Caught In The River - Ronald Lee (book reader for pc TXT) 📗

out the image of his daughter and wife pulling out of his drive way that last time and Jack running towards the beach. He remembered what the Looking Stone looked like. The stone’s smooth texture and jade color came into view. Next, he could see the hole in the center. He tried to imagine his daughter standing on the river holding the stone. He saw an image of her falling backward and the stone flying in the air.
“Mary!” he cried as he saw his daughter disappear beneath the surface.
“You saw her?” Charles asked running back to Robert who made his way to where the river caught his daughter.
“Yes, she was standing right here.” Robert said kneeling at the water’s edge. He started to cry.
“You were right Charles,” he said. “My children are alive!” He cried as the wind began to howl.
“Watch out!” Charles yelled. He dove and pushed Robert to the side as a wave reached out for him.
“The river wants you Robert,” Charles yelled above the noise of the waves crashing on the boat ramp.
“I know,” Robert said. “My family started all this.” The two watched as the river grew calm then began to rise. A waterspout formed then slowly became a human-like figure. The two friends watched in amazement as the male figure walked towards them. The creature stood on the edge of the river glaring at them.
“What do we do now?” Robert asked Charles as they knelt by the truck.
“Let the Great Spirit show you Robert,” Charles said. Robert tried to push past his fear and looked at the spirit. “It’s not time yet,” He said. The creature nodded. “What else do I need?”
Robert asked yelling. The creature held out his hand to Robert.
Charles raced to the truck opened his tool box and produced a bow and quiver of arrows. He then pulled out a leather shield and his medicine bag and ran to Robert,
“What do I need to do?” Robert asked.
“You’ve got to heal the river,” Charles said. “Close the gap and set things right.”
“No!” Robert yelled. “Jack and Mary are in there!”
“Go with the river and get them!” Charles said. He held out the Native American tools to Robert who shook his head.
“I don’t know how to use these things,” He argued.
“Robert you do,” Charles said as the wind began to howl and the river started white capping.
“You were born for this,” Charles said. “Except what you are meant to be and do.”
Robert removed his shirt and began to chant without knowing what he was saying. Charles joined him as Robert began chanting in an ancient Native American dialect. He opened the bag and produced some jars of paint Charles had made. The two continued the prayer as Robert put yellow and red pant on his fingers and ran them around his biceps. He then took blue and made the image of water over his chest. Last of all, Robert took the single eagle feather from inside and tied it to his left arm. Robert handed the bag to Charles then walked to the figure standing on the water.
“Wait!” Charles called out and raced to Robert. He handed him a small leather pouch which held the Looking Stone. “Call for me when the time is right!” Charles said with his hand on his friend’s shoulder. Robert smiled and took the pouch attaching it to his belt loop.
Charles kept chanting as he watched Robert and the spirit walk to the center of the river then drop down out of site. The wind and water grew calm and the shaman knew this was the time for war. Charles jumped into his truck and raced back to the campground.


CHAPTER NINE
Brain searched the swamp around Fort New England looking for the tunnel that had helped him and Soho so many years before. The purpose was to serve as an escape route, but since the inhabitants of the River had been for the most part peaceful, it wound up abandoned. The professor hid in the shadows watching the guards walking along the top of the fort wall. It was mid afternoon when he found what he was looking for. Kudzu vines had overrun the entrance to the tunnel. Swamp water covered the bottom of the eight-foot wide by six-foot deep passage. Brian stared into the blackness of the tunnel and stepped inside.
The tunnel ran fifty yards behind the fort ending up inside a storage room. Brian felt his way along tripping over piles of dirt and rats that scurried past. When he finally reached the trap door, he pushed against it. He cursed because it would not move. Over the years, the soldiers had stacked barrels over the entrance to the tunnel which was a wooden trap door. Brian hit the wall in frustration. He refused to allow Jack and his sister to remain in the hands of General Towen. Brian’s lower back still had the marks from the torture he went through before his escape.
As Brian thought of what he could do to rescue Jack and Mary the two were beginning to loose hope they could be. Jack had spent the night being tortured on a rack. Mary watched and endured a beating from a leather belt.
“You need to realize boy,” the General had said during a visit. “You are about to die for treason.”
