The van was idling like a breathless dog. Accelerating over the thick grass, concern hadn't entered our minds. For the driver seemed to be in complete control. We had been on such a long journey why would he do anything unpredictable now. The driver, my short friend the repairman, and I the conjuror. i looked ahead through the windshield, it seemed he was lining the van up with something protruding from the long grass in the distance. The driver gave it all the gas he could, before we could fret he hit a short tree stump not a foot high. Flipped the vehicle and sent us into into the lake margin.
Suddenly we were half submerged.
No heed was given before this crash. It was absolutely obvious that we would somersault into the lake. But the older man drove straight into the stump tempting fate.
No evidence of any restraint or panic in his legs or wrists. So he never stepped on the brakes, we went directly into the stump standing half a meter out of the ground.
In the split second we were airborne I drew in the euphoria.
The landing was abrupt aching and the stench was a reprimand. We all knew from within the dark waters there was predatory amphibian. Incredible, a stealthy champion! Yet out of view and only known in legend.
The water flowing bad bad algae like juice over taking our instincts and overflowing into our addrenaline. slowly sinking into the mud of the lake's bank. We struggled with the side doors. But the driver just laughed hysterically at the height of our terror.
Amusement exuding from his big face cheeks red and satisfied as if this was the whole motive for crashing us into this lake. He didn't try to escape he just kept laughing. The more we struggled with the doors the more they jammed as the water level kept rising.
The driver simply wound down his manual crank and dived into the oncoming water through the gap. We copied him and shivering and struggling in the water we got to the muddy banks. Knowing the whole time something gargantuan was observing us from underneath.
We slipped on the mud several times falling back into the shallows, fear and humiliation shooting up into the blood on each fail. And hooting laughter coming from the driver.
Bubbles sprang up from the middle of the pond and we sprinted up the mud slipping and cursing until we reached firm grass. the driver was already there smoking a cigarette and watching us fail completely.
We turned back to look out at the water, something the size of a big hippo was observing us from just under the surface. It was completely obvious. I pointed it out. The driver formed a slight sneer.
He said it was just pike.
The van just sank making a horrible farting sound the window hatches we escaped out of sinking deeper into the soft mud. Then the roof. Then it was gone. the driver smirked.
Smoke poured off his cigarette as if his cigarette was more packed with tobacco, fuller than another packet. He just so happened...
As the addrenaline died out, we set out on our next adventure toward a mining village, the next town, many miles away.
We didn't bother complaining to the driver.
Who carelessly shook his limbs as he walked.
