The Extinct

CHAPTER
61

They sat in the corner most of the day, talking about what America was like, Jalani telling him that it was her dream to one day live there. Eric told her about the foliage of New England and its changing colors over the seasons, how the mountain by his home looked like someone had spilled brown and yellow paint over it. He told her about school and his mother. And he told her about his stepfather and the reason he fled the country.

Jalani accepted it without reaction. Eric figured she’d seen so much death in her life, something that could be justifiable wasn’t a big deal. The only thing she said was, “Was it really an accident?”

“Yes,” Eric said, “I think it was.”

She seemed satisfied with his answer and they spoke of other things.

Soon their bellies ached with hunger and their lips were cracking from lack of water. Out here, even indoors, dehydration could occur after hours, not days. Eric stood up and looked out the window. Asleep on the ground was one of the hyenas. It lay on its side, its belly moving up and down in shallow breaths. “We need to get out of here,” Eric said. “How?” “This window. We can climb out onto the roof and maybe sneak away.” “They would hear us.” “It’s better than staying here to die.” Eric grabbed the stool that sat in the corner and slammed it against the window, shattering the glass. “Stay here,” Eric said.

He climbed out of the small window, cutting his hands on the shards of glass that had scattered on the pane. The roof was tiled with shingles and was clean, no debris and little dirt. He walked carefully along the side, going up to the middle of the roof which ended in a point and surveyed the land around him.

The jeeps were off about a hundred yards, through a thick patch of grass. Only the sides had been damaged. If they could get to one and tip it over it should still be in running condition.

One of the hyenas stepped out of the house and looked up to the roof. It roared at the sight of Eric and Eric stumbled backward and nearly fell. He made his way to the window and climbed in as the hyena began to pace back and forth in front of the house. “I found a way out,” Eric said as he climbed in. “If we can make it to the jeeps they should still be running.” “How are we going to do that?” “I don’t know yet,” Eric said.

He stared at the animals in the front yard. There were two of them there now. The heat was getting to them as well. They were panting heavily and their mouths were dry. One of them went and laid in the shade of the tree, glancing up occasionally at the house and then putting his head back on the ground.

The other sat in front of the house, and stared at the window.