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much.”
    â€œAnd the two of you?” Ray asked Albert and Nigel.
    â€œWe have received instruction in orienteering in addition to our survival training. We are very qualified,” Albert said.
    â€œEither of you ever been in the bush before?”
    â€œNot technically.”
    â€œBut we both know how to paddle a canoe,”Nigel said.
    Ray slowly shook his head. “I guess that pretty well decides how we’re going to pair up. The little guy goes with me and Jamie will share with the girl and—”
    â€œI’m sorry, but that’s not possible,” Albert said, cutting him off.
    â€œWhat’s not possible?” Ray asked.
    â€œIt is not possible to have the Prince and Princess separated from us. One of us must be with them at all times.”
    â€œYou’re not going to be separated,” Ray said. “The two of you are just going to be in another canoe. We’re all taking the same piece of water to the same place, you know.”
    â€œWe must be right with them. I am in charge of their security.”
    Ray didn’t say anything right away, but I could tell from his expression that he was thinking. He bent down slowly and picked up his pack from the canoe.
    â€œThen I hope you all enjoy your trip. Leave the canoes right here when you’re done. Come on, Jamie,” he said, and he started to walk away.
    â€œExcuse me!” Albert practically yelled. Ray stopped and turned back around. “You can’t just leave!”
    â€œWhy not?” Ray asked. “You already told me that you were in charge, that you’re in charge of security, so why do you need me?”
    â€œYou’re the expert! You’re the leader!” Albert exclaimed.
    Ray smiled and took a few steps back. He dropped his pack back in the canoe. “Now that that’s understood, let me explain things a little. You two may be in charge of their security,” he said, pointing at the Prince and Princess, “but out here I’m in charge of everybody’s security. Understand?”
    Albert and Nigel reluctantly nodded in agreement.
    â€œAnd while you may be a prince,” he said, pointing at Andrew, “and you a princess,” he said, nodding at Victoria, “out here I’m the king . And Jamie here is the vice-king .”
    â€œVice-king?” Prince Andrew asked. “What is a vice-king?”
    â€œThe guy who tells everybody what to do when the king isn’t around,” Ray explained. “And if those terms aren’t good enough, then we just aren’t going. Because you know I’d be just as happy to spend the next five days fishing by myself.”
    Everybody looked at Albert.
    â€œPlease,” Princess Victoria pleaded. “We’ll stay close together. Besides, wouldn’t we be safer if we were right there with the people who know the bush the best?”
    â€œShe’s got a point,” Ray said. “Any danger you’re going to meet up here is going to be from something that me and Jamie are more experienced with and able to deal with.”
    What sort of danger did he mean? There wasn’t much that was very dangerous up here … at least if you knew what you were doing.
    Albert looked at the Princess, then the Prince, and finally at Ray. “I imagine that will be sufficient for our security requirements.”
    â€œSo the pairings are going to be like I said,” Ray continued. “I’m with … with … what are we supposed to call you two?”
    â€œMy friends call me Victoria, or sometimes Vicky.”
    â€œNot Torie?” I asked.
    â€œNever!” she scoffed.
    â€œBut on the computer—”
    As soon as I said that, Victoria gave me a look that would have stopped a herd of elephants. Just then it was easy to believe she was royalty. In any case, I was obedient and shut up right away.
    â€œAnd him?”
    â€œAndrew would do fine,” he