by L. S. O'Dea
“I’ll start dragging them to the building. I’m not leaving them out here. I don’t want anyone killed.” He grinned at her. “You can tell me what you meant about the last time you did something like this while we tie everyone up.”
She smiled back although she was pretty sure it looked more like a grimace. Hopefully, he didn’t consider all Guards as brothers. She ran to get the rope.
After the Guards were secured inside the house, he took a set of keys off the wall. The Guard in the closet continued to yell and kick the door.
“You’d better be quiet,” he said. “I’m turning the Tracker loose. She doesn’t need an excuse to tear you limb from limb. Your best bet is that she forgets you exist.”
The noise from the closet stopped. He winked at Trinity and locked the door as they left.
“If they keep quiet, the Guards should be safe.” He laughed as they walked to the Tracker cages. “So, you set the Producers at the Finishing Camp free. Benedictine is going to be livid. Things are not going well for him.”
She’d skipped over the part about killing the Guards. What he didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. She raced to the cages. “Mirra!”
“Little One,” whispered Mirra. “You no be here.”
He began unlocking Mirra’s chains, starting with her neck.
“I couldn’t leave you,” she said, choking back tears. The Tracker’s fir was dirty and there was blood on her arm.
When he unlocked the final chains, Mirra crumpled to the floor. She staggered to her feet, stumbling a bit until her legs adjusted to her weight again. He unlocked the cage door. Mirra looked at him and snarled.
Trinity stepped in front of Jackson. “He’s a friend, Mirra. I couldn’t have done this without him.”
“He Benedictine Guard. He shoot Mirra. Mirra stumble. Mirra sleep.”
She glared at him. It seemed she wasn’t the only one keeping secrets. He hadn’t told her that he was the one to actually drug and capture the Tracker. Still, she had to persuade Mirra that he was on their side, or he could be in trouble and that would be her fault. She really needed to get less involved. “He helped me escape Benedictine. He came here and helped you. He’s a friend.”
The Tracker hissed at him, baring her teeth and then jumped out of the cage, falling to her knees from the impact. She scrambled to her feet and walked over to one of the other cages.
“Turn Nirankan loose.”
“I didn’t agree to that. We can’t turn them all loose. They’re dangerous.”
“Only if you agree that we’ll be safe,” she said, trying to appease both of them.
“Little One safe,” said Mirra, baring her teeth again.
“Jackson too.” It was a good sign that Mirra hadn’t attacked him yet.
“You too many friends.” Mirra looked at Nirankan and then snarled at Jackson. “This…Guard safe too.”
“I don’t think this is a good idea,” he said, but he began unlocking Nirankan’s cage anyway. “We need to get going.”
She dug her toe in the dirt. He was not going to be happy with her. “I’m staying with Mirra.”
He stopped unlocking the door and turned to her. “What do you mean? You said that you’d go to—”
“After Mirra and Gaar are free.”
“Mirra can take care of setting the Handler free. She doesn’t need your help.”
“Unlock Nirankan, Sikka, Parra.” Mirra pointed to the Trackers in the cages.
“I’m going with her”—Trinity held out her hands for the keys—“I can finish unlocking the Trackers. You go back to Casper and Viola. They need you. I don’t.”
“I’m not leaving you here. Alone.” He finished unlocking Nirankan’s cage and moved on to Sikka.
She rolled her eyes. She’d been alone with Mirra and Gaar for more than a week. “Mirra will protect me.”
“No.” He opened the door and Sikka was free.
“It’s the only way.” She glanced at Mirra who was busy talking to Nirankan. Mirra didn’t know that she’d agreed to go to Hugh’s and this encounter with Benedictine would have increased Mirra’s distrust of Almightys. She did not want to have that conversation with the Tracker while Jackson was around. “I’m not going to Hugh’s until I know Gaar is safe,” she whispered. “Yes, Mirra can set him free but if he’s sick or injured, I can help. I know something about medicinal plants and herbs.”
Jackson unlocked the last cage. Nirankan and Sikka stepped inside and helped Parra to the ground.
“I don’t like this.” He looked from the Trackers to her.
