"Scary memories down there," said Justin. "Remember the rapids?"
"Not scary if you know a guy who can build a raft," said Rachel. "Well, maybe a little bit scary."
The three Alaska State Troopers who led the rescue that found Joe and the interns at the bend in the Yuktapah testified first. But their account of what had transpired before their arrival was second-hand and was based on what they were told by the young people; so the judge commented that the troopers' testimony was basically irrelevant to the request for dismissal.
Justin and the twins were scheduled to be called the next day, and Idaho Joe glared at them menacingly as they left the courtroom.
Rachel laughed in his face. "Are you trying to scare us? That's amusing. Remind me to tell you the story of an angry grizzly boar named Bruno, and then see if you think we might be frightened by a fat coward like you."
Justin started to say something, but realized Rachel had covered it all. "Ditto," he said.
Janie scurried ahead without speaking.
In the morning Rex and Martha Carlson told the story of their helicopter being forced down and of discovering Joe, the kids, and the rescue team occupying the Bilboa and Barnes camp on the river. They told of spending the night on the Yuktapah and their hiking out the next day with the others; but there was really nothing new they could add except to tell the court what their interns had said about the criminal fishermen. The judge thanked them and made a few short notes.
Rex took his seat next to Justin and said softly, "We're flying out in the Bell today with Little Bertha. See if we can find Big Bertha and some of the other sows. We'll leave four of the cubs in Denali for now—till we see how this goes."
"The helicopter's okay now? asked Justin.
"Good as new."
"Wish I could go with you."
Rex put his hand on Justin's. "Wish you could, too."
The trooper corporal who supervised the search dogs and their handlers was called to testify he informed the court that no bodies were found. The three missing fishermen and five hunters seemed to have vanished into the wilderness after the explosion of Mount Yuktapah and the earthquakes. It was odd, the corporal said, that the dogs couldn't sniff out a trace. Cadavers were their specialty, but no luck. It was likely that hungry predators had gotten to the remains first.
Idaho Joe smiled.
His smiled diminished when the interns took the stand—one at a time. Each recounted the events from his or her point of view, and the cumulative effect was chilling. Rachel, of course, was drugged during Big Bertha's destruction of Ernie, but the rest of her story coincided perfectly with Justin's and Janie's. The judge listened stern-faced, turning to Joe periodically with angry glances.
Rachel tried to determine what was going on in the judge's mind. She knew he believed that she, Justin, and Janie were telling the truth, but she couldn't calculate how that belief would convert into a decision regarding the petition to dismiss. What a travesty it would be if the fat reprobate Idaho Joe was released on the public. If that happened she supposed he would disappear as the Bradshaw brothers had disappeared into the Northwest underworld. She wondered how many other innocent people he would harm before he was stopped. She also wondered how the outcome of this hearing would affect the Reverend J.J. Flack. Surely he was worried about Joe turning on him and implicating him in kidnapping and murder.
The judge dismissed the court and said he would render his decision in a few days.
36
Big Bertha Redux
The radio collars on the remaining bear-management sows were working perfectly and Rex and Martha had no difficulty locating four of them (including Big Bertha) at various locations in the wilderness highlands.
Rex said, "Now I wish we'd brought the other cubs. May not find the right matches, but these gals make pretty good adoptive moms."
"We can make other trips," said Martha. "Right now, let's concentrate on Bertha, Umbriago, and Little Bertha."
In the screened-in section of the helicopter, Little Bertha squealed as if she knew she was being talked about.
Martha reached for the dart rifle.
Rex swooped down on the running form of Big Bertha until Martha felt she could reach out and touch the old girl's rump. The gigantic sow was quite a well-traveled lady—relocated three times within the Katmai Park because of her propensity for people food and then exiled to the Yuktapah. Few bears had such mileage.
"You know what we're going to have to do one day, don't you, Rex?"
He nodded. "Justin will hate it."
"She's tasted human blood."
Rex inhaled slowly. "Fortunately you and I don't have to make that decision. The superintendent is the arbiter of life and death. And remember he's given her a reprieve before—when he sent her up here rather than destroying her in Katmai."
"Different circumstances."
"I know, but let's concentrate on today's mission. And there's something else on my mind that might weigh in her favor when we present her case to the boss."
