Out of the darkness, mayhem struck the camp. Concealed from view by the darkness and dense foliage surrounding the camp, two mountain lions leaped in a coordinated attack. One went for the horses and the other pounced on the men.
Screams and clamoring let out in the chaos. Rustling noises were made as legs kicked. Arms flailed with grunts and groans. Each man cursing and gasping, trying to get out of his blanket and get away from the cougar.
Mike’s left leg was in the lion’s mouth. The lion was trying to drag him into the brush. Ray held onto Mike for all he was worth. Mike kicked the cougar with his right foot to make him let go, but the animal’s two-inch fangs were clamped tightly in his calf.
Ray was panting, his grip was slipping. Mike leaned back and grabbed a tree branch and hit the lion over the head. He hit him several times until he let go. The lion then leaped at Mike’s face. Ray released his grip and got away.
Meantime, the horses were being attacked by the other cougar. The horses whinnied and pulled on the reins, trying to break free. PT came to their rescue with a tree limb in his hand. One of the horses was bitten and let out a bray of his own. An awful intense, raw scream.
The horse’s nostrils flared in panic, gasping as it pulled on the reins tied to the tree. PT swung the log at the big cat with no success. The lion kept biting the horse until the horse broke free from the tree.
Then the other two horses got loose and bolted into the woods. Losing his meal, the lion, came at PT. In a defensive move PT swung the club and hit the lion in the face. The lion let out a scream and ran off into the woods.
Mike was still fighting for his life with the other lion in his face. He was holding him off with both hands around his neck. The cougar was within inches of Mike’s nose. Snarling close to Mike’s face, his slobber dripped into Mike’s mouth. Then the lion started to scratch at Mike’s chest. Blood and dirt were thrown everywhere.
PT came over and hit the lion’s back hard enough to break his log in half. The lion buckled with a grunt and paused. Seeing the lion stunned, Mike curled his fingers into a fist and punched the animal in the mouth. The lion yelped and ran off after the other.
“What the hell was that?” Ray said.
“That bastard bit me,” Mike told them.
“They ran off the horses,” George announced.
“What?” Mike said.
“What do we do now?” Ray asked worried. “We’re stranded in the middle of nowhere.”
“Calm down,” Mike said.
“Calm down? How do we get to Baltimore now?”
“Let’s fix my leg and chest first then we’ll figure it out.”
“Sure, Mike.” Ray calmed and went to work. He tore his shirt into bandages and uncovered Mike’s wound.
“Your chest looks shredded,” Ray said.
“Superficial wounds. I held him off me mostly.”
Dirt stuck to his perspiration and the wound. “I have no way to clean your wounds,” Ray said.
“Then just wrap my chest and leg. Stop the bleeding,” Mike told him.
Ray wrapped his chest and then his leg. Then checked for any more bleeding. Mike’s face was bloody and dirty. His hair was matted with blood.
“Did I get all the bleeding?” Ray asked.
“I think so. Let me try to get up.”
Ray helped Mike to his feet. Mike’s left leg hurt when he put weight on it. He tried to walk but limped instead.
“Ouch, that hurts,” Mike said, hanging onto Ray.
“Welcome to my world,” Ray said.
“Oh, shut up about that, will you.”
“Hey, you guys hear that horse scream?” PT asked.
“Yeah,” Ray said.
“That was the most God-awful sound I ever heard,” PT said.
“Scariest sound ever,” Ray agreed.
“The scariest sound was those two cougars,” Mike said.
“We need to find our horses,” PT said.
“Where’s your gun?” Mike remembered PT had a revolver earlier.
“In my horse’s saddle,” PT said.
“It’s the middle of the night. How do we find the horses?” Ray asked.
“You still have your knife?” Mike asked PT.
“Yes, still under my blanket.”
“Get it. We need to make weapons in case those cougars come back.”
“Now that’s a plan,” PT said.
