the same hemp material as a half-corset. The boys had hemp bottoms with no top.
All the stuff in their pockets would have to come out if they changed, and he didn’t know their thoughts on privacy. But, did he really expect to never share what they had? Really it was more of a survival kit… and some small connection to their world. What, was he sentimental? No, just needy.
That was better than sentimental at any rate.
The jungle slowly faded out and they were no longer trekking over thick, wet, pillowy dirt and old leaves now part of the ground. The ground was rising and Gabe was beginning to wheeze. The land was stretching before them over a sunlit hill of bright wheat colored grass. As thick as the air was here, breathing still didn’t come easy.
Gabe was trying to speed up. Jonathan was such a bastard. Gunna leave an old man in back by himself, huh? If he had to use the gun again there was going to be trouble. Miek hollered back good-naturedly, “Catch up grandpa!”
Gabe didn’t know how to respond and didn’t want to be bothered. What a juvenile, jeering comment. He kept on keeping on and the ground leveled out eventually, but he didn’t feel it was any easier. The others were starting to disappear, though, which was something he didn’t like in the least. He could still see the top of Jonathan’s head and followed it the best he could. A few more minutes there was another dark-haired head that was getting closer. Gabe didn’t know what really happened that made Dane stop and wait. But there he was at the back of the line. He didn’t say anything, and didn’t look worse for the wear; not even frustrated.
Gabe wanted to grumble that he didn’t need pity, but that was no way to make friends. They didn’t say anything to each other, but Dane walked behind him for several more miles when they finally took a break at a spring.
Miek looked at Gabe and jested, “What ’s wrong old man?”
Gabe glared at him then looked back at the ground.
No apology was made by anyone, though Miek looked slightly abashed and knew it was a stupid thing to say. Still, they just all went about their business to get water. How he missed modern conveniences. All of his water purifying tablets were gone (He’d brought a lot, but they weren’t planning on doing this five time.) This water was going to make him sick unless they boiled it, which he doubted they could or would do.
Thirty-minutes later, Gabe had caught his breath and May finally took pity on him. “Gabe, can I help you somehow?” Almost bored, his eyes met hers. Thick mucus was cleared from his throat and spit to the ground before he said no, then continued to ignore them. Well, May certainly isn’t the nurturing motherly type because she didn’t push the matter.
Jonathan was arguing with them about purifying the water . He still apparently had some iodine left and wanted to pour some in all of their water. The others were thinking it was likely poison. His long explanation of the chemicals and processes involved were enough to convince them to drink the poison voluntarily, and sounded like such bogus to them they assumed it must be fabricated nonsense. Jonathan put a few drops in his canteen and while he waited for it to dissolve, tried to convince the others. None of the others wanted to let them use their bottles (which were actually carved out coconuts, but they called them bottles) so he could prove to them it wasn’t poison, and might actually help them. After an hour of this Jonathan was becoming enraged as the group started making it a funny joke, seeing as he was insisting for so long and not drinking water without it. They managed to be sarcastic with him for some time before they started even laughing or smirking at each other about it. Gabe was even starting to find it funny.
Finally realizing what their laughter was , Jonathan was fuming and now trying to take the water from them by force which caused no small riot. They were running
All the stuff in their pockets would have to come out if they changed, and he didn’t know their thoughts on privacy. But, did he really expect to never share what they had? Really it was more of a survival kit… and some small connection to their world. What, was he sentimental? No, just needy.
That was better than sentimental at any rate.
The jungle slowly faded out and they were no longer trekking over thick, wet, pillowy dirt and old leaves now part of the ground. The ground was rising and Gabe was beginning to wheeze. The land was stretching before them over a sunlit hill of bright wheat colored grass. As thick as the air was here, breathing still didn’t come easy.
Gabe was trying to speed up. Jonathan was such a bastard. Gunna leave an old man in back by himself, huh? If he had to use the gun again there was going to be trouble. Miek hollered back good-naturedly, “Catch up grandpa!”
Gabe didn’t know how to respond and didn’t want to be bothered. What a juvenile, jeering comment. He kept on keeping on and the ground leveled out eventually, but he didn’t feel it was any easier. The others were starting to disappear, though, which was something he didn’t like in the least. He could still see the top of Jonathan’s head and followed it the best he could. A few more minutes there was another dark-haired head that was getting closer. Gabe didn’t know what really happened that made Dane stop and wait. But there he was at the back of the line. He didn’t say anything, and didn’t look worse for the wear; not even frustrated.
Gabe wanted to grumble that he didn’t need pity, but that was no way to make friends. They didn’t say anything to each other, but Dane walked behind him for several more miles when they finally took a break at a spring.
Miek looked at Gabe and jested, “What ’s wrong old man?”
Gabe glared at him then looked back at the ground.
No apology was made by anyone, though Miek looked slightly abashed and knew it was a stupid thing to say. Still, they just all went about their business to get water. How he missed modern conveniences. All of his water purifying tablets were gone (He’d brought a lot, but they weren’t planning on doing this five time.) This water was going to make him sick unless they boiled it, which he doubted they could or would do.
Thirty-minutes later, Gabe had caught his breath and May finally took pity on him. “Gabe, can I help you somehow?” Almost bored, his eyes met hers. Thick mucus was cleared from his throat and spit to the ground before he said no, then continued to ignore them. Well, May certainly isn’t the nurturing motherly type because she didn’t push the matter.
Jonathan was arguing with them about purifying the water . He still apparently had some iodine left and wanted to pour some in all of their water. The others were thinking it was likely poison. His long explanation of the chemicals and processes involved were enough to convince them to drink the poison voluntarily, and sounded like such bogus to them they assumed it must be fabricated nonsense. Jonathan put a few drops in his canteen and while he waited for it to dissolve, tried to convince the others. None of the others wanted to let them use their bottles (which were actually carved out coconuts, but they called them bottles) so he could prove to them it wasn’t poison, and might actually help them. After an hour of this Jonathan was becoming enraged as the group started making it a funny joke, seeing as he was insisting for so long and not drinking water without it. They managed to be sarcastic with him for some time before they started even laughing or smirking at each other about it. Gabe was even starting to find it funny.
Finally realizing what their laughter was , Jonathan was fuming and now trying to take the water from them by force which caused no small riot. They were running
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