by Jeff Dixon
Hawk still held his hand up in front of them, clasping the item he had taken from the box. It was a tablet. An electronic device with a touch screen, similar to the style of wireless tablets that many used each day. This tablet had no distinctive markings and did not even have a manufacturer brand emblazoned on it. He turned it over in his hand so they could all take in the plainness of the electronic device.
“Farren froze an icepad.” Shep burst into a smile at his play on words.
“An icepad?” Jonathan rolled his eyes.
“I thought it was funny.” Shep looked at Hawk and Juliette for approval.
Hawk shook his head, and Juliette exhaled in exasperation.
Shep, undaunted, continued. “After Farren put this little chunk of technology on ice, he locked it up and gave you the key.”
The frosty fog in the room continued to dissipate as Hawk slumped back into one of the overstuffed office chairs scattered about in the command center. The fog of confusion that had settled across his mind was not breaking apart as quickly.
“Farren gets shot and desperately wants me to open the cylinder. A few years ago he unpacks this elaborate story about Walt’s body being preserved here, in this room, and that I needed to have wisdom to know if the need was ever so critical that we needed to bring Walt back.” Hawk exhaled. “So the cylinder opens and all that is inside is a tablet that has been locked up in one of the most secret, most secure places on the planet…that only a handful of people know even exists. Let’s find out what kind of wireless coverage we get down here.”
Hawk pressed the power button. A slight delay was followed by single point of light on the screen, and then it opened up into an array of colors as the device began to boot up.
Shep, Jonathan, and Juliette all settled into seats of their own as they waited to see what might happen next. As they did, Jonathan noticed that one of the television monitors in the room was tuned to the network feed where Kate Young was on the air. Shep noticed at the same time and swung his chair around to see if he could find a volume control for the video feed.
Juliette had staged all the media that had descended on the resort in the Epcot parking area. This provided them a backdrop of the iconic giant geodesic dome also known as Spaceship Earth. Hawk’s announcement the day before about the creation of a fifth theme park at Walt Disney World had gotten global news coverage. The assassination in Downtown Orlando and the incident last night in the Magic Kingdom had caused a migration of all the media outlets that were already in Central Florida to make their way into the resort area.
Kate had entered all of their lives like a force of nature. Her arrival to do an investigative report on the meteoric rise to power of a relative unknown named Grayson Hawkes had placed her in the middle of a mystery she had helped to unravel. The end result had been that she became a part of Hawk’s trusted inner circle; and their relationship had become the stories of fan magazines, celebrity websites, and had created a few complicated moments for the couple. None as complicated as Kate trying to cover a story where she knew much more than she would ever be allowed to say on the air or make known to anyone publically.
Shep found the volume control, and as the tablet continued to power up, their attention turned toward the television screen. Kate stood with Spaceship Earth gleaming brilliantly against the dark sky behind her.
“There are still many more questions than there are answers at this point. The Orlando police are investigating the attack on the limousine of Disney Chief Creative Officer Grayson Hawkes. Hawk and passenger Juliette Keaton escaped with minor injuries. However, Disney Imagineering legend Farren Rales was killed in the shooting.
“According to a police spokesperson, they are in the process of following up on a number of leads as well as viewing footage from security cameras taken from buildings in the downtown area. The information we have about the shooting of a second Disney legend, Imagineer George Colmes, is very sketchy at this point of the evening. What we do know is that the shooting occurred within the Magic Kingdom theme park sometime during the late evening hours. Grayson Hawkes was with Colmes at the time of the second attack, and according to eyewitness reports in the Magic Kingdom today, the investigation was centered around a steam train just outside of the Tomorrowland area. The Orange County Sheriff ’s Department has offered no additional information.
“The speculation is running high that the killings of these two Disney legends is linked to an effort to also kill Grayson Hawkes. Neither law enforcement agency is offering any comments on that theory at this time. However, as many of our viewers know, I am a close friend of Dr. Hawkes. I can assure our viewers that he is safe, he has not been harmed, he did indeed suffer some very minor injuries in the limousine attack, and that he is resting and is under the tightest of security at this time.”
Kate’s newscast was interrupted by a soft chime. The ding came from the tablet, which had now completely powered up. Shep turned the volume back down, and the rest of what Kate was saying disappeared into silence as they waited for Hawk to do something with the electronic gadget. The touch screen of the tablet now displayed a single oversized icon, a golden key, that was shaped just like the kingdom key Rales had given Hawk. A small red dot glowed on the edge of the icon. In the world of technology, smart phones, personal computing devices and tablets had become commonplace. On this unmarked and unbranded tablet, it seemed as if the only app on it was waiting to be started by Hawk touching the key on the screen. Hawk assumed the small red dot meant there was an update or something that would happen once he touched the icon. He tapped his finger against the screen. Nothing happened. He tapped it again and still nothing occurred.
“Maybe the cold messed it up,” Shep offered.
“Farren would have thought of that.” Hawk absently tapped the icon again. “Right?”
“I would think so.” Juliette reached over and traced the tip of her finger along the lighted key. “Hawk, this looks like the exact size and shape of the kingdom key Farren gave you.”
