Maria put the lights back on and the picture appeared as it was before.
Amanda’s hand shot up. “How can it change like that? Did he use special paint?”
“No one seems to know,” answered Maria. “That is the mystery.”
“They must have put radium in the paint,” Caleb said.
“That is a very good guess, except that it was painted before radium was discovered. Scientists have tested the paint and cannot find an answer as to why this happens. Would you like to see it again?”
Amanda looked over at her roommate. Cleo sat very still, staring with wide eyes at the painting. “Do you want to leave, Cleo?”
6
CLEO DIDN’T ANSWER. AMANDA TOUCHED HER SHOULDER.
“Cleo, let’s leave, OK?”
The young girl jerked and looked at Amanda as if woken from a dream. “What did you say?”
“I’m going outside. Do you want to come with me?” Amanda stood up.
“Sure.”
Some of the students stayed behind to see the changes in the fascinating painting again.
Caleb joined Amanda and Cleo outside. “That was cool. There has to be another explanation, though. It’s highly unlikely it’s magic.”
“Well…you never know,” said Amanda.
Cleo rubbed her forehead. “I’m going to wait in the bus. I feel a bit dizzy.” She walked toward the bus parked on the road beside the churchyard.
“What’s with her?” Caleb asked.
“She’s OK.” Amanda glanced in Cleo’s direction and sighed. “She just gets frightened easily.”
“Well, I think she’s weird.” Caleb flicked through his pictures. “Hey, um, what do you think this is?” He handed his camera to Amanda.
Amanda squinted at the small screen. “I’m not sure. It could be bones, maybe even a skeleton.” She shuddered and handed back the camera. “Is this the picture you took inside the old building?”
“Yup.”
Maria and the rest of the children came out to join them.
“Who used to live in those falling-down buildings over there?” Amanda pointed in the direction of the old houses.
Maria replied, “A long time ago those buildings were military barracks. They haven’t been used for ages. For some reason, many people stay away from them. There have been rumours, but there always are around here.”
“What kind of rumours?”
Maria shrugged. “Oh, nothing really. Any other questions?”
Caleb put up his hand. “How do they make the outside of the church so smooth?”
“Every year hundreds of volunteers from the area smooth clay mud, straw and water over the church to resurface its tens of thousands of adobe bricks. It is so beautiful when it is finished. It sparkles like a jewel in the sun.” Maria beamed. “I am pleased you like our church.”
Ms. Bowler scanned the area. “Where is Cleo?”
“She went back to the bus,” said Amanda. “She wasn’t feeling well.”
The teacher wrinkled her brow. “I was just at the bus and she wasn’t th—”
A scream pierced the air.
“It’s coming from over there!” Caleb pointed to the deserted buildings. He ran toward the sound.
Amanda felt sick to her stomach. She watched Caleb put his feet on the exposed bricks as he attempted to climb up to a window.
“Caleb!” Ms. Bowler shouted. “Don’t go in there. It could be dangerous.”
“What is happening, Señora?” asked Maria. An elderly priest followed closely behind her.
“One of the students is missing. We just heard a scream coming from that building.” Ms. Bowler pointed.
“Oh, no!” Maria placed a trembling hand on her chest.
The priest put one hand on her shoulder. He pulled out a cell phone from his robe’s pocket with the other hand and called emergency services.
Caleb ignored his teacher and Maria. With one hand grasping the windowsill, he ripped at a loose board. He peered into the dark room.
“Be careful.” Amanda came up behind him. “What can you see?”
“Nothing. It’s very dark in here. And a bit stinky.”
“What are these kids doing here?” A man in a denim jacket and a straw cowboy hat yelled as he came around the back of the building. “You there! Get away from that window. It’s dangerous. That wall could give way at any time.” He shook his head and pulled Caleb away from the window.
Ms. Bowler came up to the man’s side. “I’m so sorry.” She turned to Caleb, her eyes flashing. “I told you to stay back.”
A sorrowful moan came from inside.
