[50024 Years Ago/ Earlier that Day/ The River]
Mike walked along the western bank of the river. The opposite bank was lined with cattails, but on his side it was bare of vegetation.
The river was the only outlet of the Lake, and the Lake itself had no inlets. It was fed during the rainy season that was still months away, leaving the river dark and sluggish, though still deep enough that a man would have to swim to the small island found further downstream. The island was narrow and long and filled with ancient sycamores and heavy underbrush.
Mike came to stand on the bank across from the island. He noted with dread several water snakes, their curving heads poking out of the river. Mike knew them to be a deadly kind.
"Help!" came a voice from the island and high in the trees somewhere.
"Who's there?" Mike said.
All the boys began crying for help.
Mike listened to the cacophony for a moment, then called over it, "Okay, okay, I'm here! Stop shouting!"
The boys went silent.
"Now, who's up there?"
"It's me, Dugg, and my brothers. We're stuck in a tree. There're water snakes everywhere."
"Yeah, I see that," Mike said.
"Help us," Dugg said.
"That's why I'm here." Mike looked at his blue legs. "Apparently."
A hiss caught his attention. A water snake had come up the bank and had risen up to strike but now was wagging its head. It fell back, seeming dizzy.
Mike's fear faded on seeing the reaction of the snake to the pungent odor of the mushroom fluid.
"Don't like the smell?" Mike said. He put a blue foot out toward the snake. The snake hissed and fell further back.
"Are you still there?" Dugg said.
"Yes," Mike said, watching the snake coil up, its beady eyes still upon him, "I'm trying to figure this out. Just relax."
"That's easy for you to say."
Mike counted six snakes in the water. He could also see many on the island. "The blue stuff won't be any good in the river," he said, "and it'll be washed away before I get across."
He looked at the stick with its hook. He put his finger into the cut Heba had made, then he looked at the snake nearby. It was unwilling to strike but unwilling to leave.
"Got it," he said, and with a quick swipe, Mike caught the head of the snake in the notch. Heba's cut made a perfect pinching snare. Mike pulled the writhing thing toward him, moving the stick hand over hand until the snake's head was close enough to sever with his knife.
Mike watched the head roll down the bank, then he pulled the convulsing, looping body away and threw it. He spun the long stick around, then began reaching out to the snake nearest in the river.
It took him only a few minutes to capture each of the snakes and dispatch them in turn. When he was done, he paused to catch his breath. He peered into the trees of the island until he spotted the boys. "You're all clear," he said, waving. "Just get to the river."
"We can't, there're snakes under us," Dugg said. "You've got to hurry. Some are getting into the branches."
"Great," Mike said, then saw more snakes in the water to his left and right, coming around the ends of the island. They were far away but would be arriving soon. "Great," he said again.
Mike threw the stick to land half on the island and half in the river, then he dove in following.
When he was treading water near the mossy edge of the island, he got hold of the stick and looked above him. There were old trees here with strong branches.
Mike was certain there was a way to use the stick to save the boys. This certainty was surprising to him. It was based only on Heba's dream, but in this moment of crisis that was all that was necessary.
Mike thought to throw the stick to the boys to use as he had, but if they failed to catch it, all was over. He huffed in frustration as he got hold of the stick by the hook. He looked at it for a moment, then looked up to the branches, and then he began to laugh.
"What's so funny?" Dugg said.
"I'll show you in a second."
Mike raised the hook until it caught on a sturdy branch, then said, "Here." He pushed the end of the hanging stick so it swung up nearly to the boys in their tree.
"Do it again," Dugg said, now understanding what Mike had in mind. He reached out ready hands.
Mike pushed again and this time Dugg caught the end of the stick. He gave quick instructions to one of his brothers and the boy took a firm hold on the stick, then leapt off the branch he sat upon. He swung out in an arc, then let go to splash down in the river. He came to the surface, laughing. His brothers and Mike laughed too.
Mike then swung the stick up into the tree again, and soon the next boy came swinging over the river. He landed in a perfect dive.
Then it was Dugg's turn. He swung out, and not to be outdone by his younger brothers, he did a somersault.
The three boys came to surround Mike, thanking him.
"You're welcome," Mike said, looking to the snakes coming closer. "Now, let's get out of here."