Crash Dive: An Alex Hawke Story Read Online Free Page B

with the passing of time.
    “Dad, Mom says I can’t use this duffel without your permission.”
    “Permission granted, Private Marley, but it’s too big. We’re only going for three days, Aubrey.”
    “Dad! What about all my lacrosse stuff? It’ll only fit in this . . .”
    “No time for lacrosse where we’re going, I’m afraid. Your days are already accounted for. I’ve got tickets for Splash Mountain, the Riverboat cruise, the Haunted House, the Pirates of the Caribbean, It’s a Small World . . . and that’s only the first day.”
    “What about Space Mountain?”
    “I hear that’s too scary,” Aurora said, clutching her dolly.
    “It’s just a roller coaster,” Aubrey sniffed. “How scary can it be?”
    “All I know is my best friend forever Tabitha Longley went and she said it’s all in the dark and you can’t see anything. She hated it. She even . . . threw up . . . gross!”
    Aubrey laughed, “Yeah, I bet. ’Specially for the poor bozos sitting behind her.”
    “You are so totally disgusting.”
    Christopher closed the picture book and leaned forward in his chair.
    “Aubrey? Why don’t you go pack, buddy. It’s late and we’re getting up very early. You were supposed to be packed by dinnertime.”
    “Dad! I had practice!”
    “Go get Mom; she’ll help you. You won’t need much, okay? Jeans, sweatshirts, and sneakers.”
    “Space Mountain, Dad? Please.”
    “Yes, fine. Space Mountain.”
    I t was lunchtime when the Marleys checked into the great Wilderness Lodge, the hotel Christopher and Marjorie had chosen because of its resemblance to the place where they’d honeymooned, the Yellowstone Lodge in Yellowstone Park. Aubrey was simply astounded by the size of the place. Aurora just wanted to get to the room, unpack, and get to that palace.
    After checking in, Chris had a nice moment when an elderly black gentleman with beautiful white hair and a very erect posture arrived to help them with their luggage. “I honor your service, son,” the veteran had said quietly and with a knowing look.
    “Semper Fi.” Chris smiled.
    “Semper Fi,” the old Marine acknowledged.
    The family took the monorail to the park entrance and stepped down onto the platform. Above the roof of the train station Aurora could glimpse the long banners streaming from the tall towers of Cinderella’s Palace.
    “Dad, there it is!”
    “Just like the picture, isn’t it?”
    “Oh, yes! Let’s go. We don’t want to miss Mickey. I’m sure he’s awake by now. He’ll be home, though, don’t you think?”
    “Come on, follow me. I’ve got passes. We’ll head straight for Main Street and then go find out.”
    Aubrey had zero interest in Cinderella or her palace and convinced his mother to come with him inside a shop that did fake tattoos. Marjorie told Christopher to go on ahead and they’d all meet at Splash Mountain, the log-flume ride and their first adventure of the day. Christopher had decided it was the most benign and so a good way to judge Aurora’s capacity for the more challenging rides. Aubrey, he wasn’t worried about. Aubrey’s idea of fun was jumping off the roof into the hedgerows with a Superman red bath towel tied around his neck.
    “So, Dad,” Aurora said, looking confused and dismayed as they made their way up Main Street to the palace, “you did say you and I were going to knock on the palace door and say hi to Mickey, right? Just the two of us, right?”
    “Of course. And we will.”
    “Oh.”
    “What’s wrong, sweetie?”
    Aurora burst into tears.
    “It’s just like you said, only—only who are all these other people ?”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I mean, well, I don’t know, Dad. I thought it was just going to be me and you. Going to Mickey’s house and all. Not a whole other bunch of people. Just the two of us.”
    “Well, sweetie, it’s just that, well, this is a public amusement—”
    “Dad!” Aurora cried out. “Look! There’s Mickey right over there,