Part 22 (2/2)
”All right, then. We'll just have to make sure we don't run into them. I don't think they'll be as understanding as they were yesterday if they find me still out here.”
Joey started dismantling what was left of the improvised shelter. Annja frowned. ”Don't we still need that?”
Joey scattered a bunch of branches and looked at her. ”I don't know how long Cheehawk's body will remain buried.”
Jenny frowned. ”What's that mean?”
”Predators and scavengers will smell the decomposition starting. They'll come around and dig it up. I don't want to be here when that happens.”
Annja sighed. ”It can't be helped, I suppose.”
”It's the way of the natural cycle,” Joey said. ”But it doesn't mean I have to be here when it goes down. And besides, we each have our own agendas now.”
Annja turned. ”Each?”
Joey nodded. ”I'll lead you out to the road so you can find your way back into town. That way you can take care of finding the sheriff and stuff like that. Maybe find that David dude.”
”And what will you be doing?”
Joey looked up from throwing more branches into the scrub. ”I need to find the men who chased us out of here yesterday.”
There was something in his voice that disturbed Annja. It was cold. And the edge to the words made her heart jump. ”You can't take them on by yourself, Joey. They've got guns. Let us get the sheriff out here and he'll know what to do. And he has a gun, too.”
”I don't care about whether they have guns or not,” Joey said.
Annja shook her head. ”You may not care but the fact that they do have them could make your life a thing of the past. Is that what you want?”
”They killed my friend,” Joey said.
”I know they did. And believe me, I want them to pay for that just as badly as you do. But chasing after them by yourself isn't the smartest thing to do right now.”
”Why? Because I'm a kid? You think I don't know how to handle myself?”
”I think anyone would have a hard time handling themselves against three men armed with rifles.”
Joey glared at her. ”Cheehawk didn't deserve to die.”
Annja nodded. ”We know that. But you rus.h.i.+ng off on some suicide mission isn't the way to honor the memory of his spirit.”
”What would you know about honoring the spirit of the dead?” Joey muttered.
”You think you're the only one who's ever lost someone or something precious to them?” Annja shook her head. ”You're not. It just seems like you are because of what has happened. Tragedy is always like that. It feels as if there's no one else in the world who understands the pain and the grief you have swelling in your heart. But everyone knows about tragedy. No one goes through life without feeling pain at some point. That's just the way it is.”
”Then you know that I have to do this.”
”I know you have to do something. And I want to help you get justice. But not this way. You go charging after these guys and they'll just kill you. I don't think they'd even care that you're fourteen years old. Your life wouldn't mean a d.a.m.n thing to them.”
<script>