‘It was quiet, too quiet for the fresh tracks in front of me. I could hear the light breeze but it almost felt unnatural. Too quiet for those tracks.

But I had other senses.’ I slowly stepped back a half step and ever so gently brought myself to one knee. Closing my eyes I deeply sniffed the air. ‘ soap, mint, garlic. It was fresh and close.’ I slowly eased back. An entry to my left, I had passed it on my way in to the structure. I moved in, close to the wall, slow, quiet. The sand had built up forming a waist high mound across the access into the room on my right. ‘I could ease my way through gentle like. Come around behind.’

Crouching and stepping forward to look over the barrier of sand. ‘Nothing, easy now.’ I work my way gently over the crest of sand into the next room. Lying still I listen, nothing. Just as I’m about to move I hear it. A slight exhale of breath, small like a mouse, but enough. just ahead of me. outside the corridor on the left. Slipping silently to the window frame I glance out. There to the right a small figure waits, half buried in the sand, long knife in her left hand and pistol in her right. Slowly I draw my own long knife and gently place it on her shoulder.

“Shit” she states softly.

“Watch your mouth, cursing is the example of a weak mind”

“Dad, come on, I almost had you that time.”

“Then why am I the one behind you with the knife?”

She exhales loudly. “ I’m never going to best you.”

“You will, I know you will and when you do, we’ll be ready.”

“To find Mama?”

“To find mama”