*****
At nine o’clock, Uncle Matt and Adam realized Benji wasn’t at the barn yet. At nine-fifteen, Aunt Rachel knocked on Benji’s door, but got no answer. At nine-twenty, Aunt Rachel and Uncle Matt decided Benji must be playing hooky. At nine-thirty, they surreptitiously searched the house and farm, but found no Benji. At nine-fifty, Grandpa caught on and went up to Benji’s room, knocking loudly on his door in case he was still asleep. At nine-fifty-one, Grandpa turned Benji’s doorknob to find it locked. At ten o’clock, Grandpa broke the door open and shoved his way in to discover the room was empty. Benji was missing.
Tyler was oblivious to all the commotion because he was helping David repair the lawnmower in the equipment shed. He didn’t find out until Aunt Rachel rushed up to him and demanded to know where Benji had gone.
“How should I know?” Tyler retorted. His little brother was probably just taking the day off, maybe snooping around in the attic.
“Please, Tyler, think! Did he say anything yesterday about going somewhere?” It was then Tyler noticed the urgency in her voice.
“No,” Tyler said slowly. “What’s going on?”
“I’m not sure,” his aunt looked pensive, “but we can’t find Benji anywhere.”
Tyler and David went back to the main house with her. In the kitchen, Sylvie and Marvin were telling Grandpa they scoured the house from cellar to attic without finding Benji. Jessie arrived and said she checked the pool house with no result. Grandpa was worried. He had everyone search the grounds within the tree line. Sarah and Adam even ran up to the gate and back, but they reported no sign of Benji.
Grandpa told Tyler and Marvin to go up to Benji’s room to ascertain any clues to the boy’s whereabouts. Marvin pointed out the cleared desktop and tumbled gifts on the floor.
“What does that mean?” Tyler asked, exasperated.
“Benji might be messy,” Marvin said, “but he doesn’t leave stuff on the floor. And why is the desk clear?” The genie began opening drawers.
Tyler had to admit the blue nerd was right. “His books are gone,” Tyler noted. With a growing suspicion he began rummaging through the bookshelves. “Did you find the map?” he called over to Marvin. The blue head gave a negative shake. “Damn!” Tyler began searching more frantically. Grandpa’s handbook was gone and the shoebox Tyler gave Benji yesterday was empty. He found Sarah’s present, the journal, and held his breath as he opened the cover.
Benji had written his name on the inside flap and on the first page were yesterday’s date and a brief entry. What good is magic if you can’t use it to do the impossible? Tyler read the line again. What did that mean? Tyler wasn’t sure what Benji was planning, but after another quick search of the room, he was positive Benji had packed for a trip beyond the tree line. He just had no idea where his little brother could be going.
Downstairs, the entire family plus the Landys were gathered around the dining room table. Grandpa just received word from Flanagan that no one in the village had seen Benji either. Tyler and Marvin both took seats.
“Did you find anything?” Sarah asked. Her face was a mask of worry.
“I think we can be sure he’s left the grounds of the farm,” Tyler announced. He tried to school his features as he explained what he found, or rather what he didn’t find, and showed them the journal entry.
“What could he be thinking?” Aunt Rachel asked. She looked to Tyler and Sarah.
Tyler shrugged. “I have no idea,” he said, “but he’s obviously got something specific in mind.”
Sarah was shaking her head slowly her eyes wide. “Benji knows he can’t do magic,” she said slowly, “so whatever he’s up to might have to be done with something that can.”
“What about an Immortal?” Jessie asked. “That’s what we talked about yesterday. Maybe he figured they could do something he wanted.”
“Bargaining with an Immortal!?” Aunt Rachel gasped and looked a little sick.
Grandpa was stern as he spoke. “That’s likely, but we’ve got no idea which Immortal. And if it’s true then we’ve got stop him. Immortals demand high prices for services rendered.”
“High prices?” Sarah squeaked. “What kind of prices?”
“Not money,” Grandpa said gravely. “I hope we can catch up to him before he provides us with an example.”
“You won’t be able to track him,” David interrupted. “We’ve searched the boundary of the farm and I never found any sign of him. Most likely he left late last night and the morning dew coupled with animal activity has covered his trail.”
“Then our best bet is to figure out where he’s gone,” Sarah said. The table was quiet. “Somebody must have a clue! Marvin?” She turned to the genie.
Marvin shook his head. “We’ve talked about Djinns before, but nothing recently. And nothing that would make him go out into the sanctuary. Maybe he’s just curious?”
Voices debated across the table, trying to come up with a reason Benji might leave, but Tyler wasn’t listening. He had an idea, but he didn’t think Grandpa was going to like it much. “Okay!” Tyler interrupted the banter. “He could be anywhere. He could’ve gone to check out the dragons or spy on the giants or ask Horaque to turn him into a frog. We’ve got no good leads, and a lot of speculation.”
“I take it you have a suggestion?” Grandpa scrutinized his face. Tyler nodded.
