Chapter 6 The Mountain I will say to the captives, 'Come out," and to those in darkness, 'Be free!'

"Wait here—I'll be back in a little while," he said quietly as he got up, brushing the dust from his pants as her eyes followed his every move. He'd only allowed himself half an hour of rest before he had to try to find shelter, but she needed more. He worried about her condition now that she was even more pale and exhausted, and their lack of food was another concern. Though not accustomed to such rigorous hiking she'd kept up well enough, but they were still running on pure adrenaline. He knew it was only a matter of time before they both crashed.

She looked up at him suspiciously, swallowing a gulp of water. They'd refilled their canteens from a small stream that splashed down over the rocks, indicating its water was safe to drink. He glanced down the precipitous drop below and frowned at the fading light.

"Where are you going?" she croaked, her voice hoarse with exhaustion.

"To explore—hopefully find shelter," he answered, turning away. "Stay here and get some rest."

"What about you?" she called after him, but he only waved backward and headed up the ridge, losing sight of her before long.

She'd better stay put he hoped, knowing that independent spirit of hers. He wouldn't put it past her to follow him, so he quickened his pace and veered into the denser woods. Stopping to quickly relieve himself, he scouted for signs of animal activity. Moving on, he noted areas on a few of the trees that had their bark peeled off, then a few piles of droppings which indicated bears and possibly moose. That was the boundary line, and they would have to keep close to the ridge to respect it. Ideally he wanted to either find a cave or outcrop of rock against which to build a lean-to for the night. The temperature was going to drop even this late in the summer, so they had to find a way to keep warm. Glancing toward the ridgeline clearing ahead, he noted the darkly threatening cloudbank off to the west, which also troubled him.

Gathering some edible fungi and pinecones along the way, he tucked them inside the front of his shirttail, tying it up to form a pouch. As he search the forest his mind inadvertently wandered to thoughts of Mara, though he knew he shouldn't get too attached to her—but who was she, this girl who'd tended him then pulled him from Solitary to help him escape? She was part of his answered prayers, and like it or not they needed each other. He knew that she'd suffered terribly yet she was remarkably brave and resourceful. She was smart and strong willed, even if she probably weighed no more than 47 kg.

And he was attracted to her, with that voice and her green eyes. He knew he shouldn't be, but he was. Maybe it was because they were so dependent upon each other, and all their time was spent together. She sensed his feelings, though he'd tried to hide them and even denied them himself for a while. Then he'd caught her looking at him differently than she had. This was a complication to their survival, a distraction neither of them could afford. Still, it was there…

"'I have made a covenant with my eyes," he quoted softly, shaking his head to wake himself up. Get a grip Daniel. "Why then should I look upon a young woman?...If my step has turned form the way, or my heart walked after my eyes—'"

Daniel, what are you doing?

He stopped in his tracks, surprised by the interruption. It was His voice again, after all this time.

"But that's your written word," he explained.

When he sensed there would be no further discussion he was left to wonder about it. He'd memorized and utilized those scriptures in the past without any comment from their Author. Pausing to listen within himself, he waited but heard nothing further. It was getting darker in the woods so he started back.

"Face it," he told himself, "we're together for one purpose—to make it safely back to civilization and start new lives, wherever that may be." They were together only for as long as necessary and he was committed to helping protect and provide for her. After that they were free to go their separate ways. As virtual strangers he knew he shouldn't expect anything more.

Mara sighed tiredly, reclining back upon the rock they'd shared in order to rest. Nervous with him gone, she worried about everything from him getting hurt to wild animals to the coming night and spending it alone with him. He'd briefly told her about all the hiking and backpacking he'd done for work and for pleasure, reassuring her that they would make it safely to the nearest town or city. The plan was to cross the mountains in a northeasterly direction, scavenging food and whatever else they needed along the way. He had made it clear, however, that the way would be rough, for he knew a little bit about the area. But once they made it back they would start over and try to assimilate back into society without attracting any attention—just in case Holscomb or anyone else might be looking for them.

