Chapter 6 - Showdown

The men finished loading the loot while the tall one kept a watchful eye on Chip and Evvie. The water was totally motionless, and Chip wondered if his eyes had deceived him. Hours had passed since they’d embarked on this adventure, and he struggled to keep his eyes open. Not good. He needed his wits now more than ever.
Dusty threw the last bag in the bow of the boat. Chip lost count after 100 and knew they couldn’t have all come from the itsy bitsy Mariposa Grove Bank. He recalled his parents talking about a string of bank robberies in the region. The money of the good people of Mariposa County was sitting in a red and white Dory floating in an underground lagoon.

For the first time, the tall one smiled. It was a devilish grin that came with a gurgling evil laugh.

“Well gentlemen, take a look. We’re rich!” He sauntered around the boat surveying his booty. You could almost see him spending it in his mind. Long, bony fingers jabbed at the air, as if conducting an orchestra or counting dollar bills. Gino walked over and the two men fell into a discussion too soft for anyone else to hear.

“Dusty,” Chip whispered urgently. “I mean, Mr. McGregor, please… I gotta go to the bathroom.”
“Me too,” Evvie chimed in.
“Man, you two are going to be the death of me,” he grumbled. “Alright, go behind that rock over there and make it quick.”
As Chip and Evvie walked away they heard Dusty call out.
“Ain’t no boys and girls restrooms here, so ya gotta share!” His laugh followed them around the rock.
Evvie slumped down to the ground as if her frame could no longer support her.

“Finally, a moment to ourselves,” she sighed. “The bathroom was a good trick.”

“Who said anything about a trick? Chip croaked. "I’ve had to go bad for the last hour. Now turn your head and close your eyes.”

“Chip,” she warned.

“I mean it Evvie!” he said dancing from one foot to the other.

“Okay, okay!” She plugged her ears and squeezed her eyes shut. A few moments later he tapped her on the shoulder.

“All clear.”

“Everything come out alright?”

“Very funny. Thanks for… um… you know – not peeking.”

Evvie smirked. “Who said I didn’t?”

Chip’s face went from pale pink to red. Evvie’s smirk actually spread into a grin.

“Just kidding. Alright Chocolate Chip,” she said throwing out a new nickname for him.

“What now?”

A thoughtful look came across his features.

“How about some of that chocolate?”

“Are you kidding?” she said with saucer-wide eyes. “You are NOT going to La La Land and leaving me by myself with these mad men!”

“Evvie,” he started.
“No way Chip,” she whispered intensely, her face going pale at the prospect. “I nearly had to beat you back to life! And you never did explain what happened either,” she accused.
“And I will, promise,” he said looking over her shoulder to make sure no one was coming. “But right now, it’s our only hope. Evvie, I NEED chocolate,” he urged, his eyes deep as the ocean.
“You’re crazy, you know that?”
“Totally insane,” he agreed with a flip of his bangs.
Evvie sighed and gave him a long look as if checking his sanity.
“I know I’m gonna regret this,” she complained handing him the bar. “But if eating chocolate will help get us out of this mess, then go for it.”
Chip reached for the chocolate, and he looked up surprised when her hand closed over his.
“If you don’t come back quickly Chip Cooley, I swear I’ll give you CPR this time.”
Close proximity to Evvie Tipton was a new and wholly unsettling experience. For starters, he’d never noticed she had brilliant specks floating in her caramel colored eyes, like gold dust. Freckles fanned haphazardly across her nose. His heart thrummed against his chest and his palms were all sticky.
“Well, we don’t want that, do we?” he said with a cough, wiping his hands down his jeans as he straightened up.
“Fine,” she snapped. “Get it over with then.”
“Right,” he said lamely looking down at the chocolate in his hand. “Here goes.” Slowly, he let the chocolate melt in his mouth. This time he was ready for the light-headed feeling. He no longer felt the weight of his body and floated up and over the rocks, right above the water. He could see nothing below the milky blue depths, and without hesitation flew straight into the cool pool. An underwater canyon dropped deep very fast, the walls on either side the color of amethyst and just as smooth. He dove down, further and further. A tightness in his chest signaled that he was running out of air but something foreign and unknown, whispered in the deep, dark purple depths.
Keep going.
The water billowed around him in soft currents of sound, swirling around his face, his arms and legs. He stopped swimming, the panic rising in his throat. Pressure was building hard in his chest.
Breathe.
Chip knew to breathe under water was certain death, but he had no choice but to listen to the strange, voice. He was out of air. He inhaled, waiting for the fierce, flooding pain to rush through his lungs. When nothing happened, his eyes opened to the shock that he was breathing underwater! He wondered if he could only breathe underwater when in the Third Eye state, or if this lagoon was different. The thought gave him an idea and he swam deeper, but instead of the water getting darker, it was becoming lighter and lighter. In a matter of minutes his head broke through the surface, and he gasped as sunlight spilled all around him.

He was in a sunlit swimming hole. Perfectly round with bushes and flowers growing from every crevice, its towering walls rose hundreds of feet around him. Chip rubbed his tired eyes, struggling to understand what just happened. He swam to the bottom of the lagoon and should have reached sand, rocks, mud or some other solid land surface. But here he was, outside in fresh air. It didn’t make sense. None of this made any sense!

He didn’t have any more time to think about it as the tug to return pulled. In the next instant he found himself looking up at Dusty’s weathered and lined face.

“C’mon kid, I know you two are tired but ya gotta get up,” he said gruffly.

Chip saw Evvie’s anxious face peering from behind the robber’s back. He shook himself out of the dreamy state and abruptly got to his feet.

“I’m all right,” he said pushing Dusty’s helping hand away. The quick motion got him dizzy and he rocked back and forth on his feet.

“You two are bone tired,” Dusty grunted. “Well, you can both take a nap real soon.”
Evvie’s eyes flashed panic as they met Chip’s. She jerked her head toward the tall one’s coat, which he pulled tight around him.

“What do you mean?” Chip asked suspiciously.

“We’re gonna take a little ride,” Dusty yawned. “You can nap in the boat until we get where we’re going.”

“And where’s that?” Evvie asked.

“Enough questions,” he said with an edge to his voice. “You’ll just have to wait and see.” He pushed them both in front of him toward the boat. The tall one sat in the bow while Gino waited on shore, ready to shove off.

“Go on, get in,” Dusty said impatiently.

Chip watched as Dusty’s friendly demeanor vanished in the presence of the evil Winston. Both men were thieves, but Chip wasn’t worried about Dusty. It was the tall one with eyes like ice chips that gave him the willies.
“What ya waiting for? An invitation?!” the tall one barked.
Chip stumbled into the boat behind Evvie. His mind was racing with escape plans, but talking to her was impossible. The robbers would overhear every word. He slumped in his seat and looked over at Evvie. Her head was buried in her knees. Dusty was right. They were totally pooped. Although he didn’t know what time it was, he assumed it must be midday by now. Daylight was streaming into the cavern, which meant the sun was high. Both of their parents would be worried sick. With clenched hands, Chip waited for an opportune moment. Sleep would have to wait.
Gino rowed them out of the sunlight and into an inky dark passage. The tall one clicked on his powerful flashlight, and the beam bounced off sparkling blue walls. Chip felt like they were wandering through a bejeweled sea. The oars made no sound as they slipped in and out of the water. He looked into the dark depths and saw his gloomy reflection. His plan of jumping off the boat with Evvie now seemed remote as they rowed further and further away from the chamber. If they jumped here, he had no idea whether or not they would come out the other side into the swimming hole. He’d missed his chance.

“Alright now, stop rowing,” the tall one commanded.

“But Winston, we’re not at the place yet…” Dusty started to say, but his words were stopped short.

“Doesn’t matter,” he snapped. “We have some business to attend to right now. Two unwanted guests are now about to leave our company.”

Evvie slowly raised her head and Chip realized she’d never been asleep at all. The tall one opened his coat and now everyone knew about the gun. He pulled it from the holster and waved it at Chip and Evvie.

“Both of you, get up and stand by the edge of the boat.”

Dusty looked from the gun to the two kids and his face went ghostly pale.

“Winston, you’re not gonna... you know,” he faltered, unable to eke out the deadly words.

“Shoot ‘em?” the tall one drawled. “Oh yeah, that’s exactly what we’re going to do.”

“But we donut sign up for killing,” Gino said in his broken English. “This not right. They just bambinos.”

“They’re witnesses,” the tall one answered coldly. “And the only ones who can identify us to the cops. We let ‘em live and we’ll be running for the rest of our lives. Is that what you want?”

“No want killings." Gino shook his head. "We find another way, yes?”

In answer, Winston cocked the gun and pointed it at Gino.

