Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1998 16:59:57 +1000

Subject: The Hunt

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Hi there, Zoe here

Well what Eliza is referring to was a week I recently spent with Eliza and her family. Eilza lives one street away from rain forest. I had mentioned to JL that I would like to go running through the forest to "get a feel"" of it, (I was raised in a city) for a story i'm trying to do so I could know how the characters would deal with it.

I told Eliza what I wanted to do and she thought that it sounded like a bit of fun, so seeing that she identified Gen and I identified Sime we would play "Hunt the Gen". We walked about 15 minutes into the rain forest and without warning Eliza took off into the thick trees and bushes and the chase was on. I didn't realise exactly how difficult it would be. I had to keep her in sight as I did not know the area and didn't feel like getting lost.

After about twenty minutes of clambering over a creek and trying, unsuccessfully at times, to duck low tree branches I finally caught up to Eliza. She was within arms reach when a fallen tree i stepped on gave way and broke, sending me sprawling in the grass and leaves. Eliza took advantage of tea and took off once again. When we got to a dirt track we called a truce and rested while we had some water.

Eliza waited till I was having a drink and ran into the bush behind me. I'm sure that Somme of those plants and trees leapt in front of me because I didn't see them till I was on them.(or they were on me). There were also some plants that were covered in tiny spikes that clung on as you brushed past them. We eventually go to the top of the steep, and i mean steep, hill where we stopped for some lunch. After a final truce and rest we headed back down the other side, and Eliza decided she didn't want to run so she picked up this huge stick and every time I got too close she'd swing it at me.

I waited for the right opportunity and i rushed her, and as i grabbed one arm she screamed so loud I jumped and she dropped he water container as I dropped her arm and she bolted into the thickest section she could find. After navigating through some more of these nasty little plants and vines I caught up to her yet again. This time she was throwing rocks at me, which is hard to do when laughing.

When she ran of rocks she took off then came to a sudden stop. I thought I was finally going to catch her when she said not to come any closer. Yeah right, I said, as if, and ran strait at her. I didn't get far before i found myself entwined in this plant/weed type "thing" that consisted of extremely long tentacle like branches. These "branches" where covered in millions of sharp long shards, that made the previously encountered plant silky smooth in comparison. The odd thing was that these "tentacles" actually wrap around you as you step on it. I had them wrapped around my legs and my waist, luckily i had held my arms up or they would have coped it as well.

I don't know the technical name for this plant, but the local name is "waitawhile" gee i wonder why. Eliza got free before i did but she was so exhausted that when I did get free she waited for me and just held her arms out as she said, "I give up"

I still have holes in my leg from that plant, and Eliza still has scratches as well, but it was worth it for the fun we had. I know now that I had my characters doing it too easy. The whole chase, and rests, took three and a half hours.

Oh, and at one stage i had a leach on me and i asked Eliza how to get them off,. Her response: "Don't worry, they're like Simes. They fill up and drop off."

So that was our little bit of fun and adventure ad a little real life role play. And we're going to do it again. Oh shen, I think I'm Junct!!!

Stay safe, Stay Strong.
Zoe.