|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"What happened to you?" Cyrus asked again to take his mind off the pain. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
She looked at her knee, then reached down and squeezed her ankle. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"It's my own damned fault. I couldn't see shit, but I was in such a hurry I twisted my ankle coming down the trail. Then, not long after that, I slipped on some loose rocks and took a chunk out of my knee. I didn't think it was too bad until it started to swell. I had to crawl the last few yards here like some kind of animal. . . . Sorry." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
She was quiet for a moment as she watched his arm heal. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Uh, Russ? Where are they?" |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
He snorted angrily. "In a display of my own amazing tactical skills, I not only managed to lose my arm, but I had to slink off before I lost my head too." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Why do you always run yourself down like that?" |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Jesus, Kyna, look at me! If by some miracle my blood hadn't sprayed in their faces we'd be dead now." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Maybe that's what I deserve." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Cut the crap," he snapped. "Come on. We can't stay here. How long was I out?" |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Just a couple of minutes. Your arm had started to grow back even before you fainted." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cyrus pushed himself to his feet with his good arm. "Well, the head honchono pun intendedand his sidekick were right behind me and I don't think I'm much of a match for them right now. Time to boogie." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"I can't walk, Russ. I can't even crawl." Kyna pointed to her swollen ankle. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"I don't want to hear it, Kyna. Off your ass and on your feet." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
She began to sob again. "I can't. Don't you think I tried? I didn't know who was going to be coming down that path. I can't walk and yelling at me isn't going to change anything." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
He dropped to his knees and pushed his face so close to hers that she could see the veins in his eyes. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Didn't you hear what our friend has in that little leather |
|
|
|
|
|