CHAPTER 6
They walked for another ten minutes until they reached the foot of the mountain.
"We've got to climb up that?!" exclaimed John looking up. "I can't even see the top!"
"That's why I brought the rope." Said Mark. John gave him a look that said, 'you know what I mean'.
Eleanor sighed.
"`Boys." She muttered. She turned to Mark. "You're always saying that you're the strongest. Can you throw the rope up to that ledge?" Mark looked up.
"Easy." He said. Mark stepped back a bit and measured the distance to the ledge. He attached a large metal hook to the end of the rope.
This better count. I've got one chance or they'll know we're here.' He told himself. Mark took a deep breath to steady himself. He twirled the rope around and around, over his head. Then finally, he threw it. The hook sailed through the air and landed on the edge. With careful precision, Mark pulled on the rope until the hook was lodged in the ledge. He tugged on it again to make sure it could support enough weight. He turned to Eleanor.
"Done." He said. Eleanor nodded. She had been silently praying in her head that Mark succeeded the throw.
"Okay. Now, Mark, you take the grapple hook to get yourself to the ledge. John and I will climb.
Cedric turned look at Jake.
"What's your name, boy?" he asked, not unkindly. Jake, who had been busy trying to contact his dad, looked up, startled. Out of fear, he stammered.
"J-J-Jake, s-s-sir." Cedric nodded.
"Hmmm. Well Jake, you seem to resemble one of our people. What's your father's name?"
Jake was shocked with the question. He didn't know how to reply. So, he told the truth. Or half of it at least.
"I never knew my father. He left home when I was young." Cedric nodded his approval.
"EDGAR!" he shouted. Edgar came shuffling from the crowd.
"Yes sir." He said.
"Take this boy to the room." Said Cedric. Edgar stared wide eyed at Cedric before nodding. "And Edgar," added Cedric as the young man turned away. "I will know if he arrives or not. You are not free yet." Edgar nodded, a slight bob of his head, as he took his son out of the cell.
Eleanor was tying the end of the rope to her waist when it happened. She had just tightened the knot when she heard a shout.
"Eleanor!"
She turned around to see Mark in the arms of a large Caprian soldier. He was struggling to get out, but seemed okay.
How about John? She thought. Where is he? Is he okay?
She pivoted and saw John scrabbling up the face of the mountain to escape another Caprian soldier. Within the next second, Eleanor was in the arms of yet another soldier. She just saw John get pulled down the mountain by the soldier chasing him and Mark get knocked unconscious before a large sack got thrown over her head.