The kids were eager to go. They had been stir crazy sitting in a hotel with no TV and nothing to do for five days. Taylor and Monica missed their parents. Jeri was worried for her aunt and uncle and Sam, well Sam was just ready for a new adventure.

“We need to sneak out of here.” Colby told his charges. “They don’t want you to leave. I don’t know why that is, but they are not going to get you. I don’t know how we’ll find your parents, or what we’ll do even if we do, but we need to try. We can’t give up. So you need to be quiet. I’ve been watching. I don’t think they have as many guards as they want us to think. I’ve only seen the same men at the chow line and they switch up with others. I think we can get by, but I don’t know what other security they have outside the hotel and some sensor may catch us. So stay close and stay quiet and we’ll try to get away.”

All the kids nodded and Sam smiled deviously. They waited until the soldier came by for the bed check and then, when they heard the stairwell door close, all five jumped out of bed, picked up there things and followed Colby out the door.

There was a video camera by the elevator, but none by the stairwell. So when they heard the door open on the floor below them, they assumed the solider checking beds was at work on that floor so Colby took advantage of that timing. The kids followed him in near silence.

He didn’t know they could be so quiet.  Good to know.

When they got to the main floor, he stopped them and slowly opened the door to look around. They needed to run across the hallway to the exit. It didn’t look like it was armed. Colby decided the best way to do it was to run together. He told the kids to stay as quiet as they were coming down the stairs. Just when they were about to bolt Sam stopped them.

“There’s three guards coming,” he whispered.

“How do you know that?” his father asked after retreating the herd the step back into the stairwell. Just then they heard military boots around the corner and he gently pulled the door shut silently. Peering between the crack, Colby saw three guards walk past their position.  After they were gone, he re-asked his question in a whisper. “How did you know that?”

“I just saw it.” Sam shrugged. “We can go now.”

How does he know we can go? But instead of worrying about it then, Colby knew they had to move. “Alright then” and he gathered them up like a hen with her chicks and hurried them across the now open corridor. As soon as they were outside, the five stopped behind some nearby bushes.

“Now we’re going to need to make it past the guard at the entrance.” He said quietly. “Do you see him?”

“Uncle?”

“Yes Taylor?”

“If we go around to the other side, we’ll be able to get down to the freeway.”

“I know that’s the way we came, but this is the closest way out.”

“But there’s no guards there.”

“How do you know that?”

“I just know it. Like I know my name.”

What’s going on here? Colby thought to himself. Do I trust him? I trusted Sam and it paid off. But I didn’t really have time to think about.Do I really have time now to think about it? Go that way and I’ll need to fight. I’m not a fighter. He’s a trained killer. Go the other way and Taylor might just be right. “OK,” Colby agreed. What do I have to lose? “Let’s go.”

They worked their way along the wall behind the foliage. Almost at the corner they heard voices and all stopped automatically. As the sounds of the voices drew nearer, Colby realized they were not speaking English. It sounded more like Farsi. Why would Iranians be serving in the U.S. military? Why not? There are many speakers of Farsi who are also American. The conversation faded as the two men continued along from where the escapees had come from.

“Uncle” Monica whispered.

“Yes, Monica?” Colby whispered back.

“We better hurry, they know we’ve escaped.”

“How do you know they know? Did you see it? Do you know it?”

“I heard them talking just now.”

“But honey, that wasn’t English.”

“I know Uncle,” she responded with a grin Colby could see even in the darkness, “but I understood what they said. They are going in to get the orders for the search pattern for us. What’s a search pattern?”

“It’s something we don’t want to get caught in.” He shook his head, what is going on here? The kids are going crazy! “I don’t know what’s going on with you kids, but let’s make sure we have time to find that out later. We need to get out. Taylor,” Why am I asking him? “can we still walk on out of here?”

“Its clear from here. They’re only guarding the main entrance.”

“Then let’s go as quick as we can.”

