The Lazarus Children: The Lazarus Children, #1

By J. Clayton Rogers

After testing positive for a deadly virus, a group of children is abandoned in a state forest. Lost, and with few resources, they set out to find Slate Mountain and a refugee camp rumored to be located in an old bomb shelter. They are led by their 'pod captain', Jeremy, who is quickly placed in a moral dilemma no one, child or adult, should be forced to confront.
On reaching the mountain they find their hopes both met and dashed when they learn of an incomprehensible menace approaching from the north.
Death and adventure accompany Jeremy as he struggles to save the pod. Assisted by the older children, while being opposed by his old foe from school, he slowly and painfully accrues the lessons of leadership.

• Language: English
• Publisher: J. Clayton Rogers
• Release date: Aug 6, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223469179

J. Clayton Rogers

I am the author of more than ten novels. I was born and raised in Virginia, where I currently reside. I was First-Place Winner of the Hollins Literary Festival a number of years ago. Among the judges were Thomas (Little Big Man) Berger and R.M.W. Dillard, poet and husband of the writer Annie Dillard.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

They're gone!  Suzy leaned into the pop-up tent and shook Jeremy's shoulder.  Wake up!  They're gone!

Jeremy moaned and turned in his sleeping bag.

Wake up!

On the other side of the tent Ethan rose on his elbow.  Who's that?

Suzy...I think.

It's still dark... Ethan murmured.

I guess so if you can't see me here right next to you.

No!  No!  Don't go back to sleep!  Suzy lashed out with her fist.

Hey! Jeremy yelled.  You hit me in the face!

I thought I was aiming at your shoulder.

Good thing you're a girl.  It might've hurt.  Neither Suzy nor Ethan could see him rubbing his cheek.

Who's gone? asked Ethan.

The grownups!

How do you know? asked Jeremy.

I went over to the grownup tents.

We called them 'counselors' when we left Main Camp for an 'overnighter', said Ethan.

Suzy knows that, said Jeremy.

I was talking about how long we've been—

I'm not stupid! Jeremy snapped.

Don't hit me! Ethan winced in the dark.

When have I ever hit you?

Last night, when I farted.

That was play.

A play-hit from a jock is like a real hit to anyone on the receiving end.

Under normal circumstances, this would have needed unpacking.  Ethan was trying to calm him with a compliment.  But Jeremy did not think someone who played organized pee wee football old enough to be a 'jock'.  And the 'receiving end' pun only proved Ethan never even watched football, let alone played it.  Jeremy had a good arm for a kid his age and the coach chose him to quarterback the Dunbarton Comets.

I thought even the munchkins had figured out something was wrong, Ethan continued.  "Especially now that we've been gone three nights."

Stop talking! Suzy said.  Come and see!

And you stop shouting! Jeremy said.  You want to wake everyone?

The counselor camp is through the woods, said Ethan.  How did you find your way?

With my keychain light.  You can hardly see it glow in the day, but at night it shows a lot.

Jeremy sat up and felt around.  Finding his Fenix, he aimed it at Suzy's faint shadow and switched it on.

Ow!

Phaser set to kill.

That's mean, said Suzy, ducking out of the tent.

Better move out further!  Naked men here!

I'm not looking at you, said Suzy.  I'm looking at the Moon.

Ethan laughed.

You can see the Moon? asked Jeremy.

Not very much, said Suzy.  There's too many trees.

You're really going out? asked Ethan as Jeremy drew on his pants and searched for his Skechers.

Mr. Sandford said I was Honorary Captain of the Pod.

So?  He just meant you're in charge of the evacuation in case skunks show up.

He said it in front of everyone.  That means it's real.  If I don't go with Suzy she'll start yelling and wake everyone up.  You coming?

Might as well.  I'm woke.  Does that make me your lieutenant?

If you want.  Where's your phone?

Ethan held up a rectangle of light.

Jeremy had found out about Ethan's old Samsung their first night out and had properly berated him, as befitted a captain.

We were supposed to turn them in last winter!  You could've been kicked out of Main Camp, along with your parents!  If they're anything like mine, you'd have caught a wallop.

It's not hooked up to the net.  The plan expired last year.  Even if it did work, there's no signal way out here.  But it works as a flashlight.

How were you able to charge it?  There wasn't any plug in our unit.

They've got plugs in the chow hall.  There's a 110v outlet next to the 220 in the kitchen.  It's hidden behind the big freezer.  I go in the back way and no one notices.

And no one ever saw you all year?

Once or twice the cooks saw me.  They thought I was trying to steal ice cream and chased me out.  But most of the time I was the invisible boy.  As usual.

Jeremy had fumed until Ethan offered to loan the phone to him so he could play Eternium and Plague Inc., neither of which required an internet connection.  Alone together in their tent, their secret was safe, though Jeremy was surprised he could be so easily bribed.  But long hikes were boring.  The only entertainment came after the last campfire session of Name That Tune, hiding in their thin sleeping bags so no light would betray them.  Over the last three nights they had drained over half the battery.  The flashlight app still worked, but they couldn't use it for long.

Don't let Suzy see that!  She'll tell!  It doesn't matter if you only use it for light.  When we get back to Main Camp, the counselors will stand you up in front of the Assembly and strip off your merit badges.

