Innocent Blood

by Linda S. Prather

  Taking off, Dadron crossed the creek and headed for the open field. He heard the sound of branches breaking behind him and grinned. The trees loomed ahead, and he ran for the spot where the attack on the first man had happened. Footsteps pounded behind him as he headed for the biggest tree, grabbed a limb, and pulled himself up. He could hear the grunts of the pigs as the first scent of blood caught their attention. In seconds they’d surrounded the tree.

  What happened next, Dadron knew, would haunt his dreams for days to come. Three of the men following him rushed blindly through the trees. Screams rang out and gunfire filled the night as the pigs attacked. Dadron closed his eyes and covered his ears as the screams dissipated into the sound of bones crunching under sharp teeth. At least part of his plan had worked, but he’d made a serious mistake. He would be stuck here until daylight.

  “What the hell was that?” Reggie adjusted the night goggles and peered into the distance.

  “Nature taking care of its own.” Harry knelt and studied the ground in front of him. They’d found the camp with Loki and Dadron’s supplies. The wood shavings told him one or both of them had set up traps, and in the dark, it would be hard to avoid those.

  “Are we going to check it out or head back to camp?”

  “We’re at least a mile away, and by now the pigs will be feeding.” Harry rose. “Best to leave them alone until they’re finished. Tell Tim that Loki set traps and they should probably stay inside until I return.”

  “Whoa, partner. I thought we agreed we’d stay together on this one. I don’t like the idea of you going off alone.”

  “That was before I knew who we were up against. I need you to protect the others. If I’m not back by morning, find a way to get them home.”

  “You really think that old man is gonna listen to me?”

  “He’ll listen. Tell Neta to stay out of the forest. Something has riled up these pigs, and they’re on the prowl.”

  Harry stuck close to the trees, moving as fast as he could without taking unnecessary chances. Hopefully the pigs would be sated by their meal by the time he arrived. There was more than one scream, and from the amount of gunfire, at least a few of the herd would have been wounded. The thought didn’t bring him much comfort. A wounded razorback was twice as deadly.

  The moon came out from behind the clouds, casting eerie shadows in his path. Harry wasn’t a superstitious man, but men had died, and their spirits would still linger close to the bodies. He shivered as he neared the clump of trees. Cupping his hands around his mouth, he made the sound of the eagle and waited. His heart raced as one long whistle and two short ones responded. Dadron or Loki was alive and inside the trees, probably trapped by the pigs. Harry chose a spot a hundred feet from the edge of the forest and sat against the side of a cliff. Approaching with caution wouldn’t do him much good with a group of crazed pigs. Both Dadron and Loki would have known that, which meant there was still someone else out there. He wasn’t totally hidden, but with the shadows, he would be hard to see from a distance. He could see in all directions for at least a mile. Resting the rifle on his knees, he settled in to wait for first light.

  34

  “Would your grandfather be willing to testify to what he just told us?” Jake stood on the rickety porch of the old cabin, his heart aching for Jules.

  “My grandfather was once a powerful medicine man,” Millie said. “The people came to him, respected him, and loved him. Raymond Redmond destroyed all that to discredit him in the eyes of the tribe. His testimony would do you no good.”

  Jake glanced through the open doorway to where Jules was finishing up with the old man. “I keep hearing that. Surely there’s someone here who would stand against him.”

  “The young ones are dependent on him for the drugs he’s addicted them to, and the older ones are scared of the evil spirits they believe he commands.”

  “If murder is involved, doesn’t the federal government send in someone?”

  Millie smiled softly and sighed. “We would have to have a body to show them. Even then the odds would be against us, as the bodies are Choctaw and there’s no proof Raymond Redmond killed them. Too much time has passed. Even if they send someone, it wouldn’t go anywhere. In a few weeks the case would be closed.”

  “Is there anyone with the tribal police we can trust?”

  Millie shook her head and stepped off the porch. “Tim Whitefeather was the only one I would have trusted, and if the rumors are true, he was killed by Nalusa Falaya.”

