Danger at Dahlkari Read Online Free PDF Page B

I—I’m trying—”
    And then I saw the tears in her eyes, and I hated myself for not realizing what she was doing. Her chatter about clothes didn’t mean she was insensitive. Quite the contrary. She was chattering to keep from thinking, trying to distract me at the same time, and I loved her for it. I put my arms around her, and we comforted each other as best we could, silent now as night noises surrounded us, birds calling quietly, leaves rustling, a single ray of moonlight slanting through the limbs overhead and dusting us with softly diffused silver. Time passed, and I grew drowsy, but I knew it would be impossible to sleep, knew it would be foolish even to hope for sleep, and hours seemed to pass and insects buzzed with a monotonous rhythm and the birds called out and somehow, somehow I slept.
    The monkey jabbered loudly, mocking me, and I awoke with a start, staring up at that tiny, wizened gray face framed with black fur. The monkey gave a loud, shrill cry and swung to another limb, disappearing from sight. I was stiff and sore, my hair tangled, my white muslin dress streaked with dirt and stains. Gleaming yellow-gold rays of sunlight spilled through the canopy of leaves overhead to make shadow-flecked pools all around. It took me a moment to realize where I was, and then I gasped, realizing that I was alone. Where was Sally? What had happened to her? I stood up, my heart palpitating, and then I heard her voice.
    â€œNot for you, you little scoundrel. Get away now. Go on. My, you are persistent!”
    I stepped through the shrubbery and onto the narrow pathway just in time to see a rosy-cheeked and radiant Sally holding up a piece of fruit to a nimble gray monkey who, hanging from a branch by one hand, seized the treasure with the other, chattering excitedly and scurrying on up the tree with his bounty. Sally held several pieces of fruit gathered up and caught in the fold of her skirt.
    â€œOh, you’re up. I don’t rightly know what they are ,” she said, “but I saw a monkey eating them and figured they couldn’t be poisonous. There’re two kinds, one bright red, one brownish orange. I imagine they’re something like pomegranates.”
    â€œThank God,” I whispered. “I woke up, and when you weren’t there—”
    â€œI’ve been up for hours,” Sally admitted. “Thought I’d best go scouting for food and water. I didn’t have any luck with water, but I did find these—I was rather hoping for bananas. Do bananas grow in India? Anyway, they’re delicious. I’ve already eaten two.”
    â€œYou shouldn’t have gone off like that,” I scolded.
    â€œOh, I carried my gun. Gives me such a feeling of security. I didn’t see any cobras, just those adorable monkeys and the pret tiest birds! Lovely flowers, too, blue and purple and white and pink. Here, Miss Lauren, eat some of these. They’ll help quench your thirst, too.”
    I was ravenously hungry, thirsty as well, and the fruit helped considerably. Sally continued to talk about her explorations, determinedly cheerful, as though this were one grand lark we had planned ourselves, and I admired her attitude. Panic wouldn’t help. We were stranded in the middle of the wilderness, without proper food or water, and only sheer fortitude would see us through. We were still alive, and that was something of a miracle. I finished the fruit, wiping my hands on the tattered hem of my skirt, feeling much better.
    â€œIt seems we’re in a bit of a mess,” I remarked.
    â€œYes, indeed,” Sally replied, “but we’ll muster through. We English are celebrated for it. Stiff upper lip and all that. It isn’t going to be easy , but we’ll make it.”
    â€œOf course we will.”
    â€œThe—the Thugs are gone. They never came looking for us, so—so perhaps we’re safe on that score. Then again, those men who knew we