“I promise that I’ll go to Hugh as soon as Gaar is free.” When he started to object again she held up her hand. “Think of Casper. You can’t leave him to hand over Viola on his own.”
“You’re right.” Jackson stepped toward her like he was going to hug her and then he awkwardly patted her on the shoulder and handed her the keys. “You stay safe.”
He walked a few steps and then turned back to face her. “Christian. I think you had better explain to him why I’m returning alone. I don’t want him to think that I ate you.”
“Oh, yeah. I probably should talk to him.” She turned to Mirra. “I’ll be right back. Wait for me.”
“Keys.” Mirra held out her hand. “We wait.”
She dropped the keys in the Tracker’s large paw and then raced with Jackson back to the boat. Christian was lurking in the water and she made it clear to him that he was to take Jackson back to the Lake of Sins and that she would be staying.
“If he eats me, it’s your fault.” Jackson took a deep breath and crawled into the canoe.
“Christian, Jackson is my friend. Keep him safe.” She tried to smile, but she was a bit concerned about that herself. She’d grown fond of the hairless Guard.
Christian trudged away, dragging the canoe and then slid under the water. Jackson held her gaze for a moment and then he lay down as the canoe disappeared into the tunnel.
CHAPTER 36
TRINITY RAN BACK TO the Tracker encampment and stopped, panting, next to Mirra.
“Now, Mirra turn others loose.” Mirra pointed to the Trackers in the yard.
“Mirra,” warned Nirankan.
“I no leave them. This no life,” said Mirra.
Nirankan looked at Sikka. She shrugged.
He frowned and then nodded at Trinity. “She in cage.”
She didn’t want to get locked up again. Once had been enough. She turned to Mirra but the Tracker pointed to the cage.
She hesitated. If something went wrong, she’d be trapped. “I need the keys. I want to be able to set myself free if…well...”
Mirra laughed, but handed over the key to the cage. “If we dead. You safer in cage.”
Maybe, she should have left with Jackson. She climbed inside the enclosure, her heart dropping when the door clanged shut behind her. She’d been a prisoner in one way or another all her life, but this was the last time.
Mirra walked to the calmest chained Tracker. “I free you. You obey. We no fight.”
The female Tracker made no sound. Mirra moved closer. The other Tracker turned, exposing the back of her neck where the chain was hooked. Mirra unlocked the chain and let it drop to the ground. The Tracker hesitantly stepped out of the area where she had been previously confined. Once she realized that she really was free, the Tracker raced forward and leapt into a tree, jumping from branch to branch.
Trinity grasped the bars of the cage, smiling. Mirra had been right. Freedom was a gift that everything deserved. Nirankan, Sikka and Para, who stood in front of her cage, stared in awe at the Tracker as she raced from tree to tree. All the other chained Trackers, besides the one who paced, watched their freed companion with hope in their eyes. Mirra moved on to the others. Everything went well until Mirra stepped up to the last Tracker, the one who paced continuously. Of all the Trackers, he seemed the most disturbed. In her mind, Trinity had named him Crazy.
Crazy swatted at Mirra and snarled.
&
nbsp; “I help. I friend,” said Mirra.
His lips twitched and a low rumble sounded in his chest.
“Leave him,” said Nirankan. “He no right in head.”
“I no leave him. I no leave any.” Mirra turned to Nirankan. “If go bad, take care Little One.”
“No, Mirra. Don’t do this. Think about Gaar.” This was dangerous. Crazy was…well crazy.
“Nirankan, you free Gaar-Mine for me?”
“He belong you,” said Nirankan. “No me. He no let me near.”
“Take Little One,” said Mirra.
“No do this, Mirra. Leave this one,” he warned.
“Trackers no be chained. Trackers be free. Mirra no leave.”
“Please don’t do this,” she begged. Crazy was huge compared to Mirra, outweighing her by at least a hundred pounds.
Mirra faced her. “It fine, Little One. Trust Mirra.” She turned back to the solitary chained Tracker, and pointed at herself. “Mirra friend.” She held up the key. She acted like she was unhooking a lock on her own neck. She tossed the key and it fell to the ground by the other Tracker’s feet.
