Colton Banyon Mysteries 1-3: Colton Banyon Mysteries (Colton Banyon Mystery Book 20)

by Gerald J Kubicki

  Now The Major spoke. “My friends and leaders of the Society of White South Africa, it is a great time for us. We are winning the battle. In the last month since our last meeting, our small but efficient forces have cleared three villages and have disappeared no less than two hundred natives. This is double the success of the month before. All the lands are now in the holding of our society. Our success should be celebrated.” The Major reached under the table and produced a gold cup he filled with liquid drawn from a bottle also placed there.

  “Drink from the cup of success,” he challenged. “Drink from the cup and pass it to the next person. We all believe in the strength of our society. We have even more to celebrate. But drink first.”

  The men brought the red liquid to the lips of their masks and took a swallow, Wesley included. When this was finished, The Major removed his mask. No one else moved. “Let’s attend to the meeting before we finish the ritual and unleash the power of the diamond.”

  The Major began spouting numbers and lot sizes. He told the others that their holdings were in excess of ten thousand acres, and the plan was to gather another one thousand in the next month. They discussed expenses, bribes, and costs for the newspaper reporters to publish slanted articles for the cause. Wesley realized that even though they were zealots, they all wanted to make more money. It was really all about filling their pockets. The meeting lasted for over half an hour. Wesley worried the timing of his plan was not right. If Gabriel blew up the barn, he would be trapped. He was sweating and feeling confined in the cellar.

  The Major droned on with his brain numbing drivel with no end in sight. He now eyed one of the other men who seemed to be very nervous. The Major suddenly stopped and pointed to one of the leaders. It was the one who had sat next to Wesley on the ride over to the farmhouse.

  “You have committed blasphemy. Take him,” he ordered. The men on both sides of the accused grabbed him by the arms and pushed him to the ground in a kneeling position. The Major slowly circled the table and was now behind the very frightened man.

  “You thought you would take over the society,” he charged. “You thought the Black Diamond should be shared. It will not. I have had my eye on you, brother. Our need for your services has ended.”

  With surprising swiftness, The Major plunged the knife from the ceremony into the back of the accused. No one had expected it. Wesley was horrified by the violence and nearly threw up his dinner. These men are crazy, he thought. The man said nothing as he died and fell over onto the dirt ground. The Major said solemnly, “He will be missed.”

  The Major then raised his arms, the bloody knife still dripping, and wailed. “Oh, Cecil, if they only would remain loyal.” He then announced, “There will be no need for the sacrifice of the young girl tonight. Our brother has filled the need for the required blood sacrifice. You” pointing a bloody finger, “tell Jan to get rid of her.”

  “Wait,” screeched another of the men. “Can’t we, at least, play with her for a little while before we dispose of her body? It has always been part of the ritual since ancient times,” he pleaded with lust, more than tradition, guiding him.

  The man quickly moved to a board which was part of a wall. He stuck his finger into a knothole and pulled the fake wall open. It was a shallow closet. The young black girl was completely naked and hung from a horizontal bar in the prison cell-like closet. Her arms were tied behind her back. A rope was tied around one knee and had been raised almost to eye level. She stood on one foot, exposed to everyone. Her head hung down and her long hair nearly brushed the floor. She made no reaction to the door opening.

  “See, see, she has been prepared,” he announced with great enthusiasm, like she was a slab of meat.

  Wesley was beside himself. He was now incensed, rage building throughout his body. These men are stupid, arrogant, and self-consuming, he thought. He was now aware that they did whatever they desired and had no feelings for anyone. They had degenerated into true debauchery and now were going to add to the list of their heinous crimes. He needed to help the girl, but how?

  Two of the leaders wrestled the small girl from the closet and laid her on the table. Wesley chose that opportunity to switch the diamond. The men were so wrapped up in their sexual desires that no one noticed the sleight of hand as he moved the diamond to clear a space for the girl. Her arms remained tied behind her back, but now her legs were tied in a spread-eagle position. Wesley could smell the scent of arousal around him. They treated her like a pet, stroking, probing, and pinching every available part of her body. Her eyes were now open, but had already lost any hope. She did not bother to scream, but she grunted and groaned as she was manhandled. She screamed, however, when The Major brought out the knife with blood on it.

  Suddenly the door to the ceremonial pit broke open and five Boers rushed in. They all carried rifles and aimed them everywhere. They all eyed the naked girl tied to the stone. They had lust and killing in their eyes.

  “It’s okay,” The Major said while using his hands in a soothing motion. He didn’t seem to realize what was really going on. “The sacrifice just screamed. It is nothing to worry about. You can go now. If you want, we can leave her for you.”

  Jan and the Boers didn’t move. Jan was looking at the Black Diamond. He wanted it now. The Major noticed Jan’s attention was on the diamond as well. He scooped it up and held it near his chest protectively.

  It was at that second the world changed for everyone in the room. A loud explosion was heard. It shook the earth-room, and dirt began to fall from the ceiling. For a few seconds, no one knew if the whole cellar would collapse.

  “What’s happening?” A horse-voiced leader demanded.

