Ten – Bush Whacking
Nick went down the muddy slope and he managed to make it down with no great trouble – cane and all. I took one last look at the wide open road behind me and started down. I grabbed at branches and leaves and managed to get down and stop, fully upright.
"You ok?" Nick whispered.
I nodded.
"OK, let's use the lights carefully and be quiet." He flashed his light at the forest floor. "Looks like someone fell over here and dragged themselves; that way."
"Lead on Avenger. Right behind you. Unless you want me to lead?"
Nick held his gun in his left hand, cane in his right, and his eyes had a determined look. "I might be banged up, but I can still take point. Now let's move out. Get on my right about fifteen feet away and keep your eyes peeled."
He moved swiftly and I tailed him through the tangle of vines, bushes, and small trees. I could just see Nick in the gloom. In spite of his limp and cane he floated like a ghost through the dark.
We made our way for fifteen minutes or so and when he stopped and I caught up. The tangled growth and oozy ground hampered our way but we were making our way steadily.
Nick asked "How you holding up?"
I wiped sweat off my face and resettled the cap on my head. "I'm alright. Are you doing ok?"
He patted his injured left leg. "In spite of everything, it works well enough. Long enough to reach the ground."
"How far are we going here?"
"I figure we'll go straight another five minutes then double back or split up if we have to." He looked at the ground again. "Still tracks – but there are more of them."
"Split up?" I didn't like the sounds of that. "In all this mess?"
"Yeah. But I'd rather not." He looked down. "What the heck is that?"
I bent down and saw a funny track. "Looks like high heels to me." I shook my head. "What a mess. Magnum's sure done it this time."
"And what are those?" He was pointing to more marks off to the side.
I peered down where his light was pointing. "Goat tracks?" I blurted out.