All I've got is one for Good Citizenship.

And you've just shown what a lousy citizen you are.

You've got a lot more badges to lose.

It was true.  By playing games at night, Jeremy had made himself culpable.

All right.  I changed my mind.  Put it away!  My light's good enough to get us to the counselors.

They finished dressing and joined Suzy, who was turning like a slow top in the clearing in front of the pop-up tent.

Need to go to the bathroom? Jeremy asked.

Uh-huh.

You know where to go.

The toilet's too close to the tents, she wailed softly.  I told that to Mrs. Madrigal, but she didn't listen.

It's not really a toilet.  It's just the ground.  No one will see you under the trees, not at...  Jeremy stopped.  He did not know what time of night it was.

The counselors are camped over there...  She pointed at the woods.

I know that.  You went over there?  Why?

I was going to ask Mrs. Madrigal if I could use the grownup bathroom.  They must have something better than old dirt and leaves.  But she wasn't there.  None of them were...

You must have been lost, said Jeremy.

They said they would leave a light on so we could see them in the dark, Ethan whispered uneasily.  I don't see anything now.

Maybe the lamp batteries died, Jeremy reasoned.

Then they'd have had a fire going.  Just a little one to see by...but we would've smelled smoke.

Let's go look.

But I have to pee!  Suzy pressed one foot against the other, as though squeezing her bladder shut.  She was wearing pink slippers.

Hold on, said Ethan, dipping back inside the tent.  He came out with a ball of string.

That's the string for your dragon kite, Jeremy said disapprovingly.  First the phone, now this.  What else was Ethan hiding?  I thought Mr. Sandford confiscated it.  He said there wouldn't be any open fields to fly it where we're going.

We've crossed a few fields.  I don't think he wanted anyone outside the congregation to see it.  The kite, I mean.

That's dumb, said Jeremy uncertainly.  Ever since their arrival in Fauquier County, Deacon Sandford had emphasized the need to avoid strangers.  They wouldn't understand, they would be jealous, they would try to steal their food....

Maybe.  But he let me keep the string.  He said you never knew when it might come in handy.  Ethan took Suzy's hand and looped one end around her wrist.

Too tight!  What are you doing?

Here, it's looser now.  Go into the woods and pee.  When you're done just yank on it and we'll pull you back.

But we're still too close to the tents!

This is 200 meters of 12-ply cotton twine.

What's that in American?

Over 200 yards.  You could go the length of two football fields!

Can't you walk with me some?  Just a little ways?  Mrs. Madrigal would have watched out for me...

I haven't seen any bears around here, Jeremy snorted.

I mean away from Creepy Bunghole.

Jeremy whirled.  What did you say?

That's what I heard someone call Doug.  He's a snoop.

Just call him Doug, will you? Jeremy said in frustration.  He tensed when he heard movement between the tents.  Turning to look, he tensed even more.

What's going on? said Gerty, coming up.  She was the same age as Jeremy, but he had to cock his head up a little to meet her eyes.  Pretty annoying.

Suzy woke us up, said Ethan.  She thinks the counselors have left.

That's dumb.

Yeah, said Jeremy.  He didn't like that she thought the same as he did about it, but at least it saved an argument.  Gerty had a way of winning arguments, even when she was wrong.

"People..." Suzy moaned.

She has to pee, said Ethan.

"Bad..."

Then why doesn't she—  Gerty looked at Suzy and smiled.  You're shy.  Let's move away from the tents.

That's what we were planning to do, Jeremy said irritably.

I want Mrs. Madrigal.

If you have to pee this bad, we might not be able to reach her in time.  Gerty tapped the string on Susan's wrist and followed it with her eyes back to Ethan.

We didn't want to lose her when she went off to do her business.

Good idea.

I thought so.

Jeremy rolled his eyes.

It won't reflect well on the Captain of the Pod if one of his people pees in her underwear, said Gerty.

Jeremy realized this was probably true.

Let's go toward the counselor's camp, he said.  We can stop halfway and reel her out.

That's right, your father went fishing with my father, Gerty said.  I enjoy fresh bass.

It was a one-off, said Jeremy with a grimace.

I remember, Gerty nodded.  Your father played opera on his android.

He wore earphones, Jeremy protested.

He still scared off the fish.  They must have good hearing.  And my dad said he could hear—

I choked on a bone, once, said Ethan sourly, trotting ahead to keep up with Suzy as she headed out of the small clearing for the privacy of the woods.  She must be ready to burst to take the lead like this.  Her little keychain light exposed the trees, reaching out like hungry trolls.  But right now there were more important things than monsters.

You heard us? Jeremy asked Gerty as they followed Ethan and Suzy.

I was already awake.

But isn't your tent way over—?

I was in Bucky's tent.

But he's just over there...  Jeremy pointed vaguely towards the tents.

Mrs. Dubois asked me to keep an eye on him.

He's sick?  Mrs. Dubois was a special nurse.  The adults referred to her as an 'RN'.

Mrs. Dubois gave me some aspirin.  She asked me to check on Bucky during the night and give him some if he was still feeling bad.

But—

I don't know why she asked me instead of keeping him in the counselor camp.  She gave me a wink when she spoke to me.  I got the feeling...  Gerty stopped and looked off to the woods.

