Chapter FORTY EIGHT
"So let me get this straight," said Sami flatly, "Plan B is hiding?"
Tosh nodded. "That's about the size of it."
They were in one of the caves and watching as EJ covered their tracks by using a leafy branch to wipe away the horse hooves imprints which led to the cave Sami, Tosh and the three horses were in. They'd originally ridden their horses into a cave on the other side of rough track and then led them out the side entrance. EJ had wiped out their tracks leaving the cave, only the ones leading into the cave remaining in an attempt at misdirection.
"So they'll see our tracks leading into that cave and figure we've gone that way to save time and by the time they work out we're not there we'll be long gone?"
"All things being equal."
"And if all things aren't equal and they don't fall for it?"
"I have Monsieur Pointy at the ready to protect us all."
Sami looked at the stick poking out of Tosh's belt bucket and grimaced. "I wish it were bigger."
"Can't be the first time you've had a woman say that to you, old boy," EJ quipped as he rejoined them in the cave.
"Watch it, or you'll feel the wrath of Monsieur Pointy," Tosh sniffed. "Besides, it's not the size that counts, it's how you use it."
"If you say so." EJ walked over and took Dev's reins from Sami who'd been holding both Róisín and Dev's reins while they waited for him to return. "We need to go deeper into the cave, but we need to be quiet."
Sami nodded and tightened her grip on Róisín's reins. The mare looked a little skittish as Sami went to lead her further into the cave. Sami patted Róisín's silky neck. "It's alright, honey, I'm here." The horse seemed to be comforted by the sound of Sami's voice and calmed down, following Sami's lead.
They travelled deeper into the cave until they were a good distance from the entrance. The opening could stood be seen some twenty feet away, the light from outside shining in.
"Everyone keep very quiet," EJ instructed them. "All we have to do is stay here and let their tracker find our tracks into the other cave."
"What's that smell?" Sami complained, her voice low.
EJ pointed up to the cave ceiling.
Sami craned her neck, looking up, only to see the ceiling seemed to be moving, a black undulating mass of fur and leathery wings. She put a hand over her mouth. "Oh!"
"No sudden noises, Samantha," EJ whispered, "we don't want to disturb the little fellows otherwise they're going to give us away."
Sami nodded mutely, her face wrinkled into a distasteful expression and EJ couldn't blame her. The smell from the bat guano was very bad, but the least of their problems if they were discovered.
EJ trained his eyes back on the glow of the opening of the cave and waited for the men on horseback to arrive. He didn't have long to wait, the sound of hooves being heard before the men rode into view. They came to a halt on the road outside the cave. The light of the opening flickered as horses paced back and forth and a discussion could be heard to be underway. EJ recognised Algerian being spoken and grimaced. Of all the people who could be after them, the Algerian Special Forces soldier was the least savoury option. The men milled around and EJ was becoming concerned over them not seeming to have found the hoof marks leading to the other cave.
"They're not buying it," Tosh hissed in his hear. His voice was low, but EJ could hear the concern in it.
"We just have to wait them out," EJ whispered back. "They'll take the bait, they have to."
A few more tense moments passed, everyone in the cave hardly daring to breath. A bridle would tinkle on occasion and a tail would swish from the horses but otherwise there was no noise or movement from their little band. EJ's eyes were glued on the opening, as were Tosh's, both of them ready to spring into action the moment they were discovered. The seconds ticked by agonisingly slowly and still the men and horses lingered outside. EJ reach out a reassuring hand to Sami, eyes still on the entrance, just wanting to let her know that everything was going to be alright. His hand met air and he moved his hand back and forth, trying to find her in the dark. EJ turned his head, looking for the glow of Sami's blonde head, only to find she was no longer standing beside him. His eyes widened and mouth went dry with fear.
He grabbed Tosh's shirt sleeve and tugged, the other man still transfixed by the entrance to the cave. Tosh looked at him, a frown on his face. EJ mouthed Sami's name and Tosh's eyes went wide as well as they both realised she was no longer with them. There was no way she'd have gone deeper into the cave and EJ felt a sick fear as he realised that like many of the other caves, this one must have more than one entrance. He reached down to the ground with his hand and felt a breeze on the back of his hand. EJ followed the breeze to see there was a small opening to the outside. He and Tosh were too big to fit through it but Sami must have just made it through. EJ's heart raced at the thought of what their impulsive charge might be up to.
