9

The van he had taken from Micky was a good vehicle. Floyd had no complaints. The gun he had taken from Micky was also quite a good weapon, as far as it went. It didn't explode in his hand, which was a good thing for Floyd but not such a good thing for Micky. The last words he heard before the bullet took the top of his head off was something like… 'I've always had a strong dislike for paedophiles who trade in flesh.'

He had to test the gun on something, and slime like Micky was as good a target as any. That didn't alter the fact that it gave Floyd a very strong feeling of something akin to guilt. The breaking of a promise was punishable by a hefty beating, and as the promise not to carry weapons had been made to Spencer, then Spencer was going to have to smack him around for it, but… he had the gun for the soul purpose of killing Spencer. So if he was dead he'd not be able to deliver the punishment. That was going to have to come from somewhere else.

Taki, kept springing to mind.

Damned Taki… but that wasn't the person, or being he wanted to deliver the punishment for a broken promise. Oh no. Taki thought otherwise. Taki thought that he had one up on him, but no… Taki was as big a fool as ever. Taki had his boys… Taki was going to die. Floyd just wasn't sure how that was going to come about yet. You needed a demon weapon to kill a demon, not Micky's handgun.

However… Floyd thought as he pulled the van over into a lay-by on the old forest road, Spencer had been the root cause of his anger. Spencer and his frolicking around with Otikami. Spencer who couldn't keep his legs together and his arse against a wall… Spencer was the one who broke his side of the promise.

Therefore the promise was no longer binding.

Floyd rolled the gun over in his hand and sighed a bitter sigh. He'd carried guns before… in the past. In the distant past…

… in the Time Before Spencer… he'd carried guns… knives… but for Spencer, to keep him happy and to stop unfortunate accidents occurring again, Floyd said he'd never carry a weapon… promised he wouldn't, and back then… how old was Spencer when he'd made that promise? Twelve? Fourteen? Not old enough to fuck, he at least knew that much. But well into the grooming process.

Sure Spencer had drifted before… but there's a fine line.

'Not so fucking fine the way I see it.' Floyd muttered to himself. 'A bloody big red glittery line… Between playing around in clubs and bars and letting Otikami have you… A line you shouldn't have crossed.' And besides, Spencer carried a gun… HA!

As for Sam?

Well dogs will return to the master quickly enough. You just had to know how to whistle. He wasn't worried about that. Sam would come running and Floyd could then place the barrel of the gun against the lad's eye and BANG! Would it kill him?

'Don't fucking care. It'll hurt though.'

Flanders started up the van again and continued his journey. He had a feeling that they were travelling more or less north west. He could catch up as close as he could by van and go by foot the rest of the way.

At least he'd blocked out Taki for now. Sam had other ways of sneaking in if he wanted to. He didn't need to contact Sam though, he could pick up on that whining buzz like you would tune into a distant radio signal. Sam was sending out a huge distress call. It looped and repeated constantly. Floyd wasn't even sure if Sam realised that he was doing it. Surely if Sam wanted to be with Taki, he'd not be pulling Floyd in? He wasn't sure… Sam wasn't subtle enough to use it as a lure. At least Floyd didn't think he was.

He filled up for gas at a small one pump place and picked up some rope, a good sized hunting knife and a canteen for water which he could attach to his belt. He thought that would be all he would need. He paid in cash, gave the spotty youth a small salute and then some words of advise.

'You need to see the world before you settle down to nothing. You should be out there getting a remedy for your bad skin and fucking the girls, not sitting here on your lazy arse squeezing pimples and looking at porn.' He then asked the lad for a bit of paper and a pencil. He wrote down a list of things which he could pick up easily enough in the woods, on the bit of paper and handed it back to him. 'There you go. When you get the chance, and I'd take it as soon as you can…' Floyd leaned over the counter towards the now terrified young man and ran a finger down his red lumpy angry skin… 'That's going to scar if you leave it. And stop fucking picking at it! Get that stuff…' He tapped the list he'd made. 'Crush it in a small bowl and add a small amount of water if needed. Then use it as a facial scrub. That skin will clear up in a week. Then you'll be free to go fuck some cunny. Have a good life…' Floyd flicked the young man's name badge with a dirty fingernail. '… John.'

'Yes sir and thank you.' He muttered between teeth which were trying to rattle together. He needed a pee. He needed one badly. He felt something on his face pop and the contents ooze down his cheek.

