Part 39 (2/2)
The car drove on past us until the red glow of their tail lights disappeared from our view. I figured we were still at least a mile from the main road. If they didn't come back, I'd have to a.s.sume they were watching the road and we'd have to hike through the forest to the highway. I wondered if they would be waiting for us.
”What do we do?” Emily asked.
”We just wait,” I said. ”They won't find us. Not here.”
We sat there for about a half hour. The car never returned. Emily cradled her knees with her arms and rocked back and forth nervously.
”Are you okay?” I asked.
She looked pale. ”BarEl was right. The Guardians can find us. They can track our DNA from s.p.a.ce.”
”El told you that?”
She nodded.
”Have you ever seen the Guardians?” I asked.
”No. But Master El has.”
”No he hasn't,” I said.
Ten minutes later I said, ”Wait here.” I crept out to the edge of the trees. Nothing. It occurred to me that they might not be looking for us at all, but may have just gone for the woman tied to the tree. That would make sense. Especially since BarEl had probably told them I had a gun. I went back to Emily. ”They're gone. Are you tired?”
She nodded.
”We should get some sleep,” I said. ”Then start out in the morning.”
”Okay,” she said.
”How is your back?” I asked.
”It's okay.”
”Really?”
”It kind of hurts.”
”I have something for it.” I took my hygiene bag out of my backpack and brought out a tube of Neosporin. ”Let me put this on you.”
She turned away from me and lifted her s.h.i.+rt. I gently rubbed the salve across her welts. When I was done, I put the ointment away and she turned back to me. She still looked scared.
”I have a phone,” I said. I pulled it out of my pack and turned it on. ”We can call your sister.”
Emily didn't respond.
”What's her number?” I asked.
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