“I think I know someone who could track him, even with a cold trail, even in the dark. I know a guy who could help us.”
“Who?” Sarah asked hopefully. Tyler could tell he’d have his sister’s support, but Grandpa was already shaking his head.
“Left Paw,” Tyler answered quietly, “the hunter in the woods.”
“No,” Grandpa responded immediately. “He’s dangerous and selfish. We can’t trust him.”
“Why not?” Sarah countered. Tyler was glad his sister was taking up the idea. Grandpa might listen to her.
“He’s done more wrong in the world than most people,” Grandpa answered after a moment. “That man was cursed for a reason and the centuries have not mellowed him much.”
“That doesn’t mean he won’t help us,” Sarah said stubbornly. She addressed Tyler, “Do you think he would help?”
Tyler nodded, but Grandpa answered before he could say anything. “That’s not the point! We couldn’t trust any ‘help’ he might give us. He’s cunning and—,” he stopped when Aunt Rachel put a hand on his arm.
“Dad,” she said quietly. “You’re right, Left Paw is a dangerous man. But Tyler’s right, too. He could be of great help to us.”
“I think you could trust him, if you made a deal with him,” David put in. “He is cunning, but he’ll fulfill a promise. You’ll just have to be careful.” Uncle Matt seconded the idea.
Grandpa looked torn. “Fine,” he said finally, “Left Paw represents our best chance to find Benji quickly, but if we depend on him we’ll be on foot. Horses can’t abide his presence. That will cost us time. We need to move quickly. I want David and Matt to accompany me and as soon as we’ve had a quick lunch we’ll set off.”
“No way!” Tyler said at the same time Sarah stood and shouted, “No!” at their grandfather. The whole table was taken aback by her vehemence. Tyler was even surprised.
“No,” she said it more calmly, looking directly at Grandpa. “Tyler and I know Benji best. If Left Paw gives us a lead, we may be able to figure out where he’s going and cut him off somehow. We’re younger and quicker and Benji’s our brother. We will find him.”
This speech was met with silence. Tyler couldn’t believe his sister said that. Sure, he’d been thinking the same thing, but after the way she acted when they first discovered the secret populace of the sanctuary he figured she’d run for the hills rather than go out into the unknown. She stared his grandfather down with her shoulders back and her chin up. She looked like a queen after giving an order. Tyler hardly recognized this person as his sister.
“She’s right,” Je
ssie added quietly, breaking the tense silence. “She and Tyler have the best chance of finding him. And they can maintain a quick pace. Speed will count.”
Sarah still didn’t take her eyes off Grandpa. The old man nodded once. “As much as I would like to keep you two from the same danger Benji’s walked into, your point is valid. But I will be going with you.” He raised a hand to stop Aunt Rachel’s immediate protest. “I may be old, but I know this terrain better than anyone and I’m still strong enough to keep up with you two.”
Grandpa also decided the group should be as small as possible. Too many people would make the journey more difficult. In the end, only Grandpa, Tyler, and Sarah were going to hunt for Benji. After that was settled, activity filled the house like a tornado as Tyler and Sarah prepared packs and changed into serious hiking gear.
Tyler was suddenly glad he let Aunt Rachel talk him into buying sturdier clothes last week. She noticed that he, Sarah, and Benji didn’t have proper clothes to work in. He was always wearing an old pair of Nikes and Sarah actually went to the stable one morning in designer jeans. After that his Aunt insisted they go into Natalie for more durable clothes.
They ended up actually going all the way to Durango so they could shop for Benji’s birthday. That’s where Tyler picked up the hunting knife, hiker’s compass, binoculars, and canteen for Benji. He was currently wishing he bought the kid a video game instead.
He gathered up a change of clothes and, as Jessie recommended, lots of extra socks and underwear. “A person could go days in the same ratty t-shirt and jeans,” she told him, “but good socks and clean underwear were still a must.” She was helping Sarah pack right now.
Sarah had a fierce look about her that Tyler had never seen before. He’d gotten so used to her depressing calm, it threw him seeing her so commanding and forceful. She was clearly worried about Benji and Tyler suspected she had at least a vague idea of why the kid had run off. Strange, he thought, that a Vulcan Mind Meld with a fantastical half-horse made his sister a better human being. Still, Tyler wished she didn’t insist on coming.
He was grateful she took up his cause so readily and relieved she was able to convince Grandpa, but he didn’t want her along. There was something unnerving about the way she was treated by the sanctuary’s inhabitants. Something that Tyler couldn’t identify. He only knew he didn’t want her out there and he especially didn’t want her around Left Paw.
Tyler took his bundle of clothes and gear down to the kitchen. It was ground zero for staging this whole venture. Sylvie was getting food rations together, though Tyler thought it was unnecessary. If Left Paw was with them, they could always hunt.
Earlier, Sylvie and Aunt Rachel discovered a number of granola bars and a box of cereal were missing. Half a case of bottled water was gone, too. At least they knew Benji wasn’t out in the wilderness without provisions.
