Chapter Ten  (copyright 2000, USA. Stephen C. Clark)

 
Chapter  10
January 3, 2012
Greenfield, California
 

    "This is Sofia Robles reporting to you live from the corner of El Camino Real and Walnut Avenue in Greenfield, California.  The whole state of California now faces a second day of idle Bank of Fortunatus ATM's, even as their spread around the rest of the world speeds up.  The kidnaping of my nephew Rodolfo Robles has led to a complete shut down of the 1000 machines in California.  Emotions are running high, and they are varied.  Some people have come to practically worship the machines, others loathe them, and every point on the spectrum in between these extremes has been expressed."
     Sofia signed off and told her boss Fred Biggs that she wouldn't be back the rest of the day, because she was going to help find Rodolfo.  Biggs was angry, but couldn't persuade her to stay.  He'd just have to get a substitute.
 

    Noe and Rodolfo woke up together in the cave.  Noe had tied a rope onto himself and Rodolfo to keep him from escaping.  He untied them both and set about making breakfast.  They didn't speak much.  Noe knew if he started talking to this kid he would start to feel guilty about taking him away from his mother.  In his own mind he could almost justify it, because of all the people who were around Rodolfo and the machine.  He almost felt like a rescuer, like his childhood hero Zorro.  Noe had built his fantasy life around the "protector of the people" when he was a kid.  He laughed to himself.  An ironic laugh.  He knew he was a bully.  He liked being a bully.  At least he didn't let Gringo's abuse other Mexicans.  He saved that for himself.
 

    Sofia had no idea where to start looking for her nephew so she had phoned Aaron.  He was the only touchstone any of them had.  She was angry as hell at him, but nothing mattered except getting Rodolfo back.  Aaron had been elated.  He told her to come on up to Arroyo Seco and he would help them search anywhere they wanted.
    Sofia and Etienne took the now familiar drive up the Arroyo Seco canyon to Aaron's cabin.  They pulled up in front and got out.  To Duvall's dismay, Witt was sober and coherent.  Aaron spoke up first, "Vic and I went up Carmel Valley yesterday.  We found Ernie's truck, but no sign of Rodolfo. Might be worth another look, or we could start checking around here.  Most of the other cabins here are empty this time of year.  It'd be easy for somebody to hide in one of them."
    Before Sofia could answer Etienne asked, "You hear that Sofia?"
    Sofia returned a blank stare.  "Hear what" She asked.
    "The violin.  Who am I kidding?  It's not a violin, it's a fiddle.  It's Jasper on his fiddle.  I gotta go see.  You be all right?"  Etienne asked.
    "Yeah she's safe with me Duvall.  Sofia might not be my girl friend anymore, but I think she'll survive a few minutes away from you.  Right Sofia?"  Aaron blurted.
    Sofia just glared at Aaron.  "Go ahead Etienne.  Aaron and I can check a few houses to see if anyone's been here."
 

    Etienne walked off towards the river alone.  He followed the clear, beautifully sad sound of a mountain ballad.  It was a song he hadn't heard in a long time.  Etienne didn't remember the name, but it was one Jasper used to play all the time.  He walked down the dry channel of the Arroyo Seco and up a little rise.  As the river came into view he immediately recognized Jasper, standing on a little beach, playing his fiddle.  He rubbed his eyes in disbelief, but the figure did not disappear.  Etienne just stood and watched until Jasper finished the tune.  Jasper then turned and waved for him to come towards him.  Etienne headed for a rendezvous with the mysteries of his life.
    He walked slowly toward the aged man who had tucked his fiddle under his arm, and stood watching him approach.  Etienne was full of questions, but didn't know where to start.  As Etienne got close, Jasper put his fiddle under his chin and broke into "Black Mountain Rag."  Jasper was born on Black Mountain.  It's the highest peak in Kentucky, but Jasper was born on its east slope, in Virginia.
    Etienne waited for Jasper to finish his tune, but he was about to burst with questions.  He decided not to ask anything about what Jasper actually was.  He was so glad to see him, he didn't really care if he was devil or angel, so he decided to start with practical questions.
    "You told me you'd see me again at a Potlatch.  That's what this is, isn't it Jasper?" asked Etienne.
    "Biggest ole potlatch thisahere world ever saw.  Kinda got everbody all shook up, huh.  I told you the potlatch was God's way.  Now the whole wide world's gonna see it too."  Jasper played on.
    "You did this whole thing yourself Jasper?" asked Etienne incredulously.
    "Ain't nobody ever did nothin alone, youngster.  Feller named Fortunatus told me about this here money system, even gave me the machines we're using.  Pretty fancy stuff huh," Jasper laughed.
    Etienne was so amazed at Jasper's presence that there was a delay before Jasper's words could register.  "So there's actually a guy named Fortunatus.  Did he supply the money too?"  Etienne was trying to keep his wits and concentrate on what was transpiring.
    "Some other fellers did that. Thissen sure is a big ole Potlatch ain't it Pablo?" Jasper let go with another lively riff on the fiddle.
    That broke Etienne.  No one had called him Pablo since he was a child, but it also made him think of another little boy, Rodolfo, and he finally remembered what he had really needed to ask Jasper, "Do you know where Rodolfo is?"
    "Place they call the pine-ackles.  Bunchah big ole rocks.  Feller'd be able to hide in there fer a spell.  But my guess is youens could use a little help gettin that boy back."  Jasper smiled a wide smile that reassured Etienne, and then continued.  "Why don't we all mosey on over to where he's at."
    "You mean with Sofia?  I mean is she gonna be able to see you?  I guess I don't really know what I want to say.  What are you Jasper, are you alive or dead?  What are you?"  Etienne's head was swimming.
    "Feller up there says it's got to do with time, Pablo.  You're living in it, and I once lived in it.  But where I am now is just kinda next to time.  I can dance a jig that y'all can see and feel.  I can stop the wind or start it, but no more than you."  And Jasper lightly fanned his face and laughed.  So don't think a feller can rightly say one way or tother on the notion of life.  Just couldn't tell you about me.  Your little friend Rodolfo is alive though.  Even if I got a fair notion of what's going to happen to him, we better get movin.   Nuthin is ever fur certain, cause nuthin's ever exactly what it peers to be."
 

