Vic: A Savage Place by Jerry Gill

Author:Jerry Gill
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: new pulp adventure, science fiction, action
Publisher: Ann Darrow Co

Chapter 11 Lessons

The next few hundred yards along the canyon wall were open . As they walked, Zarah asked, “What is my next lesson?”

Vic didn’t answer but slowed and pointed to their right. A couple of hundred yards into the jungle sat the pretty but grotesque flesh-eating plant. Zarah’s mouth dropped opened. Vic whispered. “I can’t think of any reason for getting any closer than this.”

After the plant was out of sight, Vic said, “Lesson two. Speak softly in a situation like this. Avoid stepping on sticks or doing anything that will make your presence known. Looks can be deceiving. There may be no people nor animals around, but we don’t know that. That plant, for example, is beautiful but will eat you!”

“Lesson three is to stay alert. Watch ahead, but also to the sides and behind. In a jungle, look high, for danger might be in the trees. In this canyon, the danger may be high on a spire.”

“Lesson four, think fast and act faster. Danger is seldom slow. A bullet, a thrown ax, a snake’s strike, a leopard’s leap, an enemy’s fist - they all come at you fast. Make yourself a routine to practice. Fast thought and action are skills like throwing horseshoes or firing a rifle. You need to practice to be better.”

Vic was deciding another lesson when a small stone hit her back. “Hey!” She said and turned.

Vic sprinted!

Zarah was up to her waist in the sand and was sinking!

On her last step to reach Zarah, Vic’s forward foot went into the sand to her knee. She slammed to a stop, stepped back, and pulled her foot free. Vic tested the ground fast and moved a foot nearer Zarah. She turned sideways and bent out.

Zarah grabbed Vic’s hand, and Vic pushed back with her legs and pulled with her arms. At first, Zarah was coming out with ease. Then she stopped. “I think I’m caught on something,” the girl told Vic, and as she spoke the words, she slid back.

Vic didn’t understand what was happening but sensed she needed to pull Zarah out immediately. She bent her arms and pulled Zarah a few inches, but instantly something tugged the girl back!

“It feels like something pulled me!”

Vic pulled with her arms again and leaned with her weight and stepped back. Suddenly, Zarah popped forward, and Vic took quick steps back.

In seconds they were far enough from that plot of sand, and Vic stopped and sat down. Zarah laid there.

“Are you OK,” Vic asked.

“Yes, but I lost a boot.” Zarah held up her bootless right foot.

“Why didn’t you call out?”

“I was practicing. Lesson two, be quiet, and lesson four, think fast. I could reach that small rock, so I threw it to get your attention.”

Vic smiled and told Zarah, “Very good. Your mother raised you a very capable adventuress.”

Zarah smiled at that, then frowned. She wanted to know why she sank in dry sand. Vic couldn’t tell her. Vic never saw anyone sink in dry sand before, either.

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