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Chapter 5
Frank was roused by the soft beep of the alarm on his watch. Rubbing his eyes, Frank sat up and gazed around the cave. Ford and Jamie were still asleep beside him, Jamie hopelessly tangled in the thermal blanket and lying half on top of his older brother. Grinning at the memories that scene brought to mind Frank instinctively sought out his own brother. Looking towards the front of the cave, he could make out Joe's silhouette by the very dim light of the fire. Glancing out the small opening, he could see the sun hadn't yet risen but the shades of gray, rather than the inky darkness, told him dawn would soon break. Frank moved quietly to Joe's side and sat down.
"Hey," Joe greeted him. "Sleep okay?"
"Felt like I was sleeping on the cold, hard ground."
"Gee, what a coincidence…you were," Joe elbowed him.
Frank reached out and took Joe's arm. "Let me check that wound before the boys wake up."
"It's fine, Frank. You said keep it clean and I did. No rolling around in the dirt, no mud wrestling…"
Frank looked Joe in the eyes and said one word. "Infection."
Joe stared back at him and Frank wondered if the memories that washed over him were just as vivid for Joe, too. That question was answered when Joe silently nodded and allowed Frank to clean the wound and change the bandage. When he was finished, Frank returned the first aid kit to his pack and pulled out a map of the area with the route they planned to take that day clearly marked.
"It's pretty heavily wooded. Rough terrain and some steep inclines. We can't be late getting to the rendezvous point," Frank murmured, glancing at the still sleeping boys. "How long do you think that fake trail you left will keep those guys occupied?"
"I'm not sure. Depends on how good they are at tracking I guess. Of course, they wouldn't have been able to track much in the dark. Even if they went a little further into the woods once they found the bloody piece of shirt I threw, there wasn't much to follow after that." Joe shrugged. "I made sure I didn't leave any tracks once I crossed over to the other side of the stream, though."
Frank frowned. "Wish I could say the same thing. I didn't have time to cover our tracks last night and dragging two kids behind me… We probably left a trail a mile wide." He shook his head disgustedly. "If only the security patrol hadn't come back early last night. They never even would have known the kids were missing until this morning. We could've had a major head start on them."
"But we don't, and you know what? It's not the end of the world."
Frank knew what Joe was trying to do and he appreciated it. Frank had a tendency to beat himself up when his best laid plans didn't go exactly the way he wanted them to. Even when things were totally out of his control, as they had been the previous evening, Frank thought he should have been able to find a way to make it work, no matter what fate dictated. He smiled then, reminded of why he and Joe were such a formidable team. While Frank thrived on logic and planning everything down to the minutest detail, when things went awry Joe's ability to think on the fly and improvise on a moment's notice always seemed to cover whatever holes were punched in Frank's plans.
"You came up with a great plan and it almost came off without a hitch," Joe tried to continue. "Logically they'll probably—"
"Wait a minute," Frank interrupted with a grin. "Since when did you start thinking logically?"
Joe wrinkled his nose before replying. "I didn't say I was thinking logically, I said they would think logically."
"Good. You had me worried for a minute there."
Joe rolled his eyes. "Are you done yet?"
Frank smiled. "Yeah. For now."
"Logically, they'll go back and try to pick up my trail as soon as it's light out. That will still give us a good head start on them. Who knows how long it'll take for them to figure out they were set up?"
Frank nodded, feeling a bit better about the situation. "You're right. Still, I'll feel better if we get started as soon as possible. If they have trouble keeping pace…" he nodded towards Ford and Jamie.
"Then we'll help them. Don't worry so much. They'll think it's the best adventure they ever had."
"To him, every day is a brand new adventure." Frank heard Ford's voice echoing in his head. He glanced at Joe. 'Just like you.'
"Here, have some breakfast." Frank tossed Joe two breakfast bars and some water.
They ate in comfortable silence and then quietly packed up their gear. While Joe set about extinguishing the campfire, Frank went to wake the sleeping boys.
"Ford, time to get up." He gently shaking the older child.
