by Dixon, Jeff
“This is not exactly what I planned, but how could you have had dinner with me when you had to be at work?”
“I didn’t agree to lead the tour until this afternoon, which is more than you deserve to know, by the way.”
They wound past the office where Kiran had found Hawk and continued back toward the maintenance door by the audio-animatronics display Hawk had originally hidden in. Arriving at the door, Kiran pressed up against it to listen for any activity on the other side. Satisfied that she heard nothing, she cracked the door open slightly to make sure the coast was clear.
Turning back to him she whispered, “You’re a guest and I’m leading you on a private tour. If we get lucky, we’ll get out of the park without anyone noticing us. No matter what happens, follow my lead.”
Reaching back and grabbing his shirt, she pulled him through the doorway. Once again he found himself on the guest side of One Man’s Dream as he fell in step next to Kiran. Silently they walked back toward the front entrance. Passing the massive window opening into Walt’s office, Hawk realized just how risky his stunt had been. As they turned into the early Disney years portion of the attraction, he heard voices in front of them. Without hesitation Kiran launched into a tour guide’s spiel.
“Walt was the ultimate storyteller. He was convinced that a great story would connect with audiences of all ages. He also was never satisfied with what he had already accomplished. He constantly was trying to discover better ways to creatively use film as a storytelling medium.”
Two cast members who were vacuuming the carpet and chatting nonchalantly paused in their work and smiled as Hawk and Kiran walked past. Nodding at them, Hawk turned back and waited for Kiran to continue her impromptu tour.
When they arrived at the front of the attraction, the noises of the cleaning began again behind them. They hit the crash bars on the doors and stepped out onto Mickey Avenue. Standing outside the main entrance to One Man’s Dream, Hawk felt a vibration in his hand. Looking down, he realized Mickey Mouse was the source. He glanced toward Kiran, who was looking in both directions trying to decide which way was going to be the best exit strategy. The vibrating stuffed animal stopped shaking and emitted a high-pitched ha-ha! in the distinct voice of none other than Mickey Mouse.
“Did I just hear Mickey Mouse?” she demanded.
“Yeah.” Hawk frowned at the toy. “He started shaking and then laughed.”
“I’ll bet that’s a Pal Mickey,” Kiran stated. “That’s what they do.”
“A Pal Mickey?”
“Yes, a Pal Mickey. It’s an interactive tour guide we used to sell here at the Disney Resort. No matter where you went on Disney property, your Mickey would talk to you. It would give you information about where to find characters in the park. You could learn wait times for certain rides and all sorts of insider information about everything related to Walt Disney World. They were expensive and popular. We sold them at gift shops throughout the property.”
“Sold? You can’t get them anymore?”
“No. Although they were popular, they were pricey. People liked them and there have been some new variations of the same technology. The technology was left on so they would still work, but eventually it will be phased out for new uses.”
“How does it work?” Hawk wanted to know.
“The plastic nose has a sensor that’s activated by transponders located throughout the parks and across Disney property. When you walk past one it activates Mickey and he vibrates, laughs, and talks to you. Come on Hawk, you’re a big Disney fan, you surely have heard of Pal Mickey!”
“I guess I just didn’t pay a lot of attention. How does he talk?”
Kiran reached down and snatched Mickey out of Hawk’s hand. Fumbling with the stuffed animal for a moment, she held it between them.
“You’re supposed to give him a squeeze and he’ll tell you whatever the transponder has activated based upon where you are,” she informed him as she gave Pal Mickey a squeeze.
The speaker mechanism inside the stuffed animal activated and the unmistakable voice of Mickey Mouse spoke to them.
“Gosh! It sure was dark in that old desk. Thanks for getting me out!”
Hawk’s mouth fell open. He looked up toward Kiran and saw her amazement.
“That isn’t something they would usually say, is it?” he asked.
She shook her head. The mouse started vibrating again.
“Ha-ha!”
