Lake Rescue (16 page)

“Hey Char, you all right?” Isabel dropped down on her knees to put her hand on Charlotte’s shoulder.

Charlotte buried her head in the dirt for a minute. “I’m
fine,” she replied. Isabel and Nick took her arm from either side and helped her up.

Charlotte turned to Isabel as she brushed dirt off herself and realized that Isabel had covered her mouth with her hand.

“Are you laughing at me?!” Charlotte exclaimed.

“I’m sorry,” Isabel said, her voice shaking with laughter. “It wouldn’t have been funny if you had been hurt. But you…you looked so hilarious!”

Charlotte had to giggle. She was a little embarrassed, but she knew that it was probably better to laugh than be angry or upset. And it
was
pretty funny.

“I better walk a little closer to you from now on,” Nick said. “I almost caught you before you took a dive. Sorry…I mean, before you…had your little accident.”

Charlotte grinned and punched Nick lightly on the arm. Despite the rough start, she could tell that it was going to be a fun day.

Green Team Finds the Ruby

Suddenly, Nash halted the group. His brow was furrowed and he seemed to be a bit…confused. Resting his pack on a log, he unzipped the front compartment and pulled out a map. Ms. Weston rushed over. “What’s the matter, Nash? Are we lost? I thought we followed the correct trail.”

“We did,” he answered. “But we should be here,” he said, pointing to a marker on the map for a trail head, “and we are not. There is something very wrong.”

“I…are we really off the trail? Do you know where we are, Ms. Weston?” Avery asked with concern in her voice.

Ms. Weston took the binoculars from her eyes and looked around. “Oh, well, no, but we can’t be that far off the trail. Can we, Nash? We’ll just retrace our steps.”

Suddenly, Ms. Weston’s eyes opened wide. “Oh, wait, there’s the call again. Look, class, up there, in that evergreen, flicking its wings. There it is! Oh, oh, how exciting! Isn’t this terribly exciting? A ruby-crowned kinglet. They aren’t that rare, but as I told you, I don’t have one on my list. I always hoped I’d see one, and I knew this trip was my best chance this fall.”

Katani wondered how Ms. Weston could be so unconcerned about their predicament when Nash was so clearly worried. He was looking at that map as if it were in ancient Greek.

Suddenly, Chelsea spotted the tiny bird that Ms. Weston was ecstatic about. She thought some extra science points were right there within her grasp. She crept even closer, knelt down, and snapped several photos.

“Oh, Chelsea, you are a perfect wonder. If you got a good photo, we might be able to sell it to some birding magazine. I know at least three that would just die for a good picture.”

Hey, science points and money. This was getting better by the minute. Maybe Ms. Weston wasn’t crazy after all, figured Chelsea.

Billy Trentini sneezed, and that was the end of the ruby-crowned kinglet, which took off like a shot into the woods. Billy had sneezed it away in an instant. “Sorry, I think I’m allergic to these woods.”

“Hey, you might be allergic to kinglets.”

“You can get shots for that,” Avery said with a straight face.

“Oh, green team, thank you, thank you.” Ms. Weston’s face lit up with satisfaction. Finding that bird was really a life goal for her. “Now, where were we before I got sidetracked?”

“That’s a very good question.” Avery looked around.

Nash stood up. “Green team,” he announced carefully. “We are definitely lost! Somehow a trail marker has been removed, or fallen. It’s possible that the wind that blew through camp last night may have knocked it off. Or sometimes a few really misguided hikers think it’s fun to grab a souvenir, and I don’t think the rangers have been up here today. In any case, we must have taken a wrong turn.”

“But I remember where we went, Nash. Follow me,” shouted Avery. And before anyone could stop her she had begun running back down the trail. And then, to everyone’s horror…almost as in a slow-motion movie, Avery went flying through the air like a spinning top and crashed to the ground.

“Trying to be a hero, Madden?” Billy shouted as he raced toward her, followed by Ms. Weston and Nash.

“Great,” Maeve whispered to Katani. “We’re lost and Avery’s acting like one of the Flying Wallendas…Katani?” Maeve shook her friend’s arm.

“Shush, Maeve. I think Avery’s hurt…really hurt. Look,” pointed Katani.

Blue Team

T
he blue team was keeping a good pace, climbing steadily through the trees up the side of the mountain.

