Part 23 (2/2)

”He's not leaving,” Annja insisted.

”And just how do you propose to stop him?”

Annja chewed her lip. Through the trees, she could see the first streaks of light starting to break over the horizon. Pale colors began to show themselves as the last of the storm clouds faded away. It might be a nice day, after all.

”I guess we'll handle that when we get there.”

”I suppose.”

Annja turned around. Joey had done a remarkable job of scattering the shelter. It was difficult for Annja to even tell where they'd been holed up forty minutes earlier.

Near Cheehawk's burial plot she saw a pile of stones. Annja walked over and knelt down near it.

Jenny came over, as well. ”What is that?”

”I think it's a cairn. But I'm not sure what it's supposed to mean.”

”Maybe it's a burial marker? You know, so Joey remembers where he buried Cheehawk?”

Annja frowned. The pile of smooth stones branched off to the right. She glanced in that direction and saw something else near the base of a large oak tree. ”Over there.”

She and Jenny rose and walked to the tree. Jenny squatted. ”Another cairn?”

”Looks to be, yeah. But what's it mean?”

Jenny shrugged. ”I don't know. Why don't you ask Joey to explain it to us?”

Annja nodded. ”Joey?”

A breeze blew through the woods. Joey didn't respond. Annja raised her voice a little louder. ”Joey!”

But she heard nothing in response. And Annja got a bad feeling.

Jenny came up next to her. ”Looks like the kid has made his decision.”

Annja nodded. ”I just hope it isn't his last.”

Chapter 13.

”Well, that's just great,” Annja said. ”Our guide has gone and deserted us, leaving us alone in these woods.”

Jenny sighed. ”We probably shouldn't have been talking about him like we were, huh?”

Annja glanced around. ”He wouldn't have just left us. That would be cruel. And it wouldn't be in his spirit to do something like that. Those piles of stones must mean something. We just have to figure it out. And then, hopefully, we can get the h.e.l.l out of here.”

Jenny pointed out into the woods. ”We're not going after him?”

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