Page 43 - Demo

43%u201cWhat a good idea. Thank you, Martha. What%u2019s on your agenda for today?%u201d%u201cWe need more meat. How do you fancy a fishing trip?%u201d Martha said.%u201cGood. Net, rod, or spear?%u201d Carla asked.%u201cNone of those. My method is easier. Oh, maybe the net to haul them out.%u201d Martha said, smiling.Carla was intrigued but didn%u2019t push further. Martha said, %u201cI%u2019ll go and get a bag of stuff to take while you get dressed.%u201dThey were out in the middle of a deep water part of the swamp. Martha had explained that the fish and eels were largest here. She stopped paddling and said, %u201cWatch out for gators. They normally swim at the edge as they don%u2019t like these deep waters.%u201dCarla looked into the swamp. It was too murky to see much more than her own reflection. She knew to watch the surface, the small eddies, bubbles, and signs of movement or of life beneath. Martha came up next to her carrying the shotgun. Carla was curious.%u201cFor the gators?%u201d she said pointing at it.%u201cNo. Only if they create a nuisance for us. They have a right to live. I try not to kill anything unless I%u2019m going to eat it.%u201dCarla watched as Martha put her feet in the water. She brought them out and wriggled her toes on the surface. %u201cWhat are you doing?%u201c Carla asked.%u201cAttracting the fish,%u201d Martha replied. %u201cThen I fire into the water with this.%u201d%u201cWhat? No!%u201d Carla said, her face alarmed and shocked. %u201cThe father of the children inside me might be under the surface. You might wound or kill it.%u201dSwamp Tramp