Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Revitalized by breakfast and a morning at the day spa Ali stepped out of the minivan into a picturesque park. Lush green grass met the waters of a wide slow-moving river lined with majestic swaying trees.
“This is magical,” said Ali as the other girls joined her.
A loud bark sounded and she spotted Axe running toward them with a bright red ribbon around his neck. The dog made a beeline for her, barking excitedly. She dropped to a knee and he licked her face. “Hey buddy, you smell good. Have you had a bath?”
Leonie gave him a pat. “Maria organized a groomer. He spent the morning getting pampered. OK Axe, are you going to show us the way?”
The dog let out a bark and trotted off through the park toward a thick grove of trees. The girls followed.
“Is this where we’re meeting Mike and the boys?” asked Ali as they followed a path into the woods.
“Yeah, in a few hours. There’s fun to be had before then.”
A row of ribbon tied trees lined the path as they approached a clearing. Ali let out a squeal of delight as she spotted a table laden with cakes and teapots. Around it strewn on the grass were croquet mallets, a ring toss, lawn balls and other games. A smaller table adorned with long-stemmed glasses stood next to a steel tub filled with champagne bottles.
In among the fairytale setting stood Maria in a beautiful summer dress. “Ladies, welcome to the bachelorette’s delights.”
She pressed a remote control and music filled the garden setting.
“Maria, this is beautiful,” gushed Ali as she wrapped her arms around the buxom Latino.
“We couldn’t have Leonie running the whole event. Like I said last night, someone had to bring a touch of class.”
The other women gathered around the table.
Leonie pointed to a tree of cupcakes. “Oh look, little cock cakes.”
Ali leaned closer and saw each of the hand-made cakes had an iced penis drawn on it.
“Wait till you see the lawn games,” Maria said with a chuckle.
After the ladies enjoyed the afternoon snacks their host directed them to the equipment. “Ladies, high tea in the forest isn’t complete without penis-themed games.”
Ali started off with the ring toss, and threw an oversized plastic ring at the dildo serving as a peg. She missed. “Damn it.”
Leonie stepped up for her go. “I really hope you’re better at that with Mike.”
“I generally don’t throw anything this large at Mike’s penis,” replied Ali.
Leonie giggled and tossed, missing by yards. “It’s harder than it looks.”
Ali shook her head, laughing. “This has been a fantastic few days,” she said as Maria joined them. “Thank you so much.”
“My dear girl, it’s our pleasure,” said Maria.
Leonie nodded in agreement and then gestured to where Axe was enjoying a bone. “Even the hound is having a good time.” She tossed another ring, missing again. “Screw this, I’m out.” Dropping the rings, she downed her champagne.
Ali made a throw. “I wonder how the boys are doing?”
Leonie topped up her glass. “They’ll be having a great time on the river.” She checked her watch. “Only an hour till they arrive.”
Ali tossed another ring. “I feel like we should organize some food for them.”
Leonie raised her glass. “Already done. Maria has chow and coffee ready to go.”
She tossed another ring. This time it fell directly on the rubber dildo. She jumped up and down in excitement. “I did it. I landed one.”
* * *
Rick strained to hear TJ’s orders over the roar of the hundreds of thousands of gallons of water smashing over and around massive granite boulders. The little raft bucked and twisted as they maneuvered it with deft strokes.
Then as suddenly as the wild section of the river started, it ended and they found themselves in calm water.
“Damn, that’s hectic,” yelled Rick as he leaned back against the raft and held his paddle across his knees.
“That was a grade four,” said TJ. “There’s two sets of grade five-plus in the next stretch. If you guys don’t move a little faster when I give commands we’ll end up in the drink.”
“Keep your pants on, old man,” said Rick. “We’ve been handling it like pros. Plus it’s not like we can’t swim, we’re SEALs.”
“The Meat Grinder doesn’t give a crap what you are. You go in and you’re in serious trouble.”
“The Meat Grinder?” Dean sounded a little uncertain.
Rick laughed. “He’s just trying to scare you.”
“We’ll see.”
They cruised with the flow of the river for a few minutes before the familiar roar of rapids could be heard.
Rick readied himself for the onslaught. The roaring increasing in intensity as they approached a bend.
“Right side forward!” bellowed TJ.
He dug his paddle and the raft made its way to the outside of the bend narrowly avoiding a large rock. As they rounded the corner the rest of the rapids came into view. “Oh shit,” murmured Rick as he surveyed the raging torrent of white water forcing its way between two huge boulders.
“Forward!” yelled TJ.
Together they paddled as the Chief aimed them for the gap.
Through the torrent Rick could see a crest of water then more boulders and rapids. He felt the raft gain speed as it was sucked into the chute. Water lashed his face and the craft bucked wildly as they entered the maelstrom.
“Right back!” screamed TJ over the noise.
Rick paddled hard spinning the raft. They dropped over a small waterfall into a whirlpool where they surfed for a moment before TJ angled them clear.
“Left back.”
