XXXIV - Survival

"We'll leave this valley as soon as it's dark," Kamon explained. He had just returned from another scouting trip -- to see how Agon's company was doing. They remained by the lake. Several hours had passed. Everything was going very well. "There's a narrow ledge outside this cave. The ledge is not for the faint of heart but it's passable. It leads upward to an opening into the side of the cliff. The opening is an entrance to a natural tunnel that will take us to the top of the bluff and out of this valley. I suggest you rest, Jasmine. I'm sorry you've been without food, and we won't be getting any until late tonight. Can you make it that long?"

"I'll be fine," she assured him. "I'll make a deal with you though."

"What's that?"

"I'll rest if you do."

Kamon smiled a bit. "Okay," he conceded.

The pair sat cross-legged on the floor of the cave. Even after a mad dash through the grass and brush, Kamon could not help but notice that Jasmine remained as beautiful as ever. The scratches and smudges on her face and her disheveled hair did not detract from her beauty at all. Her beauty came from nature, and thus nature could do nothing but add to it.

Kamon reached for Jasmine's head. "You have a burr in your hair," he explained.

Jasmine grimaced. The burr resisted its removal. "Ouch!" she said with a slight smile. "Be careful, Kamon. I don't want to end up bald!"

"Not to worry," he said lightly. "I have it!" Some hair had come with the burr. Kamon examined it closely.

He had seen Jasmine's hair often, but never had he held strands of it in his hands. Dark brown. The same shade as that in his cabin. He knew they couldn't have come from the same head, but...........

Kamon looked at Jasmine and displayed the hair. "There is a particle of hair in the bathroom of my cabin just like these," he said quietly. "I found it on my body the night after lightning struck me, the night I should have been killed......shortly before I met you."

Surprise. It registered on Jasmine's face for just an instant and then it was gone. But Kamon had seen it! He was sure he had!

"Your hair!" Kamon said in wonderment. "How?"

"I never said it was mine," Jasmine answered. "I've never been in the bathroom of your cabin."

"But a hair from your head is," Kamon insisted. "I put it there."

"Why would you do that?"

"Because--" Kamon stopped. He was instantly alert. There was a foreign noise in the valley, the sound of a hovercraft!

He jumped to his feet and pushed his way out of the cave. He stayed in some dense bushes. He did not want to take a chance of being spotted. He could see the hovercraft over the lake. It was drifting down. It was headed for a spot west of the lake, in his direction but a comfortable distance from him.

Agon was doing much better, he thought to himself. She was learning. He was convinced that she had checked out the spot to make sure it was suitable for a touchdown. It was firm ground.

Kamon waited for the hovercraft to land. Then he quickly moved to a new position and climbed a short, leafy tree. He noted that Jasmine was right behind him.

"I think these branches can hold both of us," Jasmine explained. "I want to see what's happening."

"Yeah," was Kamon's terse response. He was watching himself, a bit concerned. He obviously did not welcome the arrival of newcomers.

The door opened, a ramp was lowered from the craft. Three women in uniform came out. A moment later, a five dogs on leashes scrambled down the ramp. They were held tightly in check by their trainer, a tall, wiry man.

There was a brief conference. Then the combined company and the pack of dogs set off for the lake. Kamon knew where they were headed -- the spot at which he and Jasmine had first set ashore.

It was not long before they reached the life raft from Kamon's hovercraft. The dogs frantically sniffed it, then the surrounding area. The animals quickly grew excited. They started barking loudly. Kamon could hear them faintly.

He'd seen enough. "Let's go," Kamon commanded grimly. He urged Jasmine from the tree. Then he started back toward the cave at a brisk pace. They slipped inside together. The bushes snapped back into place.

"I want you to stay here," Kamon ordered.

"And where will you be going?" Jasmine demanded.

"I'm going out there," Kamon answered.

"Then I'm going with you," Jasmine stated.

"No, you're not!"

"Yes, I am."

"You're not coming with me!" Kamon was adamant. "Those are hunting dogs out there. There's two hours of daylight left. The dogs will find us in that time! They already have our scent and a recent trail. If I'm not back an hour after dusk has fallen I want you to follow the path I've described out of this valley. Once out, hide anywhere. I'll be able to find you."

