White Water (18 page)

“Get him, Kara. Knock him out!”

At Ryan's yell, the bear hesitated and turned back toward the tree. Kara wound up and threw the second stone as hard as she could, aiming for the same spot. It struck just behind a well-padded ear, and the bear turned back to her, huffing loudly, its eyes blazing in fury.

Quickly she scanned the area around her for another weapon. A few larger, heavier rocks were scattered among the stones across the top of her fortress. Instantly, Kara knew what she had to do.

“The Lord is my strength.”
The same David who killed Goliath had written those words in the Psalms. “Be my strength too, God,” she prayed, as she hurried toward one of the bigger rocks. She hefted it into her arms. The weight of it nearly pulled her over as she staggered to the edge of the boulder.

Her appearance sent the bear into another rage. She held her breath and froze in place until the animal was directly below her, then drew air deep into her lungs, lifted the rock as high as she could, and hurtled it straight down. It landed with a crunch right on top of the bear's upturned snout. Blood spattered the rocks and ground as the animal fell. For one heart-stopping moment it swayed on all fours, shaking its head, then, to Kara's relief, it turned and sped off into the woods
.

“Whooee! Way to go, Kara!” Ryan had dropped the branch he'd been waving and had both arms locked around the trunk of the tree.

Kara half-jumped, half-slid down the side of the boulder and raced across the clearing. She felt a prickly sensation at the back of her neck, as if the bear was right behind her. One glance proved he wasn't, but that didn't mean he might not return at any moment.

At the base of the tree, she stopped and looked up. “Come on down, Ry, you're safe now.”

He shook his head. “I can't. There's no branches to climb on.”

He was right. She wanted to ask him how he'd gotten up there, but then she realized adrenaline must have turned him into a monkey. That, or maybe God had given him a push. The tree limbs shifted with his weight when he moved, and she could see him shiver. He was dressed in his sweatshirt and a pair of long johns, with thick wool socks several sizes too big pulled up like leggings over his feet to his knees. The cold morning air called for a jacket.

“Are you hurt anywhere?” When he shook his head no, she breathed a sigh of relief and moved to where he could see her clearly. “Watch me, Ry.” She hurried to another tree, sat on the ground, and wrapped both arms and legs around the trunk. “Come down like this. Go slow; I'll stay underneath so you won't fall.”

He sniffed and shook his head. The reality of his predicament was sinking in, and Kara was afraid he would stay there all day. That option might keep him safe until the rescue party came, but if that bear came back, it left her as the main course in people stew. Besides, black bears were good climbers and this one was insane, which, in her mind, put them in double jeopardy.

She decided to be truthful and firm. “No choice, Ry. If that bear comes back, we're in real trouble. We've got to get out of here, so do as I say and do it now!”

To her surprise, he drew a shuddering breath, wrapped his body around the trunk, and inched his way to the ground. She guided him the last few feet, then pulled him into a tight hug. “Oh, Ry, I thought we'd lost you!” The last two words came out on a sob, and she clung to him, rubbing his back and smoothing back his hair, just as she'd seen Mom do dozens of times. It was then she knew that with Mom gone, Ryan had become more to her than just a brother; it was like he was her own child.

Ryan squirmed out of her grasp, sniffling, and wiped his nose on the sleeve of his sweatshirt. “Snot-nosed ole bear ate my breakfast, then I thought it was going to eat me, so I climbed the tree.”

Kara grinned and brushed away her own tears. “Good thinking, Ry. But let's get out of here, okay? Dad will be coming with a rescue party soon. We need to be closer to the river.” She took his hand to lead him back toward the boulders, but he wouldn't budge.

“Wait. I gotta get my stuff!”

Kara studied the remains of Ryan's shredded pack and shook her head. “Sorry, it doesn't look like there's much left.”

Ryan frowned. “Not that. My survival kit and bear blanket. Over there.” He pointed to a huge, blackened tree stump. The rest of the tree had fallen, struck by lightning, Kara guessed. It had broken at about the halfway mark, and animals, insects, or time had carved a large hole into the base of the trunk. Before she could stop him, Ryan raced toward the stump and returned clutching the canvas pouch he called his survival kit. With his other hand he half dragged, half carried, a large bear hide.

Kara gasped when she realized what he had. “Where did you get that?”

“From Big Foot,” Ryan said calmly as he stepped ahead of her. “We'd better go now, Kara, 'cause that bear might come back, and he's gonna be mad.”

K
ARA KEPT HER EYES ON
the bushes as she pushed Ryan ahead of her. She moved quickly around the boulders and back down the thin trail to the shelter where she had spent the night. The sky had brightened to an eggshell blue, with wisps of white clouds streaking across the tops of the trees
.

“Wow, cool!” Ryan crowed when he saw the small pole structure. “I bet Big Foot made this. Yours are pointed at the top.”

Kara frowned. “What are you talking about, Ry? There are no Sasquatch around here.” She bent down and quickly pulled on her boots. “Besides, no one knows if they're real or not.”

Ryan's chin came up, and he pointed to his chest. “I know! Big Foot saved me. He helped me breathe.”

Kara stared at him. Was this his imagination? Or had someone really pulled him out of the river? And where did he get that bear hide? “Ry?” She started to ask again where he had found the rug, but the drone of an airplane engine stopped her.

“Yeah! Dad's here! Can we go home now, Kara? 'Cause I'm really hungry.”

She smiled and took his hand. “Sure. But we'd better hurry. Walk really fast, but stay with me, okay?”

Quickly Kara led the way back to the river. A few yards from where the raft had tangled with the tree, a rocky beach separated the forest from the river. “If we stand out here,” she told Ryan, “they'll see us right away.”

