tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88831853999772744762024-03-13T07:56:42.211-07:00Cynthia's Literary CornerOne can trace children's literature back to stories and songs, part of a wider oral tradition, that adults shared with children before publishing existed. The development of early children's literature, before printing was invented, is difficult to trace. Even after printing became widespread, many classic "children's" tales were originally created for adults and later adapted for a younger audience.cynthiagrlx@.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15899106950524179648noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8883185399977274476.post-11071428972095154012013-10-27T19:38:00.002-07:002013-10-27T19:41:38.349-07:00The River Boat Chapter 4 Continued<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Chapter 4 Continued</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">The judge's chamber door opened. Clare and George came out, heads</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kNsOIBeRPQg/Um3NhPU2XpI/AAAAAAAABzE/kLNIdIgHqTE/s1600/judgeschambers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kNsOIBeRPQg/Um3NhPU2XpI/AAAAAAAABzE/kLNIdIgHqTE/s400/judgeschambers.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">lowered. Sandy's heart sank. Ray picked up Natty and held her tightly, maybe for the last time. He felt like bolting out the door with Natty and running to the riverboat and casting off but he knew that he probably wouldn't even make it past the door. Clare put her hands on both Ray's and Sandy's shoulder.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Well kids, I'm sorry to tell you this but you are as of now in the custody of George Stewart and Clare Lacomb, address, the Miss Misty."</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Sandy jumped up and put her arms around Clare's neck, expelling squeals of joy and excitement, then turned smiling to look at Natty in Ray's arms. Natty continued to smile and sway while singing gayly, “Ya, ya, ya,” in Ray's arms.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"She had known all along, her little mind had somehow known," Sandy said to Ray, smiling.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Who are you talking about, Honey?," Clare asked, brushing Sandy's hair back with her hand.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">“Natty, she's been bubbling over with gaiety from the time she got up this morning." Sandy told her.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Come to think of it she has been a mite beaming hasn't she? Is she always like this?," Clare asked.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Most times when things are stable, but today she's been more bubbly than usual, if that's possible with Natty. She's acting more like when she's alone with her best friends Doc and Tim or when she senses something good is about to happen," Sandy explained.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"You've just answered your own puzzle, she senses things. The night you two went to the carnival she was very quiet and subdued. That was around the same time the dog and cat disappeared,” said Clare, thoughtfully.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Come to think of it I haven't seen Doc and Tim since that night either," Ray added. I wonder what happened to them. Did they jump ship in Helena?</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Dac, Tm, Nat no!," Natty babbled brightly, waving her hands as she tried to speak.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Does she know something we don't?," Clare asked Ray and Sandy.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">-76-</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Any thing is possible with Sprite, isn't it?" Ray asked</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">looking at Natty in his arms. Natty gave him a gushy kiss on the</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">cheek in response. Ray wiped at his cheek with his shirt sleeve.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"I suggest we get out of here before the judge changes his mind," George said, putting his arm around Clare's waist.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Back at the river boat Natty ran into the living room then into Ray and Sandy's room to find her friends. They were still under Ray's bed</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">where they had been for the last several days, too frightened to come out.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">That night before Dan came Natty had climbed out of her crib while Clare slept in the bed. Making her way into the kitchen she had taken Doc's and Tim's water and food dish from under the table into Ray's and Sandy's bedroom. Setting them on the floor she returned to the kitchen to get more water with a cup, spilling most of it on her trip back to the bedroom.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Thinking that wasn't enough she had taken some more dishes from</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">the sink while making more trips back and forth for more food and water. Satisfied, she then pushed the overflowing dishes under Ray's bed.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Back at the door, she had turned and said, “Lav Dac, Tm,” and then had closed the bedroom door behind her.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Natty had felt the same uneasy anticipation as Doc and Tim had all that afternoon. They had not wanted to come out from under the bed all day and she had wanted to stay there with them. She had climbed into the bed along side of Clare. A feeling of dread had made her draw up close to Clare for solace. Clare had thought her to be fast asleep, unaware she could climb in and out of the crib by herself, until the night when she had awakened to find Natty all snuggled up at her tummy, shivering as though from cold. It was warm in the room but never the less Clare covered her with the comforter.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Natty came tearing out of the living room shrilling in delight, pursued by Doc and Tim.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"I think it's time to do away with the crib and get this girl a bed of her own,” Clare announced.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Ray and Sandy laughed and said, "Yeah, and her own bedroom, too."</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">That day Clare had swung the double doors opened to what use to be the gaming room of the river boat. This room had been once used</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">-77-</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">during better times by the Everetts as a dinning and rec room combination. It had remained unused since the children's mother dis- appeared. With the combined effort of the entire family, a family is what they were now, Ray reflected, they had it cleaned and ready by mid afternoon. Clare did the final touch cleaning and polishing the</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">big marble dinning table and set it for the meal they were going</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">to have on this special occasion.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">This special meal was to commemorate George's and Clair's upcoming wedding day. Ray cleaned and put new candle sticks in the big chandelier above the table, and Sandy cleaned and dusted all the cabinets and their contents. When they were done the gaming room had the appearance of an elegant foyer.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">One morning Clare came into the living room to find Natty sitting in the middle of the kitchen floor eating pudding out of a container with a spoon.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"How long has it been since this kid learned to climb out of that crib anyway?," Clare asked Sandy who was preparing the coffee</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">at the kitchen counter. Sandy laughed.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"What's so funny?" Clare asked.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"She's been climbing out of that old crib ever since she was just a little over one year old,” Sandy declared. “We've just been going along with it pretending we weren't aware of it. We would sometimes hide and watch what she does when she thought she was alone. She learned to potty train her self, to feed her self from the refrigerator, and, to some degree, dress her self while playing,</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">without any ones help.” “Just like a girl, she empties all her</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">dresser drawers onto the floor before she finds some thing she</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">likes.”</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">“Her ability of learning to fend for herself came in handy after mom disappeared, especially when we were in school. I know that wasn't a smart thing to do but we couldn't go to baby sitters if we wanted people to think mom was still with us. We wouldn't have been able to afford it out of the mothers allowance check anyway.”</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Sandy continued: “She also knows pretty well what is dangerous and she stays away from those things. Like I've told you, Natty is very intelligent and ahead of her self for a two year old.”</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Just then Doc ran out from under the table yapping and whining,</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">running around in circles trying to catch his tail. At the end of</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">his tail was a clothes pin. Natty giggled gleefully under the</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">-78-</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">table. George laughed till tears ran down his cheeks. “I somehow</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">don't think I made a mistake undertaking this family thing,” he</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">thought. "I think this is going to prove to be a very interesting and</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">fulfilling experience. My river friends and my soon to be wife,</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">what more can a man ask?"</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Clare put her arm around George and kissed him. Ray and Sandy whistled and clapped hands while Natty held Clare by her right leg.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">“This man must really love me and his river friends to have followed us half way up the Mississippi, to put his life at risk and now to be willing to commit to all this,” she thought.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Natty stretched for the shining red apple that was just out of reach on the shelf above her. There was a loud pop when the rivets in the frame work of the shelves let go. Natty found herself sitting in the aisle surrounded with shiny red apples among other interesting fruit.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"So there's our little thief," a voice came from above her. The attendant bent down smiling to pick her up. Natty struck him in the right eye with the half eaten apple she held then toddled away to the other side of the aisle. The attendant, rubbing his eye, got up from his stooped position and started again towards her, talking calmly to her all the while.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Come on honey I won't hurt you, let's go see if we can find your mommy and daddy." Natty threw the other apple she held in her other hand at him, hitting him in the groin, The attendant let out a plaintive groan and sank to the floor on his knees, both hands clutched at his crotch.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Natty toddled off for the next aisle. She was having a good time building a castle out of spaghetti boxes until a lady came around the corner with her cart and knocked it down.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"You shouldn't be here by yourself playing in the aisle, sweety, you could get hurt," the lady said bending over to pick her up. Natty whacked her on the left foot with a spaghetti box. The lady let out a cry worthy of a first-class opera singer.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Here we go again! Never mind I'll just follow the line of</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">screaming voices,” Ray said to the clerk.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Ray and Sandy closed in on her at the frozen produce section where there issued a muffled scream. A woman's legs pumping up and down stuck out from one of the freezers. On top of the lady was a pile of frozen goods on which Natty stamped up and down singing, “Ya, ya, ya!”</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">-79-</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"How much did that set us back," Ray asked George?</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Almost a hundred dollars worth of fruit." George responded.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">That will go well with all the left over vegetables we got two weeks ago." Clare disclosed.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Is this child capable of such damage very often?," George asked.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Nah! this was Natty's off day," Sandy deadpanned.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">George looked at Sandy and asked, "Are you serious?"</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Once out in the parking lot Sandy couldn't hold it any longer and burst out laughing. Everyone else followed suit. George looked from one to the other confused then threw his arms up and joined in the laughter as well. Ray danced around the parking lot with Natty up on his shoulders.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Did you see that lady beating the clerk over the head with a bag of onions, threatening to sue him for her broken bunion toe?," Ray asked Sandy.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Yes but why was she buying onions when she already had a bunion?," Sandy asked then burst out in new laughter.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Don't pay any attention to those two, that'll go on until their tummies hurt too much to laugh any more," Clare told George.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">They cast off and said farewell to New Lenox, Illinois. Soon they would be entering Lake Michigan. George felt elated and</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">anxious. Here he could really give the Missy a run for her money.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">He had always wanted to give her a go on the Gulf but had never</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">found the time to sail down to the Gulf from Morgansa. Now he was</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">going to sail her on a legendary lake on which supposedly you</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">couldn't see the distant shore. Ray had been pestering George to</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">go with him on the lake sailing since they had left Columbus,</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Kentucky. He had never seen any waterways bigger than the</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Mississippi before. If this lake proves to be as big as they claim, he feared that George may change his mind.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"A river rat may not take to such open waters," George had teased Ray.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Oh yeah! Wait and see!," Ray shot back.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">-80-</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">It was a beautiful sunny day with a light westerly wind. Ray</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">stood at the bow holding onto the new railing George had erected.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">His hair fluttered in the wind as he reveled in the freedom and</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">the sight of the open water. His heart soared every time a gentle</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">swell lifted the Missy on its crest then let her down gently</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">again in the valleys between swells.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"It's like a fresh water ocean!" Ray shouted back to George</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">in excitement.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Yes it is, son, at that. It's hard to believe it's a body of</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">fresh water. It's so beautiful and it's clear like the ocean. If</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">We find a bay some where to anchor for the night we can go</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">swimming in it." Ray looked at George doubtfully,</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"You mean you can actually swim in this water?" Ray asked in amazement.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Yes, if it isn't too cold," George responded. His long thick</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">hair whipped in the wind. With the beard George reminded Ray of</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">a hairy koala. “A school teacher that wore his hair long like a</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">hippy and looked like a koala,” Ray thought and burst out</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">laughing. It was a free and joyous laugh.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Sandy came up from below one of the hulls with sandwiches and soft drinks.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"What might my brother be laughing about now?" Sandy asked George. George shrugged his shoulders saying, "Maybe it's the freedom you feel out here, it can be kind of intoxicating." Sandy stood beside him smiling. Yes, she couldn't remember the last time she had felt so happy.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"It's so wonderful to just be a kid again, and it's wonderful to have you and Clare as our custodians, I have so much to be grateful for,” Sandy reminded him. “I also want to thank you for caring for us for the past two years, even if it was from a distance."</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Sweet heart, every time I went by the river boat I use to fantasize you three as being my family, My heart would ache for you when ever I would hear the screaming and crying. I wished with all my heart that I could have taken you away from all the misery and pain.”</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">“I would some times anchor out a short distance and watch you and Ray play with Natty along the river bank. You reminded me of a family of river rats, free and fun-loving. I used to call you my little river rats. I also watched you many times singing to Natty. You have a very beautiful and profound voice."</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">-81-</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Sandy put her arm around him and leaned her head against his</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">shoulder and said, "These last few days have been the happiest in my life. I hope with all my heart that nothing will ever change that."</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">It had begun to cloud over and the wind had picked up coming in</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">strong gusts.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"I think we should go back to the river boat, It feels like there might be a storm brewing," George informed them. By the time they had reached the river boat the water had become so rough that it was difficult to board the river boat with the surging and swaying decks.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Take her into shore as fast as you can,” George ordered Clare. “I</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">think were in for a big one. I'm not familiar with open waters like this but I don't think either of these vessels are designed for the kind of storms they get out here." The swells had begun to whitecap before they had even turned toward shore.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Shut off the engine and just go with the stern to the swells. If we try to fight this we'll capsize,” George advised her. “I have to go back out and help Ray lash down anything that's loose on deck."</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">There was a crash and Natty cried. George turned to look. The cupboard doors over the sink had flown open and all the china had spewed out missing Natty by inches. Ray nailed every one of those cupboard doors shut.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Sandy!” he shouted, “Anything that's lying around loose that could fall and hurt someone, throw it down the hatch below deck or tie it down." A swell nearly capsized the river boat and the wheel jerked out of Clare's hands and spun out of control.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">The deck tilted at an unbelievable angle, knocking her off her feet.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">She fell off the helm platform and slid most of the way across the cabin floor toward the bedroom. The floor tilted the other way and she began to slide back toward the cabin door when another swell had heaved the river boat in the opposite direction.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">George let go of the forward railing and reeled drunkenly toward the helm. Ray screamed, pointing to the starboard side. George looked to the star board side to see what Ray was pointing at. A wall of water approximately twenty feet high was coming straight for them. George shouted over the freight train rumbling, "Everyone secure yourself to any thing you can grab that is stationary."</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Arriving at the helm seconds before the wave hit he started the engine and turned the river boat stern side to the wave. Luckily, the</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">-82-</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">huge wave had become a comber just before it hit them. It surged under the river boat instead of over it, lifting it up to the clouds, then crashed down again in a huge white spray. "Shore!," George bellowed, after the spray had cleared and he could see ahead.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"To be close to shore in this kind of storm could spell disaster!," he yelled to them. “Within seconds we could be reduced to splinters on those rocky crags!,” he pointed to the rocky shoreline. They could now make out the individual jagged rocks that made up the shore line.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Try as he did to steer away, the waves drove him ever closer. Turning the river boat port side or bow side with the engine pushing forward away from shore would swamp them under the next breaker. He could only go port side for short periods of time between swells, otherwise there was no way to go except with the swells which took them</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">relentlessly closer to shore.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">George soon discovered that he had another concern. Whenever a comber lifted them up from the stern, the Missy would get struck broad side then sucked under the surface. He did not worry so much about whether the Missy would sink but rather of where it would turn up when she popped-up to the surface like a cork. As long as the two hatches were</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">fastened down tightly the Missy was close to unsinkable. What he</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">feared mostly was of her coming up under them. He had debated cutting her loose, but it would be much to hazardous for any one</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">to venture out on deck under these conditions.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">It appeared that there was no escaping inevitable disaster. The next wave would smash them against the rocks. George shouted for every one to brace themselves. A huge swell inexorably picked up the river boat on its crest and carried them away from the shore line towards the mouth of a small bay.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">George slammed the Misty into full throttle towards the opening.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">The swells once again tried to draw him back but he fought against the pull of the swells then discovered that the undertow of the breakers on the port side shore balanced out the pull of the huge combers.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">On entering the mouth of the bay, he found that the water was much calmer and was able to maneuver the river boat to the inner shore where they would be sheltered from the brunt of the storm. With relief, George let out his breath that he had been holding, for how long he had no idea.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Turning off the engine George sat at the edge of the platform and said,</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">-83-</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Ray, would you get the anchor please? This is as far as we go today." He continued to sit on the edge of the control platform holding his head in his hands.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Clare went to his side. “Why so down? It's time to be thankful, especially for your quick thinking back there," Clare pointed out.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"I didn't do it, I didn't do anything,” he revealed. “That wave... I don't know,” he shook his head, “But that last wave turned us away from certain, imminent death, like it had a mind of its own. If it wouldn't have been for that wave the next surge would have, by all rights, smashed us against those rocks but what ever it was out there, it chose to spare us."</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Clare was silent and held a man who shivered like a frightened child that had just come through a terrible nightmare.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Natty stepped away from her crib and made her way to the kitchen where she was greeted by an overeager Doc who proceeded to give her a face washing. Natty giggling, fell on her bottom with a plop. “Lav dac ta,” she said, then proceeded on hands and knees to the refrigerator. At the bottom of the refrigerator sat the storm-scrambled pieces of a strawberry pie, her favorite. Sitting on the floor she dug in with both hands.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Tim, who had come to investigate, got Natty to wondering what a red cat would look like. Natty proceeded to pet the cat with hands full of strawberries while Doc licked the strawberries on her face and arms.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Clare, feigning sleep, had watched Natty climb out of her crib. Thinking that Natty had taken her fill and by now had gone on to awaken Sandy and Ray, got up to prepare for the day.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Oh my God!,” Clare exclaimed. Going back to the bedroom she</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">shook George urging him to get up. “You just have to see this!” George turned towards her groaning. “Natty found our little present alright, but wait till you see the present she has for us!” Ray and Sandy, overhearing this, ran out to see what the surprise was also.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Laughter could be heard from shore to shore. After cleaning up the cat and Natty, Clare decided they would have breakfast on deck. While awaiting breakfast Sandy sat on the deck with Natty who seemed a little upset at having a grown up butting in on her usually undisturbed forays. She sang to her, putting into the song all her emotions and feelings which fitted right in with the mood of the surrounding environment.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">-84-</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">George stood by the door way listening. The mood of her song was</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">not unlike the way he felt when he was free under the sails.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"George, when can we go sailing again?," Ray asked enthusiastically.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">George, who had closed his eyes and was lost in the mood of Sandy's singing, jumped at Ray's voice.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Well, sailor boy, it goes like this. Come out here and sit</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">for a minute.” George sat beside Sandy and put his arm around her</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">then Ray; Natty sat on his lap.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"My river rats, a few weeks ago I would never have believed that I would be sitting here doing things with you. I think I'm about the happiest man in the world. You can sail with me any time and as often as you want to. Out there with the water and the wind you are truly free. The Missy is going to need a few repairs and some cleaning up first, though.," George finished.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"I'll help you," both Sandy and Ray responded eagerly.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Can you sing?" Sandy asked.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Sure can, sweetheart," George responded, and started to sing. Sandy and Ray covered their ears while Natty tried to keep the beat but soon gave up and went and sat with Doc. Doc covered his head with his paws.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"That's it! I'm never singing again! There are just too many</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">critics!,” George exclaimed. laughing. “But what the hell, who hasn't</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">started a career without a few critics?," George resumed to sing</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">loudly.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Clare rushed out, spatula in hand, thinking some one had gotten hurt. Every one laughed except Clare who stood dumbfounded looking from one to the other. Doc stood behind her, looking around her legs at George.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">The clouds had begun to break up promising a nice day. All were seated. Natty sat on Clare's lap, happily feeding Doc her scraps under the table. Natty looked up behind Ray and Sandy, suddenly she pointed to the sky shouting ecstatically, “Fie! fie!”</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Ray and Sandy turned to see where the fire was. The sun had come</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">out of the clouds illuminating the biggest and most brilliant</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">rainbow that anybody on board the Missy had ever seen in their</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">lives. From where they sat the rainbow appeared to end at the</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">stern of the Missy.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">-85-</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"This is indeed the end of the rainbow," Sandy said to the people that sat at the table. She turned to look at them; they appeared to reflect the brilliance of the rainbow. Natty danced on the table and sang, “Fie, fie ,fie.”</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">The birds in the near by woods sang gaily as though awakened from a long sleep. Sandy leaned on the railing and began to sing. Her angelic voice mingled with that of the singing birds. The resulting echo from the shore was like the multifarious sounds of heavenly hosts.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">As for the uncle, they never found him. All they had found was an abandoned cottage that may or may not have been the home of Sal Everett. It appeared that it hadn't been inhabited for many years. A family of raccoons now inhabited the cabin and they were not too impressed with the intrusion.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">In a back room Sandy found an old, decaying pair of deerskin moccasins. This could very well be the last memoir of our Uncle Sal, may he rest in peace, she thought returning the moccasins where she had found them.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Leaving the room quietly she rejoined the others who were in the</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">front parlor trying to seduce the raccoons with pieces of</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">sandwiches they had brought with them.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Outside Natty chased after a bright yellow monarch butterfly saying in a sing song fashion, "Pety bird, pety bird." Doc yapped and jumped up and down gayly behind her.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">It was indeed the end of the rainbow.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>The End</i></b></span></div>
