Chapter 5 #4
I peeked up and around; all of us had ducked, our arms up instinctively.
“Rockfall,” Keone said. “We have to check if the entrance is blocked.”
“Could be someone tried to trap us in here.” Uncle Kalani’s voice shook.
“But maybe it was coincidence,” I said. “The whole ridge is riddled with old lava tubes and recent rain has been substantial.”
Pali was already moving toward the entrance. He ducked through the tunnel and called out to us moments later. “Three boulders came off the upper shelf above the entrance. They’re blocking maybe thirty percent of the approach path.” He paused. “We should be able to squeeze by.”
We moved out single file, quickly and without discussion. Tiki was curled in a ball that rolled slightly from side to side as I navigated past the boulders, grateful there was still enough room to pass through them—just another foot or two, and we’d have been trapped.
“I’m out of here,” Elle said suddenly, and with that, my runner friend took off up the path, her long, strong legs eating up the ground.
Once outside, I scanned around for danger.
The valley was empty in every direction.
The ti plants moved in the trade wind. The stream caught the afternoon light at its bend.
There were no visible people, no sound of anyone once Elle’s footsteps died away.
Nothing that could explain how three immense boulders now lay across the path behind us, nearly blocking the cave’s entrance.
“I don’t see how those boulders moved because of rain,” Pali said. “They’ve been stable as long as I can remember.”
“The timing is too much to be coincidence,” Uncle Kalani said.
“We should get going,” Keone said. “In case of any other booby traps.”
“And we should call Lei with the MPD and tell her about this before we do anything else.” I checked my phone. “Darn it. No signal.”
“I think your friend Elle had the right idea,” Pali said. “Let’s move out.”
We followed the path, letting Uncle Kalani, leaning on his staff, set the pace.
When we finally reached the end of the trail at the parking area, Elle was sitting on a fallen log, a clipboard across her knees, writing.
“I hid and watched for vehicles on the cane road,” she said. “One truck passed about twenty minutes ago. I got a partial plate, and I was writing down my statement for the police.” She held out her clipboard, clearly wanting to make amends for taking off.
Pali took the clipboard and gazed at the numbers.
“That’s useful,” he said. “Thank you. Seriously.”
“I’m sorry for running off,” Elle said. “I hope it helps.”
“You don’t have to apologize,” Pali said. Elle took the clipboard back; they were staring at each other again.
Keone cleared his throat and held up his phone. “Anyone got enough signal to call the police?”
We came off the trail at dusk, dusty and quiet. Pali and Uncle Kalani split off at the trailhead: Pali to call his contacts at the Historic Preservation Division before they closed for the day, Uncle Kalani to contact his spiritual supporters.
Elle, Keone and I piled into Keone’s truck and drove back toward Ohia with the windows down and the evening air cooling us off and smelling of faraway ocean.
As soon as I had signal, I called Lei and left a message that was as accurate and as brief as I could make it: “Cave access confirmed, survey flags marking panels for removal were photographed, evidence of ongoing active operations was seen, and a possibly deliberate rockfall happened. Pali Moku has documentation and details. Call me.”
I reached out to Officer Malia Peahi, and she picked up. When I conveyed my message, she said “I’ll meet you at the K we were all thinking that already.
The road curved over a ridge and bumped along a canyon wall as the sunset went gold on the ocean off in the distance. Tiki shifted in her carrier with a commanding mew, reminding me it was time for dinner.
“We’ve got food for you in the shack, Tiki,” I said. She settled back down with a ‘meep.’
Elle shook her head. “You two have some telepathy going on.”
“You didn’t understand that?” I said. “Cat speak for ‘feed me or else.’ One of the first phrases Tiki taught me.”
“Makes me glad I’ve opted for no pets,” Elle said.
I smiled. “As if I had a choice in the matter.”
Tiki confirmed this with a delicate feline grunt.