Cargo Box

Vivian looked around them.

“Uh… guys,” she said. The party didn’t turn around.

“Guys,” Vivian said. “I think we have a problem.” Anna Jane looked over her shoulder.

“What?” she asked.

“We’re in the Flower Lands,” Vivian said.

“Huh?” the younger girl asked. Logan froze.

“Wait… What did you say?” he asked. Vivian had a serious look on her face.

“Take a look around,” she said. Everyone looked around the dirt road they were walking on. It was then the cowboy noticed the brightly colored orange and white flowers. His stomach dropped.

“Oh crap…” he mumbled.

“What? What’s wrong?” Anna Jane asked. Logan grabbed her by the arm.

“We can’t stay here,” he whispered.

“Why?” Anna Jane asked. Vivian and Logan looked at each other.

“Well…” Vivian spoke up. “We’re in the Flower Lands.” Anna Jane blinked.

“Okay…” she said. Logan put his hand on her shoulder.

“Listen,” he said. “The people here…” The cowboy looked behind him. Vivian nodded once.

“Meep?” George asked. Logan took a breath.

“The people here… they don’t like humans,” he said. She raised her eyebrow.

“Why?” she asked. Vivian and Logan shook their heads.

“It’s a long story,” Logan said. “We cannot stay long out in the open like this. We have to keep going.”

“We can’t,” Vivian said.

“Why?” Anna Jane asked. The geisha pointed around them at the grass She put her finger to her lips. Anna Jane and Logan nodded. Vivian waited for a beat.

“We could be watched,” she whispered. Everyone looked around.

“How do we get into the town?” Anna Jane asked. The other two humans eyed her.

“How did you…?” Logan asked. Anna Jane pointed to the sign to the right.

“Oh,” he said. He walked up to the sign by the road.

“Dust Landing?” Logan read. Vivian breathed out.

“Oh, good,” she said. “There is still a chance for help.”

“But how do we get there?” Anna Jane asked. The group took a moment to think.

“Wait,” Logan said. “I saw a river little ways back. We can sail down to the town that way.”

“Where?” Anna Jane asked.

“Follow me,” he said. The headed back in the opposite direction.

A small river flowed out towards ocean. Anna Jane walked up to the bank. She reached down to the water.

“Cold!” the girl shouted.

“Shhh,” the other two humans whispered.

“Oh, sorry,” Anna Jane whispered.

“But how do we get down the river?” Vivian asked. “A raft will draw too much attention. So will a boat.” The geisha tried to think.

“Meep,” George said softly. He walked up as he turned around.

“What is it?” Anna Jane asked. The creature reached into his stomach and pulled out three big wooden cargo boxes. Vivian cringed. Anna Jane ran to the boxes.

“Perfect,” she said. Vivian sneered.

“So gross,” she said. “How will that even work? Will they even hold? They look like crap to me.” George pouted.

“Simple,” Anna Jane said. “Watch.” She placed Teddy, her radio, and the jar of candy into a crate. The girl climbed in too.

“We can fit just fine,” she said. Anna Jane closed the lid over her head.

“Oh, I see,” Logan said.

“Push us into the water,” Anna Jane said. At first, Logan and George looked uneasy.

“Come on,” she said. “Just do it.” Logan dropped his shoulders. He and George pushed the crate into the water. Anna Jane and Teddy started floating away.

“There she goes,” Logan said. He turned back to the two remaining crates. He walked up to an open box.

“You can’t be serious,” Vivian said. The cowboy shrugged.

“Might as well,” he said. “We’ve got nothing else to go with,” Logan climbed into another crate and closed it with the lid. George pushed the box into the river. Logan floated away. George turned Vivian.

“Oh no!” she shouted. “No way! Not happening!” George blinked at first. The geisha frowned.

“What are you doing?” she asked. The creature picked her up and put her in the crate.

“Hey!” she yelled. “Let me out! Stop!” He put the lid on and shove the crate into the water. Vivian complained as she floated away. George climbed into the river and floated away himself. All clear for now.