She held the rifle steady, but turned to her husband with a puzzled expression.
"Better shoot her, I'll explain later."
When Bertha lay spread-eagled on the grass, Rex found a place to put down. He had outlined his plan to Martha and she reacted in astonishment. "You might be right," she said. "It would be a miracle—and entirely fitting. I can't wait to find out."
"Let's not tell anyone until we see for ourselves. Why raise false hopes."
"Right."
They exited the helicopter and headed for Bertha's inert form; but before they reached her, they were cut off by a tiny gray and brown ball of fur—an angry ball of fur.
"Umbriago," cried Martha. "Settle down, young man. We're on your side. Wait until you see who we've brought to see you." She reached down and scooped up the fidgety little bear; and he responded positively, perhaps remembering his previous encounters with these strange-looking, two-legged creatures.
Martha said, "Rex, could you go fetch her?"
He jogged to the rear door of the helicopter cabin, reached in and took Little Bertha in his arms. She tilted her head toward his face as if expecting something good to eat. He shook his head. "No, dear, not this time—this time we've got something better for you."
Martha was still holding Umbriago, and as Rex approached holding his sister, both spring cubs began to wail. Later when reliving the moment, the bear-management rangers said it reminded them of a TV reunion of long-lost siblings.
After placing the excited cubs next to each other on the grass and watching them immediately begin to roll and tumble, Rex and Martha turned to Big Bertha. They examined both of her collars, removed one, and set out for the return trip to Fairbanks.
"What's this all about?" asked Idaho Joe's attorney. "What new evidence, your honor? We thought you were ready to give your ruling on our dismissal petition."
"No, afraid not," said the judge. "The prosecution has some video information they wish to add to the testimony of the three young people. I'm assured it will be definitive. Let's see, shall we?"
A large monitor had been set up on the window side of the courtroom, and the bailiff stood ready to press the power button on his remote control.
"Not yet, Frank," said the judge. "A word or two first. I'm told this video comes from a camera worn around the neck of the grizzly sow we've been told about. It was part of a long-range program to gather clips to produce a film from a bear's-eye point of view. I'm told one of the clips shows some things that confirm the claims made in this courtroom."
Joe's attorney leapt to his feet. "I object, your honor!"
"Don't be ridiculous," said the judge. "This is your petition to dismiss we're discussing. Sit down."
He nodded to the bailiff.
The jerky video began with some shots of blackberry bushes, grubs on a rotted log, and carrion crawling with maggots.
"Your honor!" said the defense attorney.
"Patience," said the pro
secutor.
Rex and Martha grinned at the teenagers packed into the row beside them.
The video then moved to a scene partially obstructed by branches and leaves, but clear enough to reveal six people gathered in a campground above the banks of a swollen river. In the foreground a man growing irritated with the attentions of a small cub, drop kicked the little bear as if he were a fuzzy football. The camera turned directly toward the man, and then as if Bertha had stood as tall as she could to get a better view, the next scenes were from a greater height. In the background stood Montana Mike pointing a .45 automatic at Justin and Janie. Rachel lay on the ground and Joe appeared to be advancing toward Janie with a black needle pack in his hand. And then the camera seemed zoomed in closer and closer at a much lower angle—as if Bertha was in the midst of a full-speed charge.
"Ernie!" gasped Joe.
But Joe's exclamation didn't stop the angry sow, and the clip showed up close the terrible damage done to the Washington man's head. And as if that wasn't enough, the head was suddenly detached from Ernie's body and began spinning around on the ground.
The courtroom spectators moaned and the judge said, "Turn it off, Frank."
"Good God," said Joe.
After a hurried conference in the judge's chambers, Idaho Joe instructed his attorney to drop the petition for dismissal and to change his plea to guilty—provided the prosecution cut him some slack for giving up the Prophet. The deal was made quickly and Joe appeared at the judge's door in handcuffs, ready to be marched out the prisoners' exit. His path crossed directly in front of Rex, Martha, Justin, Rachel, and Janie.
Rachel had been clutching Janie's hand during the showing of the video. Rachel knew her sister was susceptible to shock and might be devastated by a replaying of the events of that terrible day. Janie hated violence of all kinds and yet had been subjected to it over and over again in recent weeks. How much could she take? Where was her breaking point?