You think she was busy doing something else?

I don't know, Gerty repeated.  But her husband didn't make the hike.  He's back at Main Camp.

Oh, Jeremy said, thinking this was a good place to stop asking.

Suzy stopped and whispered to Ethan.  He unrolled several yards of string before letting her start.  When Jeremy and Gerty caught up Suzy was already picking her way past forest debris.  She came upon a fallen tree and crouched behind it.

She didn't go very far, Jeremy snickered.

Ethan checked the string.  I guess twenty yards is a long way for a five-year-old.

We should be able to see the night lamp from the counselor camp from here, said Gerty.

Should've been able to see it from our tents, said Ethan.

There's a lot of trees, said Jeremy.  And maybe we're looking the wrong way.

No, said Ethan.  Shine your light over there.

Jeremy shifted the Fenix to a nearby tree and saw the blaze Mr. Sandford had carved in the bark.

He even set up a hiking cairn.

They saw a small pile of stones in the cone of light.

We're going the right way, then, said Gerty.

Jeremy wiggled his flashlight in the direction of the counselor camp.  There was no response.

They're sleeping... said Gerty hopefully.

But they were all wondering if Suzy was right.  Was it possible they had been abandoned in Great Slate Mountain Forest?

Ethan felt a tug on the string.  She can't be lost...

How would you know? said Gerty, waving at Suzy as the little keychain light approached them.  Looks like you didn't need Mrs. Madrigal to guard your back, after all.

It's scary here.  She was walking slower than before, the urgency gone from her bladder.  Ethan removed the string from her wrist.

Everything come out all right?

Can I go back to my tent, now?  If Flora wakes up and sees me gone, she might creep out.

Flora's your tent buddy? asked Gerty.  If she was scared, we would hear her screaming.  We don't want that.

We're halfway to the counselor camp, said Jeremy.  Let's go on.

I don't want to go there, Suzy protested.

You went before...by yourself.

That was before I knew they were gone.  I don't want to see that again.

Gerty, you want to take her back to her tent? asked Jeremy.

I want to see the counselor camp.

Me, too, said Ethan.

Then you'll have to go back to your tent alone, said Jeremy to Suzy.  Is that all right?  You know the way and your flashlight works.

I want company to keep the wolves away.

Then you'll have to come with us, said Jeremy.  Don't cry.  You're almost big enough for first grade.  That's when kids stop crying.

Hold on, I think I dropped a tear, said Ethan, leaning down to search the ground.

You're so dumb, said Jeremy.  Help out here, will you?

You'll be all right, said Gerty, taking Suzy's hand.  I'll watch out for you.

OK...I guess...

Jeremy took the lead, but slowed his steps as he approached the counselor camp.  Mr. Sandford had warned him not to wake up the adults unless there was an emergency.  Emergencies included sickness among the children, large wild animals roaming among the tents and intrusions by strangers.  Only the first category fit, and the RN already knew Bucky was sick.  He had witnessed Mr. Sandford's mighty wrath on several occasions back at Main Camp.  He once even knocked down Mr. Smith for a transgression that remained a mystery.  Mr. Smith was a big man.  A blow like that might kill Jeremy.  That would be mild compared to the embarrassment of being demoted from Pod Captain—now that he had become accustomed to the title.

Gerty, growing impatient with his pace, slid past him, dragging Suzy beside her.  She stopped at the edge of the counselor camp.

Something's wrong.  Will you please bring the flashlight, Jeremy?  I can't see much...

Jeremy came up beside her and shown the light on the clearing.

Their tents are gone!

See!  See!  I told you!  Suzy shrank against Gerty.

Calm down! Jeremy said.  We don't want to wake up the neighbors.

Ethan chuckled nervously.  Jeremy was talking about the children in the tents but made it sound as if they were down a suburban block instead of fifty yards through the woods.  Although they had gone to the same intermediate school, their acquaintanceship had only begun at Main Camp, almost a year ago.  They fit like pieces in a puzzle, their shared practicality binding Ethan's klutzy humor with Jeremy's focused solemnity.  Some of Ethan's jokes, though never vulgar, went too far.  Jeremy smacked them down with a sharp snort.

Maybe I shouldn't have told them about seeing Big Foot down by the stream, said Ethan.

Jeremy snorted.

Whoa, you think I scared the counselors away? Ethan protested.

Oh! Suzy cried.  You tricked the counselors?  Where did you send them?

What makes you think something like that?

Some people believe in Big Foot, said Gerty.

Not grownups.  Ethan began to fake an asthma attack, as he usually did when he felt he was being cornered.  He might become short of breath after performing a brief chore, but respiratory disease was not listed among his medical complaints.  I was joking!

You can't be trusted, said Gerty.

Why not?

Maybe because you put blue paint in the camp birdbath, said Gerty.

That's a prank, Ethan gasped theatrically.  Not a...not a lie.

Same difference.

Someone complained about there not being bluebirds.  I still think it was a good idea.

I don't think the birds would've been happy.  Good thing Mrs. Maywether spilled it out before—

I only talked about it!  Someone else overheard and...I can't even figure out where he found the paint!

So who did it?

Randy would kill me if I told...

That's pretty good, squealing without squealing— Gerty stopped when Jeremy turned his flashlight on her.

