“Sigh, I’m thinking right”, I explained, “they won’t kill us, they want us alive so they can get their merchandise. They will want to bring us back to Ma”. “But when they see us, they’ll probably tell us to toss our guns in the river”, said Karin. “Right, the guns we took from those motorcycle guards are what we will throw in the river”, I said, “they won’t know we have other guns too.” “Now I understand”, said Karin, “then we can surprise them with our guns and take their boat.” “Exactly”, I said, “then we can get out of here more quickly with their boat.” “And if they want us to raise our hands, or at least keep them in the open, then Muffin and Mr. Cat will be ready to attack”, I explained further, “and even if they miss it will distract them long enough for us to pull our guns out.”

“This should be easy”, said Karin. Meow, meow.=Me and Mr. Cat not miss, we good. Meow.=Yep, we get them. “But use your rubber ball and muffin this time”, I said to them. So Karin helped the cats get ready while I paddled the raft out into the middle of the river to make it easy for them to spot us. Meanwhile…”They killed Ma”, said the one man, “what are we going to do?” “We get out of here fast!”, said the other man. Earl had just called them with the news and offered to pick them up and they would all head to Mexico where they would be safe. “Pull the boat in over there, it’s just over that hill to the road”, said the second man. So they put the boat in by shore where there was some trees that had fallen into the river some years before. They removed the spark plugs so we wouldn’t be able to use the boat if we found it, and off they went.

After a little while paddling our little raft I spotted the boat by some fallen trees and pointed it out to Karin. “Why would they put the boat over there?”, she asked. “No idea, but perhaps we can quickly take it and get out of here”, I said. We moved in silently, climbed aboard the boat, I untied it from the tree and pushed us out into the river. Unfortunately when I went to start it, nothing happened. “What’s wrong”, asked Karin. “They made it impossible for us to start the motor”, I said, “but I don’t understand why they didn’t come out when they heard the noise we made. There is something wrong here.” “Well, we may not have a motor, but it’s still better than that little raft, that thing is scary,” said Karin. Meow, meow.=I agree, bigger boat much better. Meow.=Yep, safer too, not get hole and sink. I get so nervous when in little boat, need to relieve stress somehow. Meow, meow.=I agree, me too need stress reliever, you get right leg this time. Meow.=Okay, that good with me. Chomp! Chomp! “AAAAAAAAA”!!!

I didn’t suppress my scream that time! Still no one showed up along the shore. “Why did you do that?”, I asked the cats. Meow, meow.=Needed a way to relieve stress. Meow.=Yep, this work real good, must remember that. “Please try to forget that idea instead”, I said quietly. Meow, meow.=I think he stressed too. Meow.=Yep, I agree. Both cats come to me, one at each ear and whisper to me. Meow, meow.=You and human Karin need stress relief. Meow.=Yep, good time to pop question. Or you want more chomp, chomp? Meow, meow.=No time like present, give human Karin something nice to think about for change. Meow.=Yep, what you wait for? You not get younger you know. They both giggled.

“Okay,” said Karin, “now I know they are talking about me. They always giggle when they are talking about me!” I sit beside Karin while the cats go to the back of the boat. Meow, meow.=Oh, they hug, that mean she say yes. Meow.=That good, maybe your human think better now. Meow, meow.=Hmm, all he likely think about now is human Karin. Up to you and me to keep thinking straight or we be in big trouble. Meow.=Yep, guess you right. Hey, you hear that noise? Meow, meow!=Yep, I know that noise! Both cats came running over all excited telling us to look up. “They’re right!”, exclaimed Karin, “over there, a plane!” It’s quite a distance away, a small bush plane, but how to attract their attention? I quickly jump in the raft and paddle to shore and pick up some dead branches and went back to the boat. It’s a good thing we weren’t far from shore. I put the branches in the main boat while everyone went back into the raft.

To Be Continued.

©2020 Steve McLeod.