Free The Trek: Darwin's World, Book II (The Darwin's World Series 2) by Jack L Knapp

see the spear point. Look just above that bush. See the dark object?”
    Matt looked carefully where Lilia indicated. Finally he saw the spear point. It moved slightly while he watched.
    “If he’s from the tribe, he could be hunting. Poor technique, though; he should have laid that spear aside while he was waiting.”
    “Matt, would someone be hunting where the tribe has passed? Wouldn’t that scare off any game?”
    “You’re right. If I were doing it, I’d want to be ahead where no one has disturbed the animals. But still, this one doesn’t look like he knows what he’s doing. Maybe we should ask him.”
    “Matt, what if they’re waiting for me to return? If they knew I’d gone to look for you…”
    “One way to be sure. We can get closer. There are enough bushes between here and where he’s hiding. We get closer and make sure he’s alone. How would you feel about drawing fire? Just stand up for a second, then drop and crawl under cover. If he’s friendly, he’ll say something. If he draws that bow you mentioned, well, I’ll know what to do.”
    Matt led, Lilia followed. Crawling slowly, they approached the clump of bushes where Lilia had seen the man waiting. Finally Matt judged they were close enough. He looked at Lilia and pointed to a downed log. When he had her attention, he mouthed, “Stand up, then duck behind the log. I’ll see what he does.”
    Lilia looked dubious for a moment, then decided she was safe as long as Matt watched. The spear point was now obvious, projecting above the bush where the man crouched. He would have to stand up before he could launch an arrow, and if he did, Matt would have a clear shot.
    Carefully she thought through her actions; step out, wait briefly, step back and then drop behind the downed tree. Crawl a few yards farther while concealed, then she too could stand, concealed behind a large beech-tree. By then Matt would have decided what to do.
    Taking a deep breath, Lilia stood up. The clump of brush she watched was only thirty yards away…and Nikolai suddenly saw her.
    His eyes opened wide in surprise and he sprang up, fumbling with the bow and arrow. The arrow had come loose and it took a second for him to replace the nock on the string. He glanced down as he did this and when he raised his eyes to where he’d seen Lilia, she had disappeared.
    Well, she couldn’t be far. But Pavel would need to be warned.
    He drew back the bowstring and called “Pavel! She’s here!”
    He never felt the arrow punch through his temple.
    Matt had nocked a second arrow, but it wouldn’t be needed. He watched as Nikolai collapsed bonelessly behind the bush.
    Matt had heard Nikolai call out, as had Lilia. He slipped over to the log and the two sought better cover.
    “There are more of them. You said Pavel has…had…four men. He’s only got three now. That one looked south before he called, so they’re probably over there.”
    “Matt, we’re outnumbered.”
    “You’re right. For now, we wait. See what they do. An hour from now, see if you can reach Lee. Pavel’s bunch won’t have come far from the camp if they planned to ambush you. Get Lee and any others you trust and bring them back here. I’ll wait, make sure they don’t try following you.”
    #
    Two hours later Lilia returned with Robert and Laz. She’d found Lee gone but had picked up her spear, now slung over her shoulder. She’d left her pack with the horsemeat in camp.
    The three spread out as they approached the place where Lilia had left Matt, waiting. But he had disappeared.
    While they were wondering where he might have gone, Matt approached from the south.
    “Pavel took off. I saw him, but couldn’t get a shot. He had two others with him.”
    Robert spoke. “Welcome back, Matt. I’ve never been more pleasantly surprised than I was when Lilia told me she’d found you alive. Anyway, Pavel only had three men with him. He left one with the two women in his group. What used to be his group,