gaze, not wanting to make eye contact with him. She’d managed to avoid being alone with him all day yesterday, so she wouldn’t have to explain where she’d been in the night.
She’d toyed with the idea of telling him who those men were. But why involve him? This trouble was of her own making. She’d figure it out on her own. Ezra had a survival class to teach. She didn’t want to disrupt that— especially when there was so much she could learn from it. The information could save her life when she was finally ready to strike out by herself. Thanks to his lessons, she now knew how to find and purify water. She could survive on roots and berries she found, for a couple days at least. If she could just get a bearing on how to get to the town Ezra had mentioned, she could strike out on her own.
“Good morning, sleepyhead,” said Jan. She pulled the coffeepot from the fire and poured Clarissa a cup.
As she fished out a sugar packet from a plastic container, Clarissa regretted that she had to leave the group soon. She was starting to like these people. She hadn’t spent much time with Leonard, still wary of his reasons for joining the expedition at the last minute, but the others were kind and fun.
Ezra returned to the group. “All right, people, finish up your coffee. This morning we’re going to head down to the river to catch our breakfast.”
Kenneth threw the remainder of his coffee toward the fire. “How long are we going to fish before we give up? My stomach’s rumbling already.”
Ezra offered them a wry grin. “Nothing like an empty stomach to motivate a man.”
Clarissa smiled. Ezra really was a very good teacher. He had a way of gently pushing people to accomplish more than they thought they could.
Ezra took another sip of coffee. “If we are not successful, don’t worry. You still have MREs left in your pack. But the sooner you start to obtain your own food, the better.”
“I’m glad we have that safety net,” said Jan. She looped her arm through Clarissa’s. Jan was so nice to her. They had a good time working together.
“I’m looking forward to this,” said Bruce, rubbing his hands together. “I’m sure we’ll do great.”
The others finished their coffee and one by one headed down the mountain. Jan and Clarissa were the last to leave, taking time to put away the coffee and sugar. Jan set off toward the river ahead of her. Clarissa rose to her feet just as she heard a distinct mechanical noise. The helicopter was far off in the distance, a tiny black oval against the blue sky.
“Are you coming?” Jan shouted.
Clarissa caught up with her, then shaded her eyes from the morning sun as she gestured to the helicopter. “What do you suppose that is about?”
Her friend shrugged. “Ezra said there were other hikers around here. Maybe some of them get dropped off by helicopters, to start their hikes at a particular spot. Or maybe it’s a search and rescue team doing an exercise.”
From this distance, the aircraft didn’t look like it was marked as a rescue helicopter. It appeared solid black.
As they made their way toward the river, where the rest of the group waited, fear shook Clarissa from the inside. What if Don and the other thug had decided to search for her using a helicopter?
She couldn’t wait any longer. As soon as the opportunity presented itself, she’d grab her pack and leave.
* * *
Ezra waited until Clarissa and Jan joined the group before he started talking. He braced himself for the anxious glances that passed between everyone. It happened every time he set up this lesson.
The rushing river water created background noise as he talked. The sky remained overcast and gray. He’d brought a rain poncho that fit in his pocket, in case the storm turned into something substantial. He wondered if anyone else had taken that precaution. If not, it would be a good lesson in planning ahead. The river was about twenty feet across, and over an average person’s head
She’d toyed with the idea of telling him who those men were. But why involve him? This trouble was of her own making. She’d figure it out on her own. Ezra had a survival class to teach. She didn’t want to disrupt that— especially when there was so much she could learn from it. The information could save her life when she was finally ready to strike out by herself. Thanks to his lessons, she now knew how to find and purify water. She could survive on roots and berries she found, for a couple days at least. If she could just get a bearing on how to get to the town Ezra had mentioned, she could strike out on her own.
“Good morning, sleepyhead,” said Jan. She pulled the coffeepot from the fire and poured Clarissa a cup.
As she fished out a sugar packet from a plastic container, Clarissa regretted that she had to leave the group soon. She was starting to like these people. She hadn’t spent much time with Leonard, still wary of his reasons for joining the expedition at the last minute, but the others were kind and fun.
Ezra returned to the group. “All right, people, finish up your coffee. This morning we’re going to head down to the river to catch our breakfast.”
Kenneth threw the remainder of his coffee toward the fire. “How long are we going to fish before we give up? My stomach’s rumbling already.”
Ezra offered them a wry grin. “Nothing like an empty stomach to motivate a man.”
Clarissa smiled. Ezra really was a very good teacher. He had a way of gently pushing people to accomplish more than they thought they could.
Ezra took another sip of coffee. “If we are not successful, don’t worry. You still have MREs left in your pack. But the sooner you start to obtain your own food, the better.”
“I’m glad we have that safety net,” said Jan. She looped her arm through Clarissa’s. Jan was so nice to her. They had a good time working together.
“I’m looking forward to this,” said Bruce, rubbing his hands together. “I’m sure we’ll do great.”
The others finished their coffee and one by one headed down the mountain. Jan and Clarissa were the last to leave, taking time to put away the coffee and sugar. Jan set off toward the river ahead of her. Clarissa rose to her feet just as she heard a distinct mechanical noise. The helicopter was far off in the distance, a tiny black oval against the blue sky.
“Are you coming?” Jan shouted.
Clarissa caught up with her, then shaded her eyes from the morning sun as she gestured to the helicopter. “What do you suppose that is about?”
Her friend shrugged. “Ezra said there were other hikers around here. Maybe some of them get dropped off by helicopters, to start their hikes at a particular spot. Or maybe it’s a search and rescue team doing an exercise.”
From this distance, the aircraft didn’t look like it was marked as a rescue helicopter. It appeared solid black.
As they made their way toward the river, where the rest of the group waited, fear shook Clarissa from the inside. What if Don and the other thug had decided to search for her using a helicopter?
She couldn’t wait any longer. As soon as the opportunity presented itself, she’d grab her pack and leave.
* * *
Ezra waited until Clarissa and Jan joined the group before he started talking. He braced himself for the anxious glances that passed between everyone. It happened every time he set up this lesson.
The rushing river water created background noise as he talked. The sky remained overcast and gray. He’d brought a rain poncho that fit in his pocket, in case the storm turned into something substantial. He wondered if anyone else had taken that precaution. If not, it would be a good lesson in planning ahead. The river was about twenty feet across, and over an average person’s head
Similar Books