Hawk freed the old skeleton key from his pocket and placed it on the touch screen. The glowing key on the screen was an exact copy of his key. Instantly when he placed the real key on the electronic key on the screen, it began to flash.
“You need the kingdom key to make this key work,” Jonathan breathed.
The view screen went to black, then flickered, then a video window opened on the screen. Hawk reached down and tapped the “play” arrow to activate the video. In a moment, a high-definition video began to play. The image on the screen was of Cinderella Castle sitting at the end of Main Street, U.S.A., lighted against a nighttime sky. Instantly Hawk knew the angle meant the footage had been taken from the train station porch that gave guests an amazing view of people moving, exploring, and discovering the treasures of Walt Disney World. However, in this video shot, there were no people. The deserted theme park was a view most guests never had the chance to see. The video had been shot while the park was closed. Hawk’s curiosity caused his breath to become more rapid as he anticipated what he was about to see. As he and his friends crowded in to see what was on the screen, the image of Farren Rales stepped in front of the camera and stood against the backdrop of the twinkling lights of the street and the castle.
Smiling, Farren began to speak.
“Hello, Hawk. Since you have opened the cylinder and are watching this, I realize that something has gone horribly wrong. Of course, I don’t know exactly what it might be…but it must be bad because, well…here we are.
“First, you must be surprised at what you found inside the cryo-tube. I don’t blame you. You have been faithful to protect Walt Disney, and you’ve done exactly what I asked you to do. I told you that you would have to use your judgment and decide how to handle the secret of what was inside the cylinder, and that is just as true today as when I told you the first time.
“Beyond the films, beyond the theme parks, beyond the entertainment empire, beyond the legend of Walt Disney is someone mu
ch more important…Walt Disney the man. And now, in this moment, it is time for you to protect him.
“Your journey so far was just the start to bring you to this crossroad. You had to be entrusted with the things Walt created before you could be entrusted with the secrets of Walt himself. I know that doesn’t make a lot of sense to you…yet. But trust me, it will.
“I suppose that since you are watching this, the situation must be tense, bleak, and perhaps dangerous. I have no way of knowing what is going on, but I am confident that you can handle it, my friend.”
Farren Rales on the screen leaned back against the porch railing, looked back over his shoulder toward the castle, then turned his attention back toward the camera. Once again he was looking right at them as he spoke. “This tablet you are watching was created especially for you. It takes the technology I used in your Pal Mickey a few years ago to a whole other level. I’d love to give you the details, but I fear we may not have time.
“I know you are probably dreading the thought of unraveling another mystery. You probably are wondering why I just don’t come right out and tell you what you need to know instead of making you figure it out.”
“You know, I was just thinking that,” Shep said, eyes riveted to the screen.
“Shh.” Juliette placed a finger to her lips without ever looking toward Shep.
“Hawk, you know I love to tell a story. But this time, the story you are living is far bigger than you understand. Each of our lives tells a story. Every day another paragraph, another page, and eventually another chapter is complete. Sometimes the story seems mundane and other times the story seems exciting. But your story, the story you are living right now, is one that can change the world. I can’t risk the secrets you are going to have to find being accidently uncovered by someone else. Walt chose you through me…and just like always, I know you won’t let us down and you will figure out what to do. Now don’t worry, I will help you all I can along the way.”
Hawk tightened his grip on the tablet just enough that it shook slightly. He realized that Rales had fully intended to help him on this quest. Now that was not possible. A gentle squeeze on his shoulder from Jonathan let him know that his friends were feeling the same sense of loss he was in that moment. However, Hawk knew they did not really understand, even though they wanted to.
“My advice is to delete the trail you take as you travel. That way, others will have a hard time stealing or intercepting what you are trying to do. Be safe, be cautious, and beware. What you are about to do and find is something…well, it goes beyond anything you could imagine. Take good care of this tablet. It will be essential for you to put all the pieces together. Listen carefully: Find the train that doesn’t exist and see where you go when Walt’s curiosity persists.”
With a smile, a nod, and a quick wink from Rales, the clip ended and an icon appeared that gave Hawk the choice to “play again” or “delete.” He paused slightly, the hesitation nearly undetectable, and then he tapped the “delete” tab. The video window closed and then the screen returned to its original look featuring the lone key icon.
“We need to go catch a train.” Hawk smiled as he looked up at his friends.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Five Days Ago
Midnight
Their footsteps echoed in the emptiness of the concrete caverns of the Utili-dor. This legendary location below the Magic Kingdom is an entire world in and of itself. Leaving the bunker, they had made their way back up into the Town Square Theater and then descended another set of stairs carrying them down to this basement-like level of the theme park. The guest portion of the Magic Kingdom is actually built on top of the Utilidor. Florida construction doesn’t lend itself to creating basements, and when the Seven Seas Lagoon was created, the dirt from it helped to create the foundation that what guests visit now was built on. This allowed the designers of the theme park to create an underground series of tunnels that help to keep the park efficiently operating. Although there was always something happening around the clock in operating the resort, at this time of the early morning, there were very few people moving through the tunnels.
