by Heidi Skarie
The water roared below her as she wrapped her legs around the thick vines and started down. Her hands were still cold, but no longer numb and she managed to keep a firm grip as she lowered herself down, hand over hand. When her feet finally touched ground, she released the vine and looked up at the men who were staring down at her. She held out her right arm with her fist clenched and put her thumb up.
Glancing around, Toemeka saw she was on a narrow bank at the edge of the river. She explored both directions until she found the cave that hid the canoe and two paddles.
She shouted up to the men. “It’s here; come on down.”
Blaster fire rang above her and a second later Jake started down. Toemeka anxiously watched from below, knowing how hard the descent would be with his injury. Her heart was in her throat as he slowly lowered himself. “Come on, Jake. You can do it,” she said, knowing he couldn’t hear her above the roar of the river. He was a third of the way down when he lost his hold.
“Jake!” she screamed. She watched in horror as he fell. His body turned and somersaulted through the air before he finally plunged into the raging river below.
21
Rushing Water River
Toemeka scanned the river for Jake. The top of his head finally appeared downstream. A moment later, Erling jumped into the river and sank beneath the churning water. He broke surface, looked around and swam toward Jake as Toemeka spun around and ran to the cave.
After rolling the upside-down canoe over, she threw the paddles and her backpack in, grabbed the rope tied to its bow and dragged it to the river. When she shoved the canoe in, the rushing water almost tore it out of her hands. Afraid of losing the canoe, she waded into the river and scrambled into the stern seat.
Toemeka began paddling to Erling who swam toward floundering Jake.. The current grabbed the canoe and pulled it into the middle of the river. As the sound of roaring rapids pounded against her ears, waves splashed over the sides, spraying her with cold water. Her eyes widened when the canoe headed straight toward a boulder sticking out of the water. She thrust the end of the paddle into the boulder, jarring her whole body. The canoe swung away from the boulder and continued hurtling downriver.
She paddled the canoe toward Jake. Erling had nearly reached him when Jake sunk underwater. The front of the canoe crashed into another rock, throwing Toemeka forward. She thrust her paddle into the water, steering her way through the rapids the best she could.
On the bank above, blaster fire rang out again. She glanced over her shoulder and saw Michio jump off the cliff and disappear into the river. She held her breath only releasing it when he finally resurfaced. Michio swam toward the canoe, moving with firm, strong strokes. She dug her paddle into the water, trying to slow the canoe’s wild flight downriver, so Michio could catch up. She was thrown sideways as the raging river grabbed the canoe, swung it around and wedged it between some rocks.
Michio reached the canoe moments later and started to pull himself over the side. The canoe rocked toward him. “You’re tipping the canoe!” Toemeka screamed. She leaned in the opposite direction, righting the canoe as he hoisted himself in, dripping water all over. Blaster fire hit the top edge of the canoe, blowing a hole in it.
“Watch out!” she yelled as Michio crouched down. The angry river grabbed the canoe again, tore it away from the rocks and hurled it downriver again. Soon they were out of range of the blaster fire.
Together they managed to turn the canoe so that it faced downstream again. From the rear seat, Toemeka tried steering straight toward Erling and Jake, but Michio’s strokes overpowered hers. “Paddle harder!” Michio shouted, “They’ll drown if we don’t reach them in time.”
Toemeka applied the last of her strength to paddling toward the men, wishing Michio was in the rear steering position instead of her.
Jake’s head appeared, but he was having trouble fighting the current. Erling finally reached him and put an arm around Jake’s neck to keep him above water. They smashed into some rocks. Erling lost his hold and Jake went under again. Erling dove for him. Toemeka dug her paddle into the water and watched anxiously for them to reappear.
Erling resurfaced, holding Jake around the neck and one shoulder. He began swimming toward the canoe.
“Hang on. Almost there!” Toemeka yelled. Her arms and shoulders screamed with pain from fighting the river.