“Sure. I could shoot all of you and no one will have to feel bad about it but me.” He laughed, a harsh grating sound that filled the cavern and bounced off the steep walls. "Actually, I’m liking the sound of this plan better and better,” he murmured eyeing the bags of money.

Chip saw Gino’s Adam’s Apple bob up and down with fear. If something wasn’t done fast, there would be four dead bodies floating in this deep, dark place. As if in answer to his thoughts, a soft hum suddenly emanated from the water. The surface rippled and waves rocked the boat. Chip and Evvie struggled to retain their balance.

“What the dickens was that?” the tall one asked. For a moment, no one said a word. Finally, Dusty broke the silence.

“Maybe it’s your Mum come to sing you a lullaby Winnie.”

“I warned you not to call me that!” the tall one shrieked, whirling around and waving the gun wildly. Dusty didn’t look at Winston but just stared meaningfully at Chip and then at the water. Chip slowly reached for Evvie’s hand.

“Feel like a swim?” he whispered. The answer came in a tight squeeze to his fingers. He gave Dusty a nod.

“Well Winnie it’s like this.” Dusty continued calmly but beads of sweat ran down his cheek. “You’re no longer running this show. I am.”
“Really?” Winston hissed. “I’m the one with the gun, moron. And I think it’s time I used it.” “Jump!” Chip yelled.

The tall one whirled around to see Chip and Evvie launch over the side of the boat. Dusty grabbed for the gun and the boat rocked wildly sending both men to the floor. Gino jumped on top of the dog pile.

In the water, Chip swam a few strokes and couldn’t help but look back. All he saw were arms and legs flailing. A hand holding the gun stretched up, and a shot rang out. The bullet ricocheted off the walls with a “zinging” sound. Chip’s heart hammered against his chest as he saw the tall one rise from the boat, smoking gun still in hand. He couldn’t see Dusty and a lump formed in his throat. The evil Winston smiled and pointed the gun at Gino.

“Your turn Italian,” he said taking aim.

A moan echoed in the cavern, and Winston looked nervously around him.

“What is that blasted humming sound?”

Chip caught a glimpse of a black coil rising from the water circling the red and white dory. The water around them began to swirl like a whirlpool.

“Evvie!” he cried. “Swim hard toward the lagoon’s center. When you get to the middle go down as deep as you can!”

“Chip, I can’t…”

“Evvie trust me on this,” he pleaded. “You can do it! Believe in the chocolate!”

She bit her lip but started swimming hard for the lagoon. They heard screams coming from behind and Chip dared another look back. It was a sight he’d never forget. The boat was swaying back and forth, high out of the water with Gino hanging on for dear life. Chip could see Dusty lying in the bottom. Winston’s screams were as high as a girl’s as he fought being in the grip of one of the black coils.

“Gino, get this thing off of me!” he shrieked before the black arm pulled Winston down and completely submerged him in the water. Spluttering and dripping wet, he gasped for air as the arm shot him back up, missing the sword points of the cavern roof by inches. Winston started to cry.

“Help me… I’ll give you half the loot. Just shoot this blasted monster!”

The little Italian smiled as he hoisted himself up to the edge of the boat.

“I think octopus hungry. You be his lunch today, yes?”

Even from a distance, Chip could see the fear in the tall one’s eyes. He didn’t seem so tall now.

The moaning sound turned to a high hum and the dome of the creature emerged from the water. Chip could see its mouth was open. Although, he knew he should move, he just couldn’t.

“Chip Cooley!” Evvie yelled from the center of the lagoon. “Get over here, now!”

Evvie treaded water, wishing for the hundredth time that she had slept in last night. The creature’s tentacles were winging around the cavern with deadly speed. When they slapped on the water it would be like getting cut in half by a steel whip.

“Faster!” she pleaded as a black coil missed him by inches.

Chip’s heart pumped hard as he made the last stroke to Evvie. He reached out and pulled her into the curve of his arm.

“Don’t look Ev,” he gasped trying to pull air into his starved lungs. “They deserve everything they’re getting.”

His gaze rested on Dusty, still crumpled in the bottom of the boat. A trickle of blood seeped from the man’s forehead onto the floorboards. Chip didn’t notice the salty tears running down his cheeks. The bully he loved to hate was losing his father tonight.
“Rolo can’t know about this,” he said swallowing hard. “I mean the bad stuff. Dusty tried to save us tonight.”
“I know,” she whispered through blue lips.

They gazed at each other under the glittering stalagmite swords, realizing nothing would be the same ever again. For a brief moment, Chip felt like he knew Evvie Tipton better than just about anyone else in the world. His chest squeezed tight, and a feeling altogether alien flooded through him. A high-pitched sound cracked the cavern’s uncanny silence, and Chip was thankful for the interruption. At least now he could turn his attention to something he understood―how to get out of a sticky situation.

“Chip…” Evvie said faintly looking over his shoulder. “I think if you ever had any ideas about how to get out of here, now would be a good time to use them.”

He glanced back and saw the dome of the creature turning toward them. It was the most awkward thing Chip had ever seen. It looked like an octopus, but instead of eight tentacles, it had six. They stretched a good 20 feet in every direction and connected in the center by a big dome the color of red cabbage. It appeared to be the texture of rubber and was semi-transparent. When Chip squinted his eyes, he could swear he saw something moving inside. The figure of a man materialized within the dome and Chip swallowed hard.

“Evvie…” he gasped.

“I see it!” she whispered clutching his shoulder.

Beyond the creature, Chip could see the little dory, now floating calmly in the water. Gino struggled to heave himself back into the boat. Winston was nowhere to be found.

“Looks like the mean one got swallowed up … and is still alive!”

“OMG,” Evvie gagged, sounding like she would hurl any minute. The humming started up again and the creature started moving toward them.

“Oh no you don’t,” Chip muttered. “We’re not going to be a purple-people-eater’s after dinner dessert! C’mon Evvie,” he said pulling her with him to the very center of the lagoon.

“Remember the chocolate I ate by the rock?” he asked. Evvie nodded, her eyes darting behind Chip’s shoulder.

“Well, I saw an escape on the other side of this water and that’s where we have to go -- now.”

Evvie looked all around them and shook her head.

“This time the chocolate must not have worked Chip. There are rocks everywhere! We can’t climb out!”

“Who said anything about climbing out?” He pointed down. “We’re going to swim to the bottom.”

Evvie’s jaw dropped.

“No way,” she stated emphatically. “Even if there was something down there, I’d never be able to hold my breath that long,” she said fearfully.

Chip looked over his shoulder. The creature would soon be within tentacle reach.

Ev,” he urged. “It sounds weird, but you can breathe under this water.”

“What?!”

“You have to believe me Evvie. We either go for a swim or become fish food.” A big slap hit the water, and Evvie saw a tentacle reaching for Chip. He didn’t flinch.

“Dive!” she yelled.

Taking a deep breath, Chip grabbed her hand and they disappeared into the turquoise depths.

Copyright © 2000 by Nina Martin.  All rights reserved. This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. For information, address: info@cooleyscurse.com

Prologue

Funerals are sad affairs. Especially when they’re for children. The adults standing in the Mariposa Grove Cemetery were oblivious to the brilliant sunshine toasting their shoulders or the chirpy birdsong in the trees. They were saying goodbye to two of their own.
Mr. and Mrs. Cooley stood with their nine remaining children. You’d think because they had so many they wouldn’t miss one so much, but Mrs. Cooley shook like an Aspen in the wind. Four daughters crowded around her, dropping an avalanche of tears on the parched grass underfoot.
Mr. Cooley suffered in silence. His rough farmer hands gripped the Good Book so hard, it looked ready to split. The four boys fidgeted in their Sunday best, sniffling in noisy tribute to their lost brother.
Little Scoop sat on the ground looking up at the sad faces of her family. Too young to know what was going on but old enough to know this was not a happy day, she waited and wondered. Where had big brother Chip gone?
Opposite their solemn gathering stood the Tiptons, the most respected family in town. Mayor Tipton sheltered the shoulders of two ladies. His housekeeper had gone through an entire tissue box and was now using the Mayor’s jacket as back-up. His sister, Margo, looked on in disdain. Warm as a popsicle and just as skinny, she tapped glossy red fingernails impatiently against her purse. The funeral was going to make her late for afternoon tea.
Mayor Tipton was everything you’d expect from the town’s most important official. It was as if a great wind blew through him. He was up before dawn talking his way through city problems, farming problems, rotary club meetings, city council meetings, Chamber of Commerce meetings, PTA bake-offs, Fourth of July parades, county fairs, pie-eating contests and elections. Today, the silence from Mayor Tipton was deafening. His Evvie was gone.
It wasn’t that long ago when things had been perfectly fine in the world of Mariposa Grove. Chip Cooley worked his family’s fig farm on Foggy Bottom Road while Evvie Tipton roamed the grand halls of the Mayor’s mansion. Two worlds apart and very much in order, thank you very much.
But one wickedly stormy night, their paths crossed. That’s when Chip Cooley discovered the Third Eye, and nothing was the same, ever again.

