by Lin Oliver
He turned around, and I could see his curly tail sticking out of the hole in his shorts.
“Listen, Chives,” I said. “I need you to do me a favor. I’m going to ask that man, Rio, to help us find David. When we’re with him, please don’t talk.”
“Not talk?” Chives protested. “But I have such a lot to say.”
“Save it until we’re alone,” I said. “And one more thing. Could you try to walk on all fours?”
“Like a real pig?” Chives seemed very insulted. “I would be so embarrassed.”
“Please, Chives. We don’t want Rio to be suspicious. He already thinks you may be some kind of evil spirit.”
Chives wasn’t happy, but he agreed. I led him back to Luna and Rio. Even though he tried to trot like a pig, he tripped a few times over his hooves.
“Rio,” I said. “This is our pet pig. We call him Chives.”
“That bucket’s mighty strange, but otherwise he looks like a fine pig,” Rio said. “If you like orange pigs, that is.” He gave Chives a playful poke in the belly.
“Oink,” said Chives, shooting me an unhappy look.
“What brings you kids and your pig out here?” Rio said.
“We’ve come to New Mexico to find our friend, David Dots,” I answered. “He’s about thirteen years old.”
“You mean the kid who collects arrowheads?” Rio said.
“That’s him,” Luna said.
“I saw him here yesterday. He knew all about Cerro Pedernal. Knew that it means ‘flint hill.’ Knew that local Native people have used the flint at the top to make arrowheads and tools. He was mighty excited about climbing it.”
“Is there a trail going up there?” I asked.
“Hopefully one that the skinwalkers don’t know about,” Luna added.
“There’s a trail,” Rio said. “You pick it up about a half mile down this road.”
“We’re in a big hurry,” I said. “Would you mind giving us a lift to the trail?”
“I guess I can help you out,” Rio said. “You kids get in front. The pig rides in back.”
I saw Chives frown.
“Oh, he won’t mind a bit,” I said, giving Chives a look. “Oink,” he said, loud enough for everyone to hear.
We loaded Chives into the back of the pickup, and Luna and I slid into the front seat. The truck bumped along the dusty road, while Rio sang that song I’d heard in the tunnel. The closer we got to Pedernal, the taller it looked. Luna stared out the window. I don’t know if she was looking for David or checking for signs of skinwalkers. Probably both.
We followed the road until it became so narrow we could go no farther. We pulled to a stop beside a meadow at the base of a steep slope.
“That’s the trail to the summit,” Rio said, pointing to a rocky path. “It’s short but very steep. When you get to the top, it’s all rock. There’s a cave just before the capstone. If you find it, you can cross through to the summit. But don’t dillydally. Thunderstorms blow in fast around here. You don’t want to be up on the mountain during a lightning strike.”
Wow, that was a lot to worry about. Steep trails, thunderstorms, lightning strikes. And Rio wasn’t done yet.
“Remember,” he said, “If you see any coyotes or bears, don’t look them in the eyes.”
I couldn’t even glance at Luna. I could hear her whispering to herself. “I am brave, I am brave.”
We climbed out of the truck and unloaded Chives from the back. I waved as Rio drove off in a cloud of dust.
Chives reached into the pocket of his shorts and pulled out his gold watch.
“It’s nine minutes after four,” he reported. “We don’t have a minute to waste. We’ve got to climb to the summit, find David, and get back down by five o’clock.”
“And don’t forget that we have to run down the road to get back to our landing place,” Luna added.
“What are we waiting for?” I said. “Let’s move!”
We hurried over to the trailhead to begin our climb. We hadn’t taken two steps when Luna suddenly stopped in her tracks and let out a scream.
“Tiger, look,” she cried.
Lying on the ground in front of us was a cow skull. Its bones were bleached white from the sun, its long horns filled with holes from years of wind and dust storms.
Is this a warning? Should we turn back?
