“How far were they?” Blade asked Geronimo.
“A dozen city blocks when I spotted them.”
“Then we should overtake them easily,” Blade said confidently.
“Maybe not,” Geronimo said.
“Why?”
“They were making for a line of trees that runs from near where I saw them all the way to the edge of Thief River Falls. If they do reach those trees, they’ll have cover all the way out of town. They obviously know this area pretty well.”
“Damn!” Blade snapped, frustrated. “We’ve got to beat them to those trees!”
They didn’t.
Blade, following Geronimo’s directions, reached the street paralleling the trees. There was no sign of Hickok or his captors.
“Those trees are bordering a stream,” Joshua stated, spotting the water, lurching in his seat as Blade abruptly braked the SEAL.
“They could easily hide their trail by using the stream,” Geronimo mentioned. “They’re trying to lose any possible pursuit. These guys are pros.”
“Go!” Blade urged. “We’ll catch up.”
“My Browning,” Geronimo said, turning in his seat and reaching back.
Joshua picked the shotgun up from the rear section and passed it to Geronimo.
“Silent stalk,” Blade advised as Geronimo opened his door and leaped out.
Geronimo nodded grimly, once, and ran off, making for the line of trees. The greenbelt averaged a hundred yards in width.
“On second thought,” Blade said to the others, watching Geronimo vanish in the vegetation, “you two will stay put until we return.”
“I ain’t stayin’ here,” Bertha argued.
Blade turned to her. “You’ll do what I tell you,” he informed her harshly, “when I tell you, for as long as you stay with us. I can’t leave the SEAL unattended.”
Bertha went to speak again.
“I’ve got no time to mince words.” Blade pounded the top of his bucket seat. “Stay here with Joshua until we get back. Give me the Commando,” he said to Joshua.
Joshua meekly complied. “Take care.”
Blade threw his door open and climbed out. He paused for one look back. “If we don’t return in one day,” he ordered, “take the SEAL and go back to the Home.” He spun and ran toward the trees.
“That sucker don’t beat around the bush,” Bertha said as they saw Blade follow Geronimo’s path into the greenbelt.
“He’s accustomed to being obeyed in times of crisis,” Joshua explained.
“He’s a Triad leader, after all.”
“I think I can see why,” was all Bertha would say.
Joshua bent his head in prayer.
Chapter Ten
“Move your ass, damnit!” Harry shoved Hickok, who stumbled and nearly fell.
“Take it easy,” Pete suggested. “He’s still weak from the bash on the head, and he’s lost an awful lot of blood.”
“Who cares?” Harry rejoined. “If he can’t keep up, he’ll be losing more blood, right quick.”
“What’s your big rush?”
They were moving down the center of a small stream, the water only six inches deep. Dense brush and trees closed in on the stream.
“I don’t want any of his friends catching up with us,” Harry said, casting a nervous glance over his shoulder.
“Fat chance. We’ve got too big a head start.” Pete stepped over a rock.
He was leading, Hickok in the middle, Harry bringing up the rear.
“Maybe,” Harry said doubtfully. He had his Winchester 70 XTR 30-06 slung over his left shoulder and was carrying the Henry.
Pete had the Pythons around his waist, and he was toting a Springfield Armory MIA rifle. “So what if they do catch us?” He tried to assure Harry.
“We’ll just blow ’em away.”
“Oh?” Harry shook his head. The kid sure was green behind the ears.
“Don’t forget. They wasted Joe and the others. I don’t want to tangle with them unless we’ve got no other choice.”
Joe had been one of the best fighters Pete knew, and Bert the fastest gunman. Pete held his Springfield tighter, alert now for any movement or sound.
Hickok slipped on a stone and fell to his knees.
“Get up!” Harry hauled him to his feet. “You drop again and you’ll never be getting up!”
Hickok moved weakly ahead, his legs sluggish. This is another fine mess you’ve gotten yourself into, he thought. His head felt like it was splitting open, and the gash above his right eye was throbbing painfully. What the blazes should he do now? He was certain his friends would not find him.
Harry and Pete had kept to the walks until they entered the trees, and not even Geronimo could track on cement. So his escape was entirely up to him. But what to do? He was too weak to engage them in unarmed combat, and they had his guns. His guns! He stared longingly at the Colts Pete was wearing. If he could just get his hands on one of them…
“Speed it up!” Harry pushed Hickok. “You’ve moving too damn slow!”
You’ll be getting yours, brother! You’ll be getting yours! Hickok tried to loosen his wrists again, to no avail. Whoever had tied him had done a good job. His circulation was cut off, his fingers becoming numb.
“Should we stop and rest?” Pete asked.
“Not until we’ve put the town miles behind us,” Harry replied.
What options were left? Making a run for it? In his condition? Hickok surreptitiously studied the growth along the stream. The brush was heavy, packed with thick weeds, providing abundant hiding places. His best bet.
They marched on, the sun climbing well up in the western sky.
“I’m getting tired,” Pete complained.
“Just keep moving,” Harry said wearily.
“But we haven’t had any rest since yesterday morning,” Pete whined.
“First we’re sent out on patrol. We come back a day later and find our buddies have apparently been killed. You decide to capture one and take him to the general. I don’t mind telling you, I’m beat.”
“I’ll beat you if you don’t shut up and keep moving,” Harry growled.
“We’ll stop when I say we stop and not before. You were trained for this, just like the rest of us. The best training you could ever get. Remember, Samuel is counting on us.”
Pete sighed. “So they say.”
“Watch your mouth!” Harry exploded. “Some might call that treason!
Do you want to go on report when we get back?”
Pete, obviously shaken, shook his head. “Nope. Sure don’t.”
“That’s the trouble with this extended field duty,” Harry muttered.
“Discipline goes all to hell.”
“I’m sorry, sergeant,” Pete quickly apologized. “I really am. I didn’t mean anything by it.”
“I understand, kid,” Harry said. “We haven’t been back in a year. Good thing we’re due for relief real soon.”
Pete had a thought. “Say, why didn’t we wait for a chance to sneak in and get the transmitter? We could have called for help.”
Hickok’s interest perked up. “What the blazes was this? They talked like they were some sort of military men! Impossible! But why’d the bearded one call the other sergeant? Why weren’t they wearing uniforms, instead of jeans and shirts? What was this about a transmitter?”
“Too risky,” Harry was saying. “I doubt they found the transmitter in its hiding place, but we’d still be taking too big a chance trying to sneak inside and get it. If we were caught, not only would we have failed in our assignment, but they would have one of our transmitters. They might just figure out what’s going on.”
“Naw,” Pete disagreed. “No way. None of these creeps is that smart.”
“Don’t underestimate them, Pete,” Harry advised. “Don’t ever underestimate them.”