“It has something else to say,” she stammered. Holding it out unsteadily, she once again applied pressure to the stuffed middle of the mouse.
“We are going to be great friends. Together we are going to go on the adventure of a lifetime. Please take good care of me, Hawk!”
Kiran’s hand opened and the stuffed animal fell. Hawk caught it and they both stared at it. Gripping the mouse, he held it away from his body.
Hawk spoke in a shaky voice. “Tell me that Mickey Mouse just didn’t say my name.” Kiran remained silent. “I thought I heard him say we’re going on an adventure and that I need to take care of him. I did hear that, right? You heard that, didn’t you?”
Kiran nodded her head in confusion. She pointed her finger at the archway leading to the Sorcerer’s Hat. Clutching his newly discovered pal, Hawk stayed right at Kiran’s shoulder as they briskly stepped onto Hollywood Boulevard. The entrance of the park lay at the end of the street.
After hours in the Disney Hollywood Studios is a beehive of activity. The park is cleaned from the traffic of the day’s guests. In addition, lots of touching up is done, some fixing and repair work, and many preparations are made for the arrival of the crowds to come in the morning.
“Is it this busy every night?” Hawk inquired.
“Every single night.”
“I suppose I never really thought about it before,” he admitted.
“That seems to be a pattern with you,” she replied with little emotion.
“What?”
“Not taking the time to give things much thought.”
“Wait a minute, that’s not true,” he protested.
As they continued to walk Kiran turned toward him with a stone-cold look that served as a reality check for Hawk. It was true that over the last hour she had not seen him at his best. He decided it was better not to continue the conversation. Instead he again got lost in watching the buzz of activity. As they walked past Mickey’s of Hollywood, a gift shop featuring character souvenirs, clothing, and assorted figurines, their escape was interrupted as a voice emerged from the shop.
“Good evening, Kiran!” came the bright greeting.
Pausing, Kiran turned and Hawk stopped slightly behind her so she could see who was calling her. Stepping out the doors of the shop was a young man with sandy blond hair. His name tag was imprinted with the name Sandy.
“Hi, Sandy, how are you this evening?” Kiran pleasantly returned his greeting.
“Great, are you enjoying your tour?” Obviously this was intended toward Hawk.
“Uh, sure, I’ve really enjoyed it,” offered Hawk, remembering to follow Kiran’s lead.
“Let me introduce you.” Kiran took control of the conversation. “Dr. Hawkes, this is Sandy. Sandy, I’d like for you to meet Dr. Hawkes.”
The two men shook hands. As they did Sandy studied Hawk more closely than Hawk had wished. Stepping back, Sandy smiled broadly.
“What have you seen this evening?” he asked Hawk.
Hawk smiled crookedly and opened his mouth to speak. Kiran injected the answer for him.
“This is more of a quick browse than a detailed tour, Sandy. The doctor and I are actually running a bit behind.” She motioned for Hawk to begin moving forward. “I’m supposed to have Dr. Hawkes somewhere else already. Good night, Sandy!”
“Nice meeting you, Dr. Hawkes,” Sandy called after they began moving away.
“You too.” Hawk looked back over his shoulder and gave a partial wave.
He noticed as they left that Sandy did not
move right back into the shop he’d come out of.
“You know he’s still watching us,” he whispered to Kiran.
“Don’t flatter yourself. He’s watching me.” She smiled coyly. “Sandy is a good guy. He’s asked me out a couple of times, and he’s probably jealous that I’m giving you a private tour. If he only knew . . .”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
* * *
Day Four
Night
THE METAL SECURITY GATE silently swung open as a cast member provided Hawk and Kiran their escape from the Disney Hollywood Studios. Without saying a word they moved along the sidewalk toward the parking areas. After clearing and putting a safe distance between them and the last security checkpoint on the concrete path, they stopped. Hawk tried to read what Kiran was thinking as she looked off into the night sky. Having moved beyond the brightly lit confines of the theme park, they now stood under a magnificent Florida sky. The black velvet of the evening was enhanced by the twinkling glimmer of starlight. A poet would have called the sky romantic, but in this moment, with the events of the past few minutes, romance was not on Hawk’s mind. He waited, knowing she would gather her thoughts and eventually tell him what she was thinking. The waiting gave him time to both process what had happened and try to anticipate her reaction.
