Secret Souls by Roberta Latow

they were after all the laziest blackguards either Hannibal or his friends had ever come across. The mules were loaded not with men but with salvage, crutches were made for the men who would be carried or dragged along on make-shift chairs with runners rather than legs, an impossible idea because of the density of the underbrush. No pleading by the survivors could make Calumet, Benjie or Ed unload the mules and let them ride out of their misery. They ended up travelling on foot with the makeshift crutches and leaning on one another for support.
    After three hours on the trail down the mountain they had not made much progress and tempers began to fray. Ed, Benjie and Calumet wanted to leave Andrew there and return for himbecause walking for him was the worst, his leg continued to bleed unless the pressure on the tourniquet was kept constant. Hannibal would not allow the party to be split up. He offered three hundred dollars for Andrew to ride the mule. Andrew was rough handled on top of the salvage and they continued on down the mountain.
    The men were drinking too much. There were signs of danger: constant complaining about how much trouble this rescue was causing and even comments of, ‘Hell, let ’em find their own way out or die. If they be men they ain’t gonna die, and if they ain’t men, well then they
should
die.’ A great deal of laughter over that and looks of disdain for the crash victims. Was it a tease to frighten, and no more? Who could tell?
    The injured men were exhausted. Clearly they couldn’t go on without rest. The party stopped in a small natural clearing and ate some of the bread, cheese and smoked ham; drank from the jugs. Sam and Hannibal injected the last of the painkiller using the disposable syringes they had found in the First Aid kit. The rescuers looked angry, were tetchy.
    ‘This is too hard, Pa. It’s no more than half a mile outa the way to the Muchamanee. If you went and got Siddy Parton’s boat we could take the rest of the way down by river.’
    ‘Come here, girl!’
    Everyone stopped talking and all eyes were on Ed Chadwick. Hannibal began to rise from the ground but Chadwick shot him a look and he forced himself to remain where he was and say nothing. She walked to stand in front of her father who was leaning against a tree. ‘Did I speak to you?’
    ‘No, Pa.’
    ‘Miss Know-it-all.’ He grabbed Chadwick by her thin bare arm and pinched it as hard as he could. She bit her lips for the pain but remained silent. ‘Lucky for you, that’s not so bad an idea ’cept that we ain’t sharin’ nothin’ with Siddy Parton or no one else. The pie’s cut too small already.’ He pushed her hard and she fell against a tree trunk and steadied herself.
    Benjie spoke up, ‘What about that outboard o’ yours, Ed? We could go an’ get that. It’d take longer but you sure are right about not wanting to share any more o’ this job. Just ain’t worth it.’
    It was Hannibal who spoke up next. ‘I know that’s extra work for you, Mr Chadwick, but I’m prepared to pay you another two hundred dollars if we go by boat.’
    ‘How do I know I’m gonna be paid, that you even got that kind o’ money? We’re gettin’ into lots o’ money you’ll be owing me now.’
    They haggled and they haggled and finally, much to everyone’s relief, Ed agreed to go for his boat. What was suspicious was his insistence that they all go so they could unload the mules and return with them for another load. It would mean another night in the woods for the survivors.
    They were left the remaining food and water. Wood was gathered, a fire was laid for them to light to keep the animals away. When it was suggested that one of the boys or Chadwick be left to care for them, Ed laughed. ‘Leave Chadwick! You city boys is just as horny and dirty as us fellas. Everybody wants Chadwick.’ He smacked her on her bottom and then, grabbing her by the arm before she could run away, asked her, ‘Make an auction,