  Jules walked out on the porch. “Thank you, Millie.”

  Millie glanced to where her grandfather sat, his head bowed as he sang. “Can you find your way back to the barn? I would like to stay with Grandfather. The memories have upset him.”

  “We can find our way.” Jules stepped off the porch and walked away, not waiting for Jake to join him.

  Jake stopped to shake Millie’s hand. “I don’t know how yet, but we’ll stop him.”

  Millie placed her hands on his shoulders. “I believe you are a good man, Jake Savior. Walk tall as the trees, live strong as the mountains, be gentle as the spring winds, keep the warmth of the summer sun in your heart, and the Great Spirit will always be with you.”

  The walk to the car was brisk and silent. Jake could see the anger building inside Jules with every step he took. We should have brought Grace with us. She’s the only one who could have talked him down.

  Jules started the car, barely giving Jake time to buckle his seat belt before speeding off.

  “Slow down, Jules. You don’t want to get caught on the reservation.”

  Jules slowed and turned onto a road leading away from the entrance to the reservation.

  “Where are you going?”

  “To see Grandfather.”

  “That’s not a good idea, Jules. The sergeant said your grandfather was missing.”

  “He’ll be at the cabin.”

  Jules took his eyes from the road for only a second, and a chill ran down Jake’s spine.

  “Killing him isn’t going to bring your parents back, and it isn’t going to help us find Loki and Dadron. We have friends with the FBI. Let’s go home, and we’ll call them.”

  Jules pulled to the side of the road, cut the engine, and sat with his hands clutching the wheel. “You heard Millie. Even if we find the bodies, there’s no proof against Grandfather.” He took the keys from the ignition, opened his door, and stepped out.

  “Jules, what you are doing?”

  Jules tossed the keys over the car and into the high weeds. “Don’t follow me, Jake.”

  He was gone, disappearing into the forest before Jake could even get out of the car. “Damn it!” Jake glared at the weeds. It would take him forever just to find the keys. By then, Jules would be long gone. He hadn’t felt like such a failure since Cara’s death. I had one job—to protect Jules—and I couldn’t even do that.

  Harry stood and stretched as Dadron walked out of the trees at first light. “It’s about time, buddy.” He placed an arm around Dadron and hugged him, pulling back as the heat from Dadron’s body flowed around him. “You’re burning up.”

  Dadron turned and stared behind him, and Harry followed his gaze. “Something wrong?”

  “I don’t know. There was another man, the one Thompkins had with him when he captured Loki. He showed up after the pigs left, stood below the tree, and just stared at me.” Dadron held up his rifle. “He left this below the tree and disappeared.”

  Dadron started toward the creek. “He’s still got Loki. We need to find her.”

  “Whoa, kid. You’re burning up with fever. Our camp is only a short distance from here. We’ll go there, and then we’ll find Loki.”

  “He’ll kill her, Harry.” Dadron continued toward the creek, his steps fumbling until he fell to his knees. “She saved me, and now I have to save her.”

  Harry placed his arm under Dadron’s and helped him to his feet. “I’m more afraid of Loki if something happens to you than I a
m of the guys trying to kill us. First we’ll get you taken care of. Neta Blackwell is at the camp, and she’s a medicine woman. She’ll have you on your feet in no time. Whoever this Thompkins is, he’s not going to kill her as long we’re on his trail.”

  Dadron was too heavy to carry, and Harry struggled to help him walk. “Just a little farther, Dadron. We’re almost there.”

  Nat Blackwell and Reggie came out to meet them. Reggie moved around to help Harry support Dadron’s weight. “What happened?”

  “I’m not sure yet. He’s burning up with fever. Let’s get him inside the cave and have Neta examine him.”

  Neta cleared a place on the ground and put down blankets. She helped them lower Dadron to a sitting position. “Where are you hurting?”

  “Right arm.”

  “Help me get his shirt off.”

