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CHAPTER 41

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Clawson’s men forced everyone closer toward the ship at the river bank. Large sails waved in the wind. Keme admired the ship for a moment, only to remember it would take him to a slave camp. A clanging noise caught his attention. Soldiers carried heavy metal pieces with chains. They went around putting them on the struggling natives, slapping and punching them when they wouldn’t stand still. One of them put the metal clasps on his wrists and ankles. His arms dropped down at the heavy weight, so heavy he didn’t like the idea of walking through any water in fear of drowning. The metal on his wrists was similar to the kind used to make muskets. It could be used to make many different things, but instead of using it for good they used it for destruction.

Two men marched Chapa, bound in heavy chains, over to the boat.

One of the few natives shouted, “Chapa! Thanks to you we’re slaves now.”

A roar of agreement came up while the soldiers shouted at them to shut up and pushed them closer to the water. 

Chapa scowled back at them. "Don't blame me. Could not one of you have warned us about the outlanders? Perhaps you were too busy sleeping.”

“Don’t blame your men,” Keme shouted. “I tried to warn you and you thought I was lying!”

The fourteen men, including Lusio, yelled and swore at Chapa all the more. Some shouted that he was a coward.

A gun shot went off, silencing the crowd. "I won’t tolerate this anymore!" Clawson ordered as smoke rose from the tip of his musket.

The men went silent and continued into the water. Keme realized that the vessel had to stay farther out because the shore was too shallow. He hoped there wasn't a hidden deep spot, because it was impossible to swim with the metal bindings. Everyone was pressed together, pushing and bumping into each other.

Lusio stayed next to him. “Keme, what do we do?”

Everyone heard the question. He had no real answers, but couldn’t tell that to all the desperate eyes staring at him. “We must be patient, waiting and learning. Keep your eyes open.”

A few nodded hesitantly. Keme touched Lusio’s arm, trying to calm his young friend.

"Hey! There's a wolf!" shouted a soldier who stood on the river bank.

Some of the men turned toward shore.

Keme flinched and looked around, trying to see. Leotie?

A white wolf paced along the river’s edge.

"Chase it out of here!" Clawson ordered.

A flash of white flew right toward Clawson. A few men blocked its way. She charged toward them, knocking their weapons out of their hands and into the water. Then she raced for Keme.

Lord have mercy – a white wolf that can almost fly.

It’s a bad omen!

It's bad alright if it has rabies.

Rabies? That's no wolf. That's a werewolf!

"Stop the bullshit!" Clawson raised his musket and aimed it straight at the wolf.

The wolf didn't budge. Her hair stood on end, muzzle up, teeth showing. 

"I would love to have that nice white pelt of yours, even if you’re mad." Clawson went to fire.

Leotie leaped over him. She turned with amazing speed and plowed right into his back.

Clawson went sprawling face first to the ground. His musket fell hard and went off. He struggled to his feet. "Do something!" 

Her speed was definitely not that of a normal wolf, and by the fear in the soldiers eyes, everyone knew it. She charged the soldiers on the shore. Some ran, others she knocked over. She turned and ran out into the water toward him. The two men holding onto Keme ran off while others struggled to contain the natives.

Keme tried to pull his hands out of the metal clasps, but they only dug into his skin all the more. The soldiers in the water scattered. Some were yelling and others screaming. She went wild, biting them and trying to take as many out as possible in one furious white blur. Perhaps she knew the truth and had come to help.

Keme hated that he couldn't do anything to help her – that he couldn't even help by running. One of the soldiers staggered with blood pouring from his throat and dropped to the ground.

Clawson stood on the shore, his clothes torn. "Take cover!"

The soldiers who still remained with the natives ran into the woods, scattering in different directions, leaving the natives alone to struggle in the water, to stagger back to land. She ran after one of the soldiers and chased him into the woods.

