Okefenokee

The long grueling trip across the ocean of wetlands was all that was separating Cyndi and Junior from home. The city danger was gone. It had been just about a day since they left Rob at the camp but it seemed much longer. Taking turns rowing the boat for what seemed like hours they saw their island home in the distance and Junior’s youth kicked in to give him the added energy he needed to complete the voyage.

On the mainland, Bart continued driving back and forth near the end of the dirt road with Yancy lazily holding on knowing a clue was there. As the sun changed its azimuth moving across the sky it allowed sunlight to highlight the forest in differing ways showing views that were not available minutes before. On one cycle Yancy said, “Hey, stop. Over there!” He pointed at something standing out against the brown and green panorama.

Bart stopped the scooter and they dismounted. “What is it? He squinted against the bright sun rays.”

Yancy, “I don’t know let’s get a closer look,” they noticed there was a slight clearing toward it. “It’s a vehicle.” They entered and looked around not finding any pertinent clues. “It would be nice if we could get something like this running and use it to travel around and see the sites.”

Bart, “What makes you think anyone would be glad to see us arrive. We would only divide their resources. They might lock us up like we did to them.” They exited and looked around finding the boat trailer and could tell it was recently used by the grass pressed down by the wheels when Junior used it to launch the boat. “We have got them now.”

Yancy, “How? They pushed off here but where did they go?”

Bart, “That’s a minor problem. If we can get a boat here and go out there, we will find them.”

Yancy, “How are we going to get a boat here? And what boat?”

“The town is full of boats, maybe there are some scattered at homes around here or we go to the main marina nearer town. We will find a boat there. It’s important that we don’t give up.”

Yancy, “I guess. Can we go back now?” As they returned to the scooter, “You know our food supply is dwindling. These swamp people could teach us how to fish and hunt for ourselves.”

Bart mounts and starts the motor, “Get on.” They rode off back to town. “Yeah, it wouldn’t hurt to have that knowledge.”

Yancy was happy he didn’t have to ride the bike all the way back as he clung to Bart. Bart was feeling comfortable handling the scooter so picked up speed.

Junior maneuvered the boat up next to their floating dock and Cyndi secured it with rope. They went ashore giddy with the excitement about seeing Rob. When they arrived at camp the fire was smoldering and there was no sound. Inside the tent Rob was bundled in blankets sleeping. Cyndi shook his shoulder and he woke up. “Hi dear,” she said.” He forced a smile. “How are you feeling?”

Rob, “I’ve got a fever and I’m cold. I have been taking the antibiotics. I don’t know if they are helping yet.”

Cyndi, “Those pills are a lot older. I found some dated near the time of the pestilence so they are a little newer and they were protected better from the environment.” She pulled the bottle out of the bag and opened it. “Start taking these now.” She handed him one and Junior got a cup of water. She uncovered the wound and washed it with fresh water. “Have you eaten anything?”

“No.”

Junior looked on concerned, “How does the wound look to you Mom?”

“I don’t know. It doesn’t look any worse.” She covered the leg. Rob placed his head back on the feather pillow and closed his eyes.

“Let him sleep.” she forgot how bad his condition was so her worry intensified now that clarity returned. She had been in survival mode the last day. “We should rest up and then work on getting some fresh food.” They both settled in for a nap.

Bart pulled into town noticing two bicycles parked in front of a diner they used as a chow hall. He parked the scooter in a carport area behind the police station and reconnected the solar charging cable. “That thing is useful.” Yancy just nodded in agreement. They went over to the diner and found Beach and Surfer sitting at the counter eating. “Well, we found their boat launch.”

Beach, “Oh yeah, that’s good,” not seeming too interested.

“Now we need a boat.”

Surfer, “What do we need a boat for?”

“To go after her.” he said slipping up by not saying them. This revealed Bart’s real interest was Cyndi. He hoped that none of his friends noticed but Yancy had a look on his face questioning his interest because of the age gap, although she was attractive. Bart was looking at Beach and Surfer while Yancy stood behind him so he didn’t notice.

