Alter by Jeremy Robinson

Author:Jeremy Robinson [Robinson, Jeremy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Breakneck Media
Published: 2018-11-30T22:00:00+00:00

26

“I’m hungry,” I say.

Ashan motions to the anaconda’s twenty-foot-long remains. It lies in a thick coil, gathering flies. “There is plenty of snake remaining.”

The twisted meat doesn’t stink yet, but it will by the day’s end. Cooked through, it would still be safe to eat, but I’ve had my fill of snake. “I want something warm-blooded.”

When confusion flashes across her face, I realize the combination of cold and blooded in her language has no real meaning. Lacking biological study, living things are classified as predator, prey, and inedible—like the poison-dart frog. “An animal with fur.”

“So go kill something. You were already thinking about it.” She leans over me, face hovering above mine, breasts tickling my chest. “I can see it in your eyes.”

I grasp her face beneath her chin, firm, but not enough to hurt. With a tug, I guide her lips to mine.

Ashan lingers in the kiss and then gives me a shove, sitting up beside me. “You’re good enough with the bow now. So go hunt. You bring me something to eat for a change.”

I push myself up, doing my best to hide the pain I’m feeling, now that the marijuana has worn off. I’m still not sure what Ashan gave me, but I think the effects are lingering.

I feel different.

No longer like myself.

I feel…better.

I gather the bow stolen from Juma, the poisoned-tipped arrows that accompany it, my machete, and my satchel. It’s all I own in the world, and it’s more than enough. “You stay here.”

“Until I think you’re lost,” she says.

“I wasn’t asking.”

She grins at that. I’ve never been assertive. Feels good. And I think Ashan likes it.

I strike out on my own, hiking a good mile before stopping to evaluate potential game. The monkeys have sensed I’m not out for a stroll and are mostly quiet, hanging out in the uppermost branches. Even if my aim was perfect, the long arrows wouldn’t reach that high, and couldn’t pierce the layers of vegetation.

My fellow primates are off the menu.

Return to the river, I think. Find a game trail. Wandering in the jungle is not how to locate prey. You need to stalk the locations they’re mostly likely to visit. Water is always a safe bet.

I adjust my course back toward the river, a good distance away from where Ashan awaits my return. Within fifteen minutes, I can smell the water. My belly grumbles at the thought of fresh food…and if I’m honest, the kill.

But what to kill?

Not another snake. That’s for sure.

Like anywhere in the Amazon, the river teems with fish. My mouth waters at the memory of moist, flaky meat. But the river here is brown soup. Seeing the fish will be impossible, as will putting an arrow in one. Ashan will have to show me how to make a net, or make one for me. If I’m taking over hunting, she’ll have to pull her weight in another way.

That’s not fair, I think, and then tell myself to shut the hell up. Ashan helped forge the man I am now.

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