“I—I think Cleo might be in that house.” Amanda winced when she thought of what else might be in there.
“You should really keep better track of these kids.” The man glared at Ms. Bowler. “Let me take a look.” He walked around to the side of the building and pulled open a shabby door.
A couple of minutes later he came out carrying a limp Cleo. “How the heck did she get in there anyway?” He scowled.
Just then a police car and an ambulance pulled into the parking area.
“What’s going on, Jim?” asked the police officer.
“I found this young girl in the old building. How many times have I said not to let people wander around here? She seems to have passed out. Better get her checked out.” Jim handed Cleo over to the ambulance attendants.
A flustered Ms. Bowler herded the curious students onto the bus.
“May I stay with Cleo?” Amanda asked. “She might want to see a familiar face when she comes to.”
The teacher ran her hands through her hair. “Yes, yes, I guess that would be fine. Just be careful. We can’t have anything else happen.”
Amanda squeezed past Maria and the priest to get to Cleo, lying on a stretcher. She opened her eyes and looked around in a daze.
“It’s all right, Cleo. I’m here.” Amanda bent over her friend.
Cleo murmured, “B-bones. There were bones everywhere. It was so s-scary.” Then she jerked her head from left to right. “The girl. Where is the girl?”
7
“WHAT GIRL? WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT, CLEO?”
“The girl that was with me in the old building.” Amanda leaned closer to hear Cleo whisper. “You know, the one I saw at the hacienda.”
The ambulance attendant approached them. “We’re ready to put your friend in the ambulance and take her to the hospital.”
“No!” Cleo bolted upright, almost bumping her head against Amanda’s. “I’m not going to a hospital again!” She swung her legs over the side of the stretcher. “I feel better now. I want to go back on the bus with the others.”
“I’m not sure that is a good idea.” The attendant placed his hands on her shoulders.
“I’m all right. Amanda, help me up.” Cleo reached out her hand.
Amanda took hold of it and pulled her up.
“See, I can stand just fine.” Cleo took a few wobbly steps. “Amanda will help me to the bus.”
The ambulance attendant shook his head. “Here, I’ll help you.” He put his arm around her shoulder and walked her toward the waiting bus.
At the bus, Cleo thanked the attendant. Everyone cheered when she got on. Ms. Bowler insisted she sit beside her on the front seat.
Amanda wondered, ‘Why was Cleo so adamant about not going to the hospital? And, who was this girl that was with her?’
After lunch, Mr. Samson organized a walk into town. Ms. Bowler stayed behind with Cleo and a couple of others who preferred not to go. Amanda was glad she didn’t have to keep an eye on Cleo.
Caleb walked up beside her. “How did Cleo get in that building anyway? There is something totally weird about that girl.”
Amanda nodded her head but didn’t say anything.
“Take a look at those sculptures!” Amanda pointed to bronze statues scattered around a square. “At first glance, this one looks like a face. When you look at it a second time, it appears
to be three dark figures in hooded cloaks. It all depends on how you look at it.”
Caleb pulled out his camera. “Wow, these sculptures are really cool.”
Amanda noticed various paintings on display in the square. In one corner, an artist sat on a stump hunched over a small piece of paper. She walked over and watched as he applied bright orange to the heavy paper. He looked up at her and smiled. Paintings pinned onto a piece of cardboard leaned against a chair. She stepped closer and observed an eagle against a bright orange sun, a buffalo on a purple background and next to it, a wolf with a feather in his mouth.
“I like your paintings,” said Amanda.
“Thank you. They represent animals from my people’s folklore. I live at the pueblo up the road. Have you been there?”
“Not yet. We’re going tomorrow.”
“My people have lived there for a thousand years. We still live as they did.”
He continued painting until a single vibrant dragonfly appeared. He finished it with a tall weed on one side.
“Do you like this one?” The artist waved the painting to dry it.
“Yes, it’s awesome!”
“You may have it.” The painter turned it over. “What’s your name?”
“Amanda.”
He wrote something on the back and handed it to her.
