“We’ve driven into an ambush. Head back toward those caves, and you and the babies will be safe.” Tara’s tone froze the expressions on both teenagers’ faces. “Now move.”
Syra’s eyes widened. She obeyed and drove off in the jeep.
“Torgo, a good warrior always knows when he’s outnumbered.” Tara flipped open her landlink and turned it on. “I’d say at the moment we are grossly outnumbered.”
“Tara, I don’t see anyone anywhere, I don’t.”
“Trust me.”
“I do.” He looked around nervously.
Tara fastened the landlink to her handlebars, pulled out her Eliminator, and hooked it to a strap on the side of her bike. “Do you have a gun?”
“Of course.” He pulled out one of the nicer Gothman guns he’d used for target practice.
She tossed one of her small laser guns at him. “You might need this too. It’s a little more accurate. Aim it the same way you do yours. Let’s go.”
* * * * *
They took off, picking up speed as they darted around trees and rocks. The terrain was slightly similar to Gothman, and Torgo kept up with her nicely. She knew the loudness of the boy’s bike would draw attention to her quickly. Glancing repeatedly down at her screen while navigating her bike, Tara quickly logged onto the main Runner screen.
Help was nearby—Patha and the Blood Circle Clan were less than a mile away.
The first shot ringing through the air came from behind them. Tara continued to drive at high speed but turned and shot at a vehicle closing in from behind.
Torgo did the same.
She saw an old car crash into a tree out of the corner of her eye and knew they’d hit their target. She faced forward and quickly sent a message.
“What are you doing?” Torgo spoke through his comm.
“We’re too outnumbered. I’m detecting fifteen to twenty people to the north of us, about ten people behind us and there are three coming straight at us. We’ll see them here in a minute. We need help, or we won’t make it.”
Three men in a jeep appeared in front of them. As one of them drove, the other two leaned out, hanging onto the bars. They aimed large guns at Tara and Torgo.
Tara pulled the Eliminator faster than Torgo could even react.
The first shot coming her way caused a tree to fall in front of her. She could hear the men whooping and yelling in the excitement of almost hitting her.
Did that reward announcement say
dead or alive
? She wished now that she’d read it a bit closer. From the sheer numbers around her, she could tell enough people had gotten wind of her location to turn the situation into a crazed hunt. There was no way she and Torgo could take on this many opponents. Who was to say how many more were on their way?
And they were River People—a crude people with no laws. That was the worst kind of adversary to take on in battle. There would be no pattern, no order, no way of predicting their next move.
Tara aimed the Eliminator and shot the jeep. The explosion caused several surrounding trees to catch fire. If there was any fool out there who was not exactly sure where she was, they certainly knew now.
“Help,” was all she was able to type without crashing into a burning tree limb directly ahead of her.
“I’ve got you on my scanner.” Tara saw the response to her plea and sighed with relief. She would deal with the wrath of Patha after all of this was over. Right now, she knew her clan would not let her down. She hadn’t done them wrong, and they knew it.
Tara and Torgo continued to drive as fast as they could through the woods. A shot from the north exploded through the air, and Tara turned her head in time to see Torgo’s bike slide.
She slowed down quickly and turned around. If the boy got hurt, she’d never forgive herself. Relief surged through her as she approached Torgo and saw that only the tire had been blown out. He had slid through the brush and was getting up slowly from underneath the bike.
“Climb on.” She pulled up next to him. “Tell me you’re okay.”
“My bike.” He looked forlornly at his prize lying on the ground.
“Casualty of war, son. It’s what you get for following me.” She grinned at Torgo as he held on to her tightly and pulled his leg over her bike. They both noticed blood on his leg at the same time.
“I’m okay.”
Tara took off again, but was not able to go far. At least ten men on motorcycles were driving straight at them. They were well-armed, Tara noted as they spread out and around her, forcing her to stop.
One of the riders in the middle, obviously their leader, had been gesturing to the others. Now, he spoke. “Okay, lady. I know you’re a Runner, and I’m sure you’re well-armed. Slowly, and I do mean slowly, I want you to get off that bike.”
He raised his gun and pointed it at her head, just in case she didn’t think he was serious. He was very nervous, Tara observed. This man was no warrior. A simple diversion would send all of them into a panic. She could tell they had a plan by the glances they kept giving their leader, as if waiting for a signal, but she guessed there was no backup plan.
She slowly got off the bike. She could easily pull the Eliminator and take out at least half of them. But, it would take just one of them to fire back, and she or Torgo could be hurt. Or worse. There would be no brave attempt to escape this time. Her babies needed a mama, and she would not risk Torgo’s life.
“I can take the guys on the right, and you take those on the left,” Torgo whispered at her shoulder.
“No. A good warrior knows when he’s outnumbered. I told you that already. There’s always time to escape. Right now isn’t the time.”
“Silence!” The leader on the motorcycle sounded worried. “Be careful, boys. Runners are sadistic warriors. They keep a calm look on their faces, but their minds are scheming your death.”
He gestured at Tara as if he were using her as an example while teaching young warriors. “Get away from the bike!” He curled his lip as if her looks repulsed him.
Tara complied, walking several steps toward him. She seriously hoped Patha would arrive very soon. He couldn’t possibly be that far behind all these goons. She took several more steps, and every gun instantly bristled in her direction. She was less than a man’s length away from the leader.
“Let the boy go.” She looked straight at him. “There’s no price on his head.” She paused. “Let him go and then fight me like a true warrior. I’ll show you how a Runner does it. Then you won’t have to make up stories.”
She glared at the leader and tried her best to let the fury in her eyes shine through. He was scared, and she knew it. All she needed was one small distraction.
