The Virginity Mission Read Online Free PDF Page B

about one hundred and twenty people in this village. We’ve a quartermaster tent filled with food and supplies, a doctor’s tent and makeshift hospital, latrine areas and bathing areas. Separate to all of this are the six army guys helping mainly with transportation. You’d think with so many people you’d be able to find time to go speak with someone alone but it’s difficult. More than difficult. It’s impossible.
    If others are around Jason I don’t stop. I figure he’s busy and I don’t want to bother him. I detour past the army area about a hundred times through the day no matter where I’m heading. I want to wish him a Merry Christmas and tell him I made it, but he’s never alone. Seeing me, he’s probably worked out that I survived the trip. And I know Tim has told him. When I stopped to talk to Tim, he told me I should stay but I didn’t. Although the other army guys talk to me if they’re free, I feel out of place. Jason is effectively the army boss so he’s always with someone in charge of the expedition. I can’t be seen to be too friendly with him. I don’t want him in trouble because of me.
    If he wasn’t responding I wouldn’t keep coming over but he winks sometimes when he sees me. Sometimes he’ll give me one of those slow sexy smiles when he’s in a group and not talking. His gaze follows me, lingers on me and almost scalds me with its intensity. I blush so hard my skin burns. Once or twice he walks past me and brushes my arm or shoulder with his hand, arm or fingers. It’s enough to know he’s interested. I won’t do anything rash.
    If Mardi was here she’d walk right up and interrupt him. I’ve watched her do it to others and it always makes me cringe. I’m not like Mardi, I’m happy to take things slowly. I think he likes me but maybe it would be better if I was sure.

CHAPTER 3
    The few days in base camp before our next trip are not much relief. I’m busy with preparations and constantly surrounded by people. I see Jason every day but rarely alone and even then it’s never for more than a few moments. We exchange the normal pleasantries, a few heated looks—well, I think his are, and I want mine to be—but that’s the extent of our interaction. It would be so much easier to like one of the guys in my group but they aren’t a patch on the Panther.
    Our next trip is for three weeks so we need many more supplies. The extra food requirement means we have to get rid of clothes, sleeping bags and other luxuries. We’ve a pretty good idea of what we require after the three day trip. We rationalise equipment and food and discard unnecessary clothing. Having a weight that’s easily carried has to be the priority. For my personal gear, I have the set of clothes I’m wearing, my drink bottles and belt, and a spare shirt, socks and underwear. I have a raincoat, camera, diary and pencils, pocket knife, spoon, mug and plate, toothbrush and sleeping sheet. We minimise our mess kit, taking a spoon to double as a fork, a pocket knife instead of any other knife, a mug that doubles as a bowl and a plate. Everything’s cut to the bare minimum. Food and equipment are shared amongst the group. The weight is more than I care to know; it’s a lot heavier than the three day pack. I can carry it and walk with it and that’s all I care about. The weight is determined by what you’re fit enough to carry. My pack is the lightest of my group but I’ve never carried one so heavy.
    The night before we’re to leave, I still haven’t found Jason alone. I want to find him, to be near him. I don’t exactly have anything to say and I’m not going to jump him. I want to, but I’m not that gutsy. I think he’s interested but I’ve never been the girl someone’s interested in. I’m the girl that guys hang around with until they find a girl to go