"You're going out to confront those women," Jasmine charged. "Someone will get hurt, probably even killed. I can't permit that."

"It's not my purpose to hurt anyone," Kamon argued, "but in a struggle to survive, I'll do what is necessary. I'm going to get you out of here."

"Kamon, you'll be facing at least a dozen armed women now plus the dogs. There may be even more women on that last hovercraft. I can't let you do this."

"It's not your decision to make." Kamon was determined, unwilling to brook any argument. "Besides, I intend to avoid them, not confront them directly. I know the valley much better than they do. I can quietly attack from the sides and the rear. There will always be a trailing individual, a person temporarily out of sight. I'd need only a moment."

"You're talking about killing!" Jasmine was visibly upset.

"I'm talking about survival!" Kamon snapped. "I'm sympathetic to the call to duty of these women! I have an aversion to killing any one of them! I intend to render them unconscious."

"But someone could get hurt!" Jasmine insisted. "Even killed! They're armed, Kamon! You could die!"

"And if we sit here and do nothing," Kamon countered, "we both die! If they don't shoot us, they'll take us back and execute us! If I must die, I prefer to do so in these mountains!"

"They won't execute you, Kamon! Only me! You'll face charges, but they won't sentence a councilman to death."

"Even if that's true, Jasmine," Kamon said in a much quieter tone, "do you honestly believe that is an acceptable option for me? If you do, then you know very little about me." Kamon turned. "I'm going," he spoke with grim determination.

Jasmine grabbed his arm. "No, Kamon! My mission is to preserve life, not cause the loss of it!"

"And my nature argues survival!" Kamon countered. "Value life, but survive! This is not Kefar, Jasmine! We are not sitting across a negotiating table! This is a simple choice between life and death! Our actions have brought us to this choice. We must now be responsible for those actions!"

"I'll run out there and turn myself in!" Jasmine was desperate for an alternative.

"And I'll go out there fighting," Kamon stated firmly, "because I know if I do not you will be executed." He moved to push aside the bush covering the entrance of the cave. "I'm sorry."

Jasmine grabbed Kamon and pushed him against the wall of the cave. "I said NO!!"

Kamon was surprised by Jasmine's ferocity and strength. He had not resisted but he knew his bulk. Few women could toss him like Jasmine had done. "I don't wish to fight you, Jasmine, but I am leaving."

"Stay!!" she shoved him against the wall again.

Again Kamon was surprised...and now a bit angry. He didn't like being told what to do, not even by Jasmine. "I'm going!" he insisted through clenched teeth.

Kamon grabbed Jasmine's arms and shoved back. She dug in and resisted. He was even more impressed by her strength. But in the next instant, Kamon lifted her off the ground and tossed her away. "Don't try that again, Jasmine!" he warned. "Nothing you can say---"

"Quiet!!" Jasmine barked sharply, cutting him off. Her demeanor changed abruptly. She cupped her right hand over her ear. Her brows knitted together. Although concentrating intently, she was no longer focused on Kamon. Jasmine then spoke...but not to Kamon. "Yes! I am here."

She paused, as if listening for a response.

"I know that I am not in the assigned place!" Jasmine said, seemingly addressing the air. "Circumstances dictated a change in plans."

She paused again. Waiting?

A moment later she spoke. "I have no time to explain! We can talk about this later. I need to come up now! It is urgent!" She hesitated and then added poignantly, "I am not alone."

Again a pause.

"I understand that," she argued to the walls of the cave, "but this must be done!"

And yet again the pause while she concentrated. Who or what was she listening to? Kamon wondered.....Or was this a ruse to keep him in the cave.

"Jasmine, what's going on here?" Kamon demanded suspiciously. "If this is some sort of trick--"

"No! Quiet!" she snapped at Kamon. Then to someone else,

"There is no time for that!!" She was frustrated, impatient. "I will be responsible for many deaths here if you do not agree to the transfer!!"

