doubt. Which had him wondering just what she had
said. If it was ‘goodbye’, then why would there be excitement at their camp? If
it was ‘help me’, then why was he able to take her if she, a Spirit Person, was
unwilling?
Maybe
what affects man affects Spirit People as well, if they are willing to be
treated as equals?
The
thought excited him. It meant the dart had knocked her out as it would a human,
and it gave him even more reason to believe she was here willingly. And if
things affected her the same as any other woman, should she be willing, then
she would be capable of loving him, of mating with him, and of being mother to
his children.
He
pressed on, more certain now than ever he had made the right choice, and his
life was about to finally turn around.
Acton had adjusted the flashlight to give as wide a beam as
possible, as had Reading, but it was slow going. Extremely slow. And it was
frustrating him to the point where he was almost of no use.
They had
no idea where they were going.
He
stopped, holding out an arm for Reading whose labored breathing was evident to
Acton, despite his friend’s attempts to disguise it. Acton aimed his light at
the ground. “We could be going in circles for all we know.”
“Or in a
straight line but in the wrong direction,” agreed Reading. “This is useless in
the dark.”
Acton’s
chest tightened as his friend said what he himself was thinking already. They
were liable to get themselves hurt or lost, and be of no use to Laura.
But he
had to go on.
“Here’s
what we’ll do,” he said, shining his light up between the two of them so they
could see each other’s faces. “You go back to camp, I’m going to continue forward
to the north, then swing back south in an arc and see if I can find any trace
of them. If I don’t, I’ll return to the camp by morning, if I do, I’ll send you
the coordinates and you and the others can join me.”
Reading
was shaking his head the entire time. “I’m not leaving you out here alone.”
Acton
put his hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Listen, I’ll be fine. I’ve been in
jungles before. But I’m worried about Greg. He’s weak, and he’s going to try to
stay awake the entire time. I need you to relieve him so he can get some rest.
Also, if those on the boat try anything, two against six is better than one man
who can barely walk.”
Reading
frowned at the sound logic. Acton pulled out the phone and activated the map,
showing their location relative to the river. They were painfully close, their
progress negligible. Acton pointed to their left. “Straight that way not even
half a mile. If you come to the river and don’t see the camp, you should be
within shouting distance. If not, go south.”
“Why
south?”
“Because
you’re right handed.”
“So?”
“So,
people tend to drift toward their dominant hand. If you go off course, you most
likely will go to the right slightly. Compensate by going left when you get to
the river.”
“And if
I drift too far?” asked Reading with a bit of comic attitude.
“Then
it’s been nice knowing you, I hope you find a nice native woman to settle down
with and make a few more babies.”
“Ha ha.
One marriage in a man’s lifetime is enough punishment.” He pointed out his
bearing. “Half a mile?”
Acton
nodded.
“Okay.
Stick to the schedule though. Contact me in thirty minutes.”
“Will
do. Now go.”
Reading
slapped Acton’s shoulder, his face grim, Acton easily able to see this was
tearing Reading apart, but they both knew this was the right decision. Milton
was weak and only getting weaker, and Reading was slowing Acton down. As he
watched his friend depart, he smiled.
“You’re
drifting!”
“Fowk
off!” came the reply as he disappeared into the trees. When the dancing of
Reading’s flashlight finally disappeared, Acton struck out directly north, his
flashlight examining the ground closely as he made a point to slow himself
down, but he