She read what he wrote.
Amanda - Harmony on your horizons.
All blessings, Frank - Taos Pueblo
“Thanks so much, Frank.” She dropped some coins into his tip jar. “This is amazing.”
“Enjoy your visit to the pueblo tomorrow.” Frank took out another piece of paper from a leather pouch and swirled his brush in a jar of water.
Amanda joined Caleb and the rest of the group. They continued to check out the town, returning to Mable Dodge Lohan’s place in time for dinner. Cleo seemed much better but stuck close to Ms. Bowler.
“Did you have a nice time in town?” asked the teacher as she spooned guacamole on her enchiladas.
“You bet. We saw some cool sculptures and I met a native artist. He gave me one of his paintings!”
“That’s very nice. You’ll have to show it to me. Cleo and I spent some time in the library and found a copy of The Laughing Horse. It was fun to look through it and read what people thought was interesting a hundred years ago.”
Cleo glanced up from her meal. “I forgot my meds in your room, Ms. Bowler. I’m supposed to take them with my dinner.”
“I’ll get them for you, sweetie.” Ms. Bowler started to get up from the table.
“It’s OK. I can get them myself.”
“I’ll come with you,” said Amanda. She took the last bite of her spicy taco and followed Cleo.
Audrey met them at the door and handed them a large flashlight. “This’ll help you see better. It’s getting dark out there. Watch for exposed tree roots on the pathway.”
Amanda shone the light on the path, keeping an eye out for anything that could trip them. The girls arrived at the Gate House Cottage and collected Cleo’s pills.
“What are those for?” asked Amanda.
“They’re just for when I get anxious,” replied Cleo. “Can I hold the flashlight on the way back?”
“Sure.” Amanda handed it over.
Instead of pointing it down on the path, Cleo swung the light around, shining it on the trees and bushes. Amanda tripped and fell hard on the dirt path.
“Ouch!” She reached down to her left knee. Blood oozed through her jeans. “Oh, Cleo, shine that light over here. I think I cut myself or something.”
Cleo let out a terrific scream, like from a horror movie. “Th-there’s somebody in the bushes!”
8
AMANDA FELT A SHARP PAIN IN HER KNEE. “CLEO! STOP BEing such a drama queen and bring that flashlight here.”
Cleo stood closer. The light from the flashlight illuminated her pale face. Her lips trembled.
“I saw a white face. It was a small man, maybe a dwarf.”
“Could you please shine the light on my knee?” Bright red blood seeped out of a rip in her jeans. Amanda tried to roll up her pant leg to have a better look, but her skinny jeans were too tight.
A rustle in the bushes followed by footsteps on gravel made Cleo gasp. “Maybe it’s that guy I saw.” She looked from side to side.
“Hey, what’s going on?” Caleb materialized out of the darkness with a grin like a Cheshire cat. “What’s taking you guys so long?” He noticed Amanda’s leg. “Sheesh! What did you do now, Amanda?”
“I guess I tripped and fell on something sharp.”
He looked at Cleo. “And what’s with you?”
“Did you see anyone else? I think someone is hiding in the bushes. One minute he was there, the next he wasn’t.”
Caleb shook his head. “No, I didn’t see anyone. Amanda, you better go get your knee checked out.” He put his arm around Amanda and took the flashlight from Cleo. “I’ll hold this to make sure nothing else happens to you two. Stick close, Cleo.”
Cleo followed closely behind Caleb and Amanda. “I’m sure he’s out there. In the bushes.”
“Who are you talking about?” Caleb frowned.
“That little man I saw in the bushes. His face was bright white. He had an evil smile.” Cleo shuddered.
Caleb shone the flashlight around. “See, look, there’s nobody in the bushes.” He swung it around once more to prove his point.
Cleo shrieked and grabbed his arm, knocking the flashlight to the ground and leaving them in darkness.
“I—I saw him. He was there again.”
“Way to go, Cleo.” Caleb picked up the flashlight and tried to turn it on, with no luck. “Now we have to make our way back in the dark.”
