The Legend of the Phantom

by Jacob Nelson

  A swift, hard rocking motion forced Kit forward. As Kit fell, the rudder broke off in his hand, useless as it lifted out of the water. As Kit sprawled forward, he landed on top of the spare rudder.

  There was no time nor means to replace the rudder with the spare but Kit had a different idea. Taking the broken stick in hand, he reached down and forced the rudder back into the water, making certain it was fairly straight. He then jabbed his two espadas into the rudder at angles from both sides which held it in place. Using the large stick that was the handle of the broken rudder, he passed it through the sword guards to hold it in place. The result was a fin that sliced cleanly through the water, allowing the craft to roll with the flow.

  The next six miles flew past and Kit looked forward to a break in the run. However, neither he nor Caribo had trekked that far, and so the next portion of the river was entirely a mystery to them.

  Just as the trio was to enter the next run, Kit spied a good pull-off area to rest along the east bank. Caribo was feeling exceptionally sick, not enjoying the rapids, half as much as Kit and Miya.

  The moment that the raft touched down against the bank, Caribo jumped off and called out that he would scout downstream. Kit considered the option and not wanting more surprises suggested that they tie off the raft and all take a small hike. The hike led the three of them down the gorge, which gave them a great vista of the turbulent water. It didn’t take Kit long to decide to sail alone. Miya wouldn’t hear of it, and though Caribo suggested scouting for them, Miya eventually made Kit realize that in the end it would be easiest and quicker to simply press on and hope for the best.

  What the trio could only guess at was that this new section of river was to become one of their most challenging. It came with fluctuations in water level, along with large boulders and sharp turns, and quick steep drops making difficult rapids… all situated within a deep gorge.

  For the rafting trio, there would be no scout. Having made repairs to the rudder, Kit made a few minor changes to the raft for their comfort and safety. He chopped out a few foot holds to help him stand a bit better. He also used the additional strapping from the spare rudder to tie a line from the one side to the other. It was to be a simple safety line to help him grab hold of in case of extreme water.

  This time Caribo kept his mouth shut; his reservations to himself. Once he helped push off the raft, he quickly took position near the center of the craft. Miya sat near him, not wanting to be so close to the edge. Kit took up the steering and they were off.

  It didn’t take long for the river to grab them up and shortly they were caught with their hands full, rushing down the slipstream.

  It wasn’t really their choice but soon they found themselves rushing towards upcoming falls. The falls themselves weren’t exceptionally high, but falls they were, and the higher river water forced a staggering volume of water over them.

  The water pushed them forward, forcing them towards the edge. Maneuvering quickly, Kit was able to get them back into the center of the run where the force of the white water positioned their raft into the middle of the current, which made it possible to narrowly avoid hidden boulder dangers.

  As the craft started over the brink, Kit let go of the rudder and dove for the safety line, wrapping it around his arm. The raft abruptly pitched forward and Miya screamed as she and Caribo were launched up from their seats. Even as they left their seats, the raft hit the water below and the surge of the torrent propelled them forward once more, pushing the raft back up, throwing them back down into their seat only to buck them suddenly backwards.

  All of a sudden Caribo found himself flying.

  Chapter 11

  The force of the raft hitting the water from the drop over the falls caught the trio off balance, causing Caribo to lose his grip on his safety straps. Miya and Kit were still fine as Miya had her safety line wrapped around her wrist and had dug her foot under a nearby log line as well. Kit had wrapped one of his large arms around the long safety line near the rudder. Caribo, though, was unprepared when the raft surged up again as its nose came out of the brink, from the surging water that flowed all around it.

  The immediate rise in the craft tossed Caribo back, and spilling past Kit, he started to roll off into the water.

  As Caribo rolled past, he reached out for anything, trying to stop his motion. As he grabbed out frantically, he was able to grab hold of the long safety line that Kit held onto, and having caught the line he grabbed it instinctively hard. The combined weight snapped the line on Caribo’s side and he started over the edge, still clutching at the cord.

  Thankfully, following the falls came a mile of relatively flat water. Even as Caribo sailed over the edge, the raft entered the calmer water and Kit was able to quickly gain footholds to help his friend back up into the raft.

  As Caribo rolled back onto the craft and caught his breath, Kit dejectedly agreed with Caribo, “We need to abandon this raft. It’s going to kill one of us.” Then louder he called out to Miya, “Miya, steer the craft onto the shore.”

  “No!” called out Caribo.

  “What?” asked Miya and Kit in unison.

  “Don’t steer for shore,” continued Caribo, earnestly. “I’m already wet Kit, and now I know that I can survive this.” He smiled weakly. “I say let’s go on.”

  “Are you sure?” asked Kit incredulously.

  “I’m very sure,” replied Caribo.

  “Well I’m still against it. It will kill one of us…” he hesitated as he looked at Miya, “What about you Miya?” asked Kit “You see the danger in this, don’t you?”

  “I love this!” laughed Miya. “This is the greatest adventure I have ever experienced! I say we go on!”

  “Well, then,” replied Kit, taken somewhat aback by Miya’s reaction, “I guess we continue on. In which case…”

  “In which case… nothing,” said Caribo cutting in.

