here.â
Sarah sighed with relief and leaned back against her rock. âThank god. I thought he was dead. When I saw the cockpit smashed, I just knew heâd died and we were alone.â
Daisy snorted. She and House and would be fine without Sarah. Stuck with her to care for, the two of them had to stay in human form. As wolves, they both could have made it all the way back to Mogadishu with no trouble.
âThose insurgents wanted you pretty bad. What for?â Daisy asked.
âHouse said itâs because my dad is a diplomat currently serving in Israelâ
Daisy nodded. âThat would do it.â
She sat next to Sarah and put an arm around her shoulders. She was soft and womanly, smelling like fresh coconut with a floral note. Daisy turned her head so her face brushed Sarahâs hair. The smell came from the pale gold tresses. Something warm rose in Daisyâs chest. She realized she wanted to protect Sarah. She tightened her grip on the womanâs shoulders and Sarah turned to bury her face in Daisyâs plates.
They rested together for about an hour. Daisy didnât sleep, but Sarah did with her head against Daisyâs body armor. Daisy kept scanning the horizon for anyone following them or for House. When he showed up, she was dozing and he surprised her.
âSleeping on duty?â He asked.
Daisy bolted awake. âHouse, sorry, man, I was so tired and itâs hotter than hell. I kept wanting to get rid of the armor, but I know better.â
âItâs okay,â he said. âHowâs the girl?â
âSheâs feeling pretty guilty and terrified. The let-down after the crash was hard. Sheâs been sleeping for a couple of hours.â
House stared off into the distance. âWe left men behind.â
âI know you hate that.â
âGopher and Berry, I canât believe we lost them. Iâve been with Gopher for a couple of years.â
âWeâll go back and get them. We just need to find a way off this frigging desert.â
Sarah woke up and blinked. âHouse, youâre alive.â
He reached down and pulled her to her feet. âYeah, at least I am for the moment. You spot any tail?â He asked Daisy.
âSo far nothing. I saw a rat. Does that count?â
House smiled. âI donât think so. You probably should have caught it. At least we could eat.â
âAwe, man, rat? Did you find a way off this hot plate?â
He shook his head. âNo, weâre miles from anything or anywhere. Only good news is I think weâre in Ethiopia. I found a cave about two miles from here. No water, but we can hole up there until dark.â
Daisy slowly rose to her feet. Everything hurt. Sheâd been hit twice in the plates and was bruised. The crash had added a few more. âWe need to search the wreckage for Sarahâs sandal. She canât go anywhere with only one shoe.â
House nodded his gaze on the horizon. âRound up anything in the bird we can use. Iâll search for her shoe.â
* * * *
House walked in circles starting at the bird, his eyes on the ground, his mind churning. They were in so much trouble. Heâd run for thirty miles in a circle around their location and found nothing. But heâd got a take on where they were and thought if they started walking around midnight, they might find a main road. From there, they could find a town.
He found the sandal fifty feet from the wreck and carried it back to Sarah. She was helping Daisy stuff two backpacks with weapons, ammo, bottles of water, MREs, a med kit and some tools. When House saw the tools, he lifted one eyebrow.
Daisy shrugged. âYou never know what we might need.â
âDid you find the satellite phone?â
Daisy held up a crushed phone. âThe laptop and the com equipment were in the cockpit.â
âWe still have our chips. Theyâll find us.â
Daisy and House were both equipped