Chapter 12

It seemed a long night. Sheppard and Teyla quietly sat next to the fire, the marines taking up position closer to the village warriors.

'A private setting,' John mused, 'That's usually not set in the middle of the village but rather some way away.'

Teyla looked over at him. It only took her moments to catch onto what Sheppard was saying.

'I do believe you are right.' She agreed.

'How about we take a walk come daybreak.' He suggested.

'A very good idea.'

Sheppard signalled Lorne.

'Teyla and I are going to take a walk around the village. Make sure no one notices we are gone.'

Lorne just nodded and casually walked over to his men. For the moment it was still dark but once the sun rose it should not be noticed that two of them were missing.

Sheppard and Teyla got away unseen and slowly started to circle the village. It was not a large village but they had no idea where Rodney was being kept. Their whole plan might turn out useless if the test was to be held on the village square. But John did not want to think of that.

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With first daylight the cell door was opened. Rodney hadn't moved.

The village elder walked in with the two women who had 'cleaned' Rodney earlier. They had brought a large white sheet.

The elder poked Rodney in the stomach.

'Wake up! Today is the first day of the rest of your life.'

Rodney carefully opened his eyes. As he had feared, infection had set in. He felt the heat radiate from his wounded body and was reluctant to get up. Where was Sheppard? He promised to come back for him.

'Move' the man poked him again.

Carefully he sat up. That was enough for the women to drape the white sheet over him. It felt fresh and clean. But he did not get any chance to enjoy it. The women each took an arm and pulled him up. Rodney felt dizzy and weak. The bleeding had stop after hours but looking down on the floor he was amazed of the amount he had lost in the end. His head starting spinning again but the women forced him through the door.

The little gathering outside the cell doors quietly parted to let them through.

Rodney had no idea where he was being taken, placing one foot after the other without noticing a lot.

They kept on walking, just the four of them now, until they reached the outskirts of the village.

Under an old tree a primitive stone table was surrounded by flowers. Rodney was glad they finally stopped and did not object to lying down on the cold stone slab. He just wanted it to end now. He wanted to go home. But when they shackled him to the stone, he started panicking.

'Please, just let me go!' He pleaded.

Spread eagled he lay helpless as the women pulled the sheet off him again.

'The gods must be appeased.' The elder started.

Rodney looked around, afraid of what was to happen next. The women had gone further off but now returned with arms full of flowers and fragrant herbs. They started rubbing the flowers and herbs over Rodney's body and face.

The assault of the different smells, together with the dust of the dirt started to tickle Rodney's nose again. Trying hard he could not stop himself from sneezing loudly again.

'The gods have decided. He is to move on to the next phase in his life!'

Rodney looked at the elder as he pulled a sharp looking knife out of his sleeve. Holding it high above his head, he started praying and coming closer to Rodney.

'No, no, no, please…..' Rodney pleaded, tears running down his face.

'Please let me go!' he shouted.

But the elder seemed not to notice.

'Gods, please take this man into your bosom and bless him with your forgiveness.'

He raised the knife high above his head with both hands, ready to plunge it down into Rodney's heart.

Rodney saw the knife coming down in slow motion, turning away his head, screaming as loud as he could.

But the knife never reached him.

Sheppard and Teyla had reached that side of the village just as they saw the foursome walk to the old tree.

Using Rodney's scream, John pulled the trigger once.

The knife flew out of the elder's hands. Furious he turned around to see who had interrupted this most sacred ceremony. He did not get a chance to call any of his men.

Sheppard rushed to Rodney who had passed out from sheer fright.

He pushed his gun under the elder's chin.

'Don't even try to make a noise.'

'Colonel Sheppard. You were not to enter the village.'

'Well, technically I didn't. This is outside your village. There are no houses, no gardens, no other people.'

In the meantime, Teyla had tied the women to the tree, after gagging them. She picked up the sheet and carefully draped it back over Rodney. She gently shook him but he was not moving.

'You are going to release my friend from these shackles and I'm going to pick him up and take him home. Then we are never going to meet again.' The menace was clear in Sheppard's voice.

Reluctantly the elder released Rodney. As soon as he was done, Teyla pulled him to the tree as well and tied him to it.

'We could have easily killed you but we didn't. Try and enjoy the smells in the world for once!'

John handed Teyla his P90 and lifted Rodney onto his shoulders. Quickly they made their way back to the Stargate.

John tapped his earpiece to contact Lorne.

'Lorne, we have him. Dial the gate and distract these guys so we can get through.'

Lorne just turned to the direction he knew John was watching him from and nodded.

'Sorry guys, I need to check in to the office.'

He positioned his men in such a way they would distract the warriors away from the gate. Then he casually walked to the DHD and dialled the gate. The whoos only briefly distracted the warriors.

'Yes, Atlantis, this is Lorne checking in as required.' Lorne pretended to talk to Atlantis. When he was sure no one was paying attention to him, he activated his IDC and signalled John to get through.

Carefully with Rodney still secure on his shoulders, John and Teyla slipped through the event horizon.

'Come home you say? Yes, sir. Immediately.' Lorne turned to his men.

'Time to go home, guys.'

'Where is your commanding officer?' One of the warriors finally asked.

'Did you not see him? He already went through with Teyla.'

And waving one last time they all stepped through, away from that planet.

John stumbled through the gate.

'Medical emergency!' He shouted carefully putting Rodney on the floor.

John sat down next to him. He got him home but was it in time?

TBC

You will need to wait a few days for the next chapters as I will be travelling back home for the next 24 hours.

Feedback much appreciated!