    Aaron and Sofia stood with mouths agape when Etienne walked up with Jasper.  They knew that the veil of reality was ripping further, but surprise fatigue had set in and their senses returned quickly.
    "How y'all doin.  Feller says you're lookin for the boy Rodolfo.  He ain't  fer from here.  Place called the pine-ackles.  Y'all know whar that is?" asked Jasper.
    "The Pinnacles.  The other side of Soledad."  Sofia offered.
    "Let's get going."  Aaron was already headed to his truck.
    "We should stop and get Vic," suggested Sofia.
    "We can handle this ourselves.  You want a gun Duvall?"  Aaron asked.
    "Y'all hain't gonna need no guns.  Useta carry one misself.  Feller that's holdin your little nephew ain't wantin to hurt him.  He won't be hurtin us either.  We gotta get them thar machines workin.   So let's getta movin."  Without a word Jasper climbed up into the back of Vic's truck.
    Sofia didn't hesitate a second, "Why don't I drive Vic's truck back to town and ....  er .. Mr. Jasper you can ride in front with me."  Before she could finish her sentence Jasper had already climbed down and got in beside Sofia.  "We'll drop it at the BP on Thorn."
    "Whatever."  Etienne and Aaron had said it simultaneously.  They looked at each other and both slid into Aaron's truck stone faced.  Sofia and Jasper sped off, and "the boys" followed.
 

    Ernie had spent six hours hiding in the brush after he had seen Castenada and Witt approaching.  When his panic had finally subsided he traipsed his way back to the cabin and fell exhausted onto the bed.  When he awoke in the morning he was angry and the focus of that anger was Preston Witt.  Ernie went to the fridge and popped a beer.  The liquid courage did the trick.  Ernie stormed out to do what he never thought he would ever do, confront Preston Witt.
    He was afraid to drive out Carmel Valley Road so he did the only thing possible, he headed east, over the top of the hills.  There were dirt roads all the way, the only problem were the gates.  Ernie decided he'd just drive right through them.  A little trespassing and destruction of private property were hardly even worth considering.  It'd take three or four hours but no one would think of him going that way.  He was going to get himself out from under the thumb of Preston.  Hell, he might even tell the police what he had done.  He hadn't done anything that bad, and it was all Preston and that bastard Noe's fault.  "Noe ought to be in jail," he thought out loud.  "That guy is dangerous.  Maybe if I tell the chief that Noe and Preston made me do it, they'll let me go."
    Ernie came out of the hills above the Soledad Mission.  He stayed on dirt all the way to Preston's house.  He pulled into the yard at the ranch and saw Preston coming out of the house.  Ernie got out like a lion but could he sustain it.  Preston spoke first, "What the hell you doing here you stupid bastard.  I told you to stay in the hills."
    "That damn police chief was up there yesterday looking for me.  And he had Aaron with him."  Ernie was proud of his assertive tone, until Preston back handed him and knocked him to the ground.
    "Get your sorry ass back up there then.  Did anybody see you, did they?"  demanded Preston, towering over him.
    Ernie surprised himself again.  "I ain't going back boss.  And if you keep this up, I'm going to the police."
    Preston started kicking Ernie.  He kicked him hard all the way across the yard, yelling at him the entire way.  Ernie covered as best as he could but Preston was hurting him bad.  Ernie had never been beaten like this before, and he started to get scared that Preston was going to kill him.  Preston finally stopped kicking, bent over and grabbed Ernie by the throat.  "You go right on down to town.  You tell that damn chief of police whatever you want.  But before I go down Ernie, you'll be dead."  He let Ernie drop to the ground and went inside.
 

