After the Fall by Lisa Bingham

Author:Lisa Bingham [Bingham, Lisa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Diversion Books
Published: 2015-08-02T16:00:00+00:00

• • •

Glory Bee had thought that the journey down the slope would have been easier than going up, but her leg muscles were screaming by the time they made their way into the valley below. Despite the use of John’s hat, her head was soon pounding and no amount of water could slake her thirst.

As they left the scrub and moved into the denser trees, she welcomed the lengthening shadows that at least gave her protection from the sun’s heat. As a natural redhead, she’d always been prone to burning and her skin felt as if it were on fire.

It soon became apparent that while she had been expecting a small, rural town, the village they were moving toward was little more than a congregation of bamboo huts that circled around a shared well. But her disappointment was tempered by the promise of water. If it had been Glory Bee’s lead, she would have rushed forward. Their canteens had been drained long ago, and Glory Bee’s thirst rivaled only that of the children who whimpered at the need for food and rest.

But yards away from the village, John held up a hand and motioned for everyone to be still.

It was then that Glory Bee became aware of the silence.

Gesturing for everyone to stay where they were, John and Esteban grasped their rifles in front of them and began to move slowly toward the huts.

Shivering despite the heat, Glory Bee knelt in the cover of bamboo and vines, pulling Luis tightly into her arms.

He rubbed at his eyes and rested his cheek against her shoulder. His body shook with exhaustion. Although he’d done only a little walking—spending most of the time on his father’s wide shoulders—it was clear that he too was at the end of his endurance.

“Shh, shh,” Glory Bee whispered against his hair, meeting Maria’s wide, worried stare as the woman gathered the other children close.

Not for the first time, Glory Bee found her eyes straying to Maria’s pregnant form. If Glory Bee’s weariness was nearly overwhelming, what must it be like for Maria? Esteban had said the baby was due in less than a month. Surely, this headlong rush into the forest couldn’t be healthy for the woman.

But what else could she do? She couldn’t stay behind. Just like Glory Bee, she was fleeing for her life.

Glory Bee’s eyes closed and she shook her head. How had things come to this point? How had a relaxing few weeks in the tropics disintegrated into a hellish journey of fear? And how much more would they be required to do before finding safety?

Her arms wrapped around Luis more tightly and she rocked him, feeling him sag against her. To their credit, all of the children sensed how important it was to remain as quiet as possible while John and Esteban crept toward the first hut.

Peering over the foliage, Glory Bee watched as John lifted aside a length of cloth being used as a makeshift door, then dropped it, shaking his head.

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