Each found a large branch of a tree and tested its strength by hitting other trees or the ground. Then they started to forge clubs by rubbing them on a coarse rock. PT let Mike use his Bowie knife to whittle a small spear. No one talked or said a word while they worked on their weapons. That was until Mike noticed the silence.
“What are you thinking?” Mike asked PT.
“I’m formulatin’.”
“Well formulate how to get us out of here,” Mike said.
“We need our horses. That’s the first thing,” PT said.
Suddenly, the ground started to shake. Mike listened up, followed by Ray and PT.
“What’s these vibrations?” Ray asked, scared half to death that the lions were coming back.
PT listened intently. Then got to his feet.
“Train coming.”
“Train?” Ray wondered.
“Let’s catch the train,” PT suggested.
“What about our horses?” Ray asked.
“We need to get to Baltimore pronto, Ray. Let’s catch the freakin’ train,” Mike said.
The train was fast approaching.
“Come on guys,” PT shouted and began to run.
They ran as fast as they could. Mike and Ray both favored their left legs, but it was a slow-moving freight train, the kind that tramps and hobos liked to ride. The three men ran alongside the closed door of a boxcar. Mike couldn’t get a good hold on the door handle. He looked back and saw that Ray wasn’t keeping up.
“Come on, Ray, you can do this,” Mike bellowed.
Ray put more effort into the chase and caught up to Mike. Since Mike couldn’t get the door handle, he grabbed the steel bars that ran down the side of the car. Ray was running out of steam and was barely keeping up, when the door to the boxcar opened up.
There was a black man with his hand extended. Mike took his hand and the man pulled Mike into the car. Mike spun around and both men helped Ray and PT get on board. Safely in the boxcar, Mike turned to thank his benefactor and couldn’t believe his eyes. “George?”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Wednesday, July 1, 1863
Confederate General Heath decided to advance east into Gettysburg, using the excuse to get shoes for his men. On the outskirts of town they met Union General Buford’s dismounted cavalry.
Contrary to Lee’s orders not to enter into a general engagement with the enemy, the battle took on a life of its own and the battle of Gettysburg had begun.
After being advised that evening of the latest development, General Meade issued orders for the abandonment of the Big Pipe Creek Line and issued new orders for a general advance on Gettysburg.
***
Only stopping when necessary, Ben continued right through Waldorf. Following Washington Boulevard, they made it to Huntington City in the wee hours of the morning before sunrise. He pulled the wagon over.
“We’ll check out the general store and see what they got,” Ben said.
“Rob them?”
“You ever hear of midnight requisition?”
“Ain’t midnight,” Isaac noted.
“Come on,” Ben said to Isaac. And when he got to the back of the wagon he told the two women, “You two be quiet back there. Hate to have to kill ya.”
Ben and Isaac went up to the store to have a look around. Since no one was there, Ben broke in. They gathered up some food, bread, cheese, and salt pork and beef. Leaving, Ben saw boxes of black powder and .45 caliber lead balls on the counter. He picked up a box of each and slipped them into his coat pocket. Isaac did the same and they headed back to the wagon.
When they got back to the wagon, the sun was rising on a clear day. Ben noticed a U.S. Marshal approaching them.
“Hold up there. This you fellow’s wagon?” the marshal asked.
“Yes, what can I do for you, Marshal?” Ben placed the supplies on the ground. Isaac did the same.
“You boys bounty hunters, carrying criminals, looking for your reward?”
“Not necessarily. We’re slave hunters,” Ben said.
“Slave hunters.” The marshal frowned. “Then I need to check your cargo and papers.”
“What papers?” Isaac asked.
“You’re supposed to have an affidavit from the court, signed by a judge, with the names of the runaways listed.”
“Really?” Ben said.
“First things first. Let’s open the door and see who you got,” the marshal requested.
“Sure, no problem, Marshal,” Ben said, and unlocked the door. He slowly opened the door and stepped aside so the marshal could get a good look. The marshal peered inside and, to his surprise, saw two white women.
“Look out!” Jenny yelled, but to no avail.
