Page 23 - Demo

23she would lose about a pint and a half of blood that day. She should wait a few days before doing it again.When she got home, as these were nice and big, she would find a large plastic box with a secure lid to keep them safely in and use them over and over again. She imagined what it will look like after a thousand concentrically multi-circle scars had been printed there by thousands of tiny teeth.She loved the idea that the swamp will leave itself stamped forever over her entire front torso. She got into the leaky boat, picked up the oars and paddled away through the swamp towards Martha%u2019s house.Her journey proved uneventful. She spied no gators or snakes, despite fully releasing they were there all right, below in the murky dark waters. Carla arrived at the mooring and tied the boat.Martha had a knack for knowing when someone arrived. It was a sixth sense that defied rationale. A life in the swamps taught you to acquire such supernatural gifts as your natural senses alone would not always be enough to ensure you survived here. Carla knew that. She walked up the slope towards her shack and sure enough, Martha was outside waving at her.They hugged but Carla was careful not to squeeze her so tightly as usual to ensure she didn%u2019t squash the leeches. Martha took her by the shoulders, %u201cCarla, I%u2019m beginning to wish I%u2019d never shown you my naked body. You have leeches attached, don%u2019t you?%u201dCarla smiled, nodded and pulled her tee shirt up high. Martha looked. %u201cDon%u2019t put so many on in one session. They%u2019ll take too much blood and leave you faint and weak.%u201dCarla let the tee shirt down and tucked it in.%u201cI have a fresh brew of ginger beer. Sit down out here on the porch Swamp Tramp