WILDERNESS TRACE

The canoe was placed in turbulent water swirling passed rocks.  Gord got into the canoe.  He sat down then Rachel and Arlo stepped into the craft.  Arlo paddled the craft into the grip of a strong current.  He worked desperately, as did Rachel, to avoid boulders looming above the surface as well as lurking under the water.  Spray, crashing over the bow, shot blasts of chilling water through the vapor-filled air.  Rachel’s scream was piercingly loud and turned into an high pitched shriek that shook Arlo’s already frayed nerves.  “Bear!” screamed Rachel.  “Bear, straight ahead!”

Arlo stared into the watery maze surrounding the craft and saw the craggy form of a bear standing massively in shallow, splashing water in front of the canoe.  The creature lurched forward to catch the canoe.  Arlo’s nerves knotted when he saw Rachel, in the bow, moving directly toward the ponderously large paws and jaws.  With the bear being too close to be avoided, Arlo grabbed spears and an axe.  He jumped out of the canoe.  He felt his boots strike rocks on the riverbed and saw the bear lunge at him.  Arlo thrashed furiously toward shore, sensing the jaws and claws following as if he was another fish to be killed and eaten.  A surge of raw fear shot Arlo forward.  His muscles were pushed to their limits while his wits ignited.  He fought the water.  Risking a backward glance, he saw the bear in pursuit like a great cat jumping after a bird.

Arlo scrambled up a sandy bank.  Behind him, came the dreaded splashing sounds of approaching death.  He knew he was facing his own destruction and accepted it with a surprising feeling of calmness.  At the top of the bank, he turned and pushed a rotted stump down on the advancing giant.  In the background, Arlo saw the canoe swirl downstream, moving quickly out of view.