by Dixon, Jeff
Traveling through the tunnel that led into Town Square he listened to the mouse deliver the next message.
“Ooookay now, we’re really getting somewhere, pal! We have a mountain to climb. I might be a little scared, but together we can scale any summit.”
Hawk wedged his way between the people stacked side by side along Main Street USA anticipating the coming parade.
Carried along in the masses he tried to focus on the message from the mouse. There was the famous mountain range that formed the Magic Kingdom landscape. Space Mountain in Tomorrowland was the high-speed roller coaster ride through space. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was the mine train that raced through caverns, mines, and an old western outpost town. Next to this mountain was Splash Mountain, a water ride experience that featured an impressive blend of animatronics with a huge plummet at the end of the ride. Hawk was a huge fan of all three rides and had been on them many times. We have a mountain to climb. Hawk decided to head toward Space Mountain first since the parade crowd would be strung along the streets through Frontierland. Tomorrowland was free of the parade crowds. It made sense this would be a better place to explore. Crossing the bridge leading into Tomorrowland he saw the spinning Astro Orbiter looming in front of him. This was the visual weenie that Imagineers built into the design of the parks to entice guests to move deeper into a themed area. The ride was similar to other spinning rides in the Kingdom, but this one was built on a platform three stories in the air. The added height gave the riders an amazing view of the park, especially at night. Drawing closer to it he allowed himself to drift left toward the gleaming metallic mountain. Hawk found himself in a slightly larger crowd of people who were converging to get in line for Space Mountain. The posted wait time for the ride was forty-five minutes, not surprising considering the crowds in the park this evening. Since the ride’s opening it had remained one of the more popular attractions in the park. People loved the sensation of zipping through the blackness of space on the roller coaster adventure.
Suddenly Hawk felt a sensation of his own that caught him off guard. Studying the massive mountain he noticed a tug and pressure on his hip. Knowing the feeling to be different than the now-familiar vibration of Pal Mickey, he looked toward the plush animal. In the same instant he became aware of someone standing incredibly close to him, invading his personal space, and actually turning him around. This stranger had his hands on the stuffed animal and was attempting to tear it off the preacher’s waist. The Velcro reinforcement was making the mouse snatch more difficult, but the stranger tugged so hard that he spun Hawk’s body around. Hawk tried to pry the stranger’s hands off the miniature tour guide. The Velcro gave way with a tearing sound.
The mouse was now in the grasp of the thief.
Hawk raised his eyes to see the larcenist: young, probably in his early twenties. Shaved head and pierced nostril was all the preacher saw as the young man darted away from him.
Without hesitation Hawk gave pursuit.
The smooth-domed, pierced criminal turned his head and saw he was being pursued. Running past the Tomorrowland Arcade the thief cut behind it. Hawk recognized the long trail of concrete that allowed guests a walk behind the Tomorrowland Indy Speedway. This seldom-used pathway lay inside the railroad tracks between the high-tech arcade and Fantasyland, on the far eastern border of the park.
Once again as they raced down the long pathway the shaved head turned and the eyes widened as though stunned to see the owner of the animal following closely. Hawk was gaining ground on the hairless dome bobbing in front of him.
The thief emerged from the path on a full sprint through the expanded Fantasyland experience. Emerging into the Dumbo Circus area and racing through Pixie Hollow, he stumbled as he tried to avoid parents and children moving out of the play area. His erratic trajectory caught the gaze of a Disney security guard. Stepping out in front of the running young man, the guard motioned for him to slow down. The young man sidestepped the guard, never breaking stride, and continued his flight away from his pursuer. The guard snapped a radio off of his belt and raised it to his mouth. Hawk, approaching fast, caught a barked alert. As the final words describing the young man who had nearly run him over cleared the guard’s mouth, Hawk passed him at an all-out sprint. He heard the guard break into a run behind him as he called again on the security channel for help.