Copyright © 2000 by Nina Martin.  All rights reserved. This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. For information, address: info@cooleyscurse.com

Chapter 1 - Death Dare

The worst and best day of Chip Cooley’s life started with a dare. It spewed out of Rolo McGregor’s mouth along with a few bits of leftover cookies from lunch.

“I dare ya to go to Mud Falls, fig boy!”

Rolo stood on a mound of dirt in the center of the schoolyard, arms folded across his stout chest. He was a warrior, and it wasn’t eighth grade math he wanted to tackle.

“Look! Cooley’s so scared he’s shaking in his shoes!”

“They’re boots bonehead,” Chip muttered under his breath. For a solid week the bully had called him out. Monday, he demanded his hacky sack. Tuesday his lunch. Yesterday, it was something seriously snarky—20 push-ups in front of the girls gym class. Now it had escalated to something with DANGER written all over it –Mud Falls. There was no way he was walking into that death trap. Rumor had it that if you fell into Mud Falls, you never came back out. Chip gritted his teeth, turned away and ignored the boy’s taunts just like he had all the other times, but the sound of “Sissy!” followed him like a heat-seeking missile. Summer vacation was just days away, but he knew he’d never make it.

As if to confirm his thoughts, Rolo began cracking his knuckles, one by one. Chip could already see the headline in the newspaper: “Local Boy Gets Squished Between Bully’s Gynormous Mitts.” A bead of sweat slid down his neck. The time had come for a peace offering. Slowly, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a well-worn hacky sack. It was his favorite in the whole wide world. He tossed it a few last times, letting it bounce off his thigh onto his foot. He’d won quite a few contests with this one. With a sigh, he kicked his boot and rainbow colors went flying, landing with a soft plop right into Rolo’s meaty palm. Chip sunk his hands deep in his jean pockets, already missing his trusty orb.

“It’s used to being played at least 4-5 times a day,” he mumbled.

Rolo stared down at the newly acquired gift and then back up at Chip.

“Rainbow colors? Geez, Cooley what’s next, unicorns?” He tossed it over the fence.

Chip looked longingly into the no man’s land of razor sharp bougainvillea thorns. His hacky sack deserved better. With shaking fingers, he reached into his backpack, slowly pulling out the only thing left to bargain with. His empty stomach growled in protest, unhappy that it would now have to wait until supper. He placed a brown paper bag on the ground, stepped back a few paces and jerked his head toward it.

“My lunch.”

The bully snorted from his mound, like a bull preparing to charge. Tense silence filled the schoolyard.

Chip’s throat tightened, fear and anger grabbing him hard. Someone needed to teach beastie boy a lesson. A jab to the middle. A boot in the bum. Someday, someone would have the guts.

“All yours,” Chip choked out and turned to go.

“Plant it fig leaf!” Rolo’s voice boomed like a sonic blast. Striding over to the bag, he picked it up and held it away from his nose. “First of all, why would I want your stinking lunch Cooley?” he spat out. “What’s in there anyway? Wait. Let me guess,” he said tapping a finger against his mouth. “Fig sandwich? Fig chips? Maybe fig cookies and fig juice?”

Girls giggled from a nearby lunch table, and Chip tossed them a scowl from beneath his mop of blonde hair. The Cooleys had farmed figs for generations in Mariposa Grove and were known for their plump, sweet figs. The fact that they made anything and everything out of the brown blobs didn’t go unnoticed either.

“This,” Rolo said dangling the lunch bag, “ain’t gonna cut it. You’re going to Mud Falls Cooley.” He spat a wad of spit on the ground. “If you don’t,” he warned loudly so all could hear, “You’re a sissy. You gonna prove me right, sissy boy?” Snickers filtered through the growing crowd, and out of the corner of his eye, Chip saw a dark figure lean against the old hickory tree.

Goth Girl. She wasn’t what you’d call a normal girl. She had a pet python named Ike, wore jewelry made of duct tape and always wore black. Talk in school had it that she could start a fire just by staring at something hard enough. Right now, she was staring hard at Chip. Her nose twitched, and Chip jerked his attention back to Rolo. At least the bully wouldn’t set him ablaze.

“What’s wrong Cooley?” Rolo taunted. “Got figitis? Did that sissy blood of yours freeze your tongue?” More giggles. He glanced over at the hickory tree and smirked. “Or could it be you’re crushing on Goth Girl?!”

The schoolyard erupted. Chip swiveled back to the girl who no longer looked like the walking dead. Her pale face was a bright shade of pink and getting rosier by the second. Normally, she hid herself inside a long black coat, but this spring day she was wearing a black jumper with matching tights that looked as if moths had spent the winter snacking on them. A rock rolled under her foot making her slip and everyone roared with laughter. She grabbed the tree to steady herself and glared at the howling crowd through her long hair.

“What’s wrong Goth Girl?” Rolo taunted. “Sissy Man not good enough?” He considered Chip from head to foot. “I know what you mean. What a pinhead. Not a real man… like me!” Rolo flexed his bodacious biceps and laughed. The gaggle of girls laughed. The whole school laughed. The sound swirled around Chip like an F5 tornado, closing in tighter and tighter, screaming like a freight train in his ears.

Then it happened. His cool snapped, zinging off into space somewhere between the Milky Way and the Big Dipper. Maybe it was the jab about his fig farming family that did it. Or the mountain of insults he’d swallowed all week. Or maybe, just maybe it was Goth Girl’s butterscotch eyes blinking hard as she fiercely held her own by the hickory tree. Whatever it was, it was like the ocean rushing through a blowhole.

“Fine!” Chip spewed out. “I’ll do the dare you burp breath, steaming pile of putrefying puke!" Chip sucked in his breath with a surprised hiss. The stinging words had blown out of his mouth like BBs from a smoking gun. Except for a belch that came from the back of the crowd, it was dead silent. But Chip’s lips weren’t finished. As if being pulled by a mystery puppeteer, they kicked back into full gear.

“You’re nothing but a bellyaching, megaphone mouth, grape gorger, howling hot air heckler!” He clapped his mouth shut, but it was too late. History was taking place at Hammond Middle School, and everyone knew it. Rolo the bully king stood dumbstruck, mouth hanging open like an unhinged door. It was a beautiful sight.

“What’s the big deal with Mud Falls anyway?” Chip challenged with clenched fists, his cool obviously still cartwheeling through outer space. “It’s just a lick of water running over a tumble of rocks. That’s not a dare for Chip Cooley!” He flicked his bangs out of his face defiantly.

“Yeah!” a lone voice shouted from the crowd. “Go Cooley, Go Cooley!” the kids started chanting. No one had ever called out Rolo McGregor before, and his face was ripening to juicy tomato-red. It was like taunting a steamroller. You just knew you were gonna get flattened like a pancake. But Chip was on a roll. He stood up straighter, his jeans clinging to his toothpick legs like cellophane.

“Can’t you make this a little more interesting Rolo?” He tossed back his bangs, hooking his thumbs through his belt loops. “Heck, even a girl could do this dare!”

Goth Girl’s head jerked up. She strode down the hill toward Chip, stopping within inches of his barn coat, her feet planted wide apart and eyes narrowed to cat slits. It was clear to anyone watching that something had touched a nerve. Only, no one was watching. Everyone was focused on a mountain of a boy who looked ready to blow.

“I forgot to mention one little thing Cooley,” Rolo sneered. With fists curled tight, he stepped up to Chip until they were nose to nose. All the kids strained to hear what he would say next. Rolo looked up at the blue sky, which was quickly being overtaken by black thunderheads. He smiled and it was anything but friendly. “I dare ya to go to Mud Falls at night. During a storm.”

A collective gasp filled the yard. Everyone knew you didn’t go to Mud Falls in a storm. Unless you wanted to die.

“Tonight’s the night Cooley. I feel it brewing, don’t you?”

Everyone watched the blackening sky and knew Rolo had handed Chip a death dare. Mud Falls was strictly OFF LIMITS. The waterfall was a terrifying 100-foot drop of roaring mud and rocks that swallowed anything unlucky enough to be in its path. A hush settled on the crowd as they waited for his next move. Electricity snapped in the air, and a stiff wind nearly pushed the words right back into Chip’s mouth.

