“Wood chopping,” Emily said.
Alex cocked her head to the side and listened. She could hear many axes banging against wood and the sound of a tree cracking and then falling came to her. She nodded her head at Emily.
“You’re right. They’re cutting down trees. We’re going to have to get around them. Hopefully, they aren’t too deep in and they are cutting close to the field.” She scanned the trees around them and pointed out a large solid one.
“Your turn! See if you can get high enough to see how far away they are.”
Emily strode over to the tree Alex had pointed out and studied the branches before dropping her pack.
“Give me a lift, please.”
Alex laced her hands together and Emily placed her boot into them. With a heave, Alex helped her friend up so that she could easily reach the lowest branch. Emily might not have Alex’s gymnast flexibility but she’d spent just as much time climbing trees. She made her way from branch to branch until Alex lost sight of her behind the leaves. Alex kept her eyes and ears on the forest around them. She didn’t want to take a chance that someone would stumble upon them. Her anxiety was at an all-time high before Emily finally jumped down from the tree.
Emily picked a scrap of bark that had slivered into her palm while she told Alex what she’d seen.
“I couldn’t see any people from up there but I could see the trees they are working on swaying around. They’re about two hundred yards ahead and closer to the tree line at the field. If we stay on this heading, we should have about thirty to forty feet between us and them,” she finished and then blew on her burning, scraped palm.
Alex turned away from her friend and looked in the direction of the chopping. She thought about what to do for a minute and then turned back.
“Okay, we’ll keep our distance but it’d be great if we could get close enough to hear anyone talking. We can go up into the trees to get a better look at who’s down there but I don’t like the idea of being up a tree if we’re spotted. I’d rather be on the ground if we’re seen so we can run if we need to. What do you think?”
Emily grinned. “Super sneaky ninja mode?”
Alex smothered a laugh. “Yup, super sneaky ninja mode!”
Both girls were smiling at the many memories of sneaking up on the boys while they camped out. It was a game the group had played many times. They had to sneak up to the other's campsite and pull some kind of prank before getting away undetected. When they had left for the school trip, Alex and Emily had been in the lead by two pranks. It was no contest for the girls with Josh always giving away the boys. As hard as he tried, he just couldn’t move silently through the woods and the girls always caught them before they could pull their prank.
Alex pulled the dark cap she was wearing down further on her head. She made sure all of her hair was tucked up under it and checked Emily’s as well. Emily’s white blond and her bright red hair would be like a beacon if they left their heads uncovered. Satisfied that they were ready, the two girls headed towards the woodcutting area. They walked slowly and watched where they put their feet. They might be seen but they wouldn’t be heard. As they came closer to their objective, the noise of many axes filled the forest and they slowed even more. Using trees and bushes for cover, they inched their way closer to where the people were working.
Alex could see movement ahead so she crouched down and stayed low. Her heart was thundering in her ears and she paused for a minute to take some calming breaths before moving ahead. She settled behind a large tree and leaned slightly to the side so that only one of her eyes could see what was happening ahead of her. A man she didn’t recognize was standing twenty feet in front of her in profile. He had a rifle slung over his shoulder and his arms were crossed with a scowl on his face. He was watching something further away so Alex eased back behind the tree and leaned the other way to get a view of what he was watching.
Two men she vaguely recognized from town were working on a downed tree. Most of the branches had been cut off and they were tying a rope around it. Once they had the rope secured, they both took an end and started to pull it towards the tree line and out into the field. The guard turned and followed them without looking in Alex’s direction.
Alex pulled back behind the tree and looked back at where Emily was hiding. Her friend made eye contact and motioned for them to move on. Keeping low to the ground, Alex moved back and the two girls slinked further into the woods. Emily was in the lead and after a few minutes she used her hand behind her back to motion Alex to a stop. After a slight pause, Emily motioned Alex forward and down. They both settled behind a large bush and they carefully parted some of its lower branches to see what was ahead.
Both girls recognized the lone man working on stripping the branches of a downed tree. It was Dr. Mack. He had moved into their town five years ago and he had treated both girls over the years. Alex scanned all around the area he was working but couldn’t see anyone else around. She turned her head until she was looking at Emily and raised her eyebrows and made a talking motion and pointed back at the doctor. Emily frowned and shrugged. With this many people in the woods, it would be hard to get a good look at the farm, and they needed the information. Alex knew they had to be careful not to give themselves away but the desire to find out what was happening to her family outweighed her fear. Her heart was thundering in her chest so she took a few deep breaths and parted the branches again. Taking another good look around the area and finding it still clear, she called his name in a low voice.
Dr. Mack paused in mid-chop and his body froze for a second before he followed through with his cut. When he pulled his axe back, he casually looked around and then whispered, “Who’s there?” while keeping his eyes on the tree he was stripping.
Alex was quick to respond, “Don’t whisper, it carries further. Just talk in a low voice.” At his nod, she went on. “It’s Alex Andrews and Emily Mather. How many guards are there?”
Dr. Mack took another swing at the tree before responding, “There are six guards but you can’t do anything. Our families are being held hostage.”
