Rendezvous: a Peter Jones survival novel: Book 2 by BilliJo Doll

Author:BilliJo Doll [Doll, BilliJo]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-03-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

Glochids

Toward evening, they found a small dugout pond with stick-like trees around it.

“Let's stop here,” Helen said. “This looks as good of a place as any. We'll make camp on that bare ground over there.” She pointed to an area at the end of the fill.

“Can we use these little trees for firewood?” Bart asked.

“No,” Helen said. “These are coyote willow, also known as wolf willow or sandbar willow. They make great marshmallow sticks and baskets, but they're no good for firewood.”

“What will we do then?”

“We gathered some sticks on the way here. We don't have enough firewood to keep us warm all night, but there should be enough to cook a quick, simple supper.”

“What will we have for supper?” asked Leo.

“I think we'll have what-is-it soup.”

“What's that?”

“We each grab a can of soup we got from Mr. Terry, without looking at what kind it is. We dump them all in together and eat it. Our soup can is our soup bowl.”

“What if they don't taste good together?”

Helen smiled. “I learned of this meal when I was a young girl at camp. I've had it many times since. It always tastes good no matter what combinations of soups used.”

Bart said, “I think we had better see if we can round up some more firewood. As soon as we take care of the animals, us boys can scout out a way from camp for any kind of wood.”

“Not all of us,” Peter said.

“Do I have to stay with Helen and the babies?” Leo asked.

“No, not you. I think you can help Bart and John,” said Peter. “It's me, I'm the problem.” The little boys were already out of the cart and throwing pebbles into the pond.

“What do you mean, Peter?” asked Helen. “Do your blisters still hurt?”

“No.” Peter sighed. “It's not my blisters. I stepped in cactus when I led the horse where that guy threatened us.”

“I'd better look at your foot right away then,” she said. “You other boys, take care of the animals and set up camp. Before dark, you need to look for more firewood. Get old sagebrush.”

John asked, “What about fence posts?”

“If the fence wires are down, yes. Old fence posts burn very hotly. But don't take down a good fence.”

“Is it okay if we take three horses and ride to that fence over there?” John pointed to the northwest.

Helen squinted as she peered into the distance. “Yes, I can see a couple of fence posts, but I'm not sure I see a full fence-line. Go see if it's a downed fence. First, unpack the cart. We can set up camp in the dark by the light of the campfire.” She turned to Peter. “Peter, let's see your foot before we lose the light.”

Peter sat on a rock and stuck his foot up. “Why is it so important to look at it right away?”

Helen dug in her first aid kit as she spoke. “Because this cactus is of the Opuntia species known as prickly pear cactus. The spines have barbed ends on them, like a fish-hook barb, called glochids.

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