  “In which case,” continued Kit, smiling at Caribo’s insert, “help me get this cord retied. I suspect we may need it again.”

  The next mile of rapids seemed like a walk in the park to the trio.

  But the park walk soon became a park run! As the raft entered the run, it seemed like there was no chance for an easy path through it. The waves made the water crash over the trio in such a fashion that Caribo wasn’t the only wet one.

  It was in one such dip and surge that the raft slammed into a huge boulder. Without direction the log raft was left spinning out of control, with Kit’s hand off of the rudder.

  As it spun it hit another and then another boulder. Kit found himself facing back the way they had come. Quickly, he tried to run for the other end of the raft only to find that Miya had beaten him to it. With rudder in hand, she brought the spinning raft back under control. Seeing that she had it well in hand, Kit allowed himself to slump to the deck for a moment’s rest before joining her at the rudder.

  From then on, the rafting went very smoothly with the exception of a few dangers.

  Yet, the rest of the rapids run, under the careful hand of Miya, went exceptionally smooth.

  First they hit a boulder garden that gave their raft some air. Caribo let out a great shout there, finally enjoying the run.

  Then after a few miles they hit a drop. The drop was scary, but Miya had run them to the left of center which seemed to work best for them at their current flow condition.

  With great skill Miya navigated the next stretch by running from right to left, avoiding a series of holes created by the boulder garden that characterized that rapid.

  Suddenly the river canyon bent to the left, and featured a giant boulder that Miya kept to the right of her as she navigated the raft down a run to the left. That appeared to be the last significant rapid on that run, which found the trio following the canyon back to the right. By the time the river had finished the final end of the run, they were happy, having greatly enjoyed their flight down to the valley.

  Miya pulled in and docked the craft near the west b
ank.

  That night the only thing of any excitement for them was watching bats fly overhead as the animals scooped up their dinner of insects on the fly. However, they were all quite tired, having worked muscles that weren’t normally worked.

  Chapter 12

  The next day found them continuing down the grand river.

  As trees and shrubbery flew past on the banks, spray washed over the edge of the raft, splattering the trio while cooling them. Kit, once again at the rudder, dipped it into the water, dropping it to its full length; feeling the resistance of the water.

  With the rudder handle in hand, feet braced, Kit rode the first rapid of the day. With a swift, straight motion the raft was up and into it, riding the wave. Elation spread through him. 'This is incredible!' thought Kit.

  The river dipped the front of the raft before lifting it again. He felt the splash through him while it sounded in his ears and spray cooled his body.

  "Big rock on the left," called out Caribo, his voice urgent. Kit's hands were poised, waiting for the right moment to turn the raft. The rush of water filled his senses.

  With every wave they crested, adrenalin pumped through his body, taking him higher. Though the ride through the first rapid only took a minute or two, for Kit, time was suspended.

  "Ah! A rest," called out Caribo, as the raft plunged into calmer waters.

  "What a ride!" remarked Miya jubilantly. Suddenly she frowned. She had full confidence in Kit; in his ability to steer them down the unknown river. Yet for a few minutes after the start of every day as they pushed the raft into the swirling water came whispered thoughts into the back of her mind, "What am I getting myself into? And why?"

  She knew the reason. It had started back in the Navajo land. The truth was that she was in love with Kit. Unconditionally ...irrevocably. But she also knew it could not be. After all she was the daughter of a king. And what were they? She knew that if they ever returned to her land, they would be killed for associating so casually with her. But would a quick death be so bad for them? It was better than the alternative which was much more likely... Even if they never returned, her father would send out men to hunt them down… and such a death would not come quickly.

  “What are you thinking about, Miya?” asked Kit, seeing the frown on her face.

  “What?” she began, looking up. She quickly composed herself, “Oh, nothing,” she lied, forcing herself to smile. Only the sadness behind her eyes betrayed her.

  The day passed as before, rapid after rapid with occasional moments of relaxation. Along the way another river’s confluence dumped its run-off into the river, which gave the trio quite a run for a time.

  The area they were pushing through in the morning changed from the high mountainous canyons covered in pine, maple and oak to a slightly slower running section that allowed them to really enjoy the run.

  Miya spotted a bald eagle that seemed to follow them for a time, and it was Caribo that spotted the bear as it fished in the stream.

  Gradually, the valley deepened and the river slowed to a lazy run that gave way to birch and scrub oak as the landscape further out slowly changed from forest to grassland to areas of desert scrub. Yet the river run was still shaded with all sorts of large trees soaking up the river goodness.

  As dusk settled over the river valley, the trio relaxed with their bellies full of fish and berries under a maple tree. Nearby, the raft was moored to a large pine that anchored it against the flowing water. Breathing the pure clean air, the trio soon settled into their deep soft buffalo hide, letting the lapping of the water against the rocks lull them to sleep.

  The next few days found them leisurely enjoying calmer waters. Many birds and animals could be seen and the trio’s spirits soared. The desert topography was nondescript, the summer temperatures hot, and the water slow moving and occasionally fairly flat.

