against her car door. "Help! That tree attacked me!" she said accusingly.
Crouching down next to her, Andy told her, "The tree didn't attack you--a branch just fell off and whacked you on the arm."
Cradling her left arm gently, he put pressure on the cut that was bleeding. "Okay," he said, "we have to get back to the cave. This storm is getting worse. Can you walk?"
"I need a drink!" she reported.
"I thought you said you stopped drinking. Can you walk?"
"I don't care. Let me be an alcoholic. I stashed a bottle of scotch in the trunk, next to my telescope."
"Telescope? You brought a telescope when we needed room for supplies?" Andy asked, incredulous.
"What's an astronomer without a telescope?" Lisanne replied reasonably.
"You never said you were an astronomer. Did you? I think I'd remember you telling me that."
"So? I dropped out before I finished my dissertation. Now, can I have that drink?"
"I think you need a hole in the head before you need a drink," he replied, exasperated. "But actually, we could use that Scotch to disinfect the cut on your arm. Give me the keys."
"Oh, shit!" she moaned. "I forgot to bring the keys with me. I can be such an idiot!"
"I'm not going to comment on that. This rain and wind is getting ridiculous. Can you walk?"
"Yeah, I think so," Lisanne said shakily.
As he helped her up, Andy heard loud noises. Looking up he saw hail coming out of the sky. And not just any hail, he thought, hurrying Lisanne along. The hail was golf-ball sized and larger. "Hurry, Lisanne!" he yelled. And practically carrying her, he ran to the cave.
A shattering sound could be heard over the roar of wind. "That's glass!" Lisanne shouted, twisting around to look back. "My car!" she wailed.
"Come on! We'll worry about that later." Andy dragged her through the cave entrance.
Cape Fair, the Samuels' House
"Jessica! You're here!" Nathan picked up his sister in a bear hug and whirled her around.
"Put me down, you maniac!" Jessica was laughing and at the same time couldn't believe her eyes. "Of course I'm here--I live here! What on earth are you doing here? You're supposed to be in Africa...."
Taking a deep breath, Nathan began, "Jess, I know you may not believe me right away, but I came to warn you. Alex and I came," and he motioned to Alex standing by one of the U-Haul trucks. "You remember Alex? She's the other grad student who was with me in the Kalahari? Well, we have some rather unbelievable things to tell you--gosh, I'm glad you're safe! Alex kept saying this would be a safe zone," Jessica gave a start of surprise and glanced at Sam. "But," Nathan continued, "the closer we got I started to wonder. You guys didn't answer the phone this afternoon when we called so I wasn't sure you were okay. But you are!"
"Uh, yes, we're okay. You said you came to warn us?"
"Right." Motioning Alex over, he nodded in her direction. "Alex and I figured it out in New York. But a woman in the tribe in Africa was the one who warned us. Then we had the dreams and we finally put it all together, but I guess this isn't making much sense!" he said, slowing down.
Alex punched in him the arm. "Of course it isn't making sense to them--you're rambling and talking too fast and they're going to think we're nuts." Sticking out her hand, she said, "Hi, Jessica. I feel I know you after talking with Nate. I'm Alexandra Hobson." Turning to the little blond girl with the big golden retriever she continued, "And you have to be Sam. That's a nice looking dog you have there."
Harry woofed.
"Harry says thank you," Sam replied.
Grinning, Alex said, "Well, you are welcome, Harry. And does your dog always have such nice manners, Sam?"
"Well, not always. But he likes you and he says you did real good at listening to the cat about all the supplies we need. He was just wonderin' if you remembered to get his favorite dog food."
Nathan and Alex stared at the little girl. Alex's mouth had fallen open and Nathan's eyes were open wide. "How--how--what--what did you say?" Nathan sputtered.
"You been having the dreams, right?" Sam asked. "And, Alex, didn't you get told about a list of supplies? Since you got two trucks there, I figure Harry's right and you did a good job on that. Oh!" She started giggling. "You didn't know it was Perceval, the cat, who was talking to you? Yeah, Grandma Abby was pretty surprised by that too. But Grandpa thinks it's cool."
