Trail Of Terror Chapter 6

Trail Of Terror

Chapter 6 

Cody

The ATV engine roared to life. A second later Josh’s ATV roared to life as well. I glanced at the third ATV, the one Ben would usually ride and I felt a pang of guilt. I had given him a hard time that morning. I don’t know why I ragged on him so much. Was I jealous that he was smarter than me?

Come on, Josh blurted over the roar of the engine. He pulled his helmet over his head then shoved the ATV into gear and roared out into the parking lot. I pulled my purple helmet down and followed him out into the mid morning sunshine. We headed up the road to where Ben’s car was still parked off to the side of the road. On the left side a well-worn trail led into the thick woods. If we had had simple dirt bikes, we might not be able to follow the trail, but these were special ATV—as their acronym stated they were ‘all terrain vehicles’ and this was true of these machines. But these were state of the art ATV’s, they’d only been on the market a few months and Dad had gotten a good deal on them.

As the trees weren’t too thick, we could follow the trail over the scrub and dirt. The occasional twig or small tree branch crossed out path but the ATV’s went over them effortlessly.

About a hundred meters ahead Josh slowed his vehicle then came to a stop. I stopped right behind him. What is it? I said over the roar of the engines after taking off my helmet.

Josh pointed at the tree ahead. Someone’s been by here—recently.

How do you know? I said, looking at the tree but not seeing anything unusually. What are you, a detective now?

Josh maneuvered his ATV closer to the tree and showed me where someone had gouged a mark into the bark.

This tree is dying, Josh noted. So, there’s no harm done, but this mark is fresh. Like today likely. The heavy rain from last night would have soaked the gouged part. So this is new.

You are a detective, I remarked. So, who made the mark Sherlock?

It was Ben, was the reply.

And how do you know this? I asked.

The knife that made this mark, I gave it to Ben last Christmas. It makes a very distinctive mark and Ben knew this. He is the smart one, after all.

I nodded in agreement.

He likely didn’t have time to make a specific mark, like his name, Josh remarked. So he made sure that the gouge showed the distinctive serrated edge mark.

Dad would be proud. I said. Heck, I’m even proud of him, I replied.

We’re too hard on him, you know that, right, Josh said ruefully. You and me we get along—mostly, but Ben is so—

Annoying, I offered.

I was going to say “different” but yeah, Josh said. He is annoying. But he is our brother and if one of us were lost he would try to find them. Especially when they were in trouble. And the fact that Ben had to make this mark on the tree, he was not alone. And was likely taken against his will by this person.

Tyson? I remarked.

Yeah. Tyson—now there’s a guy who’s annoying. But we can’t be sure it was him. It could be anyone. Someone could have come across from the mainland—though it’s doubtful. But still possible.

If we assume it was Tyson, why would he take Ben along the trail—against his will, I asked. The guy is weird for sure, but what motive would he have.

There you are acting like a detective, Josh said with a grin. We’d make a good team, he said, putting his helmet back on and revving his engine.

I nodded and put my helmet back on. We took off along the narrow trail once again. Up and down small hills, thick with trees in some spots that we had to go around but we soon found the dirt trail again.

We made good time on the ATV’s, soon reaching the spot where the plane had crashed through the underbrush the previous evening. It looked creepy with the swatch of mud where the plane had slid down the embankment. Josh stopped again and I stopped as well. Josh turned off his engine and I followed suit. The surroundings were eerily quiet, the only noise was the brook at the bottom of the hill.

The only problem with using the ATV’s, I said, is that if anyone is around, they would have heard us coming. Josh nodded.

True, he said, I was hoping we had the element of surprise, but I don’t see anyone and the trail ends just up ahead.

Through the trees ahead we could see Storm Island Strait and the mainland.

Let’s search around, I suggested. Then we could try the landing strip at the top of the hill.

Josh nodded and we both dismounted the ATV’s and locked them. We headed down to the river and stopped. Beyond was another embankment and at the top was a thick grove of trees. Beyond was another embankment down to the shore of the island.

Should we check over there, I said, pointing but Josh shook his head. Only if we don’t see anything on this side. I don’t really want to get these boots wet, he said, motioning to the hiking boots he had put on that morning. I still had my red high-tops and didn’t want them to get wet either.

I’m with you, bro, I said with a grin despite the seriousness of our missing. Ben was missing and we needed to find him.

We moved away from the brook and headed back up the hill, eyes peeled for any movement in the dark forest.

Do you hear that? I said suddenly coming to a stop near where our ATV’s were parked.

What is it? Josh asked, looking around

I thought I heard someone shout.

All I hear is the noise of the water and some birds, he remarked.

We stood stock still but that was I could hear as well.

It must have been my imagination, I muttered. I went to move up the hill but Josh grabbed my arm. Now, I heard something—just now. He said, voice hoarse. It sounded like my name.

We listened again. Then I heard my name.

That must be Ben, I said. He must be around here.

Cody! Josh!

