Kalahari Read Online Free PDF Page B

delicate antelope, no bigger than a cat, sprang away with its tail flashing white like a rabbit’s.
    When I saw Joey, I skidded to a halt, sending up a spray of sand, but not in time to avoid crashing into the porcupine he’d been feeding.
    I’ve run into a lot of things in the wild, but I’ve never smacked full tilt into a porcupine that stands as tall as my waist. I managed to turn enough that I hit it with my back and not my front, shrieking as the quills stabbed into the skin just below my right shoulder. I twisted aside and landed roughly on my stomach in the sand. The porcupine skittered off, minus a dozen or so quills, which were now protruding from my back. I moaned and pushed myself to my knees as the others arrived.
    Miranda shrieked as the porcupine ran past her.
    “Sarah!” Sam yelled. “What happened? Are you okay?”
    Joey stood with a look of shock as Miranda squealed and Sam and Avani rushed to me. They helped me stand, and I winced as the movement made the quills stab me more. I pulled most of them out with one grab, but Avani had to carefully extract the ones that had punctured deeper, her touch surprisingly gentle.
    “My parents are both doctors,” she said, as if that meant they’d magically transferred their skills and training to her. “And you, honey, need an antibiotic of some sort. Some of these cuts are deep.”
    “Neosporin at the camp,” I gasped out.
    I leaned on her as we made our way back. Darkness was falling quickly, and Joey led the way with my flashlight, taking care to hold aside any branches in my path, trying to make up for getting me impaled, I guessed.
    Back at the fire, Avani smoothly applied the Neosporin and a few bandages, decided I was going to in fact survive, and then proceeded to instruct me on how often to change the bandages. I thanked her for her help, and she began to arrange and categorize the leaves she’d been collecting.
    “Sorry,” said Joey, though he didn’t really look it. “I could have told you to stop if you hadn’t come charging in like that.”
    “Dude, you were feeding the thing,” said Kase. “You’re an idiot.”
    “Yeah, I know.” Joey stretched his arms and grinned. “I was just taking a walk, minding my own business, and he came right up to me! I gave him the rest of my burger bun.”
    “Theo’s been feeding a pair of them,” I said. “He’s got a soft spot for them. I guess you found one of his tame ones.”
    “You feeling all right?” asked Sam.
    “Sure. I’ve had worse.” Still no sign of Dad. I radioed again, this time with everyone watching, their eyes round and worried, but got no reply. I don’t think I even expected one.
    “What do you think happened?” Avani asked softly.
    I shrugged. “Most likely a tire blew, or the truck got bogged down.”
    “Is he lost?”
    “Not with Theo, no.” The Bushman could track a leopard for miles through the bush; he’d never lose his way, not with the Cruiser’s tracks to follow.
    “What do we do if they don’t come back?” asked Kase.
    I shrugged again, then sighed and said, “He’ll come back, don’t worry.” I looked around at their faces, saw the weariness there, and added, “You guys must have jet lag. You should sleep. I’ll stay up till Dad gets back. When you wake up, everything will be just fine. I promise.”
    They nodded, and one by one they rose and wandered off until only Sam was left. He watched me with solemn green eyes, his mouth pursed into a frown.
    “Sarah,” he said. “You’re worried.”
    “You talk like you know me,” I said, attempting and failing at lightness.
    “Well.” He looked down at his hands. “I guess I should tell you—”
    He was interrupted by a shriek from the girls’ tent. We both jumped up as Avani and Miranda tumbled out of the tent, Avani in her bra and underwear and Miranda in a skimpy nightgown despite the cool night air.
    At once, Kase was there, taking Miranda in his arms, and Joey seemed ready to do the same