Page 28 of Captured on Film
“We have a few tricks to hide the most obvious differences.But yes, and we’re invested in our community.” She patted his cheek beforestepping back. “I’m the sort of person who has lots of friends and knows allher neighbors.”
“I’m not.” He desperately missed his tiny, tidy apartmentand the privacy it guaranteed. “Maybe just loan me a razor?”
“Ever shave with a straight edge?”
Caleb’s shoulders sagged in defeat.
Hesper took a coaxing tone. “We bears are big, and we can beformidable, but we’ve a light touch. I’ll be careful, and you’ll feel moreyourself. Am I right?”
She was.
“We can wait until your brother’s awake. Moral support.” Hesperchuckled. “Set a good example, too. He’s shaggier than the hind-end of a yak.”
“All right. I’ll let you.” It would be a relief. Give himback something lost. Glancing around, he asked, “What about shoes?”
Hesper grimaced faintly. “You won’t be allowed any.”
He was about to protest, since he wouldn’t get far if he wasbarefoot. But at the same time, he realized that this was undoubtedly thepoint.
They may as well have shackled him.
Answer Me
“Maybe you should go on back,” said Hesper.
“If they won’t give me shoes, then I’ll just have to toughenmy feet.” Caleb, now cleanshaven, stubbornly picked his way along a path thatwas barely wide enough for rabbits. Nessie didn’t mind, though. If her tail-waggingwas any indicator, she approved of both the trail and its most recent occupants.
“I’m one of them, you know. Are you sure you should beconfiding in me?”
“Don’t make light of this,” he muttered. “It’s … it’scaptivity!”
“You made all this trouble for yourself. What are you evendoing in our territory?”
Caleb stepped on something and paused to brush at the bottomof his foot. Irritation sharpened his tone. “Looking for bigfoot.”
“What? You?” Hesper snorted. “No.”
“What can I say? My brother’s a true believer. Or something.That’s the whole point of this … this expedition.”
Mouth twisted to keep from laughing, she glanced back towardthe crevice that apparently served as the den’s doggie door. “Speaking of yourbrother ….”
“Caleb! Are you hearing me?” bellowed Josheb fromsomewhere inside. “Caleb!”
Sucking in a lungful of air, he hollered, “Here! I’m here!” Andbecause she would get there faster, Caleb unfastened Nessie’s leash. “Go on,girl. Get to Josheb. Find Josheb.”
She bayed and bounded toward his voice, which hadn’tstopped.
“Caleb! Tell me you’re safe!”
“Coming!”
Heedless of the path, Caleb stumbled back the way he’d come,bruising his soles in the process. By the time he reached Josheb, his brotherwas sitting up in bed, eyes wide, using Nessie as a shield against Andor, who’dmoved to the far corner.
Hesper jostled past Caleb, quicker than he would haveexpected. She had a hand on Andor’s arm, and she was talking in a low voice.Probably translating.
Limping a little, Caleb closed the distance and dropped to aseat beside his brother. “I’m here. We’re safe.”
“We found him!” Josheb hissed, pointing at Andor. “Bigfoot’sreal.”
