Day 18-6

Never did get to ask 'im how far it is to the camp. Oh, well, guess we'll find out, I think, gazing up at the stars to orientate myself. Jimmy's tap on my shoulder gets my attention.

"This way!" He points west.

"You know the way?" I inquire surprised, and Cut signs the question since it is too dark for him to make out what I am saying.

"Yes, he told me," Chief confirms matter-of-factly.

"Great! Well, after you then," I grin with an inviting motion of my hand.

Chief is leading us, as unerringly as if he had come this way a hundred times. Walking through unfamiliar territory in the middle of the night is everything except fun. Cut and I have had the 'pleasure' on several occasions, but that doesn't make it any more enjoyable.

"Ouch, shit!" he grumbles behind me, tripping over the same root I just barely avoided. "Damn, Jimmy, slow down."

"Don't think he heard you, Cut," I snicker.

"Oh, kiss my ass, Chase! Get a hold of 'im, will ya? He's runnin' like a raped ape, and I can't see a hand before my eyes...Shit!" He trips again, and I speed my pace to catch up with Chief.

"Jimmy!" I reach for his arm, holding him up.

He stops and turns.

"Slow down!" Cut says with an aggravated gesture.

There is no reply, but as far as I can make out, Jimmy rolls his eyes, then walks on at a more moderate pace. We follow close behind him, Cut grumbling underneath his breath.

#####

The area seems to get a little familiar now, and I start to recognize different land- marks. Odd shaped trees, rocks, as we pass them. Gotta be careful. About another three-quarter mile or so, and we'll get close to my security-zone. Wonder if that bunch is still down at the camp. Bet they had a hell of a time, gettin' through all them traps and trip-wires I set up. Better slow down a little more.

"Jimmy!" I grab Chief's arm again. "Cut, tell 'im I know where we're at now. Better let me go ahead. I know where all the wires are."

Cut puts the message into signs.

"After you!" Jimmy grins, with the same motion I had made earlier.

I get about five steps in, then get tackled, and there is a wet tongue slapping my face. "Gees...damn, Buck you scared the hell outa me!...Get off!...Cut!...Damn it, dog, get off me..."

There is no help from anywhere, because Cut is too busy laughing his ass off, and Chief seems to get too much of a kick out of the situation to interfere.

"Damn, Buck!" I finally manage to free myself and struggle to my feet.

Buck keeps jumping up and down though, yipping, and carrying on like it is the last thing he will ever do.

"Gees, dog, calm down before you have a coronary." I snatch a hold of his collar.

He doesn't like that at all, and I receive a well deserved growl for it.

"Good boy!" I pat his head and he calms down at last, sitting on his haunches and panting up at me. "You gotta stop acting like a pup, Buck. Where'd you come from anyways? Didn't even hear you sneak up on us. Them guys still down there?" I am kneeling down, talking and scratching behind his ears.

"Hey, Chase," Cut snickers, "when you're done with the reunion, think we'n go on?"

"I'm done, I'm done," I laugh, getting up again, but still holding on to the dog's collar.

"Man, he just 'bout scared me to death."

"You? Shit! Should've tried my position. He was on top of me so fast, I didn't even know what hit me. Just glad it wasn't one of our buddies down there. Gotta be more careful."

"Yeah!" he drawls, signing to Jimmy, and receiving a serious nod in return.

"Okay! Come on and watch where you step. I'll let you know when we get close to the wires." I start to walk on, pulling Buck along by his collar.

Another two-hundred yards perhaps, and Buck hesitates, fighting against my hold. I stop immediately, motioning behind me for Cut and Chief. The MPK is loaded and ready in my hand. A low growl from Buck, I can feel the hair on the back of his neck stand up. Dropping to one knee, I strain my eyes against the darkness among the trees. Buck growls louder, angrier, and I tighten my grip on his collar.

"Cut!" I hiss low, and he is immediately at my side.

"Damn, Chase, I can't see a fuckin' thing," he says, barely audible.

"That makes two of us."

Cut startles, but turns when Chief taps his shoulder from behind. A few hasty signs.

