He remembered going on the Popeye when he’d been a kid – the motorized launch, chugging along the river conducting sight-seeing tours had seemed kind of boring to him at the time, since when his parents had said they were going on ariver journeyhis childhood imagination had run away with him and he’d imagined, for some reason, zooming along on jet skis, or something involving rowboats and picnic baskets.
Right now, however, Trent could have kissed the Popeye and every single one of its occupants. It might have seemed a slow journey to him at the time, but if there was one thing the launchcouldgo faster than, it was a bunch of guys on paddleboats.
Trent narrowed his eyes, calculating the distance as the Popeye drew closer.
Can we make it?
It seemed very far – fifteen meters or so, though it might narrow to ten as the launch passed them.
Of course we can make it,his kangaroo answered, indignant.For our mate, we can do anything.
Trent decided he’d just have to trust it on that. He let the kangaroo take over the reins of his mind. He’d need it, if he was going to make that jump.
“Zina, stand up,” he murmured, taking his feet off the pedals. He needed the boat to be still for this.
“Huh?” Zina looked up at him, blinking. Then, she followed his gaze and seemed to intuit what he was thinking. “No. No way.”
“Actually, it’s theonlyway,” Trent said. He took his eyes off the Popeye for a moment, to check on the progress of the men. They were advancing in a pincer formation, and in a moment they’d have them surrounded.
He heard Zina suck in a sharp breath as she seemed to realize the situation too.
“All right,” she muttered, taking her feet off the pedals, as together, they stood up. “But I better not get giardia.”
Trent just nodded, though he appreciated her joke. Right now, he had to concentrate. The men were closing in – the Popeye was chugging closer –closer –
It’s now or never!
Wrapping his arm around Zina’s side, Trent pulled her close against him, making sure she was secure. And then, heleapt.
It was a sensation he wasn’t used to feeling in his human form – the air rushing past him, the incredible strength and speed of a powerful jump.
Beside him, he heard Zina gasp. He could also feel the heat of her body where she was pressed up closely against him – just as she had been when they’d ziplined from one roof to another, all those years ago when he’d realized she was his mate.
C’mon, just a little more –
Somehow, the feeling of Zina’s body against his had lent Trent a strength he didn’t know he possessed in his human form. Just when he thought they weren’t going to make it, he felt his foot hit against the back paneling of the launch, a small but fairly secure toehold, before his free hand found a tiny ledge beneath the back window to grab onto. Still, it was a lot of weight to ask two tiny little protrusions to manage, aside from the fact that the launch was rocking a little after the impact.
“Come on – quick, climb up!”
Trent lifted Zina up as far as he could. She held her bag tightly with one arm, using the other to pull herself upward to the relative safety and security of the roof of the boat. Once he was sure she was safe, Trent climbed up after her – and saw the surprised face of a small boy looking out the back window at him as he went.
Trent gave him a small wave, and then pressed his finger to his lips, hoping the kid would understand the universal signal forkeep it a secret, okay?
Given that no one popped their head up over the side of the launch a moment later to ask Trent and Zina what the hell they thought they were doing, Trent had to assume the kid had in fact kept his mouth shut.
Turning, he gazed out over the river, looking back at their pursuers. One or two boats were still trying to chase after them, spraying water with their furious pedaling, but it was no good. They couldn’t hope to keep up. Eventually they broke off, joining their friends in floating impotently on the gentle currents of the River Torrens. Trent gave them a little wave.
“Can’t you be serious for one moment?” Zina asked, shaking her head as she watched him.
“Well, I could. But why?” Trent asked, turning to her.
“You haven’t changed a bit,” Zina muttered, breaking their eye contact and shaking her head again.
“But you wouldn’t want me any other way, right?”
We wouldn’t wantherany other way,his kangaroo spoke up, as Trent looked down into Zina’s large brown eyes, taking in her parted lips and the way she was slightly gasping for breath after all that exertion and excitement.She is perfect as she is. Utterly perfect.
Zina pulled in a deep breath. “Well. I guess youdidpull our asses out of the fire.”
