Chapter Two-3
418 Words
He was just too bone-tired to do any more hiking today. Sitting down with his back against a tree, he took out the radio and thumbed it on.
“Here.” It was Kurt’s voice, low and gravelly.
“Spotted our little wood nymph.” He said quietly. “Can’t get to her though.”
“She walked you into the ground?” Kurt asked with a chuckle.
“Just about. You try following her sometime. Look, I’m on the right bank of the ravine, she’s over on the left. Only reason I know that is she’s got a campfire going.”
“So go get her.”
“Not at night. Can’t see a damned thing down in there. I’m going to cross just before sunrise and try to follow her in.”
“Left bank, she’s on?”
“Yeah, for now, but she’s skunked us more than once. There’s a chance she’ll double back uphill.”
“She’s makin’ us work for it.” Kurt observed dryly.
“I think she’s enjoying the chase, and she’s in better shape than I’d thought. If she does double back, I’m gonna need some help.”
“Hey, you’re the ex-commando.”
“Ex-Ranger, and that was some years back. I need one of you two to head uphill along the left bank before dawn, just in case.”
At the other end, Kurt groaned. “Shit.” He spat. “That’ll hafta be me then. Lloyd’s all tuckered out.”
“So it’s your turn in the chase.” He grinned. “If I find out she’s still going downhill, I’ll contact you as soon as I know. If you don’t hear from me, just keep going uphill ‘til you find my lifeless body lying on the ground. With my last ounce of strength, I’ll point the way she went.”
Kurt chuckled again. “You kinda like the chase too, don’t’cha?”
“It’ll be more enjoyable when I’m looking back on it.” He answered, which was true enough. “If I contact you, remember, she’ll be heading your way, so get under some cover, let her pass and fall in behind her. Lloyd ought to be rested enough by then to head her off until we can close in.”
“Roger that.” Kurt replied. “And then the real fun begins.”
“Don’t count your chickens, man.” He warned. “This little girl is tricky. Might have given you the slip a lot easier.”
Kurt snorted. “So it’s a good thing our lone commando was trailing her. I’m lookin’ forward to meeting this one.”
“Oh, man, same here.” He yawned. “Over and out.”
He pocketed the radio and heaved another sigh. He was getting a little old for this stuff, but it did have its own unique payoffs. He just hoped he’d be able to enjoy them. Before he went to sleep, he set his watch. It had a useful little alarm buzzer feature. It made no noise, but felt like a big bug rattling against his wrist, and it never failed to wake him right up. Sunrise would be around 6:30. At 5:30, he’d have enough light to see by, and the chase would begin again. Yeah, this one was memorable.
- Writer
