WILDERNESS #71 STALKED by David Robbins

Author:David Robbins
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Mad Hornet
Published: 2020-06-29T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 18

Hermann Walberg’s legs weren’t lying straight or bent.

They weren’t there.

From the bottom of his backside to where his feet should be, there was nothing but blood soaked grass. His legs had been ripped off. Strips of ragged flesh dangled below what was left.

Clara’s scream froze in her throat.

That was because of a loud crunch that drew her terrified gaze to the reason Hermann’s legs were no longer attached to his body.

Beyond the thicket was a small clearing. One of Hermann’s legs lay in the grass, the knee bent, the foot bizarrely raised toward the sky.

The other leg was in the mouth of the monster responsible.

A huge grizzly.

"The’ grizzly, Clara was sure. The same one she saw before. As she looked on, it bit down with another loud crunch.

Pure and utter terror gripped her.

Gunther mewed like a kitten.

The grizzly ignored them. It went on chewing at the leg much as a dog might chew at a bone.

Clara gulped. Whirling, she snatched Gunther’s wrist and fled. Or tried to. Gunther staggered, tripped, and would have fallen if she hadn’t flung an arm around him to hold him up.

“My brother!” he bleated.

The grizzly stopped chewing and turned its head toward them.

“Run!” Clara wailed. She pulled fit to yank Gunther’s arm off. He stumbled, recovered, and raced at her side. She came to the stream and plowed through the water, not caring how wet she got her shoes. Her ma’s anger was the least of her worries. On reaching the other side she dashed past the bucket and glanced back.

The grizzly wasn’t after them.

“Faster!” Clara bawled, and flew as fast as her legs would move.

Over at the wagons, both their mothers and Alice looked around.

To Clara’s surprise it was her sister who reacted first and ran to meet them.

Clara had tears in her eyes and her breaths came in great gasps.

Gunther was crying and saying, “No! No! No!”

Clara glanced back again, and tripped. She sprawled flat and was about to scramble up when her sister was there, holding her.

“What’s wrong? What’s the matter?”

Tears flowing, Clara tried to answer but couldn’t.

Her ma got there. So did Mrs. Walberg.

Gunther flung himself against her legs and clung hold.

“What in the world?” Clara’s ma said, and looked toward the forest. “What is it, child?”

In a rush Clara got it out. “Hermann’s dead! His legs ripped off! The bear, ma! It’s that awful bear!”

“My Hermann dead?” Mrs. Walberg said, and rocked back on her heels. Scooping Gunther up, she started toward the stream.

“Freida, no!” Clara’s ma yelled, and grabbed hold of Mrs. Walberg.

“Let go!” Freida said, trying to tear free.

“Think, Freida! In God’s name, think! The bear will kill you and Gunther, too!”

Mrs. Walberg had tears in her eyes. She shook her head and began doing as Gunther had done, saying over and over, “No! No! No!”

Clara’s ma said, “Alice! Fetch the men and Jacob! Go! Now! This instant!”

For once Alice did exactly as their ma wanted and was off like a bolt.

“To the wagons!” her ma cried. “We need to get to the wagons!”

Clara wanted to get as far as possible from the grizzly.

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