Floyd nodded at him. He thought this person might actually take up some of his advice. He slid an extra fifty over the counter. 'And get something new to wear. I mean new… not goodwill.'

'Sir.' A small quaking voice. He could see the gun stuffed in the belt of Floyd's jeans. And now that need to pee was almost too great.

But Floyd turned his back and walked out. John looked down at the bit of paper and slipped it into his breast pocket. The money went into a front jeans pocket. His need to pee had passed, unfortunately.

o-o-o

Taki had the idea that Sam could sleep alone, chained and locked to a tree and he would spend the night with arms wrapped around Floyd's greatest love. Spencer had other ideas though. He didn't want Taki holding him. He didn't find it comforting or nice. It was greedy and dangerous. He moved away as Taki lay down behind him. Taki moved in close again and so Spencer sat up.

'I want to sleep. I cant do that if I am thinking that you're going to slit my throat. Please keep back. Go and comfort Sam.'

It wasn't really the response Taki had wanted. He wanted Spencer to be willing and it just wasn't happening yet. Taki also sat and stared across at Sam. 'He's diseased.' Taki told Spencer. 'He needs Flanders. He thinks he doesn't but he does. I thought I could have him as mine, but I'm not going to trust that thing. I cant trust him.'

Spencer said nothing, but he pulled the bedroll Taki had given him closer around his stupid black pyjama clothing. He was also thinking that Sam couldn't be trusted.

'I didn't have enough time. All this planning.' Taki shook his head. 'All these years of planning and he's still the one pushing.' He turned to look at Spencer. 'How does he do that? I feel I am one step ahead of him, always one step ahead. Yet somehow… maybe I'm only one step ahead because that's where he wants me.'

'What exactly did you plan on doing? You say that you're organised and not rushing off randomly as Floyd does…' Spencer looked around where they were. '…if I was with Floyd we'd be here also.'

Taki moved so that he was crouching, but he didn't take his eyes off Spencer. 'Carry on… tell me what you think?'

'What I think? I think you're as much of a brat as Sam is and I think you've made a grave error and you know it. I think you're running.'

Now Otikami stood. 'Running from Flanders? I'm not running from him.'

'Then let us stay here until he catches up. If you're not running and if you're not afraid, then stay here and wait for him to catch up.'

'He will miss out on the surprise if I do that. Sleep. I'll keep watch.' Taki moved away and sat in the middle of the small clearing.

o-o-o

The following morning Spencer awoke to see Sam sitting, rocking slowly back and forth and sobbing. That meant not much really as Sam would cry if he broke a fingernail, but there was also a crust of blood under his nose and his wrap around jacket thing was pulled apart. Sam was flashing his bruised and bitten boobs to the whole of the clearing. Something had happened whilst Spencer had been sleeping. He just didn't know what but he could take a damned good guess and probably be right. He thought about going over and giving Sam a quick hug, but decided against it. As Sam looked up at Reid, Spencer could see that Sam's eye, which never seemed to be looking in quite the right direction was swollen and half closed.

Spencer licked his lips and stood. The chains which had been holding Sam in place had been removed and were laying in a snake-like twisty loop off to the side. He walked slowly over to Sam and crouched down in front of him. 'Let me help you.' He reached out to pull Sam's jacket back into place. He thought Sam would protest and tell him to go away but he didn't. He just sat and watched Spencer as he pulled the jacket closed and tightened the little ribbons which held it in place. 'Did he hurt you?' Spencer asked him quietly, but Sam said nothing. He didn't nod or shake his head or move or even twitch. It was Spencer who nodded though. 'Have you eaten?' This time Sam's eyes moved from Spencer to over his shoulder. When Spencer turned Taki was standing there with a smile on his face.

'Good morning. You will assist in packing our things together. Sam will go and make sure that the horses are ready.'

Sam still didn't react verbally, but swiftly got to his feet and moved silently towards the horses which had been nibbling on short tufts of grass and bushes.

'What have you done to him?' Spencer hissed at Taki.

'Why would you give a damn what I've done to him? Please tell me that you're not jealous. You rejected me. What was I to do?' He looked at Spencer with great amusement.

'I'm not going to…'

'You are. Pack the things together. Flanders is catching up… we need to make some distance today.'