Taylor was right, they made it to the gate and down to the freeway without incident. Cars were still not making use of the road, so it was easy to pass. However, near the top of the other embankment, Colby slipped and twisted his ankle. It was so severe he couldn’t put weight on it. For Pete’s sake, this escape is over before it even began. Stupid! He crawled up the final part of the hill.

When he got to the top, Jeri was standing there waiting. “You’re hurt Dad, aren’t you?”

“Yes,” he admitted “I twisted it pretty bad. I almost blacked out on the way up. What are you…? Don’t touch it.”
Jeri was already on her knees and placed both hands on her father’s ankle. Colby felt warmth then heat emanating from her hands. The pain left his ankle and he was able to stand on it.

What is going on? Colby thought. This is really bizarre. It’s like they… (Better not spill the beans now.) After a few more moments of contemplation he spoke: “I think I see why the general didn’t want to see you guys go. What has happened to you all? He didn’t do any experiments on you when I was asleep did he?”

They all said no.

“Then that missile must have had something that affected kids.” Colby figured “It explains why Paxton was collecting all of the kids.” Was it an accident? Who would do that kind of thing on purpose? “We need to find out more information.” I guess we won’t know unless we test it. Turning to his nephew he continued “Taylor, any ideal where your parents are.”

Taylor looked as if he was concentrating… or constipated… but then answered. “No.”

“Sam,” he asked his son “can you ‘see’ where they are?”

Sam shook his head “Nope.”

“Well then I guess the best thing we can do is to get as far away from the general as we can, as fast as we can. Thanks to Jeri,” He looked at his daughter, who proceeded to blush. “I think I can move pretty well. Let’s get going.”

Without knowing exactly where they were heading, except away from the hotel they crossed the long deserted Disneyland complex. Never seeing it deserted, and never seeing it at night, made everyone a little leery – everyone but Sam.

“It’s a small world after all.” He sang quietly at first. “It’s a small world after all.” Then a little bit louder he continued, “It’s a small world after all. It’s a small, small world!”

“Great voice Sam,” his Dad encouraged. “Love your attitude, son. Maybe we should keep it down until we know we’re safe.”

“OK Dad.” Sam said with a grin.

Colby wondered where they should go next. Would it be any benefit to search the California Adventure? He thought, I wonder if we can get through the main gate. Maybe if we can find a deserted car that runs? I suppose the parking lot might be the best place to look.

Just then his Blackberry rang. He had an email. “This thing is working now! What great luck. Kids, it’s from your parents.”

“Um, uncle.”

“What is it Taylor? Aren’t you excited?”

“Sure, but we need to go hide. Right now.”

Nothing ventured, nothing gained. “Kids” Colby once again whispered, “into Space Mountain.” and they ran into the opening and the darker darkness. “Hold onto each others hands.” Colby whispered again. “We’re going to go deeper. Everybody has somebody? I’ll squeeze this hand, you squeeze the next, when your hand is squeezed, squeeze the one next to you.” He squeezed. “Did everyone feel a squeeze?”

“Yes,” all four answered quietly.

“Good, let’s find a corner to get around. It will give us someplace to run if we see lights coming.” They made their way slowly up the ramp in the darkness. After what seemed like a few minutes of climbing in the dark, Colby stopped them. “Does this seem good to everyone?” He was hoping to hear something from one of the boys.

“We’re safe here,” Taylor said. “For now.”

“I guess I can check out that email.” The light from the Blackberry illuminated the area. The kids huddled together, waiting the news.
“The last time you guys drove to Disneyland, do you remember where you drove your first day?” Colby asked Taylor.

“I can’t remember,” Taylor responded. “Is it important?”

“I think you’re parents were concerned the email would be intercepted.” He looked directly at his niece and nephew. “Your mom found your Dad and Reggie. They’re safe. They tell us to flee Los Angles as soon as we can. They’ll meet us at the place you drove to the last time you were down here.”

“Carson City,” Monica said. “We drove to Carson City that first day.”

“Yah, that’s right” Taylor confirmed. “It was a long drive.”

Colby looked it up on his web browser. “It’s over 500 miles away. We are definitely going to need to find some transportation. Let me see if I can email your folks to see were they are.”