Cleo began to sob.
Caleb hit the flashlight with the palm of his hand. It came back on and shone straight on a face peering out of the bushes.
The face of St. Francis.
Amanda snorted and shook her head. “If this is your little white man, you have nothing to be afraid of. That is not an evil smile, but the kindest smile I have ever seen on a statue. Now, let’s get back before I’m totally soaked in blood.” Her knee hurt and she had enough of Cleo and her drama.
That night Cleo went to bed early. “I’m sorry I made you angry.” She pulled the covers up to her chin. “I hope your knee will be all right.”
Amanda looked up from her tablet and smiled. “It’ll be OK. I’m sorry I yelled at you. Now get some sleep.”
Before she went to bed, Amanda wrote a funny little story on Kidsblog about phasmophobia and the face of St. Francis. ‘At least Cleo is giving me lots of ideas for stories,’ she thought as she drifted off to sleep.
The next morning Ms. Bowler announced, “Today we’re going to Taos Pueblo. This is an important historic site that dates back over a thousand years. It is considered to be the oldest continuously inhabited community in the USA. People still live there, so please respect their home. There will be many opportunities to take pictures and meet native artists. It’s windy so make sure you wear a coat. Oh, and bring your swimsuits!”
The sun shone brightly again. Amanda couldn’t understand why she would need a coat and a swimsuit but made sure she packed both. “Let’s go, Cleo. The bus is waiting.”
As they got on the bus, Caleb yelled from the back, “Hey, have you seen any little white men lurking in the bushes, Cleo?”
The entire busload erupted with laughter. Cleo turned crimson. She slid into an empty seat and pulled her hood over her head, hiding her face.
“Cleo, why are ghosts such bad liars?” Caleb snickered. “Because you can see right through them.”
Amanda shouted over the hooting and hollering, “All right, you guys. That’s enough!” She dropped into the seat beside Cleo and squeezed her hand.
A few minutes later, the bus pulled up to a sign:
WELCOME TO TAOS PUEBLO UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE
THE RED WILLOW PEOPLE OF TAOS PUEBLO WEL
COME VISITORS AS THEY HAVE FOR OVER ONE THOUSAND YEARS
Amanda tingled with excitement as she viewed the village of adobe buildings arranged like building blocks. Snow-capped mountains loomed behind the pueblo. Solid terracotta houses, interrupted with splashes of bright blue doors, graced either side of a gentle creek. Simple wooden ladders leaned against the walls. Drying racks and clay ovens stood outside some of the houses. She couldn’t wait to explore.
Ms. Bowler purchased tickets for everyone and then announced, “We have the entire morning here in the pueblo. You may recall that pueblo in Spanish means village. You are free to wander around and look inside any of the buildings with open doors. Be sure to chat with the artists, take notes and pictures. You might even find some items to buy as souvenirs. Do not go into the areas that say no entry. Some places are sacred and only the tribe members are permitted there. You are not allowed to climb on any of the structures or take pictures of the people or sacred sites without permission. We will all meet here at the entrance at noon. Enjoy yourselves.”
Caleb put up his hand. “Can we take pictures of the houses?”
“Yes, as long as there are no people standing in front,” Ms. Bowler cautioned.
Amanda saw a sign outside a building:
MORNING TALK INDIAN SHOP
She turned to Cleo. “This looks interesting, let’s go in here.”
Cleo hesitated. “Are you sure it’s OK?”
A woman with a big smile appeared at the open door. “My name is Josita. Come on into my home and studio. I make all the pottery and jewellery here myself.” She motioned with her hand. “I have a fire going to keep you warm.”
The girls entered the warm, cozy dwelling, a welcome change from the chilly breeze outside. Walls held shelves of pottery. Tables displaying silver jewellery sat on colourful woven rugs. In one corner, a cheerful fire burnt in a round clay fireplace.
“Is there a special name for those round fireplaces?” asked Amanda.
Amanda in New Mexico Page 3
