accountant, Faith, have opted not to join us on this expedition, even though they were keen to scout for water earlier.
“We’re gonna have to make an area for the latrines,” Sam says.
“I’ll second that,” I say.
“I think that’s what the shovels are for,” Eve agrees.
If the Old Man had stayed and brought the rest of the film crew we would’ve had them and I wouldn’t have had to go behind some bushes.
“Yes,” Kelli yells. “Water.”
I’m amazed that she’s managed to get all this way on those very fancy high heels down the rough path. She’s stumbled a few times and one time she actually fell on her ass, but she made it without getting badly injured.
We stand at the top of a fairly steep bank and stare down at the pool of water, which is green and has lumps of something floating in it. Animal hoof prints and droppings are scattered around the edge. It reminds me we are in Africa and that there are wild animals around, even though we haven’t seen any yet. I glance around, trying not to show how nervous I am, and follow the others down the bank to the water.
Jake wades in and laps the disgusting water up greedily.
“I don’t think I can drink this,” I say, wrinkling my nose at the putrid smell. “Isn’t there any place not too far away where we could find better water?”
“I have an idea,” Eve says. “If we dig over there, in the sand, maybe we’ll get some cleaner water. Sand is like a filter. I’ll go back and get a shovel.”
I sit on a grassy patch and set my camera down. Kelli sinks down beside me. “She’s brave,” I say. “I don’t know if I’d want to take off on my own, and I have Jake.”
“Yeah, but you’re not playing the game and she’s here to win,” Kelli says. “If you want to win the game you have to be prepared to do just about anything.”
“Except go naked, I— Jake!” He’s standing beside me shaking the water off himself. I jump up and swipe at my clothes.
The other girls laugh and I know I’m blushing again. “Yeah, when I entered to be a contestant in this show a friend told me to try out for that Naked and Afraid show on TV, but that’s not for me,” Sam says. “I’ll keep my clothes on, thank you.”
“I know. Most of them don’t last the twenty-one days anyhow,” Kelli says. But I bet they get paid a lot to take off their clothes like that.” She kicks off her shoes and examines her feet. “Blisters.”
I stare at them. “Those have to be real painful. How are you gonna get back to camp?”
“Ouch.” She touches one of the blisters. “I don’t know. Maybe you’ll have to carry me.” She laughs.
Sam drops down beside us and snorts. “So, you camera guys are gonna have to rough it with us,” she says with a smirk.
“I know, “I reply. “It kind of sucks. We didn’t even bring any survival items.”
“Do you have other clothes?” She’s staring at the muddy brown spots that Jake has just plastered all over my jeans.
“Yeah. I have two complete changes of clothing. I’m lucky in that way.” I don’t tell her I also have toothpaste, soap and lotion, and even some wet wipes.
“And your shoes are good.” Kelli stares at them wistfully. “I wonder what kind of a shelter the boys are making,” she says. “If I have to sleep beside one of the men, I know which one I would choose.”
I feel my eyebrows go up.
“The lawyer. Andy. How about you? Do you think he’s hot?”
“Him and the cowboy,” I mutter.
“Yeah, I think he’s taken with you,” Kelli says.
“W—What makes you say that?” I stammer.
Kelli smiles. “The way he stares at you with those beautiful green eyes.”
I glance across at Sam again. “I’m here to win the game,” she says. “Men complicate matters and I plan to keep my distance.”
Kelli ignores her. “And Jared. He’s got a nice body.” She giggles. “Not to mention the camera guy. His name’s Mark, isn’t it?”
“He’s married,” I say quickly.
“We’re gonna have to make an area for the latrines,” Sam says.
“I’ll second that,” I say.
“I think that’s what the shovels are for,” Eve agrees.
If the Old Man had stayed and brought the rest of the film crew we would’ve had them and I wouldn’t have had to go behind some bushes.
“Yes,” Kelli yells. “Water.”
I’m amazed that she’s managed to get all this way on those very fancy high heels down the rough path. She’s stumbled a few times and one time she actually fell on her ass, but she made it without getting badly injured.
We stand at the top of a fairly steep bank and stare down at the pool of water, which is green and has lumps of something floating in it. Animal hoof prints and droppings are scattered around the edge. It reminds me we are in Africa and that there are wild animals around, even though we haven’t seen any yet. I glance around, trying not to show how nervous I am, and follow the others down the bank to the water.
Jake wades in and laps the disgusting water up greedily.
“I don’t think I can drink this,” I say, wrinkling my nose at the putrid smell. “Isn’t there any place not too far away where we could find better water?”
“I have an idea,” Eve says. “If we dig over there, in the sand, maybe we’ll get some cleaner water. Sand is like a filter. I’ll go back and get a shovel.”
I sit on a grassy patch and set my camera down. Kelli sinks down beside me. “She’s brave,” I say. “I don’t know if I’d want to take off on my own, and I have Jake.”
“Yeah, but you’re not playing the game and she’s here to win,” Kelli says. “If you want to win the game you have to be prepared to do just about anything.”
“Except go naked, I— Jake!” He’s standing beside me shaking the water off himself. I jump up and swipe at my clothes.
The other girls laugh and I know I’m blushing again. “Yeah, when I entered to be a contestant in this show a friend told me to try out for that Naked and Afraid show on TV, but that’s not for me,” Sam says. “I’ll keep my clothes on, thank you.”
“I know. Most of them don’t last the twenty-one days anyhow,” Kelli says. But I bet they get paid a lot to take off their clothes like that.” She kicks off her shoes and examines her feet. “Blisters.”
I stare at them. “Those have to be real painful. How are you gonna get back to camp?”
“Ouch.” She touches one of the blisters. “I don’t know. Maybe you’ll have to carry me.” She laughs.
Sam drops down beside us and snorts. “So, you camera guys are gonna have to rough it with us,” she says with a smirk.
“I know, “I reply. “It kind of sucks. We didn’t even bring any survival items.”
“Do you have other clothes?” She’s staring at the muddy brown spots that Jake has just plastered all over my jeans.
“Yeah. I have two complete changes of clothing. I’m lucky in that way.” I don’t tell her I also have toothpaste, soap and lotion, and even some wet wipes.
“And your shoes are good.” Kelli stares at them wistfully. “I wonder what kind of a shelter the boys are making,” she says. “If I have to sleep beside one of the men, I know which one I would choose.”
I feel my eyebrows go up.
“The lawyer. Andy. How about you? Do you think he’s hot?”
“Him and the cowboy,” I mutter.
“Yeah, I think he’s taken with you,” Kelli says.
“W—What makes you say that?” I stammer.
Kelli smiles. “The way he stares at you with those beautiful green eyes.”
I glance across at Sam again. “I’m here to win the game,” she says. “Men complicate matters and I plan to keep my distance.”
Kelli ignores her. “And Jared. He’s got a nice body.” She giggles. “Not to mention the camera guy. His name’s Mark, isn’t it?”
“He’s married,” I say quickly.
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