until she takes a trip to the woods, if you know what I mean.”
“Then what?”
“Simple. You grab her, run your Human backside off, and jump on Vring. He’ll have to fly low for about three miles so as not to be seen above those trees until he gets behind the hills. Then he’ll head straight out until he’s far enough away to gain altitude.”
“You make it sound easy.”
“No, it’s not going to be easy. There’s a guard about a hundred yards from the tree line that goes into those trees if someone is slow coming out.”
“I didn’t notice that.”
“What you probably didn’t see as well is that he is carrying a blaster.”
“That isn’t good.”
“No, and he’ll be able to see her even if he can’t see you and Vring. If he fires at her, he’ll probably get you as well. Still want to try it?”
“Yes, at the very least I should be able to see more from that location even if I can’t make this happen.”
“I was going to suggest going there myself, but now that we’re after one of the laborers, she will probably cooperate faster with you than me.”
“That’s true.”
“Better go ahead and eat. If you’re successful, you don’t need to carry any extra weight.”
“I’m going to leave most of my arrows with you.”
“I don’t know about that, Scotty.”
“If I need any, I’ll be running away from whatever would cause me to use them.”
“How many are you taking?”
“One bundle in the gun.”
“Better make it count.”
“How am I going to know when she’s coming to the woods?”
“We’ll be watching for her. As soon as she starts your way, Cezee will tell Vring and he can tell you.”
Scotty took a deep breath and shrugged, “Can you think of a better idea?”
“Scotty, I am not going to take Cezee where he might be killed. I will take risks, but I will not endanger him. Knowing they can see us with their scanners will keep me away. I agree with you. We need inside information on how they operate, and this dream of yours must have some kind of meaning. I can’t think of any other way to really learn anything without endangering our Zord.”
“I agree. We’ll leave as soon as Vring finishes his meal.”
Sunrise was coming and Scotty and Vring were hiding at the edge of the forest next to the field. Scotty said, “Well, I’m going to go in the forest and spy on our hosts.”
“I’m concerned about you being able to get out of the trees before she is seen by that guard,”
Scotty sighed and said, “I know. Where’s a Torg when you need one?”
“What do you mean?”
“I was thinking that if a Torg roared, that guard is not going to go rushing into anything, blaster or not. No one in their right mind would go in the brush with a Torg around.”
“I can roar like a Torg.”
“What?!?”
“It’s easy. That’s how we try to lure them out of the forest.”
“Let me think about this.”
“Take your time. She’s not coming anytime soon.”
“How do you know that?”
“Ladies don’t like such dirty behavior. She’ll wait as long as possible.”
“Most of them go during their meal time. I hope she doesn’t come with a crowd.”
“Would you?”
Scotty snickered, “You know me too well. No, I’d make sure I went alone.”
“So will she; Humans are funny that way.”
“Vring, I’m going to need your help on this.”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t want the guard looking for her. I’m going to kill one of those grecks up in the trees and scatter its blood at the site where she enters the forest. I’m going to grab her and that’s when you roar and run out of the trees. “I’ll come right behind you. As big as you are the guard will have to know it’s a huge Torg that attacked her. He won’t rush in.”
“What if he burns the forest?”
“He won’t.”
“Why not?”
“Even guards need bathrooms.”
Vring started laughing.
“Let’s go into the trees. You turn around so you can make a fast escape and make as much noise as you can running through the brush.”
“I don’t think that will be a problem.”
Scotty chuckled, “Me, either.” He reached up and pulled his visor down over his face and they moved into the forest.
Juliette Larson felt her back hurting, but ignored the pain. She was sitting on the ground picking small yellow pods and putting them in a basket. She hated the pods; they were the same color as the Magrum. She thought about the dream that had come again last night. Why did she keep having that dream? She took a deep breath and glanced across the field at her parents picking pods. All they’ve ever known is backbreaking work. She looked at the sky and asked the Creator to save them from this horrible existence. She wondered why her family was being punished. Then she shook her head; it was because of the blasphemy of attacking the Creator’s Holy Realm. Her family had the misfortune of living on one of the planets that sent their ships to attack the Realm. But how long must she atone for those sins? “Please save us from this. I beg you. Please save us.” Julie continued working and though she tried to wait, she had to make a trip to the woods. She stood and held up her hand. The guard nodded to her.
Jingo and Cezee were circling keeping a close eye on the Human female. Jingo was amazed that she went all morning and never moved toward the trees. “That’s incredible. He had already had to land twice while Cezee circled without him. Finally she stood and said something to a guard. The guard nodded and she started toward the trees. “Let them know,”
“White Hair, she’s coming.”
Scotty thought, “I see her.” He moved to the edge of the trees she was approaching and took the greck he had shot and used his sword to cut it and spread its blood all over the bushes and surrounding trees. As she moved closer he moved next to a tree and waited. She walked in twenty steps and stopped. Scotty reached out and grabbed her from behind. She issued a loud scream and Scotty hit her under her chin and threw her over his shoulder.
Julie pushed a bush aside and walked into the forest’s edge. She glanced around and saw blood everywhere. “Oh, my God, what’s happened?” Then something grabbed her and she screamed. Then she felt the lights go out after a blow to her chin.
Vring heard her scream and released a Torg roar that rocked the trees. Then he rushed out toward the small clearing. Scotty ran after him carrying the young woman on his shoulder.
The guards jumped up, and the one next to the woods refused to move.
“Glex, what are you waiting for?”
The guard looked up at the huge yellow-skinned being on the hill and said, “Why don’t you come on down and see what you can find.”
“Didn’t you hear it run away? Go check and make sure.”
The guard gingerly but slowly eased forward toward the place where the female had entered the forest. He stopped every ten feet and listened as he pushed brush away, all the while expecting to be rushed. The Torg attacked in groups. Even though one had run away, there were probably more. He had gone about ten yards into
