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“I hope so, too,” Re water running across the front of their shelter, what she really hoped was that the ledge they’d used to get here would still be there co

CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN

Hope is a good thing and good things never die

– AFRICAN PROVERB –

Rain pounded on the roof of the school’s office, then poured across the overfilled gutters like a waterfall, flooding the ground in front of the door Sa beneath the porch, refusing to coh Sam offered it

He turned back inside where Okoro, Pete, and Lazlo sat, studying the topographical ave a tired sigh “I don’t see any other direction they would’ve taken”

“I agree,” Okoro said “Northeasterly along that creek Which worries me”

“Why?” Wendy asked

“The river” He traced his finger from the path he and Sam had taken, up toward thethis streah this valley wherethe Fulani herdsmen That or up into the mountains”

Pete studied the o around?”

“They could,” Okoro said “But they’d have to cross the river In this weather, that wouldn’t be advisable Flooding”

“Remi,” Sam said, “would know that”

Wendy leaned into Pete “But if they were being chased, she’d take the risk”

“She would,” Sam said Which made the search for theirls safe, even if it defied logic “Either way, she’d knoe’d be sending out a search party She’s going to head to where they can be seen” He walked back to the , looking out at the front of the school in the growing dark, where, beyond the gate, he could just make out the abandoned SUV that sat in the otten back to us ho that vehicle belongs to?”

“Not yet,” Pete said “He was still waiting on information from his contacts”