Baloo's Clues
Part 3

TaleSpin and its characters are property of Disney / Buena Vista Co. and are used without permission. All other characters are mine and cannot used without permission.

Tundra City
Top of the Staircase Inside Waterfall

Holding her breath, Rebecca put the key that they had found in Lhasa Apso into the brass lock and turned it with difficulty. She eagerly flung the lid open. "It's....it's..."

"Yeah? Yeah?" Baloo, Kit, and Molly said in unison.

As if she couldn't believe her eyes, Rebecca whispered, "A key, a marble, and a piece of paper?"

"No jewel?" Molly said, her excited expectation turning to disappointment.

Frowning, Kit scooped up the contents of the chest. He rolled the yellow and black marble around in his palm. "If this is someone's idea of a practical joke, it's not very funny."

"The treasure has to be in here!" An extremely frustrated Rebecca ripped the lining out of the treasure chest, then shook it upside-down.

"Becky..." Baloo placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Shrugging him off, Rebecca snapped, "If you even think, 'I told you so', you're fired!"

"I wasn't gonna..."

Rebecca sat down on the top step, the empty treasure chest in her hands. Hot tears pricked her eyes. "I can't believe we came all this way for a marble, a key, and a lousy piece of paper." She plunked the treasure chest down so hard that the bottom splintered.

Molly sat on the step beside her mother and tried to comfort her by putting her little arms around her.

Kit read the number that was printed on the piece of paper. "What picture was number six?"

"There wasn't any page six," Rebecca said with a sniff. "See for yourself." She removed the sketchbook from her purse and handed it to Kit.

Baloo peered over Kit's shoulder as the boy flipped through the old sketchbook. "Don't look like any pages were torn out, neither."

Rebecca buried her face in her hands. "I must be the most stupid, imbecilic..."

Jokingly, Baloo said, "Ya left out moronic."

Dolefully, Rebecca continued, "Moronic person in the world for believing that that sketchbook would lead me to treasure."

In an attempt to console his boss, Kit said, "Look on the bright side, Miz Cunningham. You had some excitement and adventure in some exotic places today."

"And we found some nice marbles," Molly added. "It's better to find marbles than to lose them. Wildcat loses his all the time."

Rebecca chuckled wanly. "That, I believe." She wiped the half-frozen tears from her face and stood up, holding out her hand to Molly. "Come on. Let's get out of this icebox and go home."

Sea Duck
On the Way Back to Cape Suzette

As the orange-trimmed yellow seaplane soared over an ocean dotted with icebergs, Rebecca leaned against the pilot's seat and leafed through the sketchbook. Finally, she closed it with a loud sigh that made Kit glance up from his map and prompted Molly to tear her attention away from the marbles.

Even Baloo looked over at her. Noticing her dejected demeanor, he asked gently, "What's wrong?"

"I can't believe that I fell for a crazy treasure hunt," she said, her voice full of compunction.

"It wasn't so crazy." The big bear reached around behind his seat and pulled two bottles of lemonade out of a crate. He offered one to her.

Rebecca declined it with a shake of her head. "I have an MBA. I should have known better. For one day, I was as foolish as you, Baloo."

"Only one day?" Baloo flipped the caps off of the lemonade with a practiced flick of his thumb and gave them to the cubs. He then got a third bottle of lemonade for himself, opened it, took a swig, and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. Angered by her insulting remark, he continued, "Let's see...I remember an exploding gas station, sniffin' out truffles with an overgrown porker, that featherbrained scheme about ostrich feathers, an' ya can't forget..."

Rebecca, who was in no mood to listen to a list of her past mistakes, whacked Baloo with the sketchbook, causing lemonade to spill on it. "Baloo! Look what you've done!"

"Me?" Baloo cried. "You're the one that hit me, lady! It's bad enough ya got my shirt soaked, but to waste perfectly good lemonade..." He looked sadly at his nearly empty bottle.

Her eyes flashing dangerously, Rebecca retorted, "Well, I wouldn't have hit you if you hadn't..."

Their argument was curtailed by Molly exclaiming, "Look! On the back of the book!"