Crazy pounced on it. He turned it over in his hand, sniffing it. He glanced at Mirra out of the corner of his eye as he stood and raised the key to the chain around his neck. After a few attempts, he managed to unlock the latch. He shook his head, the restraint falling to the ground. He stared at Mirra and then at the three Trackers who stood in front of her cage. He watched the other Trackers who had once been chained. In the dark and near the brush they were hard to see, but some were in trees; others rambled around the yard. One sniffed at the door to the Guards’ building. He looked back at Mirra and snarled.
“Friend.” Mirra pointed at her chest.
His muscles tensed and he launched himself at Mirra.
“Look out,” Trinity screamed.
The other Trackers stopped what they were doing to watch the battle.
Mirra met Crazy in mid-lunge. They hit with a great thud, limbs tangling in the air. They twisted and landed on all fours, separated by a few feet. Hair raised and bodies at the ready, they circled each other.
“You friend, or you die,” said Mirra. “Choose.”
“Do something,” she whispered to Nirankan.
“Shush,” he said.
Crazy leapt at Mirra and she sidestepped his attack. As he flew by, she reached out and slashed his ribs. He screeched in pain as he hit the ground in a roll, protecting his injured side. He sprung to his feet and looked at the slice in his fur. He glared at Mirra as they circled each other again, each looking for a weakness, an opening.
He jumped forward and then quickly back. Mirra reacted by sidestepping again and he took that opportunity to race in head down and slam into her torso. She was lifted into the air and flung over his back. She twisted to land on her feet but her timing was off and she landed on her side with a thud. Crazy was on her in a second. Their hands locked and Mirra tried to keep his head away from her neck, but he was larger and heavier.
“Help her!” Trinity poked Nirankan through the bars.
Nirankan stepped out of her reach but he and the others did nothing to help Mirra. They all just watched. She raced to the cage door and unlocked it.
Nirankan grabbed the door, holding it closed. “You no help. You only harm.”
She yanked on the bars, but she was no match for his strength. She had to do something, but what could she do if she couldn’t get out of the cage?
Crazy was getting closer and closer to Mirra’s neck with each moment. He was only inches away. Drool from his mouth dripped onto her face and she relaxed her body and her arms, giving up the struggle.
“No,” Trinity cried, pulling on the bars again. It couldn’t end like this.
As the pressure of their struggle dissipated, Crazy fell forward. Mirra quickly pushed up on his injured side and rolled to her right. He landed face first in the dirt. She climbed on top of him, digging her knee into his spine and grabbing him by the hair at the back of his neck. She lowered her mouth to the side of his throat.
“Surrender or die,” said Mirra.
He growled one last protest and then his body went limp.
In the cage, Trinity’s did too, as she sagged against the bars. Mirra hadn’t given up. Mirra would never give up. Mirra was a fighter, a survivor.
“You obey me,” commanded Mirra, yanking on his fur.
After a long moment, he turned his head, exposing his jugular.
Mirra stood, keeping a hold of his fur. She placed her foot on his back and tipped up her head, letting out a victory howl. When the last echo died, she stepped aside and offered him her hand. He accepted and she helped him to his feet.
The other Trackers, the ones who had been chained, walked up to Mirra and dropped to their knees before her. She lowered her face to the neck of each one and opened her mouth, placing her teeth at the jugular. The Trackers held perfectly still. When she’d done this to each one, she walked over to the cage, her bearing stiff and proud.
“Let Little One loose,” ordered Mirra.
Nirankan removed his hold on the door and Trinity shoved it open. Mirra took her hand and helped her out of the cage.
“Friend.” Mirra pulled her close and stroked her hair. “No hurt.” Mirra stared at each Tracker. “Smell. No hunt. No eat.”
Mirra sniffed up and down Trinity’s body and then each Tracker stepped forward. She tensed as the first Tracker approached. It towered over her, all fur and muscle. Its fangs were so long that they were visible even with its mouth closed. It sniffed her, its hot breath blowing across her face. When it moved to her neck, she trembled. All it would take was one quick snap and she’d be dead. It stepped away and the next one moved forward. All eight of the Trackers performed this task and she shook each time. She tried not to, but it took all her control to stand steady and not run away screaming.
