Hurricane (The Barclay Family Adventures 2)

Hurricane BY

Ed Hanson

THE BARCLAY FAMILY ADVENTURES Series 1

Series 2

Amazon Adventure

African Safari

Danger at 20 Fathoms

Disaster in Oceania

Desert Ordeal

Falsely Accused

Forest Fire

The Floodgates

Hostages

Free Fall

Lost at Sea

Hurricane

Mountain Blizzard

Iron Mountain

The Pass

Mystery at Bear Lake

The Swamp

Ransom

Tornado

Sunken Treasure

Development and Production: Laurel Associates, Inc. Cover and Interior Art: Black Eagle Productions

Three Watson Irvine, CA 92618-2767 Website: www.sdlback.com Copyright © 2005 by Saddleback Educational Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher.

ISBN 1-56254-805-0 Printed in the United States of America 10 09 08 07 06 05 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

CONTENTS CHAPTER

PAGE

1 Tropical Palm Estates . . . . . . . . 5 2 Donna’s Fury . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 3 Disaster at Bernie’s . . . . . . . . . .17 4 Wading to Safety . . . . . . . . . . . .24 5 ’Gator Attack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 6 Paul’s Concern . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 7 A New Friend . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 8 Rescue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 9 The Family Grows . . . . . . . . . .55 10 Reunion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60

MEET THE BARCLAYS

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Paul Barclay A fun-loving father of three who includes his kids in his adventures whenever he can.

Ann Barclay The devoted mother who manages the homefront during Paul’s many absences as an on-site construction engineer.

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Jim Barclay The eldest child, Jim is a talented athlete in his third year of college on a football scholarship.

Aaron Barclay A high school senior, Aaron is inquisitive, daring, and an absolute whiz in science class.

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Pam Barclay Adopted from Korea as a baby, Pam is a spunky high school freshman who more than holds her own with her lively older brothers.

CHAPTER 1

Tropical Palm Estates Pam nudged her mother. “How much longer before we get there?” she asked. “We have about 100 miles to go, so I’d guess two hours,” Ann answered. “It can’t be too soon for me,” Aaron chimed in. “After two days on the road, I’m sick of the car.” They were on their way to Ann’s sister’s house. Helen lived about five miles from the beach in southern Florida. She had offered Ann and her family the use of the house while she was on a three-week cruise. “You’d be doing me a favor. I’ll feel better knowing that someone is in the house,” she’d told Ann. 5

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The invitation was too good to pass up! Paul was busy with work, however, and Jim was attending a football camp. So only Aaron and Pam had accompanied their mother. So far they’d made good time driving south. They’d talked, played word games, and sung songs along the way. The car radio hadn’t been turned on even once. Normally they’d have checked into a motel hours ago. But Aaron and Pam were eager to get to Helen’s. They’d talked Ann into driving on. It was now well past 10:00 P.M. Not much farther, Ann thought as she wearily peered into the darkness. It was past midnight when they spotted the sign and turned off the highway: WELCOME TO TROPICAL PALM ESTATES They passed an old stone church on the right. It looked out of place among the buildings in the new subdivision. Helen had been living in Tropical Palms for a year. 6

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If only the Barclays had arrived earlier in the day, they would have noticed the hectic signs of evacuation. They would no doubt have turned on the radio or TV and heard the hurricane warnings: Hurricane Donna is expected to reach landfall by noon tomorrow. Severe flooding is expected in coastal areas. Major damage from high winds is likely to occur. As they drove through the gates, Ann did notice that there were no lights or other signs of life. Oh, well, it’s the middle of the night, she thought to herself. Everyone is asleep, I guess. The light rain that had begun an hour earlier was now heavier. Ann found her sister’s house, clicked the garage door opener, and pulled in out of the rain. All three Barclays were happy to get out and stretch their legs. By the time they unloaded the car and went to bed, it was almost 2:00 in the morning.

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At 4:00 in the morning the Eastport Police made one last pass to urge evacuation. Tropical Palm appeared to be deserted. And it was—except for the Barclays. As the rain and wind worsened by the hour, Ann and her two children slept like babies. They were completely unaware of the pending danger. Aaron was the first to get up in the morning. He poured himself a bowl of corn flakes and snapped on the television set. It took him a moment to realize that the discussion about a terrible storm wasn’t part of a movie. It was happening right here—right now. He walked over to the window and stared out in disbelief. Never had he seen such torrents of rain! There was water everywhere. He saw uprooted trees and debris flying through the air. And the TV announcer had said the worst of the storm was still to come! Aaron ran into his mother’s room.

