Roland West, Loner

by Theresa Linden

  “Yup.” Peter’s attention was fixed on Toby, who now neared the waterfall. “Toby, wait!” He slapped Roland’s arm. “Help Dominic the rest of the way. I’ll go get the relic.” Releasing his grip on the wheelchair, he dashed off.

  “What did he say?” Dominic said.

  As Peter streaked down the riverbank, something moved on the top of the ridge. A figure stood among the trees. But a second glance revealed only trees. Could it have been a shadow?

  Toby reached the crossing point. With arms extended and moves as graceful as a dancing elephant, he wobbled across the flat rocks in the river and disappeared behind the white falls. A second later, Peter reached the crossing point and bounded from rock to rock. He pushed through the curtain of water, also disappearing from view.

  Caitlyn came up beside Roland. “We’re being followed.”

  Roland had to read her lips since the roar of the waterfall drowned out her voice. Following her gaze, he saw nothing, but he trusted her. “Go warn Peter,” he shouted, leaning close.

  She nodded and dashed away.

  “What now, vato?” Dominic said. “Is this going to ruin the plan?”

  Roland kicked off his shoes and stripped off his socks. He shoved them in his bag, and rolled up his dress pants. “How do you feel about getting wet?”

  Dominic let out a louder hoot. “Que chido! No manches. We are going behind the waterfall?”

  He rolled his wheelchair toward the crossing point. “Let’s do it. Somebody is following us, no? Do you think I can get back there? We can hide.”

  His words matched Roland’s thoughts. If they couldn’t use the relic out here without being seen by their pursuer, they’d have to get Dominic back there.

  Roland slung his bag over his neck to free up his hands. Dominic inched his wheelchair into the water.

  “I think we’ll need to lift your chair,” Roland shouted, “but there’s a good-sized ledge right behind the waterfall. Your wheelchair should fit.”

  “Think you’re strong enough?” Dominic shouted back. “You look pretty scrawny.”

  “Scrawny? I’m not scrawny.”

  He smiled then laughed. “Okay, vato, I’m only joking.”

  Peter reappeared through the waterfall. He started across the stones but stopped halfway and looked them over. “What’re you thinking?”

  Roland shrugged. With pants rolled up and Dominic’s chair in the water, he could see what they were thinking.

  “I don’t know if this is such a—”

  Roland grabbed one side of the wheelchair. “Come on before our pursuer gets close enough to see us. Maybe he won’t figure out where we went.”

  Peter stared, mouth open and eyes like slits, not looking convinced.

  “Come on,” Roland said, insistently, “we can do it.”

  He rolled his eyes and shook his head before giving in. Then he stepped off the crossing stones and into the river. “I guess I’ll forget about saving my Reeboks.” He grabbed the other side of the wheelchair, and they lifted together.

  Dominic and his chair, while a little awkward to carry, were lighter than Roland thought they’d be. He and Peter splashed through the water, Roland’s bare feet slipping on muck and the wheelchair tilting a few times, until they made it to the falls. They stopped to readjust before getting the wheelchair onto the ledge.

  Then Roland stood backwards, directly under the pounding water. His mind and body wanted to revolt—and he was never doing this again!—but he bent his will to focus on maneuvering the wheelchair into a safe position.

  The ledge barely accommodated the wheelchair. Once situated, Roland scooted back and staggered farther in, leaving Peter to push Dominic the rest of the way. At the far side of the cave, Roland threw himself against the wall to catch his breath and regain composure.

  “Woo-hoo!” Dominic rolled toward him. He shook his head, droplets from his hair shooting Roland in the face.

  “Man, you’re drenched,” Peter said to Dominic. “And the wheelchair, too.”

  “No hay problema.”

  “I thought you wanted to light candles,” Peter shouted to Toby.

  Toby blew out one of the three lit candles in the wall and reached for another.

  Roland grabbed towels from Peter’s backpack, tossed one to Dominic and another to Peter. “Where’s Caitlyn?” His voice nearly drowned in the roar of the water.