Sam had a good idea that Taki had realised that training him to be what Taki wanted him to be was going to take longer than a couple of days. He had a very good idea after what Taki had done to him the previous night that next time he'd be dead. He'd turned his coat once and let Floyd down, he'd done things to get Spencer into trouble… and now it was time to turn his coat back again and do something to prove that it was Floyd he wanted after all. Sam considered that sometimes you just had to see all of your options before you could begin to decide if you'd taken the right route. Sam considered that he'd take a hell of a lot of wrong routes and getting back in favour with Floyd was going to be a difficult and deadly process. And though Sam gave the impression of being a cowardly snivelling bit of shit, he actually was able to form a bit of backbone when he thought his number was well and truly up. Last night he'd drawn all the bad cards… all except for Taki actually breaking his neck, but he thought it had been horribly close. Too close. He wasn't still alive because Taki wanted him. He was still alive because Taki was using him to pull Floyd in.

Therefore with his spine in place and his thoughts firmly in his mind he set about part one of his cunning plan.

I need a piss… I need a piss… I'm going to puke… I'm going to piss and puke… I feel ill… I don't want the berries… he's going to poison me. I need a piss I need a piss a piss apisspisspisspiss… Vomit- puke- upchuck and piss…

He didn't even attempt to sneak the message out. Sam blasted it at full power as he stroked the horse Taki was going to ride.

Otikami was on him in a flash, dragging him away from the horse and shaking him by the shoulders. 'What are you doing?' He screamed into his face. 'What the hell are you doing?'

'N, nothing!' Sam managed to say between being shaken back and forth

'There's no need for that.' Spencer walked towards them ready to defend. Taki swung back behind him and caught Spencer squarely on the nose.

'There's every point! Keep away.'

Spencer let out a yelp of shock. It hurt! Something to do with the angle Taki had caught him at. Not enough to knock him over but more than enough to stop him and make his eyes pour with water. Taki's other hand was still holding onto Sam. He now turned to him and looked at him hard in the eyes. 'What is your game dog?' The fingers dug in to Sam's shoulder so hard that he thought they would pop through his skin.

'I don't know… I don't know what you mean! Let go! I need a pee and I feel sick.'

Spencer stood forwards again now with one hand over his nose. He didn't say anything, but he could see that Taki had loosened his grip on Sam slightly. His free hand was tugging at the tie holding Sam's trousers up. 'Go pee then dog.'

When Sam had wondered off away from the horses Taki turned once again to Spencer. 'Don't creep up behind me. Next time I'll take your stupid head off before I've realised who it is. I thought you'd know better.'

Spencer could see Taki's point. 'I assumed…'

'Assumed? Assumed what exactly.'

Reid swallowed. This was probably going to hurt him. 'That you were as skilled in woodcraft as Floyd. I assumed that you'd know it was me. Floyd would have. I'm sorry if I startled you. I'll certainly be more careful in future.'

It earned him a backhand around his face. Again not enough to do real actual damage, but enough to stun and stop him from talking and it stung, making the side of his face feel blazing hot. 'Be careful how you talk to me. I'm a better man than Floyd will ever be. Would even ever dream of being and as for you creeping up behind me…'

Spencer knew that Taki would have no answer to that one, and so just let it drop. Let the man brood over it.

As Floyd reached the last place he could take the van and keep going in the direction he needed to, he also received a loud and clear message from Sam that he needed to have a piss. He let the message flow through him and rested his head on the steering wheel, taking deep breaths and concentrating hard on not sending a shut the fuck up message back. It was an odd thing for Sam to send. It wasn't a distress call. It wasn't a warning… but he felt it had meaning of some sort, and not the meaning Sam was sending him. 'Cryptic messages now huh? Are you hoping it will save your life? Too late.' He pushed open the door to the van and lit up a smoke. 'Probably too late.' He added as he inhaled the smoke and let it drift out again of his nose. 'Maybe too late? Is there ever a limit to when something becomes irretrievable? I guess we're going to have to wait and see… So Sam… you feel sick and want a piss. Why are you telling me this?'

