The Digital Dragons - Timberlake Falls

We have tied off the barge beneath some large trees and 'tho the drying leaves afford scant cover, the sound of the falls hides the noise of our labors. The company is exhausted and we sleep in short shifts.

Taylor and Jones have scouted back along our path for some 15 miles and saw no sign of our being followed.

The rudder is busted good, but the stern only needs a few boards replacing. The bit of the rudder blade that stayed put allowed us to steer this far but only by the greatest fortune. Wiley says it should have come off at the first rapids. The attack was two days back and we think we have made 50 or so miles since then.

Brodie's leg is festering. The black vein is now up near his knee. Kestrel wants to take it, but Brodie keeps his old horse pistole close to hand. Poor Brod has been up now for four days and must pass out of consciousness soon. If not, then Kestrel says he'll die for sure.

Kestrel thinks the brigands will not follow, their ambush at the narrows having failed, but Taylor swears he saw Tom Spooner with that bunch. The rest of us think that bodes ill, as Tom and Kestrel had bad blood two years back at the rendevous on Elk Creek, and Tom Spooner has a black heart. He may well want to follow and talk the rest in to it. The irony is that we have nothing to give them but our lives. This has been the poorest years work any of us can remember, even Kestrel.

My turn now to go up river and watch.