The casket was visibly shaking, because Chris was laughing so hard. He really got them good! But the old men couldn't hear him laughing because they were too busy paddling as fast as they could. The bow of their little boat raised out of the water, they were paddling so fast. They looked like those canoeing dudes on Hawaii Five-O! he thought, as he watched them streak across the water. Too bad his brothers hadn't seen it! He was going to have a hard time conveying to them just how funny that looked.

Thinking of his brothers, just where were they, anyway? Chris still didn't know how he got into the river, but it was safe to bet that this wasn't a hoax by his brothers, because the casket was a wreck. They were all in hot water for damaging the casket, so where were they? Had the truck wrecked, or run into the river, and killed everyone else? Was he the lone survivor? At this point, he had no idea. That started him thinking that perhaps he should pull up on a sand bar and leave the river, to see what was going on. He began looking for a suitable place to land, but realized that with no oar, he wasn't able to steer, and if he leaned over far enough to try paddling with his hands, he ran the risk of capsizing. The current was carrying him well, so he just went with the flow. Besides, he saw another light down the river, and the moonlight shined on something that spanned the river.

It was the New Slab! And there was someone on the slab, so all he had to do was continue drifting. That was probably his brothers on the slab, waiting to laugh at him, and fish him out.

Calvin had climbed back up the steep hill, and met Cory coming down to help.

"Did you find him?"

"Nope!"

"No! What do you mean, no? We can plainly see where the casket slid down the hill!"

Calvin was having to catch his breath. "The river! . . . The casket went all the way to the river!"

"That far? Man, it's going to be a job, hauling it all the way up from the river! I guess it was smashed up, huh? And what about Chris, is he okay?"

Calvin was shaking his head. "No, the casket's not there! Floated down the river, with Chris in it!"

"You are kidding me! Is that wild or what?"

"Joey took your flashlight, and is following him on the bank! He wants us to drive around and try to pick Chris up down the river somewhere!"

"Okay, we can do that! Come on."

They were both out of breath by the time they got to the truck. Cory fired it up and burned rubber, as they got back on the pavement, heading toward the New Slab, since they decided that was the best place to get down to the river with their truck.

"Better slow it down, Cory! You don't need to wreck your dad's truck."

"Remember, we have a curfew. We need to find Chris, and get back home as soon as possible. I don't guess we'll have enough time to hit the Tiger Hut, do we?"

Calvin looked at him incredulously. "Are you kidding Cory? The casket is smashed up, Chris could be dead, and you're still worried about the Tiger Hut? And ain't no way we are making the curfew!"

"Calm down, things ain't never as bad as they seem. We'll work things out!"

As he spoke, they pa.s.sed a car so close that they almost side-swiped it.

"That was close!" Cory said.

"And it was a police car too! He's got his lights on! He's coming back after us, Cory!"

"That's not good! The last thing I need right now is a ticket!" He shoved the gas pedal to the floor, and the trucks four-barrel carburetor kicked in. The old truck came alive, and they were eating up the asphalt.

"Cory! What are you doing? You can't out-run the police!"

"I can for a little ways, and the county line is just over this hill! That's an Arlington County car! He can't chase us after we get into Byram County!"

"Where did you hear that?"

"Anybody knows that!"

"Cory! Yes he can!"

"Are you sure?"

"Pretty sure! Are you going to test him to find out?"

Cory eased off the gas, and the truck slowed to the speed limit. By now, the police car was quickly closing in on his b.u.mper.

"Are you going to pull over?"

"After I pa.s.s the Byram County line. See, there is the sign, and a good spot to pull over just on the other side of the sign. See? I'm pulling over."

The Deputies got out on both sides, and approached the truck as though they meant business. "Oh s.h.i.t!" Cory said, as he rolled down the window.

"Keep your hands where we can see them!" an officer said.

"Was I doing something wrong, officer?"

"You almost sideswiped me back there, and when I turned on my lights, I clocked you as going almost 80 miles per hour. Are you in a hurry, young man?"

"Well, kind'a, but not any more."

"Have you been drinking?"

"No, sir."

"What about your friend in there?"

