“Who–who are you?” asked Lizzie Jane in a frightened voice.
“Oh, just a traveling partner,” the voice answered. “I ride the rails often. How about you? Are you a run-away?”
“No — no — I was just trying to get in out of the rain.” Lizzie Jane replied, still with a nervous voice.
“Rain? The sun is shining, hon.”
“Well, it was raining.”
The man smiled. Lizzie Jane adjusted her eyes to the light. The man had on tattered clothing, a short beard and two front teeth missing. “You must be from North Alabama. I understand that it was raining cats and dogs up there.”
“I am from Carter’s Bend”, replied Lizzie Jane.
“Yep, know right where it’s at”, answered the man. “You are in South Alabama — a fer piece from Carter’s Bend. My name is George.”
“I am Elizabeth Jane, but my friends call me Lizzie.”
“Well, can I be your friend — Lizzie?”
“Well — I guess so,” was the young girl’s reply.
The rains came — perhaps a little early for the first weeks of November, with torrential downpours causing streams to swell out of their banks, with strong, rushing currents, even in small streams, and flooding low-lying areas.
Uncle Jed transported Lizzie Jane and other children to school because of the inclement weather, getting there before the teacher. He left the children and made his way back home, slipping and sliding on the muddy road, water lapping almost to the top of some of the wooden bridges.
Sally, the teacher, arrived shortly after Jed left and made an instant decision for everyone to go back home. The water would be over the bridges before long and they would be stranded. So, since the rain had slacked somewhat, and being brave and ready to face the elements, the children began the walk home. Mud stuck to their feet with the boys laughing at the mud squeezing between their toes, The girls took off their Mary Jane shoes to keep them clean and joined in with the merriment. To the children, the walk was fun. There wasn’t any lightning or strong wind, just rain.
The water had not gotten over the bridges yet, so there did not seem to be anything to worry about. The planks on the wooden bridge were very slick and the children began to slide on them, as an ice skater would perform in winter. There were joy and laughter until Lizzie Jane got too close to the edge of one of the bridge, and could not control her balance. She tumbled in the water headfirst. Some of the boys grabbed at her. but were unable to prevent the disaster. The children watched in horror as the current swept her downstream.
Lizzie Jane was not a good swimmer, but was usually able to stay above water, so she grabbed at everything that came by, according to the proverbial saying, “grabbing at a straw.” She managed to grab hold of a partially sawed off limb of a log and held on for dear life. Luckily, as the log came to a bend in the stream, it lodged against the bank and Lizzie Jane was able to pull herself out of the water.
She had become weary fighting the currents — in fact, she was worn out. She was nervous, wet and beginning to chill, so she looked around for some kind of shelter. A few hundred feet and away from the stream, she spotted a boxcar on a railroad siding with the door open, so she thought that would be a good place to rest and temporarily get out of the rain.
Inside she found some burlap material and, being as tired as she was, she placed a couple of material on the floor for a mattress, covered herself with a couple more and soon began to feel warm and snug. She was so exhausted that she was soon sound asleep.
The train did not awaken her as it backed into the siding, hooked to the boxcar and pulled onto the main track. Neither was she awakened as the train traveled into South Alabama.
The citizens of Carter’s Bend spent day and night combing the woods along the banks of the stream for any sign of Lizzie Jane. There was some hope of finding her alive, but as the day wore on, those hopes got dimmer and dimmer as night began to fall.
Through the night they continued to search and, by sunrise, no sign or clue had been discovered. Not willing to give up, another group went out, hoping to find something that had been overlooked during the past 24 hours.
When the news reached Jed’s house about the failure of the search crews, Aunt Maudie went into shock. Doc Brown was called to check on her, but could not get any response. It was as if Maudie’s brain had just shut down. She just lay on the bed; her eyes wide open, staring straight ahead.
She loved her niece so much that she had considered Lizzie Jane as her own child. She and Jed firmly believed that God had sent Lizzie Jane their way because they were childless and had accepted the lack of their own child as God’s will.
Reverend Bob Walker, who knew the family and with the permission of the church pastor, presented a fitting tribute to a young lady that had stolen the hearts of the community, even though she was among them for a short time. Knowing that Jed and Maudie could not attend the service added sorrow to the service.
Reverend Walker’s last visit was to see Jed and Maudie. He discovered that Jed, who had not taken a drink for years, was drunk and had not been sober for over a week. Maudie was being prepared for transportation to the state mental hospital
Reverend Walker’s last act before he left to go into a field where he felt the call of God was to pray for the couple, that God would help them regain their strength and somehow heal their wounds.
After the prayer, he expressed his best wishes to everyone and drove away in his beat-up Chevrolet, hoping that it would make the trip where he felt led to go. He was going 150 miles away to help an organization that ministered to homeless and abandoned children.
It was still daylight when Lizzie Jane slowly opened her eyes. The first thing that she realized was that the late afternoon sunlight had been occasionally striking her eyelids. Where was the rain? The next thing she realized was — the boxcar was moving.
“Well, miss, I was wondering when you were going to wake up”. The voice came from the right corner of the boxcar.
“Who–who are you?” asked Lizzie Jane in a frightened voice.
“Oh, just a traveling partner,” the voice answered. “I ride the rails often. How about you? Are you a run-away?”
“No — no — I was just trying to get in out of the rain.” Lizzie Jane replied, still with a nervous voice.
“Rain? The sun is shining, hon.”
“Well, it was raining.”
The man smiled. Lizzie Jane adjusted her eyes to the light. The man had on tattered clothing, a short beard and two front teeth missing. “You must be from North Alabama. I understand that it was raining cats and dogs up there.”
“I am from Carter’s Bend”, replied Lizzie Jane.
“Yep, know right where it’s at”, answered the man. “You are in South Alabama — a fer piece from Carter’s Bend. My name is George.”
“I am Elizabeth Jane, but my friends call me Lizzie.”
“Well, can I be your friend — Lizzie?”
“Well — I guess so,” was the young girl’s reply.
As the conversation continued, Lizzie Jane discovered that the man was a hobo — once a successful businessman — divorced and having lost his business to his wife, he had decided to see the United States hitching free ride on a train. Sure, there were perils, but the excitement of the danger and thrill of adventure is what kept him going.
Lizzie Jane told him how she was swept away by the rapids, sought shelter in the boxcar, falling asleep, and waking up to find herself in her present situation.
“Nothing to worry about, lass,” George said in trying to comfort her. “Just find a train going north and hop on it.”
They sat silent for while, watching the scenery to by. Lizzie Jane had always lived in North Alabama, so she was intrigued by the lack of mountains. She had never traveled outside the world as she knew it, so it never occurred to her that the landscape could be so different.
The sound of the whistle and the chug-chug of the steam locomotive could be heard for miles on a clear day and considered by many to be peaceful. Lizzie Jane begin to see it as a vehicle that was taking her further and further from Uncle Jed and Aunt Lizzie, the two most precious people in her life.
A couple of hours later, George stated that the train was going to stop to take on water and asked her if she was hungry. She had not thought about it, but suddenly she felt the hunger pains that swelled up inside of her, so she nodded her head.
When the train stopped, George visibly checked to make sure they were not being seen and the couple quickly exited the boxcar. They made their way through some woods, coming to a small opening which revealed a big pot of stew, simmering over an open fire. Gathered around the area Lizzie Jane noticed a few other travelers with tin plates and cups who were enjoying the enticing goulash.
George pulled out a couple of onions and tossed them into the pot. “Everyone adds something,” he explained. Locating a couple of clean plates, he filled one for Lizzie Jane and filled a tin cup with water, thinking the coffee was too strong for her, boiling in a pan and referred to as ‘stump water’.
Lizzie tasted of her meal and a delightful smile crossed her face. “This is good,” she remarked —“really good!” Perhaps it was because she was so hungry, but she thought it to be the best food she had ever tasted.
Realizing the girl was hungry, George waited until she finished her plate before he began introductions to the group.
“This is Elizabeth, a young lady, nine years old, who thought a boxcar would make a good shelter against a rain storm and, the next thing she knew, she wound up down here. I think she is a very good traveling companion. I rode with her for miles before we decided to hop off here for a bite.”
After that brief introduction, he introduced Lizzie Jane to each member of the group. It seemed that they were like a large family and cared for each other. They were very polite and welcomed Lizzie Jane.
These were the homeless people of the late 40's and early 50’s, some had been successful in business, others had professional skills, and many of the women has been homemakers -- some had come home from World War II to find emptiness -- all had faced problems in life that robbed them of everything they owned. They all tried to re-enter the world as they knew it, but for one reason or another, they failed in that endeavor, but found peace in their current circumstances.
On clear summer and warm autumn nights, they slept in the open. In rainy or colder weather, they sought shelter in rugged built shacks from whatever material they could find. Often, some came together and constructed fairly comfortable quarters, and many shared the same facilities. When together, they looked out for each other.
This night, being a warm autumn night, they bedded in the open. Some of the ladies prepared Lizzie Jane a warm, comfortable pallet in which she slept soundly. Heads were bowed as Lizzie Jane said her nighttime prayers, thanking God for George and all the other nice people, after which could be heard quite a few ‘amens’.
As she had many times before, her mother came to her in a dream and whispered to her, “You know I will never leave you, but you are going to face many obstacles. God will send the appropriate people to help you along the way. Sleep in peace, my darling. Momma loves you.”
Before her mother’s death just a couple of months prior, there was closeness of mother and child -- and after death, mother’s love continued and Lizzie Jane knew it. That helped alleviate some fear and often brought comfort when Lizzie Jane was in trouble.
The next morning found Lizzie Jane trying to decide the best way to get back home. The homeless group that she met the night before gave her a gift — all the money they had -- $1.32, thinking that could buy a few RC colas and moon pies. A 12 oz. RC cola and moon pie still cost ten cents in most places and some people made that a meal, particularly when they were short of cash.
The suggestion made by George made the most sense — catch a train going north. So, Lizzie Jane waited for a northbound train to stop and take on some water for its steam locomotives. She did not have to wait long until one pulled in and stopped. She eased up to a boxcar with an open door, trying to keep anyone from seeing her, and climbed in.
She was there a few minutes when she heard a deep male voice say, “All right, young lady. Come out of there.”
Lizzie Jane slowly came to the door. A big, burley man grabbed her by the arm in a strong vice grip and asked, “A run-way, huh?”
“No — no sir”, stuttered Lizzie Jane. “I am just trying to get home and I don’t have any money.”
“Well, you need to come with me until we get this straighten out,” barked the man.
Lizzie Jane saw a badge on his shirt. He was a deputy sheriff and she thought she was going to jail. Instead, she was transported to the sheriff’s office where numerous questions were directed to her. She tried to explain what happened, but no one would believe her. Finally a woman came in.
“Hello, dear”, began the woman. “I am from the welfare department and you can come with me until we find your parents or someone who can take care of you.”
Again, Lizzie Jane was questioned — and again no one believed her story. The Department of Social Services did not want to put her in a jail cell, so someone called a judge. Finally, after careful consideration, the judge suggested a religious organization that could keep her for a few days, named “Child’s Refuge.” So, a call was made and she was accepted.
It wasn’t anything fancy, but it was operated by a group of churches and she was assigned a room with two other girls. At least, for the moment, she had a good place to sleep and something to eat. The home had a true Christian atmosphere and when Lizzie Jane went to bed that night, she gave thanks to God for the home and the workers.
Some of the staff heard the humble prayer of the little girl and had been impressed by her politeness. However, they could not understand why she was making up such a tale as she was telling — imagine being swept away by rapid water in a creek and going to sleep in a boxcar, not waking up until she had gone over a hundred miles. Maybe she was scared, they reasoned — could be a case of child abuse.
Three days went by and they were no closer to what they believed was the truth. On the fourth day, Lizzie Jane and the other two girls walked to the lunchroom. The meals were excellent and she enjoyed the good food. When she sat down at a table with her roommates, she heard a voice suddenly call out:
“Lizzie Jane! — is that you?
To Be Continued...
Copyright 2007 by Starla Anne Lowry
under the pen name: Billie Sue
This was too good to be true, thought Lizzie Jane, but she was so excited that she did not stop and think that the man may not be telling the truth. Also, he appeared to be a gentleman. What harm could come from that?
She decided to take him up on his offer.