The canoe drew up alongside the two men. Michio grasped Jake’s upper arm and tried to pull him into the canoe, which smashed into a boulder and kept going. Erling climbed in and together the two men heaved Jake into the canoe. Jack lay on the bottom of the canoe, not moving.
Erling moved to the rear seat. “I’ll take over steering, Toemeka.”
They awkwardly switched places, trying not to tip the canoe, then Toemeka checked on Jake. “Oh God! He’s not breathing!” A panicky feeling surged through her. Jake could die! “We’ve got to get him to shore.”
“He probably swallowed half the river,” Erling said. Now that they were through the rapids, he started steering the canoe toward the riverbank.
Toemeka let water drain from Jake’s mouth, then pushed him onto his back. She knelt astride him with one leg on either side of his hips. Tilting his head back and placing one hand on his forehead, she repeatedly pushed the heel of her other hand into his chest, hard and fast.
When he didn’t respond, she pinched his nose closed and blew into his mouth several times. She paused, then blew into his mouth several more times. He jerked under her and choked up more water as he gasped for air. He still wasn’t breathing well on his own, so she held his nose and blew into his mouth again.
Toemeka felt him move beneath her and his arms slid around her as he started kissing her. Relief spread through her as she struggled out of his embrace. “Stop it, Jake. You scared me half to death and all you can think about is kissing me!” she exclaimed too worried to be angry. His shoulder wound was bleeding and he was deathly pale. “How do you feel?”
“I’m still having trouble breathing. Come here.” He reached for her.
“Rogue!” She pulled away and sat on the middle brace of the canoe. “Move your legs.”
He sat up and pulled his legs out from under her, smiling at her with a suggestive expression. His eyes focused on something behind her and his grin suddenly disappeared. She turned and saw Michio, looking thunderous.
“Sorry, I forgot she was married,” Jake said, sheepishly.
“Some things you’d do well not to forget,” Michio replied. He turned back to the front of the canoe and continued paddling.
Toemeka scrambled off Jake, climbed over the center brace and sat down at the front of the canoe, just behind Michio.
“We’ve almost reached the shore,” Erling said. “Should we stop so you can rest, Jake, or keep going?”
“Keep going. Cadmus probably contacted his spaceships by now. We haven’t much time.”
“How far to the Owayan camp?” Toemeka asked.
“It’s a ways yet.” Jake started to sit up and winced in pain.
Toemeka was immediately concerned. “You’re cut and bruised from the rocks. Better stay still.” His lips were blue from being in the cold water for so long and he was shaking. She took off Michio’s jacket, realizing she was the only one who hadn’t gotten soaked in the river. “Here put this on.”
Jake gratefully shrugged off his own wet jacket and shirt and put on the dry one. Then he studied the riverbank. “More rapids are coming. This set is a mean one. It’s full of boulders and dangerous swirling currents. Do you want to try and shoot it or portage around?”
“How far is it to the camp from the rapids?” Erling asked.
“Not far by canoe, but walking will take time that we don’t have. Cadmus’ spaceship will be on us by then.”
Michio looked over his shoulder at the others and rested his paddle handle on his lap. “I can carry the canoe. Are you guys up to hiking through the woods after that drubbing in the river?”
“I’m all right,” Erling said.
“Jake, do you think you can walk with Toemeka’s help?” Michio asked.
The side of Jake’s mouth twisted up. “I don’t know if I dare walk with her support.”
“I don’t mind you walking with Toemeka, as long as you don’t try to kiss her.”
“I vote we shoot the rapids,” Toemeka said. “Jake’s familiar with it. He can direct, Michio can paddle and look for rocks from the front, and I can watch for rocks on the sides while Erling steers.” She paused, aware that the roaring, she’d heard only dimly before now grew louder. Her heart started racing in anticipation.
“I don’t know, Toe,” Jake said. “If the canoe tips, it’s not much fun bumping around those rocks, being pulled under by that current.”
“We don’t have a lot of choice. We’re running out of time and I don’t think you’re strong enough to walk with that blaster wound, even with my help,” Toemeka said.
