volcanic eruption slowed drastically last night. She’s still steaming and occasionally throwing out lava, but that could continue for several weeks yet while the magma inside does whatever it does to cool down.
We stayed where we were the last few days. I wasn’t going to risk setting off and getting trapped by the lava flow. But now it’s time to move and start heading towards the coast again. Instead of going the way I’d originally intended, we’ll head inland a bit and then swing right. Otherwise we’ll hit the lava flow.
Not a good move.
And despite what Lou thinks, I’m not leaving her. I love her like a sister. And I’ve lost enough without losing her, too. I know we joked about naming the volcano, but it was never written down in here to make it official. So now I am doing so.
I’m sorely tempted to call the volcano Mount St. Lou. Because she can stew like that and then blow her top and vent for days—
Oy! This is Lou editing. Mount St. Jim is more like it. Or we just call it Mount Vulcan and be done with it. That deserves another shark drawn all over the next page methinks. Or better still…what’s this? \0/
It’s Jim again. I have no idea what a \0/ is…other than me throwing my hands in the air in sheer desperation. And no I don’t get the point joke either. And I’m not going to encourage her by asking her to explain it.
Anyway, we’re setting off again today. I know we can’t go far, not with Lou as sick as she is. She’ll deny it of course, but she’s drinking more and more of the mytona painkiller that Ailsa made. So much so, that I’m now carrying it in my pack and restricting how much she has.
Having read Lou’s comment about sleeping a lot, I watched her last night. Though her sleep isn’t exactly restful, she’s right. She falls asleep almost as soon as she lies down and doesn’t stir until either I or one of the girls wake her.
Speaking of which, I need to get the fire going again and then get everyone up. It’s doubtful the villagers will come after us, but I’d rather put another mile between us and them just in case. Preferably more, but I’m not too hopeful. It’s been days since Lou moved more than a few feet. I fear a long walk may be beyond her.
~*~
Christmas Eve, December 24 th , day 36, early morning. Jim writing.
I have begun to doubt that we will ever make the coast. Some days we barely make half a mile, other days we don’t move at all. My priority has to be getting the girls safely home.
I’m trusting in God to find my parents and get them back to England in one piece. And praying He will do the same with us. What we need is a miracle, and although I’m fresh out of them, I know Someone who specializes in the miracle business.
I only have one choice left. I have to go on alone and call for help. That means finding a village in which to leave the girls, or leave them here and hope they’ll be OK if the weather changes or something else happens .
During a mid-morning rest, Jim sat between Staci and Ailsa and lowered his voice, not wanting Lou to overhear him. “I was thinking, I’d better leave you guys and head for the base on my own.”
“Why?”
“Lou needs help, Stace. It could be weeks before we get there at this rate.”
“No. You’re not leaving me.”
“We stand a better chance together, Jim,” Ailsa said, agreeing with Staci.
Jim sighed. “If we keep going as we are, Lou will never make it. Her leg is really bad again. She’s not looking too good as it is. She’s sleeping a lot more than she should do and she’s losing weight.”
“But then she’s not eating, is she?” Staci shrugged. “So we find a village. See if they can help. They’re bound to have a doctor. Or a phone.”
“And how many cell phone towers have you seen around here?”
Lou hobbled over to them. “Is this a private discussion or can anyone join in?”
Ailsa smiled. “Jim wants to leave us here and head for the base on his own. We are trying
We stayed where we were the last few days. I wasn’t going to risk setting off and getting trapped by the lava flow. But now it’s time to move and start heading towards the coast again. Instead of going the way I’d originally intended, we’ll head inland a bit and then swing right. Otherwise we’ll hit the lava flow.
Not a good move.
And despite what Lou thinks, I’m not leaving her. I love her like a sister. And I’ve lost enough without losing her, too. I know we joked about naming the volcano, but it was never written down in here to make it official. So now I am doing so.
I’m sorely tempted to call the volcano Mount St. Lou. Because she can stew like that and then blow her top and vent for days—
Oy! This is Lou editing. Mount St. Jim is more like it. Or we just call it Mount Vulcan and be done with it. That deserves another shark drawn all over the next page methinks. Or better still…what’s this? \0/
It’s Jim again. I have no idea what a \0/ is…other than me throwing my hands in the air in sheer desperation. And no I don’t get the point joke either. And I’m not going to encourage her by asking her to explain it.
Anyway, we’re setting off again today. I know we can’t go far, not with Lou as sick as she is. She’ll deny it of course, but she’s drinking more and more of the mytona painkiller that Ailsa made. So much so, that I’m now carrying it in my pack and restricting how much she has.
Having read Lou’s comment about sleeping a lot, I watched her last night. Though her sleep isn’t exactly restful, she’s right. She falls asleep almost as soon as she lies down and doesn’t stir until either I or one of the girls wake her.
Speaking of which, I need to get the fire going again and then get everyone up. It’s doubtful the villagers will come after us, but I’d rather put another mile between us and them just in case. Preferably more, but I’m not too hopeful. It’s been days since Lou moved more than a few feet. I fear a long walk may be beyond her.
~*~
Christmas Eve, December 24 th , day 36, early morning. Jim writing.
I have begun to doubt that we will ever make the coast. Some days we barely make half a mile, other days we don’t move at all. My priority has to be getting the girls safely home.
I’m trusting in God to find my parents and get them back to England in one piece. And praying He will do the same with us. What we need is a miracle, and although I’m fresh out of them, I know Someone who specializes in the miracle business.
I only have one choice left. I have to go on alone and call for help. That means finding a village in which to leave the girls, or leave them here and hope they’ll be OK if the weather changes or something else happens .
During a mid-morning rest, Jim sat between Staci and Ailsa and lowered his voice, not wanting Lou to overhear him. “I was thinking, I’d better leave you guys and head for the base on my own.”
“Why?”
“Lou needs help, Stace. It could be weeks before we get there at this rate.”
“No. You’re not leaving me.”
“We stand a better chance together, Jim,” Ailsa said, agreeing with Staci.
Jim sighed. “If we keep going as we are, Lou will never make it. Her leg is really bad again. She’s not looking too good as it is. She’s sleeping a lot more than she should do and she’s losing weight.”
“But then she’s not eating, is she?” Staci shrugged. “So we find a village. See if they can help. They’re bound to have a doctor. Or a phone.”
“And how many cell phone towers have you seen around here?”
Lou hobbled over to them. “Is this a private discussion or can anyone join in?”
Ailsa smiled. “Jim wants to leave us here and head for the base on his own. We are trying
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