“Dad,” said Sam “If you email them now, the General will find us.”

“Why do you say that?”

“I saw them watching a us on a computer, we are a beeping light. They say they’re tri… tri… triangling us?”

Colby turned off the phone, flipped it over. In the darkness he opened the case and removed the battery. “Triangulating. That means they are getting close to our position. A friend of mine worked for a cell phone company and he told me the phone doesn’t need to be on in order for the GPS to track it. As long as it has a battery, it can be picked up. I’ve taken the battery out so they can’t do that.” It never hurts to give people confidence in their abilities, even when you don’t understand them all yourself. “Do you think we’re OK Taylor?”

He paused before answering. “We’re still safe.”

“Good.” He paused and listened to the sound of their breathing for a while. He noticed he was the one breathing the heaviest. Good. “So does anyone have any ideas how we can get to Carson City?”

“Don’t suppose we could hop a flight at the airport?” offered Jeri.

“I don’t suppose that’s an option. If the military are out to collect all the kids.”

“This reminds me of Chitty-Chitty Bang-Bang.” laughed Sam. “I never liked that guy who was out to catch all the kids. But I love” he sang the rest, “‘Up from the ashes, Up from the ashes, Up from the ashes grow the roses of success’”

His father joined in: “Grow the ro, grow the ro, grow the roses.” As did the remaining three “Grow the ro, grow the ro, grow the roses. Grow the ro, grow the ro, grow the roses… grow the roses of success.”

“So nothing ventured, nothing gained.” Laughed Colby, “What do we do to get out of Los Angles?”

“Well, there is a car that the owner wouldn’t mind if we borrowed to go to the train station,” declared Taylor “if we left a note explaining why we did it.”

“Can we get to it?” asked Colby, hoping it was true, but skeptical it would be so easy.

“In a little while.”

“And can you get us to the train station?”

“In time for the train to Carson City.”

He looked at the kids in the darkness and right there made a decision not to doubt what they said. I don’t know what they have or how they got it, but I won’t be the one to crush them. He thought he’d tell them as much. “I don’t know how you kids developed these gifts, but I’ve got to say, I am really glad you have them right now.”

They sat in silence for twenty minutes, well in silence until Sam needed to go to the bathroom. As luck would have it, they were fairly close to one inside Space Mountain. Colby checked it out and made sure it was all clear, and then reminded Sam “You have permission not to flush this time, no sense letting anyone know where we might be.” Colby then returned just outside the door to sit with the other three.

“Anyone else need to go? I don’t know how long it will be until the next washroom.”

The girls said they would go, so Colby checked the ladies stalls before he let them in. When everyone got back, Taylor announced it was time to go.

Taylor led them out of Space Mountain, out a side gate and right to a car that was one of a few dozen spread across the vastness of the parking lot. “The door is open and the keys are on the floor.” Taylor announced.

Colby looked at him with a grin. “Maybe we should be going to Vegas.”

“Vegas?” Monica asked. “There’s not a lot of Christians in Vegas is there?”

“There’s Christians everywhere.” Her uncle tried to dismiss the question.

“Yah” Sam agreed  “Sometimes they just don’t act like it.”

“Listen, kids” Colby was trying to change the topic to something more immediate, “I think it’s best if you keep your heads down. If we’re seen, someone might look the other way if they see me but I think the military will be really interested to capture you. So can you hide on the floor?”

“But don’t we need to wear a seat belt?” asked Sam.

“This time, you’re Dad says it’s OK.”

“So,” Sam continued his innocent interrogation, “it’s OK for you to steal the car this time to right Dad?”

“This is a special circumstance.” He got the girls into the car. “And we’re just borrowing it.” He opened the front door for Taylor. “And I’ll make sure to leave money with the note.” Colby hurried his son around to the other side.

“Mom may still have called it stealing.”

Colby closed the door behind his son. “And she’d probably be right.” He said under his breath, hoping innocent ears didn’t hear.
Before they turned onto the boulevard outside the main parking entrance and Colby spoke with his nephew on the floor beside him. “Which way do I turn?”