“We’ll look at the rapids from the shore, then decide what to do,” Michio said.
After Erling steered the canoe to the bank, Michio climbed out and held the canoe steady so everyone else could get out. Then he and Erling disappeared into the woods. Toemeka helped Jake limp over to a boulder.
“I’m weaker than I realized,” Jake said. “We’re in trouble. We lost our water, food and supplies. Michio and Erling were forced to abandon their backpacks when they jumped off the cliff and I dumped mine after I got shot.”
“I still have mine.”
“That’ll help, but I also lost my communicator in the river. If Erling or Michio still have theirs, they were probably ruined by the water. The dunking didn’t do the blasters any good either.”
Toemeka noticed Jake’s head was bleeding from where he’d hit it on the rocks.
“Oh, Jake, your head must hurt terribly. Why didn’t you tell me you had a head injury?”
“We’ll be lucky if we get out of this alive. A head wound doesn’t seem too significant in relationship to that.”
“It’s all my fault.”
Jake took her hand and drew her to the boulder next to him.
“What you did was really brave and may have saved the rest of the group. Not everyone would’ve set aside their fears and risked their life so others might live. I know how scared you must have been, alone in the woods. It’s become obvious that Cadmus was after you. I don’t understand it, but I think you’re right: Cadmus has a way of inwardly tracking you.”
“Then you’re not angry with me?”
“I’m furious. You could’ve been killed or taken captive. Besides that, you forced me to leave my men, Breezy and her family on their own. Don’t ever strike off like that again.”
She looked down, feeling miserable. Nothing she did seemed to turn out right and now Michio, Jake and Erling were in a dangerous situation.
“Hey, you’re not going to let me get by with yelling at you, are you?” Jake asked. “You’re supposed to tell me off.”
“But you’re right; I didn’t think things through clearly. I shouldn’t have come to Alandra.”
“Perhaps not, but your reasons for coming were good. You have one of the purest hearts I know. You always act out of love for other people and never out of anger, greed or power.”
She looked up at him as he reached out, touching her cheek. “I was a fool not to commit to you. It never occurred to me that you’d find someone else and get married. I did love you; I was just afraid of commitment. I always figured if I spent all my time with one woman, I’d get tired of her, but I don’t think I would’ve with you. You’re too full of surprises.”
“Do you love Breezy?”
Jake sighed. “When I’m with her, but I don’t give her much thought when we’re apart. It wasn’t like that with you. I missed you when we were on separate missions.” He looked out at the river. “Breezy loves me and is kind, thoughtful, understanding… but I’m not especially fond of nice, sweet women. I like them spunkier, like you.”
“Thanks a lot!” Toemeka exclaimed sarcastically.
“You know what I mean. She’s an intelligent woman, but she always defers to me when there’s a difference of opinion or decision to make. I’d like her to express her ideas and beliefs. I’d like her to take more initiative and not be afraid of displeasing me or making mistakes. I like being with Breezy, but I have no intention of marrying her. I feel guilty sometimes, knowing I’ll probably end up hurting her. She’d be better off without me.”
“Maybe she would, but I’ve never seen her so happy. When she talks about you, she almost glows. She’s loved you since she was a little girl.” Toemeka swallowed and squeezed his hand. “Jake, if Cadmus catches up to us and it looks inevitable that we’ll be taken captive, will you shoot me? Neither Erling or Michio will do it.”
Jake’s mouth gaped open. “Are you afraid of being burned alive in a sacrificial ceremony?”
She nodded.
“I don’t blame you. My soldiers sometimes kill themselves when being taken captive, rather than be tortured for information.” His expression was sad and solemn as he replied, “I’ll do it; I give you my word.”
She hugged him, kissing him on the cheek. “Thank you!”
“Give your word to do what?” asked Michio, walking up to them, Erling was right behind him.
Jake and Toemeka both jumped, startled, and Toemeka quickly scrambled to her feet. “How are the rapids?”
“Agree to do what?” Michio demanded a second time.
“Shoot her if Cadmus captures us.”