  “I don’t know. Maybe she’s doing lookout.” Peter headed for the transmitter and flipped a switch. “I promised Dad I’d talk to him as soon as we got here.” His gaze snapped to Toby. “Toby, stop blowing out candles! Light them. Light them all. We need the light.” He looked at Roland. “You want to go get the—”

  “No.” Roland didn’t want to go get the box. Standing directly under the pounding waterfall was bad enough. He would need time to get the shiver out of his body.

  “Peter!” Caitlyn burst through the waterfall, her hair barely damp. “Someone’s following us. I saw him!”

  “What? Who?” Peter said.

  “Quick!” she said, her eyes round. “Do you have the relic? I think he saw us. We should start praying.” She darted to Dominic who was still checking out the cave.

  “Praying?” Dominic’s gaze slid from Peter to Roland. He still had no idea why they were here.

  “Who?” Peter said to Caitlyn. “Who’d you see?”

  “Mr. Reinhard.”

  “Okay, now that is really creepy, vato.” Dominic’s face crinkled up in a rare look of worry, his wet, jet-black hair hanging in his eyes. “Why is our history sub following us? That does not sound right. And what does she mean we should start praying?”

  “Isn’t your father waiting for you to call?” Roland loosened his tie and yanked it off over his head.

  “What?” Peter said.

  “Use the transmitter. You should tell him what’s going on.” Roland popped open the top buttons of his shirt then stripped his shirt and undershirt off together over his head.

  “What’re you doing?” Peter said, staring at the goosebumps on Roland’s bone-white chest.

  Shivering, Roland sucked in a breath of air and dove, head first, into the pool. Icy water enveloped him and threatened to render him powerless. He could do this. He had to do this. No time to panic. He opened his eyes.

  Greenish water surrounded him. On his right and a few feet down was the dark opening Peter had swum through. He extended his arms and pulled himself to it, kicking like a frog. The tunnel, several feet long, came out at the bottom of a long, narrow pool. Roland swam to the surface and gulped in air.

  The waterfall sounded distant and muffled from here. Muted light streamed in through several cracks above, giving the water a greenish glow. Peter had described the hiding place as more of a crack than a cave, and that was right. He could almost touch the tall, craggy walls on either side, although they extended farther than he could gauge, getting lost in shadows on one side. An animal could live back there.

  Roland grabbed onto a rough ledge and pulled himself out of the water, while scanning the nooks and crannies in the wall. In a nook some eight feet above, a bit of plastic shone, the bag that held the box. Using the holes in the cave wall, he climbed high enough to reach it. He gave the seal a quick check then splashed back into the pool.

  When he popped out of the water on the other side, everyone was talking at once.

  “You got it?” Peter dropped on all fours by the edge of the pool.

  Roland held up the box, and Caitlyn took it. Peter grabbed his arm and helped him climb out. Dominic tossed Roland his towel.

  “We’d better start praying,” Peter said. “He’s headed our way. Toby, come help pray.”

  Toby carried a candle to Dominic and knelt on the floor of the cave, assuming a dramatic prayer posture.

  “The key, the key.” Caitlyn flapped her hand.

  Peter reached into his chest pocket and froze. “No key.”

  Caitlyn gasped.

  Peter patted his pockets
, his hands stopping on a front pocket of his jeans. “Okay, got it.” He held it up.

  Caitlyn exhaled, then ripped it from his hand and opened the box. “Hi, Jesus. Would you please heal Dominic through Saint Conrad’s intercession?” She sounded natural praying, as if she spoke to a friend. “Please, hear Saint Conrad’s prayers for Dominic.” She crawled on her knees to Dominic, snatched the brown cloth from the box and touched it to his legs. “As we touch this relic of Saint Conrad . . .”

  “A relic?” Dominic said. Caitlyn kept praying.

  “Just pray.” Peter laid a hand on Dominic’s shoulder. “We probably don’t have much time.”

  Bare-chested and shivering, Roland did the same. He even closed his eyes so he could really focus on talking to God and Saint Conrad. Something special was about to happen, and they all seemed to feel it.

  “Saint Conrad,” Caitlyn said, “we don’t know why your relic has come to us at this time, but we believe that your prayers are very powerful with God. So, could you please help us? Could you heal Dominic and Toby?” She touched the brown cloth to Toby’s head.

  Toby blew out his candle and stood up.

  “We’re not done yet.” Peter grabbed his arm.