  Another Boer rushed into the room and spoke to Jan.

  “We’re under attack,” Jan yelled out, with his eyes on the naked girl on the table. “There are several Black intruders for us to hunt tonight. They just blew up the barn.”

  “We had better handle this situation ourselves,” The Major declared. He stripped himself of his robe.

  “Sorry, Professor, but I need the power of the diamond. I already know how to activate it, but tell me quickly again.”

  Wesley quickly recounted the lie.

  “You stay here,” The Major ordered.

  The other men pulled off their robes and masks. They all left the room to get their guns. Killing blacks would be more fun than a silly ceremony.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Within seconds, the cellar was empty except for Wesley and the young naked girl. She remained silent and lethargic. Wesley quickly picked up the knife which had been thrown to the floor when the excitement had started. He cut the binds from her legs and rolled her over. He freed her arms and attempted to stand her up. She was all dead weight. She crumbled to the floor with legs askew and stared at him with dead eyes.

  “Are you going to have sex with me now?” She didn’t recognize him as her rescuer.

  “I’m going to save you,” he replied in his most sincere tone.

  “I was rescued before; that is how I got here. They came to my village three days ago and killed everyone. The Boers ‘rescued’ me. I have been their sex toy since. They mean to kill me, so do it before they get back. I can’t take anymore sex.” She sat up and threw out her small chest. “Put the knife here,” she pointed to the middle of her small chest.

  “Stop it,” Wesley ordered. “I mean you no harm. I want to stop these men.”

  A flicker of hope passed through her eyes. “But how will you do this?”

  Wesley looked around for something to cover up her nakedness but found nothing. “We must leave here, and you can’t be seen. I will continue to wear my robe. Come, get inside my robe,” he ordered.

  She sat there and didn’t seem to understand. “Why?”

  “Just do it,” he commanded. He reached out with his hand and pulled her to her feet. She was tiny and weighted less than fifty pounds. He drew her inside the robe and picked her up. “Put your arms around my ne
ck and straddle my hips with your legs. I will carry you out. In this dark light, maybe no one will notice. Put your head down and hard against my chest.”

  With her firmly in position, Wesley closed his robe and began to walk up the stairs. He was about halfway to the top when he heard a whisper. “My name is Olo, just so you know.”

  He reached the center room and heard men running outside. There was one man in the room, standing by a window. He turned and stared at Wesley. He was about to say something when the window suddenly burst inward. Wesley realized that Gabriel had thrown dynamite into the room. Wesley grabbed his belly, securing the girl, and bolted to the door. The man saw the bomb and dove out the window. Wesley soon reached the porch and had no idea where to run, but he knew he had to get off the porch. He ran straight off the porch and directly into The Major, knocking him to the ground. The stunned man looked up at Wesley and noticed the bulge. He raised his rifle. “You drop the girl,” he screamed.

  “A bomb,” Wesley yelled. “It was thrown into the house.” Wesley pointed to the house. “You can save the house. Use the diamond.” The Major looked at him and grinned insanely.

  “I can stop that,” he shouted. He quickly stood up and reached into his uniform. The fake bar of soap was suddenly in his left hand. He grabbed the diamond with three fingers, just as Wesley had told him to do, and took off running into the house.

  “Stay here, Professor,” had been his last words.

  Seconds after The Major entered the house, it exploded.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Wesley didn’t wait. He ran into the dark night. His black robe blended into the surrounding woods. He felt the girl under his robe. He gripped her buttocks and held them tight to his body. She made no noise and no movement. He wondered if she had lost consciousness. When he could no longer carry her, he stopped. His heart thumped in his chest, and he couldn’t catch his breath. He collapsed to the ground with the girl still attached to his neck.

  “Wake up,” she screamed. “Wake up,” she repeated as she attempted to rouse him.

  “Quiet,” Wesley whispered with a soothing voice as soon as he could speak. “They may be chasing us. Give me a minute to catch my breath.”

  “I can run now,” she declared. “You don’t need to carry me. I am a good runner.”

  “Do you know where to go?” he asked.

  “Well…no,” and she began to cry. “My village is gone. I have no one.”

  “Then sit here and be quiet, please.”

  “Why did that evil man run into the house when he knew it would blow up?” she suddenly asked.

  “He was crazy,” Wesley circled his head with a finger to indicate his head was not right. She laughed at that.

  With a start, Wesley felt the hairs on the back of his neck tingle. Someone was watching them. Wesley leapt to his feet and pushed the girl behind him. He could see nothing in the pitch-black night. He then heard a rustle, and Gabriel moved out of the woods. He had been shot, but had been able to follow Wesley. The wound was to his shoulder, but it didn’t appear to be life threatening. A grim look of satisfaction covered his face.

  Without preamble he announced, “The Major is dead. Two of his men are dead, too. Only four Boers survive. I wish I could have done better.”

  “How did you get away?” Wesley asked.

  “I’m not away yet. They will track me. They are maybe twenty minutes behind me, but I wanted to tell you the good news.” There was now a broad grin. “I leave immediately for my new home as I told you.”

  “Then you must take Olo with you,” interjected Wesley.

