Chapter 9 Sally and Joshua Return
Billy took Sally's hand and dragged her over to the place where they had put the box. He instructed two of the men to open it. They used a hammer first but the padlock on the box would not budge. One of the men wanted to shoot it off, but it was determined that that would ruin the contents. Sally looked at the padlock, she knew the combination, she remembered that this box was hers and she had buried it somewhere but had forgotten where. She knew what was in it. Thinking fast she said:
"I think I might know how to open that box." They looked at her and Billy said:
"How would you know anything about a padlock, your are just a girl!" He said and then Buster said:
"A pretty one at that!" Billy planted his fist in Buster's jaw and knocked him to the ground. Then he looked at Sally and decided to untie her and take the chains off of her feet.
"Okay, little miss, show us how to open it!" Billy said and pushed her down towards the box. She looked, it was the exact same padlock, would the combination work? Did she remember the numbers correctly?
Joshua had grabbed the necklace that mysteriously appeared above his head and made a sound when it fell on the ground. Caleb saw the medicine pouch slide down the side of the hole, It was Carl, who was part native American who understood the significance of the two items.
"Caleb, you, and Joshua need to stand to one side. I need the necklace and the medicine pouch. Joshua handed him the necklace and Caleb handed him the pouch. Then they moved as far to the end of the hole as they could. Carl stood in the middle standing up and looking up to the rock that covered their hole. He opened the medicine pouch and then used the powder to form a circle. He motioned Josh and Caleb to sit inside the circle with him. Next, he took a few of the leaves and placed them in the little shells in the necklace, then he pointed one part of the necklace towards the west side of the hole and pointed the other towards the east side. Slowly, he began to chant, he looked at Caleb and Joshua and they joined in the tune of the chant. Joshua did not know th words but that did not seem to matter. In a few minutes a door opened within the hole. The door had steps going up towards the cave. Carl then opened his eyes and took Joshua and Caleb with him as he held each of their hands to go through the opening. When they reached the top of the steps, they were again in the open and free.
Carl looked at Caleb and Joshua and said:
"We are free, but we need to rescue your friend. Joshua, you are to have the necklace, there is someone who now owns the necklace in your time and you must return it. But the pouch has been used so it cannot be returned, the young brave will have to make his own someday! Come, we must go to find out how to help your friend!" said Carl. Joshua took the necklace and put it around his neck so that he would not loose it. They made their way back toward the cave and saw Billy with Sally on the ground opening a box.
"If he has done anything to her, I will kill him!" Joshua said wondering why she was laying on the ground. Carl , put his finger to his lips and they snuck up a little closer to listen.
"Well, I am not sure, but I think the numbers are 28- 42-7!" She took hold of the padlock hoping that it wasn't rusted or that she had the wrong combination. She tried slowly first 28 – then 42- then 7, she pulled the bolts and it worked! She was very glad. Then Billy saw that it was open, he pushed her away roughly and grabbed the box. In the box was a camera, she had placed many years later? Or was it before? Then he saw something else. A small piece of paper that said:
"To my dearest sweetest valentine, I love you!" That was all it said. Just as Billy was about to crumple up the paper, Joshua, Caleb and Carl came up behind them, they had knocked out the other men and only had Billy to deal with. Joshua grabbed Sally and she grabbed her camera and the slip of paper. Caleb and Carl had Billy tied up before he knew what had happened.
"Joshua, you and little miss, need to go to the tree by the water. There you will find your way back to your time!" Carl said, and Caleb pointed them in the right direction. Sally took a picture with Carl and Caleb, and then she asked Carl to take the picture of her and Joshua. When he did so, the camera flashed and they were standing outside the caves, but no one was around.
Jeremy, Candy, Katie, Molly, and Christopher walked out of the cave and saw to their surprise, Sally and Joshua. They ran up to them and hugged them, Katie was hugging Sally and Joshua was hugging Jeremy, Molly and Christopher and Candy.
"Katie, I found my first camera! Do you remember it?" Sally asked showing her the camera, and the two pictures that had come out of it. It was of course a polaroid. Which fascinated Christopher very much. Joshua went over to Christopher and gave him the necklace.
"How did you know?" Christopher asked
"Well, I remember hearing of a young brave that was given a necklace by an old Indian, I also thought about who else would buy something from the Rendezvous that would be Native American item. The Indian that used this told me that the medicine pouch, would have to be remade by you. So, when you have that summer camp with the Indians nearby, you make that pouch!" Joshua said smiling and patting Christopher on his back.