Hooper
By Frank Fessler
Chapter 5
“What now?” Daisy asked, once the boys were over the hill.
“Only one thing left to do,” Penny said, “Go back to the Ranger station. We don’t have any cell phones, but they’ve got a radio there.”
“Fine by me,” Jodi huffed, “We can give that bitch Ranger a piece of our minds. I can’t believe she just left us tied up like that.”
When the three girls got to the station they opened the cabin’s door to a shocking scene. The entire place had been ransacked. The desk lay on its side, its drawers ripped out with papers scattered all over the floor. The cabinet had been busted open as well, with papers, manila folders, and numerous other office supplies strewn about. Most surprising of all, the Park Ranger herself was tied to a chair and gagged.
Her arms had been forced through the slats of the chair’s back, her hands bound behind her. Her feet were tied together and bound to the crossbar between the wooden front legs. Another roped wrapped around her torso and around the chair. She’d been gagged the same as the girls; with a long strip of parachute silk.
The three girls surrounded and stood over the helpless woman.
“Well, well, well.” Jodi gloated, “Look who we have here.”
“Umiemee!” The Ranger said, “Pleve.”
“Wha’d she say?” Daisy asked.
“I think she said Hooper is too dangerous for her to handle,” Jodi smirked, “So we should leave her bound and gagged. For her own good, of course.”
“Why, that’s exactly what I heard!” The girls giggled as the Ranger shook her head and rocked furiously in her chair, making as much noise as she could.
“Looks like our friend is upset,” Penny said. “Guess we better.” Penny pulled out the gag.
“Listen girls,” the woman said, “I’m deeply, deeply sorry. I really did feel it was for your own good and-“
“Heard that one before.” Jodi crammed the gag back in her mouth. The Ranger made a few more muffled protests before Penny, rolling her eyes at her brunette friend, pulled the gag out again.
“Listen,” The Ranger tried again, “I understand why you’re upset. I shouldnt’ve underestimated the three of you. I really felt Hooper was too dangerous for you to be wandering around the woods. But if you got away you obviously know how to handle yourselves. I thought I could handle him alone. You can see what a fool I was. He overpowered me, tied me up, then dragged me back here. He took my gun, too. He also wrecked the radio. I feel the best thing for us to do is head to the next ranger station, which is about five miles from here. There’s another radio there. We’ll call for help, and let the cops handle this from here on out. Whad’ya say, girls?”
“I say we go to the station without you,” Jodi said, forcing the gag back into the woman’s mouth.
“Jodi, knock it off,” Penny said. “Four girls are stronger than three.”
So the three girls untied the knots. Once she was free of the ropes, the ranger headed right for the rummaged-through cabinet. She pulled out a sleek, black box with a latch holding it shut. She popped it open.
“Yes! Thank God!”
“What is it?’ Daisy asked.
The Ranger pulled from the box a cool, black pistol. A rather odd-looking weapon, with a barrel longer and narrower than most other handguns.
“He didn’t find it, thank God. Our tranquilizer pistol. This thing can put a bear to sleep. Not as good as a Saturday Night Special, but it’ll have to do. Let’s go, girls! Time to catch us a skyjacker!”
With that, the girls turned to exit. Just as she put her hand on the knob, Daisy felt a sharp sting hit her neck, like she’d been bitten by a huge mosquito. Jodi was hit next, then Penny.
The girls turned to see the Ranger pointing the tranquilizer gun at them. Penny ran straight for her but the Ranger threatened, “I wouldn’t, kid. You get hit by another dart and the toxins could kill you. Just lie down and go to sleep.”
“You….bitchhhh…” Penny’s knees wobbled as she settled to the floor, the world going watery.
“That’s right. Nice and easy.”
“But….why..would…”
“Because he’s got a million in cold cash, and us Rangers don’t make much money. Sorry, but a girl’s gotta look out for herself. Just rest easy. When you wake up you’ll be tied-up but not hurt. Another ranger will find you three eventually…”
That was as much as Penny heard before she lapsed into a deep, dark sleep.
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