Southern Stars

by Melissa Good

  “You okay?” Dar went onto her back, using a scissors kick with her legs to steer them. She looked behind them, barely able to see past the whitewater to the dark outline of the raft stuck to the side of the rock island. “Who came off with you?”

  “No idea.” Kerry said. “One minute I was yelling my head off, the next I was in the river.” She took a tighter hold on Dar. “I remembered what you said though. Held my breath.”

  Dar got a good grip on the jacket straps and managed a grin. “Me too.”

  Kerry turned around and looked over her shoulder. “You tied them to the rocks? Holy shit Dar!” She stared into the darkness. “That was crazy! You scared the crap out of me.” She looked back at Dar. “How did you do that?”

  Dar shook her head. “Just got that rope around some rocks and got out of the way.” she said. “Then I went after you.”

  Kerry studied her in silence for a moment. “I was a second from going after you before I got thrown off. We’re nuts, you know that?”

  Dar smiled briefly.

  “But in a good way.” Kerry reached out and stroked Dar’s cheek. “I think you saved them, hon. If some of those folks got tossed in the water they’d been in real trouble.”

  “Well, seemed like a good idea at the time.” Dar watched the raft recede in the distance. “Kinda sucks for us though. Unless we find a place to get out.”

  Kerry regarded the current taking them at a brisk pace down the river. “Yeah. But at least I’m with you.”

  It was dark, and the water was very cold, and on her back going down this strange river in a storm, Dar accepted that as an inevitable truth. “Back at you,” she said, watching Kerry’s face, it’s outline starkly plain with her pale hair wet and slicked back.

  They went down a raceway and turned in a tight circle, then dropped down an incline and then, for a moment, it was quieter.

  Dar looked to either side of them, but the walls went straight up and the river filled the space between them for as far as she could see, giving them no real way out other than staying in the water.

  She looked at Kerry, and saw the acknowledgment of their predicament clear in those pale eyes looking back at her. She watched Kerry fish something out of her pocket, then used the carabiner to clip the straps on her jacket to Dar’s belt fastening them both firmly together.

  “Where you go, I go,” Kerry said, after a moment of silence. “Wherever that ends up being.”

  Dar smiled, as they twisted in the middle of the river and went sideways. “Any regrets?”

  “Not one,” Kerry said.

  Dar pulled her closer and put her arms around her. “Me either.” Dar watched the clouds overhead and blinked into the rain, as lightning flashed over the horizon and outlined the canyon walls in stark silver and black.

  She could hear the roar of the rapids behind them and the sound of the river in front of them and... Her brow furrowed.

  “You hear something?”

  “Hear what?”

  “Buzzing.” Dar squinted into the darkness, but all she could see was the outline of the surface of the river. She blinked at the pouring rain that smelled wet and stone like and contrasted with the strong green scent of the river.

  She felt Kerry put her arms around her and the sound of the rapids faded behind them, but a roaring sound was increasing from ahead of them, and in a flash of lightning they saw another set of rapids approaching, churning the water into froth.

  “Ah,” Kerry said, after a pause.

  “Yeah.” Dar responded. “Well, just stay with me, Ker. I’ll try to get us through it.”

  Kerry paused, and bit her lip, turning her head to look at the walls for a moment. “If anyone in the world can, it’s you,” She finally said. “Is that the last one?”

  Dar shook her head, as she watched the maelstrom approach. “Should have paid more attention to the plan. Too much the tourist.”

  “Well, we were supposed to be tourists.” Kerry took a few deep breaths as Dar fought the pressure to make them turn in a circle. Dar took a firmer hold on her and then they were in the churn.

  They went over some rocks and Kerry got a quick breath of air before they were under the flow and her ears surprisingly popped as they dropped into a gully and then shot out the other side emerging into the air again before being turned around violently.

  It became scary then as they were out of control and tumbling over and over until Dar got her feet on a piece of rock and kicked outward, taking them both out of the turmoil and into a clear area of fast running water. Kerry expelled the air in her chest and sucked in a fresh supply as they tumbled down a series of stepped rocks. Dar kicked outward again and they plunged feet first into the pool at the bottom of the rapids.

