Will of Man - Part Four

by William Scanlan

  We stored extra food in the tunnel so we can grab it on our way out. Jeff grabbed a bag of corn seed and said he would use that to keep him afloat (remember he can’t swim). I grabbed a length of rope that I will use to connect myself to Jeff and pull him with. I’ll tie it around my waste and loop it around Jeff’s shoulders. He can float on his back holding the corn seed while I pull him. I am a good swimmer, and with proper technique, I can swim without splashing or making any noise. Good swimmers stab the water and pull themselves through the water. I can swim a few miles without making a sound or splashing a drop. Inexperienced swimmers slap the water and make a lot of noise. All Jeff will have to do is hold on tight and relax till we reach the shore.

  Jeff has mastered unlocking our cell door and is confident he can do it anytime we are ready. We decided we will leave tomorrow night. The moon is three-quarters dark and will shine little light. The temperature is warm for this time of the year and will keep the lake water moderately warm. I will be stealthy, but fast in my swim. I will keep warm, because I will be doing all the swimming. But Jeff will be relaxed and not moving, meaning his body temp will fall fast. I will have to get him across the lake as fast as possible.

  Back in our cell, Jeff and I talked about where we were going after we escape. Jeff’s family is a couple days to the west. Mine is a couple months to the north. We reluctantly agreed that we would have to separate when the time was right.

  Jeff talked about his family and how much he missed them. He described his wife and how beautiful she is to him. He said he misses playing with his kids and having family night playing board games. Jeff stared at the candle in our cell and seemed to be lost in thought. He just kept talking with a warm glow in his face. I can tell he misses his family as much as I miss mine. I let him keep talking without interrupting. It was nice to see the joy in his face and I didn’t mind that he kept talking about them.

  Jeff rubbed his wedding ring and said that if it weren’t for his family, he would have no reason to keep living. He said they are his “reason for everything.”

  Jeff fell asleep after some time. I could not sleep, for I was far too excited to start our escape. I remind myself that not too long ago I was an innocent kid who liked collecting STAR WARS toys and playing with my little brother. Now here I am, a prisoner in an old Civil War prison, hundreds of miles away from my family, contemplating escape at the risk of losing my life. This would seem exciting to watch in a movie, but to live it, is not. I just want things to go back to the way they used to be.

  Tyler's

  Journal Entry: 424

  Date: September 18

  Day: Wednesday

  Weather: Sunny and warm

  Miles to go: 580

  I have found Balow!

  Today Jeff and I were working in the garden when a bunch of the PULLED came running out from a door of the east wing barracks. They looked like they overtook a guard and was able to get past him. They ran out the door and were heading to the perimeter wall. They didn’t get far though. They cornered themselves against the wall and were quickly captured. Jeff and I were the only prisoners to witness this since the garden is off and away from the main barracks. Jeff pointed them and as I looked closer I saw him. It was Balow!

  Balow was fighting, but looked weak and lethargic. It didn’t take much to bring him down, re-collar him, and drag him back to the dungeons. He didn’t see me, but I saw him. For some reason, I didn’t let Jeff know that I knew Balow. But I knew then my plans had changed. Once I get Jeff to safety, I will come back for Balow. I know he would do it for me.

  Jeff and I returned to the garden. I chose to work on the other side of field away from Jeff. I needed time to myself to formulate a plan. A plan to come back and rescue Balow.

  I will have to do it all in one night. There will be no hanging around once they realize Jeff is gone. They will scour the area until they find our tunnel. I will need to get Jeff across the lake, then make my way back to the cabin to fetch my wetsuit. The wetsuit is too small for Balow, but I can wear it and keep both of us afloat as I back stroke holding Balow in my arms. He looks way too weak to swim on his own, and who knows if he can swim in the first place. But how will I get Balow past the guards? I can’t overtake an adult guard and I’m not going to kill anyone with a sneak attack.

