Chapter ten

Moving through the downed treetops had been the hardest. Now that they were out of the mess the plane had made, Joseph could get his footings much easier. With Clarisse snug in his arms, he could have just as easy been in heaven. Instead they were deep inside the newly dedicated wild animal preserve, far to northeast of Pyrus, in the middle of the rainy season.

"Joseph," a little hesitation in his voice, "Can you really carry me all the way out of here?" Her eyes were wide upon his now rugged looking face.

"Why my Queen, you doubt your head of security?"

"Joseph, even you have limits. It's far, isn't it?" Clarisse looked ahead of her at the mass of trees and rocks on the hilly slope.

"Yes, I'm afraid it is. However, we only have to find a clearing where a chopper can land." He looked at her worrisome face. "Don't worry, they are keeping an eye out for my GPS signal. Hopefully they are already tracking us, just waiting until we reach someplace where they can pick us up." She was quiet at his words, but Joseph knew it must have soothed her worrisome mind, as she rested her head upon his shoulder.

He tread quietly on, working his way along one slope, only to find another steadily awaiting. The weight upon him was heavy, in more ways than one. He may have had her in his arms, but she clearly carried his heart. There was no question to that now, if ever there had been.

"There they are." A finger pointed to a tiny red dot upon the screen. "They're moving alright." Several heavy sighs were heard in the room. "Shades said he wouldn't come out without her. He's headed out alright. " The voice stopped to inhale from the cigarette clutched in his fingers. "Chris, you're first. You watch this screen like it's a naked woman, you hear me?" A head bobbed up and down quickly as Chris took the chair in front of the screen. "Anything happens, you give a holler."

"Give me an honest answer." Joseph had thought by now she would have drifted off.

"Anything."

"You didn't want me to see the plane, did you? You avoided it." He swallowed.

"No, you didn't need to see it Clarisse. Please..just trust me."

"Is there anything else you've hidden from me?" She knew Joseph, and Joseph always screened her life for her. Now would be no different. Now would be a prime example.

"Hidden?" She shook her head at his face. "Like what?"

"I don't know. It seems so ...easy...I just came out of plane crash. It seems things would be more complicated."

"Oh they are, just not on your end." He took a deep breath, trying to get her to focus on anything but his lie. "Wanna carry me?" He stopped for a second or two to emphasis his predicament.

"I don't think that would go well."

"No." He moved on, beginning to feel the strain on his muscles.

Even though the rain had ceased, it had left the ground slushy and slippery. More than once Joseph had caught himself, evading a fall which neither of them needed. It was going slow, and in Joseph's mind, even slower.

Reaching the bottom of a hill, they finally stumbled on a flat trail. Joseph spied a large congregation of rocks, and headed for them.

"I have to rest for a minute," he explained as he sit her down upon them. She nodded, placing her hands firmly against the stone until she was content at being balanced. It was cold, and Clarisse could feel the dampness.

He stretched his arms, dropping his pack beside her. "Sorry, I'm gonna have to stop quite often now." She watched him without answering. How he had managed to carry her for the past several hours, even she couldn't fathom. She had always known Joseph to be extraordinary, special to her mind. He had always been a hero to her, now even some kind of superhero.

By just watching him stretch, Clarisse felt feelings that had long ago abandoned her body. Surly a flush must be covering her face, still she let herself drift into that realm where Joseph was much more than just her bodyguard. If she could have, she would have reached out and touched him. It had been less than a minute since he put her down, and her body already ached to feel him again.

'My God', she thought. 'How long have I wanted him? How long have I loved my head of security?' They were mind boggling questions, and Clarisse had no answers for herself. After all, now it really didn't matter. She just knew she did.

"I'm going to walk around, scout this place out a bit, get my bearings straight before moving on. Sit here, and don't try anything foolish. There's food in the front of the pack, and the canteen is right beside you. I'll be right back." Joseph turned to walk away, then turned back to her. "I'll be right back. I'm not going far," he reminded her, knowing she would cringe at being alone. Clarisse nodded, lifting the canteen to her lips.

"He thinks I can't handle being alone in the woods. I'm a Queen. I can handle anything. I mean, what's the big deal." She looked around, taking comfort in the conversation to herself. "It's not as if a mob is going to rise up after me."

Looking around once more, she found herself all alone, yet the woods were far from being quiet. Noises sent her head spinning from one direction to the other, until she finally just closed her eyes and resided to make herself calm. "Breathe Clarisse. You're fine. He'll be back any time now." She opened her eyes and sat the canteen down beside her.