“Who wants to see Mud Falls in a jar?” he cried raising his fist. Cheers rained down around him as the first drops fell. “Here’s the deal. Rolo drinks whatever I bring back in the jar. Every drop. Deal?” he asked extending his hand.

“Whatever,” Rolo scoffed. “Like you’ll actually go through with it, sissy boy.”

 “Deal?” Chip repeated stubbornly.

The two boys stared at each other for a long moment.

“Fine,” Rolo growled breaking the silence and closed his huge sweaty palm around Chip’s. “Deal.”

Chip’s shoulders sagged as if a great weight had been lifted off of him. He might live to see summer after all.

Copyright © 2000 by Nina Martin.  All rights reserved. This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. For information, address: info@cooleyscurse.com

Chapter 2 - Foggy Bottom Surprise

It was nearly midnight, and rain spurted down on Chip like hard bursts from a garden hose. He’d made a big mistake. A beating from Rolo would have been the better choice. He squinted through the streams of water, straining to make out a shape moving toward him. It should have given him the willies to see a stranger out in the black of night on spooky Foggy Bottom Road, except for one thing. It was holding a yellow umbrella.

“It’s about time Chip Cooley,” a voice said from beneath the sunny canopy.

He came to a dead stop, nearly flying out of his boots.

“What are you doing here?”
Goth Girl twirled her umbrella, spraying even more droplets on Chip.
“I wanted to see if you were lame brain enough to go through with the dare,” she sniffed.
“You’ve got to be kidding,” he choked out, sounding as if he was about to hawk up a hairball.
“I’m here, aren’t I?” she said with a bored yawn. Ignoring him, she looked up at the edge of her umbrella, watching with mild interest as the water bounced off in a dancing diamond display.
Chip stared in mute amazement, hoping the raindrops pelting him might drill some answers into his head. Goth Girl, or Evvie Tipton as the rest of the town called her, was standing in the road staring at him expectantly. The mayor’s daughter. He’d never said two words to her. She was dark, silent and most definitely unpredictable. What was she doing here in the middle of the night?
Like a sucker punch, it hit him. Rolo’s taunt from school.
“Uh, you didn’t come because you… you think what Rolo said was true?” He paused, stricken with horror at the thought. “Um… you know, about a crush,” he said clearing his throat.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she snapped, sounding very much like Miss Morgan in third period math.
“Good,” he breathed a sigh of relief only to have it catch again as she stepped closer. They were now both under her umbrella, and Evvie’s face was just inches from his.
“This is a death dare Chip Cooley.” Her golden eyes were fringed in seriousness and something that looked like blue mascara. “Everyone knows you don’t jump off a cliff just because some bully told you to.”

Chip’s face began to burn.

“I’m not,” he said through gritted teeth. “Now that you’ve done your duty Miss Goody Two Shoes, go home.”

She examined her chipped black fingernails.

“Nah. You stay, I stay.” She looked up then, and he could have sworn she was laughing, but the only sound in the air was the whining wind.

“This is nuts!” he fumed. “It’s not your dare.”
“Wrong.” She smiled then, and Chip found himself distracted by the moonlight glinting off her braces. “Anyway, if you insist on being idiot boy, then I have to make sure you don’t do something stupid —like kill yourself.”
Thunderclouds looked like they were rolling across Chip’s forehead. He took a step closer.
“Go home,” he ordered. When she didn’t budge, his lips disappeared into a thin, straight line. “I don’t need any help. Especially from a little ‘ole girl."
Evvie leaned in closer and had the satisfaction of seeing him blink in surprise.
“Really Cooley, I’m taller than you so ‘little’ does not apply. Anyway, I’m as good as any ‘ole boy.”
“Right,” he snorted.
“Well look at you,” she shot back. “You’re not even prepared! You’re supposed to bring tools in case you need them. Ever heard of the Boy Scouts?”

Chip smirked and opened his barn coat wide, revealing a tool belt hanging from his waist.

“You’re looking at the most decorated veteran in Mariposa Grove,” he said proudly. “I’ve got rope, matches, my Swiss army knife, dental floss and some fig cookies.”

“That’s an unusual item,” she said through pursed lips.

“A man’s gotta eat!”
Evvie wrinkled her nose.

“Not the cookies noodlebrain. The dental floss. Why?”

“Um… well figs, you know, they kinda get stuck in your teeth.”

“Gross.”

“Yeah, well I don’t see you bringing anything useful,” he charged.

Evvie pulled out a brown paper bag and slowly counted out the contents.

“Beef jerky, mints, juice box, and oh yeah,” she paused dramatically and held up a rectangle wrapped in silver foil. “Chocolate.”
All of a sudden, Chip felt as if his head was floating around his shoulders instead of sitting there nice and secure like it was supposed to.
Chocolate.
He closed his eyes. He’d never tasted it, but in some weird way, he knew it was his favorite thing in the whole world. Creamy, yummy pieces of heaven you could break from a bar bit by bit. Mrs. Cooley wouldn’t allow chocolate in the house, or in the mouth of any Cooley kid. When asked why, she’d get a faraway look in her eyes and softly say, “Chocolate is for grown-ups – not children.” And that was that. Everyone in Mariposa Grove thought Mrs. Cooley a bit odd, and they all knew about her ban on chocolate.
Evvie tapped the silver bar impatiently.
“Well?”
Chip swallowed the urge to grab it and run. One thing he knew, although why he couldn’t say, chocolate was good luck and he could use some about now.
“Come on,” he said grabbing her hand.

“Wait!” Evvie demanded pulling back. “Where?”

Chip’s eyes glowed with purpose.

“Mud Falls of course.”

Copyright © 2000 by Nina Martin.  All rights reserved. This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. For information, address: info@cooleyscurse.com

Chapter 3 - The Third Eye

Foggy Bottom Road was a gurgling river of mud, and the sky looked like it had gone through a cheese shredder. Lighting speared through the ragged clouds followed by loud thumps of thunder. It was a night of swirling thick mist, so the fork in the road came upon them without warning.

“Whoa a second!” Chip shouted staggering to a stop.

Hearing only the metallic clatter of thunder in her ears, Evvie marched blindly ahead, slamming right into Chip.

“For the love of figs!” he exclaimed picking up his Dad’s favorite curse. “I said Whoa!”

Evvie looked down at Chip who was now sprawled in road muck.

“Whoa only works on horses, not people.”
He cleared the mud from his eyes and saw a small smirk lift Evvie’s lips.
“Don’t even think about it,” he warned.
“You have to admit it’s kind of funny.”

“No I don’t,” he grumped. Wriggling his toes, mud oozed from one side of his foot to the other. “Great. Now the mud’s inside and out.”

“What did you expect?” Evvie crouched down until they were face to face. “It’s raining, lightening and the road’s a foot deep in mud.” She raised her voice to be heard above a barrel roll of thunder. “We’ve got to find someplace dry until the storm breaks! We need a Plan B.”

Chip looked at Evvie, clean and pristine under her yellow umbrella. They were in the biggest storm ever to hit Mariposa Grove, and she didn’t have one speck of mud on her. That thought spawned another, and a wicked grin played around the edges of his mouth.

“What?” she asked suspiciously.

“Nothing, he sighed heavily. “All right, we’ll do it your way. Give me a hand?”

“Finally,” Evvie exhaled, grasping his hand firmly with her own. In the next instant, she was sprawled right there beside him.

“Well whaddaya know?” he said as the mud puddled around her waist. “You were right. It is about a foot deep.”

“Chip Cooley!” she yelped. “Look what you’ve done!”

“Welcome to my world.” Chip laughed feeling a proud sense of accomplishment. “You were right. It is kind of funny.”

“No, it’s not,” she snapped. “Now everything is ruined!” Pulling out the waterlogged beef jerky from her pocket, Evvie exposed a glimmer of silver that nearly made Chip’s heart stop.

“What about the… the chocolate?” he stammered, pointing to the rectangle of foil.

Evvie pulled it out and made a face.
“It’s a goner,” she said flatly and threw it over her shoulder.

“No!” Chip lunged behind her and caught it before it crash-landed into the pool of muck. Protectively, he cupped his hand around the bar, bringing it close to his face. “It’s okay,” he breathed with relief. A whiff of cocoa seeped up his nose. Sparks exploded all around him, sprinkling the wet leaves and tree branches with brilliant shards of color. He reached out, mesmerized as a rainbow of raindrops crash-landed into Earth, leaving a landscape littered with insect-sized craters. Chocolate was beautiful. Chocolate was magical. Chocolate was forbidden.

“Did you see that?” he asked amazed.

“Geez Chip, get a grip. It’s just a candy bar!” When silence greeted her, Evvie peered closer at him. “What’s the deal with you Cooleys and chocolate anyway?”