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“Mom, Mom! You’ve got to get up. We’re in the middle of a hurricane. We have to get out of here!” Ann rubbed her eyes as Aaron dragged her over to the TV set. It took her only a couple of minutes to realize that Aaron wasn’t exaggerating. He was right. They did have to get out of there. “Go wake your sister, Aaron,” Ann said. “Then get dressed and gather your things. We’ll head out immediately.” Ten minutes later Ann backed the car out of the garage. In an instant she saw that there was no way they could drive away. The water in the street was over the hubcaps! Where the road dipped, even slightly, the water would be three or four feet deep. That amount of water could easily flood the engine and stall the car. Reluctantly, Ann pulled the car back into the garage. Back in the house Ann said, “This may not be the safest place—but it sure beats

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being stranded in the car somewhere. I guess we’d better let someone know that we’re here.” But when she picked up the phone, there was no dial tone! The line was dead. Ann grabbed her purse and dug out her cell phone. She sighed in frustration as she looked at the display: NO SIGNAL. “These darn cell phones never have a signal when you need it most!” she growled. Ann turned back toward the living room. “Aaron, is the TV still working?” she called out. Aaron had already turned it on to check on the storm. He was staring at a black screen. “No, Mom. It looks like we’ve lost power, too,” he said. “I’ll bet all the lines are down.” “Oh, great!” Ann muttered. “We’re stuck in the path of a killer storm, and no one even knows where we are.” “It won’t be so bad, Mom,” Pam said. “Dad knows where we were going. When

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he doesn't hear from us, he’ll know what to do. Right now, I think we should check our supplies.” “She’s right, Mom,” Aaron agreed. “It’s important not to panic. We have plenty of food. And Aunt Helen has a gas stove, so we won’t need electricity to cook.” “What about drinking water?” Pam piped up. “That could be a problem. I know—I’m going to fill the bathtub while we still can.” “Good! And I’ll look for some tape to put across the windows,” Aaron added. “That will prevent flying slivers of glass in case the windows shatter.” Ann looked at her two children in amazement. Neither one seemed scared or at all worried! They were even taking control of things. Maybe all those wild adventures with their father had taught them something, she thought. Apparently, they’d developed the ability to stay cool under pressure.

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CHAPTER 2

Donna’s Fury Back in Rockdale Jim pulled his aching frame out of bed. Football is sure tough on a guy’s body, he thought to himself. I should have taken up something less strenuous, like bowling. He chuckled at the thought of being a star bowler. He had many athletic skills, but bowling wasn’t among them. After dressing, he headed down to the kitchen toward the tempting aroma of brewing coffee. Paul was deeply involved in the morning paper. “’Morning, Dad,” Jim said. “Good morning, son,” Paul answered without looking up from the article he was reading. “What’s so interesting, Dad?” Jim asked. “Oh, it’s an article about Hurricane 12

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Donna. It’s supposed to be a big one. And it’s expected to hit southern Florida sometime today.” Jim frowned. “That’s not near where Mom is, I hope,” he said. “Actually, Jim, it’s exactly where she’s supposed to be. Eastport is directly in the path of the storm.” “But she would have headed away from there when she heard that a hurricane was coming,” Jim answered. “Yes, I’m sure she would have—if she knew about the storm. But I’ll feel better when she calls,” Paul said with a sigh. Jim detected a note of real concern in his father’s voice. **** In southern Florida the storm continued to build throughout the day. Ann peered out the front window. The flooding had become very severe. Six inches of water already covered the lawn, and it was getting worse by the hour. The wind, too, was getting worse. I bet 13

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it’s up to 100 miles per hour or more, Ann thought. Anything not lashed down was on the move. Trash barrels, picnic tables, lawn furniture, tree limbs, and parts of roofs flew through the air like missiles. Occasionally, something would hit the side of the house with a resounding thud. Despite Aaron’s tape, it was just a matter of time before a piece of debris would smash through a window. Pam was worried. “This is a real bad storm, isn’t it?” she said to her mother. “Yes, dear. It’s a bad one, all right, but we have one thing to be thankful for.” “What’s that?” Aaron asked. “These homes in Tropical Palm Estates are brand new. During the past few years the Florida building codes have been changed. New houses are stronger and better able to withstand high winds. In an older home, the roof might be gone by now.” Aaron didn’t look convinced. “The way this house is shaking, I’m not sure our roof 14

Chapter • 2

will be attached much longer,” he said. “Oh, sure it will!” Ann replied in an effort to reassure her son. Moments later Pam yelled, “Look, Mom—there’s an inch of water in the living room. And more is pouring in.” The floodwaters had reached the house. Ann thought of trying to block all openings and cracks. But it would be a losing battle. Most of the houses in Tropical Palm would flood. The question was—just how deep would the water get? **** Four miles east of Tropical Palm Estates, another drama was unfolding. Bernie’s Alligator Park was a popular tourist attraction in the area. Visitors from the north had been coming to Bernie’s for more than 10 years. The park contained ’gators of all sizes housed in large concrete pens. The most popular attraction by far was pen No. 4. It held the largest alligators in the park— many more than 12 feet in length. 15

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Some 50 of the giant reptiles occupied pen No. 4. Even the most macho visitor to Bernie’s felt a shudder of fear while staring down at the deadly creatures. What was the most common question tourists asked about the beasts? How long would you last if you fell over the wall? The answer was always the same: “You’d die quickly—but not quickly enough!” Due to Hurricane Donna, the park was closed to business. Only three employees remained on duty to provide security and feed the alligators. Of course, Bernie’s had weathered a number of tropical storms over the years. And the ’gator pens were seven feet deep—more than adequate to prevent the reptiles from escaping. But the water in the pens was rising— and so were the alligators!

