The White Fox Chronicles by Gary Paulsen Page A

it.”
    Rachel nodded wearily and started climbing. Halfway up she looked at the ground and started feeling dizzy.
    “Look up only,” the man behind her ordered.
    Rachel took his advice and soon found herself on a ledge. She stumbled onward and stepped through a curtain of brush.
    She stopped and held her breath. It was amazing. Hidden deep in the heart of the cliff was a whole village. Children were running and playing while women dressed in skins sat near cave entrances making baskets and cooking.
    The scene was right out of prehistoric times, except that these people spoke English and one of them now carried Cody’s submachine gun.

CHAPTER 20
    “R ise and shine, Cody. Breakfast is ready.”
    “Uggh. Get that lumpy stuff away from me. For the past two weeks all I’ve had to eat is mush. Can’t you get me some real food?”
    Rachel frowned. “Keep your voice down. These people saved your life and now you’re complaining about the food? And it’s been three weeks. You were unconscious for most of the first one.”
    “Whatever. Tell the big cheese to give me my clothes back and I’ll go get my own food.”Cody shyly pulled the hide blanket up a little higher on his chest.
    “His name is Samuel. And if it wasn’t for him …”
    “Your young friend may be right.” Samuel stepped through the small cave entrance. He was a tall man with skin tanned by the sun. His blue eyes seemed to laugh when he spoke. “If the patient is complaining, it’s a sure sign that he’s improving.”
    Cody fidgeted with the edge of the hide. “It’s not that I don’t appreciate everything you’ve done. Rachel told me how your hunting party found us and brought us here. It must have been a hard decision to expose your people to outsiders like that. You’ve got your own little world up here. A perfect hiding spot from the CCR.”
    Samuel shrugged. “It wasn’t hard. You’re Americans and so are we.” He turned to go. “I’ll bring your clothes. But take it slow, okay? We didn’t heal you so that you could start moving around too soon and make yourself sick again.”
    “Thanks, Samuel.”
    “I guess you want me to take this back to the cook?” Rachel held out the bowl.
    Cody made a face and sighed. “Oh, I guess I can force it down one more time. Heck, I used to eat worse than this all the time in the prison camp.”
    Rachel handed him the bowl. “Are you still planning on going back there?”
    “Why wouldn’t I? Nothing’s changed.”
    “It’s just that … never mind. When were you thinking of leaving?”
    “As soon as my arm can do what I tell it to.” Cody stopped eating. “Look, Rachel, you don’t have to come. I can tell you like it here. This is my own private war. Stay with these people. They’ll be glad to have you.”
    “Don’t talk like that. You need me. At least you have so far. You’d probably be lying in a ditch somewhere if you hadn’t met me.”
    Cody rubbed the back of his head. “Or had one less concussion.”
    A young boy stepped into the cave carrying Cody’s clothes. “Uncle Samuel said to bring these.” He stared at Cody’s wound. “Is it truewhat they say about you? That you are strong and able to defeat the CCR?”
    Cody looked at Rachel and raised one eyebrow. “What have you been telling these people about me?”
    A light red flush crawled across Rachel’s cheeks. “Nothing much. Are you through with that bowl?”
    Cody handed it to her and winked at the boy. “Thanks for bringing my clothes. Now if you two will excuse me …”
    He waited until he was alone and pulled his clothes on under the blanket. Then he threw back the hide and stood up. Walking was easy for him. He’d been practicing when no one was around. He walked across the floor and flexed his muscles. His shoulder was still incredibly sore but he could use it and he knew it was time to go.
    “Looks like we are pretty good healers.”
    Cody turned around. Samuel was standing in the opening. “I