Rogue Angel - Footprints Part 31

"If you two are through mocking my situation here..."

Jenny pointed and Annja glanced down as much as the pain in her neck let her.

She could see her legs. They were completely bare.

"Looks like you lost your pants, Annja," David said.

Annja flexed her toes. They responded. She slumped back. "Thank G.o.d they're all right."

"The truck wasn't actually on your legs. Your legs were pushed into the dirt but the angle of the rig was resting more on the asphalt." David got to his feet and went behind Annja. "You are really lucky."

"My neck hurts."

"I'm not surprised," David said. He looped his arms under Annja's armpits. "I've got to move you before the truck actually does come down. You okay with that?"

"Do it."

David tightened his grip and then pulled Annja out from under the truck. She felt a wave of pain lance through her upper back and neck. "Ow!"

David laid her down some feet away from the crumpled heap. "You okay?"

"Back's killing me."

David ran his hands under Annja's back. "I can't be sure, of course, but it doesn't feel like there's anything broken."

Annja frowned. "I could get up and walk two steps and sever my own spinal cord, though."

"That's true."

Jenny frowned. "That's not going to happen."

Annja smiled. "Optimist."

David looked around. "I'll see if I can find your pants. Kinda cold to be lying out here in your skivvies like that."

"Thanks." Annja watched him move off and then turned to Jenny, wincing as she did. "Seems like a nice enough guy."

"He is, isn't he?"

She glanced at Jenny. "It's okay. I'm fine now." She struggled to sit up.

David came back around the side of the truck holding a pair of pants. Annja could see there were burns on the fabric. He saw Annja and stopped short.

"You shouldn't be sitting."

Annja shook her head. "I'm all right."

"We should really wait to get a medical opinion on that from someone more qualified. Like maybe after you've had an X-ray?"

"No time," Annja said. "I'll take my pants, please."

David handed them over and Annja struggled into them. Her body felt sore but she was certain there was no real damage. That was a lucky break, she thought. If the truck had landed on her, it might have spelled the end of her adventurous ways.

Chapter 17.

"We need to get out of here," Annja said, glancing into the woods.

David shook his head. "Are you kidding me? I've got to stay and figure out what happened. In case you didn't notice, my truck exploded."

"Of course I noticed," Annja said. "I was just pinned under it."

"What's going on, Annja?" Jenny asked.

"Don't you think that explosion happened for a reason? Like maybe to target someone?"

"Me?" David shrugged. "Why would anyone want to see me dead?"

"I don't know," Annja said. "Maybe we could start with what you supposedly know about the existence of the Sasquatch."

David fell silent. Annja pressed her attack. "Maybe someone thinks you know a few things that you shouldn't. Rather than shoot you, they could just blow you up."

"That would be as obvious as shooting him, though," Jenny said. "It would still be a homicide."

"Maybe not," Annja said. "It really depends on what blew up. Was it a road mine or some type of improvised explosive device? Or was it something faulty in the mechanics of the truck itself?"

David leaned against a nearby tree. "You really think someone wants to see me dead?"

Annja shrugged. "Look, this is what I know. There are armed men in those woods who seem determined to run off everyone in this area. I have no idea what their game is. All I know is they've been making life h.e.l.l. And this explosion seems to fit in with their plans."

Jenny stood close to David. "So what do we do?"

"Right now? I'd suggest we vanish. I think that explosion will probably act like chum for these guys and we can count on them making an appearance sooner than later," Annja replied.

David unholstered his gun. "In that case, I can arrest them."

Annja shook her head. "They'd kill you before you got the chance. There are three of them, remember? And I don't think they'll come out nice and neat for you to order them to drop the guns and put their hands up."

David frowned. "I suppose you're right."

"We need to regroup. Find our way into town and call for backup. That's the best thing to do right now."

David nodded. "Let's do it. We aren't much more than a mile or two from town. We were cruising along pretty quick when we blew up."

Annja wiped her hands on her pants and then carefully stood. She took a few steps and decided she felt fine, all things considered. "We need to go now."

David started walking down the road but Annja stopped him. "Is there a path we can use through the woods? Staying on the road probably isn't the smartest thing to do right now. Those guys will be looking for us here."

David pointed. "There's a footpath that runs alongside a stream and tracks back to town. But do you think you can do it?"