“Gothman women are property.” Taffley said with a shrug.
“I’m not Gothman!” Tara slammed her fist on the table.
Taffley jumped and realized he’d hit a nerve. Had he made the right move by showing the paper to her? It crossed his mind that if this made her angry, what would she do when she realized she was being led into a trap?
A loud shot caused Taffley to jump again. One hand went to his heart and the other grabbed his bottle of wine.
Another loud shot rang through the air.
* * * * *
Tara adjusted her laser to scan for life-signs. She pointed the laser toward the woods along the river, judging that was where the shot had come from. She could hear people yelling, and although the red beam on the laser targeted the attackers, she didn’t need it. She could have detected them from the noise they were making.
Taffley was on top of the ferry, and he had started shooting.
The darn fool was going to get killed. He’d made himself an easy target. She quickly shot at three individuals on the bank. A splash in the water and a howl let her know one of them had fallen in. She saw another fall from a tree. The third jumped in the water of his own accord and started swimming toward them.
Taffley aimed his gun at the person in the water, and a loud bang ran through the air. The man in the water let out a bloodcurdling scream. His arm floated away from his body.
Taffley’s gun had such a kick she could see him lurch back after firing. For a second, she envisioned Taffley falling down the stairs, but he steadied himself and looked around at the now calm waters.
“Sure are a lot of thieves lately,” he muttered as he came back down the stairs. “We live in a land of no laws. Take care of your own, that’s the River People’s law. I’ve learned to protect my property. Keeps one on his toes. They say a government will stop all this but I don’t see it happening.”
Tara could hear the babies beginning to cry and hurried to them.
Taffley walked to the edge of the hallway, but respecting her privacy, talked to her without coming to her door. “I’ll keep a watch tonight. You don’t worry none about them babies. I’ll keep them safe. Ain’t no thief going to board my boat tonight.”
Tara doubted Taffley’s ability to keep them safe, but she thanked him and pulled the children up on the bed. Within moments, the three of them were sound asleep.
It seemed like just minutes later when Tara opened her eyes to see the sun streaming through the open window of her room. Ana lay cuddled next to her, sleeping soundly, while Andru played with his feet. He smiled broadly at her when she looked at him. The smile looked just like his papa’s.
Tara lay there, holding both of them tightly, feeling pain from the loss of the only man she’d ever loved. Tears came to her eyes and she let them flow.
It wasn’t long before both babies were fully awake and ready to play. Tara had to put her own thoughts aside and focus on her children. As she sat on the floor of the small room, tickling and playing with the babies, she could hear Taffley walking around on the main deck preparing breakfast. Every now and then he groaned; she imagined he might be hung over from the wine.
The bell announcing that food was ready came shortly, and Tara picked up the babies and headed out to the table. She was surprised to feel how warm it was outside.
“We’ve had someone following us through those trees over there,” Taffley said as Tara secured the babies into the highchairs. “If you want to eat in your room, I can set the table in there.”
Tara looked over to the trees and could hear the low sound of a motorcycle. She squinted from the sun and was able to tell two people rode on the bike. They were matching the pace of the ferry and staying just out of view through the trees.
“If you’d help me push the highchairs to my room, I’d appreciate it.” She walked back to the room, pushing Ana in the chair. Taffley followed with Andru, who talked gibberish all the way.
She could see the bike through her window as she fed the babies their breakfast. Why wasn’t its rider attacking like the others? Still, she had to acknowledge it was a strategy she would use to flush out her prey: wear their defenses down by stalking them. Then bring them out in the open and nail them. It was a Runner strategy, but that wasn’t a Runner bike.
“Tara?” A voice shouted her name.
She jumped, startled, and moved quietly to the window. “I don’t believe it!” She ran out of the room and onto the deck.
“Stop the ferry,” the voice called.
“Not on your life.” Taffley raised his gun to fire.
“Taffley, no!” Tara yelled, but it was too late.