  They were lifted upward and a moment later popped to the surface. “Whoa!”

  Dar shook the hair out of her eyes and they both held on as they whirled in a circle. “Wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.”

  Kerry spat out a mouthful of river water. “Kinda fun, actually. In a scary, screwed up sort of way. Like a post-apocalyptic water park.”

  Dar laughed in pure reflex. “Maybe we’ll get lucky and that’s it before the pull out.”

  “Maybe our RV will grow wings and pick us up from it.”

  “Mm,” Dar kicked and turned them so they were faced forward as thunder rumbled overhead. They were moving past some rocks and then...

  And then there was motion, sudden, unexpected and very close. A second later Dar felt disoriented as she smelled rubber and hands abruptly grabbed her and hauled both of them out of the river, over the side of a rounded surface and into the bottom of a boat. The engine vibrations rattled right through her.

  What in the hell? Dar raised her arm to shield herself from the downpour as a figure knelt over her and she was looking up at someone she didn’t know, dressed in dark, waterproof clothing with bright yellow stripes. “Uh.”

  “Stay down,” a firm, authoritative voice said. “We got you. You two all right?”

  “Yeah.” Both Dar and Kerry answered at the same time.

  Hooked together, it was hard to maneuver but Dar managed to get herself hitched up on her elbow as the figure turned a flashlight on and played it over her face. “Who are you?”

  “We’re friendly,” the man assured her. “Just relax.” He turned the flashlight off and straightened up. “Go to the right, Jack. See if we can pick up anyone else.” He turned back around, swiveling on the gunwale. “You with one of the river groups?”

  “Yes,” Dar said. “We ran into some trouble.”

  “More of you back there?”

  “Yes, there’s more,” Kerry spoke up. “At least one other person went over the side with me, and there’s a bunch on a raft, two rapids back.”

  The man regarded her. “Thank you, ma’am. Save my ass the trouble. Jack you hear that?”

  “Heard that.” A very low rumble came from behind them. “Give ”˜em a jacket, Ronnie. Like some drowned rats up there.”

  Dar managed to get herself unhooked from Kerry and sat up as she was handed a safety jacket. The shape and smell of the craft suddenly became familiar. “This is a zodiac,” she told Kerry, who was trying to get herself sorted out. “It’s military.”

  “I figured.” Kerry leaned back against the rounded pontoon, resting her forearms against her upraised knees. “Any bets on which kind?”

  “Hm.”

  IT WAS STILL short of dawn when they got to the pull out. The boat they were in landed first greeted by several anonymous men in dark rain gear who pulled the craft up onto a short sand beach and allowed them to climb out. Kerry noticed more boats behind them.

  Behind them was a large, dark green tent, and halon lights. The tent flap opened and the welcome scent of coffee wafted out of it.

  It was organized and there was a sense of purpose and order about it, and in response to gruff orders men with stretchers hustled out and headed past them to the shore.

  Someone
else who knew what they were doing was in charge here.

  It was a relief. Dar and Kerry entered the tent and moved to the side out of the way, pausing to look around. There were boxes of gear and one part was cordoned off with mesh partition where bags with red crosses were hung.

  A woman in green came over to them. “You need any first aid?” She asked, briskly. “They said the first boat didn’t but it’s always worth the asking.”

  “No, we’re okay,” Kerry answered. “Just wet and cold.”

  The woman nodded. “Good to hear. You can get some joe over there, and there’s blankets,” she said, then hustled off before they could ask anything else.

  Kerry lifted a hand in a brief wave. “Thanks.” She went over to the table with thick stacks of green fabric and regarded them. “It’s funny they won’t say who they are,” she said, as she took off her jacket and folded it, picking up a blanket to wrap around her.

  “They will eventually.” Dar did the same. “Let’s find a seat. I really don’t care who they are. Even if they’re bozo’s dad’s private troops I’m glad they found us.”

  “True.”