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cynthiagrlx@.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15899106950524179648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8883185399977274476.post-87776967761071963752013-10-24T21:24:00.003-07:002013-10-24T21:24:52.140-07:00The River Boat chapter 5<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">CHAPTER 5</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">The End Of The Rainbow</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Dan walked the deck to the back of the river boat. The Misty was still tied to the back railing. Dan's first impulse was to cut it loose but upon further deliberation he had decided to hang on to it for the time being. If the Misty proved to be stuck fast, then the other vessel might be his only other avenue of escape.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Aboard the other vessel there would not be enough room for all of the hostages he presently held. He would have to dispose of some of them. He would have liked to get rid of the woman and the man below deck but the man below he may need to pilot of the catamaran, if that was his last resort. The kids, especially Ray, he would need to nurse the man below deck back to some functional use.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">A police cruiser up river was coming full clip in his direction. Dan ran back into the cabin, and pulled the chest away that barred the door to the bedroom.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Swinging the door open, he waved the gun for Sandy to come out. At the door way Dan's hand shot out and seized her by the front of her top. He lifted her up until she stood on her toes facing him. Blowing booze-reeking breath in her face, he barked an order: "Listen and listen well, get rid of them cops. Try something funny and I'll plug everybody in this room before the cops even step through the door. Tell them that you ran aground last night and your mother and father are out getting help. I'll be listening to every word you say."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">A short time later the police knocked at the door. They showed her a picture of Dan and asked her if she had seen him. Sandy shook her head not looking directly at the officer who questioned her.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Is there a problem here?," Officer Brooks asked her.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"No sir, my parents went out to get someone to help us get off this sand bar. We ran aground late last night."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"The Catamaran at the back, is that yours, too?," Officer Brooks</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">asked.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Yes it is, my dad likes to sail when ever he gets a chance," Sandy responded with a quivering voice that was near breaking up with fear.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"How far up river are you and your folks going?," the other officer asked.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">-66-</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"All the way up to Canada," Sandy informed him, whipping at a tear.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"OK, I hope you and your folks have a good trip," Brooks tipped his hat then turned and walked back to the cruiser with his partner. They talked for a couple of minutes then made a hundred and eighty degree turn back in the same direction they had come.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"I think we better report this one in," Brooks said to his partner.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"What is there to report,” Jeff asked, “A nervous kid on ancient river boat stuck on a sand bar?"</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"No there is more to it then that. Some thing was not right back there. For one thing, why didn't her parents use the catamaran to go get help? Number two, the skiff was still on the back deck. How did they get to shore, swim?"</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Anyway I could tell that the girl wasn't just nervous she was terri- fied about some thing. While we make a report on this, run a check on the registry numbers for both the catamaran and the river boat. I have a feeling we're going to come up with some very interesting results."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Dan listened to the fading drone of the motor. When it was gone he shouted, "Are the pigs gone?"</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Yes, I think they believed me,” Sandy answered in a faltering voice. She did not know how much more she could take of his unpredictable rages. She sat in a corner holding her knees to her chest wishing she could melt into the woodwork around her. She now knew how her mother had felt. She feared that she herself was on the thin edge of insanity. She continued to sit holding her knees with her head down, rocking back and forth, bracing her self for his next outburst.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Every body out of the bed room!,” Dan ordered. “Sandy, you get at the helm." Sandy jumped like she had been kicked, at the mention of her name. “You!,” he said to Ray, “Go to the catamaran and see if you can fire up the motor. The rest of us find some poles and help by pushing away from shore.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">As Dan turned to go out, he spotted George at the below-deck hatch, where he stood swaying like a drunken sailor. Dan brought the gun up.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"I'll handle my own vessel," he informed Dan.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Look mister, I give the orders around here. I'm the one with the gun in case you haven't noticed!" he screamed at the top of his lungs.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">-67-</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">He held the gun so tightly his hand shook. George spread out his arms and said, "Go ahead, but you won't have any one to pilot the catama- ran if this vessel is stuck fast to this sand bar."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"How did you know my next plan?," Dan shouted.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Common sense," George responded.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Are you trying to be a smart ass or something? Dan screamed, as the gun in his hand shook more violently.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"No! only trying to save my own ass is all." George responded</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Dan took a deep breath and forced himself into a semblance of control and the shaking in his gun hand subsided. In a more composed voice he spoke: "If I let you go to your boat what's to stop you from taking</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">off with your own vessel once on board?"</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"The rope, your gun and the hostages,” George said resignedly.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Ray poled the starboard side. Clare and Dan poled port side. Dan</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">chose a position nearest to the stern of the riverboat to keep watch on George. On Dan's order both George and Sandy gunned the motors simultaneously and the Misty groaned then lifted free of the sandbar.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Dan shouted at George, "Mister, shut her off and climb up here on board, very careful-like. I don't really have any use for you or your boat any more. You're just excess baggage to me now. I could just shoot you and the bitch and be rid of you."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">“You can do any thing you want, this is a free country. You can kill, rape, rob, pillage, You can sabotage the space shuttle or blow up an entire city if you have a mind to do so but some day we all have to pay the piper," was George's solemn warning to Dan.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Dan swung his fist into George's abdomen. George went down on one knee, holding his stomach.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"In a free country I am also at liberty to give a philosopher a tummy ache,” Dan laughed boisterously. “Don't they know how to make a man any more?," Dan asked, mimicking a pleading look towards heaven, hands outstretched. Then more seriously, "Now get your smart ass into the cabin.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Dan pushed George into a chair and turned to Ray: “Tie him up. he barked. I guess all I have around here is four women and a baby, or should I say four hens and a baby." Dan flapped his arms and clucked</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">-68-</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">like a chicken, all the time looking straight at Ray. His peals of</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">laughter could be heard on both sides of the river.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Stopping abruptly he took another swig from his bottle. Every one sat around silently not daring to move for fear they be noticed. George sat in a chair tied up. Clare was in the bed room with Natty, Ray and Sandy sat on either side of the table. Dan was in his own world at the helm. “I have to get off this river soon,” he thought. “They will know by now that I'm not in the Helena area and they'll start searching every vessel on the Mississippi.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Ray! Take over the helm for a while, I have other things to do. You! get in the bed room with the others," he barked, motioning to Sandy with the gun. Sandy jumped, knocked the chair over and timidly made her way along the wall farthest from him.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Dan let out a roar, and watched Sandy bolt into the room slamming the door, as his insane laughter once again filled the room. Sandy sat hunched in a corner covering her head with both arms as she cried uncontrollably. Clare went to her side. When her hand came in contact with Sandy's arm, she jumped screaming and flailing her arms like some horrible creature had touched her.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Sandy, please don't be afraid, it's just me, Clare." Clare put her arm around Sandy and encouraged her put her to put her head on</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">her shoulder. Clare was without words; she just held her and let her cry. When the crying subsided she said, "I can't comfort you by saying that this insanity will soon be over, I don't know that for sure. All I can tell you is we've still got each other to take strength from for the time being. Come on, Sprite missed you." Clare helped her to her feet.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"San! San! Lav San!" Natty stood on the bed with her arms outstretched in anticipation. Sandy picked her up and tears once again rolled down her cheeks."Oh Sprite, I love you too. If it weren't for you I would have given up long ago. You are the only reason I've hung onto my sanity. I want to see you get safely out of this. I want to see</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">you grow up into the beautiful, intelligent and loving woman I know you are going to be."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Now that's what I want to hear, that is the thoughts of a survivor. If we keep thinking like that we will pull through this,” Clare said reassuringly, embracing both Natty and Sandy. “My greatest wish is to see you all grow up to become the success I know you can be."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">-69-</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Oh Clare! For the short time I've known you I have grown to trust and love you for the caring person you are. If we make it through this and we can't find our uncle I would be honoured to have you for our mother." Clare closed her eyes and prayed.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Who the hell are you looking at?," Dan roared at George, stopping his pacing to and fro. George kept silent. “Speak when you're spoken to!,” Ray yelled. A loud slap resounded across the room. The momentum of the slap was so hard that both George and his chair fell backwards with a crash. Dan bent down and righted George and the chair he was still tied to.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">“If you must know what I was thinking, then you shall know. You are like the trapped rat that would eat its own mother and siblings to save its own hide.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Very good, Mr. Philosopher! Very good!" Dan feigned surprise at his wit.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Son! What do you say I should reward this would-be hero/philosopher with, for his philosophical enlightenment. Come on son, this is your chance to prove to me your self worth and that your a man. Tell me what this man's reward should be?,” Dan cajoled.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Ray remained silent, his terror stricken eyes riveted on Dan as he approached him in deliberation. Dan seized the hair at the back of Ray's head and yanked his head back so that Ray's bulging eyes stared straight up at Dan's enraged red face. He asked him once more, in a low, sinister growl, not unlike a cornered wild animal giving warning.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"What should this man's reward be?" Alright then if that's the way it's going to be, you piece of useless, quivering slime, this is the way it's done.”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Something cracked, followed by a sudden bright light. A sharp pain developed over Ray's right eye, then he found himself on the floor. His right eye had swollen shut and blood ran down the front of his shirt. Dan kicked him in the right flank and ordered him in a sickening growl to get back on the helm if he wanted to keep the fingers of his right hand.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Dan held the gun over his right hand. Painfully Ray gritted his teeth</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">and managed to pull himself upright by grabbing unto the edge of the railing along the side of the helm. Looking down he saw the glass over the compass was cracked and smudged with blood. Dan walked over to George and with his foot pushed the chair he was tied to over on its side.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">-70-</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Count your self lucky, pimp, that I lost the mood," Dan said turning away.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Dan stood by the railing on the deck looking absently at the opposite shore sliding past him. “I must leave tonight. This is the end of the road for me on this river. I must secure a vehicle and travel west to the nearest airport as soon as we enter the State of Missouri, which will be some time tonight.”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">“It takes time for them to issue warrants from one state to the other, with some luck they may not have one on me yet in Missouri. As long as they think I'm on the river they will concentrate on the states of Mississippi, Tennessee, and Arkansas.”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">“My most urgent problem is what do I do with this boat and it's</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">occupants? All those containers of gasoline below deck! That's it,</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Danny boy, there is going to be an explosion. Tragic ending for</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">vacationing family that perished in river boat explosion,” Dan</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">mimicked a news report and grinned.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Ray pulled out the rusty spike from his pocket and held it tightly in his right hand. It wasn't just a desire to lash out anymore, it was self preservation. He knew that some action would have to be taken</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">soon or they may not make it to another day. He also sensed that</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">it was just a matter of time when he would kill some one and once</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">he started he may not stop at one.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Pimp! Would the cops be looking for your boat for any reason? Because this boat is about to have a tragic accident." Ray's fears were confirmed.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Dan stooped down and put his finger over the bullet hole. "Do you remember how that feels?,” he asked grinning. If you do, then answer my question. I'll repeat, is any one looking for your boat?"</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"No," George replied with misgiving.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Dan removed his finger from the wound and kicked him in the side. Don't worry, pimp, you won't be feeling pain much longer.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Ray, watching Dan's every move, saw his chance. It was now or never. Dan stood facing George absently holding the gun to his side. Ray launched himself off the helm platform straight at Dan's back. Like slow motion, Dan had begun to turn in his direction but was too late; both Dan and Ray crashed to the floor, knocking the gun out of Dan's hand. It slid across the room out of reach. Ray pressed the spike to the back of Dan's neck just below the skull.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">-71-</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"If you try anything I'll drive this spike home to the back of your brain!" Ray screamed, filled with red hot hatred.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Don't do it son, Don't be like him, full of hatred and perversion. He's not worth it, he's the one that is the slime not you," George pleaded with Ray.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"You don't have the guts to do it, you're too yellow to do it!,”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Dan goaded. “Have you ever killed anything, Ray? It's a messy job, blood and guts all over the place, sometimes even brains oozing out of a smashed skull"</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Ray faltered and almost retched, then reinforced his effort by pressing harder with the spike. A small stream of blood trickled out. With rage he screamed back, "I know what your ploy is, but it won't work. Know why, my dearest father? Because, unfortunately for me, the same blood that flows through your veins flows in my veins, too. Not by choice. If I had a choice I would spill this vile blood on the ground and burn it. There isn't anything more I wish than if you would give me a reason to spill yours."</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Go ahead son, you might actually enjoy it. Have you ever held anything living in your hands and felt the power?,” Dan went on. “The power to be God-like, to have a life at the mercy of your hands. Life and death is yours to decide."</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Ray faltered again and Dan's hand shot up to seize Ray's hand that held the spike. Ray pushed down on the spike and blood ran out freely from the wound. Dan's arm dropped.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Don't underestimate me. You're right, I may not have not have what it takes to kill anything that lives, animal or human, but you are lower than that. Maggots and parasites I can kill," Ray informed him. “Sandy, come out here, we have a very large, annoying insect here that needs tending to."</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Sandy opened the door a crack not knowing what to expect, then she saw Ray sitting on top of Dan holding something to the back of his head. Sandy stepped out of the room hesitantly.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Do you really have him? He wont hurt anyone?," she asked with uncertainly.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Don't worry about him, get the gun over there by the refrigerator."</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Sandy made her way timidly to the refrigerator and picked up the gun. Turning, she pointed it at Dan and fired. The recoil made her drop</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">-72-</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">the gun. The bullet had made a furrow in the floor right up to Dan's nose. Picking up the gun again she walked up to Dan and pointed the gun in his face.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"I hate snakes and If you as much as twitch this gun will go off again and this time I won't miss." Sandy warned him.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Ray released the spike and went to George, then turned back to Dan.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">“My sister is very nervous and she's filed with fear and hate, the</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">same hatred you yourself have put inside her. One word of advice: Sandy is a good shot. She proved that at the carnival. As nervous as she is though, if you as much as sneeze, she may take it as a threatening move and kill you. On the other hand she may miss what she's aiming at and you may end up losing some part of your anatomy that you may not care to part with."</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Ray stooped down to untie George.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Forget me! where's the other gun?," George asked just when there was another shot fired. Ray turned to see smoke drifting lazily up from Sandy's gun. Dan lay still with his right arm outstretched. A gun fell out of his right hand.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Where did you shoot him?," Ray asked.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Sandy shook her head and responded in a tremulous voice, "I don't know, I saw a movement, I didn't have time to point, I just fired." She dropped the gun and began shaking, she wanted to cry but the tears wouldn't come.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Ray walked over to her and held her in his arms to comfort her. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Please don't be upset Sandy, It's over now, you made the right decision."</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Once she had regained composure he asked her calmly, "Would you untie him, I'll get the other gun and check him out.” Ray pointed to Dan who still lay prone on the floor, a stream of blood coming from somewhere under his right side.It was not a mortal wound but it was too close to the heart for Ray to attempt removing the bullet. He cleaned the wound as best he could and bound him up with gauze. He was surprised that the boat hadn't run aground after this length of time unattended. It turned out that it had just kept going around and around in</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">circles. A helicopter flew over them, went to the opposite shore then turned and flew back over them in the opposite direction.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">-73-</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"I think that it's the police,” Ray told Sandy. “Would you go out and show them the welcome mat? We have some garbage here to give them."</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Sandy smiled for the first time in three days and left with a bounce in her step.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">After the police had left with their goods the river boat fell silent. Sandy turned from watching the police helicopter disappear over the tree line, and with a big silly grin she said, "Turn on some tunes brother, every one looks like they just got back from a funeral!"</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Ray turned to Clare who sat at the kitchen table playing with Natty. “What's got into her?,” he asked.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Oh, just some thing that us girls have knocked around, while</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">we were locked up in the bedroom, you'll find out soon enough,"</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Clare injected.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">The police sent an ambulance to take George and Clare for observation at a near by hospital. Clare came back to the river boat after three days. She was diagnosed as having a bruised diaphragm. With rest she was told she would recover fairly quickly. For the time being she would have to refrain from doing anything that was strenuous or required lifting. George was sent back after a week of recovery from four broken ribs and multiple contusions.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">A representative from the sheriff's office showed up at the door with a court summons. George accepted the court summons for them to appear in court the next day for Dan's indictment in Columbus, Kentucky.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">For the first time in many years the shackles of fear melted away and there could be heard once more the sound of true happy voices on board the river boat. It was time to tell Ray about her and Clare's plans, Sandy decided excitedly. When all in question were seated at the kitchen table she cleared her throat and spoke.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"This is the way it goes,” Sandy said to Ray. “I've accepted Clare's offer to be our custodian. She's wonderful with Natty and Natty loves her like she was her mother. That man over there, do you know who he is? He was our distant guardian for the last two years. Remember the snoopy fisherman?" Ray looked at George and smiled,</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"So you're the one that called the cops when things got too hot and you're also the one that would pretend not to be watching us when you</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">-74-</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">would troll your way up river ever so slowly past the river boat. So it's come to this, huh, a plot to over throw my authority. I surrender!" Ray got down on one knee from his chair and spread his arms out. “A man has no voice in a woman's world."</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">“Right after Dan's indictment hearing we were thinking of going to the judge for a custody hearing. George has offered to sit in on it with us,” Sandy informed Ray.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Sounds like all the bases are covered and you didn't even</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">need me. What other conspiracy went on behind that bedroom door?,"</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Ray asked Natty. Natty sang, “Ya! Ya! Ya!”, stamping up and down on the table, then jumped into Clare's arms. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">George stood next to Clare with his right hand on her shoulder.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"After the hearing if every thing goes well, as I promised you, we're still taking that trip to Canada to look up your uncle. Besides, we all need a holiday and I'd like to see if it's true that the Great Lakes are as big as what they say."</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"What about school?," Ray asked.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Oh that! That's a minor detail for a former high school literature teacher from Woodville high in Woodville, Mississippi, said George.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"You were once a high school teacher, why did you quit?," Ray</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">asked excitedly.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"I couldn't handle the stress and I had to resign. Then I decided to start my own business in sales and service by phone which turned out to be even more stressful then the teaching job. Retiring from that job as well I decided to open a small service station and auto body shop. I thought it would be more of a hobby then work. Well I made good money at all these enterprises but the stress was all the same. To put it simply let's say I'm going to come out of retirement as a private tutor."</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"OK teach! give me five and welcome aboard," Ray stuck out</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">his hand for George to slap.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"How much longer are they going to be in there?," Ray asked Sandy.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"As long as it takes," Sandy responded sedately, whilst sitting on crossed fingers. Music from a radio drifted in from somewhere down the hall. Natty stamped her feet on the bench and swayed, singing “Ya! Ya! Ya!” Sandy wished she felt like Natty did.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">-75-</span></div>
cynthiagrlx@.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15899106950524179648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8883185399977274476.post-85357495495629300172013-10-22T21:02:00.001-07:002013-10-22T21:06:04.644-07:00The River Boat chapter 4 cont.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tSsC25Mgui4/UmdJfQIusII/AAAAAAAABwc/0b-SBXh-C1A/s1600/riverboat2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tSsC25Mgui4/UmdJfQIusII/AAAAAAAABwc/0b-SBXh-C1A/s400/riverboat2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"You had enough?" Dan asked. George remained silent. Dan seized George by the chin, fingers sinking into the flesh, and swung his head back and forth. “Ah, I believe that's a no!”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Dan pummeled George in the face until it was a mass of blood. Clare </span><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">screamed for him to stop but to no avail. Dan continued to pummel </span><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">George in the face. Dan stopped then reached over and put his thumb on the bullet wound and pressed down. George's screaming reverberated and echoed from both sides of the river. Fortunately for him he lost consciousness.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Getting up, Dan then turned to Clare. Seizing her by the shoulders he squeezed until she went down on her knees and cried out for him to stop. "Bitch!", he screamed, spittle flying in her face. Pulling her back up by the hair he cuffed her twice across the face, then pushed her backward with such force that the chair she landed in broke apart under her. Blood ran out of her nose. Clutching her by the hair with his left hand, he stood her up against the wall and struck her on the lower jaw with his right fist. Switching hands he struck her on the other side with his left fist. Clare closed her eyes and wished she would lose consciousness like George. The next blow was to the stomach. Clare doubled over with pain and fought to catch her breath. Jerking her back up by the hair he picked her up and raised her over his head and threw her against the wall over the kitchen counter.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Clare lay on the counter with all the kitchen paraphernalia that had been hanging on a wall rack scattered everywhere about her. At Clare's head,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Natty screamed and cried. She had been sitting there since</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">put her arms around Clare's head and cried, "Cla, Cla, I lav Cla, Cla het."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Dan pulled out a chair and sat down facing Sandy at the helm. Picking up his discarded bottle he tilted it to his mouth and held it there till it was empty.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"OK, kid, unless you want to try some thing funny too, do it now, so I can fix that, too, like I did the others, or you can go</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">fix them up some. I'll take over at the helm.” Taking another</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">bottle from his duffel bag Dan walked a little unsteadily to the</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Sandy didn't know who to start with. She went to check on Ray, she needed his help. Sandy checked his pulse, it was normal. She then checked the back of his head. There was some swelling and blood had coagulated from a small tear in the scalp but there was no indication of severe damage.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">As she went to the kitchen to get a wet cloth she glanced at Clare and had to gulp hard to keep from retching. The man on the floor did not seem to be in much better shape. Sandy folded up a tea cloth and ran cold water over it. She tried to take Natty with her but she only cried louder, “Cla het, Cla het”, she held Clare's battered head; the eyes stared blankly at the ceiling.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Tears rolled down Sandy's cheeks. This was the first adult she had come to trust since before her mother's trauma. How many more people in their lives will this beast destroy, Sandy thought, looking at the back of Dan's head</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">wishing she had a gun.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Ray felt a dull ache at the back of his head and a stinging to his cheeks. A faint voice came to him like from a great distance, there was another stinging on his cheeks then he felt something cold on his forehead.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"Please, Ray wake up," Sandy said over and over slapping his cheeks, applying cold compresses and massaging his temples. Ray opened his eyes.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"Thank God you're awake, Sandy said excitedly. Are you alright?"</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"Where is he?", Ray asked, raising up on his elbows.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"Forget about him, I need your help. There's a man on the floor that's badly beaten up and Clare, I don't even know if she's alive. Natty is holding her crying and she doesn't want to leave her."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Dan's voice shouted, "Shut up!"</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">There was a loud crash then silence. Ray was on his feet, the room spun around him and there was a flash of pain at the back of his head, he struggled to stay up saying, “If he hurts her, I swear to God I'll kill him.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Sandy helped him to the kitchen. Natty sat in the same position holding Clare's head. She trembled with fear.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"What did he do?”, Ray asked Natty. Natty just sat and trembled. “It's OK Sprite, he won't hurt you, I promise you that."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Dan laughed, "Don't make promises you may not be able to keep son."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Ray just stared at him but didn't say anything. He would be smart this time. He would keep his mouth shut and wait for the right time. The right time would come.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">“Sandy, I think Clare is going to need CPR. Clear a place on the floor, hurry!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Ray worked on Clare for the better part of an hour before he got normal breathing and pulse rate. “She's out of danger for now,” he informed Sandy. Let's go look at the man.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Sandy breathed in relief. Her friend was going to make it, thanks to her brother. She knew CPR but she was not sure she could have performed under this stress as well as her brother did.