“We’re not allowed to eat it,” he answered simply, wondering why she sounded so far away. A strange buzz was humming in his ears and his body was tingling all over.

“Um, I feel weird…” he said faintly.

Brown mud caked his face, and Evvie could barely see the blue of Chip’s eyes. His pupils were huge and black.

“What do you mean, weird?” she asked slowly inching away from him.

“Kinda floaty,” he slurred, trying to focus on her face, which kept drifting in and out of view. Then she was gone. His head was filled with a vision of a cabin. Surrounded by eucalyptus trees, it was old and rundown on the outside and warm and dry inside. Evvie was there, dozing by a fire. Strange, he thought dreamily. How could she be here and there at the same time? Unless…

“Hey!” Chip was rudely pulled out of his dream state back into the real, wet night. “What are you doing?!”

Evvie stood before him, holding the chocolate bar between two fingers like it was some dead animal she’d found in the road.

“Okay, THAT was creepy Chip Cooley,” she announced looking strangely impressed. “What happened? You went all ragdoll and were mumbling words that didn’t make any sense!”
Chip shrugged and reached for the chocolate.
“Oh no you don’t,” she said drawing back and pocketing the silver foil in her coat. “This stays with me.” She studied him curiously. “I think your Mom does know best. You and chocolate do not mix.”
Chip couldn’t have disagreed more, but he remained silent. His blue eyes were back to normal, but he now knew he was anything but normal. He had IT!
People in Mariposa Grove talked about it in whispers. Some called it Second Sight. Others used scientific names like Extra Sensory Perception. The Cooley clan called it the Third Eye, but most everyone just called it the Cooley Curse. What they all agree on was one thing—it wasn’t normal. Chip recalled one of the few times his Momma had spoken of it when he was just a tot:
“The Third Eye is not a curse Chip,” she explained patiently after two ladies in the market whispered and pointed at his mother. He stuck out his tongue, and the women scurried around the corner to another aisle. His mother ruffled his hair and kissed the top of his blonde head. “It’s a gift. You’ll want to remember that.”
“But how’d you get it?” he asked wrinkling his five-year old nose.
She laughed.
“You don’t have to worry love. It’s not a disease. Just something special my father passed on to me, and one I’ll pass on to one of you kids.”
“But what is it?” he asked impatiently. It had to be bad or why would those ladies whisper about them?
She looked down, pausing a long moment as if deciding on something important. Finally, she spoke.
“I see what others can’t and that makes people afraid.” When he scrunched up his forehead, she leaned down and whispered the magic words in his ear. “I can see the future.”

He looked at his mother with wonder in his ocean blue eyes.

“Momma, can you please pass the Third Eye on to me?”

She smiled.

“The Third Eye decides who to choose.”

Ever since that day, he’d hoped and prayed he’d get the Third Eye. Instead, life just turned out one ordinary day after the next. The only thing that made him special was being the oldest kid in the Cooley clan. All of his brothers and sisters were nutty for figs except him. He just craved chocolate all the time. Now he knew why. Chocolate triggered the Third Eye. He had the Cooley Curse.

“Evvie,” he asked faintly. “What time is it?”
“So the boy decides to talk,” she cracked. “It’s after midnight. Why?”
His smile lit up the night like a beacon. Momma had been right. The Third Eye WAS a gift.
“I just turned 14-years old.”
“Happy birthday,” she said stifling a sneeze. “Not to be rude, but can we move on now please?”
“Oh, right.” Chip realized he was still lying in the mud. “Sorry about that.”
“What were you doing down there anyway?” she asked suspiciously. “You looked like you had some kind of revelation.”
“I did,” he said glancing at the silver bar jutting out of her coat. “Plan B.”
“Good, “she said through chattering teeth. “Cause I’m turning into an ice cube.”
“Come on,” he said with determination. “I know exactly where we need to go.”

Copyright © 2000 by Nina Martin.  All rights reserved. This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. For information, address: info@cooleyscurse.com

Chapter 4 - Cabin “X”

Slogging through thick mud that did its best to suck their boots off, Chip and Evvie finally arrived at their destination. It looked like nothing more than a large shed with a few boards swinging off the side. Eucalyptus trees ringed around it, and fog hung in their branches like ripped sails from a ghost ship.
“Tell me this isn’t it,” Evvie said shivering in the rain.

“Beggars can’t be choosers,” Chip quipped and warily opened the door. “Hello?” he called out. A grey silence greeted him. “Come on,” he whispered, and they tiptoed inside. It was just one room with a wood stove in one corner and plenty of dust in the other. As his eyes grew accustomed to the darkness, Chip looked around and spotted a pile of split logs. He pulled out his tool belt and wrestled inside to find matches wrapped in plastic.

“Here,” Evvie said handing him some crumpled newspapers from a stack in the corner. “These will get it going.” Before long, the tiny room was filled with warmth.

Chip took the bandana from around his neck and stepped out on the front porch. Rain was sheeting off the tin roof as the storm continued to wring itself out. He paused a moment, standing behind the makeshift waterfall to watch the trees dip and sashay in the wind. After rinsing out the bandana, he handed it to Evvie.
“Exactly what am I supposed to do with this?” she asked, wrinkling her nose in distaste.

He pulled a finger across her cheek and wagged it in front of her eyes.

“You’ve got some color.”

Evvie’s dip in the puddle had left her covered in Mariposa mud - the richest, stickiest, gooiest muck ever created. All Chip could see of her face were those butterscotch eyes, and that was okay by him. Being this close to one of the most mysterious girls in school was like being in a pressure-cooker. You never knew when it might blow up.

“Yeah, well you look like you already went over Mud Falls,” she grumbled.

“Fine,” he sighed, plucking the cloth out of her hand. “If you want to look like the creature from the black lagoon go ahead. I’m cleaning up.”

Evvie snatched it back.
“Girls first.”

“Hello?” he said throwing up his arms. “That’s what I was doing!” But Evvie had already turned her back, effectively ignoring him as she slowly began wiping away the dirt and grime.

“Unbelievable,” he muttered and moved as far away from her as possible. He needed Mud Falls done and Goth Girl gone.

With nothing better to do, he wandered the room, amazed at the accumulation of dust that clung to everything like a dusting of snow. While the wind tossed and turned outside, the quiet in the cabin was spooky, as if the little shack was holding its breath, waiting… for something. Chip shook off the uneasy feeling, and was on his second rotation around the room when his muddy boot caught the edge of the newspaper stack. Papers spilled everywhere.
“That’s just great,” he griped, bending over to clean up the mess when he spied a crumpled piece of paper covered in something that wasn’t the news. Curious, he picked it up. Despite the crudely drawn lines, Chip recognized the markings of Mariposa Grove. There was the town square, the school and the bank - even Foggy Bottom Road. The furrows of a frown gathered between his eyes as something else came into focus. Smack dab in the middle was a big X. Next to it read the words: MUD FALLS.
Chip quickly looked over his shoulder, but Evvie was curled into a ball by the fire with her eyes closed. A feeling of deja vous set in, like he’d been here before. Outside, the storm-tossed trees scraped against the window, startling him from his mental wandering. He blinked a couple of times, forcing the tiredness away. Sleep would have to wait.

He carefully smoothed out the paper and returned his attention to the map, squinting at the only color on the page – a big red X. It was surrounded by thin sticks that looked ragged and weepy. A peculiar awareness flooded his body, and Chip slowly looked out the window. Blowing in the wind were the ghostly thin branches of eucalyptus trees. The X was the cabin.

Chip crouched down and urgently shook Evvie’s shoulders.

“What?” she groaned eyes still closed.

“Evvie, wake up. I found something.”

With a big yawn, she leaned up on one elbow.

“You’re still muddy,” she remarked with a raised eyebrow.
“I’ve been busy.” He flopped down beside her and with a flourish, spread out the map.
“Where’d you get that?” she asked sitting up.

Chip nodded absently toward the stove, while he assessed the room with new interest. A gum wrapper lay crumpled on the floor. A chipped coffee cup sat on the hearth. Fingerprints left a dirty trail on the windows. He wrapped his arms around his chest as a chill swept through his narrow frame. This wasn’t some forgotten cabin in the woods after all. He jumped up and urgently began tapping the wood floor with his boots.

“What are you doing now?” Evvie asked impatiently. When there was no answer, a loud exaggerated sigh filled the air.

Chip’s concentration was so strong, all he heard was his own heart beating. Little beads of sweat ran down his nose as he approached the stack of newspapers. And then, there it was. A hollow clunk.

“I don’t think we’re in an abandoned cabin Evvie,” he whispered. In the heartbeat of an instant, everything changed.

Evvie rubbed her tingling arms, attempting to flatten the hairs that were standing on end.