Rebecca flipped the sketchbook over. Faint shapes were emerging where the lemonade had streaked it. She grabbed Baloo's bottle from him just as he was about to take another drink, prompting an annoyed, "Hey!" from him and started dabbing more lemonade on the back cover. Little by little, a picture emerged.

Molly leaned over the armrest to get a better look. "I think I see some writing down near the bottom, but I can't tell what it says."

Rebecca dribbled more lemonade over the letters. When they became clear, she read, "Shakenquake Island?"

As if they had been stung by a bee, both Baloo and Kit jumped when they heard that name. "Shakenquake Island!"

"Why's it called that?" Molly asked, turning wondering eyes towards the pilot and navigator.

"'Cause the ground shakes an' quakes when you least expect it," Baloo said.

There was a greedy look in Rebecca's eyes as she scoured the cover for clues. "Now that we expect it, it won't be unexpected."

Baloo glanced apprehensively at his boss and nervously fiddled his fingers on the control yoke. He would rather have a root canal than go to Shakenquake Island. Unfortunately, he knew that he had little chance of dissuading Rebecca, especially with the prospect of treasure staring her in the face.

"Ah-ha! There's a little 'S' in the middle of the lake in this picture. That means that the secret word is 'jewels'." Rebecca let out a gasp of excited realization. "Maybe that means that there's more than one jewel!"

Baloo looked crestfallen. That money-hungry look that he hated was in her eyes. "We're goin' there, ain't we?"

Rebecca nodded in determination. "We're going there."

Shakenquake Island

The setting sun was sinking in the western sky when Kit announced, "There it is. Shakenquake Island."

As if she expected to be able to spot the treasure from 10,000 feet above, Rebecca pressed her nose to the window. It appeared to be a typical island: a speck of green in a vast sea of blue. However, centuries before, this palm tree covered, peaceful-looking island was a raging volcano, belching fire into the sky. When the eruptions ceased, the crater filled with rain water, forming a huge lake in the middle of the island. Over time, the fertile black cone, eroded by the elements, became covered with vegetation. But the island never quite seemed to forget its volcanic origins.

What was even more mysterious was that anyone who visited Shakenquake Island - from scientists bent on discovering its secrets to pilots making emergency landings - never came back.

A few minutes later, the Sea Duck pulled up alongside the black sand beach. Just as the propellers came to a stop, the cargo hold door flung open and Rebecca said, "The faster we get the treasure, the faster we can get out of here. Come on!"

Baloo grabbed her by her arm before she could jump out. "Feather your props, Becky! I ain't trekkin' through some jungle in the middle of the night. If the treasure's waited this long to be found, it can wait a few more hours."

"I can't!" Rebecca snapped.

Baloo threw up his hands. "Fine. Have it your way, but don't come cryin' to me if you get eaten by a wild animal or drown in quicksand or..."

All of a sudden, their ears were filled with loud rumbling. The entire island, from the top of the cone down to the beach, trembled, causing the palm trees to sway. Coconuts, hurling through the air as if shot from slingshots, pelted the seaplane's exterior. The sea surrounding the island was whipped into a white frenzy, thus causing the Sea Duck to violently rock from side to side.

"Mommy!" Molly cried out in fear as she bounced across the cargo hold.

"It's okay, baby. Just hang o-o-o-on!" Rebecca yelled, teetering in the doorway.

Both Baloo and Kit attempted to grab their boss, but before they could, she completely lost her balance, toppled out of the plane, and did a perfect imitation of a Baloo belly-flop onto the beach.

When the tremors ceased, Baloo hopped out and assisted his boss to her feet.

Rebecca spit sand out of her mouth. Wearily, she said, "Okay, Baloo. You win. What was your suggestion?"

"Camp here tonight an' start out tomorrow mornin'."

Rebecca's impatient retort died on her lips when she looked at the jungle. Baloo was right. She hated when he was right. It was getting darker by the second and it would be dangerous to try to traverse it in the dark. Moreover, the longer she stared at the jungle, the more nervous she felt. Not only was it deathly quiet now that the rumbling had stopped, but it seemed as if someone was watching them, "All right," she said with a surreptitious shiver.

Baloo grinned, glad that she finally would listen to reason. "Great. You an' Miss Molly scout out some wood for a fire while Kit an' me start catchin' the fish."

"What I'd really like is a bath," Rebecca said, shaking sand out of her hair.

