"Fuck!"
Luke was startled, instinctively drawing his pistol from his waist.
The dark face by the window also showed a look of terror and turned to run.
If it can run, it's alive.
People scaring people can be deadly. In this vast canyon where people are rarely seen, an unexpected face by the window would frighten anyone.
Walker was also startled, as soone approached the motorho without him noticing, "I'm definitely keeping this dog."
If there was a dog, it would likely hear any noise.
Walker watched the car's surveillance, while Luke observed the outside situation from the window.
A Black man ran away in panic; he seed to be frightened too.
Luke checked the gun and magazine, "I'll get out and take a look."
Walker held the handle of the revolver with his right hand, "Be careful, I'll cover you."
"Don't be too tense; it might just be an ordinary tourist." Luke opened the door, looked around, and stepped down from the motorho.
The Black man peeking at the motorho appeared to have run to hide behind a large rock.
"Hey, anyone there? Co out and say hello."
"I'm not a bad person, please don't shoot." The Black man showed his head from behind the rock.
Luke gestured for him to co out from behind the rock, "Who are you?"
"I'm a traveler who ran into trouble, looking for help."
"Then why didn't you knock and instead peeked inside the window?" Get full chapters from novᴇlfire
"I just wanted to see if there was anyone inside; if there was, I would've knocked."
Luke asked back, "And if no one was there?"
"I would leave or wait around the motorho for your return. I know the rules; I'm not a bad guy." The Black man stepped out from behind the rock; he was about the sa height as Luke, looked young, estimated to be in his early twenties.
"Why did you co to Red Rock Canyon?"
"For tourism."
"How many are there with you?"
"Two of us. My companion and I got separated by accident, and now it's just . I'm a good person and ca here only for help."
"Do you have any weapons?"
"Yes, I have a pistol for self-defense."
"Does your partner have a weapon?"
"To my knowledge, no."
"Did you fire a gun last night?"
"No."
Which ans, it wasn't him who drove the wolves away last night. Luke put away the gun as the threat from him alone wasn't significant.
The Black man approached and shook hands with Luke proactively, "Hi, I'm Amas Martin, a traveler from New York State."
"You're from New York?"
"Yes, I know it's quite far, but it's so beautiful here. It captivates deeply, like a mother calling out to her child. You understand that feeling, don't you?"
"Yes, I do." Walker also ca down from the motorho, saying that's also the reason he ca to Red Rock Canyon.
Amas Martin said sincerely, "Sorry, I shouldn't have approached the motorho rashly without permission."
"Indeed, it's impolite and a dangerous action.
If it were nightti...the consequences would be unimaginable."
Walker sized up Amas Martin. With many years in the judicial field, he was good at judging people, and based on his experience, the other didn't seem too threatening, so he invited him, "Co on, have a cup of coffee."
"Thank you." Amas Martin walked to the motorho, swallowed and sniffed hard, "Are you having breakfast?"
Walker responded, "Yes, would you like so?"
"Great, I've been stuck in this damn place all night, exhausted and hungry.
God bless you, you're really a good person." Amas Martin showed a grateful look.
Walker waved his hand, "No need to be so formal, it's just a al."
Luke asked, "Didn't you store food before entering the canyon?"
"Yes, my friend and I drove two cars, and the food was all in the other car. We split up yesterday...
We agreed on a eting point, but because my car broke down, I couldn't reach the agreed location. That's how things turned out.
I'm really starving."
Although Amas Martin seed not very threatening, he was a stranger. Walker and Luke didn't invite him into the motorho but moved the folding table outside. The three of them had breakfast outside the motorho.
Amas Martin was starved, and as soon as he sat at the table, he drank the coffee in one gulp, then finished the milk nearby, and started devouring the bread.
His eating acknowledged the cooking skills indirectly, making Walker smile, "Young man, what trouble did you encounter?"
"Yesterday afternoon, my car broke down. I couldn't get to the eting point, my friend's phone and walkie-talkie couldn't be contacted, and I could only wait for rescue in place.
Last night, I heard the howling of coyotes; it was a tough night."
"Did you hear gunfire last night?"
"Yes."
Luke asked, "Were you surrounded by coyotes before or after the gunfire?"
"After." Amas Martin finished and then asked back, "Was it you who fired the gun?"
"No, we're also looking for the person who fired." Luke guessed that the coyotes were attracted by the sll of roast lamb around the motorho, and soone drove the wolves away with a hunting rifle. That wolf pack then went to surround Amas Martin.
This unlucky man indirectly helped Luke and Walker from being shot.
Amas Martin said, "I felt the gunfire sounded like it ca from this direction. I ca over this morning to try my luck, and didn't expect to et you."
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