Ford's eyes popped open almost immediately. He gazed around, disoriented and squinting. Frank smiled, picked up Ford's glasses and handed them to him. "Here you go."
"Thanks." Ford murmured. He slipped the glasses on. Frank watched, amused, as Ford tried to push himself to a sitting position, unable to do so as Jamie was stretched out, arms and legs askew, on top of Ford.
"Jamie." Ford shook his brother's shoulder. There was no response. "Jamie, come on. You have to get up now."
Jamie shoved Ford's hand away, mumbled something unintelligible and rolled over, snuggling deeper into the blanket. Ford sighed and reached out, shaking Jamie harder this time. "Jamie, we need to get going."
"No!" Jamie snapped. "I wanna sleep!"
Frank glanced over his shoulder at Joe and shook his head at the eerie similarities. He tried not to laugh as he watched Ford tugging on the blanket, trying to coax his younger brother into getting up, with Jamie fighting him every step of the way. 'Wonder if I should tell him it only gets worse as the years progress?' he thought, looking at his young counterpart. Recalling the 'reverse psychology' his parents would use on Joe at that age, and how it usually worked like a char, Frank reached out and touched Ford's arm, winking when Ford looked at him.
"We have to leave in fifteen minutes and we're on a pretty tight schedule so we can't be late." Frank spoke to Ford, watching Jamie out of the corner of his eye. He saw a tuft of blonde hair and one blue eye peeking out from under the blanket. "If he's not up by then, I guess we'll have no choice but to leave him here."
Jamie was up like a shot, wide awake. With his hair sticking out in several different directions, hands on his hips and a scowl on his face, the little boy glared at Frank. "Hey! You can't leave me here!" He stamped one foot for good measure. Rushing forward, he looked Frank dead in the eye. "Besides, Joe wouldn't let you leave without me!" he said defiantly, as if challenging Frank to dispute him. Without missing a beat, the child brushed right past him and made a beeline for Joe.
'Joe wouldn't let me?' Frank turned and looked over his shoulder. He saw Joe talking to Jamie with Jamie hanging on his every word. Shaking his head, Frank looked back at Ford. "How about some breakfast?"
The two elder siblings joined their younger brothers near the front of the cave where Frank offered a breakfast bar to both Ford and Jamie. As he had the night before, Ford accepted his with a gracious thank you. Jamie, however, scowled at Frank's outstretched hand and then looked at Joe.
"Got any chocolate?" he asked hopefully.
Frank wasn't the least bit surprised when Joe dug into his pack and pulled out several different brands of chocolate bars for Jamie to choose from. Jamie's eyes lit up like a Christmas tree but quickly dimmed at Joe's caveat.
"You can pick whichever one you want – after you have a protein bar and some water." Jamie wrinkled his nose at Joe and pouted silently. "Don't bother, it won't work on me," Joe chuckled. "I've been using that trick to get my own way longer than you've been alive, buddy."
Frank smiled and nodded at his brother. He watched as Jamie pouted for another minute or so, testing to see if Joe would break, but the younger Hardy held firm, tucking the chocolate bars back in his pack and placing a protein bar and plastic bottle of water on the ground at Jamie's feet.
A short time later, after breakfast was consumed and they made sure all evidence of their stay was gone, the foursome left the cave to begin the long hike to the spot where they would make camp that night. Frank and Ford took the lead with Joe and Jamie following behind them.
As they walked, Joe covered any obvious tracks they left behind using branches, leaves and other items Mother Nature helpfully supplied. Periodically glancing back at them, Frank noticed Jamie watching Joe's every move, utterly enthralled. He silently predicted it wouldn't take long for Jamie to inquire about what Joe was doing. It was less than a moment later when he heard the small boy's voice.
"What're you doin'?"
"I'm covering our tracks so if the bad guys figure out which way we went, they'll still have a hard time finding us," Joe explained.
Stealing another peek over his shoulder, Frank smiled when Jamie looked up at Joe in awe.
"Wow, you're just like those brother detectives in the old books Dad reads to me!"
Seeing the utter hero worship on Jamie's face and the huge grin on Joe's, Frank laughed softly to himself. "Hey, Joe, those brothers are over seventy-five years old. You sure you want to be compared to someone that old?"
