Chapter 7 – A walk in the park

The trail was full of different sized boulders, stones and massive roots of mature trees. Mac knew that many hikers referred to such trails as "ankle busters". He kept a careful eye on where he put each foot envying his companions their ankle supporting hiking boots with well cushioned socks. He knew that wearing training shoes was an open invitation for a badly sprained ankle or worse but that had been the last thing on his mind when he had slipped them on to get groceries the previous day. Stacy kept close to him occasionally eyeing the men following them.

After climbing steadily for almost two hours the trail suddenly emerged from the woods and they found themselves at an open ledge that was an eye opener. A wide sprawling landscape of lush forest scattered with patches of sparkling lakes and craggy peaks appeared in front of them in all their majesty. It was breath-taking. Mac could feel the change in temperature the higher they climbed. Although the jacket he had been given still hung open he knew that soon both he and Stacy would be glad of them.

"Five minutes," hissed Mason grudgingly. He turned to whisper to the others. Mac guided Stacy to a fallen tree and offered her some water.

"How are you holding up?"

"I'm okay."

"I thought Alice said you shouldn't tell lies." Mac grinned at her and she gave him a weak smile. She looked exhausted. There were darks shadows under her eyes and they had taken on a haunted look ever since she realized that she would have to go back to the site of the crash. The events of the previous day had caught up with her and she had had trouble sleeping. After Mason had delivered his ultimatum he had them sit at the table. They were given soup and bread. Then he had allowed them fifteen minutes in the tiny bathroom before locking them in the back room. Stacy had slept on a small wooden cot and Mac had a sleeping bag on the floor. He hadn't slept much either. Although the men had all taken him for Hank they only had to look in the black draw-string bag that Goatee had thrown in the corner of the cabin along with some back-packs and a heavy-looking blue canvas hold-all. Strangely the black bag and Zeke had not been there the next morning. Mac couldn't say he was sorry to see Zeke gone although he couldn't help but wonder where he had disappeared to. After their room had been unlocked and they had been given breakfast and allowed to use the bathroom once more, Goatee, who Mason referred to by the name Casey, had thrown him a coat and a backpack. Casey and Jowls, who Mason called Gaunt, ironic thought Mac given his wide face, had kitted themselves out in khaki and walking boots and were also equipped with rucksacks.

What had worried Mac the most was not the contents of his pack but the contents of the blue canvas hold-all. Mason had unpacked it and had handed Casey and Gaunt hunting rifles and ammunition. The odds were stacking against him. Jowls' Desert Eagle was a .44 with 8 bullets. Mac had noticed two spare magazines which, minus the one he had put into the poor unfortunate security guard gave him 23 plus the Remington 700 with it's 5-round internal magazine and spare box putting his count at 48 rounds. Goatee had a six-shooter and at least one quick-charge. Together with his rifle that put him at least 32. Mason himself had a Glock 17 with two spare cartridges putting the grand total at 136. Mac did not like those odds at all.

"Mac?" Stacy whispered glancing nervously at the men who were huddled together pouring coffee from a flask. "I have no idea where we are. I don't recognize anything. It all looks the same." Mac smiled at her sympathetically. "What if I don't find it?"

"We'll find it." Mac smiled at her confidently. "Just stay close." Stacy nodded at him. There was no way she was leaving his side.

"Break's over. Keep moving." Jowls, as Mac continued to call him, lifted the muzzle of the Desert Eagle and pointed it at Mac. Mac swallowed a mouthful of water and stowed the water bottle in the side-pocket of his back-pack.

The trail re-entered the woods and, after a short descent, the trail began to rise again getting steeper and steeper. Mac noticed Stacy looking at some long flowing, green, hairy, beard-like growths on the branches. "It's a lichen called Usnea Barbata commonly known as Old Man`s Beard. It's pretty unusual ..." Mac broke off as the barrel of the Desert Eagle jabbed once more into his back.

"Shut up. Keep moving."

Mac gritted his teeth. Jowls was seriously beginning to piss him off. He spent the time contemplating what he would do with that Desert Eagle given the first opportunity.

.

The day wore on and as they climbed the forest grew thinner. The ground underfoot grew harder. Mac could tell Stacy was struggling. Mason was pushing them hard. The trees petered out and they found themselves in a barren wilderness with the forest stretching out below them. The air was cool and the sun that had warmed them the previous day was now hidden behind a veil of cloud. Several times Mason had stopped, consulted the GPS tracker and looked at a map. He had asked Stacy if she remembered anything but she shook her head each time. Mason said nothing but urged them on.

