by catt dahman
A billion to one odds.
“It doesn’t feel real,” Tony said.
The hikers looked inside, stepping through the doorway of the airplane forgotten by those outside and by time itself. Some of the seats were in place just as they had been seventy years ago when they crashed, but others were missing, twisted, or molded into strange shapes.
“They crashed into a mountain, broke through a very thin layer of rock, and fell into a cave. Unreal. How horrible for them. Where are the bodies?” Audrina’s mind raced.
“Bodies,” Shimei repeated. He looked around, flummoxed. No bodies were in the airplane.
“Impossible,” Emma said.
“Do we wait for the rest or go inside?” Shimei asked.
“I’m here even if that whole thing scared the shit outta me,” Emma said, “so I’m going in. There has to be bodies; maybe they crashed and are jumbled in the front.”
Tony shrugged and led the way; the others followed, with Ed motioning them to go on while he helped those rappelling from above. Tate was on the way down, cursing and complaining the entire way.
“Look at that,” Tony said and pointed.
One of the blue seats was solid black on the back and on the seats. They all knew that was blood. The passenger cabin wasn’t very tall, so the tallest of the explorers had to walk bent over.
“Why are all the seats missing except those?” Shimei asked.
The plane was equipped with sleeping compartments, but they were unembellished metal, stripped bare. As Audrina walked through, she saw that it looked as if everything usable had been taken from the airplane. Even the carpet looked ripped away.
It was a private airline.
“Where are the bodies?” Emma asked. When everyone looked at her blankly, she swept her arm around. “There would be bodies. Injured people who died. There is blood and nothing else. There wasn’t a fire, so how come everything is stripped bare?”
“Animals. Foxes and wolves could get them, right? Do bats eat dead things?” Tony asked.
“Do bats and wolves strip out cushions and beds, too?” someone asked.
Corrine glared, “We came down here to find answers, but all we have is more of a mystery. Where did the people go?”
Through the next door, Tony entered the cockpit to look around. The area was smashed and looked as if it had been in a car compactor because the glass, metal, and instruments were twisted and shattered into a tight mess. The impact had destroyed the cockpit and killed anyone inside; that much was obvious.
There was a faint, bad smell in that part.
Tony closed the door after some of the group looked inside.
Everyone took turns looking inside the plane but had no idea what might have happened to the passengers; with blank faces and wondering what could explain the mystery, they left the plane. Dr. Parker drew all members of the group around in a circle so they could discuss the find. He wasn’t as much focused on teaching them to think as he was on figuring this out. They decided the plane crashed on top of the mountain and had been covered with boulders. However to Theo’s delight, the airplane rested right in the center of a cave system.
“If everyone had been found or whatever, we’d know about it, right? This would have been huge news, and this cave system would be well explored,” Tate said. “Even back then, the FAA would get the plane back and remove all this.”
“Do you think the plane could be seen from above? Could the would-be rescuers see the plane under all the rocks? It’s deep. Sixty feet?”
Rick Parker nodded to Corrine, “So let’s assume that the plane was lost. I am figuring they had about thirty passengers, maybe fewer. Emma, how many do you think made it?”
“Jeez, Doc. I don’t know. Head injuries and flying debris are bad. No fire, so that was lucky. I’ll say a third died. At least. A third were injured badly. At best, maybe ten survived the crash, and that’s being very positive. There are blood stains but not enough to suggest they all bled out.”
“Ten people. They stripped the plane, but we don’t find them. So what does that mean?” Rick asked.
“It means they would all be about a hundred years old, so I doubt they would be here to greet us, Rick,” Ann said angrily. She didn’t like the cave or being there and felt it was like being in a tombT “Can we go? Mystery solved.”
“Solved? Where are they, Ann?”
“I don’t know, Theo. I don’t care, really. Look. They crashed, and, of course, someone knew about it. They came and rescued everyone and took back cushions and whatever else to reconstruct the accident and figure it out in some random hanger. They couldn’t get the whole plane out, so they took all the dead and the cushions and what they could remove. Easy.”
