The Meadow 81 ends up.” “Right.” Bailey turned to Amanda. “We’re going north. Just us girls.” “Check your radio before I pack up the equipment,” Amanda told Jacob. Jacob took out his radio and hit the call button. A tone went off on Amanda’s radio. In a minute Amanda and Bailey pushed their canoe into the water. The river flowed over their waterproof boots and pants, and though they stayed dry the river sucked warmth away as they loaded their supplies in and climbed aboard. Jacob did the same with the smaller canoe. “Check in every three hours,” Bailey said. “Make sure to track your location so you can get back here. And don’t do anything stupid.” “Yes ma’am,” Jacob said, shooting a lopsided salute to go along with his goofy grin. “You two stay safe. Just your luck, you’ll see the world’s last grizzly bear.” They climbed into their canoes and pushed off. Jacob pointed south--the river whisked him away; in a moment he was out of sight. Amanda and Bailey used the canoe’s small engines to point north and engaged the main motor at the canoe’s stern, and despite the river’s force they jetted forward. Water leaped up at them, sometimes sneaking into the canoe, though it quickly drained out. The paddles they held trailed in the water, ready to help them maneuver in case of emergencies. “What did you think when you first heard the report?” Bailey, at the front of the canoe, asked Amanda. She glanced back. “Did you believe it?” “Of course I didn’t,” Amanda said. “A river. In this day and age. Fresh water flowing as free as you please. Maybe if it was a small stream, but a river this big would be at the top of the tappers’ list. Did you believe it?” “No, not really,” Bailey said. They passed flat, featureless
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