“They may work for you now, but wood or aluminum would be lighter and allow the arrow to be faster.”
“Not to change the subject, but where are we?” Wagner asked.
“We can’t go any further downriver from where we are right now. The ridge is close by. I want to head toward the river, tomorrow. It would allow us to re-fill our water skins and I could introduce you to the temporary leader of the farmers.”
“Are you going to escort me back to Tutt’s?”
“I wasn’t going to. It is a simple matter to find your way on your own.”
“I’m afraid I’m going to have to insist,” Wagner responded. “You guaranteed my safe return and traipsing through Rogers’ area — I’m assuming they are claiming everything from their camp to the ridge — isn’t all that safe. Besides, it would give us a chance to work our trade deal and for you to talk to our designers about your arrow points.”
“I was just curious about the kettle and the wok. I’d prefer to talk to my wife, or have her decide, the sizes she’d like. The arrow points are something I’m going to have to think about before I place any kind of an order, again, being curious about your people’s expertise.”
Murdock eyed Wagner curiously. What are you up to? He asked himself.
#
After walking most of the next day, the group reached the river close by the ridge-top. The women, upon arrival, went to fill water skins and bathe. Murdock had gathered rocks for the fire-ring and was in the process of lighting the fire. It was on his second strike of the machete’s spine on a piece of flint that he saw a brilliant spark touch off the tinder and his lights went out.
As he started to regain consciousness, his head was pounding and something warm flowed over his face. A bit went into his mouth. Unconsciously, his tongue touched it and he knew it was blood, probably his own. His brain seemed fuzzy and he felt like he was being rolled, legs and arms bound. Then, he had a falling sensation followed by extreme pain in his ribs and the crashing sound of tree limbs. This is surreal, he thought as he lost consciousness again.
#
Annie and Heather, sporting wet hair, were walking back, with large grins and filled water skins. They weren’t far from the intended campsite when they were greeted by Wagner headed toward the river. Annie eyed him suspiciously as he passed and relaxed a little once he had passed.
Suddenly, she felt a punch to the base of her skull. The blow stunned her and before she could protest, she was knocked to the ground, rolled onto her stomach and hands tied behind her.
Heather screamed and ran toward the camp. Just as she entered, she heard Wagner behind her.
“Drop the knife!” he said sternly.
When she turned to face him, she saw that Wagner was holding a knife to Annie’s throat, her hands bound, her mouth gagged. It was then that she looked down a saw her twelve-inch machete was in her hand, even though she didn’t remember drawing it. She willed her hand to open and she heard the machete hit the ground.
Wagner punched Annie again and dropped her. He rushed to Heather and seemed about to pick up her dropped machete when he rose quickly and struck the side of her head with his elbow and upper arm. She was distantly aware of her body hitting the ground.
Not long afterward, Heather remembered to open her eyes and saw Annie lying beside her, bound and gagged. It was then that she felt her own restraints cut into her ankles and wrists. She heard the cart moving and knew they were both on the bed of the cart.
“Is Murdock on the cart?” she whispered to Annie. She saw Annie close her eyes slowly and reopened them slowly, which seemed to her to be a sad motion, and saw her shrug slightly.
#
“Murdock is hurt or dead and Heather and I are prisoners. Wagner attacked us,” Annie broadcasted. I hope someone hears me, ran through her mind. “Murdock is hurt or dead and Heather and I are prisoners. Wagner attacked us,” Annie repeated telepathically. Maybe Beron would hear, she thought. Surely he will hear her call and respond. Is there anything beyond Beron’s capabilities?
#
Mei Lee jumped when the cabin door slammed open. She rushed to it and saw Beron and Bridget standing in the yard.
“Mate hurt!” she heard in her mind. She jerked her head toward Bridget. “Not! You mate!”
Mei Lee rushed through the cabin throwing things she didn’t want and telling, loudly, Andy and Chun Hua to head to Declan’s with Rosa. She had grabbed what she needed and left, slamming the cabin door closed.