“Right… and stay on the road until I say so.”

“Roger that co-pilot James. This is your captain speaking.” He said in a nasal voice. I’ve got to keep this light for the kids. ”We’ve turned on the no seatbelts and no smoking signs. That does not mean we invite you to tour the cabin or take up smoking. Stay fully seated until the ride comes to a full and complete stop. Our cruising altitude will be ground level and we’ll be listening to…” he tried to turn on the radio, but found nothing but static on the first few pre-set stations, “the comedic stylings of a Dad on the run… why did the chicken cross the road? Stop don’t answer that, you’re not supposed to be here. Why did the chicken cross the road? To show the gopher it could be done. Not seeing any gophers on this street, and very few chickens. Taylor, I am seeing a hummer or two on the road ahead of us. Yes, they are in a lovely tan color and have people with automatic weapons surrounding them. Any suggestions, co-pilot James?

“Tell them General Paxton said he didn’t care if you left.” Said Sam from the back seat.

“Do you see them falling for that?” Colby asked without taking his eyes off the blockade now four or five blocks away.

“If you run, they’ll catch us.”

“But they’ll see you if I drive up to them.” Remember want you just decided.

“No they won’t” came Monica’s response from the back seat.

“Don’t worry about it Dad.” Jeri’s voice agreed with her cousins. “We’ll be OK.”

“I don’t like this.” Colby said between gritted teeth. But it’s too late now to run.

He stopped the car about half a dozen car spaces from the eighteen year old with a fully automated weapon that had his hand up to signal Colby to stop. Colby was sure to keep his hands on the steering wheel, where the kid could see them and stuck his head out the window.

“Good day to you sir!” Colby addressed the one who had halted his progress. “Is it possible for me to travel down this road?”

“State you business” the guard replied, not leaving his post.

“General Paxton told me he didn’t care if I left. I’d like to see if I could make it home.”

“Where’s home.”

“North of Los Angles.”

“Nothing was hit between here and San Francisco. You should be fine to go.” He motioned the driver of the hummer to clear a path.
Nervously Colby approached the blockade. This is where they’d be sure to see the kids. There wasn’t even a blanket for them to hide under. He smiled to hide his unease but found his eye drift to the floor of the passenger side. Taylor wasn’t there!

Colby’s heart started to beat faster and his breathing increased. He turned to the 18 year old as he passed and tried to paste a smile. The solider nodded as he looked on the floor of the car as it passed. He then straightend up and waved Colby to take the car straight through.
Swallowing hard he fixed his eyes on the open road ahead and slowly accelerated. His mind raced. Where did they go? How can I find them? What’s going on? And he heard a giggle from the back seat. He quickly leaned over to see the kids huddled together. Taylor was back in the front floor. “What? Where? How? What did you kids do?” Colby questioned as he tried to keep the car going as straight as he could on the road.

“I told you we’d be OK Dad.” Jeri said with a laugh.

“But how did you?” Colby was actually speechless.

“We just knew we’d be safe,” Sam explained, “we didn’t know how we’d be made safe.”

“But it was pretty silly when the soldier looked at us and didn’t see us,” laughed Monica.

“He couldn’t see you? Colby exclaimed, “I couldn’t see you! If this wasn’t vacation, you’d all be in serious trouble.”

All the kids laughed as the motored towards the train to Carson City awaiting them.

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If this site is messed up I’m trying out new template system for some sites I’m setting up with Ask and Imagine. If you’re looking for what else I’m writing – I post daily or better at RevTrev.com.

I only have a few minutes today to get the back end set up and don’t know when I’ll have more time to get at getting this done.

It’s going to be cool… really looking forward to seeing people’s response on my writing.

Blessings,

Trevor

© admin for Trevor Lund, 2010. | Permalink | No comment | Trevor H. Lund is a Christian Speaker, Author and Lead Dreamer for Expectancy Ministries. He imparts hope and empowers destiny with creative communication, memorable motivation and applicable inspiration. Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: ask and imagine, christian writer, revtrev.com, Trevor Lund, writing

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