  In the movies you always see the bad guy get hit over the head with something and get knocked out. But in reality, one of two things would probably happen, I would really make the guard mad after hitting him, or I could kill him. Either way, striking someone over the head is a bad idea. So I guess I will have to figure it out as I go.

  Worst case scenario, I fail and I’m stuck here playing Yahtzee with Father Patrick for the rest of my life. Maybe we can get matching “I’M WITH STUPID,” t-shirts and have them point at each other. Ha!

  Tyler's

  Journal Entry: 425

  Date: September 19

  Day: Thursday

  Weather: Sunny and warm

  Miles to go: 580

  The time came and Jeff made the decision to leave. The guards did their final check for the night and Jeff worked the lock open. We scurried to the outside and crawled along the ground to the outside garden tools shed.

  I was relieved once we were inside the shed and out of any guard’s vision. Jeff pride the broken cement up and revealed our tunnel. The tunnel was dark and damp.

  We didn’t light any candles to avoid exposing ourselves. Jeff grabbed our stored food and placed it in with the corn seed he was going to use for a floatation device. I tide the rope around my waist and looped the remaining rope over my shoulder.

  We crawled to the end of the tunnel and whispered good luck to each other. After a quick fist bump, Jeff and I slunked to the water and through the cattails to open water. Jeff looped the rope around his shoulders and chest and rolled over on his back grasping the bag of corn seed. I swam ahead of him slowly until I could feel the weight of Jeff pull on the rope. Once I found myself in a rhythm, I sped up the pace and headed towards the other side of the river.

  The sky was cloudy and made visibility hard. I could barely see the shore and worked hard to swim straight. I checked back on Jeff a couple times to make sure his head was above water.

  I think Jeff was petrified with fear. He had a look of shock and was white-knuckling the bag of seed. I can’t imagine crossing a lake under these conditions not knowing how to swim. It must have been terrifying for him.

  It was very dark by now and we were nearing the shore. Between strokes I would sight the shore. As I got closer though I noticed something was not right. Between me and the shore rest a couple dozen canoes. They were painted black and camouflaged. Each was filled to the max with men (also dressed in black) holding weapons of all sorts. I stopped and treaded water.

  Jeff bumped me from behind and had a look of confusement on his face. Neither of spoke and none of the mysterious men did either. Instead, one pointed at us and motioned for one of the canoes to go after us.

  “They the other pirates,” Jeff whispered in a quiet panic. “They’re the ones Father Patrick’s been fighting with. We need to get away.”

  Jeff shuffled around and began trying to swim back in the direction of the prison. One of the canoes began paddling in our direction without making a sound. I swam hard in the opposite direction back towards the prison. A spear flew from the chasing canoe and pierced Jeff’s seed bag.

  All of his corn pour out leaving Jeff with nothing to hold on to. Jeff began to struggle, and panic set in. He grabbed the rope that tethered us and pulled me toward him. I looked in his eyes and saw insane fear. His eyes were wide open and his pupils looked completely dilated. He was in shock and was being controlled purely by his instinct to survive.

  I pushed Jeff away with the intent of spinning him around so I could grab him from behind. I learned this technique at one of my swim camps. It was not Jeff’s fault for panicking. The bravest of people will give into the instinct to survive and will grab anyt
hing within reach to keep themselves from drowning.

  I was able to turn Jeff around, but he was too strong for me and was able to spin himself around and grab me around the head. He pulled himself up and onto my shoulders, I sank to the bottom and was able to touch with my feet. I held him up and let him stand on my shoulders, but I could only stay under for so long. I had to pull Jeff off my shoulders and swim away from him. He dove under the water and tried swimming on his own. I watched him struggle, but he could only swim under water for a couple feet.

  I grabbed him again from behind, but he squirmed out of my grasp. I could hear him scream, “I want my family! I have to make it back to them! Someone help me!”

  And then there was a loud whack and Jeff’s face scrunched in pain and confusement. One of the men on the canoe had hit him in the head with a paddle. And then a final whack and Jeff’s face went blank. He slowly sank beneath the water.