When the last Tracker finished, Mirra said, “Now, Handler camp.”
A few of the Trackers made a snorting sound.
“We free Handler. We no kill.” Mirra stared at each one until it lowered its gaze from hers.
Mirra bent in front of Trinity and she crawled onto the Tracker’s back, still trembling a bit. Crazy grunted and Mirra faced him. He motioned and they all followed him to the building. He looked in the window and bared his teeth in a grimace of a smile. They peered through the glass at the now conscious Guards. All color had drained from the Guards’ faces and their eyes were wide with fear.
Crazy tapped the window with one long claw. The Guards tried to scoot out of sight. Drool ran out of Crazy’s mouth in two long strands that hung below his chin. He looked at Mirra eagerly.
“No, Mirra,” Trinity whispered in the Tracker’s ear. “Leave them.”
Mirra walked to the door. The others followed. She turned the handle but it was locked.
Mirra wasn’t listening to her. She had no love for the Guards but letting the Trackers tear them apart while they were tied up didn’t seem right. She needed to stop this. “What about Gaar,” she urged. “He needs us.”
Mirra turned away from the building.
Trinity breathed a sigh of relief.
Mirra sniffed the air and huffed twice. “Catch up when done.”
She started to protest but they were already heading into the forest. Nirankan, Sikka and Parra followed. She clung to Mirra but couldn’t stop herself from taking one last look at the Tracker Camp. Crazy was slamming his body into the door. The frame would never hold. She faced forward, but her ears tipped back to catch the sounds. A few moments later the door broke and then there were screams, a lot of them. She buried her head in Mirra’s neck. Jackson was not going to be happy when he found out about this.
They raced through the woods, Mirra leaving the other three far behind as she leapt from limb to limb. The chilled wind whipped through Trinity’s hair, and stung her eyes. It was breathtaking.
Nirankan appeared to her right.
“Slow down,”
he said, gasping for air. “Wait.”
Mirra stopped, pulling herself up on a branch. “What wrong?”
“Parra. He need rest.” His breathing became more normal. “We carry him. We no keep up.”
“Show me,” said Mirra.
They went back to where Sikka waited with Parra high in a tree. Parra was leaning against the trunk, his eyes shut. There was greenish-yellow spittle in the creases by his nose and mouth.
“What wrong?” asked Mirra.
“He sick. Guards hard on him,” said Sikka.
She climbed off Mirra’s back. “May I?” She held out her hand.
Parra sniffed her fingers and nodded.
She touched the mucus by his mouth, rubbing it between her fingers to study the texture. It was thick, tacky. She sniffed the substance and then wiped it on the bark. Next, she opened one of his eyes using her thumb and index finger. The whites of his eyes were yellow. It was bad, but not fatal if treated.
“He’s infected with sickness, probably from bad food and water. He’s weak.” She wiped her fingers on her pants. “He needs food and rest.” Food is me. She glanced nervously at the Trackers. “And medicine.”
“We no time rest,” said Mirra.
“We no leave him,” said Sikka.
“I go. Save Gaar.” Mirra began to pace.
“Mirra,” she said. “I have an idea.” Hopefully, this wasn’t a huge mistake.
Mirra, Sikka and Nirankan looked at her.
“We can take Para to the Finishing Camp. I showed the Producers what herbs to gather to help with their illnesses. The same medicines should help Para.” She paused and studied the three Trackers. She was not positive about sending a Tracker to the Producers. She could trust Mirra, but she wasn’t sure about the others. “On one condition.”
“What condition?” Parra’s voice was weak and raspy.
She glanced from one Tracker to the next. How would they take this from her? They seemed reasonable, but they were predators and she was their prey. “You can’t eat them.” There. She’d said it.
A cackle of laughter broke from Parra’s throat and quickly turned into a cough. When he settled down he said, “Promise. I no eat you friends.”