Hawk realized he had told Kiran too much when she had caught him in Walt’s office. Under pressure he had revealed far more to her than he normally would have. He’d rationalized that it was necessary to prevent her from calling security and having him arrested. With more time to think, he would have been more guarded in his disclosure. Hawk also wasn’t sure what to conclude from her quick jump into his search. For Grayson Hawkes this whole evening had been one of high risk. In a matter of impetuous moments he had been willing to risk his integrity, his security, much of what he had tried to build professionally, and what he valued relationally. The thing he valued the most was not compromising his relationship with Jesus. Whether Jesus would have chosen to do what he had done this evening was something he would ponder later—and more than likely struggle with.
“I don’t even know what to say,” Kiran interrupted his thoughts.
“It has been quite an evening, hasn’t it?”
“Look, Hawk, I’m not sure what to think of your story, your key to the kingdom, or your breaking into the attraction. I’m not sure why I didn’t call security on you when I found you.”
“Kiran, I . . .”
Kiran raised her hand for him to be quiet. He decided it was better to let her continue.
“I think I didn’t call security because there was something about you that I found attractive.” She hesitated and Hawk felt his face blush a bit. He hoped the dim lighting hid this from Kiran. “And I liked what you said when you were preaching. Perhaps I was hoping you were different than other people I knew. I think that’s why I was hoping the story you told me about Farren Rales, the Dwarf Cottage, the key, and everything else was true. After we found the stuffed Mickey, I had about decided you were just another crackpot. Then it called you by name!”
“That was a bit odd.”
“It was more than odd, Hawk! It was bizarre. This whole evening has been something out of a movie, or nightmare, or something. . . . I don’t know what to call it.”
“I’m not sure what to think about it either, but I’m glad you didn’t call security,” he graciously offered.
“Look, Hawk, like I said, I’m not sure why I didn’t call them, but this is the end of the line.”
“What do you mean?”
“This is it. I don’t know why you ended up with that key to the desk. But you got a chance to open it and you got your souvenir. My advice would be for you to go home and figure out why your friend sent you on this scavenger hunt. If you ask me, we’re both lucky we didn’t get caught.”
Kiran turned and stalked away toward the cast member parking area. Hawk watched her for a moment and then trotted after her. Cast member parking was the Television parking area of the Studios. As she passed underneath the pleasantly smiling face of Minnie Mouse, he drew close enough to get her attention.
“Kiran, wait,” he called softly, and she turned back toward him. “I really appreciate your help tonight. Thank you so much. I need some time to figure out what really did happen and what it’s supposed to mean.”
“Hawk, didn’t you hear me?” she asked tersely. “We were lucky tonight; it isn’t that tough to figure out. There isn’t any deeper meaning than that!”
“It’s just that I need to get a little perspective on it, that’s all. Let’s figure out a time tomorrow to talk about what happened after we think about it awhile.”
“Think about it all you want, I don’t need to help you.”
“I know you feel that way right now, but we were supposed to get together tomorrow night at seven o’clock. Meet me where we planned on Front Street,” he attempted to convince her.
“No, I don’t think so,” she answered too fast. “I think the time we spent hanging out together tonight was memorable enough.” She turned and again headed deeper into the cast parking area.
Hawk stood firmly planted in place as she left. She finally disappeared from his line of sight without looking back. Certain she was not returning, he began making his way toward his car, his footsteps echoing across the concrete. He tried to decipher the events of the evening. Stopping at his car door, he placed the Pal Mickey on the roof of his car, facing him. He slid his hand into his pocket and removed the skeleton key, the key to the kingdom, and held it up. Placing his elbows on the roof of his car, he leaned against it, staring at the key and at Mickey Mouse. Mickey had told him they were going on the adventure of a lifetime . . . whatever that meant.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
* * *
Day Five
Morning
IT WASN’T YET SEVEN THIRTY, and after a sleepless night, Hawk was the first to arrive in the friendly and familiar confines of his office.
