By popular demand I am posting the next chapter. Hopefully we will get some more up soon. All disclaimers still apply…
PS: I don't know why the program is bolding some parts of the text in chapter 2. It was not by my design.
Chapter 3"Starsk?"
"Mummh?"
"How ya doing?"
"Mummh…"
"Thought so." Hutch looked around again. Nothing. The valley they were in was rich in trees and he did not need to worry about a source for water. If the circumstances were different, it probably would have been the perfect place for him and Abby to spend their romantic weekend. He estimated the valley to be about 50 acres total. He would have to do some reconnoitering to find a better shelter and a way out. There had to be a way for their mysterious marksman to come and go. If there were a way, Hutch would find it. Starsky was the problem though. He would need another hour or so for the drug he suspected to wear off enough for Starsky to be of some help.
"Hutch?"
"Yeah buddy, I'm here."
"I'm hungry."
Hutch smiled. "What else is new?" He looked closer at his partner. Eyes still dilated, but a bit more in focus. Breathing was a little faster than earlier. The drug was making its way through his system. "We're going to have to move soon, Gordo."
"You just moved! I don't want to have to lug your stuff up and down those stairs again! You have a nice place, keep it."
What? Ohhhh…"Ok Starsk, you win." Hutch replied. No sense arguing with a man who thought he was moving out of his new apartment. He glanced over at his partner. Starsky was smiling to himself. Hutch held back a chuckle at his friends imagined victory.
There had been no more action from their mysterious marksman. Activity from the rodent natives had started up again. He could see two squirrels chasing each other up and around a tree. Chipmunks were scuttling back and forth from under one of the rocks that he had hidden behind to a nearby tree. He could hear the soothing sounds of falling water off in the distance and the sun brought some warmth to this little paradise. A finch or some small bird was darting in and out of a nearby scrub. Probably had a nest in there.
He took his time in studying the cliffs. They were sheer, but broken. If he could make his way over to them, there was a good chance that there would be a cave or something that he could stow his partner in to recover. A single front was much easier to defend than where he was now. Starsky moved to stand up again.
"Hey there buddy. Where you going?"
"For a walk."
"Not yet you aren't."
"Why!"
The answer came in the slightest disturbance of the air. Starsky looked surprised by the bite on his right thigh. Another dart clung to his leg. Shooting out like a snake, Hutch quickly pulled his partner down, yanked the spent cartridge out and with one knee on his partners chest Hutch scanned his surroundings. He thought he had seen a quick flash of movement up on the cliff to his right, but it was close to a waterfall, and he could not be sure it wasn't simply the spray of the water. He continued to watch patiently for further movement, but nothing showed.
"Hey, what was that?" A slurred voice came from beneath him. Hutch did not want to risk looking at his partner yet, but he answered softly. "Dose number two." A little more loudly he added, "I think I saw some movement up there."
"Where? Let me up." Starsky pushed rather ineffectively at his partner's leg. "Are there more bees? I think I got stung."
"Stay put. You are going to be ok. Let me think this through." Hutch was worried. He knew his friend was not going to be ok. With a new dose of the drug he suspected was smack entering his partners system, things were going to get difficult. He did not know for certain it was heroin. It could be any number of things. But he suspected.
He could not give Starsky free movement if they stayed there, and who knew what his friend would be seeing in a few minutes. So far he had been pretty happy, but "trips" could turn ugly quickly. Hutch had seen too much on the streets. He knew the horrors people faced when they were strung out. He and his partner had helped clean up too many of the aftermaths of the nightmares "druggies" fought while in the grips of the drug. He hoped two doses did not equal strung out, but he knew the trip his friend was taking. He himself had been subjugated to it.
Hutch ran his hand through his hair and looked around. Starsky was playing with his fingers and seemed to have forgotten the knee on his chest. It was clear that they could not stay where they were. Hutch scanned the valley and decided the best place to go was towards the south. There were some good shadows there that might indicate a cave or at least some better cover. Not knowing where the gunman was did not help matters, but if the small glimpse he did catch was the perpetrator, he would be heading in the opposite direction. Also, he wanted someplace that did not have sunlight pouring in at sunset or sunrise. He did not want to risk having the sun in his eyes while this gunman was on the loose.
"Starsk, do you think you can follow me?"
"Hummm, sure. Where we going?"
Hutch indicated the direction he wanted to go as he backed off of his friend's chest. Hutch watched Starsky closely as he rolled over and swayed to his knees. His coordination was iffy, but they had to risk it. Staying here was guaranteeing another shot.
"You ok?"
"Sure."
"Follow me." Crouching, Hutch started out of their cover heading towards a nearby tree. Starsky tried to follow, but his feet kept getting tangled up and he was heading in the wrong direction. Looking around, Hutch noted his friend's difficulty. He came back and picked Starsky up in a fireman's carry. Once again, choosing speed over cautiousness he began to run towards the cliffs.
It took Starsky a moment to figure out that the world had suddenly turned upside down, and he was terribly uncomfortable. He started to lash out and kick his legs to try and get things right again. "Starsky, stop!" came a voice from above him. It sounded angry and breathy. He saw a shadow running along the ground as a hawk passed overhead. Starsky suddenly had visions of being carried away by a giant hawk and he knew he did not want to become food for it's giant chicks. He kicked even harder and started screaming. "Huuuttch, helppp!"
"I am you idiot. Stop!" Hutch veered towards a clump of shrubs. There was no way he could carry Starsky all the way to the cliffs with him kicking and hitting the way he was. "Stop it!"
Starsky felt himself falling, and thought he had succeeded in getting loose from the hawks talons. But then he was overcome with a terrible fear that it was feeding him to its hatchlings. His arm brushed across some branches, and he was sure he was going to be birdfeed. He started lashing out blindly as he felt the pecks on his arms. They were eating his hands! Starsky screamed again. "Huutch, help me!" He could hear laughter echoing around him. He pulled his arms free and tried to run. A heavy weight came down on his back. He threw his attacker off and started to run again. The shadows lengthened and tried to grab him. Hold him down. NEVER! He struck out again with all his might. He would never be eaten. The laughter grew in intensity and threatened to consume him as it danced and echoed around his body. He could feel the sounds like nails on a chalkboard. It made his skin crawl.
He felt himself being pulled around to face the bird and he tried to hit it. The last thing he saw was Hutch's fist.