Exodus Page 3

  The guard struck Levi and yelled for him to shut up, then re-mounted and all four rode back through the gate. Somehow, Levi had learned that he was there or he had assumed as much. Perhaps he had heard them talk about his older brother.

  It was obvious now. Ryder realized this had all been set up for him, a poorly conceived trap. The counselor or governor, or both, must have thought he was a complete idiot. No matter how bad he wanted to rush to Levi’s side, he knew it would be suicide and wouldn’t help Levi. Billy was the only one that knew he was there, but Ryder knew he’d never betray him. Unless, of course, his family’s safety was at stake. Right now it didn’t matter how they knew.

  If he had counted right, there were eighteen of the governor’s Guard spread throughout the nearby woods, waiting for him to make a move to free his brother. Chances were they even had a pretty fair idea of his current location. But what they didn’t know was whether he was alone or not. That may have been the only reason why they hadn’t already rushed him.

  Alone, he didn’t see any chance of a rescue. Even with Darby back by his side, it would be impossible. It was killing him to see his brother like that and not be able to do anything about it.

  Suddenly there were noises behind him. He turned, peeking around the tree to see ten to twelve of the Guard on horseback, riding side by side, making a sweep in his direction. If they continued as they were, they would flush him out. He cursed under his breath. They had planned well and were about to succeed, sending troops out the front gate to distract him, while sending out others through the back gate to circle around. He hadn’t considered for a moment that they would be smart enough to outflank him. Who was the idiot now?

  He didn’t think they knew exactly where he was, but if they continued as they were, they soon would. His only chance of escape was to slip through their line. Luck would play a huge factor. His best chance was on foot. He slipped the saddle and bridle off his horse and gave it a smack on the rump. The horse wasn’t affected, looking back at him.

  “Go home!” he whispered loudly. The Guard was closing in. He slapped the horse again, harder this time. It galloped away, toward the line of riders, with them attempting to converge on it. It was too quick and broke through their ranks. The distraction allowed Ryder the chance to crawl on his belly through the brush, toward a gap in their line.

  “Hello, Ryder,” said a familiar voice.

  Ryder let out a sigh as he rolled over onto his back, looking up to see Peck. The new Master of the Guard was looking down on him from his horse with an arrogant and smug smile. In a matter of seconds he was surrounded.

  ***

  CHAPTER THREE

  Darby stopped at two of the nearest Raider encampments asking them to spread the word that Ryder’s brother, Levi, was in trouble. He’d been taken hostage by Governor Davis and was going to be used as leverage to take over Paradise valley. Everyone he talked to was anxious to help, a way of showing Ryder how much they appreciated everything he had done for them.

  Before Ryder had come along, most individuals and small groups in this region of the wasteland had been surviving on their own, surviving as best they could, not trusting anyone. Some maintained an isolation, determined to make it on their own without outside help, and Ryder respected them for it. Others had no choice, turned away from Sector 4 when capacity had been reached and food ran low. Ryder had organized those who were willing, teaching them to not only survive, but thrive, with one another’s help. He had also helped by leading ambush parties against the Guard collection squads, relieving them of critical supplies they had scavenged, which ranged from food and clothing to medical supplies. Some of those supplies had been taken from their own people. Ryder knew from his brief time as a member of the Guard that there were huge stockpiles of supplies accumulating in the lower level of the prison with more being added to it daily. The sad thing was that the people of Tent City, the ones who really needed help, would never see more than a small fraction of what was there. Governor Davis would see to it. According to him, supplies were extremely low and rationing was a necessity for them to survive.

  While a member of the Guard, he hadn’t been able to help those at Tent City, but he hoped one day he’d be able to make it up to them. On a much smaller scale, he devised a plan to help those at Paradise, removing only small insignificant amounts. It wasn’t much, but it was enough, mostly medical supplies.