Nathan looked dazed. "Mom and Dad are here?"
Sam frowned at him. "Well, we couldn't leave 'em in San Francisco with the earthquake coming!"
Alex had finally closed her mouth and now just looked at them. "Are you telling me," she began, and then stopped. Taking a deep breath she tried again. "Are you telling me you know about the dreams? Are you telling me a cat has been talking to me?"
Sam looked up at Nathan, saying, "I think Alex is smarter than you, Uncle Nathan. Sounds like she's getting it."
Nathan said slowly, "We came to warn you--about the flood--about the disasters. But, but, but--you know already? You know about the dreams? What is all this about a talking cat?"
Jessica grabbed his hand and said, "Come on, let's go inside and we can compare notes. And yes, Mom and Dad are here now, and John's mother and his sister Rachel. Mom will be so relieved to see you! And I can't wait to go through those trucks and see what you brought us."
As they walked up to the front door, Alex kept glancing down at her side to Sam and the dog. "I never dreamed about an earthquake in San Francisco," she said hesitantly.
"Perceval--that's the cat--he knew about it first. Nobody is having dreams of it yet. I like your braid," Sam replied.
"My braid?" Alex glanced around wildly. "Oh! My hair, my braid. Why do I feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone here?"
"No, Alex, not twilight zone, it's a safe zone, you're in a safe zone," Sam corrected her.
"Sam, I'm beginning to think they are one and the same," Alex said forcefully.
Outside the Cave in Southwest Missouri
Andy and Lisanne stood in front of her car. He didn't know her well enough to know if he should make a joke about it or commiserate and offer condolences.
"My beautiful car. My dad gave me this car. A '67 Mustang in perfect condition. The only good thing he ever did for me. Now look at it!"
Andy was looking. The windshield was completely cracked with a hole in the center. Dents pockmarked the hood and roof. The paint was scratched all along the sides. He turned to his Range Rover and discovered it was in much better shape, probably because it was partially under an overhang of rock. "I guess we could move your stuff into my car. We may not be able to get all of it in there, but there's a little room left for some of it," he suggested.
"Forget about it!" she snapped. "If this car still
runs, I'm driving it out of here."
"But, Lisanne--"
"Come help me clear the branches and ice off it, and just shut up about leaving it here. This stupid weather, or maybe the goddamned planet, whatever it is, it's taken my home already. I'm not giving it my car!"
Yanking at the dented car door and cursing, she finally got it to open. Sliding into the driver's seat, brushing glass onto the floor, she shoved the key into the ignition and turned it. The engine turned over, hiccupped, and then roared to life. "Yes!" she shouted.
"Lisanne, there's a hole in the windshield. You are barely able to see out with the cracks. It's probably dangerous to--"
"Are you going to help or are you just going to stand there babbling nonsense like an idiot?" she demanded.
"Fine! Fine, go right ahead and get yourself killed," Andy retorted.
"Come on, Merlin, get in the car and let's go," Lisanne called out the window to the cat, who'd been sitting there staring at them both.
Merlin meowed and looked back and forth between the two travel options. Yes, he'd be safer with Andy. But that dumb dog would probably slobber all over him. And if he left Lisanne alone on the road, no telling what trouble she would get into. He meowed angrily. How did I end up being her keeper, he thought. Well, after all, how bad could it really be inside the car? And they didn't have that far to go. He jumped in.
Twenty miles and an hour later, Merlin huddled in the passenger side foot well, growling. A blast of wind blew continuously through the hole in the windshield, and Lisanne's stream of curses--at the weather, at Andy, at the broken headlights, at life in general--never stopped as they drove slowly along the winding road. The carpeting on the floor of the car was soaking wet from the rain that had poured in during the storm, but sitting on the seat was torturous. Without Andy behind them, his headlights on bright, illuminating parts of the road, they would never have made it.
"Cape Fair!" Lisanne shouted. "We made it!" Pulling off the road, she opened up the laptop. "Now do you want to just type in the directions or do I need to go all trance-like and get it from you psychically?"