The police was back at Reverend Walker’s home. “We may have some bad news,” one of the officers reported.
“When the Mobile police got to the address she called from, she was gone. They questioned some boys who last saw her and they said that she got in a car with a unknown male. The Mobile police department has been watching that address very carefully and have planted a plainclothes woman in the area to investigate the suspicion that white slave traders work out of that section of town. From the description given by the boys, the male who has her in his car may be the suspected ringleader of the group.”
“You mean---“ began the shocked Reverend.
“Yes, she may never be heard from again,” replied the officer. “She may be shipped to another country and sold as a slave — if the male is indeed the person the Mobile police think he is.
Chapter 2
Lizzie Jane almost dropped her fork. She came into the lunchroom, not knowing any one and suddenly -- someone called her name. She turned to see who it was.
Standing there was Reverend Bob Walker, the young man who had announced his call to the ministry at the church that Lizzie Jane had attended. She did not know what to do — run and hug his neck, say something — or what?
Equally shocked was the staff of “Child’s Refuge”. A young preacher, who had just driven 150 miles to accept a position at the children’s home, recognizing a young girl who claimed that she accidentally came over 100 miles in a boxcar to the same area.
It was Reverend Walker who broke the silence. “May I take this young lady to my office and speak with her — that is, if I have an office and you tell me where it is?”
“Certainly” replied the head of the home.
Lizzie Jane went through the entire process of what had happened and how she found herself so far from home. “I wanna get back and see Uncle Jed and Aunt Maudie.” She whimpered.
“Oh, I am so sorry, child,” replied the preacher. “When your aunt heard that you could not be found, she assumed you drown and her mind just shut down. She doesn’t speak and doesn’t know anyone. Your Uncle Jed could not take either situation, so he went off and got drunk and, as far as anyone knows, he is still drunk.”
“But, Brother Walker, if I can just get to Aunt Maudie and speak to her, I think she may snap out of it. She loves me and I love her.”
“Sorry, Lizzie Jane, she was carried to the state mental hospital in Tuscaloosa because a regular hospital could not be found that could take her. But, I tell you what — I will see if the people here will let me carry you home with me. I know that Mary, my wife, will be happy to see you,” offered Reverend Walker.
“But, I wanna see Aunt Maudie — I’ve just got to!” cried Lizzie Jane.
“But, honey — don’t you see? — We cannot do that,” answered the preacher.
Lizzie Jane could not understand why. Her reasoning was that, if she could talk to Aunt Maudie, that would bring her aunt back to her senses and the both of them could help Uncle Jed. It made perfect sense to Lizzie Jane.
She made up her mind that she was going to ‘Tuscaloose’ (or whatever it was called) if she had to walk all the way. The thing for her to figure out was, where was Tuscaloosa?
Reverend Walker sat there a minute and, then his face lit up. “Stay right there, Lizzie Jane. I’ll be right back.”
Reverend Walker trotted down to the main office of the children’s home. His plan was to make arrangements for Lizzie Jane to live with him and his wife. They did not have any children, so a young lady would be most welcomed. They had a lovely house which contained a very feminine room that would be perfect for Lizzie Jane.
Mrs. Watkins, the head of the home, thought that was a good idea since they were already acquainted, so she gave permission for Elizabeth Jane to go home with him immediately. The home was for orphaned and homeless children and they tried to place each child in a loving home as soon as possible. In hiring Reverend Walker, she had already checked his reference and was sure that placing Elizabeth Jane with his family was suitable.
Being the polite child she was, Lizzie Jane accepted Reverend Walker’s hospitality with grace. It would be a place to live while she formulated her plans. She had decided not to ask too many questions such as, the location of Tuscaloosa. That might raise suspicion. She would find that out later.
Although it had failed once, maybe hopping a freight train would be the answer. No, that would not be wise — not the second time. She thought about hitchhiking — too dangerous for a girl — but how about a boy? She liked the idea. She had lived as a boy once and no one questioned it. Although she had discovered that she was mostly girl, she was intersexed, so that would make it okay, wouldn’t it? Yep, she believed it would work.
She needed to find some boy clothes. The only thing she had was two dresses — the one she was wearing when she climbed into the boxcar and one they gave her at the children’s home. If she could get back to the children’s home, maybe she could borrow some boy trousers and shirt. The thought of stealing something was terrible, so she convinced herself that she would only be ‘borrowing’ the clothing.
No, that would be too difficult. Maybe she could find a clothes line somewhere. She would look for one tomorrow. After all, she was not a prisoner in Reverend Walker’s home, so she could walk around the neighborhood. She knew that everything she did would take careful planning and assured herself that it was okay. After all, it was for Aunt Maudie and Uncle Jed, wasn’t it?
The couple that had lived in the house before Reverend and Mary Walker had a teenage daughter who went away to college, so there was a special room already furnished for Lizzie Jane.
Lizzie Jane’s room was as beautiful and feminine as any girl would desire —Victorian style furniture with Queen Anne style legs. The comforter and furniture coverings were rose with a dainty rosebud print. Of course, since every girl needs a vanity and mirror with a vanity bench and an assortment of makeup to make her beautiful and desirable, Lizzie Jane was not an exception.
Just seeing her room almost made Lizzie Jane give up her plans, but she was sure that Aunt Maudie needed her and that is what was important. True, Uncle Jed and Aunt Maudie could not give her anything to compare with the room she had inherited, but Uncle Jed and Aunt Maudie were family. Lizzie Jane’s heart was so heavy, she fell across the bed and quietly sobbed. She was a girl who wanted to please everyone and make them happy, but priorities takes first place.
With a sad heart and confused mind, she cried herself to sleep. She stirred a little when gentle hands placed a blanket over her, gave her a kiss on the cheek, and tiptoed out, quietly closing the door. She dreamed of pleasant days with Uncle Jed and Aunt Maudie, their home, a cool drink from the well, and the marvels of country life — the gorgeous landscape as only a loving God could have created.
Next morning, she was awaken by a gentle shaking — “Wake up, sleepy head. We have got things we need to do today.”
Lizzie Jean sleepily rubbed her eyes, rolled over, and sat up on the side of the bed. The voice belonged to Mary, the preacher’s wife. “I have drawn you a bath and put out some bath oils and powder so you can smell as sweet as you look.”
Lizzie Jane had never had anyone to tell her she looked sweet or beautiful. Actually, she had not though about it very much. She had been too busy learning the things that a girl needed to know to please a husband.
She, and none of the other girls she knew, wore makeup and Aunt Maudie only used a little face powder and lipstick and that was when she went to church — and sweet smelling bath oils and powder — well, that was something new, too. She had never used anything but soap — but as she began to remember, her mother was very beautiful and smelled sweet. Lizzie Jane wanted to smell sweet, too, and learn how to use the cosmetics that had been supplied her setting on the vanity. But, she knew her plans did not include makeup. After all, she was going to look like a boy — she hoped.
“I have put you a clean skirt and top in the bathroom. Be sure and change your panties. I think you will find some prettier and more comfortable.”
Pretty panties? Lizzie Jane thought to herself, what was the use of that? Nobody was going to see them and she certainly was not going to exhibit herself to anyone. She had a lot to learn about being a girl. But, all that did not matter now.
The bath was very nice and comforting — a lot better than just having a wash pan as she used when she lived with Aunt Maudie. She lay back and relaxed, letting her body soak in the water with its warmth and comfort. It was so nice that she almost fell asleep again.
The breakfast was close to the same — eggs and toast (Aunt Maudie baked biscuits), grits, orange juice and she was allowed to have a little coffee with cream and sugar.
“I am going to see about enrolling you in school today,” Mary mentioned.
School! Lizzie Jane had not thought too much about that until now. That might be a good way to get away from the Reverend and Mary to further plan her departure so that she could find Aunt Maudie. So, school was okay for now. It would not last long. She might even skip school one day to get a head start before anyone knew she was gone. But first, she had to find some boy clothes.
Lizzie Jane missed the one-room schoolhouse back in Carter’s Bend, but she tried to make the best of it. She surprised the teachers when she began to read above her grade level. She thought it wise not to mention the McGuffey Reader and learning the rules of phonics. That would be her little secret, but it did enable her to see how education had deteriorated because of the lack of individualized instruction.
The school had a gym and, for one reason or another, clothing was often left at the end of the school day and forgotten as time passed. Lizzie Jane noticed that and watched for some boy clothes her size. One afternoon, there they were–almost a new shirt and blue jeans. Perfect for her getaway.
She quietly tucked them into a bag when no one was looking and continued to make plans. Near the school, she noticed a truck stop where truckers stopped for breakfast and lunch. She noticed that some of the doors of the trailers were often unlocked. She assumed that the truck had made its delivery and was empty. As she continued to observe the area, she noticed an old empty store building that had easy access so she could change clothing. One evening she found an old cap, but in good condition, on the side of a road. She quickly snatched it and placed it among her clothing. She had watched the movement of the police, who were predictable in their rounds, so she knew where they would be at any given moment. She was all set.
She selected a cool Friday morning, so she would not get too hot in the back of a trailer.
Mary drove her to school, as usual, and after they said their goodbyes, Lizzie Jane slipped off the school grounds just before the bell rung to begin the day’s activities.
She gained access to the old store building and found her boy clothes hidden in a hole under the floor. She quickly changed, put on the old cap, pulled off her shoes and bare-footed, made her way to the truck stop. Since she could not find any shoes, she would get some later — somehow.
As expected, she found an eighteen-wheeler with an empty trailer, so she climbed aboard. She checked the door to make sure that it could be opened from the inside and settled down and waited.
It wasn’t long until she heard the cab door slam and the tractor start up. Nervous and excited, wondering if she was doing the right thing, she closed her eyes and prayed. The trip was long and boring. Lizzie Jane wished that she had brought some magazines to read, but actually it was too dark for that anyway, so she dismissed the thought.
The truck eventually came to a stop. She was wondering if it had stopped for a traffic light or something when she heard the cab door slam. She waited in anxiety for a few moments, hoping the driver would not open the back door of the trailer and find her. He didn’t.
She eased the door open, carefully checking to make sure nobody was around, and she jumped out. It was quite a jump for a young girl and her bare feet stung a little, no serious harm. She discovered that the driver had parked in a truck yard with a chain-linked fence around it. She followed the contour of the fence until she came to a place where she felt she could crawl under it.
After leaving the fenced in area, she walked a few blocks in what seemed to be a city until she came to the largest body of water she had ever seen. It stretched out until it seemed like it met the sky. Lizzie Jane marveled at the sight. She was viewing the Atlantic Ocean from the Gulf of Mexico for the first time.
Chapter 3
Staring at the ocean before her, Lizzie Jane was confused. She had no idea where she was, which way to go — and where was Tuscaloosa from here. One thing she did know —she was hungry and she did not think to bring anything to eat.
She was upset with herself. With all the planning, she had not thought about food or money — she did not even have any identification. She started to blame it on her age, but that was ridiculous. A nine year old should have more sense than that. She was so hungry, she felt that she could eat anything.
As soon as that thought crossed mind, she spied a restaurant and thought, “They throw away food. If I could just find something suitable---” Immediately she tried to dismiss the thought, but her hunger pangs caused her to reconsider and look for some discarded restaurant food.
She discovered a whole hamburger and thought it probably belonged to a small child since there wasn’t any sign of a single bite missing. She remembered something in the Bible that indicated that, if thanks were given for food, any thing could be eaten and it was purified. So, she bowed her head and gave thanks for the burger. It was very good, but she knew that she could not rely on garbage can food, so she tried to think of some other plan.
Since her hunger was satisfied for the moment, she remembered leaving a note for Reverend Walker to keep him from worrying so much and had copied the telephone number so she could call when she found Aunt Maudie. She decided to call now and let them know she was okay.
She had seen on television somewhere that a person called another person collect or something like that, so she dialed the operator and tried doing that, giving her name when the operator asked for it.
The police arrived at Reverend Walker’s home and was shown the note that Lizzie Jane left. They were taking notes when the phone rang. Mary picked up the receiver and her face suddenly turned pale and stated, “It’s her.”
“Try to find out where she is”, suggested the police officer.
“Ah — where is the call from? Okay, we will accept the charges,” Mary said, talking to the operator. She covered the mouthpiece of the phone and whispered, “The call is coming from Mobile.”
