Part 109: The Crossing
McKay, Taylor and Mandy got all the vines and other debris off the raft. The Australian stood up, brushing his hands off on his jeans. “Judging by the amount of debris on this raft, Tony,” McKay mentioned, “It’s been here for quite some time.”
“Can it hold us?” the blind man asked.
“Only a few at a time,” the Australian said, stepping onto the raft, and taking the long stick used to push it off it’s makeshift handle.
He started to float out a little ways. McKay held it stationary with the long river-staff. He slowly turned around, smiling. “Taylor, Mandy?” he asked.
The two girls held hands and slowly got on the raft. McKay checked it. The weight was still okay. “Who’s next?” he asked.
John turned, “Mia? Shanna?”
The Lakota girl took a deep breath and stepped onto the raft. Shanna watched her step as he maneuvered on the raft. Mia took her hands and helped her on. All fours girls then sat down, rocking the raft so slightly. “Go, Seth.” John pushed him forward.
Seth sighed and then stepped onto the raft. It started to sink slightly into the water. “That’s it,” McKay said, “We are full.”
“Get them over, McKay,” Tony said, “We’ll be waiting for your return.”
“I’ll be back as fast as I can.”
McKay then began to push the raft over with the long staff. Eddie waved good bye to the people the makeshift. Taylor thought it was cute and waved back to him. McKay grunted with his strength pushing them onward. “How are they doing?” asked Tony.
“Poor Shanna looks a little rigid but so far, they seem fine,” John commented.
“Martin, can you do us a favor?” Tony said, “ Look around for a very long tree branch or thin tree truck. Tear it down and bring it to us. It’ll go faster if two are pushing the raft instead of one.”
“Roger,” the young black man said, putting down his backpack and going to fetch a large stick.
The other survivors sat down, watching McKay push the raft nearly halfway across the river. A few had to admit the prospect of newer surroundings was exciting. Eddie was scared but he didn’t admit it to Tony. The reason for that is that his older friend didn’t show any fear. If Tony wasn’t afraid, why should Eddie be? The little boy held onto his friend’s hand as he watched the others make their way across the river.
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Three hours later they had come to the last batch of people. McKay shifted the raft over and put it up onto the bank. Bernard then stepped on, followed by Natasha, then Jenny. The young teenager then picked up the second long tree truck that Martin had made and helped the Australian push the raft into the water.
Bernard started to sing an old song about sailing across a river. Natasha smiled at his gospel-like voice. McKay just smirked as he pushed along. Jenny enjoyed the small workout she was getting pushing the raft. Then it occurred to her. She was on a raft, pushing it on a river in the middle of some island where she didn’t even know where she was. “I can’t believe this is all happening,” she giggled,” Never would I have imagined I’d be doing this.”
“Yeah, you’ll have one hell of a story to tell your folks back home.” McKay mentioned.
“Yeah, I hope the rescue party comes looking for us in the right location,” Natasha mentioned.
“You believe we are doing the right thing, McKay?” asked Jenny.
McKay wondered how it wound up being asked the exact same question twice one day. He decided to not be honest and say what he said to Taylor. “Yes, we are.” He said, bluntly.
On the other side of the river, the other group waited for the remainder of their party to arrive. Martin and Kristy were laughing at the abundance of food they had found. Fruit was hanging off of various trees nearby them. Tony mentioned that it made more sense that their would be more fruit over on this island. They were really mooching off the food supply of the Red Faction.
John looked outward to the raft. The group was just over the halfway point. Mandy and Taylor watched along, both making sure McKay was all right. Taylor had every faith he knew what he was doing; he might have had to transverse some river in Australia too. John rubbed his forehead and then his left eye. Then the water near them changed. The archer blinked, using his sharp eyes. It seemed as if a swell of water was heading straight toward them. He then leaned down abruptly and picked up his bow. This made Taylor squeak in fear. “WHAT’S WRONG?” she yelped.
“Something is heading toward them.” He whispered.
Out on the raft, Jenny pushed it forward. Then she heard a bubbling sound to her right. She looked at the water and saw a wave of water coming toward them. It was as if something was under the water. “Uh . .McKay?” Jenny asked.
Before he could answer, a huge crocodile leaped from the water and collided with the raft, knocking them over. The last thing McKay heard when he plummeted into the water was Taylor screaming his name.
Jenny shot up her face in the water. She saw the green animal swimming it’s way toward Natasha. The brunette did her best to get above water and swim but her backpack was a hinderance. She turned around to see the crocodile baring down on her. She screamed and swam with all her might. She thrashed around, feeling the water flush against her face. The beast was almost on her.
Then an arrow swung past her head, and struck the crocodile in the back of it’s neck. The reptile grunted, and swung to it’s left. “SWIM, NATASHA!!!” John screamed, “SWIM NOW!!!”
