Daniel glanced at John who shook his head. “There won’t be any reason to blame you for anything because we’re not going anywhere, Lena. Not tonight anyway.”
She didn’t seem to understand why they would refuse her offer of freedom. “But I already told you that your lives are in danger.”
“We’ll take our chances. Now, if you don’t mind, we need to get some rest before morning.”
Her expression was changing to anger. And it didn’t improve her mood when Daniel shut the door in her face.
“I hope they hunt you down and torture both of you before they kill you,” she screamed as she re-locked the door. “At least this way, you would have stood a chance.”
“I think we just saw her true colors,” said Daniel.
“What do you suppose she meant by them hunting us down?” asked John.
“I guess we’ll find out in the morning.”
***
Ryder realized his brother was right. He wouldn’t be able to rest until he knew Davis and Damon were no longer a threat to anyone else. Levi had convinced him of what he needed to do. The next morning he visited the cemetery before leaving, saying goodbye to his friend.
He rode to Haven where he asked for volunteers to go out and spread the word in an attempt to learn where Davis and Damon might be, as well as John and Daniel. After leaving the Guard, Ryder had convinced a few smaller groups to join forces and establish a new settlement. That was the beginning of Haven, where he had decided to live too. Others heard about the settlements success and came from all around to be a part of the new community. Though Ryder didn’t claim or want a title, all the residents saw him as their leader and felt a sense of loyalty and indebtedness to him. Based on that, there had been no lack of volunteers willing to help him out.
Sending out riders and waiting for news had been Levi’s idea, but after the volunteers rode out, Ryder found it impossible to sit around and wait for news. He needed to personally go back to the Sector 4 compound and try to pick up their trail. He knew there was a lot of ground to cover. It had been several days since Davis and Damon had escaped from Chief Governor Grayson’s custody. They could be almost anywhere by this time, but it was something he had to do.
No matter how remote a possibility, there was the chance Davis and Damon and their side-kick Peck had doubled-back to regain control of the compound. It wouldn’t have been that hard. There was no one there to stop them. The Guard had left and many of the people in Tent City had had their spirits broken. There was no fight left in them. Those who had been rebellious, strong willed, or disruptive during the last five years had disappeared without a trace.
Ryder knew the governor had kept a short-wave radio at the facility. If he could locate it, maybe he could reach out-lying camps where someone might know something about Davis and Damon. Some of the survivalist communities had short-wave radios, to be used when conventional communications failed. There was no point in waiting for the next morning to leave. He packed food and water and set out immediately. Some urged him to stay, to wait for news to come back, but he had already made up his mind.
He usually had Darby to talk things through, someone who willingly listened and wasn’t bashful about speaking his mind. He became painfully aware of how much he would miss his friend. He would even miss their disagreements. Constantly by his side, he didn’t know if he would ever get over his death. The guilt would always be a part of him. He caught himself talking to Darby numerous times, just as though they were still riding together.
Riding alone, he had a lot of time to think about everything that had happened in his life, from growing up in Paradise to everything since leaving. Perhaps riding back to the prison alone had been a mistake. He had too much time to reflect.
After riding through the night and most of the next morning he was beginning to become his old self, thinking less on the past and more on what he would do to Davis and Damon when he caught up to them. He was glad he’d left Paradise five years earlier, learning what the real world was like, which was nothing like he’d expected. Even though it wasn’t the adventure he’d hoped for, he’d learned a great deal about how to survive. There had been a few moments he’d always be grateful for, such as when he met and became friends with Darby. Overall, he felt blessed that his life had turned out as it had.
When he got back to Sector 4 he’d check on the people of Tent City. He didn’t feel any responsibility toward them, but he was curious how they were coping with their new freedom. Had they found a new leader? Had an outsider forced his way into the leadership role? Perhaps he would arrive to find everything in total chaos after the residents had been abandoned by everyone else.
***
It had taken Jake a couple of days, but he was back from Sector 4. Damon watched as he rode back into their town, which he learned had been named Morgantown. How creative. Scattered around the park was a collection of shacks, obviously without rhyme or reason, thrown together from the debris piles that once were people’s homes. Damon was close enough to kick Davis’ foot, waking him. “He’s back,” he whispered, motioning toward the rider.
Jake stopped at one of the more elaborate and larger shacks, knocking on the door frame and waiting for an answer. Within a matter of seconds, Morgan appeared at the door and stepped outside. Damon, Davis, and Peck looked for some indication of how his mission had gone, which would determine their fate.
The two spoke briefly followed by Morgan fondly slapping Jake on the back, apparently pleased. He looked in the direction of his captives and briskly walked toward them followed closely by Jake.
“There’s good news and bad news. The chief governor does want all of you back and has placed a bounty on your heads.” He paused. “We have a couple of problems though. We don’t have a radio to contact him, and even if we did, I’d have to tell him where to come to pick you up. That’s not going to work for me. I don’t want any outsiders, especially not the chief governor, to know where we are or anything about us. The only other option is for me to deliver you to him. And to make matters worse, he wants you alive.”