Taffley fell to the ground as laser fire shot across the water and knocked him off the deck. He yelled loudly and looked at his smoking leg. Dark blood started soaking through the torn material of his pants.
“Put that laser down now!” Tara yelled to the shore.
She ran over to Taffley and propped him up against the deck.
“Tara, you’ve got to make him stop the ferry,” Torgo’s voice yelled to her. He and Syra were now visible on the shore of the river.
“Who are they?” Taffley was grimacing from the pain.
“A couple of kids. What they’re doing here is the question!” Tara looked back at the two sitting on Torgo’s bike.
“Tara, can you hear me?” Torgo yelled.
“Yes, I can hear you.”
“You’re floating into a trap. There’s a mob down there just waiting for you. They’ll turn you in for the price on your head.”
Tara looked at Taffley, who kept his eyes pinned to the deck. “How do we stop this thing?”
He got up slowly. Holding onto his bleeding leg, he limped to the back of the ferry. It took him a few minutes to climb the stairs.
All the while, the babies wailed. As Tara listened to their fussing, she realized that this was no life for them. They deserved warm cribs and their own bedroom, not this swaying barge.
Taffley called down, “Better get back to your room and hold onto those little ones. When the anchor catches, it will cause quite a lurch.”
She returned to her quarters and sank into a chair between the two high chairs. The twins sobbed loudly as they reached for their mama. She quickly gave them each a small piece of banana, which they simultaneously put into their mouths. She gripped the sides of the highchairs and braced her feet as the ferry lunged to a stop.
The paddle wheel became silent, and it was very quiet on the ferry for a second.
Tara tore up more banana. Then, she grabbed a first aid kit and returned to the deck.
“Word is traveling all over the place that you are on a ferry headed to the border,” Torgo yelled to her.
“I wonder how they found out.” Tara looked at Taffley.
“I’m sorry, Tara. All I knew was that you were a Runner. People ‘round here’s scared of Runners. I’d already let you on my ferry when I saw the reward being offered.” Taffley looked sincerely forlorn as she stared at him. “I don’t know why you’re wanted, but I can’t imagine whatever you did was all that bad.”
“I didn’t do anything wrong.”
Taffley looked at the two kids sitting on the bike on the shore. He nodded in their direction. “If things are as bad as those two say, the thieves attacked us to get to you.” He shook his head. “There’ll be more. Probably soon. You’d stand a better chance if you get off on the other side of the river.”
Tara studied the water. The river was wide, and she could see a few sandbars ahead of them. “How far to the border?”
“Half a day, if you drive. We’ll get there tonight on the ferry. If you drive straight south, you’ll cross the desert. After several hours, head west and you’ll hit the road.”
“We need to get the jeep and my bike off this thing.” She started yelling instructions to Torgo and Syra, “Cross the river up there by the sandbars. Torgo, give it some speed when you hit the water.”
Taffley was obviously fe
eling the pain from his wound, and he moved slowly.
Tara loaded the babies into their car seats in the back of the jeep, much to their dismay. They hadn’t gotten over being in them all yesterday and immediately started to cry. She hugged and kissed them and reassured them the running would stop soon. She only wished she could believe it. She now understood why Runner families had trailers. As bored as she had been at times growing up and traveling across country, she’d at least been able to move around in a trailer, instead of being confined to a car seat.
“What can we do to help?” Torgo lifted himself out of the water onto the deck. He’d parked his bike on the shore after driving to the other side, then the two had swum out to the ferry.
“You can start by telling me what the hell you’re doing here.” Tara showed her rage. “This isn’t a game.”
“You promised me a job.” Syra shrugged with despicable arrogance as she wrung water from her hair.
“You can’t stay with me. You’ll both get killed.” Tara wasn’t in the mood for a mouthy teenager.
“You’re not so great you couldn’t get killed yourself.” Syra’s eyes flared. “Especially with two babies. You need help.”
