Chronicles of St Mary's 03 - A Second Chance by Jodi Taylor
Author:Jodi Taylor
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781681468785
Publisher: Accent Press
Published: 2013-01-01T00:00:00+00:00
Chapter Twelve
I could feel my eye swelling and my nose felt like a football. If I ever got my hands on that little runt ⦠although actually heâd done me a favour because now I could bunch my stole and use it to mop up my nose and cover my mouth at the same time.
âLeaving gate. Moving west. About 30 women. Three guards.â
We trudged on a little further. The two women with me wouldnât let go and I didnât push it. I was familiar with this. In a crisis, help someone else. Itâs a kind of defence mechanism for the mind. Something else to think about. I patted their hands to thank them.
We halted at the top of the beach. Our guards leaned on their spears and picked their noses. Occasionally, one shouted to another. This was the dangerous time. No supervision from higher up and they would soon get bored. They would want a little fun.
âMax, sit down.â
I sat.
A pause.
âStand up again.â
I stood, looking around me.
âNow sit.â
I sat, but Iâd attracted attention. Little runty man lifted his spear, but before he could get to me, we were on the move again.
Now they meant business. We formed a line. Around me, passive despair was giving way to desperation as women fought for their children, their babies, their freedom. It was suicide, but that didnât stop them. Many preferred to die here on the beach, outside their own city rather than be taken away by the Greeks. More soldiers piled in, punching and kicking and, in extreme cases, despatching the troublemakers without a second thought. The sand was stained with blood.
It was hot and they were impatient and thirsty. Occasionally, someone would be singled out as an example to the others â¦
Our own line shunted slowly forwards. Towards what, I couldnât see. But I had only seconds. If they didnât find me soon ⦠once I was on a ship ⦠if I got that far. Not everyone made the cut. Where was St Maryâs? The two women in front of me were yanked away.
I stared blearily at a pair of dirty feet in scabby sandals. Someone hauled me to my feet. Not gently. A hand grasped my chin and turned my head this way and that, looking, inspecting. I was turned around. Someoneâs hands were all over me, assessing my worth.
A voice said, âItâs me.â
I couldnât see much, but I knew that voice.
âThis will hurt. Iâm sorry,â said Guthrie. âGo limp.â
He slapped my faceâwhich began to throb all over again. I had no difficulty going limp and he heaved me over his shoulder like a sack of coal. Shouts of advice and encouragement followed us off the beach.
âReport,â I said, from upside-down, arms dangling.
âVan Owenâs team has jumped. Markham and Ritter returned with them. All personnel correct and accounted for. Number Eight with Peterson is still here. Waiting for you and me.â
He stopped talking.
Leon wouldnât go without me. Something was wrong.
âAnd Chief Farrell?â
âWill probably be waiting for us when we get back.
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