The Valley by William Meikle

Author:William Meikle [Meikle, William]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dark Regions Press
Published: 2010-04-15T18:00:00+00:00

18

There was to be no sleep for Jake.

The fires from out in the main cave lent the alcove a red glow that was accompanied by the smell of cooking meat. Jake started to salivate, acutely aware that the gruel had only just taken the edge off his hunger. But no more food was brought to them. They sat alone in the flickering dark.

George slept fitfully, whimpering like a whipped dog, and once more Jake felt tears form that he could not wipe away.

“Talk to me lads,” he said to the others. “How are you holding up?”

“We are in a dark place gaffer,” the Squire said. “Make no mistake.”

The Pastor laughed.

“What Squire, no tales of how you evaded the grasp of the fuzzy-wuzzies while simultaneously bedding a whole harem of luscious virgins? Surely an army man of your caliber has a means of escape from our predicament?”

The Squire smiled broadly.

“Oh ye of little faith. Even now, I am working on a plan of action that will see us free of here and home in time for tea and tiffin.”

This time Jake laughed.

“Best make it quick Squire. If George is right, that rain spells doom for one of us on the morrow.”

“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning,” the Pastor said.

“Now that one I do understand,” Jake replied. “But joy ain’t in much supply around here right now.”

“Maybe the others will come, when we haven’t returned?” the Squire said.

The Pastor laughed again.

“A deserter, a hothead and a man with as much wit as a boy? Those are to be our saviors? Forgive me Squire, but I shall put my trust in the Lord.”

“Yes,” Jake said. “Ain’t he doing well for us so far?”

The Pastor ignored him, and started to mouth prayers under his breath. With his hat off and his thinning hair showing, the older man suddenly looked less imposing, almost frail.

This cave could be the breaking of all of us.

The night crept by at a dead slow pace. The Pastor and the Squire eventually managed to find some rest, but Jake couldn’t sleep. He kept seeing Farting Bill’s face staring up at him. And when that faded, he saw the dead eyes of the poisoned horse back at the creek.

I ain’t gonna end up like that. I’ll kill myself first.

Late into the night George woke with a start. He seemed surprised to see Jake.

“Shit Jake,” he said. “I done been hoping you were just another dream.”

“No such luck George,” Jake said, trying to keep his voice light. “If I were you I’d be dreaming about other things. Womanly things, if you catch my drift.”

George didn’t smile.

“I been having a shitload of dreams lately,” he said. “And ain’t one of them been worth a fart.”

Jake managed a thin smile back.

“Well maybe now that I’m here thing’s will improve on that front. I just moseyed on down to see how my big brother was doing.”

George tried to laugh but only managed a hacking cough that brought up more blood.

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