He looked at Tosh who had just as worried an expression on his face as EJ knew he must have. EJ jerked his head towards the opening and Tosh nodded grimly. The two men edged along one of the walls of the cave, heading towards the opening. When they were at the entrance EJ cautiously peered out. Sami was nowhere to be seen which was something at least. The scar man was on horseback, in deep conversation with a squat looking man EJ thought he remembered riding by after Sami had caused the car crash. Tosh arched an eyebrow, a silent question passing between them and EJ gave a short nod, confirming to him that this was the man who'd been after them since Bucharest.
Suddenly there was a loud noise shrieking noise and a stream of bats erupted from the cave across from them. They flew out as one mass, a black river of flapping wings and flailing claws. The horses were startled, the men on their backs struggling to keep them under control as the bats flew past them in a thick cloud. The mercenaries swiped at the air to keep the flying creatures away from their faces. As quickly as they'd appeared the bats were gone, flying off into the slowly gathering dusk.
"They've taken the caves!" announced the stout man. He pointed to the cave the bats had just flown out of. "They must know we are onto them, they are trying to lose us."
Scar man nodded and motioned to his men. "After them, do not lose them or you will regret it."
The men seemed to take their bosses threat seriously as they all immediately rode into the cave, scar man and his offsider bringing up the rear. EJ let out a relieved breath to see the men leave at last. He immediately stepped out of the cover of the cave, looking frantically around for Sami.
She popped up behind a clump of bushes to EJ's right, a self satisfied smile on her face. "That did the trick."
EJ was flooded with equal measure of relief and anger at seeing Sami standing there safe and sound. "What the hell did you think you were doing?" he exploded at her.
"Saving your butts like I always do," she smirked.
EJ stormed over to her. "They could have found you at any moment and you'd be dead right now!"
"They didn't and I'm not." Sami stood her ground, a challenging gleam in her eyes.
"You insane woman!" he barked and then grabbed her, kissing Sami hard with all the desperate fear he had inside of him. EJ drew back and groaned loudly, wrapping his arms around her and drawing her to him tightly. "God, I was so scared."
"I can't breathe," Sami's muffled complaint only made him squeeze her harder.
EJ had been in a lot of situations that he'd known fear, but this was something entirely different. The thought of something happening to Sami had him in a mad panic and he couldn't find the words to convey how much she'd scared him so EJ just kept on hugging her.
"She's going blue, you better let her go, old boy."
EJ immediately loosened his death grip on Sami and she drew in a noisy gulp of air. She looked up at him in disbelief, panting a little. "You nearly smothered me!"
"Well, you nearly gave me a heart attack, so I guess that makes us even," EJ retorted. He shook his head. "What were you thinking?"
"That they weren't going into that cave and I had to do something," said a still unrepentant Sami. "So I snuck out and threw a rock into the other cave. I thought they would just hear the rock." She paused and looked extra pleased with herself. "The bats were a bonus." She grinned, and folded her arms in front of her. "Pretty effective, huh?"
"It was very clever of you, poppet," said Tosh with a half smile, "despite the years you've taken off old EJ here."
"My whole life flashed before my eyes," said EJ morosely, not sure why Sami wasn't understanding the enormity of the risk she'd just taken.
"That'd be quite the show," commented Tosh.
"Shouldn't we be getting out of here?" Sami looked around them. "I don't know how long it'll take them to work out we're not in that cave."
EJ's mental capacities were slowly coming back to him and he knew Sami was right. "Let's go."
They ran back into the cave and retrieved their patiently waiting horses, mounting up and taking off at great speed down the track. The galloped for a good while and looked over their shoulders often for the men hunting them down. EJ led them off the worn track and onto a less defined path. He couldn't take the risk of staying on that more used route now. It was getting dark by the time EJ finally called a halt. They dismounted near a stream and immediately watered the horses. Everyone was on edge though, conscious of the close call they'd had. EJ glanced at his watch and saw that it was nearly six o'clock. He didn't like the thought of riding in the dark simply because he didn't know what was waiting for them. Daylight at least provided them with some ability to see trouble coming. He looked over at Sami who was trying valiantly not to look worried as she stood by Róisín as the horse drank from the stream. "We'll stay here tonight." He looked at Tosh who was absently patting Wallace as he kept an eye on the surrounding bush. "Tosh and I will take turns keeping watch."
