Camouflage Heart by Dana Marton Read Free Book Online Page B

of a drug overdose. I didn’t even know he was using. He was class valedictorian. I got involved in every anti-drug support program after that. Things just progressed from there, I suppose.”
    She fidgeted on the bed.
    â€œKnow of a good twelve-step program for recovering washed-out POWs?” His voice was hard again, not a trace of lightness left in it.
    She wanted desperately to say something that would help him, something that went beyond the usual you’re-in-control-of-your-future platitude. In a sense, he was similar to the men and women she dealt with at work every day. Their lives were robbedfrom them by the substances they abused, just as the guerillas had stolen years from Brian. And yet in many other ways, he was profoundly different.
    â€œGood night,” he said, closing the conversation before she could form a response.
    She was up long after his breathing evened, startled by a call or shriek of some wild animal every time she began to doze off. Small noises came from above, insects and God knows what else dropping on the palm leaf roof Brian had thrown together after he had coaxed the fire to life.
    Her mind was restless, going to Nicky over and over again, wondering how she was doing, if her sister was still alive. Her clothes were damp and she was cold, wishing back the cave where they’d spent the previous night. Amazing what a difference dry clothes made.
    Brian mumbled something.
    â€œWhat?”
    He spoke again, in another language. She could hear him kicking at the leaves that she’d piled onto the bamboo platform for comfort. Maybe he was having a nightmare. He probably had enough bad memories to fill a lifetime of scary dreams. She had only spent a day with the guerillas. He had been their prisoner for four years. She couldn’t begin to comprehend what he had gone through.
    The thought brought a slew of uncomfortable questions. What right did she have to ask him to go back? He had already suffered more than most people she knew did in a lifetime. He needed rest and sufficient food, and medical care for his bad leg.
    She was prepared to risk everything to save her sister, even her life. But she had no right to ask him to do the same.
    He kicked again, wildly, and must have hit one of the supports because the shelter rattled. She reached out and her fingers brushed against his face, registering how cold his wet skin was a split second before his hand closed around her wrist—tight enough to hurt.
    Fear slammed into her. They couldn’t see each other. He could snap her neck before he woke enough to remember her. “Brian?” She scrambled away from him as far as she could.
    He eased his grip and a second later let her go.
    â€œSorry,” he said after a while, his voice raspy from sleep.
    â€œYou had a bad dream.” She rubbed her wrist, staying back.
    Silence followed her words.
    â€œLook,” she said after a few minutes. “You don’t have to come with me. If you could just take me close enough so I can get to them without gettinglost.” That would be enough. She would show the bank statement, and after that things should resolve quickly.
    â€œI wouldn’t hurt you,” he said over his shoulder, misunderstanding her. “I said you could trust me.”
    â€œIt’s not that I don’t. I do. But don’t you think you’ve had enough? I’m grateful that you saved my life. But it’s not your job to watch over me. You don’t owe me anything.” She said the words awfully bravely, even though she didn’t feel very brave at the moment.
    â€œWe’ll get your sister.”
    She wanted to protest and pretend that she wasn’t melting in relief, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She did need him, want him with her. He was offering. She wasn’t stupid enough to fight him on this.
    A steady drizzle came from above, some of it dripping through the makeshift roof. She pulled in her