Floyd had his leather pack bouncing on his back. He'd put the coil of rope inside it. The canteen was on his belt and full of cool spring water, the knife was in a small hand made scabbard next to the canteen, the gun was in a holster attached to a gun belt which had once been Sam's but now he was borrowing. And he thought he looked dangerously cool with the small leather thong tied around his upper thigh stopping the holster from bouncing. He had on dark jeans, a grubby white shirt and a black waistcoat. His boots were lace ups and black. Very scuffed. Hand made… hand made many years ago. Repaired constantly. He pulled a flat topped narrow brimmed hat on. 'To keep the brains in place. If in doubt wear a hat.' He muttered as he broke out into a jog. 'I'm on my way kiddies. I'm on my way… you ran off and didn't let me join in your game.'

My knees hurt, my knees hurt, I've got blisters on my arse, my ankles ache, I'm going to puke. The sun is too hot. I'm going to puke puke puke puke puke… PUKE! Fuck that hurt. Fucking bastard Fucktard motherfucking cunt!... Then the message Sam suddenly sent stopped. Floyd didn't stop his jog though. He had a funny idea that he knew what Sam was doing. He'd just have to wait to pick up on their proper trail to see if he was right. He grinned to himself and broke out into song… some old thing from his distant past somewhere….

"Now is the month of maying,
When merry lads are playing, fa la,
Each with his bonny lads
Upon the greeny grass. Fa la.

The Spring, clad all in gladness,
Doth laugh at Winter's sadness, fa la,
And to the bagpipe's sound
The nymphs tread out their ground. Fa la.

Fie then! why sit we musing,
Youth's sweet delight refusing? Fa la.
Say, dainty nymphs, and speak,
Shall we play at barley-break?
Fa la."

The song repeated over and over again each time his 'Fa la' somehow becoming fuelled with more happiness than the last… His annoyed grimace slowly became a smirk and then turned into a predatory grin. 'Fa la!' He finished a verse and took a drink of water. 'Fa fucking la… I'm on my fucking way Fa la!' He hunkered down and touched the ground. There were no signs that they'd actually been on this bit of ground but they weren't far… oh no… not far at all. Just a little bit too far, but not fa la la away enough. 'Horses?' He cocked his head to one side. 'Oh that's interesting Taki my dearest. Very interesting. At least I feel it should be interesting… Are you listening in to my thoughts you stinking thieving despoiling nip? Are you there you dirty little zipper-head? Want to hear a song?' He made sure he had everything attached to his belt, double checked the knife…The knife the knife check check check check… oh my arse, my knees… my hands, my poor hurting hands….

'The knife.' Floyd's hand flicked again to the hilt of the hunting knife and he frowned. 'Very well… the knife. I know it wont kill him. Stop worrying about it little one and worry about yourself. He broke out into song again, the same song – meant to annoy the hell out of anyone trying to listen into his thoughts.

o-o-o

They rode through open woodlands at a steady trot. Taki would dearly have liked to have gone faster but Sam seemed to keep sliding sideways. The dog had no riding sense at all and was now complaining that it was making his knees and feet ache, and that his backside was sore. Though the reason for that was more likely to have something to do with what happened during the previous evening. They would clear this area soon though. Taki knew exactly where they were going and though it might have seemed like a random flight from Flanders, it most certainly wasn't. When the trees spread out even further apart, Taki offered to tie Sam to the saddle so that they could go a bit faster. Sam declined the kind offer but complained again that because his hands were useless and smashed he couldn't use the reins and that made his legs sore. He said that the horse was not trained properly… and then he went quiet. Sam didn't want to say too much. He needed to keep a buzz going in his head and keep everything else out. They did manage though to carry on at a slow canter until it was time to bed down once again.

'He'll catch up.' Sam told Taki and was ignored.

There was every possibility that Floyd could catch up. They weren't moving as fast as Taki would have liked it and now Spencer was complaining of stomach cramps and refusing to help sort the camp or horses. He just sat with his legs folded in front of him and watched Taki do all the work. He also watched Sam, not too closely, because Spencer was sure that Sam was stalling Taki. Why he would attempt to stall Floyd first and now Taki he wasn't sure, but he was very sure that Sam's hands were not as bad as he was making out. He watched from the corner of his eye when Taki was brushing the horses down and he saw Sam slowly but very surely moving his hands from a wide open palm, to a fist. And he was doing it repeatedly. Spencer moved his attention away from Sam and watched Taki and occasionally gripped his stomach and made a little moaning sound. If Sam had something planned he didn't want to know what it was, but he was also quite prepared to assist him in any way he could. Refusing to do any work seemed like a good move.

