Anita's web site

Chapter Forty Five
 
 
 

The huge sign came into view and upon nearing the area Sky slowed the Harley Davidson Sportster.  It was still as beautiful as she remembered.  If anyone had doubts about the Beverly Hilton, this sign should take those away.

Beverly Hills!  The very name signifies elegance, wealth, movie stars and glamour.  The Beverly Hilton is the epitome of all those things.  Some of the most glittering events in this star-packed city have taken place in the famed International Ballroom.  Hotel guests are constantly treated to the sight of limousine-chauffeured celebrities posing for a phalanx of photographers and TV cameras on their way to the Gala events held almost every night in one of the massive ballrooms.  For an unforgettable time, stay at the Beverly.

Sky had stopped the cycle and was now walking to a hill that overlooked the area.  The Beverly Hills Hotel set majestically above Sunset Boulevard welcoming royalty, legends, world leaders and luminaries with its lush gardens, graceful palms, and unparalleled beauty.  If not for the fog that rolled in from time to time a person might think they had landed in paradise.  She had attended many galas, met many prominent people at these events and still walked away with a sense of emptiness.  A feeling she never really understood until she had arrived in Springfield.  Her life had changed and each day she hoped to bring Bobie Parker back into her embrace and into her live forever.

Stretching, she then walked back to the motorcycle, donned the helmet quickly sitting on the soft leather seat before beginning to follow the roadway toward the entrance of the Beverly Hilton.  Slowing the bike as she neared the lush red carpet she pulled onto a maintenance side road.  Before long Sky was walking toward a young valet who upon seeing her smiled ear to ear and dropped what he had been doing to head her way.

 "Miss. Richmond!  So happy to see you again!"  The young man spouted and looked like he had just seen the Queen of England, or in Hollywood perhaps Julia Roberts.

Sky smiled, held out a hand to shake the man’s outstretched hand before saying,  "Good to see you too, Anthony.   How have you been?"

He gazed toward the woman’s sierra red Sportster 1200 and replied,  "Busy as usual here, but no one that even comes close to you."

Sky winked at the man.  "Keep talking like that Anthony and it will get you everywhere."

He turned crimson and began to sputter,  "You . . . you . . . you always know . . .  know how to get to me."

Sky handed him the keys to the Sportster before she leaned down placing a soft kiss on his forehead.  "You will watch this for me?  I have to see Tara Coltrane."

 "Yes.  I will guard it with my life."

 "Not your life Anthony.  Just make sure no one takes it for a spin.  Can you tell me where Tara might be?"

He was still a shade of red as he pointed toward the lush hibiscus, blooming bougainvillea and tropical palms.  "She is in the second bungalow.  But I don’t think that she is in."

 "Thanks, you are a doll.  Be back soon."

He stood, mouth agape staring at the woman as she walked away.  Then turned to admire Sky Richmond’s motorcycle.  In the back of his mind he hoped one day she would take him for a spin, the very thought of sitting behind her, arms around her waist, his head on her back would be heaven.
 
 

It didn’t take Sky’s lengthy legs long to take her to the front door of Tara’s bungalow.  After many knocks and ringing the buzzer, she decided to take a look out back.  Sky was glad that Bengal worked with the security force that covered this area and was well aware of all the security the hotel placed for the guests safety.

Making her way to the pool area, Sky stopped to gaze at the Jacuzzi and the empty bottles of champagne left casually near by.  Shaking her head she muttered,  "Tara you must have a hangover."  She knew that Tara Coltrane was a woman that liked to party and a person that enjoyed all the perks that came with  wealth and power.

Sky used her pass key to enter the bungalow.  There was no sign of Tara and she hadn’t even thought what might happen if she did find the woman in some sort of state.  The fireplace looked as if it had not been used, nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary.  The bath had been used recently, candles still set along the sides as well it was here she found more empty bottles of champagne.

Finally making it into the large bedroom, Sky stopped and stared at the Queen-sized bed.  It was rumpled and from the looks, someone had a good tumble or two the night before.  She was going through a dresser drawer when the picture caught her eye.  It was one that was taken in Africa.  Skylar was standing next to Tara who had her right arm around Sky, the woman was so close it was as if they were joined at the hip.

Clucking her tongue against the roof of her mouth, Sky reached out to touch the picture.  She recalled all too well when this was taken.  Tara Coltrane had become a thorn in her side and it didn’t make any difference where she went, the woman would miraculously appear.

