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JETHRO HAD A HARD time not grinning as Cal wandered around the old camp. The captain was not happy. The discovery of the abandoned AC camp was a coup and Cal was going to have to report that Jethro had been the one to find it.
All three prisoners were kneeling in the center of camp with hands tied behind their backs. They were adults, probably around thirty years old. He was reasonably sure by their grim faces that they weren’t going to reveal any information about the AC, at least not easily.
Cal stopped in front of the prisoners. “Where’s the location of your new camp?”
“Don’t know what camp you’re talking about,” said one of the Guards.
Cal slapped him across the face. The Guard spit the blood from his mouth but other than that didn’t make a sound.
“What do they call you?” Cal motioned and Brick yanked the Guard to his feet.
“Ranger,” said the Guard.
“Ranger, if you don’t know anything about the insurgent’s camp, explain what you’re doing here.”
“Me and my boys were hunting and we found this place.”
“Alone? Let me see your papers.” Cal’s voice was smug. Everyone knew what happened to strays.
“We don’t have none, sir.” Ranger’s brown eyes were brittle. “Our dear master passed away a while ago. Maybe, we could join your group.” He glanced at his companions. “We know this forest and we could use steady food.”
“Invite spies into my army?” Cal laughed.
“Excuse me, Captain. May I speak with you?” Indy tipped his head toward the forest.
Cal let out a disgusted sigh but followed the Guard away from the prisoners and closer to where Jethro stood.
When they were far enough away that the AC Guards wouldn’t overhear, Indy said, “Let them join us. When they sneak away, we’ll follow them to their new camp”—Indy glanced at the prisoners—“and if we’re wrong about them, we have a few more Guards.”
“Nonsense,” said Cal. “We’re not wrong and I don’t allow traitors in my ranks.” He strode back to the prisoners. “Hold him tight.”
Brick tightened his grip on Ranger’s arms and Cal punched the prisoner in the stomach, again and again.
Indy wandered over to Jethro and leaned against a tree. “Torture doesn’t work, but Captain Cal never learns that lesson.”
Jethro shrugged. He didn’t like seeing the Guard beaten for no reason, but it probably wasn’t the worst beating he’d received. None of the three looked like they’d had easy lives. They were all thin and had scars on their faces and hands.
“This is what we do to liars,” said Cal as he hit Ranger one more time and then lowered his arms. “Tell me where you moved your camp.”
“I told you. We don’t know nothing about a camp,” said Ranger.
Cal motioned two other Guards over by the prisoners. “Bring them and follow me.”
The Guards yanked the other prisoners to their feet and dragged them over to Cal who stood at the edge of the camp near an old log.
“Him.” Cal pointed to one of the prisoners. “Bend him over the log.”
Cal’s Guard glanced at the captain in confusion but forced the prisoner to kneel, the top half of his body resting on the log.
“Ranger, you have one more chance to answer my question.” Cal pulled his sword from his sheath.
Ranger’s eyes stared at the blade as it glistened in the dying sun, and then his gaze moved to his friend. The Guard on his knees trembled as he glanced up at Ranger and shook his head.
Ranger swallowed visibly and said, “Don’t do this. I swear. We don’t know nothing about a camp.”
“He won’t actually do it, will he?” Jethro asked Indy. Beating the Guards was one thing, but killing them served no purpose. Dead Guards couldn’t talk and given time one of these three might tell what he knew for more food or freedom, even Cal had to understand that. Of course, he’d have to figure out a way to free them before that happened.
Indy shook his head. “No. It’s a scare tactic...”
Cal’s blade flew through the air, severing the head of the kneeling Guard. Silence fell over the camp, not even the birds chirped. Indy’s knees buckled and he staggered backward away from the tree. The air caught in Jethro’s lungs as his gaze locked on the blood as it spurted from the torso into the air, splashing onto the ground. The body twitched and then stilled, but the blood still came. The geyser slowed and finally stopped, leaving a small black river of life to dirt.
Cal wiped his blade on the back of the beheaded Guard before turning to face the two remaining prisoners. Ranger’s face was pale and his eyes were locked on his dead friend.
“Next.” Cal pointed to the Guard next to Ranger.
“No, don’t do this. Please.” The prisoner bucked and kicked, fighting to stay away from the log as Cal’s Guard dragged him forward.
“Someone help him.” Cal directed another Guard to assist. “Make him kneel.”
“Stop! Enough!” Jethro forced his eyes away from the decapitated Guard as he strode across the camp to Cal. “Dead Guards are no use to us.”
