Chapter 80 Back Against the Wall
1447words
"I don't trust you. You'd better tell me what is going on. Did all the people outside change into monsters or is it only in our vicinity? To where were you flying with the helicopter and why?"
"As far as I know most people all over the world were infected with this terrible sickness and changed into insane monsters."
"How many were you in the copter and why are you healthy and where were you going?"
"It's a long story. Can't it wait till later?"
"Tell me everything if you want me to trust you."
Donovan pulls out a small wooden cross from underneath his khaki shirt. "I believe this is the reason for everything that is happening to me. I don't think it is a coincidence that we met here."
The young man's eyes widen astonished when he sees the cross. "Are you a Christian?"
Donovan feels slightly relieved when he sees the surprise on the young man's face. The fact that he acknowledges the worth of the cross, underscores Donovan's belief. He knows that most Afrikaners are grounded in Christianity.
"I am a Christian soldier and although my duty sometimes put me in difficult situations and I often don't agree with the orders I must fulfill, I know Christ has a greater plan for me. I see you knew immediately what this cross symbolizes. Are you also a Christian, my friend?"
Donovan sees the slight lowering of the spear and knife as the threatening demeanor of the young man diminishes. When he speaks, he sounds unsure: "I was, but I don't know anymore. My parents raised me believing but when I returned one day from a hunting trip, they were insane and attacked me so that I had to flee for my life. What on earth is going on outside? Where is this sickness coming from? My parents' belief hasn't protected them against this devilish sickness. Thus, I don't know what to believe."
Donovan nods understandingly. "Our pilot, Eldrich, broke his ankle very badly and is very sick from the inflammation. I believe it is not circumstantial that I saw you and tracked you down. Please, you are his only hope. I don't think he will survive the night. I did what you said and I stand before you as an easy target and defenseless because I am a Christian who put my life on the line for my friends. Come now, we will tell you everything we know in due course, but let's make a plan now to reach him before dark. You told me your girlfriend's mother, an herbalist, taught her and she will be able to help him. My friend, come and take my hand in a friendly gesture as a fellow Christian. Come now!"
Donovan let his cross fall back on his chest and put out his hand. To his utter relief, the young man reacts positively. He puts his throwing knife in the holster and bends his arm and lets the spear slid in the holder on his back. He comes forward and takes Donovan's hand. He is still slightly suspicious as if he is not convinced yet to trust him completely and that he is ready for any surprise.
"My name is Donovan and your names?"
When Donovan only gives him a firm, friendly handshake and tries nothing else, Donovan can see how he eventually relaxes, and for the first time, it looks as if a slight smile appears from behind his bushy beard.
"I am Boeta and she is Koko. How far from here is your friend?"
"Not far. Just past the next pool where you harvested the herbs against the cliffside."
"Oh, that is a cool place. We would have made our home there was it not for the fact that the pool is the only entry point and it is deep and we don't have something like a boat to bring over heavier items through it and keep them dry. That is why we lodged here. We use plastic bags that I got from the farms when I could still dare to go outside to bring small items over the pools."
"I've got a survival bag."
"What is that?"
"It is a very strong, sturdy plastic bag that can be folded up very small but can open widely and has much space. I put all my things that I want to bring dry over the pools in there and fold them. The air inside the bag then forms a little boat to which I cling and I only kick and floats over. You see, all my things are dry. That is because I put all my clothes, my boots, and my kit bag in there when I swam over."
"Now, that is cool. I wish we had something like that. You know, it's very nice to meet someone normal again. Outside in the gorges, there are only monsters but they seem to be afraid of water. Maybe they can't swim. That is why we have to survive here in the gorges. Sometimes I visited the farms to get special provisions like salt, spices, and tinned food which I brought over in plastic bags, but it has now become too dangerous. The monsters have become clever and nearly caught me a few times. Come. Let me introduce you to Koko. She doesn't understand English, but I shall translate for you."
Boeta leads Donovan and they enter the shelter. Donovan is surprised by how well the shelter is furnished. They have a table and shelves made of sticks, skins, and leather thongs and there tinned foods, spices, and herbs are grouped on the shelves. From the roof hang pieces of dried meat on hooks against one wall. Koko stands and waits for them in front of their bed. She has only a similar piece of skin in front of her crotch but her lovely, round breasts are still bare. Boeta speaks to her in a strange, unfamiliar language full of clapping sounds and she suddenly smiles the brightest smile at Donovan.
She takes his right hand in both her hands, looks him in his eyes, and speaks smiling. Donovan can't make out a single word. Boeta translates: "I shall doctor your friend's fever very quickly. Don't worry. We must go immediately before it becomes dark and cold."
She now looks at Boeta and it seems as if she is giving him instructions while she speaks earnestly and points at the pieces of meat.
Boeta asks: "How many are you, Donovan?"
"Four of us. Me, the pilot Eldrich, my fellow soldier Jonathan, and our captain Hannes."
Boeta takes six pieces of meat from their hooks and put it in a plastic bag. Koko also takes small plastic bags and selects different herbs from the shelves and puts them into the bags and puts the whole lot in a leather pouch which she hangs around her neck. She takes a small, stainless steel pot with a lid and takes six tin cups from their hooks and hands it over to Boeta who also puts it into the bag.
Koko again asks Boeta something and he looks at Donovan. "Do you have a fire?"
"Yes, Jonathan and I gathered dried wood in our bags and Hannes keeps the coals burning. Hand me all the items you want to keep dry. I shall take it in my bag across the pools. It can take quite a lot."
Koko turns around to a partition in which hang quite a few hides and fiddling through them taking one by one and hands it to Boeta who also put it in a bag. Boeta smiles and explains. "These are our clothes and blankets when it becomes cold while we nurse your friend. Do you think all these things will fit into your survival bag?"
Donovan thinks it over. "I am going to leave my kit bag and gun here then there will be ample space for all our stuff."
Sometime later, they all go through the first pool naked and just like that walk over the stones and boulders with Boeta leading and Donovan at the back. He follows the beautiful figure of the soft, naked, innocent, young herbalist right in front of him nimbly jumping over the rocks and boulders.