Tate nodded, “That makes perfect sense. It’s logical and explains everything. The stewardess was tossed out in the crash, and they didn’t find her, see, and she washed out recently with the rains. Totally explained.”
Rick shook his head, “But if this was never reported and people obviously survived, then where did they go? What did they do?”
“They crawled away and died of injuries.” Ann said. “No one survived. They were removed: search and recover. Think. Of course, it was reported.”
“If it was, wouldn’t people talk about it as a great, strange thing? I mean it would be legendary for a plane to crash into a cave.”
Ann sighed, “Well, maybe since it was at the end of the war, they didn’t make it public. They recovered the dead and went about their business.”
“Maybe. Maybe not. Of course, we can imagine the injuries were so terrible that people died from them, but so far, we don’t have the proof that happened,” Rick said.
“Oh, come on, Doc. They died. No one survived this,” Tate said.
The cavern was huge, and although many boulders had fallen all the way inside, there was still a ceiling of thirty feet and a space of about four hundred square feet. Theo showed them a twenty-five-foot climb that was at an easy forty-five degree angle, which would be a breeze with a few pitons and ropes. Beyond that was a flat area, three times the size of what they had now.
Despite Ann’s protests and eye rolling, Dr. Parker asked them set up camp on the flat ground and build a fire. “We may not be as comfortable without all the other equipment, but you have pads and sleeping bags, and we have food and water and the tents. We can just sleep a little closer.”
“Okay, Ann, here is something that pokes a hole in your theory. Explain this,” Theo said.
He found a small burned area that everyone thought had been a campfire long ago, more evidence that someone had survived the airplane crash. Ann said maybe the recovery team made the fire; that was possible. Rick was thrilled to find the remains of a fire. “It means they got out and made a fire; they were alive. The story doesn’t end. We are still in the story.”
“How long are you planning to stay? And what is the purpose?” Ann demanded, “There is no reason to think anyone survived. And if they did, we won’t know. What does it even matter now?”
“At least tonight we can stay and ponder. We can explore a little tomorrow. This is an astounding discovery and a chance to solve a mystery. Think of the critical thinking involved, Ann.”
“It may not be safe. I think it’s a crazy, wild goose chase, and even if or when we report it, there were ‘No Trespassing’ Signs, so we could be in a lot of trouble.”
“I feel safe,” Haylee said. “And that adds to the mystery. Did the mysterious SSDD not want anyone to discover this plane? People have a right to know, right, Doc?”
“Maybe. This is like ‘who really shot President Kennedy?’ We should have a right to know, but we aren’t allowed to know. Area 51. We should know.”
Ann huffed, “I need tin foil to make you a hat, Rick. Conspiracy theories, indeed.”
“As long as everyone stays together and doesn’t go off exploring without a plan or equipment, then we are perfectly safe,” Theo said.
‘Having a dinner wit
h plenty of carbs would make everyone a bit more relaxed,’ Rick thought. They had bags of dehydrated noodles and bullion, dehydrated onions, and dehydrated chicken, carrots, potatoes, peas, and corn. With boiling water, they had a hot meal with protein, carbs, and salt. Rick urged everyone to drink extra water. He knew hydration was critical for logical thinking and mood.
Rick’s mind whirled with a thousand possibilities, and he wasn’t sure what the right thing to do was anymore. He only knew he wanted answers and felt that a million secrets were down there.
After the water was boiled, the water that trickled in was fine for drinking. It might not taste as good as they wished, but it was clean and safe.
“Look at these bones. They’re slightly burned.” Shimei showed them what he found.
Haylee wrinkled her nose, “Ick. People from the plane who were burned?”
“No,” Shimei said, “the plane didn’t burn. They roasted something here over the fire. I bet experts could find tooth impressions.” He studied the bones up close, wondering what they were from. “Ann, this bursts your theory. Recovery teams wouldn’t hunt for food, kill it, cook it, and then eat it. That makes no sense.
