by Anh Do
Her cries of fear sent fierce joy through my heart.
‘Leave us alone!’ I screamed from my rock, watching the dogs chase Fran through the trees.
Seven.
As Rupert and I waited for the dogs to return, I thought about where we should go next. We were a long way from the road, and retracing our steps would only lead us back to the broken bridge. Even if we could find the road again on this side of the river, the convoy of trucks that might have carried our parents was probably long gone.
I turned to check on Rupert, and found him staring off at nothing.
He caught me looking at him and blinked. ‘I’m not used to this,’ he said.
He was clearly shaken, and I felt bad for him. I was also surprised at myself for not considering how such a thing might affect someone. Had I become too used to danger?
I put a hand on his shoulder.
Rupert grimaced. ‘Look, I know I’m a bit nervous, and not as good at running through the forest as you, but … it doesn’t mean I’m not willing, Gwen. I am. I’m willing to fight. They enslaved me and stole my parents. I am here and I am ready to fight.’
I got the feeling he was saying this as much for himself as for me, but I could tell he meant it. I had to admit, even though I was frustrated that he couldn’t climb rocks well, whenever it came to something he could do, I never saw him shy away.
Sunrise and Brutus bounded out of the trees, wagging their tails and jostling each other.
Did you see how I pushed that soldier into the thorn bush?
Ha ha! He’ll be pulling out prickles for a week!
I smiled. It was nice to see them getting along for once.
Eagle settled on a branch nearby, her bright eyes flashing with pride.
Zip and Tiny were followed by Nosey, who carried one of the soldiers’ backpacks. Rupert sat up with interest.
‘Could be something useful in that bag,’ he said.
Nosey padded up to us, and Rupert dropped to one knee before him.
‘May I?’ he said, pointing at the backpack.
Nosey glanced at me, and I nodded. Nosey dropped the pack, and Rupert set about opening it.
‘There’s some dried meat and fruit and a few sandwiches,’ he said. ‘There’s also … wow.’
He pulled out a device with a little screen and buttons on it. I frowned at him. I had no idea what it was.
‘It’s a GPS tracker,’ said Rupert, in wonder.
‘We have to move,’ I said. ‘Fran will return with reinforcements. You can figure that thing out as we walk.’
‘Alright, gang,’ Rupert said, more excited than I’d seen him in a while. ‘Let’s go!’
The dogs all stood up and off we went.
Before we’d left the road, we’d been heading south, so without any better option, we continued south, following along the thick foliage.
Soon Nosey gave a whine. I looked back and saw him nuzzling Zip, who was limping.
‘Oh no,’ I said. ‘Zip, did you hurt yourself back there?’
I didn’t mean to.
As well as his swollen eye, Zip now had a big cut on his back leg. I grabbed a shirt and wrapped his wound as gently as I could.
‘I’ll carry you,’ I said. ‘You’re making it worse, walking on it. Why didn’t you tell us?’
I’m sorry, Zip whimpered, as I bundled him up.
Zip grew heavy quickly, but we needed to push on.
Meanwhile, Rupert fell towards the back, head down as he focused on the GPS tracker and twiddled with its knobs and buttons.
Sunrise glanced up at me.
Do we really need him?
‘Pack is pack,’ I said.
Sunrise gave me a stern look. We keep having to rescue him.
‘He helped rescue me,’ I said.
‘Are you talking about me?’ said Rupert.
‘Don’t worry,’ I said. ‘They’ll get used to you.’
We’ll see, Sunrise huffed.
After a few hours, I couldn’t carry Zip anymore. We found some high ground next to a stream and stopped for the night.
I took Zip down to the stream to wash his leg. The cut didn’t look good. I could only hope it would improve after a good night’s sleep.
Rupert grinned at me when I returned.
‘What is it?’
‘I found it!’ he said excitedly. He turned the screen towards me, and I saw a top-down map with a bunch of blips all over it. He pressed one, and some letters and numbers flashed up. They read VHH 654.
‘I don’t understand,’ I said.
‘It’s the numberplate of that last truck to leave the compound!’
I stared at Rupert in amazement. ‘How did you remember that?’
Rupert tapped his head and smiled. ‘I’ve always been good with numbers.’
‘So where is it?’
Rupert consulted the device. ‘A few kilometres south of here, and moving west,’ he said. ‘If we go now, we might be able to catch up to it!’
I leapt to my feet, about to tell the dogs to hurry … when Zip whined gently. He was curled up, eyes half closed, as Nosey looked on in concern.
My excitement evaporated. ‘We can’t leave Zip,’ I said, miserably.
Rupert held the device out at me, his eyes shining. ‘If we don’t move now, the truck will go out of range. We’ll lose the signal. Maybe we’ll lose our parents!’
I was torn. Here was a huge lead – could I really turn it down? A few kilometres wasn’t a lot for us, but … with his injuries, it would be too much for Zip.
Zip, who had selflessly given so much of himself to this mission. My mission. I couldn’t leave him behind.
‘I can’t do it,’ I whispered.
‘You’re going to give up our best chance at finding our parents … for a dog?’ said Rupert, disbelieving. ‘One who doesn’t look like he’s gonna make it anyway?’