Cutting behind the Mad Tea Party, the pierced man broke into the Aurora and Winnie the Pooh area of the park. Hawk saw him hesitate behind the spinning tea cups, deciding which way to go next. The hesitation allowed the pastor to gain an additional couple of strides. Hawk feared his advantage in speed wouldn’t be enough because the younger man would have better endurance. The sight of the stuffed Mickey in the thief’s hand as he headed past the Cinderella attraction toward the castle wall doggedly inspired Hawk. He could not let him get away.
As the thief approached the Little Mermaid area, another guard stepped forward from behind a sugary-scented display of cotton candy, gesturing wildly in an attempt to get his attention.
The thief looked back over his shoulder at Hawk. Panic twisted his features. The uniformed guard stepped in front of him. Hawk saw the crash unfolding. At the last possible moment, perhaps by instinct alone, the young man lowered his shoulder and drove it into the security guard’s chest. The guard was lifted off of his feet by the force of the blow and fell to the ground on his back. The impact had broken the momentum of the criminal and he stumbled toward his right trying to maintain his balance. Hawk now knew he would catch the young man. Closing in on the fleeing villain Hawk gobbled up the distance between them. The fleeing young man glanced back one more time and that last look was his undoing. Racing toward Cinderella’s Golden Carousel Hawk got close enough to make contact.
Getting both hands in front of him the preacher shoved the young man forward. The speed and momentum caused the man to lose balance and stumble wildly out of control.
Hawk was now on top of the villain. Reaching out again the pastor grabbed the fleeing thief and their velocity carried them both thundering into the iron rail surrounding the carousel. Sheer speed and power lifted both men off of their feet over the rail, across the rows of shrubbery, and slammed them down onto the concrete on the other side. Bouncing on the unforgiving surface, the thief hit first with Hawk’s full weight crushing down on top of him. The preacher regained his iron-fisted grasp of the pierced pilferer. Rolling dangerously close to the twirling carousel the thief looked up into the face of Hawk and screamed.
“Are you insane? Let me go!”
“You stole my Pal Mickey!”
“Take it—you’re crazy!”
Hawk reached over and rolled away from the thief. As he did he snatched his stuffed prize out of the young man’s hand.
Crawling away from the tackled thief, he gasped for air on all fours. Now that he had stopped so abruptly he felt the wave of exhaustion ripple through him as his lungs desperately tried to clutch every air molecule his panting would deliver. The bitter taste of leaves played across his tastebuds as he spit out the landscaping he collected when he flew across the shrubbery. A swarm of blue-shirted security guards and cast members rushed the two fallen men. Hawk felt someone grab him by the shirt and shove him back toward the ground. Turning his head he saw the thief had multiple people keeping him in place as well.
“Look, this guy stole my souvenir,” Hawk protested, “I was just trying to get it back!”
“Just stay on the ground!” the security guard barked.
Hawk really didn’t mind, it gave him a chance to catch his breath. More people arrived and momentarily two men helped to hoist Hawk to his feet and marched him away from the carousel. The tourists stared as both Hawk and the thief were led away. Again Hawk looked toward the shaved head of the man he had chased. He was bleeding from cuts to his face likely collected as he spiraled over the railing with Hawk minutes ago.
He looked back to the security guard that had been blasted by the momentum of the t
hief near the ride and saw the emergency medical personnel attending to him. The collision had been brutal and Hawk could image how it must have hurt. While the men were leading him away he gently placed the stuffed Mickey in his hand back onto his hip. Smiling at his success he suddenly felt his adrenaline begin to subside replaced by pain.
“Easy guys,” Hawk pleaded as they led him across Fantasyland, past Snow White’s Scary Adventures, through an unmarked door into a hallway.
The hallway was offstage and away from the eyesight of guests. Hawk and his escorts were in the hallway before the thief and his entourage followed. Behind him he heard the thief whine.
“I didn’t do anything. That insane guy was just chasing me.”
