Three Rivers of Remembrance

Chapter Fifteen

Piccolo was stunned when he landed in the icy water underneath the waterfall. He struggled at first against the rapid currents, but ejected himself out of the water and hovered just above.

"The river." He said to himself. Realizing just a few minutes away, was the clearing. But they had searched this area. Over and over. But, what if Rhyne was in the water? At the bottom of the river?

Dear God. He was covered in goose bumps as he thought of her body being at the bottom of this horrid and cold river.

"But, she's not dead." He said out loud. "Damn. I can't make sense of it."

"Piccolo?" Gohan said, flying up behind him, making the Namek jump a few feet. "What's going on? You summoned the Dragon! Did you find out where she is?"

"Gohan, you scared the shit out me." Piccolo yelled. "No, not yet. The only thing we could ask the Dragon was to transport me to the place where Rhyne ceased to exist. And, it brought me here."

Gohan looked down at the darkened water. "Down there?" He asked, almost unable to say the words.

"She's not dead." Piccolo emphasized. "The Dragon said she was not dead, just ceased to exist. Whatever that means." He replied. "But, it has something to do with the river."

"Perhaps, if we follow the river, search every inch, we'll find something." Gohan said. "I'll do it alone if you don't want to."

"Of course I want to." Piccolo snapped. "I'm just not certain about this whole thing."

"Me neither, but any lead is better than the smoke we've been chasing." Gohan started flying with the river rapids. "Come on!" He yelled.

Piccolo followed behind him.

Sabrina was hurriedly finishing a program on her computer. She had promised Jade they could watch a new DVD later. Jade had been in an unusual mood today. Yes, it had been one year since she'd been born into this world. At least, as far as anyone knew. Yet, today seemed to really bother the young girl. She had moped around, not really doing anything. Sabrina did find her once, outside, staring at the sky.

"The birds are so lucky." Jade said. "They have such freedom, their wings are so mighty and strong. And here I am, nothing."

"Don't say that!" Sabrina said. "You are everything! Especially to me!" Sabrina hugged Jade tightly. "You have brought such happiness into my lonely existence. I have lived and laughed more in the last twelve months than in years!"

"Really?" Jade asked. "I've…I've made you happy?"

"Very." Sabrina said. "I don't know what I'd do without you, kid!"

"It's nice being important to someone." Jade told her. "I feel better."

"Good. Now, you stay put. I've got to haul this trash off. Shouldn't take but an hour or two." Sabrina said. "There is plenty of water in the fridge and DVD's….so, I think you'll survive."

Jade's smile wavered. "I don't like being alone." She said.

Sabrina knew it was true. Usually at night, Jade would make her way from her bedroom to the larger one that Sabrina had and just sleep on the floor by the bed. "I don't think it would be a good idea for you to go with me. You know, I explained to you how people can be about seeing someone who's….."

"Different." Jade finished. "I know. I'd just like to see the places you go. See what you see."

Sabrina couldn't stand it. "Ok, then. You'll go."

Jade had not expected her to say yes. "But…."

"No but's." Sabrina said firmly. "I've got a hat and gloves. That will hide your little appendages." She pointed to Jade's antennae. "And the gloves will hide your hands. The rest shouldn't be a problem."

Jade was really excited. She hugged Sabrina and ran in the house.

Less than half an hour later, they set out. The terrain in the woods was rough, but the SUV was built for rocks and mud holes. Sabrina knew when to gun the engine and when to slow down.

"Maybe I'll teach you how to drive." Sabrina said, blowing a piece of her long brown hair out of her eyes. "That way, when I'm old, you can drive me around!"

Piccolo and Gohan searched every inch of the river, going down deep below the water to the very bottom. Next, they began searching every inch of the riverbank. Nothing.

"Maybe we need to go further into the woods." Gohan said. "If Tekoa is holding her against her will, or if he's done something to her mind, perhaps he set up a home close by."

"Good idea." Piccolo said.

They broadened their search. The only thing they came across was a small house. It was hidden way back in the woods, several miles from where the Dragon had transported Piccolo.

"I don't see any signs of humans." Gohan said. "Let's take a look."

Carefully, they entered through a loosened window. Inside, the house, they found only what Gohan said was normal furnishings. Some women's clothing and lots of DVD's.

"I don't see any sign of Rhyne." Piccolo said. "Perhaps there is something outside that we missed."

"I say, let's retrace our steps back to the river." Gohan said. "I'll search this damned forest a million times if I have to."

Piccolo nodded. They exited out the window and took to the sky. For the next six hours, they searched again and again the river and forest. Finding nothing.

Disposing of the garbage only took a couple of hours. Then, Sabrina and Jade came back home. Sabrina immediately noticed the open window. "Someone's been in here." She said. Going to her bedroom, she got her rifle. "You stay here while I check the house." Jade nodded and sat down on her bed.

When Sabrina came back, she reported finding no one. "I don't see that anything has been taken." She noted. "Which worries me."

"If they didn't rob us, then what would they want?" Jade asked innocently.

"Something I'm not willing to give." Sabrina said. "I'll fix these windows where they'll be safer." Getting out a tool kid with electric drill, Sabrina fixed another latch for the inside part of the windows. "Now, as long as we remember to lock them, won't anyone get through this." It took her over two hours to complete the same task on each window.

"I don't know about you, but I'm too tired to watch Lucy tonight." Sabrina said. "How about tomorrow?"

"Sure." Jade said. "I'm tired too."

"Come on and bring a blanket." Sabrina said. "No sense in you sleeping alone….not tonight."

Excitedly, Jade grabbed her blanket and pillow and slept with Sabrina.

Outside, the window, a dark green head peered into the bedroom. Trying the windows, he did not find an open one, and did not want to risk being caught. He had seen the weapon the Earthling had and didn't want to risk injury. Besides, he had come up with a plan.

"So, you're not dead." Tekoa said. "But, obviously something is wrong. Otherwise you'd be with your family." He decided to approach the women tomorrow. If he worked things out just right, he's have Rhyne as his wife.

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