by Bri Clark
“Always the protector,” I commented. He snorted and I laughed.
“All right, Collin, here you go.” Henry pulled the mare over to him. Collin handed Henry a too-still Shae. Henry cradled her in his left arm while he held the reins for Collin to mount. Collin reached for Shae and I could see Henry hesitate before he gave her up.
“Collin, how is she?” Henry asked concern etched across his face.
“I don’t know. We have to hurry.” Collin answered, cradling her against him in the saddle.
Henry raced to saddle the white horse he’d ridden last time. He handed Hagar the reins and asked her to hold on to them and stay still for a second. He lifted me up before I could protest, placing me on Berg. He slowed only long enough to brush the back of his fingers across my sore cheek, pain and anger flashing across his face. His fingers felt comforting on my stinging skin. He circled around to face Berg.
Henry placed his arms on both sides of Berg’s neck interlocking his fingers at the back, and all sound seemed to stop. I was confident that I wasn’t the only one who could feel the intensity of the moment. However, only I could feel what took place between stallion and man. Oddly enough, it was the same-shared emotion, the same loyalty, the same need to protect me.
Henry’s words came low and deep. They seemed to rumble out of this throat. “No matter what happens. You get her away, far away from here. No matter what she says, what she does. Nothing matters but her. Get her to safety.” Berg made no movement, no sound. It was as if he was frozen. There was no need for any response. Henry knew he would do as he asked. If I couldn’t have sensed the need that fueled his words, I’m sure I would have protested.
Henry moved to Hagar placing her into the saddle on the white horse and then mounting behind her. She looked smaller than usual. My instinct to protect was still much in affect. Nevertheless, I was becoming weak from my constant rivalry with Glazier. I could feel the strain it was placing on my body. Somehow, from somewhere deep inside me I pushed on, my love for others more powerful than anything else, including Glazier.
Henry made eye contact briefly with Berg before he took the lead and galloped out of the stables. I knew Berg could run fast and I sensed his resistance. I glanced behind us. Henry and Hagar were at our right flank, Shae and Collin on our left, and all the other horses ran behind us. They formed an oddly tight barricade as if they were blocking us. It was then that the full effect of what Henry had asked Berg to do hit me. What Berg willingly accepted! The horses that followed us, the people I loved among them. Nothing matters but her. Henry’s words echoed in my mind. Berg would take me and leave. He was their leader, their protector, and he would leave them all behind. For me. If the situation arose, the choice was decided.
We raced across the compound. So far, we were without any company. I didn’t want Berg to do what Henry asked of him. We made it to the wall in record time. Berg stopped several feet away and waited for Henry. Henry searched for something in one of his pouches, and I could feel his frustration.
“Henry, what’s wrong?” I asked.
“I can’t find what I need to blow up the wall,” he responded.
“Blow up the wall!” I exclaimed.
“Well, yeah. How else are we going to get all these horses out of here?” he responded, taking the time from his search to stop for just a second to look at me.
“Henry.” Collin interrupted our conversation. “Did you find a silver flask with my gun?” he asked.
“Yeah. Did you want it?” Henry asked as he pulled out the flask.
I could see every one of Collin’s perfectly white teeth displayed as Henry handed him the flask. He accepted it pointing something out as he spoke. “See this? It’s the trigger. And here’s the timer.”
Henry returned Collin’s toothy grin and his frustration disappeared. It was a bomb. Henry told Hagar to hold the reins tight. He walked over to Berg and told him to keep his herd calm. He set the bomb down at the base of the wall then raced back into position behind Hagar just in time. Hagar relaxed against him. I could sense the fear she felt up there alone. It warmed my heart to know she felt safe with Henry.
Almost as soon as it happened, the wall came crumbling down it, providing enough room for all the horses to make their way to freedom. As we headed south, a new mood seemed to emanate around us. Freedom. The horses ran faster, harder. They were free. Berg led them across the true Egyptian landscape. Dry desert and rocks, no green grass and trees as Abbass had fabricated. All that he stood for and worked so hard to preserve was a fraud.
I could feel Henry’s sudden panic. I looked back, and to my dismay, all I saw was a petrified Hagar hugging the white stallion’s neck. Henry was gone. I could hear the rumblings of engines on our tails and the clinking of guns. I sensed the upcoming soldiers. Suddenly the earth below me moved faster. We were leaving the herd, I could see the white stallion Hagar gripped taking the place Berg left. It was happening, Henry’s plea to Berg. I wouldn’t allow it. I couldn’t leave them or Henry.
I leaned down close to Berg ear. “Don’t do this. Take me back to help Henry, to protect them all.” I begged him, but he made no effort to stop. I tried again. “Please, Berg, for me. I promise I won’t leave you. I’ll stay on you. Just let me go back and help. Help me protect your herd.” With that, we made a sharp turn to the east. How he managed it, I don’t know. Like us, Berg was truly something else. His speed was beyond me. We doubled back behind the herd coming up on the rear of the Jeep and a dirt bike. I could see Henry fighting with one of the soldiers in the Jeep. There were four of them. One drove, one held a machine gun, and two fought with Henry.
