Chapter Four


    "How you doin back there, Morgan?" JC asked as pulled a tree branch aside to slide by.
    How was she doing? she asked herself. Well, her feet hurt, she was so hungry she could eat a horse, her whole body was numb from the cold, and her backpack felt like it was gonna tip her backwards. "I'm fine," she mumbled.
    "Do you need a rest?"
    Yes!! God yes!!! "No, I'm fine."
    "Okay, good. I want to find a clearing so we can eat."
    "Sounds like a plan to me....ow!" she yelped as a branch hit her in the face. "JC, watch it!"
    "Sorry," he yelled over his shoulder.
    "Yeah, sure you are," she mumbled and then ran right into him. "JC, why did you...."
    "Shhh," he said to keep her quiet. "You hear that?"
    Angie didn't move as she opened her ears and listened. "Water," she said all of the sudden. "I hear water."
    "Yep, so let's keep moving."
    The two of them made their way through brush, and dodging tree branches. The closer they got the louder the sound of running water became. At one point, Angie tripped over a rock and quickly grabbed JC's arm to prevent herself from falling. "You okay," he asked he hung on to her until she got her footing.
    "Yeah, I'm fine," she said as she let out a breath.
    "I know your tired, I am too. Were almost there."
    "I know, let's keep going."
    He gave her an encouraging smile and then turned and continued to lead the way. When they finally made the clearing, they were amazed on what they saw. White rapids ran right below them. They had absolute no where to go. They either had to find away across or turn around and head back.
    "Now what?" Angie asked.
    "I'm thinking," he said aloud. His eyes travled over the running water to the other side where there was a grassy field that was almost like a semi-circle shaped by the lining of the trees. He then looked to his right to see logs and rocks that zigzagged across the water. "We need to camp out over there."
    Angie peered over his shoulder. "And how do you expect we get over there. Wait for the next ferry?"
    He pointed to the right. "Crossing that."
    Angie followed his finger and her eyes widened. "Are you crazy!!"
    "Well, it's either that or turn around and walk for another 30 miles."
    She sighed. "It doesn't look very sturdy."
    He scooted down the rocky slope and then turned around and grabbed her hand as she did the same. "I'll go first," he said when they got there. "Give me your bag." He then turned around and shrugged off her pack.
    "But JC, you can't carry both of those accross there."
    "Watch me," he said as put her pack through both his arms so he could hold it in front of him. "I want it to be as easy as possible when you cross."
    "But...."
    "Just wait here," he said.
    Angie held her breath as she watched him carefully skip rocks, scoot along a skinny log, and when he finally made it she sighed with relief. "Don't scare me like that."
    "Piece of cake," he yelled as he threw down the bags and then walked towards the edge of the water. "Now you go. Just take your time and you'll be fine."
    She nodded and then took her first leap to the gray flat rock. She looked at the rushing water beneath her. "Don't think about it, Angie," she heard him say.
    So she looked back up and took her next leap. She took her time, concentrating on each rock. "Hey, this isn't so bad," she said as she stepped on to the log.
    "Be careful," he said as he watched her closely. "That log is a little wobly."
    "Piece of cake," she said with a laugh. "You know I......"
    "Angie, no!" JC yelled when he saw the log falling along with her. She yelled out his name, but her plea for help was cut off when she disapeared through the water.



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