42 Devil's Backbone State ForestAt the first hint of dawn, Susan had climbed up into one of her hiding places. The huge oak tree overlooked the shed. Three lower branches provided steps up to a V where she practically was invisible inside the canopy of leaves. She could sit comfortably—or as comfortable as possible in a tree with a bum knee and way too many bruises.
Today she didn’t have the energy to leave her sanctuary. Which she realized was ironic. Here, she had told herself the last two nights—was it two nights or three—that she’d returned to the shed to rest so that she would have enough strength the next day to go out and find a path out of this place. And already she had decided to stay put. But staying put did not mean giving up. She’d even dragged her new weapon up into the tree
