Royal Ransom by Eric Walters

chance of your drowning while we are on land, Andrew.”
    Sheepishly he undid the zipper and buckles and removed the jacket.
    â€œDry clothes would be nice. I’m starting to get a little bit chilly,” I said.
    â€œIt’s amazing how the temperature drops when the sun begins to set,” she said.
    â€œYeah. And after the dry clothes, a big fire to warm ourselves at would be even better,” I added.
    â€œAnd hot cocoa,” Andrew suggested.
    â€œI don’t know about cocoa, but I’d love a cup of hot coffee right now. Of course, I don’t know whether I’d drink it or dip my feet in it.”
    â€œIs Ray going to be worried?” Victoria asked.
    â€œHe’ll be worried, but he knows I’ll take care of us. I’m more worried about your two bodyguards.”
    â€œWe’ll just point out to them that we are safe and sound and none the worse for the experience,” Victoria suggested, sensibly.
    â€œSounds good,” I said. “Now keep repeating it until it sounds believable enough to convince those two not to shoot me.”
    I kept us moving until we came to a small stream. I knew this stream—at least I thought I did. I was sure it was the one that entered the lake just beside where we’d set up camp. All we had to do was follow it down and we’d be able to see the camp. I was 100 percent sure. Well, almost 100 percent sure. There was no point in saying anything to the others now.
    I crossed over the shallow stream, jumping from rock to rock. I guess that it didn’t make too much sense to try and stay dry now, since I was practically soaked to the skin, but still …
    â€œSo,” Victoria began, “you think that Ray will be able to fix the canoe.”
    â€œProbably.”
    â€œAnd will he have the materials with him to do that?” she asked.
    â€œHe always carries some resin and fibreglass strips to fix little gashes,” I answered.
    â€œEnough to fix a big gash?”
    â€œMaybe.”
    â€œI hope so. I would not like our adventure to be over prematurely,” she said.
    I shrugged. “Either way, the two remaining canoes are big enough to carry all six of us.”
    â€œI see,” she said. “And how would you imagine he would divide us up?”
    â€œCan’t say for sure, but my guess is that it won’t be me, you and Andrew in the same canoe.”
    Victoria burst into laughter. “I would suspect you are correct. But maybe you and I will be travelling together?”
    â€œMaybe. With Albert sitting in the middle right between us.”
    â€œYes, he’d like that. He is very protective of me.”
    â€œI guess that’s what bodyguards do,” I admitted.
    â€œIt certainly is his vocation, but at times he appears to be overly zealous in his work.”
    â€œYeah,” I answered, not really quite sure exactly what she’d just said.
    â€œLook!” Andrew called out. “Over there, I see light … a fire!”
    Up ahead, off to the side and partially blocked by trees and bushes, I could make out flames. It was a campfire … our campfire … our campsite! I wanted to yell out in delight, but I needed to stay calm and cool.
    â€œWhat did you expect?” I asked. “I told you I knew where I was going.”
    Andrew moved out in front and we doubled our pace, sticking close to the stream. As we closed in two things became obvious: we were still a distance from the camp, and the fire was enormous.
    â€œWe’ll certainly be able to warm ourselves by that fire,” Victoria commented.
    â€œIt is gigantic. Ray’s probably used up all the wood we gathered,” I said. “I guess he wanted it big enough for us to see it in the distance in case we got turned around or something.”
    â€œWould they hear us if we yelled from here?” Andrew asked.
    â€œThey would, but no yelling. I want us to walk into camp nice and quiet and