“It’s bubbling from an underground spring,” Rico told her, “and that’s why it’s so cool.”
After crossing the stream they walked along the beach another twenty minutes or so then they turned onto a grassy path that led inland. "What if we get lost?” Asia asked as she stared at the mass of trees in the interior. “Do you know the island that well?”
“Crossed it at least a hundred times,” he said. “You’re safe with me, Asia. Didn’t I tell you you’re in good hands?”
“Uh, huh,” she said, still staring ahead and still not convinced they were totally safe. What if there were wild animals Rico hadn’t encountered before? What if they ran into quicksand? “Maybe we should go back now,” she said. “In fact,” she pointed to the sky, “it’s sort of gray right now. Maybe it’s going to rain?”
“Nonsense. I checked the weather report before we headed out this morning. Sunny skies all day.”
“Well, it's not sunny now,” she pointed out and made to turn back.
“So, after all that big talk about being in charge,” he scoffed, “Asia Miller is nothing but a chicken.”
“What did you say?” Asia turned on him.
“Chicken,” he said again and the laughter tumbled from his lips.
“We’ll see about that,” she said and headed up the path ahead of him. She’d shown him the other side of her so now he wasn’t expecting a wilting flower. She was supposed to be bold and fearless. So she would be. She’d go a little way in, not too far, just enough to show him she was no wimp.
Rico followed and soon overtook her on the path. He ended up leading the way, totally messing up her plan to lead them a short distance and then turn back. With him leading there was no telling how far inland he’d go.
“I want to show you something,” he said over his shoulder. “A waterfall with a pool at the bottom. We can take a dip.”
“Sounds…lovely,” she said, all the while thinking, 'maybe we should go back now'.
They’d walked ten more minutes up the path when Asia heard the first rumble of thunder. She stopped and looked up but it was like being in a tropical rainforest. The foliage was so thick overhead they could only see patches of the sky. And it was gray. Not the light gray it had been when they turned onto the path but a deep and ominous gray.
“Uh, oh,” Rico said looking up, too. “Looks like rain.”
Asia could have slapped him. Wasn’t that what she’d been saying all this time?
“Let’s go back,” she said, already turning around.
And then a streak of lightning ripped across the sky. Asia jumped, almost knocking Rico over for the second time that day.
“It’s okay,” he said. “No need to be scared.” He put out a hand to steady her.
“I’m not scared,” she muttered and clung to his hand.
The two of them started running back the way they’d come but they knew it was hopeless. With all the walking they’d done it would take them over half an hour to get back to the boat.
Then it started to rain. Huge drops fell from the sky, the kind you saw only on a tropical island. It came swift and sudden, the only thing saving them being the thick canopy of leaves overhead.
By the time they broke out of the trees and reached the beach the rain was coming down in torrents. Thunder rolled and lightning streaked over the water. For Rico and Asia there was no more need to hide from the rain. They were both soaked straight through. That was the least of their problems. With the lightning flashing they were both in danger of getting struck.
“Shouldn’t we stay under the trees?” Asia yelled as they raced across the sand.
“No,” Rico yelled back. “Lightning and trees. No good.”
In addition to the rain the wind was whipping into them, making it all the more difficult to be heard.
“Best bet,” he yelled, “reach the boat.”
The boat? Asia wasn’t too sure about that. The sea, tranquil as glass just hours before, was a rolling, roaring mass that reflected the gray of the sky. It was scary to look at, with its waves rising high and crashing into the shore. How could the weather have changed so fast?
No time to think now. She ran with all her might, struggling to keep up with Rico, but each time she fell behind he stopped to wait then grabbed her hand then off they went again.
They were almost at the stream but it, like the rest of nature, had turned into a monster. Water rushed from the interior and down toward the sea, making the river three times its original size.
“Carajo!” Rico swore as they stood staring at the swirling water. Then he moved. Clutching her hand he ran upstream along the grassy bank. “There’s a narrow section up here,” he yelled. “I’ve seen it before. If it hasn’t widened we can cross there.”
Rico was right. Higher upstream the water flow was much narrower than below. Still, it must have widened there, too, because it certainly was not of a width where you could easily step across.
“We’ll have to jump,” Rico yelled.
Asia’s eyes widened. Easy for him to say. His legs were twice the length of hers.
He must have seen her hesitation. “It’s our only chance of getting back to the boat.” He squeezed her hand. “Come on, Asia. We can do it.”
As the rain pelted them she stared up into his face and he looked so determined that she felt she had to try.
She nodded. “Okay, let's do it.”
Quickly, they devised a plan. They walked several yards away from the stream to give themselves enough of a running start. Then Rico looked down at her. “I won’t let you go, Asia. Just trust me.”
She sucked in her breath then nodded.
“Ready?” he yelled.
“Ready.”
And they took off running at full speed, Rico still holding her hand in a tight grip. They raced toward the stream and without stopping they leaped across, the momentum of the run carrying them to the other side. The power in Rico’s hand pulled Asia farther than she could ever have gone on her own. They landed - deep in mud - on the other side.