The police officer whispered to his partner, “Go to the radio and tell them what is happening and see if they can trace the number.” To Mary, he said, “See if she will give you a street number or a phone number.”
“Hon,” we are so worried. Are you sure you are okay? What is the number on the phone you are using? We would like to know if you are all right,” Mary asked Lizzie.
Lizzie saw the number on the pay phone, reported it to Mary and she repeated it for the benefit of the police. The police officer told his partner to check with the Mobile police and see if they could locate her from the phone number and pick her up.
“Keep her on the line as long as you can,” advised the officer.
“Lizzie —Lizzie— no–wait — wait a minute”, pleaded Mary. With tears in her eyes, she said, “Elizabeth hung up. She said she was going to have to find the way to Tuscaloosa.”
“Poor kid”, tearfully replied Reverend Walker. “She left here to find Tuscaloosa and winds up in Mobile. She has no idea which way to go.”
Lizzie Jane hung up the phone because she figured out that she did the wrong thing in giving the number. She had to be on her journey. She ran across the street so quickly that some teenage boys in a jalopy had to dodge her.
“Watch it, man,” screamed one of the boys. When her cap fell off her head in the rush, another boy said, “That ain’t no guy. That is a girl!”
They weren’t the only ones that noticed. As she went back to grab her cap, a man stopped Lizzie Jane in her tracks. “Whoa, where are you going young lady?”
Excited and not thinking, she blurted out, “I am going to Tuscaloose to see my aunt!”
“Not so fast. You are a long way from Tuscaloosa,” replied the man.
“Well, can you tell me how to get there?” was the disgusted reply.
“Sure,” the man answered. “I am going that way myself and just happened to be on the way to the airport to fly my plane up there. I would be most pleased to have some company on the trip.”
This was too good to be true, thought Lizzie Jane, but she was so excited that she did not stop and think that the man may not be telling the truth. Also, he appeared to be a gentleman. What harm could come from that?
She decided to take him up on his offer.
The police was back at Reverend Walker’s home. “We may have some bad news,” one of the officers reported.
“When the Mobile police got to the address she called from, she was gone. They questioned some boys who last saw her and they said that she got in a car with a unknown male. The Mobile police department has been watching that address very carefully and have planted a plainclothes woman in the area to investigate the suspicion that white slave traders work out of that section of town. From the description given by the boys, the male who has her in his car may be the suspected ringleader of the group.”
“You mean---“ began the shocked Reverend.
“Yes, she may never be heard from again,” replied the officer. “She may be shipped to another country and sold as a slave — if the male is indeed the person the Mobile police think he is.
To be continued...
Copyright 2007 by Starla Anne Lowry
under the pen name of Billie Sue
Lizzie Jane, still thinking that the strange man was giving her a ride to Tuscaloosa, was unknowingly flown to a small airport outside Miami. Still unsuspecting the true motive of the strange man, she was placed in a room with two other girls “to wait for just a little while”.
It was when she was given a pair of short-shorts and a short top that revealed her belly button that questions seem to pop up. Puzzled, she asked, “What are these for?’
“Because that is the way our clients like for our young girls to be dressed,” came the reply.
”Clients?” questioned Lizzie Jane.
“Shut up and put them on,” was the response, followed by a sharp slap on the face.
Surprised and being overcome with fear, she complied. The two other girls looked on at the spectacle.
After the door was closed, one of the girls spoke, “Didn’t you realize that you have been kidnapped and to be sold to someone of another country? We are all in the same boat.”
Lizzie Jane was speechless. The girl noticed Lizzie Jane’s confusion, so she continued, “We tried to resist and were beaten for our efforts. We have talked about escape, but there isn’t any chance."
Chapter 4
In Tuscaloosa, Alabama, lay a seemingly lifeless figure, unresponsive to any therapy or medication. Her eyelids, previously open and staring into space, were now closed and she had all the appearances of death. She was still breathing on her own, so was counted as one of the living. The doctors had tried almost everything and had given up on any improvement.
“Maudie — Maudie”
The feminine voice could be heard in the darkness — a deep darkness that enveloped Aunt Maudie — a cold, empty darkness that held no memories — nothing... but a voice coming out of nowhere and so far away.
Who was it calling? Who was Maudie? There were no thoughts, no knowledge of anything -- just the voice — the voice that continued to call someone’s name.
“Maudie — Maudie. This is your sister.”
Sister? What sister? Who was this Maudie she was calling. Did Maudie exist?
“I have been sent by God to bring a message. Lizzie Jane is alive.”
Lizzie Jane? Now, slowly — but very slowly -- a memory was returning. Images of a young girl slowly begin to materialize within the darkness and a dim light began to emerge.
Ah, yes — it was becoming clearer — A young lady that Maudie once knew — one that she had learned to love. Love! Something that seems to bind memories and hearts together!
Yes, she remembers a Lizzie Jane. Something had happened — but what? Another scene was coming through the darkness — water! What would water have to do with Lizzie Jane?
Water seems to be all around this young girl — she is immersed — she is drowning! As she disappears below the waters, Aunt Maudie thinks, “I am not there for her! She needs me!”
Again the voice proclaimed the message: “Maudie… Maudie. Lizzie Jane is alive”.
Alive? Not drowning?
Slowly, very slowly, glimmers of light began to be seen through closed eyelids. The memories start flooding back — she is beginning to remember.
Ah, to remember — to remember something that she embraced. The love that she held for a child — her sister’s child — was so strong she loved her as if she were her own.
But that voice. That of her sister? Her sister is dead. She had said that God was sending her with a message. Her dead sister bringing her a message from God? A message that Lizzie Jane is alive?
With some difficulty, Maudie’s mouth begins to move. It had been silent too long.
She begins to whisper in a soft voice, barely loud enough to be heard, “Lizzie Jane is alive --- Lizzie Jane is alive.”
A little louder —as close to a shout as her weak voice could reach ---
“Lizzie is alive!”
She begins to hear other voices, not the far-way voice she heard calling her name. These voices seem excited. What are they saying? She can hear a little clearer now — “Doctor! Doctor! She is speaking! She is coming out of a coma!”
Maudie heard some movement, but could not understand what was going on and where she was.
“Maudie, Maudie, open your eyes,” a male voice was heard.
Maudie slowly tried to open her eyes. “There is too much light.”
“Close the curtains, “the male voice ordered.
As her sister’s voice began to fade, Aunt Maudie heard one last thing: “Find Reverend Bob Walker.”
The voice was heard no more.
“Welcome back to the world.” With blurred vision, Maudie saw a nurse smile. Maudie retuned the smile. She was glad to be back. She needed to see Reverend Bob Walker.
Oh yes, Bob! She knew him from his childhood.
“Need Bob Walker,” said Aunt Maudie, very weakly.
“Okay -- we have his number as a contact person. We will contact him for you,” replied the friendly nurse.
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Mary Walker had begun breakfast early. She had been unable to sleep, worrying about Lizzie Jane — the young girl was in trouble and there was nothing Mary could do to help.
On the other hand, Reverend Walker came into the kitchen, a little more content. Before Mary could express her surprise at his calm state, Reverend Walker began telling about his dream:
“I never believed much in Elizabeth Jane’s story about her mother talking to her, but never said anything because Big John claimed to have seen her and was able protect Elizabeth from a dangerous panther.’
He continued, “Last night, her mother came to me in a dream — or was it a dream? It seemed so real. She told me that Elizabeth had fallen into the hands of a dangerous man, but that God is still in charge. No harm will come to her from the man’s hand. She will keep her virginity.”
Reverend Walker continued. “But, Elizabeth sinned by what she did — stealing clothes, running away from home, disobeying her guardians. She will have to pay the consequences’.
“I asked, what are the consequences? The answer I received was very strange.’
“God created time and He is able to move back and forth in time and is able to control whatever age we find ourselves. I did not understand what ‘time’ had to do with the consequences. I was informed that it is not for me to know the mysteries in which God works.’
“Also, I was told that I would receive a phone call from Maudie today and I am to tell her that Elizabeth is alive and well and we will see her in due time.”
Mary Walker remained silent and was pondering over the strange message when the phone rang. She answered it and said, “Yes, he is here.” In handing the phone to the Reverend, she said, “It is Maudie.”
Not a bit surprised and with a smile, Reverend Walker took the receiver.
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Lizzie Jane, still thinking that the strange man was giving her a ride to Tuscaloosa, was unknowingly flown to a small airport outside Miami. Still unsuspecting the true motive of the strange man, she was placed in a room with two other girls “to wait for just a little while”.
It was when she was given a pair of short-shorts and a short top that revealed her belly button that questions seem to pop up. Puzzled, she asked, “What are these for?’
“Because that is the way our clients like for our young girls to be dressed,” came the reply.
”Clients?” questioned Lizzie Jane.
“Shut up and put them on,” was the response, followed by a sharp slap on the face.
Surprised and being overcome with fear, she complied. The two other girls looked on at the spectacle.
After the door was closed, one of the girls spoke, “Didn’t you realize that you have been kidnapped and to be sold to someone of another country? We are all in the same boat.”
Lizzie Jane was speechless. The girl noticed Lizzie Jane’s confusion, so she continued, “We tried to resist and were beaten for our efforts. We have talked about escape, but there isn’t any chance."
At that point, the girl began to break into tears and the other girl walked over and hugged her and put her arms around her waist. They began to cry together.
Lizzie Jane did not know what to say or do. She just stood there a moment and walked over and gave the girl a hug, too. She stepped back, with tears in her own eyes, and said with a weak smile, “I am Lizzie Jane.”
She stood there a moment and girl who had been talking replied, “I am Shirley. This is Christy”, as she introduced her companion. “I am sorry about crying and I am sorry that you are in this mess with us. I just don’t know what to do.”
“Have you tried praying?” asked Lizzie Jane. She was shocked and surprised at the events, but the seriousness of the matter had not sunk in.
“Yes, we have prayed. We have cried. The only thing we can do is to try to support each other. We will never see our parents and friends again and it hurts. We have talked about taking our own lives.”
Lizzie Jane started to say that would never do, but she had stopped before the words formed in her mouth. If what Shirley was saying were true, maybe death would be better. She swallowed real hard, and asked, “Where are we? In Alabama?”
“No, we are in Florida. From what I have heard, we are near Miami and will be flown to Puerto Rico for another stop to take on more girls,” answered Shirley. “By the way, how old are you?”
“I am nine years old,” replied Lizzie Jane.
“So young…to be headed for so much trouble. I am 17 and Christie is 16.”
“You said you have prayed and I will pray, too. I know that God can get us out of this mess,” assured Lizzie Jane.
“Well, Christie and I have not lived the kind of life that I think God would approve of, so prayer was kind of a last resort.”
The girls heard the door being unlocked and a huge bearded man open the door and said, “Well, I see you are ready. Let’s go.”
He followed the girls to a twin-engine plane waiting at the small airport. Lizzie Jane kept looking for an avenue of escape, but nothing availed itself.
“Just got three this time,” the man told the pilot as they boarded the place. A quick glance around the plane indicated that it could easily carry two or three more passengers.
A tear filled the girls’ eyes as the viewed their last hope of freedom disappearing beneath them as the plane took to the skies. They were leaving behind family and all their friends, so the only comfort they had were to embrace each other until they were separated.
Everyone sat in silence as the plane continued on its route. About 15 minutes into the trip, the pilot began to notice his instruments were not working properly. Ahead, he spied an unusual looking cloud, so he turned the plane around and flew away from the cloud at an angle.
The huge bearded man noticed the pilot’s actions, stepped up to the cockpit and wanted to know what was going on. The pilot pointed toward the cloud and simply stated that he was going around it.
“Just go through it,” growled the beard man.
“I have heard of something like this before. Although I have never really believed in them, I have heard tales of clouds like that — particularly since my instruments started acting up. I am going at an angle so I can eventually go around the cloud, but it is moving and gaining on me, so I may have to backtrack completely.”
“A moving cloud… gaining on you? Man, you are crazy,” snorted the bearded man.
“But, it is, look behind us!”
Sure enough, the cloud was almost upon them.
“What is going on?” exclaimed the bearded man.
The pilot replied in a scared, excited voice, “Sir, we are in the Bermuda Triangle!”
To be continued...
