Jim shook his head. “Thank you for the offer, but we will be fine.”
Amilek nodded. “If you do not find a way home, you are all welcome to return and make your home here with us.”
“Thank you.”
Lou glanced up at Keika, and then back down.
Jim touched her arm gently. “Something bothering you?”
She shook her head. “Just tired. Been a long day. I might lie down and write all this up in the logbook.”
“OK.”
She made her way over to her mat and pulled the logbook from under her pillow. Starting with the mirror writing, she wrote.
.riafnu oS I can't stay on my own, but everybody else can. The point of staying when they weren't wasâ¦oh, forget it. I'll come up with another plan â¦ebyaM
Anyway, on to the wedding. I took a couple of pictures and hopefully they can go in here at some point.
~*~
In the morning they packed their few belongings into Lou's waterproof bag.
Keika gave them each a new set of clothes, which Jim packed carefully along with the logbook and camera.
After breakfast they went across to say thank you and goodbye to Kelmac. When they came out the whole village had gathered to see them off.
Mafuso handed them a huge bag. “Food,” he said. “It should take a week to reach the coast. There is food here for ten days. Also medicine for Lou. Try to get her to take it.”
“Thank you,” Jim said. “I'll try, but you know how stubborn she can be.”
Kelmac handed him a spear. “In case you have need of it.”
Jim took it. “Thank you.” He shouldered the two bags. “Time to be off, ladies,” he said.
Another round of goodbyes began and they finally set off, with Deefer bounding down the path on his lead.
16
They followed the path away from the village moving slow for Lou's sake.
Deefer tugged at his lead, eager to be free to explore.
“No, Deefer!” Lou told him, after he almost pulled Staci over. “You stay on the path.”
Deefer barked in annoyance, but did as he was told.
They journeyed on, following the path. By lunchtime, they had walked for three and half-hours. Lou was struggling to keep up, but determined not to say anything. A three day journey would take them at least six if not longer.
When they stopped, Ailsa took some bread out of the bag and some of the fruit.
Lou took the fruit and nibbled it slowly. She laid the bread on her lap and glanced at Staci, then down at the bread, indicating she could have it.
Staci finished hers and deftly grabbed Lou's bread, biting it before anyone could say anything. “You know, as much as I've enjoyed staying in the village and being around other people, it is nice to be on our own again.”
“If you say so,” Lou said, rubbing her leg. “Did we bring the splints?”
“Yeah why? Is it hurting again?” Jim reached into the bag. “Here.”
“Too much exercise I guess. I'll be fine.” She took the splints and strapped them on, easing the pain considerably. “That's better.”
Jim said, “We need to move on again. Amilek said the base is a three day walk away, and we have food for ten days. If we do it in three days, it means six hours walking a dayâat least. Are you all up to that?”
“Yes,” Staci and Ailsa answered.
Jim looked at Lou. “Lou?”
“Yes.” She avoided his gaze. “But I'd rather we aimed for five days. I mean, we've been on Agrihan fifty-two days now. What's a few more?”
Jim nodded. “Fair enough, but can you keep up?”
“If I take double doses of the mytona or Mafuso's equivalent, then I can keep up just fine. Starting from now.”
He handed over the bottle. “But I want to keep hold of it.”
“Don't you trust me?” she demanded. “Jim, why would I want to take all of it at once and risk running out?” She tightened her grip on the bottle. “This way I can take it when I need it. Please?”
He nodded, concern and reluctance in his gaze. “OK. Right, then. Let's go.”
“Look out England. Here we come!” Staci said.
They walked another four hours that afternoon, with Lou taking sips of the mytona when she didn't think anyone was looking.
Finally Jim called a halt and they camped by the river.
Staci closed her eyes. “I'm too tired to miss the bed I slept on for the last couple of weeks. Don't even want to eat.”
Jim looked at her. “Are you sick?” he asked.
“Nope. Just tired.” She tilted her head. “I can be sick and tired if you want.”
He tossed a piece of fruit at her. “I'd rather you not be sick. So eat this with your eyes closed.”
