Sequel to Struggle/ Mothman series

      "So why did you decide to follow? Scared of the Mothman?"

     "Maybe, . . . nah, just worried you'd try to hook up with 

my sister."

     "Duh, she's only fifteen years younger than me, Dork!"

     "Well, wouldn't put it past you, Pedo, as in Phile."

     Their verbal sparring echoed down and out the deepest 

canyon walls, reverberating their laughter.

     "You suppose that thing is down there?" Asked Dan.

     "I don't think it limits its activity to a particular location 

or habitat. I think its ability to dematerialize affords it great 

flexibility. Could be right behind you, or a hair's breath away

from your face."

     "Okay, okay, yer freakin' me out!"

      "Then stop smokin' weed, it's makin' you paranoid."

     There was a long pause of quiet, except for the steady 

creaking of their backpacks and the shuffling of Vibram soled

boots on loose scree which covered the trail for miles off into

the switchbacks of the mountain slope.

     "Naw, I followed you 'cause I thought about my sister 

back home, how she'd been neglected by my parents. They 

were always too busy, or just plain indifferent. I thought 

maybe if I came after you to help this girl - woman, or 

whoever it is, I'd somehow redeem my own failures of not 

spending as much time with her as I should have, or could."

     "You mean, you felt a bit of compassion, or guilt for a 

change?"

     "I guess. Anyway, you're right. Good Samaritans probably

aren't always in the mood for helping others."

     "There's a dude in the Bible, he needs help, so he goes 

knocking on this guy's door in the middle of the night. The 

guy who's bothered gets outta bed and complains. The guy 

who's knocking basically persists and gets what he wants. His

kids are hungry. The guy in the house gives in and gives him 

bread for his hungry kids, even though he's super annoyed, 

dragged outta bed."

     "How far you think this girl is from us, Jeff?"

     "I'd say about a day, maybe two, unless she's hurt."

     "Looks like her strides are close together. Probably 

carrying a heavy pack."

     "Could be due to an injury. Remember the blood on the 

rock."

     "Yeah. I say we keep movin', no rest stops, and catch up."

              *            *            *            -            -            -            *            *            *

     "Hey,  look Dan. Down there, to the left about fifteen 

degrees. See 'er?"

     Dan peered off to the southwest to see a hunched figure 

squatted by a feeble creek. "Yeah. It must be her. There's a 

backpack propped against the red rocks. What's she doing?"

     "Dunno. But she's been like that for awhile, lookin' down 

at the ground. It'll take forty five minutes to get down there. 

Let's go."

              *              *            *          -           -             -           *             *             *

     "Hey. Hi. Whatcha doin? You okay?" asked Jeff.

     She was startled. Caught off guard. "Whoa. What the . . . 

Hey, you guys need to not sneak up on people!"

     "Sorry. Looks like you been makin' mudcakes. I used to 

make 'em when I was a kid, with my sister." Dan spoke as 

kindly as he could muster.

     "Are you hurt?"

     "Well, . . . kinda. But yeah, I gotta gash on my clavicle. 

Bled pretty bad the first night and stopped, but it still hurts."

     "Sorry again. But we been trailing you since the night we 

heard you scream. Took the following morning to cross the 

canyon. Made double time to catch up. Found your camp."

     "Wow. An' you've followed me for two days?"

     "Yep. Figured we needed to help you. Glad you're okay," 

offered Jeff.

     "Scary night. I'm impressed you guys left your plans, or 

whatever for me. It's a rare thing. Anyway, thanks, but I'm 

fine. I'm a loner, y'know?"

     Jeff reached down into his shorts' cargo pocket and pulled

out the Bible. "I think this is yours?"

     "Oh, wow! Yes, it is. Where'd you find it? I left in a hurry. 

Didn't know I'd left it 'til the following night. It's not ruined

 is it?"

     "Nope. Found it on Manzanita bushes. Still in one piece. 

Here ya go."

     He stepped forward to hand it to her as she recoiled.

     "Hey, what's up. Don't be scared!"