Free The New World: A Step Backward by Andy Skrzynski Page A

running it up Tradulka's back.
    He leapt high and whirled.  "What on earth?"
    Bartuk snorted laughs as he rolled on the ground.  "I thought you were going to jump in the lake for sure.  Now we're even for you laughing at me earlier."
    "That's not funny with all the strange stuff going on these days.  Don't mess around.  I was just thinking about those tentacles from that fiendish vine Protuk mentioned.  You scared me to death!  I'm not giving you any more of my good stuff."
    "Aw, come on.  I was just fooling around.  Hey, look over there.  See those fireflies?" He pointed toward hundreds of fluttering lights hovering above the water.  "It's great to have a break to enjoy this."
    Tradulka shooed a dozen pesky mosquitoes, buzzing his ear.  "Yea, how could it possibly get better than this — blood-sucking mosquitoes and lurking monsters."  With both arms behind his head, he rested on a rolled blanket.  "Whoa, did you see that?"  He motioned toward the fading silhouette of the mountain crest, where a bluish-green aurora floated across the sky.
    "Yea, you mean the northern lights?  The solar flares must have been active the past few days.  That's quite a display!"
    Tradulka scrunched his face and muttered.  "Stop yapping and just enjoy the view."
    Deciding his friend was right, Bartuk laid back to appreciate the dazzling exhibit.  Smeared fluorescent greens, blues, and purples painted the sky's black canvas.
    Tradulka's eyes widened.  "Stunning, those are the brightest northern lights I've ever seen.  This sure beats anything we would have been doing back at our cabins tonight."
    Bartuk heard gagging to his side.  "Hey, you okay?" He sat up and glanced at his buddy.
    "No!  I'm choking to death on one of those blazing mosquitoes!" He held his throat while coughing.
    Bartuk rushed to help, slapping him on the back.  After a few seconds, his pal felt better and they both lay back — mouths shut this time.
    When the flames began flickering, Bartuk tossed a couple more logs on the fire and poked the orange embers.  "Get a restful sleep tonight, my friend.  We've got another long day tomorrow.  Good night."
    He settled down and watched the glistening stars and the full moon, so bright he observed the defined edges of the glowing orb's craters.  I am sure tomorrow will be much more exciting than today.

CHAPTER ELEVEN
The Buck Stops Here
     
     
    Thursday ~ August 8, 2075 ~ 7:00 am
    After a decent rest, Bartuk was the first to rise.  He softly shook his buddy.  "Come on, wake up, sleepyhead."  Bartuk yawned, wiping his eyes with his shirt.  "It's time to get moving so we can cover Porcupine Forest today."
    He nudged his friend, then folded his red and blue bedroll and stuffed it in his leather pack.  "You better get up now if you don't want to miss the action."  Prodding, he gently used his foot to push the procrastinator over.
    "Okay, okay!  I'm awake.  Leave me alone." Tradulka shooed him off.  "You got that coffee going yet?  I need a shot of wake-up juice."  He slowly pushed his body up with his forearms but plopped back to the ground.
    "Not yet, but I'm about to in a second," Bartuk sucked the cool, fresh air, filling his lungs as far as they would stretch.  "Ouch!"  He swatted his neck.  "Shivers!  I hate these pesky mosquitoes!" He waved his hands about his head to scare them off, but they kept swarming.  I have to get away from here!  They're eating me alive!
    He ran toward the beach, trying to escape the pests.  Suddenly, he stopped and whispered with his hands cupped around his mouth.  "Hey, come here — quick!  Look!  There's a couple of fox pups playing on the bank."
    The frisky, reddish-brown playmates chased each other back and forth in circles.  They paused for a second, retreated, whirled, and charged each other again.  Right before they were about to collide, they leapt vertically, kicking each other with their hind feet then tumbling to the sand.
    Bartuk laughed so