Dry by Per Jacobsen

Author:Per Jacobsen [Jacobsen, Per]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HumbleBooks
Published: 2023-08-28T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 19

The canyon is enormous and unforgiving. Like an insatiable, gaping mouth, just waiting to tear them apart with the sharp rock teeth that make up its foundation and devour them the second they venture down there.

And they will have to go down there. There literally is no way around it. No bridge or trail allows for passage, and there is no end or beginning to be seen in either direction. The canyon is a barrier they are forced to cross if they want to continue southwest.

"Not today," Meredith says in a voice that is hoarse, rasping, and devoid of hope. "I just … I can't handle any more today."

Nathan, standing on a ledge at the edge of the canyon, replies with a nod, but he doesn't look at her. His gaze is fixed on what is a few hundred yards below him, down in the abyss.

The darkness. It runs like a river down there. A pitch-black, waterless river.

The valley of death, he thinks, feeling a shiver move down his spine.

Something touches his hand and creeps into its palm. It's Jessie. He doesn't have to look at her to know—and he doesn't feel like doing so right now, as his eyes would give away too much of his true state of mind. So, he settles for closing his fingers around hers and giving them a squeeze.

"Meredith is right," he says, once he's gotten enough control of his emotions to turn around and look his fellow travelers in the eye. "We set up camp here for the night. And we're not having crabs for dinner today. We're gonna take one of the food rations from the bag."

He pauses, waiting to see if anyone will protest and point out that it's smarter to eat the shellfish before they're gone. No one does. The only answer is from Meredith, who folds her hands and holds them up to her chest as if to thank her god.

While preparing to make camp, Nathan discovers that there are a few bright spots after all. One is the location of the campsite, which practically chooses itself. It's a well-sheltered, crescent-shaped notch in a large rock, which has a level floor of sand with plenty of room for both the campfire and their sleeping spots.

The second bright spot is a plant growth on the side of another rock, which is located opposite the notch, approximately thirty feet away. Since this plant is very dense—and grows all the way down to the sand at the foot of the rock—they can use it as a soft support for Earl's back when it's time for the operation.

When it's time for him to operate. The mere thought of it makes Nathan's stomach tighten and hurt.

"How much was in it?" Earl asks. "Food, in the bag, I mean. I know you told me earlier, but I can't remember."

Nathan walks over to the emergency bag and zips it open. Next, he places a folded blanket on the ground and starts laying out food rations on it while reciting.

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