Proud of his accomplishment so far, the pilot turned to speak to the passengers when he saw something through a window. He screamed, “Let’s get the door open and run like the blazes!”
Chapter 5
The strange cloud swallowed the twin-engine plane. The engines sputtered and the pilot could feel the plane going down. He could not see anything and the instruments were not working, so he wished for an island — anything–except the ocean that he knew was below him.
Suddenly, as if by some miracle, everything cleared and land was visible, with trees, valleys, and mountains. As the pilot skillfully glided the plane over a mountain, he saw a clearing, so he made preparations to make a rough landing.
It was rough, the terrain being uneven, but the plane landed in one piece. It was clear, though, that the engines would need some work before they would start. It was doubtful that enough speed could be obtained to take off the rough ground, anyway. It looked like they were stuck — heaven knows where.
Proud of his accomplishment so far, the pilot turned to speak to the passengers when he saw something through a window. He screamed, “Let’s get the door open and run like the blazes!”
Seeing the fear in the pilot’s eyes, no one questioned the command. The three girls ran together in stride. Although Lizzie Jane was younger than the other two girls, she was tall for her age, so it wasn’t any problem to keep up.
They heard one of the men scream and, shortly afterwards, the other, but neither of the girls dared to look back until the reached the forest. They ran deep into the forest before they slowed down and looked back. They did not see anything but a jungle. They realized that they had run through thick bushes and had a few scratches on their faces, arms, and legs, but were out of sight of the clearing.
Breathing heavily, they sat down to rest. When able to do so, Shirley spoke first. “What do you suppose happened?”
“I dunno, but it must have been terrible,” replied Christy. “What do we do now?”
“Well, this must be an island, so I suggest we find our way to the shore and make plans there. I don’t like being in these woods,” replied Lizzie Jane.
“I think that would be a good idea,” agreed Shirley.
The three girls began to make their way slowly and carefully through the bush. Being alert, they eased by something that looked like a spider web, but the strands were as large as ropes. Looking up, they saw a spider as large as an average dog. Since they had not been caught in its trap, the huge spider did not move, but remain still as if it were waiting for an easier prey caught in its web and unable to fight back.
They saw some creatures that looked like huge worms, but the girls stayed in the bush as much as possible, staying away from what they consider possible danger. They were thinking that, if they got in the open, some larger animal might spot them. As they moved long, they felt their hearts pounding. They were three very scared girls.
They occasionally heard loud noises, sounding like elephants in a circus — or so the girls thought. Finally, Christie could stand it no longer. She broke down and cried. Trying to console her, Lizzie Jane softly spoke, “Please, just trust God. I believe He is watching over us or we would not have gotten this far.”
Although not having the faith Lizzie Jane seemed to possess, Shirley added, “Listen to Lizzie Jane. I betcha there are hundreds of monsters out there ready to catch us, but something must be holding them back.”
They heard a sliding noise close by, so the girls became quiet as a mouse. They could see a huge snake about thirty feet away through the bush. They hugged each other and prayed. After passing, Shirley said, “That thing was as big around as my daddy’s pickup truck. In fact, it could swallow the truck without any problem.”
As they continued on through the jungle, they saw many similar strange sights, always keeping their distance. They saw some creatures that looked like strange birds, but were not flying. A couple of times, some medium sized animal would stick its nose up in the air as if trying to get a whiff of the girls, but the wind must have been blowing the other way or something.
As the sun lowered in the sky and night was fast coming upon them, it seemed like the girls would not be able to hold their nerves much longer, but they softly talked to each other and fought the urge to jump up and run which might cause a ferocious animal to notice them.
They did cry often, being in shock. It seemed like an electric current was running through them continually. At times, they would vomit. Finally, all they could produce was dry heaves. Sick, exhausted, with aching bodies, they continued on.
The night produced a full moon, so they only stopped occasionally to rest. They watched every shadow, every rock, and each tree expecting to come face-to-face with some creature of the night. Continuing on, they worked their way through a very narrow valley with a creek running through it, but staying high on a slope, fearing to come near the water because of thirsty animals.
Finally, by the light of the moon, in the wee hours of the morning, Shirley saw a beach — the shore of the island. Somehow, that made them feel a little safer. They did not know why, but it just did. Crawling under a rock ledge, they pulled themselves close together and, before they knew it, they fell asleep. They were so tired.
Lizzie Jane was the first to awaken to the mid morning sun. She only had about four hours sleep, but strangely she felt refreshed. She quickly glanced around, looking for some kind of danger and seeing none, she ventured from the rock ledge. They were still shaded by the rock, so there was a marked difference when she felt the warmness of the sun.
She looked up and down the beach and began to feel hungry. During the night, the fear and uncertainty had masked hunger pangs, but now that she could not sense any immediate danger, her stomach was telling her it was time for breakfast. While the other two girls continued to sleep, Lizzie Jane decided to go looking for food of some kind. She remembered the berries that had satisfied her when she was lost in the woods back home with Uncle Jed and Aunt Maudie.
She carefully walked along the beach, watching the edge of the bushes lest some creature would spring out to grab her and, at the same time, looking for some kind of food. As she walked along, she noticed items that had washed ashore, probably from sunken ships. She came upon the wreckage of a small yacht. She boarded it and slowly made her way down to the living quarters. There she found some canned food, plastic plates with spoons and some clothing.
She picked through the clothing, finding some shorts and a dress that could fit her and, guessing at the other girls’ sizes, she selected clothing that she thought would fit them. Also, some wash cloths and soap. Just the things girls would need. She tied the food in the clothing and tying the clothing together in one bundle so she could carry it better, she started back to the other girls.
When she got back, she prepared three plates of beans and woke the other girls. They were startled for a moment with fear, but Lizzie Jane smiled and said, “I thought you might like some breakfast.”
The food before their eyes was a welcomed sight. The girls were famished and the food never tasted so good. When they saw the clothing, they were overjoyed. The shorts they were wearing were dirty and torn, so each picked a more decent pair of shorts and tees, but only after they had walked down to the ocean and took a sponge bath using the soap. None dared to get in the water; not knowing what creatures may be lurking there.
The remaining clothing and soap was tied into a bundle, being sure to include their plastic eating utensils so they could be used again. They sat down under the shade of the rock ledge to discuss their situation.
Lizzie Jane spoke first. “Do either of you have any idea what happened? Where are we?”
Shirley replied, “I heard the pilot say something about the Bermuda Triangle. There have been stories about airplanes and ships missing in that area and never heard from again. I have heard stories about flying saucers being the cause and some have mentioned a time warp.”
Lizzie Jane asked, “What is a time warp?”
“Well,” Shirley continued, “A time warp is something that causes somebody to travel through time — either in the future or the past. From the animals we have seen, I am starting to believe that and we may be in the past. We have not seen any huge dinosaurs, but we did see smaller animals that could have been small dinosaurs.”
Christie piped in, “We don’t know what happened to the guys. I heard them scream, but I did not look back. I was too scared.”
“Me, too”, agreed both Shirley and Lizzie Jane.
“Could one of those big dinosaurs have gotten them?” Christie wondered.
“Or one of those big snakes,” said Lizzie Jane. “Well, what do we do? We can’t stay here on the beach, can we? I guess we could — but, I found a boat and it was empty, so there must be other people here somewhere.”
“Or eaten”, replied Christie.
“Well, I am scared to go back into the jungle. That’s is what I would call it — a jungle,” confessed Shirley.
Christie and Lizzie Jane agreed. All three would be too scared to go back.
“So, what do we do?” asked Shirley.
“Well, I kinda think we could walk the beach together and see what else we could find. That boat I found was just a little ways that way,” replied Lizzie Jane, pointing toward the direction she found the yacht.
“Maybe” said Christie.
The three sat in silence for a moment, trying to decide if that was a good suggestion. Finally, they decided — why not?
Since they could not determine north, south, east or west, they just meandered along the shore in one direction without any idea where they were going. Each one walked carefully, watching ahead, to each side, fear of the jungle and fear of the ocean. They came to the yacht, went inside and looked around to see what they could find.
There was food, but nothing good enough to eat except what was canned. They each got a few more canned items and found a knapsack, so they had something to carry the food.
Shirley found some magazines dated in 1983 and was surprised that the President of the United States was Ronald Reagan.
“Why he is a movie star,” remarked Christie. “He cannot be President.”
“One thing it proves. We have entered a time warp. We have gone from 1959 to sometime in the past, just as they came from 1983,” replied Shirley. “Now the question is — what happened to them?”
They searched some more and found a young girl’s diary. They discovered that the yacht was lost in a sudden storm with a family of five aboard — the husband, his wife, two girls and one boy. They ventured into the jungle a few times and saw the danger, so they came back to the yacht to have a place to sleep and eat. They had built bonfires, hoping to catch the attention of a passing ship or plane, but so luck. The last entry was hastily written about some savages attacking the boat and the father trying to protect them with a pistol.
“Savages?” questioned Shirley. “Then there are people here but probably some that we don’t want to meet. I wonder if the bonfires attracted their attention. Let’s remember that and, if we have a fire, keep it hidden — under a rock ledge, for instance.”
“Fire”, thought Lizzie Jane openly. “If they could build a fire, there must be some matches here.”
They searched the drawers and found a carton of matches. They struck one and it still worked. That was another item to go in the knapsack. After spending much of the day searching the yacht and taking everything they thought would come in handy, they decided to leave. The savages may come back for some reason. Maybe they are getting things out of the yacht, too, for their own use.
The girls walked on, picking up small items that had washed ashore, but nothing they could really use. Finally, they came to a river emptying into the ocean. When they saw the size of the crocodiles in the river, they decided to not even try to cross the river, so they started back the way they came.
Arriving back at the rock ledge where they had spent the early morning hours sleeping, Shirley looked at it and stated, “I know we slept there, but it doesn’t look like it is much protection. I think we were lucky.”
“Or God was with us,” answered Lizzie Jane. “It is just a rock ledge with not much of room under it. I don’t think it is a place we want to live, either, and it looks like this could be our home for awhile — a long while.”
Christie added, “I agree with you two. I am scared enough as it is. But, I don’t think I could sleep a wink tonight there. But, I am not sure that I can sleep anywhere.”
“Well, we were so exhausted, it did not matter this morning before daybreak, but now that we are rested, it makes a lot of difference,” replied Shirley. “I am not sure that I can sleep tonight, either, no matter what we find. The yacht was a good place, but we were thinking about the savages returning, so I don’t want to go back there.”
“I suggest that we check further down the beach this way,” stated Lizzie Jane.
“I do, too — so let’s go girls. Hopefully we can find something before night,” replied Shirley.
So, the three girls wandered down the beach not knowing what — if anything — they would find. It was a warm day, not too hot, with the temperature reaching around 82 degrees. That did cause a little perspiration, but the girls did not mind. They were too busy keeping their eyes on where they were going, while also watching the jungle on one side and the ocean on the other. There were still fears of some sea monster rising up.
Finally, they came to what looked like a cave. Quickly Christie remarked, “I don’t like caves either. I didn’t like them back home and I sure don’t like them here. They are too scary.”
Looking in, Shirley said, “Come here and look. It just goes a few feet and there is a blank wall. It is about the size of a small house.”
The other two girls examined it and decided that it would be suitable — at least for now. Still fearful, none of the girls had planned to sleep that night anyway.
As they settled in, Lizzie Jane said, “Let’s build a fire. That might keep small animals away and maybe some bigger ones. We could warm our food over it because warm food tastes a lot better.”
Christie added, “And it would give some light. I am scared of the darkness.”
“Look,” stated Shirley. “There is a small stream of water coming down the walls. Ah–just like home — running water.” The girls laughed. Then they realized that was the first time they had laughed in about two days.
As the sun began to set, leaving just a little light, the girls had the fire going and had gotten a pan from their knapsack that had been retrieved from the yacht. No one noticed a hairy figure entering the cave. It had seen the fire and was curious, never seeing a fire before. It was timid or scared because it stayed away from the girls.
Suddenly, the ground shook and rocks and boulders began to fall. “It’s an earthquake”, screamed Shirley and the girls headed for the exit with Lizzie Jane trailing just behind.
She stopped momentarily when she saw the hairy creature trapped under a boulder.