Another pause. Jasmine remained focused, her hand cupped over her ear. She suddenly looked upward at the granite ceiling of the cave. "No. We are not in the clear. We will have to move. I will contact you shortly!" She spoke to Kamon. "Kamon, we have a chance to be rescued, an opportunity in which no one will be hurt. But we must get to open ground, and we must be alone. It is imperative that the people hunting us not see us!"

"Who were you talking to?"

"I can't tell you that right now! We just have to leave -- and quickly!"

"It's too risky to expose ourselves before dark!" Kamon argued.

"The alternative is for us to oppose one another!" Jasmine countered.

"I can give you time to escape," Kamon suggested. "Even if they see you climbing this cliff, I'll make sure they don't get a shot off."

"And either you will be killed or one of them," Jasmine stated. "That is unacceptable!"

"It is the setting in which we find ourselves!" Kamon was annoyed by her refusal to fight for survival. "I'm sorry if you find that repugnant but you cannot avoid reality! It is sometimes harsh and unforgiving!"

"I cannot control your actions against your wishes, Kamon. But you either attempt to leave this valley with me now or I will give myself up!"

"You can't do that!"

"I can and I will!" Jasmine was resolute.

Kamon frowned. He believed her. She was being obstinate, as was he, but there was nothing he could do to change her mind. "Alright," he reluctantly conceded. "We'll try it. But I warn you, if we climb the cliff now, we will be exposing ourselves. I don't know why they did not fire on us while we were on the lake, but it would be foolhardy to expect such good fortune again."

"I understand," Jasmine answered.

Kamon scowled. He had harbored a faint hope that this knowledge would discourage her. "Let's go then."

Kamon pushed aside the bushes and led Jasmine to a narrow ledge that angled up the bluff. He could hear dogs barking in the distance. They were on the scent! It would take some time, but they would reach this point. "Jasmine, you could start up. I could delay for a while, slow them down. I'd join you later."

"Unacceptable, Kamon!" she refused.

Then it was time to proceed with all possible speed, Kamon concluded. "Let's go!"

Jasmine preceded him onto the ledge. They started upward. After but a few steps they cleared the tall grass and bushes. They were exposed and would remain so until they reached the opening well up the face of the of bluff.

It was easy going at first, but the ledge quickly narrowed. Soon their backs were pressed against the granite while they inched their way upward.

"Don't look down," Kamon cautioned.

"I'm not afraid of heights, Kamon."

"Just the same, don't look down. It could make anyone dizzy." The floor of the valley was already far below them.

Contrary to his own advice, however, Kamon scanned the valley. They hadn't been spotted yet. The uniformed women followed the dogs. It was all they could do to push their way through the thick grass. Not one of them had even glanced at the bluff he and Jasmine were climbing. This was going well. Perhaps it had been the best alternative after all. It was risky, but it offered the highest rewards.

Jasmine's right foot slipped on some loose gravel. Tiny rocks went skipping down the bluff.

Kamon grabbed her. "Are you alright?!"

"I'm fine. Clumsy, that's all." She was unhappy with herself. "I should have seen those loose rocks."

"I told you not to look down," Kamon said. "It's my fault." He nudged her along. "We have to keep moving."

"I don't necessarily have to listen to everything you tell me," Jasmine replied.

The comment was almost humorous. Under any other circumstances, he would have smiled. Not so now.

He saw one of the soldiers look in the direction of the bluff. It was likely a chance glance. She looked again. Then she pointed, no doubt exclaiming as she did so. All eyes looked in the direction of the bluff. There was suddenly much excitement among the company of state security women.

Kamon glanced upward. They were getting close to the opening but the ledge was increasingly precarious the higher they moved. There was very little room to plant a foot and there were gaps in the ledge. One had to be very careful. There was great danger in attempting to move much faster than they already were. Nevertheless, "A bit faster if you can, Jasmine," he stated grimly. "We've been spotted."

"Don't fall, Kamon," Jasmine cautioned. She did speed up. The worry she felt was in her voice. "Please don't fall."

