Page 145 of Long Live the King

“I daena ken, but we ought tae continue as if it has.”

I said, “Ye are a good uncle.”

He chuckled. “If I die here, I want it on m’stone, Fraoch, he was a good uncle.”

“Who is diggin’ the hole, Fraoch? Ye are imaginin’ a better scenario than this, I daena hae the strength tae dig yer grave so ye canna die. If ye do I will lay a stone upon ye that says, Fraoch, he was an arse.” I raised up on one elbow with a groan and reached out and with a trembling hand dragged the Trailblazer close. I peered down at it. “We went two and a half years.”

He dragged a bag that was slung around his leg, closer and opened it up, “Twas better. But I need tae rest afore we can go again. Want a sandwich?”

I nodded and put my hands out, but said, “Aim for m’lap, I canna trust m’eyes and hands tae work taegether.”

He lobbed the sandwich intae m’lap.

We both ate quietly, then napped for the rest of the day.

Then we ate our last sandwiches and fell intae a fitful sleep.

The next morning, Fraoch said, “I am not perfect, but we can try once more.”

“We hae eaten our last food. If we daena make it we might be so weakened we become stranded.”

“Then we ought tae go when I hae the perfect balance of hunger and will.”

We shuffled together, with our bags in our arms, and held the trailblazer between us. I said, “Daena let go.”

“I winna, not until we are there.”

Och nae.It was pouring rain down upon us.

I was wet through. I looked around blearily, there were trees a bit away. I shoved Fraoch’s shoulder. “Come on.”

He pushed his head up. I dragged myself and our bags toward the trees.

He began draggin’ himself after me.

Twas a big pine, with broad branches, dry enough under it, but the lower branches were low, we had tae lay under them for the shelter. I dropped down ontae my stomach and slept tae the chants.

I daena ken how long we were sleeping, but when we woke up the chants were still going. I begged them tae stop. I prayed they would stop.

We pulled ourselves into a huddle by a tree deeper intae the forest. He said, “I am famished.”

“Hae we entered the complainin’ part of the trip? Because with the yellin’ in m’mind I am in nae mood.”

“I hae been on m’best behavior, but aye, tis all complainin’ from here on out. Until I am fed. Ye ken how it goes.”

Long live the king, long live the king.We both stared bleary eyed out at the relentless rain until I said, “I am famished.”

He chuckled.

He said, “I daena want tae, but we ought tae see how far we hae gone.”

I dropped my head back on the tree trunk. “Och nae.”

He crawled intae the rain and grabbed the machine and looked at it.

Long live the king, long live the king....

“What does it say?”

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