"You're in luck, boss lady." Baloo made a sweeping motion with his hand. "We got us the whole ocean for a bathtub."

"That's almost big enough for you," Rebecca said, jabbing at his rotund stomach with her forefinger.

"Hardy-har-har."

A Little While Later

Shakenquake Island was so peaceful that it was difficult for the Higher for Hire crew to believe that the earthquake had ever occurred. The ocean, upon which was reflected the fiery sunset, spread smooth and calm all around them. The palm trees lining the beach were silhouetted dark against the sky, swaying gently in the breeze. Besides the quiet lapping of the waves and the 'shh' of the trees, the only other sound was the crackling that came from the cozy campfire built on the beach near the Sea Duck.

Just a little way down the beach from the seaplane, behind a large rock, Rebecca was helping Molly undress. "Stay close to the shore. You don't know what might be out there." The thought of sharks and giant squids crossed her mind.

The little girl, now clad only in her frilly undies, said, "I will, Mommy!" as she ran, giggling, into the water.

Rebecca paused with her fingers on the top button of her cardigan. She was reluctant to undress, but after that swan dive onto the beach, she felt like she really needed a bath. Every square inch of her felt gritty. She peeked over the rock screening her. Only Baloo's cap was visible. She could hear the murmurs of her flight crew and the quiet splashes as they threw their lines into the ocean and reeled them in. They weren't paying any attention to her.

Still...she had the eerie sensation that she was being watched.

She forgot all about it when Molly shouted, "Hey, Mom, lookee at how long I can hold my breath!"

Rebecca turned in time to see Molly's head sink below surface of the water. Angrily, she shouted, "Molly Elizabeth Cunningham, you get up here right this instant!" When a moment turned to a minute, her anger turned to fear. "Molly? Molly!" Without further ado, she ran into the water and dove under the surface.

A little while later, Baloo felt something tug on his line. Then, his entire fishing rod bowed under the strain of something heavy. "Whoa, baby, this is it!" The big bear scrambled to his feet and dug in his heels to avoid being pulled into the water. Swiftly rewinding the reel, he shouted, "Get the net, Li'l Britches. I think I caught me a whale! What in the...?"

Instead of a fish, Rebecca and Molly came spluttering and coughing to the surface. Kit immediately dropped the net and ran to get blankets.

"Whale?" Rebecca choked out between coughs. "Who are you calling a whale?"

Kit draped blankets around the Cunninghams' shoulders. "What happened?"

Molly, who was shaking with chill and fright, gasped out, "Big hole...under island...sucking me in."

"Big hole?" Baloo cried.

Rebecca nodded silently as she held a coughing Molly. She alternately rubbed and slapped the little girl's back. "That's it, baby. Get all that water out."

Kit shared a look with Baloo. "Earthquakes and now big holes. What kind of island is this?"

Shakenquake Island
That Night

"Why can't I sleep on the top bunk?" Molly whined as he mother tucked her in.

"Because Kit's sleeping there," Rebecca explained. "Besides, you might fall out during an earthquake, Pumpkin."

"No, I won't."

"Molly, don't argue. Just go to sleep. We have to get up really early tomorrow to find the treasure, okay?"

Reluctantly, Molly muttered, "Okay."

With a loving smile, Rebecca smoothed her daughter's damp hair and kissed her cheek. "Goodnight."

"Night," the little girl echoed, a little petulantly.

Standing up, Rebecca smiled at Kit, who was lying on the top bunk. She gave his shoulder a fond squeeze and whispered, "Goodnight."

"Night, Miz Cunningham." He then leaned over the bunk to say, 'goodnight' to Molly. When he saw the little girl stick her tongue out at him, he returned the gesture. In spite of herself, Molly giggled; she could never stay mad for very long.

Rebecca got a coarse grey flannel blanket out of the closet and made her way towards the open back hatch doorway where Baloo was stringing his hammock. "Thought you might want this," she said, offering him the blanket.

"Thanks." Baloo flipped the blanket over his shoulder and returned to hanging his hammock.

From the safety of the cargo hold, Rebecca gazed out at the dark, forested island. The full moon hung over the top of the cone, now protruding from a misty cloud. Even though she would never admit it, she sensed that the island was giving her a fatalistic warning to stay away. Hesitantly, she said, "Do you think there really is a treasure?"