Again that night Sam was secured to a nearby tree. He yelped and moaned and begged Taki not to hurt him. He said he'd not run away. He told him that he hated being treated like this. What had he done to deserve this… He went on in the same manner for about an hour until Taki pulled a knife and told him he'd slit his throat if he carried on.

Sam shut down, lay down and made little sobbing noises until Taki finally gave Sam his little pink pill. Sam slipped it between his lips, rolled over with his back to them, and spat it out onto the ground. He then carefully covered it over, closed his eyes and finally slept.

Again Taki lay down with Spencer. This time Spencer told him that he was feeling quite ill and needed to be left alone. Tonight though Taki insisted and wrapped arms around Spencer and pulled him close. He whispered things into Spencer's ear and nibbled on it. He carried on until he could feel the heavy sleeping breaths coming from Reid and then gave up. He wasn't really in the mood himself tonight. He'd wanted to tease him and have Spencer want him, so that he could throw it back in Floyd's face, but it just wasn't working. Taki didn't sleep. He eventually moved away from Spencer and sat as he had done the night before, between Sam and Spencer. Floyd was much too close. He wasn't going to reach where he was going if tomorrow they didn't move fast.

'All these years of planning.' He spoke at the few stunted trees. 'All these years and I'm going to be held back by the dog.' He looked over at Sam. 'But I need you as a lure. I need you. This time tomorrow though… this time tomorrow I wont need you.'

Sam listened to Taki's words and his stomach jumped and knotted in panic. He'd wanted more time to formulate his plan properly, but if he could undo in one day, something which Taki had taken years to create, then he would die happy. He smiled and curled up tighter.

Floyd didn't sleep either. He carried on through part of the night and the moon was large and bright. There were now signs that they'd passed this way. Horse droppings, little bits of things dropped or discarded. When the moon went behind some clouds he stopped and hunkered down. The song was still in his head, playing on a loop which had become nonsense… He felt safe from prying minds though. But this was wrong. He prodded a bit of discarded foil which had once been wrapped around a sandwich. If it had been him and he knew someone was trying to follow he would have been far more cautious. There was also the empty bubble where a pill of some sort had been. Floyd couldn't read the lettering as the bubble had been torn from a longer strip, but after sniffing and licking at it, he guessed it was some kind of sedative. It was all very wrong though. The old discarded glove he'd found half an hour before… The way the horses seemed to have gone through every soft bit of land, marking the way. It was a trap and he knew it was, but what else to do but to keep on going. Spencer was still alive. Sam was still alive.

His only option was to completely forget the pair of them, imagine that they were already dead and start his Jack Grooming Process, which he'd already set slowly in motion. Floyd scratched at his neck and dropped the bits of discarded junk onto the woodland floor. 'The man is either an idiot or a fool. Either way is good for me.' He stayed exactly where he was, hunkered down and thinking of long peaceful nights alone with Spencer. He could deny it all he wanted, but Spencer was going to be coming home with him. He fiddled with the gun for a while and considered dumping it, but placed it back in the holster. He pulled out the hunting knife and jabbed at the ground and wondered what it was Sam was planning. He had a thought that it had nothing to do with the knife he was him self carrying. Did that mean that Sam had one? Had Taki been fool enough to give Sam a weapon? He didn't think that was it either. As the clouds parted just before dawn, Floyd stood, his knees popped, he pressed his hands against the small of his back and stretched. He planned on catching up today at some point. What happened when he got there would much depend on what mood he was in and how Spencer and Sam reacted to him. He ran a finger over the butt of the revolver and sighed. 'I don't want to kill you Spence, but I will. If I think you've turned from me, then I will.'

He ran. He ran at a pace which had been shown to him by an love many decades… (centuries) ago. He could keep this pace up all day and night if he had to. Though he knew that Taki was showing him which way to go and wanted to be caught. Why else would he leave such an obvious trail to follow? He could have followed anyway. He could have found the way, but it wouldn't have been quite as fast. He would have had to stop and take in the scent in the air and feel at the ground and sense the direction, but Taki had made it so he didn't have to. And this bothered him.

o-o-o

After Sam had been unlocked from his tree he wandered over to the horses. Taki had all ready begun the process of saddling them up. Taki's horse had a lot of bits jangling off various harnesses. One of those things was a small knife. It was partially hidden by a flap which had the bow holster attached to it.

