Okefenokee

Suddenly, Bart grabbed Junior’s leg and said, “Got you now.” He held on tightly.

Junior recoiled like a spring pulling hard to get away but Bart had a good hold on him. He panicked wondering if he lost the battle for his parents safety. How could he be so foolish as to save that guy from drowning. He needed to get free before Bart could stand up so he quickly kicked him in the face and for just a moment the grip loosened. He pulled free and darted toward the trail back down the bluff before Bart could stand up. He wasn’t playing a game now. This was deadly serious. He raced down the path disregarding safety. Glancing back once he saw Bart pursuing him. His adrenaline kicked in as his heart pounded hard, but his nervousness caused him to tremble uncontrollably. His wind held up from all the times he ran through the woods in his moccasins. Bart gave chase but his wind was not holding up, nor his leg and he was breathing heavily losing ground.

. When Junior reached the bottom near the main trail that would take him to camp one way or toward the wilder side of the back of the island he thought for a moment. He only had a split second to make a very important decision. Which way should he go? He decided to keep the maniac chasing him away from his parents knowing they were subdued in the tent. He turned right and started for the deep forest.

Bart noticed he was losing site of his prey but also realized a flaw in Junior’s strategy. Every time Junior got far ahead he stopped and waited for him so this time when he lost site of him, instead of continuing he slowed and ducked off the trail into the forest where he could slowly, quietly continue. The water had cooled his core body temperature and his sweating had slowed significantly. The bugs were still around but were leaving him alone for the moment. He walked slowly with all his senses keenly focused on finding Junior’s position.

At camp, Surfer freed Rob from the binding. He went to work freeing Cyndi.

Cyndi says, “Thank you. Why are you helping us?”

Surfer explains and fills them in on what happened. They were kept in the dark up until now. Rob went immediately behind his cot for the hidden deer rifle and shells.

Surfer, “Oh, what are you going to do?”

Rob, “He has left us no choice but to defend ourselves,” he looked at Cyndi while handing her the shotgun. She took it and loaded shells into it knowing that her husband was not well enough to handle this alone.

Surfer, “I haven’t heard any shooting for a while. That kind of worries me.”

Cyndi, “It worries us to. Let’s go.” They started off on the trail. Rob was moving pretty slow holding them back. They needed to find Junior right away.

Surfer clutched her bag feeling for the revolver just in case things got out of hand and she needed to take action. She was not clear on what she would do because she had never shot a pistol before. She saw it done in the movies they watched.

Bart continued sneaking through the woods with his eyes glued back toward the trail making very little noise and hearing nothing but the sounds of the forest. The heat started to come back to his body and sweating began again. He became a heat radiator attracting the bugs who became aggressively interested in a meal. He slapped at them when he noticed movement in the direction he monitored. It was the kid and he was looking back at the trail direction where he expected Bart at any moment while fighting off the insect horde.

This was Bart’s chance he thought. He had him. He got down and crawled past Junior’s position so he could hit him from behind unexpectedly.

Junior could hear someone moving along the trail toward him so he looked around for his escape expecting Bart. He moved into the woods thinking he would let him pass by this time.

Bart in his excitement only heard buzzing, but saw his opportunity passing so he lunged at Junior and caught him off guard forcing him down in the brush. He mounted him and punched him in the face hard which got Junior’s attention. He went to hit him again when he heard approaching footsteps. He placed his hands over Junior’s mouth and motioned for him to remain quiet.

A voice shouted, “Rob, where are you?” It was Surfer calling for Junior but his real name came out.

Junior tied to scream out but was muffled by Barts hands covering his mouth.

Cyndi looked at her husband and said, “Rob?” They hadn’t called Junior by his real name for years.

Bart heard several voices and wondered what was happening. He recognized Surfer’s voice but had been told she left in the boat. The sweat on his forehead was running down into his eyes and the salty composition burned. Had he been tricked? He used his larger frame to hold Junior in place and continued to muzzle his mouth until the three bodies passed. He couldn’t make them out so he held his position.

Surfer was leading and she cried out again, “Rob, where are you?”

They continued searching while moving away from Bart’s location. Junior managed to wiggle his head enough to yell, “Help!” but it was muffled.

Bart began punching him into unconsciousness when out of the green from his side came a thundering large object toward him. He quickly looked and fright momentarily parallelized him. He stood and tried to run from the large wild pig charging. Arnold mauled him while he became cornered by several close trees and thick brush. He tried to stay on his feet as Arnold plunged his razor sharp tusks at his legs several times. He let out a scream as his pain took hold.