There were times Sky hoped they would work together but instead Tara was always out for her own, always working on some angle and always trying to get the best of Sky and whatever she was doing.  Just about to give the up the search, Sky spotted a piece of paper hanging out of a notebook.  She picked up the book and took out the paper.

Call Bockenheimer, Dallas, Texas.  The words leaped off the paper as she read them, for awhile she had suspected Tara having a hand in some unscrupulous goings on but she now knew the woman was at least going to contact this lawyer.  Things were beginning to line up and Skylar did not like the direction they seemed to be heading.

Putting the paper back into the book and placing it in the drawer she took a last look at the picture of the two women and it was then her mind began to think back, back to Africa and what had occurred there.
 
 

She looked to the south as if to see beyond the dancing waves of heat rising from the earth sucked dry of moisture.  There had been no rain for months, the land as well as the animals were showing the severe signs.  Skylar Richmond had been in the area of  Botswana for several weeks.  What had begun as a short trip to scout the area for Bengal Corporations had suddenly become much more.

It was on a Monday she finally got hold of Bernie Herbella and informed the man that these people needed help.  He assured her that a cargo plane would be sent with food, water and medical equipment as soon as he could make the arrangements.

Sky smiled as she thought of Bern, he had been a good friend and ally for her and her work since she had come aboard this very diverse and lucrative corporation.  It seemed the long arms of Bengal spread half way around the world if not further.   This day she had been on Safari with several native men to scout the area well known as, Tsodilo Hills.  The lonely chunks of rock that rose abruptly rippled by an ocean like expanse of desert was beautiful, yet some have said deadly to those that ventured beyond.

Sky recalled the magnificence of Australia’s Uluru and to her these seemed to be similar in the way they formed the area.   Glancing at her watch, she hoped the cargo plane would soon arrive.
 

Still vividly in her mind was the icy finger that had stroked her spine when the convoy came upon those children.  The anguish she felt at the appalling sight of  them gathered at the roadside, enormous blank eyes, eyes filled with pain and suffering set upon skeletal faces crawling with flies.

Natimka her guide did not want to stop but she insisted.  They were not there for long but long enough to leave some supplies for them.  Though the guide did what she asked, he kept telling her that this was a mistake that others would hear of the beautiful woman with hair as red as their sun, and of the supplies.

Children groped at her, some hanging unto her legs as she tried to walk.  Skylar smiled, did her best to calm the children.  It was Natimka that finally ended the meeting.  He fired his machine gun into the air sending children scurrying into the brush.  It was then he grabbed Skylar’s right arm and pushed her toward the jeep.

He had been right, they hadn’t gotten too far down the road when the convoy was stopped by a tribe of natives, all branding machetes, spears, bows and arrows.  The roadway was blocked.  Skylar glanced toward Natimka who had a look of disgust on his face.

 "What happens now?"  Sky asked.

 "I was afraid of something like this,"  Natimka replied dryly.

 "Just couldn’t stand to see those children like that."  Skylar looked at the man hoping he would show some acknowledgment for what they had done.

"In this country, you cannot do things like this, there is not enough for everyone and people are hurting.  They will kill for food, clothing, even water.  You are a good person Skylar Richmond, my people are lucky to have someone like you to care.  But, there are some that would soon as not slit your throat."

 "Thanks, I really needed to hear that,"  Sky sat back and stared at the natives that had gathered in their path.  "What do you suggest we do?"   She asked the man.

He stood, made several signals to the vehicles behind them and the men that were now sitting behind Gatling guns mounted on the vehicles.  "We clear the way."

Sky reached out to touch the man’s arm.  "No, there has been enough bloodshed.  Let me talk to them."

 "My boss, said to protect you and make your trip as pleasant as possible.  He would have my head if you get yourself killed trying to talk to these people.  The only thing they understand is violence."

"I am a firm believer in peace and in people.  Let me do this.  I will not get close.  Give me the chance to at least try.  No more bloodshed."

He sighed, leaned forward and whispered,   "All right, but you will not go alone."

Sky gazed at the man’s tan fatigues, the heat had wilted the creases he was so proud of and dirt and sweat stains had now smudged the uniform.  He carried an SMG slung over his left shoulder.  "These people know what guns are, the militants as well as other tribes preying on those that cannot fight back.  You stay here."