"I can take a turn as well," Sami volunteered.
EJ shook his head. "You need your rest, sweetheart. There is a lot more riding ahead of us."
"You need yours too, you both do."
"EJ and I are used to not much sleep," said Tosh. "When we were in the Air Force we'd often have long spells of having to stay awake. Our record is three days."
"You stayed awake for three days?" asked Sami in amazement.
"Had to," said EJ, "we were caught behind enemy lines, couldn't stop and certainly couldn't sleep." EJ grimaced. "I'm afraid dinner is going to be somewhat of a lean affair. Rabbits are hard to catch in the dark and I don't really want us splitting up. It looks like it's going to be berries again."
"That's fine," said Sami, "I like berries."
"I prefer grapes… after they've been pulped, fermented and bottled," Tosh lamented. His face brightened. "At least I still have Galina and Anastasia."
"You're not drinking vodka on an empty stomach." EJ gave him a pointed look. "We need to have our wits about us."
"Ah, fiddlesticks," said Tosh with a pout, but didn't argue.
"I'll go and look for something to eat and Tosh, don't take your eyes off Samantha."
Sami rolled her eyes. "I'm not going to wander off."
"You just did before."
"I had a good reason then."
"I just want to be sure another 'good reason' doesn't crop up."
"You still haven't thanked me, you know."
EJ shook his head, finding her lack of repentance endearing in an odd way. "Thank you, Samantha, for scaring us both half to death. It was a very pleasant experience."
Sami pouted. "That was a lousy attempt at gratitude."
"Sweetheart, you were fearless and magnificent," said EJ sincerely as he looked her directly in the eye, "and if you could please be neither again without my express permission that would be just dandy."
Her chin came up defiantly. "You don't own me, Mr. DiMera."
"I know, but even so I'd like you to remain intact under my watch." EJ paused and made sure Sami could see the sincerity in his eyes. "You scared me, alley cat, I thought I'd lost you. Please don't do something like that again, I don't know if my heart can take it."
Sami looked a little taken aback by his concern and his sincerity seemed to melt her defiance. "I-I'll try." She grimaced. "But I'm not great at impulse control."
"I know that, darling and I love that about you, but could you unleash the wild cat within when the odds are slightly more stacked in our favour?"
Sami shrugged. "Wouldn't seem to be much point to do stuff like that if things are going well."
Tosh chuckled. "She's got you there, old boy."
EJ sighed in exasperation. "Just keep an eye on her, alright? I'll only be gone a little while." EJ turned around and addressed Dev. "And if you could keep an eye on both of them there is some extra green grass in it for you, fella."
"I'm taking umbrage at that remark." Tosh put his hands on his hips. "Here I go, umbrage taken."
EJ arched an eyebrow. "Should I be afraid?"
"Very."
"I'll work on it while I'm away," EJ promised him. He headed off into the forest, quickly finding an assortment of berries and fruits to eat. His stomach growled noisily, reminding him it had been awhile since the chicken from last night. It was too risky to light a fire though so a more substantial meal was not going to be on the menu. EJ heard a twig snap behind him and he was instantly on alert. He slunk down behind some bushes, muscles tensing. A silhouette stepped out of a bank of trees and EJ knew instantly that the man wasn't Tosh, even though he couldn't see his face.
He felt round on the ground for some kind of weapon, his hand settling on a rock about the size of a cricket ball. EJ wrapped his fingers around its rough surface, at the ready. The man drew a gun from his waist band and EJ's hand tightened on the rock. He'd come from the opposite direction from where he'd left Tosh and Sami and EJ knew he had to draw the man away from their camp. The shadowy man looked over at the bush EJ was hiding behind and walked straight up to it, his gun drawn. EJ drew back his arm, knowing he was only going to get one shot at this. The man's head appeared over the top of the bush as EJ prepared to throw his only weapon…