    While Sofia was still worried about Rodolfo, her curiosity about the who and what of Jasper got the best of her.  "Mr. ... er."
    "Feller says if'n ya call me Jasper, I'll answer ya.  I'm a guessin y'all got a question or two for me."  Jasper was as relaxed as he was mysterious.
    "I've got as many questions as you've got answers, but first, I need to do something."  Sofia got on the radio and put out a call for Vic to meet them at the BP in fifteen minutes and then turned back to Jasper, but she froze, not knowing where to start.
    Jasper could see her nervousness so he spoke first.  "Cain't say I'll have the answer, but ask any ole question ya'd care to.  Ole Pablo was full o questions too."

 
    Sofia pulled into the BP station just north of Greenfield with Aaron and Etienne just behind them.  Vic was sitting there in his cop car.  He got out and walked up to Sofia. He saw Jasper but didn't even want to ask, afraid of what the answer might be.  Instead, he got right to the point.  "What's up Sofia?"
    "We know where Rodolfo is.  Let's go get him," replied Sofia.
    "Park it and jump in.  I'll even let you work the siren."  He then walked over to Aaron's truck.  "Etienne, hop in the car.  Thanks for the help Witt.  We'll take it from here."  He turned before Aaron could respond.
    They got in the squad car, where Sofia and Jasper were waiting.  Before they could buckle-up, Vic peeled out of the driveway, lights flashing and siren screaming, over the overpass headed north.
    Aaron sat in his pickup watching dejectedly as they disappeared up 101.
 

    "Are you going to kill me?" asked Rodolfo whose question startled Noe.  It was the first thing that Rodolfo had said outside of one word responses to orders and questions.
    "No, I'm not going to kill you kid.  If I was going to kill you, you'd be dead already.  Don't you think."  Noe wanted Rodolfo to answer, but when he didn't, Noe continued.  "I mean, why would I go to all this trouble to hide with you if I was going to hurt you.  It's just that damn machine. Its ruining the whole damn town kid.  Can't you see that?"
 

    Vic covered the six miles to Soledad in three minutes.  He slowed down for safety sake while passing through town and then floored it again when they hit Metz road past the Paul Masson winery.  Jasper was laughing the whole way.  Etienne and Sofia were white-knuckled.  Vic was busy driving.  They made the turn toward the Pinnacles and Jasper said "Yessir.  This here's the way."
    Halfway toward the park campground Jasper said, "Right up that thar hollar, feller might find the truck.  And they's hid in a cave not fur past that."
    Vic didn't hesitate, he drove the car right off the road.  Noe's tracks were visible, so Vic just followed them up to where the truck was parked.  They exited the chief's car and looked at Jasper with amazement.  They had no idea how he knew, but they were through doubting.
    Vic spoke first.  "I should take the lead.  I don't want anybody getting hurt.  You guys just keep your heads low,"directed the chief and the others fell in line.
    The trail wasn't hard to follow.  This was not park area.  Noe and Rodolfo were the only people to walk this area in months.  They'd gone about two miles and Vic motioned them to stop just as they were topping a ridge.  He motioned everyone to be quiet.  He got down on his stomach and crawled to a spot where he could see down the other side.  He turned and crawled back to where the others were waiting.
    Vic looked Jasper in the face.  "Is this the spot?"
    "They're in the cave at the bottom."  Jasper said.  "Feller shouldn't spook em."
    "We don't want to spook them Jasper, but we can't just walk up and say ‘give us the boy.'  They could be armed," weighed in Etienne.
    "Yeah, that Feller's got plenty o, what ya call arms.  I call em guns.  But he don't want to use em.  He just wants to get outa here.  Just gotta give him a chance," explained Jasper.  He then proceeded to put his fiddle under his chin and started to play.  Loud!
    Vic was too exasperated to say anything.  He just got back on his stomach and crawled up to see if there would be any reaction.
 
