Page 76 of Storm over the Caribbean
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Water. Cool, blissful water on my skin. Ah, that amazing feeling. I sighed. Finally, I’d found some liquid! We weren’t going to die of thirst! We weren’t going to—
I frowned.
Something wasn’t entirely right. It was liquid, yes. Marvellous, magnificent, life-saving liquid. But…why was it all over my face?
And…
Why did it smell of dog?
“Woof!”
“Agh! Yuk! What the bloody hell…?”
Sputtering, I pushed the stupid mutt away, but not in time to avoid having my face enthusiastically licked one last time. Ducking out of the way of another lick-attack, I looked around, blinking in the morning sunlight. I…had slept? For an entire night?
And my throat felt like it. It was dry enough that for a second, just one second, I considered licking up the dog saliva.
I had to get water.Right now.
Just then, a yip from Fence interrupted my deep, philosophical thoughts. Blinking, I watched as he turned and trotted out of the cave. Did he want to play with the stickagain? That bloody dog had no sense of timing! I couldn’t waste my time on him right now.
I need to find water! Everyone and everything needs water to survive. I have to—
I froze.
Water.
Everyone and everything needs water to survive. Including animals. Like dogs.
My head jerked up, just in time to see Fence’s tail vanishing between the trees.
Crapfriggshitcrap!
Leaping up from where I was lying beside Mr Ambrose, I dashed out of the cave at full speed. And I don’t mean pregnant-starving-thirsty-lady top speed. I mean top speed, period. Yet despite this, I could hardly keep up. Ahead of me, I could hear the mutt racing through jungle.
Bloody hell, why does he have to be that fast?
Crap, crap, crap!
Somehow, some way, I managed to catch up to him. Fence glanced sideways, spotted me jogging beside him—then yipped excitedly and sped up.
“This isn’t a bloody race!” I shouted after the frigging mutt. “We aren’t doing this for fun!”
In response, he sped up some more.
“Slow down! Slow down, you bloody infuriating fleabag son of a bitch!”
Honestly, it felt quite good to say that without it technically being an insult.
Fence, however, did not seem to agree. He didn’t slow down. He didn’t come back to me to helpfully lead his new owner and designated stick-thrower to the nearest source of water. Instead, he sped up again. By now, I couldn’t even see him anymore.
“Stop, you stupid over-enthusiastic mutt!”
“Woof!”
My head whirled towards the sound, and instantly, I changed my direction, barrelling through the underbrush. As long as I could follow the sounds, this could still work!
