“I think going in there during the day is a mistake. I don’t think we could even get close, they’ll know you are going to come for Diana. I suggest you and I alone, go in and get her back. I’m assuming you’ve had some kind of survival training that involved hand to hand and have you ever killed someone?”
“I’ve had a bit of training hand to hand, not much though. No, I’ve never killed someone. I’ve really never been in a fight, maybe a shoving match, but that is about it.” Leo said.
“Then I think we leave here near dusk, get as close to their camp as we can and wait until full dark. We can slip in, maybe make a couple kills to even the numbers to our favor. You can’t hesitate in killing them, it will end up getting you or me killed and most certainly Diana.”
“I don’t know Aiden, to wait so long, there is no telling what they are doing to her now.” Marla said anxiously.
“We go in and they see us, they will slit her throat just to spite us. They obviously don’t give a damn about human life, and are just going to use her as bait and as ransom for what ever they can get and I can tell you, you’ll never get her back if we don’t do it this way.”
“I agree, those bastards are just crazy.” Hunter said coming up, Bruce was behind him with Tom.
“Is there any way that we can help?” Hunter asked.
“If we fail, then you’ll have to go in and try. One way or another, they’re going to die.” Aiden said, his voice filled with conviction.
“Why don’t you take them with you, you and Leo go in the lead, spearhead as it were, then the back ups can maybe use their spears, I know I can. I want to go and help Aiden.” Sarah said, her eyes large and earnest.
He wanted to say no, but he knew she was right. She could hit a target from thirty feet away. She was that damned good. “Who are your best spear throwers?” Aiden asked.
“That would be Gabe, Sam and Diana, then Hunter. The rest are still trying to get the hang of it and would more than likely hit you rather than Connor.” Leo said, his mouth drawn down.
“Is Gabe up to it? Maybe Gabe and Sarah will go with us, but they hang back. Only come in if they have a clear shot. I can also cast my spear if it looks like we can take them out from farther away. Getting in too close hand to hand combat is chancy. There are of course more chances someone will get injured. It’s been a few years since I’ve done anything remotely close in.”
“That sounds like a good plan, Hunter can stand guard here with the others, in case Connor’s plan is to draw us to his camp while coming here to hit ours and take what we have.” Leo said.
“That would be a good plan, and something I would have done. Distracting everyone and then swoop in and raid the home camp. I don’t think Connor is that smart, but in his desperation, he might have cooked up some kind of scheme. The man is demented and desperate, and that is a lethal combination.
¤¤
Aiden and Leo planned to track Connor down, Aiden had the knife that William had given him. He was going to cut Connor’s throat. He was going to see the man dead once and for all. They should have tracked them all down like wild dogs and ended them. He was kicking himself for not doing it in the first place. His memories of his military career were filled with events that were both frustrating and satisfying.
It took time to execute a well-coordinated attack however, there was little time now. He was sure they were using Diana for sport and pleasure, he didn’t know what happened to Vana, but he was sure she was dead and more than likely eaten. He shuddered to think what Diana was going through and he hoped they could get her back, intact.
They had no flashlights and a torch would be seen for miles so they would have to go now, in serious stealth mode and locate the camp, though Aiden suspected they’d more than likely be able to hear or smell it well before they got there. Sam had mentioned that the camp was deplorable and filthy. He was glad the TV crew had brought hand sanitizer, they’d need it after. Aiden went into Christian’s tent, which had been turned into a med tent, he saw medical supplies stacked neatly in the corner of the small tent.
There were so very few supplies. Sam was on the cot, Hunter sitting on the floor by his side. Sam had a bandage on his abdomen, the young man was nearly gray but Aiden didn’t know if it was the lighting inside the tent. Hunter looked up and smiled wanly.
“William said he thinks Sam should be fine, fortunately the spear didn’t penetrate very deeply, we’re hoping it didn’t perforate the bowel.” Hunter said, his voice choking off suddenly and he looked down to his lap.
Aiden smiled at Sam and walked in. The smell of infection lingered in the cloth walls, he knew Christian had died from gangrene and perhaps that was the odor that lingered. He’d never cared for hospitals, and cared even less when he was stuck in one, recovering after Becka’s attack.
They were woefully lacking any kind of useful medical equipment and treatment. Their lives were balanced on a knife’s edge. Anything could kill them now. He was glad that they’d all had to update their shots before traveling. At least for a time, they would all be safe from
