Survivors of the Sun

by Kingslie, Mia

  She was more concerned with the swelling along the side of her muzzle, worrying about the damage that kick may have caused. It had knocked her unconscious, but aside from cleaning up the blood, she didn’t know what else she could do.

  What she did know, was that they had to get out of here, but first she and Jamie had something to attend to. She left Lola and Badger resting on the blanket. ‘Make sure Lola stays sitting up, her head a little forward, okay? And don’t let Badger move around too much.’ The girls nodded, still looking a little dazed.

  ‘I have to go and find the shotgun,’ she explained to Jamie once they were out of earshot, ‘and then I think we need to hide the bodies, I doubt they were travelling alone.’

  ‘Should we bury them?’ Jamie asked as they walked back up the track.

  ‘We don’t have any way of burying them, not so that someone wouldn’t notice. We don’t have any spades. If we drag them down over the embankment, away from the river and cover them with leaves that might buy us a little time.’

  She found her shotgun, right where she had fallen. She still could not believe that in her panic she had not realized she was no longer holding it. She did not know why Lola thought it was her fault, but right now, she was feeling it was hers. Badger and Lola were both injured, and it could have been even worse, because she had not realized she had lost hold of her weapon. If she had had the shotgun, then….

  Well you didn’t did you, she snapped at herself. Poor darling Badger, she was so brave and trusting and loyal. She felt tears forming, and shook her head, no, she was not going to cry, if she started crying she might not be able to stop. As she swallowed back the tears she became aware of the agony in her throat, it felt as though someone had rammed gravel down it.

  It was not easy moving the bodies, not at all. At first, Jamie held the legs of Chaz, and she took his arms, trying not to look at his face, and the hole in his throat where the arrow had been. Black blood was congealing around the hole, and a tiny bit of green stuck to the edge, a piece of one of the feathers. Must have dislodged when Jamie pulled the arrow through. They attempted to lift Chaz, but his body stayed on the ground and then she lost hold of his arm, her hands slippery with sweat. They tried again.

  ‘How bout we drag him by his feet,’ Jamie suggested.

  That worked better, Chaz’s dead eyes stared up at the sky as they tugged and pulled and dragged his body through the rows of cotton plants and down into the undergrowth. His head lolled back and forth as though he were shaking his head in surprise at this turn of events.

  She felt nothing inside, no guilt, no anger, and no pity for these men. It was kill or be killed, as simple as that. What she did feel was a vast emptiness at how close it had been.

  Lanky-hair was harder to move. His body was slick with blood and they kept loosing hold.

  They had dragged him a few feet when Jamie said, wait, there’s his knife, let me get it.’

  ‘Leave it,’ Georgia said, ‘we don’t want that.’

  ‘Yeah we do,’ Jamie said firmly, ‘Lola doesn’t have a knife, and this one will suit her fine.’

  ‘But, it’s the knife that…,’ Georgia began, but Jamie cut her words short.

  ‘Yeah, it’s the knife that killed this guy, I reckon that makes it ours.’ He bent down searching along Lanky-hair’s waist.

  ‘What you doing?’ Georgia asked.

  ‘Looking for the sheath,’ he stood up. ‘Guess the other guy has it, wait here.’

  Georgia nodded numbly, watching Jamie as he walked away. Was this normal, okay for a young boy to have this hard, cold side she wondered? Where had that come from? He had always been a sweet gentle boy, and now? Now he just seemed so in charge.

  Was it the situation, instinct taking over, survival of the fittest? But still, in one so young? Whatever the reasons, the result was that he had saved her life…, and Lola’s.

  Jamie was back. ‘Here,’ he said, handing her the sheath with the knife back in place. ‘I wiped off most of the blood, but you will need to wash it.’

  Georgia took it. ‘I’ll give it to Lola.’ Then she smiled over at him. ‘Thank you for saving my life.’ They bent down, each grabbing a leg of Lanky-hair, and began to drag him along the ground.

  ‘No problem,’ Jamie said.

  ‘I am really glad you didn’t miss,’ Georgia said, desperately trying not to look at the body’s gaping throat and then Lanky-hair’s shirt caught on something, pulling them to a sudden halt.

