The men shook hands and wished each other a safe trip home.
******
Tuck and Kaden said their goodbyes to Lukas and thanked him for his help, especially for arranging passage on the trawler for them. As they were about to leave the cabin he put an envelope in each of their pockets.
“Your wages boys, for a job well done. You should have enough there to pay for your passage and a bit left over.”
He didn’t tell them about the two boys they would be travelling with, wanting it to be a surprise for them.
It wasn’t long before they saw Joel’s cabin. Two people were standing at the door, looking in their direction.
“There’s something familiar about those guys, don’t you think, Teach?” Tuck was beginning to feel nervous. “Do you reckon it’s a trap?” he said.
Kaden was straining to make out the faces, but their hoods were up. A couple of steps more and he broke into a run.
“Come on slow coach, its Wolf and Smokes.”
As they got nearer to the cabin they saw both boys put a finger to their mouths, warning them to say nothing. They followed them inside and as soon as the door was closed the four friends embraced and spoke in hushed voices.
“I’s okay, Joel knows all about us and how we escaped. His two sons have given the four of us their berths on the trawler. It will be a bit of a squash but who cares,” explained Smokes.
“Any sign of Ash and Harley?” asked Wolf.
Tuck said that Lukas had taken them out to a trawler where they had been allowed work for their passage.
The door opened and Joel called them outside so the place could be locked up. Smokes introduced the boys to him. As Wolf walked past, Joel gave him an envelope.
“Here’s some cash to keep you going, it’s not much but it might get the four of you a bus ticket to somewhere safe.”
The young man thanked him and with his three companions joined the small group of passengers waiting to board the incoming boat.
It was a bit of a squash on the trawler, the berths being really small, but to the boys it was a vacation. Joel was like a father to them, looking after Tuck, who was seasick as soon as they left the shore. On the second day they were up on deck and Joel pointed to some humpback whales which was such a magnificent sight it made Tuck forget about his fragile stomach. The next day two orca whales swam alongside the trawler for a while. Weddell Sea was rich in krill which meant that many species of marine life, including Weddell seals inhabited the large body of water.
As the day drew on, the wind picked up and the trawler began to pitch from side to side. All four boys took to their small cabin, trying to lie flat, two on each bed. Tuck was made stay on the bottom bunk as he was most likely to throw up. He had a bucket on the floor beside him, which he gripped tightly, in case it rolled away. However, it was Smokes, who was lying on the inside that threw up. Tuck heard the retching beside him and whipped the bucket over his head just in time to catch the arc of hot, putrid liquid. The two boys dragged themselves out of the bunk to sit on the bathroom floor with the toilet between them, taking turns vomiting into it. This went on for the evening until the storm abated and the sea calmed down.
When the sound of retching finally stopped Kaden and Wolf, who had remained strapped into the top bunk with a blanket over their faces, jumped down and said they were going up on deck for some fresh air. Joel was up there already, having given the crew a hand during the storm. The boys offered to help clean up, happy to have something to do. That kept them busy until supper and on the way to the galley Kaden opened their cabin door and asked the seasick victims if they were hungry. Tuck threw a boot at him and Smokes just let out a pitiful groan.
“We’ll bring back some bread and water, you might be thankful for that later,” said Wolf.
The sea was calm for the rest of the journey, and after a good night’s sleep, all four boys were well rested and ate a hearty breakfast. They had seen quite a few icebergs, some with various types of birds on them, which Joel named, making the trip more interesting for his young companions.
“We are almost across Drake Passage and will soon be in Ushuaia’ he said. We’ve been very lucky to have had a good crossing.”
Tuck laughed at that.
“You’re joking, aren’t you? Me and Smokes threw up for hours during that storm we went through. As fast as we were filling the bucket it was being emptied all over us. We ended up sitting each side of the toilet with our arms around it to stop ourselves from being thrown about.”
“Pity you weren’t able to lie on the bunks like us,” said Wolf, winking at Kaden, “The straps held us in so securely we dozed off, didn’t we Teach.”
Joel laughed and said, “Drake Passage has some of the roughest weather on Earth and believe me, boys, that storm could have been much worse. This is where the Pacific, the Atlantic and the Southern seas meet up and the water is very fast flowing as it gets forced between the landmasses of South America and Antarctica. Sometimes sailings have to be cancelled and ships get stranded on either side, having no choice but to wait out the storm.”
“Well, I’ll take your word on that as I don’t fancy hanging around long enough to find out. Once was enough for me,” Smokes said, massaging his stomach as he looked out to sea.
Joel’s phone, which he had been holding in his hand, beeped loudly.
“Aha, I’ve picked up a signal, land can’t be far off now,” he said, “Best get below and sort out our gear.”
“We’re wearing most of our belongings,” said Tuck.
Nevertheless, the boys followed Joel back to their cabin.
The trawler docked in a designated area, where the cargo could be unloaded into huge containers and then pumped directly to a factory that would process the krill for their oil. As they disembarked, Joel advised the boys to leave the port immediately in case the authorities were on the lookout for them. He suggested they go to Buenos Aires as a big city would be easier to hide in, warning them, as Lukas had, not to use the telephone or the internet to contact anyone.
