Servants of the Living Forest (2 page)

"Oh, wow," Jocelyn said. "So, this is it."

"I like it!" Cameron said, overenthusiastically. "It's new and different. For me, at least."

They paced about the ten-by-twenty room, examining the single narrow cot and the table in the corner. Cameron took care to step around the specks of insect waste that dotted the floor's broad planks.

"See! There's plenty of space," Jocelyn said. "It's just a little dusty."

Cameron looked closer then. There were dime-sized spots on the floor, black in the dark and obscured by her shadow. With a grunt, Jocelyn forced open the window and the room flooded with light that made the spots bright red. Cameron stifled her gasp and looked away, but the fresh light had revealed new wonders. A squirrel skull and bits of bone, fish hooks covered in dried, yellow slime, and scattered shotgun shells. Along the ceiling, fat black beetles hurried through the cracks at its edges and escaped outside.

"It's insulated, so we shouldn't freeze tonight," Jocelyn said. "And there's a generator and a fresh water pump outside." She dusted her hands as she turned and noticed the alarmed look on Cameron's face. "Is something wrong?"

"I think, on the floor... Is that blood?"

Jocelyn stood with her and looked down. The spots almost formed a ring, with random splatter across it.

"I think so. I mean, this is a hunting cabin," she said. "They probably bring things back here and, you know, do stuff. Look, we don't have to stay here if you don't want to. I'd understand."

"I'm sorry," Cameron said. "It's not bad at all. Isn't this what it's supposed to be like, out in the woods? All I care about is that I'm with the woman I, um... I mean, I'm here with you. I can handle it."

"Were you about to say you love me?" Jocelyn teased.

"I do love you."

Jocelyn smiled, flattered. "I love you, too. Come on, babe! Let's get our stuff."

She sprinted out of the cabin.

Cameron lingered behind, cursing and steeling herself at the same time. She wanted their trip to go well and was determined to not let herself ruin it, despite her clumsy and awkward nature. She went out to the van. Jocelyn had already opened the rear and was taking out their hiking packs and sleeping bag. Cameron grabbed the small cooler and their shared suitcase of clothes and toiletries.

"Check this out," Jocelyn said. She dug into her bag and pulled out a green book. "It's got all kinds of facts about plants and animals and lists all the things we're not supposed to do while hiking, like leaving trash outside for animals to find. It even has pictures! See, that's what poison oak looks like. So we'll avoid that. And there are also survival tips if we get lost or hurt or something."

Cameron chortled. "Are you expecting trouble?"

"I like to be prepared," Jocelyn said. She shoved the book back into her bag and shrugged. "Anything can happen."

"Yeah. I suppose it can."

Jocelyn grinned as she stepped forward, put her arms around Cameron, and kissed her lips. Cameron swooned as the world slowed, and she filled with glorious warmth.

"Are you relaxed yet?" Jocelyn said.

"I want to be," Cameron said, breathily. "I'm trying."

She glanced around the gorgeous Honduran girl holding her and looked instead at the tall trees, their leaves rustling in the slight breeze, at the green and brown and mud black, at the surrounding serenity, and remained suspicious, not only of figures lurking unseen, but also her own happiness. Her gaze finally returned to Jocelyn's orange-brown eyes, and she sighed.

"I really am trying."

"You don't have to worry all the time, Cammy. It's just us out here. We can do whatever we want. This is our big weekend getaway. It's supposed to be fun. There's nothing wrong with having a little fun."

"I know."

"While we're here, I want to do everything couples do," Jocelyn said. "Everything!"

"So do I," Cameron said. "I'm just not used to this sort of thing."

"Lighten up, babe. I'll do right by you. I promise," Jocelyn said and gave Cameron a peck on the cheek. "I'm going to take this stuff inside."

"Okay."

Cameron shoved her hands into her pockets, watching as Jocelyn entered the cabin, grateful for her patience. She glanced down then and noticed that some of the vines on the ground had moved, maybe even grown. She squinted, unsure, but soon shook her head and looked away, convincing herself it was only a trick of light while wondering what was wrong with her.

"Try harder!" she muttered.

She grabbed the other bags and hurried into the cabin.

