Alexis and the Lake Tahoe Tumult - Erica Rodgers [15]
“Wow, Angelo,” said Alexis. “We wouldn’t have found that wrapper if you hadn’t been with us. I’m really glad you came!” Angelo smiled. Again. Alexis was really glad he had decided to come with them. Not just because he found the wrapper, but because she was sure this was taking his mind off the fact that he couldn’t ski. She tucked the wrapper into her notebook to keep as evidence.
This keeps getting weirder and weirder, she thought. Someone had wanted to make the coyotes ill but hadn’t gone far enough to kill them. Maybe the person had a soft spot after all. Or maybe he or she was too afraid to poison the coyotes with something more toxic, like antifreeze.
Not only did someone feed the coyotes chocolate, but then they had called Karen in the middle of the night. What was it the caller had said? You’re lucky they’re only sick this time.
Does that mean that next time they will kill an animal? Alexis was suddenly afraid for all the animals on the reserve. Why would someone do something like this? What could they have to gain?
God, Alexis prayed, please help us get to the bottom of this before one of your creatures gets hurt.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Lisa, who came into the barn carrying an armload of helmets.
“You three want to take a ride?” she asked. “I thought I could show you the bear caves today!”
Alexis looked at Bailey and smiled. “Awesome!” said Bailey. “Do the bears go away in the winter?”
“Of course not!” said Lisa. “But they do hibernate. They’re all sleeping right now.”
Bailey’s smile wavered, but she was the first one to run outside and climb onto the monstrous snowmobile that Lisa indicated. It was big enough for all four of them. Lisa climbed onto the front, so she could drive, and Bailey held on to her coat. Alexis and Angelo climbed up behind Bailey.
“Hold on tight!” Alexis said to Angelo over her shoulder.
“You, too!” he said. “It won’t do me any good to hold on to you if you fall off!”
The ride up the mountain was fun. Alexis had never ridden on a snowmobile before. Most of the wind was blocked by Bailey’s hat, but her nose was still starting to tingle in the cold. It felt strange—almost like they were sledding uphill.
When Lisa stopped the vehicle, Alexis was confused. She couldn’t see a cave anywhere.
“We have to walk the rest of the way,” Lisa explained. “We can’t take the snowmobile any closer because it’s too loud. The last thing we want to do is wake a hibernating bear!”
Lisa went to the back of the snowmobile and untied a big bundle. She pulled out four pairs of snowshoes. Alexis strapped on the purple ones. She was really excited. She had heard of snowshoes but had never worn them herself. They really did allow her to walk on top of the deep snow!
Alexis took the camera out of its bag and began taping. She felt like she was in a scene from The Call of the Wild. It was one of her favorite books.
The group hiked for about five minutes before Lisa stopped them.
“There, up ahead,” she said. “Can you see it?”
Alexis had to strain her eyes, but she could just see the cave. It was a small, black opening in the snow beneath a huge pile of granite. The pine trees were heavy with snow. They bent in toward the cave, as if they were protecting it from outsiders.
“We won’t get too much closer,” said Lisa. “Just to be safe. But I thought you might like to get it on tape.”
Alexis moved a few feet to the left to get a better angle. Angelo was still barely holding on to her back.
“Can you smell them?” he asked.
“Who? The bears?” asked Bailey.
“Of course. I wouldn’t want to get too close. Never mind the teeth and claws. They stink!”
Alexis couldn’t smell a thing. She zoomed in with the camera lens, and Bailey said a few words into the camera. Alexis was about to turn around when Angelo’s grip on her coat tightened.
“What is it?” she asked him.
“A sound,” he said. “I heard a strange sound … one that doesn’t belong in this forest.