Fortress by Gabrielle Lord

Author:Gabrielle Lord [Lord, Gabrielle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, kidnapping and extortion, School children
ISBN: 9780645212402
Google: ot2dGwAACAAJ
Amazon: 0645212407
Published: 1998-06-14T14:00:00+00:00

TEN

10.20 pm, May 8

Sally looked at her watch. They had been in the barn for nearly two hours. The little fire was still burning brightly and in its small warmth, Toby and Jamie had fallen asleep, their heads on Leanne’s lap, curled up like puppies. A few minutes ago, they had heard the van drive off. From the yelled insults and slamming of doors, it had become apparent to Sally that two or three of the men had left with the vehicle. The remaining kidnapper could be heard moving about outside.

Sally had been thinking hard. She had talked to the children and they had agreed that the risk was worth it. It had been the barn itself that had suggested a line of action to Sally. Its shadows and declivities, hidden from the group around the fire, the strange-shaped shadows that moved and seemed to breathe in the dark comers had made her realise that it might not be very difficult to hide someone there, someone who might wait until signalled. She looked around her. Even though she knew the dark shapes were innocuous, she still shivered a little, then brought her attention back to the group around the warming fire. Except for the two little sleepers, the children and their teacher sat in excited apprehension and fear, waiting and hoping that their plan might work.

For the first part, it depended on the man outside joining them in the barn. Sally thought he would. The temperature outside must be daunting by now. The house where the murdered man and his poor widow were would offer little comfort. She did not know what had happened to the elderly woman now. As long as it isn’t Father Christmas who’s left behind, Sally prayed. If it’s Father Christmas who’s left, we have no hope at all. The small group around the fire waited.

Narelle sat, knees drawn up, hands clenched in a pyramid on top, as if she were praying. There had been few words since the plan had been discussed and a rehearsal done.

‘Let’s sound cheerful and inviting in here.

Let’s sing.’

They did. They played clapping games and singing games and the children brightened up, their fear forgotten for a while. Sid scrounged around for more things to burn. He had already found a long piece of timber, thick and hard, that was not for the fire. It lay in the shadows, away from the firelight. The flames licked higher, chasing the thin, white smoke that curled into the darkness of the high beams and rafters.

‘Miss, I can’t, Miss.’

Sally looked at Narelle and felt a surge of sympathy for the girl. She toughened herself and spoke severely.

‘Narelle Smith. Of course you can. Didn’t I hear you once say you wanted to be like Marilyn Monroe? Here’s your chance.’ She softened her voice. ‘If there’s danger, do you think I’d let you go on? Trust me.’ She leaned over and patted the girl’s hand. ‘I know you’ll be terrific. I just know it.’

‘What if one of us gets shot?’ Derek’s gloomy voice came from the shadows.

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