75. The Herbalist

Donavan leisurely lies in his sharpshooter position with his gun close by should he want to quickly watch something through his telescope. Jonathan is on the other side of their hide-out also in an ideal position. In this way, they cover all the possible routes to their camp. Their covert positions high up against a strategic cliff looking down on a pool that intruders first will have to cross before they can navigate the large white and brown boulders. That means that any intruder will be an easy target and in a hopeless position if they fire down upon them. Donavan grins. He will deliberately allow the mercenaries to cross the pool because after that there is no hope of survival for them. They will be cut down one by one and those that turn back into the pool, he will shoot one by one. That easy! They couldn’t get luckier than this.

His smile vanishes as quickly as it appeared, thinking now about Eldrich. He is worried. He doesn’t think he is going to make it. Captain Haasbroek is now with him in the cave. He feeds him water and keeps his head wet but it is not a nice picture to see him suffering like this.

They crossed the first pool and found the same thing on the other side; the ravine with high cliffs on both sides. Large brown and white boulders as the floods calved trough them with smaller stones around the shallow stream. The pool is quite refreshing but when they traverse the boulders and stones, the sun mercilessly shone down on them just to arrive at another pool and then another one. They were on the lookout for a reasonably high platform; high enough above the flood level because they could see the signs of the previous floods. Trees and stumps that have been carried down with the previous flood and have been left entangled was a stern warning. If it rains higher up enough to cause a flood, it will take everything away up to the present level. So, they had to go forward until they get a shelter high enough. In the meantime, they had to endure the blistering sun and the cold water and the poor Eldrich became weaker and paler.

The ravine forked and they had to choose a way and with luck, they chose the right fork and after crossing another one of that pools and not able to see beyond a bend, when they took the bend it was as if they discovered a wild life hotel. Just there is a flat stone slate that, like a dock for a boat, had been put there by nature with even steps against the cliff that led to their cave hotel. It is a deep hollow in the cliffside that forms a cave above the flood level. It is the jackpot of hideouts with everything your heart could wish for, a roof over your head to keep out the rain and fresh water just beneath to your heart’s desire, and it is concealed.

They docked there and put up camp, got rid of their wet clothes, and tried to become dry. And then the most difficult task awaited them with Eldrich dry and lying in a snug sleeping place at the back of the cave. They kindled a fire for warmth. Everything was in place and there was no more time to postpone his treatment. It was the moment they all dreaded the most. Eldrich’s broken ankle had to be plucked straight and splinted and no one is a doctor.

They had to decide which of them would do the dirty work and who will hold him down and unluckily it was Donavan who had to pull. The ugly yelling made them aware of the momentous echoes that sound like a madhouse here in their hotel surrounded by cliff walls and it sounded as if a thousand Eldrichs have merciless been tortured.

Having no medication, Eldrich developed a high fever in spite of his cozy place. He got cold fever, nightmares, hallucinations, muscle contractions, and everything that you don’t need. It was ugly and all they had was water. Donovan thinks Eldrich will not last long and he is worried but feels powerless.

He and Jonathan left Haasbroek with him and Jonathan found his sharpshooter position to the left of the path with which they used to reach the cave. Donavan inspected the ravine further on and at the end of the pool to the right found his best position. They will be sentries but even more important, will be on the lookout for a stray antelope or a dassie or whatever that they can shoot for some meat this evening. That would be the cherry on top.

Donavan’s eyes scan the place for such luck but thus far nothing. But wait! Something is moving down under. The ravine forks there as well to the left and right. He only scouted the left side until he came upon another pool and turned back. He scanned down the ravine but there was only the deep pool and being sick and tired with taking off his clothes and packing his things in the survival bag just to put it on again at the other side, he turned back and kept his clothes dry. It surely helps to keep your boots and feet dry because wet feet remain soft and could have serious consequences.

He has already chosen this ideal sentry position and is now lying here. You can see to where the ravine splits and it looks as if something came out of the ravine to the right which he had not investigated. But it is too far to make out with your bare eye. He hopes it is an antelope. It looks as if it is jumping nimbly from one boulder to the other and is coming in his direction. Maybe it is an antelope coming to drink water in the pool.

Eagerly he grabs his gun and aims through the telescope and his eyes widen amazed. Is he dreaming? Can it be true? There is more than one but it is not antelopes. It is a young, tanned white man with long hair and a beard jumping stark-naked from one boulder to the other approaching him. Then follows a beautiful, young, black girl precisely in his tracks jumping on the same boulders as he. She also is stark- naked but a leather pouch hangs on her neck that she keeps still with one hand as she jumps from one boulder to the other. They seem to be accustomed to jumping and look extremely healthy.

They are now stopping in front of the pool just beneath him on a big boulder and it looks as if they are discussing something. She gestures to the boy and points to the opposite cliff-side and he looks and she excitedly tries to show him something. Eventually, he shakes his head and explains something again and she shakes her head in understanding and he turns rapidly and glides swiftly into the pool and like a dolphin swims effectively to the nearest big boulder at the opposite side and climbs out and points at something. She takes the leather pouch from her neck and throws it to him and he catches it and hangs it around his neck. Now she slides into the water and like a mermaid swims to him and he pulls her out and in this process their naked bodies come together and it seems he is forgetting everything else. He pulls her close to him and starts to kiss her and love bites her in the neck while his hands fold over her lovely, round buttocks but she pushes him away and laughs happily. She shakes her head and playfully hits his stiff erection out of the way while she naughtily giggles. She points her forefinger at him, shaking her head and points up the cliff-side.

Donavan smiles. They are so young and healthy. He gets the feeling they can’t get enough of one another. They are now both pointing up the rock face and discuss something. Eventually, he walks away with his full erection but he is now interested in the rock face. Cautiously he begins to climb the rock face while she anxiously looks on. He climbs higher and higher and with a little platform moves against the cliff and then he stops and looks at her and she excitedly points with her forefinger.

“There, just there!”

He looks and then he sees it and climbs cautiously towards a few shrubs in the rock face and he begins to pluck some of it and puts it in the leather bag. It seems he is filling the pouch and then he climbs down. Excitedly she takes the pouch and studies the contents and then she hops up and down and yells happily. She hugs him and they engage in a passionate kiss before she pushes him away while she takes his erection in her hand and shakes her head from side to side and points in the direction from which they came. Amazed he shakes his head being exceptionally aroused but he listens obediently and glides nimbly into the pool and swim to the opposite side and climbs out. She again tosses the pouch to him and then she swims over and they jump from boulder to boulder back the way they had come.

Donavan wonders whether it was a special herb that she wanted and which he had to fetch for her. Maybe she knows herbs well enough to help Eldrich. Donavan leaves his sentry position. He must go and look for them and ask for help. This is the only hope for Eldrich. Who knows? Maybe she can nurse him to good health before it is too late!

When he eventually reaches the pool, which he must cross to get to the ravine to the right, he realizes why they are naked. In this manner, they don’t wet their clothes and their bodies dry when they jump over the boulders. This is only practical he thinks while he strips and puts his clothes in the survival bag and enters the pool.

He clothes himself on the other side and starts his search for the two special people who must have a hideout somewhere near. They have disappeared and he wonders how he will be able to track them down.