Chapter 13

We had planned on leaving Jackson at the campsite with the elephants, but despite his poor condition he insisted on coming. After some whispered arguments we agreed to allow him to wait in the edge of the forest for us to come back. Nick volunteered to stay with him and Hilltop took the still bound and gagged Captain Moto, saying he would meet up with them when he was finished 'putting out the trash'. I wondered for a minute what he would do with Moto, but decided not to ask. That left Mya and I to rescue Indaw at the Mahout village. We were like a super hero team swooping in to the rescue. I'm going to need to think of some good theme music.

My internal musings were interrupted by the dull roar of the village. The villagers were bustling around preparing food and repairing damage, trying to keep the place running despite the Japanese occupation. They tried to go act like it was a normal day, a day where family members and friends weren't dead and rotting, a day when soldiers weren't loitering around harassing girls and beating boys. But their efforts were futile. We snuck along in the shadows of the huts. If we were seen by the soldiers we were toast. I followed behind Mya as she ducked in and out of alleys and secret passages. She knew where she was going; she had grown up here. When we finally stepped into the sunlight it took a few seconds for my eyes to adjust to the scene before me. A long row of over twenty elephants were staked to the ground. It was still early in the morning, so they hadn't gone off to work on the airfield the Japanese were having them build yet. Well, more like rebuild. The first was blown up by an explosion earlier in the book as I recalled. Mya motioned me forward and began whispering in my ear.

"The mahouts are being kept under guard, but there is a trapdoor underneath Indaw's 'house'. We can get in through there and sneak him out."

"Why hasn't he gotten out before?" I asked.

"He originally stayed because he didn't want me to be hurt. Once I escaped he stayed because of Nick's father. Indaw doesn't know that we got him out already. Once we tell him he'll come with us."

"Okay," I responded. After some very near misses with some of the guards we were able to wriggle our way under the house. Once we got in, we discovered that part of the hollowed out section under the house had caved in. There was barely enough room for us to squeeze through. Unfortunately, Indaw would be much too big to fit through.

"We're going to have to run for it." I whispered. Mya just looked ahead grimly as she fumbled with the handle on the trap door. She slowly lifted it up, just enough to see inside. Once she saw that the coast was clear, she quietly climbed into the house, motioning for me to follow. By the time I got into the house, Mya had already woken her brother up. They sat together on his cot, hugging and shedding silent tears.

"I missed you," She whispered.

"I was afraid you were dead. I told you not to come back for me." He replied.

"Since when have I ever listened to you?" She smiled. I felt like I was intruding on something private, and respectfully diverted my eyes. Soon, though, they broke apart and Mya turned to face us both.

"We can't go through the trap door. The passage collapsed and we could barley fit through. If we want even a chance to get away, we are going to have to make a run for it. The guards won't be making a pass by this house for a bit though, so we should leave in the next few minutes or risk losing our window. This is Sarae by the way. She's from the future." she in a matter of fact manner. Indaw looked confused, but quickly accepted what his sister said. After Indaw had packed his essentials we cautiously crept out the door. With no guard in site we crept from house to house, zigzagging through the street as stealthily as possible. When we made it to the edge of the forest we collectively sighed with relief. We had made it. Somehow we had managed to break out two prisoners in one day without any mishaps. We marched victoriously back to our rendezvous with the rest of the group, smiles on our faces.

Later that night everyone was sitting in a circle, talking and laughing. Introductions were being completed and plans for the future were being finalized. Nick and Hilltop were still the only ones that actually believed I was from the future, but that was okay. I had hopes of returning home soon. Even the elephants seemed content. They had become friends over the time they had been together. Hopefully the two animals would be able to stay with each other. I was just about to get a drink of water when an army jeep snarled into our campsite. Four guns were immediately trained on to our chest. When my surprise cleared I saw Captain Moto, Major Riku, and two mean looking soldiers grinning evilly. We all put our hands in the air. Even though we outnumbered them, we had no usable weapons. Major Riku climbed regally out of the vehicle and began to speak to us in his cultured, but tough, voice.

"Surprised to see us? You thought you had gotten away, didn't you. But we have been monitoring this camp ever since this morning when one of my scouts spotted you, Mr. Freestone, and your son walking her. I must say that I'm quite surprised that you got the Mahout out as well, especially after I collapsed the passage under your house." Mya looked shocked at this, and silent tears began to fall down her normally tough face. We had gotten so far, and now it was all for nothing. Most of our group would be killed, including me, and the rest would be sent to the labor camps.

"All of this was just a game. I wanted to see how far you would get. I'm curious though, how did you escape, Mr. Freestone? The compound you were in is much more secure than that of the mahouts." When no one answered him, he good cheer quickly turned to anger.

"I've also been wondering where my dear Captain Moto has been for the past few days. I was extremely angered when he turned up bound on the steps of Hawk's Nest. You will pay for that. I will have fun killing you, after Captain Moto is finished of course." Major Riku gave Captain Moto the go ahead, and the crazed captain leaped from the jeep. He landed a few yards from where we all huddled together. His hand slowly went to one of the many knife sheaths buckled around his waist, and drew forth a wicked blade more suited to butchering animals. I began to tremble when I realized that that is exactly what he planned to do, except with us.

"I want you to get into a line. I need to decide who to play with first. I'm leaning toward you though, pet." He glared maliciously at me, and when we didn't comply he clicked the safety off his gun.

"Do what I say or I'll shoot!" He growled when we still stood defiantly in our places. He fired the gun three times into the ground before our feet. Dirt flew everywhere and the sound almost deafened me. It ran throughout the jungle and brought with it a nasty jolt to my already racing heart. I was preparing myself to die when out of the trees charged Miss Pretty and Hannibal.

They had been happily browsing a few hundred feet away, but must have heard the gunshot. Either they wanted to get rid of the gun, or they were actually trying to protect us, but they thundered right up to the jeep. They flashed their tusks at the now terrified men, who had scrambled into the jeep for cover. More gunshots rang through the air, but none hit their mark. With an enraged rumble, Hannibal began to roll the jeep over. Miss Pretty quickly joined in. They shoved the jeep until it began to roll on its own down a steep incline not far away. After a few seconds the mangle car, with the men still in it, crashed into a huge boulder. The gas tank caught and exploded in a cloud of fire. Black smoke poured into the air and debris slowly fell back to earth. There was no sign of the men in the wrathful red and orange glow. They were dead. I sunk to my knees in a mixture of relief and horror. I wanted to laugh, I wanted to cry, and mostly, I wanted to sleep. My emotions swirled around me, but I held them in. My training kept me from letting the wave of emotions and exhaustion out. Good thing to, because the rest of the group was already packing up to leave. Soon, not a sign was left that we had been there. We shouldn't have stayed so long in the first place. The explosion would attract notice, so we left as soon as possible with Hilltop walking behind still trying to sooth the still agitated elephants.