Lost Cipher by Michael Oechsle Page B

rainwater pouring off the rock over their heads. Within seconds the can was full, and Lucas rinsed out the rusty mixture and set it back under the stream.
    â€œWonderful,” muttered Alex. “At least you’re right at home.”
    The smile dropped from Lucas’s face. It was one thing for somebody like Zack to call him a hillbilly, but he didn’t expect it out of Alex.
    George didn’t even notice the sudden change in Lucas. “Yeah, and what are we gonna eat?” he pleaded. “I’m starving already.”
    â€œDang, George!” replied Lucas angrily. “When ain’t you hungry!?” He picked up a fist-sized rock and stared at the younger boy. “Besides, the way I see it, if I get to starvin’, I got plenty to eat.” He looked at Alex. “I mean, me bein’ a dirty ol’ hillbilly and all, I’m liable to eat just about anything, ain’t I?”
    â€œI didn’t mean it, Lucas,” said Alex. “I guess I’m just pissed at myself for going along with this.”
    â€œYeah, and I’m tryin’ to make the best of it,” said Lucas. “Look, we ain’t gonna die, y’all. We just gotta be smart from here on out.”
    â€œBut won’t Aaron just call for help?” George asked hopefully. “He’s got to have a cell phone.”
    Lucas shook his head. “He probably can’t even get a signal in these mountains. And even if he could, there ain’t no way somebody’s gonna come lookin’ for us in this storm. And they ain’t gonna be lookin’ after dark neither. So we make the best of it and wait for mornin’. Then we—”
    â€œThen we what ? What if they don’t know where to look for us? What if they just find our bones in here a month from now?” George motioned over his shoulder at the back of the cave. “Like those.”
    â€œThey’ll know where to look,” said Lucas. “They’re gonna look over where we got lost in the first place. And when they do, we’ll be right there waitin’ for ’em.”
    Three hours later, the wind had eased some, but the rain was still a steady downpour. The storm brought the darkness on quickly, and soon the only light came from the distant flashes of lightning in the east or from George’s watch, which blinked on every time he nervously checked the time.
    Lucas tried to start a fire by striking the lid from one of the tin cans against a flat rock. Every once in a while he sent a spark or two into the small pile of dry twigs and leaves they’d collected from the back of the cave, but he never got more than a feeble glow.
    â€œDon’t matter anyhow,” he said, giving up. “Even if I got it goin’, there ain’t enough dry wood around here to keep a fire all night.”
    Eventually the boys tried to make themselves as comfortable as possible, lying on the rock slab at the opening of the shelter and staring out into the blowing trees. They were protected from the wind, and the flat rock beneath them still radiated a little warmth from the day’s sun. Alex found a long, stout stick and sharpened it by rubbing one end on the rock—in case the panther came around, he said. In the flashes of lightning that lit up their primitive shelter, Lucas told him he looked like a caveman with a spear.
    For a good hour, Lucas tried to get comfortable, but between the hard rock, the wind, and worrying about being back on the opposite ridge at first light, he knew he’d never sleep. Eventually Alex fell silent next to him and even George stopped rustling around and moaning about his empty stomach. Just when Lucas assumed both of his roommates had managed to drift off, Alex whispered to him.
    â€œLucas, you still awake?”
    â€œYeah.” He sat up and looked to where Alex was lying, just a shadowy lump in the dark of the cave. “This rock don’t exactly make a great