The Madness of Mercury (34 page)

Still kneeling, I changed positions and, using both hands, grasped the long edge of the next board. I pulled with all my strength and felt the resistance of the ancient nails. After three tries, the board came away, cracking in two. Half was in my hand, the other half a jagged tear.

A rush of air, damp earth, and dead leaves hit my nose. I put my foot through the opening and touched the earth below. Using my knee, I kicked upward until the next board loosened, easier now that I had leverage. I felt the edges of the opening. It was time to give it a try. I could squeeze through the hole. I was only afraid someone might have heard my struggle.

I crawled back to the cot. “Eunice. I’m not going to leave you here alone. I’m going to crawl under the cabin to get out. I’ll get you free somehow. I won’t leave you here. Just trust me, okay?”

She gripped my hand in the dark. “I’ll try to be brave, dear.”

I turned back to my newly created escape hatch and pushed the thought of black widow spiders out of my head. California was rife with them and piles of construction material and logs were one of their favorite nesting places. Once bitten, emergency care would be necessary within minutes, or vomiting, blindness, even death could result, depending on body mass. I put both feet through the hole. If I could squeeze my hips through, I could make it the rest of the way. The jagged edge of the broken board pressed against my thigh. I turned and kicked it up, dislodging it. I now had just enough room.

Kneeling on the cold ground beneath the shack, I squeezed the rest of the way through, holding my breath. Now only the upper part of my body was above the floor. I had to make it the rest of the way. Painfully, I twisted my body until I could stretch my legs out on the ground. Lifting my arms above my head, I squiggled my bottom along the dirt until I was completely under the cabin, lying on my back. I prayed I had not disturbed a nest of any kind of creepy crawly things. If I had, I’d require hospitalization long before I could escape, with or without Eunice. Given the ethics of the Prophet’s Army, I was certain they’d do nothing to help me.

I turned slowly onto my stomach and, brushing cobwebs from my face, crawled the few feet to the rear of the cabin and the night air. I emerged and frantically brushed leaves, dirt, and cobwebs from my face and hands, hoping nothing had nestled in my hair.

I sat on the freezing ground for a moment, hugging my knees and catching my breath until panic subsided. I looked up and down at the backs of the cabins. There were lights on in two of them. As I watched, they were extinguished. I heard a door slam in the distance and voices carried on the cold night air. Adrenaline had made me unaware of the cold, but now I was shivering in my light T-shirt. I had to keep moving or the cold would slow me down.

I stood and tiptoed along the side of the cabin, aware of Eunice lying silently inside just on the other side of the wall. My eyes were adjusting slowly to the darkness. Farther up the road I saw the wavering beam of a flashlight. I waited and listened. Then I distinctly heard Gudrun’s voice. She was walking toward our cabin with another person. I heard a man’s deep voice in response to hers, although I wasn’t able to make out the words. She was coming closer. I didn’t know if she’d return to her former cabin, or if she’d unlock the prison door to check on us.

As she came near, I crawled behind the cabin. My knee hit a sharp rock. The pain shot up my leg. I almost cried out from the shock. I turned back and picked up the rock, gripping it in my right hand. It was small enough that I could grab it in one hand, but heavy enough it might serve as a weapon. I peered into the darkness around the side of the cabin, Gudrun’s footsteps were coming closer. She passed our cabin and climbed the steps of the cabin next to us, then there was the telltale squeak of the door opening. I crept along the side toward the front of the cabin and peeked out. Her door was open. The light made an elongated yellow rectangle on the dusty road.

I hunkered down once again, trying to formulate a plan. I might be able to escape on foot by myself and get help, but I’d promised Eunice I wouldn’t abandon her. I had no idea how long it would take to reach the town and enlist aid, but the thought of leaving Eunice here frightened me. If I could find a way to get the cabin door open, perhaps I could get her to safety.

As if in answer to my prayers, Gudrun stepped out of her cabin. I ducked back. She hesitated a moment, and then, clomping down the three steps, strode toward our makeshift prison. She fished a large keyring out of her pocket and inserted it into the lock, swung the door open, and stepped inside. I caught a flash of light from her flashlight. It was now or never.