Surfer scoffed, “We don’t know anything about boating. Do you want us all to drown out there?”

“Have you forgotten the movie where the prisoners escaped by a boat from a prison surrounded by swamp. This is no different.”

Yancy, “I seem to recall the escapees didn’t fare so well though.”

“One of them did, he successfully escaped,” Bart snpped back.

Beach rolled his eyes, “So you are OK with some of us not returning?”

“I didn’t say that. It was just an example. We will do better because we are not starving prisoners to start with.”

Surfer looked at Beach with a grin , “No we will starve later. Why go at all? I’m happy here.”

“You happy, since when?” Bart attacked her complaining all the time.

“Well there could be more guys around. Girls like to choose from a larger group then we currently have.”

Bart, “You don’t like your choices. You have two good choices right here,” slighting Yancy as not in the running.

“No, it’s not like that. We all lost family when we were so young. I lost my parents and my older brother John. I have spent my life around you all. You are like brothers or cousins. You replaced my family. I would like to get to know more boys is all.”

Bart, “Well there is the boy. He’s just waiting out there for you. All we have to do is find a suitable boat.”

“He is a good looking kid but he is too young for me. I guess we could see what kind of life they are living though.”

Beach seeming to not care that she was discounting a relationship with him, “He may be your only other choice in this captive audience.” He figured she would come around to his occasional advances sooner or later. “Are you suggesting we go on this search so you two can have dates?” He looked over at Yancy who shrugged his shoulders.

Bart, “Where is you’re love of adventure. My gang getting fat and lazy.”

Yancy, “I think your took that quote from a movie.”

“So what, it’s fitting.”

Surfer turned toward Beach, “What about you? Don’t you want a wider choice?”

“I’m not worried. Some day I am going to get to Jacksonville. It’s only fifty miles away. There have to be some people there. It was a large city before…” He stopped and wondered if he could get there with Bart’s recently tested scooter. He decided to keep this thought to himself for now. “Yeah, if I go there it will be Beach at the beach,” he said thinking he had a clever play on words.

Bart dismissing Beach’s fantasies, “Can I count on you to come if I find a boat? There could be a beach at the other end of this voyage.”

“Ask us when you have one,” said Surfer.

Bart looked at Yancy, “Want to go to the marina with me on the scooter?”

“I guess,” he said with no emotion. Bart had enough for the two of them. They took a ride out to what they were told was a marina when they were in school but found just an undeveloped place to put small boats in. Disappointed, they looked around at the junk that was left there. There were some small boats. One had a hole in the side and others suffered neglect in the open air and the scorching sun blaze.

Bart was not giving up. He knew if they did not find anything here the whole plan would be canceled. They looked all around. Yancy went into the woods and checked for hidden marina stuff. He got stung by a bee and came running out swearing at Bart while holding his arm. He said, “There is nothing here.”

Bart was listening. He uncovered a weathered tarp and found a lightweight trailer with two fiberglass canoes mounted with ratcheting straps. He was excited by the find. “These should do the job if we can get them to the other launch spot.”

Yancy, “You mean towing them there with this scooter?”

“Why not?” He looked around and found some rope which he used to tie the trailer to the rear of the seat. He had no idea how to determine whether it would work so he used the trial method. The trailer was lightweight as well as the canoes. They drove off slowly with the canoes in tow. “We will go back to town and recharge the scooter and plan on leaving tomorrow.”

While they were in route with the canoes Beach obtained another thirty-eight caliper revolver from the police armory, loaded it. “It might be a good idea if you keep this as a surprise.” He winked at her as he handed it to her.

She carried a bag, so she placed it inside concealing it. “Wow, its heavier then I expected. I don’t know how to use it though. Don’t we have to practice shooting?”

“All you have to do is make sure you are close to the target and pull the trigger. All that practicing isn’t need at close range.”

“Is that from a movie?”

“I guess,” Beach was trying to impress her with his knowledge.