Page 14 of Sheltering Instinct

She should never forget how life-threatening things could turn in a flash—in the swing of an arm and a plea for help. One minute, things were happy. And the next, she was running for her life.

Chapter Four

Tess

Break of day

Big Daddy Dune, Namibia

A polite line of international travelers stood by the three-sided, last-opportunity, open-air latrine. Gwen held out her packet of wet wipes.

Tess pulled out a sheet. “Thanks. No water out here. What do you think of that decision?”

Gwen tugged a sheet for herself, then slid the packet into her pocket. “I see a lot of tourists dressed for the cold morning desert. I don’t think they can fathom how hot it will get when this sand heats. And not knowing that means they didn’t come prepared in other ways. Salty snacks.”

“I could use something salty right now. I’m still hungry from when we left yesterday.”

“Yeah? The packet of instant oatmeal didn’t do it for you?” Gwen chuckled. “You are so bad at being hungry.”

“I earned that trait honestly. But we’ve been spoiled by the amazing campfire meals we’ve had on assignments over the years. I think that’s why I’m extra disappointed.” Tess gestured to the people in line. “I don’t fault these folks. You’d think their guides would, I don’t know, guide them? People can’t understand the ramifications of something like two percent humidity unless they’ve experienced it. I mean, you can’t think ahead if you have no clue what’s on the horizon.” Tess lifted her chin. “Did you bring water?”

“I have a liter in my pack.” Gwen adjusted her strap as both women stepped forward with the line. “With this heat, thatshould be enough to cover our time here and get back to the vehicle.”

Casting her gaze about, Tess said, “Since this place is tourist only, you’d think there should be at least some kind of vending machine situation, even if it’s not cooled. But with solar panels, a cold drink could be available. A water source of some kind seems important, right?”

“You’re like Miss Hyper-Prepared. I can’t imagine you not having seven scenarios you’d extrapolated and built contingency plans around, except maybe bringing enough meal replacement bars. You're pretty annoying about all that if I were to be perfectly honest.”

“Let’s not be.” Tess slid her sunglasses off, then put them back in place.

“Okay, it’s also true that listening to your thoughts of potential doom, while irritating—”

Tess smiled. “A given.”

“It’s also one of the reasons why I always feel safe around you. You plan, and I coast. Sorry, not sorry.” She twitched her knees back and forth. “This is taking forever. What’s wrong with these people’s systems?”

“Too much half-cooked rice?” Tess offered. “About being prepared, that’s reflexive from my childhood. But as I said earlier, I can’t prepare for everything because I don’t know everything. Right?”

“Uhm. Nope, I’m not following.”

As Tess stepped forward with the line. “Here’s an example. I had a scary thing happen simply because I didn’t know what I didn’t know.” She focused back on Gwen. “I was visiting a friend in Midland, Texas, and decided to change my airline ticket, drive to the Grand Canyon, and check some things off my iconic-must-do list. I’d drive over the Hoover Dam, thenI’d fly out of the hub in Vegas, which would give me two more checks.”

Gwen smirked. “You were unprepared for all of the Elvis interpreters?”

“No. I was unprepared for the nothingness. On the East Coast, you get on the highway, and every thirty minutes or so, there’s a gas station and some kind of food and toilet,” she gestured toward the latrine as someone rounded out of the facility, and the line took another step forward. “Typically, when traveling, I fill up when my tank dips under half-filled. You never know when an accident or some such will leave you idling on the highway, and you don’t want to run out of gas. I was on three-quarters tank this time, but as I drove by a gas station, I thought I’d just top it off and grab a cup of coffee.”

“Good decision, I take it.” Gwen pulled off her sunglasses, exhaled on the lenses, and polished them with the hem of her T-shirt.

“I drove down the highway, and suddenly, it was the desert. The cute kind with cactus and–”

“Dirt?” Gwen chuckled.

“Yeah, that kind of desert.”

“This must have been a while ago if you thought there was cute dirt.”

“Undergrad. So I got out and was taking pictures.”

“Of the dirt.” Gwen grinned broadly, looking thoroughly amused.

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