Only one step past the threshold, she dropped everything in surprise. Jocelyn had unrolled the sleeping bag over the cot and was lying on it, naked and grinning.

"I said I want to do everything," she said. "Starting with you."

Cameron smiled widely and nodded as she kicked the door closed. And for the next hour, they made love.

Cameron swept the cabin. With each broad stroke, gray dust flecked with black billowed past the threshold.

She stepped aside as Jocelyn returned with a pot filled with fresh water from the red pump adjacent to the small dwelling.

They smiled at each other, still shining in their rosy afterglow.

"We're really doing this, aren't we?" Cameron said. "I can't believe it."

Jocelyn set the water onto the electric hot plate, their mugs waiting next to it with freeze-dried coffee inside. "And you doubted me!" she scoffed. "I'm going to turn on the generator, babe."

"Okay. I'll be here. Thinking about you," Cameron said, no less bashful.

Jocelyn smiled as she jogged up to her, and they shared a quick peck. "You're beautiful." And with a joyful giggle, she raced out and jaunted around the cabin.

Jocelyn turned the last corner and suddenly stopped, her glee replaced with bafflement. The small red generator sat ahead, center of a brief clearing amid the tall grass, but her gaze was fixed on the scratches across the wall. She approached them, reached to the white contrasting the dark surface. They looked like claw marks, deep and jagged, but were cleanly made, almost deliberate.

Then, with a small gasp, her hand shot to her chest as she realized the marks, nearly reaching the top of the cabin, were not only too high to have been made by an animal, but they were also fresh.

Jocelyn spun in place and looked into the forest. Her heart pounded. She searched the seeming tranquility for any movement, any minor disturbance, and then looked again at the marks. They formed three lines, more or less vertical, over an uneven ring.

"I wonder what it means," she said. She harrumphed, her smile returning. "Dumb girl. It's probably just a stupid prank or something. A bunch of drunk teens." She nodded. "Yeah, I bet that's what it is."

She took a breath, composed herself, and got to work on the generator.

At the other side of the cabin, Cameron swept contentedly, almost done and wondering if there was a way to clean the blood off the planks inside, when she looked up and froze in place.

Across from her, standing next to the van, was a large, black Labrador.

The dog stared at her, panting. She gripped the broom as she examined it from afar. It did not seem aggressive and wasn't foaming at the mouth. Then, it barked and wagged its tail, and her heart melted.

"Oh! Hello," she said. She set down the broom and moved toward the dog with her palms out. "Hello, boy! It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you."

The dog cantered to her, sniffed her hands, and began licking them. Cameron beamed like the afternoon sun.

Jocelyn skipped from around the cabin, then. "Generator's fixed." She glanced ahead and came to an abrupt stop. "Whoa! Okay, that's a huge dog! Cameron, what are you doing?"

"No, it's okay," Cameron said, keeping her eyes forward. "He's not going to hurt us. Are you, boy?" Cameron felt over the dog's domed head and rubbed behind its ears, admiring the way the light shined off its coat. "See?" she said. "He's all right. You're awfully well behaved," she told the dog. "What's your name?" She looked under the dog's head and rotated its orange leather collar, but couldn't find any identification.

Jocelyn approached behind her.

"Huh. He doesn't have a tag," Cameron said. "We'll call him Sancho!"

"We're not keeping him!" Jocelyn said, crossing her arms.

"I don't want to take him back with us or anything. He obviously has an owner. Look how groomed and well cared for he is," she said. "And that's a tooled collar. He belongs to someone who's probably out looking for him right now. We'll just watch over him and keep him company. He's so quiet, I'm sure he won't bother us. I mean, come on. Just look at this face!"

She held up Sancho's muzzle, giving the Labrador a gentle and lordly demeanor.

"You know how people treat black dogs," she said. "They have the hardest time finding a forever home."

Jocelyn exhaled. "Fine. I'm going to make coffee," she said. "Just don't fall in love with him, okay?" She started toward the cabin.

"What do you mean?" Cameron asked.

"Because when his owners do show up, it'll break your heart," Jocelyn shouted back. "That's why!"

Cameron pouted, still rubbing Sancho's head. She knew Jocelyn was right and resented it, but she also felt venerated, not yet used to the idea that anyone could know her so well. It was a strange new way to feel alone, and she contemplated the future.