“What?” Michio said, moving threateningly toward Jake. “If she’s captured, I’ll free her!”
Erling grabbed Michio’s arm. “We don’t have time for this. We’ve got to shoot the rapids because the brush is too dense to carry a canoe and the rapids look negotiable. If the canoe turns over, let’s head for this side of the river, so we all end up together.”
Michio and Erling went back to the canoe and Michio held it steady as Erling walked forward to the front seat. Jake rose unsteadily to his feet. Toemeka helped by keeping an arm around him as they walked to the canoe.
“You’re a strange woman,” Jake said. “When I kissed you for saving my life, you get mad, but when I agree to kill you, you kiss me.”
“Just don’t get impulsive and kill me unnecessarily.”
“I’ll try not to,” he replied, grinning. He leaned down and whispered softly into her ear so only she could hear. “I’ll stick to kissing you impulsively.”
She scowled at him. “You better not.”
Once again, they got back on the river with Michio steering this time. He leaned forward toward Toemeka, who sat in front of him. “What’s going on between you and Jake?” His words were drowned out by the roar of the rapids, so Toemeka was sure the other men hadn’t heard him.
“Nothing. We were talking about his relationship with Breezy. They’re a perfect couple; they’ve known each other since they were kids.”
“That doesn’t seem to keep him from flirting with you. Stay away from him.”
From the front of the canoe Erling shouted, “Watch out. Rocks on the left!”
Toemeka grabbed the sides of the canoe as it shot into the rapids, dove down in the swell of a wave, then rose up again. Waves crashed in from all sides, filling the canoe with water.
“Steer toward the center of the river!” Erling yelled. “Fewer rocks there!”
A particularly large wave washed over Toemeka, soaking her clothes. Another wave splashed in. Then the canoe crashed into rocks on the right side and spun around backwards. Completely out of control, it crashed into the rocks again. The canoe pitched forward.
Toemeka gripped the sides of the canoe tightly, terrified the canoe would capsize, pitching them all into the water.
Michio and Erling frantically fought to control the canoe as the river roared and churned around them. It seemed alive, wanting to devour them.
The canoe shot forward again — and then, al
l at once, it was over. They were beyond and below the rapids.
“We did it!” Jake shouted.
“What a ride!” Erling exclaimed.
Toemeka turned to Michio. He leaned over and kissed her with passionate intensity. She kissed him back, overjoyed at surviving the rapids.
“Hey Tiger, you’re distracting Michio,” Jake said with a chuckle. “We need to get ashore and dump this water.”
Michio let Toemeka go and skillfully steered toward shore. The going was slow and strenuous because of all the water in the bottom of the canoe.
Once they got ashore and disembarked, Erling and Michio dragged the canoe onto the bank and tipped it to one side, pouring out the water. Toemeka headed into the trees.
“Where are you going?” Michio called after her.
“I have to pee.”
“Pee here. It’s too dangerous to go off alone.”
“I’ll only be a moment.” Once she was concealed from view, she squatted down to relieve herself. When she started back, a twig snapped. She froze, her eyes on the thick leaves. A huge savage with blue skin and bushy, black hair stepped into view. He was heavily armed, dressed in furs and buckskins. Toemeka yelled for help and fled back toward the river. She’d only gone a short distance when Michio reached her. She flew into his arms.
“What is it?” he asked.
“We have to get out of here!” she exclaimed. Erling arrived a moment later.
“Toe, are you okay?” Erling asked.
“I – there’s —” she panted, out of breath.
“Calm down, Toemeka.” Michio grasped her upper arms and looked directly into her eyes. She felt his strength and calm pouring into her. “What did you see?” he asked.
“A savage,” she said, pointing to the woods. “There could be more.”
“Let’s go,” Michio said.
They ran back to the canoe where Jake waited. Everyone waded out and climbed in, then Michio and Erling paddled quickly away from land.
“I wonder why he didn’t come after us,” Erling said, taking a strong stroke with the paddle.
“Probably going to get reinforcements,” Michio replied.