Hammer 13: Bracelet

Corvan’s blood ran cold. Without a second thought, he yanked Kate to her feet and pulled her away from the hole. Eyes wide, she dropped her rock and stumbled along to crouch with him beyond the ring of outer boulders.

“Was that the lizard?” Kate asked.

“Yes, I need to block that hole,” Corvan said. Pulling the hammer from his pocket, he crept forward.

“Be careful,” Kate whispered.

Choosing a good-sized rock from the pile, he pulled it to his chest with one hand but it slipped free, and he had to jump back to save his toes from being crushed.

“I can help,” Kate said as she bent to pick up the rock, but Corvan stopped her.

“Here,” he said, holding the hammer out to her. “If the lizard comes out, point this toward it and tell it to go away.”

Kate hesitated, then reluctantly took the hammer from his hand. Her face was tight with fear.

Corvan heaved a larger rock to his chest, stepped cautiously forward, and held the rock out as far as he could directly over the hole.

A claw appeared. Kate screamed.

Corvan lost his grip, and the rock dropped. A screech of pain erupted at his feet as the rock bounced and rolled away. From below the hole, there was a scrabbling of claws and then silence.

He had to find something else to close over the entrance to the lizard’s den and fast.

Corvan looked to the ruined fort. If he could cover the hole with a large board, he could stand on it while Kate piled the rest of the firepit rocks on top. Keeping his eyes on the hole, he picked up a wide plank from one end, but it was too heavy and dipped down toward the hole. Corvan fell to his knees to stop its descent, but it kept falling and rapped sharply next to the hole.

Immediately the lizard shot out and sank one of its long claws deep into the wood. It glared at him and snarled past a mouth full of pointed teeth and flecked with foam, then muttered something. This time Corvan couldn’t understand what it said, but a gasp from Kate told him that she heard it clearly.

The angry creature ripped its claw free of the wood, took a step forward, and locked its fiery eyes on Corvan. One foreleg and claw were extended toward him, the other hung at its side. Blood was dripping steadily from the end of the crushed paw. It stopped and stared at him through narrow slits.

The dinner bell on the back porch shattered the silence and the lizard turned toward the house. Its eyes fell on Kate and it creapt in her direction. With a shaking hand, Kate lifted the hammer toward it. “Stop!” she commanded.

The creature collapsed to the ground as if she’d shot it. Covering its head with its good claw, it whined and writhed before her, its wounded claw dragging about in the dust. Hammer held out before her, Kate moved in closer.

“Stay away, Kate. It’s a trap!” Corvan shouted.

Ignoring his warning, Kate kept her eyes focused on the lizard as she continued her advance on the injured creature. Corvan had observed animals feigning death and then attacking. Kate needed to back away.

As Kate drew close, the lizard stretched out prone and grew still. An intense determination covered Kate’s face as she stood directly over it, then raised the hammer high above her head. The creature at her lay perfectly still, as if waiting for the fatal blow. Corvan could only watch in horrified silence as Kate brought the hammer swiftly down but then she slowed and gently touched the lizard on the back of its neck. With a low metallic groan, the black collar around its neck quivered and fell into the dirt.

Kate took a step back as the lizard rose slowly, bowed its head to Kate, then backed away toward the hole between the door slabs. When Kate bent to examine the black band, it stopped, shaking its head while rattling off a string of clicks and hisses. Kate sank to her knees and picked the band up. The lizard kept hissing and gesturing toward Kate with its healthy claw, then approached Corvan. What was it saying? He looked to Kate and found her glowering at the creature. She thumped the hammer on the ground and the rock seemed to shiver beneath them. “Be quiet and go away,” she said, pointed the hammer at the wounded creature.

The lizard glanced at Corvan with a helpless expression on its narrow face.

“Now!” Kate commanded.

The lizard scuttled away and retreated into the hole.