Surfer heard him and raced to the spot and found Junior groggy on the ground, face reddened and already swelling. His parents arrived right behind her. She was horrified by seeing Bart’s legs bleeding from the ongoing attack so she reached into her bag and pulled the revolver out, pointed at the pig but was afraid she would hit Bart. She waited frantically. Junior got up and grabbed the gun from her.

“Arnold come here boy,” he yelled to his longtime friend who immediately ceased his attack and scurried over to Junior pounding the earth below his hooves, grunting in a non aggressive tone. Junior patted his head, kneeled to let him sense he was OK. He spoke softly to him calming his rage. Arnold grunted and wagged his tale happily then disappeared back into the brush.

Surfer went to Bart who had dropped to the ground. He was injured. Rob and Cyndi watched an incapacitated Bart being tended by Surfer.

Cyndi hugged Junior with tears in her eyes, “We are so happy you are safe son.” She looked at his bruised face knowing he would recover.

“I’m proud of you son,” said Dad.

Bart in pain said, “Kill that wild animal, it tried to kill me. Did you see?” Surfer looked at Junior with worry.

“He won’t be back,” said Junior.

“How can you be sure?” Surfer looked for certainty.

Dad added, “That’s Juniors best friend here. He was just protecting him from Bart.”

Surfer helped Bart up, “Do you think you can walk?” He had trouble standing.

She looked to Junior, “What are we going to do? He needs help?”

Dad chimed in, “After what he put us through, he doesn’t need our help.” Cyndi reached for his arm with a forgiving look.

“You always told me to help people if I can. These are the first people I have known,” Junior pleaded.

“Couldn’t we give him safe passage and help back to town? I know Junior would like to see more there and we could resupply needs that are long overdue,” Cyndi said.

“OK, it goes against my better judgment but let’s get him to camp and bandaged for the trip. We still have to worry about the pestilence,” Dad said.

“But you have been exposed to us for several days and you have not reacted to it,” Surfer said logically.

“What you say is noted, but we could come into contact with it from a wild animal or maybe another traveller in town if they happen to come there. You may not be carrying what ever it was, so we don’t catch it from you, but who knows how we might get it?” Dad said.

Cyndi nodded in agreement, “We will take you back to land. We will go shopping,” she smiled at Junior, “and then we will leave you there and return home.” She looked at Junior and his Dad. They both nodded in agreement.

Surfer and Junior helped Bart to camp. He was kind of out of it and they lay him on a cot that was outside of the tent. Cyndi and Surfer cleaned his wounds and bandaged them. Dad brought the bottle of medicine he was using and gave some to Bart to help with any infection. Then he collected all the guns and gave them to Junior. He whispered something to him and he went off with all the guns. Bart was kind of watching out of one eye. They kept him outside near the fire for the next couple of days. Rob got much better and was doing chores again.

When Surfer was helping Bart, he whispered to her, “Why did you do it?”

“Because you were acting crazy. Like I have never saw before. It had to stop.”

“You’re coming back to help me right?”

“Yes, but you are gonna have to change going forward.” She looked off at Junior when he returned. Bart looked on, noticing her noticing him.

Dad loaded provisions on to the rowboat at the dock, “Ready to take him back. What do you say?”

Junior smiled and said, “Yeah, it will be good to get rid of him.” He pulled the canoe down next to the rowboat. “We need a second boat.”

“Right.”

They returned to camp. Junior helped Surfer walk Bart down to the boat. He wondered bout him. He had said almost nothing about what had occurred before the pig attack. It was like he forgot all about it, like the animal scared the memories out of him. They pushed off from shore first the rowboat with Dad, Cyndi and passenger Bart. Cyndi paddled letting Dad rest. He had a revolver hidden on him that he didn’t want Bart to know about. Junior and Surfer departed in the canoe. She reached into her bag and pulled her gun out and handed it to Junior who kept it beside him.

The trip was uneventful but they arrived tired. Junior saw his Mom and Dad walk away talking quietly. Dad said, “He doesn’t look good.”

“I know. There isn’t much we can do but let this play out.”

Surfer with Bart said to Junior, “We need to get him to town somehow.”

He shrugged his shoulders.

“How about you and I ride the bikes to town and get the scooter. The boys must have used it when they returned.”

“OK, let’s get him in the RV first where he can rest.” Junior opened the door and they placed him in one of the beds.

“Rest up we are going for the scooter so you can get back to town,” Surfer told him. He rolled over groaning but said nothing. They went to Junior’s parents and discussed their plan outside, then rode off on the dirt road together.

Junior couldn’t help enjoying the whole experience of going into town with her.