“A little more than a stroll, then?”
“It would be a long walk,” she agreed. “And that’s assuming we could figure out which direction to go and that we’re even on the same continental mass, because the —”
He held up a hand to stop her. “Any good news, Major?”
She shook her head. “I just think this Dix guy might be our best shot, sir.”
“Yeah,” he sighed. “I knew you were going to say that.”
Not long after that, Daniel and Teal’c drew to a halt a short distance from a flimsy wood and cloth shack. “Looks like we’re here,” Jack said, instinct moving his hands to rest on his gun. Hunter served a Goa’uld, after all.
With a quick glance at Jack’s weapon, Daniel said, “He has a family — a wife and a son.”
“Then let’s hope he knows how to keep them safe,” was all he said.
Daniel just nodded and approached the rickety shack. “Hunter?” he called in a low voice. “Hunter, it’s Daniel Jackson.”
After a moment, the cloth drew back and Hunter appeared in the doorway. A grin flashed across his face when he saw Jack. “Looks like you’re right hard to kill.”
“So I’m told,” Jack said. “Mind if we come in?”
Hunter’s home was little more than a dirt floor, a smoky fire-pit, and some bed rolls. A couple of cooking pots hung on the wall and some shabby clothing was draped over a nail nearby. With everyone crowding in, the place felt cramped and claustrophobic.
“Um,” Daniel suggested, “shall we sit down?”
It was better with them all sitting, although no one was small and it felt like there were long legs and booted feet everywhere. The weapons didn’t help much either, but Jack wasn’t about to leave them outside. At last, after a substantial amount of shuffling around, they all found a seat by the fire. Toward the back of the hut, Hunter’s wife and child sat together on one of the bed rolls, the child’s head in his mother’s lap as he sucked his thumb and drifted drowsily toward sleep.
Jack didn’t allow his gaze to linger there, instead turning his attention firmly back to Hunter who crouched close to the fire, feeding a few sticks to the flames. “So,” he said, “you can take us to see Dix?”
“Yup.” Hunter sat back on his heels. “At first light.”
“Why not now?”
Hunter shook his head. “’Cause Dix won’t be back till mornin’.”
“Back from where?”
Hunter turned his eyes skyward, “From speaking with the goddess.”
Jack followed his gaze to the ceiling before exchanging a glance with Teal’c. “She has a ship in orbit?”
“You’ll see,” Hunter said. “I’ve already said more than I should.”
Jack was about to object when Teal’c said, “O’Neill, it would be prudent to rest while we are able.”
He rubbed a hand across his jaw and considered the point. He was exhausted — he’d missed at least one night’s sleep, maybe two — and Teal’c was right, he needed to rest and eat. They all did. But with Daniel no longer at death’s door, Teal’c didn’t realize how urgent it was that they get home. Beyond urgent at this point, it was critical, the whole damn alliance system could already be falling apart.
“Sir, there’s nothing we can do tonight,” Carter added, weighing into the discussion. “And if the Amam are looking for us we should probably keep our heads down.”
Another good point; there’d been no real sign of pursuit so far but he couldn’t dismiss Crazy’s threat about hunting him down. And as far as places to hide went, this was a good option. He didn’t like it, but there was no real choice. Reluctantly he said, “Yeah, okay, we’ll stay here tonight.” He cast a glance at Hunter. “We’ll need a place to crash.”
“Um, he means a place to sleep,” Daniel clarified.
Jack threw him an irritated look.
“What? You think the whole galaxy speaks idiomatic North American?”
Ignoring him, Jack glanced around the small space. “A couple of us could stay in here, maybe?”
Hunter nodded. “You’d be welcome. I owe you folks my life and that ain’t a debt lightly paid.”
“Nah,” Jack said, waving away his thanks. “It was nothing. A walk in the park.”
Except that it was anything but nothing. He glanced over at Carter, noticing the way her expression tensed. They’d almost lost her, they’d almost lost Daniel. And he’d almost lost himself — in more ways than one. No, whatever this place was, it was no walk in the park.