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CHAPTER 3

Disaster at Bernie’s By early evening the Barclays were wading through a foot of water inside the house. Since there was no second floor, they couldn’t escape to higher ground. An hour ago, an uprooted palm tree had smashed through the picture window in the living room. Now rain was pouring through the broken glass and things inside the house were starting to blow around. Ann was feeling quite desperate. Since no one knew they were there, she knew they couldn’t expect help. The car was useless and they had no boat. And even if they did—where would they go? Then she remembered the old stone church just outside the entrance to Tropical Palm

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Estates. It was less than a half mile away. The more she thought about it, the more convinced she became that it was the safest place for her family. Solid as the rock it was made of, it could withstand the high winds. She also assumed that the church had a choir loft. A high perch like that would keep them safe from the rising water. But how could they get there? Ann gathered Aaron and Pam around her. Then she laid out the situation as best she could. She shared her idea of trying to make it to the stone church. “We’d have to walk. That means wading through water that’s probably four feet deep in places. Do you think we can do it?” There was silence while the kids thought about it. Finally Aaron spoke. “I’ve got an idea, Mom. When a hurricane is directly overhead there’s a lull in the storm as the eye passes over.” “I know that, Aaron,” Ann answered wearily. “What’s your point?”

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“The TV announcer said this storm is traveling at about 15 miles per hour,” Aaron went on. “I’ve read that the eye of a hurricane is usually 15 to 20 miles wide. That would give us an hour to an hourand-a-half of dead calm before the storm resumes. That should be plenty of time to make it to the church.” “I hope you’re right,” Pam added. “We sure don’t want to be caught outdoors when the wind and rain start up again.” “Okay, it’s settled, then,” Ann said. “Let’s get prepared. Then, as soon as the storm breaks, we can head for the church. We’ll need to bring dry clothes, food, and drinking water. Any thoughts about how we can carry all that stuff?” Pam had an idea. “Why don’t we use one of Aunt Helen’s mattresses as a raft? We could tow it along. It should float real well—at least until it gets waterlogged.” Ann was surprised by Pam’s strange suggestion. “How in the world did you

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come up with that idea?” she asked. Pam grinned sheepishly. “One time at summer camp, we threw a mattress in the lake and used it as a raft. It was lots of fun—until the counselors caught us.” Ann raised an eyebrow at Pam. “Well, I’m not too crazy about how you got the idea,” she said. “But it sounds like a pretty good one. Okay, let’s get to work. As soon as the eye of the hurricane passes over, we’ll be ready to go.” **** Joe Watson had worked at Bernie’s for only a couple of months. But he had happily volunteered to stay on during the storm. Most of the employees wanted to be home with their families, but Joe wasn’t married. And besides, Bernie was offering a $50.00 per day bonus for anyone willing to stay. Bernie kept a trailer on the property to serve as living quarters during emergencies. Now Joe and the other two volunteers had

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set up housekeeping there. Since the park was closed, there were no tourists to worry about. So Joe and his coworkers’ duties were quite simple: maintain security and protect the alligators from poachers. And make sure the reptiles got fed every day. They all knew that nothing is meaner and more dangerous than a hungry ’gator. Donna slammed into the Florida coastline exactly at high tide. The heavy winds and rain combined with the high tide to create a storm surge. Now several feet of water swept over the coastal areas. Bernie’s was directly in the storm’s path! By late afternoon the gusting winds had swept up the trailer—and the workers inside. It was pinned up against some trees several hundred yards away. The floodwaters raced through the Alligator Park. As the pens filled to overflowing, dozens of hungry alligators began to swim over the concrete walls. Since the entire landscape was now covered with

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water, there were no boundaries and no limits on their movement. Joe Watson opened his eyes and looked around. Blood was streaming down his face, and he felt a burning pain in his right side. He remembered feeling a similar pain years ago. That football injury had turned out to be a broken rib. Oh, no! I’ll bet I’ve broken a rib again, he thought to himself. The trailer was in shambles. Only the bunk beds that had been bolted to the wall were still in place. In the corner Joe could see the twisted bodies of his two coworkers. Neither was moving. Joe’s mind raced as he tried to reconstruct what had happened. He rose to his feet on unsteady legs. Then he staggered outside through the hole where the door used to be. For a few minutes he stared off into the flooded park. Then his jaw dropped as he spotted a number of big dark objects moving through the water.

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“No way!” he cried aloud. “Those are alligators! They must have flooded out of the pens. This is awful!” Joe’s mind was racing. Then he remembered the cell phone that had been in the trailer. Could he find it? Would it still work after the pounding the trailer had taken? Joe searched the trailer without success. I have to warn someone, he thought. Those ’gators have missed their feeding. By now they’ll happily eat anything—or anyone!

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CHAPTER 4

Wading to Safety Ben Shaw was one of Eastport’s oldest, most interesting characters. A lifelong bachelor, he lived in a tiny little house. More than 30 years ago he’d built the place on the edge of town. Ben lived alone—if you didn’t count his dog. He loved Labrador retrievers. The old man was often seen driving around town in his rusty pickup truck. His dog was always beside him in the front seat. Ben was a stubborn old character. He’d refused to leave his house when he was warned that Donna was bearing down on the coastline. “I’ve survived many a storm in this house, and I’ll ride this one out too,” he’d said.