Emma took the bones and turned them this way and that, looked, mumbled, and frowned. “Not human. Thankfully. But to be honest, I can’t think of an animal they remind me of either. This is a long leg. I’m no expert on bones, but I know they aren’t human, and my dad was a hunter; he dragged me with him a lot. These aren’t bones I know from common animals like rabbit, deer, wild hog, squirrel, or duck, and they aren’t from a dog or cat.”
Ann glared, “I am sure experts would know. They are probably from some animal very common to this area; experts would laugh at you for thinking the bones were part of some mystery.”
“It’s like a claw. A big bird?” Tony looked at the bones, too.
“It would be a huge bird if so,” Audrina leaned in, “how big are…let’s say eagles?”
“Not this big,” Emma said, “anyway, I think the bones are weird, and I am adding them to the mystery we have. Look at this. Back leg I would guess, but the toes…and look at the dewclaw. What would have that?”
“I second that being a mystery,” Audrina said, “a bird of some kind.”
“Okay. Let’s say I agree, Audrina. Bird. It would be a huge bird, not as big as say an ostrich or a kiwi; they are not common in Arkansas anyway, so what kind of bird? It’s well bigger than an eagle and more the size of a monster turkey, but turkeys do not have feet like this.”
“Mutant turkey,” Tate said.
“It has teeth. Not pretend vestiges but sharp, real teeth. And its skull is elongated; that is not a turkey. That’s more lizard like.”
“Komodo or whatever they call them.”
“In Arkansas?” Corrine laughed.
“It’s a deformed animal of some type. A bird with a snout.”
“And fore claws, too, Tate, Bzzzz wrong answer,” Tony said and laughed.
Tate’s face was bright red as he glared. “Okay, it’s a creepy dinosaur that lived here in seclusion, survived the meteor sixty-five million years ago and lived this long by hiding. He was trapped; the passengers on the plane found him, killed him, cooked him, and ate him. The dead people from the crash were suddenly now dead. Have I covered everything?”
Tony grinned, “I’ll be damned, but you sure as hell have, Tate. Fine work. You got it. That’s it. Okay, Tate solved it all; we can go now; only, where did the people go?”
“They were recovered, and it was kept quiet.”
“And there we have it,” Tony jeered.
“You’re a real prick, Tony. Showing off. You ass hole.”
Tony laughed at Tate.
After eating, most stayed around the fire, but Audrina went back to look at the plane again. She looked at the seats that were left and then at the frame where a bed once was. If she had crashed here, what would she have done?
“Tended to the wounded. Gathered the dead. Looked for a way out. Curled up in bed and rocked,” Tony said quietly. He had followed her.
“Yep, I would have felt trapped down here and helpless. I would have crawled off alone.”
“That’s normal. You would have thought help would come soon, and all you had to do was wait.”
Audrina nodded at Tony. He was more sensitive and smart than she had thought originally. To her surprise, more of the group came to the plane to look again.
Audrina realized that it was Tony, Shimei, Theo, Emma, and Corrine, a group she seemed to be spending more time with. She wouldn’t have guessed a week before that these were the ones she would be closest to. “I can’t imagine being down here with little light, looking upwards, and not being able to get out.”
She wondered where the survivors had gone. Maybe down farther into the cave, trying to find a way out, scared, and possibly injured. Audrina got on her hands and knees and shined her light on the airplane’s wall. If she had been down there, she would have kept a record. “Bingo.”
Corrine leaned close, imagining someone’s lying in the bed, making marks for days spent down there, “Five. They were here five days.”
“They had no food. What do you think they did for food?”
“He ain’t heavy; he’s my dinner,” Theo quipped. “They ate the dino-turkey-big- bird-thing.”
“That’s gross. I know what you’re implying,” Emma shivered, “Donner party?”
“I guess we’ll find out when we explore more of the cave,” Tony said, “at least I hope we find out. I hope we find something more and figure out how it ended for them.”
“That’s bad, too. You wanna know how they ended?” Emma asked.