She gazed up at the lowering slant of the sun, judging it to be close to five in the afternoon-early, though not by mountain standards. Apparently nightfall came sooner up here, the mountains standing as a barrier to daylight. It was obvious that they didn't have much time, and she wondered why Daniel was searching the woods for shelter instead of building a lean-to right here. They didn't really have any other option, from what she could see. Gazing toward the spot where he'd disappeared, she shivered in anticipation but shrugged it off. Instead she got up and stretched her sore limbs. Then she went about the business of checking inventory, sorting food items from safety items and finding both supplies severely diminished.

Where is he? she wondered, her mind wandering back to his safety. She didn't have a clue as to his whereabouts. And what about wild animals—in particular bears? Warding off bears, he'd told her, was possible by making noise so that if they were in the area they would be duly warned and keep their distance. But Daniel had gone off in silence and she hadn't heard anything from him. Quickly repacking the supplies into her waterproof bag, she slung it behind her shoulders and decided to go after him. And to insist that from now on they stay together.

Then she saw him coming toward her, walking along the ledge just below her. Slowing to a halt, she waited until he noticed her, gesturing for her to come down where he was. As she made her way toward him, she frowned.

"Please don't go off like that again," she complained, "I was really getting worried."

He nodded absently, his eyes fixed upon something near where he stood. "Come over here," he answered.

Grabbing the roots of the brush she slid down to his level, her feet touching the wide ledge of rock where he waited. Then he looked at her and held out his hand. When she took it he squeezed it, the dark blue haze of his eyes blazing a trail toward her heart. He looked exhausted and disheveled as he pointed to a cleft in the face of the rock.

"Voila—shelter for the night," he announced as she leaned past him to study the spot.

"A cave?" she screeched, pulling her hand from his to step closer. It was nearly her height, she observed, edging closer and bending to peer cautiously inside.

"Don't worry, it's unoccupied."

She looked up. "So it's safe? The previous occupants won't come back?"

He looked amused. "I doubt it."

"All the time it was here, right under our noses?"

"Apparently," he sighed, reaching for a few evergreen branches that had fallen to the ground. "We need to gather as many of these as we can for a makeshift bed," he suggested more than ordered. "I already got us some food, check it out—it's inside."

"But where—what kind of food?" she asked as he stepped around her to toss them inside. "Can we have a fire too?"

"Too risky," he sighed, straightening to look up at the darkening sky. "Storm clouds are moving in…"

She nodded, following him back up the ridge. They gathered any boughs that lay strewn upon the forest floor, carrying them to the spot where they'd climbed up. Splitting up widen the search, they worked silently while she wondered about the sleeping arrangements. Not knowing what to expect, she felt nervous despite telling herself not to worry. They'd shared a few intense moments but she was well aware of the fact that she barely knew him. Although he was obviously deserving of her trust, she'd learned the hard way that men could be unpredictable. When it came to defending herself, she knew she wasn't as strong as she used to be.

You're being paranoid again…

Shrugging away her fears, she finished gathering the boughs and picked up an armful, throwing it down onto the ledge. Then she crawled down and carried them to the cave, quickly arranging them across the dirt floor. Inside the wind couldn't cut into her thin clothing, and she felt warm and safe from the elements. It had picked up and howled in occasional gusts as it rushed around the surrounding peaks. An occasional flash of lightning jabbed the dark clouds across the valley, which she chose to ignore.

Turning to examine the small pile of white mushrooms and pine cones—could that be the 'food' he'd mentioned?—she took out two packs of mixed nuts and set them out as well. Her stomach felt gnawed from hunger as she waited for Daniel to come back. Sitting upon the boughs, she felt the needles pricking her and remembered the jumpsuits she's folded inside her bag. Pulling them out, she spread them out to examine their condition—they had finally dried, and might serve as a protective layer on top.