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But Donna’s fury had been too much for the rickety wooden house. At the height of the windstorm, the roof had collapsed. Then the walls had crashed down on the old man. Ben was killed instantly. His dog huddled near him sadly. But the rising floodwaters finally forced the young Lab to look for higher ground. **** Back at Helen’s house the night passed very slowly for Ann and the kids. In preparation for their trek to the church, Aaron loaded a cooler with food. Pam filled two plastic gallon jugs with drinking water. Aaron wrapped dry clothes in several large garbage bags and packed them in a suitcase. The clothes on their backs were soaking wet. But there was no point in changing before going out in the driving rain. Ann figured the church doors would be locked. So she suggested that Aaron search the garage for any tools that might

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be useful. Before long, Aaron returned with a hammer, an ax, and a four-foot crowbar. He placed these items on the kitchen counter along with the rest of their supplies. Pam—the so-called expert on floating mattresses—offered more advice. She said that after about two hours the drenched mattress would start to sink. So the Barclays made sure the queen-size mattress they intended to use was kept high and dry. Just before leaving, the Barclays would lug it outside, load it with their supplies, and start off. If they got to the church in less than an hour, their makeshift raft would still be floating. If their trip took longer than that, the storm’s fury would most likely have started up again. No one wanted to think about that possibility. There was little to do now but wait for the eye of the hurricane to pass over. Then the wind and rain would quickly subside.

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In the meantime, a little rest wouldn’t hurt. Ann felt sorry for her sister when she looked around at the incredible mess in the house. I sure hope she has plenty of flood insurance, she thought. Finally, fatigue got the better of them and they all fell asleep. Aaron woke up with a start to a strange, eerie calm. There was no rain, and the wind had stopped blowing! The eye of the storm was passing—it was time to get moving. He woke his mother and sister. Together, they worked to haul the queensize mattress out the front door. While Pam held onto it, Ann and Aaron went back in the house to get their supplies. When everything was placed in the middle of the mattress, they started off. Wading through waist-deep water and pushing a heavy mattress made for slow going. Ann worried that they wouldn’t reach the church before the high winds kicked in. She urged them to move a little

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faster. Occasionally they’d hit a dip in the road. Then, with the water over her head, Pam had to swim. Nearly 30 minutes passed before they saw the partially submerged WELCOME TO TROPICAL PALM ESTATES sign at the entrance to the subdivision. What they did not see was a large, dark object. It was silently but surely coming around the corner of a nearby house. The huge ’gator was nearly 100 yards away. But its keen eyes had spotted the people struggling through the water. Sensing a meal, it flicked its powerful tail and started toward them. The alligator swam much faster than the Barclays waded—so the distance between them was closing rapidly. When Pam turned to suggest a short rest, she gasped. The hungry beast was just 20 yards behind her brother! At first she could only stare in shock. Then she tried to speak—but no words

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came out of her mouth. Finally, she managed to scream, “Aaron, look!” At the sight of the approaching reptile, Aaron quickly scrambled up onto the mattress. Ann and Pam crawled aboard, too. They tried to get as far as they could from the beast. But for some reason the ’gator had no interest in the two females. Its next meal was going to be Aaron Barclay!

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CHAPTER 5

’Gator Attack Meanwhile, back at Bernie’s Alligator Park, Joe was desperate. Unable to find the cell phone, he turned his attention to his two companions. He knew that he had to move them. It was only a matter of time before the scent of human flesh would attract the hungry alligators. And what could be easier prey than two injured men, lying in the water? Joe looked around the trailer. The bunk beds were the only things still standing. Joe figured the top bunk might protect the men—if he could get them up there in spite of his broken rib. Joe dragged the first man across the room. Ignoring the pain in his chest,

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he was able to push the limp body onto the top bunk. But the hardest work was yet to come. The second man was a much bigger guy. Joe realized he had very little time. He’d already seen two large ’gators swimming toward the trailer. They’d be coming through the doorway in minutes! Joe dragged the second man across the room as fast as he could. He was startled to hear the man moan, struggling to regain consciousness. Joe explained the urgency of the situation. “You’ve got to help,” Joe pleaded. “I can’t lift you alone.” The injured man struggled to his feet. Then he tried to pull his body onto the top bunk. With Joe’s help he made it—and not a moment too soon. The first alligator swam into the trailer just as Joe leaped to safety! Another appeared right behind him. The hungry ’gators stared up at their intended victims. Luckily, they were just a few feet out of reach. As Joe tried to get a

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better grip on the bed, his hand brushed an object wedged between the bunk and the wall. It was the missing cell phone! A few seconds later, Joe had reached Eastport’s police chief. “Chief, this is Joe Watson. I’m out at Bernie’s Alligator Park, just east of town.” “I know where it is,” the Chief replied. “We’ve got a real disaster out here. The floodwaters have overflowed the pens. A whole lot of our alligators have already escaped. If they aren’t captured soon, I guarantee we’ll have some serious attacks on humans.” The chief gasped. “Oh, my gosh! First the storm and now this. How many alligators are loose?” “I can’t say for certain,” Joe answered. “Maybe 40 to 50 adult animals. Those are the only ones you really have to worry about. Oh, and Chief—there’s just one other thing.” “What’s that, Joe?”

