Dead in the Water Read Free Page A

ride, noisy as it was. Abruptly the boat slowed and we pulled up to the shoreline; then, as suddenly as we’d lost speed, we took off again.
    â€œ Hey,” the pilot called, “nothing here. We’ll go into the swamp and chase us some gators there.”
    Oh goodie , I thought. Here’s where we get lost .
    As we sped down a small waterway, the vegetation on either side closed in around us. The pilot took an abrupt turn to the left and almost mowed down two kids fishing in a small motorboat.
    The pilot cut the engine. “Hey, get the hell out of the way.” The wake from the airboat washed toward their tiny craft and rocked it.
    â€œ Damn Indians. They think they own these swamps. Always in the way.” He shook his fist at them.
    â€œ Well, they really do own this land, don’t they? Isn’t it part of the Miccosukee Tribal Territory?” I didn’t like the pilot’s arrogant attitude. The kids weren’t in anyone’s way. They were just fishing.
    He gave me a dark look and revved the engine. We headed back across open water with reeds and swamp grass, then into a small canal.
    We slowed, and the pilot again shouted, “Hey!” The boat headed toward the bank—dense with cattails, reeds and fallen logs—then nosed into land. Before us, not six feet away, was an alligator. It didn’t move, merely lay there eyeing us. The pilot stepped down from his seat and onto the front of the boat. He grabbed an overhead branch and shook it. The gator opened its mouth and hissed. Close encounters of the reptile kind. We all jumped. Cameras snapped pictures. The captain reached for Madeleine’s camera and got a close-up. She smiled her gratitude and her friendliness seemed to stir his need to show off. He grabbed the knife that was in a sheath at his belt and brandished it as if he was about to take on the creature. Some of us oohed. I yawned.
    â€œ You’re not going to hurt that alligator, are you?” Madeleine’s eyes flashed a mixture of anger and concern.
    â€œ No, ma’am, little lady.”
    Oh, for heaven’s ….
    â€œ Sir, you need to get back in the boat.”
    Distracted by the scene of our macho pilot entertaining both us and the alligator, no one noticed Winston step off the boat onto the shore and wander back into the overgrown island.
    â€œ Sir,” the pilot called again, “Come back here.”
    â€œ Uncle Winston!” I said.
    â€œ Oh, let him go. He’s just curious.” Darlene grabbed my shoulder as if to restrain me from getting off with him.
    â€œ Did you miss something here? That’s an alligator right in front of us, and I’m sure it has friends and relatives out there.” I called Winston’s name once more.
    â€œ Go get him.” Madeleine looked up at the pilot as if he was an action hero.
    â€œ I’m right here.” Winston appeared once more out of the thicket of brush and stepped back onto the airboat, settling into his seat. “Nothing much out there, and it’s too thick to walk far.”
    The pilot gave Winston a stern look. “Don’t do that again, sir. If you want to help, grab that pole and give us a shove off. The boat don’t have reverse.”
    Winston complied, the engine started again, and we were off for another alligator sighting. I turned my head to look back at where we had been, wondering how that gator felt about airboats invading its sanctuary. I caught a spot of red just to the right of where we’d seen the gator, but before I could crane my neck for a better view, we turned a bend and started across a watery area, chasing mud hens as we flew across the surface. When I looked down I could tell the swamp was only inches deep here. Water flew at us and deposited leaves and other debris on our faces and in our hair. I pulled a small caterpillar off Madeleine’s sleeve. Looking down, I spotted a few of the crawly critters on my