"I know it will, but what can I do?" she said. She looked at Sancho and smiled. "What do you say we get you some water?"

The dog barked and its tail wagged.

"You're smart, too! Aren't you?" She stood, stretched. "Come with me, Sancho."

Cameron walked to the pump, and the Labrador followed.

Jocelyn watched from the cabin, the steam from her freshly brewed cup rising before her face as she plotted.

*~*~*

They finished their drinks, chatted pleasantly, and after an hour, went to the lake, a ten-minute walk to the east of the cabin.

Across its distance, the rising hills created a verdant peak. The silvery water reflected the azure sky and dark green like a mirror.

Jocelyn, in a sunny yellow bikini, raced to it and jumped in with a splash, shattering the image. She swam out, and after a few strokes, looked back at the narrow strip of beach along the tree line.

"Come on, Cammy!" she called. "I wanna see what you got!"

Cameron stepped out from behind a tree, into the sun, and dropped her towel. She stood stiffly. It was the first time she had worn a swimsuit outside since she was a child, and Jocelyn knew it.

Jocelyn smiled, delighting in the sight. With her petite frame and short curls, Cameron already looked young. Now, in a skimpy black two-piece, showing her blazing paleness, she looked almost illegal.

"OW!" she shouted. "Hey, little girl! Why don't you show me something?"

"Um, like what?" Cameron responded, quietly.

"You know what," Jocelyn teased. "Just gimme a taste. Or else I'll make you swim naked!"

Cameron, visibly tense, searched around her, quadruple-checking that they were, in fact, alone and not being watched by anyone. She then turned, thrust out her rear and pushed her bottoms down, giving Jocelyn a flash. She looked over her shoulder, and offered an innocent and nervous smile.

She wondered again what Jocelyn saw in her, especially when their ideas of what was fun were so very different.

"WOO!" Jocelyn hollered. She knew she could push Cameron to do even more but relented. "I love it! Come splash around with me!"

"Coming," she said.

She glanced back. Sancho, darker than the surrounding shadows, sat behind her, facing away and staring quietly into the forest.

"Sancho, is everything okay?" she asked. The dog did not respond. "Want to play in the water?"

The dog whimpered, stayed in place. She shrugged. "Okay. We'll just be in the lake. If you see something, bark and come get us. Don't run off, though."

The Labrador simply sat there, still and quiet, looking ahead, like it was waiting.

Cameron stepped onto the beach, dipped her toe into the water. Its chill made her twinge. She steadily entered, acclimating, and swam toward Jocelyn.

Jocelyn had already swum out and circled back. She loved swimming and had several trophies at home. It had also paid for her first two years of college, but she'd had to give up competition when her studies began to dominate her time. Still, she went to the stadium every weekend and enjoyed its pool. It was the only time she felt like a real person, as though there was more to her than her appearance.

The rest of the time, she had Cameron.

She glanced down then and noticed something odd in the lake, deep below the glistening surface. She wiped the water from her eyes and searched around her kicking legs. A dark mass moved under her. She glanced up, thinking it might be the shadow of something above her, but the sky was clear and vacant. When she looked down again, the darkness was gone.

"What the..."

Her confusion was forgotten when she heard inelegant splashing behind her. She turned and saw Cameron steadily approaching, typically awkward. At that moment, her heart warmed. Cameron was a beauty like she had always dreamed of, wet and fit and perfect—and hers.

"Is everything all right?" Cameron asked.

Jocelyn smiled. "Everything's fine," she said. "Come on, let's play!"

They swam alongside each other for a while and then hand-in-hand, and splashed each other and raced across the lake, anything they could think of to enjoy themselves.

"I wonder if I can make it all the way to the other side and back," Jocelyn said. "I'm going for it!"

"Just don't tire yourself," Cameron said.

Jocelyn snickered. "You know I don't tire out easily."

She raced ahead, fast and strong. Cameron stayed behind and watched, admiring her while drifting nearer to the beach.

Jocelyn slowed at the center of the lake, floated in place. Then, everything seemed to shift under her, and the water filled with swelling darkness. Before she could react, she was pulled under with a hard and sudden tug.