“Irene, we have an emergency!” she flashed. “Get ready to leave!”
“Declan, I’ve sent the children to your place. There is an emergency with Murdock,” she flashed. “I’ll let you know more when I do.”
By the time Mei Lee, riding Beron, and Bridget reached Declan’s cabin, Doctor Harris was waiting outside with her medical kit.
“Whoa!” Harris yelled as she was levitated to Bridget’s back to settle at the base of the huge female’s neck. Mei Lee saw Harris’ white knuckles as the two huge bears traveled thirty feet above the trees.
“Murdock!” Mei Lee flashed as they gained altitude. “Annie, where are you!”
“Murdock, Annie, where are you!” she flashed again as they passed over the first ridge and again after passing over the second ridge some time later.
“We are relatively unharmed, for now,” a response flashed to her. “We were attacked by the river and the top of the ridge above the farmers. Make sure he’s okay and then come for us.”
Before Mei Lee could tell Beron anything, he was adjusting his course accordingly.
Mei Lee estimated that it was a couple of hours before dawn by the time the search party had landed. It was too dark for her to see anything. Beron had found the ring of stones that were intended to be a fire-ring. Mei Lee touched the huge bear as he was searching with his nose to the ground. Beron seems to be a little frantic, she thought as she was being led. He doesn’t seem to be as calm as he usually is.
“Murdock over edge here,” Beron flashed to the rest at dawn.
“I can’t see anything down there,” Mei Lee responded when she looked over the edge. “Irene, stay with Bridget.” Mei Lee pulled her own twelve-inch machete and slowly levitated herself over the edge.
As she slowly floated down the ridge-face, she saw plenty of rocks for a body to bounce off of as well as tree branches growing to the rock face.
“Found!” Beron flashed.
Not long after, Murdock was laying on the ground being tended by Doctor Harris. Mei Lee, Bridget, and Beron close at hand.
“Well?” Mei Lee asked as Harris rose to her feet.
“I wish I had an x-ray of Murdock’s skull,” she started with a concerned expression. “I’d be willing to bet his skull is thicker than Declan’s, probably thicker than any other human. He was hit hard on the right side of his skull, with a rock probably. It should’ve killed him. He has several broken ribs on his left side, which should’ve killed him.
“He is alive, but he needs to be kept still and closely observed until we can get him home and I give him a proper exam. The broken ribs can puncture his lungs, if we’re not careful. I’m surprised they haven’t already.”
Mei Lee looked around for signs of the struggle and for any clues.
“Find anything?” Harris asked.
“The cart is missing, as well as all of Murdock’s personal weapons. I did find a good-sized rock with blood on it over there,” Mei Lee indicated the general region of the fire-ring.”
“Probably the rock used. Anything else?” Harris asked.
“No, it’s what I didn’t find. I haven’t found any sign of a struggle from Heather or Annie.”
“Knowing Heather, she’d go quietly if Murdock was injured and Annie was threatened,” Harris added.
“Annie, are you okay?” Mei Lee flashed. “We found Murdock and he is badly injured,” she continued when no response came. “We’re taking him home and then we’ll be coming for you and Heather.” I really di
dn’t expect an answer, but I was hoping, she thought.
#
It was late in the day when Mei Lee, Doctor Harris, Bridget, and Beron, levitating Murdock, returned to the camp.
“Put him in here,” Declan offered, holding the door open.
“No. Take to cave,” Beron insisted. “Heal faster.”
“Irene needs to monitor him closely,” Mei Lee tried to explain.
“Doc Tor go with,” Bridget flashed to her friend.
“Is there anything you need for Murdock’s treatment that needs to be done here?” Mei Lee asked.
“We aren’t much past the ‘stone knives and animal skins’ stage, so it doesn’t matter much, to me, where. It might matter to Murdock, though,” Doctor Harris responded. “Why did you ask?”