  Harry knelt beside Dadron and unbuttoned the shirt. He heard Reggie’s sharp intake of breath as he pulled Dadron’s left arm from the sleeve and exposed his back.

  Neta glanced at the welts. “Don’t worry about those. It’s his arm that’s hurting.”

  The sleeve was tight and stuck to his forearm. “Bring me some warm water, Neta.” Harry wet the sleeve, washing away the dried blood, then slowly moved it down. Dadron’s forearm was fiery red and swollen. Streaks were beginning to appear. “Blood poisoning?”

  Neta nodded. She folded a blanket and placed it on the ground. “Let him lie back. Clean the wound with warm water. I need some things.”

  “Reggie, Dr. Coomer gave us a first aid kit. There’s some antibiotics in it. No offense, Neta, but I think we need those.”

  Neta smiled at him. “None taken. Give him the antibiotics. Papa and I will find what I need to pull out the infection and treat his fever.”

  A shot rang out, and Harry glanced around the cave entrance. “Where’s Tim?”

  Reggie tossed Harry the kit and grabbed his rifle. “He’s standing guard.”

  “Papa, no.”

  Nat slipped outside, ignoring his daughter’s plea as a bullet pinged off the rocks.

  “Help me, Neta. We need to move him farther inside the cave.”

  The two lifted Dadron to his feet, and Neta grabbed the blankets, holding the flashlight as they made their way to the back wall.

  Harry lowered Dadron to the floor. He opened the kit and grabbed a syringe and the antibiotics. “I have no clue how to give this.”

  Neta reached around him and pulled out a note. “Always read the instructions.”

  Harry loaded the syringe and rolled Dadron on his side before administering the shot in his buttocks. “Note says every six hours. I’m going to help the others.”

  “Wait, Harry. There’s a breeze here. There must be a back way in.” Neta handed him the flashlight. “Go that way.”

  35

  Something tugging at her neck awakened Loki. She groaned as she opened her eyes, her head throbbing.

  “Time to wake up, Sleeping Beauty.”

  The rope pulled tighter, and her vision blurred as she concentrated on the voice. “Where’s Dadron?”

  Thompkins laughed and jerked on the rope again. “Pushing up daisies. Now get on your feet.”

  Grief paralyzed her for only a moment until rage flowed through her blood. It would be easy to die, but she wanted to live long enough to kill Thompkins. “Dadron saved your life.” Loki rolled to her side then onto her knees, waiting for the dizziness to pass. “A curse upon you, Anniston Thompkins. You may laugh now, but you have shed innocent blood, and the spirits will not rest until you are punished.”

  Thompkins spit on the ground beside her then tugged on the rope until she struggled to her feet. “They’ve got to catch me first, honey. And with the nine million dollars in diamonds on that plane, I think I can outrun them.” He placed the rifle in the small of her back. “Now move, and don’t try anything funny, or I’ll cripple you and leave you here for the vultures to rip apart.”

  Loki walked slowly in front of him, the rope around her neck rubbing her flesh raw each time she stumbled. The revelation of the diamonds explained the mercenaries. Something niggled at the back of her mind, and she glanced behind her. Manjael isn’t with us. A tiny ray of hope sprouted within her. The very fact she was still alive should have told her Thompkins was lying. He wouldn’t kill her until he knew Harry and Dadron were dead.

  “You’re wrong about my grandfather. He wasn’t the one who hurt your brother.”

  “So you say. I’ll wait until I talk with my brother.”

  “That will never happen.”

  “It’ll happen. Once I have the diamonds.”

  “The diamonds won’t help your brother. He can’t talk.” Loki stopped, turning so that Thompkins could see her face and know she was telling the truth. “Nalusa Falaya cut out his tongue and his eyes.”

  “Keep moving.”

  Loki started walking again. The fear in Thompkins’s eyes told her he’d believed her. The darkness feeds on fear. With the rope around her neck and her hands tied behind her, she was physically powerless, but now she knew where her power lay. As soon as the sun set, she would use that power.

