The Traveler

As she should, every so often the girl Lilly gives herself time in checking on the little fella carried. So far, there has been no mention of concern and thinking this is a good thing, what lies ahead is a slight rise and after the two crest the hill, the girl Lilly gives her perspective. “That town looks creepy, even in the daylight. Oh hey, I think our little man is starting to wake up.”

With one arm supporting the dog, the other lifts the makeshift sling up and over in one graceful movement to where the girl Lilly is able to sit the curly haired dog on the ground. Once finding its feet, the dog limps off until it stops and releases a weak stream. Quick is her to say, “He needs water.” Believing every bit of this to be true, without a second thought, gives her what they have of water. That done, he goes about shucking the pack and bedroll from his shoulders. Ignoring the cloud of dust wafting knee high, goes about untying the pan which he also hands to her.

There is no waiting on her part as the girl Lilly takes over the task of filling the pan that puts his concentration on the dog looking out beyond the road. At the moment, the dog is emitting a low growl and with the girl Lilly picking up on this too, she goes to standing next to him before she says in a voice that only he can hear. “Looks like they are still hanging around.” That said, she goes to coax the dog over. Looking her way and after one last growl, the dog hobbles over to the pan of water. The air is still, the sound of the dog lapping water giving that good deed done feeling.

 

Watered, and after a new bandage and a dab of ointment is applied, the dog is once again within the security of resting next to her body.

Having another look to where they are going, the girl Lilly tells him, “I got a bad feeling.” Taking note, tells her, “Give me a minute.” Walking back to a pile of trash bags seen earlier, drops low in finding three containers about the same size. In hand, he walks on by the girl Lilly looking at him with a curious eye and giving no explanation to her, goes out to where he sits each container on the road. Walking back to the girl Lilly, he comes alongside and with it being hung low and within perfect reach, he hands the wrist rocket over to her.

Bewildered, she asks him, “What is this for?” Instead of answering, he shows her how. “Put your hand like this. Alright, here is a rock, good, yes, like that. Now, before you pull back, see those containers, let’s see if you can knock one over.” The first stone skips off the foreground as the second launched, flies high. Giving her another stone, this time, she takes her time. Contact made; the thud resonates to where the girl Lilly is wearing a big smile that falls from her face as he hands her a pocket full of stone. “Just in case,” he says, and moving on, the girl Lilly falls in step.