Eagle People (34 page)

“I suspect your results were worth the cost of the raid?”

“Many women, young girls and young boys were taken. One or two more villages and you'll have more than enough slaves for the Japanese trader. We had a large number of young boys, but all the numbers will be given in the morning by Luther.”

“Go. Go to your lodge, eat, and then get some sleep. You got little sleep last night and then marching back in this weather, you deserve some relaxation.”

“Uh, I do have one question, if I may ask of you a favor?”

“Ask, and if it's within my power, you may have it immediately.”

“There is one captive, over fifty, that I desire. I wonder if I might —”

“Yes, you've more than earned her, so as of this minute, she is yours.”

Lowering his head, mostly due to fatigue, Zedock replied, “Thank you. I must go now and I will send for the woman in the morning.”

Masheck shrugged and said, “As you wish.” He then opened and door and said, “Sleep well, you've done much for The People.”

In the lodge of the captives, the stunning woman with the red hair and blue eyes sat thinking of a way out of their situation. Her mind knew for a few of them to escape would be easy, only she wanted to save all the women, but saw no way. Most would die in the cold, some were stunned by the violence they'd seen when their village was taken, and others had already accepted their fate.

Finally, she spoke, “Do all of you want to remain here, as prisoners of the Snake People? Do you realize what they'll do to us? Our boys and girls will be traded off, or raised as Snakes, and will never know who they really are. The women will either be made slaves, or taken as a wife by one of these bastards. I for one will die before I allow a Snake warrior to touch me. A few of us may be turned over to the men, to use until we die. We must escape!”

One woman, older than most but yet still attractive asked, “And, how are we to accomplish this, Lila? We have no weapons and none of us are trained as warriors.”

“One of the younger women can lure a guard in, while the rest of us look to be asleep, and when she gets him into her blanket, I will kill him.”

“There is a blizzard raging outside, so where do we run? How will we survive?”

“I have no answers for your questions, but do I have one young woman that is brave enough to help some of us escape?”

Phoebe was a young woman of eighteen who said, “I will help, but only if I can go with you. I will not stay here, and death in the storm is preferred to life with the Snakes.”

“How many others are willing to go with us?”

A woman called Preshea raised her hand and said, “I will go.”

Then, Zona raised her hand, “I will go too.”

Both are young and in good health, as is Phoebe. The biggest handicap will be me, because of my age
, Lila thought. A minute later she asked, “Can we depend on the rest of you not to say anything of our escape?”

She got a few nods, a firm yes from some, and nothing from those terrified.  

“When do we do this thing?” Phoebe asked.

“In a few minutes, here is what we'll do.” Lila said and then whispered.

Ten minutes later, all of the women looked to be asleep, with none sitting up. All were in their blankets and in her blanket, Lila held a piece of firewood, about as big around as a man's wrist. She waited patiently, her heart pounding in fear. If the guard screamed, it was likely all of them would be shot, even the innocent.

Phoebe moved for the door and opened it slowly.  

The guard was young, he'd just turned twenty the year before, and was freezing standing by the door.

Bringing his gun up, he asked, “What do you want?”

“I am cold.”

“You are cold?  At least you have a warm fire. I am frozen; now close the door and go to bed.”

“You do not understand my meaning. I need warming up...I desire a man.”

The young warrior blinked a few times, considered the risk, and realized they'd never had any problems with captives. That was the main reason a few prisoners were always shot in the village, to instill fear in the rest.

“What of the others?”

“They sleep and will not know.”

“I don't know. I should stay at my posting.”

“I can bring a smile to your face. I am young and have been trained well by my mother.” She pulled the blanket open for a few seconds to allow him to see her nakedness.

“I will come, but we must be quiet. If I get caught away from this door I will be in big trouble.”

“No one will ever know. Now, come.”

The guard followed her into the lodge and noticed the others rolled up in their blankets. All looked to be asleep, so he followed her to an empty spot beside Lila. With the guard watching her, Phoebe removed the blanket, placed it on the ground and then said, “Come to me.”

The young warrior quickly undressed and he was smiling as he moved to Phoebe on his hands and knees. The young woman leaned forward and kissed him hard on the lips and then fell back to the blanket with a loud sigh. “Come to me,” she said.

While he'd moved toward Phoebe, Lila crawled from her blanket, and was ready for her to break her kiss with the man. She held the wood high over her head and the moment the young woman spoke, she brought her club down hard with both hands.

The warrior didn't make a sound, but blood squirted high from his shattered skull, which caused a couple of the captives to gasp.

“Hurry, get dressed, and dress for cold weather.” Lila said, and began to go through the dead man's clothing. She took his belt, which held a knife, canteen, ammo pouches, flint and steel, a couple of hard crackers of some sort, and a tomahawk looking edged weapon.