  Gabriel stared at Wesley with a look of incomprehension. Olo shyly stepped out from behind the robe. She stood before Gabriel, completely naked and with defiant eyes.

  “Can you take me with you?” she pleaded.

  “What…who are you?” a stunned Gabriel asked.

  “I was to be the sacrifice, but your friend saved me. I have been dirtied by the Boers, but I could help you, and I can work hard,” she continued. “You need someone to bandage your shoulder. I could do that.”

  “Where I’m going is a secret. Once you go there, you can never return to Cape Town,” he said.

  “I have no place else to go,” she cried. “Please take me, please,” she pleaded.

  “Alright, I must do this for you. Professor, give me your robe; she can’t run naked through the woods.”

  Wesley quickly discarded the robe. Gabriel produced a long knife and attacked the robe. He cut off about half the length of the robe as he looked at the girl to gauge her size. He then cut a strip from the remainder to use as a belt. Gabriel motioned to the girl to come closer. He gently slipped the robe over her shoulders and attached the belt.

  “Professor, the Boers will be after you soon. I’m sure they realize you had something to do with the explosions.” He paused for a minute, then added, “I do have one question though. Why did The Major run into the house?”

  “Gabriel, there are powers at work with some people that can not be explained.” Wesley tried to avoid the subject of the Black Diamond hidden in his pocket.

  “He was crazy, you know,” Olo said with the same gesture Wesley had made.

  “It is good he is dead. Good for everyone. He was all-evil and self-consuming,” Wesley noted.

  “The problem is that someone else will fill the void, and they could be even worse,” Gabriel retorted.

  Nodding in agreement, Wesley asked, “How do I get back to the city? I have directions for an escape of my own, but the directions start in the center of the city.”

  Gabriel gave him a specific route to get back to the hotel. They all hugged and began their separate ways. Wesley jogged toward the city, but had to duck into the deep woods when a carriage raced by. He assumed it carried the Boers. It took him several hours to find his way back to the city. It had become a new day when he finally found the street he needed. He was about a block away from the hotel when he spotted the Boers storming the mansion. He knew Harold would send them to the church, and that would give him a head start of about an hour. But was an hour long enough for his escape?

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  The rain was very heavy. It started just as Wesley reached the bush. He could hardly catch his breath. Water filled his nostrils and ran down his face as he struggled to free himself from the mud which now gripped his feet. His clothes felt about three times heavier than normal on his body. The mud suddenly grabbed his feet, and he found himself trapped in a sea of mud. Things were bad enough, but he suddenly felt the tingle. It told him someone was watching.

  Afraid for his life, he struggled harder to free himself, but it only added to his exhaustion. He finally had no more strength. He had been awake for nearly thirty hours and had been running for his life for most of that time. He could not continue.

  Two natives appeared from the bush. They held shields made of animal skin and carried long spears. One held a rifle. They were very tall, taller than Wesley. They said nothing as they approached the mud where Wesley now rested. He watched them with renewed fear. The men were warriors, and he knew they hated white people. He was sure they meant to kill him. All his work, all his planning, and all the running was going to be ruined by a couple of natives. He tried to smile, but didn’t get a response. He had one hope. He reached inside his coat. The natives reacted like he was grabbing a gun and raised their spears in unison.

  “No,” Wesley screamed, and produced the note given to him by Harold in the native language. He held it out to them. It had become soaking wet but was still legible. Wesley didn’t know if they could read it or could recognize the pictures on the paper, but his hopes rose when, after looking at the note, one nodded his head. He handed the paper back to Wesley and spoke to his partner in a strange and staccato voice. They laid down their spears and placed the shields on the ground. Wesley realized they were going to help him get out of the mud. Within minutes they had dragged him to safety. Wesley was so exhausted he could onl
y lie on the ground. Soon some of his strength began flowing back into his body. The natives stood over him and smiled. The one with the gun showed it to Wesley. He knew it had been taken from a Boer, probably the one who had screamed. He suddenly realized they had given him their names, but he had not understood them. He asked them in English to repeat their names and got a stare of incomprehension. He was about to sit up when it happened.

  First, the taller of the two natives abruptly cocked his head. They both squatted and put a finger to their lips to keep Wesley quiet. Next they split up and moved to the bush, with spears at the ready. Wesley tried to rally his body and managed to reach a kneeling position when he heard the shot. Suddenly the two natives came running out of the bush. One had a bullet hole in his side and was bleeding. They tried to grab Wesley and pick him up, but the Boers broke out of the trees and were on them before they could move. One of the two trackers was Jan. He walked up to the two natives and clubbed them with his rifle. He then looked at Wesley with a vicious grin.

  “Well, Professor, we meet again, but this time I am in control. Give me the Black Diamond.” He pointed his gun at Wesley.

  Stalling for time, Wesley answered, “What makes you think I have it? The Major had it when he stormed into the farmhouse. I panicked and was afraid the intruders were after me, too. That’s why I ran.” Wesley thought he had a plausible excuse. He then continued, “These natives found me in the bush. Thanks for rescuing me, Jan.”