Exhausted, sore, and weighted down, Keme moved painfully slow. Leotie came out of the woods and rushed up to him, jumping through the water. The men backed up fearfully, muttering the word ‘skin walker.’

“Yes, but she’s trying to helping us. No need to fear her.”

The men hesitated.

Leotie stopped in front of them. “Come. We must hurry before they come back.”

The men gasped and scrambling backwards at hearing her speak.

“No, no, don’t be afraid. She’s helping us.” He held out his wrists. "We can only go so fast.” He'd not had near enough water and food over the last few days. It was all he could do just to stay on his feet.

An odd silence lingered. He didn't like how they were out in the open while the soldiers hid.

She circled about. “C’mon, faster.”

“Leotie, these bonds are heavy and strong. We can barely move, and you can't do this alone. They’re taking us up the river and turning us into slaves. You must get help.” He raised up his wrists to emphasize the impossible situation.

"I’ll kill every last one before they regroup.” Leotie turned back and ran toward shore.

He guessed she was going to try and flush them out. She jumped onto the river bank. A loud bang from several muskets went off all at once. Leotie flinched and let out a yelp. A patch of red appeared on her side. She looked at him for a second and darted into the woods.

"No!” Keme yelled and strained to walk faster.

Clawson came out of the woods with his musket. "Damn it, I wanted that pelt." He marched toward the natives and motioned for his men to join him.

Keme continued to try and get to the shore, shaking and straining every last muscle.

“Drag him back!” Clawson ordered.

“No, no!” Keme pleaded.

Two soldiers ran out through the shallow water, grabbed him by the arms and dragged him back through the water, tossing him back into the group. He lay in the water shivering, his muscles spasming from the strain of the chains. Lusio knelt by him and touched his shoulder.

Clawson and a few soldiers headed toward them. An arrow flew out of the woods and struck one of the soldiers in the back, dropping him face first into the water.

Clawson flinched and dropped into the water. “One of them is still in the woods, damn it! Get him!”

A bunch of soldiers went running into the woods. Keme was astounded. The soldiers came out of the woods, dragging a woman – it was Enola.

Keme gasped. No! What is she doing here? He tried to get up again. The soldier next to him knocked him down with a boot to the chest, holding him under the water. Keme strained to hold his breath. Between the chains and the soldier, he couldn’t get up. Lusio pulled him from under the boot by one arm. He came up gasping for air.

“Next time I’ll drown you,” the soldier said, and chuckled.

On the shore, Clawson got up, brushed himself off and marched over to Enola. She struggled between the two soldiers.

“Where did you come from?” Clawson asked.

Enola only struggled and kicked at him.

“You need to learn some respect.” Clawson slapped her.

She flinched and glared at him. “You will answer to the Great Spirit, if not today, tomorrow.”

Keme struggled against his bonds and tried to get around the solders. “Leave her alone.”

He was shoved down and into the water on his knees. Clawson glanced over at Keme. He realized he should’ve kept his mouth shut.

Clawson marched over and into the water. “Do you know this woman?”

Keme struggled to his feet. “I’ve seen her before. Only a coward hits a woman!”

Clawson glared at Keme and punched him right in the jaw. Keme dropped to his knees again.

Clawson pulled at his blue coat and motioned to his men. “Put her on the ship first. Then bring the others.”

Keme struggled to control his breathing, his racing heart and his desire to go for Clawson’s neck. He was shoved onto the boat with the others. Enola stared at him. He glanced away, trying to tell her not to look at him. She remained silent as they forced her into a storage space at the front of the boat. Already some of the soldiers were staring at her with lust in their eyes and making obvious gestures that made him sick.

They were made to sit on the floor along the sides toward the back of the boat, except Chapa, who they kept near the wheel at the front of the ship with a soldier posted next to him. Some fruit, dried meat and water were passed out. Keme forced himself to eat. Somehow, he had to fight. It was better to die trying than to work for the very ones who destroyed them.