  “Oh, but you are.”

  All heads turned as Mr. Reinhard burst into their sanctuary and shuffled down the ledge toward them. He ran a hand over his thin wet hair. “Hello, students.”

  Caitlyn got off her knees and with trembling hands put the cloth back into the box. “Give me the key,” she whispered, nudging Peter.

  He handed it to her. “What’re you doing here, Mr. Reinhard?”

  Mr. Reinhard chuckled, still approaching. “You have something which rightfully belongs to me.”

  Caitlyn said, “Oops” and the key tinkled to the ground under Dominic’s footrest.

  Peter shot her a wide-eyed glare. “Caitlyn!” He snatched the box from her.

  “Sorry.”

  Mr. Reinhard lunged and stooped.

  Dominic moved his foot! He slid it off the footrest and kicked the key into the pool.

  “Dominic . . .” Peter’s lips moved but the waterfall drowned his weak voice. “Your leg. It moved.”

  Dominic’s mouth hung open. “Esto es un milagro.”

  “What?” Peter said, eyes wider than seemed possible.

  Caitlyn slapped her chest and sucked in a breath. She lifted her other hand in slow motion, finally pointing at Dominic’s legs.

  Roland’s hair stood on end. Had God really answered their prayers? Right here? Right now?

  “He said, it’s a miracle.” Mr. Reinhard straightened and wiped his brow. “And so now you know what makes your inheritance so special. But, like I have said, it really belongs to me.”

  Peter clutched the box, his gaze snapping to Mr. Reinhard. “If it belongs to you, why did my uncle give it to me? It belonged to my grandfather. Who are you?”

  Mr. Reinhard made a slow scan of the cave and inhaled deeply, as if taking it all in. “I lost you in the woods the other day. It’s hard for an old man like me to move quickly.” His beady eyes turned to Dominic. “Thanks to you, I was able to keep up today.”

  Dominic’s upper lip curled. Arms shaking, he pushed himself up from the chair.

  “Dominic!” Caitlyn reached for his arm, but too late.

  He dove into the pool.

  “Dominic!” Peter dropped to the side of the pool.

  Roland lunged, about to dive in after him, but Peter put a hand out to stop him.

  The key shone in the greenish water under a ray of afternoon sunlight. Dominic’s hair, like black seaweed, swirled about his head as he swam toward it. He swiped up the key and, using his legs to push off, came back to the surface. He popped his head out of the water and gasped for air.

  Peter set the box down and reached for Dominic’s arm. Roland grabbed his other arm and together they dragged him out and sat him on the edge of the pool.

  “You’re healed!” Caitlyn shrieked, hands to her cheeks.

  Trembling from cold or from sheer amazement, Roland stared at Dominic’s dripping-wet legs. A wordless prayer of thanksgiving flooded his soul.

  Peter laughed and smacked his forehead. “I can’t believe it.”

  “Dominic all wet.” Toby laughed, too. “Toby’s turn.”

  Peter jumped up and wrapped his arms around Toby. “I don’t think so, buddy.”

  Dominic spluttered water from his mouth and laughed. “No manches.”

  Mr. Reinhard chuckled and backed up. “Farewell, my students. I guess I will need to find some other way to open this.” He clutched the box with both hands.

  Peter spun to face him.

  Roland’s gut twisted. With their attention on Dominic, no one had noticed Mr. Reinhard take the box after Peter had set it down.

  Toby broke away from Peter and shot past them. “Peter’s box, Peter’s box.” His high-pitched voice grew in intensity. He reached for it.

  “Toby—” Peter lunged as Mr. Reinhard shoved.

  Toby fell backwards, his eyes wide with shock.

  “Hey, that’s my brother! Don’t push Toby!” Peter dropped to his brother’s side. “It’s all right, Toby. You’re okay.”

  Toby’s bottom lip puffed out and tears welled in his eyes. Caitlyn ran to him and stroked his hair.

  “Sorry, kid,” Mr. Reinhard said. “But I’m glad that you were all able to witness the power of the relic. Maybe you will better understand my determination.” He backed up until he bumped the wall of the cave. Then he shuffled sideways along the ledge.

  “Mr. Reinhard.” Peter’s face flushed and his jaw twitched.

