But now Ben's gone and Amy isn't acting like herself and our native guide is getting scared. We're in the middle of nowhere, on the wrong side of the lines in a war zone. It doesn't matter how many thousand people know where we are. None of them can reach us right now. No official in this country is going to spare time for a few foolish tourists. I almost wish I had taken my parents' advice to go back to school.
Almost, but not quite. I know we have to be getting close to our destination. And we were warned the area is dangerous. This isn't the first highly dangerous place we've survived. Maybe it's the first time things have been quite this bad. I'm not ready to give up. Definitely not ready to curl up and die. We'll find Ben, whatever his condition now, and we'll find what we came for. I turn to the frightened looking native guide, "Keep her here. Sit on her if you have to, but both of you stay here." He swallows hard, but nods and moves closer to Amy. I walk back over to the ledge and study what I can see below. It's mostly green... lots of heavy vegetation, but I can hear running water. We have climbing gear with us, which I use to rappel down the nearly sheer stone below the ledge. The foliage below isn't as deep or thick as I had expected. Once I'm through the top layer of tree branches, I can see quite the picturesque little canyon. There is very little for undergrowth and a good sized river running from a small falls at one end and draining into the ground at the other. Ben is laying on his back not far from where I land. His eyes are wide open, unblinking, but his chest is moving. He's breathing and doesn't appear to be bleeding. I can't tell anything more until I make a closer examination. Before I can do more than look around, there's a cry from above me. It sounds more like the guide than Amy, but seconds later, a body comes crashing through the tree branches above me. All I can do is watch, stunned, as Amy lands on her back neatly beside Ben. Like him, her eyes are wide open and not blinking. Her chest is moving. Neither of them seems aware of anything. I unhook the climbing harness from the rope and go over to examine both more closely. They seem to be uninjured despite the long fall. Pulses are strong and breathing is even. They just don't seem to register my presence at all. Sitting back on my heels, I take a long look at my surroundings. The only things moving are a slight breeze, the water, and me. I doubt anything in the first aid kit in my pack would help my friends. I don't know enough about the area to even consider making use of local plants. There are no signs of local wildlife. I have no idea if there just aren't any down here or they've been scared into hiding by the noise. To be continued... maybe
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AuthorAlexandra A. 'Lexa' Cheshire is the author of numerous novels and short stories published through Howling Wolf Books. Lexa is a wife, mother, cat owner, and music lover. Archives
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