John whistled softly as he hiked, pausing from time to time to point out different types of vegetation.

Charlotte kept her journal out and wrote furiously every time they stopped on the trail. She wanted to record how it felt to be out in the woods, away from the busy life of school.

“Uh, John?” Joline said hesitantly.

“What’s going on?”

“I have to go to the bathroom.”

“All right. Go ahead.”

“What do you mean?” Joline asked, looking worried.

“I warned you before. Now it’s between you and the woods,” John replied, gesturing through the trees.

Joline hesitated for a moment before turning from the path and heading into the woods.

“Although,” John added, “I happen to know that we are about five minutes’ hike from an old shack that has an outhouse attached to it. Lucky you.”

“Uh, okay. Thanks,” Joline said, clearly tasting her own sarcastic medicine.

Pete Wexler jogged to the front of the group.

“Hey John, are we going to see any real wildlife? Like mountain lions? Or bears?”

“Mountain lions are only found in twelve western states and Florida
—
so forget about them. There are black bears in these woods, but I’ve only seen them a couple of times during the daylight. We’d be more likely to see deer or moose.”

“Oh, okay. Thanks, man,” Pete said coolly. John sounded like he spent his days reading the encyclopedia.

“What about rattlesnakes?” Isabel asked fearfully.

“The timber rattlesnake is an endangered species in New Hampshire,” John explained, “although we are in the woods and you have to be prepared for anything. If you hear a rattle, back away. Snakes only bite as a last resort.”

Yikes, Isabel couldn’t believe her ears. She wished John would stop relaying nature facts and just climb. She felt safer from snakes when she was moving.

“All right, we’re here,” he announced, pointing to a shack about fifty yards off the path. “Betsy, why don’t you walk with Joline? It’s not far, but I don’t want any of you wandering off alone.”

Betsy and Joline took off while the others sat down to rest
for a few minutes. John passed around some more gorp to refuel the team.

Green Team

A shriek reverberated through the trees in the otherwise quiet forest. And then silence. Everyone rushed toward Avery, who was lying on the ground
—
her face white and her eyes closed.

Ms. Weston, her face pale, leaned over her. “Are you all right? Avery, Avery talk to me.” Nash sprinkled a little cold water on Avery’s face and her eyes began to flutter and she began to moan.

“My ankle. Owwww, it hurts so bad. I think…I think it might be broken.” Avery was clearly trying not to cry, but a couple of tears rolled down her cheek.

Katani and Maeve looked at each other. Avery never cried.

Katani thought the two counselors gave each other that look that said, “This can’t be happening.”

“Can you move your foot, Avery?” Nash asked, kneeling beside her.

“Great, we get lost in the woods and this loser goes and breaks her ankle,” said Kiki, rolling her eyes.

“Hey, Avery is not a loser,” said Billy angrily.

“Well, then she shouldn’t have run ahead like that,” said Anna, who couldn’t resist the opportunity to dis one of the BSG.

“It was just an accident,” retorted Maeve.

“Quiet, all of you,” Nash spoke harshly. “Avery,” he asked again, “Can you move your foot?”

Avery shook her head no. “It hurts too much.” Avery was
trying to be brave in front of the other kids but her ankle was throbbing in pain. And now she felt embarrassed. Anna was right. She shouldn’t have been running ahead. Avery felt like a total idiot. She had not followed the hiker responsibility code like she was supposed to.

“Whatever, now we’re never going to get back to camp and it’s all that dork’s fault!” stormed Kiki, pointing at Avery.

Ms. Weston finally noticed the escalating argument. “Kiki, there will be no name-calling on this hike! Avery’s in terrible pain and no one wants to hear your negative commentary. If you can’t work as part of a team, go sit on that rock over there.”

Kiki wasn’t ready to let things go just yet.

“Chill out, Ms. Weston. She only tripped over a tree root. Avery’s acting like such a drama queen.” Kiki turned to make a face at Avery.

There was a shocked gasp from the green team. The Yurmeister’s eyes practically bugged right out of his head. Billy Trentini opened his mouth and a big burp came out. Red-faced, he mumbled a quick apology.

Nobody ever talked to teachers like that at Abigail Adams Junior High. They all waited eagerly to see what Ms. Weston would do next. Weston vs. Underwood
—
no one could guess the outcome.