  Jamie bent down, freeing the fabric. ‘Oh, I did. That was my third attempt. I was so scared of hitting you, that my first two went wide. I don’t think we will ever find them.’

  ‘Oh,’ Georgia said. Then added with some urgency, ‘we have to find them.’

  Jamie looked up at her, his brow furrowed. ‘I guess, we do.’ Neither of them stated the obvious.

  Instead, they left Lanky-hair and began systematically searching the rows. Fortunately, the bright green of the feathers contrasted well against the water deprived leaves of the cotton plants and it did not take too long to recover them. Then they returned to the task of dragging Lanky-hair down to where Chaz’s body lay. They rolled Lanky-hair down over the top of him, one arm flung out. They looked, for all the world like lovers, surprised in the woods. Well, apart from all the blood and the flies that were beginning to congregate.

  They silently gathered up leaves and loose soil, until the bodies were completely hidden. Then they went back up to the cotton field.

  ‘We need to hide these drag marks.’ Georgia said, ‘or we might as well have a huge sign with arrows, saying dead men over here.’

  ‘Yeah,’ Jamie nodded. ‘How about we use the cotton plants as a broom?’

  They moved fast, working side by side. Sweeping the ground and kicking dirt over the blood soaked patches. Finally, they were done and although it was not perfect, it no longer looked like something heavy had been dragged along the ground.

  Georgia collected her shotgun and the two of them walked back to camp. Lola seemed a lot more alert now, and Badgers breathing had evened out. She was no longer panting.

  ‘Do you feel up to walking Lola?’ Georgia asked, as she reached the girls. Then, before Lola could reply, she added, ‘because I really think we need to get moving. Those men did not have any gear with them at all, so I am guessing they were probably camped somewhere around here, in which case there may be others and no telling when they will turn up.’

  They worked quickly, efficiently to pack up the site. Partly because they were getting used the routine, but mostly it was fear that fueled them. The caddy had been converted into a sort of stretcher for Badger (now only half full anyway), and clothing had been used to fill it nearly to the top. Badger had been trying to walk around, but even so Georgia felt it would be wiser if she rested. So she was placed in the caddy, and as a security measure, her harness was clipped in place to prevent her jumping out. This way, Georgia reasoned she had a higher chance of recovery, and they would be able to travel a lot faster with her up out of harm’s way.

  Hopefully Lola would not slow them down too much. She was breathing through her mouth, and she looked pretty bad, even after Rebecca’s attempts to bath her face.

  Georgia knew she didn’t look much better. Her left eye felt puffy and painful to the touch. The side of her head, where Chaz had struck her, throbbed unmercifully. She touched her fingers to her throat, fingers tentatively exploring where those maniacal fingers had laced themselves together. There must be bruising already surfacing.

  Rebecca and Deedee did not know what had happened out there under the blazing sun, amongst the heat-withered cotton and Georgia did not think that Lola had wanted to tell them. Even so, the two girls did not ask any questions, but they must have known it had not been good. Their faces had been so white and drawn, eyes scared, as still clinging to Millie and Ant they had taken in their appearance, upon their return to camp. The four of them were literally covered in blood. There was so much blood, some thei
r own but mostly the blood of strangers.

  They worked efficiently, silently, each of them concentrating on the task in hand and within ten minutes, everything was packed up, and the fire put out. They were on their way, leaving Shady Oasis behind them.

  Chapter Twenty Eight

  From time to time Georgia looked back across the open fields they had traversed. There did not appear to be anyone following them, and if in fact, the two dead men had companions, there was no sign of them. Even so, despite the building heat, she urged the others on, not allowing anyone to slow down, or even pause for a drink. Out in the open like this they were as visible as a pimple on a bald man’s head. Ahead of them, still some considerable distance away was a wooded area. The tall trees beckoning them, with promise of shade and shelter.

  At first Millie had run ahead, zig-zagging back and forth across their path, as though following a scent, but now she trotted alongside Jamie, and the caddy, her ears tucked back, panting heavily as she kept pace.