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">George had a broken nose, possibly four broken ribs, a bruised abdomen, back, and legs but the bullet wound was the most pressing.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"Put some water on the stove to boil and find the skinning knife. It should be among that stuff on the counter."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Dan was somewhat amused at his son's knowledge of medicine. "Where did you learn all that stuff?", Dan asked.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"School," was Ray's only response. He was determined not to waste words with this man. It had only gained him threats on his life and bodily harm thus far. If he made himself as inconspicuous as possible it would give him a better chance to watch his every move and to be ready. A chance would arise soon, especially If he continued drinking the way he was, Ray thought. Sharpness of the mind to become sluggish with the accelerated</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">consumption of alcohol. Dan turned off the engine and stepped away from the helm.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"OK listen up the both of you. If you thought you would wait until I pass out or fall asleep then beat my brains in, think again. I have a plan, at first I thought about bumping you all off and be done with it, but I changed my mind."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"I've been thinking, if the cops were looking for you we'd have been swamped by cops back there at Helena. So this river boat is probably the safest place to be for the time being, but if they do come around I'll need someone to talk to them and if every thing starts to go screwy I can also use the rest of you as hostages. So this will be the sleeping arrangements from now on.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">“Son, when you are done taking that bullet out of that pimp I want you and Sandy to take the pimp and his whore down below.” He pointed to Clare and George. “When that is done, you, Sandy and the brat over there go down below as well, and if the brat starts to squalling I'm going to start plug- ging holes in the floor with this here,” as he patted the gun.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Dan smiled and added, “Now I can have a good night's sleep without worrying about getting my throat slit."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Ray groped around for the lone light bulb that hung down from the ceiling. With the trap door closed the gasoline fumes were overwhelming. He stumbled around in bilge water half way up to his knees until his hand finally brushed against the light. He crossed his fingers and hoped it would work. As he was pulling the chain, the light sputtered dimly then brightened. It was a wonder any of the ancient wiring in the river boat still worked.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"Ray, Clare is having difficulty breathing again!" Sandy called out.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"It's no surprise. I think she has a collapsed lung and the air in here is not going to help. What did that S.O.B. hit her with anyway?" Ray asked.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"His fists, he just kept hitting her and hitting her," Sandy lowered her head into her two hands.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">The platform near the engine was only wide enough to accommodate two.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Ray had placed George and Clare side by side on the platform, Natty slept between Clare's legs. She would not leave Clare. Maybe she thought it was</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">their mum come back, Ray mused. He and Sandy sat at the edge of the plat- form with their feet in the bilge water. Ray put his hand on her back consolingly.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"Sandy, I know she had become a good friend to both of us but we have to face the fact that we have to get through this on our own. No knight in shining armor is going to come to our rescue. We have to do this just like we started out to do.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">“It seems that every time we get close to someone, we lose them. All the more reason why we have to depend on our own selves. If we let ourselves get close to any one, it only ends in us getting hurt.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">“As for that up there I promise you I'm going to take him out with my own two hands," Ray squeezed his two hands into tight fists.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">“I would sooner be down here in the fumes for ever then to lay eyes on that creature up there once more," Sandy revealed, meekly.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Ray got up and began to look for some thing he could use for a weapon. Minus the tool box that Dan had not missed spotting and had ordered Ray to bring up to him on deck, there was not much at hand. All he could find was an old rusty spike on a shelf that had been built for a work bench to do repairs on the motor. Ray pocketed the spike.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"Ray! Quick! I think Clare is coming around!," Sandy called out. Ray splashed back through the bilge water to the platform.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"Clare! Do you hear me, Ray asked fearfully. If you can't talk, blink your eyes once for yes and twice for no." Clare moved her lips but no sound came. She felt like a heavy leaden weight rested on her chest, making it difficult to talk and breathe. With some difficulty she blinked her eyes once. Ray bent down over her and kissed her on the forehead and lifted her head up gently with his right hand.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"Welcome back to the living." he said softly to her with a smile.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Natty had awakened to Clare's movements. "Lav Cla, lav Cla" Natty expressed ecstatically when she realized Clare was awake.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"There is a kid that's been keeping vigil on you since the start. We couldn't separate her from you if her life depended on it," Ray told her.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"We all missed you," Sandy revealed through her tears.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Clare spread her arms out to embrace them and whispered, "I love you guys like you were my own. I would do anything for your welfare and happiness. This I want you to believe. I'm not talking from a social workers perspec- tive but from the heart of a human being. You don't deserve the hell that</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">man up there has been putting you through," Clare said in a wheezing whis- per, then coughed. Ray set her head back down on the makeshift pillow</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">“Take it easy and don't try to talk, I think you may have a lung that came very near to collapsing. Try to rest as best you can, OK?” Ray urged.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Clare nodded her head in response and whispered, "You'll make a good doctor some day, Dr. Everett. How's George?"</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"He's OK, don't worry about him. He has no serious internal damage. He may have a few aches and pains fore a few months to come but he'll make it through alright," Ray assured her.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"Want Cla, want Cla" Natty stood reaching out with her hands for Clare.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Sandy picked up Natty and set her between Clare and George. Natty immed- iately put her little arm around Clare's neck.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Clare whispered, "I love you sweetheart," as she placed her arm around Natty's waist.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"Lav Cla," Natty responded then went to sleep with her little arm still around Clare's neck.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Dan woke up to a pounding at the hatch. It was five thirty in the morning, his head ached and his stomach felt like he had eaten something rotten.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"Who ever you are, it had better be a good reason to wake me up, or you're going to think the previous beatings were a manicure in comparison to what you're going to get." He could hear a muffled voice under the hatch but could not make out the words that were being said.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"OK, OK just hold your bloody horses." Pushing the refrigerator off the hatch, Dan Opened it. Below, staring up at him was Ray's distressed face.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"The woman down there is dying, she needs fresh air, she has a collapsed lung and can't breath the stale air down here much longer.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"What makes you think that I give a damn about her?," Dan asked, grimacing to a wave of nausea.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"One less hostage, another murder rap and the prospect of two life senten- ces, if that means anything to you anymore. As it stands, if you get caught you can claim that you killed mum in a fit of anger while intoxicated; that way you might stand a chance of getting off with manslaughter during a fit of insanity while under the influence of alcohol."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"Are you going to tell me you are going through for law as well as medicine?," Dan growled, then thought his son knew all along that he had killed his mother.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">-60-</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">He had not fooled them at all that night he took her away slung over his shoulder. When he was through with them he would not be able to let them them go, they would have to be silenced, for good!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"No, but think about it,” Ray responded.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Dan thought about this, scratching his stubble. Then he turned to Ray</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">in the hatch way.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"What will keep you from slitting my throat if I go back to sleep?," Dan asked skeptically.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"You can put the both of us outside on the front deck and lock the door. That way you can keep an eye on us and be perfectly safe inside. She needs all the oxygen she can get into her lungs."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"What's to keep you from swimming to shore?," Dan asked, wiping his shaky hand across his mouth. He needed a drink. His stomach was killing him and he wanted this to be done with.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"I can't swim,” Ray informed him. “Anyway what would prevent you from kill- ing my two sisters if I did try to swim to shore?"</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"OK. Get her up on deck and fast, before I change my mind." Dan dropped the hatch back against the refrigerator and turned to his duffel bag. The neat little stacks of money still laid at the bottom of the bag. Dan stared at it in wonderment and thought, this will make it all worth it.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Taking a bottle out he zipped up the duffel bag and turned back towards the hatch. Ray carried Clare out with Sandy's help then came back inside to get blankets.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Back out on the deck he placed Clare as comfortably as he could on two of the blankets and wrapped her with the third. She seemed to be breathing easier. Dan stood at the helm scrutinizing him like an insect in a test tube, Ray thought. At least out here he couldn't hear his foul mouth.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">It was another cool morning and the fresh air felt good after being cooped up in those fumes overnight. It had started to drizzle and Ray placed the patio table umbrella over Clare to keep her dry.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Ray absentmindedly fingered the rusty spike in his pocket trying to formulate a plan. Sandy gave Natty a bath and put her to bed in her crib with a bottle. She had instantly gone to sleep, the bottle forgotten rolled out of her hands. Sandy bent over the crib's railing and kissed her little sister on the forehead.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">At one point through the night Clare's breathing had gone distressingly bad and they had to remove Natty so Clare could breath more easily. Poor Sprite, she was up most of the night crying for Clare. Just prior to her last attack Clare had motioned to Sandy to bring Natty to her.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Sandy had placed her once again as best she could between her and George, so Clare could put her arm around her to reassure her that she was there.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Sandy did not know how Natty would react when she awakened to find that</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Clare was gone. George remained below, Dan had refused to help her bring him up and she had to make periodic trips below to check on him. He seemed to be breathing and resting reasonably well but he still had not regained consciousness.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Dan was back on the bottle and she made her self scarce staying out of sight, coming only when he called for her. She had been only called upon</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">twice thus far, Once to fix him a sandwich (she had wished she had poison readily at hand,) and one other time to get him a bottle in his duffel bag.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">That was when she discovered all the money. Was this worth human lives? Was this all he had ever cared for?, she thought.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"OK, kid, you can take over for a while. I need to take a rest." "One word of warning: If you try anything funny, this here gun will be pointed right at the little brats head. Your brother better not try anything either. I can see the cabin door quite well from the bedroom. I've got two guns and I can use them just as well with either hand."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Sandy took over at the helm and turned the radio on softly to break the ominous silence. The news informed her that there was a manhunt in the</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Helena area. The crash site of the speed boat had not turned up any trace of a body or the money. They believed that the suspect jumped ship before the crash. They suspected he had managed to swim to shore and that he had made his way into the wooded area on the east side of the river. Since nothing had yet turned up at any of the check points on both the water ways and roadways they consider him to still be at large in the woods. They went on to give a warning for everyone to keep their boats chained up and to be sure not to leave any keys in their car or to leave any vehicles unlocked. They concluded with a description of the suspect and gave out a warning to motorists not to pick up any one that remotely fit that description.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">In a couple of hours they would be in Memphis and here they were still looking for him around Helena, Sandy thought with disappointment.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Sandy laid her head on her hands in pantomime of sleep to Ray who watched his sisters every move. Ray stuck his thumb up in response. Going to the</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">other side of the umbrella that covered Clare, Ray, took a tube of lipstick he had taken from a drawer in his mothers dresser when he had gone for the blankets and wrote in big letters, “CALL POLICE.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">To Ray's frustration, what few boats that came close enough to read the massage, seemed to pay no attention or they acted indifferently to the plea. Some people turned their heads the other way after reading the sign.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">A heavy downpour quickly obliterated the lipstick writing. The only hope they had now was that some one would have a change of heart. Natty cried and Dan yelled for Sandy.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Sandy shut off the motor and let the river boat drift and rushed to the</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"What happened?," Sandy asked in alarm.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"The brat just woke up crying like a banshee! I don't know. Who's steering the boat?," he asked uneasily.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"No one," Sandy responded, lifting Natty up from the crib. There was a loud thump and the whole structure of the riverboat groaned and creaked then came to a dead stop.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Dan, who had run out to take control at the helm flew head long into the control booth. There were crashing sounds all over the vessel as loose obj-ects fell to the floor. Ray had seen it coming and had flattened himself next to Clare holding on to her. They had slid along the deck right up to the railing at the bow, then all motion had stopped. They had hit bottom about twenty feet from shore.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Still a little to far for the dog paddle, he thought. Even if he could get to shore he would have to forget about it. He just couldn't leave the fate of the ones he loved in the hands of that raving maniac. Plus, he had a score to settle.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Clare stirred and opened her eyes. "What happened?," she asked in a distressed half-whisper.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"Welcome back to the living once more,” Ray said smiling. “As to what happened, I think were slightly beached for the time being," he told her.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Clare sat up, winced, and closed her eyes, saying, "Did you get the license number of that truck that just ran me over?"</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Ray laughed and said, "Now those are good signs that you are among the living: pain and a sense of humor."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Ray tensed, there was a crashing followed by sounds of screaming and crying inside. Ray bolted for the door.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"Ray don't be a fool! He'll kill you!" Clare tried to shout after him.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Ray threw himself at the door. There was aloud crack and it swung inward with a bang. Ray staggered in. Sandy was on the floor next to the bedroom door. Blood ran down from her nose and one of her eyes had begun to blacken. Dan stood a short distance away holding the gun.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"Ray please don't be stupid, everything's alright, I just fell when we ran aground." Natty was in the bedroom screaming “San, Cla! San, Cla! over and over again.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"Go get that bitch on the deck. That brat won't shut up unless she sees her,” Dan demanded, “or else...”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">He raised the gun to Sandy's head. “Four hostages will do quite well."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Ray took a step forward. The gun in Dan's hand clicked.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"Oh! brave boy here want's to try his luck again I see, By all means go for it. By the time you get to me, your sister's brains will be splattered all over the floor."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Ray raised his hands and said, “OK, cool it, I'm gone." Dan raised his left hand, waved daintily with his fingers and said, “Byeee" in a girl-like voice, smiling.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Ray was burning up inside when he helped Clare to her feet. "Don't be a fool Ray, I can see it in your face that you're in a seething rage, and the angrier you get the more of a kick he gets out of it. If he starts to think you are a threat it could get us all killed. He is unstable, and any little thing or outside pressure could make him go over the edge.” “I have seen</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">many of his kind in my work, when they are that sick, killing is just a release from fear and anger or retribution for their pain and suffering," Clare explained.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"What you are saying is that when he thinks we are no longer of use to him, and he's hurting he's going to kill us anyway, as a sort of revenge for all the wrong he thinks that's been done to him.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Clare put her hand on his shoulder and said, "You have the picture. Let's go before he starts thinking that we are conspiring against him. Paranoia runs high in the level of insanity he has reached, especially when he drink to excess like he does. He could even reach the point where he starts</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">shooting at imaginary things. If he does, don't you think for one minute that he is not aware of reality as well. He just confuse the two. All we can do now is lay low and stay out of his way and hope some one contacts the police."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"You were conscious when I wrote that message on the umbrella?," Ray asked surprised.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"Of course. Sometimes the best way to study a situation is to fake oblivion. I promise you I won't let either one of you down, you can trust me. I love you kids and I would give my life to protect you and your sisters." “I didn't lie when I said I would go to bat for you kids, When this is over I promise I will go to the highest supreme court to keep you together."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"I believe you, but I still want to find my uncle first," Ray replied.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Ray took Clare straight to the bedroom avoiding looking in the direction where Dan stood. Dan flapped his arms and clucked like a chicken, then laughed dementedly. Ray gritted his teeth and clenched and unclenched his fists. Clare picked up Natty who promptly wrapped her arms around her neck and buried her little face in her chest and sobbed.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">-64-</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"If he doesn't call for you, just stay here and cool off. If you try to confront him in a fit of anger all you're going to accomplish is get your self killed and I think he would welcome any excuse to do just that. He's been trying to goad you into it,can't you see that? Maybe deep down inside he fears you."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"You get in there with the rest of the fowl. I need time to think about what I'm going to do about this.'</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">There was the explosion of a gun and Sandy stumbled into the bedroom terror</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">stricken. The door was slammed with such force the room shook. Sandy sat on the floor against the closet crying.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"What did he do to you?," Ray asked, simmering with hate.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"Nothing, I just fell when we ran aground," Sandy mumbled in response.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"You don't get a black eye and a bloody nose from nothing, and the scream- ing, crashing and crying didn't occur until the boat had already come to a stop. He'll pay for this, I promise you he'll pay," Ray said between clenched teeth clutching the foot of the bed with both hands.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Clare did her best to massage Ray's shoulders to release the tension. She feared that he would burst through the door any second and get him self shot.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Her mind drifted to George. That poor man got himself beaten to an inch of his life. He must have really cared for her and these children. If he hadn't have cared she wouldn't be here now and God knows what would have become of these children. In her book he was a knight in shining armor, a hero, even though he had failed to save them from the villain. A thought came to her that sent a cold shiver through her; what if he was at this very minute, lying dead below their feet, a victim of carbon monoxide poisoning?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">She had to go to him but she knew that the beast on the other side of the door would probably not think twice about shooting her just for disturbing him about the matter.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">No, if she were to be of any use to the injured man below deck she would have to be patient and wait for the beast on the other side of the door to come to a more lucid state of mind.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">She closed her eyes and began humming a favorite tune she knew. It wasn't long after that Sandy began to put the words to the song. The sound of Sandy's angelic voice brought tears to her eyes. Natty jumped off the bed to join her older sister on the</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">floor and sang with a halfhearted “Ya, ya, ya.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">At length Ray's corded hands relaxed their grip on the bed frame. Releasing his hold on the bed frame he let his hands slide to his lap. Getting up he</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">-65-</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">sat on the floor next to his two sisters and began humming along in unison with their song. Clare resumed her singing.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">At the end of the song the entire river boat was in silence. It was as though the singing had cast out all the demons that had possessed the Missy for the past two days.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Clare prayed like she had never prayed before, asking God to spare the children and that she would be willing to sacrifice herself for their safety. She regretted only one thing in her life, that she had not had the privilege and the joy to have children of her own. She was one of those unfortunate women that would never know the joy of child bearing.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Natty had crawled back up onto the bed and lay with her head on Clares lap and was soon asleep, sucking on her thumb. Tears came to Clare's eyes once more while she patted the child's soft, golden hair.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">***** ***** ***** ***** ****</span></div>
cynthiagrlx@.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15899106950524179648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8883185399977274476.post-69657927418283110682013-10-10T20:55:00.001-07:002013-10-10T20:55:18.076-07:00The River Boat chapter 4<span style="color: #274e13;">Chapter 4</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CermSnCbCkQ/Uld1y0BziXI/AAAAAAAABlw/gmyeR5TjqR4/s1600/river+boat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CermSnCbCkQ/Uld1y0BziXI/AAAAAAAABlw/gmyeR5TjqR4/s400/river+boat.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Dan sat at the table fingering the gun with one hand and holding a half empty bottle of rye whiskey in the other. Ray slept on the floor against the wall and Sandy stood at the controls looking straight ahead not daring to look in Dan's direction.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Clare groaned and sat up on the couch in the living room. She wondered why she was on the couch. The last she remembered she was sleeping with Natty on the bed in the main bedroom. Feeling the left side of her face she found it to be swollen and tender, her left eye was nearly swollen shut. A dim memory came back to her of standing behind the kitchen door trying to hide, of something grabbing her by the hair and her screaming, then everything went black. The baby! Clare got up and staggered toward the door to the kitchen.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Well, well, well the lady is alive and finally awakens,” a deep, unfamiliar voice came from the kitchen. Would you kindly grace us with your company in the kitchen here," the annoying voice called to her.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Who are you?", Clare asked confusedly. Nothing made sense.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Don't ask questions, lady, just do what your told," the voice ordered her. Clare heard something click, when she looked up she noticed the man held a gun point blank at her chest area. Clare let go of the door frame and cautiously did what he told her. Natty woke up crying.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"OK, lady, go get my daughter. Maybe she want's to see her daddy."</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">When Clare entered the bedroom Natty immediately stopped crying and said, “Cla, Cla”, and held up her arms for Clare to pick her up. Clare looked</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">outside and noticed it was day light. The last she remembered it was early evening before...</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Suddenly she remembered. The intruder of the night before was the children's father. She knew his reputation and feared what he might do to</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">her and the children. A movement out side caught her attention. Someone on a sail boat waved to her. It was George! He had followed her all this way. Clare waved outward with her hands indicating for him to back away. If that animal in there saw him he would be dead. She then pointed towards the back of the riverboat.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"What's taking so long," Dan asked in an irritated voice. Clare walked into the kitchen holding Natty in her arms.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Come and see daddy, daddy missed you." Dan stretched his arms out to take Natty, still holding the gun in his right hand. Natty smelled the alcohol on his breath, screamed and turned her head towards Clare and cried.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Make her stop or I'll blow her brains out!”, Dan ordered, with an anger</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">that filled his face. “She's not my child anyway, I wasn't even home when</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">-51-</span></div>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Mel became pregnant, I was in the bucket doing time. She slept around on me, she always slept around on me!," Dan raged slamming his fist onto the table.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"She was like a bitch in heat, always wanting I..." There was the sound of splintering wood at Dan's back and the fragments of a wooden chair fell to the floor. When Dan turned to look behind him he saw Ray standing a couple of feet away with two of the chair legs still in his hands.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Fast as a striking snake Dan stooped, leaned forward and lunged forward towards Ray. Ray jumped back just out of reach then took another swing at him with one of the chair legs. Dan caught his swinging arm in mid-air and sent him reeling with a crash against the wall.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Ray slid to the floor in a sitting position. Dan held the gun to his head and said, “Bye-bye!” Clare screamed and closed her eyes. There was a click</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">followed by Dan's uproarious laughter.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Fooled you, see,” Dan showed his son the empty chamber in the gun; he held the bullet in his other hand.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">“The next time son, if you are my son, there will be a bullet in the chamber. Maybe I'll play a little game of Russian roulette with you. That would be interesting, you the participant, I holding the gun and taking the shots. How would you like that, huh?, Dan asked grinning and tapping the gun barrel under his chin. You had better eat a lot of meat and potatoes if you want to beat up on your old man."</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Dan said then turned, walked a couple of paces, stooped down and picked up one of the chair legs and whipped it around him. There was a whoosh follow- ed by a resounding thunk where the leg imbedded itself in the wall just above Rays right shoulder. “You can make a weapon out of almost anything, you just have to know how to do it. Some day you will learn, especially if you get the opportunity to do time in the bucket."</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"I'm never going to go to jail! Jail is for two bit losers," Ray screamed then closed his eyes and waited for the sudden impact of a bullet. None came. Instead there came laughter. Ray opened his eyes. Dan sat looking at him smiling. “I like that, son, rebellion is a good sign of a survivor. I've learned that early in life, broken bones are an honor and much more</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">preferable than to be a spineless coward.”</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Dan swung around to Clare. “Lady make yourself useful and make us something to eat and take the brat with you."</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Don't you dare call her a brat! she's our sister!” Sandy said turning to face him. This was the first time she had dared speak to him since he had intruded in their lives the night before. If you want to shoot me go ahead. Sandy let go of the helm and turned, arms spread out. “I would sooner die than listen to you put down our little sister and mother. You're the one</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">that made mom into the non-person she was in the end, you with your drunken</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">-52-</span></div>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">beatings and foul mouth. You're the one that slept around, not mum. Go ahead and shoot, you piece of woman beating low life garbage!" Sandy screamed, as her face turned beet red.