The scream was blood-curdling. Joseph zipped his pants quickly, and took off towards her, ready to take on anything.

She screamed once, but the air she needed to do it again wasn't in her lungs, and she couldn't bring herself to breathe again. Fear rocked her body from inside to out, now making her shake uncontrollably.

It slithered over her right hip and upon her lap, lifting it's head toward hers. It's tongue darted out uncontrollably. Beginning to curl, it slipped the rest of its body onto her.

Just when she thought nothing could get worse, another slipped out from between the crevice in the rocks beside her. This one she heard before she saw. The quaking was clearly coming from it this time, the steady rattle unnerving to anyone who happens upon it.

So this is how it would end. She looked to the sky above and couldn't help but wonder what God would make her survive a plane crash, only to be tortured to death by these creatures.

"Hold still, don't move a muscle." He was behind her. A wave of relief rolled through her at his voice.

"Where do you think I'm going," she answered sarcastically. He knew it was her fear talking. "Fine time for you to take a pleasure hike."

"Listen to me, I want you to close your eyes, and don't open them until I tell you to, no matter what you hear. Do it now." Joseph began to move slowly towards her, pulling the machete from the side of his belt. "Are they closed?"

"Yes," she gulped.

Slamming the long, heavy knife down, Joseph split the snake furthest away, its head dropping to the ground. The second would be more tricky.

She almost jumped at the sounds, and the urge to open her eyes was almost overpowering. Yet she kept hearing his voice, coaxing her to keep them closed. The image of what she would see when she opened them helped also.

Breaking off a stick from a downed limb, Joseph carefully tread in front of her. "Just keep them closed. Concentrate on something else, Clarisse. Something soothing." Maneuvering the stick between its head and Clarisse was difficult, but when it was finally in place Joseph acted quickly. Pushing down on the stick, he grabbed its head, slinging it to the ground. With two swift movements, he separated its head and body like the first. Before relaxing, he scoured the scene for more, knowing a den must be deep inside the rocks.

Quickly slipping into his pack, he threw the canteen over his shoulder and swept her in his arms. "You can open now my love," as he turned away from the scene, not wanting her to see the mess he had made.

She hit his chest with her good arm, beating on it mercilessly. "HOW could you LEAVE me there? With those THINGS." He stopped.

"Clarisse, SHUT UP and for gods sake, quit hitting me. We have to move on." She retracted her arm, laying it upon her bad one. She surrendered to him, laying her head once more against his shoulder. He smiled.

Another hour past. Then another. Finally Joseph, with Clarisse still in his arms, succumbed to taking another break. He leaned against a huge trunk, and slid down in. Leaning his back, he closed his eyes.

Clarisse watched him rest. She couldn't take her eyes from him. This time she could touch him, she could reach out to him. Gently placing her hand upon the stubble on his face, she warmed his cheek with her palm.

"What did you think about...back there, when I told you to concentrate on something else?" Joseph questioned her, his eyes still resting.

"That kiss...that gentle kiss you gave me while wrapping my arm and ankle. I...I imagined another." She held her head down, watching herself massage her sore fingers sticking out of the makeshift cast upon her arm.

He swallowed hard, then opened his eyes. Taking a deep breath, he continued, "Did you imagine how it would feel?" He caught her eyes this time.

"Yes." It was simple and soft, almost inaudible.

"Did you imagine it like this.." Joseph pulled her to his lips, grasping onto her supple mouth with an overpowering need for her.

Their mouths radiated an energy, so warm and electrifying, it renewed both of their bodies.

"Ah...yes, oh yes." She smiled, a deep loving smile at him. "Most definitely. Joseph, I'm sorry I hit you. I.." He cut her off.

"You needed to get that out. It's okay. I should have warned you to keep your eyes open for anything...like that."

"I have a confession." He stared into her soft, alluring eyes. "I've been too busy watching you to see anything else."

"I have a confession also. I sure don't mind having to take care of you, or having to watch over you all these years."

Resting his head upon hers, he inhaled her scent. Even out here she smelled captivating. He couldn't blame any animal for wanting to be near her. Attraction was something she always wore, and even as she got older it did not fade, but grew.

As if she knew exactly what he was thinking, Clarisse whispered, "I've always belonged to you, and I always will Joseph."