Fall to their deaths or be shot, neither was a pleasant prospect. Kamon had to be careful to watch the placement of each foot. Still, he glanced at the state security women as often as he could manage it. The dogs were still on leashes and barking eagerly, straining to be loose. But they were really no longer a factor, for their prey had been sighted. To First Commander Agon and her company, he and Jasmine must appear to be managing the miraculous -- moving up a sheer cliff. Agon would ponder this for a few moments as she raced in Kamon's direction. She would be wondering what she should do.....Kamon glanced upward. The opening was very close now. In a matter of minutes, they would be there. He looked outward again.....Agon had stopped. Her women were flattening the grass all around her. She was getting ready to fire!

They were exposed and there was nothing he could do about it....except keep moving. "I think Agon's going to get off a few shots," Kamon warned.

"I see that," Jasmine replied. "But we're almost there and she's still pretty far away. She'll have to be a very good shot if she's going to hit either of us."

"Or lucky," Kamon stated grimly.

A moment later a small piece of granite next to Kamon exploded, the result of a bullet striking it. Tiny particles of rock sprayed Kamon's arm, nothing of consequence.

"She may be a good shot," Kamon muttered. Agon might have reason to be shooting at him rather than Jasmine. He had frustrated her efforts in this valley. If she was like any other state security agent he had ever known, she would resent that...greatly.

They were no more than a minute from the opening now. Another shot rang out. It struck the bluff just to the right of Kamon's neck. Agon wasn't missing by much...but she was missing. She was a good shot but not perfect.

Another shot echoed across the valley. Kamon chest tightened immediately. He staggered, his foot slipped; he caught himself. Jasmine noticed and slithered back to help him. "Kamon! Are you alright?!"

"Keep go--!" He was cut off by intense pain. It felt as if a giant weight had suddenly been placed on his chest, crushing it. It was nearly impossible to speak. He could barely breathe. He knew he had been hit by a bullet. He put his hand to his chest; he was bleeding badly; he could feel the point of entry.

"Kamon!" Jasmine cried out. "You've been shot!"

"Move!" Kamon gritted through clenched teeth.

Jasmine took his arm and kept moving. At last, she stepped into the cave opening which had been their goal. Kamon managed to stagger in behind her. A bullet whizzed over their heads and ricocheted off the cave wall. They quickly moved deeper into the cave.

"Kamon, how bad is it?!"

"Bullet hit my lung!" he wheezed. "A sucking chest wound! Hard to breathe!"

"We need to close off the wound!" Jasmine said. She was already tearing the bottom of her garment.

"Move!" Kamon ordered furiously. "Got my hand there!" he hissed. "Nothing more to do!" Each breath he took was agonizing, each word spoken was torture.

Kamon removed his hand as Jasmine pressed the piece of cloth against his wound. He was already covered with blood. "Can you hold this," she asked, "while I tear off another piece? We need to wrap this."

Annoyed, Kamon shook his head and staggered deeper into the cave. "No!" he rasped. "It doesn't matter." His body had gone into a state of shock. He was not used to such incoordination. He needed to keep moving. The wrapping of his wound would make a difference only if he had a reasonable expectation of receiving medical attention sometime soon. That would not happen. The bullet had pierced his right lung, causing it to collapse. The intense pain and shortness of breath were the symptoms which caused him to reach this conclusion. He could plug the hole in his chest and keep air from escaping his lungs but this was a temporary and inadequate measure. He would die; it was inevitable. He accepted this knowledge. But there was still work to do -- he must see that Jasmine safely escaped.

"I won't let you die, Kamon!" Jasmine exclaimed, chasing after him while attempting to tear off more of her garment.

"It's out of your hands!" he managed. "Keep moving!" Any suggestion that they stop irritated him. He would tolerate no argument. He was a dying man with one goal yet to be accomplished and an irrepressible will that would fight all obstacles which stood in his path. Time was not on his side. Tomorrow was irrelevant. There was only today and the deed to be done.

He had become that most dangerous of creatures -- a cornered animal, wounded and dying, but one which possessed the intellect of a sentient being. And he was fighting not for his own life, but something much more important....the life of the woman he loved.

END OF CHAPTER