按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
behind。〃
Bubbles nodded； but could not speak past the lump of misery in her throat。 She set her rifle carefully to one side； away from the damp spot and pushed the knapsack straps off her shoulder。
〃We should eat something；〃 Raffa said。 〃We never did have breakfast〃
〃Not without water；〃 Bubbles said。 〃At least； that's what the books say。〃 But at the mention of food； her stomach cramped and rumbled。 She felt she could eat three meals at once。
〃We have some water；〃 Raffa said。 〃And what about tropical fruits and things？
They have water in them。〃
〃I。。。 haven't seen any。 It's the wrong season； or the prisoners have eaten them； or something。。。。〃 Bubbles leaned back against the ferny rock； careless of insects。 Her eyes sagged shut。
〃e on … you can't give up！〃
〃I can rest；〃 Bubbles said； not opening her eyes。 〃Just a little while。〃 She wasn't sure what she felt； except exhaustion and hunger； and right now she didn't care if a whole troop of hunters came up the creek。
〃All right；〃 Raffa said； 〃but I'm not giving up。〃 Bubbles heard Raffa move around her； and the scrape of Raffa's pack on the pebbles。 〃Although a soft place to rest my aching back may be a good idea。 Aahhh … 〃 That relaxed sigh ended in a yelp； quickly muffled。 Bubbles opened her eyes。 Raffa lay on her back； covered with ferns to the waist； she seemed to have fallen into the rock。 The mass of ferns and vines had hung over some opening like a shaggy curtain。 From the muffled splutters； she was trying to say something。 Bubbles grabbed her feet and pulled。
〃Are you all right？ Need help？〃
Raffa undulated； snakelike； and slithered out on her back； spitting dirt out of her mouth。 〃It's a wonder I didn't crack my skull。〃
〃What is it； a hollow or something？〃
〃A hollow； yes。 A cave！〃
〃Cave？〃
〃Yes。 And I heard water dripping。 e on。。。。〃 Raffa grabbed her knapsack and started to shove it through the curtain of ferns。
〃Wait … they'd know we went in。〃 Bubbles looked at the broken fronds of fern where she had been resting； the bruised moss。 If someone came this way … and they probably would … they'd start looking harder。 And they wouldn't miss a cave； she was sure。
〃We'll make it look like we rested here； and then went somewhere else；〃 Raffa said。 〃e on … shove your pack in； and the rifles。 It's the best chance we've seen yet。〃
Bubbles shrugged and plied。 She didn't have any better idea； and if Raffa had found water inside the cave； surely it hadn't been poisoned。 She hoped。
Raffa went in with their things； and reported that she'd found plenty of room； they could both hide there； with their gear。 She crawled back out； as Bubbles lifted the vines cautiously。
〃Now for disguise；〃 Raffa said。 〃A few footprints going in both directions； just in here where we got careless because we figured no one would have tracked us further back。 We sat here and rested … that's the squashed ferns on your side。 Actually they may not know there are two of us； so why don't I make all the footprints？〃
〃Because we might both have left them somewhere else；〃 Bubbles said。 〃If we were going to leave here； which way would we go？ Back up the ridge； I think … we came here looking for water； didn't find any； and started up to find a spring。。。。〃 Together； they edged back out of the narrow cleft； and cautiously made a few scuffmarks up a steeper slope。 Since they had been careful not to make prints on the way in （and didn't see any） they walked back normally。
The hanging ferns and vines looked undisturbed； Bubbles noticed； even after Raffa had been through twice。 Raffa went first； and then Bubbles slid in backwards。 They had left marks； sliding in； it looked like someone had dragged bodies over the ground。 She was trying to think what to do about it when she heard a shot； from high overhead； and then another。 She didn't try to see who it was； or if they'd seen。。。。 She jerked backwards under the matted vines and tried not to breathe。 Raffa's hand closed on her arm； almost as tightly as the night before。 Had it been only one night？
Although it was near midday； inside the cave she could see very little。 The thick vines shut out nearly all the light； and it was cool and damp。 She lay on level stone thinly coated with damp mud。 She could hear the musical plink and plonk of water dripping into deep water； somewhere behind her in the dark。
A cold drop hit the back of her neck； and she jumped。
〃We should get back from the opening；〃 Raffa said quietly。 〃Just in case they find it。〃
〃Let's try the night goggles。〃 Bubbles fished hers out and put them on。 The nearer part of the cave appeared in shadowy blurs； with stabbing brilliance ing from the entrance。 Several meters behind them； a black level surface had to be the water they'd heard。 To the left； the cave's inner wall dove directly into the water； but on the right； their flat ledge extended around a buttress and out of sight。 Overhead； even the night goggles could not define the roof； when Bubbles reached up； she felt nothing。
Slowly； Raffa got to her knees and crawled away to the right。 Bubbles followed； backing up at first so that she could watch the entrance。 She had never been one for caves； she had not expected that the light would fade so fast。 She slipped the goggles up； the blackness pressed on her face； as if it would invade her skull。 Shuddering； she put the goggles back on； and stared at the faint glow from the entrance as if to remember it forever。
〃They shot somebody！〃 George grabbed Ronnie's arm。 Ronnie shook it off。
〃They shot at somebody；〃 he said。 〃You don't know they hit anyone。〃
〃But the girls are up there … you know that。〃
He knew that； he could close his eyes and see Raffa's face； smell her hair。
〃They're in the ravine。 They're in cover somewhere。 And the hunters wouldn't shoot the girls right off。。。。〃 He wished he hadn't said it； that thought was no better。
〃If Bubbles tried to fight … she's kind of wild sometimes。〃
〃Petris sent one of the preeves up to the high trail； he said。 Could have been that。 And the hunter might've missed。 And we can't even be sure where the shot came from。〃 Although he was sure enough： high on the ridge； south of them。
That put it too close to the girls； entirely too close。 The hunters were supposed to e this way； and fall into the trap he and George had spent the afternoon constructing。 They were just off one of the larger trails； that angled up and over the gap between the main ridge and the outlying northern hill。
Time had gone rubbery； he did not want to trust George's watch。 His had not survived the crash。 George's could have been damaged。 He was aware that not trusting a watch was as silly and dangerous as not trusting the instruments in an aircraft； he knew he'd had a concussion。 But time felt wrong； the glowing digits seemed to hang forever or race past。 A vague irritation seized him： he had had the concussion； he shouldn't be having to calm George。
Another shot； more distant。 His shoulders twitched。 He had thought during Petris's briefing that he understood exactly where everyone would be； at least to start with。 Now he found he could not remember who might be southward on the ridge； or on the west side。。。。 He felt