He responded, “The boy is Gothman. I’m sure their leader will pay for him just as he will pay for you. The way they treat their women, I’m sure he wouldn’t care if we had a little fun with you first.” The leader laughed, and the men around him joined in.
This was all the distraction Tara needed. As she raised her Eliminator to fire, the singing of lasers resounded through the woods in all directions.
She shot the leader.
Lasers fired from the woods, taking out the other men before they knew what hit them.
Chapter Fifteen
Tara turned quickly and got back on her bike. Torgo scrambled to climb on behind her, tripping several times before Tara grabbed his arm and almost pulled him onto the seat behind her.
He held on tightly as she bolted from the circle of dead men. “What happened?” Torgo’s voice shook.
Tara felt his legs shake against her body. “We had help. I would like to think Patha has arrived, but we aren’t going to take any chances.” She spoke calmly, knowing good and well how scared Torgo was.
“Syra, are you okay?” Tara spoke into her mouthpiece.
“We’re fine. Can we come out yet?”
“I’ll let you know in a minute.” Tara paused, suddenly aware that more motorcycles approached. She pulled her gun and aimed it toward the oncoming bikes.
Torgo pulled his gun out as well. His hand was shaking as he held the gun and he pulled it back, bracing it against his body.
Tara pretended she didn’t notice.
There were four bikes driving toward them and three coming from the side.
This time, Tara pulled behind a group of trees and jumped off her bike. She leaned over a low branch and aimed her gun at the closest bike.
A familiar laugh caused her to lower her gun.
“Is that any way to thank an old man who just saved your hide?” Patha pulled up in front of the tree.
The other Runners pulled up alongside Patha.
Tara came out from behind the tree to greet them. “I could have handled the situation.” She tossed her hair and tried to hide her smile of gratitude.
“Ah now, there’s appreciation for you.” The old man laughed again as he looked at the other Runners.
Tara recognized all of them, most of whom she’d grown up with. Balbo was also among the group. They joined in the laughter. Tara looked at each in turn, smiling broadly at their grinning faces. “Thank you.” She bowed gallantly.
“Where’s my daughter?” Balbo’s smile disappeared.
Torgo sheepishly came out from behind the tree, and he looked downright fearful of the oncoming punishment as Balbo glared.
“She’s a mile or so back, in a cave with the babies.” Tara flipped the switch on her mouthpiece. “Syra, we’re coming to get you. Flash the lights on the jeep when you see the Runner bikes.”
“I must say, this will be the best story for quite a long time. I can’t think of many Runners that could have made it as far as you did, Tara-girl.” Patha sat with his grandchildren around the fire later that evening. “And you did it with two babies as well.”
Tara accepted another piece of apple pie from Reena, who was smiling at her.
“I’m just glad you’re all alive and okay, I am.” Reena sat next to Patha and took Ana from him. “This is no life for my grandbabies, it isn’t.”
“My grandchildren, too.” Patha bounced Andru on his lap. “She’s right though, Tara. What are your plans?”
“I know. You’re both right.” Tara looked at her babies as they giggled in their grandparents’ arms. “Patha, there are five towns south of the border. I’ve heard some things about them, and they sound fascinating.” She proceeded to tell her parents about the governmental structure and elections held in the towns.
“Who’d have thought of such a thing, I’d say?” Reena looked up from the pie she was feeding to Ana, appearing to be sincerely surprised.
“Yes, the Neurian government. I’ve heard of them,” Patha nodded. “Gowsky is the head of their council. He’s a young man with lots of ambition. I believe he’s just been reelected by his people.”
Tara was surprised. Patha seemed to know everything.
“Did you know their main export was a crop to the Sea People? When we won the war over the Sea People, this Neurian government lost its main form of income.”
“Oh, so you want to go down there and help these people, do you?” Patha looked at his daughter.
“Yes. That’s exactly what I’m going to do.”
“How do you propose to do this, child?” Patha looked at her seriously. “You don’t know these people. They are nothing like any of the nations on our land. They live a very different life. You won’t be able to waltz into their country, change your clothes, and fit into their culture.”
Tara smiled at Reena, remembering her first days at Gothman. “I realize that, Patha. But I’m going to try to do exactly that. It’s time I find a new life for myself.”
Both Patha and Reena looked up at her quickly as she said this.
“Tara, I…” Patha started.
But Tara lifted her hand. “No, Patha, please, I can’t go back to Gothman. Darius isn’t going to change. His definition of love is very different from mine. There’s no way we could be compatible. I won’t put my children through a life in which their parents don’t love each other.”
“It’s a little late to be coming to these conclusions.” Patha studied his daughter’s face. “You can’t walk away from your problems. They will still be there when you come back. You need to place a time limit on this adventure of yours.”
“I don’t know how long I’ll be gone. Now that I’ve heard about these people, I’ve got to check them out. They live so differently from anything I’ve ever seen—and apparently they’re doing it well; or they were until the war ended their lifestyle.”
“She’s living her culture, Patha,” Reena pointed out. “She’s doing what Runners do: she is seeing Nuworld.”
Patha looked grave. “Is there a message you’d like to send to Darius?”
“I would think he would have a message to send to me.”
Patha shook his head. “I believe he’s sent you messages, but it appears they are deleted before they’re read. I’m sure he’s sorry.”
“Sorry means you won’t do it again. Tell him to call off this hunt. I won’t have my children chased around the world.” Tara picked up Andru, who had been sleeping in Patha’s arms.
Reena got up with Ana, who was also asleep. She followed Tara into Patha’s trailer to put the babies to bed.
“I’m not accustomed to offering motherly advice, Tara. And I know your mind is set. But I want to say something to you.” Reena paused until the children were down. “Lord Darius has done you wrong. I don’t blame you for your reaction, I don’t. In fact, I will say, I look up to you. There are many women who would forgive and do their best to forget, yes.”