"Jimmy says, he can't help us at night," Cut whispers, and I get the meaning.

Figure it's possible to make up for not hearing by watching real close. But when it's dark? Gotta be tough.

Then Buck suddenly quiets down.

Great! Last time that happened... "Cut!"

"Yeah!"

"Think maybe we better hold up here till it gets light. What you think?"

"Think you got a point. Wait a minute..." he signs to Jimmy, getting a quick nod.

"I just hope we'n catch Billy in time," I continue nevertheless.

"Don't know, man. Maybe we'n at least get over to the path?"

"Might be a good idea, Cut. Buck's calmed down, so I figure it's clear. Tell Jimmy, and stay right behind me. Both of you. Got it?"

"Got it!"

I turn our direction a little more northern, toward the path between the camp and the old logging-road. There is no further reaction from the dog, and we continue slowly down the slope of the mountain-side. Cutting across game-trails rather than following them makes any advance a virtual pain in the neck. But we don't have much choice if we want to avoid getting too close to the camp for right now. I breathe a sigh of relief when we reach the narrow path, about eight-hundred yards below the cabin. Now all we can do is wait.

Apparently Cut reads my mind, considering he makes himself comfortable on the trunk of the huge maple that fell here years ago, probably during a raging winter storm.

"Well," I scoot up beside him, " I guess we got some time to come up with a plan. Any suggestions?"

"Yeah," he grumbles, lighting a cigarette, "find somethin' to eat."

"Man," I grin, shaking my head, "you ever think about somethin' besides food?"

"You ask me that one more time, Chase, and I'm gonna..." he stops in mid-sentence.

"You gonna what?" I snicker.

"Hell, I think of somethin'," he gives back irritated

A low whistle from Jimmy gets our attention. He is grinning and holding out something toward us that sure smells good.

"Man, where'd you get that?" Cut grabs, whatever it is, out of Chief's hand and sinks his teeth into it without hesitation.

"Chase?" Jimmy smirks, handing me a piece.

"What is it?" I inquire, taking the large hunk of something.

"Bear jerky," Cut mutters, chewing contentedly.

"Greetings from Harry," Chief adds with a roguish grin.

I take a bite—it is absolutely delicious.

Buck gets his share from Jimmy.

"Man, and you's holding out on us with that," Cut complains, signing as he does.

"Had to!" Chief is still grinning. "You can't walk and chew at the same time."

"Oh, kiss my ass, Jimmy!"

No answer. He is looking away from us, up into the direction of the camp. At the same time I get this uncomfortable feeling, just like once before, a cold chill at the back of my neck. Are they watching us?

Jimmy turns back, a strange expression on his face. "He is here!"

"I know!" I say it with a nod.

"Who is here? What the hell are you two talking about?" Cut inquires irritated.

"Harry!" I state scarcely, and Chief adds some signs.

"You mean he's here, watching us? What the hell for?" The question earns Cut the usual "don't know" gesture. "Great," he snickers, "now we got us a fuzzy body-guard."

"Man, I don't like that at all," I muse. "If we get into it with that bunch down at the camp...sure hope he stays clear, so he doesn't get hurt."

"Yeah," Cut scratches his head, looking thoughtful.

"Don't worry, he knows," Jimmy throws in.

"What? You two talk about that, too?"

A shrug and a nod is all the answer Cut gets for his inquiry.

"Man, you an' me gonna have to have a little discussion about that later. Anything else you didn't fill us in on?" Cut signs as he speaks, but still gets only another shrug in return.

Another long night. Patience just ain't one of my strong sides. We take turns at watching and dozing a little, leaned up against the trunk of that fallen maple. It is not all too comfortable, but I have seen worse. Buck has no problem with it, he is curled up comfortably at my feet. He and Cut got a snoring-match going. Jimmy is standing up, leaning against another tree, and staring into the night. I know it is possible to sleep in this position—standing up, your knees locked—I have done it many times. Chief doesn't look like he is asleep though. Wonder what he's thinking about.

Finally—the first hint of light. 5:39 a.m., according to my wrist-watch.