Apparently a great deal higher than Rachel figured, for as Fat Joe from Idaho stumbled in front of her on his way back to jail, Janie stuck out her foot, tripped him and clapped her hands as he fell on his face.
In his cell at Deer Lodge, J.J. Flack banged his fist against the cinder-block wall several times, leaving red marks from the profuse bleeding of his knuckles.
He went to his window and stared out at the prison yard. The day was overcast and storm clouds seemed to be moving in from the north. He felt like screaming. Maybe he would before the day was over. The attorney general had sent word of Joe's betrayal in Fairbanks and had told him the appeals judges in Helena were being kept up-to-date and that new charges were in the works in Missoula, Alaska, and Canada.
And to top it off the A.G. informed him in the same note that his accounts in Singapore had been found.
37
College Funds
Aunt Ruby's husband Carl called from Juneau and asked the teenagers to turn on the speaker phone so he could pass along some startling news. He'd been discussing the kids' adventures with some of his producer friends in Hollywood and they couldn't get enough. Three of them had called him back several times to ask questions and to talk about the possibility of buying the movie rights to their story. Would the teenagers be interested?
"Are you serious?" asked Justin.
"Very."
"How much?" asked Rachel.
"Don't know, but the way it looks there'll probably be an auction—and when that happens, big money changes hands. Want me to put you in touch with an agent?"
"Couldn't you handle it?" asked Justin. "You're a writer, you know about contracts and things."
"No," said Carl. "I want you guys to be represented by the best, and I'm not the best. They'd mow me down."
Janie said, "What actress would play me?"
Rachel hit her with a pillow, and then said, "Good grief, I just realized, you look exactly like me. They'll have to hire twins."
Carl laughed and said, "Cart before the horse, kids."
"Women!" said Justin; but then he put on his handsome face and said, "Think the producers might hire me to play myself? Justin Patrick starring as Justin Patrick—makes perfect sense."
<<<<>>>>
About Me
I grew up in Covina, CA, a compact little town 22 miles east of L.A. At least it was little when I was a boy. The last time I was there it seemed to be bursting at the seams. But my memories of Covina are all pleasant, and its motto is still "a mile square and all there."
Started in California, to Houston, to Austin, to Kansas City, to the San Antonio area.
Which is best? Depends.
California: crowded but exhilarating
Houston: humid but never boring
Austin: too hip but lots to do
KC: provincial but close knit
SA area: hot (really hot) but ordinary folks
www.petepalamountain.blogspot.com
Go back to Contents
Table of Contents
RUNAWAY TWINS
1 A Run for Freedom
2 Act of Desperation
3 Good News and Very Bad News
4 A Reluctant Bride
5 The New Boy
6 Hyenas
7 Bitterroot Camp
8 Suspicion
9 Grim Discovery
10 New Arrivals
11 Preparations
12 Detection and Disaster
13 The Pit
14 Aftermath
15 Into the High Mountains
16 Pursuit
17 Survival
18 Cornered
19 Blizzard
20 Capture
21 Decision
22 The Run to Missoula
23 Trial in Helena
24 A New Beginning
RUNAWAY TWINS IN ALASKA
1 Big Bertha
2 Filial Duty
3 Barbarians
4 Subduction
5 Hunters
6 Fishermen
7 Trophy Fever
8 Spring Cubs
9 Umbriago's Valley
10 Bearskin
11 Deer Lodge Schemes
12 Rumblings
13 Home Invasion
14 Nature's Fury
15 Subsidence
16 Missoula and Deer Lodge
17 The Bend in the Yuktapah
18 Wilderness
19 On the Run
20 Wildfire
21 No Way Out
22 Roadblock
23 Survival
24 Downriver
25 Deer Lodge Redux
26 Rough Water
27 Search and Rescue
28 Safe in Fairbanks
29 On the Tarmac
30 Double Distraction
31 Triumph
32 God's Way
33 The Color Red
34 Recovery
35 The Search for Justice
36 Big Bertha Redux
37 College Funds
About Me
RUNAWAY TWINS and RUNAWAY TWINS IN ALASKA: BOXED SET Page 25
