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Backpacker Magazine – October 2012
Worst Nightmare: Cold
A hair-raising tale of wilderness terror that will haunt your backcountry dreams
Kayak Paddle
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Derek untied the towline. “Climb onto my kayak,” he said. “Quickly!” The boat sagged with the extra weight. It almost went over. The craft couldn’t handle them both in the wind-churned water.
Numbers. Balance. Numbers. Derek made MK at 230, maybe 240 pounds. Derek rarely topped 170. If he put MK at the center point, maybe... “Switch with me,” he said.
Derek levered himself out. He crouched forward while MK moved into the cockpit with his paddle.
Better. But still too heavy. Derek rode the kayak like a rocking horse, facing MK, his hands gripping the cockpit rim. Water sloshed into the boat as MK paddled, first feebly and then with more force. At least he was coming back from the brink.
But the tide was still pushing them in the wrong direction. “We need to lose weight,” Derek said.
MK nodded. He raised the paddle. A shift of the hips, the soft thunk of the hard shaft on soft flesh. The wind wiped away the shouting, the frantic splashing of broken fingers.
The older man swung the kayak east toward shore and paddled with renewed energy. They felt good, the dry clothes, the steady motion, the problems solved, the natural order restored.
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READERS COMMENTS
I wish it had said somewhere that this was a piece of fiction when I read it in the magazine. What the heck.
what a short dumb@ss ending
what a short dumb@ss ending
Wait! Was there a happy ending?
he said hard shaft on soft flesh, lol.
Just came in from kayaking , cool here in Wisconsin today. Makes me more aware of what can happen in the cold water. Always have a plan and a wet bag with dry wool ware, I use boiled wool mittens when paddling in cold water.
Agree written poorly. Jumps around from scene to scene too much. Confusing.
My guess would be only Mk returned from that trip
Seems to me the writer got interested in a different project and left the ending in a hurry.
Yeah, he killed his boss? The boss killed the employee? - is that a tricky ending? Nope, just confusing...
MK killed Derek to save his own skin. When I first read this story, I was taken back. I thought this was the survival issue and not the murdered at sea issue. To bad Backpacker didn't include a tip on how to survive your psycho boss at sea.
MK killed Derek to save his own skin. When I first read this story, I was taken back. I thought this was the survival issue and not the murdered at sea issue. To bad Backpacker didn't include a tip on how to survive your psycho boss at sea.
Site broken. no link to page 3
You're not alone, Jacquie...I don't get it either...why was this story so short? it was very interesting...then stopped...I've the same question...what happened...
Uh, what! Strange article, even stranger when it went porn at the end. I don't get it.
/SPOILER ALERT/
MK hit Derek with the paddle and left him to drown.
same here...kinda dum ending
MK put Derek in the water. The end.
MK hit Derek with the paddle, knocked him into the water and paddled to shore alone.
For real that ending makes no sense
I think MK beat the narrator with the paddle and he fell into the water and drowned.
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