"What about you?   He asked, a look of dismay running across his face."

Sky stepped from the jeep, gazed up at the man and replied,  "If something happens to me, just get word back to Bengal.  Now, give the order to hold off on the firepower."

He shrugged, turned to wave at the others behind him and then back at the woman that was now making her way toward a bevy of native warriors; some with face paint and many looking like they had their prey cornered and were about to make a kill.  He had to give it to the woman, she was gutsy.  Either that or the dry heat had gotten to her brain and cooked it.   Glancing at his watch, he readied for another gunfight.

Skylar stopped when she was within twenty paces of the people, swallowing she felt a knot build in her throat.  She had been thinking with each step she took, just what was she going to say?  And now she was there, seeing each person closer and knowing that on their faces was a look of anguish, suffering and suddenly she felt like the main course.

Holding her right hand up in peace, she then brought it down to her heart and declared,  "We come in peace."

"Peace?  Your men carry guns, you carry a gun, a tall willowy man stepped forward.  He was wearing what looked like a tattered blanket.  His right hand clung to the handle of a machete that had seen some hard times."

"They will not harm you, if you do not harm them.  We want merely to pass and be on our way."

His face was dark, skin looking like sandpaper as he took several steps toward her.  "You come to our land, invade our villages and yet dare travel our roads.  Leave your supplies, and we will let you pass."   His eyes traveled to the men sitting behind their guns.

"Can’t do that.  If we do what you ask, then we will have nothing.  I have sent for a plane load of supplies.  These should be arriving within the next day or two.  Tell your people to come to . . ."

"No   Give us our supplies now!  My people are hungry, cold, sick.  We have heard the drums, the messages about a tall woman, a woman that walks in the sun of our Gods.  You are our messenger, our help."
 

Baturouh walked to the jeep and looked up at Natimka.  "Did you know she could speak the language?"

Natimka glanced down at the man.  He was of small stature but one that was agile as a cheetah.  Baturouh was a good man, and one he had grown to depend on.  "No. But with that one, nothing seems to be impossible."

"She is going to get all of us killed."  Baturouh kicked at the dirt as foggy clouds of dust bellowed like a hellish mist into the sky.

"They are nothing to our guns.  Just be on alert, if this does not go as Skylar Richmond thinks, be ready to fire."

The man nodded and walked back to his vehicle all the time shaking his head at the stupidity of this American woman.

Skylar tried to swallow again this time it went down and seemed to stick somewhere between her chest and stomach.  "I am called, Skylar, and you are?"

It took the man little time to appear at Sky’s side.  He walked around her, each time stopping to take her form into his eyes.  Sky knew the man was trying to sense fear, hoping she would make a mistake but she stood tall.  Any fear, any sense of escape had been locked in her psyche.  If this man wanted to play scare tactics she would play.

He was now standing in front of the woman, his machete close to Skylar’s throat, his eyes looking more like a vipers than a humans.  "What will you do if I should cut you?"

Sky stood firm, her eyes on the man’s hand as it shook.  "You don’t want to do that.  No one will walk away from here alive.   I promise you, supplies."  She was quick, so quick the man never even saw her hand.  It seemed to be a flash as she blocked his hand, grasped the machete and tossed it to the bushes.  He stood, staring at the woman, and took several steps backward.

Sky reached into a leather holster on her belt and pulled out the knife she kept there.  "You don’t want that old thing anyway.   As a gesture of friendship, take mine."   She held it toward the man.

"You give me your knife?  What kind of white man’s trick is this?"

Sky smiled.   "No trick.  It is a gift."

He seemed hesitant at first but soon stepped forward to gaze at the shining metal.  Eyes grew wide at the craftsmanship in the wood handle.  "We will let you pass on your word when I see the big bird in the sky we can get supplies."

She nodded.  "Agreed."   Handing the knife to the man she asked,  "You know my name, what is yours?"

He was still staring at the knife when he replied,   "Mako.  Til we meet again."   Turning to his people he made several signals with his hands and they dissipated into the brush.  Sky turned and began to walk back to the jeep and to the amazed faces of the men still sitting near their guns.

Quickly climbing into the jeep she glanced at Natimka, he held a pair of binoculars pressed to his eyes, a walkie talkie at his mouth as he now talked with spotters in the outlands.  Sky sat back against the hard seat and waited til he was finished.  "They are gone.  Can we go now?"   she asked.