Ms. Weston stamped her foot and shouted. “Go sit on that rock, Kiki, right now.” Kiki hurried over to the rock, realizing that she had gone too far. She didn’t even say a word when Anna gave her the “loser” look.

Ms. Weston was obviously at her wit’s end. They were
lost in the woods, Avery was hurt, and now she felt like she was losing control of her students.

Katani whispered to Maeve, “Ms. Weston is totally mad. I bet she tells my grandmother about this.”

Ms. Weston turned her back on Kiki and spoke to the rest of the green team. “This is a serious situation and I need you all to be quiet and stay put while we deal with this. And…I don’t want to see anyone else running. Have I made myself very clear?”

Everyone nodded yes.

Ms. Weston’s tirade must have shocked Kiki, because she was completely quiet. Kiki was sitting on the rock, acting like she didn’t care, but looking for all the world like a chastised second grader in time-out.

Chelsea Briggs turned away. Kikimania was beginning to get really annoying. They were lost in the woods, for goodness sakes, and Avery Madden had really messed up her foot pretty badly. And still everybody had to focus on Kiki. What was up with that? Chelsea sighed in frustration. Then…the lightbulb. That’s it! Chelsea snapped her finger. She’d figured it out. Kiki had to be the center of attention all the time
—
everywhere with everyone. If she couldn’t get it in a good way, Kiki was going to do what-ever it took to bring the attention back to herself…including insulting other kids with broken feet. Even now. Chelsea saw Kiki out of the corner of her eye pouting as she sat on the rock. Even in a crisis it was the Kiki Show. Chelsea shook her head. That was so screwed up. And they thought she had problems.

Everyone’s focus shifted back to Avery. Nash had asked Billy to run back and get his medic pack.

“What do you think, Nash?” asked Ms. Weston.

“Ibuprofen will help bring down the swelling and reduce the pain. I’m not a doctor, so I obviously don’t know if her foot is broken or sprained. But both can cause a lot of pain.”

“Here, Nash.” Billy handed Nash the pack.

The counselor grabbed the bag and opened the compartment with the first aid kit.

Meanwhile, Ms. Weston had managed to get Avery to sit up. The color had begun to return to her face.

Nash handed her some medicine and gave her a sip of water. Ms. Weston gave her a couple of crackers to help wash the dry pills down. Avery gratefully took both.

Nash directed Katani and Yurt to go back to the swamp and soak a bandanna with cold water.

“I thought we weren’t supposed to separate,” Chelsea spoke up.

“You are absolutely correct, but this is an emergency, and I’m going to stand on that rock over there and watch them go. I can see them from there
—
it’s only about fifty yards away. “Get going, guys, and walk
—
don’t run. We have had more than enough trouble for one day.”

Avery, who had begun to return to her old self, felt her face flush. Maybe if she tried to stand everything would be all right.

“Avery, how are you feeling?” asked Ms. Weston. “Your face…you do look a little better.” She sounded relieved.

“Yeah, maybe I should try to stand. I think I can…”

Ms. Weston and Maeve helped her stand, but all her weight was on her good foot. She started to look down at her injured foot.

Maeve, who had Avery by the arm, said, “I don’t think you should look, Ave. Your ankle…it looks like you’re hatching a blue dinosaur egg on your foot.”

Everyone looked down.

“My,” was all Ms. Weston said.

“Cool,” said Billy, although he looked a little pale.

“Do you want to try walking, Avery?” Ms. Weston asked, a hint of doubt in her voice.

Avery took a deep breath and tentatively put her injured foot on the ground, but a little yelp of pain escaped her as soon as she put pressure on her foot.

“Avery.” Nash, who had left his perch on the rock, said, “You need to get off your feet.” Maeve and Ms. Weston helped Avery back to the ground.

At that moment Katani came rushing into the group holding the dripping bandana. Yurt, trailing behind her, was way out of breath and panting.

“Geesh, Summers,” he said when he was able to breathe. “You better go out for track when we get back. I’ve never seen anyone speed walk like that.”

“Avery, there is no way we can tell if your foot is broken, so we are just going to have to ice your foot.”

