Verde River
by
Ben Swindler
Girl’s head popped up quick and sharp. A low, quiet growl came from her. That growl meant danger. Something was out there, but I couldn’t see it.
The rain had come late this fall, but it was heavy now. The Verde was low, and the animals had gone into the hills. I hoped the rain would bring them back. Girl was nuzzled next to me. I stroked the sweet spot between her eyes and continued looking out the hunting blind for movement.
“Girl, free,” I whispered. She was out of the blind in a hurry. I moved to follow. She was thorough, darting side to side with her nose to the ground, gathering information. I could barely keep up, but I knew the path well. The heavy rain was covering my sounds and trail.
Girl had been with me for fourteen moons, my only companion since the world crumbled from chemical devastation. We knew each other like the sun warms a face. She flitted into my life, soaked and matted, hurt and hungry. Now, we were bonded. I hoped she stayed, but I wouldn’t force her.
We made it home, and she stopped me at the edge of the trees. Her growl was low. Something was around. We both knew it. She sniffed it, and I felt it. The irradiated wicked things had been creeping around for weeks. They were vile and malevolent. Evil wanted to irradicate good. We had seen the signs near the homestead. She smelled them with her searching nose. I saw the bent grass and broken branches. They kept tightening the circle around us, avoiding my traps. The tumbled world had made people turn, and that turn was against each other. But I’d kept us safe this long.
I sent her on rounds with a quick sign. She picked up on the training well and knew how to make sure the area and house were secure. I waited at the tree line. She came back too quickly and poked my leg with her wet nose. She didn’t sit. It was time to run.
The river was the path to escape. They wouldn’t be able to follow us on the water. I had made my peace with the Verde with my pain, and she would let us in. But we needed provisions to survive. The best go bag was inside, but Girl’s poke told me that wasn’t an option. They were close. That left the one in the well. The watertight bag keeping it safe.
“Girl, guard,” I said. Her unblinking eyes were confirmation of understanding.
I ran to the well and yanked the rope up. The water was holding it down, but my adrenaline helped. I heard the screech. Girl tensed. Two more pulls, and I had the bag. Another screech told me they were coming.
“Girl, Verde,” I hissed, and we ran—her one path, me another. My traps needed to slow them. She’d meet me there. I hoped because I needed her.
The rain had come late this fall, but it was heavy now. The Verde was low, and the animals had gone into the hills. I hoped the rain would bring them back. Girl was nuzzled next to me. I stroked the sweet spot between her eyes and continued looking out the hunting blind for movement.
“Girl, free,” I whispered. She was out of the blind in a hurry. I moved to follow. She was thorough, darting side to side with her nose to the ground, gathering information. I could barely keep up, but I knew the path well. The heavy rain was covering my sounds and trail.
Girl had been with me for fourteen moons, my only companion since the world crumbled from chemical devastation. We knew each other like the sun warms a face. She flitted into my life, soaked and matted, hurt and hungry. Now, we were bonded. I hoped she stayed, but I wouldn’t force her.
We made it home, and she stopped me at the edge of the trees. Her growl was low. Something was around. We both knew it. She sniffed it, and I felt it. The irradiated wicked things had been creeping around for weeks. They were vile and malevolent. Evil wanted to irradicate good. We had seen the signs near the homestead. She smelled them with her searching nose. I saw the bent grass and broken branches. They kept tightening the circle around us, avoiding my traps. The tumbled world had made people turn, and that turn was against each other. But I’d kept us safe this long.
I sent her on rounds with a quick sign. She picked up on the training well and knew how to make sure the area and house were secure. I waited at the tree line. She came back too quickly and poked my leg with her wet nose. She didn’t sit. It was time to run.
The river was the path to escape. They wouldn’t be able to follow us on the water. I had made my peace with the Verde with my pain, and she would let us in. But we needed provisions to survive. The best go bag was inside, but Girl’s poke told me that wasn’t an option. They were close. That left the one in the well. The watertight bag keeping it safe.
“Girl, guard,” I said. Her unblinking eyes were confirmation of understanding.
I ran to the well and yanked the rope up. The water was holding it down, but my adrenaline helped. I heard the screech. Girl tensed. Two more pulls, and I had the bag. Another screech told me they were coming.
“Girl, Verde,” I hissed, and we ran—her one path, me another. My traps needed to slow them. She’d meet me there. I hoped because I needed her.