Dangerous Current
Temptation is a lot like a ride toward a deadly waterfall.
By Steven James
 

"Joel, this is awesome!" Mark shouted, dipping his paddle into the water. "I love kayaking!" Joel turned to his friend. "Yeah, thought you'd like it," he shouted as he twisted his paddle expertly across the bow of his kayak and stroked it through the waves of Lost Peak River. Free equipment rentals were just one of the perks Joel enjoyed as a river guide for Outwater Expedition Specialists. The two kayaks sliced through the water as they paddled downstream. From a ledge on the cliff towering high above them, an eagle's cry echoed down into the quiet, remote gorge. But the stillness of the valley was deceiving. Only two miles away lay Chainsaw Falls.

They paddled in silence for a few minutes. Mark wasn't sure if he should bring up the subject again. But Joel was his best friend. "Hey, I'm uh, sorry about what happened at my house," Mark said. Joel paddled in silence. "I mean it." Finally Joel answered. "I just can't believe you were looking at that stuff."

Mark followed Joel between two rocks, remembering what had happened earlier that morning. Apparently his mom had told Joel to go on upstairs to Mark's bedroom. Suddenly the door swung open.

"Mark! Are you ready to go? The river won't wait forever!"

Mark fumbled for the mouse on his computer, but it was too late. Joel saw what was on the screen.

"Mark, what was that?"

He quickly logged off before answering. "Nothing … uh … Let's just get going.

"What do you mean nothing? I saw those pictures!"

"Hey, listen, it's no big deal. It doesn't hurt anybody."

"Doesn't hurt anybody! It's disgusting! It degrades women and it warps the way men look at them. Don't you remember the talk our youth pastor gave about it?"

Mark then tried to convince his friend it was the first time he'd been on that site. Joel seemed unconvinced.

Mark wove between the rocks trying to keep up with his friend. He finally managed to pull up beside him. He swallowed hard and said, "Joel, I was just spending some time online, you know, and I decided to check out a couple sites I'd heard about. But I can control it, you know. I was just curious. I know when to step back."

Joel didn't answer, but simply pointed his paddle downstream. "This it is," he said. "Chainsaw Falls. We get out here." He turned his kayak toward shore.

But Mark had another idea. What fun was it to look at a waterfall from the shore? He'd just paddle a little closer and then pull out farther downstream. He aimed his kayak into the middle of the river.

"Mark, where are you going? Get back here! The current will pull you over the falls!"

"I just want a better look! I'll meet up with you closer to the falls," he called back, edging his kayak into the current.

"Don't be an idiot! You could drown!"

Yeah, whatever, he thought. I know when to pull back.

Now the falls were only 50 feet away and the current was getting stronger.

"What's the danger of getting a little closer?" he hollered.

"Mark! The current will draw you in and it won't let go!"

But Mark could no longer hear his friend. The thunder of the waves was just too loud.

"I've been kayaking before," Mark muttered to himself. "What makes Joel the expert anyway? Just because he's a river guide he thinks he knows everything! I'll show him. I'll go right up to the edge and then turn around. No problem."

Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Joel bolting down a trail shouting to him. He was carrying his rescue buoy and line. Won't he be impressed when I paddle to shore at the very last second?

Mark could feel the tug of the current against his kayak. Easy now. He edged closer. Cool. It was only about 15 feet away. He could almost see the waterfall from here. Just a few more inches …

Suddenly, the water surged beneath him. Spray pelted his face and the kayak seemed to have a mind of its own. He slammed his paddle against the waves and desperately tried to back up. It was too late. The current gripped his boat and lurched him toward the watery chute that funneled the river over the falls.

Mark's mind raced. No! I didn't want to go over! I just wanted a closer look. No! No!

The front of his kayak hovered above the eight-foot drop. He teetered for a moment and then plunged downward. Not even Joel could hear him scream as the water swallowed the kayak.

"Mark! Mark!" By now Joel had reached the bottom of the falls. He scanned the surface for any sign of his friend. How many seconds had he been under? 10, 11, 12 …

For Mark, everything went black. He was choking on the water, blinded by sand churning in the current of the falls. He'd been ripped from his kayak and the water was spinning him around. Swirling him downward.

19, 20, 21 …

"Mark!" Joel felt helpless as he screamed at the river beneath the falls. "Mark!"

Suddenly, the river spit his friend's empty kayak out of the water and washed it downstream.

"Mark!"

26, 27, 28 …

Which way was up? Mark was dizzy and weak. He didn't have the strength to swim anymore. He was being dragged to the bottom of Chainsaw Falls.

No, God! I don't want to die this way!

All of a sudden he saw a light and his head broke through the water's surface. Mark sputtered and gasped for air. Lashing at the water with his arms, he tried to stay afloat.

"Mark!" That's when he saw it. Joel had tossed him the rescue buoy! The rope was floating right in front of his face. He grabbed for it just as the water dragged him under again.

He could feel himself being pulled toward shore.

"Hold on, Mark! Hold on!"

Then his feet were on solid ground. He tried to stand, but collapsed. A hand helped him up.

"Thank God you're alive! I told you not to go near the falls!"

Mark gasped, "I thought I'd be safe."

"It's never safe to go near the edge. By the time you realize you're in danger, you find you can't turn back, the current is too strong. That's what makes it so dangerous."

"Yeah, I guess you're right," he mumbled.

Sitting on the riverbank, soaking wet but safe, Mark thought about what had just happened. He felt lucky to be alive. Then, as if in a dream, his mind traveled back to what had happened earlier that day. He saw himself at his computer, and he saw himself being lured into another current, one mouse-click at a time.

Mark Holland realized Chainsaw Falls wasn't the only thing he needed to turn back from before it was too late.