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Dan got up and slapped Sandy across the face so hard the imprint of his</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">hand was visible where he had hit her.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"You're going to be a little slut, just like your mother," Dan said in a low, intimidating voice, then turned in time to see Ray half-stooped, ready to pounce on him once again.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"You want to try your luck again, come on do it." Dan crouched low, motion- ing with the fingers of his right hand for him to come. Ray lunged at him. Dan swung out of the way and let Ray's momentum carry him across the room to stumble over the kitchen table and slam head first into the wall with a dull crunch. Ray laid prone on the table, out cold. Dan laughed insanely then stopped abruptly and said, "That's one out for the night, you want to be the next one?" Ray raised his fist to connect with Sandy's face. Sandy flinched and turned to take the helm once more.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Come on Ms. whatever your name is, how is that food coming along? The show is over!" Dan shouted then turned pointing the gun at her. Clare jumped and Natty started to cry again.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"If your going to scare the stuffing out of the baby all the time, you can fix your own meal," Clare responded, picking Natty up from the counter.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Well, what's this? Another would-be hero. Have you been feeding every one hero sandwiches around here or some thing?", Dan growled.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"No I'm only trying to tell you to use common sense. Every time you talk loud in a threatening way the baby cries. and if she cries I have to pick her up and when I have her in my arms I'm not cooking."</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Dan frowned and stared at her then raised his right hand and pointed his index finger at her and asked, "Do I know you?"</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"I don't think so, but I know plenty about you." I was your wife's worker."</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"So you're the bitch that called for the court order. What are you doing with my children on this boat this far away from Morganza. You're certainly not delivering them to foster parents, not in this manner."</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"No I'm not, I was bringing them to their uncle up in Canada." Ray laughed.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"To that old fart of a brother of mine? He's crazier than I am. He's a writer, you know. He writes Injun stories, about ghosts and evil spirits and he believes in them, too.” Dan laughed until tears rolled down his cheeks. “What is he going to do with three children when his mind is always in space or should I say in the happy hunting ground?” This was followed by some more absurd laughter. What is your name anyway?" Ray asked.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">-53-</span></div>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Clare, and it is miss, if you were wondering. Do you mind?" she motioned for the bottle he held. Dan passed her the bottle. Clare took a hardy pull and handed him back the bottle.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Á Á"You can be a mite trying on the nerves you know but nothing like some of the people I had to work with, No siree, you're a pussy cat in compari- son." Clare said with a smile.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Dan laughed, then said, “I think I might like you.” Dan put Ray on the couch while Clare set the table.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">After supper Clare turned on the radio. Taking another swig from the bottle she danced, twisting and gyrating wildly to the beat of the music then stopped to take Dan's hand and pulled him to his feet. Dan stumbled around while Clare danced dizzily around him. When Dan slowed she would then swoop in and take him by the hand and twirl him around her. “Soon”, Clare thought, with a little more encouragement, she would have him in the position she wanted him: passed out.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">“Come on, big man, one more.” Clare motioned for the bottle. Ray wondered</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">where she was putting it all; she was still nimble as a mountain goat on her feet while Dan could hardly put one foot ahead of the other. Clare vibrated and swayed to the music like she did at the night clubs. She could see Dan's flushed face and hoped that he would pass out before he got too much more sexually aroused.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Dan took one step backward and fell on his rear with a crash, still holding the bottle. The silly look on his face would have made everybody laugh if it would have been a happier occasion. Clare continued to dance, making sexual motions. Dan smiled, then his eyes closed and he fell back, his head hitting the floor with a thump. Immediately Clare pulled out a plastic bag with a yellow liquid from between her breasts and threw it in the sink.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Stop the boat and get some thing to tie him up with," she ordered Sandy. I have someone to meet at the back of the boat."</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Sandy smiled saying, "I really thought you were going turn coat on us."</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"You work the night clubs, you learn a few tricks,” Clare informed her, then left to give the OK signal for George to board the Missy.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">This man must really care to have followed them all the way out here. She was relieved and would feel safer to have another adult take charge of this situation. She did not think she could have held things together for much longer. As intense as this man was, like a bomb ready to go off at the</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">slightest nudge, either she or some one else would have got shot.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Sandy bent down to tie Dan's feet. She felt something cold touch her fore- head at the bridge of the nose, she looked up. The gun barrel was within one inch of her nose. Dan pressed his finger crossways to his lips.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">-54-</span></div>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Just wrap the rope loosely around my feet and you go back to the controls. I believe Clare is bringing us company."</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Dan laid back down with his hands at his back. He had noticed some thing wrong when he had watched her dance, no one could still dance like that after the amount of alcohol she had consumed. He had used a little trick of his own, when ever he tilted the bottle he had held his tongue to the bottle and only pretended to drink and appear to be getting drunker.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">“It's too bad, she is quite the looker. We could have made good music together.” He wondered who this fifth party was. Did they have a friend following all along or had they just incorporated this fifth party recently? His biggest worry was, had this party been talking to the cops? He supposed that if this person had talked to the cops there would</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">be wall to wall cops here by now.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Clare had tied the catamaran to the back of the river boat and helped George unto the deck. He held here in his arms for a moment, then said,</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"I was so worried about you and the kids, I had nightmares. Nightmares so real that I would wake up screaming and sweating. George hugged her and said, thank God you're alive. Are you OK?", George asked, holding her at arms length to examine her.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">He felt panic rise in him when he saw her face. Her right eye was badly bruised and nearly swelled shut.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Yes, he hasn't hurt any one seriously yet but I was in constant fear of that possibility."</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Where is he?" George asked uneasily.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"He's in the kitchen, passed out. Sandy should have him tied</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">up by now."</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">George pulled out the forty five from his pocket and said,</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Just a precaution."</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">George walked in first, cautiously, gun at the ready. The girl at the wheel did not turn to look. Something was not right. It was too late by the time George turned to look back at the man on the floor. There was a blurred movement and the explosion of a firearm. George felt something hot in his</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">right shoulder and the .45 slipped from his fingers.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"Not fast enough, Pilgrim." Dan said waving his index finger back and forth and smiling. He was up on his feet and in flash he had George by the shirt. Throwing him on the floor he proceeded to kick him in the stomach, chest, groin and legs. George doubled over in pain and turned his back to Dan who continued to kick him in the back, all the time screaming #@$ &*$@ bastard.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Getting down on his knees, straddling George, Dan rolled him on his back</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">once more. Leaning over, holding George by the shoulders, he paused to catch his breath.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">-55-</span></div>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"You had enough?" Dan asked. George remained silent. Dan seized George by the chin, fingers sinking into the flesh, and swung his head back and forth. “Ah, I believe that's a no!”</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Dan pummeled George in the face until it was a mass of blood. Clare</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">screamed for him to stop but to no avail. Dan continued to pummel</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">George in the face. Dan stopped then reached over and put his thumb on the bullet wound and pressed down. George's screaming reverberated and echoed from both sides of the river. Fortunately for him he lost consciousness.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Getting up, Dan then turned to Clare. Seizing her by the shoulders he squeezed until she went down on her knees and cried out for him to stop. "Bitch!", he screamed, spittle flying in her face. Pulling her back up by the hair he cuffed her twice across the face, then pushed her backward with such force that the chair she landed in broke apart under her. Blood ran out of her nose. Clutching her by the hair with his left hand, he stood her up against the wall and struck her on the lower jaw with his right fist. Switching hands he struck her on the other side with his left fist. Clare closed her eyes and wished she would lose consciousness like George. The next blow was to the stomach. Clare doubled over with pain and fought to catch her breath. Jerking her back up by the hair he picked her up and raised her over his head and threw her against the wall over the kitchen counter.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Clare lay on the counter with all the kitchen paraphernalia that had been hanging on a wall rack scattered everywhere about her. At Clare's head,</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Natty screamed and cried. She had been sitting there since</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">supper, too fear-filled to cry out or move. Natty leaned over and</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">put her arms around Clare's head and cried, "Cla, Cla, I lav Cla, Cla het."</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Dan pulled out a chair and sat down facing Sandy at the helm. Picking up his discarded bottle he tilted it to his mouth and held it there till it was empty.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">"OK, kid, unless you want to try some thing funny too, do it now, so I can fix that, too, like I did the others, or you can go</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">fix them up some. I'll take over at the helm.” Taking another</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">bottle from his duffel bag Dan walked a little unsteadily to the</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">helm.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Sandy didn't know who to start with. She went to check on Ray, she needed his help. Sandy checked his pulse, it was normal. She then checked the back of his head. There was some swelling and blood had coagulated from a small tear in the scalp but there was no indication of severe damage.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">As she went to the kitchen to get a wet cloth she glanced at Clare and had to gulp hard to keep from retching. The man on the floor did not seem to be in much better shape. Sandy folded up a tea cloth and ran cold water over it. She tried to take Natty with her but she only cried louder, “Cla het, Cla het”, she held Clare's battered head; the eyes stared blankly at the ceiling.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">-56-</span>cynthiagrlx@.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15899106950524179648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8883185399977274476.post-44195835112424923602013-09-29T20:22:00.000-07:002013-09-29T20:43:07.646-07:00Chapter 3 part2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bMHeEVqpzMY/Ukjq4v5vkwI/AAAAAAAABfY/fPRUxLS9cSs/s1600/waterfront+carnival.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="color: #274e13;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bMHeEVqpzMY/Ukjq4v5vkwI/AAAAAAAABfY/fPRUxLS9cSs/s400/waterfront+carnival.jpg" width="400" /></span></b></a></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">“Close to a hundred dollars" she replied.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br />"What if Natty would have been really in the mood?", Sandy asked grinning. </span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: start;">
<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">Clare looked at her to see if she was serious.<span style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Once outside every one laughed, including Natty. Ray picked her up, set her on his shoulders and danced around the parking lot. At the river boat Ray cast off saying, “Farewell, Greenville, Mississippi!”</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><b style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><br /></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"Loosen up, everybody, you all look like you just got back from a funeral!" Ray had taped and glued the radio back together as well as he could and now it was time to try it out. He turned it on and rock music blared out of one of the speakers. Natty jumped around in a circle singing, “Ya, ya, ya!” Sandy danced half halfheartedly when Clare began to dance wildly at the center of the kitchen. Ray watched, keeping time to the music, tapping a ruler on the instrument panel. Sandy puled back and let Clare have the floor as she clapped her hands in encouragement.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">After the tune was over Clare slumped in a chair, winded.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br />"I didn't know that a person your age could dance to rock music, uh, oh. I didn't mean that the way it sounded," he immediately added realizing he had made the age old mistake of mentioning age to a woman.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"Oh ya, I can dance circles around you any day young man!”, Clare boasted. “What age do you think I am anyway?"</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"Sandy take over the wheel, I can't pass up this challenge," he informed her.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">Both Clare and Ray gyrated around the kitchen while Natty sat in a corner jumping up and down and squealing happily. After three consecutive jigs both laid on the floor fighting for breath and laughing at the same time.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: start;">
<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">“I never saw any one dance like you before, young or old," Ray said admiringly. "Where did you learn to dance like that?" Ray asked.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"When I was younger I danced in night clubs. I put myself through school dancing in night clubs," Clare informed him.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"Wow, that must have been interesting!" Ray said in wonderment.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: start;">
<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"It was an exciting part of my life but I wouldn't recommend it to young girls just starting out, It can lead to all kinds of dangerous predicaments, sometimes life threatening situations."<br />"How did you come to be a social worker?" Sandy asked.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: start;">
<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: start;">
<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"I always loved and cared for children. I was the oldest of five, our mum was a single parent and I kind of naturally became the mother when mum was too busy for us. I never complained, I loved it and I was a natural at it. When I got to college I was willing to do whatever I had to do to work with children. That was my one and only goal in life," Clare revealed.</span></b></div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><b style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">-39-</b></span></div>
<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"Social workers don't help children they just separate them, so they never see each other again. Like the twins in the National Enquirer, reunited some sixty years later. Sixty years from now I probably won't even care if I'm alive," Ray said, lowering his head. Clare put her arm around his shoulder saying, "It's alright Ray, I promise that I will do every thing I can to keep you guys together. We could still make this legal all we need is the proper papers from a judge and..."</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"No! If we even show our selves near a court house they'll take us away," Ray said pulling away from Clare. Clare thought about it and had to agree. One week later this far up river without a report, It would be her that they would most likely judge as incompetent, if not throw the book at her for attempted kidnapping</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"You're right, we're all in the same boat together.”, Clare concurred. Both Sandy and Ray laughed.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"What's so funny?" Clare asked.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"Voi-la," Ray said pirouetting with his arms outstretched, indicating the river boat cabin around them that served as the kitchen.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br />"Ain’t it the truth," Clare said joining in the laughter.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"Tomorrow we'll be in Helena Mississippi. They're having a<br />carnival there," Ray announced.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"Let's not stop there," Clare said. <span style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">An uneasiness tugged at her.</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"Why not, Clare?" Sandy asked.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"I'm not sure, I guess It's just that there will be a lot of people there and you never know who we could run into." Clare said, not knowing how else to explain the gut feeling she had go through her.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br />"Do you really think they could be looking for us this far north?" Ray asked.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">Just then a police cruiser approached. It slowed its speed and flashed its spot light at them, then continued on without a second look. Ray pointed starboard at the receding cruiser. “They can't be looking for us too hard," he remarked. Clare still felt uneasy about anyone leaving the security of the riverboat. She just wished they could just keep going non-stop until they had reached their destination.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"You and Ray can go, I'll stay her with the baby, That way you can have fun without worrying about the boat and your little sister." She didn't know why exactly why she felt uneasy about this stop over. Maybe she was just jumping at shadows.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"Come on Natty let's go fix us up some supper." On hearing her name Natty got up and toddled her way to Clare.</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><b style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">-40-</b></span></div>
<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">Ray watched Clare and Natty walking hand in hand. It reminded him of his mother during better times.<br />"We have enough vegetables here to last for a month,” Clare informed them. “Anyone for vegetable soup? After all Natty picked it out on her very own." Natty sat on the counter happily sucking on a carrot.<br />"Yeah, and that lady almost wore it, too!,” Ray said laughing.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br />"Do you know that our little sister could start a war without even being aware of it?", Sandy pointed out with a guffaw.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"Yeah, like the lady with the sore toe beating the clerk over the head with a zucchini, yelling, 'I'm going to sue you for my broken corny toe,'” Ray said, imitating the lady's voice between hearty gales of laughter.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">“What was she doing buying corn anyway? She already had some," Sandy chortled. This was followed by more peals of laughter from Ray and Clare and unbridled giggling on Natty's part..</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"I can't laugh any more," Sandy said holding her right side.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"Me neither," Ray said taking a deep breath then breaking out into some more knee-slapping laughter. "This is the most fun I ever had in my life!"</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"I don't ever want to forget this day," Sandy assured Ray.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">After supper Clare took over at the helm. There was not much traffic on the river. The only vessel near her was an old tug boat with the name “Irish Rover” written on its stern in faded green lettering.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br />Sean whistled shrilly to awaken Patrick, who was passed out on the cabin couch. There was not much work of late and when Patrick wasn't working he played hard.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">He liked the night clubs and the ladies. When he got out of hand they would ask him to leave, none too gently sometimes, but they would always welcome him back the next day. He would sit at the bar telling tall tales through the day until the action would start later in the evening. When Patrick sat up he thought his head would spin off into space as the room wavered and swam around him.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"What is it me boy? Ye almost gave me the big an." Sean pointed urgently to the port side.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"Well ahl be! Patrick exclaimed. I wonder how fa up riva our lad is by now? We have a load to take dawn riva tomorrow, maybe we'll ran in ta hm," Raymond said hopefully</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">.<br />"Maybe so, tis a lang way from ham," Sean said, carefully noting what direction and speed the river boat was going.</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><b style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">-41-</b></span></div>
<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">Early the next morning Ray docked the river boat in the Helena, Mississippi harbor. He and Sandy had to take the skiff to the main dock. There was no available dock space left for regular vessels. It was time for the local carnival celebrating the town's heritage and southern life in general.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">Dan Everett was much too busy working at the marina to see his own two teenage children walking by only a few feet away. Even if he had seen them it probably would not have registered in his mind that they were actually in Helena.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">Ray and Sandy had to scurry to find a place from which they could watch the parade. The first float that they saw contained white swans made up entirely of flowers. Ballerinas danced in the center of it.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"Wow! TV is nothing compared to this!," Sandy exclaimed. The next float was a scene from the civil war. The shell bursts were colorfully painted in red yellow and orange. On another float was the Muppets with Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, and their friends. Sandy and Ray laughed gaily watching their antics.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">At an open field they found the rides. After a few rides they made their way to the hot dog vendors to eat their fill before their last ride on The Wild Mouse, a roller coaster that had more twists then the great Mississippi herself. Ray spent $20 at a shooting gallery, winning a small hairy stuffed animal that he could have bought for five dollars at a novelty store. For him that night it was the greatest prize in the world.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"Do you think Natty will like it?" Ray asked Sandy</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">.<br />"She'll love it,” Sandy said smiling." The next gaming booth was a game that was played with lawn darts. Sandy proved to be good at this game, winning three stuffed toys and a doll out of five tries. The attendant frowned and said, “Young lady would you want to try once more, double or nothing, just to prove to the good folks here it isn't beginners luck." He held his arms spread out to the knot of people that had gathered around to watch Sandy play. Sandy looked at Ray who shook his head.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"No thanks mister, maybe it was beginners luck," she agreed. “Let's go watch the carnival dancers for a while,” she said to Ray. Dismissing the whole venture she walked briskly towards the brightly lit pavilions to their right.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">“Ralph, my friend, we finally cross paths. Come here for a minute," Dan Everett said cheerfully. I have a little present for you." Ralph stood with his hand on his holster watching him suspiciously.<br />"What do you have in the box?," he asked</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"It's for you from Jim, a token of appreciation for working on this festive night. I was supposed to give it to you earlier but I was too busy."</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"Why would he ask you to deliver it?", Ralph asked with uncertainty.</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><b style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">-42-</b></span></div>
<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"There was no one else around at the time, every one had already left for the carnival," Dan explained.<br />"Come here in the light where I can see you," Ralph ordered, tightening his grip on the handle of his revolver in the holster.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br />"Is this old geezer going to bite? If not I'll have to use persuader number two." Dan fingered the small ball-peen hammer in his back pocket.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">Dan walked out into the light and spoke. "If you don't want it, that's fine with me I'll keep it for myself," he said, and began to slip the box back under his shirt.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"Let me see it," Ralph said, reaching out with his left hand, his right hand still resting on the holster at his hip. Dan handed him the box. Ralph pulled the mickey flask of Scotch out of the box. A quick sniff confirmed that it was his favorite brand. No one else knew except Jim.Ralph smiled and said thanks, shaking Dan's hand.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"A little rheumatism medicine before I go to bed.", Ralph said, pocketing the mickey. “Do me a favor my friend, don't sneak up on someone like that in the dark again. Especially if that person is packing a gun.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"I'll remember that, thanks. Have a good night." Dan waved and walked back into the shadows. Dan watched Ralph walk out of sight behind some drums. He sat under cover of darkness between two drums. Taking the cap off the bottle he took a hearty pull. Almost immediately he felt a warm glow radiate through his body from the center of his stomach. Twenty minutes later all Dan could see was Ralph’s boots sticking out from behind the drums.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">Dan walked around the drums and kicked the old man's feet. There was no response. Bending down he removed the keys from his belt and also relieved him of the gun in the holster. Dan got up saying, “Sweet dreams old fart.” He should be out cold for at least a couple of hours, he figured.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">On opening the front doors to the marina's store Dan switched off the surveillance cameras and walked in closing the doors behind him. Opening the safe would be no obstacle. He had used their very own surveillance camera to take care of that. Using his knowledge of video devices he had offered one day to repair one of their faulty surveillance cameras. He had used another camera as a substitute while he repaired the original one.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">The camera had been aimed on the safe. One video of the safe to him and one of their store to them. The safe door made a soft squealing sound when he opened the door. He couldn't believe his eyes. There was over one hundred thousand dollars in neat little stacks inside the safe. More money then he had seen in his life time. He could go any where in the world with this, safe from the law.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">Stuffing the money in a duffel bag he made his way back to the front doors. Hearing voices outside Dan moved away from the door and stood</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">-43-<br />with his back to a section of wall between the doors and the front windows, he waited gun in hand. One man said good night and walked off toward the boats.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">The other one stood in front of the store smoking. Flicking his cigarette towards the water the man turned, walked up to the doors and stopped. Dan heard him snapping his fingers and saying, damn I forgot my keys in the car. The man walked back towards the parking lot.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">“Better move it now, Danny boy,” Dan said to himself. “He won't be long returning and if he opens that safe, all hell will break loose really fast!”</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">Dan closed and relocked the door. Throwing the keys in the water he ran to the end of the dock and jumped into a speed boat which he had hot wired earlier. Dan started the motor and roared away nearly colliding with an incoming boat. “I wonder who that drunken idiot is,” Jim thought, unlocking the front doors to the store.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">When Ray and Sandy got back to the marina they were confronted by a crowd of people that several policemen held back, while others roved the dock in front of the store in apparent search of something.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br />"I wonder what's happening here?" Sandy asked.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"I don't know but it's some thing bigger than just a reception for us." Ray assured her. Ray could hear the word robbery being passed around. There's the answer to your question, Ray responded.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br />"Let's go find the skiff before this really develops into something," Sandy advised.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"That river boat looks familiar, Can it be?," Dan asked himself looking towards the dock to his star board side. Dan circled around and came back for a closer inspection.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"Yes, it is the Misty, what better luck." He looked across to the other shore, the police had already arrived.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"It would be a simple matter of time before they discovered Ralph, the missing boat and my absence,” he thought. “With this boat they would have me before I got out of the harbor."</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">Pulling alongside the river boat Dan threw his duffel bag on the deck. Sticking a paddle through the steering wheel of the speed boat he pulled the throttle back and let the speed boat go. It went straight up the harbor for a ways then veered to the left and disintegrated in a flowery red explosion on a rocky ledge. Dan grinned and cheered to himself. “Yes! Maybe that will throw them off for a while.”</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br />Clare had heard the speed boat and got up to see what was happening while Natty slept soundly in the bed next to her. Some one was out side on the</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><b style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">-44-</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">deck, a prowler, she thought. In the kitchen she picked up the only handy thing at hand, the coffee pot, she stood behind the door holding the coffee pot over her head and waited.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">Dan, not wanting to awaken any one that might be aboard, picked the lock with his pocket knife, like he had on countless other occasions in the past. The door swung open and the dark form of a man stepped in. Clare brought the coffee pot down on the man's head. It made a popping sound when it connected and exploded into a shower of broken glass. Dan saw a bright light then felt some stinging at the back of his head. Shaking his head he looked to his right at a dark form that stood very still against the wall.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"What do we have here?" Dan asked. As his right arm darted out to grab the unknown form, Clare started to pull back but it was too late. She screamed more at the pain in her scalp than from fear.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">Dan wasted no time, he could not afford another scream. Clutching a hand full of hair with his right hand he struck Clare hard in the left temple with his left fist. Catching her in his arms when she began sag towards the floor, he carried her to the into the living room and dumped her like a sack of potatoes on the sofa. Throwing his duffel bag in the middle of the kitchen floor he inspected the other rooms.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">Satisfied that Natty slept soundly in the bed in the main bedroom, he thought the other two would come around soon.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"I'll just make myself comfortable and wait," he said aloud to himself and smiled. “The family reunion, how cozy."</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">Soon there was the hum of a small motor and the chatter of happy voices. Dan sat in a chair facing the door. He held Ralph’s pistol in his lap. Ray stepped in first and waited, holding the door for Sandy who walked in with arms loaded with stuffed animals.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"Clare! Where are you? We're home," Sandy shouted, dumping the stuffies on the kitchen table.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"Welcome home, kids. Did you miss your old man?" Sandy screamed as Ray backed up towards the door. “You're not going anywhere son; move away from the door". Ray did as he was told, his eyes riveted to the gun.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br />"I want you to start this boat up and move on out of the harbor very normal like." Dan ordered Ray. Ray stayed riveted to the spot he stood on, frozen with fear.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"Suit your self son, maybe it's the women that run things around here."</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br />"Sandy!" Dan motioned to the controls with the gun, then quick as lightning Dan pointed the gun at Ray's head and yelled, “Bang!" Ray jumped. A dark spot appeared at the front of his pants and spread down the right pant leg. Dan laughed</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">,</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"Sandy, I think you better get your brother some diapers,"</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><b style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">-45-</b></span></div>
