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.I started to scream just as a second animal burst from the vegetation and plunged right into the river at the same spot the first one had.It was too dark to see them, but I could make out just the shape of their heads - and I could tell they were headed away from us, making a quick crossing to the other side, where they emerged and darted into the forest again.It all happened so quickly, the guide hadn’t had time to get his flashlight on them - they had already darted away when he called out, “Just dogs, you see, just the wild dogs.”“Oh my God, “ I muttered.I noticed I was shaking.“Oh my fucking God.” Dad was trying to back his boat up closer to mine.“You okay, Andy? Did you hear what he said - they were dogs.”“I know Dad, I just was so startled.That totally freaked me out!” I didn’t explain how I really felt - like no matter where I went, as soon as I let my guard down for a second, something was bound to jump out at me in the dark.The dogs were like a nightmare image - a disturbance I’d have felt unsure had been real, if Dad hadn’t been there with me.“Yes,” called the guide.“Yes, that even freaked me out a bit, too! Usually, this is not even the place they cross at!”“Now he tells us about the wild dog crossing,” I said to Dad.Dad was getting over the whole thing and started to chuckle.“Make a good story, though!” He said.“I don’t think I’ve ever seen them do that before,” the guide went on.It is unusual for them to spring out in front of a kayak.They wait until we pass.” He said.“Yeah, makes you wonder what they’re running from.” I said.The guide thought that was really funny, although I hadn’t intended it as a joke.I managed to calm back down after a few more minutes of quiet paddling.I noticed the French guy was managing to paddle and smoke a cigarette at the same time.The wild dogs must have been the final straw for him.We went around one final bend in the narrow river and gradually things started opening up.You could see the sky, with a million stars out, and then, sure enough, the channel parted completely and we found ourselves at the side of a small lake.At first, I didn’t notice anything glowing – there was just the water and the sky and the warm breeze.It was all really pleasant and mysterious seeming.Then I noticed as I paddled, that light spots appeared in the water.As I dipped the paddle in and let it drift for a moment, trails of light appeared.“Cool, Dad look at your paddle!” I called out.Dad was already staring down at the water, studying the effect of his paddle on these little microscopic organisms.Dad looked up and smiled.He looked young in the moonlight, with his cap on, and his broad shoulders, paddling his boat.I could almost see what Mom saw in him all those years ago.He must have been cute, serious-seeming, the kind of guy a girl should pay attention to.The rest of the group began filing out from the channel, with everyone discovering their glowing paddles as they moved out into the center of the lake.There was a gap in the line and you could see the blonde’s boyfriend was getting kind of nervous, but then even she appeared at the end of the channel with Carlos behind her.Her hair, which had been pulled back into a tight ponytail was frizzed up around her face and she still paddled awkwardly.Carlos got out from behind her and paddled over to the head guide as soon as the blond got safely into the lake.Carlos gave me a little wave and grinned as he went by.“Like our wild dogs, Andy?” He asked.“Oh yeah, cute pups,” I replied.I guessed that the head guide had a walkie talkie or radio and called to Carlos to warn him of the dogs, lest blondie completely freak out.I felt kind of proud that my little scare had turned into a source of gossip among the guides, as if I had gained importance in their eyes.Once everyone made it to the center of the lake, the head guide got us all into a circle, and tossed a rope around us so all of our kayaks could be held together without us needing to paddle.I wasn’t sure what the deal was with that until he said, “OK, now, here is the best spot to see our famous phosphorescent lake, but please do not swim outside of our circle.” He paused then, for effect.“You know we don’t want to lose anybody.” He added ominously.“You mean, to wild dogs, or,” I said, “worse?” I looked around expecting to see crocodile heads by the shore.“Oh, no, no beasts here,” he said chuckling.“We just don’t want to lose anyone in the dark.”“Yeah, right,” I said.I had taken the role of wise-ass kid, since it seemed appropriate and no one else was playing along with the guide and his spooky talk.Dad gave me a little nod of approval, as if he liked my kidding around
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