Page 39 of Captured on Film
Checking his phone, Josheb said, “Sun won’t be up for awhile, but I’m beginning to think our cohorts don’t sleep. Like, at all.”
Cohorts. It was nicer than captors.
And if Eri was right, it was true.
Josheb elbowed him and asked, “In the mood for ravioli?”
With a nod and a smile, Caleb replied, “Set me up.”
Show Dog
“It’s September.” Caleb marked his place with hispencil before tucking the field journal under his pillow.
“I can tell,” said Josheb, who was going through his morningworkout. “Days are getting shorter. Nights are getting colder.”
“Leaves are starting to change. Early gold in the aspens.”
“I didn’t realize you were still keeping track.”
“It’s my job. Documentation, remember?” Josheb’s phonebattery had given up days ago, so Caleb was down to analog methods oftimekeeping.
“We might be stuck here a while.”
Caleb snorted. “I’ve been trying to tell you that since wegot here.”
“Yeah, well … you’re the smart one.”
“Breakfast?” suggested Caleb.
“Smells good enough to eat.”
They followed their noses to the kitchen and drew up short. Andorand Hesper were at the table, and Oaken was at the hearth, stirring the morningstew.
“He’s back,” whispered Josheb.
Caleb elbowed his brother and said, “Welcome back, Oaken.”
He turned from his task and smiled a greeting.
“Uhh … he’s not alone.” Josheb pointed to the shaggy rugbefore the fire. A big dog with reddish fur sprawled beside Nessie, tonguelolling, tail wagging. “Hey, Oaken. You went and bought a dog?”
Hesper translated his question, then relayed, “Oaken says,‘he followed me home.’”
They went back and forth like this, with Hesper stuck in themiddle.
“Why’d he follow you?”
“Curiosity.”
“Is he a wolf?”
“A dog.”
Josheb wasn’t giving up. “What’s his name?”
“He doesn’t want to say. Call him whatever you want.”
Caleb dropped onto his usual chair. He thought a betterquestion might have been …whodidn’t want to say. Because Hesper saidit in a way that gave him the distinct impression that she meant the dog. NotOaken.