Isaac knocked the marshal in the head with the butt of his gun. The marshal fell over, half into the wagon. Ben lifted his legs and slid him the rest of the way in.
Ben and Isaac got back up and drove out of town. Ben pulled over at a secluded area. Isaac got down and joined Ben, who had unlocked and opened the door. Sarah and Jenny sat and watched as the two men picked up the marshal and dumped him in the woods. Isaac then pulled his gun, looked around, and shot the marshal in the head.
“Dammit, boy, you like killing people don’t you?”
“Can’t have him coming after us,” Isaac said.
***
That afternoon, the slave hunters arrived in Baltimore City. Ben took Washington Boulevard to Pratt Street and took that east toward the Basin, the harbor area. He made a right on Concord Street and went down toward the City Dock area. When he got to Philpot Street, he pulled up the wagon at one of the docks. There, tied to the dock, was a tall merchant ship flying a blue and white flag bearing the coat of arms of Portugal.
“There she is,” Ben said.
“That, I thought you said China?”
“Dang fool. China don’t have any merchant ships.”
“God damn. Pay day is here,” Isaac said.
“Let’s go down and have a little chat with these fellows,” Ben said.
Ben and Isaac strolled down to the pier. Along the way, they met one of the sailors, who pointed to where they needed to go, the gangplank.
“We need to see your captain,” Ben said when they got to the gangplank. That sailor waved his hand in the air, and with a nod of his head, sent another inside.
“The captain will be here shortly,” he said.
A few minutes later, the ship’s captain emerged and greeted Ben and Isaac.
“You have business?” The captain asked in broken English.
“Yes, we have merchandise,” Ben said.
“What kind of merchandise?” the captain asked.
“Let me show you,” Ben said.
Ben and Isaac walked the captain to the gray wagon holding Sarah and Jenny. Ben opened the door and the captain looked inside and saw two beautiful women.
“Ahhh, you brought me a blonde. The Asians like fair skinned women. Yes, and the other is very pretty. Are they virgins?”
“Damn right,” Ben said.
“You’ll need to take them to Dollhouse. Dollhouse fix them up. Make them ready for the voyage. Bring them back here in morning, before sun up.”
“How much money are we talking about?” Ben asked.
“Well that depends on their condition when you bring them back. If they stay virgins, worth much more. If not, well...” the captain said.
“How ‘bout two thousand dollars for the pair?” Ben suggested.
The captain smiled. “They’re good, but not that good. I’ll pay 600 dollars – greenback?”
“What! For prime meat? How about, fifteen hundred dollars for the both of them?” Ben said.
“Ahhh, you drive a hard bargain. How about 800 dollars? 400 apiece.”
Ben lowered his head in disbelief. He thought a moment, then raised it. “Make it a thousand and you have a deal,” Ben said.
“Very well, one thousand dollars. But deal’s off if they damaged. You get money in the morning, when I get the women.”
“Deal.” Ben shook the captain’s hand, and the two men smiled at one another. The captain turned and went back to his ship.
“Let’s get them to the Dollhouse,” Ben said.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Friday, July 2, 1863
The battle of Gettysburg was in full swing. Fighting quickly spread to Devil’s Den, then to the Wheatfield, then into the Peach orchard.
Late that afternoon, Lee attacked Culp’s Hill, but the Confederates were pushed back and could not gain the hill. He also attacked Little Round Top, to gain a foothold on Meade’s left flank. Both attacks failed to dislodge the Yankees from their positions. When darkness fell over the battlefield, General Lee was at his headquarters prepared for his grand attack on Cemetery Ridge.
***
Ben pulled out his tobacco and pulled off a chunk with his remaining teeth. “Chew?”
“Sure.” Ben handed the tobacco to Isaac who also pulled off a chunk. They sat there smiling at each other chewing.
“To payday,” Isaac said.
“Big payday,” Ben said.
“Maybe we should try them out. You know, make sure they’re in good working order,” Isaac suggested. He smiled at Ben, showing his yellowed teeth.