Hey!  Gerty shielded her eyes.

Use your head!  None of the counselors would buy into a story about Big Foot.  And Mr. Sandford would never play a joke like this.

He never plays any jokes, Ethan sighed.

He isn't the type.  If he left with the other counselors, he meant to leave.  What I think...

What do you think? asked Gerty.  And can you turn that light away?

I think they went off for something, but they'll be back in the morning.

Why would they take their tents with them?

We can ask them when it's daylight.  Jeremy looked down at Suzy.  Is that all right with you?  You won't run back spreading rumors, will you?

'Rumors'?

Silly stories that might scare the others.  I don't think anything bad is going on.  We've been away from Main Camp three days.  Maybe this is something they've done every night, only we didn't notice until you had to go to the bathroom.

"Can't I tell anyone about it? Suzy asked carefully.  Flora will wonder where I've been so long."

Maybe later.  It probably won't mean anything once the counselors come back and explain everything.

This did not suit Suzy.  Scandal had to be current to impress listeners.  Jeremy was suggesting this would be old news by dawn.  But Jeremy was older and bigger, almost a man to her way of thinking.  The flashlight threw dark shadows over his face, making him look dangerous.

All right, she said.  I won't say anything.

Good girl.  Jeremy paused.  Mrs. Madrigal would be proud of you.

Really?

Hey, said Ethan.  We should look around a bit.  I mean, I know we shouldn't go far in the dark, but...

Gerty pressed the light button on her watch.  Oh wow, it's one o'clock.

I didn't know you had a watch, said Jeremy.

I've never been up that late, said Suzy.  Or early.

I used to set my VTech for midnight on Christmas, said Ethan.  I wanted to catch Santa in the act.

And did you? asked Gerty.  Catch him?

Missed him by seconds.

Maybe he heard your alarm and took off up the chimney.

Stupid Woodrow Kaniski told me there wasn't a Santa Claus.

There you go, Suzy, said Jeremy.  A perfect example of a rumor.  I hope you don't repeat it and upset someone.

No...  Suzy's face pinched whenever she lied.

I think we should wait until we can see before looking around, Jeremy continued.  We wouldn't want to get lost.

I mean...just look around the clearing here, said Ethan.  You know...look for clues...

Clues? Jeremy scoffed.  Like CSI?

Just loan me your flashlight so I can—

Are you going to keep me awake worrying about this?

I might toss and turn.

Just a quick look, then.  Gerty, you stay here with Suzy.

We're coming, too.  Right, Suzy?  She's got her keychain light and I've got a little light on my watch that works good enough in the dark.

You'll run down your battery.

And run out of time, Ethan quipped.

Then we'll stay close to you, Gerty asserted.  We won't be going far.  I can almost see to the end of the clearing even now.  They had six tents for six adults.  They didn't share.  There weren't any married couples.  Mr. Sandford said he wanted one adult for every four children, because some of the others need extra help.  That means there's 24 of us.

I can multiply, Jeremy said edgily.

In case you didn't notice, none of our parents came on the hike.

There must be some—

No, I checked.  You don't need to be a Brainiac.  There's only six counselors, if you include Deacon Sandford.  All of our parents are back at Main Camp.

All right.  So?

I thought it was kinda strange, too, said Ethan.  His plump face had taken on an odd angular look, like the tree limbs exposed by Jeremy's flashlight.  My folks said it was all right before we set out.  But poker faces run in my family.  My father once told me apples were oranges by another name.  It took me a month to find out he was lying his face off.  Cool as a cucumber...  He paused.  I don't think I inherited that particular gene.  What do you guys think?  He struck a pose that no one noticed.

Mine said the same thing, about this hike being OK, said Gerty.  I'll bet yours did, too, Jeremy.  I won't say you can't trust them, but...

I can't guess what you two are getting at.  If you want to look so bad, let's look.  But I keep the flashlight.  My parents paid for it, so it's mine.  Maybe Suzy can loan you her keychain.

No!

Then I guess I'll just have to hold onto you, said Gerty, looking as if she wanted to pinch the girl.

They walked through the clearing, here and there kicking over clumps on the ground.

They were all set up, said Ethan.  I can see the tent peg holes.

Look here! cried Suzy, taking up a small piece of paper.  It's got writing!

She jerked away when Gerty reached down.

I can read!  She squinted down.  Let go my hand so I can shine my light on it!  It's too dark—!

Jeremy snatched the paper away from her and held his flashlight up to it.

What does it say? Gerty demanded.  She used the glow from Jeremy's light to survey the ground around her.  I think this is where Mrs. Dubois pitched her tent.  I visited before the sun went down.

Hold on, said Jeremy.

Why don't you try reading out loud? Ethan pressed.  If you don't understand—

It's nothing.  I mean, it's a quote.  'The Lord is my strength and my song; He has given me victory'.

Good 'ol Exodus 15:2, said Ethan.  That's one of Mr. Sandford's favorites.  He uses it whenever the seniors fail to qualify for Scholastic Scrimmage.

Right, said Jeremy, pocketing the note.

Hey! Gerty protested.  Can't we see it?  It might tell where they've gone.

It doesn't, said Jeremy.  It's just something from Mr. Scream.

