Sapienophobia

Chapter 31

I can do this.

I rubbed the leaves together against my forearm, gliding them in the analogous motion to create friction. This twisted the leaves into a thread, one I fed into itself to make a short but thick rope. I pierced the end I had looped with the other edge of the rope to make a noose-like structure that could tighten or loosen at the knot. My teeth handled the crafting components my broken metacarpals couldn't.

My shivering didn't make it any easier.

I spotted a deer launching off the trees in a sincere attempt at evading what I knew was scaring it.

He's that way, to be sure.
Be quick.

Taking off my sweater with four fingers was frustrating, painstakingly so. After the struggle, I tied the hems, including the cuts, into knots.

I had to climb down the tree to put the final steps of my plan into motion.

I stuffed rocks into the one hem I hadn't closed off yet; I sewed the flat end of my rope into there as well before tying it.

I rolled my stringed weight into the lake with my back pushing against it, splashing and waving my arms all the while.

Sod arrived, bold and true, watching what he believed was me drowning. He lunged forward to close the distance between us.

"Kid! Grab on," he leaned out using a protruding branch in the mud as his anchor to land.

He was offering me his ankle as a lifesaver.

And save my life, it would.

I threw the rope around his ankle, tightened it with a flick, and released the weight.

Sod plunged into the water after it, slapping to stay afloat as I knew he would.

He can't swim, I knew it.

I had figured as much when he didn't come after me when he thought that I had gone into the lake earlier.

I can do this.

I pulled myself from the lake to get the best view of my bounty. The soaking cloth clinging to my skin made me itch.

Sod's injuries looked like they stung worse than mine; he had more open cuts and bruises.

"Kid," he gargled in the few seconds he had left of oxygen, "the wolves!"

I blinked at him.

You think I didn't know that you saved me?

I noticed he had snapped the rope from how long he was staying up, but it didn't matter, he wasn't going to be able to swim to safe ground.

Why? Why did you save me? Had it been the other way around, I wouldn't have helped you. Even if I didn't know who you were. We're not alike at all, you and I.

He reached his arm out to me, a desperate plea for my help.

Don't waver. This is the moment of truth.

His autumn eyes bore into mine.

I looked into his eyes and saw a coward.

I looked into his eyes and saw myself.

Then he sank.

I let him drown.

I watched until the bubbles that escaped him bobbed no more. And then I waited three extra minutes to be safe.

Nothing.

I thought dead bodies floated.
Best wait some more.

The ripples he made had fanned out ages ago.