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“Two injured men and I are trapped in a trailer at the park. And there are two large ’gators eyeing us right now. I don’t think they plan on leaving anytime soon. Could you get some help out here right away?” “Sit tight, Joe. I’ll call Animal Control and get a boat out there in no time.” The Eastport Police Department had a number of rescue boats operating during the storm. The Chief radioed for one of them to provide assistance to Joe and his coworkers. Then he called Animal Control and asked for immediate assistance in rounding up the ’gators. He realized that some of the animals might have to be killed. But he hoped that most of them could be safely netted and returned to captivity. **** Meanwhile, at the entrance to Tropical Palm Estates, the alligator chasing Aaron was lunging out of the water. The front of its body landed on the mattress. Its huge

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jaws opened wide as it inched closer to the terrified teenager. Pam had been sure the mattress would float for at least two hours. But she hadn’t figured on any additional weight on it. As more of the alligator’s body climbed onto the mattress, their “raft” started to sink. Aaron desperately grabbed the axe. He raised it over his head and used all his strength to bring the blunt end down on his attacker’s head. The reptile’s body shuddered. Then it slipped off of the mattress and back into the water. With the extra weight gone, the mattress bobbed up higher. Not a word was spoken. But all three Barclays knew they had to get away from the stunned ’gator—and fast. When it recovered from the blow, it would surely attack again— with even more determination. The Barclays continued to slosh ahead through the floodwaters. Now the sky was slowly beginning to darken and the wind

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was picking up. They all knew what that meant. Before long the devastating storm would return in its full intensity. But the church was now in sight. As expected, they found that the front door of the church was locked. They headed around the side of the building looking for a window. And sure enough— halfway around the building a large window had been broken out! Aaron used the crowbar to clear away the jagged glass edges. Then he boosted his mother and sister inside. After passing the cooler and other supplies in to them, he climbed through the window himself. In the rear of the church they found stairs leading to the choir loft. What a relief! For the first time in almost 24 hours, they weren’t standing in water. Staring out the small upstairs window, Pam watched as Hurricane Donna roared back in full fury. Then she turned to the others. “We cut that a little close, wouldn’t

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you say?” she said in a shaky voice. Ann put her arm around her daughter. “Oh, but we made it, honey! That’s the important thing.” Ann and Pam turned to see Aaron pulling the bag of clothes out of the suitcase. He looked up with a big smile. “Can I interest you ladies in the latest in hurricane fashion?” he asked with a laugh. “I believe it’s called ‘The Dry Line’!”

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CHAPTER 6

Paul’s Concern Paul Barclay was up early and on the phone. First he made one last try to reach Helen’s house in Florida. When a recording reported that the call couldn’t be completed, he hung up with a sigh. Then he called the airport. Paul had already waited 24 hours for a phone call from Ann. He was desperate for assurance that everything was all right. When her call didn’t come, he decided to take the first available flight to Miami. Paul had racked his brain trying to figure out what might have happened. The only logical explanation was that they’d reached Helen’s house unaware of the pending storm. They must be stuck there, he

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thought to himself. But Ann should have called by now. Even if the power was out, she had her cell phone. Paul could think of only two reasons why she hadn’t called: the cell phone didn’t work, or Ann and the kids were badly hurt. Paul’s heart clutched painfully at the thought of losing his family. Hurricane Donna had now been declared a full-scale emergency on the southeastern coast of Florida. All flights to Miami had been canceled. The only flight Paul could get was to Fort Myers, Florida. That was a good four- to five-hour drive from Helen’s house. Upon making landfall, Donna had turned north and then east. Now she was heading back out into the Caribbean. That confined the storm damage to the southeastern part of the state. So it was good news for the rest of Florida. Paul’s next call was to the Eastport Police Department. He explained that his

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family had been heading to Tropical Palm Estates when he’d last heard from them. He asked the police to check on them. Then he left his number so they could call him back when they had any information. An hour later Paul received a call from the Eastport police chief. “Hello, Mr. Barclay. This is Chief Dow in Eastport, Florida.” “Hello, Chief. Thanks so much for getting back to me.” “Things are a mess here, Mr. Barclay. Lots of wind damage and severe flooding. The roads are impassable by car, so my men are patrolling in boats. I had one of the boats check on your sister-in-law’s house. It’s empty now, but it’s clear that your family had been there.” “How do you know that, Chief?” “Your car is still in the garage,” Chief Dow replied. Paul was mystified. “Well, they can’t have gone far without a car,” he said.

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Chief Dow didn’t answer. He was thinking about loose, hungry alligators and imagining the worst. Finally, he said, “I’ll get several boats over there. We’ll search the area and all the neighboring houses. I’ll call you if we come up with anything.” “I want to help,” Paul said. “I was thinking of flying down to Florida this afternoon.” “I can’t stop you—but I think you’re wasting your time,” the Chief replied. “You can’t get anywhere near Eastport in a vehicle. Even a four-wheel drive is no help. Why don’t you stay where you are? I promise to call you just as soon as I know something.” Paul sighed. “Maybe you’re right, Chief. I just feel so helpless sitting around doing nothing,” he said. “I know what you mean, Mr. Barclay. But there’s nothing you can do down here, even if you could make it to Eastport. And

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I’m not so sure that you could get here.” Hurricane Donna was turning into a major headache for the Eastport Police Department. Looting is always a concern when people evacuate their homes. Things were no different this time. Four thieves had already been taken into custody for breaking into empty houses. The problem of free-roaming alligators was bad enough. But now the police had to look for a missing family! Another boat was sent down to Tropical Palm Estates. The Chief had ordered them to doublecheck all the homes in the area. Meanwhile, in the choir loft of the old church, Ann, Aaron, and Pam were sound asleep. Their mattress raft, which they’d left by the side of the church, had blown more than a mile away. Totally waterlogged, it was now pinned against a tree at the end of an orange grove. Several hours later the police boat reported back to headquarters. “What did

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you find out there?” Chief Dow asked. “Not too much, Chief. Tropical Palm Estates is empty—except for a few ’gators.” “I was afraid of that,” Dow answered. “Well, keep patrolling for a while. Maybe something will turn up.” High in the stone church, Ann thought she heard the hum of a motor. Wondering if it was a dream, she got up and peered out the little window. An inflatable boat was passing in front of the church! She could make out the words Eastport Police on the bow. Two uniformed officers in the boat were scanning the area. Ann shouted, but there was no way they could hear her. She sighed, knowing it was too late to run downstairs. By the time she got out the door, the boat would be gone. Well, at least someone is looking for us. That’s a good sign, she thought.