"No, Sir!" Calvin replied.

"Where are you two headed?"

"Do you want the truth?"

"Yes, I would prefer the truth, but if a lie is more entertaining, then tell us a lie. It's a slow night. We got nothing better to do. And by the way, while you are spinning this 'truth', let me see your driver's license and registration."

"Okay, I'll tell you the truth . . ."

"Thank you!"

"The truth is, officer, we are kind of in a hurry to get to the New Slab, because we need to pick up Calvin's brother."

"I'm Calvin Lee. He means my brother!" Calvin added.

"Is he camping there?"

"Uh, no, he's floating down the river."

"So your name is Cory Walters?"

"Yes sir."

"Address and phone number correct?"

"Yes sir."

"Who owns this truck you are operating?"

"My dad, Lewis Walters."

"So you are rushing to pick up this guy's brother at the New Slab?"

"Yes sir."

"Why is he floating down the river? Is he fishing?"

"No, he was riding in a casket, and up on Turkey Ridge, the casket slid out of the back of the truck, because Calvin forgot to close the tailgate."

"I did not forget! I remember closing the tailgate!"

"Anyway, the casket fell out the back, and slid down the hill into the river, and so, we need to get to the New Slab to pick him up when he gets there. We think he's still in the casket, floating down the river."

"Is your brother dead?"

"I hope not! That's why we need to get to the New Slab, to find out if he is okay."

"So your brother was alive, and riding in a burial casket?"

"Yes."

"I got lots of questions. First of all, where did you guys get a casket?"

"My mom bought it for my dad, as a birthday present." Calvin said.

"Ooo-kay. Now, why was your brother riding in the casket?"

"There wasn't room for all four of us in the cab, so Chris was riding in the casket."

"Who is the fourth person you mention?"

"My other brother, Joey. He's coming down the river too."

"Riding in a casket too, I presume?" the officer asked, smiling at the other officer.

"No, he is running along the bank, trying to catch up with the casket."

"Oh, I see. I can visualize that."

"That's why you need to let us go," Cory said, "So we can be there when the casket arrives."

"Well, okay, Mr. Walters! I will try to write out your ticket as quickly as possible, so you can be on your way. I would hate for you to miss the arrival of the casket."

"Wait! You can't write me a ticket! You're out of your jurisdiction! This is Byram County, and your uniform says, 'Arlington County'!"

"Is that so? You were in Arlington County when we observed you breaking the law, so you are getting a ticket!"

"In fact," the older officer said, "You're not just getting a ticket, we are taking you in. The posted speed limit here is 35, and we clocked you at going 80."

"But just for a mile or so."

"Regardless, you were speeding excessively. And according to the law, when you exceed the posted limit by more than 25 miles per hour, we are supposed to arrest you and take you to jail. You, sir, were going 45 miles per hour over the speed limit, so by law, we have to take you in. Please step out of the vehicle."

"Does that mean you are arresting me?"

"You're sharp as a tack, kid! Now out of the truck!"

"Wait a minute, this officer was just going to give me a ticket, and you want to arrest me? What is this?"

The younger officer said, "We might have cut you some slack, but then you told that whopper of a tale, so now we are going to arrest you for excessive speeding, reckless driving, and lying to an officer of the law! Now, step out of the truck, please!"

"We're not lying!" Calvin said.

"You get out too, kid!"

Cory was indignant as he got out. "My dad isn't going to like this! It's called police hara.s.sment! He's the undertaker in Laurel Grove, you know! He's got friends in high places!"

"Turn and face the truck, hands behind your back."

"Handcuffs? You are putting handcuffs on me?"

"Shut up Cory!" Calvin said.

"You better listen to your friend and shut up, son! As a matter of fact, let me just go ahead and read you your rights. 'You have the right to remain silent. Should you choose not to remain silent, anything you say can, and will be used against you, in a court of law . . ."

"You can't put handcuffs on me! How will I drive my dad's truck?"

"A wrecker will come get your dad's truck."

". . . If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be appointed to you by the court . . ."

"A lawyer! What do I need a lawyer for?"

"Shut up, Cory! Just shut up!"