‘Don’t say that!’ I snapped, enraged. The pack’s ears pricked up instantly. ‘He’s not just a dog! He’s family! And he’s going to make it.’
Rupert was furious. He stomped off in a huff, stopping to huddle over the device at the edge of the camp.
‘Sometimes you have to take care of the family you have left,’ I said, stroking Zip’s head, as tears clouded my eyes.
I asked Rupert to help me haul some rocks to put around the fire pit so there was less chance it would be seen. He was still sulking, but he helped.
We sat around the flames as night fell. I tore off little chunks of sandwich to feed Zip, as he seemed to only want small bites at a time. The other dogs watched on with worry. It wasn’t like Zip to not eat.
‘Those soldiers,’ I growled bitterly. ‘This is all their fault.’
‘I know,’ said Rupert. ‘They’ve ruined everything. Our whole lives.’
‘And for what?’ I said. ‘Territory?’
‘I used to think it was that simple,’ said Rupert.
‘What do you mean?’
‘They’re obsessed with mining the rocks,’ said Rupert. ‘I don’t know if that’s why they invaded in the first place, but it seems to be all they care about.’
‘Why would they be obsessed with the rocks?’ I asked.
‘There was a rumour I heard at the camp… something about our rocks containing strange minerals.’
I frowned. ‘Do you know anything else about the minerals?’
Rupert frowned. ‘Someone said the minerals have special powers, but that always seemed like nonsense to me.’
‘Special powers? Like what?’
‘Dunno. Maybe some kid was trying to get attention … I thought it was just a rumour.’
I couldn’t understand why someone would make up such a thing – but then I thought about my recent lessons on trusting what people said. People said some unbelievable things when they were desperate. Sometimes they were lying, like Rupert had, but sometimes they were telling the truth.
We curled up around the fire. I lay next to Zip, stroking his fur un
til I heard his breathing change. I hoped that sleep would bring him some relief.
The next morning, Zip didn’t seem any better. If anything, he was worse. His wound wasn’t healing, and he couldn’t stand up. He wasn’t eating, and his eyes were dull. I felt sick with worry, but we couldn’t just stay here waiting for him to get better.
I emptied the soldier’s backpack, then set about cutting it up and retying it.
‘What are you doing?’ said Rupert.
‘Making a sling.’
Rupert stared at the GPS tracker in his hand forlornly.
‘Is the truck still in range?’ I asked, feeling like I already knew the answer.
He shook his head, then tucked the device away and sighed.
‘I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘I shouldn’t have said Zip was just a dog.’ He gestured at the group. ‘Without you all, I never would have escaped that camp.’
The dogs tilted their heads at him, and Nosey wagged his tail a little.
‘Here,’ said Rupert, stooping beside me. ‘I can help you make the sling.’
We made our way slowly through the forest. As we walked, something played on my mind.
When I was little, I’d cut my arm running past a sharp branch. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but later my mother said it was infected. She had gone looking for a special plant and returned with a handful of small leaves.
Mum had ground the leaves to a paste, and spread it on my cut. A day later, the infection was gone and the wound had started healing.
‘Everything okay?’ said Rupert, glancing at me. ‘You’re frowning a lot.’
‘My mum used a plant to heal an infected cut,’ I said. ‘But I can’t remember what it was called …’
After a moment, Rupert said, ‘Maybe forest sage?’
I stared at him. I couldn’t believe it. ‘That’s it!’ I said. ‘How did you know?’
‘Doctor Andrews sometimes used it on us kids.’ Rupert glanced at Zip. ‘It would probably work for dogs as well.’
I was thrilled. ‘Do you know how to find it?’ I asked.
Rupert frowned. ‘I’m not the most … woodsy person. But I do know it stinks like crazy.’ He screwed up his face. ‘Smells awful.’
I’d forgotten about that smell. I had smelled that when the dogs and I had swum in some rocky pools next to a stream. It was a long time ago, but I couldn’t forget the stink that had wafted over me. I’d blamed it on Tiny, but thinking back, I realised there had been patches of forest sage growing nearby.
‘I’ve seen it before, in the forest, near some rock pools!’ I said. The stream we’d camped by wasn’t far away. Excitedly, I led us towards it.
We followed it for several hours, looking out for forest sage. The land beside the stream was soft, and I remembered seeing the herb growing out of cracks in rocks.
Eventually, we heard a waterfall. I wondered if that would be as far as we’d be able to follow the stream. I began to despair, but then we emerged from the trees …
‘Rock pools!’ I said.
I raced to look and everyone joined me, although I’m not sure the dogs knew what we were after.
I started out feeling hopeful. I sped from pool to pool, checking every crack, but after searching for a while I’d still found nothing.
I looked over at Zip, who was lying on his side resting.
‘We’ll find some soon, Zip … don’t worry.’
‘Over here!’ Rupert called out.
I ran over to see him pointing at some straggly green stalks.
I leant down, plucked off a couple of leaves and took a big sniff – yuck!
‘Forest sage!’ I yelped. ‘We need more. Much more. Enough to make a thick paste.’
I looked around, and although there were other stalks about, they were missing their leaves.
