Part 3 (1/2)

Annja frowned. He had a point. And none of the college kids looked as if they were going to be particularly keen to set out on a search through the woods. Annja could hear them all talking in hushed tones. She knew what was coming.

Annja looked at Joey again. ”They'll want to leave,” she told him.

Joey frowned. ”Because of those guys? That's weak.”

”Didn't you just tell me you're a lover, not a fighter?”

”Sure, but I don't lay down for anyone, either. I did that, I wouldn't be much of a credit to my tribe.”

”Well, I don't think any of these kids signed on for this kind of thing. The thought of gun-wielding dudes is probably giving them images of Deliverance.” Deliverance.”

”Deliverance?”

”It's a movie,” Annja said. ”Rent it when you're older.”

Joey shook his head. ”I can download it for free. But thanks for dating yourself.”

”You've got quite the mouth on you, don't you?” Annja said, attempting to sound stern.

Joey held up his hands. ”No disrespect intended, ma'am.”

Annja smirked. ”Wisea.s.s.” She turned back to the student she'd spoken to initially. ”Get your gear packed up. You guys aren't staying here.”

He looked as if Annja had just promised him several bars of gold. Instantly, the college students all sprang into action, taking down tents and getting their packs squared away.

Annja watched them. She felt hesitant about taking command of the situation but, with Jenny nowhere to be seen, someone had to. She couldn't tell a bunch of kids to hang around with gun-toting nuts lurking in the woods. And she was pretty confident that Jenny would tell them to get out of there, as well. There was no way Jenny would want kids under her care to be in danger.

It took them twenty minutes to break down the camp. Annja found Jenny's tent and started to pack it up, too.

Joey spent most of the time complaining about the supplies he'd lugged back from town. ”Hey, man, I'm still getting paid for this, right? I mean, charity's nice and all, but I have to look out for numero uno.”

Annja fished out her wallet and gave him fifty dollars. ”That enough?”

Joey's eyes lit up. ”Not bad. Jenny promised me a hundred per day out here, though.”

”Don't push your luck. Jenny's on a university grant and has to watch all of her expenses. That fifty's a gift and you know it.”

Joey smiled. ”Can't blame a dude for trying.”

Annja finished breaking down Jenny's tent and wrapped up the stakes in the nylon. ”I've got one final a.s.signment for you, Creeping Wolf.”

”Yeah?”

”You need to lead these kids back to the trailhead.”

Joey frowned. ”They stay on the trail, they'll be fine. They don't need me.”

Annja pulled him close. ”Take a look at their faces. Every one of them is terrified. Being confronted with guns isn't a normal occurrence for these kids. And they're probably considering very seriously the idea that they came close to being killed. If I let them go like this, they'll wander off the trail and die from exposure. You know that's true.”

Joey nodded. ”Yeah, I guess you're right. They do look pretty sh.e.l.l-shocked.”