"Sure, don't you?" Baloo gave the knot one last tug.

With a conviction she didn't feel, Rebecca replied, "Yes, of course." She wasn't able to tear her eyes away from the island.

Following her gaze, yet seeing nothing of interest, Baloo said, "What's up?"

"I keep having this feeling that we're being watched."

"Aw, that's just your imagination," Baloo said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Nobody lives on Shakenquake Island."

"But what about all of those stories that you and Kit were talking about at supper? The cannibals, the man-eating tigers...?"

"Probably just some crazy rumors to keep folks away from the treasure." Under his breath, he mumbled, "I hope."

Unconvinced, Rebecca murmured, "I suppose so. But that gigantic hole that tried to suck Molly in definitely was no rumor."

"Trust me, Becky, nothing's gonna happen."

Just then, another earthquake swept over the island as unexpectantly and as quickly as summer lightning. When she Sea Duck began careen dangerously on the waves, Rebecca shrieked and threw herself into Baloo's arms.

Then, the earthquake ended as abruptly as it had begun.

However, Rebecca didn't seem to notice. Her eyes squeezed shut, she clung to Baloo with all her might.

Baloo's feelings were badly mixed. On the one hand, he liked being hugged by her. In fact, he really liked it. On the other hand, he was becoming increasingly embarrassed, because now he felt as if they were being watched, not by some mysterious strangers, but by Kit and Molly. The embarrassment finally won out. He tapped her on the shoulder. "Uh, Becky?"

"Hmm?" she murmured absently.

"Earthquake's over."

"Oh! Right!" Blushing, Rebecca let go of Baloo and took two steps backwards. She cleared her throat self-consciously. In an overly nonchalant way, she said, "Well, better get to bed. We have to get up bright and early. And don't even think about sleeping in."

Baloo chuckled a little. "I wouldn't dream of it."

"Yes, well..." Without another word, Rebecca disappeared into the dark cargo hold and climbed into bed beside Molly.

Shakenquake Island
The Next Day

As they climbed up the broad, somewhat gently sloping hill that led to the lake, Rebecca's anxious eyes darted around at the jungle that seemed to press in around them. It was strangely silent as if the island was devoid of life. Not only were there no animal calls, cries, or snufflings, but there didn't seem to be any insects, either. There was just the 'shh' of the wind tickling the palm trees and a low, intermittent rumbling from deep within the island.

The bearess turned her attention back to the path. Ahead of her was Kit, and ahead of Kit was Baloo with Molly perched on his shoulders. Baloo was slashing through the vegetation with a machete. At this rate, it would take until next Christmas to get to the treasure. Impatiently, Rebecca asked, "Where are we? How much farther?"

Letting the machete fall to his side with a tired sigh, Baloo swiped his arm across his sweaty forehead. Molly offered him her handkerchief. The big bear took it with a grin and tweaked her toes.

Kit, compass and sketchbook in hand, said, "According to the map, the lake shouldn't be much farther. Just up and over this hill."

Rebecca peered over Kit's shoulder at the map. "Why would anyone throw jewels in a lake?" she wondered.

"'Cause they wanted liquid assets?" When his boss shot him an annoyed look, Baloo added, "What? I picked it up from you."

Hearing a twig snap, Rebecca said, "Hush!"

"No need to bite my head off, 'cause I ain't an MBA or ABD like you, lady," Baloo growled.

Rebecca clamped a hand over his mouth. Her voice sank to a whisper, "I thought I heard something."

"W-w-what kind of a something?" Baloo stammered, drawing Rebecca and Kit closer to him as they peered, frightened, into the forest. "Large animal somethin' or cannibal somethin' or...?"

Molly pointed to a rustling bush. "It's over there!"

Rebecca whispered, "Baloo, go check it out."

"Me?" the big bear exclaimed.

"Yes, you." Rebecca gave him a little push forward. "You've got a knife."

From the bushes came a low, scruffy voice: "What are ya mangy swabs doing on my island?"

"Your island?" For good measure, Baloo tacked on, "Sir?"

"Aye, for 'tis the feared pirate Captain Juan Toomanie."

End of part 3