A pair of boots appeared at the mouth of the cave and Daniel announced that he had more. Moving to one side as he tossed them in, she arranged them over the ones she'd brought, feeling his gaze upon her as she worked.

"That should about do it," he decided, watching her smooth the jumpsuits over them. He bent and climbed in while she brushed off her hands, moving aside so that he could sit down. An owl hooted off in the distance, then a distant howl from far below echoed off the sides of the mountains.

He busied himself with picking apart the pinecones, then turned to face her. "Dinner is served," he said softly, extending his palm toward her. She looked at it with immediate reservation.

"What are those?" she asked, hating the weakness in her voice.

"Pine cone seeds…we have some agaricus fungi, and for dessert some salmonberry."

She stared at him in the dim light. "That's dinner?"

He shrugged. "It's edible, and we don't need to cook anything." To prove it he bit off a piece of fungi and ate it, washing it down with a swallow from his canteen.

"I'm impressed," she admitted, noting how tired he seemed. His shoulders slumped and she saw dirt clinging to his boots. As if on cue, he stretched his legs out and kicked them together to shake off the mud.

"We can leave our shoes just inside the entrance," he stated, handing her a piece of 'mushroom.' "Here—try it."

She lifted it to her lips and sniffed. "Just eat it, like a mushroom?"

"Yes, it's definitely a safe one," he stated, taking another bite and watching her do the same. "They grow like little shelves on the sides of trees."

"And the seeds?"

"Don't taste great, but they have nutritional value."

She swallowed the bland fungus, washing it down with some water. "You must have been stranded before…"

He nodded soberly. "And I earned Eagle Scout."

"Oh, that explains it," she sighed. "I on the other hand never made it through Brownies."

He handed her a few seeds. "Keep in mind, the berries are next," he said before popping them into his mouth.

"Thank you, by the way," she breathed, trying a few seeds. They weren't bad, but she'd rather have crackers.

He nodded, munching another piece of fungi. "Eat up—you'll need your strength, and it will get cold tonight."

"I'm cold already," she admitted, trying dessert, which tasted like raspberries.

"We'll have to manage," he sighed, eyeing the jumpsuits she'd spread beneath them. "Thanks for making up a bed—it'll be better than the cold dirt floor."

She nodded, finishing the berries then eating more of the fungi, but only because she was still hungry. "By the way, thank you for agreeing to come with me…I wouldn't want to be out here alone."

He nodded, studying her a moment but saying nothing. When she yawned and pulled her jacket close, his gaze drifted to the panoramic scene displayed before them. The colors of sunset were beautiful—pink and gold with a tinge of purple blended into a darkening violet horizon.

"Why me?"

The softly murmured question surprised her, and she struggled with how to answer.

"'Guess I was convenient," he concluded, leaning back on his hands as he stared out at the mountains.

"No, it wasn't that…" She didn't want him to know she'd planned to rescue him too—it might make him feel weak.

"Why, then?" he asked carefully, avoiding her gaze. "You must have had your choice of candidates."

"Not really," she answered. "…I read your file in the ER computer."

There was a slight pause. "And?"

She breathed out a frustrated sigh. "We're both Jewish—isn't that reason enough?"

He turned to look at her, his eyes dark in the fading light. "But I wasn't the only one."

"There were only a few of us left."

"But wasn't your plan to get out alone?"

"Yes, at first—it would have been easier, at least until I got to the Outside."

"So you brought an injured man along with you for protection?"

"I had to get back at them, at everyone for what they've done to us!" she cried. "No—I wouldn't give you a Lupron injection to put your hormones to sleep or subdue your aggression like they give all the male prisoners! I suppose we should be grateful they didn't sterilize either of us! So no—I wasn't going to let them exterminate you!"

"Who are we really talking about here, Mara?"

"No one—and why does that bother you?" she croaked, throwing up her hands.