Deefer took the guard position at Lou's feet. He was more protective of her now she had left the safety of the village.
Lou stroked his head as she curled up on her side. “Daft dog,” she said. “What would I do without you?”
~*~
For three days they walked and followed the path away from the village towards the coast.
Even with the mytona, Lou was struggling to keep up. She had twisted her left ankle badly the previous evening. It had torn open the old wounds. She said nothing to the others, and treated it herself.
They needed to get to the base and get hold of someone to pick the others up.
Jim called a rest break.
Lou sank gratefully to the ground, rubbing her knee. After lunch she pulled herself up. “We should be going,” she said.
“Already?” Jim asked. “What's the rush?”
“You wanted to get there in a week. It's still at least two days. Let's go.”
“You're in pain. You need to rest.”
Lou glared at him. “You give it a rest! You can catch me up.” She shook her head and headed off as fast as she could on her crutches.
“Stay on the path,” he called after her.
Deefer bounded after her, barking.
~*~
Jim pushed to his feet and picked up his pack. “Better go afterâ”
A scream interrupted him and then a shrieking yowl that made his blood run cold.
Both Ailsa and Staci stood, eyes wide with fear.
“What was that?” Staci whispered.
Jim hurtled at breakneck speed down the path.
Ailsa and Staci were right on his heels.
“Lou!” he shouted. “Lou, where are you?”
“Here,” came an agonized reply. “Please come quickly.”
“Where?”
“Off the path to the right. Please Jim. Hurry.” Lou sounded desperate.
Jim pushed through the brush.
Lou was on her knees on the ground, her hands covered in blood.
Deefer lay by her side whimpering and thrashing.
Jim stopped short. “Are you OK?”
Horrified gasps came from the girls.
Lou looked up, tears pouring down her face. “He pushed me out of the way. I fell. He ran straight into it. I can't free him. Help me please.”
Jim dropped to his knees.
Deefer was moaning, his eyes rolling as he tried to free himself. One of the large metal traps pressed into him, holding him fast around his middle.
Lou was holding the dog in place as she sobbed. “I was headed straight for it. He pushed me aside. I can't get him out.”
“I can, give me a second.” Jim quickly freed Deefer.
Ailsa gently examined the dog. “He's badly mangled. Let's get him back to the river and I'll bathe and dress it.”
“You can't move him,” Lou objected.
“We have to.” Jim gently scooped Deefer up and carried him back towards their bags.
Deefer licked Jim's face, twisting in his arms to try to get to the mangled stomach.
“Hold still, boy,” Jim soothed, squeezing the dog to hold him firmly. “We'll soon have you back to rights.” But even as he said it, he feared the worst.
~*~
Staci helped Lou up.
When they reached the others, Ailsa had filled a bowl with water and was attempting to bathe Deefer's wounds.
Deefer, like any wounded animal, growled and snapped, not letting her anywhere near it.
Lou took the cloth. “Let me try,” she said. She got down beside her injured companion and stroked him gently. “Hey, boy. Can I see?”
Deefer whined and covered it with his paws.
Lou said, “Please? Why did you do it? Why push me aside like that? Let me help you now, yeah?”
Deefer looked up at her, pain and trust etched in his eyes. He let her move his paws.
Lou's eyes filled with tears again. It looked worse now they were in the clearing.
“Silly animal, aren't you, eh? Let me clean it, OK? Then Ailsa will bandage it to keep it clean.”
Deefer moaned as she washed the wound out, only half-heartedly snapping at her once.
As Ailsa gently wrapped strips of cloth around his injury, Lou stroked him.
He closed his eyes.
Ailsa looked at Lou. “See if he'll take some of the mytona from you.”
Lou poured a little into her hand and persuaded Deefer to drink it. He closed his eyes again and sighed. She sat with him, rubbing his head and talking to him.
“Let him sleep Lou,” Ailsa said. “He needs to rest.”
She looked up. When had it gotten dark? “OK.”
~*~
“Staci's made dinner. Come and have some.”
Lou looked around.
Jim had made a fire, ringed by stones as he'd been taught in the village.
Ailsa carefully moved Deefer over to the fire.