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CHAPTER 7

A New Friend Ann’s shout had awoken Aaron and Pam. They looked around in confusion. “What’s going on?” Aaron mumbled. “Good news. A police boat just went by,” Ann answered. “I think we should try to open the front door of the church. That might signal the rescue workers that there are people in here.” Ann and the kids hurried down to the front entrance. They found that the massive wooden doors were easy to unlock from the inside. But as the doors opened wide, they stared out in horror. A big yellow dog was feverishly trying to swim away from pursuing alligators! The Barclays realized immediately that

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the church was the dog’s only chance to escape. Ann, Aaron, and Pam all began yelling and waving to the dog. Hearing human voices, the exhausted animal turned toward the church. Although the Lab was a powerful swimmer, it was no match for alligators. Their bodies, after all, were designed for a life in the water. The distance between the dog and the reptiles was closing rapidly. Ann was afraid the dog wouldn’t make it. But then, just seconds ahead of the ’gators, the yellow retriever’s tired, wet body reached Aaron’s outstretched arms. Pam quickly tugged the dog inside the church while Aaron and Ann pushed the heavy doors shut. The dog was a young male. From a metal tag on his collar they learned that his name was Charlie. Talking to him softly, they brought Charlie up into the loft and dried him with towels. Pam sat on the floor while the dog ate some food and drank a little water. After eating, he lay

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down next to Pam. It wasn’t long before Charlie’s big head fell into her lap and he slept soundly. As Pam stroked the dog’s soft fur she looked at her mother. “Mom,” she asked, “where do you think these alligators are coming from?” “I don’t know, dear. But I do know one thing: We aren’t going wading in that water again—and neither is Charlie.” “He seems like a great dog, Mom. Do you think we can keep him?” Pam asked. “Well, that depends, honey. First, we have to try and find his owner. But he does seem to like us, doesn’t he?” “Well, he should,” Aaron chuckled. “After all, we just saved his life.” Although stranded in the church loft, Ann and the kids were in good spirits. They could see that the worst of the storm was over. It was clear that the floodwaters were beginning to recede. And now they had a new friend in Charlie. In an hour or so, the handsome dog woke from his nap.

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He ran from one Barclay to another, wagging his tail and giving them wet, sloppy dog kisses. The dog seemed right at home with this new family. The Barclays had no way of knowing that Charlie’s owner had become a victim of the storm. With no home to return to, he was sure to end up in the dog pound. So Charlie was theirs if they wanted him. At the moment, there wasn’t much for Ann and her children to do. So they decided to relax while they waited to be rescued. To pass the time, they played word games and asked each other riddles. Aaron had his mother and sister stumped on one riddle. “What is black when you buy it,” he asked, “red when you use it, and gray when you throw it away?” For 20 minutes or so, Pam had been telling him that they didn’t know the answer. But Aaron insisted that they keep working on it. Finally, Ann decided to stump her son. “Okay, Aaron, if you’re so

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smart, answer this one for me: A man is convicted of a crime in a foreign land. As punishment, he’s told that he must go into one of three rooms. He’s allowed to take his choice. The first room is filled with raging fires. Behind the second door are murderous assassins ready to kill whoever might enter. And the third room is packed with lions that haven’t eaten in over a year. Which room offers the man the best chance of survival?” Aaron thought hard for a few minutes, but he was baffled. “Gee,” he said, “I guess all three rooms are pretty dangerous. I don’t know.” “Oh, that’s easy,” Pam yelled as she petted Charlie. “It’s the room with the lions. Think about it for a minute, Aaron. If they haven’t eaten in more than a year, they’d all be dead!” Aaron made a face and shook his head. “What a dumb riddle,” he complained. “Okay,” Pam said, “now, come on—tell

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us the answer to your riddle, Aaron.” Aaron looked smug. “Well, if you must know, the answer is charcoal,” he announced. Pam rolled her eyes. “Oh, boy!” she exclaimed. “That’s really brilliant, Aaron. And you call Mom’s riddle dumb!”