'Mr. Scream' taught the Bible Study class.  His real name was Mr. Fisk.  That the children called him 'Scream' was due to his theatrical re-creation of the Pharaoh's minions drowning in the Red Sea while pursuing Moses.

That's a funny thing to leave behind, said Gerty.

I don't think the note was left for us.  I think they just dropped it.

Then it's a funny thing to drop.

Have you seen enough?  When we come back tomorrow morning, I'm sure the counselors will be here.  This is some kind of mix-up, that's all.

As they re-traced their steps to the children's camp, Jeremy dropped back to talk to Gerty.

Are you going back to Bucky's tent before you turn in?

Uh...I guess.  Mrs. Dubois would want me to.

Good.  Is Bucky his real name?

That's his nickname.  He's Walter Karas.  Why?

His parents are back at Main Camp?

Like mine.  Like yours.  Like everyone's in the pod.  I told you.

I was just wondering.  Sometimes it's good to know people's real names.

I don't see why, said Gerty.  I'm not about to tell you mine.

That bad, huh?

Not really.  But foggy names are better.

'Foggy'?

Like something you can see but not touch.  You'll always be Jeremy.  You can't escape.  But I might not always be Gerty.

I like being Jeremy.

I like being...somebody.

CHAPTER TWO

Daylight brought only despair when they returned to the counselor camp.  The trees shucked sunlight on the empty clearing with a chuckling vacancy.  Even in the company of protective adults, the woods had confronted the children with quiet malice.  Few of them had ever gone camping and what they knew of forests would fit in a city park.  This alien world had no road signs because there were no roads.  The last paved surface they had seen led to Main Camp.  That had been over a year ago, on a chilly afternoon under a slate-colored sky.  Their long convoy snaked past farms and equestrian centers, most of which seemed abandoned.  Unlike the summer camps some of them had attended, when they rode through the main gate there was no sign overhead.  No Camp Sunshine or Camp St. Paul.  Just an arch of barbed wire.

Since then, they had suffered the deprivations of an increasingly isolated society.  Their phones and handheld games gradually dimmed.  There were no power outlets in their cabins, although the electrical lines above were plain to see.  Weeping and wailing filled Main Camp when the children's IPhones and Nintendos were confiscated.  No amount of reasoning assuaged their outrage and misery.  Several threatened to tell their school social workers about parental abuse.  The situation was not improved when a child reported seeing a sliver of light behind the heavy curtains in one of the counselor cabins.  She insisted it came from a real light bulb, not a kerosene lamp.  There were over three hundred children in Main Camp and the Great Slate Mountain Forest had never heard such a row.

Mr. Sandford, truth be told, was not very good with children.  His two sons and daughter asserted he was pretty decent...all things considered.  Not a sterling reference.  He gathered the children in the Gary Johnson Hall and explained the rumors were ill-judged, that they were all operating under the same primitive conditions.  In fact, the utilities at Main Camp were far more modern than they realized.  Certainly, the original pioneers had not benefited from Colemans.

This attempt at levity flew over most of the younger heads in the crowd.  But not Suzy Miller's.  She might be a child with the bladder of a 70-year-old that kept her up half the night, but she was not shy when the truth pushed her from behind.  She was the one who had seen the sliver of light, and she voiced her opinion for all to hear.

I know the difference between a wicker and a light bulb!

I'm sure you do, um...

Mr. Sandford's assistant leaned over and whispered in his ear.

Suzy, you seem to be a bright girl...

Several in the audience, Ethan among them, laughed at the unintended pun.

We have power in the mess hall, of course.  We could eat out of cans...something else the pioneers did not have...but that would limit our variety.  I'm sure you would miss your ice cream!

With this, Mr. Sandford won over the majority.  Menacing glances were thrown in Suzy's direction by other children.  Was she putting their dessert at risk?  She lowered her head to her knees, embarrassed and a little frightened.

Things will return to normal very soon, I promise you, said Mr. Sandford, visibly pleased at having quelled a potential riot.  You will go back to your homes.  School doors will be opened.  Restaurants and movie theaters will be opened.

Cool, Spiderman! a boy shouted.

Yes, your Marvel heroes will be back on the big screen and you can munch on all the buttered popcorn you can hold—although I can't say I recommend...  Mr. Sandford stopped to gauge his audience and glanced at his assistant, who shook her head.  That's right, stuff your mouths as much as you want!

This brought forth cheers from the assembly.

Now let's head out for the mess hall for some chocolate-coated ice cream bars!

The counselors half-heartedly tried to impose order on the mob that raced outside.  The children took no note of the forest beyond Main Camp, kept at a distance by burly adults wielding chainsaws.

But there were no chainsaws in the camp abandoned by the counselors, because there were no counselors.  Now the forest, never benevolent, scowled down upon the dozen children searching the clearing for any sign of the missing grownups.  Suzy had not returned, preferring to remain with the pod.  Jeremy assumed she was regaling wide-eyed listeners with her eyewitness account of last night's events.  This could not be stopped, but at least Jeremy had drawn a promise from her not to exaggerate too much.

He neglected to define 'exaggeration'.