She grunted, swimming toward the outer bank. Bernard did his best to swim, as much as his limbs would let him. Jenny quickly joined them, swimming faster than both of them. The young teenager turned to see the arrow coming up, meaning the croc was making another grab at them. Jenny swung around, prepared to give it her backpack to hold it off. Then McKay lunged out of the water with his short sword, stabbing it in the back.
Taylor was leaping up and down at the fight before her. McKay was going one-on-one with a crocodile. The beast would twirl in the water, and every time it did, she would catch a glimpse of her lover coming up for air. McKay continued to thrust the sword into the animal every chance he got. John squinted one eye, trying to get a shot but the beast kept turning. “JOHN, SHOOT IT!!” Taylor screamed.
“I don’t have a good shot!” he scream back at her.
The other rushed into the water to help Jenny, Natasha and Bernard to shore. The old black man was coughing up water as he landed on the bank. Natasha was shivering and Mia held her as she started to cry. Jenny quickly turned and looked at McKay. The Australian was still twirling in the water against the beast, flinging small bits of blood everywhere. Then they both plummeted into the water.
John slowly lowered his bow. There was no more turbulence in the water. Marita gasped at the sight, not seeing McKay come up. Taylor was whispering no, no, no under her breath. Mandy held onto her friend, trying to comfort her. Tony gripped his staff, hoping his friend was all right.
Then the part of the river where McKay went down started to fill up with blood. Taylor started crying into Mandy’s arms. Then they saw a shape floating up to the surface.
The crocodile floated up on it’s belly, then swung over, showing the short sword poking out of it’s head. Then McKay gasped as he shot out of the water next to it. He caught his breath and coughed. He turned to his right, seeing the dead animal. Reaching over, he grabbed the sword’s hilt and yanked it out. “Gimme that!” he muttered.
The group began to cheer McKay as he swam back to shore. He found his footing and started to walk up to the bank. Tony couldn’t stop laughing. John was still in disbelief that he came out of it without a scratch. Taylor ran to him and embraced him, despite the fact that he was wet. Jenny slung her wet hair back and couldn’t help but marvel at what he had done. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more crazier stunt.” She whispered.
“It’s wasn’t a stunt, he saved our lives.” Bernard coughed.
“Guys, it was nothing, “McKay chuckled, placing his sword back in it’s sheath and pointed to the dead carcass of the croc, “Where I come from? . . ..That is a hobby!”
“Can it hold us?” the blind man asked.
“Only a few at a time,” the Australian said, stepping onto the raft, and taking the long stick used to push it off it’s makeshift handle.
He started to float out a little ways. McKay held it stationary with the long river-staff. He slowly turned around, smiling. “Taylor, Mandy?” he asked.
The two girls held hands and slowly got on the raft. McKay checked it. The weight was still okay. “Who’s next?” he asked.
John turned, “Mia? Shanna?”
The Lakota girl took a deep breath and stepped onto the raft. Shanna watched her step as he maneuvered on the raft. Mia took her hands and helped her on. All fours girls then sat down, rocking the raft so slightly. “Go, Seth.” John pushed him forward.
Seth sighed and then stepped onto the raft. It started to sink slightly into the water. “That’s it,” McKay said, “We are full.”
“Get them over, McKay,” Tony said, “We’ll be waiting for your return.”
“I’ll be back as fast as I can.”
McKay then began to push the raft over with the long staff. Eddie waved good bye to the people the makeshift. Taylor thought it was cute and waved back to him. McKay grunted with his strength pushing them onward. “How are they doing?” asked Tony.
“Poor Shanna looks a little rigid but so far, they seem fine,” John commented.
“Martin, can you do us a favor?” Tony said, “ Look around for a very long tree branch or thin tree truck. Tear it down and bring it to us. It’ll go faster if two are pushing the raft instead of one.”
“Roger,” the young black man said, putting down his backpack and going to fetch a large stick.
The other survivors sat down, watching McKay push the raft nearly halfway across the river. A few had to admit the prospect of newer surroundings was exciting. Eddie was scared but he didn’t admit it to Tony. The reason for that is that his older friend didn’t show any fear. If Tony wasn’t afraid, why should Eddie be? The little boy held onto his friend’s hand as he watched the others make their way across the river.
------------------------------------------------,
Three hours later they had come to the last batch of people. McKay shifted the raft over and put it up onto the bank. Bernard then stepped on, followed by Natasha, then Jenny. The young teenager then picked up the second long tree truck that Martin had made and helped the Australian push the raft into the water.
