The hunting party consists of ten cuirassiers on horseback, and two saurmasters on foot. The saurmasters hold leashes, at the ends of which black and evil things drool and strain at their chains. Baston rides at the rear.
The rider sent to bring back the ambulance wagon returned with only the guard, one prisoner, and a disturbing story.
The hooves of the horses raise dust as the hunting party heads out and over the bridge. Their quarry lies ahead of them and so they do not look down, and therefore do not see the small girl with the ragged hair who peers out at them from the waters beneath the stonework, then quickly draws back, lest she be spotted.
* * *
They left the forest path many minutes ago, Willem leading them through tall trees with sparse undergrowth. He uses the sun to get his bearing, and his instincts are right. It is not long before they reach the river.
It has been difficult going for the lieutenant, stumbling along without eyes to guide him, but Jack has been there at every turn, at every tree, guiding him with a hand on his arm, catching him when he trips.
“I am slowing you down,” Frost says, in French. “More than I expected. Perhaps it would be better if you continued without me.”
Jack looks at him quizzically and Frost repeats what he had said, this time in English.
Jack shakes his head but says nothing.
Frost turns back to Willem. “He does not agree. But my father is wealthy. I would be a good prize. I will come to no harm and will fetch a fair exchange in a month or so.”
“And what will happen when I reach England?” Willem asks. “Without an introduction from you, what kind of reception would I get? The Netherlands have capitulated. They now side with the French. That makes me the enemy.”
“There is some truth in what you say,” Frost says.
“I need you as much as you need me,” Willem says. “Whatever we do, we do it together.”
Frost turns with alarm, looking back the way they have come. Without eyes, his ears seem to be increasingly sensitive.
“Shh,” he says. “Listen.”
They all stop on the bank of the river.
“I hear the French soldiers,” Jack says. “I hear their dogs.”
“That is not the sound of dogs,” Frost says.