Kingdom Keepers : Disney After Dark (9781423141129) by Pearson Ridley

Author:Pearson, Ridley
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: ebook
Publisher: Disney Pr
Published: 2005-08-20T16:00:00+00:00

19

Finn and Philby climbed into Splash Mountain’s waterway carefully. The dark water was cold. Finn didn’t like the feeling at all. “Are we sure,” he whispered to Philby, “that this is worth it?”

“Do we have a choice?”

They slogged their way through the first part of the ride, around some turns, and soon encountered a rubber conveyor incline that proved a tough climb. It grew darker the deeper they went into the ride. Aside from his cold, wet legs, Finn felt a different chill all through his body. He considered mentioning it to Philby, but he didn’t want to sound afraid like Charlene.

They climbed through a second tunnel, much longer and darker than the first. It had stairs on either side for maintenance and emergency evacuation. Only the orange night sky, and a slight glow from their holograms, offered any light. Once through this second tunnel, they rested briefly before passing a massive tree on their left. In one scene there was a ladder hanging from a branch, with a laundry line to their right. Here the water current was strong and the going more treacherous.

Philby said softly, “I think we ought to float.”

“What?”

“Float,” he repeated. Philby lowered himself fully into the water and leaned back. The water current quickly carried him away from Finn.

Reluctantly, Finn did the same, not wanting to be left behind.

Both boys maintained their balance and direction by keeping one hand on the steel rail meant to guide the ride’s boats.

“I’ve taken this ride a zillion times,” Philby said, “but this is pretty cool.”

Finn didn’t love being soaking wet, but he too was enjoying himself.

Then they entered a dark scene, a cavelike space filled with Audio-Animatronic figures. The characters, turned off for the night, all stood frozen in midgesture.

“Kinda creepy,” Finn said. He’d had enough. The going was perfectly flat here, the current slow. He grabbed the rail and prepared to climb out.

Philby dove forward, splashing them both, and grabbed hold of Finn.

“You can’t do that!” Philby warned him. “If we climb out, we’ll trip the alarm.”

“What alarm?” Finn challenged.

“They use infrared sensors to detect anyone who tries to get out of a log car during the ride.”

“But the ride’s shut down.”

“But is the infrared shut down?” Philby asked. “I doubt it. Besides, there are thirty-six hidden cameras along the ride. If we climb out, we’ll be photographed.”

“It’s pitch-black!”

“But we’re not,” he said, indicating his own glow. “We’ll be photographed, trust me. And if we’re photographed, we’re identified and busted,” Philby said.

“How do you know any of this stuff?”

“Can you spell Google?”

“And you waited until now to tell me this?” Finn asked.

“I wasn’t going to write you a report,” Philby snapped back irritably.

Finn’s fear grew more intense the deeper they ventured into this cave. They floated faster now as the route twisted and turned. The waist-deep water in the ride’s chute was getting deeper; and the water was flowing faster.

“If I remember right, we’re going into a small—drop,” Philby announced.

Both boys rushed down the drop. Finn’s head went underwater, and he heard something grinding.

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