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CHAPTER 8

Rescue One of Chief Dow’s men had a concerned look on his face when he came into the office. “What is it, Sergeant?” the Chief asked. “The Animal Control workers are asking for help. They aren’t sure what to do with the alligators they capture.” “Oh, wow! With all that’s been going on around here, I hadn’t given that a thought. I guess the dog pound isn’t an option,” Dow replied with a little smile. “Well, Chief, I have a suggestion,” the sergeant volunteered. “What’s that?” “The flooding has gone down a lot now. The pens at Bernie’s shouldn’t be

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completely underwater anymore. All we need are a few pumps. Then we can lower the water level in the pens back down to three feet. Once that’s done we can safely put those big critters right back where they came from.” “Good idea, Sergeant. Will you take care of setting that up?” “Right away, Chief,” the sergeant said as he left the office. **** Joe Watson and his two injured companions were being treated at the local hospital. Their rescue from the trailer had taken several hours. After all, the two alligators had to be captured first. Getting nets around the beasts was no easy task. But eventually the Animal Control workers had been successful. Joe was being honored as a local hero. His quick action in rescuing his coworkers had certainly saved their lives. And his phone call to the police had been very

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helpful, too. Most of the escaped reptiles hadn’t had time to travel very far, so their recapture was going smoothly. After Bernie’s pens were pumped, the captured ’gators were gradually being returned. Bernie was already planning to dig the pits three feet deeper. The additional depth would ensure that the disaster caused by Hurricane Donna would never happen again. **** “Mom,” said Aaron, “I think you were right. Opening the front doors of the church is a good idea.” “Well, we can’t open the doors now. What if those alligators that were chasing Charlie are still out there?” Ann said. “I know, I know,” Aaron agreed. “But look out the window. See how low the floodwaters are? I’ll bet those alligators are long gone by now. Let’s be real careful and take a quick peek out the doors.” Ann was nervous. But she had to agree

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that Aaron’s suggestion made sense. So they cracked open the heavy doors and peered out. The water that had crept up the church steps had drained almost to the street. For the first time in days, they could see green grass. And better yet—there was no sign of any alligators. Aaron swung the church doors wide open. When Ann and Pam joined him on the front step, they gazed at the sky. The sun was trying to break through the clouds. The storm was definitely over! Some of the roads were now passable by car. In fact, several police cruisers had actually begun to patrol the town. One of them, while checking the outskirts of town, drove by what had been Ben Shaw’s place. Looking at the collapsed house, the officers feared the worst. They weren’t surprised when they found Ben’s crumpled body in the wreckage. As they were removing the old man’s body from the house, one of the officers

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spoke up. “What a shame! This town is sure going to miss old Ben. He was really a colorful character.” “Yeah,” said his partner, “he sure was.” Then he remembered something. “Hey! What do you suppose happened to Ben’s dog?” “Gee, I don’t know,” the other officer answered. “I sure hope he made it through the storm.” A few miles away, another patrol car was slowly passing the old stone church. To the officers’ surprise, three people were standing on the steps, waving madly. When the patrol car stopped, Ann and the kids ran down to it. Charlie came bounding behind them in hot pursuit. “Are we ever glad to see you!” Ann cried out. “Hello, there! By any chance are you the Barclays?” one of the officers asked. “Why, yes, we are,” Ann answered. “We’ve been looking all over for you.

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Your husband has been very worried, Mrs. Barclay. Ernie,” he said to his partner, “call the Chief on the radio. Tell him we’ve located the Barclay family and that they’re okay.” Aaron’s stomach growled. He couldn’t stop himself. “Yeah, we’re okay—but we’re awfully hungry. Can we stop somewhere and get something to eat?” The policeman laughed. “You bet!” he said. “That will be our first stop!” As they drove away from the church, Pam looked over at one of the officers. “Do you know whose dog this is?” she asked. “According to the tag on his collar, his name is Charlie.” “I’m not sure, but he could be old Ben Shaw’s dog. I seem to remember that he had a yellow Lab named Charlie.” “Oh,” Pam replied in a soft voice. Ann could hear the sharp disappointment in her daughter’s voice.

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CHAPTER 9

The Family Grows As soon as Chief Dow got word that the Barclays were safe, he placed a call to Paul Barclay. “Mr. Barclay, this is Chief Dow in Eastport. I’m happy to tell you that your wife and children have been found— and they’re just fine. One of our patrol cars is bringing them in as we speak.” Paul felt a mighty wave of relief go through him. “Thank goodness, Chief! What happened to them? Where have they been?” he asked. “I’m afraid I don’t have the answers to all your questions. But as soon as they get to a phone, they’ll call you. I’d guess that you’ll be hearing from your wife within the hour.”

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“Thank you for calling, Chief. I really appreciate your help.” Moments later the two officers came in with Ann, Aaron, and Pam with Charlie in tow. The officer named Ernie said, “Here are the Barclays, safe and sound. And it looks like they found Ben Shaw’s dog as well, Chief. I think that’s his address on the collar tag.” Chief Dow didn’t say a word. Sensing that something was amiss, Ernie said, “Is anything wrong, Chief?” “You might say that,” Dow answered. “An hour ago Ben’s body was found in the wreckage of his house.” Ann felt a stab of sadness at the news. “Oh, that’s terrible! The poor man! What will happen to Charlie now?” “Ben had no family in town. So I guess we’ll turn the dog over to the animal shelter. Maybe they can find a good home for him,” Chief Dow replied. Ann smiled. “If it’s all right, Chief, my

