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Chapter Three
Perils of Sleeping in a Beanstalk Forest
Walking slightly behind Sark, to keep an eye on him, she felt around the back of her head for any bumps. She didn’t really expect him to honour the truce; well he would as long as it would benefit him. The best course of action for the moment seemed to lie in sticking together, especially since he had the only gun and did she really need to keep reminding herself of that. Rubbing her temples she felt a headache coming on. She’d just have to admit it: her transmitter wasn’t working, she was stuck in some bizarre world, with giants, beanstalks, trolls and no gun. And the best part, she was stuck with Sark, who did by the way have a gun. Lovely.
Finally she couldn’t stand it, “We could be walking in circles for all we know.”
“We’re not.”
“And you’d know this because…” She glared at his back.
“Because, Agent Bristow, I’ve been paying attention,” was the absolutely smug reply.
“Well, excuse me, I’ve been a bit distracted by the fact that we’re in some alternate world with freaking giants climbing down possible condemned beanstalks!”
“True but on the plus side you look absolutely stunning.” He looked over his shoulder, “Did I tell you that yet?”
She stopped and stared at him speechless. He kept walking and she picked up her skirt to catch up. “Cocky, arrogant, smug…” she mumbled.
“Surely you can come up with something a bit more imaginative than that Agent Bristow.”
~*~*~*~
Half an hour later they came to the edge of the forest. Night was still covering the land and she had no idea when sunrise would be. For all she knew it was always night in this peculiar world. The land beyond was barren and not being too keen on running into any more fairy tale creatures at the moment she suggested stopping for the night.
“An excellent suggestion. Might I suggest we take our break further back where we’d have more cover?”
“Fine.” Too tired to analyze why he was being so polite, not that he wasn’t always polite no matter what he was doing but still, she moved back into the forest. Randomly picking a beanstalk she plopped down on the ground and leaned back against the stalk.
Sark frowned at the ground before carefully settling himself down next to her. Wrinkling his nose he added, “I hope the awful smell doesn’t come off on my attire.”
“Yeah, cause that’d be the greatest of your worries right about now.” Wrapping her arms around herself she pulled her knees up trying to get warm. It was just cold enough to be a nuisance.
“I’ll take the first watch.”
“Fine,” she agreed. If he killed her in her sleep at least she wouldn’t have to worry about finding a way home. Shivering she closed her eyes.
“I’d offer you my coat,” she opened her eyes to look at Sark when he paused, “but then I’d be cold.”
Snorting she shook her head and closed her eyes.
~*~*~*~
She jolted awake when a hand covered her mouth. Seeing Sark’s face inches from her own she was about to lash out when he put a finger to his mouth and tilted his head.
Calming her breathing, she listened. Raised voices and barking dogs could be faintly heard in the distance.
Peering around the stalk they watched as a large group with several dogs moved by just outside the edge of the forest. It was too dark to make out much, but they reminded her of the troll. In fact, squinting, she could make out what looked like a body on a stretcher. She glanced at Sark, but he just watched the group’s progress with a calm face.
When they moved father away they relaxed again. Readjusting her position she looked over at Sark, “I can take over watch now.”
“I’m fine.”
“Fine.”
The smell really was bad, she kept scrunching her nose and rubbing her hand over it, not that it helped. She glanced at Sark out the corner of her eye, seeing him just sitting there she stared ahead again.
She must have drifted off again because the next thing she knew Sark was calling her.
Blinking she looked up at Sark, “If your quite rested, Sleeping Beauty, the sun appears to be coming up.”
“Yeah, yeah. It’s not like we have a schedule to keep. Or any idea where we’re going.” She brushed debris off her skirt as she stood up.
“Well if you’d prefer to stay here and make the acquaintance of those lovely individual from last night, then be my guest.”
Pausing she looked at Sark, “Did you just say ‘lovely’?”
Rolling his eyes he started walking. Picking a leaf out of her hair she followed.
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