Uncle Matt and David were trying to convince Grandpa to let them go in his stead, but Grandpa was adamant. Benji already had a huge head start. A group of three, plus Left Paw, was plenty and Grandpa assured them he could handle anything they came across. As the Keeper he was granted more respect than anyone else. That would be necessary to pass through certain areas.
“I hope you know what you’re doing,” Jessie said from behind Tyler. She was talking to Sarah.
“He’s my little brother,” Sarah said. “I’m going to find him.” Her face was set in hard lines.
“You two don’t know what it’s like outside the boundary,” Jessie insisted. “It’s more dangerous than you guys realize.”
Tyler turned around to face her. “Look,” he said, “I know you think you’re Lara Croft, but we can handle this. We’re not idiots.”
Jessie made a frustrated sound. “I know, I know,” she said.
“You’re worried about us,” Sarah said. She put a hand on Jessie’s shoulder. “It’s nice that you are. It’s good that you are. But we have to do this. It has to be us.”
The other girl shrugged helplessly. Tyler thought it was bit overdramatic. He was in great shape, he was smart, he was fast, and he was good in a fight. Sarah was also perfectly capable. He knew she was fast and she wasn’t a quitter. They’d be fine. They would either find Benji before he got into trouble or extract him from whatever situation he managed to get himself into.
Besides, Tyler thought, Left Paw would be helping them. Tyler visited the hunter only once after learning he wasn’t a figment of the imagination, and that time very briefly, but he was sure the solitary man would be on their side. Left Paw was accommodating during Tyler’s visit, sharing his stew again and asking Tyler about his dreams. The hunter was curious and thoughtful. Tyler knew he lacked company and would do anything to break his tedium. Including help the Rose family find Benji.
Adam came in with three large packs and two rolled up bundles of slippery material. He gave one of the packs and a bundle to Tyler. “You’ve got two tents,” he said indicating the rolled up lump. “They’re pretty small, but I wouldn’t sleep in the open out there. Between the three of you, I think we can manage enough gear for a week.”
“We’ll probably be back sooner than that if we can find Benji before any harm is done,” Grandpa asserted.
“Well, let’s hope you’re here in time for the Fourth of July fireworks,” Aunt Rachel said giving Grandpa’s hand a squeeze. She was only half joking.
“It’s not you three I’m worried about,” Uncle Matt muttered. He began showing Tyler the best way to fill the pack with gear. “These are going to be heavy,” he said, “but the short hike into Left Paw’s woods should give you enough time to get used to them before the more strenuous stuff.” It was obvious Uncle Matt still thought he should go along too.
Jessie was helping Sarah with her pack. Tyler and Grandpa ended up with the two tents. Tyler glanced at the cloudy sky through the kitchen window and hoped it wouldn’t rain. He indulged in a little anger and annoyance at Benji’s carelessness as he continued to organize his pack. Little brothers were supposed to pains, but this was ridiculous. What on earth had the kid been thinking?
Tyler looked over at Sarah. His sister was listening carefully to Jessie giving advice and quizzing Uncle Matt about the camping paraphernalia. She still looked determined, but pensive too. Tyler again wondered if she knew what Benji was up to. If she was sure, she’d have said something earlier, he thought. Her concern was real. She wouldn’t hide something like that.
It took more than an hour to get everything ready. Grandpa’s game plan was simple: the trio would hike to Left Paw’s clearing and try to garner the hunter’s help. Afterwards, with or without Left Paw, they would determine Benji’s most likely destination and proceed. If July fourth passed without word, Aunt Rachel was to contact the council that oversaw the sanctuaries and they would send a team of qualified searchers.
Lunch consisted of a few peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and apples. The group ate quickly, but made sure to fill up before they set off. Tyler knew they would need the energy.
The group of people not going looked really worried. You’d think they could muster up brave faces at least, thought Tyler. He was glad when they lost sight of them and entered the woods behind the equipment shed.
Grandpa was taking the same route Tyler traveled and it was easy going. Tyler thought his pack might feel more burdensome as they trekked on, but for now it wasn’t a problem. Sarah didn’t seem to be having any difficulty either. They reached the clearing in good time, but Left Paw wasn’t there.
“This is where Left Paw lives?” Sarah asked. She was looking at the fire pit and the brace of wood that served as a crude shelter. “Where is he?”
“Most likely, he’s hunting,” answered Grandpa. “He’ll know we’re here soon enough.” Grandpa motioned for them to drop their packs and have a seat near the edge of the clearing.
Sarah looked at Tyler with concern wrinkling her forehead. “You sure he’ll help?”
“I’m sure,” Tyler responded.
“He’s a loner, but I think he’s a good guy.” Grandpa snorted. Tyler glared at the back of his white head. Why was it that adults always thought they knew better than you? The thought trailed off abruptly.
A huge red wolf appeared at the other side of the clearing. Tyler’s mouth went dry. The wolf paced forward. It was headed right for them.
*****
Chapter 24: The Things in the Woods
Sanctuary Page 35