The Wild Bunch by Jan Gangsei

Author:Jan Gangsei
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aladdin

WILDERNESS SURVIVAL TIP #11

THE ABILITY TO ACCURATELY DISTINGUISH BETWEEN WILD PLANTS CAN SAVE YOU A LOT OF PAIN AND SUFFERING.

WHILE DAD AND MR. LOPEZ DUMPED sand on the campfire, Jack, Hector, and I went to the tent and grabbed our backpacks. Hector read from his trusty guide as we stuffed supplies into our bags.

“First aid kit, rope, compass, water,” he rattled off.

“Check.” I gathered up gear while Jack watched. I paused and looked at him. “You going to just stand there or are you going to help?”

“Actually,” he answered, squirming, “I need to use the latrine.”

“Then what are you waiting for? A hall pass?” I said with a wave. “Go.”

Jack glanced back and forth, digging his toe into the dirt. “Well, I have to go, you know . . .”

“No, I don’t,” I answered.

Jack let out a huge sigh. “Ugh. Just tell me, where’s the toilet paper?” he said.

My dad piped up from across the campsite. “Sorry, that was on your dad’s list too.”

“What am I supposed to use, then?” Jack said.

“Your hand?” Hector said.

“A leaf will do,” Dad said. “Plenty of those around!”

“A leaf,” Jack grumbled as he headed toward the latrine. “What do I look like, a caveman?”

“Now that you mention it . . . ,” Hector whispered.

“Ha!” I finished packing my bag and pulled the map from my pocket, tracing the path with my finger. It threaded up through the forest.

“Okay, if we go straight out this way,” I said, “that should be the quickest route. . . .”

“Quickest route to what?” Dad materialized out of nowhere and leaned over my shoulder. Seriously, was that guy always eavesdropping? I snapped my hand back.

“Just some rock formations that a park ranger told us were cool,” I said.

“Yeah, rock formations,” Hector said. “You know, big formations of rocks. Places where rocks are formed in a group and make big rocky formations.” I elbowed him and made a quick zipping motion across my lips. He clamped his mouth shut.

“A rock formation, eh? Sounds like fun,” Dad said. “Maybe we should join you! Hey, Luiz!” he shouted. “Boys are going to visit a rock formation. Want to go along?” Mr. Lopez looked up from where he was stomping out the last embers of our breakfast fire.

“A . . . what did you say?” Mr. Lopez asked.

I jumped in. I had to put a stop to this . . . fast. “No!” I said. “You can’t come!”

Dad’s face dropped.

“I mean, that would be fun,” I said. “And it would be totally awesome to have you along. But then, uh, then . . .”

“Who would catch us dinner?” Hector said, rubbing his belly. “Rainbow trout sounds delicious! I’ve never had real trout right from a lake!”

“Yeah, we don’t want to eat Spam for all of our meals,” I said. “And you’d better stick around in case Jack Senior makes it.”

“Guess you’re right,” Dad said, the big grin returning to his face. “And real campers don’t eat from a can! They catch their own food!” He walked off to join Mr.

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