United States or Tuvalu ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"Guess this is Paradise," Marcel explained, in answer to Keeko's expressed delight at the wide openness of it all, and at the sight of the sparse, lean Arctic grass which replaced the monotony of the shadowed river. "Guess it's a matter of contrasts," he went on. "It's kind of light, I guess, and it makes you think it's green. There's bush, or scrub, and bluffs of timber. But there's other things.
And she was thirsting, as only a mother can, for the story of it. "So. Marcel him say. An-ina listen." Keeko had beaten the winter where Marcel had failed. But then Keeko's journey had been southward towards the sun, where the forest sheltered, and the river pursued a deep-cut course to the westward of the great hills supporting the wind-swept plateau of Unaga.
In a moment a great laugh broke, through the shadow of disappointment that had fallen upon Marcel's eyes at the other's first words. "You can just kick me, Uncle Steve," he cried. "You surely can. Guess I'm every sort of crazy fool, trying to tell you the thing that's Keeko's to tell. But I didn't think," he added, passing a hand across his forehead. "I don't seem to be able to just now.
He reached out and removed the hands from their task, and, in doing so, he retained them longer than was necessary. "You guessed you could hold that up if it fell?" he asked. And Keeko's reply was full of confusion. "I didn't think," she stammered. "I didn't know what to do. It was shaking, and I thought I thought " "You didn't want me to get smashed on the rocks below.
Was it not in the nature of a procession of great triumph? Had not Keeko's summer labours been crowned far beyond her dreams? Surely this was so. The ardent little feminine scheme, worked out on a sick bed, and executed with great strength and courage had been brought to a complete and successful issue. Oh, yes. The shadows which had threatened Keeko's future had been completely confounded.
Then with a gesture of helplessness which further added to Keeko's amusement: "I couldn't. You see I'm well I'm just darned! That's all just darned!" "I know," the girl cried delightedly. "You didn't guess to find a girl around.
Years ago before his terrible journey across Unaga, when he, too, had defied the very things Marcel now spurned. But the awe in Keeko's eyes only deepened. "Maybe you're right," she said doubtfully. "But sometimes it scares me. Scares me to death." She drew a long breath as she made the admission. Marcel's quick answer came with a laugh of amusement.
Keeko's plan was clear in her mind, and urgency was speeding her efforts and the efforts of her helpers. She had only one thought now. It was Marcel. She knew. Oh, yes. There could be no doubt. For her there was only one Marcel. There could be no other. It was Nicol's purpose to murder him and his people. It was for her to defeat that purpose.
"Guess you don't need to be sorry. I need to feel that way, acting foolish, gawking around here like some fool kid. But you see you're a girl." Keeko's smile broadened into a delicious ripple of laughter. "Sure," she nodded. "You didn't guess I was a-jack-rabbit?" Marcel was recovering. He, too, laughed. "I didn't guess anything," he said.
Keeko's voice rang stridently amongst the rafters of the place. "Stop!" Nicol stopped and turned. "You can stop right there," the girl said coldly. "I'm going right out. I'm quitting. You best understand that. I'm quitting, and I'm taking my outfit with me. I don't pass another night under this roof. You best remember I've all I need to fight you.
Word Of The Day