Free Fool's Gold by Eric Walters Page B

awake,” he mouthed at me.
    That was good advice. Now that we were past the trestle we were headed toward the drop. The first timewe’d gone over—which as far as I was concerned at the time was going to be the only time I ever went over—it was a complete surprise. We’d been drifting down the stream, enjoying the sun and the cool of the water, and then whoosh ! Five or ten seconds of terror and then it was over, practically before I’d figured out what was going on.
    Now I knew what was going to happen. I knew it was coming. It was around the next curve or the next or the next. And even more troubling was what was going to happen after the falls. What would these two men—these two armed criminals—say to us? Would they be mad and blame us? What were they going to do to us? This was going to be so much worse than the first time.
    The current seemed to be picking up speed. I looked over at Jack. He’d noticed it too, but thank goodness he was the only other one who had. The two men just sat there, clueless. Red did look anxious, but that was just his nervousness around the boat and water. If he’d had any idea what was going to play out he would have been a lot more than anxious.
    The banks of the creek rose on both sides and the increase in the current and our speed was really noticeable. We were getting close. Now there was nothing we could do even if we wanted to. We were going over the falls.
    The raft started to ripple as it rolled over little drops along the way, and it felt like it was alive and trying to buck us right out. I dropped the paddle to the bottom of the raft. Paddling was pointless. Steering was useless. The creek was now in complete control. I grabbed onto the lip of the raft with both hands and dug my fingers in as deeply as I could.
    Red turned around to face us. His expression had gone from anxious to scared.
    â€œWhat’s happening?” he yelled over the rush of the water.
    â€œHold on!” Jack yelled back.
    Red’s eyes widened in panic. “What are you—?AAAAHHHHH!”
    The front end of the raft—and Red and Moose— disappeared over the drop. I held both my breath and the lip of the raft, hanging on for dear life, and then I found myself flying through the air, head first, arms extended in front of me. Was this how Superman felt? Before I could think of an answer, I got an answer. I hit the water, somersaulting over and then shooting beneath the surface!

CHAPTER TEN
    INSTINCTIVELY I’D CLOSED MY MOUTH and my eyes as we flew through the air and smashed into the water. Now I kept my mouth closed but opened my eyes. Looking up, I could see daylight streaming down through the waving, bubbling water. I tried to claw my way to the surface but it felt like I was moving in slow motion. Actually, I wasn’t moving at all! I was suspended, struggling to claw my way to the top while my feet were being pulled to the bottom. I kicked my feet to try to break free, wishing I weren’t wearing shoes or heavy, soaked clothing. I couldn’t seem to move. Strange … I didn’t feel panicky … I felt calm, almost safe, protected and sheltered and hidden beneath the water.
    Suddenly, somehow, I surged upward and shot out of the water. I gasped in a big breath of air. Before I could see anything I heard yelling. I turned around. It was Red. He was screaming and splashing and thrashing around in the water, and then he just disappeared beneath the surface!
    Jack and Moose swam toward where he’d been. Jack dove down, his shoes the last thing visible. I treaded water, watching, waiting. Red broke to the surface, along with Jack, my brother’s arm around his neck. He was struggling wildly, trying to break free, and now that he could get air into his lungs he started to scream again! He was swinging his arms around like a wild man, thrashing in the water and hitting Jack! Moose reached over and slugged Red. His fist just