Apocalypsis 02 - Warpaint

I was so afraid they were going to die today and it would be all my fault.
    ***
    The paddles and poles the indians used to move their canoes dipped in and out of the water. It was just before dawn, and the sky should have been alight with the beautiful pinks, yellows, and oranges that I was used to seeing here in the morning; but instead it was dark gray, giving a spooky atmosphere to the swamp. Hopefully the canners would decide to sleep in today on this dreary morning and give us time to get into position around their house. No one said a word out loud, although an occasional whisper could be heard. I was pretty sure the danger of our mission was weighing heavily on everyone, much like it was on me.
    Nina’s shriek startled me out of my depressing reverie. A few of the others giggled at it. I looked up and saw a few sheepish grins, apologies almost, for being startled. Bodo had his harmonica to his lips and gave one short blow on it. I heard and saw nothing of his bird from then on.
    We arrived at the rental place where we had taken our canoes from not that long ago, dragging them up on the beach and chaining them together and to the canoe rack, using the chains and locks we had taken from there before.
    “Good thing we kept these,” said Peter, lugging an end over to Fohi to connect with his part.
    “Yeah. I guess I thought we wouldn’t be coming back so soon,” I said, getting out of the boat and stepping onto the wet sand. I lifted up a foot and looked at the bottom of my moccasin which was now covered in clumps of the wet stuff.
    “They’re treated to be waterproof,” said Winky. “Just don’t go swimming in them and you should be fine.” She walked past me to climb the bank towards the rental shack.
    “Thanks for the tip,” I said, putting my foot back down and following her.
    She reached her hand down at the top to pull me the rest of the way up. We watched the guys finish the canoe securing from the top of the hill. Bodo stood apart from them, staring up into a nearby tree, sliding his harmonica into his pocket.
    “That’s pretty cool … Bodo and his hawk,” said Winky, staring at him.
    “Yeah. It is.” I tried not to look at her face, but I was drawn to it. I wished I could read her mind and know if she was lusting after Bodo. I didn’t want to feel competitive with her over him.
    “You’re lucky,” she said, wistfully.
    “How so?”
    “He loves you.”
    “Why do you say that?”
    She shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess I just don’t see it that often anymore. I miss it … being in love.”
    “Did you have a boyfriend before?”
    “Yeah,” she said, looking down. “He was older.”
    Oh, crap. I knew what that meant. But I couldn’t just not say something. “He died?”
    “Yeah. Along with my parents and everyone else.”
    “I’m sorry.” I reached over and rubbed her back a couple times before letting my hand drop to my side.
    “Thanks. But anyway, I have hope that I’ll find someone again,” she said, turning to me and smiling. “And don’t worry. I know it’s not going to be Bodo.”
    I was taken aback by her bluntness. “I … uh … didn’t think it was. But that’s good to know.”
    “I thought I saw you looking worried a few times. I don’t blame you.” We both watched as Fohi and Rob got tangled in the chains they’d been using to tie the boats and fell into the sand. “The options are kind of slim around here.”
    We both laughed at the spectacle being provided, courtesy of the crack team of indian warriors.
    “Holy crap, what are we getting ourselves into?” I said under my breath.
    Winky punched my arm lightly. “We’re not getting ourselves into anything except that canner house to rescue those kids and to kick a little ass. They started this, not us. We’re just going to finish it.”
    I nodded. “You’re right. Let’s go finish this.”
    We walked over to the shack, joining the rest our team who’d finally made it up the bank to assemble there. Fohi and Rob took off running into the trees.
    “Where are dey going?” asked Bodo.
    “Getting our transportation,” said Kowi. He looked out over the small group. “Is everyone here, now?”
    I scanned the immediate area. Everyone was present and accounted for, even a struggling Buster who Peter was trying valiantly to contain.
    “Better let him run around and pee or something so he can get that energy out of his system. We don’t need him spazzing out before it’s time,” I