I crept quietly up the stairs behind her. She was standing inside the doorway, her flashlight aimed at the hole in the floor. She uttered an oath under her breath in German. I gripped the rock and bashed her squarely on the back of her head.

She wavered for a moment. Terrified I hadn’t knocked her out, I slammed the rock into her head once more for good measure. She pitched forward, hitting the floor face down. Her flashlight dropped from her hand and rolled into a corner.

Eunice pushed herself up to a sitting position. “Bravo, my dear!” she whispered. I automatically put my finger to my lips, not sure if she could see me in the dark. I kicked the door shut behind me, grabbed the flashlight, and rolled Gudrun over. A trickle of blood was oozing from a cut on her head but she was still breathing. I wouldn’t have been the least bit upset to learn she was dead, although I didn’t particularly want to be the one responsible. I wondered if a self defense plea under these circumstances would be credible.

I rummaged in her pocket and found the set of keys. One of these had to open the front gate. I stuffed the key ring into my jeans. Under her skirt was a serviceable slip over a pair of thermal bloomers that would have done justice to a nunnery. Under those were pantyhose. I pulled off her bloomers and, grasping the edge of her pantyhose, struggled against the weight of her body. I finally managed to pull them off, shoes and all. I rolled her over onto her stomach and using the stockings, bound her wrists tightly behind her back and then tied them to her ankles. As a last touch, I stuffed the thermal bloomers in her mouth. I had to silence her. She could wake up in a moment or, I was afraid to dwell on this, not wake up at all. I couldn’t afford to take any chances.

“Can you stay here just a few more minutes, Eunice? I’m coming back with my car. When I pull up, do your best to get down the stairs. If you have trouble, I’ll help you. Keep the door shut till then.”

“Yes,” she whispered. I peeked out the door, checking the dirt road in both directions. No one was stirring. I closed the door quietly behind me, making sure it wouldn’t lock. I hurried down the dirt road, staying close to the cabins where I could duck between them in case anyone happened to come by. With no moonlight and no artificial light, it was difficult to follow the road.

By the time I reached the gate I was out of breath with anxiety. I pulled the flashlight from my pocket and, tucking it under my arm, aimed it at the lock that held the chain securing the gate. There were several very old fashioned keys, perhaps to these very outbuildings, and three newer ones that seemed to be made for a padlock. Whether from fear or cold or both, my hands were shaking and I was shivering. If I’d heard correctly, it seemed that Reverend Roy was due to arrive tonight and Gudrun had planned to wait for his decision. We had to escape. There wasn’t a second to waste. If the rumors were true—if he was responsible for the murder of his disenchanted followers—he was capable of anything.

The first key wouldn’t fit the lock. The second one fit, but wouldn’t turn. When I tried to pull it out, it stuck and I was forced to waste precious seconds wiggling it back and forth until it released. The third key was the lucky one. It turned easily and the lock clicked open. I pulled the hasp off the chain and threw it into the bushes by the side of the gate, tossing the ring of keys after it. I looked over my shoulder but saw no movement in the dark. Carefully and slowly, I pulled one side of the wide gate open to its farthest extent. It was well oiled and barely creaked on its hinges. I raced down the drive and headed up the road to my car. I breathed a sigh of relief that I hadn’t been searched and the car hadn’t been discovered. I pulled the cord over my head and fit the key into the lock. Miraculously, it turned easily—the key hadn’t been twisted in my struggle with the floorboards. I started the engine and headed up the drive toward the chain-link gate.

I drove as fast as possible down the dirt road with my lights off. I did a tight U-turn outside the cabin and opened the passenger door. Eunice stood in the doorway of the shack clinging to the door jamb. I ran around the car and and lifted her down the stairs and into the passenger seat. I didn’t bother with a seat belt, just shut her door, ran around to the driver’s seat, and hit the door locks. Turning on the headlights, I floored it. The Geo jumped forward and then its wheels started to spin on the dirt. I took my foot off the accelerator, turned the wheel, and accelerated a little slower. The tires bit into the dirt. We had traction and we were on our way.

