The Young Lady Who Would No Longer Listen to Reason

fiction
edward w pritchard

Tregan wouldn't listen to reason but as she argued with the rest of the group she allowed each person to complete their entire thought before she answered them. In a few minutes the entire group of six were sided against her.

They all wanted to leave Miss Trichett's body here and walk back to the drop off point. They figured with luck they could reach the road this time day after tomorrow.

"No," Tregan said, " we can't count on luck and if we do we must assume adverse luck."

Bake was the only male left and was trying to intimidate Tregan and bully her. He cut off her sentences, moved too close as he talked and waived his hands and arms to emphasize his points.

Tregan who had met Bake only yesterday looked him in the eye and said directly to him
" Bake we are all afraid of the wolves"

Bake leaned back as if slapped, Tregan had silenced him.

Monica who was nearly as large as Bake and heavier said " the wolves are exactly why we have to leave now before it gets dark"

Tregan stepped toward Bake and stood along side of him. Addressing the group she said " the wolves will track us if we leave and will probably kill most of us if we move from here.

"How do you these things" said Reisha, who knew Tregan, frightened.

Tregan continued " its getting near Winter, the wolves have smelled the dead body among us, this is their chance to store a lot of food for the next month or so.

Monica again " why haven't they tried to kill us now"

Tregan " they are doing the same thing we are, planning, organizing and waiting, to see if we make a mistake or split up. They might eventually try to challenge us but if Darin and help gets back in time we will be OK.

Carson, the intellectual " might, you don't know?"

Tregan, "No, it depends on how hungry the wolves are and their leader."

Bake " won't bears come if we stay here?"

Tregan "eventually, but we are more likely to meet a bear on the trails and he would have the advantage on a hill and in the woods."

Pamy " why don't we just leave the body for the wolves and take our chances together on the trial?"

Tregan, angrily NO! "we must protect the body at all costs, she is one of us"

Carson " shouldn't we bury the body?"

Tregan " No, we must protect Miss Trichett as if it were still with us." The wolves will not eat the body for now, they will try to hunt the smallest and weakest first and then try one by one to to kill the rest of us. Unless a bear comes into camp, the wolves will not come to eat the body until they have finished with us or we drive them away by force and intimidation."

"You mean they will kill us all"

No, said Tregan we can drive them off if we fight together, stay together, and identify and kill their leader if we can.

What should I do said Bake

Tregan " Find and make a stout spear or two time permitting. You are the only one strong enough to kill a charging wolf with a spear thrust. But you must stay near the fire, not charge into the wolves out of camp, even if your angry, and you should try to protect the others and stay to your full height during the fight with the wolves.

Rachel, who had been coming on to Darin before he left " I am going to look for Darin"

Tregan " If you do a few wolves will follow you and find you. They are watching us and will stalk any movement away from the group. They don't know our strength and will be cautious at first." That's why we stay here together

How many wolves are there?

Tregan " nine to thirteen maybe, not sure"

How many bears will come

Tregan
Only one bear at a time unless we are really unlucky, and likely none but if we are out here long enough one will come into camp.

Bake " we can scare a bear"

Tregan" likely no but he could be easily be discouraged by such a good size group of us, and he will leave for a while and come back if he can't eat elsewhere"

"What should I do, said Carson ?"

Tregan looking off into the distance " we need to surround the body with four hot fires and they must continue to burn as long as we are here night and day, rain or snow."
The women should form three teams and gather wood near camp and pile extra dry wood near each fire.

What are you going to do.

I need a sling, said Tregan, if I can find one. All the women must gather 25 to 30 hand sized rocks. Use five rocks for practice throws but don't let your arm get too sore and try to reclaim the rocks after you throw them. Imagine hitting a charging wolf in the head, but any hit is good.

"I can't believe this is happening" said Rachel.

Rachel, said Tregan, "it already happened when Darin left and the wolves found us. Darin did the only thing he could do to try and save us. You have to help us so we can all get out of here and get back safely."

Why haven't the wolves attacked us yet", Is Darin in danger.

Tregan " they are waiting for stragglers or for us to split up" Darin went alone because it was the riskiest thing to do, but only choice for him to make.

Will they attack at night

Tregan " Not sure, maybe a dawn or dusk but i don't have a feeling about that yet."

What about a bear attack at night

Tregan " well that won't be good, one of us would probably die because we wouldn't see him until he was upon us. But whatever happens no one is to run out of camp. The wolves will pick off stragglers if the bear comes in.

Tregan " I need someone to come with me to the River. Monica let's you and I be team C. The river was about 75 yards away.

Monica " isn't that dangerous

Tregan " Yes but there might be a fish and we need water for later.

What about dysentery

Tregan " That's a good trade off if we get out of here.

Two hours later the camp was set, four fires were burning, extra wood had been gathered and Miss Trichett's body was covered with a blanket and there had been a short service for her lead by Carson. The girls were in three two person groups, a b and c. In two hour shifts they would alternately keep the fire going, sleep, and stand guard.

Bake had three good spears and was cooking the fish Monica had found near the river. The sleeping members had the sleeping bags and the guards each took a blanket. Bake was to rest an hour and then be on guard for an hour until daylight and then he could sleep as needed.

About dark the wolves began to howl and move about higher up the ridge but did not come into camp. During the night they could be heard moving about the forest.

Westward bound adventure group for troubled teens was given a refund for trip 672, October 7th to 10, 2009. The seven tenth graders had an abrupted trip because of the accidental death of the guide Miss Trichett. They camped alone for two nights near the river, with a steep ledge to their backs and maintained fires to drive off animals and protect the body. The other guide Darin, walked non-stop for two days and returned without rest with four armed park rangers to bring out the teenagers.

The high school that most of the students came from hasn't decided if another group will be sent next year. There is however, something to be said that adversity brings out leadership.

As a group, most of the team, the incorrigibles, stay in touch and help each other when they can.