Harker scoffed. "No way."
"You won't even consider it?" Blank raised an eyebrow. "It's really the only solution. I won't have to worry about you moving away to go anywhere, and you won't have to worry about me either. Though it would be troublesome if either of us receives the call of nature in the middle of the night."
He chuckled. "But then again, we're both men. What's yours is mine, what's mine is yours. We could work our way around it—"
"I said I don't want to. You go back to sleep, I'll watch over those two. I'm a wendigo now, remember? In theory, I should be nocturnal."
Blank just pouted. "Hmm, but even nocturnal creatures take a rest during the day, and you can't rest in the morning since that is when we travel up north."
"Just go to fucking sleep." Harker said with that dark tone of his.
Blank let go and shrugged. "Alright then. But you must remember that though I hold the leash, you're strong enough to break free from it. It's your will that keeps you tied, not me. Who knows what might happen if you ever just blink longer than usual? A wendigo is always hungry after all."
Harker did not respond to this, just sitting in his usual position and grabbing a few more mint leaves to chew on.
The next day, they continued to trudge through the peaks of the mountain and it was truly a difficult hike. Harker's energy was very low, and the throbbing headaches just grew worse and worse the higher in altitude they were. Soon, Joan came to notice and stopped him in his tracks.
"Let's rest here. You look like you'll collapse any second." She said.
Harker surprisingly didn't remain stubborn and listened to her. He sat by a pine tree, catching his breath.
This was a first for Joan, as he didn't even try to talk back and argue. He must be really, really tired.
Ahanu also seemed worried. The little boy's health was much better now compared to Harker. He had insisted on cooking again, as he seemed to be very fond of cooking. All the adults in the party were not bad at cooking, but they were not as skilled on foraging ingredients and being resourceful in the great outdoors as this 4 year old.
Ahanu noticed something beside Harker. He clapped his hand happily, and picked it up. It seemed to be some orange worm-like shape, but it wasn't moving.
Harker frowned. "What's that?"
Blank observed and nodded his head. "Ah, I don't know what this is called in English. But it's a fungus."
Joan went to take a look as well. "They look like cordyceps. I didn't know they grow around here. It's an energizer, it improves your immunity and has other health benefits that help with the treatment of cancer, diabetes, and heart failure."
Harker's eyes lit up. "That's great. Can I eat some of that?"
"Yes, we also know that it gives you the strength and energy of a wild buck. That should keep you awake, right?" Blank smiled.
However, Joan seemed a little hesitant. "But cordyceps are also…"
Ahanu spoke, as if enthusiastic with something. It went like this:
"He really needs it, it's the only way for him to not keel over in the snow. I'll go make soup for him, does anyone else want some?"
Blank shook his head after translating. "I'm good, I'm already full and he might need to bring some of that on the way."
Joan shook her head too. "I'd rather not have any of us eat the 'zombie fungus'. But if it helps Harker, then he can have it… I guess."
While Ahanu was preparing soup, Harker asked. "Zombie fungus?"
Joan did not say anything until he received the soup and drank some of it.
"Cordyceps grow on the larva of insects. A specific genus called Ophiocordyceps were known to cause dead ants to 'come back to life'. It is different from the cordyceps Ahanu found, possibly a cordyceps militaris, but I'm still not too keen on either of them. Both of them potently increase testosterone and stimulate the amygdala."
Harker knew what that meant, and stopped eating.
"Oh. They're aphrodisiacs."
"It's undeniable that they're energy boosters, in more ways than one… Hah." Joan joked awkwardly. "But that's not really important. I know you're not an impulsive man."
Harker remembered the sickening thoughts he had in the cave after acquiring the curse, and shook his head. "You don't know that."
"I do. You want proof?" She smiled, half-teasing and half-comforting him. "Even if you have the wendigo curse or whatever….. You're still pushing through, right?"
She scoffed at Blank's direction, who was preparing some cordyceps for the road. "I don't believe that you're not attacking us because of those ropes or that silly muzzle. It's all you, Harker. You're not the type to give in, you always keep a clear head."
Harker doesn't know why, but these words do make him feel assured. He didn't know the fact that Joan believed in him would matter so much.
He felt hopeful, not wanting to let her down.
Harker wore a bright smile. "Alright then, Prof. I guess you're right. I don't feel like masturbating or anything horny at all right now. Let's hit the road."
After that, he really felt more energized than ever. The fungus fixed him up, and he even gave Ahanu a piggyback ride before sunset, as they went inside another cave to hide.
This one was much smaller, more like a grotto. They couldn't go further inside as the path was only narrow, enough just for Ahanu to get in.
The little boy set his sleeping mat inside this small path, while the adults had to stay near the entrance. As always, Blank slept near Harker with his hand on the end of the rope. Joan was on the opposite side. The fire that kept them warm was in the middle.
Harker's headaches were gone, but in the silence of the night, as he looked at Joan's sleeping figure....
His thoughts were louder than ever before.
Foll𝑜w current novels on fre(e)w𝒆bnovel