“Okay,” she answered faintly. “Then where are we?”

“I think we’re standing right on top of Mud Falls.” Chip got down on his knees and starting prying the hollow board loose. It came free with a jolt, and he stumbled back on the floor. Cool air gushed into the cabin from an opening just large enough to allow a man to pass through. Disappearing into the inky blackness was a passage of stairs. Chip turned to Evvie with a look she was beginning to recognize.

“No way, Chip Cooley,” she said backing away from the opening. “We are NOT going down there.”
“Of course we are!”
“No, we’re not,” Evvie said with her hands on her hips.
Excitement at finding a trap door to some unknown destination buzzed through Chip like a massive sugar rush. What could possibly be under a cabin, in the woods by a waterfall he couldn’t even see? He had to find out.
“What’s the problem?” he challenged. “Not ready for a real adventure?”

Evvie’s face darkened.

“That’s not adventure,” she said pointing a finger into the unending darkness. “That’s a black hole with who knows what down there.”

“C’mon Ev,” Chip coaxed. “It’s just a dinky underground passage. It’s drier there than up here,” he reasoned.
“No. And don’t call me Ev.”
Deflated but unwilling to give up, Chip inched a little closer and leveled his blue eyes on her.
“Haven’t you ever read a great story like Tom Sawyer and wished something like that could happen to you?” he asked, giving her a hopeful smile. He nodded toward the trap door. “That’s what this is! We could be just like Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher, hunting for lost treasure. It doesn’t get any better than this!” he exclaimed, throwing his arms wide.
“You forgot about Injun Joe,” Evvie said blackly. “Remember the bad guy who almost killed them? Uh, uh. No way.”
Chip’s face fell along with his arms. A trap door was like a big welcome mat to a boy. Apparently it wasn’t the same for a girl.
“Why not? Just tell me.”
“I don’t have to tell you anything,” she answered through tight lips.
Chip settled a calculating look on her.
“I think someone is afraid of the dark.”
“I think someone is short on brain cells,” Evvie bit back.
A tense silence filled the room and the two stared each other down.
“Well, I guess this is it then,” Chip said scratching a phantom itch behind his ear. “I’ll just have to go on my own. I never needed help anyhow. Especially from a girl.”
Evvie thrust out her chin.
“Fine,” she tossed back. “Go into that black hole and never come out for all I care. You’re just a stupid boy with worms for brains.”
“And you’re just a silly girl with rubber for knees,” he shot back. “I can’t believe you almost fooled me into thinking you might have what it takes!”
“Oh I have what it takes, and I’m taking it all for myself!” She pulled the chocolate bar from her coat pocket.
“You wouldn’t,” he warned.
Evvie gamely tossed the candy bar back and forth in her hands like a football.
“It’s a shame really,” she taunted. “You never even had a bite.” The motion stopped abruptly. Chip watched hypnotized as Evvie slowly unwrapped a piece, broke it off and placed a square right on her tongue.
“Mmm…” she gushed and closed her eyes. “Heavenly.” Her lashes fluttered open and her golden gaze held him captive. “Ever tasted chocolate, Chip?”
He looked at the bar in agony, knowing this was his chance to break the cardinal Cooley rule. To find out once and for all if the Cooley Curse was real.
“You’re evil, you know that?” he sputtered.
“I’ve been called worse,” she deadpanned and swallowed the chocolate with a smug smirk.
“I’ll bet.”
Evvie prepared to eat another piece.
“Okay, okay!” he cried. “I won’t go down there. Happy now?”
“As a clam.” She tossed him the chocolate, which he caught in midair. “Now what?” she asked.
Chip sent her a defiant look and broke off a piece. The shock of chocolate touching his skin made him gasp. It wasn’t painful or pleasant. It was electric.
Apprehension coiled up in his stomach. What would happen when he ate it? Would the Third Eye show him the future? Be thrilling? Frightening? He’d dreamt of having the Third Eye since he was five-years old. He inhaled deeply, realizing he’d been holding his breath.
“I think,” he said with a shaky voice, “I’ll have a bite.”
Evvie gnawed her lower lip.
“Are you sure Chip? Your Mom doesn’t allow you to eat chocolate for a reason. What if you’re allergic?”
Oh, I’m allergic alright, Chip thought. Just not the way you think.
“Listen Evvie,” he said unsteadily. “Once I eat this, I’m pretty sure something is going to happen.” Evvie’s eyes widened, and Chip shook his head at the silent question they held. “I don’t know what,” he spoke quietly. “Try not to freak out, okay?”
Evvie twisted her hands together.
“What if you stop breathing or something?”
“Well, you can always give me mouth-to-mouth,” he said with a snort.
Evvie’s face flooded a delicate pink.
“Not gonna happen.” Her glance dropped to Chip’s lips and her cheeks grew redder.
“I don’t have coodies you know,” he said clearing his throat. “Anyway, I’m sure you won’t have to do anything so disgusting.” He had the satisfaction of watching Evvie’s flush travel down to her neck. He tossed the bangs out of his eyes and they stared at each other for a long minute. The gravity of the situation settled on them, and they both knew nothing would be the same once he took the bite.
“Stay?” Chip asked simply. Evvie nodded. He looked down at the chocolate resting in his palm. “Here goes nothing,” he whispered, and it disappeared into his mouth. Instantly, tiny rivers of lightening coursed through his arms and down his legs to his feet. All feeling was lost, and his body sank to the floor. He vaguely heard Evvie shout his name, but he was already gone, floating above her and the cabin, weightless.
He drifted through the weeping trees, dodging the flailing branches with ease. The wind and rain still wreaked havoc, but Chip was untouched by cold or wet. He soared through the sky over the school, his family’s fig farm, even Evvie’s big mansion. He was flying! He made a sharp turn down a dirt road, past a broken fence and flew right into Rolo McGregor’s house.
The bully’s bedroom was a surprise. It was very spare, holding only a single bed, a rickety chair and a closet containing a couple of lonely t-shirts. No toys scattered over the floor. No computer or video games. No posters on the walls. It was as if a kid didn’t live here at all. He floated over to the bed. Rolo was sleeping fitfully. He rolled over and Chip rocketed back. A nasty black and blue shiner ringed Rolo’s left eye. Someone had thrown a punch at the bully, and Chip knew it was no one at school. They wouldn’t dare. His mouth disappeared in a grim line. He left Rolo, gliding into the adjacent bedroom to investigate. The bed was rumpled but no one was in it. Frowning, Chip continued down a dark hall until he came into the kitchen.

Rolo's Mom was at the table, her head buried in her arms. Chip could tell from the black streak marks on her cheek that she’d been crying. A light snore wheezed from her nose and Chip wondered what had happened in this house. One thing was for sure―Rolo's Dad wasn't home.

Everyone in Mariposa Grove knew Dusty McGregor and did their best to stay out of his way. He was trouble with a capital "T." He slept most days and spent most nights gambling, drinking and committing the occasional petty crime. It was no secret that Dusty spent more time sleeping in the local jail cell than he did in his own bed at home.

Chip looked down at poor Doris McGregor and wondered if her arms sheltered another black eye. He leaned over and gave her a light kiss on the cheek. No one deserved to be treated like this. He looked back to Rolo’s room but the sky outside the kitchen window was beginning to lighten. It was time to get back. He flew over Foggy Bottom Road, but instead of going back to the cabin as he intended, his body took a detour down the opposite fork in the road.
"What the heck..." he muttered. Then he saw them. Unshaven and filthy, three soaked and cursing men were headed straight for him. Chip could hear every word as if they were standing right by his side. He bolted behind a tree but the men strode past, unseeing.

"I tell ya, this safe is about to break my wrist off it's so heavy."

Chip knew that voice. Dusty McGregor.

"Stop complaining and keep moving," a tall man snapped. "Soon enough you'll be wanting what's inside and happy it weighed so much."

A short, stocky man helping Dusty just grunted.

"What was that Gino? Remember, we speak English here not Sicilian."

"Italian," Gino growled. "What iffa we get caught?"

The tall one laughed.

"They're not going to find us or our loot. I have a secret hiding place that no one in Mariposa Grove knows about."

"What? That sorry little cabin?" Dusty scoffed. "They'll find it soon enough."

"Maybe," the tall one answered. "But they'll never guess that their precious bank money is right beneath their feet."

They reached the fork in the road that Evvie and Chip had just traveled.
"Alright Dusty, hand me the map,” commanded the tall one. “I always forget which way it is."

Uh... I don't have it."

"For the love of Mary, what do you mean you don't have it?" the tall one spewed angrily. "I gave it to you right before we blew the vault. We can't afford to go the wrong way you idiot! Now where is it?!"