As the reached the summit a cold wind blew and Mac looked to the West. He could see dark clouds on the horizon and he thought he saw a flash of lightning. He felt Stacy shudder by his side. She was looking down at the escarpment below them. It was steep and strewn with rocks. Mason urged them on. As Mac looked back he was gratified to see that, although Mason and Goatee looked unperturbed by their hike, Jowls was suffering. The heavy man was puffing as he climbed the final steps, his face red with the exertion. Mac reckoned that although the other man was at least ten years his junior, he wasn't necessarily as fit. Mac jogged or swam every day. He worked out whenever he could and watched his diet. He guessed that Jowls concentrated on the weights and, judging by that bulk, the steroids and the burgers too. He might be built for the short power play confrontation but in an endurance trial Mac knew he would win. Mac allowed himself a smile as he guided Stacy down the slope.

Having regained the forest again the going got a little easier but it seemed to be getting darker. It was often surprising how quickly bad weather rolled in. The wind picked up and the leaves rustled noisily around them but as they walked on another sound made itself known. The sound of rushing water. Before long the path they had been following through the trees opened out and they found themselves on a ledge by a river several feet below. The angry white rapids seemed to tear at the rock as though attempting to hold itself back. It rushed past in torrents desperate to make its way down the slope. The wooded terrain rose to their right where the river cascaded down the mountainside in a series of steps, the grey rocks covered with moss and algae.

"The waterfall," breathed Stacy. "It's the waterfall." She looked up at Mac partly in triumph at finding something and partly in fear at what was to come.

As soon as she uttered the words, Mason walked up to her and grabbed her shoulder. "Which way did you come?"

Startled, Stacy pointed to the waterfall. "That way but … I was … I was on the other side."

"How far is it?" he demanded.

"I … I don't know. Not far. Maybe about an hour." Stacy shrank under his gaze. Mac pulled her back towards him and for a moment he and Mason locked eyes.

Then Mason turned and spoke to Jowls. "Wait here," he ordered. "Watch them." Then he and Goatee consulted the map and the GPS tracker and headed off towards the waterfall. Mac gently guided Stacy to a rock overlooking the flowing water beside them. Gratefully he slipped off his heavy backpack and pulled out the water bottle offering it to Stacy. Jowls sank gratefully onto a fallen tree some metres away watching them, the Desert Eagle firmly gripped in his huge hand. They watched Mason and Goatee negotiate an invisible path beside the water course winding their way through the trees and up the slope. Eventually they disappeared from sight. Jowls shuffled uncomfortably on the rough bark and shrugged off his back-pack. He sneered at Mac just begging him to make a move as his cradled his weapon in his hands.

"You … er … need a bathroom break Stacy?"

Stacy shot Mac a quick glance. "What? Here?"

"Yeah," Mac pointed behind them. "You can go behind that tree."

Stacy looked doubtful but nodded and got up. She hadn't taken more than two steps before Jowls pounced up and demanded to know where she was going.

"Where do you think?" Mac said in his most acid tone.

Jowls stepped over to him. "I wasn't talking to you." He shoved the gun at Mac menacingly but quick as flash Mac grabbed the gun by the barrel and pushed it upward twisting it his hand. Caught by surprise Jowls found that he couldn't squeeze the trigger. Turning the gun through 180 degrees vertically, the trigger guard pushed against his finger and with Mac's full weight bearing down on it it had nowhere to go. The finger snapped. Jowls roared in pain and Mac pressed home his advantage. He ripped the gun from his hand and kneed Jowls in the groin. The big man collapsed to knees, his eyes watering.

Mac backed away, flipping the massive hand gun in his hands. He pointed it towards Jowls with a look of triumph. "Stacy..." he began.

The shot that rang out cut through the air sounded like the crack of a whip. A searing pain cut through his side just below his ribs. He heard Stacy scream as he felt himself crumple. Mac put one hand out to stop himself, the other automatically going to his side.

"Drop the gun or the girl dies!" Mason's voice rang out over the roar of the water. Mac groaned as disappointment, anger and frustration flooded over him like rollers at high tide. Just when he thought his luck had turned! Rolling onto his side, Mac looked back up the trail to see Mason with a rifle pointed directly at Stacy, Goatee standing just behind him looking stunned at the scene being played out on the river bank below. He had no choice. Mac half-closed his eyes and grimacing, he tossed the Desert Eagle to one side. The next minute a shadow fell across him and he looked up into Jowl's face that was contorted with pain and anger. Hatred burned in his eyes and Mac knew what was about to come but there was nothing he could do to prevent it. The massive boot connected with his stomach. Even rolling himself into a ball did little to ease the pain. His vision blurred and the blood rushed in his ears but he was vaguely aware of Mason shouting and Stacy screaming. The next thing he felt was a thin body throwing itself on top of him, small hands gripping his coat.

"Stop it! Leave him alone! Don't you touch him!" Stacy screeched as she stared defiantly at Jowls.

A/N: Hopefully I've caught up to where I left you hanging in June. Again very sorry about that. Next set of chapters up on Monday. Let me know what you think so far!