"Because I don't need rescuing."

"Really Daniel? Do you know how many prisoners make it out of Interrogation alive?"

"I was taking it."

"Oh well then, sorry I interfered!"

He shot out a breath of frustration, lying back with his head cupped in his hands. Kicking of his boots, he mumbled something she couldn't make out.

"I had to do something to get back at them, and at my fiancé for turning me in to the authorities," she admitted. "He was Christian, and yes I even pretended to be one just to hide my identity. They're all Christians or Gentiles, not Jews!"

Silence reigned for a moment as she regretted her outburst. But she wanted him to see that there was more to it than just her rescuing him. She'd wanted to rescue them, and in so doing, their people. Couldn't he see that?

"Look, I'm sorry," he said quietly, turning his head toward her. It was too dark to see anything accept the dim blur of his face and the whites of his eyes. "I'm grateful Mara—don't get me wrong."

His sincere tone soothed her nerves, and she eased back to lie down next to him. "I used to be strong too, Daniel. But now I'm too weak to survive on my own…at least I admit it."

He pursed his lips. "I shouldn't have pressed you…I find it hard to admit my own weakness, too. But I would hate to think of you out here alone."

"I would have gone it alone if I hadn't met you," she told him. "Just to get out of there."

"Thank you for caring…and for not giving me that injection," he told her.

She pulled her jacket closer, slipping off her shoes. "Yeah, well thanks for coming along."

He breathed out a tired sigh. "You're welcome."

She glanced over at him, thinking his eyes must be closed. "Thanks for dinner—you must be exhausted."

"I am," he groaned, shifting his arms to his sides. "Try to get some rest...I won't bite."

She hesitated, then shifted closer to share his warmth. "You'd better not—we have wild animals out there for that."

Touching her forehead to his shoulder, she curled up close to his side. The wind gusted around the peak, caught by the trees in an eerie groan. "Don't we need to keep watch or something?"

He shifted closer to get comfortable. "You watch too many movies."

"I do not—did not!" she huffed. "…how about I pile some boughs in front of the entrance?"

"No need...don't be afraid."

"Easy for you to say, Experienced Hiker."

He swallowed a yawn. "Rest up, ok? We have a long day ahead of us,"

"Where are we heading, besides 'North'?"

"Mainly east…wherever we can find the nearest town."

"One day at a time, right?"

"Um huh…"

Waiting for him to elaborate, she listened to the comforting sound of his breathing. But the answer never came.

Daniel woke suddenly, noticing several things at once. Disoriented, he felt stiff all over and cold. The air was crisp and pine-scented and he felt something warm along his entire side. In the predawn light he studied the heart-shaped face of the young woman curled up against his good side. She slept soundly, her nose pressed inside his shoulder under the arm he had lifted around her. The soft parting of her lips looked inviting, as did the long dark lashes resting upon the ridge of her cheekbone. Steeling himself against the effect of her closeness, he prayed for strength. Tempted beyond what he'd ever experienced, he glanced down at the small hand curled upon his chest, then at the knees tucked against his thigh. Her feet were intertwined with his lower legs, her breathing soft and measured.

Shifting his attention back to her face, he studied her flawless complexion, wondering how she would look with a healthy tinge of color to her cheeks. Again drawn to her lips, he thought of bending his head the few centimeters it would take to touch his lips to hers, as he'd wanted to do the day before. Pulling back he closed his eyes, reminding himself that the only reason they were sleeping together was to keep warm. His senses, however, were alive with her closeness, making him realize how starved he was for the touch of another human being, the touch of a woman—something he had gone without too many years.

Eyeing her face again, this time with the stern determination not to take, or even think of taking advantage of her in any way, he gently disengaged himself from her quasi-embrace, sliding his legs slowly away and gently shifting his arm from beneath her head. She sighed and shifted in her sleep, turning to her other side while he managed to sit up despite an incredibly sore back. Glancing over to check on her, he relaxed now that she was sleeping soundly without him. Maneuvering his feet into his boots, he dragged himself forward and climbed out to the ledge to take a few deep breaths. His nerves simmered with desire at the memory of her, despite his insistence that they had not related in any way to allow this kind of reaction. Yet still he felt it.