  Darby headed back to Sector 4, to where he had left Ryder. Along the trail, he spotted Ryder’s horse without a saddle or bridle, grazing in a meadow. He quickly looked around, calling out, “Ryder!”

  There was no answer. He rode around the clearing repeatedly calling out. He didn’t understand why he’d take the bridle and saddle off unless he was close by. He placed a rope around the horse’s neck and led it back toward where he’d last seen Ryder. Darby stopped before reaching the location, cautious, dismounting and tying the two horses to a limb. His senses were sending up red flags. At the spot where he’d left Ryder, there were numerous footprints and horseshoe prints everywhere. He couldn’t help but think the worst, Ryder had been captured too. Darby looked toward the prison walls. The gate was open and a wagon was being taken inside. He strained his eyes. There was a person in the back, in a set of stocks. He’d only seen them used in old movies. The wagon hadn’t been there when he left. He wondered how long the person had been there. Obviously, the person was on display for some purpose.

  He couldn’t stay where he was. And he had to let someone know what he was sure had happened and put out the word that reinforcements were needed immediately. One of the last things Ryder had told him was that help was not needed just yet, but now the time to be passive had passed.

  ***

  “Governor!” cried out Master Peck as he burst into the governor’s office unannounced, unable to control his excitement. “We captured Ryder!”

  Governor Davis and Counselor Damon had been in the middle of a discussion. Peck immediately realized that he had interrupted them, disregarding protocol, when he saw the anger flash onto both faces. “I’m sorry. I meant no disrespect. I thought you’d want to know right away.”

  “Master Peck!” yelled Damon, “Do you …?”

  The indiscretion was one that Davis despised. He demanded respect with the proper protocol to be used at all times. But, in this instance, the news outweighed his anger, deciding to let it pass. He raised his hand to stop the counselor from going into a rant.

  In a calm voice, the governor’s anger diminished, “I appreciate your exuberance in your success, Master Peck, but I must insist that you observe proper decorum. Otherwise, the counselor and I may take your action as an insult. And I don’t believe you want that, do you?”

  “Never, Governor. I’m very sorry. It won’t happen again.”

  “That’s all we ask. Now, if I heard correctly, you have captured Ryder, leader of the Raiders. Is that right?”

  “Yes, sir. We have him inside a cell as we speak. And he’s the brother to our other captive.”

  Davis smiled and nodded his approval as he glanced at Damon, who also smiled as he returned the nod of satisfaction. Neither had actually believed Peck could pull it off, so there was an element of surprise as well.

  “Was he injured?” asked the governor.

  “No, sir. He was taken without incident, and he was alone.”

  This came as a surprise to Damon and the governor. Why would the leader of all those men come there alone? Should they be concerned? Perhaps he had intended to be caught, to get inside the walls, to somehow rescue his brother.

  “And how is his brother?” asked Damon.

  “Recovering. He should make a full recovery,” answered Peck.

  “Good. Are they together?” asked Damon.

  “No, sir.”

  “Good. Keep it that way. I don’t want them to be able to talk, and I don’t want either to know the condition of the other until the time is appropriate.”

  “And why is that?” asked D
avis.

  “Hopefully, we’ll be able to use it as leverage to our advantage later,” answered Damon.

  The governor thought about it and nodded his approval. “Good thinking, Counselor.”

  “If I may, sirs,” requested Peck, “I’d like to volunteer to go to the valley to deliver the ultimatum.”

  “Your eagerness is commendable, Master Peck. But, do you really think the entire valley will be handed over in order to save Ryder and his brother?” asked Governor Davis.

  Peck seemed taken aback by the question, taking a moment to choose his words carefully. “Well, yes, sir. Wasn’t that the reason for capturing the brothers?”

  “We hope it will aid us in the endeavor, but we’re not so sure the people of the valley will be so agreeable for the sake of two individuals. And we don’t know what the consequences will be for taking Ryder. The Raiders may be indifferent or they may become combative. There is much more at stake here. Do you understand?”