The boulder had not crushed it, but fell just enough to trap and to prevent it from getting up. To Lizzie Jane, it looked like it was crying and seemed to be begging for help in some kind of monkey language.
Being tenderhearted and not wanting any animal to suffer, she considered trying to help it get loose. After all, it was small — about the size of Lizzie Jane — and not one of those huge monsters.
When Shirley looked back and saw what was happening, she screamed, “Come on, it will probably kill you anyway.”
Lizzie Jane had to make a decision. She did not have much time with all the rocks falling, so she sat down with her back to the rock wall and, using her feet, she pushed the boulder with all her strength. The boulder rolled over about a quarter, but that was enough for the creature to get out. The creature and Lizzie Jane exited the cave just as the roof caved in.
“Whew, what a close call,” said Lizzie Jane.
Outside there was just enough light so that Lizzie Jane could get a clear view of the animal. It was a gorilla — a small one — actually shorter than Lizzie Jane. It seemed to be trying to give Lizzie Jane a gorilla “thank you.”
The other two girls were astonished. It WAS giving a “thank you”. That was clear.
Lizzie Jane slowly, but carefully, reached out her hand and petted the little gorilla on the head. It seemed very pleased. That reminded Lizzie Jane about rescuing a little deer when she was lost in the woods and the deer became a pet. Now, it seemed that Lizzie Jane had a new friend.
“I think I will name you George. Since all the animals are huge around here, you must be a baby”, smiled Lizzie Jane. “I sure would not like to meet your mother.”
Unknowingly to the girls, the mother was nearby and she was huge — 18 feet tall with a large body to match. Shirley and Christie saw her first and Lizzie Jane turned and was shocked to see how large the mother was, too.
The mother scooped up Lizzie Jane before she had a chance to run and in her big hand brought Lizzie Jane up to where she could stare at her face-to-face. She snarled and showed her huge sharp teeth. Lizzie Jane immediately thought that the mother had assumed her child was in danger of being harmed.
Lizzie Jane screamed, trembling with fear, thinking that surely she was to be eaten alive.
--- To be continued
Copyright 2007 by Starla Anne Lowry
Under the pen name of Billie Sue
Shirley and Christie stood frozen in fear as they watched the giant gorilla, with Lizzie Jane in its grasp, make threatening noises and gestures. The question uppermost in their minds was the same that was frightening to Lizzie Jane -- Did a giant 18-foot gorilla eat humans?
Chapter 6
Shirley and Christie stood frozen in fear as they watched the giant gorilla, with Lizzie Jane in its grasp, make threatening noises and gestures. The question uppermost in their minds was the same that was frightening to Lizzie Jane -- Did a giant 18-foot gorilla eat humans?
George, the baby gorilla, saw what was happening and it began to jump up and down, making sounds and motions as if it were talking to his mother. Was it telling how Lizzie Jane had saved its life?
Whatever George said, it must have been good. The giant gorilla listened to George a few moments and very carefully placed Lizzie Jane down on her feet. George jumped up and down again, this time with glee, ran and hugged Lizzie Jane.
“Well, I’ll be,” Shirley, remarked. “Monkeys do have a language after all.”
“Wonder what he told her”, questioned Christie.
“Probably that Lizzie Jane saved his life during the earthquake,” answered Shirley. “Anyway, it is certain. Lizzie Jane has a new friend.”
Lizzie Jane was so weak, she had to sit down. She was still trembling when the girls went over to try to console her. No doubt she had suffered a terrifying experience — one that is not gotten over easily.
“I --- I ---“, Lizzie Jane tried to speak, but with trembling lips, the words had a problem coming out. “I — never — have been so — scared in my — life.” With those few words, she fainted.
Darkness of night began to creep over the young girls and George, who was standing next to Lizzie Jane, observed what was going on. The girls were looking around for a place to bed down for the night. Since Lizzie Jane had fainted, a place had to be found for her close-by. Since the roof of the cave had fallen in, there wasn’t another place except the beach.
George seemed to sense the problem, so he made some kind of gorilla noise and motions to his mother. In response, she picked up Lizzie Jane and, with the girls following, went into the jungle.
Although the girls were afraid of the jungle, they followed anyway. They had become very close friends the last couple of days and thought they should watch out for each other. Also, the fear of the jungle was not so prominent now that they were with the huge gorilla and her son, George. The girls felt secure in their presence.
The unusual party climbed up to a high ledge on the side of the mountain where there was a larger cave that had not been affected by the earthquake. The giant gorilla entered and prepared a bed for Lizzie Jane out of some kind of bush that made a soft pallet, laid the young girl down and motioned for the other girls to lie down, too. She went to the entrance and made herself a place to lie down, along with George, to guard the girls against danger.
The girls, seeing what was done and looking at Lizzie Jane, in a deep sleep, lay next to her and cuddled up together and went to sleep. George, looking at the girls, seemed very pleased.
Lizzie Jane’s deceased mother came to her in a dream again. “Honey, I know you had a terrifying experience, but remember I am always with you. You will soon wake up and I want you to be calm. You are protected. Remember, God can work through animals, much more than he can through man, who often is not responsive to God. Beware of men. Keep that in mind, dear. But, remember — no matter what happens, God is still in control.”
Shortly after daylight entered the cave, Lizzie Jane slowly opened her eyes. She rubbed her eyes to remove the blur and looked around. She saw where she was, although she could not understand exactly where and how she got there. Shirley and Christie were still cuddled up to her as if she had two young guardians at her side. She saw George, still asleep, lying by his mother.
The giant gorilla saw that she was awake and presented her with some strange looking fruits, berries, and bananas, making a gesture by moving her hand to her mouth, to indicate that Lizzie Jane should eat. Lizzie Jane shook the other two girls, and said, “It is breakfast time.”
Shirley and Christie stirred, rubbed their blurry eyes, and sat up. The first thing they noticed was how calm Lizzie Jane appeared, and then they saw the fruit. Being hungry, they each sampled the fruit.
“I don’t know where this came from, but it is good,” remarked Shirley.
“Guess--” said Lizzie Jane. “Momma gorilla brought it.”
“I meant some kind of plant, silly. It looks different from anything I have seen,” replied Shirley.
They glanced at the huge gorilla, sitting there watching the girls and it seemed that she was pleased that the girls were eating and were enjoying the food.
“I think she has adopted us,” Christie stated, “and it is all due to the kind heart of Lizzie Jane. If it wasn’t for her, we would still be on the beach, trying to decide what to do — where to get our food and find a place to sleep — or worse yet — dead.”
“Our knapsack is under the rocks when the cave roof fell in, isn’t it?” asked Lizzie Jane.
“Yes,” replied Christie as she began on the berries.
Finishing breakfast, followed by fresh water, the girls ventured out to the ledge of the mountain under the watchful eye of Momma Gorilla. Sitting there, they could see a small portion of the jungle and the ocean, seemingly without end, lying beyond.
“Have you noticed that there isn’t any large animals like we saw when we crashed?” questioned Shirley, quickly adding, “except Momma Gorilla, of course.’
“I have been sitting here thinking. We are on the opposite side of the mountain and the large creatures seem to be on the other side. I think the reason they may not have crossed over was because the valley we came through was too narrow for them, so the mountain keeps them over there.”
“That suits me just fine,” remarked Christie.
“But, Momma Gorilla is on this side,” replied Lizzie Jane.
“But remember, Momma Gorilla can climb. That must be how she selected a cave on this ledge,” replied Shirley. She continued, “and another strange thing. Where is Poppa Gorilla? There can’t be a baby gorilla without a poppa.”
Shirley seem to be a thinker and evidently the most learned and intelligent of the three.
“I have not thought about a poppa,” replied Lizzie Jane, “but I can see what you mean about Momma Gorilla being able to climb. She was able to come across the mountain — maybe to protect her child?”
“That is what I was thinking,” Shirley stated. “I wonder if Poppa Gorilla was killed by other giant animals on the other side of the mountain and that is why she thought about protecting her baby.”
“What do we do, now?” asked Christie.
“Well, like you said, Christie, we seem to have been adopted thanks to Lizzie Jane, so I suggest we stay here. From this ledge, we have a good view of the ocean and, if there are any ships or anything spotted, we can see them miles away,” replied Shirley.
George, being a young gorilla, wanted to play, so he began pulling Lizzie Jane to go down into the jungle with him. She was reluctant, because of fear.
Guessing what George wanted, Shirley spoke up. “It will probably be okay to go with him. The jungle is his playground and he has managed to survive this long. I would think that Momma Gorilla would be watching him from this lofty perch. Besides now, I would think that Momma Gorilla is the queen around here and the other animals know it.”
With that, Lizzie Jane made her way down the slope into the dreaded jungle. The first wild animal she saw was a lion, which turned away when seeing her with George. Maybe Shirley was right. Maybe Momma Gorilla had bluffed the other animals.
Also, it seemed strange that the lion was a normal size — not like the monsters on the other side of the mountain. That caused her to think that the mountain range circled the island and kept the large creatures imprisoned in the center.
The possibility of savages, as mentioned in the diary found on the yacht, crossed Lizzie Jane’s mind. But, there wasn’t any sign of them. She began to wonder if they lived on the other side of the mountain and, if they did, were they giant people?
George became busy doing antics, common to monkeys and possibly gorillas, too. He liked to climb trees and swing on vines. He finally got Lizzie Jane in a tree, put a vine in her hand and pushed her off the tree. She grasped the vine with all her might, closing her eyes, but did not hit another tree, but a clump of bushes, instead. George jumped up and down, seemingly with a gorilla laugh.
“T’aint funny,” said Lizzie Jane, followed by a smile, thinking about her name — Jane — remembering Tarzan and Jane. Yep, she had the right name.
Amazingly, with a lot of practice and a few bruises and scratches, she learned to swing on vines — from shorter trees that were closer to the ground. She was proud of herself that she was beginning to be a jungle girl and she was beginning to enjoy it.
She found some rocks, which she thought, might be useful because of the type she thought they were, but not sure. She put a few in the pockets of her shorts to carry back with her. If they were what she thought, it would be a welcome addition to their new home.
The day ended much too soon, so as the sun began to set, the “jungle couple” made their way up the mountain to the ledge. Shirley and Christie had made some brooms and placed rocks in such a manner as to create a table and stools. They carved out some shelves where the walls were more dirt than rock and made it more like home.
Although they kept an eye on the ocean from their high location, looking for a ship or something to rescue them, they thought that this might be the home for quite some time.
Supper was as delicious as breakfast. Lizzie Jane gathered a few stick and put them together as if she were going to build a fire. The other two girls stood there, wondering what she was doing. The matches were in the knapsack covered with rocks from the earthquake, so how could she start a fire? Lizzie Jane pulled out a couple of rocks from her pocket and struck them together over a small pile of straw. Sparks flew out and eventually a little fire was started. She had been correct — they were flint rocks.
The fire was a welcomed blessing because it gave light during the darkness of night. At first, Momma Gorilla seemed to be concerned, but watching how it brought pleasure to the girls, she accepted it. Also, she saw that George liked it, too.
Bedtime rolled around and the girls cuddled up together and went to sleep, all of them peacefully for the first time since the crash. Tomorrow was another day and no one could foresee what it would hold.
--- To be continued
Copyright 2007 by Starla Anne Lowry
Under the pen name of Billie Sue
This chapter is the introduction to the wildest ride any ten year old will face -- yes, Lizzie Jane turns ten years old in this chapter.
The wild ride is yet to come, but events in this chapter will shed light on events in the next chapter. Without this knowledge, a lot of people will not understand the exploits of our Lizzie Jane
After performing their housekeeping (or cave keeping) duties each day, Shirley and Christie would sit on the ledge looking for the possible landing of a ship, hoping for some kind of rescue, although they wondered what good that would do since any ship coming ashore would have been caught in the Bermuda Triangle, also.
Sitting on the ledge, they could not only see the shore, but occasionally see Lizzie Jane and her friend, George, like two good friends playing together in the jungle below.
One day Christie spoke up, “Do gorillas walk mostly upright kinda like people? I have only seen pictures and they always seem bent over.”
“Well, if you are thinking about Momma Gorilla and George, remember that they are unusual, like the creatures we saw on the other side of the mountain,” replied Shirley. “I read in a book that gorillas only tend to their own nests, but Momma Gorilla prepared a nice place for us to sleep, too. I don’t think that was a natural thing.”
