A Walk on the Water

She was silenced, her eyes wide, at the sight of the pistol that materialized beneath her chin, and at the black rage that contorted his features.

"That is quite enough," he said quietly, in a tone that made everyone watching very wary, still and pale. "No one has ever talked to me like that and lived to tell about it, so one more word from you and you're dead, understand?" He turned and looked at the few men she had with her and said, "This is no longer a meeting, you will follow my orders if you want to live. Your one and only chance to get out of this alive is to follow me and wait for an opportunity to escape. This means all of us returning tonight to your hideout. From there we will plan our escape from Port Lira."

"Shoot him, you cowards!" Rosemary hissed, watching her support collapse.

Alannah's brother looked at Rosemary in mild surprise. "You're pretty tough when it comes to someone else's life aren't you?"

"If I had a gun, I'd kill you myself!" she spat.

Alannah stared at her brother's reaction, she knew that look. His sudden laugh was a vain attempt to disguise the admiration lurking in his eyes.

"Why Rosemary, I believe you would" he taunted, a new look in his eyes. "When we make our escape then, maybe you will get your chance. But for now, we turn around and head back to your hiding-place."

Alannah groaned inwardly at the thought of making the return journey, buried once again in the back of the wagon. But for the moment, she mused, the attention was off her. It wasn't much, but it felt like a reprieve.

**

The port authority soldier that had been on lookout in the tower of the old fortress, took hold of the telescope from the younger soldier there after he pointed out the ship that was ow entering their waters. Even from this distance he could see that the ship was a modern and well-equipped Yacht, but something didn't seem right about it.

"It's time to send the message to Senor Beringer," the soldier said, not taking his eye from the ship. "Tell him a long yacht comes to call with hidden dangers inside. In the meantime, prepare to sound the evacuation. Tell Senor Beringer that a plane is on it's way to the island."

Even as he said these words, an old biplane, could be seen on the horizon heading straight to the lake. The plane appeared to be on it's last legs as the engine sputtered belching out black smoke. The two lookouts watched carefully as the plane landed not so gracefully on the lake and headed to the dock closest to the Chateau. From the innards of the plane a band of men came pouring out, they came smartly into formation, headed up the hill towards the Chateau. As the last man reached the Chateau the plane took off once again heading back to the yacht. The two men watched, as the group headed to the barns and stole some horses, then they headed to Port Lira.