Artifacts by Pete Catalano Page B

have taken them months to put this all together,” I said, running my hand along one of the rails. I followed it up to a tree house standing ten feet higher than we were.
    Korie watched me take a step toward it. “Maybe we can come back once all the treasure hunting is done and spend some time up here.”
    “It looks like the bridge we’re on runs through the woods and connects to a bunch more up ahead,” Tank said. “Let’s follow it for a while and see what’s on the other end.”
    “I hope Crunch is okay,” Korie said.
    “I’m sure he’ll be—” I was interrupted by the sound of Crunch’s voice echoing through the woods. Looking down, there he was, jumping up and down and waving his arms.
    “Is it high up there?” he yelled. “It looks high. Scary? It looks scary. Can you see Mouth from up there? Can you hear me?”
    “Crunch, they can hear you back at Hickory Wind,” I yelled as quietly as I could. “Now stop yelling and get to the other end of the woods.”
    “Okay!” Crunch yelled back, moving his arms to resemble the letters. “I’ll keep running,” he said, wiggling his fingers to mimic his running.
    Tank laughed as he watched Crunch continue to yell and dance all around about thirty feet below us. “I think something’s going to jump out of the woods and eat him.”
    “You have to think positively,” Korie said.
    “Okay,” Tank said. “I’m positive something’s going to jump out of the woods and eat him.”
    I cracked up. “Crunch has—”
    “Good intentions,” Korie interrupted me.
    “I was going to say Crunch has no off switch. Eventually, he’ll get tired and find a way to get out of the woods before dark. He doesn’t want to be here after dark.”
    “Neither do I,” Korie said quickly.
    We walked along the rope bridge about thirty yards. Every fifteen feet or so, there were ropes tied tightly to the handrail that dropped down to the forest floor. I looked over the edge each time I passed one, fully expecting to see a pirate or a Lost Boy dangling over the side.
    “You’re slowing us down,” Tank said. “What the heck are you looking for?”
    “Crunch,” I said, hoping that was a good enough answer. I thought telling him about the pirates would get me far more abuse than I wanted at that moment.
    “Crunch is moving along a lot faster than I’ve ever seen him go.” Korie pointed to Crunch about ten yards ahead of us, flailing his arms out in front of his face like a scaredy-cat Frankenstein and blazing a trail across the path below.
    “I’m surprised he hasn’t gotten lost yet.” I laughed.
    “How can he get lost?” Korie asked. “All he has to do is walk on one path.”
    I shot a look at Tank. “I’m surprised he hasn’t gotten lost yet.”
    “Cut it out,” Korie said, punching me in the arm and walking on ahead of me. “Crunch will be fine, no thanks to the two of you. And if you don’t watch out, he’ll beat us to the clearing at the edge of the woods and find Mouth before we do.”
    “Good,” I said. “Those two deserve each other. But as hard as they try, they won’t be able to sneak up on anybody with Mouth abusing Crunch and Crunch threatening Mouth. The easiest way to find them is to listen for the most annoying sounds in the forest and follow them.”
    Crunch broke free from the woods and ran into a clearing. He had his arms stretched out from his sides and was happily spinning around so fast I thought he was going to drill himself right into the ground. He was only a few yards from another scary forest.
    At the end of the bridge, there was still no sign of Mouth. There were several zip lines secured to the trees, leading down to the edge of the forest.
    “There’s no other way down from here,” Tank said.
    I laughed. “That’s okay. Zip lines I can do.”
    I climbed up over the railing on the bridge, held tightly to the zip line, closed my eyes, and as Tank pushed me off, raced through the last of the trees.
    “Yahooooooo!” I