Logging onto his computer he immediately put into action the plan born in the midst of his insomnia. Hawk had determined to understand better how Pal Mickey worked; his first stop would be at the Disney World Trivia forums. In moments his screen filled with a number of links loaded with information about Pal Mickey.
Relaxing and rocking back in his desk chair he reread what he found. The design of Pal Mickey began in the year 2000 as Imagineers began to flirt with ways that wireless devices could be used to enhance the guest experience in the theme parks. This technology would allow the guest to receive practical and helpful information but also allow the Imagineers to communicate some of the rich stories and details that were such an important part of the design of each unique park. Throughout the Walt Disney World Resort hundreds of hidden infrared transmitters emit information to the toy. The end result is a transponder network designed to keep the Pal Mickey constantly receiving and able to dispense information. The computer system that runs the emitters as well as the computing power inside the doll itself is one that builds and stacks the information so it becomes a genuine interactive experience. The small, protected transponder in the hard plastic nose acts as the receiver and behind the eyes is the speaker system that enables the user to hear all the information. Hawk also found that the Imagineers were only just beginning to experiment with the technology and that the future of what they could do was unlimited. Already prototypes of new receivers, transponders, and emitters were being tested. Pal Mickey had been the rollout of the first wave of this technology and it had worked. There would be more applications to follow, and as Karin had said, the Pal Mickey system would have to be turned off and shut down. But in spite of that, Hawk now possessed a plush pal that still worked. He reached into his bag and brought out the Pal Mickey he’d freed from Walt’s desk last night.
Since this particular Pal Mickey had addressed him by name the night before, Hawk felt it safe to assume that this was one of the new prototypes he had read about. The technology behind it was impressi
ve and obviously one that the Imagineers had mastered. It reminded him of Kiran’s explanation of the technology behind the parades in the Magic Kingdom. Since Farren Rales had his hand in many things the Imagineers were working on, it would not be a stretch to think he could have his hand in this type of technology as it was developed and implemented. It was also fairly reasonable that Rales would be involved in whatever the next progression of this technology would become.
“Is it possible that Rales could have set up a system designed to communicate with just one receiver?” Hawk asked aloud toward Mickey.
It seemed to be the only reasonable explanation for the surprising sayings from the stuffed animal last night. Rales had wanted him to find the desk and the very special Pal Mickey. Rales also had intended for the interactive stuffed tour guide to talk directly to him. Beyond that, if he was thinking correctly about those things, then the key to the kingdom unlocked the desk and an even bigger mystery. This was something that Hawk hadn’t been anticipating. His assumption was that the key itself would give him an answer to what the key to the kingdom was. Instead the key had merely served to open up more questions. Running his fingers through his hair he realized it was not over as Kiran had suggested. Instead he felt compelled to pursue this even further. If what he had done the night before was only the beginning, he shuddered to think what he might have to do next in order to solve the mystery.
The ringing of the phone shook him out of his cloak-and-dagger moment. Reaching to grasp the handle he hoisted it toward his jaw and spoke.
“Hi, this is Hawk.”
“Hawk, this is Nancy Alport.”
“Nancy, have you heard from Farren?” Hawk was hoping for good news.
“No, that is why I am calling,” she said.
“I was hoping . . .” The statement was truer than he wanted to admit. Despite his suspicions that Rales had masterminded a grand mystery for him to solve, he was growing concerned. He could not ignore the way that Farren’s disappearance, the key, and this puzzle all seemed to be interconnected. If Farren were around, perhaps he could shed some light on some of the things Hawk was thinking and of course bring some clarity to the mystery.