Nash took an instant cold pack out and wrapped it around Avery’s foot. Then he began wrapping the bandana tightly around Avery’s foot. Normally, he wouldn’t use a wet bandana, but he had no idea how long they would be out in the woods. The weather was a little warm and he wanted the ice pack to stay cold as long as possible. Plus, the bandanna would act as an Ace bandage.

“How’s that swamp ice feel, kiddo?” he joked.

For the first time since she had fallen, Avery was able to crack a smile.

“Wow, it’s return of the swamp thing,” cracked Billy Trentini.

Ms. Weston gave him a stern look. He put up his hands quickly. “I was just joking,” he apologized.

Maeve rushed to sit down next to her friend. She put her hand on Avery’s forehead. “Well,” she said optimistically. “At least you don’t have a fever.” That made Avery giggle.

Nash clapped his hands. “Okay, lunch time…then pow-wow. Everybody get their packs, and Mr. Yurt…”

The Yurtmeister bowed deeply when he heard the counselor call his name. That completely broke everyone up, even Nash and Ms. Weston.

“What can I do for you my lord?” Henry said in a very royal voice.

“You can go get the pack with all the lunches.”

Yurt stood at attention. “Right away, sir.” He began to run and then stopped, remembering Ms. Weston’s admonition. “Where is the royal lunch pack?”

Nash asked who had been the last person to carry it.

Billy said that he had handed it off to Katani.

Katani said she had handed it off to Chelsea, who said she handed it off to Yurt, who said he handed it off to Maeve, who handed it off to Kiki, who said she thought maybe she had left it by the side of the trail about a half hour earlier when they had stopped to rest. Kiki shrunk from the angry looks of the green team and put her head down. Not a good day for Kiki.

“You lost our lunch?” yelled Billy T. He started to pace in
circles. He was starving, having eaten all his gorp on the way through the swamp. In a dramatic gesture worthy of the Yurtmeister, Billy raised his skinny arms to the sky and shouted, “We’re all gonna die!” And then he flung himself onto the grass and pounded his fists into the ground. Chelsea knew just how Billy felt.

“Get up, Billy,” commanded Nash. He wanted to laugh at Billy’s antics, but the counselor could see that the other campers’ faces were distressed. It was one thing to be lost and quite another to be lost and hungry.

Ms. Weston gestured to Nash to do something.

Nash blew his whistle. “Everyone sit down. Let the official pow-wow of the green team begin.”

As soon as everyone was settled, Nash blew his whistle and said, “Rule #1. Assess the situation.”

He pointed at Katani, who thought a minute and chose her words very carefully. “We are lost in the woods with no food. We have an injured camper who can’t walk. It’s getting late and we are tired and hungry…and very annoyed.”

“How about scared,” piped in Maeve, who had just brushed off a very creepy looking bug that had settled on Avery’s hair.

Nash was impressed with Katani’s logical if slightly grim analysis. “Very good, Katani. Now, who wants to take a stab at what we’ve got going for ourselves.”

Dillon raised his hand. Nash gave him the go-ahead.

“We’ve got water and good weather.”

“We are all together,” shouted Maeve.

“We’re not stupid,” Billy piped in.

“We’ve got counselors who are supposed to know what
they are doing,” Anna said, looking at Nash with a perfectly innocent face.

“Exactly,” he said.

“I saved all my gorp and I have four granola bars and an apple too,” offered Chelsea. She had grabbed them from the canteen before she left…just in case.

Everybody cheered.

“Way to go, Chels.” Billy pounded her on the back and sat down next to her, hoping for the first offering.

“That’s great. Bring it over here with Ms. Weston’s pack of crackers. It will be a veritable feast,” Nash winked.

Nash knew that feeding everybody would lighten the mood. So, he spread out his sweatshirt and threw all the food on top. Then he had Chelsea parcel it out so everybody had the same amount. It ended up that each camper got two crackers, a handful of gorp, and a little piece of a granola bar. Some, like Dillon and Yurt, gobbled it immediately. Dillon announced that in a crisis, he felt “immediate gratification was best.”

“My mom told me about a health article that said that small amounts of food over time are better than large amounts all at once,” Katani told Maeve. “It keeps your energy up.”

The two girls decided to adopt that approach to their rations. Chelsea thought it sounded sensible, so she went along with Katani and Maeve.

The ice pack had improved Avery’s pain so she was sitting up and munching on the gorp and ready to help with a plan of attack.