The Last Hunter: Collected Edition (Antarktos Saga #1-5)

As he swoops downriver, the answer is clear. He’s after the Clarks. Why he’s after them is beyond me, and frankly, unimportant. What is important is that the Clarks escape. That doesn’t seem likely if Enki is tracking them though.

I glance to the right, looking up river. Olympus rises high into the sky. Hades is there and the secret resting place of the Jericho Shofar with him. My answers and perhaps the only hope of defeating the Nephilim wait to the right.

To the left are the Clarks. My friends. And they’re about to face Enki on their own.

The decision is easy.

I’m nothing if not loyal.

I slide to the side of the branch, hanging by one arm. If I can keep myself afloat in the middle of the raging river, I should arrive at the lake just minutes after the Clarks. I might not be able to reach them in the water, but if Enki sees me, I have no doubt he’ll forget all about the Clarks.

I let go.

My fall snaps to a stop after just a few inches. A vice grip of pressure sends a wave of pain down my arm. I’m pulled up until I come face to face with a very angry hunter.

“What are you doing?” Kainda says. She’s standing on the branch and holding onto one above her with her free hand. That she’s strong enough to lift me up with one arm is impressive. Unlike Em, Kainda has muscles that match mine.

Em slides through the canopy and joins us. The look of concern means she didn’t see Kainda catch me. She only knows that Kainda is holding me out over the river. But her trust in Kainda is evident. She doesn’t draw a knife. She simply says, “What happened?”

Kainda either doesn’t hear the question or ignores it. She has some of her own. “Why were you leaving?”

Before I can think of a good reply, she comes up with an answer herself. “Just one look at her and you were going to leave! I—we mean so little to you?”

Em inches closer. “What are you talking about?”

“Mira.” Kainda says the name with disdain. “And the teacher, Aimee. They just passed in a ship.”

Em’s eyes widen. “Is this true?”

“Yes,” I say, and try to explain, but Em interrupts.

“And you were leaving?” I can hear the sting of betrayal in her voice too.

I sense that Kainda is about to speak again so I shout, “Shut up! Both of you!”

Kainda allows me to stand on the branch. My wrist is sore from where she gripped it, but I can’t rub it with my other hand without falling from the branch. So I ignore the pain and say, “Yes, the Clarks just went by in a boat. Merrill was with them. And three other men. Soldiers, I think.”

Em interrupts with, “But why—”

“Enki!” I shout, freezing both of them in place. “Enki was following them! And they don’t stand a chance unless I go help! I know Hades is near, but they are my friends and I never—” I look into Kainda’s eyes, “—never abandon my friends.”

I look to Em. She nods, understanding.

I don’t wait for Kainda to say whether she understands. We can work it out later. Right now, the Clarks need my help. I swing down on the branch, take a look at the river below, and let go. The cold water envelops me and yanks me forward. As I surface, I hear two splashes behind me. I spin and find Kainda and Em swimming toward me, closing the distance. I catch Kainda’s eyes and mouth, “Thank you.”

In response Kainda swims past me and says, “She better be worth it.”





32



The river is a battle. We’re making ground fast. Probably too fast. Every tree and boulder carries a potential death sentence. The key is to stay in the middle, where the water was already deepest, but even here there are dangers, exhaustion being the first. Swimming in placid water can be tiring, even just treading water. I went to a summer camp once. They had a pool with a deep end. To swim in the deep end you had to pass a test—tread water with just your feet for one minute, while holding a brick.

I tried three times. I never passed.

This…is harder.

The brick has been replaced by the weight of Whipsnap around my waist. Kainda carries the weight of her stone hammer. And Em, who is the smallest of us, carries countless knives around her waist and across her chest. I’m not sure how long we’ve been swimming. It’s hard to keep track of time while trying not to be impaled, bludgeoned or drowned. But my arms are burning from the effort and I’m pretty sure my legs will turn to jelly if I try to walk. If we manage to catch up to the Clark family, I’m not sure how much use any of us are going to be.

I look at Kainda. Her brow is furrowed with determination, but her lips are shivering.

I’m about ten feet ahead of her, so when I ask, “Are you okay?” I have to shout.