Huts on the Beach

           Jackwasbentdouble.Hewasdownlikeasprinter,hisnoseonlyafewinchesfromthehumidearth.Thetreetrunksandthecreepersthatfestoonedthemlostthemlvesinagreenduskthirtyfeetabovehim,andallaboutwastheundergrowth.Therewasonlythefaintestindicationofatrailhere;acrackedtwigandwhatmightbetheimpressionofonesideofahoof.Heloweredhischinandstaredatthetracesasthoughhewouldforcethemtospeaktohim.Thendog-like,uncomfortablyonallfoursyetunheedinghisdiscomfort,hestoleforwardfiveyardsandstopped.Herewasloopofcreeperwithatendrilpendantfromanode.Thetendrilwaspolishedontheunderside;pigs,passingthroughtheloop,brusheditwiththeirbristlyhide.

           Jackcrouchedwithhisfaceafewinchesawayfromthisclue,thenstaredforwardintothesemi-darknessoftheundergrowth.Hissandyhair,considerablylongerthanithadbeenwhentheydroppedin,waslighternow;andhisbarebackwasamassofdarkfrecklesandpeelingsunburn.Asharpenedstickaboutfivefeetlongtrailedfromhisrighthand,andexceptforapairoftatteredshortsheldupbyhisknife-belthewasnaked.Heclosedhiseyes,raisedhisheadandbreathedingentlywithflarednostrils,assessingthecurrentofwarmairforinformation.Theforestandhewereverystill.

           Atlengthheletouthisbreathinalongsighandopenedhiseyes.Theywerebrightblue,eyesthatinthisfrustrationseemedboltingandnearlymad.Hepassedhistongueacrossdrylipsandscannedtheuncommunicativeforest.Thenagainhestoleforwardandcastthiswayandthatovertheground.