“Beron is insisting that Murdock would heal faster at the cave,” Mei Lee said trying to keep the poutiness out of her voice. He is my husband, dammit!
#
“I have no idea . . . wait, the cave?” Harris asked. “Whatever for? Unless there are an x-ray machine, ultrasound equipment, and a good MRI, he’d be better off here.”
“Meaning?” Beron asked Harris.
“Those are machines that would allow me to see inside Murdock’s body, to see that everything is where it should be,” Harris tried to explain. “An x-ray would allow me to see any broken bones, if he has any, which I think he does. Ultrasound and MRI would allow me to see the soft tissues inside without cutting him open.” Harris had decided to try to keep things simple for the animal.
“Share?” Beron asked.
Harris shrugged and lay down. She was soon in the sharing state.
In the sharing state world, she saw Murdock standing in front of her. He didn’t appear to be lucid and as she watched, she saw the flesh dissolve leaving only the skeleton. As she looked, Doctor Harris could clearly see the broken ribs and the multiple skull fractures radiating from the impact point.
“Can you add in some of the internal organs around the ribs, please?” she asked somewhat sheepishly.
As she watched, intestines, lungs, kidneys, and liver were all added in. Harris could clearly see his lungs were in danger of being punctured.
“Can you stabilize the ribs, otherwise there may be a problem when we move him,” she suggested. I know this is all taking place inside my mind, but damn! If this was real, I’d love to learn how it’s done!
“It is all real, Irene,” she heard from somewhere behind her. “Your denial of a reality doesn’t make it any less real for your patient.”
Harris turned to look toward the voice, but there was no one there. Huh . . . that sounded just like Doctor Prescott from my days in medical school. I don’t ever recall him saying those words to me, but that was his voice.
The sharing ended.
“We’re going to the cave,” Harris said emphatically to Mei Lee. “He needs it!”
Mei Lee stared, in disbelief, at the Doctor’s sudden change in opinion.
#
A week after Murdock was taken to the cave, Mei Lee helped him to his feet and Irene Harris helped walk him around a little.
“How are the kids?” Murdock asked weakly.
“They’re fine,” Mei Lee reassured him. “They’re with Declan and Emily.”
“So, they’re being spoiled,” Murdock responded with a slight chuckle and cringed at the pain it caused.
“What happened?” Mei Lee asked.
“The meeting was a bust,” Murdock explained. “Didn’t you see it in the sharing while I was unconscious?”
“I did, but you were hurt pretty bad and I thought you were hallucinating.”
“I wasn’t. That is what happened. Then I made a fatal error in giving Wagner a little trust and now Annie and Heather have been paying for it.”
“Well, I don’t think Annie is doing any of the paying,” Harris interjected. “Last communication I had with her, she was fine and so was Heather, Tutt’s men, not so much. She said she’d have them all softened up for you by the time you’re better.”
#
From the time of her abduction, Heather was frightened of what could happen. She wasn’t in fear for her safety. She feared what Murdock, or any of the others, would do to Wagner. She had enjoyed talking to him and flirting with him on the journey through the hinterlands.
For months, she had been lonely and in need of a male companion and for that purpose, Wagner would suffice. Now, though, he had done the unthinkable. He had killed Murdock and stolen herself and Annie. I’m certain someone is going to be coming to exact retribution, she thought.
#
“You’ve really screwed the pooch this time, Wagner,” Annie taunted still bound, but not gagged in the back of the cart. “Why don’t you let us go before things get out of hand?”
Wagner was struggling with the cart. For Murdock, the cart rolled easily, but since his appropriation of Murdock’s property, the cart didn’t seem to roll very well.
“What the hell is going on?” Wagner cursed, dropping the handles of the cart and walking to the rear. As he looked behind him, he could clearly see a dark trail where one of the wheels wasn’t turning. “Have I been dragging this the whole way?” he asked.
“Maybe you left the brake on,” Annie taunted. “What is your plan for us? I’m sure you had some sort of a plan before you bashed in Murdock’s head.”