Jeremy and Ethan were joined by several other children about their age, but Gerty was not among them.  Jeremy figured she was catching up on her sleep or checking on the sick boy, Bucky.  This suited him.  She had darted him with skeptical glances ever since Mr. Sandford made him pod captain.  She might have joined forces with Randy, who was among those who accompanied Jeremy and Ethan to the counselor camp at daylight.  Randy combined the scowl of the self-righteous, the determined frown of the rash and the grin of the contemptuous in a wicked facial stew.  You could never predict what he would say or do.  His ridicule was wide-ranging.  He would climb the highest tree and swim the widest pond for the right to mock those who did not follow.

Those jerks! Randy announced on seeing the abandoned clearing.

You're talking about the counselors, Jeremy cautioned.

Yeah.  Right.  Jerks!  Who do they think they are, taking off like this?

You don't think they'll be back?

If they were coming back, they'd have told us they were going.

I think Randy's right, said Ethan reluctantly.

There's no thinking different, Randy sneered.  He did not understand why some of the adults thought so much of Ethan.  In his opinion, the chubby boy could not make it to the top of a tree with a ladder truck.  Let's go get them!

His belligerent tone suggested he would batter the counselors once he found them.  He might also knock down anyone who tried to stop him—including the pod captain.

Don't go alone! Jeremy said with a brave front.  If you're going to look for them, you need to go in a group.

So we can get lost as a group? Randy laughed.

Don't you watch any horror movies? Ethan said.  It's never a good idea to break up—

So Sandford's a slasher-killer? said Randy.  Is that what you're saying?

No!  Of course not!  I just think Jeremy's right—

Shut up.

Jeremy said something in a low voice.

What's that? demanded Randy.

I don't think the counselors want to be found...

That's their tough luck.  I'm going to find them.

I mean...there's a reason...

Yeah?  There's a reason why they would race away, leaving us with no food or water?

We've got food and water, Ethan interrupted.

Yeah?  How much?

For a...for a couple days, at least.

Didn't I tell you to shut up, Tubby?  Randy turned to the others in the clearing.  I don't need anyone else, but let's make the pod captain happy.  Who's coming with me?

Militant cheers came from several boys, who would never have considered leaving the pod had not Randy been leading.

All right...we've got a group.  I'm going the way we came.  See that gap in the trees?  I remember coming through there.  That's the way.

Just go a hundred yards or so and then come back, Jeremy urged.

Randy paused and raked Jeremy with a skeptical grin.  That wouldn't get us very far.

That's just within earshot, said Jeremy.

Maybe, Ethan said doubtfully.

Jeremy did not like the way Randy linked him with Ethan in a simple glance.  Everyone knew Ethan was a weak link.  He was a walking encyclopedia when it came to game consoles, but what else did he know?  What else could he do besides twiddle his thumbs across handheld controls?  Randy was right.  He couldn't kick an anthill without breaking a toe.  But he was a better bunkmate than the bully trying to stare him down.

Well, maybe the counselors are just a hundred yards away, said Randy.  "Maybe they're testing us for a merit badge.  Camping...Nature...Personal Development...Disabilities Awareness...Leadership..."

Don't forget Common Sense.

There's no such thing.

There should be.  What you want to do doesn't make sense.

Makes all the sense in the world to me.  You want to survive, first thing you do is cut yourself off from the losers.

Betty Taylor, one of the older children who had come with the group to the clearing, made a sound of disgust.  That's mean.

Ouch!  You ripped off my Good Citizenship badge.  But look...no blood!  Guess I'll survive.  When we run into the counselors, I'll tell Sandford to give you a shout-out.  A voice like his, you should be able to hear.

But they don't want us— Jeremy began.

"Maybe they don't want you, said Randy.  But I know my dad and mom are waiting for me back at Main Camp.  They love me all to pieces.  My father needs me to practice his two-seam fastball.  Hey!  Sheila!  You coming?  Just think of your mommy and daddy waiting at the wall.  As soon as they hear you they'll run out and give you a big fat hug!"

Sheila, a little redhead, began to trot to the boys surrounding Randy.  Jeremy caught her by the arm.

No you don't.  He turned to Randy.  She's only seven!  What do you think you're doing?

She's a tough one, said Randy.  Cm'on, Sheila, break Jeremy's arm and come over here.

The girl began fighting Jeremy, who found it difficult to hold on to her.  He looked to Ethan for help.

She might start biting, said Ethan, looking on with horror.

Sheila took the cue and bit Jeremy on the hand.  He shouted in pain, but managed to escape her teeth without losing his grip.

Thanks, he said to Ethan.

Too bad, Sheila, Randy shrugged.  Looks like I was wrong.  You're one of the weaklings.  All right, team.  Time to get going.  'Daddy wants to make us cry!'

To Jeremy and Ethan's surprise, the three boys with Randy fell in with the chant:

'Daddy wants to make us cry!'

Randy turned and headed for the woods.

'Mommy wants to make us cry!'

'Mommy wants to make us cry!'

They fell into a kind of shambling lock-step as they filed into the gap in the trees.

'Bad boys!'

'Bad boys!'

'Bad boys don't cry!'

How long have they been practicing that? Ethan wondered as the voices faded in the undergrowth.

Jeremy gave Sheila a shake.  Stop that!  You're staying with us!

I'll hold onto her, said Betty.