Bernard started to sing an old song about sailing across a river. Natasha smiled at his gospel-like voice. McKay just smirked as he pushed along. Jenny enjoyed the small workout she was getting pushing the raft. Then it occurred to her. She was on a raft, pushing it on a river in the middle of some island where she didn’t even know where she was. “I can’t believe this is all happening,” she giggled,” Never would I have imagined I’d be doing this.”
“Yeah, you’ll have one hell of a story to tell your folks back home.” McKay mentioned.
“Yeah, I hope the rescue party comes looking for us in the right location,” Natasha mentioned.
“You believe we are doing the right thing, McKay?” asked Jenny.
McKay wondered how it wound up being asked the exact same question twice one day. He decided to not be honest and say what he said to Taylor. “Yes, we are.” He said, bluntly.
On the other side of the river, the other group waited for the remainder of their party to arrive. Martin and Kristy were laughing at the abundance of food they had found. Fruit was hanging off of various trees nearby them. Tony mentioned that it made more sense that their would be more fruit over on this island. They were really mooching off the food supply of the Red Faction.
John looked outward to the raft. The group was just over the halfway point. Mandy and Taylor watched along, both making sure McKay was all right. Taylor had every faith he knew what he was doing; he might have had to transverse some river in Australia too. John rubbed his forehead and then his left eye. Then the water near them changed. The archer blinked, using his sharp eyes. It seemed as if a swell of water was heading straight toward them. He then leaned down abruptly and picked up his bow. This made Taylor squeak in fear. “WHAT’S WRONG?” she yelped.
“Something is heading toward them.” He whispered.
Out on the raft, Jenny pushed it forward. Then she heard a bubbling sound to her right. She looked at the water and saw a wave of water coming toward them. It was as if something was under the water. “Uh . .McKay?” Jenny asked.
Before he could answer, a huge crocodile leaped from the water and collided with the raft, knocking them over. The last thing McKay heard when he plummeted into the water was Taylor screaming his name.
Jenny shot up her face in the water. She saw the green animal swimming it’s way toward Natasha. The brunette did her best to get above water and swim but her backpack was a hinderance. She turned around to see the crocodile baring down on her. She screamed and swam with all her might. She thrashed around, feeling the water flush against her face. The beast was almost on her.
Then an arrow swung past her head, and struck the crocodile in the back of it’s neck. The reptile grunted, and swung to it’s left. “SWIM, NATASHA!!!” John screamed, “SWIM NOW!!!”
She grunted, swimming toward the outer bank. Bernard did his best to swim, as much as his limbs would let him. Jenny quickly joined them, swimming faster than both of them. The young teenager turned to see the arrow coming up, meaning the croc was making another grab at them. Jenny swung around, prepared to give it her backpack to hold it off. Then McKay lunged out of the water with his short sword, stabbing it in the back.
Taylor was leaping up and down at the fight before her. McKay was going one-on-one with a crocodile. The beast would twirl in the water, and every time it did, she would catch a glimpse of her lover coming up for air. McKay continued to thrust the sword into the animal every chance he got. John squinted one eye, trying to get a shot but the beast kept turning. “JOHN, SHOOT IT!!” Taylor screamed.
“I don’t have a good shot!” he scream back at her.
The other rushed into the water to help Jenny, Natasha and Bernard to shore. The old black man was coughing up water as he landed on the bank. Natasha was shivering and Mia held her as she started to cry. Jenny quickly turned and looked at McKay. The Australian was still twirling in the water against the beast, flinging small bits of blood everywhere. Then they both plummeted into the water.
John slowly lowered his bow. There was no more turbulence in the water. Marita gasped at the sight, not seeing McKay come up. Taylor was whispering no, no, no under her breath. Mandy held onto her friend, trying to comfort her. Tony gripped his staff, hoping his friend was all right.
Then the part of the river where McKay went down started to fill up with blood. Taylor started crying into Mandy’s arms. Then they saw a shape floating up to the surface.
The crocodile floated up on it’s belly, then swung over, showing the short sword poking out of it’s head. Then McKay gasped as he shot out of the water next to it. He caught his breath and coughed. He turned to his right, seeing the dead animal. Reaching over, he grabbed the sword’s hilt and yanked it out. “Gimme that!” he muttered.
The group began to cheer McKay as he swam back to shore. He found his footing and started to walk up to the bank. Tony couldn’t stop laughing. John was still in disbelief that he came out of it without a scratch. Taylor ran to him and embraced him, despite the fact that he was wet. Jenny slung her wet hair back and couldn’t help but marvel at what he had done. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more crazier stunt.” She whispered.
“It’s wasn’t a stunt, he saved our lives.” Bernard coughed.
“Guys, it was nothing, “McKay chuckled, placing his sword back in it’s sheath and pointed to the dead carcass of the croc, “Where I come from? . . ..That is a hobby!”
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