by Jacob Nelson
Fast rapids with strong cross currents and large standing waves filled the narrow clefts. The trio found the waves were just a bit higher than they expected. Immediately below the first rapid they came across another smaller rapid with large standing waves that momentarily swamped the craft.
By the time they traveled down that rapid they found themselves facing a drop that Kit turned over to Miya to navigate, at her insistence. Yet even Miya’s skill was tried as the trio entered a section with large standing waves, whirlpools and strong cross currents that made navigation tricky.
Despite successfully navigating the earlier rapids, even Miya looked concerned as they approached a three stage rapid that dropped precipitously through a maze of large boulders. In the end it was more of a falls than a rapid.
As the falls approached, Miya headed right down the middle. The rocks at the bottom loomed towards them as the raft slid over the edge of the first surge and slammed into the water below. Miya was thrown off balance and as she fell back, she pulled hard on the rudder, which turned the raft slightly from its forward position.
The water forced the raft onward as it rode the wave at the base of the falls just before clipping the largest rock in their path. With eyes wide they watched as the force of the water pushed the edge of the raft up against the rock and shortly the three of them found themselves on an increasingly tilting platform.
“Miya!” screamed Kit over the roar of the falls. He scrambled up the tilting raft to her side, and the shift in weight of the raft made it slip a bit more into the brink. “Caribo! Get up here!” screamed Kit, realizing his one hope of righting the raft was in weight disbursement.
Caribo quickly hurried to his side. As he clambered next to the other two, their combined weight instantly dislodged the raft and the water was able to lift and slide it from the rock.
Without warning, the raft broke free, with the exception of one of its corners. The result was that the raft dipped into the water on that end, turning as it did so, dunking the trio into the water as it went.
Kit was sputtering water when he heard from somewhere behind him Caribo’s yell, “Kit, grab Miya!” Kit looked around quickly and saw Miya just as she slid down the side of the bucking raft into the frigid water.
Caribo leapt forward and with one hand, caught Miya, while the other grabbed for the safety line. Kit did the same a second after Caribo, but his hand missed her. The raft spun again as it crashed into another boulder. Kit found himself rolling. His right arm wound itself within the taut buffalo hide safety line, keeping him onboard. Without warning, a pair of legs slammed into his side, causing him to temporarily lose his breath. Looking up he saw who the legs belonged to: Miya.
The force of the water as it broke into another large wave sent Miya’s body crashing onto the deck of the raft. As the raft sank into the trough at the other end of the wave, Kit was thrown off balance, his arm catching on the safety line. The raft had at that point slammed into a large boulder, causing it to spin. The crest of the next wave sent Miya rolling across the deck, only to slam legs first into Kit. Though badly bruised and with abrasions and cuts, she was still able to cling to the safety line.
Then the water calmed a bit. A collective sigh escaped from the trio as the raft steadied itself once again.
Then came the lower falls.
Before they had time to really study it, they found that the river bent to the left; the current quickening. However, Kit recognized this. It meant that they were about to enter a ledge rapid, as the last twenty or thirty of them all offered the same make-up. On a ledge rapid, a ledge would extend much of the way across the river, and by experience Kit knew the best course was to follow the fastest current. He hoped to sneak around the large waves created where the ledge ended in the channel and the main force of the current dropped quickly through the narrow opening between the ledge's end and shore.
Unfortunately, he was caught wholly unprepared for that most menacing drop on that side of the lower falls.
The raft followed the bend to the left as the majority of the river poured over the ledge, but when it reached the spot where the opening typically was, Kit found a terrifying sight.
At the opening, the river made a two-stage drop, each one steep. The first ended in large waves, and immediately below it, which he saw too late as he battled to stay upright in the large waves, the river divided around a massive, barely submerged boulder which evenly divided the channel.
Directly below the boulder, the river charged right into the shore, and a deep tree trunk divided this push as the inside lane eddied back to the base of the drop.
The outside lane offered the only escape. Meanwhile, all the waves pushed toward the inside lane.
Kit fought for an instant, as an instant was all he had, but then realized he was about to go right over the boulder. His strength was failing. Throwing his weight against the rudder in an attempt to make a quick correction the raft narrowly made the inside of the steep drop, swamping the craft as it hit the eddy.
As the water poured through the slats between the logs, the raft rode the circle of the eddy back to the base of the drop and passed again across the front of the dead tree. With a loud crunch as the last of the craft swung past, Kit was able to bring back the rudder under control and align his craft once again. Finally they were able to get into the correct channel and shortly the rapids were behind them, with nothing but clear calm waters ahead of them.
Kit slumped to the deck and pulled a somewhat surprised Miya to his side. She didn’t resist. Caribo watched in amusement and wasn’t surprised when Kit weakly called out, “Caribo, take the rudder. I need to rest.”
“I’m sure you do…” Caribo said under his breath as he purposely looked the other way. Kit took the opportunity to slide his arm under Miya’s head. Shortly Miya’s leg draped itself over his own. Comfortable and close the two relaxed in the lolling craft as the sun dried out their sodden bodies.
