This way.â He took the fork to the right.
A little while later they had to make another decision, and then another. There were many forks along the tunnel. There was the danger of traveling in circles. They brought along bread crumbs from the kitchen to mark their way so they wouldnât get lost. âJust like Hansel and Gretel,â Cody had joked when they began.
It had been Raeâs idea. She told them sheâd read stories where secret passages had forks and turns set up to fool unwanted visitors.
When the tunnel went on and on, they all began to worry. What if they were on the wrong track? What if the crooks had already left with Jamal?
The tunnel curved to the left and ended in three forks. âGreat,â said Cody. âWell, Rae, itâs just like in those stories after all.â
âThree strikes and weâre out,â said Otis. âLetâs make this a home run instead.â
âCenter fork,â Cody said.
âAgreed,â the twins heard from Rae.
âAgreed,â Otis echoed.
They headed down the center fork. The passage grew narrower and narrower.
Then it came to a dead end.
âHow could we have gone wrong?â Cody wailed.
Otis was examining the wall. âMaybe we didnât.â He found a skeleton button in the bottom left-hand corner and pressed it. A panel slid open. Sunlight poured into the passage.
Cody grinned. âAfter you,â he said, nodding to Rae.
Soon the three of them were standing in the sunshine. Now they had to find the right boat.
âOver there.â Cody pointed. âItâs got to be the boat with a laughing gecko on the side.â
âDefinitely,â said Otis. âI donât see anyone on deck.â
âTheyâre around here somewhere,â said Cody. âWeâve got to be careful.â He looked from side to side and began to creep toward the gleaming white cabin cruiser with the green lizard on its side. The others followed.
The sea was still and not a single breeze stirred the air. The few other boats anchored near the Laughing Gecko looked empty.
The three rescuers boarded the boat cautiously. Otis pressed a finger to his lips and pointed belowdecks. They all climbed down the ladder, trying to slow their pounding hearts. They were all repeating the same words to themselves: focus ⦠breathe .
They found Jamal tied up on the floor in a corner of the galley. His eyes widened in surprise when he saw them. Once more, Otis cautioned against making any sound with a finger to his lips.
They had freed Jamal from all but his wrist bindings, when they heard footsteps on deck. Then suddenly two men came running toward them. It was Sam Keller and Steve Cordell.
âI knew you kids would be trouble,â snarled Keller as he ran. His eyes bugged out and his face was red with fury. A vision of the man wearing a brown wig, mustache, and beard flashed before Codyâs eyes as Keller lunged at him.
Each man grabbed a boy by the shoulders and held him in a viselike grip. Automatically, Cody and Otis raised their arms straight up in the break-out move their sensei had taught them. Both men were surprised to find their holds suddenly broken, their hands dangling in empty air as the boys streaked away with Rae running beside them.
âWeâd better get help. I think weâve got our proof now!â Otis blurted as he ran. Then Cordell jumped in front of him, blocking his path to the door. Otis cut to the right and ran to the corner of the boat where Jamal was tied.
Meanwhile, Keller caught Cody from behind. Cody gritted his teeth and stomped the manâs instep with a heel kick. Keller gave a howl of pain and staggered backward. He regained his balance in an instant, lunged at Cody, and spun him around.
âSo you wise guys have taken a couple of karate classes,â he huffed. âWell, itâs time to stop playing games.â
Cody jerked himself free of
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