We heard it that time, clearer now. But where was it coming from?

Back down the hill to the brook. The water going over the rocks was loud and we could no longer hear our names. Let’s try the other side of the river, I suggested. So much for my new high-tops. They’re gonna get wet.

With that I trudged into the fast-moving stream, dodging slippery rocks and came up on the other side, my shoes and socks now soaking wet. I glanced across to see that Josh had taken off his boots and socks and rolled up his pant legs.

Wimp! I grunted and he just smiled. Soon he reached the other side and put his boots and socks back on. Not a wimp, just smarter, he remarked.

Whatever, I said turning and climbing the small hill towards the strand of trees at the top. Before I could take more than 3 steps a familiar person stepped out of the trees.

Tyson Brady.

What are you doing here? He muttered, coming towards me. He noticed Josh at that moment and gave a start. W-what are you guys doing here? He repeated.

Looking for our brother, if you must know, I said, moving to go past him but he caught my arm. Ben? he’s not here, Tyson said, licking his lips nervously.

In the months since I’ve known Tyson, I’ve never known him to be nervous. Usually he was a cocky jerk—self confident and full of himself.

Let go of me, I grunted, pulling my arm from his grasp.

Wait, he said. I saw him, just a while ago. He was heading to the airstrip. I think he was heading back home.

He heard someone calling our names, just a bit ago, Josh said, coming over to join us by a large tree stump.

He was probably calling from the other side of the brook, Tyson said, regaining some of his self confidence. Since I saw him go that way.

Right, Josh said, turning to trudge back down the hill. He turned back to face us after taking only a half dozen steps.

What are you doing here? He asked and I nodded, curious to know his answer. Tyson didn’t strike me as the outdoors type. He was more comfortable sitting behind a computer screen in his bedroom. What was he doing in the middle of the forest?

I—ah—was scouting out something for Dad. Something to do with an experiment he’s working on.

Yeah, right, Josh said. I was equally unconvinced. But we had no proof. As nice a guy as his dad was, he was a bit eccentric and very well may have asked Tyson to check something out for him. But don’t tell him, if you see him. I’m supposed to be on the other side of the island.

Our priority now was to find Ben. At least now it looked like Tyson hadn’t taken him against his will. Was someone else on the island and did they have Ben held captive! What was this, some kind of spy movie?

Come on, Cody, my brother said, motioning me to follow him. Leave the professor to do his errand—or is goofing off, whichever.

Tyson visibly wilted as we went back down the hill. I walked right out into the water, my shoes were already wet—and ruined, so what the heck.

I waited while Josh changed out of his boots, then back into his boots then we climbed the muddy hill, my shoes squishing in the wet ground. Remounting our ATV’s we could feel Tyson’s glare as we kicked them to life and started up the hill to the entrance that the plane had made the day before.

We came out into the bright sunlight of the island airstrip. In the distance we could see the airstrip office. There was no activity anywhere around the airstrip. On the tarmac beside the office we could see the wrecked plane and I felt a twinge of—not really sadness, but something. It was a good plane. I hoped it could be salvaged.

Come on, Josh yelled over the roar of the ATV engines. Maybe Ben’s back home.

He roared off towards another trail that led to the road that passed the Brady’s home then the Lamb’s, where George and his daughter lived. Both homes were quiet as we roared past. Soon our house came into view. We had done a complete circuit of the island and found no sign of Ben. Hopefully he was home.

Josh parked his ATV back in the garage and I pulled up beside him and turned off my machine. We jumped off and raced into the house. Mom was in the kitchen with Mac who was making lunch.

Any sign of Ben? Mom asked, her brow furrowed in concern.

No, we thought he was here, I remarked, exchanging a worried glance with Cody.

He hasn’t returned, Mom said. Oh, I’m worried now. We should call the police. 

We’ve already spoken to them today—and have been to the station. They want to talk to Ben about—I think his friend Vik, Josh related while I nodded.

Oh, Vik, his friend from school? Mom asked.

Yes, I said. He was arrested for—they say he’s been charged with smuggling.

Mom and Mac gasped.

Yeah, pretty unbelievable, I said. I hope Ben’s not involved somehow. He has been acting—weird lately, weirder than normal, I added with a wry grin.

You can’t think that Ben is involved in something like that, Mom said.

No, not really, Josh said, glaring at me. But we need to find him. I still think Tyson has something to do with Ben’s disappearing.

Why do you say that? I asked. We were just talking to him and he said he didn’t see Ben.

Pardon? Mom said, standing up. You just—spoke to Tyson? Tyson Brady?

Yeah, in the forest, actually near where we crashed the plane yesterday.

But Tyson is in Vancouver, she remarked. He told his Dad he was leaving early this morning. Roscoe told me this morning at the lab. Tyson was going to visit his cousin. His dad drove him to the airport and came back to start in the lab at 9 am.

Well, Tyson lied. I said. We just talked to him.

Yeah, Josh said. Now why would he lie to us—and to his father?