“Let my sister go,” Jack pleaded through the pain. “I’m the one who killed your men.”
The General laughed. “My boy,” he said pushing down on the lever that tightened Jack’s bonds. “You fail to realize you are in no position to tell or ask me to do anything.” Jack screamed as the tissue in his arms and legs began to snap. “The two girls executed paid for the death of my men,” Caleb Towen continued. “This is to show the inhabitants who have kept you from me what happens to those who rebel against General Caleb Towen.”
“Stop!” Mary begged the General from her position on the wall. The General looked at the young woman and smiled as he pushed the lever again. Jack’s body began to rock from side to side, as the ropes lifted him off the table. “General,” Mary tried to get the soldier’s attention even as the lash came down across her bare back again. “Please,”
The General released the pressure and Jack groaned as he dropped to the table. The soldier held up his hand to stop the guard whipping Mary.
“You should be pleading for your own life Mary,” He said as he stood beside her. “Your brother’s will be over soon.” He promised.
Mary dangled from ropes tied to the iron rings in the walls of the torture cabin. If not for her restraints, she would be laying on the floor.
“I’ll do anything you want me to,” Mary promised. “Let my brother live.”
“My dear,” the General said as he brushed Mary’s hair off her face. “There is nothing you can do for a man who’s lived for over two centuries.” He caressed her check with his boney finger. “Still,” he said with a pause. “Maybe I could feel love one more time.” Mary tried to hide her revulsion as the General pressed his mouth against hers. She tried to imagine it was someone else but the smell of age and his receded lips made her want to gag. The General lifted his head and smiled at Mary.
“I will grant you this favor,” he promised as he stood. “I will allow you and your brother to spend his last evening alive together.” He motioned to the guard who came and cut the ropes that held Mary. She fell in a heap to the floor at the feet of the General. He looked at her bloody back and turned to Jack.
“Enjoy your last hours on earth,” He said then walked to the door. The guard held it open for the General, as he walked out patting his riding whip in his hand. “Tomorrow at sunrise, your existence comes to an end.” General Towen vowed. Jack watched him walk into the evening sunshine and the cabin door close behind the fort guard.
“Mary,” Jack called as he struggled to his side. “Are you alright?”
“I’ve been better,” Mary groaned. She could not stand so she slid across the floor to her brother holding the sack with her free hand. A stream of blood from her beaten back and legs followed her.
“I’m sorry sis,” Jack said. He rolled off the rack and hit the floor with a thud. Mary held her brother’s head in her lap and stroked his hair.
“It’s not your fault,” she said with a weak smile.
“No,” he said weakly. “I should have been a better brother.”
“Well, I could have been a better big sister too.” Mary admitted. “I guess I took you for granted. I’m sorry Jack.” She cried.
“Me too,” Jack said. The siblings spent the next couple of hours talking and making up lost time.
While Jack and Mary went through their reconciliation, Fran awoke on the beach where her children had been just a few hours earlier. She was soaked but the evening sun warmed her. She looked around confusedly.
“Ted?” she called. Fran sat up spitting out sand and water. “Ted, where are you?” she asked. The fact it was mid afternoon now when before it was midnight greatly confused her.
Fran looked behind and saw the river start to foam and bubble. She scrambled for higher ground at the thought of another wave crashing down over her and taking her farther downstream. She sat amazed as she saw Robert rise in the midst of the river caring a bow. Robert carried a leather quiver full of arrows along with a shield strapped to his back. Fran saw a medicine bag attached to a leather belt around his waist and a bow slung across his shoulder. He walked across the water to his wife and knelt beside her.
“Are you alright,” he asked.
“Robert,” she started feeling her husband’s arms and face. “I think I will be.”
The gentle touch of his wife caused Robert to close his eyes. “Mary, I’m sorry I let you down.” He said softly.
“I let you down too,” she said. “I went a lot farther than I ever thought I would.” She said.
“It’s my fault. I’ve been shirking my family duties,” Robert said. “I guess when I thought Jack died I let my grief kill my love for you and Mary.”
“I thought I’d failed you as a wife,” Fran admitted. “I’m so sorry,” she said.
“It’s okay honey. I forgive you,” Robert said embracing his wife. “I forgive you too,” Fran said and they kissed. Robert stood to his feet and helped his wife up.