The Bone Field Debra Bokur (novels for beginners .txt) 📖

“What’s going on?” Elvar asked.

“Kali’s likely in trouble,” said Walter. “That’s all I can say for sure.”

“You mean she’s in danger,” said Elvar.

Walter hesitated. “Yeah. We think she’s in danger. And you could be, too, if the people you just described realize that you’re tailing them. Be careful. Don’t approach them. Just stay in touch. We need to know where they’re taking the Jeep.”

Elvar hung up and sped along the highway until he caught sight of the taillights ahead. It was still raining, though not as hard, and the drivers of the Jeep and the truck were being cautious on the slick road. He slowed down, keeping the truck just within his line of sight. In another fifteen minutes, the two vehicles made an exit from the main road, turning onto a side road to the right. The track was thick with mud, and the Volkswagen fought its way over potholes that had become obscured by standing water.

He followed slowly as they made several more turns, eventually making their way onto a dirt track leading to the wooden gates of Eden’s River. Elvar turned off his headlights and eased to a stop, watching from the distance of the road outside of the gates as the Jeep and truck parked near a large barn. There was the sound of the truck door slamming, and the two drivers disappeared into the dark barn. A few minutes later, he saw lights switch on in the windows of two upper rooms. The figure of a woman was silhouetted against the glass of one.

There were at least two other buildings that he could make out. He called Walter back, describing what he could see.

“Stay put until we get there,” said Walter. “We’re not too far out, but I don’t want to keep the siren on when we get close.”

“She might be in one of these two buildings,” said Elvar. “I don’t think she’s in the barn. I can see one of the women moving around in front of the window in one of the rooms where the hayloft should be.” Elvar stared at the window, watching for any sign that there might be other people present. “It looks like she’s brushing her hair.”

He got out of the car, making his way carefully across the unfamiliar footing and through the gates. He followed the path that led to Abraham’s house, but it appeared to be dark. Lights could just be made out in the smaller house farther along the pathway, so he crept along as quietly as he could. The diminishing rain still spattered against his face, and a restless wind moved the tree branches overhead and along the edge of the path, spreading the drops of water collected among the leaves.

He tripped when he reached the board over the stream, catching himself just before he fell into the water. The light he’d seen was emanating from low windows along the ground level at the base of the house. He crawled forward, using the shrubs for cover, and stared inside. There was a group of people standing together near a tall lamp. As one of them stepped away, he caught his breath. He could see Kali, tied to a chair.

Elvar drew back from the window. He retraced his steps along the path and across the stream back to the car, fumbling for his keys and phone. He dialed Walter’s number, then opened the trunk, groping for anything he might be able to use as a weapon, berating himself for not having one of his own knives with him. His hand closed around the tire iron, and he pulled it out.

“Where are you?” asked Walter, betraying his fear.

Elvar described his location.

“That’s Eden’s River,” said Walter, speaking to Hara.

“She’s inside a kind of basement in the house to the rear off the main path,” continued Elvar. “She’s tied to a chair. There’s blood all over her face.”

“Don’t do anything, Elvar. Leave it to the police. Stay by the car. The chopper should be there soon, and we’re on our way. Is there a clearing?”

“Yes, a wide open garden space in front of the barn,” Elvar said, already racing back up the path toward the house. Walter said something else, but Elvar had already shoved the phone deep into his pocket, freeing up the use of his hands.

CHAPTER 31

Kali made a mighty effort to open her eyes. For a moment, she was unable to distinguish between up and down. There was a swimmy, fluid sensation, and she instinctively tried to reach out to steady herself, to grab on to a surface with enough force to keep the world from whirling off its poles and off into infinity. She couldn’t move her arms. It took her a second to realize that she was seated upright in a stiff chair with her arms tied tightly behind her back, and that the reason she couldn’t see clearly was largely due to one eye having swelled almost shut. She lurched slightly, the sense of vertigo seizing her stomach, causing her to retch.

“I’m sorry that my son hit you so hard,” said a woman’s voice. To Kali’s ears, the tone didn’t sound nearly as apologetic as it should. She tried to turn her head to see who was speaking, but the room was in shadows, and moving only increased her sense of falling.

“My father says we need to help you, you see,” continued the voice. “He says that your soul is in mortal danger, and that it is our responsibility to save you from damnation.”

It was Abigail Waters. Kali made the recognition just as the woman came into focus, stepping out from a corner of the room to her left and switching on a tall lamp.

“I know it’s difficult for you to understand,” Abigail said, her voice both soft and urgent, “because no one ever taught you any better, but you’ll be grateful to us someday. When you see the gates of Heaven