Chip didn't wait to see how the argument would end. He knew exactly where the map was, and it wouldn't be long before they found the cabin. He had to get to Evvie and fast.

He woke up to the sting of two slaps on his face.

"Chip Cooley, you come back right now," Evvie demanded.

He looked up and realized his head was in Evvie's lap. Her hand was coming in for another landing and he blocked her with his arm. "Oww! What the heck are you doing?"

"Saving your life!" she snapped.

"By slapping me?" he asked incredulously.

"You wouldn't wake up. I thought you were dying!" A hot tear rolled down her cheek, which she brushed aside furiously.

Chip never felt better in his life. With the Third Eye, he could fly! He could even see without being seen! The last thought sobered him quickly. It wouldn't be long before the three bank robbers came bursting through the door. He bolted out of her lap.

"Evvie, we need to put out the fire and get outta here, now."
“What happened?” she demanded. “One minute you were here, the next you were gone!”
“No time to explain,” he said looking out the window. “Just believe me when I tell you some bad guys are coming our way, and they won’t be happy to see us.” He closed the door on the wood stove and hoped it would stop smoking soon. “C’mon, let’s go.”

The rain had let up to a light drizzle, and Chip figured they could go around the back of the cabin, looping around the property to the front road. Voices could be heard outside, rapidly approaching the porch. The two exchanged glances, panic clearly written on each other’s face.

“Chip, we can’t leave by the front door. They’ll see us,” she whispered frantically. “We’re trapped!”

“No we’re not,” he said looking at the black hole. “We have an escape route.”

A small groan left Evvie as she looked down into the blackness.

“Chip, I can’t go down there!”

“Yes, you can,” he urged. Footsteps could be heard crunching through leaves outside. “It’s either this or them,” he said taking her hand. “They’re bank robbers Evvie. We don’t stand a chance.”

She shook her head again, and Chip grabbed both her hands and squeezed hard.
“Evvie, this is the only way. I won’t let you out of my sight, promise.”

She swallowed hard.

“Okay. But I hate you right now.”

“Hurry!” Chip said handing her his mini flashlight. “And, whatever you do, don’t turn this on until I give the word.”

Evvie forced her shaking legs to descend the stairs.

“Okay, your turn.” Her voice sounded thin in the heavy black void.
Chip pulled the floorboard over his head when he remembered the map.
“Shoot!” he exclaimed.

“What?” she hissed.

“The map! It’s still in my pocket.” Chip lifted the board.

“No Chip!” Evvie exclaimed. “Don’t go back up there. You’ll get caught!”

Chip quickly pulled the crumpled paper from his pocket and threw it on the floor. He just hoped they wouldn’t remember where they last left it. He dropped the board just as the front door flew open.

Copyright © 2000 by Nina Martin.  All rights reserved. This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. For information, address: info@cooleyscurse.com

Chapter 5 - The Rolo Connection

They huddled together in the darkness, and a big thump rocked the floorboards above them.
“What was that?” Evvie asked through chattering teeth.
“The safe,” he whispered. “They must have dropped it.” Chip pressed his ear to the floor above him and heard the muffled sound of men talking.
“For the love of Pete,” a thin reedy voice exclaimed. “You coulda put a hole through the floor!”

“Well, you didn’t carry this hunk of steel three miles through a storm,” Dusty shot back.

“Yeah,” grumbled a man with an Italian accent. “I don’t even feel my arms no more.”

“Any more you cretin.”

Chip recognized the thin voice belonging to the tall one.

“Can we focus on the matter at hand?” Dusty asked exasperated. “This isn’t grammar school for God’s sake.”

“That’s the first intelligent thing you’ve said since I hired you.”
“Don’t push me Winston,” Dusty growled.
“Fine,” the tall one snapped. “Let’s get this over with. Gino,” he barked. “Get the…”
Chip could hear a curse as something scraped the floor.

“What have we got here?”

“A yellow umbrella,” Gino answered brightly.
“I know what it is you Mediterranean fruit fly,” the tall one exclaimed. “The point is – how did it get here?”

Chip felt Evvie’s small hand grab his and squeeze it. He squeezed back. Maybe the three men would just let it go.
“Hey Winston,” Dusty exclaimed, “I found the map! See – you didn’t give it to me at the bank cuz it was here the whole time,” he said smugly. The tall one grabbed the crumpled piece of paper from Dusty’s hands. His eyes narrowed and he looked around the room closely, his glance falling to the wood stove. He opened the door and a thin trail of smoke spiraled upwards from a bed of ash.
“Gentlemen,” he said darkly, “We’ve had company.”

Chip didn’t wait any longer. He flipped on the flashlight and pulled Evvie’s hand to follow him. They carefully descended the remainder of the steps and landed on what felt like sandy soil. Chip pointed the tiny beam of light in front of them to get their bearings. It appeared that they were in an underground cavern.

“C’mon,” he whispered. “We have to make tracks before those thugs find us. Keep a lookout for a hiding place cause it won’t be long before they’re down here with us.”
“Great,” Evvie said through tight lips. “This is just the adventure I was hoping for.”
“You did good back there,” Chip said giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. “Guess you’re not afraid of the dark any more, huh?”

Evvie could feel his smirk in the blackness and leveled a cold gaze on him.
“For a minute there I almost liked you.” She tossed her thick hair over her shoulder. “Okay, now what?”
“We find a way out.”
They walked deeper and deeper into the cavern. After awhile their eyes got accustomed to the dim light. The ceiling above them seemed like it was dripping with swords—long, pointed collections that glistened when Chip’s light bounced off their hard surfaces.

“I think those are called stalactites,” Evvie said softly. “I remember studying them in Mrs. Hancock’s science class last year.”

“Wow. How do they get like that?” Chip stared in awe at the glittering roof of the cave. Formations of icicle shapes hung in all sizes, some nearly reaching the ground. He reached out and touched one. It was cool and moist.

“They’re mineral deposits called calcite. The calcite forms around something called a soda straw.” Evvie reached out and ran her hand down the length of one. “See, water runs through the straw, usually from some type of leak in the wall. The calcite is the mineral we’re seeing on the outside, and water runs down that too which is why they’re pointed and so sparkly.”

“Thank you for that wonderful lesson Mrs. Hancock,” Chip quipped.

“If you don’t want to hear, don’t ask,” she shot back.
“Wow Ev, you’re as prickly as a cactus.”
“And you’re a bonehead. Stop calling me Ev.”

Chip rolled his eyes. Then something she said came back to him.
“Hey, did you say there might be a leak?”

“Someone gets an A,” she bit out through tight lips.

Chip ignored her and moved slowly along the perimeter wall, feeling his way.
“Maybe that map made sense after all,” he said slowly. The air around them was perfectly still. No birds or animals came scurrying out to welcome them. It was as if they were all alone in a world with no sun or moon to light the way.

“What are you looking for?” Evvie asked closely from behind.
Chip stopped for a moment as he gauged which way to go. They had arrived at a crossroads where three tunnels splintered off. He walked in front of all three, and at the third entrance felt a slight draft.

“Our way out.” Chip pointed his light down the third tunnel. “Come on.”

Evvie hung back. Although this tunnel wasn’t as dark and black as the other two, there was a strange glow to it.
“Why this way?”

Chip motioned for her to stand next to him.
“Feel that?” he asked as her hair fluttered slightly around her shoulders.
“Where’s it coming from?”

“Don’t know,” Chip tapped the flashlight against his hands as he stared into the breezy void. “But I have a feeling it’s got something to do with Mud Falls. If water found a way in here, it has to have a way out.”

“And that’s how we’re going to get out of here? Through a leak?”
“Maybe,” Chip shrugged. “Won’t know until we go and check it out.”
“What are we waiting for?” she asked tartly, moving into the glowing void. “Let’s get this adventure over with.”
Chip wished he had a spitball or something to throw at her.
After five minutes of walking, the dry sand beneath their feet changed to pebbles. A strong breeze wrapped around them and the eerie darkness faded into a soft blue glow. Chip turned off his flashlight and took the last step out of the tunnel.

“Holy figorama!”
The words escaped from Chip in a big whoosh. They stood in the mouth of a huge cavern, and at its base was the most beautiful pool of water either had ever seen. A milky turquoise glimmered and glowed under the crystal stalactites. Boulders the size of cars jutted into the air around its base, and the ceiling towered nearly three stories above them. The most miraculous thing they saw—moonlight. Dust motes glittered in a single, laser-like beam that shot through the chamber from a small opening in the cavern’s roof. To Chip, it looked like a small person might be able to fit through it, and the beginnings of a plan started to take shape.