That was the last of their hair-raising adventure as the rest of the 236 miles of river was wide, slow, and (following their near death in the canyons) rather appealing to them. Finally, the trio found the salty water of the Caribbean.
As the raft left the fresh muddy water of the grand river, the salty air off of the Caribbean caught hold of them.
It took Miya only a moment to recognize where they were. As she realized how close she was to home, her heart quickened. Pushing her more macabre thoughts aside, she insisted to Kit and Caribo that they should go back home with her, to which Kit readily agreed as he had his own personal agenda.
However, Caribo wasn’t so excited about it. “Wasn’t she betrothed to someone else? What do you think they will do to us when they find out that we had her with us this whole time?” Caribo’s reasoning was sound, but though Kit had the same thoughts echo through his own mind, vocally Kit rebuked it.
So it was that the majority ruled and Caribo found himself in company on his way to Miya’s home… and possible death.
The journey back was an uneventful one. They hugged the shore and kept close to land as often as possible. Kit improvised a deer skin sail from which Miya had removed all of the hair. By hugging the land, they were able to avoid most of the current that would bear them the opposite direction. In a few days’ journey they were close to the land of Miya’s birth and she was growing more and more excited. That night they decided to rest a little distance from the city to give them a good rest and a chance to refresh themselves.
As the trio bedded down, Kit and Miya held a whispered conversation as she told him of all the wonders of her home land that surrounded them. Unfortunately, they didn’t realize that warriors from her home city were also out that night and had surrounded them.
Chapter 13
Caribo woke to a long spear thrust up against his throat.
The man that carried the spear motioned for him to rise. Caribo looked around and saw that two others held Kit in the same manner. Caribo did as he was beckoned.
As Miya awoke a cry escaped her lips. Then, as quickly as the first cry came forth, she realized who the men were and the cry turned to relief. She suddenly hugged the man that was standing over Kit and started crying.
While Miya was artfully steered away from her companions, the man in turn pushed Kit into the arms of the other brave who made quick work in tying Kit’s wrists together behind his back. A gag was quickly stuffed into his mouth. Kit’s cries for Miya were stifled.
Caribo and Kit were roped together and tied s if they were slaves. The rope was then gathered up at one end by a large man and a spear point prodded the two of them forward.
Working out the gag with his tongue, Caribo angrily spat, “Your girl friend gave us up as slaves.”
“No talking!” barked the command from behind and taking a stride forward the man who said it struck Caribo in the sides with a large stick. Caribo fell, but was up on his feet quickly, helped by the point of the spear carried by his captor. The guard recovered the now very dirty gag and forced it back into Caribo’s mouth.
Kit’s mind was reeling, wondering how Miya could allow this to happen.
As it was, Miya was lost in her own little world, oblivious to what happened to her companions as one after another of her relatives, friends and subjects came up to her to welcome her home and ask where she had been.
Remembering Kit and Caribo, she turned toward her brother, the first brave she saw, and asked, “Where are my traveling companions?”
“They have been taken to the city,” replied Tihuac, her brother. “Your father will be very pleased to see you, Miya,” he added, changing the subject.
“Ah, yes, father… I may have some explaining to do to him.”
“I’m sure he will expect it,” agreed Tihuac.
When Kit and Caribo arrived at the city they found themselves marched down a long street that ended near a large pyramid temple. There they were pushed into a small room that was heavily guarded from the outside. Having no other recourse, Kit resigned himself to sleep.
The next morning, Kit and Caribo were forcefully kicked awake.
“Time to die,” announced the guard.
“Yeah,” Kit responded feebly.
Meanwhile, in another part of the city, princess Miya was rubbed with sweet smelling fruit oils and prepared for a special ceremonial return. Additionally, there was talk of a special surprise for her, and she could hardly quell her enthusiasm. She knew her parents and could only imagine how well Kit and Caribo were currently being treated. Likely pampered even as she was. She couldn’t wait to see them.
The crowds gathered at the base of the large temple to find to their astonishment that the rumors of the white beast were true. There, stretched out and strung up by his arms hung Kit, with Caribo alongside of him.
“Why do they wish to us kill, my friend?” Caribo asked.
“I suspect they believe we are the ones who abducted Miya in the first place. And I believe they think the only reason we were close enough for capture was for an attempt on our part to gather ransom from them. After all, she is a princess.”
“Abduction and ransom of a princess? We are doomed, Kit. Doomed. This will not be a fast death.”
Caribo’s statement left them both pensive and mute.
Tihuac came to escort his sister to the temple. He was ornately dressed. The two of them came in from the back side of the temple in order to avoid crowds, opposite of where Kit and Caribo hung ready for their execution. So it was that Miya wasn’t even aware of the situation until nearly the last second.
On the back side of the temple Miya and Tihuac climbed the many steps that led them to the area that held the seats where their father and mother would be waiting. As they approached the edge of the temple that would show them to the crowds, Miya’s mother rounded the corner in great anticipation of seeing her daughter.
