Children's Fiction
At first, relief flooded her. Nobody in sight—just the bare gray rock gleaming in the hot sun. Then she spotted the blue canoe floating in the reeds. Before Melissa could turn around, someone waded out of the shade cast by the low boughs of a tree overhanging the water.
It was a girl in a red bathing suit, standing waist deep. She had long blond hair that hung down her back and a thin pointed face. She didn't look at all surprised to see Melissa. In fact, Melissa thought afterwards, it was as if she had expected her.
Suddenly the air exploded. A gunshot. And it came from behind them. Ben! Sheila stumbled, half-turned.
"Keep going!" Wendell said.
The air filled with another sound. Barking. At the same moment a light flashed. On and off. Again. On and off. The signal!
