Star Rider and Bonds of Love: A Sci-Fi Space Opera with a Touch of Fantasy Heidi Skarie (fox in socks read aloud .TXT) 📖

“I think so.”

“I don’t like it,” Kynailsaid. “I want to be in the open where I can see my enemies. Wewon’t have a chance if they catch us in a swallow hole. BesidesJake, Michio and Erling were hoping to find Toemeka and rejoin thegroup tonight. They won’t be able to find us hidden in a hole.”

“Kynail, you can outsmart thesemen and you know how to stay alive in the wilderness,” Benray said.“We’ll hide in the cave. You stay above ground so you can coverthe sinkhole and dust away our tracks. Then you lead the soldier awayfrom our hiding place. You can also watch for Jake and the others”

Kynail nodded sharply. “Goodplan.”

Zac was suddenly nervous that hewouldn’t be able find the cenote again. Or that soldiers would findthem hiding in it and shoot them all, but he didn’t have any betterideas.

“Kynail, find out how farRochambeau’s men are behind us and create a distraction if they’retoo close,” Benray said. “Zac, catch up with Erling’s familyand start leading the group to the sinkhole.”

Zac took off down the narrowanimal trail at a full run. Time was against them if he was to getErling’s family hidden in the swallow hole before the soldierscaught up. As he tore through the trees, he realized that if Toemekahadn’t set off on her own, Commander Rochambeau himself would befollowing them. The sorcerer’s powers were strong enough to detectthem even if they were hidden in the ground. He passed severalResistance members before he finally reached the Fenians.

Onolyn was guarding them and hereyes lit up when she saw him. “Zac!” She went into his arms. “Iwas worried. You were out all night.”

He held her close, catching hisbreath before he spoke. “Some of Rochambeau’s men are close by.We need to get Erling’s family hidden in a sinkhole I discovered ashort way from here.”

She turned toward Breezy,Richwood and Sharma who had gathered around them. The two men whocarried Najetta on a stretcher stopped and waited for new orders. Zacquickly explained the situation, then they all started hiking towardthe sinkhole.

Benray reappeared. “I’ve letthe men at the head of the line know the new plan. I’ll carryNajetta. It will be faster.” Benray helped her off the blanket thatwas stretched between two stout tree limbs, then the burly man easilyhoisted her over his shoulder. “Zac, lead us to the sinkhole.”

Zac tore along the trail,grateful Benray was as big as a bear and could easily carry the sickwoman. Zac reached Resistance members who were waiting for hisreturn. “This way,” he said, taking the lead and starting towardthe sinkhole. In his mind, he clearly saw the layout of trees wherehe’d nearly fallen into the hole. He broke into a run again. Beforelong, he located it near a fallen pine tree that still had its rootsattached to the ground and needles on its branches. The tree musthave tipped over when the earth over the cave collapsed, creating aswallow hole. The tree roots half-covered the opening, leaving anspace just large enough to climb through. Several Resistance teammembers gathered around Zac.

“This is it,” Zac said. “I’llcheck it out.” He removed his bulky backpack before loweringhimself over the edge and letting go. He dropped down a few feet andlanded on limestone. Shining his globelight around, he was relievedto see he was right. There was room for all in the cavern. He yelledup, “It’s good. Start down.” Several backpacks were lowereddown, followed by five men and a woman. By then the Fenians reachedthe hole and Najetta was lowered into the cavity.

“Are you all right, Najetta?”Zac asked.

“I’m fine,” she said in aweak voice. “See to my daughters.”

Zac helped Sharma and Breezy intothe sinkhole. Then Richwood dropped down and went over to his wife.

The rest of the Resistant membersand their backpacks came next. Onolyn was next to last. She climbedinto the hole and hung by her hands. Zac grabbed her around the waistthen lowered her to the ground. He held her close a moment beforeleading her away from the hole as Benray came barreling through.

“Tight squeeze,” the big manmuttered. “Soldiers are close,” he added in a whisper that wasloud enough to be heard by all in the small cave. “Kynail iscovering the hole and using fir branches to wipe away our footprints.Make yourself as comfortable as possible. We’re going to be here along time. Maybe several days. Kynail will let us know when it’ssafe… if he makes it.”

Onolyn held the globelight whileZac unrolled their foam mats and arranged sleeping bags over them.Then they sat down and huddled close. Zac put his arm around her,feeling his heart hammering in his chest. Don’tlet them find us,he thought.

“Lights out,” Benray said.“We need to be completely silent.”

Zac’s arm tightened on Onolynas he strained to hear.

Suddenly two shots rang out, thenall was quiet.

Had the soldiers shot Kynail orhad he shot at them so they wouldn’t spot their hiding place andany remaining footprints? Kynail wouldn’t have had time to wipeaway all of them. A good tracker would detect a broken twig or bit offootprint.

An hour passed. Zac’s arm hurtand his back was stiff. He lay down on the sleeping bag, drawingOnolyn with him and she cuddled into his arms. She smelled of pineneedles and fresh air. He imagined he smelled of sweat and fear.

He hadn’t heard any more shotsand wondered where the soldiers were now. They would eventually findtheir trail further up the path and be puzzled about where they’dgone. The soldiers would come back to search the area sooner orlater. If the Resistance team and Erling’s family were found andkilled, it would be his fault. He took a deep breath and focusedwithin. Gradually a blue Light appeared, bathing him in its warmth.

20

Bvundo Mountains

In the early morning, Toemekaslept under a large evergreen for a few hours. When she awoke, shediscovered it had stopped raining. She ate some meat jerky beforestarting off again. She used the GPS on her communicator forguidance. According to it, if she walked long hours each day, shecould get to the farm in three days.

Hours later, a headache came onso suddenly and with