Chapter 7 – She is a wonderful woman.

Dexter was very sad, he expected that his companion will going to rescue him, that day, but all of them failed to see him. It is already dark, he can move a little but he still weak, he cannot come down to the hut. It is good thing, his host, is giving him everything he needed. He cannot complain with the food offered to him, it is a good one, and sure in short time he can regain his full strength.  Most of the time, they are wild fruits taken from the forest, like banana, jack fruits and the like. He wonders who gathered them all for him, it must be done by a man, and in that whole day, he can observe and see Shayne is alone.

After dinner, Dexter wonders where Shayne will be going to take rest. The hut is small, and there is only one bamboo bed, how the two of them occupy it? He is planning to sleep in the floor and offer the bed to Shayne.

“You may sleep on the bed, I will lay down on the floor, I will behave well”

“No, you take the bed, you need a good rest to regain your full strength”

“But how about you, where are you going to rest”

He cannot see any bedding around, no matts no, no pillows, no blanket, except those in his bed.

                “I have my own place to rest, I don’t need bed”

                “I am ashamed of you; you need to look for another place because of me”

                “Even before you arrive, I am not sleeping on that bed”

                “Then, where are you taking a rest? Is there any hut nearby”?

                “I have told you I have my own place to take a rest”

                “One thing more, once you need something just call me

Shayne is becoming more mysterious to Dexter every time that passed by, to how she behaves and how she does things around. He really wonders, where is she going to take a rest, he cannot see any one, around, much more anymore hut. The forest poses so many dangers, starting from the harsh weather up to the fierce wild animals roaming around. The oil lamp is the only source of light in the hut. The darkness is so thick outside.

                “If you have nothing to say, I will leave you now”

Dexter wonders where is she going? This woman is so mysterious, it is the thought filling up on his mind. Dexter cannot hold her anymore, he cannot tell her, to remain because he wants companion, it so shameful to his part, he cannot tell her he is afraid to be alone. He just watches Shayne come down in the three steps stairs, come out in the hut and lost in the darkness.

                Dexter is alone in the hut; he lay down in the bed but he remains awake for long time. There is no mosquito net, but he wonders why there is no mosquitoes around. His mind become occupied by so many thoughts. He is very sure his family is now worried very much of what have happened to him. On his counting he has been in the forest for three days by now.  He is almost sleepy when suddenly he notices something is moving bellow the bed.  It is a big snake!

                He was terrified don’t know what to do. He cannot depend himself yet, for he still not fully recovered, he cannot even walk well. He did the last recourse he can think of. He shouted for help.

                “Help, help there is a snake here”

All of a sudden Shayne is inside the hut, in front of him, he did notice where did she enters or pass by.

                “What is the problem?”

                “Look, there is a big snake bellow the bed” he is screaming.

Shayne, smiles, come near the snake and told him.

                “It is one of my friend, it is not venomous”

                “It is just a reticulated python, have not seen one before?”

                “No, we don’t have it in our place”

Shayne gently touches the head of the snake and told him.

                “Go down, don’t play here, we have visitor”

Dexter watches carefully, and he observed the snake follow the instruction of Shayne, as if it can fully understand her. He asked himself, what kind of woman, she is, she can talk to the snake.

                “You can continue your sleep now”

                “Are you just near the hut?” Dexter cannot help himself not to asked Shayne.

                “You have not only seen me, but I am just around”

The way Shayne talks is something Dexter cannot comprehend. How come, she is just around and he cannot see her.  It is almost midnight, Dexter thanks Shayne, and she again leave him, she come out of the hut, towards the darkness of the night.

                The night did take long for Dexter, he got a good sleep, when he wakes up, the sun is already shining brightly on the horizon. His breakfast was ready on the small bamboo table near the bed. He did not even notice Shayne come and bring the food. He stands up and look around, looking for the woman, but he cannot see her, so he sit down near the table and eat his breakfast, afterwards, he stretching moving his hands up and down and his feet weighing out if he has regain his strength and can walk. Satisfied, he comes down on the stairs and slowly walk in the ground. In the shade of a tree, he sees Shayne together with a big deer. He comes closer and Shayne notices him

                “It is good, you have regained your strength” she greets him

                “It is because you help me and take good care of me” he answered.

Dexter notice the deer is wounded, fresh blood is present on its left shoulder. Shayne is putting some sort of herbs, and leaves on the wounds. The deer is so relaxed, as if it trusting her very much

                “What happened to that deer” he asked

                “Possibly someone shot it, that is why it run to me for help” she answered.

Dexter recalled, he has shot a deer, but ran away, and he has not recovered it, even he chased it for long time, the reason, why he lost his way, and got separated from his companion. If he has not mistaken, this deer, is the one he has shot.

                ‘He is one of my friends, I am taking care of, here in the forest”

                “Can he recover?”

                “Possibly, yes, I gave him the best medicine I know”

Shayne has not stop surprising him every time, last night she talks to the snake, this time she is nursing a wounded deer. How she can do those things? Did she has a power? Did she has magic endowed to her by the forest? She is getting mysterious to him day by day. On the back of his mind, what possibly is the reaction of Shayne, if  she discovered, he is the one  who shot this deer? Is she going to get mad at him. She better not know the truth.

                “How come, you be friend with all animals here in the forest”

                “Because we have together for long time and most of all we understand each other”

                “Really, how about those birds” he pointed out the birds on the top of the trees.

                “Can you call them” he challenge Shayne.

Shayne produces a soft whistle, wave her hands with the birds, and the birds come to her, some landed on her shoulder, while some landed on the ground in front of her. She really can call the birds.  She is wonderful woman, indeed.