“I can make it to where I’m going,” Tara responded. “Your papa would never stop tracking me if I brought you along.”
Torgo spoke up. “My brother isn’t going to stop looking for you, or his children, no matter where you go.”
“’Scuse me. I hate to break up this family feud, but are you all getting off my boat or not?” Taffley shifted his gaze from the dripping teenagers to the irate Runner.
“Yes, we are.” Tara continued to glare at both of them. “Okay, you want to work? You got it. Syra, take the bike off the trailer. It will lighten the load when we drive the jeep through the water. Torgo, you help Taffley lower the ramp.”
Everyone got to work, and within minutes Tara was in the jeep, going through the water. The splashing on either side of the vehicle quieted the babies as they watched the spectacle with awe.
“Be careful, Taffley,” Tara said after they’d secured the trailer to the back of the jeep.
“It won’t be a welcome committee when I get to the border, that’s for sure.” Taffley let out a laugh. “Do me a favor, though. If it’s ever brought up, tell them you shot me while escaping. I don’t think I could live it down if they knew I got shot by some kid girl.”
“Deal!” Tara smiled. “I’ll ask a favor in return. From now on, you be friendly to Runners. We’re good people, and no Runner will attack you unless you attack first.”
“Deal!” Taffley waved, then started the paddle wheel. The ferry slowly glided down the river.
“Let’s get a move on. You can drive with me at least as far as the border.” Tara was anxious.
Syra walked over to join Torgo on his bike.
“You’ll ride with me,” Tara spoke over her shoulder as she climbed into the jeep.
“Why? I want to ride with Torgo.”
“I can see that.” Tara gave Torgo a hard look, and he quickly stared at the ground. It dawned on her that the two of them had more than likely been together all night. “You want to work for me, then get in the jeep.”
* * * * *
Syra sulked as she climbed into the passenger seat. She knew her aunt would be justified to lecture her. She’d left without telling anyone. She was with Torgo. And, she’d followed Tara, who had every bounty hunter in Trueland after her.
Syra glanced back at Torgo who followed closely behind the jeep. He smiled and she faced front. So far, this was the best adventure she’d ever had. It was actually disappointing that they’d found Tara already. Riding with Torgo all morning, rubbing against his body, her arms wrapped around his youthful muscles…her mind drifted to the night before.
They’d driven south, following the only map she could find on her landlink. They knew they were driving south but that was about it. Once they’d found tracks that resembled those a jeep and trailer would leave, they’d followed them to the river.
After driving for five hours or so, they’d decided to take a break.
She remembered Torgo kissing her. The moonlight had made everything mystical. When she’d unbuttoned his shirt and slipped it off his shoulders, every one of his chest muscles were outlined with moonlight. His hands had been all over her. He never even hesitated with his exploring. Maybe he wasn’t as inexperienced as she’d thought. Everywhere he’d touched her had set her on fire. She couldn’t remember how they’d moved from standing to lying. They’d rolled around on the ground and greeted each other’s bodies with excitement and anticipation. While she hadn’t been aware of hurting herself at the time, the bruises on her body indicated they’d gotten carried away with their exploring.
And then there had been the…thing she’d done to Torgo. Syra never would have known to do it, except she’d caught her aunt doing it to another clansman one night. They hadn’t realized she’d caught them. But, she’d never forget it. It looked like fun, so she’d tried it last night with Torgo. He’d seemed so surprised when, after making him hard as a rock with her hand, she’d put him inside her mouth.
It was bigger than she’d expected, and she wasn’t able to make much of it fit; not like her aunt had. She’d done something right though. Torgo had almost flipped her when suddenly he’d arched his back and howled. She’d held on tight and was surprised when he’d soaked her face with his white fluid. It had been salty, but she liked the taste.