Picking up the lizard’s black band, Kate stood with it draped limply over her palm like a glistening black leech. She held it off to one side and then lifted the hammer, as if weighing both objects in her hands.

The dinner bell rang again, louder, and longer. “We’ve got to go,” Corvan croaked, “I’ll put a rock over the hole.”

“You don’t need to,” Kate stated. “It won’t come back now that I’m holding the hammer.”

Corvan approached her. “How did you know what to do to get that collar off?” He held out his hand. “Let me see it.”

Kate stuffed the black band into the front pocket of her jeans. “We don’t have time. Let’s go.”

Hammer in hand, she turned and strode off down the western trail.

Corvan sprinted to catch up to her. “Kate, I need the hammer back.”

Kate shook her head, shoved the hammer into her back pocket and sped up until they were both was slipping and skidding down the incline.

“I need it back to keep the lizard away from my house,” Corvan shouted. He managed to grab the back of her shirt, but she shook him off and the fabric slipped from his fingers.

As soon as Kate reached level ground, she broke into a run toward the house hollering, “Race ya!” over her shoulder.

Corvan didn’t even try. Kate always beat him in a foot race and there was no way he could fight her to get the hammer back. He slowed to a walk as she neared the house and then disappeared into the back porch. Why was she acting so strange?

As he stepped into the porch, his mother came out to pour the potato water into the washing machine. She looked at him out of the corner of her eye. “What was all the hollering up there?”

Corvan’s face and neck were hot and prickling as he went to the washbasin and concentrated on his soapy hands. “We were cleaning up the mess from when the old fort blew down. Didn’t want that old tarp blowing out into the field.” It was another lie, but his mother would never believe the truth. Right now, he wasn’t so sure he even knew what the truth was. How could he when he couldn’t understand anything the lizard was saying? They only person who could understand it was the one holding the hammer. He had to get it back from Kate.

The back door opened, and Kate appeared. “I didn’t realize it was so late. My mom will be home in half an hour, and I haven’t finished the dishes. She’ll be furious. I need to leave right away” She went to move past them, but Corvan’s mother stepped in front of her.

“You can take along some of the chicken dinner for your supper. She will be happy that something is ready for her.” Corvan’s mother retreated into the kitchen to dish hot food into a tin pie plate.

Corvan tried to catch Kate’s eye, but she just stared at the floor. There was no way he would let her leave without getting his hammer back and also getting a look at the black band. The lizard didn’t want her to take it away but it wasn’t angry about losing it, in fact, it seem relieved to not have it around its neck again.

Mother came to the door with the plate wrapped in a tea towel.

“I’ll carry it for her.” Corvan said quickly as he took the dish from his mother’s hands.

“Then come right back,” she said. “I’ll wait to eat with you.” She looked to say something to Kate, but the girl was already out the door and off the back steps.

“Kate is worried and also angry,” his mother said. “Better give her some space and let her cool down.”

Corvan nodded quickly and ran to catch up with Kate. As soon as they were out of earshot, he tried asking calmly, “What happened with the lizard?”

“It was frightened,” Kate replied but kept marching along. “Couldn’t you see that?”

“Yes, but what did it say to you?”

Kate did not answer and picked up her pace.

“You did hear it talk, didn’t you?” Corvan asked, his irritation rising.

Kate stopped but did not turn to face him. Instead, she looked straight ahead, her voice low. “It said it could not stand against me because I had all the power. Then it begged me to let it live. It said I was the only one who could set it free from the band. All I needed to do was touch it with …”

“Let me see the black band,” Corvan said. “Why did it want to be set free? Did you feel something when you picked it up?”

“Not now. I’m too tired,” Kate snapped back.

“It’ll just take a second.” He stepped around her to block her way into the back alley behind her house.

Kate snatched the covered plate from his hands. “I said I’m tired,” she huffed. “And I’m not a child who needs to be walked home in the dark. I can take care of myself.” She pushed past to leave Corvan standing alone in the alley.