Tony chuckled, “No recovery team came down here. Bullshit on that.”
“Ann doesn’t want to stay. She told Tate she wants to pull out of here in the morning. If we just leave, someone else will find out the answers,” Theo whispered, motioning Emma closer so he could be quieter as he spoke.
Shimei said as long as Dr. Parker was interested and everyone was safe, he might stay another day. “We need to keep the interest high. Technically, couldn’t the scaredy cats stay here or go back up? We could explore with just us.”
Emma and Tony looked at everyone else.
Theo already said he was going, with or without the rest. He was willing to blow off the class to explore more. Curiosity was stronger than rules. Theo had mentioned Ann and the others as a separate group; they were whispering. This was a pivotal point that they might not be able to take back; if they made a pact, everything would change.
Theo crossed the line verbally, “I am going on. Period. My equipment and my choice to go on. You can go with me or go with them.”
“Shit, Man, you had to go and say it,” Shimei said with a laugh, “I’m in.”
“I’m in,” Tony said, “and that means Luke will go along with us. Katie will, too. Firefighters and cops hang. You know I’ll back you, Theo.”
Audrina raised her hand and nodded.
“If you’ll have me, I’m in if you think I’m tough enough. I mean I’m just a nurse,” Emma said.
“And if I get a scrape, I want you to clean my wound, oh, so good….” Theo said with a growl at the end of the sentence. He flexed his muscles, showing off and winking comically.
Corrine had to cover her mouth as she howled with laughter. She managed to raise a hand to indicate she was in as well. “Fran is tough. I bet she’ll want in, too; that makes nine.” She wiped her tears away but still thought she might laugh hysterically again.
“Nine splits the vote. Who else could we pull to our side?”
Shimei knew Theo was on very dangerous ground with this. Well, they all were. “Daisy or Pak.” Then Dr. P would agree to it for sure. Of those we’ve named, let’s each pick one and tell only that person about our finding the marks on here and let him know only he is being told, so he feels special. Umm…My BS is in psychology, and my MS will be as well.”
This time Corrine and Shimei
had to lean against one another as they giggled.
“You asshole. Shimei. I know you gotta spliff. Share.” Theo whined at him. He held his hand out palm up and wiggled his fingers. “I knew you had something. Damn, brother, you bogarting the thing, huh?”
Corrine and Emma fell onto the floor laughing as Shimei took a joint out and lit it, inhaled, and handed it to Tony. They felt like teenagers who were getting into trouble.
Audrina grinned, watching a cop letting loose. Tony wiggled his finger to her, she shook her head, and he nodded, confusing most of the rest. Audrina leaned over to him, and he blew a ‘shotgun’ into her mouth, meaning he had inhaled and then exhaled for her to inhale his breath.
In some ways, it was more for bonding than for anything else.
“I wanna do that,” Corrine said. She inhaled, held it and leaned over. Shimei took the offer and then returned the kindness. Watching the law guys do it was funny, but they all wondered if Emma would. She did.
A scrapping noise scared them, and they jumped, waving the smoke away and trying to look innocent; Theo held the spliff behind his back. The human shapes came into the secret plane meeting.
“I smell that; share or else,” Daisy crawled into the airplane.
Luke bumped Daisy aside to join them.
Pak crept over, unsure if he were welcome; he was usually quiet. Luke told Pak to get in the plane, too, so they could catch up on the latest theories about the crash.
After a few minutes of talking, some of them yawned and got into their sleeping bags; other told the rest they were exhausted and were going to sleep right in the airplane.
“What’s going on with you?” Rick smiled as he looked over the group who was camping in the plane.
“Oh, Dr. Parker. We’re playing airplane. I’m the pilot.”
Rick shook his head, “Theo. You are way too stoned to fly this plane. I can’t allow it in case of safety reasons. Keep the plane on the ground. And no more funny weed tonight. All of you are flying high enough. Keep it over here.” Rick was walking away when he called back, “Hey.” He held one hand behind his back.
