Jake Dakota, Part 15:
Jumping Jakes

Inches before the drop into a lovely pit full of crawling, slimy, biting things, Karen and I pushed off strongly with our legs. While in the air, I had a horrible split-second fear that gravity would suddenly change its laws and send us plummeting straight down. Happily, that wasn't the case. I should know better than to let my mind wander...it's too little to be let out.

We landed firmly on the first square with about a foot to spare. Suddenly weak with relief, Karen and I collapsed where we landed.

"Only two more to go," Karen stated.

"Yippee," I replied with no emotion to spice up my voice.

Bradford and his last goon appeared in the doorway and nearly pitched forward into the Pit of Love. His crony actually showed a hint of reflexes when he avoided knocking both of them over the edge when he came to a rhino-like stop. Steadying himself, Bradford leveled his pistol at us.

"You don't see any trees we can hide behind, do you?" I asked Karen.

She shook her head quickly, panic rising inside her.

Bradford pulled the trigger. Click. Nothing.

"Hah!" I laughed so suddenly, it made Karen jump. I was suddenly giddy at our sudden good luck. "Now you'll have to come get us yourself!"

Bradford motioned for his big lummox to join him in the first jump to where we stood. My heart sank.

"Oops," I said.

"Why did you invite them to try?" Karen asked, slightly perturbed with me. She turned to look at our path ahead. "Come on."

We scurried for the far edge and leapt across to the second square just as Bradford and his man landed on the first.

"Get them, you idiot!" he commanded, and the big fellow complied without a sound.

I turned in time to see this human bull charge directly for us, a dull, single-minded light in his eyes. He would clear the next gap without a problem and mostly likely knock us both over the edge. Just as he reached the point of jumping, I made my move.

"Booga-booga-booga!" I yelled, waving my hands pointlessly in the air.

The charging man faltered at the brink, his eyes growing wide either from genuine surprise or from the sudden realization that there was someone stupider than him. He stumbled and fell forward, missing our square altogether. He only screamed at the end, when he saw what awaited him on the floor. Then there was only the echo.

"I can't believe that worked," I said to myself.

"Keep going, Jake!" Karen cried. She ran for the last square and cleared the gap easily.

I glanced at Bradford and swore I saw just a hint of fear in his eyes. Good. About time that pesky rat had some of his own medicine. Then he just looked angry. He leapt for the square I was on, and something told me my "booga-booga" trick wouldn't work a second time. I turned and made the jump to the third square, then finally joined Karen on safer ground at the other doorway.

Feeling safe and confident, I turned to check on Bradford just in time to see him soaring through the air. He tackled me roughly and we tumbled down into the darkness of the hallway.

All I could think about as we rolled down a pitch-black slope was the memory of booby traps gone by and what could be waiting for us as we rolled towards our fate...

Jake Dakota Archives.