Read Online Lost at Running Brook Trail by Sheryl A. Keen - Free Book Online
Authors: Sheryl A. Keen
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up,” Kimberly said, “maybe someone will hear her and find us.”
With her hands still planted firmly over her ears, no one could talk to her. Elaine went to stand in front of her and pried her hands away. She held one of the hands by her side while Miriam held Susan’s other hand.
“You’re being hysterical, Susan.” Elaine tried to make her own tone even. She didn’t want to raise her voice and make the girl any more frantic. “Let’s talk about the cave in a calm, reasonable way.”
Susan’s desolate cries now turned to sobs.
“Susan, we’re going to let go of your hands. We can’t stand here holding hands all evening.” Elaine looked into Susan’s eyes. “You’re going to promise to listen to what we have to say and not put your hands over your ears. It’s not nice to be talking to someone who’s not listening. In fact, it’s kind of rude.” Elaine slowly released Susan’s hand, and Miriam also did the same. Susan’s hands remained at her sides.
“Tell us the reasons you have a problem sleeping in there.” Elaine pointed at the cave but kept her eyes on Susan’s tear-stained face.
Susan didn’t speak immediately. She daubed at her face, smearing the tears. “I don’t like those drawings,” she finally said, “all those things could be in there.”
“You mean half-human and half-animal creatures?” Elaine asked.
“Yes, and if we touch the pictures, that’s how they come out.”
Kimberly laughed loudly and rolled her eyes.
“You think you’re going to release some Indians by touching a cave? Okay, you think that if they came they would be taking you alone? You’re special, but probably not enough to be the sole person taken. They would take all four of us.” Miriam waved her finger around in a circle and laughed at the absurdity of the idea. “So you would have company. Or maybe they would only take the person who touched the drawings. In that case, all you have to do is not touch!”
“Let’s not joke about this, Miriam,” Elaine said. “She really believes what she’s saying and has real fears. Susan, remember what they taught us in school about this?”
Susan shook her head. She only had an obscure memory of even studying the history of the first people. But she had recalled something about releasing sacred energy and power by touching the depictions.
“These cave paintings and carvings were just two of the ways that the Indians communicated their religion, laws and history. It’s just like right now. Art is for enjoyment and self-expression, but it’s also a means of passing on ideas and values. There’s no reincarnated person or half human inside the cave, and we can’t release anything by touching a picture. If you went to the AGO, would you go in or would you think that some of the art is going to come to life and attack you if you go into the gallery and touch something?”
“It’s not dark in the AGO. And they say not to touch the artwork.”
“She has a point there,” Kimberly said.
“Not touching is for preservation. It’s not because some ancient power will be released. We’ll find some way to get some light in there. That’s the only way we’re going to see where to put the bed. I have a lighter and Kimberly has a cell phone and an iPod.”
“What do my Storm and iPod have to do with anything?”
“You won’t be listening to music, and there’s no signal out here, so we may as well use them for something like light.”
“You’re just going to kill the bloody batteries!”
“We’re just going to use them to survive.” Elaine looked at Susan. “What else?”
Kimberly pouted but said nothing more.
“There may be bears and other animals in there. Animals are smart and know caves are good places to hide out and seek shelter. They live out here, so they probably know this better than us.”
“Okay, okay.” Elaine nodded. “That’s a really valid point. It’s a great place for us to sleep if it’s safe, but we don’t
With her hands still planted firmly over her ears, no one could talk to her. Elaine went to stand in front of her and pried her hands away. She held one of the hands by her side while Miriam held Susan’s other hand.
“You’re being hysterical, Susan.” Elaine tried to make her own tone even. She didn’t want to raise her voice and make the girl any more frantic. “Let’s talk about the cave in a calm, reasonable way.”
Susan’s desolate cries now turned to sobs.
“Susan, we’re going to let go of your hands. We can’t stand here holding hands all evening.” Elaine looked into Susan’s eyes. “You’re going to promise to listen to what we have to say and not put your hands over your ears. It’s not nice to be talking to someone who’s not listening. In fact, it’s kind of rude.” Elaine slowly released Susan’s hand, and Miriam also did the same. Susan’s hands remained at her sides.
“Tell us the reasons you have a problem sleeping in there.” Elaine pointed at the cave but kept her eyes on Susan’s tear-stained face.
Susan didn’t speak immediately. She daubed at her face, smearing the tears. “I don’t like those drawings,” she finally said, “all those things could be in there.”
“You mean half-human and half-animal creatures?” Elaine asked.
“Yes, and if we touch the pictures, that’s how they come out.”
Kimberly laughed loudly and rolled her eyes.
“You think you’re going to release some Indians by touching a cave? Okay, you think that if they came they would be taking you alone? You’re special, but probably not enough to be the sole person taken. They would take all four of us.” Miriam waved her finger around in a circle and laughed at the absurdity of the idea. “So you would have company. Or maybe they would only take the person who touched the drawings. In that case, all you have to do is not touch!”
“Let’s not joke about this, Miriam,” Elaine said. “She really believes what she’s saying and has real fears. Susan, remember what they taught us in school about this?”
Susan shook her head. She only had an obscure memory of even studying the history of the first people. But she had recalled something about releasing sacred energy and power by touching the depictions.
“These cave paintings and carvings were just two of the ways that the Indians communicated their religion, laws and history. It’s just like right now. Art is for enjoyment and self-expression, but it’s also a means of passing on ideas and values. There’s no reincarnated person or half human inside the cave, and we can’t release anything by touching a picture. If you went to the AGO, would you go in or would you think that some of the art is going to come to life and attack you if you go into the gallery and touch something?”
“It’s not dark in the AGO. And they say not to touch the artwork.”
“She has a point there,” Kimberly said.
“Not touching is for preservation. It’s not because some ancient power will be released. We’ll find some way to get some light in there. That’s the only way we’re going to see where to put the bed. I have a lighter and Kimberly has a cell phone and an iPod.”
“What do my Storm and iPod have to do with anything?”
“You won’t be listening to music, and there’s no signal out here, so we may as well use them for something like light.”
“You’re just going to kill the bloody batteries!”
“We’re just going to use them to survive.” Elaine looked at Susan. “What else?”
Kimberly pouted but said nothing more.
“There may be bears and other animals in there. Animals are smart and know caves are good places to hide out and seek shelter. They live out here, so they probably know this better than us.”
“Okay, okay.” Elaine nodded. “That’s a really valid point. It’s a great place for us to sleep if it’s safe, but we don’t
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