<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">Dan said, then laughed again uproariously. Again, as quick as a cobra,<br />the gun was once again pointed at Ray's head.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"Fun's over son, I want you to go out and undo the mooring lines. Try some thing funny out there and I'll blow everyone's heads off that's on board this boat." There were police boats every where now, some were now investigating the crash site of the speed boat. No one paid attention to the river boat that crept slowly north ward up river.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">Patrick blew his fog horn to get the attention of the catamaran that sailed up river. George immediately recognized the tug boat that towed behind it a barge loaded with heavy equipment.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"How as ye lad. I have sam news fa ye," Patrick yelled. George took down the sails and drifted to the tug.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"You seen the river boat?" George asked anxiously.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"Yas lad ah hav, the Misty it ma be. She be in Helena by naw. If ye harry real fast ye make it by night fall."</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"Thanks Patrick I owe you." George said shaking Patrick's hand.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">He had heard about the carnival there and he hoped that it would keep them there for a while. The Irishman was sober and George had no reason to doubt his word.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">What kind of situation would he have when he caught up to them, George wondered. He was certain that the children were on the run from the system but what is the situation with Clare? Was she going along with them? Was she running away, too? Or was she being held against her will? He was reasonably sure she was safe with the children either way.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">What worried him was Dan. What if they ran into him on the river. According to those officers, they had strong suspicions that he had gone north on the river after he had killed his wife. Another thing that bothered him was why would they have begun a search in this particular area.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br />George turned on the radio to get the news. There was a report of a robbery and a boat crash in Helena. The boat that crashed into some rocks earlier this evening is believed to be that of the fleeing robber. At this point they are not sure if the robber went down with the boat.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">A description of the man is as follows: he is six foot six tall, stocky in build, brown hair and beard with dark brown eyes, edging on black in appearance. He bears a scar from a knife fight on the left arm from elbow to wrist. This man is also a suspect in the slaying of Nell Everett. The suspect's name is Dan Sweeney. If you see this man he is armed and <span style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">dangerous. Please stay away from him and report his where about</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">to the police immediately.</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><b style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">-46-</b></span></div>
<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">George turned the radio off. His worst fears may have already happened. There was a steady stream of boats departing and entering from the docks when George entered the harbor in Helena. The river boat was no where in sight. If she had been here she had already left. Every one he had asked did not recollect seeing the river boat. One older gentleman informed him that he thought he had seen one at the dock across the bay the night</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">before. At the marina across the bay the owner went through the registration with him. His nephew, who was not there at the time, had taken most of the entries.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"There it is!" George nearly yelled stabbing his finger under a name. The names of the people were not familiar but there was no mistaking the name of the vessel, The Misty.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">Can you contact your nephew and ask him if he knows when The Misty left and if there was anything unusual about it's departure?"</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"I'll see what I can do, the owner said. Raising an eyebrow he asked, would this have any thing to do with what's going on across the bay?"</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br />"Possibly but I'm hoping not," George responded. The owner disappeared into the store and came back a few minutes later, scratching behind his right ear.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"My nephew say's that there was nothing unusual about their departure, for that matter they departed very quiet like, like maybe they didn't want to disturb anybody."</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"Thanks for your time, I have to be going now. I promised my wife I'd meet her here and I'm running late as it is."</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"Son hold up a minute. I think you forgot some thing." The owner held out some thing for him to take.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"What is it?" George asked holding out his hand. The marina owner dropped a fully loaded forty-five in his hand.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"I have reason to believe the man the police are looking for is on board that boat."</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"Why didn't you report it to the police," George asked.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"My Nephew didn't think there was really any thing to report at the time."</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"All he saw was some one walking on the deck in semi-darkness. It could have been anyone. What really caught his attention though was the speed boat leaving that same area at about the same time. The strange thing about it was he thought there was no one on board the speed boat. He had forgot all about the speed boat till they mentioned it on the news."</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"Thanks," George said, slipping the forty five in his pocket. George jumped back onto the catamaran and cast off. The river above Helena was dark and</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><b style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">-47-</b></span></div>
<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">empty of other vessels. A good wind blew and he made fair headway. There were not many built up areas on this stretch. With the overcast it gave the impression of being at the center of an unknown wilderness. He felt like the explorers of old, wild and free. Turning on the radio to suitable music he let his imagination run with the mood of the environment around him.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">Reality temporarily abandoned, he relaxed and enjoyed the moment. Tonight he was a leaf blowing on the wind, rising and falling over the waters, like a tiny bird enjoying the freedom of flight. Tomorrow would be another day. Tomorrow may bring tragedy for some one. And then it could also reunite him with his river friends and the woman he had been attracted to on first sight.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">Dan had Clare tied to a wall peg. He sat at the kitchen table fingering the gun on the table in front of him. Ray sat frozen in fear on a chest against the wall next to Sandy, who stood behind the controls navigating the river boat.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"Watch very carefully son, I have a very important lesson to teach you. This lady is a social worker you tell me, right?” There was no response. Dan's movements were like those of a striking rattler. There was the explosion from the gun and a hole appeared in the wall just above Rays head. He blew the smoke that drifted up from the gun barrel. Grinning he yelled, "Now son listen up! The next time you're spoken to and you don't answer, you'll be wearing the next hole at the center of your forehead. Your old man is good with a gun. I cut my teeth on a gun barrel, like they say in the westerns. Now I'll ask you again, This lady is a social worker, right?"</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"Yes," Ray replied almost inaudibly.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"Yes sir!” Dan shouted, pointing the gun at his right kneecap. “Maybe I'll take you a little piece at a time."</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"Yes sir!" Ray responded in a louder voice.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"OK then, You also told me you hate social workers, is that true?"</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"Yes sir!" Ray responded again</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"Alright I'll fix that for you," In one motion the gun came <span style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">up and fired. There was blood splattered every where on the wall </span><span style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">behind Clare's head. Ray opened his mouth to scream but it was </span><span style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">someone else that screamed.</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">George then realized it was his own voice that had screamed. It had just been another horrible nightmare. George sat up on his cot drenched in sweat. Pulling a drawer open he checked to see if the forty-five was still there. Picking it up he hefted it in his right hand, he hoped he would not have to use it but never the less it felt reassuring just having it.</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><b style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">-48-</b></span></div>
<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"If you hurt any one on that boat, I promise you, I'll plug you so full of holes they'll be able to use you for a screen door after I'm done with you," George promised.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">It was five in the morning and it was still dark out. Once again George was sailing northward. In the last forty eight hours he had stopped only to</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">sleep for five hours. He did not remember the last time he had stopped to eat, not wanting to loose precious time to do so. It was a cool dawn, the break of day colored the sky in the east.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">What looked like a river boat in the distance turned out to be a trawler on closer inspection. They appeared to be having engine problems. George coasted in along side of them to asked if they had seen the river boat. A Mexican pointed up river saying, “Not far, not far.” George thanked them and agreed to take one of them to shore to get help for their stranded trawler.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">While on shore he went to a marina restaurant to have a quick bite to eat.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">He did not like the delay but on the other hand he would need the energy for the coming events that lay ahead of him.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">Stepping out of the restaurant he saw the Mexican running down the dock waving his hands for him to stop. The man at the store had told him that a man from that river boat had come into the store and bought much whiskey. George brought the Mexican back to the trawler and immediately set sail up river. A strong wind blew and the Missy sliced swiftly through the water. Nevertheless, he found him self pushing on the helm and mentally urging the catamaran to go faster.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">This man may be dangerous when he was sober but he was more so when he drank. He had been a bar room brawler and a wife beater. Now according to the police he had graduated to murder</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"Come on, Missy, please move a little faster," George called to the catamaran. There was a group of work boats ahead. He did not want to waste the time going around them, so he sailed right between the two at the center with only inches to spare. One worker nearly jumped over board when he saw him coming straight for them. George waved to them. The worker on the other boat showed him the finger.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">There seemed to be more traffic than usual on the river on this day but George managed to thread his way through it without letting up speed. He was proud of the sleekness and maneuverability of the craft he had built with his own two hands. The river boat being a much bulkier vessel would not be making as good a time, giving him the advantage, he hoped.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">What would he do once he saw the river boat? He could not make an approach in the day light. Even under cover of darkness it would be tricky to approach without being seen with a craft the size of the Missy. He had one thing to his advantage - silence. Dan had to sleep some time, he would have to bide his time and wait and watch for an opportunity and when he made his</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">move he would have to do so swiftly and effectively.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">-49-<br />On the other hand the three children and Clare could be perfectly safe<br />cordially cruising north ward, he wished and prayed, but a gut feeling told him otherwise.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"After this is over I am going to take time and enjoy the freedom and joy of my vessel. Just me, the air, and the water. And I'm going to go see places I never had time to explore before. Maybe I'll sail all the way up to Canada. They say the Great Lakes are a beautiful sight to see, like looking across the Gulf of Mexico. It's hard to picture in my mind, lakes that large. Miniature fresh water oceans." He had just sailed by Southaven Mississippi.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"Soon I'll be in Memphis Tennessee,</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">That's a place I always wanted to see. When this is over maybe I'll come back her and spend some time."</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"There it is!" George exclaimed to himself. “There's no mistaking it. That is the river boat.” He dropped sails and used the motor to keep at a distance. George's hands trembled with anticipation and his mind raced trying to decide what his next move would be.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">"Of one thing I am sure, I can't make any decisions in this state of mind. I have to calm down if I want to think this out rationally.”</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">His mind kept returning to the dream he had the night before, He could, right this minute, be holding a gun to Clare's head. George fought with all his will power against the urge of boarding the river boat gun in hand that very instant. He wished that he would have accepted Patrick's offer of a pint of his Irish Comfort, or what ever he had called it. For now all he could do was watch from a distant and try to come up with a sensible plan.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">“I could, from a safe distance, pull up along the port side where the main bedroom is situated just to the rear and out of sight of the stern. If I could just see one of the kids or Clare and get their attention without being noticed. At least if I could see they are safe. On the other hand, if Everett was on board and he did see me he wouldn't know who I am and I could just simply keep right on sailing past him, I would just be another of the many vessels using the same waterway.”</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">The only problem with this plan is that every one on board knows me on sight and if they see me they may react to that discovery, a fatal reaction. If that sicko Everett even suspected there was someone out here that the children knew and he felt threatened it could send him into a fit of uncontrollable rage.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">According to the news reports he has a gun and being a fugitive from justice and in the state of mind he was in he had nothing to lose and if he thought he had lost control of the situation, he could go into a shooting frenzy both inside and outside of the riverboat.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><br />George thought that it would be more likely though, if this man retained any sense at all, he would probably want to keep those on board as hostages</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><b style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">-50-</b></span></div>
<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">but that does not necessarily mean he wouldn't shoot one of his hostages if someone got too close. It was a lose/lose situation. He simply didn't know enough about this person, except that he had an extremely bad temper when drinking. Would he hesitate to kill if cornered? Somehow George didn't think so. That would be one advantage this beast would have over him. He had nothing to lose and having already killed once, the value of a human life wouldn't mean a whole lot to him anymore. He had no doubt that this man wouldn't hesitate to shoot first and ask questions later</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;">George went below and took the gun out of the drawer and tucked it in his belt then went back on deck. He eased the throttle up a notch and crept up closer to the port side of the riverboat.</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #274e13;"><span style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><b>* * * * * * * * *</b> * * * * * * * ** * * * * * * * * * * </span><span style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">* * * * *</span></span></div>
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cynthiagrlx@.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15899106950524179648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8883185399977274476.post-64005691654944630962013-09-23T20:59:00.001-07:002013-09-23T21:01:16.593-07:00The River Boat Chapter 3<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">CHAPTER 3</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;">The Marina shoping mall</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;">The riverboat held together and made fair headway against the prevailing southward flow of the Mississippi River. Whatever gasoline and oil it consumed was replaced from the little money that Ray and Sandy had saved, supplemented by donations from Clare and the generosity of marina owners along the river in the state of Mississippi. How hard a heart is needed to turn down three children and their guardian making their way to the Great Lakes to reunite with family and give them only the gas they can afford?</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Groceries were a different matter. They were on their last pack of cheese crackers when the riverboat pulled into the dock at a marina in Greenville, Mississippi.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;">This marina was well-equipped. There was a fuel dock, ice house, boat repair shop, restaurant, and a general store located along the waterfront. It took little convincing from Clare to get the children in the mood for grocery shopping.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;">“OK, we need to pool our cash,” said Clare. After counting theirs, all $45.28 of it, Sandy and Ray agreed. Clare continued: “We need to stay together in the store and shop like a family is expected to shop, keeping our eyes on Natty and getting the most for our money. Anything else and we might have someone asking too many questions.” For once all that Ray and Sandy could answer with was a nod.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Into the general store they went, looking as inconspicuous as four runaways can. It wasn't long before quiet shopping gave way to subdued bickering over what to buy and how much. Clare worked hard at keeping order but somehow Natty managed to slip just a few feet away and that was all that was necessary for a full-fledged fiasco.<br />Natty reached into the cooler for one of the Popsicles. Her little arm was just a bit too short. Leaning over the edge of the cooler she tumbled in. Now this was better. She could have all the Popsicles she wanted.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;">She had her prize in her hand when she heard a lady say, "My goodness little girl, you shouldn't be in here." The lady bent down into the cooler to pick her up. Natty responded by whacking the lady on the head with the Popsicle. When the lady took hold of her, Natty whacked her twice more on the head for emphasis. The lady was only too happy to put Natty down on the floor.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Back on the floor Natty left for new adventures, sucking on a slightly hairy Popsicle. She found her self surrounded by a sea of legs and wire things with wheels. Some thing that was bright yellow caught her eye. Making her way around the legs she found a round shelf thing piled with fruit. The bright yellow things were at the top.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;">She had only climbed part way up when the structure canted sideways and crashed to the floor. Natty sat in the middle of a mound of fruit with her</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;">-37-</span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">second prize of the day, a bright yellow banana. A clerk came running, after getting a report of a shoplifting incident at the fruit stand at aisle 8.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br />“Well there's our little thief," the clerk said smiling and bent down to pick up Natty. She smacked the clerk in the face with the banana and retreated just out of reach. The clerk lunged and caught her by the legs. Natty screamed and socked him in the right eye. The clerk let her go temporarily to rub his eye. Again Natty retreated on all fours. The clerk followed likewise</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Natty picked up a stick of celery that had been discarded on the floor and let the clerk have it again in the same eye when he bent down to pick her up. While he rubbed his eye with his right hand a customer accidentally stepped on the fingers of his left hand. The clerk's yowl was heard all over the supermarket. Natty stood a distance away giggling. All the clerk had to show for his efforts was a swollen hand and a black eye.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;">By the time Clare and the other children heard the screams, Natty had made her way to the canned goods. She sat on the floor piling the brightly colored cans one on top of the other pyramid like. A lady came around the corner with a cart and caught the corner of the structure sending cans rolling every where in the aisle.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;">The lady bent down saying, "You shouldn't be playing here, honey, you might get hurt." When the lady reached for her, Natty brought down a can she had been holding squarely on to the woman's big toe.<br />She screamed so loud that loose articles jiggled in their containers. "It's OK,” Ray said to Clare. “All I need to do is follow the trail of screaming voices."</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br />“She has learned well,” Ray thought. “Never let a stranger pick you up.” They had taught her that If someone tries to, scream scratch and punch like there was no tomorrow, use anything at hand to beat or throw at them.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Ray saw Sandy a few aisles down further and waved for her to go in the direction of the last scream. Sandy and Ray converged on her in the vegetable section.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Natty had some how climbed to a shelf where they kept an assortment of cabbages. Natty was about to roll a big cabbage on a female clerk's head. Ray yelled for her to stop. When Natty recognized the voice she let go of the cabbage. It smashed into the next shelves bringing down a small avalanche of vegetables with it. The clerk lay on the floor inundated by vegetables. The big cabbage teetered on the last shelf, then fell and bounced off her head and rolled away.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;">At the check out counter, Clare paid the clerk with the black eye for the damages. "Come again when you can't stay as long," the clerk<br />responded</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;">.<br />"How much did that set us back?" Ray asked Clare</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;">-38-</span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">“Close to a hundred dollars" she replied.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br />"What if Natty would have been really in the mood?", Sandy asked grinning. Clare looked at her to see if she was serious.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Once outside every one laughed, including Natty. Ray picked her up, set her on his shoulders and danced around the parking lot. At the river boat Ray cast off saying, “Farewell, Greenville, Mississippi!”</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br />"Loosen up, everybody, you all look like you just got back from a funeral!" Ray had taped and glued the radio back together as well as he could and now it was time to try it out. He turned it on and rock music blared out of one of the speakers. Natty jumped around in a circle singing, “Ya, ya, ya!” Sandy danced half halfheartedly when Clare began to dance wildly at the center of the kitchen. Ray watched, keeping time to the music, tapping a ruler on the instrument panel. Sandy puled back and let Clare have the floor as she clapped her hands in encouragement.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;">After the tune was over Clare slumped in a chair, winded.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br />"I didn't know that a person your age could dance to rock music, uh, oh. I didn't mean that the way it sounded," he immediately added realizing he had made the age old mistake of mentioning age to a woman.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Oh ya, I can dance circles around you any day young man!”, Clare boasted. “What age do you think I am anyway?"</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Sandy take over the wheel, I can't pass up this challenge," he informed her.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Both Clare and Ray gyrated around the kitchen while Natty sat in a corner jumping up and down and squealing happily. After three consecutive jigs both laid on the floor fighting for breath and laughing at the same time.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;">“I never saw any one dance like you before, young or old," Ray said admiringly. "Where did you learn to dance like that?" Ray asked.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"When I was younger I danced in night clubs. I put myself through school dancing in night clubs," Clare informed him.<br />"Wow, that must have been interesting!" Ray said in wonderment.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"It was an exciting part of my life but I wouldn't recommend it to young girls just starting out, It can lead to all kinds of dangerous predicaments, sometimes life threatening situations."</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br />"How did you come to be a social worker?" Sandy asked.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"I always loved and cared for children. I was the oldest of five, our mum was a single parent and I kind of naturally became the mother when mum was too busy for us. I never complained, I loved it and I was a natural at it. When I got to college I was willing to do whatever I had to do to work with children. That was my one and only goal in life," Clare revealed.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;">-39-</span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Social workers don't help children they just separate them, so they never see each other again. Like the twins in the National Enquirer, reunited some sixty years later. Sixty years from now I probably won't even care if I'm alive," Ray said, lowering his head. Clare put her arm around his shoulder saying, "It's alright Ray, I promise that I will do every thing I can to keep you guys together. We could still make this legal all we need is the proper papers from a judge and..."</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br />"No! If we even show our selves near a court house they'll take us away," Ray said pulling away from Clare. Clare thought about it and had to agree. One week later this far up river without a report, It would be her that they would most likely judge as incompetent, if not throw the book at her for attempted kidnapping.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br />"You're right, we're all in the same boat together.”, Clare concurred. Both Sandy and Ray laughed.<br />"What's so funny?" Clare asked.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br />"Voi-la," Ray said pirouetting with his arms outstretched, indicating the river boat cabin around them that served as the kitchen.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br />"Ain’t it the truth," Clare said joining in the laughter.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br />"Tomorrow we'll be in Helena Mississippi. They're having a<br />carnival there," Ray announced.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br />"Let's not stop there," Clare said. An uneasiness tugged at her.<br />"Why not, Clare?" Sandy asked.<br />"I'm not sure, I guess It's just that there will be a lot of people there and you never know who we could run into." Clare said, not knowing how else to explain the gut feeling she had go through her.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br />"Do you really think they could be looking for us this far north?" Ray asked.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br />Just then a police cruiser approached. It slowed its speed and flashed its spot light at them, then continued on without a second look. Ray pointed starboard at the receding cruiser. “They can't be looking for us too hard," he remarked. Clare still felt uneasy about anyone leaving the security of the riverboat. She just wished they could just keep going non-stop until they had reached their destination.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br />"You and Ray can go, I'll stay her with the baby, That way you can have fun without worrying about the boat and your little sister." She didn't know why exactly why she felt uneasy about this stop over. Maybe she was just jumping at shadows.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br />"Come on Natty let's go fix us up some supper." On hearing her name Natty got up and toddled her way to Clare.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;">-40-</span></b></div>
