Missing

By

AJ

Part 10: Escape Square

Dick raced through the darkened streets of the village. There were no skyscrapers or modern buildings. He looked back just once to see the escarpment that held the large manor. The village surrounded the isolated tower of rock, like a rook on a chessboard. He spotted the narrow road that went up to the structure in the light of the waning moon. He wouldn't have seen it if there hadn't been something reflecting off the surface.

'Looks like if someone visits they either have to take that narrow road or take a helicopter,' Dick thought. 'I bet no prisoner has even successfully escaped . . . except for me.'

Without another thought, Dick moved through the silent village. He needed to get away from the place as quickly as possible.

'They would probably send someone after me, once the discover I'm gone, but how do I get out of the village without transportation?'

This year in school, he was supposed to take Driver's Education. The thought of that also brought up the night of the Halloween Party. How long had it been since that night? He remembered how Susie Winchall blindfolded him, led him down a deserted corridor of the school. She also tied his hands. Then someone else gagged him as he was shoved into the waiting arms of two men who drugged him and threw him into the back of a truck.

'Susie probably didn't know what was really happening. Or maybe she did. I've never missed a day of school in my life since Bruce took me in. Aunt Harriet must be going frantic, and Bruce . . . He must be really angry. Even Alfred must be upset. I've got to get home.'

Even so, Dick could not help thinking about the situation he was in. He didn't remember anything else until waking for the first time in that mountain stronghold. After trying three times to escape, his uniform was stripped from him and he was chained between two columns and whipped. He recalled clearly the sting of that whip as each lash struck. He could taste blood as he bit down on his lip to keep from trying out. Soon after, he must have passed out or was drugged once more because he woke up in some other stronghold high above a village in the desert. This had to be the worst as far as being kidnapped was concerned.

Dick wandered the village trying to find a means of transportation. Even a motorcycle might help, but he didn't see any vehicle that might get him out of the village. Every narrow street seemed to lead him back toward the center of the village. There had to be a way out, he just hadn't figured it out yet.

"Hey! You there!" Someone shouted in his direction.

"Uh oh, better make tracks,' Dick thought.

"STOP!"

The way the man was dressed, Dick was certain he had seen him among the guards at the other place he had been held. He had to find an escape route and he suddenly realized to find the best route, he needed to go was up, but he wasn't in a position to get up to higher ground. He ran, whipping around corners as fast as he could looking for an opportunity that would take him to the rooftops. The man chased after him. Dick tried to lose him in and around the narrow streets.

"He's heading in your direction!" the man said into a walkie-talkie.

Dick turned another corner and came to a sudden halt as he nearly ran into two other men. They tried to grab him, but he jumped straight up. The men were astounded that a kid could even jump that high, but Dick wasn't done. He turned his jump into a flip and used that to sail over the two men's heads, landing lightly on his feet. He took off running again. This went on for another twenty minutes, with Dick trying to avoid the guards and the guards trying to lay their hands on the agile teen, but failing. Finally reaching the edge of the village, Dick spied the very thing that would take him away from Ra's al Ghul's men. He did one more flip and he landed perfectly on the back of a gray stallion. Startled the horse reared up nearly toppling Dick, but he grabbed into the horse's mane and hung on for dear life. The horse broke free of its bonds and bolted. Letting the horse run, Dick would get it under control once the horse ran out of steam. At least he was free of the village and on his way to getting back home.

B&D&B&R

Ra's al Ghul raged, "You fools! How could you allow him to escape?"

"We . . . we tried but the boy was too fast."

SLAP "Don't make excuses. Why wasn't there a guard?"

"He was placed in one of the guest rooms that guaranteed no escape."

"For an ordinary person, yes. I would agree, but the boy was not ordinary. He received part of his training from his mentor, the man of the bat, the other from an unknown source."

"He said he received his training from his Mother and Father," Talia stated. "I thought it unlikely."

"Did you ask him what that training consisted of?" Ra's asked his daughter.

"No."

"Then it does little good. The boy escaped from a room 100 feet to the village below, and without the aid of a rope. I want the boy found," Ra's al Ghul stated.

"Father, what of the Batman?" Talia asked. "Has he found . . ."

"He did and he chose."

"Then he . . ."

"He did not find the clues so obviously he did not come after me. He grieved for the boy he thought he lost."

Talia didn't seem surprised. "Father, this insult must not go on any further. He is not worthy to be your successor. I see that now. It is obvious that nothing will make him cross that line."

"I thought you loved him Talia?" Ra's asked. "It was you who tried to convince me that he could be my successor. Were you wrong in that assessment?"

Talia remained silent. She did love the man she knew as the man of the bat, but he was not willing to respect their ways and she was torn between the two.

"Why did you take the boy?" she asked.

"You know why, my daughter."

"Let the boy go."

"What?" Ra's questioned.

"Let the boy return unharmed."

Ra's stared at his daughter. "And why should I do that?"

"Perhaps it is not the time, Father."

Ra's did not like what his daughter was telling him. The revenge he wanted wasn't happening in the way that he planned. The rage that he felt for the man that betrayed him was overwhelming. Ra's left his daughter and went to his private chamber, looking out over the expanse. The boy was a means to get to the man who betrayed him. Perhaps there was another way. Ra's al Ghul rang a small bell. Ubu entered to stand in front of his master.

"What is your request, my Lord?"

"Find the boy. Do not let the boy return home alive."

Ubu bowed to Ra's a; Ghul and left without another word.

Continues with Part 11: Outpost