Part 57 (1/2)

”Guess it wouldn't be as much of a challenge if you found out about it while eating ice cream in front of the television.”

Annja frowned. ”I can't remember the last time I did that.”

Jenny sighed. ”I do that a couple of times a week.”

Annja smiled. ”Okay, well, we've determined David is a sc.u.mbag. But I promise you that a good guy will come along sooner or later and then you'll be much happier.”

Jenny giggled. ”I'll wait until Joey gets to be eighteen.”

Annja smirked. ”Right.”

”I heard that,” Joey called out.

Annja laughed. ”Of course you did. How are we doing?”

He looked back. ”You tell me. You're the one with the dead batteries.”

”They're not dead. They're just...run-down.”

”Right. You want to take a rest or are you still good to go?”

Annja took a deep breath. The walk was actually making her feel pretty good. ”I'm fine. Just keep us on track, okay?”

”You got it.”

The hour pa.s.sed more quickly than Annja would have thought. Joey led them down the animal run toward a smaller pond and then circled around that to a larger trail. He stopped them at that point and held a finger to his lips.

”We're on a main trail now. I can't guarantee we won't run into Dave and company. If they're out looking for us, this is where they'll be,” he whispered.

”Why would they be looking for us?” Annja asked. ”If they left us in that cavern to die, they probably think we're already dead.”

Joey nodded. ”Makes sense. Dave would have known the dam was scheduled to let some of its water reserves out and probably put us down there knowing we'd never be found until it was much too late.”

”So they're probably not looking for us?” Jenny asked.

”Maybe not. But they're still going to be doing whatever it is they're planning in the first place. And if that involves being out in the woods, then there's a chance we might run into them,” Joey said.

”What we need,” Annja said, ”is a quick route back to town that avoids any interaction. We're not ready for a confrontation just yet.”

Joey looked at her. ”I can move us quick, but it might be tiring for you.”

”We don't have a choice,” Annja said. ”Just do what you've got to do and get us back to town.”

”All right.”

He pushed them hard. Annja found the trail fairly easygoing at first, but it soon gave way to rougher terrain and larger boulders that had to be sidestepped or else she would risk spraining an ankle.

Jenny had trouble, too, but managed to keep going pretty well. Only Joey sailed over the trail with ease.

”He probably knows where every rock in this whole forest is,” Jenny grumbled. ”Lucky for him.”