The Spelunkers: A Chipper Press Anthology

By Chipper Press

You Never Know What You’ll Find
Hidden deep within a cave’s walls, a mystery lies in wait for someone to traverse the damp, dark corridors full of unseen perils. Only the bravest of spelunkers can enter the caves.
Will they find crystals and waterfalls, alive with beauty beyond their wildest dreams? Or, will they encounter a nightmarish creature lurking silently in the shadows? If they can successfully navigate the caverns and the obstacles that lie ahead, the explorers will emerge stronger than ever before.
The Spelunkers showcases seven captivating tales of daring, friendship, honor, and perseverance.
Which will be your favorite?
Featured Contributors:
Stephen Jackson * Megan Kunz * Katy Mitchell-Jones * Rachel Racette * K. A. Ramstad * Taylor Rigsby * and D. L. Sloat

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zimbell House Publishing
• Release date: Feb 25, 2020
• ISBN: 9781643901534

Book preview

This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. All characters appearing in this work are the product of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the written permission of the publisher.

For permission requests, write to the publisher

Attention: Permissions Coordinator

Chipper Press

PO Box 1172

Union Lake, Michigan 48387

mail to: [e-mail]

© 2020 Chipper Press, et al

Published in the United States by Chipper Press

An imprint of Zimbell House Publishing

All Rights Reserved

Trade Paper ISBN: 978-1-64390-151-0

.mobi ISBN: 978-1-64390-152-7

ePub ISBN: 978-1-64390-153.4

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020932704

First Edition: February 2020

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Chipper Press

Union Lake, Michigan

Acknowledgements

CHIPPER PRESS WOULD like to thank all those that contributed to this anthology. We chose to show-case seven new voices that best represented our vision for this work.

We would also like to thank our Chipper Press team for all their hard work and dedication to these projects.

A Japanese Rescue with Hachi

K. A. Ramstad

Isit on the bench and watch everyone play basketball and tag. I stare at the school door, waiting for Mana to come out. Come on. Recess will be over before you get over here. I hold the book that she lent me, though I haven’t finished reading it—nor do I want to. Mana already gave me the book’s summary anyway. It’s a true story about a Japanese dog named Hachiko who would always wait for his master at the train station, even though his master had died and wasn’t coming back. Hachiko stopped by the train station every day until he passed as well, hoping to see his master again.

Why don’t I want to finish the book? Because it reminds me too much of what happened last Saturday. We owned a Corgi named Trixie, but we had her put down because she got old and had, if I can pronounce it, my-a-lop-a-thee. It’s where her spinal cord got sick to where she dragged her back legs. I glare at the book in my hands, and I bite my tongue to keep from bawling as I remember a dead Trixie wrapped in a towel at the vet’s.

Mana runs up to me, her long black hair blowing behind her. Hi, Stacy. She heaves a breath as she plops onto the bench next to me. Sorry to keep you waiting, but I had to talk to Mr. Mohler about my book report.

I groan. I can’t wait to leave sixth grade. I’ve heard that in seventh grade, you stop doing book reports.

Mana pulls out a sandwich bag from her pocket and opens it. She takes out a round, powdered candy and sinks her teeth into it. "Mmm. This stuff’s good. She holds out the bag. Want one?"

I shrug. Sure, why not? I take one and bite into the doughy texture. What’s this called?

Mochi. We used to buy a lot of these back in Tokyo, but now Mama makes them at home.

It’s good, I say. I think ice cream tastes better, but I keep that thought to myself—not just because it’s rude, but because it reminds me of when Trixie and I shared an ice cream cone on her last day. I focus all my attention on the mochi’s sweetness until the memory disappears.

Oh, by the way, I’m returning this book. I thrust the book out to Mana.

Mana smiles. Did you like it?

Yeah, I lie. Thanks for letting me borrow it. I should have told her that I couldn’t finish it, but I don’t want Mana thinking I’m this upset over a dog. I mean, it’s not like my mom or dad just died.

Suddenly, the bushes lining the playground split open, creating a sharp, rustling sound. A pointy-eared, tan-and-white dog gallops in, and kids stop playing to gush over the dog. Then, it rushes toward us. I recognize the breed: the Akita, just like Hachiko on the book cover. I brace myself, thinking that it’s going to jump on me, but it stops and sits instead.

Oh, hey, I whisper, careful not to scare or excite it. I stare at the small backpack strapped to its back. Where’s your owner?

It opens its mouth and says in a deep voice, My owner is missing.

I gasp, but before I can yell to Mana about the talking dog, Mana rubs the back of the dog’s neck and says, Hi, old friend. She turns to me and beams. Stacy, this is Hachi.

This whole thing knocks the breath out of me. Wait, you know this dog?

Sure, she says. We were friends back in Tokyo, and I told him my family would be moving here.

I gaze into the dog’s soft brown eyes and tremble. Your name is Hachi? As in Hachiko?

Yes, says the dog. He scratches his ear. My master named me after him.

Meeting a talking dog chills my skin, but something about this talking Akita makes my heart ache. He may have smaller ears and longer legs than my old Corgi, but his snout and colorings are somewhat like hers.

Mana adds, His master is the prince of the Tokyo Little People.

The words smack me. The prince of what?

The Tokyo Little People, she says. You don’t see them, but they live in the most secret places in Tokyo—right underneath people’s noses.

