CHAPTER 7 #5
“That’s for sure,” I agree wearily. I’d already made a list in my head of what to bring the next time we did this. Although I know that wouldn’t be for a little while, not with Josie expecting our first. Neither of us would be comfortable leaving our child until he or she was older.
Shadrack walks back over to us, and even in the dim light from the fire, I can see how exhausted he is. Squatting down next to us, he asks, “Can you take the next couple of hours? I’m going to catch a couple of hours’ sleep and then take the next shift.”
“Of course,” I instantly agree, shifting to sit up before pushing myself to my feet.
Shadrack stands with me and hands me the rifle before removing the belt that has the bullets in it. Taking both, I strap the belt on and check the rifle, making sure that it’s in good working order. Finding that it is, I turn back to Shadrack, “Is there anything I need to know?”
“Keep the fire burning high and bright. My guys have cut and stacked the firewood we found next to the fire. Wake me in a few hours and I, along with one of my guys, will take the next shift,” he waves his hand over to one of the older recruits who's making himself comfortable near the fire, already closing his eyes.
“Okay,” I agree as Josie walks up next to me, the kitten now tucked into her sweatshirt, its little head poking out of the neck as it looks around at everything. “We’ll be good. I’ll wake you if I’m worried about anything.”
“Thanks,” he responds, stifling a yawn before moving back to the fire and joining his recruit on the ground, their jackets folded and being used as pillows.
Turning to Josie, I kiss her cheek. “Stay by the fire, baby, and keep it going.”
Josie nods in agreement before backing slowly away. “Make sure you let me know if you need me to keep you company so that you stay awake. You’ve got a head injury; don’t be a hero.”
Laughing softly, I agree to her demands, “I’m not a hero, baby. You know that I’ll come and get you if I have to.”
Not that I had any intention of doing that, but I wasn’t an idiot, and if I needed help, I’d ask.
It’s an hour later, and the camp has quietened down as everyone has found a space to sleep, that I feel it.
Eyes on me, as if I was being stalked. Looking back towards the fire, I see Josie adding another log to the fire, and it lights up the surrounding area.
Not wanting the flames to mess with my vision, I turn my back to it and continue my walk around the edges of the camp.
The hairs on the back of my neck rise as that feeling of being watched continues until I have no choice but to wake Shadrack. I’m flagging, and when I catch myself nodding off for the second time, I know that I’m done. My head’s thumping like it has its own bongo player taking up residence.
Waking Shadrack up, I walk a little distance away from the fire, checking on a sleeping Josie as I walk past to wait for him closer to the broken-down vehicle.
I’d have felt better if we could have used it, but with the open back and no windscreen, it wouldn’t have offered much protection.
Shadrack walks over to me, and I hand him the belt full of ammo and the rifle, saying, “There’s something out there; I’ve felt it stalking me for a couple of hours, but it hasn’t made itself known, so I don’t know what it is.”
Shadrack sighs, running a tired hand over his face, “I was afraid of that; I’d hoped with us moving the offal away it would draw it away.
I’m not sure either, but I have a feeling it’s a big cat—leopard or lion.
I couldn’t tell from the claw marks on the buffalo.
And I think it’s wounded, and that’s the worst kind of dangerous.
We’ll keep the fire burning and hopefully that will keep it away. ”
“Let me get some headache meds, and I’ll come back and help you,” I told him.
Shaking his head, he says, “No rest for a bit. I’ll wake you in an hour or so unless I need you before that.”
Hesitating, I search his gaze. “Are you sure?”
Laughing softly, he replies ruefully, “No, not really, but I also know that you’re swaying on your feet and look ready to pass out.”
“Shit,” I mutter when I realise he’s right.
“Go rest, man,” he says, shouldering his rifle. Taking my handgun from my lower back, I ask his recruit, “Do you know how to use a handgun?”
“I do,” he nods in agreement.
My gaze wanders to Shadrack, who nods. “He knows,” he informs me.
“Here,” I hand the gun to him. “It won’t help much and will probably only piss whatever it is off more, but at least it will slow it down.”
“Thanks,” he replies, checking the handgun over, and I can tell right away that he knows what he’s doing.
Feeling better, I leave them to go and take some medication for my head before joining Josie, but not before slipping her handgun from behind her back and wrapping my hand around it.
I listen, but all I can hear is the crackling of the fire, the slight breeze rustling the leaves on the trees, the constant noise of cicadas, and in the distance, a hyena is calling.
Eventually, I have no choice but to let exhaustion take me as the day catches up with me.
I’m woken what feels like moments later to blood-curdling screams and shots fired.