cynthiagrlx@.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15899106950524179648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8883185399977274476.post-28103232276844730332013-09-15T14:06:00.000-07:002013-09-15T14:06:13.727-07:00The River Boat ~ Capter 2 ~ part2 ~<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Chapter 2</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Part 2</span></b><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8LyLGpqP5Po/UjYg_BAb45I/AAAAAAAABQo/Sw6kHq_rW6w/s1600/water_front_lights.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8LyLGpqP5Po/UjYg_BAb45I/AAAAAAAABQo/Sw6kHq_rW6w/s400/water_front_lights.jpg" width="400" /></span></a><b><span style="color: #274e13;">the cops that night to have him removed. I thought that would be the end of it but I bet he's the one that came back to get the mother and I doubt she went willingly," George said aloud to the voice in his head.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Listen to me now, I'm starting to talk to myself." He</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">slammed the map down that he had been looking at and climbed back above deck. Turning on the transistor radio, George busied himself pulling up anchor and setting sail northward. “Too much idle time can addle a person's mind”, he muttered under his breath.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;">That evening he relaxed and enjoyed the cool wind on his cheeks and the lights on the shore line that had begun to come on twinkled on the wavelets of the river. That night the stars were in competition with the lights on shore. The water was like a sheet of glass that reflected sky and earth so that from a distance, with the ground mist, one couldn't make the distinction from land, sky, and water. This is what he had longed for all these years. The wind, the water, and the sky. This one was a windless night and he had to use the motor to cruise up river.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;">It was a calm, peaceful night with hardly any other traffic</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">on the waterway. He felt lifted as though entering a new world of existence in time and space.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;">A loud bang brought George out of his fantasy with a start. His foot stepped on some thing round. With arms flailing at empty air he fell over board backwards, into the water. Swimming as hard as he might, the boat continued to draw away from him farther and farther. George screamed and</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">yelled half choking on the none-too-clean Mississippi water.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">He heard a crunching sound and saw his boat cant at an odd angle and stop. For a brief moment the motor whined then went silent. He swam the two dozen feet to his boat. It was lodged on a sand bar. With relief he found that there was no damage to the starboard hull where it had struck the sand bar. He tried to push it off but it would not budge. Trying to lever it off the sand bar with a pole proved futile also. He would need a pull to get off this sand bar.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">All he could think about was the time that would be wasted trying to find someone to help him on the almost deserted river. As if in answer to his mental plea some one</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">shouted, "Aye, ya need some halp thare, baye!" That was all he needed, help from a drunken Irishman, George thought despairingly, sitting on the sand bar.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">He waved resignedly to the drunken Irishman to come forth.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">-29-</span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">The Irishman tied his dilapidated forty-two foot chug-a-lug tug boat to the back of George's sleek catamaran and yelled, “Saye when, baye, I'll give this old gal aver thang shas gat.”</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"I just hope he doesn't pull the stern end right off of</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">her," George mumbled to himself, waving for the Irishman to go ahead. The sudden jerk almost sent George into the river for a second time.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"That's it, I'm erecting some railing around the helm area</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">after this," he determined.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Yas sea wothy agan lad? Want a little nip of ye old Irish,</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">lad? Wam ya bones bafow ya go out ta sea."</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"No thanks but I really do appreciate your helping me. how</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">much do you want for your services?"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Nah, keep yo monay lad, yal need it fow mo than me."</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">George gave the Irishman a description of the river boat and</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">the children.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"I'll keep an eye out fow ha," he said, and winked with his</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">right eye then turned and departed with a roar trailing white foam behind him.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Ya'll hafe ta bye mow alert din dat, baye!," he mimicked</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">the Irishman, if you intend to go another mile up this river, let alone seventy. You can day dream all you want when you're at anchor." George chastised himself. The rest of the night went without further mishap.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">The sun came up in the east red and hazy-looking. If the old sailor sayings held any truth, a red sun in the morning supposedly meant sailor's warning.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">George turned the transistor on to discover that the old sailor saying held true. They called for heavy rain in the afternoon and the temperature to drop to thirty-eight degrees, twenty degrees below seasonal.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">He pulled into port in Chatham, Mississippi just before nightfall, weary and chilled. He had three cups of hot strong coffee in the marina's snack bar called The Galley, then ordered a side order that consisted of a quarter pounder stake, mashed potatoes, a salad, chicken broth soup and apple pie with ice cream, all for a king's ransom of $6.50. He figured he needed the energy and you don't get energy food at a Mc Donald's.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">-30-</span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Aboard the Tamarack George closed the hatch to the hull that served as the sleeping quarters and crawled into the bunk fully clothed. He was asleep before he could even remove his hat. His dreams commenced almost immediately.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">He was back standing on the sand bar and the Missy was no</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">where in sight. He was alone, nothing moved on the water around him. With visibility of about twenty feet all he could see was thick fog and inky black water. A light snow fell adding to his misery. He had already yelled for help until his throat hurt but there was no sign of any life on the river. His shouts sounded hollow like yelling inside a vault.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">He saw something move In the distance, barely visible at first, then it slowly began to take shape as it drew closer. Someone has finally heard my pleas and are coming to my rescue, he thought hopefully at first. The closer it got he began to make out more clearly the details of</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">the vessel.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">His heart sank when he realised that this ship had no lights and didn't appear to have any signs of activity on board. It looked like it was abandoned and drifting. It drifted very slowly towards him. Finally coming out of the fog bank he recognised the structure of the vessel. It had once been an old paddle wheeler. He thought he knew this vessel, but how could he? It had the appearance of having just been dredged out of the bottom of the river where it had rested for a very long time. Still there was something familiar about this vessel.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">It continued to drift towards him until it came to rest on the sand bar. Slime, algae and mud hung from the bow in frays and tatters.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">George approached the vessel warily. There was something here that was not right. His mind screamed at him to go back, to turn and run as fast and as far away from this place as he possibly could. Even though his mind screamed for him to retreat he found himself unable to do so, like his body was a separate entity from his mind.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">George walked to the bow and began scraping off the name plate with his hands. An ominous feeling went through him</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">like an electrified wind. It read "Misty." George backed up a few feet, nearly stumbling to the ground. Of course! He had known all along what this vessel was. He had just been hoping he was wrong.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"It's the children's river boat, what had happened to it?</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">What happened to the children and Clare?" He found it</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">-31-</span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">impossible to climb the slimy sides. He would climb up a foot or two just to slide back down to the ground. He could not find any place for his hands and feet to grip.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Dragging a piece of drift wood from the edge of the sand</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">bar he propped it up against the side of the river boat and </span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">climbed up the piece of driftwood unto the deck. The deck also was covered with the same slippery slime making it hard to keep footing.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">The door to the cabin would not open. It was water-swelled.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Picking up a piece of slime covered drift wood that lay on the deck, he battered the door with it until it swung inward. The dark interior smelled of decay and some thing else he could not quite identify.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">George tripped over something and fell on top of a slime covered mound. Looking down he discovered that the mound</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">had a human form. He reached up and wiped the sludge from the face. It was the horror stricken face of Clare.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">George scrambled crab-like back against the wall. Something thumped against the wall behind him. Looking up he saw two more slime covered forms hanging there on meat hooks. Next to them, written on the wall in blood, were the words, YOU'RE NEXT.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">George back pedaled and once again his back struck a wall. Something heavy fell in his lap. It was the algae covered mangled body of a baby. He screamed and once again tried to scramble away on all fours then slid and fell face first on the slime covered floor, breathless from the struggle.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">There was a rasping coming from the next room, like that of a file on metal. This solitary sound grew ominously closer with every passing second. He had to get out, he did not</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">care to see who the maker of the sound was.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">He tried desperately to move but his body refused to respond to his panicked mind that continued to scream for him to flee from this place. The longer he sat motionless the deeper the slime thickened.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">When motion finally came his feet felt like they were mired in the slime that had by now risen to his knees. It seemed to be oozing in from the outside like the river boat was slowly sinking in the stuff.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">A dark shapeless form appeared in the doorway to the next room. It held a butcher's file in one hand and a meat hook in the other. The hook's curved end was sharpened to a shiny needle point.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">-32-</span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">George's movements through the slime were agonizingly slow as he tried desperately to get to the door. Behind him the rasping had resumed, coming closer and closer.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">The door! it had begun to close. George knew that if he didn't get out before the door closed he would never leave this cursed vessel.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">In a last bid for escape he threw himself at the door. He fell through the door into a bottomless black pit, his body flipping end over end.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">He woke up thrashing on the floor next to the cot in his own vessel. Hugging himself with his arms, he sat up trembling uncontrollably. Taking the blanket off the cot he wrapped it around himself. He was not sure from which he shivered the most, the cold or fear.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">It was indeed cold in the sleeping compartment as he could see his exhaled breath. He looked out through the porthole to see fat wet flakes of snow falling. Putting on a sweater and a rain slicker he went above deck and cast off. No sleep would come to him on this night. Too many ghosts afoot.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">The morning brought a light wind and he set sail. The temperature was still low but not as cold as it had been</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">during the night. He realised the air would get cooler the further north he went at this time of year but this was unusually cold for the middle of April even for this area. He enjoyed the wind, the sails and the lapping of water on the hull. He was a little tired but he felt good, He felt like he was one with the elements.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Some thing new awaited around every bend in the river. When he saw an old tug with the name Irish Rover he wondered if it was his friend from the night before.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">The sun came out mid-afternoon bringing with it some warmth. The warmer temperature made him drowsy and he feared the same thing as the night before would repeat </span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">itself, or worse, like hitting one of the rocky banks that lined the shore line dead on or get run over by a barge.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">He put into port in a little cove at a place called Colten, near Winterville, and went below for some shut-eye.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">A banging on the hatch brought him out of his sleep. Opening the hatch George was confronted by two burly police officers standing above deck.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">-33-</span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">“Can I help you?," George asked in an unintentionally squeaky voice. That was all he needed now, to catch a cold.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Yes, my name is Officer McKinley, we are looking for a</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">fugitive from justice, a possible murderer. We are checking all out-of-state vessels. The burly cop handed him a picture. “Have you seen this man on your journey up-river?"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Can't say I did officer, What's his name?" George asked on</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">a hunch.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Dan Everett," The officer informed him. George's stomach</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">went cold.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Do you know this man?," McKinley asked him.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Indirectly," George responded.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"How indirectly?" the other officer asked.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"I know of him through a sergeant in Morganza, that is where</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">I'm from."</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Are you following this person?" McKinley asked.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"No sir, I'm on vacation." George responded.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Kind of early for a vacation isn't it? Especially if you're</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">heading north," the other Officer asked.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"This is the only opportunity I had to go on this cruise.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Besides it'll warm up by the time I get to where I'm going."</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Oh I see, it's a long trip and a long holiday, huh? Wish I</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">could do that, preferably during warmer weather of course,"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Officer McKinley responded. "Well take care, I hope you have a good holiday. Remember! if you see this man, stay away from him, he is armed and dangerous. Contact us immediately if you see him."</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Just one more question, Officer McKinley: Why hasn't there </span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">been anything on the news and whom is he suspected of killing?</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"He's a suspect in the murder of his wife and it has been</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">kept from the media with the hope of keeping him from going on the run and making the hunt more difficult," McKinley responded.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Was the murder recent?" George asked.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">-34-</span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"According to forensics the death of the woman is nearly four months old. What is your interest in this case?" McKinley asked.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">George knew he had over stepped his bounds and had to back</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">pedal.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"None, Officer except that Morganza is not that big of a</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">community and something this big usually circulates fairly quick. Since I didn't hear anything I gather it didn't happen in the community, that the murder happened else- where. what I am trying to say is I heard some thing about this man but nothing of this scope.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Just what kind of something have you heard?," The other</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">officer asked.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Only that... what the hell, I may as well lay it on the</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">line. If I don't tell you the whole story you'll find out from the sergeant in Morganza any way. I'm looking for his three children and my girl friend, They left Morganza on a river boat. You didn't happen to see one on your travels have you?"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Afraid not, we don't have any reports of missing children</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">or a river boat. But we will certainly look in to it. Do you</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">happen to know this sergeants name in Morganza?"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Sergeant Duffy," George responded.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"We already have your credentials from your registry plate,</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">if some thing doesn't add up, we'll be looking for you, and one last word of warning, if you see this man, don't try to be a hero. Stay away from him, he's dangerous. Call the proper authorities to handle it." Officer McKinley advised.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Yes sir," George responded.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">He knew now that Dan may be somewhere on this section of the river, he had to find the children and Clare before Dan did.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">George went above deck and set sail again northward. If there were no other delays he hoped he would rendezvous with the river boat before dusk of the next day.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Memories of the previous night's nightmare came back to him. George shivered. No amount of sweaters would rid him of this chill. "Was it a premonition?," he asked himself. It seemed so real.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">-35-</span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">The sun came out and again it was mild and a good wind blew. The wind caught his sails, drawing him northward at an ever increasing speed. George sat behind the helm thinking back about his river friends. How he had, from a distance, loved to listen to the girl sing to the baby; how he had enjoyed watching them play with the little one; how he had chuckled at the little one playing with the terrier. He would sit back in his fishing boat and fantasize that they were his children.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Now all this could be lost by the hand of one ruthless man. From a distance he had seen this man in action, heard the screams and the crying, felt the pain and fear he inflicted on those around him. He had been tempted to take action on several occasions but knew that if he did he was the one that would probably end up getting charged for trespassing and or assault.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">There was nothing he could do unless someone's life was in danger. There were a couple of times where he thought there was a life-threatening situation but when he had drawn closer to the river boat things had quieted down. The night of the crashing sounds and screaming he had called the police on his cell phone that he carried with him wherever</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">he went.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">They had removed Dan Everett and he had hoped that this would end the tyranny, but it hadn't. He had come back once and had stayed for nearly a month. Things had been rela- </span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">tively quiet. Probably going through a dry stretch, George had thought.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Then there was a fresh outbreak of his uncontrollable rages. George had feared that this time someone may end up dead. He worried especially for the baby. The row had ended with a crash and something being thrown overboard. The mother of the children screamed and had jumped on his back pounding him with her fists. He had thrown her to the side like she were a rag doll and had left the river boat.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">George had feared that he may have thrown the baby overboard</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">in his blind rage. He had begun rowing his fishing dinghy toward the river boat. At this point he didn't care if he got charged for trespassing it was his duty as a citizen to investigate the possible drowning of a child.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Before he had rowed ten feet towards the river boat he heard a babble of voices, then the baby cried. George let the oars drop in the water and let out a breath of relief. He had come back once after that, the night he thought the mother had disappeared. He now feared that he may yet come back again for one last time, to complete unfinished</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">business.</span></b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">-36-</span></b></div>
cynthiagrlx@.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15899106950524179648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8883185399977274476.post-70552662573777797702013-09-12T18:43:00.001-07:002013-09-12T18:46:24.315-07:00The Riverboat Chapter 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AAzWOpQvMMs/UjJtO-aea4I/AAAAAAAABPw/O5CZLpR48m4/s1600/flowers2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AAzWOpQvMMs/UjJtO-aea4I/AAAAAAAABPw/O5CZLpR48m4/s1600/flowers2.JPG" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">The Riverboat</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Two</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;">George had dropped by Clare's office with flowers and<br />chocolates only to be told she no longer worked there, that she had quit.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"When did this happened?" George asked.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Five fifteen Monday after noon, to be exact I remember the<br />exact time because I was just about to leave for home when the phone rang and I debated if I should answer it or not," the moon-faced lady behind the desk informed him. “She phoned in and said she was quitting, to forward her papers to her address, that she would not be back in. She added that Clare was taking a long-deserved vacation and she had a better job with an adoption agency when she returned. “That's as near to her exact words as I can recall. Just what is your interest in her?," the lady asked.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"I thought I was a good friend of hers, I met her a few<br />times at coffee shops and this was going to be our first date. It just doesn't make sense, when I left her around three that afternoon she had agreed to meet me here today. Does that sound like some one that was going to quit her job?", George asked.<br />"Anything is possible. A lot of people do funny things on<br />impulse," the lady countered.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"OK, thank you for your time. Just one more thing: Did she<br />enter her last job report?"</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Come to think of it, no. Just a minute, yes, here it is. Her last job assignment was to check on the Everett kids. You're the fellow that was with her on that assignment, aren't you?"</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Yes, I am," George replied.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Well this is all I have of that report, the job description but no conclusion to the job report. Didn't she leave with you?" the lady asked.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"No she had to return to the river boat, she said she had<br />left her purse there. I offered to go back with her but she<br />insisted it was OK. I left after that."</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">George got in his truck and headed for Highway 20, back to where he had left Clare. He parked the truck around the</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;">-21-</span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">same place he had on that day. “Something just doesn't set right here,” he said to himself.</span></b><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Climbing out of the truck, George walked to the end of the trail. At the river's edge the only trace of the river boat he could find was the churned up muddy bottom of the river where it had once sat. The roiled mud and silt from its<br />passage still smudged the river bottom, indicating it had gone in a northerly direction. He had one more place to check out to confirm his already forming suspicions.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">At the Morganza precinct George gave the description of Clare's car, a red '93 Mustang, Louisianna licence plate EC3 X24 to the officer in-charge.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">When George was alone on the road he would play a mental game of how many licence plate numbers he could memorize and how many makes of cars he could identify to pass the time. He had become quite astute at playing this game and it had come in handy in assisting the police on a few occasions.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">A sergeant came back out of his office with a clip board.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"I believe you'll find the vehicle in question at the North<br />End Impound. It was towed away just this morning, It had been sitting at the same location on the side of the highway for two days. Twenty-four hours is the statutory limit" the sergeant informed him.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"I would like to report a possible abduction," George<br />announced. He then proceeded to report to the sergeant every<br />thing that he knew.<br />"You say indications are that the river boat went north?,"<br />the sergeant asked.<br />"Yes I do sir," George answered<br />"Would you happen to know the name of the owner of the riverboat?”<br />"No sir. All I know is that there were three children and<br />their mother living aboard but I suspect the mother was no longer with the children."</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Why do you suspect the mother is no longer with the<br />children?," the sergeant inquired.<br />"Because when ever I would go by there on the river to go<br />fishing farther up stream, all I saw was the two older children and on occasion I think the baby was by herself.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;">-22-</span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">I haven't seen any adults there since the drunken husband left about four months ago."</span></b><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"That would be Dan Everett," the Sergeant said.<br />"You know him?" George asked.<br />"We certainly do, a nasty man when he's drunk. He spends<br />more time in lock up than on the street, a bar room brawler is what he is. We have a list of misdemeanors on him longer than this room, but nothing serious enough to send him to the big house, but I'd lay a bet that some day he'll end up there. Haven't seen him for a while though," the sergeant informed George.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"How long will it take before you take action on this<br />missing persons report? Possibly two missing persons." George added.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"It could take anywhere from two days to a week. We have to<br />look at every possibility before we go public with something like this. Furthermore they could turn up any time while the investigation is taking place. At any rate we usually give four days for adults and twenty four hours for children from the time of report. You did say she told her superiors that she was going on a vacation?"</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Yes sir, but what about the car?" George asked<br />despondently.<br />"It could have broke down and she just never bothered to<br />return for it. We find abandoned vehicles on the highway all the time where the owners never come back for them."</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Thank you for your time sergeant, just one thing more<br />before I go, I'm also taking a vacation." George informed the sergeant.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"If your going after the river boat, just one word of<br />caution, If you see Dan Everett around, stay away from him and call us."</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Thanks, sergeant, George looked at his badge and added,<br />Duffy." George drove home and loaded his twenty four foot<br />Catamaran. Next he drove to his service station and asked Jim, his attendant, to take over and manage things for him for a few days, that he had other business out-of-state to attend to.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Dan Everett was on the run. He had killed his wife, Melanie, and had left her body lying on the floor in a puddle of blood in his cabin nearly four months ago.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;">-23-</span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">He could not remember clearly what had happened. All he could remember was going to the river boat with the intention of making amends to Mel. Some thing had gone wrong and he remembered hitting her, that was all he could remember.</span></b><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">The next day he had awakened and found her on the floor dead. In a panic he had stolen some ones boat and in a drunken haze he had gone north on the Mississippi. At one point on his journey the distraction of constantly looking behind him for flashing red lights had almost brought about a disastrous end to his flight.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Looking ahead once more after such an occasion, he was forced to swerve sharply to the right to avoid a canoe that had appeared out of nowhere before him. There was a loud thud, the bow of the boat shot straight up and he found himself airborne. He had hit one of the many grassy mounds of sand that dotted the river. When the bow came down again he could see a dock before him on which sat a couple who were enjoying the evening, looking at the stars. The hull of his boat sailed mere inches over their heads. Barely clearing the side of the dock he hit the water on the other side in a spray that drenched both him and the couple.<br />For three days he had continued northward, only stopping<br />for gas and a new supply of Scotch whisky. On the last night he had run out of gas and rowed the last two miles to Helena, Mississippi. Finding the closest bar, he had gone on a binge and had picked a fight with one of the patrons. Two of the town's rough necks who served as the bar's bouncers had beaten him unconscious and thrown him in a trash bin at the back of the bar.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">The next day he felt like the trash he laid in, He needed a<br />drink, but more urgently he needed the money to buy it. Using a service station washroom he cleaned himself as best he could and walked down to the marina where he had left his boat. Luck had it that he was able to obtain a job as a gas jockey. That night in a secluded cove, he filled the stolen boat with rocks, pulled the plug and watched it sink slowly below the muddy waters of the Mississippi.