Mana’s probably pulling my leg, but if talking dogs exist in the world, why not little people? So, are they like the Borrowers? You know, the books?

You mean the books about tiny people that live under the floors and behind the walls in people’s houses? Mana shrugs. I guess so. The Tokyo Little People are quite small, and they do live behind secret doors.

Like under the floor? I ask. I don’t know whether to be fascinated or frightened by little people being real.

Mana shakes her head. I don’t know where they are. They’re secret, after all.

Hachi hangs his head and whines. It stabs my soul. What’s wrong?

My master, Prince Juro, has been kidnapped, and I have a hunch that he was kidnapped by the Dragon.

A breath catches in my throat as I try to keep myself from falling off the bench.

Mana’s eyes bulge. What makes you think the Dragon has kidnapped him?

Prince Juro is the best hunter in Japan, and the Dragon would always demand the prince’s hunted animals, but Juro always refused him. Yesterday, when I visited his castle, he was gone. I think the Dragon kidnapped him to enslave him so that the Dragon can get all the meat he wants.

Hachi continues, I must fight the Dragon to rescue the prince. But the problem is that I have paws, and I might need human hands to wield weapons to fight him.

He glances between us, and what I think he’s thinking twists my stomach. He woofs. Will you go and help me fight the Dragon?

My shoulders slump; I knew he would say that.

Mana lifts her chin. Of course. I helped you fight that evil monkey last time, didn’t I?

I must have fallen asleep or something, so I wag my head until my brain wakes up. Whoa, whoa, whoa! You fought an evil monkey?

Mana waves her hand in dismissal. It’s a long story. Will you join us, Stacy?

If I didn’t feel the breeze biting my cheek, I would think I must be dreaming. You’re asking me to fight the Dragon with you? Is he even real?

Hachi’s face stays motionless. He’s as real as you are, and he’s a calloused, heartless creature, so chances are, he’ll stop at nothing to keep my master. But it doesn’t matter. I must try to rescue him.

My teeth chatter. But I’ve never hunted a deer, let alone a dragon. What if I fail you guys?

Hachi’s body turns rigid. His eyebrows furrow. We can’t let fear of failure control us, young one. If I let my fear of failure keep me from rescuing the prince, the prince would be taken from me forever.

My breath accelerates. But how can we defeat the Dragon? Does he breathe fire?

Hachi wags his tail. No, he doesn’t. He lifts his chin. We should try finding the Dragon in a cave first. The Little People packed weapons in my backpack that might help you.

Mana unbuttons the backpack and opens the flap. She narrows her eyes as she pulls out a small bag and a cylindrical clay pipe. She shakes the bag in her hand, and something rattles inside. What kind of weapon is this?

The bag contains very special pebbles, says Hachi. You slip one into the pipe and blow through one end, then the pebble shoots out. Once it hits the Dragon, he will turn into porcelain.

Mana raises her brows but nods.

I say, But ... aren’t ... aren’t there any warriors bigger than us?

A smile creeps across Mana’s face. Come on, Stacy. If we put our heads together, we’ll make a great dragon-fighting team.

Hachi shifts his ears back. Even if nobody comes with me, I’ll fight the Dragon myself.

I imagine the dog getting injured by the Dragon then wrapped in a towel. Just like Trixie. I inhale deeply to ease my shaky breath. I guess I’ll go, Hachi, but how will we get to a cave?

Stand up, Hachi orders.

I leap out of my seat. I can’t believe that I’m being ordered by a dog, but I secretly chuckle at the idea of a dog being our army captain. Mana, too, stands up, and Hachi taps our hands with his nose. The entire playground disappears, and everything around me turns pitch black.

I squeak, Am I going blind? I shut and reopen my eyes, and I shiver as I still see darkness, but Mana’s flashlight gives off a faint glow.

It’s a good thing I carry this everywhere, she says. The weight lifts off my chest now that the blackness is fading.

Hachi snuggles up to my side. Your vision blacks out as we go from one place to another. But as you see, it’s only temporary.

I almost stroke Hachi’s shoulder, but since Trixie and I used to snuggle that way, I change my mind before sadness creeps in.

I have another flashlight in my sack, Stacy, says Hachi.

I unbutton the backpack and take out the biggest flashlight I’ve ever seen. I click it, and light fills the whole area, including a ceiling full of stalactites. I find my feet standing on a railed walkway over pools of water.

Mana’s face glows. I know where we are! It’s the Gyokusendo Cave on Okinawa Island. My family and I used to come here every once in a while.

Let’s go find my master, Hachi prods, and he trots down the walkway.

I follow the dog, brushing my hand against the railing. My heart races as I anticipate the Dragon, who has kidnapped the prince of a people I’ve never heard of before, popping out of nowhere. I jump at a large, white mass but then laugh at myself, for it’s only limestone with water trickling over it.

Breathing to settle my jumping stomach, I ask, Where are all the tourists?

Mana twists a corner of her mouth. Hmm. We’re in Japan now, which means it’s still early in the morning.

We are continuing our trek when, out of the blue, a voice says, Hello?

I dart my eyes every which way. Who’s that?

It sounds too deep to be Mana, yet too high to be Hachi. I look up at the many stalactites and see something shiny and green moving inside a very thick stalactite. As it moves some more, I gasp until my lungs could burst.