  They spotted some canvas chairs to one side and went to them, claimed two and sat down to take off their sodden boots and socks. Dar stood up again and took off her pants, wrapped the blanket around her waist before she sat down.

  “Good idea.” Kerry felt the shivers receded as she followed suit. There were portable heaters in the corners of the tent and stacked along the edges were utilitarian folding cots.

  Two men offered up some cups of coffee, and as Kerry sipped hers, without sugar or cream and strong as all get out, she appreciated it none the less. it was hot and she savored the sensation of it going down into her stomach only realizing after it had that it had some alcohol in it. “Oh.”

  Another woman came by, and offered them dry t-shirts. “It’s not fancy. But it’s dry.”

  Kerry took both and waited for the woman to continue on to where Rich and Dave were now sitting. “I don’t care who they are. I like them. They have common sense.”

  Dar took her wet, long sleeve shirt off. “I think they’re Army,” She said, setting the garment aside and pulling the dry t-shirt on. “Ah.” She ran her hands through her hair to sort it and leaned back in the chair.

  Two more men were going from person to person with a notepad, asking questions. Todd and Marcia were on stretchers, in the cordoned off area and Pete was there as well, leaned over a chair with someone looking at his back while Tracey looked on, a blanket wrapped around her body.

  Don was seated near the partition, talking to a man with a medical kit at his waist. Don looked utterly relieved, and briefly he pointed to where Dar and Kerry were seated, saying something emphatically.

  PJ limped in, with her dorm mates all talking to the two men supporting her.

  “Looks like everyone made it,” Dar commented, as Ira and Sally came in, with Theresa behind them. “Good. Makes all that half assed crap worth it.”

  Kerry nodded a little bit. “In the ends justifying the means department. It turned out okay.” She took Dar’s hand in hers. “As our shenanigans often do. We must have a guardian angel, Dar.”

  For a brief moment Dar found an image in her head, of a towering figure with dark wings and a deep, throaty chuckle. “Sure,” she said, with a smile at the thought. “There must be a patron saint of nerds. Which one is it?”

  “Not my denomination, honey.” Kerry squeezed her hand. “But I know there must be one because you and I have squiggled out of more horrific situations than anyone else I’ve ever heard of.” She exhaled and regarded the interior of the tent.

  Another man had Janet in the corner and it looked like she was being grilled, the man’s body language tense and aggressive. “Now what’s that about?”

  She was crying. Kerry nudged Dar and motioned toward her. “Like she needs to be smacked around.”

  Dar put her coffee down and got up, heading across the sandy floor toward where the group leader was being questioned.

  Kerry took a sip and put her own cup down, then followed.

  “And then you know?” She said under her breath. “Sometimes we just bring this stuff right down on us. We’re nuts.”

  “Look, I told you. A lot of stuff happened. Nothing was on purpose.” Janet was saying as Dar arrived at her side. “Oh, sorry, um...”

  “Can I help you?” The man asked Dar, shortly.

  “Can I help you?” Dar asked him back. “Why are you messing with her?”

  The man regarded Dar. “Why is it your business why I’m asking her questions? You people were doing stupid things on the river and we had to risk a lot to go rescue you. I can ask anyone anything I want.”

  “Captain, really, we owe this lady a big round of thanks. She’s the one who tied us up onto that island,” Janet said. “We would have been toast in the rapids.”

  “Really?”

  Dar shrugged.

  “You should still stay out of this business,” he said. “Has nothing to do with what you did or didn’t do.”

  Which actually was true. Dar had to admit in her head. “I’m a jackass and I make things my business.” She agreed readily. “It’s a reflex I can’t help. Glad you showed up, but nothing that happened calls for you to be a jerk to her or any of us.”

  The man folded his arms. “Lady, you have no idea who I am.”

  Dar smiled. “You have no idea who I am. Bet we’d both be a little surprised.”

  Janet put her hand on Dar’s arm. “It’s okay.” She said. “Thank you, but let him get it over with so I can go and sit down and maybe get a bandage on my leg.”