  Rebecca came up beside her, face flushed with exertion. ‘Aren’t we going in the wrong direction? I thought you said we were headed that way,’ and as she spoke, she waved her hand towards the horizon to the south of them.

  Georgia nodded. ‘You’re right, and we will change direction as soon as we hit the tree line; just a precaution, in case someone is watching us.’

  ‘Good idea,’ Rebecca said.

  Georgia shrugged her shoulders. ‘Actually it’s not really my idea, just something I remembered from when I was a kid chasing iguanas, so often when I was chasing them, they would head for the scrub and immediately they were undercover they would change direction; made it nearly impossible for me to find them.’

  Rebecca laughed. ‘Smart lizards.’

  It took them over half an hour to reach the trees, soon they had scrambled through the juvenile growth that edged the forested area and were in the shade of the birch trees. They stopped to catch their breath, then, set off again, this time heading directly south.

  They travelled a little more slowly now. The silence amongst the trees broken only by the occasional crack as someone stepped on a branch. Penetrating deeper into the woods, spider webs hampered their way. They were forced to stop repeatedly, as Georgia armed with a long forked branch carefully removed the thick spider webbing that stretched across their path.

  The only good thing about this, Georgia thought to herself, is that clearly no one has been here in a while, but that is the only thing. These webs are not even pretty. They were not the perfect spiral nets that looked like bejeweled masterpieces in the early morning sunlight. They were just haphazard constructions, messy, and somewhat tatty webs, looking as though they had been repaired just once too often. Even so, the webs were occupied and the spiders were determined not to give them up without a fight. Several times, as she was sweeping the sticky strands away, a spider would run headlong down the stick towards her hands, all legs and fangs, black bodies glistening in the sunlight. Forcing her to drop the stick, and jump back. The first time this happened Lola shrieked in horror, unnerving her even more than the spider had.

  ‘Don’t do that again,’ Georgia practically hissed as the spider deserted the stick and scuttled away, ‘right now we need to be absolutely silent.’

  ‘Sorry, I won’d do id again,’ Lola said.

  ‘Make sure you don’t, Georgia said, as she bent down awkwardly to retrieve the stick, or I swear I will put you in charge of this, and you can clear the way.’

  Lola’s eyes widened, ‘you wouldn’d.’

  ‘I bet she would,’ Deedee said, and there was a certain amount of glee in her voice.

  Georgia did not answer Lola, instead she turned, just a little embarrassed at her outburst and they continued on their way. She hadn’t needed to be quite that harsh had she? The woman had a broken nose and after all there had been no sign of anyone following them, and that awful screeching had sounded more like a startled bird than a female human.

  She gave up thinking about it and concentrated on clearing the way ahead. Lola must have taken her at her word because not another peep came from her, not even when one of the spiders plopped down onto Georgia’s wrist and ran partly up her arm. Georgia hastily brushed it off, she had nearly screamed herself that time.

  They had been walking for just over an hour when, much to Georgia’s relief they finally came to a road and found a road sign, finally, a point of reference. She shrugged off her pack. ‘Okay, we will stop here for a bit.’

  Lola and the girls immediately went off to attend to toilet needs. Jamie disappeared behind a large tree, reappearing shortly afterwards, zipping up his jeans. They had barely spoken since leaving Shady Oasis, but now as she hunkered down on the side of the road, map balanced on her knees, compass in hand, he came and crouched next to her as he put his arm across her shoulder.

  ‘I think we did what had to be done.’ His tone was calm, peremptory almost. She looked at him. For a moment, she caught a glimpse of the man he would become, not the eleven, going on twelve year old that he was now, not the little boy who usually had a cheeky grin on his face. Now she saw a boy, whose eyes seemed to reflect a wisdom and maturity beyond his years. No, not a boy she mentally corrected herself, a man. For Jamie was no longer a boy. Today he had undergone a rite of passage that would leave boyhood behind him, forever. They were both silent, their eyes spoke more than words ever could have. Georgia nodded and still holding the compass slipped her arm around his waist, and held him close.

  Then Lola was back. ‘Flies are dribing me nuds.’ She waved her hand in front of her face, attempting to chase one away. Her nose had finally stopped bleeding, and the smeared blood, where she had tried to wipe her face, was beginning to crust.

