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Saltwater； thick with sticks and leaves； washed over the family； shocking them awake。 It was late morning but the dense cloud cover and fog made it as dark as night。
〃Put down the sides to keep the waves out；〃 Carmen said。 〃Rosa？ Can you sit up？〃
Ron looked at Chris。 His eyes were open； but he looked groggy。 The gash on his forehead was surrounded by a large swelling。 〃Chris； are you okay？ Can you move down； opposite Rosa？〃
Chris didn't speak； but he nodded and scooted。 Ron worked opposite Carmen to drop the sides of the raft； which were tied up at the top of the canopy。 It wouldn't keep out an entire wave； but it would cut down on the sea spray。 When Ron stretched up to unite the top he spotted another large wave ing toward them。
〃Everyone hang on！〃 he yelled。
They all grabbed for the cords strung around the inside of the rait。 Carmen wrapped an arm around Chris and Ron hooked Rosa's arm with his。 They all hunkered down； and the wave broke over them…another muddy one； and full of debris。 Leaves and twigs slapped them on their heads and arms。 The raft tossed and rocked violently。 After the wave had passed； Ron broke out a bailing cup and went to work while Carmen and the others lifted out the branches and the other debris。
Rosa was having trouble lifting her left arm over her head； and finally gave up and used only her right one。 Ron suspected cracked or broken ribs。 Chris was helping too； scooping up handfuls of leaves and twigs and dropping them over the side； when he stopped； staring into the gloom。
〃Hey； there's a lot of smoke out there。〃
Ron turned to see a cloud bank broiling toward them。 〃Everyone hang on again。〃
The family ducked down as the raft rocked violently； hot moist steam enveloping them。 The steam was sulfurous and they coughed； their noses and throats burning。 The pitching slowed and the air cleared slightly。 Ron looked over the side but could see nothing in the dense fog。
〃It's just steam；〃 he said reassuringly。 〃Nothing to worry about。〃 He didn't add that they had enough to worry about already；
Ron helped clear debris and bail out the raft。 Then he checked the supplies。 There were cans of water； food； a pocket knife； four flares； fishing tackle； and a paddle。 He was repacking the supplies when something rammed the raft。
〃It's a log；〃 Carmen yelled。 〃Help me push it away。〃
Ron used the paddle。 The branches were thick and Ron had trouble getting a solid push。 Finally； the raft drifted off only to spin around and butt up against the bare trunk。 Ron wedged the paddle again and pushed。 Suddenly； something came running the length of the trunk。 Green； lithe； and frantic； it was a foot…tall lizard。 Ron instinctively swung with the paddle； knocking it off its feet。 The lizard hung over the side of the log briefly； its tail in the water； then it launched itself again。 Ron was ready and hit it with a full swing； knocking it into the water。 The lizard churned the water； trying to reach safety。 Ron pushed off from the log； and then paddled furiously； leaving the log in the haze。
〃What was that？〃 Carmen asked。
〃I'd never seen one before。 Its head was huge。〃 Ron didn't add it had a wicked set of teeth。 〃It's gone now。 We're fine。〃
The kids settled back but Carmen and Ron exchanged worried looks。
Exhausted from the night before； the family rested silently； worrying privately。 Chris soon leaned over the edge； watching the waves。
〃He looks better；〃 Carmen said。
〃His color's good。 I wish we could get him to a doctor。〃
Helpless； the parents fretted。
〃There's another lizard out there！〃 Chris suddenly shouted。
Rosa popped up next to him and confirmed it。 〃It looks like more than one。〃
〃Switch with us； kids；〃 Ron ordered。 Quickly； Ron realized the creatures were ing toward the raft。 〃Hand me the paddle； Rosa。〃
Paddling furiously； Ron futilely tried to move the raft away。 A thick soup of debris made paddling difficult。 Looking back； Ron could see the bobbing heads gaining； but there were more than two。 Carmen appeared next to him armed with the knife。
Paddling only slowed the inevitable。 The bobbing green heads were mostly jaw； with small black eyes…eyes fixed on the raft。 Finally； Ron raised the paddle for battle。
〃Ron！ There's a dozen of them！〃
Ron drove the first one under with one blow； but it came up snarling。 Two more blows sent it down for good； but others were taking its place。 Ron struck violently； delivering blow after blow。
〃Over here！〃 Carmen screamed。
Ron spun； batting one off the lip of the raft。 As it fell it slashed an air cell。 Chris's scream brought him around to see the other side of the raft suddenly dip。 A head appeared and Ron fought to keep his balance； swinging with all his might。 The blow stunned the beast； but its claws clung to the side。 Turning the paddle sideways； Ron cracked its skull with the blade； the lifeless form slipping into the water。
Ron knocked two more off from behind and then heard Chris scream again。 Another animal was crawling up his side。 。 〃Duck； Chris！〃
Chris flopped into the bottom of the raft just as the paddle cleared his head； catching the lizard just under the jaw； snapping the neck。 Ron swung recklessly now； smacking head after head； driving them back into the sea and away from the raft。 The assault ended when another log floated near； and the remaining lizards scrambled aboard。 Quickly paddling away； they soon found themselves alone in the fog again。
〃What were they； Dad？〃
Shaking his head； Ron said 〃I don't know。 They came from the island； I guess。〃
Suddenly a clawed arm reached over the side； tangling Rosa's hair。
〃It's got me！〃 she screamed。
Another claw appeared； followed by a head。 Rosa sank lower； her hair still tangled in the claw。
The jaws opened； exposing wicked teeth。 Ron struggled to his feet； the soft bottom rocking from his efforts。 Grabbing the paddle； Ron struck just as a leg flopped over the side； splintering the paddle on its skull。 Stunned； the animal hung briefly； then screamed in Ron's face。 Instinctively； Ron brought the handle up and jammed it down its throat。 The jaws snapped shut just missing his fingers。 Its forelegs frantically clawed at the handle embedded in its throat； as it tottered on the side。 Then Carmen jammed the knife in its neck。 Without another weapon Ron lunged； shoving with all his might； pushing the lizard back into the sea。 It squawked and splashed noisily until it slipped beneath the waves。
Exhausted from fear； the family flopped in the bottom of the raft； Carmen still holding the bloody knife。 Ron stroked Chris's head and hoped they wouldn't need the knife again。 Soon everyone was asleep。
〃Uh…oh！ Something's ing again；〃 Chris shouted； waking the others。
Carmen and Rosa instinctively moved to see。
〃Don't move！〃 Ron shouted。 〃We don't want to capsize。 Carmen； you look； and Rosa； stay where you are for now。〃
Carmen scooted a little closer to Chris to see what he'd seen。
〃I think he's right。 It's splashing through the water a couple of waves away。〃
〃Is it like the others？〃
〃I can't tell； but it's bigger。 Ron； you better take a look at this。〃
Ron and Chris changed places。 Ron had trouble spo