“Get back,” said Cal.
“The Supreme Almighty isn’t going to be happy about this.” He had to convince Cal that this wasn’t the way.
“I said make him kneel,” said Cal.
Another Guard came forward and the three forced the prisoner to his knees.
“Don’t do this, Captain. We need them to talk but not this way. Guards are used to punishment. Show them kindness. They’ll talk.” He was rambling, but he didn’t know what else to do.
“Where did you move the camp?” Cal stared at Ranger.
Ranger’s eyes met his companion’s.
“Please, don’t do this,” begged the Guard who was on his knees.
Cal bent, peering into the Guard’s face. “I won’t, if you tell me about your new camp.”
The prisoner shook his head. “I can’t. I swear, we don’t know.”
“Liar.” Cal straightened and raised his sword.
This wasn’t going to happen. Not again. Jethro lunged, hitting Cal in the chest and knocking the sword from his hands. They fell to the ground, dirt flying in the air. He wanted to plant his fist in Cal’s face, something he’d yearned to do from the moment they’d met, but he refrained. Instead, he pushed his forearm against Cal’s throat.
“There’s no need to kill anyone else.” He put more weight onto his arm. “Do you hear me?”
Hands pulled at his shoulders, but he wrapped his other arm around Cal keeping the captain tight against him. “Call them off.” He gave a quick, hard push to the captain’s larynx. The captain nodded the best he could and Jethro loosened his hold a little so Cal could speak.
“Back off,” said Cal, his voice raspy.
The hands at Jethro’s back disappeared. He continued to stare into Cal’s blue eyes, his weight pressed against the other man’s throat. “Do we have a deal?”
Cal nodded, his eyes hard with hatred. Jethro stood and extended his hand to Cal, but the other Almighty ignored him and scrambled to his feet.
“Seize him,” gasped Cal, his voice still weak.
He felt the Guards moving toward him before he saw them. It was as if the very air surrounding him became a threat. He spun around swinging and connected with flesh. Fists pummeled his face and stomach, but the pain barely registered. He lowered his head and rammed into the closest body, lifting the Guard into the air and tossing him over his shoulder. Something slammed into his side, knocking him to the ground. He pushed himself to his knees, hitting anything he could reach, but more bodies collided into his, knocking him back to the ground and smothering him with their weight. He bucked trying to dislodge his opponents, but there were too many and within minutes he was trapped under a pile of Guards. The weight shifted and they rolled him over, tying his hands behind his back.
“Bring him here.” Cal’s voice rang with triumph.
He growled as the Guards lifted him to his feet and dragged him to Cal. The captain was going to pay for this, maybe not now, but one day.
“You dare assault your commanding officer.” Cal’s face was mottled with rage. “You are finished. Done! You won’t even have your Producer Camps to fall back on if I have my way.”
He snarled at the other Almighty as he welcomed the rage that flowed through his veins. This weak, sniveling coward was threatening him. Him! He didn’t need his hands to tear Cal’s limbs from his body. He’d use his teeth. He lurched forward, pulling the Guards several feet as he slammed his head into Cal’s gut and knocked the other Almighty to the ground. He threw himself forward, prepared to finish his attack, but the Guards regained control, dragging him backward. He roared, his blood screaming for him to kill his enemy.
Cal jumped to his feet, his face crimson with rage. He grabbed his sword and strode toward Jethro. The Guards tightened their hold as Cal rested his weapon against Jethro’s chest. “Make sure he has a front row seat.” He jabbed Jethro slightly and walked over to the prisoners. The second AC Guard was sitting by the log instead of laying over it.
“No, please. We don’t know nothing about any camp. I swear,” pleaded the prisoner as Cal’s Guards positioned him over the log.
Jethro took a deep breath, calming his rage to an icy storm of hatred. These words were going to kill him. “Cal, I’m sorry. Don’t do this.” He wasn’t sorry but he’d beg for the Guards’ lives. “If you stop, I’ll make sure Conguise and Jason pull me from this mission.” It was a weak promise. After attacking his commanding officer his days as a temporary soldier were over. From the look Cal shot him, the other Almighty realized it too.
“This is what we do to traitors.” Cal raised his sword.
There was a swish and a thud. Ranger’s knees buckled and the Guards had to hold him up.
Jethro’s eyes never left Cal as Ranger was put into position and beheaded. Cal would pay for this. The Guards still held him tight. If they’d only loosen their hold for a moment, he’d kill Cal with his arms tied behind his back.