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Trip and I were the last ones to get in We both stood in front of Kowi, Celia, and Coli just a couple feet behind her

"Hey," Celia said quietly

"Hey," I responded

Trip just nodded

"I just wanted to wish you luck" Her eyes filled with tears but she blinked rapidly toto do our best," I said I probably should have said so more poetic or quotable, but I was in a panic I couldn’t pro, much as I wanted to

"I know you will I wanted to tell you too that if you aren’t able to do everything you want, it’s going to be okay Forto be okay" A tear escaped her eye

I reached out and put es "I know you are I absolutely know that"

She continued, raising her chin a little "But it would be a lot easier and a lot faster if you killed those bastards for ht those poor kids back here"

Tears ca past ave her a weak smile "Consider it done"

It was the best I could do for promises, and it made me want to panic and run the other direction, away froht, away fro everyone believe they couldn’t be touched by the ugliness, and away from even the two boys I now loved - because I was so afraid they were going to die today and it would be all my fault

The paddles and poles the indians used to move their canoes dipped in and out of the water It was just before dawn, and the sky should have been alight with the beautiful pinks, yellows, and oranges that I was used to seeing here in thea spooky atmosphere to the swamp

Hopefully, the canners would decide to sleep in today on this dreary et into position around their house No one said a word out loud The danger of ourheavily on everyone, much like it was onreverie A few of the others giggled I looked up and saw so startled

Bodo had his harave one short blow on it I heard and saw nothing of his bird from then on

We arrived at the rental place where we had taken our canoes fro theether and to the canoe rack, using the chains and locks we had taken froing an end over to Fohi to connect with his part

"Yeah I guess I thought ouldn’t be co out of the boat and stepping onto the wet sand I lifted up a foot and looked at the bottom of my moccasin which was now covered in clumps of the wet stuff

"They’re treated to be waterproof," said Winky "Just don’t go swi in them and you should be fine" She walked past me to climb the bank towards the rental shack

"Thanks for the tip," I said, puttingher

She reached her hand down once she was at the top of the hill, pulling uys finish the canoe-securing fro up into a nearby tree, sliding his harmonica into his pocket

"That’s pretty cool … Bodo and his hawk," said Winky, watching him

"Yeah It is" I tried not to look at her face, but I was drawn to it I wished I could read herafter Bodo I didn’t want to feel competitive with her over him I liked them both too much

"You’re lucky," she said, wistfully

"How so?"

"He loves you"

"Why do you say that?"

She shrugged "I don’t know I guess I just don’t see it that often any in love"

"Did you have a boyfriend before?"

"Yeah," she said, looking down "He was older"

Oh, crap I knehat that"He died?"

"Yeah Along with my parents and everyone else"

"I’m sorry" I reached over and rubbed her back a couple ti my hand drop to my side

"Thanks But anyway, I have hope that I’ll find so "And don’t worry I know it’s not going to be Bodo"

I was taken aback by her bluntness "I … uh … didn’t think it was But that’s good to know"

"I thought I saw you looking worried a few tiot tangled in the chains they’d been using to tie the boats and fell into the sand "The options are kind of sli provided courtesy of the crack tea ourselves into?" I said underourselves into anything except that canner house to rescue those kids and to kick a little ass They started this, not us We’re just going to finish it"

I nodded "You’re right Let’s go finish this"