  Sometimes, they talked to Peck as though he was a child, but he never let on that it bothered him. “I believe so. But doesn’t an emissary need to be sent to let them know we have them?”

  “There is still the matter of knowing exactly where the valley is, and unfortunately we don’t,” explained Damon.

  “You have been there,” reminded Davis.

  “That’s true, Governor. But the country is covered with trails. I don’t know if I could find it on my own.”

  “That’s disappointing,” said Davis.

  “But the brothers know the way,” reminded Peck.

  A flash of anger appeared on Damon’s face. “Don’t you think we know that?!” He didn’t expect a response, nor did he want one. Then a look of revelation came into his eyes, and a smile appeared. “Ryder will never lead us there, unless he’s given the right motivation, his brother.” Damon fell silent, obviously thinking through their options.

  Peck started to speak, but the governor stopped him, not wanting to interrupt the counselor’s train of thought.

  “I believe it will work. Using Ryder’s safety as leverage, I’m sure his brother will take us to the valley rather than let anything happen to him. And with Ryder in captivity, we’ll have leverage against the Raiders from interfering. Unless, as I said before, they are indifferent to his capture.” He smiled at his own brilliance, and so did the governor, nodding approval of the plan.

  “It would appear you have an assignment, Master Peck,” announced the governor. “Begin making preparations to leave and have the boy brought here after he’s been made presentable,” ordered Governor Davis.

  ***

  Darby rode hard to Paradise, stopping briefly at Raider encampments along the trail, staying just long enough to let them know that he believed both Ryder and his brother had been taken. Ryder hadn’t wanted his parents to be told about Levi, wanting to keep them from worrying. But now, with both of their sons needing help, things were different, and Darby wasn’t going to keep it a secret. He hadn’t agreed with Ryder’s decision to keep it from them in the first place. He had to let them know. They deserved to know and it was the right thing to do. He just wasn’t sure how he was going to break it to them.

  ***

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Peck arrived at the governor’s office door with two guards escorting Levi between them in handcuffs and ankle shackles. Not wanting to make the same mistake as before, Peck knocked on the door frame from the hallway and waited for permission to enter. Damon motioned to him, acknowledging him and granting permission to enter. Peck directed the guards to stay in the hall with the prisoner until summoned inside. He entered the office, “Governor Davis, Counselor, I have the younger brother outside.”

  “Thank you, Master Peck. Please bring him in,” directed Damon.

  Peck stepped back into the hallway and out of Davis’ view. He slapped Levi on the side of the head to snap him out of his groggy condition and to get his attention. He was still not totally coherent after the beatings he’d been given. Levi raised his head slightly, his face red, bloody, swollen, and expressionless.

  “Don’t make me look bad in there,” warned Peck.

  Levi forced a hint of a smile. Peck resisted the urge to hit him again, waving for the guards to bring him inside.

  The governor made a face of disgust at seeing Levi’s face. “Sit him in this chair,” he said, pointing to the one facing his desk. “I thought you said he was recovering.”

  “He is, sir,” responded Peck.

  Levi half shuffled and was half dragged to and forcibly placed in the chair.

  “Are those entirely necessary?” asked Davis, referring to the shackles. “He doesn’t look like a threat to me.”

  The guards looked at Peck, who looked at Damon, who nodded to remove them. The guards quickly kneeled down next to Levi, unlocking them and taking them off both his ankles and wrists. They stayed close by on either side of the prisoner, just in case, but were waved away by Damon. The governor stared at Levi for a moment, Levi’s chin resting on his chest.

  “Levi, isn’t it?” asked Governor Davis, mustering up his friendliest and sympathetic voice. His name had been learned during Billy’s interrogation, before his execution.

  Levi didn’t respond. Damon stepped over and kicked his chair, jolting him awake. Levi raised his head sluggishly, his eyes almost swollen closed, looking around in an attempt to figure out where he was.

