CHAPTER 5
Gabby heard the gentle sloshing of water against the raft. As long as she kept her eyes closed, there was still a chance it was all just a bad dream.
“The Tub made it through the night,” Skylar said. “So did we.”
Morning light came through the canopy flaps. Gabby opened her eyes and blinked at the strong sun. Skylar was clicking the flashlight on and off.
“But the flashlight was not as lucky,” Skylar added, smiling.
“There are spare batteries in the supplies,” Miles said. “But from now on, we shouldn’t leave it on unless we have to.”
Something buzzed outside. Miles flung open the canopy flaps. He stuck his head out and looked up.
“A plane!” he yelled. “Quick! Give me a flare!”
Gabby grabbed one of the flares and handed it to Miles. He quickly read the directions printed on the side of the flare. Then he tossed it into the air. All three kids screamed and waved their arms, hoping someone would see them.
Gabby muttered, “Please, please, please, please!”
The plane kept going by. For a moment, it looked as though it was turning to circle them. It didn’t. It just kept flying the same direction it had been heading.
Miles sank sadly to the floor of the ramp. The plane shrank to the size of a dot.
Gabby glanced at the last flare they had. “Maybe the pilot saw the flare,” Gabby said. “Maybe he called for help.”
“Maybe,” Miles said. His stomach gurgled. “Maybe we could try to catch a fish in the meantime.”
“I hate fish,” Gabby said.
“Well, we can’t exactly order pizzas,” Miles said. “And we have to eat.”
“We don’t even know how to fish,” Gabby said.
Skylar shuddered. “I like fish, but I don’t think I could kill one,” she said.
“Just let me try,” Miles said. “Maybe it’s not that hard.” He took out the fishing kit. He attached one of the little metal hooks to the fishing line.
Miles peered over the edge of the raft. “I see some fish!” he said, smiling. He carefully tossed the hook into the water.
“Here, fishy, fishy, fishy,” Skylar said quietly.
A few fish inspected the bait. None swam close enough to take it.
“Don’t wait,” Miles said. “Bite that bait.” Gabby rolled her eyes at the silly rhyme.
Finally, a foot-long fish swam up. It chomped on the bait. Miles yanked on the line. The fish let go.
“Shoot!” Miles said. He dropped the line back into the water.
A few minutes later, another fish swam up to the hook and latched on. Miles pulled fast on the line. Suddenly, the fish was flopping on the floor of the raft.
“You did it!” Skylar said. They all cheered.
“What now?” Gabby said. “Do we just watch it die?”
Miles shrugged. “I guess so,” he said.
The fish flopped around. Miles reached down, trying to make sure it didn’t bounce out of the raft.
“Ow!” he yelled. He pulled his hand away. Gabby saw blood on his finger. “That thing has teeth!” Miles said.
Skylar unwrapped a bandage from the first aid kit. Miles put it on his hand.
Gabby cleaned the red drops of blood off the raft. “Ew, it looks like some got in the water,” she said.
“Gross,” Skylar said.
Just then, a surge of water shook the raft. Gabby screamed. She fell over the edge of the raft and into the water.
“Gabby!” Miles shouted. He moved toward the edge of the raft. He tried to grab his sister, but she was already too far away.
“Can you swim to us?” Skylar called.
Gabby didn’t say anything. She knew how to swim, but she was panicking.
Then Miles and Skylar saw a dark shadow swim beneath her.
“Miles, is that what I think it is?” Skylar asked quietly.
Miles clamped his hand over her mouth. “Don’t freak out,” he said in a firm whisper. Then he removed his hand. Skylar nodded and covered her mouth with her own trembling hands.
Gabby didn’t know there was a shark swimming below her. She stopped panicking and started to swim toward the raft. When she was ten feet away, her foot touched the shark.
She didn’t see it, but she knew what it was. She stopped swimming and began to spin around. She slapped the water with her hands. “Get away!” she yelled.
Miles took a deep breath. Then he jumped into the water.
“Don’t splash!” Skylar called out. “Stay calm!”
Gabby didn’t listen. She didn’t notice that Miles was swimming toward her. She was too scared.
Miles slowly swam up to his sister from behind. She was still slapping the water. When she heard Miles behind her, she screamed.
Miles swam up and put his arm across her chest. “It’s okay, Gabby,” he said quietly. “I’m going to help you, but you have to stop moving so much.”
The shark bumped Miles in the shin. Miles took a deep breath. Slowly, he began to pull Gabby to the raft.
Standing on the raft, Skylar whispered, “Hurry!”
Then Skylar had an idea. She took off one of her shoes and hurled it as hard as she could. It flew over the shark and away from Miles and Gabby. But the shark didn’t chase it.
Miles reached the raft. He didn’t have much strength left. He pushed Gabby up, while Skylar pulled her into the raft by her arms. Once she was safely in the raft, Gabby curled up under the canopy.
Skylar tried to help Miles climb in, but he was too heavy. “Gabby, I need your help!” Skylar called.
Gabby didn’t say anything, but she came over and helped pull Miles in. Just as Miles fell onto the floor of the raft, the shark leapt out of the water, snapping at the air. They all shrieked and scooted back. The shark disappeared.
Skylar sat down and took a deep breath. “Are you guys okay?” she asked quietly. Miles and Gabby both looked scared and seasick.
“Yeah,” Miles said, panting. “I’m okay. Are you okay, Gabby?”
Gabby nodded. She didn’t say anything.
Skylar looked out at the ocean. After a few moments, she asked, “Do you think it’s gone?”
Miles shrugged. “I hope so,” he said. “Hey, nice try with the shoe,” he added, smiling gently. “At least we know it’s not a dog shark.”
“Miles,” Gabby said softly. “You jumped in. I can’t believe it. You got me.”
Miles looked down and smiled again.
Gabby went on, “Thank you. I won’t joke about you being a lifeguard ever again.” She hugged Miles tightly.
“No, you can,” Miles said. “I’m not.”
The girls looked puzzled. “What do you mean?” Skylar asked.
“I lied,” Miles said. “I didn’t pass the test to become a lifeguard. Not even the third time.”
Gabby hugged him again. “You passed today,” she told him. “You saved my life.”