The Traveler by Melissa Delport

Author:Melissa Delport [Delport, Melissa]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3, mobi
Published: 2014-03-03T00:00:00+00:00

“It’s useless,” I mutter. “Dex, can’t you stop it?” I point desperately at the rising water. A look of helplessness crosses his face.

“I can’t,” his voice is hollow. His abilities aren’t working again and this time I can’t get away from him.

Determinedly not looking at the rising water I glance up at the tree and then at the others.

“Give me the cable,” I hold out my hand and Dex shrugs it off his shoulder. I coil it over my own and then I pull him closer to the others, outlining my plan.

“Are you ready?” Dex yells in my ear and I nod resolutely. I am crouched on my haunches, leaning back as far as I can, trying to ignore the sense of imbalance and the awful fear of falling. They won’t let you fall, I remind myself. I can feel all of their hands on my back and wonder briefly whose hands are on my ass. “On the count of three,” Dex roars, “one, two, three!” On three they all push as hard as they can and I am catapulted up the bank. I land only a few yards shy of the tree. Dammit! As I feel myself slipping back through the mud I scream in frustration and dig my toes into the ground. The tips of my sneakers catch and plug me in place. I’m so close! I scrabble in the ground with my hands, trying to secure myself and then I pull myself up, slowly gaining ground. It takes forever as I inch my way forward, praying that I don’t slip. It’s exhausting and I don’t think I’d have the energy to do it again. Eventually my hand wraps around the tree trunk and I heave a sigh of relief. I haul myself up and wedge myself behind it, quickly uncoiling the cable and trying not to think about how much time has passed. I peer around the tree trunk and can just make out the others. The dark water is dangerously close and I hastily secure the cable and drop it down. One by one the others pull themselves up while I rest my head against the tree trunk and try to catch my breath.

Kate reaches me first and I pull her up, pushing her past me. The grass is thicker here and is holding the ground together for the time being, so it should be easier to free-climb without the cable.

“We made it,” I smile reassuringly at Kate as she passes and she climbs with renewed effort. Darren passes me a few moments later not needing any help and Jason is next.

“Go ahead,” I wave him past, “I’ll wait for Dex.” A few moments go by and I glance down at the cable. He’s not there – all I can see is the river below. I sit bolt upright, peering down the bank but I can’t see him.

“Dex!” I yell, my voice panicked. “Dex!” I turn back up the hill, “Jason!” I scream, and he slithers back down to me.

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