  The man stopped his slow escape and looked at him.

  “Why did you want it so badly?”

  His dark gaze shifted. “I need it.” His voice lowered. “I have a sister who is very dear to me. She is dying of cancer.”

  Caitlyn helped Toby to his feet and brushed off his jeans and shirt.

  Toby staggered to the back wall and reached for a candle, muttering, “Don’t push Toby,” over and over.

  Clearing his throat, Roland stepped forward. His body shivered and goose bumps covered his skin. He hated that he was about to draw attention to himself. “Do you really think you can steal the relic of a saint and God is going to grant your prayers?”

  Of course, everyone looked at him.

  Mr. Reinhard laughed. “Are you not convinced of the power of this relic?”

  “It’s only powerful in the right hands.” Roland’s voice trembled with his body, but he couldn’t stop talking. “It’s faith and prayers that bring God’s healing power. It’s not magic. Give it back.”

  Caitlyn came to him with a towel and draped it over his shoulders.

  “Then you’ve had the power all along,” Mr. Reinhard said. “So, leave the relic to me. May I have the key?” He extended a hand toward Dominic, but the other hand clung to the box.

  “No way, Jo-se. The relic does not belong to you.”

  He caressed the box. “It should’ve come to me. Perhaps, Peter, your grandfather told you about a young girl who had drowned. Her name was Heidi. Your uncle Harold was responsible for her falling into a frozen pond. She was near death. I know. I was there. I was very young, but I remember well. Heidi is my sister. Harold’s father, your grandfather, used the relic, and Heidi’s life was saved.”

  “Heidi Reinhard!” Caitlyn said, awe in her tone. “The initials on the last page of the notebook.”

  “Yes, that was my sister,” Mr. Reinhard said. “My father was there as well, and he asked that the relic be kept in our house for a time. And it was. So you see, for many years the relic went back and forth between families. No one considered it his or her exclusive property. Saint Conrad belonged to us all.”

  “So, why do you think the relic should be yours?” Peter said.

  “When your grandfather lay dying, I spoke with him . . .”

  Peter sucked in a breath, his chest heaving.

  �
��He told me his intention to give the relic to you, but it had been with your family for too many years. It was time for my family to have it. When he did not agree with my claim, I knew that I would have to see to it myself. I saw it as God’s will that a substitute teaching position opened up in your school, and that your parents run a bed-and-breakfast. Once I realized I could learn nothing more about the relic at school, I quit. I needed to refocus.”

  He grinned. “And my efforts have been successful. God has given the relic back to me. And, like I said, I need it. Heidi needs it. Again.” He tucked the box under his sweater, gave a nod, and ducked through the falls.

  “Let’s go after him.” Dominic gripped the wheelchair and pulled himself up off the ground. His legs wobbled a bit, but he got up and stood on them.

  All for the idea of going after Mr. Reinhard, Roland stepped forward.

  “Wow.” Caitlyn stared at Dominic’s legs. “You’re really healed.”

  “I’m a little shaky, but I will be walking for sure.” He unlocked the wheels of the wheelchair and, grabbing the handgrips, pushed it forward.

  “Wait a minute.” Peter blocked the chair. “We’re not going after Mr. Reinhard. He’s got the relic and that’s that. You said you’re a little shaky. Let’s just get you out of here . . . safely. We’ll worry about the relic later.” He locked the wheels of the chair and folded his arms. “Besides, if his sister’s really sick . . .”

  With a groan of surrender, Dominic released the handgrips and dropped his hands to his sides. “Okay, but you can help me walk out. It’ll be easier than the two of you carrying me. I’m not an invalid. And you two are sort of awkward, anyway.”

  “Awkward? Are you kidding me?” Peter wrapped an arm around Dominic and glanced at Toby. “Hey, Toby, let’s get out of here.”

  “I got him.” Caitlyn stepped over to Toby. “That’s nice, Toby.”

  Toby tiptoed, reaching for a candle on the back wall. Every candle in every nook and cranny glowed, flames flickering and giving off the light they could’ve used earlier.

  “You’re kidding me,” Peter said. “Now you get the candles lit?”

  “I’ll help him blow them out,” Caitlyn said. “We’ll catch up to you.”