Page 49 - Demo

49She waited and heard the paddle urgently striking water. And then she shouted, %u201cI%u2019m reloading. I%u2019ll aim a little higher.%u201dThe sounds were clear: the frantic paddling, the complaining man. Carla smiled and returned to Martha, giving her back the gun. %u201cI hit one of them. It%u2019s only a warning. He wont bleed to death. If it happens again. I%u2019ll take more shells. Do you have a lot?%u201d%u201cA few.%u201d Martha told her.%u201cI taught myself how to make a bow and arrows. I had to eat, you understand%u2014my parents never gave me enough food. It%u2019s a better weapon in the swamps, silent. I%u2019ll make a bow tomorrow and lots of arrows. If they come again, I%u2019ll kill them all.%u201dMartha looked at her. %u201cSwamp queen or swamp wild cat would be a more suitable nickname for you, Carla.%u201dCarla smiled. %u201cOne more drink and then bed. You can apply my imprinters then and after, I%u2019ll make love to you.%u201d%u201cDeal,%u201d Martha said, pouring rum into their glasses.Carla laid down on the bed. She had visited her toilet bucket first and made sure it was covered before going to the bedroom. Martha sat by her side holding the box of leeches. Both of them were naked.%u201cI%u2019ll just put some on you,%u201d Martha said. %u201cI can cover you down to your navel and do the rest further down in a few days.%u201d%u201cMartha. I want you to put them all on. I want my body printed completely and then my face.%u201d%u201cWhy, child?%u201d%u201cI%u2019m of the swamp. I wish to be as the place I love.%u201d Carla explained. %u201cI%u2019ll give you ecstasy afterwards. I love the taste of you in my mouth as I go to sleep.%u201d%u201cYou are a beautiful and formidable Swamp Tramp.%u201dSwamp Tramp