Wrought Iron, Book 1 of Merlin's Message

Chapter 6 - Rage, Peace, and Curiosity

Anger.

Gavin felt burning anger radiating from the raging river. Roiling brown water and foaming spray tore itself in every direction. The chaotic maelstrom reminded him of a wild animal trying to get out of a trap. The giant inflated raft bucked and jumped on a surface of hostility as the river tried to escape its banks.

Dafydd laughed while steering from the back. Taeko and Hannah smiled and squealed with gleeful excitement on the right side. Mike whooped and hollered on the left.

Only Gavin kept a grim visage. Why wasn't he enjoying this adventure like the others? Was it because he was the only one who got the feeling the river was trying to kill them?

Obviously.

It had taken a day to traverse the narrow paths from the top down to the canyon floor. They hadn't anticipated riding the mules. Dafydd must have made the arrangements in advance since the track was nowhere near any of the official parks or tourist spots. When Dafydd brought the RV to the end of a gravel road, two men met them. They got the mule caravan loaded and together after only a few words with Dafydd.

The spectacular vista distracted everyone from thinking anything was unusual. Gavin wondered if their taciturn guides were as anti-social to all their customers. Bad for business. The stoic mule handlers spoke only to Dafydd and not much to him.

Gavin watched his friends talk and wonder at the scenery. They were still acting as if this were just a vacation. But every once in a while, Taeko would lock eyes with him and give a slight nod.

After delivering them all to the river's edge, the guides left with their mules and without a word. The five camped there for the night and got started the following day.

Now they were half a day down the river. Dafydd steered, and Gavin kept the front lookout. No people, no other tourists, intruded on their journey. It was just them, the river, and the canyon walls.

The raft turned sideways to the current and rebounded off one of the many boulders. Jagged rocks rose up like alien fangs to devour them. Gavin sensed hunger behind the anger.

Man, this is like liquid pinball! And the game wants to eat us!

White spray rained down on them. They swayed, dipped, rolled, and yawed, more gut-churning than any roller coaster. Strong sunlight bounced off the river in reflected shards of blinding light.

Gavin squinted to see and tried to shrug off the hostile hunger crawling over his skin like a thousand ants.

What did we ever do to you? Or is it just me you're mad at? Give us a break, will ya? Hey. We're just passing through!

"Gavin!" Dafydd yelled.

"Yeah!"

"Mike!" Dafydd cried.

Gavin turned and saw . . . no Mike!

"Where's Michael?!" Hannah wailed.

"Look around!" Gavin shouted. "He's wearing a life jacket! He can't sink!"

"I'll steer from side to side in the river to slow us down so we don't miss him! Gavin, look ahead! Taeko, Hannah, look to either side!"

The rapids subsided, but not all that much. Dafydd hauled on the steering oar, and everyone looked. Taeko's face was grave and intent, and her dark eyes flashed. Hannah looked out. Both her hands grasped lines along the side of the raft, and tears were streaming down her face in anguish.