Jase & the Deadliest Hunt (17 page)

YOU’VE BEEN IN YOUR ROOM
for thirty minutes
trying
to sleep when you first hear it. Not the thunder outside or the wild, wailing winds.

No. It’s a scratching sound. Above you. Then to your side. Then underneath your bed.

You get out of bed and try the light switch. Nope, power’s still out. You find a candle to light, but as soon as the light spills over your room, you know you have trouble. Trouble you hope you can handle, but on this island, who knows?

There’s a long, dark-brown tail sticking out from under your bed.

Where’s my gun?

But this isn’t home. And you weren’t allowed to bring your gun. Right now, you don’t have any weapons in this room. Not even a pocketknife.

You wonder if there’s any chance this is a friendly creature. Or maybe it’s asleep and will leave you alone for the night.
Yeah. I’m sure that’s really gonna happen.

The tail slides under the bed. So much for being asleep. Then a head pops out. A face that looks a bit like a beaver’s is staring at you. No, it’s not a beaver. It’s more like a big mouse. Actually, closer to a rat.

No, wait. It’s a nutria. A swamp rat.

There are thousands of those in Louisiana. So many that it’s actually become a problem.

This particular one looks larger than a typical nutria.

You tiptoe toward the door, but your motion disturbs the nutria. It fully emerges, from its long, white whiskers to its long, gross tail. It crouches in a strange hunched posture and makes eye contact with you, blinking slowly. You’ve probably shot a hundred of these in your lifetime, but you’re not really in the mood for nutria hunting right now. Even if you did have a gun.

“Come on, buddy. I gotta sleep,” you tell the thing.

The thing, however, is definitely
not
your buddy.

You learn this when it launches itself across the room at you. Jumping across the floor like some kind of turbo-powered kangaroo.

You scream, but the rain and thunder drown you out.

You don’t think the nutria rats back home are this mean. Or this ugly.

But this isn’t West Monroe.

Not even close.

THE END

Start over.

Read “Let the Good Times Roll: A Note from John Luke Robertson.”

COME ON. CLAP.

You’re still here, and you’re celebrating life.

The credits are running and a groovy Pharrell Williams song is playing. You can dance. Even if you have a beard, you can dance.

Age? It doesn’t matter.

You might be sixteen, but boy, do you have a future.

You might be sixty-eight, but boy, was that an amazing duck call you invented. That made a whole bunch of futures for lots of your family members.

But you can dance ’cause you know something bigger.

Roll the names and the credits.

Rugged, handsome hero
 
—Jase Robertson

Whiny, out-of-shape younger brother
 
—Willie Robertson

Heartthrob #1
 
—John Luke Robertson

Heartthrob #2
 
—Cole Robertson

Weapons provided by Mossberg & Sons

Music by Alan Silvestri

Wardrobe by Armani

Filmed on location on the island of Monuriki in the Pacific

Yes.

Time to dance now.

Come on, Willie. Show us how it’s done.

Clap along and clap in stride.

Come on, Cole. Get jiggy with it.

Come on, John Luke. Show the girls that dimple.

You’re the last one to come in view, Jase, and you’re doing your low-crouching hip-shaking boogie dance.

It’s a new kind of dance that’s gonna be popular one day.

Celebrate today ’cause it’s the only one you’re gonna get right now.

Don’t worry about tomorrow ’cause worrying won’t change a thing.

Be thankful for yesterday ’cause God’s given you every single one of your memories.

Be happy.

This world is full of sadness, so don’t you want a little joy?

This crazy chaos can bring you down, but all you need is a crossbow loaded with a little happy.

Maybe you need a shotgun full of joy.

Spear the dark sadness with a dagger. Slice the hopelessness with a samurai sword.

Aim the rifle and fire and laugh.

And play the cowbell. We all need a little cowbell in our lives.

We all need some laughter.

The credits are almost over. So smile.

Happiness is a gift. So celebrate.

And please
 
—stay away from those nasty nutria rats.

THE END

Start over.

Read “Let the Good Times Roll: A Note from John Luke Robertson.”

EVER SINCE THE WORLD HAS GOTTEN TO KNOW
the Robertson family, we’ve been providing lots of laughter. It’s a great thing to know we’re spreading a little joy and happiness in the world. As the Duck Commander motto goes, we’re about faith, family, and ducks. And there’s plenty of joy in all of that. Well, unless you’re a duck.

Many times, this world can be the very opposite of joy. Everyone has opinions. Everybody takes sides. Sometimes we get angry and even defiant over the things we support and believe. There’s a lot of hate out there.

Our family continues to choose love. To strive for joy.

I really like John 16:33:

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will
have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Jesus is telling us to cheer up. To take heart.

This is the reason we Robertsons have so much joy inside us. We’ve put our faith in the same Jesus who spoke these words. He’s not a made-up character in a book, nor is he just a historical person. Jesus Christ is God’s Son, and he came to bring peace and joy. He came to die for us and to overcome death.

Like these fun books, life is about making decisions and choosing which direction to go. Many times we make bad decisions or wrong choices. But take heart. God knows that, and he still loves us in spite of it.

There’s a Ben Rector song called “Let the Good Times Roll.” I love to crank this song in my Jeep while I’m driving. And wherever you are and whatever you’re doing, I hope you find some good times today
 
—some true joy and happiness. Leave the shadows and worries in the dust.

Thanks for taking these crazy journeys with me and my family. We hope there are many more in the future that we can share with you!