THE PASSAGE

The Rescue

Chapter 16

With all my supplies loaded in Toby's boat and keys in hand, I am almost ready to go. The last thing I want to do before locking the door to the camp is to study the map again. Sitting in the rocker one more time, I spread the map across my lap. Pop has written in the names and locations of different camps and other landmarks and waterways. I try to memorize the camps and landmarks I should come across on my way to Dubois', as well as the turns into the different waterways I will need to make. I take about fifteen minutes to do this, wanting to make sure I have a good understanding of my route.

Okay, time to go. I roll up the map, say a little prayer, then grab the binoculars, hang them around my neck, and head for the boat. After untying it from the pier, I make my way to the captain's seat and insert the key in the ignition. The engine turns over a few times before coming to life.

Alright, good so far. I move the throttle slowly from neutral to reverse, and the boat begins moving backward. When I feel I am far enough away from the pier, I push the throttle slowly forward and turn the steering wheel to the right, cutting a semi-circle in the water to point the bow in the right direction. I bear down on the throttle a little more until I feel that I am at a comfortable speed. I think about how much distance I would need to stop this boat, and I practice that by reversing the engine like I saw Toby doing yesterday. After I bring the boat to a near-stop, I move to neutral momentarily, push the throttle forward, and watch the bow rise out of the water.

I manage to maneuver around obstacles with ease, a log here and there, a cluster of cypress knees, or the occasional low-hanging branch. Coming to my first sharp turn in the bayou, I pull back on the throttle, still feeling a little unsure of myself maneuvering sharp turns. Since the water has no traction, I feel as though the boat might crash onto the opposite bank at too high a rate of speed. I make the curve with ease and push forward again. If this would be a different day that I didn't have more important things to think about, I could see myself enjoying this.

I pass several camps and intersecting waterways that I recognize from studying the map earlier, mumbling the names to myself. I also cross paths with other boaters on the water. They smile and wave, and I do the same. A little later, I see an intersecting bayou that I have been on the lookout for, Bayou LeBeau. I make a turn into it.

After sailing for a bit, still confident that I am on the right track, I make my turn into a second bayou, Bayou Sauvage. A little way into the bayou, it starts to narrow, and the engine is kicking up mud. Did I take a wrong turn? The water shouldn't be this shallow.

I trim up the engine like I saw Toby do yesterday, in an attempt to get the propeller out of the mud, then I manage to turn around and get back to the point of where I was before I took this turn. Once there, I stop to study the map again. I hope I didn't get too far off course.

After examining the map, I determine that this little waterway I turned into must not be on the map, and I probably need to take the next one to the right. I push the throttle forward again, continuing on this path for a while longer, when I spot the bayou that I assume is Bayou Sauvage. I turn into it, confident that my navigation is correct this time. Dubois' camp should be a little way ahead, on the left.

I sail down the bayou for about fifteen minutes when I come upon a bend in the waterway. I recognize it from the map. The camp I'm looking for should not be much farther. Coming around the bend, I spot a camp on the left some distance ahead. Bringing the boat to a stop, I pick up the binoculars to have a better look. It appears to be a small camp, about half the size of Pop's, with a small porch extending across the front. There is a boat there, but judging from the color and style, it's not Pop's or Boudreau's.