a large bang.
“What are you giggling at?” Ellie whispered, her face betraying the anxiety she felt. She hadn’t wanted any part of this, but she was here in support of her friends.
“Nothing-just thinking about what’s going to happen when that rocket engine hits the bridge.”
“I hope nobody gets hurt,” she said.
“It’s not going to hit them, El,” Luke said. “It’ll just scare the crap out of them and then we’ll jump out and give ‘em hell about making John fall in the creek.”
“I hope that’s all it does,” she said.
“Will you two be quiet. I can’t hear John if he signals,” Jimmy said, adjusting his position behind the tree.
“Sorry,” Luke whispered.
They had tested the system once with a smaller sized rocket engine that didn’t have the explosive charge. They didn’t want the bang attracting attention until they were ready, but they needed to get the timing down. When John signaled, Jimmy would pull the firing pin. And wait. The system had a failsafe of three seconds before the firing button could be pushed, but once pressed, the engine would fire immediately. It had worked flawlessly and they had all hooted and hollered at the brilliance of it. Now they would see if John could get the timing right for riders approaching rapidly on bikes.
The creek had calmed down quite a bit, but it still carried more water than normal. The level had dropped considerably and now stood a good two feet below the bottom of the bridge
Jimmy set the firing unit down for a second to get a piece of gum out of his pocket, just as John made the bird call they all recognized as the signal.
“Crap!” Jimmy cursed under his breath and snatched up the firing mechanism. His gum fell to the ground, forgotten. Luke watched Jimmy pull the pin and wait the three seconds for the ready light to come on. Ellie leaned against him, anxiously holding him around the shoulders. He could feel her breath in his ear and reached up to hold her hand. They waited for the light.
* * *
John cramped up as he knelt in the bushes just up from the bridge. The soreness he felt from the swim in the creek still lingered and his lungs hurt every time he took a deep breath. He had never been that scared in his short life and never wanted to feel that way again, but he didn’t mind making someone else feel it. Especially if that someone was Jason Margot and his friend. What pricks. He would be the first one laughing in their faces after the rocket engine scared the crap out of them.
John heard a noise and peered around the bush. Jason and his friend were slowly riding up the path and he tensed in anticipation. He knew he had to get the timing right or the two boys would either be past the bridge or not yet to it when the rocket engine was fired. He figured he would count to three after they passed his position and that should be about perfect.
Suddenly, little Mel Stinson and her brother Robbie came running up the path behind the two bikes. John hesitated not sure what to do. He didn’t want the two little kids anywhere near the action, yet if he didn’t signal shortly, the opportunity would pass. He waited and watched. Just as he was about to nix the whole plan, Mr. Stinson came running up behind his kids and grabbed them both, scooping them up in his arms as they squealed.
“You two need to wait for your mother,” John heard him say, and watched him turn toward the pool carrying the two little ones back around the bend, disappearing. Just then, Jason and his pal passed his hiding place at a leisurely pace, chatting about dunking some little girl and laughing when she came up crying. Assholes.
He gave the signal.
The light came on and Jimmy pressed the button, looking up. Luke could see the two kids riding up onto the bridge as the engine fired. It made a loud ‘whooshing’ sound, streaking away from them toward the two riders.
They both turned toward the sudden noise and Luke watched as their mouths fell open in shock. The rocket engine impacted the beam just as the front tire of Jason’s bike reached that exact point. The loud bang echoed through the woods. John’s timing couldn’t have been better.
Jason reacted by reflexively veering away from the loud concussion and steering his bike into his friend’s who kept pace to the left of him. Luke watched in horror as both bikes and riders drove off the side of the bridge into the creek. Jason actually let out a little scream.
“Oh damn!” Jimmy yelled as he jumped up and ran toward the bridge. Luke and Ellie followed right behind him.
“I told you guys!” Ellie yelled. “I knew something bad would happen.”
All Luke could think about was what happened when John went into the creek. They were barely able to get him out in time. How would they rescue two kids who also might be hurt from falling in on their bikes?
It took them a few seconds to get through the dense woods and Luke could see John approaching from his hiding place. John had a huge smile on his face and looked to be laughing as he whooped and hollered. Jimmy got to the bridge first and stood at the edge looking down. When Luke arrived next to him he was shocked at what he saw. Ellie sank to her knees next to him and said, “Thank God!”
The two boys were sitting in the mud on the other side of the creek. Their bikes lay to the side with one halfway in the water, its back tire spinning as the current rushed through the spokes. They were covered in mud, but appeared to be unhurt. John stopped next to Jimmy and bent over with his hands on his knees trying to catch his breath. He was laughing between gasps. Jimmy started laughing too and then Luke joined them in relief. Ellie, apparently, did not think it was funny.
Mr. Stinson ran up behind them with Mel and her brother in tow. “What was that noise?” He said. “Are you kids ok? It sounded like a gunshot!”
It was then he saw the two boys below and began to put two and two together. He rushed over the bridge and down the embankment, helping Jason and his friend up the slope with their bikes. Jimmy and Luke followed to help. Ellie stood there as Mel came up to her and grabbed her hand. John didn’t move.
“You two ok?” Mr. Stinson asked Jason and his friend when they made it back up to the path. They nodded, but said nothing. Mr. Stinson walked onto the bridge and looked down at the wire that was still attached to the support beam. A small charred area blackened the wood at the point of attachment. He looked up at Luke and his group of friends.
“What did you guys do?” he asked.
“We just wanted to scare them,” Jimmy said. “We didn’t know they would drive over the side of the bridge.”
“You kids could have killed them,” he yelled angrily. “You know that, right?”
“They almost killed me this morning!” John said, just as angry. Luke couldn’t believe he was talking to an adult like that. “They came barreling over the bridge while we were sitting on it and Jason kicked Ellie out of the way. She fell into me and I fell off into the fast water. You saw how strong it was this morning right? I almost drowned and they didn’t even stop.”
“That still doesn’t give you the right to endanger their lives.” He looked at Ellie who was holding his daughter’s hand as she hid behind her leg. “And Ellie, I can’t believe you’d be a part of this. Does your mother know what kind of people you hang out with? Maybe I need to call her.” He noticed his little girl and said, “Mel, come here.” The little girl didn’t move and she shyly shook her head.
“Now!” her father demanded and she reluctantly left Ellie’s side and went to her father.
“We’re sorry Mr. Stinson,” Ellie said, as tears began running down her cheeks. “We didn’t mean for this to happen.”
“You should be telling these boys you’re sorry, not me,” he said.
“I won’t,” John said defiantly. “They owe
“What is your name young man?” Mr. Stinson demanded.
“John Besner. Do you want my phone number too? I’m sure my dad would love to talk to you, especially after you take up with the two boys who tried to kill me.”
“Who tried to kill who?”
The voice made them all turn and Luke’s heart sank when he saw Detective Jennings and his partner