I wasn’t sure. But deep in my heart, I knew that finding a cow skull in our path was definitely not a good sign.
CHAPTER 7
A dusty wind blew through the pine trees as the three of us stared at the cow skull, trying to decide whether to continue or turn back.
“I have an idea,” Luna said. “Let’s call David’s name. If he hears us, he’ll come down here.”
We counted to three and all screamed together.
“David! David!”
There was no answer.
“I bet it’s really windy on the mountain top,” I said. “He probably can’t hear anything with the wind howling all around him.”
“We can’t just stand here and let the hour tick by,” Chives said. “I suggest we take a vote.”
“All in favor of going up the mountain, raise your hand,” I said.
“Or your hoof,” Chives added.
We all voted to go ahead, even Luna.
“I see you voted yes even though you’re scared,” I said to her. “It takes a lot of courage to do something you’re afraid of.”
“My grandma says that real courage is being afraid but going on anyway,” Luna answered. “Besides, I have Grandpa Arturo’s drum to protect me.”
She picked up a stick and pounded on the drum. Suddenly, the leaves in a nearby tree rustled, and a black crow flew out and shot across the sky.
“Don’t look it in the eye,” Luna warned.
We set out on the trail. At first, the path was mostly dirt, but as we climbed higher, more rocks began to appear. The valley below was so beautiful. Patches of brown and red earth were dotted with green trees that looked like bunches of broccoli from high up.
“Watch your step,” I called as the path grew steeper. “Hold on to the rocks.”
Suddenly, I heard a crash, followed by the sound of something hitting the ground.
“Look out!” Luna yelled. “It’s a rockslide.”
One of the rocks above had come loose. As it tumbled to the earth, it smashed into fragments. Other rocks followed. Some rolled down the steep slope, while some fell through the air.
“Duck!” I yelled.
Luna jumped aside, covering her head with her hands. The rocks flew past her, but one landed on top of Chives’s head.
“Chives, are you okay?” Luna asked.
“I don’t know,” he said. “This bucket is stuck on my head.”
Luna and I climbed down to help him. We grabbed the bucket and pulled, but it didn’t budge. It was wedged tightly against his face. We pulled again.
“Ouch,” he said. “You’re hurting me.”
A clap of thunder echoed around us. As if from nowhere, a huge gray thundercloud appeared. Lightning shot across the sky, followed by a pounding rain. It was so heavy that we could barely see the path beneath our feet.
“Chives,” I said. “Can you stand on your head?”
“I could in my youth,” I heard him mumble into the bucket.
Luna gave me a what are you talking about? look.
“Basic science,” I explained. “Water will make his head smooth, and smooth objects create less friction.”
“Speak English, Tiger,” Luna said.
“Sometimes when my mom tries to take her rings off, they get stuck on her finger,” I said. “She runs her hands under water to make her fingers slippery, and then the rings slide right off.”
“Oh, I get it,” Luna said. “Why didn’t you say that?”
Together, we helped Chives turn upside down. It wasn’t hard for him to stand on his head because the bucket gave him a nice, flat surface to rest on. Some of the rainwat
er seeped into the bucket in the little spaces between his head and the sides.
“Move your head,” I said to him. “Let the water swish all around.”
We sat him up. Grabbing the bucket, we moved it from side to side, letting the rainwater make the inside all slippery.
“You okay in there?” Luna asked Chives.
“My snout is certainly getting a good scrubbing,” he said.
We wiggled the bucket some more, then pop, off it came.
“Oh, that’s much better,” Chives said, rubbing his face with his hooves. When he caught sight of the sharp rock lying on the ground next to him, he gasped.
“Is that what hit me?” he asked. “I could have been killed.”
“But you weren’t.” Luna threw her arms around him in a huge hug I call the Luna Special. She put the bucket on his head.
“My accident has made us lose precious time,” Chives said. “We have to move quickly.”
“The path is slippery,” I said. “Everyone has to be super careful.”