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">He had a plan. He figured if he stayed sober and did his job<br />job well he would gain their confidence sufficiently so he could run about the place at will, allowing him to case the business for a later heist.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">For five nights he sweated and shook violently. Delirium tremens nearly drove him insane during those nights in the aluminum shed that served as his quarters.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;">-24-</span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">He needed a drink but he knew that if he did he would blow any chance of pulling off his planned caper.</span></b><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">When sleep finally did come it was filled with the night on the river boat. His fist came up hitting Mel squarely on<br />the right cheek. He would see her falling sideways and hitting her head on the corner of the counter with a dull wet smack, her limp body going to the floor and convulsing twice, then lying still - too still.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">He knew even through his drunkenness that she was dead. He<br />had to get her out of there before the kids discovered it.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">He picked her up and carried her, staggering all the way to the highway. Throwing her in the back of a pickup that he had borrowed, he slammed the tail gate shut then slid to the ground behind the truck, winded and crying. “Maybe she's not dead. I'll bring her home and she'll be alright in the morning. That's what I'll do.”</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Dan dragged her into the cabin and dropped her on the floor not far from his cot where he would be able to keep an eye<br />on her. Going out again he drove the pick up down to the river's edge and cleaned all traces of any blood then returned it to the owner.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Back at the cabin he sat on the cot talking to Mel and<br />drinking until the bottle slid from his fingers and he fell over sideways in a dead weight and passed out.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">In the morning he found her on the floor where he had left her. She hadn't moved. She was lying on her left side. All around her head was a pool of blood. Turning her over onto her back he discovered that she had a big gash on her left temple with blood and something else oozing out. He would wake up screaming, He could not get peace in sleep or<br />wakefulness.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Dan remained at the marina for four months. For four months he hadn't drank and felt much better, but the nightmares still haunted him. He thought that they would haunt him till the day he died. There had been no sign<br />of police investigations yet. Maybe they won't find her in that cabin up there in the woods. He had grown a beard just on the outside chance that someone might be looking for him. Every day he would go to Billy Cline's Bar not to have a drink, but to watch the news. Each day he came out of the bar a little more relieved.<br />“A week from tonight Danny, that will be the night for the<br />heist. With that festival in town the marina will close early and there won't be any one around except Ralph, the</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;">-25-</span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">night watchman." he assured himself aloud. “I'll slip him a mickey with a little added bonus and that will take care of that.”</span></b><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">He had watched Ralph on many a night taking his pleasure when he thought no one was watching, so Dan knew he liked his grog. He'd also have a pick of any boat he wanted for the getaway. “Where will I go? Maybe I'll go up to Minne- sota. The farther north the better.”</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">That night he dreamed the same dream except the end was different. In this dream he was still aboard the river boat when he discovered that Mel was dead. Ray, Sandy, and Natty stood staring at him.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Get out of here you brats! You did this, not me. You killed<br />your mother!" He screamed at them, then lunged forward towards them. He stopped, something was happening, Hair grew on their faces and they grew in size like deformed apes. What used to be Ray, opened its mouth to reveal incisor teeth that could easily tear him apart. Ray walked slowly towards him saying, “I'm not afraid of you and you can't break my arm any more. You're not going to hurt any one ever again, father!" Dan backed into a wall. There was nowhere to go. He was cornered.<br />"Cornered like the rat you are, father," Ray Spoke as if he was reading his father's mind.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Sandy stood next to him saying, “I'll start with the torso you take the arms and legs.”</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">“Save the heart for me, I like heart!” Natty yelled. Dan sat up in bed in a cold sweat.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Is it possible they may come after me for revenge?" Dan<br />asked himself. I wish I could leave now, this place gives me the creeps! It's still to close to home,” Dan said, shivering from the cold - or was it from his sickened conscience? “How could I have sank so low on the scale of life? I once had a loving wife and two beautiful children, a good job and good friends. How could this happen to me? Now I have nothing and I've killed my wife. Nothing matters any more except to survive at any cost and drink<br />myself into oblivion where there are no dreams. What kind of<br />monsters have I made of my children, that they have begun to<br />haunt my dreams?” Dan curled up in the fetal position and pulled the covers over him, wishing for the oblivion he knew alcohol would bring him.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">George cruised into a marina at Vicksburg, Mississippi, as the light of dawn had just begun to creep over the trees</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">-26-</span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">that lined the river. He was weary from the long journey through the night. He needed fuel and some thing to eat. Maybe he would stop for rest up-river a little further but for now he could not afford the luxury.</span></b><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">George gave the best description he could of Clare and the three children to the attendant at the pumps. The attendant shook his head, indicating ignorance of any knowledge<br />of the persons he described. George jumped onto the catamaran and pushed away from the dock, no further enlightened than when he had left Morganza, Louisiana. They apparently had not stopped any where along the way not even for fuel, he thought.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">George tried to think of all the alternatives. There was always the possibility that they may have taken any one of the tributary rivers but he did not think so. If someone was running away from somewhere in the south on the Mississippi they would more likely go to the north as far and as directly as they could go, or from the north it would be straight to the south. He had one advantage over the riverboat: He could raise sail and go indefinitely<br />without fuel. They could not. Sooner or later they would have to put into port and refuel. He hoped it would be sooner. His only disadvantage is that he had to sleep. The two teens aboard the river boat could take alternate shifts.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">On this day he had been lucky and had his catamaran towed up river by a passing barge while he caught up on a little sleep on the deck behind the helm.<br />"This is it mister! That's as far as I go," a voice from the<br />barge brought him out of his sleep. Sitting up he saw the captain of the barge throwing down his tow rope.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Good luck mister, I hope you find those people."</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Thanks," George answered sleepily.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">The barge turned into a tributary and disappeared around a peninsula. George stretched and looked around to see where he was. Coming around a wide bend in the river he discovered that he was at a place called Natchez, Mississippi, nearly a hundred miles from his departure.<br />He had covered a good forty miles while he slept.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"That should give me a bit of a jump, he thought, raising<br />the sails. There was a warm wind blowing and he sailed smoothly through the choppy river. For mid-April the air was warm, but he knew it wouldn't last. There would be cooler temperatures and rain ahead further north.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">-27-</span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">George erected a lean to of poles and canvas over the helm and controls of the catamaran to keep him dry when the rains came.</span></b><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Anchoring offshore he went below deck in one of the hulls he used as the galley to eat and to study the assortment of maps he had kept for just such an occasion as this. He had always wanted to take a long voyage on his prized vessel.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">It had taken him years to build his “cat boat” from scratch. Now that his dream had been completed he had never found the time or had procrastinated on his venture out with it. If they were covering around sixty miles a day and they had a two day jump over him, he roughly calculated that this would place them around Clarksdale, Mississippi. Seventy some miles up further than he was. If he sailed through the whole night he hoped he would gain on them. They would have to stop some time, he reasoned.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Being as far up the river as they were he hoped they would start to feel a little safer from pursuit and would start relaxing their steady flight northward. They would want to stop for food and maybe a little entertainment. “My immed- iate concern is, what have they done with Clare?”</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">He thought back to what he had learned of the children. What he had noted from a distance is that they didn't appear like the violent or druggy type. They were protect-ive of the baby and acted no different from other children their age. He had even seen them on several occasions playing with the baby, along the bank of the river, gay laughter drifting his way. The girl would sometimes sing to the baby; the baby would respond with giggles and much hand clapping. These children seemed closely knit if anything.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">“No I don't think that Clare is in any immediate danger,” George thought. “What worries me is what the sergeant said.” the words came back to him loud and clear: “If you see Dan Everett stay away from him! He is dangerous.”</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">What if Dan decided to come looking for the children? That would place Clare in danger. He had this gut feeling and so had the sergeant, that Everett would cross trails with them. He had to get to them before Everett did.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Why are you fretting yourself over this woman you hardly<br />know?," a little voice inside his head seemed to ask him. “Maybe I'm not just doing it for the woman anymore. After watching those children from a distance for the last two years, I've come to know them in some ways and I come to think of them as my river friends. I don't particularly want to see that drunken animal catch up to them. I called</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;">-28-</span></div>
cynthiagrlx@.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15899106950524179648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8883185399977274476.post-81952337745719653192013-09-07T20:52:00.002-07:002013-09-16T11:42:07.869-07:00The River Boat part 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dAQjGmV3WZs/Uiv0UExjciI/AAAAAAAABNE/eXIer81uNKo/s1600/river-boat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dAQjGmV3WZs/Uiv0UExjciI/AAAAAAAABNE/eXIer81uNKo/s400/river-boat.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em; text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Your mothers room, her clothes haven't been disturbed for a<br />while."</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"How do you dare invade our home!” Ray got up and knocked his chair on the floor in anger. “Maybe I should feed you to the fish after all!", he threatened angrily.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Please I'm not that kind of social worker, I work to keep<br />mothers and children together, not to separate them. If you would just tell me where your mother is, maybe I can help you."</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Lady you can't help us, Our dad came and took her away four<br />months ago, we haven't seen her since. I guess she doesn't care about us either!" Ray said vehemently.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"How did he take her away? She didn't go willingly did she?"<br />Clare asked.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"No she didn't, he was drunk, he came in with a bottle in one hand and a bouquet of flowers in the other. He was making all kinds of promises to her but she just kept shaking her head and saying 'no.' They had a fight, then he beat her up and carried her over his shoulder towards the highway. That's the last we seen of either of them."</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"I don't think your mother left because she didn't love you and I think she didn't come back because she was unable to. Look if you let me go I'll do every thing I can to keep all three of you together. I can get a court order to keep you under my roof until they can find some one that will take all three of you," Clare pleaded.<br />"Look, lady, maybe you mean what you say but we have no<br />guarantee that the system will go along with you and we'll do anything to stay together. I'm sorry lady but you are taking a trip to Canada with us."</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"What? Did you really mean that about Canada?" Sandy asked.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Yes I did and we're leaving tonight before we get some more<br />social workers or worse, cops, come to pay us a visit. We're going to find Uncle Sal in Ontario."</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"But you're not even sure where he lives," Sandy pointed<br />out.</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>-9-</b></span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"We'll find him," he said walking to a trap door at the<br />center of the kitchen floor. Ray lifted the trap door and<br />disappeared below deck.</span></b><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Were really going to Canada!" Sandy said excitedly to Natty<br />who was slapping her hands in here plate and letting out little yelps of excitement.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Ray turned on the flashlight and went to the engine compartment. A few years ago, when things had been better, their dad had installed a 440 V8 Ford engine to power the old paddle wheel river boat.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">On one of those happier occasions their dad had taken them on trips on the old paddle wheeler. Their Uncle Sal with the rust-colored beard had been with them on one of those trips. Uncle Sal reminded Ray of a pirate. He was a writer and could tell some really good whoppers. He was jolly and enjoyed playing games with them. Before he had left he had told them to come to Canada if they ran into any problems. He said that he would be more then happy to have them come to visit.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">All that Ray could recall about where their uncle lived was that it was a place near an Indian Reservation called Cape Croaker. It was on a part of a big lake called the Georgian Bay.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">The engine looked rusty and unused. Ray prayed that it would start. He had tried to start it the previous week but the battery was dead. He had the battery on charge for the last couple of days. If the battery was any good it should be fully charged by now he thought. He connected the cables and pushed the starter button. Nothing happened. He pushed the button again and the motor made a moaning sound then died. The cylinders must have went dry of oil from sitting unused, he thought.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Ray took the cover off the motor and poured gasoline on<br />the top of the engine hoping that it would lubricate it enough it up a bit. He replaced the cover and poured a liberal amount of gas in the carburettor as well. Then he pushed the starter button. The motor turned-over once, then flames shot out of the carburettor three feet long. This was followed by such a roar that the concussion knocked him backwards into the bilge water at the bottom of the hull.</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>-10-</b></span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">The motor was revving so high he thought that it would melt down to a blob of molten metal. Suddenly it idled down to a smooth rhythm. Ray got to his feet and jumped up and down yelling “Yes!" At least their old man had left them some thing that worked.</span></b><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Ray had been squirreling away gas and oil for several months, even before their mom had disappeared, in the event that it would come to something like this. He wished it had been sooner and preferably with their mother. He hoped there<br />would be enough fuel to get to Canada, or as close as the river boat would allow them to get to this lake called Georgian Bay.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Above deck Ray, with Sandy's help, untied the mooring ropes and pulled in the ramp. In the kitchen Ray lifted a panel that had served as a counter, revealing a control panel and wheel behind it. the control panel consisted of a throttle lever and a big red kill button to shut off the motor. Next to the red button was a smaller blue button for the starter. Ray revved the motor and the ancient river boat creaked and groaned, moving away from the shore grudgingly.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Suddenly there was a jerk and the river boat stopped its forward progress.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"What's wrong?", Sandy asked.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"I don't know, did we get all the mooring ropes?"</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"I'm sure we did,” Sandy answered.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"We must be snagged on some thing on the bottom." Ray gave<br />it full throttle. There was a loud snap and the lights went out. This was followed by a whining, then there was the sound of smashing glass and the whole cabin shuddered. The river boat lurched forward knocking Ray off his feet. Sandy had managed to stay on her feet and reached over and pulled the throttle down, stopping within a few feet of the opposite shore. Ray was red faced, he now knew what the problem had been.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"I think I forgot to cut the power line," he informed Sandy.<br />The power line had snapped off at the utility pole and had<br />whiplashed back through a side window leaving a deep gouge in the wall just above Clare's head.</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>-11-</b></span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Clare had fainted dead away when she realized how close she had come to being decapitated.</span></b><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Sandy, take 'er straight down the channel half throttle. I'm going to go down to switch the power over to the generator." A few minutes later the power was back on and Ray came up and closed the trap door. Clearing a spot on the table he set down some road maps he had collected from various gas stations in the past months.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"We're lucky that most road maps also show the waterways,"<br />Ray informed Sandy.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"What are we going to do with her? We can't keep her tied up<br />all the way to Canada," Sandy indicated to the slumped form of Clare.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"I don't know. Maybe we can leave her tied up some place<br />where some one will find her after we are long gone." Ray<br />suggested.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"What if no one finds her?," Sandy asked worriedly.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Good point, we don't need a murder rap on us. There would<br />be cops looking for us everywhere then. We'll keep her with us for the time being until we think of some thing," Ray decided.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"How long do you think before they find her missing?." Sandy<br />asked.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Probably not for a couple of days. Tomorrow, at her office,<br />they'll probably just dismiss it as her staying home because she isn't feeling well or some thing," Ray speculated.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"What if they try calling her at home?," Sandy asked.<br />I think were going to have to make a stop. Ms. Social worker has to make a phone call," Ray announced.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Clare was dreaming that she was again in the home of the drunken father with the Coke bottle. He had raised the Coke bottle to strike her across the face.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">She woke up screaming. Some one was shaking her. She tried to fight back but her arms were tied to her side.</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>-12-</b></span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">A voice was yelling, "Ms. Social worker please come out of what ever it is you're in. It's just us, me, Sandy, and Natty. Remember?"</span></b><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Clare had struggled so violently that the ropes worked loose. She settled down but she was far from feeling relieved. She worried that if the kids didn't kill her out- right they would do it indirectly by blowing up the boat with her in it.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Ray spoke to her. "Ms. Social worker this is the deal, you're going to make a phone call to your boss and tell them that you won't be making it into work for a few days, that you don't feel good. Either that or we leave you tied up in the middle of the woods somewhere. Maybe some one will find you and maybe they won't and if you're really lucky, maybe a hungry bear will eat you before you starve to death. Which way do you want it?"<br />"My name is Clare and you can forget the social worker part,<br />I've just resigned. What would you say if I told you I'm going to go along with your little scheme and I'll help you find your uncle," Clare offered.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"I'd say your full of it." Ray replied.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"OK then, take me to the phone and I'll prove it to you.<br />My offer still holds, I will do every thing to keep you under my roof if we can't find your uncle."</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">The boat made slow headway against the current of the river. It was just a few miles up the river when darkness fell and Ray tied-up for the night to a piling near a public boat launch.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">At first light Ray scouted the area and found a telephone booth at the side of the road leading to the boat launch.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Ray blindfolded Clare and and walked her through knee-deep water, up the boar launch ramp, to the roadside phone booth with one hand on her arm and the other pointing the stick at her ribs. When they got to the booth he took the blind fold off and told her to keep looking straight ahead at the phone. Clare dialed the number to her supervisor.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Hello! "Hello this is Clare Lacombe, I'm calling to tell</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>-13-</b></span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">you that effective immediately I am resigning my position and you can mail my severance pay, holiday pay and pension plan proceeds too my home address.” There was a pause, then she said, “That's right I won't be back in to work. I'm going away on a long-deserved holiday. Thank you for every thing but I should have done this long ago."</span></b><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"But Ms. Lacombe, what has brought all this on," the supervisor inquired.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Let's say I don't care for being part of separating<br />children from one another and I have no desire for being beat up by drunken husbands any more. I've been offered a position with an adoption agency with far better pay and this organization works at keeping children together."</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"If that is your wish you are as of now terminated and we<br />will forward every thing as you requested to your home address." (click.) Clare stared at the phone thinking, “Just like that.”</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"I guess I just discovered that you are just a number," she<br />informed Ray, then said, “You can put the stick away. You won't need it any more.” She turned to look at Ray's surprised face.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"You would be wise to close your mouth there are a lot of<br />flies out here. If you were wondering how I knew, I saw the reflection of the stick in the glass sides of the phone booth. If you are ready, I believe we have one hell of an adventure ahead of us. Ever since I was a kid I dreamed of going on an adventure. I guess you are providing me with that opportunity, maybe the last one in my lifetime. You're going to need an adult to pose as a custodian or you'll draw attention at the ports if they see three children traveling alone. I just hope you don't blow up the boat before we get there." Clare concluded.<br />"Sandy meet our new crew member," Ray pointed to Clare<br />with his right hand.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Are you sure? She could turn us in as soon as we have our<br />backs turned, I don't trust her. A social worker is always a<br />social worker" Sandy asserted.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Sandy I vote we give her a chance, she's right you know,</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>-14-</b></span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">It would look suspicious just the three of us traveling without adult supervision."</span></b><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Sandy, I know you have all the reasons to not trust me.<br />You're both right, for the last ten years I have seen children separated from each other, which is some thing I've always been at odds about with the system. I have also seen children repeatedly beaten to within an inch of their lives by drunken parents. Even though I don't agree with separation, in those cases I thought it was better than for these children to suffer or die at the hands of irres-ponsible and brutal parents. See this scar just under the hair line above my right ear? That was from a Coke bottle- wielding drunken father of two abused children. The mother had been beaten so severely that it was doubtful she would pull through the night. What would you do in a case like that? Leave the children in his charge? Suppose you three would have stayed where you were and your father would have come back in a raging drunken condition. What would you do? Ray and Sandy remained silent. As of now, to any one that comes snooping, you are in my custody and I am bringing you to your uncle in Alton, Illinois. Don't even mention Canada to any one. That will arouse suspicion."</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Are you on the level, lady? You are going to jeopardize your job to help us get to Canada," Sandy asked incredulously.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"My job is already history. I've had my fill with misery and<br />abuse to last me a life time. I should have quit long ago. I want to see the brighter side of life. I want to make sure you kids get there safely. At any rate I was telling the truth about having a good shot at working for an adoption agency when I get back. If you can't find your uncle you are welcome to come live with me if you wish to."</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Lady, we are going to find our uncle", Sandy said angrily,<br />pounding her fist on the helm. Ray was leaning in the door- way, staying out of the conversation. He was looking back down river the way they had come. “So long Morganza, Louisiana and as for you, (their father and mother) the hell with you both!”, he added vehemently and spat out the straw he had been chewing on. Tears began to roll down his cheeks.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">He turned his back to the others and wiped at the tears</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>-15-</b></span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">then said, "You can take a break, Sandy, once we get into Natchez, Mississippi. We'll take 5-hour alternate shifts until we get a good distance between us and...." Ray left it unsaid but Sandy knew what he meant.</span></b><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">When Sandy came off her shift she went to Clare who was lying on the sofa in the living room. “If you really care about us I'm going to tell you something I've never told any one before. This all started six years ago, at first it was just drunken arguments when my dad was on weekend benders. Then it progressed to breaking furniture. It<br />just seemed to escalate overnight to beating mom after that.”</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">“Mother was not a drinker until the beatings started. Her drinking just made matters worse. She tried to fight back but our dad always won out. This kept on until someone had reported what was going on to the police. Our dad had been removed from the river boat forcefully by the police that night. He was issued a warrant not to come within a hundred yards of the river boat. A lot of good that did. It only made him more violent, Claiming that no one was going to keep him from the river boat, that it belonged to him and he could come and go as he pleased. He continued to beat mom until her pregnancy. During those nine months he seemed<br />to have enough sense to not beat her any more but what he couldn't do physically he made up verbally.”</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">“Once, when Natty was only six months old, he threw her against the wall because she was crying too much.<br />From then on we always hid Natty when ever he was around. Once Ray tried to protect mom, he got a broken arm for his effort. He threatened to kill Ray the next time he butted in. From then on we all hid in the woods until he<br />would tire of beating mom or run out of booze; then he would<br />leave.”</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Sandy continued, “There was a long stretch where he didn't come around. Maybe he's in jail, we thought, and we would pray if that were so that they would keep him there till hell froze over.”</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Then a new problem came up: Mom became a recluse, she wouldn't venture outside for fear that he would come out from behind some tree or bushes and kill her. She went into deep depressions and would cower in fear in a dark corner</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>-16-</b></span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">in her bed room all day while we were at school. She cried a lot and would rock her self to sleep in the same corner. We knew she needed help but if they took her away they would take us away, too. We did our best to look after her but she was lost in another world. A world that she would not let any one in.”</span></b><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">“Then he showed up drunk four months ago with flowers and promises. Our mother came out of her little world just long enough to tell him to go to hell, In response to this she got beat up till she was unconscious or dead I'm not sure which. He picked her up and slung her over his shoulder and left. That's the last we seen of them." Sandy covered her face with her hands and began to cry.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Clare sat up and held her in her arms. "Go ahead and cry sweetheart, it helps to cleanse the soul."</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Natty climbed down from her crib and ventured forth for<br />another day's adventure. Entering the kitchen Natty stopped. The strange lady was standing behind the funny wheel that made the floor move. Natty sat in the doorway silently studying the lady.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Doc, noticing Natty in the doorway, yapped happily and ran to her. Jumping on her he licked her face vigorously, knocking her on her backside, setting her to giggling.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">“I see some one is up on this boat,” Clare said. Natty crawled out of sight as fast as her legs and hands could move. “It's OK honey I won't hurt you,” Clare said sweetly.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Natty poked her little head around the door way. The lady<br />still stood behind the funny wheel. The lady just stood staring straight ahead. Natty ventured out tentatively a little farther into the kitchen. The lady didn't move.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">She made her way warily to the refrigerator. Sitting down she grasped the bottom of the door firmly with both hands and pulled on it. The door swung open and, holding unto the door, she pulled herself up and walked around the door to the front of the fridge and looked inside. She<br />pulled an apple pie out and placed it on the floor.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">After eating her fill she replaced the pie and closed the refrigerator door and toddled off to the living room.