Carolyn Keene - White Water Terror

Nancy Drew Files Case 6, 1987

Youve got to be kidding, Bess Marvin said. She looked up from her seat in Nancy Drews bedroom, where she was polishing her long, delicate nails. Im not going on any wilderness trip!

But, Bess, youll love it, countered her cousin George Fayne.

Sitting cross-legged on her bed, Nancy Drew was engrossed in a puzzle and trying to block out the sound of her best friends voices. The more difficult the puzzle, the better Nancy liked it. Thinking hard kept her mind limbered up for her more challenging work as a detective.

Really, Bess, you will love it, George said again, seeing her cousin roll her eyes. Lost River, the mountains, the trees, the birds-theyre all yours, just for sitting comfortably in a rubber raft for a couple of days. You probably wont even have to paddle. The river will do all the work.

Ill loathe it! Bess exclaimed with a shudder. Nancy, she implored, tell George that this time shes really gone looney tunes.

Nancy put down her puzzle and looked at her friends. George, who had just come from her regular three-mile afternoon jog, was wearing a blue-and-green running suit that emphasized her athletic wiriness and made her look ready for anything. White water rafting was exactly the kind of thing that would turn George on. She loved any challenge. That was what made her so valuable to Nancy.

At the same time, rafting was exactly the kind of thing that would turn Bess off. At the moment, for instance, she was wearing a pair of tight purple stirrup pants and an enormous gauzy shirt, cinched with a thin gold belt. Her long, straw-colored hair curled loosely around her shoulders. It wasnt that Bess was afraid of adventure, and it wasnt that she was terribly lazy. She was just well, Bess liked to do things the easy way. Maybe she was a bit timid, but she always enjoyed being where things were happening-and things always happened with Nancy around.

Nancy folded her arms and looked from one friend to the other with a grin. Okay, George, start from the beginning, she said. Tell us just how you managed to get four places on this rafting expedition. And where is Lost River, anyway?

I told you, said George, her dark eyes gleaming with excitement, I dont even remember entering the contest. Maybe I did it when I bought those jogging shoes at the sporting goods store a couple of months ago. I vaguely remember filling out an entry blank for some sort of contest. Anyway, I got this letter yesterday from somebody named Paula Hancock, who owns White Water Rafting, notifying me that Id won the grand prize in this national contest. Four places on a white water raft trip down Lost River, in the mountains of northwest Montana. Theyre even offering free plane tickets to Great Falls-the nearest city.

Did the letter say anything about the kind of trip it might be? Nancy asked. I mean, there are rivers and then there are rivers,

According to the letter, Lost River is the ultimate white water challenge, full of rapids and falls. What a terrific vacation-and free, too. Anyway, we need a vacation, George said emphatically. Weve been working too hard.

Bess put the cap on her nail polish and shook her head. George, youre crazy, she said. Going rafting down some wild mountain river is no vacation-its sheer torture!

Nancy thought back to her last case, Hit and Run Holiday, a Florida vacation that had nearly gotten her killed. She had come to realize the importance of spending relaxed time with her friends. We do need a break, she said.

Yes, Bess said, brightening. Youre absolutely right, Nancy. But what we need is a break, not a breakdown. I vote for a long weekend at the beach. I know we were just in Fort Lauderdale, but what happened there certainly wasnt a vacation. I want to do nothing but lie in the sun and baste ourselves with tanning lotion. And when were tired of the beach, we can go shopping. She threw Nancy a hopeful glance.

Shopping! George hooted, springing to her feet. All you ever want to do is go shopping, Bess Marvin. Dont you have a larger purpose in life?

Bess looked at George calmly. Of course I do, she said with a twinkle in her eye. Going out with a good-looking boy, for one. Or eating, she added.

George shook her head. Funny. Ha, ha, she replied.

Nancy climbed off the bed and went to the window, where she stood looking out at the soft summer drizzle that was falling. A river trip might be fun, but she could see Besss point. A beach vacation, a real one, would be relaxing, and baking under the hot sun on the shores of Fox Lake might be just the thing to take her mind off the detective business. But there was something else to think about. You say you won a trip for four people? she asked George again.

George nodded.

Well, then, how about inviting Ned to go along? Ned Nickerson was Nancys longtime boyfriend. He was away at summer school just then, at Emerson College, and Nancy missed him. She had the feeling that her friendship with Ned could be the most important relationship in her life-if she could just make a little more time for it. But Ned, who had always been the most understanding guy on earth, seemed to be getting a little impatient with her. Nancy couldnt forget that during their case at Flash magazine, Ned had become involved with another girl. That hadnt lasted long, but

The raft trip might be exactly the kind of thing to give the two of them plenty of relaxed, fun time together.

Nancy turned away from the window and continued thinking out loud. Didnt Ned go on a couple of white water trips with his uncle a few years ago? Hed probably be a big help in case of an emergency or something.

Emergency? Bess went pale. Like-like the raft tipping over?

George looked at her scornfully. Rafts dont tip over, dummy. They capsize.

Bess turned a shade paler.

Rafts dont capsize, either, Nancy said, patting Bess comfortingly on the shoulder. Theyre too stable. She stretched and yawned. Listen, Bess, if you want a vacation at the beach, go for it. But Ive never been white water rafting, and it sounds like fun to me-if Ned can come along. She turned to George.

Sure, George said enthusiastically. Yeah. Ask Ned. Well have a great time with him. She cast a sideways glance at Bess. And with all the other boys.

What other boys? Bess asked.

Are you kidding? George replied. The letter said there are six other kids coming along on the trip. Probably boys. She paused. Rugged, masculine, plaid-shirted boys with broad shoulders and

Well Bess said indecisively.

Oh, come on, Nancy said. Itll be great.

Boys, George teased.

Okay, Bess agreed. Ill come.

Bess Marvin has agreed to go white water rafting with you and George? Ned said incredulously. He propped his feet up on Carson Drews favorite ottoman.

Nancys father was an internationally known criminal lawyer. He had taught Nancy a great deal of what she knew about detective work. At the moment, he was on one of his frequent trips, this one to the Middle East. Nancy missed him, but she wasnt alone. She had Hannah Gruen, the Drews longtime housekeeper, who had been like a second mother to Nancy since the death of Nancys real mother.

Nancy glanced at Ned. He was home for the weekend, and she was glad to see him. She was enjoying their cozy evening in the den watching TV.

Howd you ever talk Bess into it? Ned asked. Lost River must be hundreds of miles from the nearest Neiman-Marcus.

Nancy dipped into a bowl of popcorn that Hannah had made for them before shed gone to bed. It wasnt easy, she admitted. She looked at Ned. He was wearing his light brown hair a little longer than usual and his face was darkly tanned. She wondered if he had been spending time at the college swimming pool-and if so, whether hed been alone or