“Maybe so.” Ben slapped the horse’s ass and rode up to Baltimore Street. He drove to the red-light district to where the Dollhouse is located and pulled down an alley and stopped.
The Dollhouse was a known way-station for human trafficking in the sex slave business. The Chinese owned it. Every smuggler, every slave hunter came here either to make deals or just relax while waiting for the ship. In this case, readying the women for their voyage.
Ben and Isaac walked into the two-story apartment building.
“Anybody here?” Ben barked.
A little door slid open in the enclosed check-in counter. It resembled a bank teller’s window with a wooden slide. The owner sat behind it.
“What do you bring me today?” the Chinese man asked.
They all knew each other from past transactions.
“I need two American white women fixed up and ready for a cruise tomorrow,” Ben said.
“They conscious?”
“They’re awake, if that’s what you mean,” Ben said.
“I’ll send out my nurse to take care of that. You’ll need a room for tonight.”
“Yes, and a bath,” Ben requested.
“Let me see.” The owner started to calculate. “For room and bath, preparing the women. You need entertainment?”
Ben exchanged looks with Isaac. Isaac nodded yes.
“Sure thing,” Ben said.
The owner went back to calculating. “For all this, 10 dollars.”
“Ten dollars! Highway robbery.” Ben paid the man anyway.
The owner snapped his fingers and a Chinese nurse, wearing a white dress, came into the parlor. Ben and Isaac took the nurse to the wagon and opened the door. The nurse crawled inside and took from her pocket a syringe with which she gave Sarah and Jenny a drug. Sarah and Jenny were out within minutes.
Ben carried Sarah and Isaac carried Jenny into the apartment building. They went upstairs to an open room where a lady assistant, in black, held the door. Ben and Isaac put the women on the bed.
Then the owner entered the room. “What do we have here?” he said. “They very pretty. We fix them up nice.”
The owner left and the assistant shooed Ben and Isaac out of the room. Ben and Isaac found themselves standing in the hallway. A moment later, the assistant came from the room and took them up another fligh
t of stairs to another room.
“Are you shitting me?” Ben said.
“This mean we don’t get to try out our merchandise?” Isaac asked.
“They our merchandise now,” the assistant said. “You no longer touch. I send two other girls up for you.”
The assistant left, and Ben and Isaac exchanged disappointed expressions.
The assistant went in to help the nurse clean up the women, while three maids, wearing long red dresses, brought up hot water for the tub. Sarah and Jenny’s clothes were removed while they were in a stupor.
First Sarah was taken to the tub. The nurse washed her with soap and water and when she was done, the assistant helped her walk back, wiping her off with a towel. She put Sarah on the bed, face up, and tied her arms and legs to the bed posts.
They followed the same procedure with Jenny. After the assistant tied her next to Sarah, the two left the room.
***
Three maids, dressed in red, came to Ben and Isaac’s room. They poured hot water in the tub. One placed soap in the holder and hung two towels on the rack next to the tub.
“Where’s the women that were promised?” Ben asked.
“First things first,” the head maid said.
“What the hell you talking about?” Ben asked.
“You wash now. Women later, when you clean.”
“I don’t believe this shit,” Isaac said.
Isaac took off his coat and dropped his suspenders. Seeing what he was up to, the head maid pushed the other two toward the door and quickly left the room.
Ben laughed, and took his coat off and hung it on a chair.
Isaac got in the tub and washed up. He stood up and took the towel from the rack. He got out of the tub and dried himself with the towel.
While Isaac dried off, Ben got in the tub.
“You filthy bitch, you. You got the water dirty already,” Ben said.
Isaac smiled. “That’s why I went first.”
While Ben was washing, a knock came to the door. Isaac answered the door. It was the lady assistant, in a black dress, with two petite Chinese women, dressed in blue with a red floral print.
“Hey, Ben, our entertainment’s here,” Isaac said.
The maid shut the door, leaving the two women there.
Death Machine Page 12