Prig nodded, as if considering her words. He traded a look with Spence, Archer, and Fish, each in turn. “The layout of the camp seems fairly chaotic,” he said, turning back to Elna.
“Yeah, it’s messy,” she said. “Maybe that’s intentional, to make it harder for people to escape.”
“And you know where they keep prisoners?”
“We saw some iron cages,” she said. “I’m not sure if that’s where they keep all of their prisoners. We didn’t see the whole camp. I was mostly just trying to get out of there.”
Selene stood up then and cleared her throat, drawing all eyes to her. She seemed to wither under the gaze of the Marines, and she grimaced briefly, as if she were having second thoughts. But then she drew herself up tall, grasped the strap of her herb bag, and spoke.
“Miriam here knows more about the camp than any of us,” she said. “She says she’s willing to talk about it, if you’ll be patient with her.”
“I couldn’t get anything out of her,” Prig said. “Believe me, I tried.”
“Well, maybe you have to be nice about it,” Selene said, though she wouldn’t look directly at him. “She has been through a lot. Miriam…” She looked down at the woman, laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Can you tell us what you know?” And then, more quietly, “Don’t look at them. Just look at me. You can do it.”
Miriam was a mousy little woman, with tangled black hair, darker skin around her eyes, and a perpetual scowl on her face. She hugged the little girl tightly, fixed her gaze on Selene, and started to speak, very quietly at first.
“I was held in the camp, yes,” she said. “That’s what she asked. Yes, they held me there for a long time. There’s a part of the camp…on the west side…where they keep a bunch of the workers. Lots of guards in that area, though. It’s hard to just leave, even if you want to. They had me on kitchen duties mostly…” She seemed like she was about to say more, but then she dropped her gaze and finished with, “Well, that’s pretty much it.”
Selene gave her another gentle pat and sat down beside her, smiling proudly.
“That’s good information to have,” Prig said, “but our guy was taken captive. Do you have any idea where they hold prisoners in that camp?”
“I didn’t leave my area,” Miriam said. “Once you’re assigned a workstation, you’re not allowed to leave unless you have a guard escort. They have supervisors who watch you. If there’s a place for prisoners, it’s not on the west side, and it’s not in the center of the camp either. I can tell you that.”
“Okay, well, thanks for the information,” Prig said. “It’s helpful.” He nodded in Elna’s direction. “Elna, do you have any idea where you were held captive when you were over there? Could you at least point us in the right direction? If you help us out, we’ll make it up to you.”
Make it up to us? Elna thought that the best way the Marines could make it up to them would be to leave the island forever, maybe bomb the bridges on their way out. Somehow, she didn’t think that was going to happen.
Then again, she thought, if I can get these Marines to deal with Rod Smith and his men, it will eliminate a major threat.
“I’m sure I could point you in the general direction,” she said to Prig, after a moment, “but I can’t promise you’ll find your man there. The camp might have changed. They might be holding him elsewhere. I just don’t know. Couldn’t you take Miriam with you and let her act as a guide? She knows the place best.”
But Miriam reacted like she’d been slapped, lunging back in her seat, wrapping both arms around the child, and shaking her head vigorously. The child whimpered loudly.
“I can’t go back there,” she whispered. “You have no idea what they would do to me!”
Selene gave Elna a disapproving look.
“Okay, forget about that,” Elna said. “Bad suggestion. I retract it.”
“I wouldn’t want to take Miriam back to the camp, even if she were willing to go,” Prig said. “After all she’s been through, it’d be too cruel. Heck, we barely got her out of there the first time.”
Dr. Ruzka stood up then. She was so small, Elna assumed she wanted to make sure everyone could see her. Before she spoke, she raised a hand, as if to draw attention.
“I understand the Marines have their own objective here,” she said. Everyone turned to her. For having such a squeaky voice, she knew how to command a room. “However, maybe you could raid their medical supplies while you’re there. I assume most of what they have was stolen or looted, so I wouldn’t feel bad helping ourselves to a few things. I used a lot of supplies treating your wounded. I could use more of the basics: gloves, bandages, meds. If you’re going into the camp anyway.” She nodded, as if satisfied with her own words, and sat down.
“Now, wait a minute, people,” Malin said, smacking the tabletop. “Two of your Marines are injured, so you’ve only got five for this mission.”
“Three,” Prig corrected. “Ant and Cat are wounded, and Fish still needs to recover. He’s not going anywhere. That leaves me, Spence, Mac, and Archer, but we wouldn’t take all four. Fish should stay here and recover, and Mac can stay with him to keep an eye on things.”
“Give me another day or so, and I’ll be ready to go,” Fish said from his table near the door.
“No, you stay and rest,” Prig said.
“So you’re going to send three Marines into a camp with hundreds of armed militiamen and try to rescue one man who is hidden somewhere in the camp,” Malin said. “That doesn’t sound like good odds, especially if you try to complete some side quest to steal medical
