said proudly.
“Thank you,” said Amy.
Back at the boats, JT gathered everybody together and waited for their full attention. A hush fell over the group.
“Okay now,” he said, looking around. “From the looks of it, things seem pretty normal. There’s a lot of hype here at Lava. And for good reason. This is big stuff. But I want everyone to stay calm. Keep your wits about you. Listen to your paddle captain. Listen to Dixie. Listen to me.”
“Where’s Blender going to ride?” Sam asked. He stood hopping from one leg to the other. The dog had ridden in the paddle boat that morning, much to Sam’s delight.
“My boat,” said JT.
“Who’s in your boat?” asked Sam.
“I’ve got Ruth and Lloyd, plus Amy and Mitchell.”
Sam stopped dancing. “So who will hold on to the dog?”
“Well,” said JT, “well, I guess Mitchell will.”
“Moi?” said Mitchell.
“That’s right,” JT told Mitchell. “You’re going to be riding up front, so you’re in charge of the dog.”
(Way to make things as hard as possible, he thought.)
But Mitchell shook his head somberly. “Well then, this hombray will rise to the occasion.”
Once again, JT reminded them to check their life jackets. Solemnly they all boarded their respective boats as the guides stood knee-deep in the water and coiled up their bow lines. There was a kind of informal queue among the parked boats, and their group was next.
When Amy, Mitchell, Ruth, and Lloyd were in their seats, JT pushed off.
“Here’s the deal,” he said, rocking the boat as he climbed up and settled himself on his seat. “Main thing is to just stay low and hang on tight.” He reached back and tightened the retainer strap on his sunglasses. “And listen closely! We’re going in on the right and in two seconds I’m going to shout ‘V-wave!’”
“What’s a V-wave?” asked Amy.
“It’s just a huge backward wave. Anyway—when I yell ‘V-wave,’ I want you to duck—and then I want you to immediately start bailing. I mean immediately! And with the buckets—don’t bother with the bailing pump; there isn’t time. Just bail like hell. Then there’ll be another huge wave, and then we’re through. Whole thing takes twenty seconds. Pretty simple. Not a lot to remember.” He snapped the latch on the ammo box at his feet. “So, Amy … What is it you’re going to do?”
“Hold on? Duck when you say ‘V-wave,’ and bail?”
“That’s what I like,” said JT. “A passenger who listens.”
“What do I do with the dog?” Mitchell asked. “Should I hold on to his bandanna? Put him on a leash? What should I do?”
All this time the dog had been sitting patiently at JT’s feet.
“You’re going to squeeze him between your legs, as close to your crotch as possible,” JT said. He gave the dog a nudge. “Go see Mitchell.”
“Come here, doggie,” said Mitchell. “Don’t bite me again. I’m a nice guy” Gingerly he stretched his arm over the stack of dry bags. JT gave the dog another nudge. JT knew he was pushing things here, but he didn’t have any alternative. Ruth and Lloyd were out of the question, and Amy—well, he recalled Amy sliding around in the boat during Crystal. Amy had to hold on with both hands, good and tight.
“No time to hold a grudge,” JT said to the dog. “Go on now.” Blender slunk toward Mitchell. He sniffed the man’s fingers, thumped his tail, then settled at Mitchell’s feet in the front of the boat.
“Wrap your legs around him, Mitchell,” said JT. “Squeeze him like you’re a woman.”
Mitchell laughed nervously but corralled the dog between his thighs. “So—where’s this V-wave?” he asked, craning his neck.
“You can’t see it from here.” JT took up his oars and pounded down the safety pins for good measure. “Only when you’re right down in the middle of things.”
“Want me to be on the lookout for you? Act like an extra set of eyes?”
“No, Mitchell,” said JT. “I want you to stay low and hang on, just like everyone else. Keep the dog between your legs. Ruth? Lloyd?” He wrenched around in his seat. “You set on instructions?”
“I am happy to report that I moved my bowels today,” said Lloyd, tightening the strap on his hat.
Ruth looked at JT and shrugged.
“So are we ready?” JT called over to the other boats.
“Ready,” said Dixie.
“I’m ready,” said Abo.
“Then let’s rumble,” said JT.
In the front of the boat, Amy crouched down, squatting against her heels. She was glad to get off the hot black rocks, to be out on the water again;