The Innocent

Final Leg

Melanie was falling behind, the pack on her back seeming to grow each step she took. She looked up from the ground, turning her head to get the kinks out. Up ahead she could see James walking steadily onward. They had fallen into a silence that neither had been prepared to break.

"James!" Melanie called her voice cracking. She waited for an answer, but James didn't turn. "Wait!" She tried again.

She swung the heavy pack off her back and thumped it down on the ground in front of her.

This managed to get James's attention, he turned, "What are you stopping for?"

"Do you have a drink?" Melanie croaked back, James looked at her and Melanie was sure that he had an eyebrow raised.

She thumped down on the ground beside the pack. "Drink?" she croaked again.

"What are you doing?" he called back; Melanie could here the exasperation in his voice.

Melanie formed her fist into a cup and pretended to drink from it. James stood for a moment then he began walking back towards her. He didn't take long and was soon crouching beside her. He reached into his own pack and pulled out a small bottle.

"There's not much." James paused, "Save some for later."

Melanie gulped down a few mouthfuls, feeling the water trickling down her throat. It was slightly warm but her parched tongue and throat rejoiced. She handed the bottle back.

"Thanks." She managed to croak, "I'm not used to walking half a day on a mouldy piece of bread and no stops."

"I can tell." James answered, as he looked her up and down, "There's a small lake not far from here. We will stop there, do you think you can make it?"

"How far is it?"

"A kilometre or two, no more than five."

"Oh joy."

"That's the spirit." James said sarcastically as he helped her up.

They didn't start again until James had moved some of the stuff from Melanie's pack into his. When she finally picked up her pack again it was significantly lighter.

"I don't mind carrying more than this." Melanie suggested tentatively, she wasn't sure she could lift the bag if it was much heavier but she didn't want to seem to fragile. 

"You think this is to heavy for me?" James laughed, "Girl, before you came along I was carrying it all by myself. This," he flicked his hand at his own pack, "is easy."

"Oh." Melanie hoped her relief wasn't evident in her voice.

"We better go if we want to set up camp before it gets dark."

James turned around going back up the path to where he had been when Melanie had stopped. "Coming?" he called down to her.

Melanie hoisted the pack further up her back. Bending over and turning her gaze to the ground she started walking again glancing up now and again to check where James was. He walked slower now, stopping often to wait for her to catch up. She appreciated his subtle kindness, making a mental note to thank him for it later.

Jon had almost continued walking when Melanie stopped. He could see her through the trees, she was slumped the bag almost falling off her back; he wanted to go to her. Hold her and tell her everything would be all right, encourage her to keep going. Jon was considering his options when he heard the man coming back. Not wanting to be seen he moved back into the trees far enough away that he could no longer see Melanie sitting on the ground. Jon listened hard trying to hear what was being said. He could hear someone fumbling around in a bag, and then the mumble of voices. It was a while later when Jon heard the man laugh. Jon felt better when he heard it. It wasn't a mean laugh, perhaps a little bitter but it was mostly friendly.