Lord, I've been alone all these years, what am I doing with this woman? He couldn't deny that her presence in his life was comforting at the least, and her concern for his wellbeing was making it feel as if they were together by choice. But they really weren't, not in the way he wanted.

Lord, why do I want so much from her? We hardly know each other… She'd been hurt by another man, a fiancé it seemed. He, on the other hand, had never developed closeness with any woman. It had been way too risky then. But now…

They were facing a substantial journey over heavily forested and mountainous terrain, he told himself. He hoped that they would be up to the task. It was possible that there would other people hiking and camping, but they had nothing to trade for food and supplies. Then he remembered his university account—the one set up for anyone doing field work and on travel. If he could get to an ATM he knew he could use the account number he'd always used—maybe there were still funds left and no one would suspect this soon afterward. Some of the faculty and field researchers had been away on travel, and it was possible that they could use the same codes to access funds. But if anyone was monitoring the accounts, which he sincerely doubted at this point, they would notice and he'd be suspect, or even exposed. Still, they had no other choice of obtaining resources to survive.

He climbed up the ridge for privacy and relieved himself, then stood staring up at the lightening sky as he prayed. They needed help, and they needed wisdom. He breathed the familiar prayers but was unable to feel peace.

Daniel…why won't you trust me?

He bowed his head and was stricken by the gentle rebuke. "I'm sorry…but what are we doing here, together? We need your wisdom…I don't know how to keep her safe."

…she rescued you, Daniel.

"I know that," he whispered, looking heavenward. "I know that you directed her to."

This is my plan for you, if you accept it.

"I do accept it," he answered, feeling somewhat unsettled. "Help me to adjust to it, and to her."

After a few moments he was given a mental picture of the east, at least he thought it was the east. He could picture prairieland, the vast expanse of sky overhead. That meant it was beyond the mountains, which would be a long journey. Beyond that, he had no further guidance or impression. For now, it was enough.

"Daniel?" he heard her call, and began to make his way down to the ledge.

"Over here," he called back, watching her come toward him across the ledge. She was hugging herself in the cold and eyeing him carefully.

"Did you sleep?"

He nodded. "You?"

She nodded, handing him a package of nuts. "That's the last of the food," she said quietly. "I already ate mine."

He tore it open and put a quarter of the amount in his mouth, chewing slowly as they eyed the sky. They she turned and went back toward the cave.

"Where were you?" she asked, passing him his canteen and taking a drink herself.

"Just took a short walk," he answered, lifting the canteen. "Thanks."

"Were you praying?"

He took a few swallows, capped the lid and held her gaze. "Yes, why?"

She shrugged. "That's good…I used to pray."

He avoided her scrutiny. "I just talk to Him, and sometimes He answers."

"But not all the time," she hinted, studying his profile. When he didn't answer, she sighed. "I'll keep that in mind. But now I need to go to the bathroom," she admitted, smiling shyly into his stunned expression.

Bathroom?

"I'll be right back," she called over one shoulder as she headed around the bend.

He remembered his sister acting the same way, all prim and proper about personal care. Were all women the same? At the thought of his sister he prayed for safety, for Amy and for Samuel. He didn't know if they had made it to his home. But the warning to call them hadn't been for nothing. Of course they're safe.

By the time she reappeared he'd tossed the boughs down the cliff, not wanting to leave behind any sign of their presence. And if an animal wanted to use it after them it wouldn't have so much to be suspicious of.

"I'm ready," she said placing a hand over her stomach. "Maybe we'll find a McDonald's along the way?"

49

He shook his head, avoiding her mischievous grin. "You never know."