The plane had already made one pass, but she knew they'd be back. She watched Ryan struggling to keep the bear hide wrapped around his skinny frame, then took it from him. “Let me see that. Please?” Even without close examination, she could tell the hide had been expertly tanned. She bent down in front of her little brother and said evenly, “Where did you get this, Ry? If you took it from somewhere, I promise you're not in trouble.”

Ryan scowled. “I told you! The Sas . . .” Behind her, a branch snapped. Ryan's face turned white, and Kara jumped to her feet. The grunts and huffing sounds coming from the bushes meant only one thing.

Kara dropped the hide and grabbed Ryan's shoulders. “Into the water, quick!” She pushed him ahead of her and waded into the chilly water. It didn't look too deep. If they could make it to the middle of the river, maybe the bear would give up.

Right, Wako. Like bears don't swim
. They were nearly halfway across when Ryan put on the brakes.

“I can't! It's slippery. I'm gonna fall!” Tears were coursing down his pale cheeks, and Kara knew he must be really scared. He'd already survived one near drowning. She risked a glance over her shoulder. The bear was on the beach, slapping at the water with his long, black claws. If it charged them in the middle of the river, she had no doubt who would win
.

The bear took a step forward into the river, panting and blowing as if it had just run a race. But Kara knew it wasn't
exhaustion that made the animal breathe that way—it was excitement. The bear's hunting instinct was in full gear, and they were its prey.

She yanked her pack off her back, swung it around her head three times, and tossed it as hard as she could toward the beach. As she had hoped, it landed behind the animal, distracting it for a minute. Thank God there was still jerky in there. The buzz of an airplane in the distance gave her hope. If they could just make it to the other side of the river . . .

While the bear dug at her pack, she bent her knees and reached behind her for Ryan's arms. “Hurry, Ry, get on my back.” The little boy didn't hesitate. With one leap he was on her, arms and legs wrapped tightly around her neck and waist. His weight nearly pitched her into the water. She took a deep breath, stood up straight, and waded deeper into the river. The water came only to her hips, but the current was strong. She slipped twice, nearly losing her footing on the moss-coated rocks.

Then Ryan screamed. Kara spun around, lost her balance, and went to her knees. The swirling water came up to her chin and dragged at her jacket, nearly sweeping her into the current. Ryan kept a death grip on her neck, causing her to choke. She grabbed his hands and pulled them off her throat enough so that she could breathe. Not that she could get much air. The bear had waded into the river. It stood on all four feet, belly deep, watching them from about four feet away. Beads of water clung to its cinnamon-colored coat, and sunshine glinted off the radio collar around its neck. If the animal had not been stalking them it would have made a neat picture.

This is definitely not a Kodak moment!
The silly thought spurred Kara to action. She stood and backed slowly toward the opposite bank. The bear kept pace with her, as if they were playing a game of Mother-May-I, but Kara knew this wasn't a game.
Please, God
, she prayed,
don't let me fall!
If she so much as stumbled, they were dead meat!

“Freeze!” The shout stopped her in her tracks. “Wakara, stand still!”

Kara did as she was told. The boom of a rifle shattered the air as a bullet whizzed over the bear's rump, just grazing the fur. The animal spun around, and with amazing speed disappeared into the brush. The next thing Kara knew, Colin was at her elbow, prying Ryan's arms from the chokehold around her neck. He hefted the boy over one shoulder and grabbed Kara's arm. “Come on, let's get out of here.”

Colin's grip on her arm kept her upright as they struggled through the swift-flowing current into calmer water, then finally onto the rock-strewn shore. When Colin released her, she went to her knees, shaking from cold and fatigue. Ryan was shivering, his teeth chattering, his skin pale. She pulled him into her arms and began rubbing him down with her hands. There was nothing else to work with. Her pack was gone, and every scrap of her clothing was soaking wet.

“I w-wish I had my b-b-bear blanket!” He looked longingly across the river at the patch of brown fur lying on the sand.

“I wish you did too, Ry.” Kara rubbed harder, chafing his arms and legs as if she were trying to start a fire.

“Ow, Kara, not so hard!” He squirmed out of her grasp, and she was relieved to see his face had regained some color.

Colin was speaking into a walkie-talkie, radioing in their position. Kara took a deep breath and scrambled to her feet. “Dad will be here soon.” She said it to reassure herself as much as Ryan. The boy nodded and took a step toward Colin.

It was then Kara saw the bear. It must have crossed the river—circled around them. Her mouth went dry, and she called out a warning, but it was too late.

The animal charged straight at Colin, knocking him down. The walkie-talkie flew out of his hands and landed with a splash in the river, while the rifle spun along the ground, coming to rest just out of reach of Colin's grasping hands.

Kara screamed, “Ryan, run!” She pushed him behind her and made a dive for the gun.

Colin had rolled onto his belly and folded both hands behind his head, protecting his neck. The bear tore at Colin's backpack, shredding the nylon and popping the zipper with one swipe of its paw. Kara scrambled to her knees and fired. The shot passed harmlessly over the animal's back and struck with a solid thud into the trunk of a tree. Scraps of bark flew in all directions, but the bear didn't even look up
.

Colin screamed as the bear's claws made contact with his shoulder, slicing through his denim jacket like a knife through butter. Kara's hands were shaking. She jumped to her feet, drew in a deep breath, and took careful aim. She couldn't miss. Not this time. If she did, Colin was dead, and most likely so was she.

A shot rang out. With a howl of pain and rage, the bear rose to its hind feet, blood pouring from a wound in its shoulder. Kara's heart thudded in fear as the animal took two steps toward her. Then she heard shouts and the sound of heavy boots crashing through the brush, accompanied by the clatter of helicopter blades directly overhead. The bear kept coming, but ran right past her into the bushes on the far side of the clearing.