‘It’s like they’ve been harvested,’ said Rupert.
Suddenly, there was a vicious hissing sound! Instinctively, I dropped into a crouch, ready to spring. My dogs circled me, ears up.
We were surrounded by cats!
I stared at them in shock, trying to make sense of what I was seeing. A big black tom jumped down, baring his fangs, and Brutus barked.
‘Stay,’ I managed to croak.
We were bigger and stronger, but we were outnumbered.
As we backed into a tighter circle, I found my sling in my hand without even thinking – the weapon had almost become an extension of myself.
As the cats jumped down from the rocks, other cats took their places. There were many different kinds – bobtails, shorthairs, plenty of mixed breeds. A few were so big they looked like small cougars.
What were they all doing out here?
Whatever it was, they weren’t happy about us trampling on their territory.
‘We have to make a break for it,’ said Rupert quietly. ‘Some of us may get hurt, but we can’t just stand here waiting for them to attack.’
Several cats flattened to the ground as Eagle wheeled overheard, but she didn’t dare swoop low on so many.
I didn’t know what to do. The situation was so totally unexpected.
Without any other options, Rupert’s plan – to run – might be our best chance.
‘Okay, everyone,’ I muttered. ‘On the count of three, we make for the trees, okay? One … two …’
‘Who are you?’ boomed a woman’s voice, making us all jump. The sound bounced off the cliff face, amplified by the rocks.
‘Who’s there?’ I called.
‘I’m asking the questions! Who are you? What do you want? Answer, girl, or I’ll set my cats on you.’
I shared a worried glance with Rupert.
He shrugged, then whispered, ‘It doesn’t sound like a soldier.’
He was right. She didn’t sound like a soldier, but there was something wild about her voice.
Rupert glanced at Sunrise, who was still carrying Zip, then back at me. ‘Perhaps we should tell the truth?’
It did not seem like we had much to lose.
‘I’m Gwen,’ I said, standing up straight. ‘We came here looking for forest sage, because one of our pack is hurt.’ I gestured at Zip. ‘I think his paw is infected. If we can …’
‘Are you soldiers or natives?’ demanded the voice.
‘Do we look like soldiers?’ said Rupert. ‘We’re just a couple of kids with a pack of dogs!’
There was silence.
A moment later, a figure stepped out of shadows below the cliff. Several of the cats swirled around her protectively. As she emerged into the sunlight, I saw that she was not what I was expecting at all.
‘You’ll forgive me for being wary,’ she said, rather tersely but no longer yelling. ‘The world has not been kind of late, and things aren’t always what they seem.’
As she approached, the cats came with her. I worried we were leaving it too late to flee – but maybe we wouldn’t need to after all.
‘I’ve been living in the forest for four years,’ I said. ‘I was separated from my family when the bombs fell.’
The old lady lifted an eyebrow. As she took in my words, her expression softened a little.
My dogs glanced at me nervously.
Do we run or attack?
I don’t like the smell of these whiskered creatures!
Gwen? What’s going on?
I held a hand low with my palm facing down, a gesture of calm and stay.
The old lady looked at my hand. ‘I take it you are the leader of this pack?’
‘Yes,’ I said, ‘I am.’
She sighed. ‘Very well. I suppose us pack leaders have to stick together,’ she said. ‘I’m Ma Taylor, and I know where you can get some forest sage.’ She rested the baseball bat on her shoulder. ‘At my place,’ she finished. ‘Come on then, the lot of you.’
Ma Taylor led us through the trees. She was nimble for an old lady, but she couldn’t see very well. Half the time, she used the bat like a walking stick.
The dogs were uneasy with
the cats leaping around, but at least they weren’t growling and hissing at each other anymore.
‘I know what it’s like to lose family,’ said Ma. ‘I lived in a village not far from here. One day I was out picking herbs in the forest, and I heard explosions. By the time I got back, well …’ She stared off for a moment, a hard look in her eye. ‘Everyone was gone.’
‘You don’t know where they went?’ I asked.
‘Nope.’ She shook her head. ‘My daughter and her husband, my grandchildren, just gone. I could see there had been fighting, and there was something of a trail, but it turned into tyre tracks and … well, there’s only so much searching an old lady can do. All I could do was pray that none of them got hurt. I keep hoping that, one day, they’ll find their way home.’
‘When was this?’ asked Rupert.
Ma snorted. ‘How should I know? Time speeds up when you’re my age, young man.’
I sensed she knew more than she let on. How could a person not count every passing day, when their whole family had gone missing?
‘Ah,’ said Ma Taylor, ‘here we are.’
‘Wow,’ I breathed, amazed.
The dogs were nervous and climbed slowly. As we continued on, I became a bit nervous myself – it was pretty high! But finally, we neared the top …
‘My late husband built this,’ Ma said, ‘to use as a base camp when he was hunting in the forest.’
I guess she had decided to trust us. But I wasn’t sure whether I trusted her yet.
Inside the treehouse was a simple room with taps and a cooker on one side, shelves around the walls, a bed in the far corner, and heaps of bowls on the ground. There were holes carved into the walls at various heights. I assumed they were for the cats to slip in and out.