Chapter 9:

-No Choice-

Now, it were already two weeks that Michael worked in the Indian-reservation. He had worked off his punishment and he hadn't complained about it, on the contrary, Wayne and the sheriff were so enthusiastic from his work that they offered him to work and to live here as long as he wanted. Michael accepted. Wayne sat on a bench with the sheriff outdoors and held a conversation.

"And how is it working with Michael? I've heard he is a devil of a worker." grey wolf laughed.

"And how. The boy has perseverance and it is difficult to get him sweaty and get out of besides breath."

„Maybe you must let him work harder."

"It would be great…I give him already the maximum. If it were up to him, he would do it all alone." he mocks.

"What do you mean by it? This must be a joke."

"If you ask me, that's not normal."

"Oh, he is a young strong man from Detroit, which is normal."

It was late in the afternoon, as Michael came past and saw the two older men sit on the bench and smoked their pipe. He greeted the two kindly with a smile, although his eyes still hidden behind the black glasses. Both smiled back.

"Wayne just told me how diligently you are. Respect."

"No problem, if I can increase more…tell me, it does feel good to be able to work again."

"But you must be overtaxed?" Wayne asked sceptically.

"I'm used to it, that's all. Ehm… I actually wanted to talk with the sheriff shortly, if I am allowed to."

"No problem. We can go in." Grey Wolf got up and went ahead.

"I will still enjoy the rain." mumbled Wayne.

Michael was soaked in his working clothes and he was glad to be short inside at the dry.

"Don't say you still working in this weather, Michael."

"I help the guys to fell a dawned tree in the forest, before he causes more problems, therefore I am here only shortly. They have a brake now."

"What do you have one's mind?"

"Well, how should I ask without to be unkind…"

"Simply ask."

"I am curious. Ivanhoe, your son, had told me about legends and myths of the Native Americans and that sounded exciting, particularly the story of werewolves. Is it true that you take this matter seriously?"

"Strange, that you ask me this and because its you, I answer this with a yes. Every full moon night I carry out a ritual in the forest, to keep away angry spirits or souls this sounds absurd for you, not true?"

"Would you mind if I come with you tonight? I would see this gladly."

"If you like, but it is boring, even my son fell asleep." he laughed.

"I will take a blanket and a pillow with me, just in case." Michael joked. "Thanks very much. I see I have to go back. We see us later."

"Be careful."

Michael ran back through the rain again. They were already again at work. The rain got stronger and stronger and the ground became more slippery through the mud. Michael saw that it was impossibly to fell this tree, not with this risk. He screamed from far away through the storm:

"Let it be! It isn't worth it! Vanish there!"

Suddenly a flash stroke into the tree and the upper half broke off and fell down.

"Damn it." muttered Michael.

All ran away as fast as possible from it, but two got stuck in the mud and fell. They could do nothing. Michael had no choice or the two men got crushed under the heavy trunk and got buried alive. Without hesitating, Michael jumped with a mighty and fast jump behind the two, seized both with one hand each at the collar its uniform and cast them out of the danger zone. Both landed uninjured somewhat uncomfortable in the bushes. As Michael wanted to take himself in security, he heard a crack above and the heavy trunk fell down on him. He lay motionlessly on the stomach for a moment, with the face in the mud and the trunk crosswise on his back, then like a miracle, he moved, moaned and supported with all his strength of on his arms. As he could feel all his power streaming like fire through his whole body, he raised his left arm and shattered yelling the tiresome load with full force. He panted and recovered shortly. This had cost him some energy, but he didn't want risk to be seen. Not like this. As fast as possible he ran into the forest. He wandered around completely soaked. It started to get dark as he came back again into the village and he had nearly forgotten to meet Grey Wolf. He sneaked to his apartment, four houses off from the sheriff sentry. The rain had eased had, but he looked like a pig. Everywhere mud and his shoes were also filled. A real mess. he went into the bathroom and took off the wet clothing until on the last, then, he stood into the shower and turned on the hot water. He scrubbed the mud for his face, otherwise he let the hot water flow on his muscular and strange body, and then he heard a knock at the door.

"I am under the shower... a moment." he screamed to the door.

He turned off the water and dried off shortly, then, he wrapped the bathrobe around his hip and went to the door. Beside the door to the commode, he took his glasses and put them on and opened the door. Grey Wolf stood outdoors.

"Come in."

"Thank you."

"I will get dressed shortly."

"Take your time. What happened in the forest today? I saw a flash burst. Some workers came half distressed to me. They were under shock. Are you all right?"

"I'm fine. I hope nobody has been injured." Michael screamed from the backroom.

"No, strangely not. Two workers reported that they became hurled away from something and that they could be dead if this had not happened."

"Something? You mean somebody had rescued them? Possibly, the trunk missed them by a hair's breadth and threw them through the impact from it. I arrived in hurry, when it happened but I couldn't see anything exactly."

"ah."

Michael came dressed into the living room in his usual clothes.

"We can go."