  The man eyed her. “Are you hurt? Why didn’t you say so?” He motioned another man over. “Get this one over to the docs. We can talk later.” He watched one of the medics hurry over and help Janet to a stretcher.

  Then he turned to Dar. “Now as for you.”

  Kerry arrived at that moment and took up a position next to Dar, arms folded. “Now as for us,” she said.

  “Stay out of this, for real,” he said, seriously, his attitude moderating perceptibly. “Those people are in a lot of trouble, and you can’t help them so just go back over there and sit down and let us just do what we do.”

  “Why are they in trouble?” Kerry asked. “It was just a river rafting trip.”

  “Lady, go sit,” he said. “Please. We got work to do and it’s been a long night.” He looked around and both his voice and attitude changed even more. “Besides I do know who you are. Do those guys know?” He indicated Janet.

  “Just a name on a credit card.”

  “That’s what I figured.” The man said. “Please do me a favor and just go relax. You really, really don’t want to know what the deal is here.” He paused. “Honestly.”

  Dar and Kerry exchanged looks. “Okay,” Dar said. “Guess we’ll find out later.”

  “I’m sure you will.” His nose crinkled in a somewhat appealingly wry grin. “Just please don’t hack my paycheck, okay?”

  They walked back to their seats and sat down. “This is a little weird,” Kerry said.

  “This is a little weird. But I think that’s tuna noodle casserole so for right this minute I don’t care.”

  “Tuna what?”

  Dar leaned back and exhaled, the long night finally catching up with her too. “Tuna fish, mayo, spaghetti and peas.”

  Kerry closed her eyes. “Urgh.”

  “No, it’s good.”

  “You said that about peach pizza.” Kerry sighed. “Jesus Christ at least it’s not Spam.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  THE SOLDIERS SET up cots as Dar and Kerry finished up their meal. It was like heaven to lay down on one. Dar stretched out her long body and was happy to close her eyes, feeling the warmth of Kerry’s hand clasping hers in the next cot over.

  She was full and dry and in some comfort. Now they just had to wait for a break in the weather.

  The roof was being poun
ded by rain, and there was a lingering scent of noodles and coffee in the air as thunder rolled outside and the occasional crack of lightning was visible, but the tent was waterproof and secure and the generators kept right on rolling.

  “That really wasn’t as bad as I expected,” Kerry said, in the muted darkness of the shelter. “That noodle stuff. It didn’t really go with the Gatorade though.”

  “Needs milk,” Dar said, stifling a yawn.

  Kerry chuckled a little. “Doesn’t everything?”

  “Mm. But pretty much anything’s good if you’re hungry enough.”

  More thunder rumbled, and they could hear the rush of the river past the rain, but it was hard to even remember being stuck out in all that now.

  Dar briefly thought about the cave shelters, and the wood fires, and beyond that to the comfortable glam camping they’d done at the beginning of the trip and it all seemed faded and unimportant.

  Now there was this””the smell of canvas, the comfort of dry cotton and looking forward to getting into their RV and seeing their dogs.

  Looking forward to going home. The heat and sunshine of Miami. The strong smell of salt on the air. The thousand shades of green that were so different than this place they’d come to that it was almost like a different planet.

  The canyon was beautiful, but alien. Dar was glad she’s seen it, glad they’d had the experience no matter how crazy it had been. Whatever it was, she certainly hadn’t ended up bored.

  “Hey.” Ira was sprawled in the cot next to Dar and his head was turned as he looked at her. “That thing you did was crazy.”

  “What thing?”

  “Jumping off the boat into the rapids. That was seriously insane.”

  Dar nodded. “Looking back at it, yeah.”

  “Were you scared?”

  Dar regarded him thoughtfully. “Wasn’t time to be scared. I didn’t want that raft overturning. Wouldn’t have been a good thing for anyone.” She shifted a little. “Only choice really was that island I just was hoping the rope would hold.”

  He watched her with serious intent, his dark eyes equally thoughtful. “You have a good spirit in you,” he finally said. “You should come meet my granddad.”