“Yes, they are very unusual,” said Christie. “Speaking of the other side of the mountain, I never looked back to see, but I believe a dinosaur caught the two men who had kidnapped us.”
“That has been my thoughts, too, but they deserved it — kidnapping three innocent girls to be sold into slavery. I have heard preachers say that a person reaps what they sow,” replied Shirley.
Meanwhile, Lizzie Jane was not only playing with her little gorilla friend, but she was learning quite a bit about jungle life. For one thing, she got better at swinging through the trees and finally graduated from the lower limbs to higher limbs. Vines were not hanging as close as they seem to be in the Tarzan stories, but Lizzie Jane learned to swing from one limb to another, using her arms like a trapeze artist would do in a circus. Of course, she had started that maneuver on trees close to each other and close to the ground. She fell often until she learned the technique and strengthen her arms.
She also learned the quickest way to climb a tree to get out of harm’s way. If something climbed a tree after her, she would just swing to another tree near by. She was fast become a jungle girl and was very proud of herself. She thought such skill would come in handy some day.
She also thought about self-protection. She was safe in these jungles since all the animals knew that she was connected to Momma Gorilla in some way by always being seen with George. “Momma” had showed them who was boss. In fact, Lizzie Jane was beginning to think of all the animals as friends.
But, she had the thought that she might have to go elsewhere in the jungle and she needed to have some kind of weapon for protection. She found some stalks of cane in a swampy area and was able to fashion a certain kind of rock into a spearhead, much the same way that Native Americans made their arrowheads. She was able to secure the spearhead to the cane by cutting a slit in the end of the stalk and securing it with some kind of tough strands of grass. It wasn’t perfect, but she practiced punching it in wads of moss that simulated an animal’s body (according to her way of thinking). She never dreamed of using it on a human and only in case of life or death on anything else.
Another strange experience brought Lizzie Jane and George closer to communication. Attempting to teach George a few words of the human language, she pointed to a tree and said “Tree.” Expecting him to only understand what she was saying, after a few tries, George said “Tee”. Lizzie Jane was amazed! He could talk, if trained.
He smiled, pointed to the tree and made a sound that sounded like a one-syllable sound that a monkey might make. It took a moment, but Lizzie Jane realized that he was teaching her the word, “tree” in gorilla language. By practicing simple words to each other, slowly they began to communicate in both human and gorilla language.
After a few weeks of practice, Lizzie Jane thought, “Wow, this going to blow Shirley and Christie’s mind.”
Slowly, time began to pass. Lizzie Jane started to love the jungle and all the animals, keeping in mind that the animals were wild and, if given a chance, they could turn on her. So, Lizzie Jane continued to keep her guard up.
The weeks grew into months and by a rough count, the girls determined that a year had passed by the length of the days and a “rainy season.” As much as Lizzie Jane loved the jungle, she was homesick, wanting to see Uncle Jed and Aunt Maudie. All she could do to help Aunt Maudie now was to pray and trust God that she had gotten better. All Lizzie Jane’s efforts to find Aunt Maudie to help her had failed.
It wasn’t surprising that Lizzie Jane’s deceased mother appeared to her in a dream. It had been much too long since the last time that had happened, but the news was great.
“Lizzie Jane,” said her mother, “Aunt Maudie is better and going back to Uncle Jed. What I want you to know that time is not passing there like it is passing here, so they will be looking for you to come home soon.”
The dream was so strange. Here, Lizzie Jane had aged another year. In fact, the girls had estimated her birthday and had a celebration. Now she was ten years old. What did her mom mean when she mentioned time was not passing the same in both worlds? If she could go back now, would she be nine years old — or ten?
The girls had some more clothing. Lizzie Jane, accompanied by George, had visited the yacht one more time and she gathered the last of the clothes she could find. Each girl had at least one dress and two pairs of shorts. Lizzie Jane was fortunate to have found some pants to fit her, as well as a couple of shorts and a skirt and blouse. All the girls would have sufficient underclothes, too.
She also found a hunting knife along with some kitchen utensils and some cups and more plates. A couple of frying pans with one cover would allow something to be cooked, if they had anything, and there were birds and fish in plentiful supply on the island.
To her joy, there was also an archery set, complete with a bow and a good supply of arrows. Lizzie Jane hid that, along with her homemade spear and hunting knife, in her secret hiding place and made a conscious reminder to herself to practice often. She intended to become an expert at self-protection if it ever became necessary.
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One night, before bedding down, Shirley walked on the ledge for a last look at the beach before retiring. To her surprise, she saw activity on the beach. A huge bonfire was blazing and was lighting up much of the nighttime sky. She quickly reported the incident to Christie and Lizzie Jane.
“Well, looks like we have some people who must have washed ashore, “ Christie said when seeing the spectacle,” What should we do?”
“I think we should wait until daylight and maybe see what is down there. It may not be what it seems and we don’t need to go running down there in the darkness of night. If nothing else, it could get us shot with a gun happy person,” replied Shirley.
Needless to say, it was a restless night for the girls because of the expectation of seeing friendly faces. They were extremely excited.
By the light of the mid-morning sun, the girls met together on the ledge in an attempt to view the situation on the beach again. As near as could be determined, there were about four persons, but the sex of each individual could not be recognized from that distance.
Shirley was the first to speak. “Waddda y’all think? Ready to go down and welcome our visitors?”
“Ready and willing,” agreed Christie.
“Okay, let’s go --- No, wait a minute!” exclaimed Shirley as she suddenly saw some disturbing events. ”Look at those men coming out of the jungle! They are twice as big as the others.”
“They must be the savages that were written about in the diary we found on the yacht!” Christie exclaimed.
The girls viewed quite a battle from their vantage point -- and the newcomers lost. When it appeared that the last person was dead, the savages carried them off into the jungle.
“Why would they be carrying them into the jungle after they killed them?” asked Lizzie Jane.
“I don’t know,” replied Shirley, “unless — unless they are cannibals.”
That statement caused a chill to run up and down the girls’ spine.
“They probably killed them because they were fighting back. I guess they would have taken them prisoner, otherwise,” replied Christie.
“Dead or alive, I guess the end result would be the same, except a live person could be saved for later,” Shirley sadly answered. “That is — if they are cannibals. They may save the live persons for slaves.”
“What we guessed last time was probably correct. The savages look for bonfires. They know that someone had landed,” said Christie.
Lizzie Jane spoke up, “And we did not have a fire in the open for that reason. That is why we were not attacked.”
“Yes,” said Christie, “They did not know we were there. The only fire we had was in the little cave.”
“That causes me to think that they probably live on the other side of the mountain. Remember the glow that lit up the sky last night? That may have been visible on the other side,” suggested Shirley. “Also it could be the reason why we have not seen them on this side. Although they are twice as large as the average person, they may come through the narrow valley as we did. I think these mountains are hard to climb.”
Lizzie Jane was visibly shaken over something she just realized: “Giants!” she exclaimed.
“Anyway, regardless of where they live, we need to be very careful — especially you, Lizzie Jane — playing with George in the jungle”, advised Shirley.
Lizzie Jane thought to herself, “It is a good thing that I have learned how to escape attacks in the jungle.” The other two girls did not know what Lizzie Jane had learned and she wasn’t one to brag on herself.
George started pulling at Lizzie Jane. He thought that she ought to go into the jungle every day and Lizzie Jane did not mind. Usually, she enjoyed it because she was learning something new each time she went. There were a few days she did not feel like going and, of course, the rainy days kept her inside, too. George would pout a little, but find something else to amuse himself with, so everything turned out okay.
This day, however, the girls were extra cautious, going out whenever they though necessary. The water gourds were empty, so Christie started toward the spring for water about a quarter mile away. It had been considered safe because the wild animals must have considered that part of the jungle to be off limits, due to be so close to Momma Gorilla. There were multiple springs throughout the jungle, so the animals used them for their watering hole.
Shirley thought it best that Lizzie Jane stay at “home” due to the circumstances. George finally gave up on Lizzie Jane joining him in the jungle today, so he decided to see what he could get into by himself.
An hour and a half passed and Shirley began to worry about Christie. She had not come back and she had plenty of time. Just as Shirley started to go and see about Christie, George came back, chattering away about something. Lizzie Jane got him to slow down and listened closely. She made out part of what he was saying because of her accumulated knowledge of “monkey talk” (the language George taught her) and the gestures he was using.
“Girl…got…big…men” is what she understood. Lizzie Jane turned as white as a sheet. Shirley looked puzzled. “Did you understand what he said?” she asked.
“Yes, it seemed like some big men captured Christie”, she finally blurted out in tears.
Shirley and Lizzie Jane ran down the trail and found the water gourds. It appeared there had been a struggle and, upon close investigation, some barefoot tracks of big feet. They clearly did not belong to Christie. Since she did not have a weapon to fight with, there seemed to be a good chance that she was captured alive.
“The savages!” exclaimed Lizzie Jane. “I have got to get her back” At that, she began to run down the trail.
Shirley called out, “What are you going to do? They are giants and you are only ten years old.”
“I don’t know, but we will be coming back together”, hollered Lizzie Jane, as she picked up speed.
“Lizzie Jane! Come back! You are crazy”, screamed Shirley, but they fell on deaf ears as Lizzie Jane went out of hearing distance.
Shirley sat down beside the trail and, holding her head with her hands, she sobbed. Had Lizzie Jane been in the jungle so long she has lost her senses? Who does she think she is?” At that statement, she looked at George — who looked worried, too.
All of a sudden she realized -- Lizzie Jane is different! She had understood what George said. Lizzie Jane had understood gorilla talk! But how??
--- To be continued
Copyright 2007 by Starla Anne Lowry
Under the pen name of Billie Sue
Upon hitting the ground, Lizzie Jane saw the huge head of the tyrannosaurus rex coming toward her very fast, mouth open with sharp 13 inch teeth. This was the king of the dinosaurs, which, with one bite from his massive four-foot jaws, could snap any backbone. She didn’t have time to get up and run. Even if she could, a T-rex could run 40 miles per hour.
Lizzie Jane had no idea what she was going to do. All she knew was — one of her best friends was in trouble and she had to rescue her. But how? That was the question.
She was ten years old, planning to go against giant savages, probably ten feet tall or larger — and, on top of that, going into an area with huge creatures, possibly dinosaurs. A year ago, she had been scared beyond description in that part of the jungle, but now a little braver because of her self-training; she knew that was going to have to be very cautious.
At her secret hiding place, she retrieved her hunting knife, and the archery set with a good strong bow and about a dozen arrows. She decided against her homemade spear. There was no way for her to know what lay ahead and she may have to make quick exits through the trees and she could not do that carrying something in her hand.
The knife had a leather sheath on a belt and there was a back quiver for the arrows, so no problem there except the quiver getting caught, but she thought she could handle that problem if the situation arose.
She had learned to be a very fast runner, so she thought she might catch up with the savages in the narrow valley, which divided the mountain chain. It had been a couple of hours since Christie had disappeared and the savages’ progress with a prisoner would probably be slow, so Christie started down a jungle path in that direction at a very fast pace.
She was correct. She saw them ahead about half way through the valley. Looking up toward the slope above the creek, she decided that might be the best place to make the attack. She eased down the hill above them until she came to a large rock she thought might cause some confusion if it rolled down the slope. The thought was to push the boulder toward them with her feet and, in all the excitement, maybe slip down and grab Christie by the hand and run. It did not occur to Lizzie Jane that Christie could not run as fast as she could.
Thinking the childish idea would work, she pushed with all her might against the boulder like she had in the cave when she rescued George. The boulder started rolling and the unthinkable happened. It caused an avalanche. Most of the savages saw what was happening, turned and ran in the opposite direction. The avalanche was successful in separating the savages, just missing the two savages in front with Christie.
When Lizzie Jane saw the confusion of the savages in charge of Christie, she screamed, “Run, Christie!” -- thinking Christie would run up the slope toward her. Christie ran, but forward — the wrong way --toward the big valley of the huge creatures.
One of the savages quickly recovered and pulled his arm back to throw a spear at Christie. Lizzie Jane, hoping her practice paid off, quickly pulled out an arrow from the quiver, aimed at the savage, hitting him in the shoulder and causing him to drop the spear. The next arrow hit the other savage in the upper leg. Both fell with shock and surprise. That is what Lizzie Jane intended.