"They are not!" Jamie cried out, defensively. "They're teenagers! It says so right in the books!"
Joe grinned. "He's got ya there, Frank."
Shaking his head with a smile, Frank thought fondly about the collection of books he had stored in his attic at home. He recalled the many nights he and Joe, as small boys, sat on the couch on either side of their father as Fenton read from those old books. Even when they were old enough to read the books themselves, Joe still preferred to listen as Frank read them, acting out the characters, changing his voice for each one and bringing the plots to life. A smile curved his lips at the thought that Ford and Jamie were having the same kind of carefree childhood he and Joe had enjoyed. He glanced at the dark-haired boy walking beside him. 'Hopefully that won't change once they're relocated.'
They continued on for another hour or so in relative silence, when Frank noticed a small clearing just ahead of them. He swung the backpack onto his arm and unzipped the front pocket, sticking his hand inside. Pulling out a small hand held gadget, no bigger than a cell phone, Frank turned it on.
"What's that?" Ford asked inquisitively.
"It's a GPS." Frank held it so Ford could get a better view.
"Global positioning system," the boy murmured, studying the device intently.
"That's right."
Ford looked up at him, blushing slightly, and shrugged. "I read a lot. I like to learn new things."
Franks smiled. "So do I."
"How does it work exactly? I mean I know it uses satellites but…" Ford's voice trailed off.
"You're right, it does use satellites. Basically the GPS receiver's job is to locate at least three satellites, figure out the distance to each one and then use that information to figure out its own location."
"How?" Ford pressed, all his attention focused on Frank.
"Well, first the receiver figures out the distance between us and at least three satellites above us. It does that by analyzing high-frequency, low-power radio signals from the GPS satellites. Since radio waves travel at the speed of light…"
"About 186,000 miles per second," Ford blurted out.
"That's right!" Frank was impressed at how intelligent the ten-year-old was. "So the receiver can figure out how far the signal has traveled by timing how long it took the signal to arrive. Then it uses an internal almanac to account for any inaccuracies…"
"Like when the Earth's atmosphere slows down the electromagnetic energy?" Ford asked.
"Exactly like that." Frank patted Ford on the back, smiling when the boy beamed at the praise.
"So what are you using it for?" Ford pushed his glasses up.
"I downloaded a map of this area into the receiver before we left. I also inputted our starting point, the cave, and our eventual destination – where we're going to be picked up. Since it has all that information, I can use it to make sure we haven't strayed off our planned route and that we're making good time." Frank watched as Ford absorbed his every word. "You want to hold it?"
Ford's eyes grew huge at Frank's offer. "Really?!"
"Sure. When we get to the clearing you can help me check the reading and make sure we're on course and on time. Okay?"
"You bet!"
True to his word, when they reached the clearing, Frank patiently walked Ford through the steps to get the information they needed from the GPS. He was pleased to see they were slightly ahead of schedule, allowing them all to take a brief rest.
When they resumed walking, Frank noticed that Ford seemed a little more relaxed. He continued chatting with the serious boy, hoping to get him to open up a little more. Frank sensed that Ford didn't confide in people easily and as a result isolated himself from those around him. Hearing Jamie chatting happily with Joe, he felt a twinge of sympathy for Ford. He himself had been the same way as a child and all through his teenage years, while Joe had been the complete opposite. As much as he loved his younger brother, Frank had always been just a little envious of the way Joe made friends so easily and had no trouble chatting up, and charming, total strangers. Glancing down at the dark-haired boy beside him, Frank wondered if he felt like the 'odd man out' as Frank so often had at that age.
"Can I ask you something?" Ford said softly, barely making eye contact.
"Sure."
"How long have you been a pilot?"
"I got my student pilot certificate when I was sixteen and my private pilot's license when I was seventeen."
Ford glanced up, his brown eyes alight with curiosity. "How long did it take? Did you have to study a lot? Was it hard?"
Frank grinned in anticipation of talking about one of his favorite subjects. He was also thrilled that Ford seemed to be opening up to him, as he'd started to feel a little protective of the older child.