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family would like to keep him,” she said. “We’ve all gotten attached to him.” Chief Dow thought for a moment. “I don’t see why not. In fact, that sounds like an excellent solution to the problem, Mrs. Barclay. Charlie is yours.” Ten minutes later Ann called Paul. On hearing his voice she said, “Oh, Paul! It’s so good to hear your voice.” “Yours, too, Ann,” Paul replied, his voice cracking with emotion. “Are you and the kids really all right?” “We’re fine, Paul—but we did have some scary moments. We were right in the path of the storm! But I guess you know all about that by now.” “Yes, I do. Jim and I were following the weather reports pretty closely.” “Well, what you don’t know,” Ann said, “is that a nearby alligator farm was flooded. A good number of giant ’gators escaped. So we not only had the hurricane to contend with, but also free-roaming

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alligators—but we’re all okay.” Paul was speechless. “The kids have been great,” Ann continued. “They were real troopers through everything. But of course we never got a vacation. As long as we’re here, I was thinking of driving over to the west coast of Florida. It’d be great to relax on the beach. Do you think you could join us?” Paul laughed. “You bet I can! I’ll make a reservation at a beachfront hotel on Siesta Key. Let’s see if Jim can come, too. His football camp is almost over now.” Ann hesitated a moment. “I don’t know, Paul,” she said. “That beachfront hotel you’re suggesting might not be a good idea.” “Why not?” Paul asked. “It’s a great location. We’ll be able to see the ocean right from our room.” “I know that, dear. But I’m pretty sure that they don’t allow pets.” Paul was confused. “Pets? We don’t have a pet.” 58

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“Well, yes—we do now. But don’t worry, you’re going to love Charlie.” “Charlie?” “That’s his name. He’s a young yellow Lab we saved from an alligator attack.” “So now he’s ours?” Paul asked. “Tell me—just how big is this Charlie?” “We haven’t weighed him, of course,” Ann said. “But I’d guess he’s somewhere between 90 and 100 pounds.” “Gee, Ann,” Paul teased. “Couldn’t you have saved a smaller dog?” Ann laughed. “You don’t fool me, Paul. You’re a real softy just like the rest of us. Once you spend five minutes with Charlie you’ll adore him, too. Let me make the reservations, dear. I’ll find a place that will take animals. You just get the first flight you can to Sarasota.” Paul hung up the phone and shook his head. At least none of my adventures added a new family member, he thought to himself.

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Reunion Ann put the next few hours to good use. She managed to reach Helen on the cruise ship. “We haven’t been back to the house yet,” she told her sister. “But the police tell us the subdivision weathered the storm pretty well.” “As long as you’re all okay,” Helen replied. “That’s all that really matters.” “We’re just fine,” Ann assured Helen. “We’re going to take a few days R&R, but we’ll be back to help with the cleanup.” Then Ann booked a rental unit in petfriendly Siesta Village. The place even had a short stretch of the beach where animals could swim and run freely. Eastport was slowly getting back to normal. As the flood waters retreated, 60

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most roads were now passable. Street crews were hard at work removing downed tree limbs. And the power company was gradually restoring electricity. After leaving the police station, Ann and the kids took a taxi back to Tropical Palm Estates. They were eager to pick up their belongings and their car. When they arrived at Helen’s place, Ann looked around. The floodwaters and flying debris had certainly caused some damage. But there appeared to be no structural damage. There was quite a mess to clean up. But they’d be back to help Helen make her home shine again. Pam laughed as they were driving out of Tropical Palm. “The last time we went through this gate,” she remembered, “we were pushing a mattress through four feet of water.” “Yeah,” Aaron added, “not to mention that we had an alligator chasing us!” Ann pulled the car to the side of the road. Then she turned to Aaron with tears 61

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in her eyes. “In all the excitement,” she said, “we haven’t talked about our awful encounter with that alligator. But I want you to know, son, that your quick action probably saved our lives. I’m very, very proud of you.” Aaron was pleased but embarrassed. “Okay, Mom,” he said. “Let’s not get carried away. I didn’t do anything that any super-hero wouldn’t do.” Ann smiled at her son’s wit as she put the car back into gear. Pam just rolled her eyes and went on petting Charlie. The next morning, after a hearty breakfast, the family headed for Sarasota. Siesta Key was part of the city of Sarasota. But the atmosphere was more laid back and less formal than the city itself. Paul and Jim were due to arrive at the airport at 6:00 P.M. So Ann would have plenty of time to check in to the motel and unpack before going to the airport. Everything went smoothly. Ann and the kids were waiting for Paul and Jim as 62

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they entered the terminal. Tugging on his leash, Charlie pulled Pam across the room to join in greeting these new family members. Paul looked at Charlie and laughed. “Are you sure he’s all dog? He’s big enough to be part pony.” Pam’s eyes pleaded with her father. “But you do like him, don’t you?” she asked. “Yes, sweetie,” Paul answered her. “I think he’s great. And it’s about time that we had a dog.” That night a strange sound woke Paul up at 2:00 A.M. He sat up in bed and listened. Then he nudged his wife and said, “Ann, what is that noise?” “Oh, I guess I forgot to tell you, dear,” Ann said sleepily. “Charlie snores.”

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COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS Who and Where? 1. Who was praised for saving the lives of two injured workers? 2. Who did Paul call to get information about his family? 3. Ann drove to what city to meet Paul and Jim at the airport?

Remembering Details 1. In what part of what state was Tropical Palm Estates located? 2. What did Pam suggest the family could use as a raft? 3. What happened to Charlie’s original owner? 4. How did the alligators escape from Bernie’s Alligator Park? 5. In what building did the Barclays “wait out the storm”? 6. What was the name of the natural disaster that struck Eastport?

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