He slid down on the seat, hands on the steering wheel and turned to look at her.  "Road is clear.  He could have slit your throat."

Sky closed her eyes for a moment before replying,   "He could have tried.  Now can we go?  I want to set up a base camp before tonight."

The engine roared as the man downshifted and said,  "You are even more than I have read about.  I am shaking in my  shoes and you are the one that faced those people.  Still have to wonder, are you real, Skylar Richmond or a figment of my overactive imagination?"
 
 

It was late afternoon and the camp had been set up near the base of Tsodilo hills.  Skylar was standing, hands on her hips as she watched the magnificence of the sunlight casting fleeting hallucinations on the land.  Natimka had just finished his rounds and was now heading toward the woman.

She was dressed in a khaki safari outfit, brown Bushman’s hat, and the shoulder pistol could now be seen as she shed the light jacket with all its many pockets.  The woman’s flaming hair shone brightly in the stark, late-afternoon sunshine.  She did indeed embody the resemblance of the Sun Goddess, the one deity many tribes did believe in.

 "Might want to consider covering your head with a bandana or something?"   He asked approaching the woman.

Sky turned to look at the man before she replied,  "If it is the sun you are thinking might give me heatstroke my hat will do a good job of shielding this."

"Not that, it’s your hair.  The color, the length, your height, your beauty, some could mistake you for . . ."

Sky reached out, placed a hand on the man’s shoulder.  "A sun god or something?  I know about it.  Don’t worry, I’m not a god and have no desire to cover my head with a bandana."

"Even if it would be the wise thing to do?"   Natimka asked, as he bit at his bottom lip.

"You’re worried, I can see this.  Do not be.  I will take some pictures tomorrow, do some sleuthing, a little test here and there.  I promise not to mess up anything.  Then we can get back.  I have a plane to meet and people to take care of."

He removed the beret that had been rakishly clinging over one bushy eyebrow.  Quickly running his fingers through his short dark curls he shook his head.  "You are a hard one to figure out Skylar Richmond.  You have come to a land that is filled with violence.  Yet you face tribesmen as if you are facing an injured zebra."

Sky smiled and walked past the man toward the camp.  "Think I will get some shut eye.  Wake me when it is time to eat?"

He watched her walk away, her hair bouncing gleefully upon her shoulders and sighed.  She was a woman like none he had ever seen. He now knew that guarding her would be a handful and then some.  Glancing toward the east, he hastily turned to hurry back to camp.
 
 

That evening at camp, Sky sat around the fire with Natimka and a few of the other men.  She was very aware of how the men looked at her, she had been the camp’s discussion for the day.  Smiling, she began to partake in the meal.

"This is a beautiful yet eerie area, I have heard that some think of this as sacred ground.  Are you one of them?"   Her eyes were centered on Natimka.

He looked at her, took a sip off his canteen before answering,  "Some call this area,  Slippery Hills.  The story goes, that a man visited here to do some work, check the area out, make a documentary to take back to the States.  While working, his cameras jammed, his tape recorders stopped working and he was attacked by a swarm of bees.   Many  think it happened because he had offended the spirts of Tsodilo."

"Superstition.  I am sure there were more realistic reasons why this happened.   Sky was still amazed at the irrational beliefs that seemed to be in the area."
 

The next morning, Skylar stretched, yawned and felt every muscle in her body yell, ouch as she moved.  The sleeping bag was not all that comfortable, neither was the makeshift cot in the tent.  Her first thoughts were on getting a cup of coffee and hopefully some sort of shower.

Quickly dressing she stepped from the tent.  To her dismay, everyone had disappeared, everyone but Natimka and his jeep.   Walking toward the man, Sky called out,   "What happened?  Where did everyone go?"

The man shrugged.  "Sacred ground, many will not stay.  Sit, I fixed coffee and some eggs and we have some bread to at least fill our stomachs."

Sky approached the man. "They took everything?"

He nodded.   "Your equipment is still here, but most of the food and supplies are gone."

"Who was on duty last night,"   Sky asked as she walked around the area.

 "One of the men from the San tribe.  I did not think they would do this."

Sky sat and accepted the steaming hot cup of coffee.  "Thanks.  Could sure use this.  What do we do now?"

He sat and replied,   "I have called for assistance.  It is not safe for us to travel these roads alone.  Until help arrives we will have to stay here."