“Communication systems are always monitored,” Joel said.
They thanked him for getting them that far, and waved goodbye as he walked off towards a hotel near the ferry, where he would meet up with his sons.
“So, where to now?” Tuck looked at his three friends, who shrugged their shoulders.
“We could go further into the town and find somewhere quiet where we can see what money we have and decide how we should spend it,” suggested Kaden.
“Sounds good to me,” said Smokes, who seemed edgy, “I don’t think we should stand around here any longer, someone might recognize us.”
In a quiet cafe down a narrow, side street, the boys sat around a table in a dark corner of the room. They ordered some food and counted their money, having decided to divide it up equally, in case they got separated.
“Shouldn’t we try to find Ash and Harley? They would have landed here yesterday,” said Kaden.
Tuck suggested they split up and each one search a different area of the town.
“We could meet up back here and then decide what to do.”
The others agreed with him and once they had finished their meal, set off in various directions to look for the two boys.
Wolf had volunteered to go to the bus station, Kaden said he would check out the trains and Smokes and Tuck agreed to comb through the streets, looking in the cafes and bars. While he was at the bus station, Wolf priced a one-way ticket to Buenos Aires, how long the journey would take and if any ID was necessary. Kaden couldn’t find the train station because there was none, but he did come across a haulage depot. Using a mix of English and Spanish Kaden was able to find a truck that was scheduled to bring some locally made goods to Buenos Aires the next morning. They had only half a load so if the boys didn’t mind a bumpy ride in the back, there was plenty of room for them.
Wolf was already back at the cafe when Kaden got there. They asked the waiter if he knew of any cheap
places to stay overnight, and were told of a hostel close by that was warm and clean. When Tuck and Smokes arrived they discussed what their next step should be.
“We could check out that hostel. It’s way too cold here to sleep outdoors,” said Kaden, “Besides, we can afford it, now that we have a free ride in the morning.”
“Sounds good to me, but first we should go to that second hand clothes shop that Smokes found and exchange what we are wearing for something more suited to milder weather,” suggested Tuck.
Everyone thought that was a good idea so off they went, letting Smokes lead the way. They had a laugh trying on various items of clothing, some of which must have come from a monastery. A backpack for each of them was included in the items purchased. The owner of the shop was so delighted to get such good quality warm clothing in exchange for what the boys chose, that she gave them a discount. They were feeling on top of the world as they made their way to the hostel.
“No wonder women love shopping, that felt great,” said Smokes.
“That’s because it was the first time you ever paid for something,” laughed Tuck, “And I have to say, you look very smart.”
Smokes did a twirl, and as he looked behind he saw two young men go into a bar.
“Look, across the street, did you see who that was?”
The others didn’t know what he was talking about.
“I’m pretty sure that was Ash and Harley going in there,” he pointed to a small tapas bar with Spanish music playing loudly inside.
They crossed the street and looked in through the window, scaring the life out of Ash, who was staring out at the passers-by.
“Harley, look,” he said pointing at the window.
The boys outside pressed their noses to the pane of glass and the two inside jumped up and ran out to greet them.
After a lot of back slapping and hand shaking, the boys went inside to order soup and coffee.
“We were on our way to a hostel when Smokes spotted you,” said Kaden.
He went on to explain about the transport to Buenos Aires that had been arranged for the next day.
“Where did you get the clothes and backpacks?” asked Ash.
“In a second hand shop nearby, we can bring you there before we go to the hostel,” said Smokes.
Having found suitable clothing and backpacks, Ash and Harley, along with the rest of the group, set out for the hostel. The place was as the waiter had told them, clean and warm, and they chose a large room with three sets of bunks. Kaden and Ash went out to a grocery store and bought some food to make supper in the communal kitchen. The also stocked up for their journey to Buenos Aires. Kaden assured them he was a good cook so they took his word for it, Wolf and Ash helping to prepare the meal.
“Didn’t your trawler get in last night?” Tuck asked Harley.
“Yes, it did but we didn’t money for a room, so we found a doorway to sleep in. Man, it was so cold, we could only doze for a while, then we had to get up and walk just to keep warm. That went on all night. We both agreed to give it one more night and if we couldn’t find any of you then we would have to try and hitch a ride out of here.”
“We wouldn’t have had that meal only for Lukas. He put some money in our pockets before we boarded the trawler,” said Ash.
“None of us would be here if it wasn’t for Lukas and Joel. We owe both of them, big time,” Wolf added.
After a tasty supper, lying in their beds, bellies full, and feeling relatively safe, one by one the boys drifted off to sleep.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Estelle woke up to hear a car pulling into their drive. Having checked the time she looked out of the window, surprised to have a visitor so early in the morning.
“Lloyd wake up, Jake is here, something must have happened. It’s only four a.m. He’s not supposed to pick us up until seven.”
As usual, they stood in the garden. Jake decided not to beat around the bush.
“I don’t know if this is good news or bad, but your son has managed to escape.”
Estelle smiled at her husband and said, “why that’s good news, isn’t it?”
