Chapter 12 #2
“Hey, I’m hoping the coyote gets him,” Jeff said. “One less for us to deal with.”
“Mmm, I’ve been thinking about that,” Hunter said. “We’re heading south.”
“So?” Jeff asked as he chewed his tough lunch.
“So, I’m wondering how hard it’s going to be for the others to find us,” he said. “I don’t think we’re going by the usual tracks.”
“But this is a large column of horses, so we’re leaving a trail a mile wide,” Jeff said. “Even Michael will be able to track us—and he’s hopeless.”
“I hope so,” Hunter said.
Soon they were hauled to their feet again and made to march. In the afternoon, the sky grew dark, and a thunderstorm hit. It was wonderful to stand in the cloud burst with the cold rain falling on his hot skin. Jeff thought he might steam as the water touched him.
They didn’t stop or try to find shelter from the storm but marched on.
At dusk, a group of the bandits peeled off and followed another trail west. Jeff and the others were turned east now, and they walked and walked until it was dark.
Then they arrived at another camp.
Miguel gave orders for them to be tied to boulders, and that was where they spent the night in a row like stockings on a mantelpiece at Christmas.
They were kept away from the rest of the camp, and if they wanted to, they could talk. None of them did though.
Jeff’s feet were sore, and his legs were throbbing with exertion. He had a terrible headache from the heat of the day, and he was dreadfully thirsty.
That night they were fed stew again with softer bread this time. They were also given two cups of water each.
“Drink slowly,” Jeff said to Joel, who seemed determined to gulp his down as fast as possible. “You’ll throw up if you gulp.”
Joel didn’t listen. He chugged his water down, and a moment later, it all came up. He looked terribly disappointed and dejected.
“I’m sorry you’re here,” Jeff said, trying to console the man. “It’s my fault. I suggested you come along. You could have been happy in Unity without a care in the world.”
“It’s okay,” Joel said. “I agreed to come. I’m just worried about my mare, Daisy. They’re pushing her hard. They push all their horses hard. She’s not used to that.” He spoke with anger. “I’m gentle with her.”
“She’ll be okay,” Jeff said, not knowing if that was true or not. “We’ll get her when we escape or are rescued.”
“And how is that plan coming?” Joel asked.
“Better now,” Robert said. “I think I’ve found a sharp stone. I’ll try and work on my bonds tonight. Maybe we can all get free and slip away while they’re not looking.”
Soon, someone came and took the bowls and cups, and the men from Unity were left alone with the stars and the night animals.
Jeff managed to get some sleep until he had the terrible feeling of something crawling up his pants leg.
He jiggled his leg and then felt that the thing, whatever it was, was not deterred.
He began to bang his leg on the ground, hoping that he would squish it.
When he felt something wet against his leg, he guessed that he had managed to kill the thing. He didn’t sleep again that night.
When he stood in the morning and they started out again, he was horrified to find a small scorpion fall out of the leg of his trousers.
“Tuck your pant hems into your boots,” Robert said.
Jeff thought he might just do that.
Another day of walking followed. It was long and hard, and by the end of it, Jeff was exhausted. He was almost too tired to eat.
“We’re heading northeast now,” Hunter said. Jeff had lost all interest and track of where they were going long ago. He ached, and he was terribly hungry, thirsty, and the ringing in his ears was starting to sound more like roaring.
He wanted to go home, to sit in the parlor with Bonnie, holding her in his arms and talking about nothing much at all.
He longed to hear her laugh. Gosh, he would even like to hear her yell at him.
Anything that would mean he wasn’t out here hopeless and unhappy.
He wanted to escape, to run. He wanted to turn back the clock and make it so that they had never left Unity and gone on this stupid mission.
They spent another night under the stars, and then, in the morning, they set off again. By midday, Jeff didn’t think he could walk anymore. His feet were so sore, and he was willing to bet they were covered in blisters.
Raffa spent the day pulling on the leash because Jeff was falling behind.
That meant that he was forced to try and get his fingers in the rope around his neck and try to loosen it.
But his hands were tied to his waist, and it was futile.
Eventually he fell to the ground and was dragged for a while before Raffa noticed that he was dying.
Jeff was choking, unable to draw a breath.
The world grew dark and began to slip away. All he could think was that he was sorry that Bonnie had come all that way, only for him to die. It was such a waste.
And then hands grabbed him, the constriction around his neck was eased, and he drew in breath.
“Ah, there you are,” Miguel said. “It would be a pity for you to die now, when you will finally get your wish.”
“What wish?” he croaked. His throat was on fire.
“You’ll see,” Miguel said with a smile. “Now get up. You only have to walk a little more before you will have time to rest.”
Jeff got to his feet, and despite wanting to give up, he found the energy to trudge on a little more.