Part 25 (1/2)

”Just stay on this course?”

”Why not?”

Annja looked at the stones again. Jenny had a good point. ”You might just be right.

”All right, then, we stay on this heading.”

”It looks pretty clear, actually,” Jenny said.

Annja had to agree. From the blueberry bush, there seemed to be a small track running through the woods. ”Maybe it's an animal run.”

”So animals would use it?”

”Sure.”

”Like big animals?”

Annja sighed. ”I don't think we're going to run into your Sasquatch hiking down this trail.”

”Never know.”

”Let's get going. If we can find the main road, it's a matter of a few miles back to town. We could be there by noon if we're lucky.”

”And back out here by dusk?”

”If not sooner.”

Jenny yawned. ”I could do with a nap and a shower, preferably while a burly country dude bathes me.”

Annja smirked. ”Better use all of that wanton l.u.s.t to help drive you on the walk back.”

Jenny smiled. ”I will. As long as you take the lead and I can just follow along behind you, I should be fine.”

”Oh, sure, you get to have all the fun.” Annja started walking down the small track. ”Let's get moving, then.”

”Right behind you.”

The animal run seemed remarkably free of debris. Along the way, Annja spotted small pellets of rabbit scat that seemed to confirm that the run was relatively well used. But would it lead them back to the main road?

It must. Otherwise, why would Joey point them in this direction? Annja had to a.s.sume that he had gone after the three idiots who had killed Cheehawk. She didn't blame him for feeling the rage she knew was burning inside of him. She felt bad that it would consume him at such a young age, though.

Try to remember how you felt at fourteen, she thought to herself. Back then, the world hadn't seemed like a very fair place at all. As she walked, Annja could feel the disquieting anger she'd long ago tried to make peace with welling up inside her again. She sighed. Does it ever truly go away? Or does it simply lie dormant until something triggers it all over again?

”Annja?”

She glanced back at Jenny. ”What?”

”You okay?”