"How about this area, it is as you say, sacred, won’t we be in just as much danger here?"

"I think we will be safer here than out there on the roads.  Besides the animals, there are many hostile militants that are out to cause trouble.  We will stay, I will help you with your work here and then when help arrives we can go back."

Sky kicked at the dirt before she smiled.   "Let’s have some of your cooking, I am feeling  hungry this morning."

The man smiled and began to scrape the cooked egg onto her plate.

Skylar listened to Natimka tell about the area, how it was formed, and how the ancestors of the San had inhabited the area for 35,000 years.  He talked about the 3,500 rock paintings.  The representations of animals, people and the geomorphic designs.  His eyes lit up when he talked about the paintings of the zebra, the whale, the penguin, the family of rhino and a dancing crowd of warriors.

Sky was interested in the man’s talk and it only made her more anxious to get out and do some discovering herself.  With the other men now gone, it would be more difficult but she was used to being put in difficult situations.  When they had finished the meal, Skylar asked if there was a spring nearby in which she could bathe.  The man grinned, the gap between his front teeth apparent as he shook his head.  She did find out there was a bore well not too far and that is where he got the water for the coffee.  Though it was early morning, the heat of the day was already being felt as the two prepared to make a day of trekking up this area.
 

That day, they heard the drone of an airplane engine as it grew louder and louder.  Sky glanced overhead to see if she could spot it.   A large cargo plane was coming into view and she knew it had to be the one she had called about.  Good ol Bern, she thought.  How he did it, she didn’t know but there was a plane and hopefully it had what she needed on board.
 

Skylar was deep in thought as she snapped picture after picture of the area and its paintings.  She was also taking a lot of samples from the dirt to take back and test.  Natimka was right beside her, it was almost as if he knew what she was going to ask for before she did.  The man was a big help.  They stopped from time to time to rest, sip water and chew on jerky before continuing.

Sky was near the top of the hill and bent over, dusting off a rock formation with a small brush when she felt the tip of a spear in her back.  Stopping in mid air she froze and dropped the brush as well as the cellophane bag.

"Stand!"  The order was sharp.

Sky did not argue, she raised her hands in the air and said,  "I am here on a peaceful mission."

"You like so many are here to destroy our area, make the spirits angry again!"

Sky took a deep breath, before replying,  "I don’t want to harm anything, I promise."

"You have committed a violation against our Gods, and now you will pay! "   The man’s voice was deep, and cold.

Sky fell to the ground, coming around quickly her feet struck out, her movements resembled the clockwork speed of a crocodile; knocking the person off his feet and to the soil.  Before the man hit, Sky was on him, and in her hand was the spear he had dropped.  She held it up and glared.  "Who are you?"

He lay for a moment, still amazed at the quickness of this woman.  It was then he realized her hat had fallen to the ground, freeing the red hair she had placed underneath.  As his eyes grew wide, Sky tipped her head to the left and muttered,  "It’s not the red hair again is it?"

Realizing Natimka was not near she called out the man’s name several times then asked,   "Where is he?  Where is my friend?"

The man pointed to a slope and mumbled,   "There.  He is alive."

Sky stood, pointed in the direction and ordered,  "You first, let’s go take a look."
 
 

When Natimka woke, he had a huge headache and was in a confused state.  Sky had tied up the man that had attacked them and was preparing to make some damp cloths to place on Natimka’s head.   "You?  Are all right?"   He seemed surprised.

Sky nodded.  "Better than you.  Who is he, do you know?"

Natimka glanced toward the man who was bound and looking like a coiled snake.  "Yes, That is Tobaka.  He is a witch doctor, a keeper of myths and legends.  A man to fear."

Sky shook her head.   "He is just a man, no great powers.  Let’s get you to feeling better than we can talk to Tobaka and find out just what his problem is."

"Would you be related to Sheena?  I am beginning to think you have more than one life."

Sky smiled and placed a soothing cloth on the man’s forehead, then turned to make sure that Tobaka was still tied up and not going anywhere.  The man was sitting, rigid and erect.  In appearance he was like one of those venomous lizards, there was poisonous hatred in his eyes.  His nose flared out as if he could spout fire any moment,  his dark eyes had the shining quickness of a snake.  The skin of his wrinkled darkened face had a calloused look; his hands were like the skin of a scaly reptile.  She had a distinct feeling this man was someone to be wary of.