  “Levi!” repeated Davis, louder this time. “Isn’t that your name? How old are you?”

  Still, there was no response. The governor, losing his patience and his anger beginning to grow, looked at Damon.

  “What did your men do to him? He can’t give me any information in this condition.” He didn’t wait for a response. With a flick of his wrist he said, “Get him out of here. Let me know when he’s recovered and coherent enough to carry on a conversation. That is if he can recover.” The governor sat back in his chair and shook his head, swiveling so he didn’t have to look at Levi anymore.

  With a nod from Damon, the two guards came forward, grabbing Levi by the arms and lifting his dead weight from the chair. Just as they were taking him away, the governor turned back in time to see a sneer appear on the boy’s face.

  “Stop!” shouted Davis, jumping up from his chair and quickly coming around his desk. The guards had confused looks on their faces. They hadn’t seen what the governor had. Not wanting to dirty his hand, he took out a handkerchief and used it to lift the boy’s head by the chin, staring into his eyes. Levi winked with his good eye. The governor gasped and his face turned a bright red with anger.

  “Very clever. I almost fell for it.” He stepped back. “Put him back in the chair.” The governor leaned against his desk. “Do we need to put the shackles back on?” he asked.

  Levi continued the silent treatment.

  “Put them back on,” demanded the governor, storming back around his desk, plopping into his chair, obviously frustrated. He wanted Paradise valley and so far nothing was happening that would get him any closer to claiming it.

  He stared at Levi as the guards re-attached the shackles. When they had finished, he remarked, “I understand you’re from a nice little valley south of here, and that you are one of the sons of the leader of the community called Paradise.”

  Levi showed no reaction to anything the governor was saying.

  Davis continued, “And I thought you could take us there.”

  Levi looked up slowly, anger evident on his swollen and bloody face. “You thought wrong,” he said hoarsely. His throat was dry and on fire, not having received any water all day.

  “Oh, that’s a shame,” said Damon. “Do you think your brother would take us?”

  Levi stared back at him.

  “No? Well, maybe we should ask him,” said Damon. “Governor, with your permission, perhaps its time we used that leverage we spoke of.”

  The governor nodded his approval.

  “Guard,” instructed Damon, “bring Ryder here no
w.”

  Until that moment Levi didn’t know they had captured Ryder too.

  Damon thought he saw a hint of worry come across Levi’s face, but he couldn’t be sure with his swollen features.

  A few minutes later, Ryder was led into Governor Davis’ office. Damon took one of the other chairs and set it down beside Levi’s, motioning for the guard to place him in it. He had also been placed in shackles, with them noisily dragging across the floor as he shuffled over and was shoved into the seat.

  “Now, isn’t this cozy?” commented Davis.

  Ryder looked over at Levi. “You okay?”

  Levi answered, “Never better,” as he looked back at his older brother, forcing a hint of a smile.

  “Okay, what do you want?” Ryder asked the governor.

  “I think you already know the answer to that. The real question is how are you going to help me get it?”

  “You’re delusional. I’m not going to help you get anything,” answered Ryder.

  Damon quickly stepped over and backhanded Ryder, who attempted to rise, but was held down by the guards. “Show some respect,” demanded Damon.

  The governor sat on the corner of his desk and with a friendly smile and a pleasant, calm voice said, “Now, Ryder, …” He paused. “May I call you Ryder?”

  “It’s my name.”

  “Well, Ryder, I intend to have that valley and with your help we can take it without injury to all those people. Doesn’t that sound reasonable?”

  “You’re not going to get the valley. Not now, not ever.”

  The smile vanished from the governor’s face. “You’re making this much more difficult than it needs to be.”

  Ryder didn’t respond. What was the point?

  “Do you love your brother?” asked the governor.

  Ryder tried to guess what was coming next. He became aware that Levi was looking at him, waiting for his answer.

  “It’s a simple question. Do you love your brother?”