I reached for my blades launching them across the distance between us quickly, injuring the one on Henry’s back. Henry grabbed him and flung the man from the jeep. When he turned around to face the other one, he saw him holding the blade that protruded from his shoulder. He pitched him from the jeep as well. At the same time his icy eyes locked with mine, and I could sense the fear-induced anger rolling off him.
In the same instant, I saw the guard with the machine gun turn and the one with the dirt bike edge closer, his own gun drawn. Henry turned to defend himself. I urged Berg up beside the dirt bike. Berg was so fast the man on the bike didn’t suspect a thing. I had to keep my promise to Berg. So I did what I do best, I climbed.
I maneuvered both my legs to the opposite side of Berg’s back. He maintained speed with the bike. I gripped his neck and twirled around him like a trapeze artist kicking the guard off the bike sending him sailing to the ground. I landed gracefully back in place. Henry jumped on behind me. Berg didn’t even flinch with the added weight.
“That’s it for now, Berg. We got more coming up behind us, but if we can get to the plane you and the herd can get away.” Henry informed him. Henry’s protective circle enveloped me. He had no need to hold on, his mammoth legs held him firmly in place as Berg raced back to the front of his herd. Henry turned me around to meet his steely glare.
“Why must you constantly fight me?” he asked agony and anger pouring out of his words.
“Why do you make me?” I answered back passionately.
His face softened. He hugged me to him. His strength would crush a man but for me it was everything. Berg came up along Hagar’s horse and Henry unwillingly let go. He climbed back on with Hagar. She sagged against him. I laughed silently to myself. I could see Shae slumped against Collin. I frowned. She wasn’t doing well.
We began to slow before we came to an abrupt stop. Sitting before us in a flat open field was a plane. Our ticket to freedom. Henry raced at Glazier speed, taking Hagar down from the stallion and placing her in the plane. He moved to assist Collin with Shae. I dismounted, matching his speed, cutting loose the saddles and reins from the horses, truly freeing them. I stopped in front of Berg. I cut the reins from his regal neck, releasing the awful metal bit from his teeth. He shook his head, delighted whinnies coming from his mouth. He stopped as Henry came to stand behind me.
I hugged Berg. I whispered all my heart could offer him. He groaned. I could feel what he couldn’t communicate. Henry unwound my arms from the horse’s neck. Then he whispered his sincere thanks before patting his head lightly.
With one last look at the magnificent animal, we joined our friends on the plane.
Chapter Thirty Two
Marie
On the plane
As soon as Henry slammed the door, the engines roared. The plane began to move, readying itself for take off. Shae lay on a couch in the back corner, unconscious. Collin attempted to do a better job of caring for her injuries. Hagar looked like she was going to hyperventilate. With pale skin and bulging eyes, she breathed shallow and fast. I leaned over, holding her hands in my own.
“What’s wrong, Hagar?” I probed. She didn’t answer. Instead, her eyes darted around the cabin wildly. Henry moved from his place at the cockpit with a black bag in his hand.
“Sit back, love, keep that seat belt on. We’re fixing to take off.” he commanded.
I leaned back in the seat. Henry sat down beside Hagar, opened the bag, and pulled out a syringe and a vile.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“She could go into shock if I don’t get her calmed down. She’s never flown before, and after what she just went through, it’s not the best frame of mind to be in for your first flight,” he answered as he filled the syringe.
“What are you going to give her?”
“Valium,” he replied as he cleaned a space on her arm then administered the drug. Hagar didn’t even flinch when the needle pierced her skin.
“She’ll be fine now. She’ll sleep the rest of the flight,” he informed me, putting the syringe and vile away.
I could feel the plane lift off. I looked out the window. I could see Berg and his herd running under us. He kicked back on his haunches. I waved my farewell.
“Here you go, Collin. This is the best I can offer. When we land, I’ll have anything you need. I promise.” Henry handed Collin the black bag.
“Thanks, Henry. I appreciate it.” He quickly explored the bag, pulling out different tools and bandages.
I moved to where Shae’s limp body lay. I cradled her head. Collin began to care for each of her wounds. His touch was gentle and sure, not what I would have expected a spy or a weapons analyst to be able to do.
“Who are you, Collin?” I asked. He didn’t even stop his work to answer me.
“I could ask you the same thing, Marie.” His tone wasn’t rude, just curious.
“I didn’t mean that the way it came out. I meant, how do you know how to care for her like this, like a doctor?”
He chuckled. “My apologies, Doll. Well, I am a doctor, that’s how,” he answered.
“Will she be okay?” I asked, smoothing her hair away from her face.
“I don’t know. I don’t know what exactly’s wrong with her. I don’t think it’s physical. I think it’s more than that. I think that the fact that Abbass is finally dead has affected her more than we could have realized,” he stated, leaving me completely confused.
“I don’t understand?”
“She’s hated Abbass for five years. She’s waited, watched for the opportunity to avenge her sister’s death.”
