The two guys staggered painfully down the bank, tumbling among the many-speckled rocks. They were feeble and exhausted. Their faces displayed the patience that comes from having faced hardships for a long time. They carried heavy loads of blankets fastened to their shoulders. Every man had a gun. Leaning forward with their heads thrown farther forward and their gaze locked on the ground, they walked. The second man said, “I wish we had a couple of those cartridges that are lying in our cache.” There was no emotion at all in his voice. Without responding, the first man entered the milky stream that cascaded over the rocks.
The second man trailed close behind him. Even though the water was quite cold, they chose not to take off their shoes. Their feet quickly lost feeling due to the extreme cold. The water rushed up to their knees in several spots, making it hard for the two men to stay upright. The man behind him stumbled on a polished stone and almost lost his balance. With considerable difficulty, he regained his balance while letting out a piercing cry of pain. Seemingly dazed, he extended one hand in the air to grasp for support. After gaining stability, he moved ahead. However, he slid once again and almost fell. The other man, who had never glanced away, was staring at him as he stood motionless.
The second man ascended the stream’s farther bank and moved along without turning around. He was observed by the man in the creek. His mouth quivered slightly. Bill’s head did not turn, even though it was the dejected wail of a powerful man in trouble. As he struggled up the hill toward the skyline, the man watched him go. He followed him out till he vanished over the hilltop. Then, with Bill no longer with him, he carefully moved his head to study the circle of the world that was left for him. The sun was nearly concealed by a layer of clouds, low in the sky. The man balanced his weight on one leg and glanced at his watch.
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