'Nice horse.' Sam spoke and lifted a swollen bruised hand to the beasts velvety nose. He walked around it touching it gently with hands which looked broken and unusable, but which were in much better condition than he'd been letting on. He turned and saw Taki picking up bedrolls. Spencer was again being a pain and refusing to assist, claiming loudly again that he had stomach cramps. It was a good enough distraction and probably the only one Sam would get. He slid the knife quickly out of its home, turned away and hunkered down. He had no intention of keeping the thing. That idea had never even crossed his mind. He pushed it down into the soft earth as far as it would go and for once, luck being on Sam's side he was able to get it almost all the way down. About an inch of the hilt stood out from the ground. Sam stood. Placed a foot on it and pushed it down the rest of the way…

'What are you doing?'

'Fuck.' Sam muttered to himself and quickly started to pull at the cord holding his pants up. 'I need a piss. Sort of urgently. I cant get a hold of this thing properly.'

His words made Taki guffaw. 'Poor little prick too small to manage?'

'I meant the damned ties! But yes… poor little prick too. It needs a leak.'

'You want someone to hold it for you? There you are Spencer. Something which wont cause you too much strain. Help him.'

Spencer let out a groan and Taki walked towards the side of his horse. He couldn't see the expression on Sam's face, but Spencer could and it was one of panic. Reid placed a hand on Sam's shoulders and told him to turn around. He would help, but he didn't want to touch Sam where it might be required.

'You know I fucking well hate you.' Sam hissed at Spencer.

'I know. Stand still and let me help.'

'I need you to do something for me.'

'I know. Stand still.'

'After I've had my pee.' Sam looked over his shoulder at Spencer. 'It's important.'

'I'm listening.'

Sam took a couple of steps back and looked down at where he was urinating. 'I've done something and I don't want that fuck to know.' Spencer remained silent. 'I'm not going to tell you, but he'll know. So I need you to knock me out. Smack me one real hard, but I want you to knock me out cold.'

'What?' Spencer quickly tied Sam's pants up again for him.

'Think of a reason. Quickly! Distract the cunting fucker!'

Spencer opened his eyes wide and glanced at Taki who was checking over the gear on the horses again. He pulled a fist back… 'You dirty beast!' Spencer shouted and smacked Sam as hard as he could in the face with a closed fist. And it felt good. I felt so damned good to do that. He'd had many a smack of that kind from Floyd. He knew the best places to make contact. In the same way Taki knew where to punch and not knock someone out, Spencer knew exactly where to hit and keep someone quiet for a number of hours. Sam rocked back where he was standing. There was an odd smile on his face and then he crumpled to the floor.

Reid turned to look at Taki, who had one hand on the bow holster, but was now looking at Spencer with raised eyebrows.

'He touched me.' Spencer spat. 'He moans all day anyway. I'll tie him to the horse.'

'Well I would have previously thought that you'd never do such a thing, but you've got quite a lot of hidden anger.'

Spencer hoisted Sam off the ground and carried him to the horse. 'My anger isn't all that well hidden recently. I try to keep it under control, but this situation…' He put his hand out towards Taki. 'I need something to tie him down with. Rope? Cord? Anything?'

'You want to spend your day flopped over a saddle too? Mind how you talk to me.'

'Apologies! But I'm not in the best of moods.'

Taki tied Sam's horse to his own. Spencer mounted up and waited impatiently. He had a feeling that they needed to clear the area quickly. He had no idea what Sam had done or when it would come into play, but he'd certainly done something. Spencer hoped he'd picked the stitching of Taki's saddle or something cunning. As Sam was secured down they were able to move faster. Much faster. The woodlands had given way to scrub land and now there just seemed to be endless miles of long grass with a foggy line of trees a long way off in the distance. They were moving away from Floyd again. And they were moving very fast towards those trees. There were birds flying across a blue sky, the thundering of hooves, the clattering of Taki's harness and the arrows in his quiver. Whatever Sam had done Taki hadn't yet noticed it. And the saddle hadn't fallen apart yet. There was always hope. But that dwindled as the day grew longer and that strip of trees got closer.

If Floyd was going to follow they'd see him coming. He'd not be able to avoid being seen in the grasses. It wasn't so long as to completely conceal someone unless they were crawling. And Floyd rarely crawled for anyone.

a/n:

Now Is the Month of Maying by Thomas Morley

I changed one word to suit Floyd's mood.