He watched her go through her back gate before he turned for home. Why was she acting so strange? One minute she was back to being his best friend, and the next she was chewing his head off. He turned around and headed home. Not only did he not get to see the black band, but Kate still had his hammer. What if the lizard came to his house in the night?

The screen door banged shut behind him, and he slumped down at the table. Mother’s eyebrows arched as she retrieved their supper from the oven. As they ate, she filled him in on the details of his father’s new job. He was one of the fortunate ones. There were ten or more families affected by the Red Creek mine closure, and only a few of the men had been offered a job up north. “It’s going to be a difficult winter,” his mother said. “We’ll need to help as many people as we can.”

Corvan was barely catching what she was saying. His mind was still trying to sort out what had just happened with Kate, the lizard, and the black band.

After supper, they washed the dishes together. His mother suggested they play Scrabble. He agreed, but he found it difficult to concentrate. Finally, his mother said they should get to bed, although she seemed pleased that for once she was winning the game. Corvan returned the game to the pantry.

As he turned for the stairs, his mother called after him. “Did you see the letter your father left for you?”

Corvan looked blankly at her and shook his head.

“He left it on your washstand when we left this morning. He didn’t want to wake you.”

Corvan tore up the stairs and burst into his room. Sure enough, a folded piece of paper with his name printed across the front was propped against the water pitcher. He nearly ripped it in his haste to get it opened.

There was only a short note.

Corvan,

I’m sorry I must leave without saying good-bye. I will come home just as soon as I can.

The next four words were crossed out.Contact me if anything.Below the scribbled-out words, he had written,

You will turn 15 and be a man by the time I get back. If anything out of the ordinary happens, use your best judgment, and do what you know is right.

Take care of your mom while I am gone.

Love, Dad.

Corvan sat on the edge of his bed. He wasn’t ready to be a man, and his mom was a whole lot stronger than he was anyway. Still, it felt good that his dad trusted him to look after things while he was away.

Downstairs there was a knock at the front door, then an agitated woman’s voice rose up the stairwell. It was likely one of the other wives of the men at the mine. His mom was right, this would be a difficult winter for everyone.

The voices moved into the living room, there was a pause and then his mother called from the bottom of the stairs. “Corvan, can you please come down here for a moment?”

“Coming,” he replied and headed downstairs. His mother was in the kitchen getting the teapot ready and jerked her head in the direction of the living room. He nodded and turned the corner, then stopped and stared. Kate’s mother was on the couch; her cheeks streaked with tears and mascara. He had never seen her look so sloppy. She always took great pride in her looks and made sure everyone knew that she once had a small part in a movie.

Corvan’s mother entered from the kitchen with a teapot and two cups on a wooden tray. She nodded to the armchair, and he sat on its wide arm, while his mother set the tray on the coffee table and poured the tea.Settling in next to Kate’s mom she looked at him.

“Mrs. Poley believes you might know where Kate has gone.” She fired a warning look at him from beneath her eyebrows that said he had better tell the truth this time.“When you were walking her home, did she say anything to you about going away?”

Corvan’s heart sank as he shook his head. “No. Nothing about leaving. Is she . . .”

“Did she say anything about me?” Mrs. Poley interjected.

Corvan’s jaw tightened. Every time he met Kate’s mom, the conversation had to be about her. “She only said she was worried that you’d be mad about the dishes not being done.”

Mrs. Poley shook her head. “I was only a little bit annoyed with her.” She turned to Corvan’s mother. “I get so tired from working those long shifts, you know, and it’s not easy to raise a child on your own.” She paused and dabbed at her eyes with a stained hanky. “She told me she had been busy too and had made me a chicken dinner. But as soon as I saw the plate, I knew she was lying because the towel matched the one on the bowl of pastry you sent over.”

