Part 31 (1/2)

”If you two are through mocking my situation here...”

Jenny pointed and Annja glanced down as much as the pain in her neck let her.

She could see her legs. They were completely bare.

”Looks like you lost your pants, Annja,” David said.

Annja flexed her toes. They responded. She slumped back. ”Thank G.o.d they're all right.”

”The truck wasn't actually on your legs. Your legs were pushed into the dirt but the angle of the rig was resting more on the asphalt.” David got to his feet and went behind Annja. ”You are really lucky.”

”My neck hurts.”

”I'm not surprised,” David said. He looped his arms under Annja's armpits. ”I've got to move you before the truck actually does come down. You okay with that?”

”Do it.”

David tightened his grip and then pulled Annja out from under the truck. She felt a wave of pain lance through her upper back and neck. ”Ow!”

David laid her down some feet away from the crumpled heap. ”You okay?”

”Back's killing me.”

David ran his hands under Annja's back. ”I can't be sure, of course, but it doesn't feel like there's anything broken.”

Annja frowned. ”I could get up and walk two steps and sever my own spinal cord, though.”

”That's true.”

Jenny frowned. ”That's not going to happen.”

Annja smiled. ”Optimist.”

David looked around. ”I'll see if I can find your pants. Kinda cold to be lying out here in your skivvies like that.”

”Thanks.” Annja watched him move off and then turned to Jenny, wincing as she did. ”Seems like a nice enough guy.”

”He is, isn't he?”

She glanced at Jenny. ”It's okay. I'm fine now.” She struggled to sit up.

David came back around the side of the truck holding a pair of pants. Annja could see there were burns on the fabric. He saw Annja and stopped short.

”You shouldn't be sitting.”

Annja shook her head. ”I'm all right.”

”We should really wait to get a medical opinion on that from someone more qualified. Like maybe after you've had an X-ray?”

”No time,” Annja said. ”I'll take my pants, please.”