  I grabbed his wrist and began to pull him into me, when I was struck in the shoulder with a paddle. I let out a whimper and Jeff and I together sank beneath the water. We sank together facing each other. His face was barely visible, but I could see he was already gone. I sank slowly and watched my good friend slip away into the darkness of the water until he was finally gone. I kept sinking staring upward. The moon must have found its way through the clouds, because I could see it’s light dancing through the water.

  I was exhausted, hurt, and in shock. I thought that that was going to be the end of my journey. That in the water, on the bottom of that lake, is where I would make my final journey into death and out of life. But then something snapped in me. I could hear my Dad yelling for me to push on. “Don’t give up Tyler! Never quit! Push through! Push on!”

  I turned myself over and swam as far as I could under the water away from the pirates and back towards the prison. I crested the water and swam like never before.

  The pirates, in their canoes, realized where I was going and hastily gave chase. They were planning a surprise attack on the prison, but I was ruining their plans. They paddled hard, but I was now free of Jeff’s extra weight and was able to swim full force to the shores of the prison island.

  I made it to shore of the island and ran to my tunnel. I quickly disappeared into it and emerged inside the shed, within the perimeter of the prison. Once outside the prison, I had no choice but warn the guards the other pirates were attacking by yelling at the top of my lungs. They grabbed me quickly and was about to strike me when a slew of flaming arrows shot over the prison wall. Many hit the roofs of the old barracks which were patched with straw and sod. The straw and sod caught on fire instantly and a majority of the island was engulfed in flames. Some guards ran to put the flames out while other guards ran to protect the perimeter. There was an old crank siren that one guard began cranking on. It was loud and made a deafening wurring sound.

  I knew it was going to be difficult, but I had to try and save Balow. As I ran across the yard towards the dungeon where the PULLED were being kept, I could see the front gate being rammed from the other side. It was only a matter of time before the invading pirates made their way into the prison.

  There were about 30 guards within the prison and about a hundred invading pirates. It was going to be a slaughter once the pirates made their way into the perimeter. On my way towards Balow, I was grabbed by a man. I couldn’t see the man, but he pulled me into the barn where they keep the work horses and other livestock. The man lit a lantern and gazed upon me. It was Father Patrick.

  “How did you get out?” he growled at me. “What have you done Tyler?”

  Father Patrick grabbed me by the collar and threw me into a gate holding one of the horses. He lifted his hatchet with one hand and held me with the other. I thought he was going to cut me in half when all of a sudden, he lowered his hatchet and knelt down beside me.

  “This is not your fault,” he said in low murmur. “You need to hide Tyler. No, you need to flee! I won’t let them hurt you son!”

  Father Patrick grabbed me and pointed me in the direction of the back gate. Come with me Tyler. There is a boat over here. I can open the back gate and get you to safety. I won’t let them hurt you son!”

  I think Father Patrick was convinced he was helping his real son by the way he was so determined to get me to safety. He had a crazy look of worried determination. I struggled from his grip and said, “Father, I need to get a friend first. He is one of the PULLED. His name is Balow.”

  Father Patrick shrugged off the notion and grabbed me again pulling me towards the back gate.

  “Father, I need him to guide me home. He knows the way home Father and he will keep me safe. God sent him to keep me safe and take me home. Please Father!” I cried.

  Father Patrick stopped and knelt beside me again. He pulled me in close and said, “God told you this son? God sent him?”

  “Yes father! I need him! You must bring him to me! His name is Balow!”

  “I know the man you speak of. I will get him. You make your way to the back gate.”

  Father Patrick ran from me in the direction of the dungeon. I could see the front gate beginning to buckle. It was just a matter of time. Flaming arrows still shot over the perimeter wall and there was fire all around. I ran to the back gate and crouched near the wall waiting.

  The front gate finally gave and a swarm of pirates stormed inside attacking everyone in sight. I was about to start climbing the gate when I saw Father Patrick running with a limp Balow in his grasp. Father Patrick placed Balow near me and unlocked the back gate with his key. He swung the door and motioned for me and Balow to go.

