The World on Either Side by Diane Terrana

Author:Diane Terrana
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781459822191
Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
Published: 2019-06-01T00:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-TWO

I RUN AFTER CRUISE and the others, who are already leaving the clearing. We stay close together. Max calls back to me that he will take the rear as soon as he is finished clearing branches. I nod thankfully, because, as it is, I keep looking nervously over my shoulder.

Lish looks over hers at me. “Do you think the poachers are watching us?

“No,” I say with bravado. “You heard Lin. Mohawk would have known.”

“Mohawk?”

“The baby elephant.”

“You think? I feel like they’re watching us.”

My sense that they’re nearby amps up. I feel electrified. I swivel my head right, left, right, left. I spin around and walk backward for a few steps. I wonder when Max will come to the back of the line. I move so close to Lish that I’m breathing on her shoulder.

“Do you think they’re going to kill Lin?” Lish asks.

“What? What? Why would you say that?”

“Well, even if they aren’t watching us—which I think is bullshit—Cruise says they’ll be coming back for the baby.”

“He said they might come back. Lin said they were gone, and Max thinks they took an older elephant. Even Cruise said they don’t take babies this young. And Lin knows his way around the jungle better than Cruise does.”

“Well, good. Because those poachers are psychos. I mean, you saw those elephants.”

Yes. I did. I close my eyes, trying to stop the images filling my head. But I can’t. I still see them—the gray flesh and red mush where their faces were. The frenzy of flies. The impatient birds.

“Yeah, I saw them. For that matter, I may always see them.”

“Psychos.”

“Lin didn’t seem worried,” I continue.

“Why did Cruise say it was dangerous for him by the border?”

Why did Cruise say that? Why is Lish suddenly more aware than I am? “I don’t know, but anyway, he wouldn’t do it if he thought it was dangerous.”

“Sure he would. He’s in love.”

“With Mohawk?”

“No, you moron. With you!”

“With me?”

“Duh. Don’t say you haven’t noticed. Why do you think he’s doing it? Because you were so upset.”

“That’s ridiculous. We were all upset. Lin wouldn’t risk his life for me. That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. He is taking Mohawk for his own reasons.”

“What reasons?”

“Karma.”

“Karma?”

“That’s what he said.”

“Yeah right.” Lish laughs.

“That is what he said!”

“Okay. What are you freaking out about then?”

“Because I would never want him to put his life in danger because of me! Obviously.”

“Okay.”

“Stop saying okay.”

“Okay. Anyway, I thought you were really worried about Mohawk.”

“I was. I am. But now I’m also worried about Lin.”

Actually, I’m freaking out about Lin. Did I put his life in danger? Cruise said the border wasn’t safe for him. Why didn’t that register with me?

Because I wanted so badly for him to take Mohawk. The lump in my throat grows so big I can’t swallow. It actually feels like I’m going to suffocate on my own saliva. I trudge along for another minute in total agony, and then I poke Lish in the back and whisper in her ear. “Lish, I have to go back.

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