“Quiet!” The security guard was not yet ready to hear their story.
Hawk was led into a small room off the hallway. He was a bit surprised that the thief was not brought in as well but was thankful for the chance to sit down. Still breathing hard, he noticed for the first time that his tumble over the railing had skinned him up as well. Shirt torn off of one shoulder, scrape bleeding on exposed skin, and rash marks from the slide over the asphalt were growing more painful as he began to regain his composure and the intensity of the chase began to wane.
Over the next few minutes Hawk was brought a bottled water as three men, two in security uniforms and one wearing a clean white shirt and tie, listened to his story. He verbally retraced the chase and the eventual tackle across the railing at the carousel multiple times as the men listened and took notes. Hawk assumed there was a completely different story being told in another room somewhere in the behind the scenes hallways of Fantasyland. While he talked and answered their questions, the man in the shirt and tie was frequently on his radio and cell phone. Occasionally he would ask for clarification of something Hawk had said, and then he was back on his phone engaged in conversation with some unseen party who was trying to sort out the events of the evening.
An hour and a half later there were two empty water bottles on the table and Hawk had been bandaged by medical attendants, who then left. Only one security guard remained in the room with him as the last bandage was placed on his shoulder. The guard went to the door and ordered Hawk to remain in the room. The door closed behind him.
Hawk was now alone. Sliding in his chair he leaned his head back and closed his eyes. His body hurt. Completely drained and glad for the moment to rest, he wondered if the young thief had known the uniqueness of what he had tried to steal or whether it was just a random disastrous choice.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
* * *
Day Five
Night
TIME PASSED ACHINGLY SLOWLY in the cramped room. The doorknob turned and the door opened. Hawk sat leaning back in the chair, eyes still closed.
“I knew it.” Kiran’s voice unexpectedly filled his ears. “And by the way, you look terrible.”
Hawk’s eyes sprang open. Blinking away his exhaustion, he focused on her attractive frame standing across the room from him. He kept silent and watched as her eyes explored him. Kiran was gorgeous in Hawk’s opinion, and he allowed that to pleasantly distract him. As his mind cleared, the distraction melted and he remembered his evening had started with waiting for her to meet him on Front Street.
“What are you doing here?” Hawk asked, surprised to see her.
“I wanted to see if it was really you.”
“Really me?”
“I was on Main Street when I heard on the radio that there was one man chasing another through Fantasyland. They were fleeing security, which immediately put the whole park on alert. The chase continued with one of our security people getting run over, and then ended as both men go over the rail into the carousel. Then I hear that the reason for the chase is because a Pal Mickey had been stolen.” She hesitated as though carefully choosing her words. “I thought to myself that must be someone who really doesn’t want to lose his Mickey Mouse. I knew it had to be you.”
Hawk stared at her, revealing no emotion. The silence hung between them until she broke it.
“Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. I just look terrible.” he allowed a slight smile to sneak across his face before chasing it away. “What are you going to do with me?”
“I assume you’re asking what Disney Security intends to do with you.”
Hawk nodded in affirmation. Kiran stared at him for a moment. She looked as if she were getting ready to say something more but decided against it. Turning on her heel she opened the door and left. Hawk twisted his neck side to side feeling the tightness that would only get worse as the night went on. Eventually, the door reopened and Kiran returned, accompanied by the security man wearing the tie. His name tag read Kyle. Kyle sat down opposite Hawk.
“Dr. Hawkes, it appears that your story is accurate. The perpetrator has admitted to stealing your merchandise in Tomorrowland,” he stated flatly. He glanced down at a sheet of paper he held in his hand. “Since you have gotten your merchandise back, on our end, this matter as it concerns you is closed. The sheriff’s department is currently dealing with the thief since he recklessly assaulted one of our security people by running him over. Do you have any intention of filing a report with the authorities?”
“No,” Hawk dryly responded. “I don’t feel the need to do that.”
“I suppose I should thank you for tackling the perpetrator.”