She ran and partially slid down the slope, quickly grabbing both spears while both savages were rolling in pain. She did not want them to get up and throw a spear at her.
Her next thought was Christie, running the wrong way. Lizzie Jane ran after her, only to come out of the narrow valley into the much larger valley. As she started to throw the spears away, she glanced at one.
The savages had constructed a spear that came apart in the middle that would make it easy to carry in her quiver, so she took both spears apart to carry with her. She thought how smart the savages had become — to invent a spear that could be easily carried elsewhere besides the hand.
Trying to determine which way Christie would go, she heard a scream. Running quickly to the source, she saw the problem.
Christie was frozen with fright. Lizzie Jane saw the reason. A huge tyrannosaurus rex was headed toward Christie. Lizzie Jane quickly ran between Christie and the T-rex and screamed again, “Run, Christie, run!” She began to throw rocks at the T-rex to get his undivided attention.
The T-Rex decided that Lizzie Jane was an easier target, so its attention was turned toward her. Lizzie Jane looked for the tallest tree and scampered up the tree without any problem to a height above the reach of the 14-foot giant.
The T-rex, not to be denied, began to shake the tree with its head. The tree, being slender, began to rock and become uprooted. Lizzie Jane looked for another tree to jump to, but quickly discovered that she was in the tallest tree. The others were too far for her to jump or swing to the limbs. All she could do was ride the tree to the ground.
Upon hitting the ground, Lizzie Jane saw the huge head of the tyrannosaurus rex coming toward her very fast, mouth open with sharp 13 inch teeth. This was the king of the dinosaurs, which, with one bite from his massive four-foot jaws, could snap any backbone. She didn’t have time to get up and run. Even if she could, a T-rex could run 40 miles per hour.
She rolled, attempting to dodge the monster’s attack and rolled into a hollow place under a boulder. The T-rex tried to get his mouth under the rock, but she was barely out of reach. Not to be defeated, the T-rex began to move the boulder with his head. Now, Lizzie Jane was truly trapped. The only thing to do now was to brace for the end. Lizzie Jane prayed and asked God to receive her into Heaven.
She had lost her bow and could see it on the ground. However, she still had her quiver and happened to remember the two-piece spears she had picked up. She quickly grabbed one, put it together and, as the dinosaur raised its head in its effort to move the boulder, she thrust the spear into the only soft spot of the monster -- in the neck near the throat, hitting an artery. Blood began to gush out when the creature’s heart pumped. When the head came back down, she thrust it into an eye which caused the dinosaur to jerk its head back and away from the boulder.
Lizzie Jane watched from her temporary safe spot as the T-rex turned around and around and finally stumbled and fell with a hard thump. Waiting a few minutes, she finally got the nerve to slowly walk up to the dinosaur. She saw that he was dead.
She walked around the body of her huge attacker, nervously, looking at the skin. It dawned on her that she had hit the only two vital parts, the soft part of the neck and the eye. Every other part was too tough for anything to penetrate. She did not know, neither did the science books she had read reveal that a T-rex had a soft spot anywhere.
No one could have been more shocked and surprised than Lizzie Jane. She, a mere ten-year-old girl, had killed the most ferocious and feared animal that ever lived.
She had killed a tyrannosaurus rex!
She thought about David and Goliath in the Bible. David’s stone had hit the only soft spot — the unprotected spot — of Goliath. Maybe God directed her spear.
With tears of joy, she fell to her knees, looked up to Heaven, and said, “Thank you, God.” It was evident that God was not ready for her to go to Heaven yet.
Lizzie Jane began to consider — David’s victory was recorded in the Bible, Daniel Boone recorded killing a bear on a tree — Lizzie Jane needed to record her victory someway. No one would read it anyway, but it would not be any harm to write her victory on something.
She removed a flat aluminum box from her belt. She never figured out what it could be used for anyway. With her knife, she opened it and scratched very deeply these words: “Killed by Lizzie Jane, Date Unknown.” Now, what should she do with it? Well, the T-rex’s mouth was open, so she pitched it in there. It will never be seen, but it seemed like the thing to do at the moment.
Time enough for rejoicing over such a victory — now Lizzie Jane must find Christie again.
She picked up her bow, put it over her neck, and holding one of the spears in her hand, she trotted through the jungle with more confidence than she ever had. The valley was large and she had no idea where to find Christie, but she felt that she needed to find her friend fast before something else happened. Maybe she had been re-captured by the savages.
As she trotted, Lizzie Jane’s mind wandered just a little — the main thought and attention was to find Christie, but she tried to remember how the savages looked. They looked a little human, but also similar to the gorilla. They wore what looked like aprons made from animal skins around their waist and hairy all over. She thought, “They were in bad need of a deodorant.”
She remembered pictures of cavemen. Yes -- that is what they were, the famous cavemen of ancient history. So, if she could not find Christie, she would begin looking for caves.
Occasionally, Lizzie Jane would stop and call, “Christie! Christie!” She was disappointed each time when there wasn’t any answer. The fifth time she did that, she had some visitors shortly thereafter — the savages.
They tried to grab her, but she was watchful and too quick for them and, before they knew it, she was up a tree and swinging from limb to limb and vine to vine when she could find one. Sometimes the vine had attached it self to a tree and she had to cut into it with her hunting knife. Unlike all the stories, very few were hanging loosely. She had heard them called grapevines, but she never saw any grapes. But, swinging through the trees was fun. She enjoyed it as much now as she did when she swung through the trees with George.
The important thing was that it kept the savages confused. Who was this girl who was able to swing through the trees like the monkeys?
However, it seemed to provide a clue in finding Christie. They had tried to grab Lizzie Jane, so they must have been able to grab Christie. She began to ease around in the trees until she again spotted some of the savages. Trying to keep from being seen, she slowly followed them from above. They might lead her to Christie.
Finally, they came to a series of caves in the mountain. Lizzie Jane, still having not set foot on the ground, surveyed the area for Christie. Finally, she saw her. In a cage constructed with cane stalks, Christie sat in a corner. It looked like she had been crying, but the tears had dried up. The cage was in an offset of the mountain, so it would be difficult for a large dinosaur to reach her, although a smaller one could.
“Now, what should I do?” thought Lizzie Jane. With all her skills, Lizzie Jane was not a fighter and only planned to use her weapons if necessary to defend herself — or to defend Christie. She decided that maybe the savages were not hungry enough for Christie or wanted to fatten her up for later. Hopefully, that was the reason she was still alive, so Lizzie Jane decided to make herself comfortable in a tree and wait until nightfall in hopes that they would not move Christie.
Night came and Christie had not been moved. It became late in the evening and finally the savages went to sleep, but Lizzie Jane assumed that they were light sleepers. The assumption was reasonable for self-preservation. They had to be ready to fight — or run at any time, even at night.
From a tree, Lizzie Jane positioned herself so that she could be seen by Christie. She had gathered some nuts from some of the trees and, one by one, tossed them toward Christie, hitting her in different areas of the body. Christie was awaken by the falling nuts and looked up.
Upon being seen, Lizzie Jane put a finger to her lips for Christie to remain quiet. She put her quiver and bow on a limb, propped up so it would not fall because Lizzie Jane’s plan could not be completed with anything on her back.
Lizzie Jane swung down on a vine to the top of the cage and notice that it was tied together with green vines. She very quietly began to saw at the vines with her knife. When all the vines were cut loose except one, Lizzie Jane eased the side of the cage down slowly by holding to the vine — just enough for Christie to get out.
There was not enough slack in the vines to let it down completely without dropping it and that might wake the savages. She quickly tied the vine in place, so she could reach down with both hands and pull Christie up to her. Although Lizzie Jane had gained some strength by her daily exercise, she still had some of the weakness of a young girl, but with determination, she was able to pull Christie up to the top of the cage with her.
Christie was instructed to put her arms around Lizzie Jane’s neck and “to hold on”. Lizzie Jane swung by the vine to a tree close to the cage. The weight on Lizzie Jane’s back almost caused her to lose balance, but she quickly grabbed a limb to steady herself. The procedure was accomplished with much difficulty and Lizzie Jane was not anxious to try it again, except in a dangerous situation. After all, Lizzie Jane was not strong like the fictional hero in jungle stories.
“I wish I could swing through the trees with you, but I almost lost you back there, so I had better not try,” Lizzie Jane whispered to Christie. “So, we will run together. I am a pretty good shot with a bow and arrow and I have two spears — here, you take one. If things get too rough, I will help you get up a tree and we will work this thing out together.”
Unlike the first time a year before, the girls ran down animal paths toward the valley. Luckily (or God was with them), they made it to the narrow valley without any attacks from huge monsters. Lizzie Jane was not sure if the nighttime had anything to do with their safety. The moon was full, so there was sufficient light.
As the day began to dawn, Shirley was on the ledge looking for a miracle — that Lizzie Jane and Christie would return together. When she saw them, her heart leaped with joy. Lizzie Jane had come through!
Shirley ran to meet them and just had to hug their necks. It was difficult to believe that Lizzie Jane was smart enough for the rescue without confronting the savages and that she had the ability to swing through the trees. “Just the masterful instructions of George,” said Lizzie Jane. They all laughed.
The most unbelievable news was when Lizzie Jane reported what happened to the dinosaur that had attacked her.
“When I last saw you, you were facing a dinosaur — from pictures I have seen, it was a T-rex. How did you escape?” asked Christie.
“I killed it”, replied Lizzie Jane.
“Don’t tell me that! Please tell me how you escaped,” pleaded Christie.
I killed it!” proclaimed Lizzie Jane.
“But how?” both girls asked almost simultaneously.
“With a spear — to the throat and eye”, stated Lizzie Jane, somewhat proudly.
“Well, I’ll be..”said Shirley, “Imagine! A ten year old girl killing a T-rex!”
“But now, we have something else to think about. The savages will probably come looking for us,” mentioned Lizzie Jane as they walked back to the cave.
Upon the ledge, they saw George. He seemed overjoyed that Lizzie Jane was back — and safe. It seemed that even Momma Gorilla smiled a little.
Since it was very early morning, the girls discussed a probable attack from the savages. They knew that there were people around.
“Well, we have Momma Gorilla,” mentioned Shirley.
“But, the savages will have weapons — spears and things. I am sure they have killed some huge animals where they live. They can do a lot of thing when their group work together. We would not want to risk the lives of Momma Gorilla and George,” mentioned Lizzie Jane.
“Yes,” agreed Christie. “I have seen the fingers of gorillas that must have been as large as Momma that the savages had.”
So, how could three girls fight against a small army of savages?
--To be continued
Copyright 2007 by Starla Anne Lowry
Under the pen name of Billie Sue
The girls thought about the matter for a few moments and Shirley said, “Okay, let’s try it. The savages probably have already missed Christie and on their way here to find her and whoever helped her get loose.”
THE LONG JOURNEY
Chapter 9
(Final Chapter)
Undecided and without any clue on what to do when the savages attacked, Shirley set about to preparing breakfast. On the menu this particular morning were fried eggs. The girls were not sure what kind of bird laid the eggs, but they were eggs and that was good enough for them.
“Where is Lizzie Jane?” asked Shirley as she set the plates for breakfast. She was thoughtful enough to set out some fruit for Momma Gorilla and George. They all usually ate together, each enjoying the meal to suit each individual taste.
Lizzie Jane came running in, huffing and puffing, back from a fast run.
“Where in the world have you been?” asked Shirley.
“Down to the beach. I just wanted to check on something,” answered Lizzie Jane.
“Well, I hope it is something good — to help us fight the savages,” replied Shirley, rather coldly.
“Well, I think so,” said Lizzie Jane. “I believe the savages are after us. They seem to have a taste for humans, so if we are gone, I don’t think they will bother Momma and George. They would be too much of a burden to carry back and I think they have plenty of gorillas where they live.’
“So, I checked to see if the last group to come ashore had a boat — and they did! My suggestion is that we paddle out to sea and, that way, we can protect Momma and George.”
“So, how would we get their attention away from here?” smirked Shirley.
“We build a bonfire. I know it isn’t night so they cannot see the light against the nighttime sky, but we should be able to build one large enough so they can see the smoke,” replied Lizzie Jane.
