Free SARA, BOOK 2 by Esther And Jerry Hicks Page A

like it was struck by lightning.”
    “Hmm,” Sara muttered. She didn’t know lightning had ever struck near here.
    “Sometimes they get diseased and die, and sometimes they just get old. Nothin’ lives forever, you know.”
    “That’s what they say,” Sara said.
    Seth stuffed the boots into the hole in the back of the tree, and off they went. They crawled under and through an occasional
     fence from one farmer’s pasture to another, happy that, in over two hours of walking, they hadn’t encountered anyone. Except
     for the owl.
    “How do you know where to look?” Sara asked. She was beginning to wonder if this whole cave thing was such a good idea. She
     hadn’t realized it would be such a long walk.
    “See those rock cliffs up there?” Seth pointed off toward the hillsides. “See that bank of trees, there?”
    “Yes, I see that.”
    “See that dark spot just above them? I think that’s a cave. Can’t tell for sure, but I’ve seen lots of cliffs, and those cliffs
     look to me like they have caves.”
    “Okay.” Sara smiled. “I hope you’re right. How much farther do you think it is?”
    “Not far. We’ll be there in less than an hour. Do you want to rest again?”
    “No, I’m fine. Just wondered.”
    They trudged silently along, not talking much to each other. Funny, Sara thought, I thought this would be a lot more fun than it is. She hadn’t expected it to take so long, and she hadn’t expected to get so tired. It was a much steeper climb now, and her
     little toe was beginning to hurt. Sara wanted to stop and take off her shoe and straighten her sock, which felt bunched up
     and uncomfortable. Geez, am I trouble or what? I’ll bet Seth won’t be cutting class with a girl again anytime soon.
    “Let’s sit here for a while, Sara. If we stop and rest and eat and drink often, we’ll keep up our stamina better.”
    “Oh, good,” Sara said, tugging off her shoe. What sweet relief! She pulled off her sock and pulled it back on again. Much better, she thought.
    Seth smiled as he tossed her an apple. His toss was quick and accurate, and Sara looked up quickly and snatched the apple
     out of the air with her left hand.
    They both laughed.
    They finished the apples, and now feeling refreshed and eager, they continued on. “You know,” Sara said, “this really is a
     beautiful day.” She had gotten her second wind, her guilt had subsided, and right before them was the cliff they had seen
     from the pasture below.
    “Uh-oh,” Sara said, as she saw the very dense underbrush all along the cliff row. “Now what?”
    “Wait here,” Seth said. “I’ll go see if I can find an easier way through this.”
    Sara really didn’t want to stay there by herself, but she didn’t like the idea of getting all scratched up either.
    “Okay,” she said reluctantly.
    “If I don’t find something fast, I’ll come right back,” Seth called as he disappeared into the bushes.
    “Good,” Sara said to herself, sitting on a rock ledge clutching her knees and looking back down at the valley. She had become
     interested in seeing if she could identify landmarks down in the valley, when Seth came back through the bushes.
    “Come on, Sara, you’re gonna love this one. This is one of the best caves I’ve ever seen!”
    “Really?”
    “Yeah, it’s great! It’s kinda hard to get through this part, but then it’s a clear path,” Seth said, as he pulled the bushes
     back so Sara could enter. They walked a hundred yards or so, and then right before them was an entrance to a great big cave.
    “Wow!” Sara said. “I can’t believe that every kid in town hasn’t found this.”
    “Well, from the markings on the walls inside I’d say we aren’t the first ones here, but we’re the only ones here today, or
     anytime lately. I don’t think anybody’s been in here for years. Look how faded the writing is.”
    Seth and Sara stood inside the entry. “I can’t believe this,” Sara said. “This is a big