Chapter 31

Ian, Theodore, Brittany, and Eleanor were waiting on the raft in the shallow water. Pieces of ash and soot filled the air. Embers were landing on the deck and threatening to light it on fire. They kept splashing seawater on them and anxiously looking toward the jungle. Where were the others?

“Look!” shouted Eleanor. She pointed as Alvin, Simon, and Jeanette ran across the beach toward them. The chipmunks dived onto the raft.

“But where’s Dave?” said Brittany, alarmed.

Dave was still hanging by his fingers over the gorge, and crazy Zoe was looming over him, her feet still just inches from his hands.

“Help me up!” begged Dave.

“What am I supposed to do now?” said Zoe, seemingly unaware of Dave’s plight. “My treasure is gone.”

“You can go back,” said Dave.

“To the Crusty Anchor? Don’t you think they’ve given my shifts away? All I had left were those jewels, and now they’re gone forever. My life is ruined.”

Zoe lifted up a foot and was about to step on Dave’s fingers when she saw Ian coming toward her.

“I know it’s tempting to blame Dave,” Ian said to her. “I’ve been there. I wish I could get back all those years I spent plotting revenge. All that time wasted. All that energy wasted. All those pizzas I had delivered to his house wasted.”

“That was you?” said Dave.

“Not now, Dave,” said Ian, keeping his eyes on Zoe. “Yes, you could let him fall. And I could go back to the raft with the chipmunks and be their manager again, making tons of money. So really, I’m good either way. But let me tell you something. Hate, anger, regret—those weren’t just the names of the members of a girl group I once signed. They were what consumed me. And at some point, you have to let go…”

Zoe looked down at Dave’s fingers.

“Not of Dave,” Ian said quickly. “Of those emotions. Or not. I’m good either way.”

What would Zoe do? Even she didn’t know. But the volcano had begun to explode.

Large clumps of lava were crashing down on the beach when Ian, Zoe, and Dave finally appeared, running as fast as they could. They reached the beach! They were in the water. They hurled themselves onto the raft at the very last minute. Ian threw Dave an oar, and the two men began paddling as hard as they could.

Smoke was everywhere. The beach was now covered in hot lava. But they had made it.

When at last they were far enough away from the island to be safe, Zoe was the first to speak. She apologized at once to Jeanette. “I don’t know what to say. I guess I was just so obsessed with the treasure, I kinda went a little crazy, huh? I’m really sorry. We all are.” She had her precious balls in her hands, and she made them nod apologetically.

“Apology accepted,” said Jeanette. She actually felt a little sorry for Zoe. She was just so nuts. After a moment, she pulled the bracelet off her wrist and offered it to her.

Zoe was unbelievably touched. “Really? Look, guys, it’ll be a new beginning—for all of us.”

Dunlop the tennis ball smiled. So did Jeanette. She turned to Simon. “I hope you don’t mind. Simone gave it to me.”

“It’s okay,” said Simon shyly, barely able to meet her eyes. “Even the most perfect gem cannot compare to your beauty.”

Jeanette stared at Simon, amazed. Suddenly Simon realized what he’d just said. Maybe there was a little Simone in him after all! He smiled as Jeanette rested her head on his shoulder.

Alvin scampered over to Dave, who was rowing beside Ian. “Um, Dave?” he asked hesitantly.

“Yes, Alvin?”

“I just wanted to say, now that we’re not all dead and all … sorry I was acting like a child on the ship and kinda ruined our family vacation.”

Dave stopped paddling and looked at Alvin, impressed. “It’s okay. Sometimes a racehorse just needs a little room to run.” Simon had been right after all.

“That is very wise, Dave,” said Alvin. “I like where your head’s at.” He held up a paw for a fist bump, and Dave tapped his fist to Alvin’s and then pulled him in for a hug.

Ian’s face fell. “What, no love for Uncle Ian?”

“You put us in cages!” squealed all the chipmunks together.

“Seriously? We’re still talking about that? New topic. I just saved Dave’s life.”

Theodore’s little face squished up as he thought. “Okay, but I’ll be watching you, mister.” He pointed to his eyes and then to Ian.

“Hey, Alvin, do you still have that pocketknife?” asked Dave.

“Sorry,” said Alvin sheepishly. “I meant to give it back.”

“No, I want you to keep it,” said Dave, smiling.

Alvin couldn’t believe it. “Really?”

“And maybe you can use it to signal that helicopter,” said Dave, pointing to one he had just seen in the sky.

Everyone started cheering.

Alvin flipped open the blade of his knife and expertly began using the metal to reflect the sun. He flashed, “SOS.”

Dave nodded to Alvin. He was really proud of him. He was some chipmunk.