They skirted the North road keeping back out of sight in the trees. There was no traffic until they passed the turn off for the industrial complex where the research lab had been, then it was all headed in to the complex. It appeared to be trucks, from what they could hear, probably filled with men for the search parties.

They took a break and waited near the turn off, Chief straining the whole time to hear the sound of dogs. If it was only soldiers it was most likely they'd follow the first trail he and Actor laid down for them. But if there were dogs…

If there were dogs the handlers would take them into what was left of the building the Warden had blown up. The animals would sort through all the myriad smells and latch onto the odor they'd been taught meant intruder, enemy. A team would criss-cross the ground between the lab and the fence where they'd entered the complex, another team would range the facility. As soon as the dogs started to bay, signaling that they'd picked up the trail, the handlers would turn them loose.

Chief had been run down by dogs once. Once they got on your scent there was no escape. If they got close enough for you to kill one, their handlers and the men following them were close too… and by then it was too late and you were too tired to get away.

Actor was the one who started them off again. As they moved out he asked. "What were you listening for?"

"Dogs." Chief answered.

The sophisticated Italian waited for the primal chill that ran up his spine to pass. "Did you hear them?"

Chief shook his head and took the lead.

g

Actor never questioned Chief's ability to lead them to the next safe house. He knew he'd studied the map Garrison carried, and he had an innate sense of direction that they'd depended on almost from the beginning of the group. Even in the dark he seemed to be able to pick out the safest path and they were able to move quickly. The only limit to their speed was the con man's own ability and stamina and, only a few days recovered, he'd been pushing himself. When the young man raised his bandaged hand and brought them to a halt he was glad of the rest.

Chief left Actor leaning against a tree and moved closer to the edge of the road. He scanned the area to the east and west, and peered through the darkness to see if he could pick up any sign of movement on the other side of the road. Then he closed his eyes and just listened. The sound of the Italian trying to breathe quietly was loud in his ears. He did his best to shut it out and concentrated on the road and the area to the southeast. After a minute or two he was satisfied. Returning to the group's second he crouched down beside him and reported. "Can't hear any traffic up on the road. Doesn't sound like anything's followin' us."

"Are you sure we are in the right place?"

"Almost. We work our way west along the other side of the road. Should be a turn up there that takes off to the north that'll take us in. It crosses a little creek, maybe a hundred yards down. We don't see that we'll have to come back out and keep lookin'." He watched as Actor pushed himself up onto his feet. The con man reached a hand out and continued to use the tree for support. "You ready?" he asked him.

Actor's mouth lifted in a crooked smile. He was ready for a long hot bath, a decent meal, and a comfortable chair by a fire… with a fine glass of brandy and a good book. He was ready for the rest of the team to be sprawled around the room with him and decided that he would even welcome their incessant interruptions... He took a deep breath and nodded and then set out after the young Indian.

g

Even though there had been no sign of traffic they were still careful when they crossed the road. Chief led out and once he was safely across Actor followed. They worked their way through the trees staying just close enough to keep the road in view. Within three hundred feet they came to a halt on the banks of the small stream the scout expected to find. Cautiously they made their way across and continued to follow the road until it branched the first time. They paralleled the next roadway, but moved in closer, and at the next turn they moved up on the road itself. Without having to make their way through the underbrush, and with the fading light of the moon showing them the way, they were able to break into a steady lope. Chief didn't hesitate when the road forked and Actor didn't stop to question.

They were deep in the forest when the young man brought them to a stop again and moved off the road taking them straight through the trees. At every clearing the younger man stopped a moment to get his bearing, using the stars, or the mountains that surrounded them, Actor was never sure. There was no hesitation in his movements so there was no doubt in the Italian. His reliance on the young man was well founded, soon they arrived at a slight rise that looked down on a small dwelling.

Actor leaned close and whispered in the scout's ear. "How do you do that?"

ggg

Chief reproduced the sound of a night bird and a few moments later he was answered by a fairly competent warble. Even after getting the signal they remained cautious, slow to reveal themselves. Faint light illuminated the windows of the building, it gradually grew bright enough to show them the pattern that was woven into the curtains that hung at the window and the shadows of the men as they moved around inside.

There was a fire burning on the hearth inside, they could smell it. They could even smell the enticing aroma of roasting meat.

The door opened and an unfamiliar figure stood silhouetted in light a moment before moving out into the clearing that fronted the small cabin. The man stood with arms outstretched and he pivoted slowly to show them he had no weapon.

Actor moved out of the shadows, cautiously approaching. Unlike the man standing in front of him the con man had his gun in his hand, the safety was off and his finger was ready on the trigger. He gave the code word and got the correct counter sign and entered the building. Chief remained hidden out in the darkness.

g

The Warden should have been the one to come out at his signal. There should have been someone on guard outside. Chief made a quick check of the perimeter and found no sign of anyone. He met the con man as he stepped back out into the small clearing that fronted the building. "We shouldn't be the first ones here. What happened?"

"How did you know?"

"Lamps burning, food cookin' inside… no guards? Not hard to figure. Warden'd never go for it. These guys must be pretty green." Chief considered the house for a moment. "Even Casino'd have 'em set a watch. He's not in there either, is he?"

"They haven't seen any sign of any of them." Actor leaned against the timber post that held up the overhang that protected the door and reached in his pocket for his pipe. "The contact says that they had men up on the road outside the factory until just a hour ago. There has been no traffic away from the facility."

"Which means if they got themselves picked up they're bein' held there."

The group's second in command shook his head as he put a flame to the tobacco and concentrated on lighting it. When he was satisfied with his efforts he glanced up. "From the plans Lieutenant Garrison showed us there was no proper place for prisoners to be held there at the factory. There is a military base not far from there…If they were transported along the road that led to it they would have been seen. I think we can discount the possibility of capture."

"They could have a patrol on their tail, like we did," the young man suggested.

Actor shook his head again. "Again, no sign of it. All of the traffic was pouring into the facility and organizing to go out again in the direction we led them. The Warden came out the other side." He rubbed the stem of the pipe along his jaw. "I suppose they could be lost…"

"Not if the Warden's leadin' 'em."

"Then that leaves only one other possibility." Actor shared a long look with his young teammate.

"Somebody's hurt and they'r hole up somewhere."