“Like I told Murdock, we needed leather and women. Now we have both.”
“Is that what you really think? You think we’re your property? You could have had more leather than you could use, if you would have dealt fairly with Murdock.”
When Wagner looked at Annie, he frowned and his face reddened seeing her smug smile and hearing the condescension in her voice.
“You want to be gagged again?” he asked angrily.
He started looking under the cart to see if there was something preventing the wheel from turning. Seeing nothing wrong, he tried to stand and banged his head hard on the underside edge of the cart bed. He grabbed the top of his head, sucking air through his teeth indicating his injury, seeing stars as he stepped out from under the cart. He then felt something grab his neck from behind and drive his head into the solid, wooden wheel.
A few minutes later, he came to lying on the ground and his head felt like it was splitting.
#
Heather, watching the scene, felt sorry for Wagner. She suspected that Annie was causing his problems. We haven’t even gone halfway, yet, she thought. How far was it to Tutt’s camp? Fifty or sixty miles? I’m not sure of the distance, but I’m sure Wagner is going to feel every inch of it.
#
“What do you know about Murdock?” Annie asked rhetorically. “Do you know how loved and respected he is among his people? What do you think they’re going to do to you when they come for us?”
“What makes you think that you’re worth coming for? Whoever tries is going to die!” Wagner snapped.
“Did you kill Murdock?” Annie asked.
“Yeah, I did! I hit him in the head with a rock as hard as I possibly could. Then I rolled him off the cliff, for good measure.”
“Are you a Doctor or have you had any sort of medical training?”
“No, but he was dead!”
“Huh . . . What do you think is going to happen if you failed to kill him?”
#
Seven days after Wagner stole the cart, Heather, and Annie, he finally reached the entrance to the mines. Raymond Tutt had come to the entrance as soon as word reached him of Wagner’s return.
“You look terrible,” Tutt said to the younger man. “What happened?” He made a point to not mention the dark line that ran from the mine into the distance.
“I have no idea,” Wagner said, exasperated. “I’ve got to be the clumsiest person alive. First, one wheel wouldn’t turn, then the other one. I checked several times, but there was no reason for it. Every time I looked under to check, I’d hit my head getting out from under. I ran into the wheels
with my forehead so many times I lost count. I couldn’t seem to take more than two steps without tripping on something, or tripping on nothing.”
“That sounds bad,” Tutt sympathized. “How long have you been doing that?”
“Since we left the river seven days ago.”
“It took you seven days to make a trip that should have only taken two or three days?”
“That’s why I look this way.”
“How did you get the cart from Murdock?” Tutt asked.
“I killed him. Bashed in his head and then rolled him off a cliff.”
“Are you certain he’s dead?” Tutt asked, disbelievingly.
“Yes, I’m certain!” Wagner snapped. “Why is everyone so surprised that I killed him? Do you think that’s something I would make up?”
“I don’t doubt that you think you’ve killed him, Ted. It’s just that it’s been tried before.”
#
A week after Wagner’s return, the earthquakes started. People raised the alarm throughout the mine. Evacuations began in the lowest levels and worked their way up, everyone rushing to avoid chunks of falling ceiling. No one stopped when they reached ground-level, but exited the mine and were promptly escorted to an area that was “out of the way” by Murdock, Mei Lee, Harris, and Declan.
When Annie and Heather exited, they were escorted behind Murdock’s people.
When Tutt and Wagner exited, finally, they were slammed against the wall inside the mine, by forces unseen.
“I have questions for you,” Murdock stated to Tutt after everyone else was evacuated from the mine. “Were you aware of Wagner’s duplicity before it occurred?”
“That would depend on what you’re referring to,” Tutt answered. “You don’t intimidate me, Murdock. I lived through the nightmares brought on by Declan so I can withstand anything you can come up with. Besides, if you wanted me dead, I would be, so you want something and that is what is staying your hand.”
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