Rogue Angel - Footprints Part 25

"Just stay on this course?"

"Why not?"

Annja looked at the stones again. Jenny had a good point. "You might just be right.

"All right, then, we stay on this heading."

"It looks pretty clear, actually," Jenny said.

Annja had to agree. From the blueberry bush, there seemed to be a small track running through the woods. "Maybe it's an animal run."

"So animals would use it?"

"Sure."

"Like big animals?"

Annja sighed. "I don't think we're going to run into your Sasquatch hiking down this trail."

"Never know."

"Let's get going. If we can find the main road, it's a matter of a few miles back to town. We could be there by noon if we're lucky."

"And back out here by dusk?"

"If not sooner."

Jenny yawned. "I could do with a nap and a shower, preferably while a burly country dude bathes me."

Annja smirked. "Better use all of that wanton l.u.s.t to help drive you on the walk back."

Jenny smiled. "I will. As long as you take the lead and I can just follow along behind you, I should be fine."

"Oh, sure, you get to have all the fun." Annja started walking down the small track. "Let's get moving, then."

"Right behind you."

The animal run seemed remarkably free of debris. Along the way, Annja spotted small pellets of rabbit scat that seemed to confirm that the run was relatively well used. But would it lead them back to the main road?

It must. Otherwise, why would Joey point them in this direction? Annja had to a.s.sume that he had gone after the three idiots who had killed Cheehawk. She didn't blame him for feeling the rage she knew was burning inside of him. She felt bad that it would consume him at such a young age, though.

Try to remember how you felt at fourteen, she thought to herself. Back then, the world hadn't seemed like a very fair place at all. As she walked, Annja could feel the disquieting anger she'd long ago tried to make peace with welling up inside her again. She sighed. Does it ever truly go away? Or does it simply lie dormant until something triggers it all over again?

"Annja?"

She glanced back at Jenny. "What?"

"You okay?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Because I just asked you a question and you ignored me."

Annja smiled. "Sorry, I got a little lost inside myself for a moment. It happens sometimes. I didn't mean to ignore you."

"Okay."

Annja kept walking. "So what was your question?"

"When did you first get that sword of yours and where is it now?"

Annja groaned. "I thought we agreed not to talk about it?"

"I never agreed to that. I simply let you get on with figuring out what direction we were going. Now it's open season on you and that big hunk of metal you somehow heft."

"You're not going to let me out of answering your questions this time, are you?"

"Not a chance, sister. Now start dis.h.i.+ng."

Annja stooped to avoid a low pine branch. "It was back in France. Several years ago. And ever since I got the sword, it's always with me."

"I don't get it. Where is it?"

Annja decided the truth was the only way to go, even if Jenny had a hard time with it. "I don't honestly know. It's as if it's in some other plane of existence. I can summon the sword and I can put it back there again."

"What are you talking about? Like an out-of-body experience?"

Annja didn't feel like getting into this or the spirit walk she'd supposedly made with Joey's grandfather. "I guess so. Maybe."

"How weird."

"It's most definitely weird. And since I'm not entirely sure how all of it works, it's even stranger to discuss, you know? I mean, I know that you want answers to your questions. But you've got to understand that I don't necessarily have any answers to give."

"You've got questions of your own, huh?"

"You can say that again. The sword comes with a host of stuff that I can't even begin to talk about, let alone try to make you comprehend. I was chosen to have the sword for some reason, and that's all I know. For the time being, I have to accept that. Until I'm made aware of my destiny, if there even is one, then I guess I just keep doing what I know how to do."

"In any event," Jenny said, "it makes for something to talk about on a long walk back to town."

Annja stopped. "Maybe not so long."

"What?"

Annja pointed. "Look."

Through the trees, they could see what looked like the black asphalt of a road. They'd made it out of the woods.