Darrel Sparkman by After the Fall

Author:After the Fall [Fall, After the]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Midmorning found them on a bluff overlooking the river. They were still following Eleven Point Creek and Trent knew they would have to turn away from the river soon to head northeast toward the Currant River and Big Springs.

They were walking in a pine forest. The needles on the ground muffled all sound of their passing and the whispering breeze hissing through the trees at the top of the bluff was soothing and cool on their faces.

Trent dropped his pack and stretched, looking out over the hills and valleys. Glancing back, he noticed Katie sitting on her pack, arms around her knees, just staring at the ground. She had not said much since the attack earlier that morning, and now as she sat there, she trembled and shook. The aftermath was starting to set in.

Kneeling, Trent wrapped her in his arms, holding her head to his shoulder. “It’s all right, Katherine. Your body is just reacting to losing all that adrenalin. The shakes are normal.”

He handed her his canteen, and she gratefully put it to her lips.

“I never knew my mouth could be so dry. Do you get the shakes too?”

Trent’s expression softened. “Sure, but I usually do it late at night when no one can see. I have to protect my image.” He stroked her hair. “Your first time?”

“Yeah.” The one word was full of emotion.

“You did good.”

“Did I, really? I killed some of those men. I’ve never killed a man before.” Her voice was a mixture of loathing and wonder.

Trent roughly pulled away, hands still on her shoulders. His gaze held steadily to her blue eyes until he was sure she was through feeling sorry for herself. He watched it all march past, by the expression in her eyes. He could count the emotions. Loathing. Despair.

No one should ever have to kill. It was not fair.

Slowly, reality set in, with her new knowledge of the real world. Then resolve. But, not pride. He knew she was not proud of it, but also knew deep down the killing was unavoidable. It was simply the price of survival.

The hands that had roughly held her away from him started caressing her arms and shoulders. Trent’s voice was gentle. “How did you do today? Let me evaluate you as I would a soldier, Katherine. Most important of all, you were quiet and did not ask stupid questions. You did what I asked you to do without hesitation, and yes … you had the guts to kill when you had to. There was no choice. Those people who attacked our camp were not going to stop and let us take a vote about whether we wanted to die, and they sure as hell were not going to debate the morality of the situation. They were going to kill you. Or worse. Or both. Remember that.

“Look at how the recruits did. They ran like rabbits. If more of them were like you … they might not have lost so many men. Besides,” he chuckled, trying to get her mind off the attack, “you even saved my tail.

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