“Her sister?” I exclaimed.
“Yes, her sister. The woman she told you about before that Abbass wanted. That was her sister. They loved each other deeply. You see, Shae is the spy. Not me. I’m a weapons analyst, but I’m primarily a doctor. She’s the one who’s always been a spy. I just follow her wherever she has to go. They use my job to secure our covers. That’s how we were able to slip past Abbass at first, until he found Shae on that list.”
“Is that why you were there, for the list?” I probed.
“Yes.” He carefully cleaned Shae’s face. I could see the pain covering him as he gently padded along her bruised cheek. He finished then turned to me.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m going to clean you up. Henry asked me to.” He leaned forward.
I recoiled back. “You don’t have to worry about me. I’m fine. Take care of yourself. Your wrists are awful,” I said attempting to distract him.
“Henry’s going to be angry with me if I don’t. Would you put that on me?” he pleaded.
Before I could answer, Henry moved from the confines of the cockpit.
“No, she wouldn’t. She’s going to let you do whatever you need to, like she promised me,” he said through his clenched teeth.
“Fine.” I seethed but leaned forward. Collin’s hands were quick and soft. However, they weren’t painless. I winced while he bandaged up the cut on my cheek. I could see Henry’s furious frown over Collin’s shoulder. When he finished, I maintained my position. I couldn’t leave Shae. Collin packed up the supplies he was using.
“Where are we going, Henry?” he asked.
“England,” Henry answered.
“Why England?” Collin inquired.
“It’s a place were we can safely lay low for a while.” Henry replied.
“Do you want to do this now or wait?” Collin asked.
“We can wait. There’s no rush.”
“Do what?” I interrupted.
They both looked at me. Collin smiled. Henry’s face was stone cold. I dreaded our landing.
“Well, we need to sort of catch up. I guess is how I would put it. You think that sums it up, Henry?” Collin said wryly.
“Yeah, that should be sufficient.” Henry replied his voice expressionless.
I looked away, cradling Shae. I knew Collin ached to hold her but I just couldn’t let her go. My mind kept playing over every memory I had with her, and all her kindness, her love, her compassion. I desperately wanted her to wake up and talk to me. I wanted to apologize for not honoring her wishes. Nevertheless, she just lay there, limp, lifeless. The only movement from her was light breathing. I searched my brain, attempting to find something to do to offer her comfort.
All of a sudden, I remembered her angelic alto. I was sure I could never sing as beautifully as she did, but maybe it could comfort her as it did me. I took a deep breath and attempted to hum the song she sang. However, when I hummed, it came out all wrong. It was as if my mouth was betraying my brain. I couldn’t stop either. I didn’t want to stop. I listened mesmerized.
I could feel the black wall that blocked out my memories begin to thin. I could see through it now. No longer a wall but more a veil, my vision not clear but distorted somewhat. I could hear a woman’s voice singing a beautiful soprano. She sung a lullaby. She rocked a child in a chair. The child had pale blonde hair. The vision was unclear. I continued to try to see, but I couldn’t make out her face.
She sang a beautiful harmony and kissed the top of the child’s head. She made a move to get up, turning so I could see her face, still singing the beautiful melody. I leaned forward, desperate to see her face, but just as she turned, the wall slammed back down preventing me. However, I could still hear her voice.
I opened my eyes to find a distraught Henry and Collin leaning in front of me, and to my dismay, the singer’s beautiful lullaby coming from my lips. I stopped abruptly, shocked.
“Are you all right, Love? You went into one of those trances again,” he explained.
Collin looked at him perplexed.
“I’m fine. Oh, Henry! You’re never going to believe what happened. I remembered something! Someone!” I exclaimed.
“What! What was it?” he asked anxiously. His enthusiasm didn’t match my own. I could sense his worry. Before I could answer, I felt something move in my arms. It was Shae. She was waking up. We all focused on her. She opened her lovely emerald eyes, blinking several times before finally focusing. Holding our breath, we all waited for her to speak.
“I guess you don’t listen to anybody do you, Doll?” Her distinct southern drawl chastised me. Some of the most significant words I knew I would
ever hear.
We embraced. I helped steady her as she sat up. I didn’t hold on long. I could sense how desperate Collin was to have her in his arms. As I released her, he scooped her up and sat her in his lap, placing kisses all over her face before stopping at her lips. I looked away giving them the most privacy I could offer.
I searched Henry's face. He watched Shae and Collin’s moment. I sensed his mixed emotions. Relief and joy coupled with despair and the most surprising jealousy.
He moved his eyes from them and found mine. I watched him questioningly. I was perplexed as to why he would be jealous of all things. He smiled knowingly, and whispered in my ear.
“I’ll tell you later.” I couldn’t help but smile as his breath tickled my neck making my skin erupt in goose bumps. He always seemed to know the answers to my unspoken questions. The stars flew by us in the night sky, and I suddenly realized I didn’t know who the pilot was. Henry, ever vigilant, answered again.