  Georgia stood up. ‘You sound terrible, here, let me clean you up, put some antiseptic cream on you, and try to….’

  ‘No!’ Lola exclaimed, as she took a step backwards. ‘Ride now, I jud want do leabe id alone, doo much pain.’

  Georgia was going to ask her if she was sure about that, but one look at Lola’s very determined expression, changed her mind. She would tend to her tonight, once they had set up camp. Then she would not take no for an answer.

  She bent down to check on Badger. She was quiet, but her eyes looked clear, and she was clearly wanting out of the caddy. She offered her a little water, relieved when Badger lapped at it thirstily. That was a really good sign. Then she stroked her gently, settling her down once more.

  ‘So, where are we going now?’ Rebecca asked.

  Georgia sat down again, showing them on the map. ‘We have been there before,’ she said to Rebecca and Jamie, ‘not sure if you remember, it’s been about two years.’

  ‘I remember,’ Rebecca said, joining in the conversation as she sat down next to Jamie. ‘We all went there, Dad too, do you remember? There was a picnic hut near a river.’

  Jamie nodded. ‘It was hot then too.’ We didn’t have any swimming costumes with us, and we swam fully clothed.’

  Georgia smiled at the memory. The children had hung back at first, shocked when she had simply plunged into the river in her summer frock.

  ‘Come on,’ Georgia had teased as she swam out to the middle of the river, ‘it’s lovely and cool, and you only need to swim in it, it’s not like I am suggesting you drink it.’

  ‘As if we would ever drink it,’ Rebecca had said as she and Jamie, not really needing a second invitation, had splashed in after her. Nathan had swum out to her then, his hair slicked down like an otters, drops of water sparkling in his goatee as he reached her.

  ‘You know, you’re completely crazy don’t you.’ His voice was serious, but his eyes were laughing at her.

  Georgia had nodded, replying in the same tone, as she treaded water, ‘But surely it’s okay to be crazy sometimes.’

  ‘Yes’, he said, ‘it is.’ Then he added, ‘just promise me, you’ll never change.’ Georgia sighed, that had been a wonderful day, and how could any of them have guessed th
e circumstances of their return?

  ‘How far away is dis place?’ Lola asked bringing them all back to the present.

  Georgia looked down at the map again. ‘I would say it would be a good four hours walk.’ She glanced at her watch. ‘It’s just after eleven now, ‘I think we should rest here, in the shade for a while, eat something and catch our breath.’

  ‘Thank goodness,’ Deedee said, ‘I am starving and I bet the dogs are too, shall I feed them?’

  Georgia nodded. ‘Sure that would be great.’

  Of course they were hungry, with all the upset, no one had eaten. This morning need not have happened, Lola shouldn’t have gone away from the group on her own. It wasn’t as if it was an isolated case, all of them, over the last week had at one time or another gone off to commune with nature…, and it was careless of them, of her, to allow it, and she….

  ‘I’ve been thinking,’ Georgia said, bringing out the bag of dried bananas and beginning to hand them around, ‘I don’t think any of us should ever be alone anymore. If someone has to go to the toilet or whatever, then someone needs to go with them, someone armed and the rest of the camp has to be informed. No matter what time it is.’

  Rebecca took a handful of the dried fruit, nibbling on a piece thoughtfully. ‘That’s okay for us girls, but what about Jamie? That means one of us has to watch him go…, uh…, well you know.’

  Georgia and Lola laughed.

  ‘You shouldn’t be watching me,’ Jamie said indignantly, ‘you should be watching for people coming. If you watch me then…,’ his voice trailed off.

  ‘Oh yeah, I guess,’ Rebecca said.

  Georgia continued, ‘and I think another rule should be that we don’t stay in the same place two nights running.’

  ‘God your back on thad one,’ Lola said, you were ride aboud dose guys, dey were waiding for one of us. Deedee and Rebecca listened open mouthed, as Lola went on, her words distorted by her blocked nose. Explaining how the men had been hiding in the long grass, that she hadn’t realized they were there and how just as she was crouching down they had stood up, right next to her!