  At one point they sailed right into a portion of a beaver dam that was being built. As the raft caught a bit of the side of the dam, a beaver head popped up to see what came down the river, and immediately disappeared underwater again, obviously disappointed that the logs were already taken by some other animals; namely Kit, Miya, and Caribo.

  As the raft departed, a beaver dived underwater only to come up again with a small branch to repair where the raft had dislodged a piece of the dam.

  The trio sailed on, noting the scenery as they passed. They could make out the Caballo Mountains that lined the east bank off in the distance.

  The slow ride was annoying Caribo, but Kit reminded him that it was better than walking.

  “Not by much,” grumbled Caribo in response.

  True, the elevation drop was insignificant with no hazards other than the heat and distance. Of course, an occasional snake was to be seen, basking in the sun: mostly rattlesnakes and copperheads.

  The good news was that there were no significant whitewater hazards on that section of the grand river.

  The river by this time had started moving slightly east again. The ride continued to be fairly easy with occasional faster sections but for the most part leisurely.

  Miya loved the varying landscape and would try to spot the eagles or hawks before the others. Kit took up the game and Caribo eventually joined in, finding that he had a good eye.

  “Red-tailed hawk,” announced Caribo, his prostrate form stretched out across the raft’s deck. “Just over there,” he pointed.

  “How do you do it?” asked Kit sarcastically; knowing it was an art completely lost on Caribo.

  “Just searching,” Caribo replied. “I keep my eyes open and I am always searching.”

  Kit laughed. “Well, I don’t think you need to search much to know what’s coming up,” he warned. “I hear rough water.”

  “And I see men,” countered Miya.

  True enough, there just above them on a bluff, a number of braves could be seen.

  “I’m going to pull in,” said Kit decisively.

  “What if they’re unfriendly?” asked Caribo.

  “I guess I’ll have my pistols ready just in case,” returned Kit.

  Kit steered the craft toward the east bank and pulled into a shallow section of the river. The gentle rising slopes along the edge of the escarpment gave ample footholds for the braves to come down to where they waited. As the braves approached, the one in front held up his hands to show he was unarmed. Kit did likewise.

  “Who are you?” asked the brave via Miya’s translation. He couldn’t help but note the different color of Kit’s skin.

  “He is known as the Wind Walker among the Navajo,” replied Miya to the brave, shortly translating to Kit and Caribo.

  The brave tapped his chest and signaled the others. “We are known as the Pecos. We come from that river.” The brave signaled northward toward the head waters of the river’s tributary. We come in peace, in search of buffalo.”

  “Share with them some of our meat,” suggested Miya. “Food is the best way to win any friendship, whether it is beast or man.”

  “I agree,” said Kit. “Caribo…”

  “I am already doing so, Kit.”

  As they ate, the trio pumped them for information about the upcoming river. The Pecos knew some of it but weren’t much on long distance travel, although they had had visitors pass through that swore the river dumped into ‘the great waters’. As Miya correctly deduced, the offering of meat satisfied the Pecos braves. Once they learned all they could learn, Kit stood and said to the others, “We should get going. Miya, …”

  “I will explain,” she cut off Kit. Then to the braves she said, “The great Wind Walker gives his blessing with this meat that you have shared. May your hunts be swift and your bellies full.”

  The braves gave a farewell cheer and the trio clambered aboard their raft once again.

  When the braves were out of earshot, Caribo asked, “So what did you tell them.”

  “Just what they wanted to hear,” replied Miya coyly, as she purposely lounged out on the raft, turning away
from Caribo. Caribo scowled while Kit laughed.

  “Looks like that will be a minor mystery for a while, aye Caribo?” Then winking at Miya, Kit added, “so let’s leave it for now and this place as well.”

  Caribo scowled all the more.

  Kit laughed again and said, “I’m sure it was nothing about you. Come on now. Help me push off, Caribo!”

  “Yes! Time for the straps!” agreed Miya, who was enjoying the concern her words caused Caribo. She rose and found her favorite sitting spot. Then she purposely stretched out in the sun near Kit.

  “Here we go!” announced Kit, a wide smile splitting his face. As the ‘Rio Pecos’, as they called it, joined the Rio Grande, the current hardened and rapids soon were rocking the boat. The sheer joy of the ride even made Caribo’s scowling face take on a smile, causing him to forget what it was that made him scowl in the first place.

  The next week was by far the most spectacular for them. However, it started off slow as the ride once again became as smooth and enjoyable as before.

  The river followed vast plains where all the buffalo were. Caribo mentioned such, stating that the braves had a good day’s walk ahead of them if they expected to find those animals.

  They saw other animals as well. Snakes such as rattlers, copperheads, and coachwhips were plentiful. Caribo shot down a wild pig that made a great morning meal; while the others spotted black bears, beavers, mountain lions, eagles, hawks, and falcons.

  Plants were also as varied as the animals: cacti, yucca, sotol, ocotillo, and lechuguilla. Willow trees replaced the maples while pine and scrub oak continued to be predominant species in the lower canyons. Eventually the river entered into a last series of big bends and canyons where the river narrowed and the water became rapids once again.

  The scenery changed as canyon walls rose around them some with walls towering nearly 2,000 feet overhead.