“Shirley, it is worth a try,” pleaded Christie. “I don’t want see Momma Gorilla and George hurt and you know Momma Gorilla will try to protect us.”
The girls thought about the matter for a few moments and Shirley said, “Okay, let’s try it. The savages probably have already missed Christie and on their way here to find her and whoever helped her get loose.”
Lizzie Jane tried to explain in gorilla language the matter to George, but he shook his head and objected. Lizzie Jane explained why and in gorilla language told him, “I will always be your sister and I want to protect you. I promise that I will try to find a way to come back — Okay?” She actually meant those words.
Of course, Lizzie Jane’s explanation to George were in scattered gorilla language, but gorillas did not have a large vocabulary anyway, but Lizzie Jane used enough with gestures so that he would understand. They hugged each other and the girls departed.
Momma Gorilla put her arm around George as if she were sorry, too, and tried to comfort him. George waved good-bye until Lizzie Jane was out of sight. A tear fell from his eye.
Scrap wood that had washed ashore and had dried was quickly gathered and a few clicks of the flint stones over some seaweed got the fire started and it built up quickly. When it was a roaring fire, the girls hopped into the little rowboat and paddled out to sea for a short distance. There they stopped and waited. They wanted the savages to see them.
It wasn’t very long until savages flowed out of the jungle from everywhere. They saw the girls in the little boat and began to throw spears, but the girls were too far away. The girls began to row further and further away to make sure that the savages could see them leaving.
Suddenly, a huge cloud appeared over the horizon and it appeared to be touching the water and the sky as it seemed to draw nearer.
“Look,” said Shirley. “A storm is coming up and a cloud is just above the water. I hope the wind doesn’t blow us back to shore.”
Lizzie Jane and Christie looked. Lizzie Jane spoke first, “That looks like the cloud that brought us here. Let’s row toward it. If it brought us here on this side, it might take us somewhere else on the other side.”
“Well, that is a wild idea,” said Shirley, “but I am game. Let’s try it. Any place is better than back there with the savages.”
The cloud was moving rather fast as if it were after something. The girls rowed as hard as they could at an angle and, by doing so, they seemed to be slightly gaining on it. Tired and feeling as if their arms would fall off, they finally entered the cloud.
Suddenly, everything was still and it seemed very creepy in the fog. They stopped rowing for a few moments because they were so tired. After a short rest, the girls resumed rowing on what seemed to be a perfectly calm sea. Everything was still and quiet, so they did not tire themselves out again. After what seemed to be a couple of hours, they came out on the other side.
“Whew, “ said Shirley. “I thought for awhile we would be stuck in there.”
“Look,” said Christie. “There goes a plane in it like the one we were on.”
Straining her eyes, Shirley remarked, “I believe that IS the plane we were on! We seem to be coming back into our own time just moments before we left it!”
They stopped rowing and watched the plane and cloud continue on their paths until they were out of sight. “Betcha the men in those planes are going to be surprised after they land,” smiled Christie, thinking of everyone running for their lives and the two men screaming when something caught them. The girls had kept on running and never looked back.
Not knowing where they were or which way to go, the girls pulled the paddles in the boat and drifted. As time passed, they wondered if they had done the right thing. On the other side of the cloud, there was an island. On this side, nothing but water as far as the eye could see. No one had thought to bring fresh water to drink. Well, they did not actually expect to be away from land very long.
They drifted for hours. Night came and left. The morning sun reappeared with its hot blast. The girls were very hungry and thirsty.
Shirley remarked, “As the old saying goes -- when out at sea, water, water all around and not a thing to drink.”
“I hope that we can make it,” cried Christie.
“Let’s pray. I don’t believe God intends for me to die out here or else He would not have let me kill that dinosaur,” mentioned Lizzie Jane. They bowed their heads and Lizzie Jane lead the prayer.
Tired, hungry and thirsty, the girls closed their eyes -- one by one -- hoping for a miracle. They were soon asleep, almost to the point of unconsciousness.
Lizzie Jane heard a voice in her dream, but it kept getting louder and she began to wake up.
“Ahoy there.”
It wasn’t a dream, but a real voice. She shook the other two girls and Shirley focused her eyes on a welcomed sight — it was the Coast Guard — The United States Coast Guard!
**************************************************************
Doc Brown knocked on the door of Uncle Jed and Aunt Maudie’s home.
“Come on in, doc. You are always welcome,” said a smiling Jed.
“How is Maudie after she returned home?” asked the doctor.
“Just fine,” answered Uncle Jed. “She is still claiming that Lizzie Jane’s mother told her that Lizzie Jane is still alive. I haven’t had the heart to tell her there ain’t no hope.”
“But, Lizzie Jane is alive. That is what I came to tell you,” Doc Brown replied.
“What?” exclaimed Aunt Maudie as she entered the room from the kitchen, wearing her flour covered apron. “Jed, I told you so.”
“She is in Miami with two other girls. Some physicians and psychiatrists are examining her and the other girls. They have come up with some wild tale and Lizzie Jane has asked for me to come and prove she is not crazy. I am going to leave tonight and I wanted to see if you two wanted to go with me,” explained Dr. Brown.
“Yes, we want to go,” answered Jed.
“Good, we will drive to Anniston and catch a train. The trip would be too much for my old jalopy. I will pay for the tickets,” offered Doc Brown. “We will switch trains in Atlanta to go on to Miami.”
The train trip was a new experience for Uncle Jed and Aunt Maudie , which they thoroughly enjoyed. Upon arrival in Miami, Doc Brown located a taxi to transport the trio to their hotel rooms. The next item was to see Lizzie Jane and find out what was going on.
Doctor Andrew Price, a psychiatrist, met Doc Brown and asked Uncle Jed and Aunt Maudie to sit in a waiting area for a few minutes.
“I don’t know why, but the girls are telling a strange story and all the girls are sticking to it. They have been examined separately and their story stays the same. Since one of the girls know you, I thought you might be able to find out the truth,” said Doctor Price as they walked down a hall to a small room which contained a couch, a table and a bed.
“Doc Brown!” screamed Lizzie Jane when she saw him enter the room. She grabbed him and gave a big hug.
“Now, Lizzie Jane. That is you, isn’t it?” asked Doc Brown. He looked at her. There were some things that were different. After all, she had only been missing less than two weeks.
“Oh yes, Doc Brown,” whimpered Lizzie Jane. “Don’t you recognize me? I have only been gone a year.” Doc Brown glanced at Doctor Price, who had that “see what I mean” look.
Doc Brown sat down on the couch and said, “Lizzie Jane, tell me everything that happened — everything now — don’t leave out anything.”
Lizzie Jane went through all the events. Near the end, when she talked about killing the dinosaur, Doc Brown raised his eyebrows and had a strange look, like he remembered something.
“Thank you,” said Doc Brown. “The good doctor and I need to have a talk.”
When the two doctors were in the hall, Doctor Price said, “See, that story cannot be true.”
“Well, you may think I am crazy, but I believe her,” said Doc Brown.
“What? How can you believe a story like that?” asked a puzzled Doctor Price. Were all the people from Carter’s Bend crazy, even the doctors?
“Does Doctor Scott Ledbetter still live in Miami?” asked Doc Brown.
“Yes, he is a research scientist. Why?” asked Dr. Price.
“Could you get him on the phone for me? I know him. We had some classes together in college,” requested Doc Brown.
“Sure”, replied Doctor Price.
No one could hear what Doc Brown and Doctor Scott Ledbetter were discussing, but they talked about something for nearly an hour. After they hung up, Doc Brown said, “I think Doctor Ledbetter can shine some light on this subject. He is coming right over. He is as excited as I am.”
In another hour, Dr. Ledbetter was there, carrying his briefcase. “I knew right where it was,” he whispered to Doc Brown.
“Let’s go see Lizzie Jane — you, too”, speaking to Uncle Jed and Aunt Maudie.
The three doctors, along with Uncle Jed and Aunt Maudie, entered Lizzie Jane’s room. She had to hug the necks of her favorite uncle and aunt.
“Now,” began Doc Brown. “Let me explain. When Dr. Ledbetter and I were in college, he went on an archeological trip where some dinosaur bones had been found. When he got back, he told me that he had something to show me. They had found something in the skull of a Tyrannosaurus Rex and no one could explain it. The leader of the group said that the item did not mean anything, so just throw it away. Dr. Ledbetter felt like he wanted to keep what was found and, maybe, figure out something. He never figured it out, but he still has it. May we see it, Doctor Ledbetter?”
Dr. Ledbetter produced an old flat box. Doctor Brown said, “Now, this is aluminum. As most everyone knows, the surface of aluminum quickly oxidizes to form an invisible barrier to corrosion, so it can last for years — some people think indefinitely. However, this box was not available in the days of the T-Rex. So, where did it come from? Good question, isn’t it — since it was found in the skull of a dinosaur.”
Doc Brown continued, “Lizzie Jane, will you open this box and read what is inscribed inside? It should not be difficult. Doctor Ledbetter has already opened the lid in his examination. Now everyone, keep in mind that this was found in the skull of a T-Rex dinosaur.”
With trembling hands, Lizzie Jane opened it and read, “Killed by Lizzie Jane, Date Unknown”.
Doc Brown smiled. “This seems to me to be definite proof that Lizzie Jane and the girls went back in time and experienced what they claim. Remember again, this box was found in the skull of a T-Rex and that particular area had not shown any disturbance before Doctor Ledbetter and his group found the skull containing the box. Isn’t that right, Dr. Ledbetter? Lizzie Jane claims to have tossed such a box with the identical same inscription into the open mouth of the T-Rex.”
Doctor Ledbetter nodded his head. “Doctor Price, you know me and know that I would never be a party to a hoax. This box must surely go back to the time when the dinosaur was killed and I have no doubt that this girl killed it. She would not have known about us finding the box. The only ones who ever knew were the group I was in, myself, and Doctor Brown, of whom I asked an opinion. Of course, he had none — until today.”
Doc Brown began to speak again, “Lizzie Jane said she had been gone over a year. Actually in our time, she has been gone less than two weeks. However, look at her. She is a little taller, her skin is brown and she seems to have more muscle. This is not the same Lizzie Jane of two weeks ago, but a Lizzie Jane that is a year older.’
“Let’s try something. Lizzie Jane spoke of a rescue, which took a lot of strength. Doctor Price, would you please let Lizzie Jane arm wrestle with you?”
Reluctantly Doctor Price placed his arm on the table hand in hand with Lizzie Jane.
“On the count of three, go,” said Doc Brown. “One — two — three”.
Lizzie Jane had no problem pinning Doctor Price’s arm down immediately.
“Now, if the word of this ever gets out, Lizzie Jane and the other two girls will never have any privacy, but will be hounded — and maybe kept prisoner — by the scientific community. I want to ask that what we have learned today never leave the walls of this room. Okay?”
The group nodded. “Okay, let’s go tell the other girls why they need to keep all what happened a secret, too.’
The hardest part was the good-byes to the two girls Lizzie Jane had grown to love — so much that Lizzie Jane had risked her life to rescue one from a T-Rex dinosaur and a large tribe of giant savages. They had grown so close that they were almost like sisters.
Tears were shed — necks hugged — as the young ladies exchanged addresses, promising to not mention their experiences to the outside world. In the first place, no one would believe them and they understood that, if scientists ever checked on their story, they would never really be free again.
Shirley and Christie lived in Florida, so they stood on the platform as Lizzie Jane boarded a train going to east-central Alabama and watched until the train was out of sight. Lizzie Jane was sitting next to Aunt Maudie, so she turned and cried on her aunt’s shoulder.
Aunt Maudie patted Lizzie Jane on the back. “Honey, I understand. They were your close friends. It hurts, but each of you must face disappointments and sorrow through your life. Think of it this way — think of how overjoyed you will be when you meet again — and you will meet. Y’all have each other’s address, so they won’t be so far away.”
Aunt Maudie used her finger to turn Lizzie Jane’s face to meet her face and said, “How many other nine —ah, I mean ten — year old girls have ever killed a T-Rex dinosaur? Honey, that is a feat that will never be beat.”
That brought a smile to both faces.
THE END
Copyright 2007 by Starla Anne Lowry
Under the pen name of Billie Sue
**
All characters in this story are fictitious and not intended to protray any actual person, dead or alive.