"You try and get some rest, I’m going to go up and get my hat, it fell during the scuffle."

Natimka nodded and wished he hadn’t as Skylar stood and started up the hill.  He grasped the damp cloth, lay back and closed his eyes.

Skylar took each step with care, she wanted to be more careful, now knowing that this man may have set traps for them.   Smiling when she spied her leather hat keeping a pile of soft dirt company, she quickly walked to it.  Grasping the three-inch brim, she dusted it off before placing it back on her head and beginning her descent back.

Los Angeles seemed so far away.  It hadn’t been that long but  she was missing the city and all its comforts with every step she took and every twinge of her body.

Nearing the bottom, she could see Natimka laying back, a cloth on his forehead.  He looked like he had not moved.  Shifting her gaze around the area she looked at the expanse of jungle and wondered if that indeed was the plane she hoped would be arriving soon.   Sky heard the sounds of a cheetah and prayed it was not caught in some hunter’s trap.

"You look like someone that has been out on a bender."

Natimka removed the cloth that had been covering his eyes and looked up to see Sky standing, staring down.  Even in the heat she was a sight to behold.   "I see you found your hat.  Did you run into traps?"   He was now sitting.

"No traps, I took my time.  Hat was where I thought it would be.   How’s your head?"

He handed her the cloth and replied,  "Better.  Are you finished with your work here?"

Sky nodded.  "I think I have enough.  Looking forward to getting back, checking on the plane and making sure the people in the area get what they need."

The man was standing his movements a bit shaky as he asked,   "What about Tobaka?"

Turning their attention the man both was met with an empty spot where he had sit.  The ropes that had bound the man were laying on the ground but Tobaka was no where insight.  Quickly hurrying to the spot, Sky reached down to grasp the rope.  Holding it she studied each strand.

Natimka approached, watching her for several minutes before he remarked,  "Looks like the ropes are still tied."

Turning to the man, Sky pursed her lips, gazed around  before saying,  "Looks like he just slithered right out of them."  It was obvious that they both felt the ominous chill that hung over the area.

"We have to get out of here, he will bring others,"  Natimka urged.

Following the man to the vehicle, Sky tossed the rope in then asked,  "What about waiting for the others to arrive?"

"No time for that, we need to pack up camp and get out of here while we are both still breathing."
 
 

Natimka forged many paths as he cut through the brush, when he cleared away enough he would signal for Sky to drive the jeep forward.  The man felt that they would be safer cutting through the jungle than to take the roadways that many knew about.

Finally coming upon a still trail winding down to a dry river bed crossing far below.  The jeep had been crawling and Sky was happy to turn the wheel over to Natimka but not until she warned him to be careful.   The man smiled and nodded, downshifting the vehicle as they began to make their way downward.

Once they were on level ground, Sky stepped from the jeep, her hands moist and red from the extreme grip she held while praying with each movement, they would soon be off this perilous pathway.

Natimka reached up to wipe the perspiration from his brow then bent over and gasped for air.  Feeling some better he walked toward the tall woman that was looking at the barren riverbed.   "The land needs rain, since the President's ceremonial necklace was stolen, everyone has been hit with this terrible drought."

Sky was on her knees, fingers tracing the swollen dry patches of earth.  "I feel for the animals too.  This looks like a gathering hole for many, now to find nothing must send them on long and perilous journeys looking for water."

The man sat, leaned back on the palm of his hands before muttering,  "And into the hands of poachers.  People out to make money anyway they can."

Sky sit and gazed at the man, his beret was sitting precariously on his head, his once crisp uniform now totally soiled.  He was a proud man but even Natimka was showing signs of futility.  "I hate this and will do all I can to put a stop to it, if I can."

He sighed,  "You are but one woman, this is a big country and even the government’s militia cannot keep it all from happening."

She turned to gaze into Natimka’s eyes, a questioning look on her face.   "Will you tell me about the necklace?  From the looks of the jeep it is overheated and we will be here for a while.  I know a little, but perhaps you can fill me in on things I know nothing about."

The man nodded.  "I will, but we should seek some shelter near the side of the cliff.  The  high peaks will keep the glare off of us."

Sky stood, reached down to give the man a hand up then asked,  "How’s your headache?"

"Still there but not as bad as it was, I’m sure a good night’s rest will be just the ticket."

Sky glanced around the area.  "I just hope we are in a safe place by tonight."
 

Continued in Part 24