The Reservoir Read Online Free Page B

on,” Zack advised the group.
    “No way,” Kendall said.
    Zack sighed heavily.  “Humor me, Kendall.  Wear a vest.  Everybody.”
    “Come on, Zack,” she groaned.  “We all know how to swim.”
    “Wear the vest until you get accustomed to the area.  And whatever you do, don’t dive.  You could easily hit a rock or a tree.  And if that were to happen,” he said, raising a finger for emphasis, “the vest will keep your face out of the water, even if you can’t manage it under your own power.”
    “You’re kidding, right?” she said.  “And since when did you go all Rescue Ranger on us?” 
    “No, I’m not kidding,” he responded, in all seriousness.  “And so you know, boating is serious business.  People get killed on the water all the time.  Tearing around like idiots, some of them drinking—no, Kendall, I’m not kidding.  Wear the vest.”
    All but Daniel jumped into the water.  A series of piercing cries sliced the air, as the kids were shocked by the water temperature.  “It’s so cold!” Kendall cried.  “So much colder than back at the dock.”
    The group congregated together, treading water, and trying to warm up their body temperatures.  Holly noted Daniel kept an eye trained on the waters around his friends.
    Clearly, the kid was still spooked.
    “Dang, it’s cold,” Niqui complained. 
    “There’s a creek up this channel, on the other side of the bridge aways,” Holly told them.  “It’s called Siouxon Creek, and it’s really cool up there—ha, ha, no pun intended.”
    “How’s it cool?” Niqui inquired.  “The creek I mean.  In ways other than water temperature?”
    “Well, it gets really shallow along the channel to the creek.  If you’re careful, you can take your boat up and drop anchor, not far from the waterfall.  My brother loves it, because he’s a rock hound.  He’s found all kinds of rocks up there.  There are also hundreds of salamanders.  We went back there the other day and anchored the boat.  Harry and I swam back, toward the waterfall.  I happened to glance down, saw a huge trout, and all of a sudden, all these salamanders came swimming to the surface.  They crawled all over me, up on my shoulders and into my vest.  I guess I was their island of safety from the big fish.”
    “Did you scream?” Niqui asked, making a horrified face at the prospect of slimy salamanders crawling all over her.
    “Well, yeah, but I like salamanders,” she admitted.  “They’re actually really cute.  When I was a kid, I called them mud puppies.”
    “Sweet memory,” Kendall said drolly.  “Maybe Daniel saw a salamander back at the dock.  Heck, maybe it was a girl salamander.” 
    Each member of the group sent her a warning stare, to which she responded, “Let’s get in the boat.  I’m going to die from the cold.”
    “Yeah, death is imminent,” Zack said drolly, as he reached for the ladder Daniel had already draped over the side.  He hoisted himself in first, and then helped the girls, as they awkwardly climbed the flimsy ladder.
    Once they were all back in the boat, Daniel seemed relieved to have them there.
    He eased back against his seat, and then reached for a can of soda from the cooler.  “Anyone else?” he asked.
    Zack nodded and Daniel tossed him a can, which he promptly snapped open.  Zack took a deep swig of the soda, and then glanced around.  He nodded toward Mount St. Helens in the background.  “Pretty,” he observed.
    “My understanding is, it used to be prettier,” Kendall said, and Holly laughed.
    “You mean, before it blew its top?”
    “Yeah, then,” she agreed.
    “We weren’t even born then,” Niqui commented.
    “I’ve seen pictures,” Kendall informed.
    “It’s still really pretty,” Daniel said, and then sighed loudly.  “If she blew right now, would we die?”
    “Depends on which way she blows, I guess,” Zack said. 
    “If she blew our way…”
    Zack shrugged.  “No way to live,