Lou sat next to him and Jim pressed a cup into her hand.
“Drink this,” he told her.
“Don't want it.”
“Drink it,” he ordered. “You have to.”
Lou looked at him. “Jim, what if he dies?”
“He'll be fine. You'll see. Now drink up.”
“OK.” Lou drank slowly, not taking her eyes off Deefer. That night she lay next to him, hardly sleeping at all. The log book on her lap, she wrote a tear stained entry.
January 13, day 56, Lou writing. Deefer's hurt and it's my fault. Jim told me to wait and I didn't. He wanted me to rest and I didn't. He told me to stay on the path and I didn't. If I had, then Deefer wouldn't have followed me and he'd be OK. Now he's really badly hurt. One of those trap things dug its evil teeth into him andâ¦
Without him, I'm nothing. He's been the one constant in my life. The only one who stands up for me no matter what, the only one who sits quietly and listens to whatever I say, and now, he could die because of what I did. Because I was stupid and didn't do as I was told and he saved meâ¦
Deefer slept, whimpering occasionally.
When she finally did sleep, Lou dreamt about
Avon
. She dreamt they found a lake that wasn't on any map.
Avon
was moored to one side of it. She climbed aboard to find the boat full of unfriendly natives who wanted to sacrifice her to the volcano god.
Deefer chased them away, leaving the boat empty. Then she was back on the lakeside, watching the boat sink. She called Deefer's name.
An answering bark came from the boat. Lou watched in horror as Deefer stood on the deck, a bloodstained bandage around his middle, and went down with the boat.
She woke crying. It was morning and she was cold. She turned over to check Deefer. He wasn't there. She sat up and looked around wildly. “Where's Deefer?”
Staci smiled. “Jim took him for a walk.”
“He
what
?”
“They'll be back soon. Are you hungry?”
“A little. What's the time?”
“Nearly eleven.”
“Eleven?” Lou repeated.
Ailsa laughed. “Yeah.”
“In that case, forget breakfast. I'll wait for lunch. Is Deefer OK?”
“He's fine. His usual bouncy self.” As she spoke, Jim and Deefer came back.
Deefer charged over to Lou and covered her in licks.
“Hey, boy.” she said, laughing as she petted and ruffled his fur. “Are you OK today?”
Deefer woofed. He sat next to her. His middle was heavily bandaged. The bandage was bloodstained, but not as much as she'd expected.
Jim saw her looking and said, “He wanted to go for a walk,” he told her. “It wasn't my idea. He needs to rest. I suggest we stay here today and move on tomorrow.”
“So long as Deefer can keep up with us.”
“Lou, I had to run to keep up with him.”
~*~
January 14, day 57, Lou writing.
Is it really only a day since I last wrote in here? Deefer seems better today. Jim wants to rest, but Deefer doesn't. He keeps heading over to the path and then back to us. I don't want to go, butâ¦no not even going to think it.
Jim writing now. Finally, I gave in and we set off towards the coast once we'd eaten something. Deefer kept up well. Too well, in fact, and we went further than I anticipated. Lou seems more willing to keep moving while he does.
When they camped that night Ailsa changed the dressings. “It looks infected. Maybe we should slow down and let him rest.”
Jim nodded. “Might be an idea. We'll take tomorrow as a rest day. I can't see Lou arguing if we say it's for Deefer and not her.”
Ailsa washed her hands and sat next to him. “She needs the rest just as much.”
Jim sighed. “I know.” He gazed into the fire. “I've prayed so hard, but⦔
“Then let's do it again,” she whispered, laying her head on his shoulder.
~*~
January 15, day 58, Lou writing.
Didn't sleep. Deefer's stomach smelt overnight and when Ailsa changed the dressings it was obvious why. She was right. It's infected. Why did he do it? That trap was meant for me and he ran straight into it in my place.
“We have to stay here today, Jim,” Lou said.
Jim looked at her. “I wasn't planning on going anywhere today. I agree with you that he needs the rest.”
Deefer ran to the edge of the clearing and looked back at them. He returned to Lou and tugged at her.