Free The Word of God by Christopher Cummings

moving.”
    The two groups moved off in different directions. Peter called ‘Good luck’ to Graham who grinned and headed back up the mountain.
    Stephen called after him: “You just want a ride in a helicopter.”
    Graham laughed again. Sgt Crowe muttered that they might all have to walk back down, depending who else came in the chopper.
    That won’t worry Graham , Peter thought. He had seen him march many kilometres at night in other emergencies. He loves this sort of thing. I wish I did!
    At least Peter felt safer. Now that they had Capt Conkey and the policeman with them he felt quite relaxed, if exhausted. Surely the Devil Worshippers wouldn’t try anything with an armed policeman around?
    The first part of the descent was slow as they had to carefully negotiatethe large open area of exposed rock, then an area of rough scree thick with stunted timber. Even with a torch it was slow going. During the halt their muscles had stiffened up and it took a while for them to warm up and for the pain to subside. It was hard going and got worse as the track seemed to go on downwards for ever.
    Capt Conkey took the lead, walking slowly and frequently looking back to check that the others were keeping pace. He had a powerful torch which he kept directed at the ground near his feet. Peter had his own torch but already its battery was showing signs or running flat.
    The ridge levelled out for a while, then went on down at a gentler angle. At places it was sandy and easy to walk along but most of the way was studded by exposed rocks and roots which necessitated constant care. This was very fatiguing to their already tired minds and bodies and after a time it seemed to Peter that they were moving in a sort of nightmare that never ended.
    Nature added to this. Capt Conkey suddenly stopped and Peter bumped into him. A stab of alarm made his heart thud faster.
    â€œWhat is it sir?”
    â€œBlasted snake on the track,” Capt Conkey replied.
    Peter looked past the captain to where the beam of his torch was directed onto the ground two metres ahead. A brown coloured snake about a metre long was sliding very slowly off the track. They stood and watched but the reptile came to a halt in a tuft of grass only a short distance from the track.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” Joy asked from behind them. Peter did not want to say, lest he frighten the others but Stephen stepped out and saw the snake.
    â€œBloody snake! Kill the damned thing sir!” he called.
    â€œSnake!” the others echoed. Peter heard Sir Miles and Sir Richard both mutter ‘Oh my God!’
    â€œIt’s alright,” Capt Conkey said, his voice quite calm. “It isn’t interested in us.”
    He stamped his foot but the snake refused to move. Annoyed the captain stamped some more and muttered what he thought of the stupid snake. When it still would not move he asked Peter for a loan of his staff and used that to prod it.
    â€œKeep well back please,” Capt Conkey warned.
    â€œWhy? What are you doing?” the constable called.
    â€œJust encouraging this blasted snake to shift itself out of the way,” Capt Conkey replied. With that he nudged the snake again.
    Sir Miles stared wide-eyed. “Isn’t that dangerous, to stir the creature up?” he asked anxiously.
    Capt Conkey laughed. “It could be, but I think this fellow is some sort of python. Ah! There he goes. Oh blast the thing!”
    To their annoyance the snake slid back out onto the track and proceeded to slither slowly down the track ahead of them. Capt Conkey followed, his torch directed at the snake as it wound ahead of them. Several times he poked at the snake in exasperation. The snake continued to move on the track.
    â€œHe’s very sluggish,” Stephen observed.
    Capt Conkey nodded. “Probably cold and just come out of hibernation,” he replied.
    For several minutes the group moved slowly down the track following the