[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

think of anything better.
Page 143
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
 I just want to take care of her. There are worse deaths than starving.
 Dying without hope is one of them, replied Rick.
Joe looked at Con sadly.  Yeah, I guess you re right.
The subject of Rick and Joe s conversation was voraciously devouring her
second strip of raw meat when they came to eat.
 Better than nightstalker? asked Joe.
Con, her mouth full, nodded vigorously.
After their meal, they headed out again. As they walked, Rick pondered the
behavior of the nightstalkers. He did not think the attack in the river was
characteristic. They didn t seem evolved to hunt large prey.
Under normal circumstances, I suspect they don t
, he thought.
They appear to be adapting their behavior to the new environment
. As a scientist, he found that hypothesis interesting, worthy of further
study. As a guide, he found it disturbing. They would have to be more wary in
the future.
Several miles farther down the river, they spied a pale line in the hills
close to the riverbank. As they approached the hills, they could see that line
was a stretch of low limestone cliffs. The cliffs were about a hundred yards
from the swollen river, and they were cut by a series of gullies and small
canyons. A
stream flowed from one of the latter, and they followed it into the cliff.
Within the narrow canyon, they found both trees and shelter. The small trees
formed a tangled grove of conifers and small hardwoods that crowded the stream
and extended to the canyon walls. They all appeared dead, but they were
unburnt. Rick discovered shelter farther into the canyon. It consisted of a
five-foot ledge. It was halfway up the cliff wall and protected by an
overhang. With some difficulty, Rick was able to scale the twelve-foot wall
leading to it. Standing on the ledge, Rick surveyed his surroundings. Before
the impact, he would have considered the canyon a dismal place. Its walls
screened out much of the feeble light from the dark sky. The dank vegetation
that choked its floor was as brown and lifeless as the trees. Yet compared
with the burnt and barren valley, the canyon was a place of bounty. The stream
that flowed through it ran clear, and there was ample wood. He called down to
the others watching below.  This is perfect! It s dry and protected enough for
a fire.
 A fire? said Joe.  How will you manage that?
 Your guide has a trick up his sleeve.
 The real trick, said Joe,  will be climbing up to that ledge in the dark.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
 We ll enlarge the holds, said Rick.  The limestone s pretty soft.
 Before you do that, said Joe,  let s go back for that meat.
 Yeah, said Con.  We ll feast tonight in our new home.
For the first time since they had abandoned the plane, they did not have to
carry all their possessions.
These were tossed up to Rick, who stowed them safe and dry on the ledge.
Taking only the gun, they made a quick journey to the meat cache. Although
they were burdened with as much meat as they could carry, they hurried back
quickly. All were eager to return and set up camp.
The first order of business was to store the meat out of the reach of
nightstalkers. They considered hanging it from a tree, but ended up sinking it
in a deep pool in the stream and covering it with rocks.
That would serve until they could construct a more convenient cache. Rick
found a pointed rock and began enlarging the handholds and footholds leading
to the ledge. As Rick worked at his task, Joe and
Con gathered firewood. By the time it grew dark, Joe and Con were able to
climb to the ledge easily.
They deposited a pile of wood there and also a layer of conifer boughs to
Page 144
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
serve as bedding. A few feet from the bedding and close to the back wall of
the ledge, they had placed a semicircle of stones to serve as a fireplace. The
woodpile lay close by. On either side of the fireplace, piles of stones held
two forked branches upright. These were to support the cooking spit.
Joe and Con watched with expectant excitement as Rick knelt before the
fireplace. He pulled out his knife, then unsnapped a pouch on its sheath. From
it he removed a light gray, rectangular stone.  It s an
Arkansas stone, he explained,  for whetting the blade. But there s something
else you can do with it.
Rick struck the stone sharply with the back of the blade and a spark flew.
Then, he bent over the fireplace, stone and knife in hand. A small mound of
nightstalker down rested against a pile of dry shavings from a tree limb.
Above those were twigs, then branches. Rick repeatedly struck the stone with
his knife blade until a spark flew into the down. He blew gently. The down
smoked and glowed red;
then, a tiny yellow flame appeared. The flame spread to the shavings and, from
there, to the twigs and branches.
Con felt a primal joy at the sight of the flames. They seemed to promise
everything good warmth, light, safety, and food. She hugged Joe, then grabbed
Rick and kissed him.
Joe grinned.  You sure have a way with the ladies, Rick.
Con held on to Rick s arm.  He does. Of course, the true way to a girl s heart
is through her stomach.
Joe laughed.  Better feed her, Rick. He handed Rick the meat spit to position
over the fire.
As dinner cooked, the warmth and light of the fire reflected off the
light-colored walls of the ledge and made it bright and cozy. The meat roasted
slowly. Its aroma filled the air, and Con s mouth watered in anticipation. The
stream water in the bottles was crystal clear. Some boiled in a pot to make
meat broth.
Joe leaned against the wall and gazed into the fire with a contented look.
Everything about the evening filled Con with a sense of well-being. Cuddling
up to Rick with a happy sigh, Con forgot the dark and wet world just a few
feet away.
29
CON AWOKE SANDWICHED
between Joe and Rick. although two blankets and a poncho covered
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
them, a damp draft told her that it had grown colder. The blankets were thin
ones, made for mild spring nights, and it was the two men who kept her warm.
She doubted either Rick or Joe was as comfortable as she, despite the fact Joe
had dubbed her  Miss Central Heat. There was some truth in the nickname, for
when she was well fed, she found it easy to stay warm. Staying well fed was
quite another matter.
Hunger had become her constant companion.
In the stillness broken only by the quiet sounds of rain and Rick and Joe s
breathing, Con felt at peace.
The terrible night in the river and the almost unbearable loneliness that [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

zanotowane.pl

doc.pisz.pl

pdf.pisz.pl

skierniewice.pev.pl