He paddled frantically before realizing he’d messed up. They bounced off a massive boulder and slipped down a crevasse slightly narrower than the boat. It wedged firm and tons of water tipped them downward. TJ disappeared under the raft and then it broke free, flipping end over end.
Caught beneath it Rick managed to keep his legs up as the raft bounced through the rapids. Then suddenly it was gone and he was jetting through the rapids alone. He fought to keep his head above water as he was pumped through another set of small waterfalls. A boulder dealt him a solid blow, robbing him of feeling in his right arm.
The pummeling felt like it went on for minutes, but in reality it was a matter of seconds before he was clear of the rapids.
“Rick!”
He turned toward the voice and spotted Mike towing Dean toward the bank. Striking out with his good arm he kicked toward them. Behind him, another voice called out.
“Where’s TJ?” Ernie caught up with him. “I can’t see the raft or TJ.”
The two men reached the shore together where Mike was supporting a coughing Dean. “Everyone OK?” he asked.
Rick wriggled his fingers. The feeling was slowly returning to his hand. “I’m good.”
Dean coughed the last of the water from his lungs and gave thumbs up.
“TJ is gone.” Ernie scanned the river with a concerned expression.
“He was first in. So he’s probably further downstream. Don’t worry, the old man knows the river,” said Rick.
Once they were all out of the water Mike led them along the river, scrambling over boulders in search of TJ. As they hunted Rick spotted something blue ahead. They got closer and he saw it was their cooler. The Chief was sitting on the bank next to it. The raft was nowhere to be seen.
Rick crouched next to him. “TJ, you alright?”
“I would be if you listened to instructions,” growled the veteran SEAL. “Caught my ankle under a rock.” He gestured to his naked foot. The ankle looked red and swollen. “Lost my bootie and twisted it pretty bad.”
“Thought we’d lost you,” said Ernie.
“In this pissy river?” scoffed TJ.
“But, the meat grinder,” added Dean.
The Chief laughed. “I made that up. It’s actually called The Chute. Level four plus.” He turned to Rick. “I don’t suppose you’ve got a med kit, Corpsman?”
Rick shrugged off the backpack he wore over his life vest. Inside were his water bladder and a small medical kit. He never went anywhere without one.
“So what now?” asked Mike as Rick strapped TJ’s ankle.
“Well, without a raft we’ve only got one option. We walk out.”
“Follow the river downstream?” asked Ernie.
TJ shook his head. “No, the terrain gets worse. It would take us all night.” He pointed up the bank. “We head due west till we hit one of the fire trails.”
“Why don’t we call for help?” asked Dean as he fished a plastic bag out of his life vest. Inside was his cell phone.
“No coverage up here, son.” TJ selected a branch from a pile left by the river. He snapped off the end and used it to help him climb the riverbank. “We get going and we might be out of here by nightfall.”
* * *
“Leonie, do you think something has happened to them?” Ali sat with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders on the bank of the river. “I mean, they were supposed to be here two hours ago, right?”
The girls had finished their high tea and moved to the agreed meeting point to receive the boys. Maria had organized their food on picnic tables in anticipation of hungry mouths.
“Something might be holding them up,” said Maria. “You know TJ, he always plans for everything. They’ll be along soon.”
Ali turned to where Axe was sitting watching the river. The dog seemed to have a sixth sense when it came to locating Mike. His tongue lolled from his mouth and he wore an unconcerned expression. “Yeah, I’m sure everything is OK.”
As they waited, the girls recounted the antics of the last twenty-four hours. Before long they were all giggling as they drank champagne left over from the high tea.
Another fifteen minutes passed without their arrival. Ali turned when she heard the sound of a car pulling into the parking lot. Her heart skipping a beat when she saw it was a park ranger’s truck.
A tall female ranger walked across the lawn toward them. “Hi guys, I take it the rafters haven’t arrived yet?”
Ali rose to greet her. “You don’t have any news?”
The woman shook her head. “No, I met the boys last night when I ran a class for them. TJ told me they’d be arriving around now.”
“You ran a class for them?” asked Ali.
“Sorry.” She held out her hand. “My name’s Jenny. I run a pole dancing fitness class in town as well as being a park ranger.”
Ali took her hand and introduced the other women.
“I’m confused, pole dancing?” said Leonie.
She laughed. “Yeah, I think Rick was a little confused too. He thought he’d hired a stripper, not a pole dancing instructor.”
“Tell me you made them try it.”
Jenny flashed a cheeky smile. “Of course I did. Rick decided he had something to prove.”
“I hope someone got it on camera,” said Ali.
“What happens at pole camp stays at pole camp.” She took out her phone and showed them a picture of Rick inverted.
“Do you think they’re all right?” asked Ali when the laughter had subsided.
“There’s any number of reasons they might have been delayed.”
“But, they’re now two hours late.”
“I’ll radio into headquarters and find out if anyone has seen them. The river usually has a little traffic this time of year.”
“Thanks, that would be great.”
“In the meantime, you should sit tight. I’m sure the boys will be along shortly.”