She handed his clothes to Preshea and said, “Put these on now, and then put your other clothes over them.” The naked man was on his back, he'd rolled over in his death throes, and Lila noticed his eyes were open. She picked up the AK-47 and said, “If any of you wish to join us, do it this minute or you'll never have another chance.”

No one replied, so she said, “Let's go and do it now. I have no idea when they change the guard, and this boy was out by the door for hours. I'll go first, then Phoebe, Zona, and finally, Preshea. Move for the rear of the lodge. We'll move away together once outside the lodge.”

Lila walked to the door, cracked it open and saw nothing. She then opened it wide and stepped out. She expected a scream or gunshot, but it remained silent. She moved to the side of the lodge, but stopped near the corner, where she could see the door.

Phoebe came next, but then as Zona was leaving she heard gunshots, and Zona fell screaming as bullets stitched her body. Preshea ran through the gunfire, but fell beside the lodge.  

“Can you move?” Lila asked.

Slowly getting to her feet, Preshea said, “Yes, I've taken a bullet through my arm. Forget about Zona, she's dead.”

“It won't bleed much, not in this cold; now move. Follow me into the woods, and we have to move fast.”

Chapter 23

UNDER COVER OF THE SNOW STORM
, the Cheyenne Mountain and Eagle warriors moved for the Snake village. All warriors were wanting to finally put a stop to the tribe's attacks. Traders told them the tribe was also one of the larger ones dealing in slaves, which they'd traded for guns. Amon and Mongoose decided it was time to end the reign of terror the tribe had established in the region.

All the warriors were wearing parkas made of cowhide, insulated with duck and goose down, sewn by hand by their mothers or wives. Mongoose led the whole group in prayer before the attack, and even Colonel was along for this raid. The rest of the village, with few men remaining now, were locked in the mountain, the solid steel door shut tightly and locked.

Amon and Ada were leading the Dog Soldiers, and so far they'd found no guards around the village.
Strange there are no guards, but maybe the guns give them a false sense of security,
Amon thought.
Or, they're fair weather warriors.

Ada neared and whispered, “I just heard gunshots. Did you hear them?”

“I'm not sure, but why now? Hell, it's gotta be just a few hours before dawn. Wouldn't all of them be asleep?” He glanced down at the snow and frowned; it was already over four inches deep.

“I have no idea, just telling you what I heard.”

“Movement, right in front of us.” Amon said, and then dropped to one knee and slipped the safety off his rifle.

“I see it. Let them get closer, because we don't want any gunfire if it can be avoided.”

Lila's long red hair was spotted through the blowing snow and the blood on Preshea arm was clearly seen as they attempted to run in the downfall.  

Preshea slowed and then stopped.

“What in the hell are you doing? We have to run!” Lila said.

“I feel weak and can run no more. Leave me and go on. I don't want to hold all of you back because of me.”

Amon heard parts of the conversation and thought,
Females, and they're running from the Snake village, so they must be slaves.

“Stop!” Ada said.

“We are friends.” Amon added.

“How do we know your words are true?” Lila asked.

“You don't, but we're on our way to attack the Snake people. We're a mixed group of Cheyenne Mountain People and Eagle People. Who are you?”

“We are of the Southern Mountain People, taken as slaves by the Snakes. We escaped from them just a few minutes ago.”

“Sergeant Dooley?” Amon asked, as he turned and looked for the man.

“Yes, sir?” Dooley replied from behind a large pine.

“Come to me.”

When Dooley arrived, Amon asked, “Do you know of the Southern Mountain People?”

“Sure, allies of ours. Why?”

“The women in front of us claim they are of the tribe and escaped the Snakes.”

Dooley asked, “What are your names?”

“I am called Lila, the other two are Phoebe and Preshea. Are you Sergeant Dooley?”

“I've been called that or just Dooley.” he replied and then turning to Amon he added, “I know Lila and Phoebe, so it's likely they're telling the truth. I know these two are safe, and I suspect strongly the other one is as well.”

“Lila, I want you to return with Sergeant Dooley to the main group, because we are scouts.  Once there, you'll be given warm clothing and your injuries will be cared for, okay?”

“Oh, thank God. Yes, yes, we'll go with him.” Lila said, and then gave a silent prayer.  

“Come, ladies, and we'll see to your needs.” Dooley said with a big smile.

“Sergeant?” Amon asked.

“Yes, sir?”

“Drop them off and then return as quickly as possible. When we strike the village, we'll need every man we have.”

“Will do, sir.”

As a false dawn was forming off to the east, Masheck was screaming and yelling in the middle of the village about the dead guard, a dead prisoner, and the escapees. He was ready to start shooting warriors, but knew killing would be unwise, so he vented his anger by shouting.
I'm short of warriors as it is, and that dumb ass goes into the slave lodge hoping to get warmed by a woman. Well, by God, he got warm and dead, too. Don't these young men have any sense these days?
he thought as he yelled about the dead man.