  Thompkins called a halt as they crossed another stream. “It’ll be dark soon. We’ll stop here for the night.”

  “Could I have some water, please?”

  He grinned and pointed at the small trickle of water in the stream. “Get down on your belly and drink.”

  “You should be nicer to me, Thompkins. You’re going to need me. He will come after you.”

  He eyed her suspiciously. “Who?”

  “Nalusa Falaya.”

  “Get over there against that tree.”

  Loki backed up against the tree. He pulled the rope around her neck tight and tied it to the lowest branch. “Struggle, and you’ll just hang yourself.” Thompkins untied the ropes around her wrists and passed her a bottle of water. “Tell me about this Nalusa Falaya.”

  The water was warm, but Loki drank it slowly, savoring every drop. She had the advantage on Thompkins. The story of Nalusa Falaya wouldn’t scare him, but he knew nothing about Choctaw mythology, and she could embellish the tale. “He punishes those who have evil thoughts or do evil deeds by mutilating their bodies. Like with your brother. Sometimes he removes the tongue or the eyes, and sometimes both.”

  She watched Thompkins out of the corner of her eye, not missing the shudder that ran through him. “Sometimes he takes a leg or an arm. His punishment depends on your deeds. The worst punishment is reserved for those who have hurt children. Those he tortures for hours or sometimes days, stripping the skin from their body one small piece at a time.”

  “Shut up!” Thompkins picked up his rifle and walked away from her.

  She knew what was eating at him. She’d read the stories of the African blood diamonds and the suffering humans, many of them children, who were forced to work the mines. That also explained Manjael’s connection. Loki ran her finger beneath the cord around her throat. Thompkins wouldn’t go too far before he remembered her hands were untied, not that that would do her much good. She couldn’t reach the branch without choking, and if she passed out, he was right, she’d hang herself.

  The light around her faded, and her body trembled as her legs grew tired. Thompkins hadn’t returned. Either he’d run into trouble, or he’d simply left her here to die and gone on to the plane. He’d known what she now realized…her legs would collapse soon.

  A strong arm came around the tree, and a hand clamped over her mouth. The cord was cut. Loki took a deep breath as the hand was removed, and she pulled the rope away from her throat.

  “Where is Thompkins?”

  “I don’t know. I think he went on to the plane.”

  “We are close?”

  “Within a half mile or so.”

  Manjael handed her a knife. “Go quickly, but be careful. There are still three men out there.”

  “You said I should let Dadron save me.”

  “He cannot.”

/>   A deep pain etched its way from her clenched stomach muscles to her chest. “Is he alive?”

  Manjael nodded. “They were all alive when I left, but Dadron is very ill. You will find them at the cave where you found Thompkins.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  “You were always so curious, Little Warrior.” He reached out and touched her cheek. “Your mother would be very proud of you.”

  Tears filled her eyes as she saw what she’d missed before. The familiarity was suddenly clear to her. “Dad?”

  Manjael smiled at her. “I am not your father, but I allowed his spirit to borrow me for a moment. Go, Loki. Your brother needs you. He will fight harder to live if he knows you are alive. I must finish what my people sent me here to do.”

  Loki wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug. “Will we ever see you again?”

  “If the Great Spirit is willing, our paths may cross someday.”

  She swiped at the tears running freely down her face. “Then I will ask the spirits to guide you and keep you safe until you return.”

  Jules stood and walked toward the cabin. He’d been sure his grandfather would be here, but he’d watched all day and spotted no movement. He needed water and food, and if the spirits were with him, there would be some inside.

  The door was locked. Jules pushed against it, eliciting a scream from inside. “Grandfather?”

  “Go away!”

  The wood was old and rotten in spots. Jules turned the knob, hitting the doorframe hard with his shoulder. The door sprang open, and he stood in the doorway to give his eyes time to adjust to the dim lighting. The cabin was totally dark with all the drapes pulled. Whimpers came from a corner of the room.