The queen was dressed in splendid finery, and walked with a grace that becomes part of the natural fluidity of all nobility. Yet when she saw her daughter, the queen left her regality behind and rushed forward with her arms outstretched. As they embraced, Miya cried. Not alone in the wave of emotion, the queen joined her with tears that only a mother’s love could shed.
Finally pulling themselves apart, the queen insisted that Miya come sit with her and her father. As Miya rounded the corner, she practically ran into her father as he turned the corner to see what was taking his wife so long.
“Oh! My daughter! My daughter!” he began.
Miya burst into more tears.
Finally wiping eyes, the king said, “I have missed you Miya. I do not know what happened that caused you to stray from the city and allowed these vermin to capture you. I will make things right for you,” he promised. “Come let us deal with your captors and their corpses will send a message to all that dare trespass here!”
As they headed for their seats, Tihuac pointed out Kit and Caribo to his sister. “See what we have done to your captors!” he proclaimed proudly.
As her eyes took in the lifeless looking form of Kit, Miya let out a loud scream.
“No! No! No!” she exclaimed becoming hysterical.
“There, there, daughter. We will dispatch them immediately,” replied her father embracing her.
As the words sank in, her hysterics softened. “They’re alive?”
“For the moment,” replied her father. But I can remedy that right now.”
“No, father. Please don’t kill them! No father! Please!” she begged him, clinging to his garments as she dropped to her knees in front of him.
The watching crowd quieted as this spectacle of mercy unfolded.
“But why daughter?” he half whispered as he helped his daughter back to her feet.
“Because I love him,” she replied, eyes turned up, with tears streaming from them.
The king was taken aback.
“Love him?” he said incredulously. “Which one? Why? Haven’t they threatened you? Haven’t they harmed you?”
“Please father, set them free. Please. They have never threatened me. They have never harmed me. In fact, they have saved my life repeatedly.” Then taking a deep breath she replied to his former question, “The white one, father. I love the white skinned one. His name is Kit.”
Kissing his daughter, the king’s voice bellowed from above. “Cut the captives loose.”
The guards looked up in surprise but did as they were told.
“What is the other’s name?” the king gently asked his daughter.
“Caribo,” she replied, a smile starting to form on her face.
Turning to the crowd, the king’s voice boomed out once again as the crowd silenced. “Kit. Caribo. Come up here at once.”
Kit and Caribo exchanged glances and Kit started off, Caribo immediately in step behind him, with the guards trailing them a few feet behind.
As they approached the final steps towards where the king and his family stood, the guards reached out to stop them; but princess Miya took that moment to run down the few steps toward them and flung herself at Kit, wrapping him in her arms while sobbing, “I’m so sorry! So sorry! I love you! I love you!”
The crowd exploded in cheers!
Kit used the only devise available to him to quiet her, and planted a long passionate kiss on her mouth.
Feeling the effects of the near-death adrenaline, he swept her up into his arms and carried her back to place her gently at the feet of her father. Then, dropping to one knee, he bowed his head to the king, and said, “My king!” Caribo followed suit.
King Tuluk immediately liked him.
“Stand,” he commanded them. Turning to Kit he continued, “My daughter tells me that you have saved her life.” He paused, eyeing Kit; reflective in thought. “Further, she says she loves you.” He paused again, thinking. “Can you tell a good story?” he asked, directing the question to both of them. “I would like to hear of your encounter with daughter from the beginning until this moment.”
“Yes, king,” repli
ed Kit and Caribo in unison. Kit looked pensively at Miya, but she only nodded her head.
“So be it.” The king faced his subjects and spoke loudly to them, “We will now hear of the story of how our two young explorers met and returned the princess to us.”
Taking turns, the two of them told the story of their many adventures. Kit paid attention to the king’s expressions as he spoke. As he watched the king, he noted that the king did likewise and watched his daughter’s expressions. But in the end, the story finished and the king embraced his daughter while tears streamed down his eyes.
“Is that how it happened, daughter?”
“Exactly how it happened, father. They did not boast one single word.”
“Then I owe them… and you…my grandest apologies. Will you ever forgive me, my daughter?”
“I already have, father!” and having said that Miya found herself smothered in kisses from both parents.
“What would you have me do?” he asked his daughter.
“I wish your blessing on our union father. I wish to join myself in marriage to Kit.”
“Then it looks like we have need of a different type of ceremony!” bellowed the king. “Come let us prepare!” and, gathering his family and his new soon-to-be extended family, he led them around the side of the temple and back to the palace.
That night a great feast was laid out and the two were again asked to relate their many adventures. Kit included a bit of his own history this time and told of the many cities on the far side of the world.
By the rise of the moon, they were exhausted and ready to sleep a lifetime.
They stayed with the king’s family for many days.
It was a short time later that Kit asked King Tuluk for Miya’s hand in marriage. Kit gained his consent and preparations were made, during which time Kit and Caribo learned much of their hosts. For the whole of the kingdom was made up of miners, smelters, and traders of gold; having found themselves in a place that was rich with the veins of that particular ore.
Yet, the very fact that they had so much in abundance made the commodity seem common.
