Chapter 51 Miles
Miles
They’ve been walking for a good half an hour, now.
Miles reckons it’ll only be another ten or fifteen minutes before they reach the gates to the reserve and get out on to the main road.
Although that’s probably not the best way to describe the gravelly track that led them here.
It’s not like any main road he’s used to, but it’s a highway of sorts and Miles will be glad to be on it.
It’s not visible from here, though. The road he and Faith are walking has entered an area of denser trees and foliage.
They remain vigilant, constantly looking in all directions, but their range of vision is more limited now that the vegetation is thicker.
Miles is still confident there’s no one out there in the forest watching them, but the reduced visibility causes him to quicken his step.
The thud of his boots echoes under the thick canopy overhead.
He can also just about make out that odd noise he heard before dawn – that strange booming sound.
Miles stops for a moment. His increased pace means he’s gained a few yards on Faith. When she’s back in line with him, he hikes on and points to the phone in her hand. ‘Any signal yet?’ It’s been five minutes since she last tried, so it has to be worth another go.
She taps at her phone a few times and stares at the screen. Then she shakes her head. ‘Still nothing.’
They keep on, and Miles continues to pan all around. He tilts his head to look high and low, from the hanging branches to the gnarled undergrowth. The forest glistens, and shards of light flash overhead where the sun catches the wet leaves.
Miles stops. Movement in the bushes has grabbed his attention. He stands, frozen to the spot. A gasp would’ve just escaped his throat had he not clamped his larynx to suppress it. For a moment he thinks his eyes might be playing tricks on him – a consequence of sleep deprivation and stress.
‘Faith.’ He places a hand on her shoulder and whispers urgently as a wave of adrenaline rises through his body. ‘Don’t move a muscle.’