Thanks.  He stood back, rubbing his hand.  Okay, we haven't finished.  Let's look around some more.  Maybe they left instructions somewhere.  Something besides a quote from the Bible.  Don't go far into the woods.

They wandered in circles, as though blinded by the evidence of broad daylight.  They went into the shade of the trees and blinked at the aching emptiness.  Ten minutes later Ethan ran into the center of the clearing and looked around, breathing hard.  Then he saw Jeremy emerging from the underbrush and waved him over.

You found something?

Yes, said Ethan in a low voice.  I need you to see before the others find it.

What?

They're gone for sure, Jeremy.  The counselors won't be coming back.

Show me.

I don't want...

No one's looking this way.

But by the time they reached the woods several children noted their furtive behavior and began drifting in their direction.

Hurry up, said Jeremy once they were in the trees.  They're coming.  How much further—?

We're there.  Look up.

Jeremy raised his eyes and gasped.

Bear bags...

Yeah...a lot of them.

All of the adults had hiked in with bear hangs strapped on.  The biggest was capable of holding five days' worth of food.  Smaller bags had been toted by some of the older children.  Those were back at the pod.  Mr. Sandford said it had been a long time since a bear was spotted in Great Slate.  Hanging the bags from branches was intended to keep raccoons and other hungry foragers at bay, which was why they were also called rodent sacks.  Jeremy had not seen any bags slung in the trees while on the way up here.  He was told they were made of ripstop nylon, strong enough to resist most intrusions.  But now the counselors had gone to the trouble of raising them off the ground.

Did they leave without taking any food for themselves?

Take a closer look, said Ethan.  There's a dozen bags up there, none of them very large.  They broke the packs down so that even we...I mean the smaller kids...can carry them.  They probably filled their pockets with power bars before taking off.

But that means...

They planned this ahead.  They brought us out here on purpose.

What...to abandon us?  Jeremy felt sick in his stomach.  There had been a lot of hope in his half-lie about the counselors coming back.

Ethan's eyes began to glisten.

Don't cry!  We don't want to scare the others.

But they'll find out.  They'll know.

We can make up a story.  We can say...  Jeremy's imagination worked well with practical things, but he was not good at fantasy.

There's that paper Suzy found.  It could be a note from them.  We can say one of the counselors got sick.  Maybe a couple of them.  They had to carry them back to Main Camp in a hurry.  We could say it was appendicitis or something...something not contagious...and they couldn't wait.  That they'll be back to get us.

That's good, but...

But what?

That would mean staying here, when maybe we have to move on.

Don't you think it would help if you showed me that paper? Ethan fretted.  It was really dark.  You might not have been able to read it properly.  It could be a note—

Just help me out here, will you? said Jeremy, hearing footsteps and childish queries from the clearing.

So...the letter says some counselors got sick, but they want us to go on.  That's why they left the food.  They want us to reach...where was it Mr. Sandford said we were going?  Slate Mountain?  If it weren't for the trees, we would be able to see it from here.  So it's not a long haul.  Say the letter says they'll catch up with us later, but they want us to keep going.  You might add that the letter says...

What?

That they really love us.  They wouldn't leave us like this unless they knew we were safe.

That sounds good.

I hope the real letter doesn't say something like they hate us and are glad to be rid of us, said Ethan.

No, it doesn't say that, said Jeremy slowly.  Anyway, it's not a letter.

The first to follow Jeremy and Ethan into the woods were Betty and Sheila.  Sheila did not seem to be fighting against the grip Betty had on her.

Look, said Jeremy, pointing up.  The counselors left enough food for us to finish our trip.  And look up there...Hydrojugs.  We won't run out of water.  I know they look heavy, but I'll carry one.  Ethan can take one.  And...

Randy could've carried two of those, said Sheila.

You don't still want to run off with him, do you?

She changed her mind when she heard the screams, said Betty nervously.

Screams?

I think I heard them, too, after Sheila mentioned it.

You think it was Randy and the others?

I don't know.  I can't think he'd scream for anything.  It could have been a flock of birds or something.

They paused to listen.  All they heard were katydids...locusts...cicadas...and isolated birds.  None of them knew enough to tell which was which.  At the moment, they all blanked out Mr. Hoffman's lecture on local fauna.

"Hey lord, you delivered Daniel from the bottom of the lion's den,

You delivered Jonah from the belly of the whale and then

The Hebrew children from the fiery furnace,

So the good books do declare;

Hey lord, if you can't help me,

For goodness sake don't help that bear!"

Who's that singing? Jeremy asked in alarm.

The choirmaster's boy, what's-his-twerp, said Ethan.

Harmon, said Betty.

Yeah, he's got the American Songbag memorized.

I think I saw that on the deacon's bookshelf at Main Camp, said Jeremy.  A really old book.

From when people sang instead of listening, said Ethan.  I'm surprised you haven't heard him before.  Those camp singalongs—

I guess I wasn't paying attention.  Out here, it sticks out.  I don't think...

"Well, he shouldn't be singing about bears, anyway," said Betty, going out into the clearing to silence him, Sheila in hand.

Jeremy and Ethan followed her into the open and stared at the gap where Randy and his friends had vanished.  After waiting a minute, Jeremy asked the other children if they had heard anything.  A dozen children had tramped to the counselor camp.  Randy's departure reduced them to eight.  They all gathered around Jeremy.