Slowly, we inched our way up, one footstep at a time. The rain stopped just when we reached the end of the trail. The rest of the way to the top of Pedernal was nothing but a solid rock cliff.
“We can’t climb that,” I said. “It’s straight up.”
“Look,” Luna said. She pointed to a ledge near us, about six feet long. At the other end of the ledge, you could just make out a hole in the black rock. “That must be the entrance to the cave Rio described. All we have to do is climb across this ledge, and we’ll be at the mouth of the cave.”
“That’s a very narrow ledge for a very round pig,” Chives said.
“You can do it,” Luna told him. “Hold the mop out in front of you for balance.”
I took the first few steps onto the ledge. Luna followed me. Chives, holding the mop out in front of him like a tightrope walker, went last. We pressed against the rock wall. It was a long way down. The trees in the valley no longer looked like broccoli. They looked like tiny green peas.
“Um … Luna,” I whispered. “I have a secret to tell you.”
“What is it, Tiger?”
“I’m afraid of heights,” I whispered.
“What a time to tell me!” she whispered back. “Remember what my grandma said.”
“About saying thank you?”
“About courage. Be afraid, but do it anyway.”
I took a deep breath.
“I am brave,” I whispered to myself.
Suddenly, we heard something howl. It definitely wasn’t the wind. It sounded like an animal—a close-by animal! I saw a shadow of a four-legged creature behind a nearby tree. Luna saw it, too.
“I think it’s a coyote,” I whispered.
“What if it’s a skinwalker?” Luna sounded so scared.
I could see the mop shaking in Chives’s hand.
“Stay completely still,” I said to him.
“And no matter what,” Luna whispered. “Do not look that creature in the eyes.”
Chives let out a frightened squeal.
“Luna,” he said. “I already did.”
CHAPTER 8
The coyote was crouched behind the tree, watching us. He was the size of a German shepherd, with a tan coat and yellow eyes. His tail was low to the ground, and he swung it back and forth.
Luna never lifted her eyes to look at the coyote. “Skinwalker,” she called out. “Go away.”
The coyote growled and took a step forward. Chives’s mop was shaking so much he could barely hold it. He edged closer to Luna. His mop accidentally hit the drum that was strapped to her back. It made a loud bang.
The noise stopped the coyote in his tracks. He looked at the drum with his squinty yellow eyes.
“Hit it again,” Luna whispered to Chives.
Chives did, this time on purpose. The coyote howled.
“Play something, Chives,” Luna said. “Beat the drum.”
Chives held on to his mop and, using it like a drumstick, pounded the drum with all his might.
Womp, womp, womp.
“More,” Luna said.
Womp, womp, womp. Ba-room. Ba-room. Donk–a-donk-donk.
As the drumbeat grew louder, the coyote began to back up. He raised his face to the sky and howled. Then he turned and ran. He bolted across the rocky side of the mountain and disappeared into a thicket of pine trees.
“He’s gone,” I whispered, taking a deep and much needed breath.
“Grandpa Arturo’s drum protected me,” Luna said. “His spirit is with me.”
That’s when we heard the voice, calling to us from the mountaintop.
“Who’s down there?” it said. “Who’s that drumming?”
I recognized that voice. It was David Dots!
“David!” I shouted. “It’s us. Tiger and Luna.”
“Where are you?”
“Down here on the ledge. We’re pretty scared.”
“Don’t move,” David said. “I’m coming to help you.”
We stood perfectly still. Within a few minutes, David appeared at the mouth of the cave.
“I’ll reach out to you,” he said, standing on the ledge and bracing himself against some boulders with his feet. “Hold my hand. You’ve only got five or six more steps.”
I went first. Holding David’s hand helped steady my steps. Luna went next. When we were both safe at the mouth of the cave, David threw his arms around us.
“I can’t believe you’re here,” he said. “Did my mother send you?”
“We can’t talk now,” I said.