Torgo had then laid her down and spread her legs so far apart she’d thought he’d split her in two. When his tongue entered her soft sensitive folds, she’d gone over the edge, lust spreading through her like a wildfire. He’d sucked, nibbled, licked and kissed. It was more than she’d ever dreamed it would be, and he’d brought her to an orgasm so quickly she was dizzy for the next twenty minutes or so. Thinking about it burned her crotch. After another quick glance at Torgo, she shoved the thoughts out of her head.
* * * * *
It wasn’t easy driving through the trees with the jeep and attached trailer. Every time Tara thought they were coming to a clearing, they would run into another group of trees.
“It would be a lot easier if we ditched the trailer, and you let me ride your bike,” Syra suggested after driving for a while in silence.
“Syra, I can’t let you go with me. Believe me, I wish I could. You’re right, I could use the help. But, I just don’t have the right to take either one of you from your parents.”
Syra reached down, opened Tara’s landlink and started to log on.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Tara grabbed the landlink from Syra’s lap.
“My papa said I could work for you over the summer,” Syra started to explain.
Tara tried to stay calm and took a deep breath before she spoke, “If you log on with my landlink, it will instantly tell anyone who is watching exactly where I am. Trust me, they’re watching. I’ve got the heirs of the Gothman and Runner nations on board.”
“Okay. I’m sorry.”
Tara was startled by the sincerity of Syra’s apology.
Syra met her gaze and her youthful energy pulsated in her green eyes. “Did you love him, Tara?”
Tara didn’t answer, but she fought the stinging in her eyes from tears that wanted to come. Had she loved him? She still loved him.
She needed to keep herself alert and thinking about this would get her nowhere. She turned her attention back to the direction they traveled and still didn’t answer.
They drove on in silence for quite awhile. Tara was growing frustrated with their inability to pick up speed due to the terrain. Andru and Ana both watched with wide gray eyes as objects passed the jeep, and she praised them mentally for being such good babies.
Several hours passed, and still nothing but forest around them.
“We should have hit desert by now, according to what Taffley told us.” Tara looked up at the sun. “We’re definitely driving due south. Something
is wrong.”
“Could we use my landlink to see if there’s anywhere to log on?”
“You brought your landlink?”
“Yes, it’s on Torgo’s bike.”
“I’m willing to give it a try. For all I know, we could have already passed the border.” Tara stopped the jeep, and Torgo pulled up alongside her. Syra jumped out and brought her landlink to Tara.
“Why don’t you get the babies out and let them crawl around in the backseat?” Tara felt sorry for her confined children. “Hopefully, this won’t take too long.”
Tara searched for a local connection, and the landlink found one within a matter of minutes.
“Well, there’s life out there somewhere,” Tara commented as she started to explore the transmission she’d just found. “I found a map. Here it is. There are several cities that appear to be twenty miles or so from the border. And I see two roads…one of them leads all the way to the border. We must be farther east than we thought. According to this, if we head west, we should pull out of this forest faster than if we continue south.” She studied the foreign screen providing this information and wondered what culture shared the technology.
“Sounds good to me.” Torgo squinted toward the west.
“Let’s keep moving. Syra, why don’t you explore what these cities have to offer while you’re back there, and I’ll drive. Whatever you do, don’t change connections. Hopefully, no one will be searching for us on this link.” Tara started the jeep, and they began heading west.
The drive continued to be difficult as the trees grew closer together and cliffs and rocks appeared. The terrain almost appeared mountainous, and Tara noticed some of the rock formations appeared to lead into caves. At times, Tara would turn her head and listen, or quickly glance behind her. No one would stop them, she would see to it. Determination pumped through her, the success of their journey riding on her warrior skills.
* * * * *
Torgo noticed this and although he would look in the same direction as she did, he never saw anything out of the ordinary. The more time passed, the more often Tara checked their surroundings. Her actions began to spook Torgo. Although nothing around him appeared to be out of the ordinary, Torgo began believing they were being watched or followed, just by Tara’s actions.
Nuworld: The Saga Begins Page 26