I didn't hear anything but birds, said Rich, who was the same age as Jeremy: 12.  For not marching off with Randy, Jeremy credited him with common sense.  How about you guys?

The remaining children, years younger, shook their heads.

I know I heard—

Sheila thinks she heard Randy shouting out there in the woods, Jeremy interrupted.  Shouting was a lot less unsettling than screaming.

Rich's face brightened.  He's coming back?

If so, we'll run into him while we're taking food back to the pod.

Food?

I don't know what happened with the counselors, but they don't want us to starve.  They left food and water for us in the trees.  It'll take us a couple of trips to get it all to the pod.

I didn't hear shouting, I heard—  Sheila's words stopped with a squeak when Betty pinched her.  Ow!  Why'd you do that?  Did you see what she did?

Jeremy was startled.  Of all the older children, Betty got along best with the younger.  At Main Camp she had been an assistant in the kindergarten.  For her, smacking and pinching were out of the question.  Perhaps she was feeling the strain of the moment.  Or she was just trying to help out the pod captain when he was feeling trapped by the facts.

All I heard was a bunch of birds, said Betty as though addressing a debate society.

I'm going to tell!  Sheila glared up at Jeremy.  You better do something or I'll tell...on both of you!

What's the big deal? asked Rich.  What does she think she heard?

Before Jeremy could cook up another story (he could not ask Ethan for one without looking foolish), Betty said:

Oh, she thinks she heard 'screaming'.  But you heard those morons going on about 'bad boys'.  Didn't that sound like screaming to you?  Not one of them was admitted to the choir.  Isn't that right, Harmon?  Your father said they were screamers.

Harmon, a little irate because Betty had cut short 'The Preacher and the Bear', limited his response to a surly nod.

Screamers, all of them, Betty continued.  You couldn't have that after the sermon.

Jeremy was thanking his lucky star that it was Betty and not Gerty who had come to the clearing with him.  But while Betty was strong enough to hold onto Sheila, Gerty could backpack as much weight as Jeremy.  He would need her help with retrieving the larger bear hangs.

Rich and the others accepted Betty's explanation.  And why not?  They had not heard any screaming or shouting or such.  This convinced Jeremy that there had been nothing to hear.  Sheila was mistaken, or making it all up.  And Betty admitted it might have been birds.

Jeremy began to lead Rich and the others to the food cache, but Ethan held him back with a tug on his shirt.

There's a bunch of bear bags hanging from the trees, he told Rich.

Food?

And water, Jeremy said, giving Ethan a glance of frustration.  Can you go in and untie the lines?  Be careful when you lower the bags.  I don't think there's any glass jars or anything in them, but you never know.  And don't stand beneath the bags.  If they drop—

I'll show how it's done, said Betty, tugging at Sheila as she followed Rich.  My father took us to Beartree every year.  He was careful about the hangs.

Good.  Good.

Come on, all of you, Betty said to the other children.  We should give Rich a hand.  But watch your heads!

Bemused, the children followed her and Rich, giving a shout of glee when they looked up in the branches.

When they had gone into the woods, Jeremy whirled on Ethan.  What's wrong with you?  I want to be with them when they get the bags.

Ethan cringed beneath Jeremy's dark gaze.  Uh...we're friends, right?

We're bunkmates.  I don't know if that's the same.

Ethan's fearful sorrow accentuated his plump face.

Don't start crying again.

I'm not crying!  It's just that...if Betty and Sheila really heard something...

Screams?

We didn't hear anything.  But if...think about it.  Think about Randy and the others screaming.  If it's true...there might be something out there.

Maybe Mr. Sandford caught them and whipped out the Whacker.  The Whacker was an infamous paddle similar to a cricket bat.  It was used to spank the wickedest of boys (it was always the boys) when they stepped out of line once too often.  It was usually wielded by Mr. Updale, the Sunday school custodian.  Mr. Updale had not joined the hike, nor had Jeremy seen any sign of the Whacker in Mr. Sandford's backpack.  But adults were clever when it came to concealing the tools of corporal punishment.

Ethan shuffled some dead leaves underfoot.

Cm'on, what could be out there to make Randy scream? Jeremy demanded.

"How should I know?  But if there is something...maybe it's the reason the counselors left."

A chill went through Jeremy.

You get it? Ethan continued.  We need to move on.  Now.  And I don't think we should go back the way we came.  That's what Randy did...

And perhaps Randy had run into the same thing that frightened off the counselors.  Jeremy was angry with Ethan for roping him in with imaginary demons.  The counselors had not run away in terror.  They had systematically divided up provisions for the children.  This must have taken some time, especially in the dark.  But he could not dismiss the fear settling into his heart.  By its very density the forest represented the unknown.  And in spite of their denials, the adults must have some contact with the outside world.  Perhaps the danger, if there was any, was not here but...out there.  And they had rushed away to deal with it.

Maybe they're trying to protect us, Jeremy reasoned.

I thought of that, said Ethan.  That ratty flu going around is bad.  But you know what?  I've never met anyone who caught it.

You've heard the stories.  You saw the news, before we got to Main Camp.

Right.  My question is, did they throw us out of the frying pan into the fire?

They