Alex was quick to reassure him. “We know the situation. We’re just scouting and getting info to make a plan. Doctor…where’s my father? Is he okay?”
The doctor chopped at the tree a few more times with a frown on his face. Alex could tell he didn’t want to answer her and she went cold all over. Was she about to find out that her father was dead? Just when her anxiety reached its peak, he looked around the area again and finally answered.
“He’s in the barn. He had an accident a few days ago and cut his leg very badly. I’ve tried to keep it clean but it has gotten infected. This group of guards are real hard cases and they won’t give me any medical supplies to treat it. I’m hoping when they rotate out that the next group will help me. Unfortunately, that won’t be until Sunday when we go into town. I’m sorry, Alex. I don’t know if he will make it that long.”
Alex was starting to panic and she was about to hit the doctor with a barrage of questions when Emily grabbed her arm and motioned for silence. It was only then that Alex heard the whistling. Someone was coming. The girls flattened themselves even further down on the ground and Alex prayed that the doctor wouldn’t speak and give them away. Seconds later, she saw another guard step up to the fallen tree. As he looked over the doctor’s progress Alex studied him. He was tall and rough looking. His hair and beard were long and greasy but he looked well fed with a gut hanging over his belt. Standing beside the doctor, it dawned on Alex how thin and tired the doctor looked. These bastards weren’t feeding the workers very well based on the doctor’s appearance.
“You better speed up, Doc. You don’t make your quota, you don’t eat!” the guard said menacingly.
Dr. Mack kept chopping at the tree as he answered. “We would be able to work faster if you guys would sharpen these axes. The blades are so dull it takes a lot longer to cut through every branch.” His tone was bland as if he didn’t want to a
ntagonize the guard.
With a shrug of indifference, the guard started to walk away. He called over his shoulder as he went, “Life gave you lemons. Make some lemonade…if you want your supper!” He let out a howl of laughter.
Dr. Mack stood staring after the guard until he was out of sight before turning and looking in the direction that Alex and Emily were hiding in.
“Are you still there?” he called softly.
Alex lost all her caution and stood up. She couldn’t help her father until she had more information.
“How many days is it until Sunday?” she asked him. They had lost track of the days of the week long ago.
“Today is Wednesday,” he said, looking into her eyes sadly.
Alex shook her head. If her father’s leg was infected, he couldn’t wait that long for medicine. It could turn gangrenous and then he would die. She wasn’t going to let that happen.
“Where do you all sleep at night and how many people are being kept here?”
“They lock us into the barn at night and there are sixty of us. There are another ten who stay in the house with the guards. They are working for them for more food.”
Emily’s breath caught at that. The idea that some of her neighbours would collaborate with these animals against their own people made her sick. She popped up beside Alex and asked her own question.
“Do you know what other farms are being used? How do the guards rotate?”
He gave her a sad smile and nodded. “Your family farm is being used as well as two others. The Dennison farm and another but I don’t know who the owners are. On Sunday’s they walk us into town and we get to see our families. They are being held at the school and we only get to talk to them through the fence. After a very brief visit, the guards switch out and we walk back for another week of slave labour.” He took a quick look around to make sure it was still clear before saying, “You girls need to get out of here. If they catch you…” he trailed off with a frown.
Alex had to push down the fury at all that he had told them and focus on what she could do right now.
“I can get you medicine and first aid supplies. Will you be working here for the rest of the day?”
He shook his head. “No, this is the last tree for me. After it gets pulled out of here, we’ll all be back in the yard chopping, splitting and stacking for the rest of the day. I’m sorry, Alex, but your dad wouldn’t want you to risk getting caught for him. You have to stay away.”
“Yeah, well, that’s not going to happen! What time do you get locked in and is there a guard in the yard at night?” she asked, in a don’t-argue-with-me tone.
“We work until it gets dark and then they lock us in with whatever they are feeding us for supper. I’m pretty sure they don’t put out a guard at night but it’s not worth taking a chance, Alex. You have no idea what kind of animals these men are.”
“Trust me, Doc. I know exactly what they are. I need someone to make sure that the hay elevator door is unlatched. I’ll be back tonight after dark with everything you need. Be safe and tell my father I’m coming!”
Chapter Four
The girls moved away from the area, quickly putting distance between them and the men working in the woods before circling around and heading north again. Even though they had the information that they needed, they still wanted to take a look at Emily’s home. It was close to noon so they settled down for a break in a clearing and they pulled out the lunch they’d brought with them. Alex picked at the peanut butter and jam sandwich as she thought about her dad. After five minutes of silence, Emily broke into her gloomy thoughts.
“I’m sorry about your dad. If it was my father, I would do the same thing but we really need to talk about this. If you get caught, it might blow our chances of freeing everyone,” she said softly.
“I won’t get caught, just like you wouldn’t get caught if you had to sneak around your place. This is our home turf, Em. Nobody knows our farms like we do. I could probably sneak into my house without getting caught!” At Emily’s startled expression, Alex laughed. “Don’t worry. I won’t be going anywhere near the house. The barn is between the house and the fields so they won’t have a line of sight on me. Then I’ll climb the hay bale elevator up into the loft and I’m in. Piece of cake!”
