Chapter 6: A Picnic Goes Wrong

The valley by the pond was, as you could expect, moist.
I think 'another place' would be more appropriate, Sandy said and smiled at her brother.
What is all this talk about another place? Lou asked. Seems to me you're talking about some place in particular.
Of course we are, Carlos said. Señora Coatl's barn, to be precise.
A barn? Lou sounded doubtful, and the locals laughed.
Just wait and see, Nita said. It's a bit of a walk, but well worth the trouble.
She started to walk away from the valley, and the others followed her.
Are you sure we should go there? It was Nita's friend Ramón who decided to join the conversation. After all, she is
A witch? Carlos smiled teasingly at the younger boy, who rolled his eyes and said:
Oh, absolutely. I was thinking more in the line of 'not too fond of people.'
We always went there when we were kids, Sandy said.
Sure, but kids are different. I never heard of her accepting grown men.
Don't flatter yourself, Ramón.
Maybe this isn't such a good idea, said Buck. I mean, it's her barn after all, and if she wants to be left alone we may not want to insist to have a picnic in it.
On it, not in it, said Nita. And you don't have to worry, she won't kick us out. Not when we have Randy with us. She loves Randy, doesn't she, boy? She cuddled the pooch to show that she wholeheartedly agreed with the old woman.
Sandy stopped short and looked searchingly at her little sister.
You have been visiting her, haven't you?
Nita grinned.
We witches have to stick together!
Buck was beginning to feel uncomfortable. The careless jokes about ghosts had been bad enough, but after all, everyone told silly ghost stories. Not everyone called themselves a witch.
Ike's thought seemed to go in a similar direction, because he asked:
Why is the señora said to be a witch?
The usual reasons, said Sandy dryly. She is a nutty old woman who keeps to herself, lives in a house built into a mountain far away from everyone else, talks to animals and grows her own herbs. Obvious evidence, don't you think?
The riders were uncomfortable by her mean tone, but Nita laughed so she couldn't stand straight.
You know as well as I do that she wants people to believe that so they won't bother her. You don't have to sound like she's some kind of martyr. She maintains their prejudice on purpose - just like someone else I could mention Her face got mischievous.
Oh, shame on you.

This kind of talking kept their pace up so it didn't feel like such a long time before they reached the mountain where señora Coátl's house was set.
said Nita and pointed. The house is half inside that cave. It's very smart, coming to think of it, because she can't have had any trouble with the storm. And over there is the barn, with that flat, projecting cliff as a roof. We will sit on top of that cliff. There is usually a ladder leaning towards it.
But there was no ladder now. Sandy shot Carlos a glance. She looked slightly concerned.
What on earth She took a few quick steps down the slope, and then she stopped.
Now, hold on. Who are those people?
About half a dozen men were standing in front of the house. Sandy motioned for the others to be quiet.
Something must be wrong, she mumbled.
There's no need to jump to conclusion, Lou pointed out. They could be friends of hers.
There was noticeable contempt in her voice. Some of them are anglos.
Well, some of us are, too, said Carlos and joined his sister. No, I think you're right. Something's wrong.
No me gusta esto, said Nita, so worried she returned to Spanish.
Me tampoco, hermanita, said her brother, and then: I think one of the men is Mateo Sanchez y Vela.
That does it! Sandy rose to a straight position and threw all caution to the winds. I'm going to find out what those creeps are doing here if it's the last thing I do.
She was halfway through the yard before the men had time to react. When they did, the youths suddenly found themselves at the aim of half a dozen guns.
Seems that it just might be, Carlos muttered.

The riders realised with horror that none of them had found it necessary to bring their own guns. Buck started to move for his knife but soon changed his mind when a two-barrel rifle was pointed in his direction.
Hold it right there! the man holding the gun hollered. Then he turned to another of the men, without lowering his gun for one second. What's all this, Vallejo? I thought you said nobody ever comes here.
Vallejo whispered something to the man - a tall, bossy anglo who simply shook his head in irritation.
I'll have no more of this witchcraft talk! Who are these people? Who are you? he demanded and riveted his eyes on the closest youth, which happened to be Ramón. The boy blushed in fear and embarrasment, but tried to sound brave.
We came to have a picnic, he said. He realised it sounded very little awe-inspiring and continued: Where is señora Coátl? I demand that you tell what you have done with her!
The leader laughed.
You're in no position to demand anything, sonny, he said. He appeared to have lost interest in them now. Sanchez, Vallejo, this mess is your fault, so you fix it. Get rid of these clowns. The men looked so horrified that he sighed. Alright, Lefaivre, help them out, will you.
Fine with me, Caldwell, said the man called Lefaivre.
The leader, Caldwell, started to walk towards the house, when Sanchez cleared his throat and said:
You're not suggesting that we kill them, are you? Killing was never part of the deal.
Sanchez my friend, said Caldwell softly. You'll never go far if you can't adapt to changes. But by all means, if you can shut them up without killing them that's fine with me.
He brought two men with him into the house, which evened the odds a little for our heroes. Not that it mattered much, for three men with guns still have a certain advantage over seven unarmed people.
Are you going to kill us? asked Ramón. He was no coward, but he had never been at the receiving end of a bullet and had no wish to alter that fact.
That would be the easiest way out, kid, Lafaivre said with a tiny smile.
We were promised no one would get hurt, Sanchez objected.
You're a gutless shit and you always were! Sandy raged with contempt at the man.
He immediately cocked his gun and pointed it in her face.
Shut up! Shut up, shut up, shut up!
Ike stared at her and shook his head. Never provoke a man with a gun pointing at you he signed.
Sandy shrugged. Her contempt for Mateo Sanchez was genuine, but the loaded gun frightened her, and she didn't like being frightened.
Ike's signing had caught Vallejo's interest.
What's he up to? he asked.
He's our serving wizard, said Sandy with a mild voice. He's bringing down demons that will eat your soul away. We were going to have a witches' mass here, but you guys interrupted us. She smiled sweetly, and Vallejo involuntarily took a step backwards.
Jesus Christ! muttered Lefaivre. Bringing in locals had been necessary, but what was the use with a man who refused to shed blood or another who made sound like the understatement of the year? Pretty soon the prisoners would lose respect in them all, and then where would they be? Okay then, he said. If we don't kill them, what do you suggest we do with them?
We could tie them up and keep them in the house, said Sanchez.
Lefaivre grinned.
Now, has nobody ever told you not to arm an enemy if you can avoid it?
, said Sanchez, straightening up and trying to be dignified, how about the barn?
Lefaivre thought about it. Keeping these people hostage in the barn would be a lot of trouble. They would need food and people to guard them. But killing a man who was shooting at him was one thing, that he had done before. These people were unarmed, and two of them were really just kids. And it wasn't like it would be for such a long time either. They would be leaving soon, and after that it didn't matter what happened to these people. they could run away or starve to death for all he cared.
, he agreed. Come on then, let's get on with it.
None of the prisoners objected to the treatment when the men led them to the barn. They were only too grateful not to have been killed. But Randy growled. He was a one person's dog, and even if he didn't understand much of what was going on he knew Nita had to be protected. She put a comforting hand on his back, but when Sanchez anxiously tried to poke him in the right direction he showed his teeth, ready to attack.
Nita grabbed his fur, holding him back, as eager to protect him as he was to protect her. At the same second, a shot went off from Sanchez' gun. The girl stumbled and fell to the ground.