“Guess this means the storm is over,” Evvie said with relief. Noticing Chip’s determined gaze, she followed it to the roof of the cavern. “Oh no, not again.” She backed away like he was a disease she was afraid of catching. “You’re crazy Chip,” she exclaimed looking back up at the hole. “We can’t get out of here that way. I mean look at it!”
“Exactly,” Chip answered, surveying the escape route. “See that one group of rocks over there?” he pointed.

“No,” Evvie said obstinately.

“The ones right next to the opening,” he continued patiently. “We climb up there. You get on my shoulders, and I think you’ll just be able to reach the opening and pull yourself out.”

“What about you?” Evvie asked. “You won’t be able to reach.”

“I’ll give you my rope. Once you’re outside, tie it to a big enough rock or tree to hold my weight, and I’ll climb out. It’ll be a cinch.”

Evvie bit her lip. It was a long way up. And a long fall down if they screwed up. “I don’t know…” she started when Chip put a hand over her mouth and shook his head. The heavy fall of footsteps could be heard approaching the opening. Evvie’s eyes widened. Chip looked around and found a small opening between two boulders. They squeezed in just as Dusty emerged from the tunnel. A slow whistle escaped his lips.
“Well give the man a cigar,” he said thoughtfully. “I’ve lived here my whole life and thought this was a well-kept secret. How’d you find these caves Winnie? ” Dusty sent a sharp glance to Gino who just shrugged his shoulders.
The tall one materialized from behind.
“Don’t call me that,” he spit out through jagged yellow teeth that could have been mistaken for fangs.
“Just making conversation,” Dusty said lightly, but the lines around his mouth tightened.
Chip felt his insides shrink. The man called “Winnie” was nothing like his warm and cuddly name. His eyes were watery blue as if all the color had been wrung out of them. Cold and glacial, like an iceberg.
“Yeah? Well the only sound I want to hear is the scraping of that boat on shore. Where is it Gino?” he demanded settling his reptilian stare on the third man.
The Italian was bent over, his breath coming in big gulps from dragging a cart filled with hundred of sacks. Chip and Evvie watched as his face started to regain its natural color.

“Just…give me a minute,” wheezed Gino.

“We don’t have a minute you grease monkey,” snapped the tall one. “Mariposa Grove is crawling with coppers by now, and if we don’t make our schedule, the escape route will be cut off. The plan has always been clear: I’m the brains, Dusty’s operations and you’re the muscle. Now, I’m gonna ask you both a very simple question. Where’s the bloody boat?!”

By this time, his face had turned scarlet with rage and the two other men stood cowed in the face of his wrath. Dusty bravely stepped up. Chip saw his hands shake for a minute before he hooked them into the belt loops of his jeans.

“No need to get riled up,” he said clearing his throat. “The boat’s right here.” Dusty strode directly past Chip and Evvie’s hiding spot, and they held their collective breath. “Gino man, give me a hand.”

“Hey, that rhymed,” the Italian said with a childish smile. He was rewarded with a smack to the back of his head. “Oww! Whadya do that for?” he howled rubbing his injured skull.

“We’re not here for fun and games,” the tall one said through gritted teeth. Gino’s expression mirrored more hurt than pain, and Dusty looked away. The two men began to pull on something, and soon a white and red dory came into view.

“So that’s what happened to Mr. Campbell’s boat,” Chip whispered, clearing the bangs from his eyes. Evvie nodded never taking her eyes off of the robbers. Chip smiled. Seeing the small boat again was a wonderful thing. If something that large and heavy could get in here, then there was a way out for two normal sized kids.

“I don’t see why we can’t have fun robbing,” Gino pouted. “In Italy, we don’t take life so seriously.”

“Guess they do in England,” Dusty answered with a nod to the tall one.

“It’s cuz they got no sun,” Gino nodded sagely. “They have, what you call it here? SAD Syndrome.”

“Stop your gabbing you two and get that thing over here,” the tall one said as if on cue.

“More like “MAD Syndrome,” Dusty returned with a wink and Gino hid his chuckle under a cough as they made the final pull over to the water. Without another word, the two men started loading the satchels from the cart into the boat. The tall one stood and watched through a thin veneer of smoke that spiraled around his head from a cigarette. Slowly, he reached inside his jacket where the blunt handle of a gun appeared.
Evvie gasped.

He swiveled toward the sound, those blue eyes piercing the hole right where they hid.

“Uh oh…” she trailed off.

The tall one came striding over, dropped his cigarette into the rubble of rocks and ground it out with the heel of his boot.
“Well, well, well. Looks like we got company fellas.” Dusty and Gino slowly straightened up from their tasks and looked around to see what was going on. The tall one dropped to a crouch in front of their hiding place. “Don’t make me wait all day,” he said softly as his cold, colorless eyes locked with those of ocean blue.

Chip felt the menace dripping from every syllable and had the sudden urge to pee. It didn’t help matters when Evvie gripped him from behind. She pressed her face into his back, and Chip became very aware that the infamous “Goth Girl” was scared to death. She was in danger, and it was all his fault.
“Come on outta there. We won’t hurt ya… yet,” the tall one said under his breath.

Chip thrust his chin up in fighting Cooley fashion. A quick plan flashed through his head, and he stepped forward without hesitation.

“Man, it’s about time you guys got here,” he said scolding the three men. “We’ve been waiting for what, thirty minutes or so right?” He turned to Evvie expectantly. She nodded slowly.

“Umm, yeah, that’s right,” she said weakly.

“Dusty, it’s been awhile,” Chip said warming up to the game. “How ya doing?”
Rolo’s Dad looked confused.
“Good, I guess.”

“Cool,” Chip said. “Gino my man, bet you were wishing you were on a sunny beach with all this blasted rain, huh?”
The Italian grinned showing a missing tooth on the left side.

“Sì, that’s aright.”

“Got any more of those smokes Winnie?” Chip asked the tall one, forcing his legs not to buckle. “I’ve been trying to quit but… well you know how it goes.”

The tall one looked like a teakettle ready to blow its top.

“What in tarnation are you rambling on about boy?” He stepped up to Chip and bent down until their two faces were touching. “Come on now, be quick about it and don’t forget to introduce the sweet thing behind you.”

Chip felt Evvie’s grip tighten on his shoulders, and his mind raced ahead trying to figure out his next move, but it was all just a jumble. If only he’d eaten another piece of chocolate! Instead, he was looking straight into the murderous eyes of a bank robber without a plan. The words just tumbled out of his mouth.

“We’re the Rolo Connection.”
“Rolo Connection? The tall one spit into the ground. “Never heard of it.”

Chip swallowed the ball of fear lodged dead center in his throat. He and Evvie were as good as dead unless Rolo’s Dad helped them.
“Course ya wouldn’t. You’re not a local,” Chip coughed. “If folks hereabouts want something they can’t come by legally, they come to the Rolo Connection. Isn’t that right, Dusty?”

A stricken look passed across Dusty’s face. His lips moved but nothing came out. The tall one’s eyes narrowed, and Chip quickly walked over to Dusty and sent him a pointed look.

“Dusty uses Rolo a lot. We call it that for short in these parts,” Chip added helpfully. Dusty’s face went white.

“This Rolo,” the tall one said lighting up another cigarette. “It’s just you and the girl?”
Chip saw the gleam in his eyes and knew what was running through his brain. He forced a laugh.

“Hey mister, we’re just kids. They sent us here to make sure the goods got delivered is all. They’re expecting us back any minute.”

“I see.”
For a long minute, no one spoke. Chip had to pee so bad, he thought his eyes must be turning yellow. He shifted back and forth from foot to foot to relieve the pressure, but it wasn’t doing much good.
“So Dusty,” the tall one said through narrowed eyes. “Is he talking smack or truth?”
Rolo’s Dad looked at Chip who silently mouthed the words, ‘Rolo sent me.’

Dusty’s lips quivered. For a glorious moment, it looked like it would work.
The tall one punched his fist into the palm of his hand making an awful smacking noise.
“Blast it! I haven’t got all day!”

Dusty’s shoulders slumped, a desolate expression crossing his face.
“No Winston. This boy’s telling a lie or he’s been in the moonshine. I work alone, remember? That’s why you hired me.”
“That’s what I thought.” The tall one threw his cigarette in the water, which made a hissing sound.
Chip watched it float on the perfectly still surface. They were dead. The tall one would kill them, strap rocks to their feet and throw them in the lagoon, never to be found again. A long purplish cord seemed to rise up out of the milky blueness and pulled it under, leaving nothing behind but a ring of ripples.
“Holy figitis!” Chip gasped. “Did you see that? Something’s in the water!”

The tall one glanced over at the now calm pool. “Nice try kid, but the game’s up.”

Copyright © 2000 by Nina Martin.  All rights reserved. This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. For information, address: info@cooleyscurse.com