“No thanks are necessary.”
“Let me finish, Dr. Hawkes,” Kyle continued. “I said I should thank you, but I won’t. Your behavior and pursuit in the park put our guests and my staff at risk. Next time inform a cast member and let us handle it.”
“Got it. I hope there is no next time.”
“I trust there won’t be.” Kyle stood and motioned toward Kiran. “I understand you and Kiran are acquainted. She is going to escort you out of the park. I would ask that you follow her directions and she will make sure you get back to the gate.”
Kyle turned and nodded at Kiran, then opened the door to leave. Pausing in the doorway he turned back toward Hawk with a nod and walked down the hall, leaving the doorway open.
“Are you ready?” Kiran asked.
Hawk straightened his legs under him and got to his feet. He wobbled as he stood. The unsteadiness surprised him and he placed his hands on the table to stabilize himself. The momentary pause gave him back his bearings and he stepped toward the door and walked past Kiran into the hallway. She motioned in the direction he had entered earlier. Moving down the corridor he pushed the door open and stepped back out into Fantasyland. The streets were empty, and although everything was lit up just as it was earlier, there were no people present. Hawk looked at his watch. The face was shattered.
“It’s late and the park is closed,” Kiran said.
She grabbed his arm just above the elbow with a firm grip. It wasn’t an expression of affection as much as it was a practical attempt to be helpful. He was still shakier than he had anticipated; of course, sprinting as far as he had, without stretching, and minus the proper conditioning, was a formula for certain muscle fatigue.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah, but I’m gonna be sore tomorrow.” He grinned.
They moved silently toward the back of Cinderella Castle and walked through it. Normally Hawk would have taken the time to enjoy the colorful mosaics depicting scenes from the movie. Coming out of the castle they overlooked the length of Main Street USA all the way down to the back of the Train Station. Already the maintenance cast were washing down the streets, painters were scraping and repainting poles along the sidewalks, and there was an organized busyness happening all around them. Yet as they walked no one seemed to notice them, although Hawk was sure they were an unlikely sight.
His shirt was ripped and hanging open across his chest. His right shoulder was completely exposed, revealing the bandage covering his scrapes. The same arm of the shirt was in shreds and Hawk was sure there was more damage he hadn’t seen y
et. Kiran, on the other hand, was dressed impeccably in a tailored skirt, blouse, and jacket. With her radio on her hip she looked like she was escorting a transient out of the Magic Kingdom, but no one seemed to notice. Although sore, the further they walked, the steadier he grew. Apparently sensing this change she released her grip on his arm.
“What were you doing here, Hawk?”
“What does anyone do at Disney World?”
“You’ve already proven you don’t do what other people do at Disney World. Last night you broke into an attraction after the Studios was closed. Tonight you endangered guests and cast members chasing someone who stole a stuffed animal you found in the attraction you broke into the night before. Now here we are, with me escorting you out of another theme park after it has closed.” Her summary did put the situation into a different perspective. “I would venture to say that over the last two days no one has ever done what you have at Disney World.”
Her face was expressionless except for her penetrating eyes staring into his, waiting for a response. She stopped and they stood in front of the Partners statue. Hawk continued for an extra couple of steps before he realized she had no intention of going any further without an answer.
“You know you are supposed to escort me out of the park?”
“You also were told to follow my instructions. So I am instructing you to tell me what you were doing in the park.” She still did not move.
“Come on, Kiran. You know what I was doing.” He walked back to where she was standing.
“No, I honestly don’t know what you are doing. Last night you were going to leave whatever you were trying to do alone. Obviously you’re up to something.” Irritation crept back into her voice.
“You told me to leave it alone,” Hawk corrected her. “I never said I would.”
“So what exactly are you doing?”
“I’ve figured out a few more things since last night.” He decided he was going to be a little slower to tell her as much as he had the night before. “I discovered that this is some sort of puzzle or scavenger hunt.”
