Chapter One - Part 18

Even though animal life was immune to the deadlier effects of the radiation, the horses still needed to be tethered, and hobbled, or they would run off during the event. The un-cloven horses, only needed gear on their front legs, but the faster horses, the cud chewers with cloven hooves, were always more excitable and needed to be tethered individually to four-ways.

Crystal and Jack had got all six animals tied and grained, then settled into their tent to wait out the shadows.

Jack's clothes were soaked with sweat and Crystal could smell the poison in them. "Well, shedding that stuff as quick as you are, you ought to be back up to snuff by the time the shadows are gone."

Jack nodded. As he ate his rations, he talked between bites. "Having a hard time with my See! Stinking shot! Whoever it was, put insidium in the bullet. I'm thankful it just grazed me or you'd a put me in the ground already. How far to the next stream?"

"We got plenty, Dad. I don't need as much water as you right now.” She handed him the canteen. “Take as much as you need, we'll be fine. You need to wash out that poison. I'll need you when we catch them."