"It took about six months to get my student pilot certificate. I guess some people would think it was hard; it was definitely a lot of studying. But I'm like you," Frank smiled and squeezed Ford's shoulder, "I love to learn."
"Did you have to go to a school?" Ford became more animated as Frank answered his questions.
"Well, I didn't, but that's the way most people do it. My Dad has a pilot on call, a friend of his. His name is Jack. Jack is the one who taught me how to fly."
"What exactly did you have to study?" Ford pushed the glasses up on his nose, his attention now totally riveted on Frank.
"Aerodynamics, airport operations, radio communications, aircraft systems, weather theory, weather reports, navigation, physiology, FAA regulations…" Frank chuckled softly as Ford's eyes widened in shock.
"Wow! You must be really smart!"
Frank reddened, and tried to deflect the praise. "It's really just a matter of wanting to learn it. I loved flying, everything about it, so I didn't really look at it as studying."
Ford's brow creased and he fell silent, thinking about Frank's words. A moment later, he looked up again. "When did you know you wanted to learn to fly?"
This time it was Frank who was silent, thinking back on one of his happiest childhood memories. "The first time I went up in a private plane was my seventh birthday. I don't remember exactly how I got so hooked on planes and flying. It just seems like I've always loved it. When my parents started asking me what I wanted for my birthday that year, I said I wanted to fly. So for my seventh birthday my dad took me up in a plane. Just me, him and the pilot." Frank's voice took on a nostalgic tone. He remembered that birthday vividly not only because it was his first trip in a small plane, but because it had been just him and Fenton.
Frank always loved being an older brother; he couldn't remember Joe ever not being around, but every once in a while – especially when he was young – he wanted some time alone, away from Joe. Frank was secretly pleased that Joe seemed to idolize him, but at times being the object of Joe's hero worship could wear thin. He'd never, ever said it out loud, but somehow his father knew, both his parents knew. And while Joe had pitched a fit that day, always wanting to do everything his big brother did, Fenton held fast, refusing to be swayed by Joe's tears and heart-wrenching pleas to accompany Frank and Fenton.
Frank and Fenton had spent most of the day together, riding in the plane, getting a private tour of the small airfield and going to the local museum to see a special exhibit on planes and flying, before returning home for a special birthday dinner that evening. That had always been the birthday that held a very special place in his heart. Smiling, Frank fingered the I.D. bracelet he wore on his right wrist, knowing only one other birthday meant as much to him as the day his father took him flying.
Frank smiled down at Ford. "So, what do you like to do?"
Before Ford could reply, a squeal of laughter split the late morning air. Slowing, Frank and Ford turned slightly to see what had caused Jamie's latest happy outburst. Frank stopped and stared.
Joe had a tiny green leaf stuck on his nose, looking like some kind of mutant unicorn, and was talking to Jamie as if everything was perfectly normal. Jamie was pointing at Joe, dissolving in continuous fits of giggles, and hopping around in delight.
"Put one on me! Put one on me!" Jamie cried out.
Joe pretended to be confused. "One what?"
Jamie jumped up and down in front of Joe, poking at his face. "One of those!"
Joe frowned as if he had no idea what Jamie was referring to. Slowly he raised a hand to his nose, touched the small green leaf and gasped. "How did that get there?!" He made a show of attempting to remove it but Jamie's loud protests stopped him
"No, no! Leave it on! But I want one, too! Put one on me! Please?! PLEASE?!"
"Well, I guess so." Joe searched the ground for just the right size leaf with an adequate amount of sap. Finding one he was happy with, Joe opened the small round end, peeling the leaves apart a quarter of an inch or so. Leaning down, he placed the exposed, sticky ends on Jamie's nose and pressed firmly.
Jamie reached up and touched the small leaf on his face, beside himself with delight. "LOOK! We're twins!" he cried out, jumping up and down excitedly.
Frank stared at Joe a moment longer, then shook his head. Turning around he and Ford continued walking in silence for almost a minute before Ford spoke quietly.
"My brother is only seven. What's your excuse?"