Chapter 10
Captured

Shoshana grabbed Benjamin’s arm. “Wait! What if someone sees you?”

Benjamin pulled free and raced out. The girls ran after him. Suddenly, shouting erupted all around them. They froze, eyes wide in terror, as enemy soldiers stormed the empty camp, swords drawn, slashing viciously through the air. Then, just as quickly, the soldiers stopped.

Angry voices filled the air.

“What is this?”

“The camp is empty. Where are they?”

“We have been deceived!”

“You two.” The lead soldier singled out two guards. “Hurry back to our camp and tell the commander what has happened. The rest of you, spread out and search for the Maccabees. They must be nearby! They can’t have gone far.”

“Now!” Suddenly, the Maccabees rose from their hiding places and attacked the soldiers. The children could hear the fierce fighting and ran to the safety of their hiding place.

“Grab those children. We can use them as hostages!” shouted one of the two enemy soldiers.

Benjamin ran toward the soldiers, veering off at the last moment, drawing the men away from the girls.

“Catch him!” The two messenger soldiers turned and chased after Benjamin. He zig-zagged through the brush but couldn’t evade them. His heart pounded as one of the guards jumped into the path in front of him.

Benjamin pivoted and ran to the right, but the second guard was there waiting for him. He tried to dodge around him, but the man grabbed his arm, lifting him into the air.

“Let me go!” shouted Benjamin.

“What do we have here?” asked the guard holding the struggling boy.

“A spy, following us to discover the location of our camp,” said his companion.

Benjamin kicked his captor in the shin. The guard threw him to the ground and tied his hands behind his back. Benjamin prayed Devorah and Shoshana would stay hidden. He knew they were close enough to hear what was going on.

“What should we do with him?” the guard asked, rubbing his shin. “We must hurry. He will only slow us down.”

As the soldiers discussed her brother’s fate, Devorah searched the ground for a rock to use as a weapon to help him. Her hand closed on something. She put it in her pocket.

The guards approached Benjamin with their long, sharp swords drawn.

“Wait!” cried Benjamin. “Take me to your commander and I’ll tell him what secrets I know.”

The guards looked at one another. “Ignorant child—he knows nothing! He’s not worth the trouble of keeping alive.”

“It is not for us to decide. If our commander disagrees with you, we will be killed as well.”

“And if the boy knows nothing?”

“Then I will kill him myself!”

The guards sheathed their swords, grabbed Benjamin, and headed back toward Modi’in.

The girls followed his trail. Devorah knew they could only help him escape if they stayed out of sight and didn’t get captured as well.