spotting where to place his feet before he took each step. He also used his hands to steady himself. He wanted to go faster, but he knew that if he did, he might not make it at all. Shahla had been brave to climb down without a flashlight.
After half an eternity, he arrived at the plateau. He quickly shone his flashlight around the flat area, where the low brush had been trampled underfoot. There was clearly nobody here.
Where were the girls? He listened for some sound, some clue. All he heard was the faint chanting from above. And then he heard motor vehicles. His cell phone rang. He had shoved it into his pants pocket just after he had called Croyden and just before he had played Jesus. He had told Croyden the Ascension was occurring inside the park.
He answered it. It was Croyden asking where he was. “On the side of the hill, but everybody else has gone up to the top. Except Nathan and Tina. I don’t know where they are. Or Shahla, either.”
“We’re coming in with four-wheel-drives and people who know the layout of the area. We’ll secure the top of the hill.”
That wasn’t going to help Shahla and Tina. “When you get there, send some officers down the path to the plateau. I need help finding the girls.”
Shahla quickly discovered that she couldn’t just walk down the trail. It was too steep. She couldn’t ski down it on her feet because it was too bumpy. And she couldn’t see well enough to avoid the ruts. So she half walked and half slid. She spent a lot of time on her butt, sometimes falling on it, sometimes sliding on it for a few feet. Her hands, already sore from her adventures last night, were getting cut up even more since she used them to break her frequent butt landings.
At least the parishioners were singing and not paying any attention to her. Even if they saw her, they might think she was one of them. Her hand hit something sharp, probably a rock. She suppressed a shout that would have been heard over the singing. She had to sit down for a few seconds, until her hand stopped stinging.
She wished she could have brought the flashlight, but Tony needed it, and it would have attracted the attention of the singers to her before she reached the plateau. He had wanted her to bring the crowbar, but she couldn’t take the chance that somebody would spot it and think it odd that she would bring a crowbar to the Ascension. She had to work on the premise that if Nathan attacked her, the others would intervene.
Two nights ago she had been afraid to go out in the dark. But then the enemy didn’t have a face. She was still afraid, but at least Nathan had a face. And there were other people around. In addition, she owed it to Tina.
Shahla was almost close enough so that she could identify people by the light of the candles they held. Except that they stood facing away from her, toward someone who was leading the singing. She arrived at the level area and looked them over. She wanted to spot Nathan before he spotted her. She strolled carefully among the singers. A few glanced at her, but even though she was wearing shorts, they didn’t seem to think she was out of place. The others were dressed in clothes suitable for walking.
She spotted Nathan because he was separated from the rest of the crowd. And he was taller than most and whiter than most, although in the dark that wasn’t much of a distinguishing characteristic. Shahla edged closer to him, from behind. She didn’t see Tina. Had he…?
There was a movement at his feet. It was Tina, sitting on the ground. Still alive. Shahla found herself saying a silent prayer of thanks. Tina was one of the few who weren’t standing. And she wasn’t singing, either. Was she still taped? Shahla couldn’t tell. She looked at her watch. It was time for the party to begin.
She looked up the hill and saw a light come on at the top. Then, as she watched, Tony appeared in the light, dressed in white, and raised his arms. The vision was faint enough and ghostly enough to make it look authentic. He made a good Jesus. But nobody saw him. The singers weren’t looking up the hill.
Shahla moved a few feet to one side so that several people were between her and Nathan. She put her hand over her mouth to disguise her voice and yelled, “Look up there,” over the sound of the singing.
Everybody looked up. The singing abruptly stopped, and there was a collective gasp from the crowd. The faithful stood transfixed for several seconds. Then, as if on command, they started moving up the path toward Tony. They had to walk slowly, in single file, but the ones in back waited patiently for those in front to clear the way. Some required help, but they would all make it, given enough time.
A murmur started somewhere in the crowd and grew louder as others picked it up. After a few seconds, Shahla could make it out. The people chanted the word, “Jesus,” in time to their steps, as if they were mesmerized.
Shahla waited impatiently, hoping that Nathan would get caught up and follow the crowd. As the people in front of her moved forward, she could see the spot where he had been standing. He wasn’t there. She spotted him marching up the hill with the others. But Tina was still sitting there. How long would it be before he remembered her?
This was Shahla’s opportunity, but she had to act fast. She made her way swiftly to Tina’s side and said, in a stage whisper, “Tina, it’s Shahla.”
Tina turned her head and looked at Shahla, startled. Her hands were behind her back
“Are your hands and feet taped?” Shahla asked, kneeling beside her.
“Just my hands.”
“I’m going to free you.” Shahla pulled the box cutter out of her pocket and slid the blade clear of the handle. She grabbed one of Tina’s arms and felt carefully for the tape. She didn’t want to cut Tina. The duct tape was wound around her wrists several times. Shahla sliced through it with the box cutter. That instrument was sharp, which made the job easier.
“Ouch,” Tina exclaimed.
Shahla had cut into her wrist a little. “Shh,” she said. “Sorry.” The tape severed and Tina moved her arms.
“I can’t feel my hands,” she said plaintively.
“We’ve got to get away,” Shahla said. They couldn’t go up the hill toward Tony and the truck. That way was blocked by the throng and, besides, it wouldn’t be smart to follow Nathan. She ran the short distance to the edge of the plateau and looked down the hill. A trail descended from where she was standing to the picnic area. It was dimly lit by the city lights, shining down below. That was their escape route.
Tina was still sitting down when Shahla ran back to her. Shahla took hold of her arm and said urgently, “Tina, there’s a trail going down. Run down the trail and get away. I’ll be right behind you.”
Tina continued to sit. She must be in shock. Shahla placed her hands under Tina’s armpits and tried to hoist her up. It took a lot of effort, until Tina started to bear some of her own weight. Finally, she stood shakily on her feet. Shahla grew impatient.
“Come with me,” she said. She led Tina to the start of the trail. “Run, Tina,” she said. “Run as fast as you can. I’ll follow you.”
Tina seemed to wake up. She looked down the trail. She looked at Shahla. “It’s too steep.”
“Slide down it then. Get down it any way you can.”
Still Tina hesitated.
“Go,” Shahla said. “Go, go, go.” She gave Tina a push that almost knocked her down the hill.
Tina went, stumbling, down the trail. Shahla went after her, half sliding, half running. The bumping was painful, but she ignored the pain. They made good progress. Just as she thought they were going to get away, she heard sounds behind her. Sounds that were getting closer. She looked over her shoulder. It was Nathan, all right, silhouetted against the night sky, swooping down on them like an avenging demon. Well, not as graceful as a demon, but just as determined. She thought she saw something in his right hand, probably a knife.
Shahla had to make a quick decision. She couldn’t speed up or she would overtake Tina, who was having trouble with the steep descent in the dark. She had to protect Tina. If she went off the trail, would Nathan follow her, or would he stay on the trail and go after Tina?
Shahla stepped off the trail to the left, in the direction away from Nathan’s knife hand. She stood in the low brush and watched Nathan approach. His out-of-control rush threatened to send him sprawling, but, unfortunately, that didn’t happen. Shahla placed the box cutter in her left hand. If Nathan stayed on the trail, she would attack him
