Page 55 of Until Now
Hunter
McFly didn’t last long on the mountain. He got put in Bing’s backpack an hour ago, where he sits like a King observing his subjects. Meanwhile, Cali is having a great day. She isn’t put off by the inclines or sounds of birds and critters.
Why did I agree to this?Remember to kick yourself in the ass, Hunter.It will have to wait because we haven’t even seen one cave yet. Bing’s history lessons are becoming annoying, the dogs are covered in mud and burrs, and I just slipped and fell.
Is this animal shit on my hand? It gets wiped on my pants. Besides that, our cell phones don’t work in this hellhole. I was planning on calling Beth to tell her about our day’s adventure. I thought she’d be impressed. Instead, I had to send a text that probably didn’t go through.
“So, I was reading about the caves. River pirates used them as hideouts.”
My eyes narrow. “Pirates on a river? I don’t believe it.”
“It’s true! They would rob people going down the river. They were easy pickings. And here’s another thing. During the Civil War, the caves were mined by both the Union and the Confederacy.”
“You’re making up this whole thing. They’re bat caves, idiot.”
“They are now. But there was saltpeter there before. They used it in their gunpowder.” He takes a few beats. “Idiot.”
I’d laugh if I weren’t so pissed. Bing’s brain is like a computer. There’s lots of information in there, and he’s happy to share.
“So, do you think your mom and my uncle are going to stay together? He leaves for California on Tuesday.”
A weird expression comes over Bing’s face. Kinda sad.
“I hope so.”
“He likes her a lot. I know that much. They act differently when they’re together. Happier than when they’re not.”
That brings a smile to Bing’s face. “I think they love each other. I don’t know. Maybe.”
“Hey, wouldn’t it be cool if they married and we were related?” I say.
“We wouldn’t be related, asshole. He’d be my stepfather and still be your uncle.”
“There’s some kind of by marriage thing I think would happen. Like cousins by marriage.”
“You are never going to be my cousin. Let’s be happy with being bros.”
That satisfies me. Bing is my best friend. I know we’ve only known each other for three months, but that’s how I feel.
“Hey! There’s a cave!”
He runs ahead, giving McFly a bumpy ride as he does. Cali and I bring up the rear.
As we approach, the first thing I see is the sign bolted to the entry.Closed.It goes on to read the ATV has closed all caves on the publicly managed land in an effort to protect the significant colonies of cave-dwelling gray bats. Warnings of criminal prosecution and a two thousand dollar fine for disturbing the bats are in bold letters.
“Shit!” Bing hollers.
“Well, this was a waste of time,” I add.
“Maybe.”
He removes the backpack and lies on his belly to look under the sign and peer inside the deep dark entrance. McFly wiggles out of his throne and shakes off the leaf that just fell on his head. Cali takes a rest against a tree.
“I think I see the fan flower!!! Give me the flashlight,” he says, holding an arm in the air.
Retrieving it from my pack, I pass it to Bing and take a seat next to him. I stretch out to get my own view of the treasure he seeks. All this work for a fucking flower. Shit.
When he shines the light in the pitch-black tight opening, it takes a moment for my eyes to adjust to what we see. Before there’s a chance to say I see a tiny red flower, a bat drops from the ceiling of the cave, swoops over our heads, and flies to the trees.
