Remember, this is our dinner,” he teased. “You don’t catch a piranha, then you go hungry,”
“Don’t you worry, sweetheart,” David said to Janice. “I’ll catch your share as well.”
“I’ll catch my own, thank you,” she returned, and grabbed hold of her fishing pole.
“As will I,” Everly announced. “I’m a farm girl, with some experience fishing.” She didn’t mention that her dad had to bait her line because the thought of touching a slimy worm disgusted her and her sisters.
Asher helped everyone get their lines in the water. Not five minutes later, Professor Kotz caught the first fish. Everly was stunned by how fiercely the fish fought. The professor was hard-pressed to keep hold of the fishing pole. When Asher netted the fish, they were all shocked by how small it was and how fiercely it had struggled. Asher had to be careful removing the hook from its mouth because of the razor-sharp teeth. He wore protective gloves.
The rest of them stared at the fish. Everly had seen drawings of piranha but was stunned to see one alive—well, almost alive. It was all mouth and teeth. A shiver ran down her spine, knowing how dangerous they could be.
In one of Asher’s lectures, he’d reviewed the ten most dangerous types of wildlife in the Amazon. She didn’t remember where piranha landed, but the fish was definitely one of the top five. The poisonous snakes and the wandering spider were also on that list.
Janice caught the second fish, and, like the professor, struggled to bring it close enough to the watercraft for Asher to net it. Once it had been freed from the line and placed in the cooler with the first fish, she beamed with pride.
“See, David? I told you I didn’t need any help.”
“Of course, my love. I’m proud of you.”
For the next half hour, they all caught fish, Everly included. She’d done a little fishing as a kid. She didn’t have the patience for it and didn’t find it nearly as relaxing as her dad and brothers did. Her two sisters felt the same as Everly.
When she’d hooked the first piranha, she’d held her own and, like Janice, was quite proud of herself. Before long she caught a second and then a third. After her third catch, she retired her pole, leaned back, and enjoyed the afternoon. For once it wasn’t raining, which was a rare treat. It rained every day without fail, but between cloudbursts there were moments of sunshine and warmth. They’d hit this fishing expedition at exactly the right time.
The Zodiac drifted beneath a row of vegetation along the bank, the current placing the watercraft in the shadows. After sitting in the hot sun for the last thirty minutes, the cool shade was welcome.
Everly closed her eyes, her head raised toward the sky, and soaked in the peace. Miriam Kotz was the only one who had yet to hook a fish, and Everly knew Asher didn’t want to head back to the ship until everyone had experienced at least one catch.
Half asleep, Everly was startled awake when Miriam let loose with a piercing scream.
Everly bolted to an upright position.
Then Janice screamed.
Then she saw it.
A snake.
Not just any snake. This one was huge.
Apparently, it had fallen from the overhead foliage and landed in the middle of the Zodiac…directly in front of her.
Terrified, Everly gasped and leaped to her feet. The bottom of the Zodiac was wet and slippery, and she quickly lost her balance. With her arms flailing, she stumbled backward. Before she could right herself, she fell over the side of the raft and into the murky waters of the Amazon River.
CHAPTER TEN
Asher watched as Daisy lost her balance, arms thrashing, and flew backward out of the Zodiac into the piranha-infested water. With his heart in a wild panic, he immediately jumped into action. He grabbed hold of the snake, tossed it over the other side of the watercraft, and then leaned over the fat lip of the Zodiac, stretching out both arms to reach for Daisy.
Thanks to her life vest, she immediately bobbed to the surface, sputtering and frantically slapping the water in a crazed effort to reach him.
“Give me your arms,” he shouted, almost in danger of slipping into the river himself.
David Brown gripped on to Asher’s ankles as he lunged for Daisy, snatching hold of one of her wrists. With effort, he was able to drag her close enough to take hold of her other hand. Straining, Asher lifted her out of