"We're about an hour from the caves," Hiram said softly, as he rode beside Jack. "It's just past that small hill ahead."
Jack nodded and pulled his rouncey to a stop. "Okay everyone, listen up." The other three men stopped and pulled their animals up so that they were in a rough circle.
"According to Hiram, we're coming close to the caves. I expect Leron is expecting us, although hopefully not quite so soon, so we'll have to be careful."
"I think there's another trail into the caves," Abel suddenly announced. "I remember it from when I was here when I was younger. It's rough and I don't think you could drive a cart that way, but it should be good for rounceys. It's over there, just before you get to that hill," he pointed. "If you travel to the right on this side, it will lead you into the cave system from the east. The road we're on enters from the south – you just keep going straight."
"Okay," nodded Jack. "Hiram, why don't you and Abel take the east route. Just go carefully and watch for Leron. He may also have others with him, so go as quietly as you can, and don't try and engage with him until we get there. When you get to the caves, lay low and just watch. Willem and I will continue along the road here."
"How do we signal you when we see you?" Abel asked.
Jack gave a small smile. "Do either of you know any bird calls?"
Hiram raised his eyebrow, but Abel nodded. "I can do a potoo bird," he said, and then immediately demonstrated.
Jack couldn't help but laugh. It was the strangest sound, but he'd heard one, once or twice since he'd been on Varid, and Abel did a good job. "Okay – make the noise of the – uh – poopoo bird –"
"Potoo," Hiram corrected with a grin.
"Yeah – potoo – to let us know where you are. But only do it if necessary. Leron is smart and we don't want to do anything that will give us away."
After a few more instructions, Jack and Willem said goodbye to the other two and watched as they rode off.
"Okay, let's go," Jack instructed. He was totally focused now and watched everything carefully. Leron could be waiting to ambush them and, once they reached the cave system, things could get tricky. He glanced over at Willem and reigned in his rouncey. "Here," he said, reaching into his pack and pulling out a Zat. "Use this if necessary."
"What is it?"
"It's a weapon." Jack showed him how to extend it, and where the button was. "Just remember, one shot stuns – two kills, and the third – well, just don't shoot more than twice – and then only if you're shooting to kill."
"I hope it doesn't come to that," Willem said, a frown between his brows.
Jack knew that the men with him weren't soldiers and certainly weren't used to battle. Varid was – for the most part – a peaceful planet, and he hated the fact that they were now faced with a serious crime.
"Me either," Jack said quietly. "But – you have to be prepared."
"Don't worry," Willem told him softly. "He has kidnapped a woman and children. I will not hesitate to shoot him if necessary. I expect he has also committed many other crimes, if he is like his brother."
"I have a feeling they were cut from the same cloth." Willem nodded, although he'd never heard the expression before, it was self-explanatory.
"We'd better be on the lookout," Jack said. "He could be anywhere." The two men continued on in silence, carefully watching everything as they rode.
"Okay – out."
"That's going to be a bit hard," Sam told him. "You've tied my hands and legs so I can't really move."
"You brats – out," Leron instructed the two boys. They had been sleeping and were now awake, but terrified.
"Just listen to the man," Sam instructed gently. "Do what he says, and you'll be okay. I'll be with you in a minute."
Simon nodded and took his brother's hand and helped him out of the wagon. They then stood silently, their arms wrapped around one another.
Leron walked to the wagon and pulled out a lethal looking knife from his boot. With a leer, he leaned over Sam, looking her up and down. His hand reached out and he placed it on her breast. "I'm gonna so enjoy you!"
She stayed still, wanting to do something, but knew the best thing she could do was not antagonize him. After being bound and cramped up in the wagon for hours, she knew she would be too stiff and weak to do anything, even if she wasn't tied up.
Leron finally grew tired of her lack of response, and grabbed her legs and pulled them towards him. He took the knife and quickly cut the roped on her ankles. "Out," he instructed.
She scooted to the edge of the wagon and placed her legs over the side. She stayed for a moment, allowing the blood to circulate in her legs.
"I said get out!" he growled.
She glanced at him, but again decided that now was the time for discretion. She pushed herself off the cart and landed on her feet. She stumbled, and would have fallen, except Leron grabbed her arm to steady her.
"Now walk!" he told her.
"Where?" she asked. By this time the boys had sidled up to her again, looking at her with huge and frightened eyes.
"Over there," he nodded his head in the direction of a cave that was about 30 feet ahead. She glanced around and noticed that there were several caves in the side of a rocky hill. There was a small area in front of the caves, that was devoid of anything but rocks. The perimeter of the area was surrounded by lush trees, that kept the wind and much of the sunlight from penetrating the area. As a result, the air was heavy and humid and the whole place gave off an eerie feeling.
"Where are we?" she asked. All she got for that was a shove. She kept walking with Simon and Jankin close by her side.
When they first entered the cave, it took a moment for her eyes to adjust. The entrance was small, barely the size of a regular door, and it was pitch-black inside. She heard movement and then the sound of a match striking. A second later and Leron had lit some kind of lamp.
"Over there," he pointed. On one side of the cave were some blankets and a bucket. Obviously, Leron had prepared for this.
She led the two boys over, telling them softly that everything was going to be okay.
"Sit," he told her. "You brats – sit down and shut up." Simon and Jankin both were whimpering by this time, but sat down and cuddled up to Sam.
"Uh – could you release my hands," she asked. "I can quiet them down more easily."
Leron regarded her for a few seconds, but then finally nodded. "You try anything, anything at all, and I'll hurt one of the brats."
After her hands were free, she spent a few moments trying to get her circulation going again. Then she put her arms around the two boys and continued to speak to them softly.
Their kidnapper watched them for a few seconds, and then made his way out of the cave. He took the lamp with him, so it was again bathed in darkness.
"I's scawed, Auntie Sam," Jankin cried.
"I know, sweetheart. Just be brave and we'll find a way home."
"Will Uncle Jack come and save us?" Simon wanted to know.
"I'm sure he will," she answered. "We'll just have to be brave for a little while longer."
"I has to go pee pee," Jankin suddenly told her.
"Okay. Let me see what we can do." She pulled the bucket over and looked inside. It was empty and she assumed that it was their latrine. "Here, you can use this."
"You can't look," Jankin told her. He'd just reached the age where privacy was becoming important.
"Okay – I'll hold up this blanket, and you can go behind it. Simon, you can go next if you need to."
After the boys were done, Sam realized she needed to use the bucket as well. "Can you boys hold the blanket for me?" she asked. It was more to give them something to do, although she did appreciate the privacy. She worried that Leron would walk in at any moment and the last thing she wanted was for him to see her using the bucket.
Once they had all finished, Sam moved the bucket away so as not to have to deal with the smell. It was then that she saw something at the back of the cave.
She glanced at the door, worried that Leron would return at any moment. But she was curious about what was there. With another look at the entrance, and telling the boys to stay where they were, she made her way to the back of the cave.
Her eyes had grown somewhat accustomed to the dark, although it was still difficult to see beyond a few meters. As she grew closer to whatever it was that had tweaked her curiosity, she could see that it was some kind of raised platform. Her heart suddenly began to beat faster.
The reason why soon became clear.
"Well, I'll be damned," Sam whistled softly. Standing in front of her was a DHD.