Read Online Galactic Axia Adventure 1: Escape to Destiny by Jim Laughter - Free Book Online
Authors: Jim Laughter
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This meant there was no other option. He would have to survive alone until he turned twenty-one. A deep sense of loneliness descended on Delmar at the prospect of hiding out for three years.
∞∞∞
The Hassels started trying to figure out how they could find Delmar, much less help him. They’d found no sign of him, and although discouraging, probably meant his brother couldn’t find him either. Robert figured that Delmar would avoid their place, and his brother showing up last night explained why.
Robert knew Delmar would probably hide out for a while and there were plenty of hills and hollows for that. Hunger would be a definite problem for the boy. There was little to live off of in the woods at this time of year. Anything from last season would be long gone, and it was still too early in the spring for there to be much new growth. Water would be no problem, and Delmar was resourceful enough to build or find some sort of shelter. Food , thought Robert, would be the key .
All day he tried to think of how to find the boy but came up with nothing viable. While he was feeding the stock, he realized that he’d been trying to figure it out backwards. He didn’t need to find Delmar. The boy would find him. With the glimmer of a workable plan in his mind, Robert hurried back to the house for supper.
After washing up, Robert sat down while Agnes brought the last items to the table. She took her place at his right, and after a brief prayer to the Unseen One, they served themselves.
Robert had just gotten a bite of roast beef into his mouth when Agnes spoke up. “Oh Robert, I just can’t get my mind off of Delmar.”
“I know,” he said after hastily choking down the bite. “He’s been on my mind all day too.”
“What are we going to do?” Agnes asked. “How are we going to find him?”
“We’re going to do nothing,” Robert said. “When the time is right, he’ll find us.”
“What do you mean?”
“Right now,” explained her husband, “it isn’t safe for Delmar, especially here. Dorn will be watching us. He’s going to have to hide out until we can get this mess straightened out.”
“But what about food? How will he survive?”
“I’m sure he’ll do fine on all accounts except food,” Robert answered. “That’s where we come in.”
“How?”
“What I’m thinking is that Delmar will contact us when and where we least expect it. If we don’t expect him, neither will Dorn.”
Thinking for a moment, Robert continued. “What we need to do is always be carrying non-perishable food with us so when we do meet, we can give it to him quickly.”
“But we can’t carry enough food like that to feed the boy, and large packs will attract attention.”
“I know,” Robert said. “For now, the first move is up to him.”
∞∞∞
The subject of their conversation was just returning to the shack after exploring the nearby hollows. Several caves in the vicinity looked inviting but further up in rougher country, Delmar found an ideal cave in which to hide. Situated high enough that he could survey the approaches without being seen, it was still well concealed by surrounding trees and outcroppings of native stone.
Inside he found a small clear stream that showed signs of being a year-round water source. He found several small vents in the deeper chambers of the cave, a couple of which with a little work would make excellent emergency escape routes. Tomorrow he’d move up there after he had done something about finding food.
It had been over twenty-four hours since Delmar had last eaten, and he knew from experience that he could go another two days before it greatly hindered him. During his search, he’d found no berries or fruit ready to eat and had no tools or weapons with which to hunt. Delmar considered raiding farms down in the valley but the thought of stealing from his neighbors was repulsive to the boy.
His only option left was to get food from someone like the Hassels. He’d
∞∞∞
The Hassels started trying to figure out how they could find Delmar, much less help him. They’d found no sign of him, and although discouraging, probably meant his brother couldn’t find him either. Robert figured that Delmar would avoid their place, and his brother showing up last night explained why.
Robert knew Delmar would probably hide out for a while and there were plenty of hills and hollows for that. Hunger would be a definite problem for the boy. There was little to live off of in the woods at this time of year. Anything from last season would be long gone, and it was still too early in the spring for there to be much new growth. Water would be no problem, and Delmar was resourceful enough to build or find some sort of shelter. Food , thought Robert, would be the key .
All day he tried to think of how to find the boy but came up with nothing viable. While he was feeding the stock, he realized that he’d been trying to figure it out backwards. He didn’t need to find Delmar. The boy would find him. With the glimmer of a workable plan in his mind, Robert hurried back to the house for supper.
After washing up, Robert sat down while Agnes brought the last items to the table. She took her place at his right, and after a brief prayer to the Unseen One, they served themselves.
Robert had just gotten a bite of roast beef into his mouth when Agnes spoke up. “Oh Robert, I just can’t get my mind off of Delmar.”
“I know,” he said after hastily choking down the bite. “He’s been on my mind all day too.”
“What are we going to do?” Agnes asked. “How are we going to find him?”
“We’re going to do nothing,” Robert said. “When the time is right, he’ll find us.”
“What do you mean?”
“Right now,” explained her husband, “it isn’t safe for Delmar, especially here. Dorn will be watching us. He’s going to have to hide out until we can get this mess straightened out.”
“But what about food? How will he survive?”
“I’m sure he’ll do fine on all accounts except food,” Robert answered. “That’s where we come in.”
“How?”
“What I’m thinking is that Delmar will contact us when and where we least expect it. If we don’t expect him, neither will Dorn.”
Thinking for a moment, Robert continued. “What we need to do is always be carrying non-perishable food with us so when we do meet, we can give it to him quickly.”
“But we can’t carry enough food like that to feed the boy, and large packs will attract attention.”
“I know,” Robert said. “For now, the first move is up to him.”
∞∞∞
The subject of their conversation was just returning to the shack after exploring the nearby hollows. Several caves in the vicinity looked inviting but further up in rougher country, Delmar found an ideal cave in which to hide. Situated high enough that he could survey the approaches without being seen, it was still well concealed by surrounding trees and outcroppings of native stone.
Inside he found a small clear stream that showed signs of being a year-round water source. He found several small vents in the deeper chambers of the cave, a couple of which with a little work would make excellent emergency escape routes. Tomorrow he’d move up there after he had done something about finding food.
It had been over twenty-four hours since Delmar had last eaten, and he knew from experience that he could go another two days before it greatly hindered him. During his search, he’d found no berries or fruit ready to eat and had no tools or weapons with which to hunt. Delmar considered raiding farms down in the valley but the thought of stealing from his neighbors was repulsive to the boy.
His only option left was to get food from someone like the Hassels. He’d
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