As we neared the top of the rise, I heard men shouting. I looked in the rear view mirror and saw two figures running at full speed down the road carrying flashlights—probably the same two men who’d delivered us to the locked cabin. I heard dogs barking and could see their shapes on the road, low to the ground and highlighted against the wavering flashlights. They’d been let out of their pens again.

I was almost to the gate when the first shotgun blast went off. I hit the gas and pulled Eunice toward me, forcing her to lie down as much as possible in the tiny car. Her head was almost on my lap. I prayed they hadn’t hit my gas tank or the tires.

“Stay down. Don’t sit up,” I shouted.

I heard a second shotgun blast as we flew through the open gate. The rear window shattered into a thousand tiny pieces. A thud hit the trunk. Eunice screamed. I looked in the rear view mirror and saw a dark lunging shape. I heard an unearthly growl as the Doberman pushed its head through the shattered rear window. Its snarling jaws dripped saliva, only a foot from my head. I gunned the car and sped down the drive, turning sharply onto the road, hoping to avoid skidding into the trees. The tires screeched as I hit the brakes just before the turn. The dog flew off the trunk, yelping as it landed in the thicket. I flicked on my high beams and drove recklessly, praying I wouldn’t miss the turn that would lead me to town. I had one chance to get away. They’d pursue, I was sure, but if I could find help, we’d be safe.

I saw the road that would lead us to town and slammed on the brakes, made the turn, and accelerated again. I didn’t slow down until I reached the main street. The Sheriff’s Station was completely dark. The tavern was lit but I wasn’t sure what help, if any, I could find there. I pulled up to the two-story fire house and stopped, facing the metal garage door. I leaned on the horn. I had no idea who manned the fire house at night, but I hoped the second floor was someone’s sleeping quarters. I continued to lean on my horn in bursts.

An engine revved in the distance. A shot of fear ran up my spine. They were chasing us. I craned my neck to look at the second story and saw a curtain move, illuminated by a dim light from the interior of the room. A bulky figure came to the window, then reached down and pushed up the lower sash. A frizzled gray head poked out of the window. What was taking this guy so long?

“Please, help us!” I shouted.

“Is there a fire, ma’am?”

“No, it’s an emergency, please let us in!” I was hoping he’d push a button and the heavy metal door would swing up. I glanced at the end of the street, the concrete ribbon disappearing into the black hole of the woods at the edge of town. Then I saw headlights flashing through the trees. They were coming after us. Was there anyone here who would help us?

“Just a minute. Let me get my pants on.” He pushed the window down and moved away. Good thing there wasn’t a fire—the whole damn countryside could burn down by the time this guy got a move on. My palms were sweating. I had to get both Eunice and myself to a safe place. I just didn’t know where that was.

I heard tires squeal at the end of the road. They were here. There was no time. I gunned the engine, threw the car into reverse, and leaped forward, heading for the Bide-a-Wee two blocks away. As we approached, I saw truck lights in the rear view mirror. It looked like the same truck that had picked us up on the road. Tires squealing, I pulled into the motel courtyard, hoping there were witnesses about. I leaned on the horn, not letting up. The truck chugged in slowly behind us, leisurely, as if knowing we were alone and there was no way to escape.

“Eunice. I’m getting out and locking you in. Don’t open the doors for anyone but me. And keep leaning on the horn.”

Eunice nodded. Her face was flushed. At least she looked more alive than when I’d found her. I popped the trunk and hit the door locks as I climbed out. Reaching into the trunk, I grabbed the steering wheel lock and pulled it apart. If our pursuers came closer, I had a bludgeoning weapon and a nasty stabbing device. I only hoped I was strong enough and quick enough to buy us some time. I slammed the trunk and took a position behind the car. Eunice began to hit the car horn in erratic bursts. The truck lights blinded me. A man climbed out of the passenger side, the same man who’d carried Eunice into the compound. He walked slowly toward me.

“Now lady, don’t give us any more trouble. We just want Miz Gamble to come back with us. She’s joined them now, you know.”

“Like hell she has,” I shouted over the noise of the horn. “She’s not going anywhere with you.”