“Hold on,” Shep whispered. His voice softly bounced off the concrete walls and floor. “The last time you jumped on a train, it ended horribly. That is exactly what we don’t want to happen again.”
“This time it will be different,” Hawk assured him.
Juliette leaned in. “But in case you have forgotten, you just can’t go running around. People are trying to kill you.”
Hawk kept his pace brisk and his head down, searching his thoughts for a plan of action. Pausing and waiting for them to do the same, he held up the electronic tablet in front of them.
“You all know that I have something else I have to find.” He lowered the pad. “And you already know I’m going to try. I just have to do it a little more creatively.”
“So, I’m a little fuzzy here.” Shep shook his head. “Are we just going to enter the Magic Kingdom and catch an imaginary train to find some kind of clue?”
“Of course not,” Hawk shrugged. “I have a security force that is trying to protect me and someone else out there trying to kill me. I can’t let either one of them follow me or know what I’m doing.”
“Well, if you’re going to get to the Main Street Train Station, I don’t see any way to get there without your personal guards seeing you,” Jonathan reminded him. “After all, you have at least one, if not more, standing sentry at the bottom of your Fire Station Apartment.”
Hawk ran his hand through his mop of hair. He sighed. “I didn’t say it was going to be easy.”
Juliette shook her head in resignation. “Alright, what do you want us to do?”
“Well . . .” Hawk started walking again. His friends quickly moved to match his pace. After they had caught up with him and were walking alongside, he continued, “We’re going to follow the Utilidor around into Adventureland and move back up topside there.”
“How are we going to catch the train there?” Shep pursed his lips.
“We’re not going to catch a train there, we’re going to leave the Magic Kingdom and go meet a train that doesn’t exist.”
Shep stopped abruptly as the group continued walking. “Seriously?” He waited for an answer that did not come. As the group continued to put distance between itself and him, Hawk looked back over his shoulder and slightly jerked his head, signaling the need for Shep to keep up. He jogged to rejoin them. “Wait up, don’t leave me in these tunnels.”
Emerging from an unmarked door, the group stepped into an offstage area in the Magic Kingdom in Adventureland. Wordlessly, Hawk led them down a road that circled the park, used primarily by maintenance and service vehicles. Although they didn’t speak, each one was extremely anxious, and they constantly scanned their surroundings. It was understood how dangerous this new quest could be. The design of the Magic Kingdom kept the guests from seeing the necessary but unspectacular backstage areas of the theme park. The road they followed would take them into a parking area behind the City Hall on Main Street, U.S.A. and Hawk’s apartment in the Fire Station. This seemingly simple way of moving through and getting out of the area undetected was possible only because of Hawk’s familiarity with how the resort was put together. Once there, they silently climbed in Hawk’s Mustang. It wasn’t until he cranked the engine they finally spoke.
“I’ve been thinking about the clue,” Shep said as Hawk mashed the accelerator, driving them away from the Magic Kingdom and onto Disney roadway system.
“You’ve been thinking about the clue?” Juliette stopped him. “And you don’t have a clue, right?”
“I didn’t say that,” Shep huffed, then he hesitated. “But, no…I have no idea what it means.”
Hawk grinned as he listened to his friends. After the horror of the previous day, it felt good to smile; and now with a clue to hunt down, he felt he was being productive. Hopefully being productive was also proactive and could bring an end to th
e nefarious plot unfolding around him.
“We’re heading to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. I’m not certain, but I think I understand the clue.” Hawk turned the car off the main road into the entrance of the Studios.
Normally, he would have used another road in and gone through the security checkpoint in the offstage area. At this early hour of the morning, he’d decided he would try to get in a more conventional way, like a guest might use, hoping their entrance would be undetected. He slowed at the normal guest entrance, where the barriers were up, signaling the theme park was closed. Once the car was stopped, Jonathan opened the door and quickly moved to remove the barricade. Hawk cautiously drove past, the barricade was replaced, and Jonathan climbed back in.
“We’re going in the main entrance?” Shep was trying to get on the same page as Hawk’s plan but was reading the wrong book.
“No, almost.” Hawk decided to let them know what he was thinking. “I’m going to roll into the main parking lot, and then we’ll walk over to the cast entrance area and go through there. I’m guessing we’ll create less of a distraction there.”
They understood that Hawk was attempting to keep their movements off the radar, and he was hoping to be more unpredictable if someone was trying to track them.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios was a place Hawk loved to visit for a number of reasons. One of them was because in it, he felt somehow better connected to Walt Disney himself. The One Man’s Dream attraction was a treasure trove of history detailing the life and times of Walt Disney. But beyond that, in a bigger sense, Hollywood Studios was built long after Walt was gone but tried to recreate the magical feel of a Hollywood that people always imagined but that never had really existed. In many ways, the vintage look of the theme park tried to capture the fun and magic of an era that Walt himself had helped to create in Hollywood. As they moved from the offstage area and through the Star Wars Land that Hawk had helped to design and create, he once again was trusting that the connection he felt to the life and times of Walt Disney would help him now.