She blinked her long lashes, but no more tears fell despite her best efforts. “Kate’s never lied to me before, but before I could say anything, she ran to her room and slammed the door. I left her alone while I watched my TV.” She paused, no doubt expecting them to be impressed that she owned the only TV set in town—an extravagant present from the movie director. “When I checked on her, she was gone. Just took the blanket from her bed and left out the window. She didn’t even take her runners from the front door; she’s run away with bare feet!”

Corvan’s mother patted her shoulder. “Then I’m sure Kate will come back soon. She just needed time to cool off.”

“She had better do it quickly.” Mrs. Poley pouted. “I’m tired of phone calls about her fighting and her bad attitude. I’ve always been there for her, I even moved to this one-horse town to give us both a fresh start, but now she keeps saying she is old enough to take care of herself.” She stood up and looked out the living room window. “Dave wants me to move to Las Vegas with him. If Kate is so sure she can make it on her own, I have half a mind to just leave her here and go.”

As the woman flounced and tossed her head, Corvan found himself wondering if there even was half a mind under the dyed blond hair. He had seen her be mean to Kate, and twice Kate had run away. The first time they met he had found her crying inside his fort in the middle of the night.

Kate’s mom turned around with her hands raised dramatically. “She even took my outhouse flashlight from beside the back door,” she complained. “She knows I hate going out there in the dark.”

Corvan’s mom gestured off to one side for him to leave, and he headed for the stairway. There was no way he would go to sleep. As soon as Mrs. Poley was gone, he was going to slip out and see if Kate had gone back to the Castle Rock.

Mrs. Poley called after him. “Corvan, do you know who gave Kate that lovely black bracelet?”

A shock went thought Corvan and he turned slowly around.

“She was wearing a shiny bracelet, but she wouldn’t let me look at it. You didn’t give it to her, did you?” She studied his face intently as if she would be able to read his mind.

Corvan shook his head.

“She said that even though I didn’t want her around, there was someone who did, and I thought …” She cocked her head to one side. “Did she say anything about hearing from her father? I haven’t let him know we are even here so unless she contacted him on her own . . .”

Her voice trailed off. Corvan stared blankly at Mrs. Poley then shook his head again. His mind was racing. Why would Kate put that black band on after the lizard wanted so badly to be set free from it? It was obviously dangerous and powerful.

Mrs. Poley crossed the room and dropped on one knee, so her eyes were level with his. “Corvan, I know I haven’t been keen on you and Kate playing together. It’s just that I know all too well what can come of a boy and a young girl spending too much time together.”

Corvan’s face flushed as Mrs. Poley took his hands in hers. “I can tell you honestly that if she goes to find her father, her feelings will be hurt much worse than if you were to break her heart. Please don’t let her go looking for him. That could ruin her life.” The way she said the words and put a hand to her cheek, made the speech sound like Mrs. Poley was acting in another movie.

His mother helped Mrs. Poley to her feet and ushered the woman back to the couch. She looked to Corvan. “Run along to bed, son. No doubt Kate will cool off and come home soon.”

Corvan looked at Mrs. Poley’s tear-stained face. Despite the way she treated Kate, he felt sorry for her and how her life had turned out. “I’ll find Kate and bring her home,” he blurted out. “I promise.”

Mrs. Poley smiled. “Thank you Corvan. I know you will do your best.”

Corvan left the living room and slowly climbed the stairs back to his room. That bracelet was doing something strange to Kate. He should never have let her hold the hammer in the first place. If only he could have heard everything it said to her.

Lacing up his tennis shoes, he pulled on his sweatshirt, then sat and waited on his window ledge. As soon as his mother was in bed, he would find Kate, get the hammer back, then roll the central boulder back over the door. Things were getting too complicated. He would wait for his father to return to help him figure out how the pieces all fit together and what to do next.

A beam of light from the top of the rock played past his bedroom window. Corvan pressed his face against the screen. The shadows shifted as a flashlight flickered around inside the Castle Rock before the light shot straight into the air, then went out.

A chill raced up his spine.

The hammer was the key to the door in the rocks, and Kate had gone to open it.