Davis sighed relief.
“So, now it’s a matter of whether I want to go to all that trouble,” added Morgan. “And I’m not sure you’re worth it.”
“We won’t be any trouble,” pleaded Davis.
“Sector 4’s compound has a radio,” offered Damon. “You can contact him at his headquarters in Springfield from there.”
Morgan looked at him suspiciously. “Why would you want to cooperate? You want us to turn you over?”
“Considering the alternative, yes.”
Morgan looked them over. “I’ll let you know after I’ve thought it over.” He turned and walked to his shack. “Get some sleep,” he yelled over his shoulder.
***
The search was not going well and with night approaching, Grayson set down the helicopter in a desolate area so they could make camp. From the air they hadn’t seen an encampment anywhere in the vicinity. They felt relatively safe, but knew they needed to remain alert. In a strange territory, especially out here, danger could appear at any moment. Blake kept his rifle within reach and always had his sidearm with him. They sat silently staring into their small fire drinking coffee. Both were feeling dejected. For the past two days they’d been searching in a zigzag pattern all over the area of the wasteland where they thought Davis would most likely be, in the direction they’d gone after escaping.
“What are we going to do, Charles?” asked Blake. “We barely have enough fuel left to make it home and this isn’t the only sector that needs your attention.”
During their search, they’d spotted several camps scattered across the landscape of the wasteland. In most cases they’d been fired upon and forced to retreat from the area. There had been no way to tell if Davis and his group were at any of them, but figured Davis and Damon, as strangers, would have received the same reception as they had. They still felt the two were in the area, alone and on their own.
&
nbsp; “Okay. We’ll return to Springfield first thing in the morning,” announced Grayson. “I was just so sure we’d be able to find them in this desolate country. I owed it to our men, not just because they worked for me, but because they were our friends too.”
“I know, but we don’t have a choice now. Hopefully, John and Daniel are having better luck.”
“I wish we had a way to communicate with them.”
“Maybe we could stop off at Sector 4 on the way home,” suggested Blake. “It’s not that far out of the way and maybe they’ve heard something. Perhaps they have some fuel in reserve too. It would give us a safety margin for getting home.”
“It’s worth a shot.”
“I hate that we failed, but it’ll be good to go home. Knowing John and Daniel are still out there searching makes me feel a little better. I’ve got faith in them.”
***
Davis, Damon, and Peck remained chained to the swing set. For the moment they were safe and would remain so until Morgan decided they weren’t worth the effort. Their guard sat near a fire maybe fifty feet away. The others in the community had turned in for the evening. The three could talk freely as long as they kept their voices low.
“We can’t let them take us back,” whispered Davis. “Governor Grayson will have us shot.”
“One thing at a time. First, we have to convince Morgan to take us back,” replied Damon. “And if he does, you don’t have to worry about being shot. We won’t be with him long enough to reach the chief governor.”
Peck nodded that he understood. They would have to escape at their first opportunity.
***
CHAPTER SIX
There was a pounding on the door followed by the sound of the lock and chain being removed. It was early, the eastern sky just beginning to lighten, but the sun still below the horizon.
“Rise and shine!” came a voice Daniel and John recognized as Uncle Don’s. The door opened and he stepped inside carrying a tray with dry crusty bread, water, and a couple of apples. He was smiling, apparently in a good mood. “Eat up. You’re going to need all your strength.”
Don quickly set the tray on the table in an attempt to conceal a slight tremor in his hands. John noticed. He had heard that it could be a consequence to cannibalism. There was an immediate urgency to get away from this place.
“Are we free to go now?” asked John, even more concerned now than before.
Don smiled. “Of course.”
“What’s the catch?” asked Daniel.
“Catch? There’s no catch.”
John and Daniel each grabbed an apple off the tray and began to devour it, stepping to the doorway.
Don placed his arm across the doorway to block them from leaving.
“Okay. That’s not exactly true,” Don said, with a sinister smile.
John and Daniel stopped chewing and glanced at each other.
“We’re going to let you leave, with a ten minute head start. Then we’re coming after you. It’s a little game we like to play with our uninvited guests. If we catch you, which I assure you we will, the game is over. If somehow you’re able to avoid being caught and make it to our border, we won’t pursue you any further.” Snickers came from the crowd gathered outside. “But, just so you don’t get your hopes up, it’s never happened before.”
John, thinking he already knew the answer, asked anyway, “What do you plan on doing with us if you catch us?”
“I wouldn’t think of ruining the surprise,” replied Don, still smiling. There were more snickers from outside.
Both John and Daniel knew there was no point in trying to talk their way out of this, accepting that whatever was going to happen was out of their control. “How far is it to your border?” asked Daniel.
“Very good question,” said Don. “Six miles in one direction, ten miles in another, seven miles in another, and eight miles the other.”
“And I don’t suppose you’re going to tell us which is which, are you?” asked John.