 
    Noe heard the sound and thought he was dreaming.  But then he saw the look on Rodolfo's face and knew that he wasn't.  "Get down," he told Rodolfo, and then poked his head out of the cave to see what was happening.
    "It's the old Gringo with the violin.  He's the one who brought the machine," said Rodolfo smiling.
    "What old Gringo?  You know this guy?" asked Noe getting scared.  He didn't wait for an answer, but went and poked his head out again.  He thought he saw someone looking over the top of the hill.  He went back to Rodolfo.  "Listen kid, I'm gettin outa here.  But you gotta help me.  I'm gonna say some things to the people up there.  I'm gonna tell them that I'm gonna hurt you if they try to come in.  But you know I'm not."  Noe waited and Rodolfo didn't answer.  "You know I'm not gonna hurt you.  Right?"
    "I guess not," Rodolfo finally answered.
    "I'm gonna fire my gun too.  But I ain't gonna try to hit anyone.  You can watch.  I'll fire into the rocks up there.  OK?"  Noe was worried, and the violin music was getting to him.  He looked anxiously at Rodolfo.
    Rodolfo didn't know why, but he felt he needed to help Noe.  Noe really had treated him fine.  "OK," he said.  "As long as you don't hurt nobody."

 
    Vic crawled back to where he could stand up without being seen when a shot rang out.  They heard the bullet hit the rocks above them, and everybody but Jasper hit the ground.  Another shot in the same place and then they heard Noe yell out, "Stay back or the next one is for the kid."  And then silence.
    Jasper had played his fiddle straight through the entire experience and the three others were beginning to get irritated.  He finally stopped.  "Feller says things is all cleared out over there.  Youens can go on down and get the boy.  He's awaitin fer ya."
    Vic, Etienne, and Sofia were a little hesitant, but when Jasper started his long stride over the rise and down the hill, they followed.  They saw Noe scrambling up the far side of the valley.  Vic thought about pursuing him, but decided against it.  This guy Jasper seemed to have the whole thing handled.  They entered the cave together and there was Rodolfo, sitting quietly on a rock.
    Sofia got to him first and threw her arms around him, with Vic and Etienne close behind.  Rodolfo gently pushed them back and asked, "Tia where's the Old Gringo, I heard his music.  I thought it was him coming to get me."  They all looked around and for the first time noticed that Jasper was nowhere to be seen.
 

    Vic made the decision himself to take Rodolfo by the ATM before taking him home.  He drove them to the BP and let Etienne, Sofia and Rodolfo take his truck.  "If it's clear enough to come I'll let you know on the radio.  If not then head to Aaron Witt's house and I'll meet you there.  Either way I'll meet you there.  Now when I call, you get on the highway and take the Walnut exit.  I'm gonna be smack in the middle of El Camino and Walnut.  You drive right up next to the machine and Etienne you get out and let Rodolfo use the machine.  Then head back up Walnut and take the freeway out to Espinoza and circle back from there. Hang tight til you hear from me."  He mussed up Rodolfo's hair, jumped in his car and was gone.
 

    Vic Castenada drove straight down El Camino and stopped at the intersection with Walnut.  He got out with his bull horn and addressed the crowd, "Rodolfo Robles has been found and will come to activate the machine as soon as the following conditions are met.  First, the entire area around the machine must be completely cleared of people."  Before he could finish speaking the five news crews, including Sofia's substitute, were rushing towards him.  "This includes the media representatives.  If you do not immediately vacate the area around the ATM, Rodolfo will not come."
    The news crews stopped in their tracks.  The general public had already begun to move back.  But when they heard Castenada's second statement they paused and stared at the news crews.  The hungry look of desperation in the eyes of the people was enough to persuade the fourth estate to move away with the rest of the crowd.
    Vic saw he was getting through to the crowd, so he continued.  "In addition, Walnut Avenue will be cleared in both directions.  As soon as these conditions are met, Rodolfo will appear, and after that you and the entire state can resume use of the Bank of Fortunatus ATM's."  He then stopped talking and watched to see if the crowd would comply.  It reminded him of that scene in the movie where Moses parted the Red Sea.  Walnut Avenue and the entire area around the Fortunatus ATM was cleared as if by some invisible hand.
    When everyone was backed up to his satisfaction he got on the radio to Sofia and Etienne.  "OK guys head to the Walnut overpass.  It's looking clear here."
    Castenada stood in the intersection looking east.  He saw his truck pull up, so he told them.  "Pull into Tenth Street past the pizza parlor and over the curb there.  Then right up in front of the machine."
    They followed Vic's directions carefully.  They pulled up next to the ATM, Etienne and Rodolfo got out just long enough for Rodolfo to use the machine.  As they were doing it, Castenada was on the bullhorn speaking.  "If anyone goes to the ATM before I have sounded the all clear, Rodolfo will not be back tomorrow."   This kept everbody frozen until Sofia, Etienne, and Rodolfo had topped the overpass again.  Vic got back in his car, hit the siren, and headed in the other direction as fast as his car would go.