Chapter Fourteen

Epilogue

“Hey…hey! Hold up a minute, will you?”

Kimberley stopped and turned around. Barbara was lagging well behind her, trying to catch up.

“Fine example of a fitness-center manager you are!” Kimberley grinned. “What’s the matter? You that out of shape?”

“Ha.” Barbara puffed as she drew nearer. “And ‘ha’ again. How much does this freakin’ pack weigh? Fifty, sixty pounds? I’m just not used to carrying so much weight is all.”

“Oh.” Kimberley’s grin faded. “Well, it’s not THAT heavy. More like thirty-five pounds, but I think you’re carrying it a bit wrong. Here, let me see.”

Barbara stood patiently as Kimberley checked her pack, adjusted a few things. They were small details, but Kimberley was used to backpacking. Barbara was not, and wouldn’t have known what to do.

“There,” she said at last. “How’s that?”

Barbara shifted her shoulders a bit, took a few steps. “Hey, that’s much better! Thanks!”

“Now will you keep up?”

“If you go a little slower.” Barbara nodded. “Or are you going to try to jog all the way there?”

“All right, all right. I’ll slow down for you.”

“Deal. Now, can we take a break?”

“Sure.” Kimberley agreed. She could use a little rest herself. “We can sit on that log over there. It’s in the shade.”

“Ahhhhhhhhh…” Barbara exhaled gratefully as she sat on the old fallen tree. “Seriously, Kim, are you in some kind of hurry? Are you hoping to come across that guy again, that ‘Alpha’ you kept telling me about? Hm?” She nudged Kimberley in her ribs playfully.

“I don’t know…” Kimberley paused to take a long swig from her canteen. The water was not as cool as it had been an hour earlier. “I’ve been thinking about that, and I really don’t know. Part of me does. He was big…all over…and strong, and just mean enough.” She shivered, remembering. “First man ever to use my little round ass, too. A girl doesn’t forget that.”

“Okay, so that’s one part.” Barbara took out her own canteen and uncapped it. “But what’s the other part? Of you, I mean.”

Kimberley shrugged as best she could while still wearing the backpack. “The other part…well, I just don’t know. Part of the thrill last year was trying to learn what three complete strangers wanted, how to please each one of them. So, I keep thinking that maybe another complete stranger or two will recapture that. But…I don’t know for sure, and I kinda doubt that any stranger will be able to do to me what Alpha did.”

“Hm.” Barbara drank quickly and recapped her canteen. “Well, from what you’ve told me about him, I wouldn’t mind coming across that Alpha guy myself.” She chuckled. “Of course, I’d put up a fight at first. It helps to get the juices flowing. Or are you calling dibs on him now?”

Kimberley looked around before replying. It wasn’t the same place as last year. The ground wasn’t as hilly, and most of the trees were hardwoods, not pines. It also wasn’t the same arrangement as last year. She wondered about whatever kind of organization was behind such odd “tour packages”.

“No, I’m not calling dibs,” she answered. “It wouldn’t do me any good. We won’t have anything at all to say about who gets us, or what they do to us after we’re got. You know that.”

“Just kidding.” Barbara shrugged. “How far do we have to go yet?”

“Not far.” Kimberley shook her head. “We should reach that place…what’s it called?”

“Gordburg.” Barbara offered.

“Yeah, Gordburg. Well, we should reach that town before sundown. We register there tonight, get a good hot meal and a good night’s sleep in a real bed. Then tomorrow the game begins.”

“It should be interesting.” Barbara said. She didn’t sound certain about it.

Kimberley laughed. “You having second thoughts too?”

“Second thoughts, third thoughts…but I’m still going.” Barbara replied. “Roller coasters still scare the Hell out of me some times, but I keep riding them.”

Kimberley nodded. “Here’s to the roller coasters.” She held up her canteen in a toast.

The Elusive Prey