  Father Patrick held up a ring of keys and said, “I’m going to release the prisoners. I’m not a monster. I only wanted to save them, their souls. I only wanted to keep them here long enough, until they realized that…..”

  Father Patrick paused and looked at the sky as if he were searching for the right words to say. He never finished that sentence.

  “There’s a boat hidden in the cattails, straight down, near that tree. Go son!” He said and then paused his glance, “Go Tyler. Find your family. You are a good boy. I will miss playing Yahtzee with you.”

  He waved us on and then turned and left towards the raiding pirates. I could hear him yelling some prayer and waving his arms about. And that was the last I ever saw of Father Patrick.

  I helped Balow board the tiny rowboat and we paddled away from the chaos. I paddled facing the prison and thought about Jeff, Father Patrick, and all the people who will lose or already lost their lives that night. I asked why do we do this to each other? We don’t have to kill to acquire. There is other ways to survive that don’t include killing and barbaric acts.

  As I rowed, I cried. I hadn’t cried so hard in a long time. Dad would get upset with me whenever I cried, and then Mom would get mad at him for getting mad at me. But on that night, at that moment, I allowed myself to cry. This world may be too much for me. I don’t know if I will make it. I am doubting my survival. I am doubting that I even want to live in such a horrible world. Can things ever be better than they are now? They will have to be, otherwise….

  Balow and I made it to the shore and into the woods without being noticed. I guess the pirates didn’t care who left, they just wanted the prison for themselves. There was no one waiting for us on the banks. I could hear screaming and shouting coming from the island and the glow from the flames lit the area around us. The flames even lit the low hanging clouds in the sky. It was eerie to look at.

  The pirates wanted the prison so bad, but they burned it to the ground getting it. I think everyone in this area is crazy. It was time for Balow and I to leave.

  We backtracked to the small abandoned cabin where I left my backpack. It was still there where I left it. I was glad to see it.

  Balow was suffering and needed to continue with his PULL. I could tell he had not been eating much and needed nutrition. He said earlier that his PULL would not take him far, but he still needed energy to fight. I noticed
some men gathered on the opposite shore. I wondered if one of them was Balow’s opponent. I was hoping that his opponent was weak from waiting like Balow was.

  I remembered I had two MRE’s (Meals Ready to Eat) in my backpack. I was saving them for when I needed them, but I think Balow needs them more than me. I purified some water with a purifying tablet and gave it to Balow. I had to prop him up against the wall in the cabin to spoon feed him. After a while, he seemed embarrassed that I was feeding him and took the spoon away and began feeding himself.

  I didn’t like the idea of staying in the cabin so near to the pirates, but I figured they were busy with, island and hopefully wouldn’t come back to find us.

  I tried to not think of Jeff, but it was hard not to. It was horrible what happened to him. I blame myself. I shouldn’t have convinced him to swim the distance. I should have found a boat or something. Jeff may still be alive if he hadn’t been in the open water - hopelessly trying to swim. I will carry the blame for a long time. I will always wonder if I could have done more. Could I have done something different? I am so sorry Jeff. You were a good friend and I will miss you.

  Tyler's

  Journal Entry: 426

  Date: September 20

  Day: Friday

  Weather: Sunny and warm

  Miles to go: 580

  Balow slept hard and he snored so loud that I was afraid the pirates were going to hear us. But they didn’t. When the sun came up, I peered out a window from the cabin and saw smoke rising in the distance from the island. The noise of battle stopped in the early morning and all went silent.

  Balow woke refreshed but still in pain from his PULL. I could tell he wanted to get going. I knew he had to leave. However, I was glad to see him rested, fed, and ready for battle. We agreed on a meeting spot and a reasonable waiting time. I helped him with his gear, like a squire prepping his knight. Balow was heading into his own battle, and I was not sure if I was going to see him again. The last thing I handed him was his tomahawks. He took them and shook my hand, then pulled me in for a hug.