More smiles and snickers. It was getting annoying. And with the crazed look in their eyes, John was becoming even more nervous, if that was possible.
“Afraid not. Not that it would matter. I don’t expect you to make it to any of them.”
“That figures,” said John, bitterly. “How about our horses?”
Don continued to smile while he shook his head.
John let out a sigh. “Then, when does this party get started?”
“As soon as you’re ready,” said Don. “As long as it’s in the next five minutes. We’re all a little anxious, as you can see.”
“Can we have a minute alone?” asked Daniel.
Don hesitated. “Sure.” He backed out and shut the door.
“What are we going to do?” whispered John.
“The only thing we can do. Run like you’ve never run before. Think about your family.”
“That’s all I’ve been thinking about. Do me a favor. If you get away and I don’t, please take care of them.”
“Don’t talk like that. Just follow my lead and stay close.” Daniel took a piece of the bread and handed it to John.
“Eat up.”
“I’m not really hungry right now.”
“Then put it in your pocket. You may need it later.”
“You mean if we survive the next twenty minutes?”
Daniel didn’t bother to answer. They both finished off the water. “Ready?”
“No!” answered John flatly.
Daniel opened the door. The girl from earlier was there. “You should have left when I gave you the chance.”
Uncle Don was standing beside her. “She’s right. You would have had a better chance in the dark. It’s more of a challenge for us, but a little more exciting too.” He paused. “But it’s too late for that now. So, are you ready? My people are getting restless.”
Daniel bent over to step outside without hitting his head on the low door frame. John didn’t have that problem. The crowd parted, giving them plenty of room to pass. There was a crazy eagerness in their wide-open eyes.
“Follow me,” said Don.
The procession headed for the main gate. Hoots and hollers spread through the smiling crowd as though they were in the middle of a celebration. John imagined the entire community had showed up. There must have been a couple hundred people, young and old. Outside the gate they walked by what appeared to be a large barbeque spit. A fire was already burning below it, the coals red hot. John and Daniel exchanged glances. There was no need for an explanation. A large pile of sun-bleached bones was next to it. Human bones. John looked up to see several turkey vultures circling high overhead.
The sky was clear, the bright sun now beginning to show above the horizon. Each man and woman in the crowd wore a side arm and a knife. Most were dressed in some form of camo, apparently the standard for Camp Liberty. Each appeared anxious for the hunt.
“No rifles?’ asked John sarcastically.
“It wouldn’t be sporting. We only use them for long distance shooting. I don’t think they’ll be necessary this morning. And for you…a knife.” He handed it to Daniel. “We’re especially looking forward to this hunt because of you, Master Gant. We’re expecting it to be more of a challenge than we’re used to.”
Daniel didn’t respond to the comment. He was already studying the surrounding countryside, able to see over most of the other people. There was some tree cover where they’d come out the day before and some on the other side of the corn plot.
“One knife? That’s very considerate of you,” said John with bitterness in his voice.
“I thought so,” said Don. “Any more questions before we get started?”
John looked at the excited faces surrounding them. “A full ten minutes?”
“You have my word.”
It didn’t make John feel any better. Even though he didn’t have any proof, as yet, his instincts told him Don was a killer, and could just as easily be a liar too. He glanced at Daniel wh
o appeared to be deep in thought.
Don drew his pistol and raised it into the air. John took one last look back at the crowd. Some were actually salivating. “Ready?” He didn’t wait for a reply, firing one shot into the sky.
Daniel took off without hesitation, already running for the nearest trees in front of them. John was surprised how fast he was for such a big man.
Without looking back, Daniel shouted, “Run, John!”
John sprinted to catch up. The crowd roared in expectation, eager to begin the hunt. One man couldn’t wait, taking off after them. Before he’d taken four steps, Uncle Don shot him dead. There had to be rules.
***
Blake jerked awake at the sound of a single shot from a large caliber weapon. From inside the helicopter, where they slept for safety, it was hard to tell where it had come from. He jumped to the ground and looked all around, not seeing anything. No other sounds followed. Had he dreamed it? He shook Charles’ foot, waking him.
“What’s wrong?”
“Did you hear that?” asked Blake. “It sounded like a gun shot.”
“Sorry. I was sleeping. I didn’t hear anything. Are you sure?”
“Pretty sure.”
Charles propped himself up on his elbows as both fell silent to listen carefully to their surroundings. There was nothing.
“I don’t hear anything,” stated Charles. “You?”
“No.” Blake sighed. “Maybe I dreamed it.”
“No matter. Since we’re up, how about a cup of coffee and then head home?”
“Sounds good to me.” He was glad Charles was ready to give up the search, but at the same time disappointed that they’d failed.
They’d stop off at Sector 4 long enough to find out if any news about Davis or Damon had reached the people there.
Ten minutes after waking Charles, there was an unmistakable second shot. Blake turned to Charles.
“That time I heard it too,” admitted Charles.
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