</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>-17-</b></span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">She climbed on the sofa where Doc joined her for a trampoline act. Throwing the two cushions on the floor she jumped on them and proceeded to wrestle with Doc, giggling loudly.</span></b><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Tiring of this she toddled over to Ray and Sandy's room. It was occupied, “That's strange,” Natty thought, cocking her head to one side in contemplation. She knew that they<br />usually weren't home at this time of day but she was glad to see that she would have some one to play with now.She climbed on to Sandy's bed and jumped up and down yelling, “Gatap! Gatap! Gatap!”</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Sandy threw a stuffed toy at Natty, and raised her head slightly and mumbled. A little later OK honey, I feel like I just closed my eyes." Her head dropped down to the pillow once more.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Natty picked up the stuffed toy and climbed down from Sandy's bed and made her way to Ray's bed where she beat on Ray's head with the stuffed toy yelling again, “Gatap! Gatap!” Ray groaned and rolled over. This only prompted Natty to beat him harder with the stuffed toy. The stuffed toy ripped open sending stuffing flying every where.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Ray choked and coughed on the stuffing and sat up rubbing his eyes. “OK, Sprite, I'm up now!” Ray got up and looked at<br />his watch. Hurriedly, still in a sleep induced daze, he got up and made his way toward the washroom which was just off from the kitchen. All that was on his mind was that he was late for school.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Good morning Ray," Clare said smiling. Ray nearly melted<br />through the floor boards. He had not ever even let his mother see him in his under wear let alone a stranger and a woman at that.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Ray quickly disappeared through the living room door way, coming back a short time later fully clothed and his face two shades of red.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"I forgot we were, that is I forgot that, well, I, er."</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"I know, you thought you were still in Morganza and forgot<br />about me. That's OK I've seen a few men's underwear in my time, with the men in them.”</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>-18-</b></span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Changing subjects Clare said, “I think you'll be glad to know that we just went past Vicksburg Mississippi." "How old are you Ray?"</span></b><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"I'm sixteen and Sandy is fifteen. Natty's in her twos. She's very smart for her age." Ray said proudly.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Did you know she helps herself to the refrigerator and<br />then she puts stuff back in after," Clare informed him.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Let's say we've suspected it for a while," Ray answered,<br />smiling.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">“You look good with a smile, Clare informed him."</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Ray cleared his throat and busied himself with the maps.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Turn on the tunes Ray, let's make this a pleasant trip."<br />Clare suggested. Ray was beginning to like this lady.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Turning the radio on he found a rock station whose music he let blast as loud as the speakers could manage as he began pantomiming a rock star playing the air guitar. Clare behind the wheel swayed to the music while Natty jumped up and down in the middle of the kitchen floor yelling, “Ya! Ya! Ya!”</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Sandy went into the washroom and nearly slammed the door off it's hinges.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Come on Sandy loosen up it's a great day on the Mississippi<br />and were going home to Uncle Sal. What more could you ask for, no more drunken fights, no more sick mother. We won't have to do all of the grown up stuff any more."</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">The washroom door banged open and Sandy stamped over to the radio and threw it across the room, crashing into the wall.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Don't ever say any thing like that about mom. It was that<br />creep of a father of ours that made her that way." Sandy slumped down to the floor letting her hair cover her face while she cried.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Ray please take over the wheel," Clare asked. just as Clare<br />was leaving he turned to her and said, "I'm sorry, I didn't</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">-19-</span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">mean to hurt her but it was just too much in the end, feed-ing her, bathing her, clothing her, making sure all the bills were paid and intercepting phone calls for her. Just simply covering up every thing so no one would suspect. Some times I'd sit in bed wondering if it was all worth<br />it, then I'd hate myself for being so selfish."</span></b><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br />"It's OK, it's all over now, look for the future," Clare sat beside Sandy and stroked her hair gently and talked softly to her. "It's OK honey, It's all over now. I know that was a rotten deal that you three were given but it's over. You can't dwell on the past, you have to look for the future. I've seen many children go through similar situ- ations as you have and come out winners in the end. You're a beautiful girl, you are just starting your life and you have the whole world at your feet to choose from. Don't throw it away, don't sour up to the world, please don't do that to yourself,” Clare crooned, rocking her in her arms. “You deserve more than that. Don't end up like your mother."</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Immediately Clare wished she had bitten her tongue. Natty toddled to Sandy and put her two little arms around her neck saying, “Lav San, lav San.”</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Sandy pushed her hair back and embraced Natty saying, “I<br />love you, too, Sprite. Thanks Clare, I know what you meant, I don't want to end up like our mother. I just feel deep sorrow for her. Death would have been better than the life she lived for the last six years. I just hope you're right and this is going to be a turn-around for the better for us."</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"You can't change the past, you and Ray both did all you<br />were capable of doing," Clare said, putting her hand on Sandy's shoulder. It was a beautiful morning. The rising sun reflected off the wavelets on the river like glittery diamonds. A few spring birds sang gaily from the budding trees on the shoreline.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Sandy busied herself preparing breakfast while Ray gathered<br />the pieces of the broken radio off the floor and set them on the table. The radio was an important item, it kept them tuned to the outside world and they needed to know more than ever what was going on out there. If he couldn't put it back together they would have to get another one some place, he thought.<br />-20-<br />"What are you so deep in thought about?," Clare asked Ray.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"I was just wondering how long it would be before they<br />discover us missing, Ray responded. “It will probably be two or three days before the school board starts inquiring, after that it will depend on how long it takes the police to investigate and find the river boat missing, let's say another two days. Add to this another day or two before they issue out a missing persons report on us. We have about a week to get as far north as we can,” Ray informed her.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"You had this scheme down pretty pat, except the part with<br />me in it," Clare responded.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"And that turned out to be a bonus," Ray answered smiling.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Clare hesitated for a minute then smiled back saying,<br />“Indeed it is.”</span></b></div>
cynthiagrlx@.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15899106950524179648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8883185399977274476.post-25619163421103502672013-09-06T20:44:00.001-07:002013-09-06T20:44:39.945-07:00The River Boat part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qSzeiHZDNTQ/UiqgsoNq4HI/AAAAAAAABMA/Mfq_n-jrs08/s1600/mustang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qSzeiHZDNTQ/UiqgsoNq4HI/AAAAAAAABMA/Mfq_n-jrs08/s320/mustang.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em; text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">at the age of eight and they weren't reunited again until seventy-some years of age."</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Do you really think that's what could happen to us?", Sandy<br />asked.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Yes I do. The hardest part would be losing Natty. As mischievous as she is, she is a smart, lovable kid and I love her very much. I'd kill any one who would try to harm her.", Ray confirmed with emotion. "She's our little sister, we can't just let strangers take her away!", he said, clenching his fists.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Look!” Sandy pointed to a blue '93 Mustang parked down a way from the trail.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"I think we have company," Ray observed.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Maybe it's just someone that broke down," Sandy suggested.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"I don't think so, I smell social worker. You go through the<br />woods on the right of the trail and I'll take the left. Keep out of sight of the river boat until I signal you it's safe,” Ray instructed Sandy.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">The riverboat was dark and silent. There was no sign of life anywhere around it. Natty should have been up by now, raising up a ruckus, anxiously awaiting their return from school but there was nothing, not a sound.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Ray's stomach began to knot up; something was wrong! Where was Natty? He slowly emerged from behind the bushes he had hidden in a dozen feet from the riverboat. Stooping down low to the ground, Indian style, he quickly peered through each of the windows. No one was on board. In a half panic he began shouting, "Natty! Natty, Where are you? Sandy! The coast is clear, help me look for Natty. She's not on board."</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Doc came running out of the bushes yapping and jumped on Sandy wagging his tail, joyous at the return of one of his masters.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Well where did you come from?", Sandy asked picking up the<br />terrier. Doc vigorously licked her face in response. Natty had been hiding behind a bush.</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><b><span style="color: #274e13;">-5-</span></b></span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">She had seen one of the bad people enter the river boat. The person went from room to room searching for something, then the person came out, walked down to the foot of the ramp and stopped to look around. The person had gone around the ramp then had dropped down on hands and knees and crawled under the ramp. Natty was too fearful to come out from behind the bush. She had decided to stay there until her big brother came home. He would know what to do. She played with Doc to entertain herself. Then she saw Sandy not far away, hiding behind some trees. At the sight of Sandy, Doc had jumped out of Natty's arms and ran to her. Sandy was yelling for her.</span></b><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Natty stood up unsteadily and yelled back happily, “Ith he, ith he.”</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Sandy turned and saw her standing by a big oak. She ran to her and picked her up, crying.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"I thought they had taken you away," she told Natty. Sandy held her tightly fearing that she would vanish if she let her go. Natty pointed to the river boat yelling, "Tha he, tha he." Sandy knew that she meant any strange person female or male. Some one was still in the vicinity of the river boat. “Ssh! OK! I understand,” Sandy said. At that Natty became silent.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Sandy waved at Ray to come to her and pressed her index finger cross ways to her lips, indicating for him to be quiet.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">“What is it?,” Ray asked in a near whisper, on<br />approaching Sandy.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">“There's someone here, very close to the riverboat,” Sandy informed him.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"OK, Natty, point for me where he is." Sandy asked Natty.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Tha he, tha he." Natty said pointing with her tiny finger<br />at the side of the river boat that faced them.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">“Inside the boat?.” Ray asked, looking at Natty's big brown eyes. Natty swung her head from left to right vigorously, indicating no. Ray studied the port side of the riverboat carefully, trying not to miss any of the details with which<br />-6-<br />he had become so familiar. “Where could a person hide outside near the riverboat?,” he thought, “There is only one place. Thanks sweetheart, I know where the person is.”</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Ray kissed Natty on the cheek; Natty giggled. He turned toward the boat. “Whoever it is, he or she is under the ramp,” Ray informed Sandy.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">It was starting to get dark. Ray picked up a piece of dry wood two feet in length and approximately one inch in diameter. He approached the ramp slowly and cautiously, holding the stick ahead of him. Stooping down he looked under the ramp. He was in luck, who ever it was had their back toward him. Ray stuck the stick in the persons back and said, "OK, whoever you are, don't make any sudden moves or I'll put a hole in your back."</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Clare froze, not daring to move a muscle. She didn't want an extra hole in her body.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"OK, alright I'll do whatever you say, just don't shoot me."</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Move back very slowly and stand up," Ray ordered. Clare<br />crawled backwards as quickly as she could, feeling the gun<br />prodding her in the back at her every move. Once clear of the ramp she stood slowly and stuck here hands in the air.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Please walk up the ramp and enter the kitchen. Sandy, get<br />some rope." Ray yelled over his shoulder.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"What are you going to do with her?", Sandy asked picking up<br />a coil of rope on the deck.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"I don't know yet, maybe I'll cut her up in little pieces<br />and feed her to the fish." Clare made a loud gulping sound.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Your not serious are you?," Sandy asked nervously.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Na! I heard it in a movie. I wondered how impressive it would sound if I said it for real. By the looks of her I guess it was," he laughed.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Make sure all the knots are tight," he advised. Sandy gave<br />each knot an extra tug.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">-7-</span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"All done. What do we do now?", Sandy asked. Natty sat on the floor staring at the strange lady.</span></b><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Well what do you think Natty? Maybe I'll let you put clothespins on her ears and toes just like you did to Doc. That would be fun wouldn't it?", Ray taunted. Natty bounced on the floor yelling, “Ya! Ya! Ya!”</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"What kind of stuff are you teaching that baby?", Clare<br />asked in a huff.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Ray stuck the stick in her back and said, "We'll let you know when we want you to talk lady. Sandy would you make us something to eat, I think there's a dead mouse in the trap under the sink. You can fix it up for the lady social worker here." Clare felt her stomach heave at that thought.<br />"OK, lady I've seen enough social workers in my life. I can<br />smell them. do you know what they smell like?” Clare shook her head. “They smell like typewriter ink, musty paper and sweaty armpits. Were not going to let you separate us. That was a unanimous vote by all three of us. Show her your vote Natty."</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Natty raised her arms and slapped her hands together above her head. Sandy set some sandwiches on the table. She then picked up Natty and sat her in her high chair. Natty cried and wouldn't eat.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"I know what's wrong," Ray said picking up the high chair and setting it in front of Clare. Immediately Natty started eating. “She wants to keep watch on the lady she had enough sense to stay away from when we were not here."</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Maybe it was the sweaty under arms that gave you away," Ray suggested to Clare.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Hey, what do you know! Already our little sister can smell<br />out a social worker from regular people."</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Listen I'm only out here to try and help if there is a problem. I already know there is, your mother hasn't been around here for a long time. Clare informed them." The room went silent.<br />"How do you know?" Ray asked.</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><b><span style="color: #274e13;">-8-</span></b></span></b></div>
cynthiagrlx@.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15899106950524179648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8883185399977274476.post-61406555592114467992013-09-05T18:24:00.000-07:002013-09-05T18:36:22.460-07:00THE RIVER BOAT<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">THE RIVER BOAT</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zQ0QZEwW2fg/UikxN7SQflI/AAAAAAAABKg/3TtAk6otfeA/s1600/padlewheelboat2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zQ0QZEwW2fg/UikxN7SQflI/AAAAAAAABKg/3TtAk6otfeA/s400/padlewheelboat2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">-One-</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Natty had awakened crying for her bottle. No one responded<br />to her cries. Natty climbed over the railing of her crib and slid down the leg to the floor. To her knowledge no one knew of her ability to climb out of the crib on her own. Many a time she had done this and had helped herself to pieces of pie, cake and other goodies left in the refrig- erator when no one was around.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Natty was only two years old but was much brighter than most two year olds. When no one was around it was her play time, like putting clothes pins on the terrier, Doc's, tail and buttering the cat, Tim, with margarine.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">After helping herself to fudge in the fridge, Natty looked around the kitchen and the room that served as a living room. Nothing of interest in ether one of those rooms.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Looking into the room that served as a bedroom for both her older brother and sister, there was not much in the way of toys there, either, except for maybe a few of her sister's trinkets.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Her first mission was to spill a box full of beads behind the bed. Next was to paint her face, Indian war paint style, with her sister's lipstick and dropping the tube in the blankets while she used the bed for a trampoline. The next thing to go was a small box with an array of earrings that also got trampled into the blankets.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Tiring of this she ventured back to the kitchen to play with Doc and Tim. They weren't there. The kitchen door had been left ajar. Maybe they're outside, she thought.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Natty toddled out the door. Something deep inside told her that this wasn't right, that she shouldn't go outside. Her big sister had told her to stay inside when they weren't there, that there were bad people outside. She hadn't been able to go outside ever since her mother had gone away to visit someone that was ill. Her big sister had also told her that mother may be gone for a long time. Natty did not understand any of that but she could feel the negativity in her sister's voice.</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><b><span style="color: #274e13;">-1-</span></b></span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">It wouldn't hurt to just look for Doc and Tim she thought.<br />She had not found them on the front deck of the river boat. They weren't on the back deck either. Where could they be?</span></b><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Just then she heard Doc barking in the woods a short dis- tance from the river boat. Natty went down the ramp on all fours fearing she would fall off if she tried standing up. Once on the ground she got up on her feet again and toddled towards the woods.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Dac, Tay, wis yu," Natty called lifting a big evergreen branch to look on the other side for her elusive friends. "Thi hiss iss!" Natty said excitedly when she spotted Doc chasing a squirrel. "Ca cm him!" Natty called scoldingly, with her two little fists firmly planted on her hips.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Tim was rubbing himself against her legs and purring loudly, throwing her off balance and sending her to stagger and fall back with her feet up in the air.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">The squirrel ran up a tree after tiring of playing “you can't catch me” with Doc. Doc came to Natty who was still lying on her back and licked her vigorously on the face, smearing the lipstick even more. Doc, tired from playing with the squirrels, laid beside Natty, panting. Natty fell asleep with her arm around her friend Doc.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"I tell you this is it. This is where those kids live. On<br />many an occasion I go by this way to my favourite fishing spot and I swear I've seen the baby in there all by her- self," George declared as he pointed to a dilapidated river boat.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"But these children have a mother, I've talked to her a few times personally when she was having problems with her alcoholic husband," Ms. Lacombe informed him.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Well I've never seen any grown-ups here for a long time."<br />George knocked on the door, the door swung open inwardly, and George stepped in.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"You can't just walk in!" Ms. Lacombe exclaimed.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Why not? there ain't no one around and if there ain't any grown-ups around to look after the baby, would it not be you're responsibility to take charge?", George queried.</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>-2-</b></span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">She had to agree he was right but she still felt nervous about intruding in someone's home unannounced. She had been beaten severely once by a drunken, Coke-bottle wielding husband, when she had entered a home trying to protect a mother and child. She never went to someone's home anymore unless the mother and children met her at the door, or she had the police with her, if she thought it may be a violent situation.</span></b><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">All of the rooms were empty.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">I don't understand, George said. Just this morning I saw<br />the baby on the front deck all by her self." Ms. Lacombe relaxed. It had been a wild goose chase. After all, the mother had to be around, she still received Mothers' Allowance at the same address.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"If something would have happened to the mother we would<br />have been notified. Maybe the mother had just been out of sight when you had observed the child alone," Clare suggested. Stepping off the ramp onto the dirt trail, Ms. Lacombe thanked George Stewart. "I appreciate your concern and for coming to us. I'll look in to this further, I promise, and I will notify you of any new developments in this case, if we find any."</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Thank you ma'am, I wouldn't have bothered you, It's just that I'd hate to see children hard done by, especially when there is no need for it in a good community like ours."</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Back at the highway where she had left her car, Clare turned to George and told him that she had to return to the river boat that she had forgotten her purse. She had dropped it in the grass purposely just before emerging from the woods.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Do you want me to go with you?" George offered. He had<br />become quite attracted to this woman he had only met a few times in coffee shops. She was the first person that had come to his mind when he first became concerned about the river boat kids, but he held off until he had become reasonably sure he had reason to officially involve the Childrens' Aid Society.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"No, I'll be quite alright, thank you anyway. I promise I'll<br />notify you if any thing new develops in this case."</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>-3-</b></span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Clare began turning towards the trail then stopped, like she had suddenly remembered something she had forgotten. George lingered, trying to think of something to say. Any excuse to see her again would do but he couldn't think of anything. He stood there downcast.</span></b><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Clare began to say something at the same time he did. Clare tried again, "Sorry go ahead"</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Would you mind if I dropped by at your office some time?"<br />He asked shyly, wringing his hat." Clare smiled at his simplicity and said, "Wednesdays are slow." George grinned and almost whooped. Instead he said, "Wit is!" He turned and ambled off towards his four by four parked in front of her car.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">George started his truck and roared away, peeling rubber as he went. “Men are like little kids with a new toy, when they get what they want”, Clare observed shaking her head, smiling. She started down the trail once more.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">She had become suspicious of some thing when she had looked in the closet of the room that served as the master bedroom. What few clothes that Ruddy had owned were neatly folded and stacked but dust-coated. They didn't appear to have been used for a long time. She had determined to hide some where and wait for school to get out, when Ray and Sandy would come home. The one thing that puzzled her and gave her another reason to come back was, what did they do with the baby when they weren't home? They couldn't afford a baby sitter on their Mother's Allowance.</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"I'm telling you Sandy, some one is going to get wise, we have to move on.”</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">“I know Ray, but can't we at least wait until school is out?"</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Avant Garde'; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"I don't think we have that much time left. I caught this<br />fisherman snooping around the river boat a couple times when I stayed home from school to intercept calls for mom. I guess I must be getting good at imitating her voice. Unless you want to give it up! If we do we will be separated and put in different homes, you know. If that happens we may never see each other again. I read once in the National Enquirer about twins that had been separated</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><b><span style="color: #274e13;">-4- </span></b></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><b><span style="color: #bf9000;">To be continued</span><span style="color: #38761d;"> </span></b></b></div>
cynthiagrlx@.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15899106950524179648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8883185399977274476.post-41822246535665394632013-09-03T21:36:00.000-07:002013-09-05T23:06:51.743-07:00Chatroom<a href="http://cynthiasliterarycorner.blogspot.ca/"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Chat Room</span></b></a>cynthiagrlx@.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15899106950524179648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8883185399977274476.post-45594087079354673622013-09-03T17:22:00.001-07:002013-09-03T17:25:07.461-07:00<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0c343d;"><st1:address w:st="on"><b><i><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">A Faraway Hiding Place<br />
</span></i></b><br /><b>
A</b></st1:address><b> place in one of my visions.</b></span></div>
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<b><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EAKt-tuhPR0/UiZ9RHFzNxI/AAAAAAAABIg/L6krFXPgi0c/s1600/butterflygaia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EAKt-tuhPR0/UiZ9RHFzNxI/AAAAAAAABIg/L6krFXPgi0c/s320/butterflygaia.jpg" width="254" /></span></a></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0c343d;">I have me one of those secrete places I have told but only
but a few people. A where no one can bother me, and no one knows where it is.
This is a special place that resides right inside my very own mind, like it is
a way far away place, (Possibly Alpha Centory) in mind travel, it is but the
wink of an eye.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0c343d;">This land is lush with emerald green forests and grassy
plains, dappled with a multitude of brightly colored blossoms swaying and rippling with the light summer breeze. I can
feel the breez on my cheeks, as I look to the horizon at the distant purple
mountains. Above the mountains I see a milky blue sky and up above the sky is
dark enough that I can see some stars. Stars in mid day? Can you imagine that?
There! To the west, I see two moon sized orbs one bigger then the other. One
the color of mauve, the other sandy brown. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0c343d;">And, ah, my goodness, how amazingly pretty is the bright
blue sun-sparkly stream that snakes its way lazily across the plains and
empties into the large turquoise lake just over yonder. I can not see the lake
yet, but I know it's there, you see, I been here many times before and I find
it just as breath taking now as I did every time I have been here previously. I
can hear the euphonious song birds as a background symphony of other wildlife
sounds coming from the nearby emerald green forest.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0c343d;">A light breeze arises, ruffling my long hair as I walk down
a grassy slope towards my left, and again I stop suddenly with baited breath,
this was the place where I had discovered the turquoise lake the first time I
was here. I resumed walking for a short distance along the sandy edge of the
river where I can this time see all of its grand beauty! </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0c343d;">I stop again, putting one hand over my heart which was
racing in anticipation. I raised my other hand to cover my mouth, then I drop
slowly to my knees in awe at this grand beauty. I see tiny wavelets stirred by
the soft southerly breeze on the turquoise lake's surface, which suddenly
appears to to be covered with little sparkles created by the light breez on
it's surface, like magical fairy dust I thought.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0c343d;">As I lie on the soft, tall grass at the edge of the white
sandy beach, the sighing of the pine needles in the majestic old pines above me
and I begin to drift into a dazed sleep in the warm sun, I was brought to full
wakefulness when heard a rustling sound and saw a sudden movement out of the
corner of my eye.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0c343d;">"Oh goodness!," I spoke softly to myself as I sat
up suddenly and looked towards that la stone out yonder. The movement that had
caught my attention had been in the area of this stone I was quite certain. I
continued watching the rock when I saw this really precious little critter, a
white furry little thing frantically scrambling to get under the rock. Another
critter, a big one, with long purple and blue fur and had a snout similar in
shape to that of an ant eater. This large beast was apparently giving chase to
the little one, it stopped at the stone, moved back and forth sniffing a few times,
then just sauntered away in to the woods, giving up the chase I thought. I
waited a few minutes after the big one
had disappeared into the woods. I then walked over to the stone and
looked under it.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0c343d;">Yes, the little critter was still there. I knew it was the
same one that had come to visit me on my previous occasions before when I came
here to this world. Its little emerald colored eyes sparkling in the sunlight
blinked on and off in the dark under the rock. I extended my arms out towards
the little guy. He just ran out from under that old rock and jumped into my
arms feeling secure it proceeded to curl up in my arms, mewling in comfort.. He
still resides with me to this day, but then I tell people about him I tell them
he is one of many pets that I visit I just don't say where letting them fill in
the blanks.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0c343d;">Cynthia</span></b></div>
cynthiagrlx@.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15899106950524179648noreply@blogger.com1