Emily was still frowning. “We’ll see what everyone else thinks when we get back to base, I guess.”
Alex’s face took on a set expression. “I’m not going back to base. We’ll scout out your place and then I need to go and get some supplies for Dr. Mack. You shouldn’t have any problems getting back to the bikes. Just leave mine and I’ll be back later.”
“What!? Alex, there’s no way you’re doing this by yourself! Forget it! Besides, where are you going to get the medicine your dad needs? You have to come back with me and then we’ll all make a plan!”
“Not going to happen. Don’t bother fighting me on this, Em. I’m going alone. If for some unlikely reason I get caught, then I need the rest of you guys to keep working on a plan to free us. I’m not risking anyone else. It’s my dad who needs help, so I’m the one who’s going to do it. Besides, I really don’t think I’ll get caught.”
Emily threw up her hands and growled in frustration. She knew how stubborn her best friend was and there was no use in arguing with her right now. She also knew that there were many hours before it got dark and she could be back with help before Alex made her move.
“So where do you plan on getting these supplies? Last time I checked the Shoppers Drug Mart was closed.”
Alex smiled with relief that Emily wasn’t going to keep arguing with her. She also felt bad about the half lie she was about to tell but she’d made a promise and she was going to keep it.
“Mrs. Moore’s house is only one more road over and just to the west. She told me she has some supplies stashed away if we needed them. After we check on your place, we’ll come back here and split up. I’ll get what I need and then make my way back here and hang out in the trees until dark. I don’t plan on staying very long in the barn so I should make it back to base by ten o’clock.”
Emily looked away and took another bite from her lunch. She understood where Alex was coming from. If it was her father who was hurt, she would do whatever it took to help him, but she liked to think that she would ask her friends for help. It was just like Alex to not want to put her friends in jeopardy. Emily finished her sandwich and took a long drink from her water bottle before changing the subject.
“So where do you think the best place to cross the field is?”
Alex packed her water bottle away before answering. “I’ve been thinking about that. Do you remember last year when we played paintball wars? We used that shallow gully along the fence in the north pasture to get to the tree line. We’ll still have to crouch down and the bottom will probably still be wet but I think that’s the best bet to get across unseen. After that, it gets tricky. It’s all open pasture on your land except for that one grove of trees on the northwest side. We’ll have no cover at all as we cross the fields. What do you think?”
Emily looked in the direction of her land and thought about it. “We won’t get a very good look from those trees. They are too far away. If we go south at your property line, we can come up behind the cattle shelter and use that for cover. It’s not much but with the glasses, we can get a good look at the yard and outbuildings. We’re just going to have to play it by ear. We don’t know where they are working and we’ll have to watch our backs in case anyone is on the east side of your place. Let’s just see what’s what when we get closer.”
Alex stood up and slung her pack over her back before adjusting the sling on her rifle so that it wouldn’t get in the way while she was moving. They set off through the trees heading back towards the distant fields. Alex thought about the farms that they knew were being used. If she had to guess she would say that Josh’s family farm was the fourth one being occupied. Quinn’s and her farms were mainly crop farms with small amounts
of livestock. Emily’s farm had some crops but they had a lot of poultry and horses. It made sense that Josh’s family farm would be the fourth because they had the most cattle in the area. They also had a sizable herd of pigs. If the bad guys hadn’t moved in and taken over, those four farms with the other smaller spreads wouldn’t have had a problem supporting the local population. There was no shortage of food in this area and it made Alex furious that the workers were half-starved.
It didn’t take the girls long to see the break in the trees ahead of them and Alex shimmied up a tree to look ahead and get their bearings. They had moved far enough away from her barnyard that there was no one in sight. Searching the fields ahead of her, she finally saw that they had to backtrack a bit to get to the area they wanted to cross over. She made her way back down the tree and landed lightly on her feet. Her muscles felt good and limber from all the walking they’d done and it was a nice feeling after spending so long without exercise.
“We overshot it so let’s move up to the tree line and head back a bit,” she explained to Emily.
They stayed just inside the trees and moved more cautiously until they saw the fence and gully ahead of them. Alex passed the binoculars to Emily and she scanned the area around where they would be leaving the trees. She passed them back to Alex with a nod and after they were put away, they stepped out into the field. The girls ran in a low crouch until they reached the gully and scrambled down into it. Alex’s boots landed in a few inches of water that was left from the melt-off. Keeping their heads down, the girls headed east. They traveled silently with their ears alert for any other human sounds for fifteen minutes. Their backs started to ache from their hunched over postures so when they came to a fairly dry area, they stopped to rest.
Emily leaned against the steep side of the gully and carefully used the glasses to scan back towards Alex’s place before turning them towards her own. While she did that, Alex dropped to her knees and went into a few yoga maneuvers to stretch away the tension in her back. When Emily was satisfied that they were clear, she turned away and had to slap her hand over her mouth to muffle her bark of laughter. Alex had her hands and feet on the ground with her butt sticking straight up in the air. Emily watched her complete the move with amusement sparkling in her eyes.
Stranded Box Set Page 46