“We have a friend who’s still on the ledge.”
We all looked over and saw the mop handle edging along the ledge, followed by Chives. He was taking tiny steps. Suddenly, Chives lost his balance and let go of the mop. We heard it clatter down the rocky face of Pedernal.
“We’ve got you, Chives,” Luna said. She grabbed one hoof and I grabbed the other, and with David’s help, we pulled him to safety.
“Thank you, children,” said Chives. “You saved my life once again.”
David took a moment to look Chives up and down.
“Who are you?” he said. “Or should I say, what are you?”
Chives looked at David, and his eyes filled with tears.
“Oh, Master David,” he said. “It’s really you. I never thought I would see the day when I would finally get to meet you. Your mother is right. You have the face of an angel.”
Chives threw his stubby arms around David and hugged him hard. Never one to say no to a good hug, Luna threw her arms around both of them. I’m not the world’s best hugger, but I have to confess, I joined in, too.
“Let me introduce myself,” Chives said. “I am Chives, your mother’s butler. I was spit out of a painting at the same time you were sucked into one, exactly fifty years ago to the day.”
“So that’s why you’re orange,” David said. “Because you were a work of art?”
“Exactly,” Chives said.
“Chives wanted to come with us, to help find you,” I said.
“But how did you know where I was?” David asked.
“Your mom copied the Georgia O’Keeffe painting of Cerro Pedernal and put it in the fantastic frame,” Luna said. “When we heard you collected arrowheads, we figured you’d be up here at the top where the flint is.”
“You’re not going to believe the treasures I’ve found,” David said. “Come look.”
We ducked into the cave. David kneeled down and put several arrowheads on the ground in front of us. He pointed to one proudly.
“This one is made from flint and is really old,” he said. “Maybe even from Paleo times.” He held up another even sharper piece of stone. “I think this one is actually a spear tip. I can’t wait to get home and read all about it.”
“Home?” Luna said. “Does that mean you’re coming home with us?”
David hesitated.
“Well, maybe not today,” he said. “I’m having a great time up here
. But some day I will.”
“David, my boy,” Chives said. “Do you know what today is? It’s your mother’s eightieth birthday.”
“Oh, now I remember,” David said. “I got pulled into the painting on her birthday. I never even got to give her the card I made.”
“For all these years, I have taken care of your mother,” Chives said, putting a hoof on David’s shoulder. “Made her daily tea. Mixed her paints. Tended to her when she was ill. Listened to her stories about you. Loaned her my handkerchief when she needed to cry.”
David put down his arrowhead and listened carefully.
“She is a difficult woman to be sure,” Chives went on, “but I have grown to love her. By loving her, I have come to love you. Her one wish is to have you come home. Therefore, my one wish is to see the two of you together again.”
“I’ve been meaning to come home,” David said. “I almost did a couple of times. Ask Tiger and Luna, they’ll tell you.”
“Then today is the day, David,” Chives said. “It’s her birthday. There is no better birthday gift you could give her than yourself.”
“She really misses me that much?” David asked softly.
“Her heart is broken without you,” Chives answered.
We were all silent. David got up and paced back and forth. I could see that this was not an easy decision for him.
“Time is growing short, David,” Chives said. “Now is the moment for you to do the right thing. Let me take you back home. To the place you’re loved the best.”
“You’re right, Chives,” David said. “It’s time. I’ll come with you.”
It’s not often you see a pig smile. But standing there in that cave on Cerro Pedernal, Chives’s smile was as big as the whole New Mexico sky.
CHAPTER 9
“How long do we have to get back?” I asked Chives as we prepared to leave the cave.
He pulled out his pocket watch.
“Very little,” he said. “It will take a mighty effort for us to make it down the mountain by five o’clock.”
“I’m ready,” David said. “Give me two seconds to grab the other arrowheads I collected.”
He had only taken a few steps across the cave when we heard a frightening sound, a combination of a hiss and a rattle.