Lloyd knew only too well how harsh the environment could be in Antarctica.
“What are his chances, be honest?” he asked.
The detective paused before answering.
“Duke had to risk phoning me. When he got to Buenos Aires he received a call from Henry Brubaker himself. That never happens, usually Grant or someone else will contact us. Apparently, the doctor at the base in Antarctica reported Kaden and five other boys missing. He is convinced they froze to death in a blizzard that was raging at the time they got away.”
Estelle gasped, “Antarctica? The South Pole? How long have you been aware of this, both of you?” she looked anxiously from one man to the other.
Lloyd held out his hands, palms upward.
“Now don’t be angry, I’ve only known since yesterday, I was going to tell you and Amelia once we were on the road. The only reason Jake told me was because his informant, Duke, agreed to go there to rescue Kaden. I had to let them know where we had decided to go so that he could be reunited with us.”
“It doesn’t matter how long, who knew, what,” Jake carried on speaking, “The point is, Kaden has escaped and is in Ushuaia with some other boys. We need a change of plan. Do you think your son will go with Duke without his companions?”
Lloyd shook his head. Jake sighed before he spoke.
“Just like his father. I knew that would be the answer. In that case, I have an idea to put to you. Plan B.”
Having contacted Duke with an alternative plan, Jake helped the Seagers to pack their belongings into his car. They left the house just before it got light. A motor home, which had been bought for the trip, was parked at the back of a charity shop. Jake had paid for it with some of Lloyd’s cash, arranging for the boxes that had been delivered there from the Seager home to be put inside. The family would be gone for two weeks before anyone missed them. Jake Matthews watched his friends drive off and only when they were out of sight did he start up his engine. He made sure they had not been followed before heading back to his place.
As they left the city behind, the morning got brighter and the Seagers began to relax. Amelia sat in the passenger seat while her mother lay down in the bedroom at the back of the motor home. Lloyd was beginning to enjoy the journey, it felt like a vacation. His daughter picked up the map that lay on the dashboard.
“Why don’t you use a sat nav. It would be a lot easier than this?” asked Amelia.
“For the same reason we can’t use phones or the internet, I don’t want to take a chance on being located. We don’t know what lengths they will go to in their search for Kaden.” Lloyd said.
“Who’s ‘they’?” asked Amelia.
“Henry Brubaker for one, and possibly some high ranking politicians and business men,” was her father’s response.
The young woman was deep in thought, knowing what this meant for her family.
“So can you tell me where we are going, now that we’ve left Chicago?” she asked.
Lloyd looked at his daughter, realizing how grown up she was.
“Mexico, Lake Chapala to be exact. We’ve never been there, I thought it would be nice to check it out. Oh, and Kaden should soon be on his way there too.”
Amelia let out a whoop of joy, making her father laugh.
“You can navigate,” he said, “Geography was always one of your better subjects in school. Look in the glove compartment, you’ll find some books on the Lake Chapala area. See what it says about living there. A lot of Canadians and North Americans have moved to that part of Mexico over the years. I think it would be a good place to blend in. If we like it, the sooner we get settled, the better. We need to start using our new names, although Jake did well keeping them quite similar to our real ones. Lyle and Stella Seeker, not too difficult to remember. What do you think about yours?”
Lloyd reached up and took out some
papers and ID cards from behind the sun visor. He handed them to Amelia.
“Why couldn’t I have mine sooner, or did you think I would tell Ethan what it was?”
“Just a precaution, Amelia. Jake only told me because I had to sign for the motor-home.”
His daughter smiled.
“I’m not really that bothered, Dad, I know what Jake is like when it comes to security.”
She looked at her ID.
“I like my new name, it’s Mia. Do we know what Kaden will be called?”
“Jake said he could keep the name Kaden but spell it with a C instead of a K. Apparently it’s much easier to get used to calling yourself by a name that sounds familiar. So, Mia, why don’t you read me some info about our destination from one of those books, it will help pass the time. We have a long trip ahead.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Kaden’s eyes opened wide, straining to see in the darkened room. He was lying in bed but someone’s hand was clamped tightly over his mouth.
“Keep…very…quiet,” he was told.
The gruff, low voice came from a man leaning over him, holding something cold and sharp against his throat.
“Don’t make a sound, I need you to listen carefully to what I have to say, understand?”
Kaden nodded, peering into the darkness, trying to make out the features on the face close to his, so near, he could feel the man’s breath. The hand moved away, and as they both sat upright a shaft of light from a street lamp beamed through the slatted, wooden blind covering the window. Kaden gasped when he saw the man’s face. There was a deep scar running down the left side. He immediately recognized him as the guy in the back of the van when they had been abducted.
The intruder continued speaking.
“Don’t worry about the knife, it was just to keep you quiet. Do you remember me?”
Kaden nodded.
“So this must be very confusing for you,” the gruff voice whispered.
“I’m not here to bring you back to Antarctica, you can be sure of that. My name is Duke, I work for Jake Matthews, and I’m going to take you to your family.”
“How do I know I can trust you?” whispered Kaden.
Finding 01 Finding Kaden Page 17
