Liberty Run by David Robbins

Author:David Robbins [Robbins, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: sf_history, sf_action
ISBN: 9780843926446
Publisher: Leisure Books
Published: 1988-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Bertha slowly regained consciousness. She became aware of an acute pain in her wrists and arms. A cool breeze was blowing on her face. She could smell the fragrant scent of pine and dank earth. And she realized she wasn’t on the table in the cabin; she was suspended by her wrists, her body dangling in the air.

What had happened?

Bertha opened her eyes, confirming her assessment. A rope secured her wrists. She glanced up, and found the rope was looped over the stout limb of a tree. Looking down, she discovered her feet were swaying about three feet above the ground. And she wasn’t alone.

Six of the youngsters were facing her, three of them holding lanterns.

The other three each held an AK-47.

Bertha recognized the oldest boy, the one called Cole. She also saw the girl with the stringy hair, Libby, and the little girl named Milly. The 10-year-old boy with the blonde hair was there, as was old Pudgy Butt himself, the brat who had led her into the trap. The other two she didn’t know, a boy and a girl, both about 12 years old.

“Glad to see you joined us, bitch!” Cole greeted her.

Bertha glared down at him. Her headache had subsided, but her forehead was sore. “That ain’t no way to talk to a lady, you snotnosed shithead!”

Cole bristled, leveling his AK-47 at Bertha’s belly. “I should waste you right now, bitch!”

“While my hands are tied?” Bertha taunted him. “Ain’t you the brave baby!”

Cole took a step toward her. “I’m not a baby!”

“Could of fooled me!” Bertha retorted.

Cole jammed the AK-47 barrel into her gut. “Damn you!”

“Cole! No!” The girl called Libby cried.

“Why not?” Cole demanded, glowering up at Bertha. “She’s a damn Hunter! Who cares if it’s quick or slow?”

Bertha remembered the squabble in the cabin. She glanced at Libby.

“What’s a hunter?”

“Don’t you know?” Libby responded.

“Nope,” Bertha said.

“Bullshit!” Cole exploded. “You expect us to believe you?”

Libby gazed at Cole. “She might be telling the truth.”

“Are you going to let her trick you?” Cole snapped. “You know what the Hunters are like! They’ll do anything to catch one of us! Lie! Wear disguises! Shoot us in the back! Anything!”

Libby stared at Bertha, her youthful face betraying her doubt.

Bertha recognized a possible ally in the girl. “Look. I ain’t no lousy hunter! I’m a Warrior.”

“What’s a Warrior?” Libby asked.

“A Warrior protects others from harm,” Bertha explained.

Cole laughed. “Can it, bitch! Nobody is going to believe a word you say!”

“I wasn’t talkin’ to you!” Bertha stated stiffly. “I was talkin’ to Libby.”

“You’re not here to hurt us?” Libby inquired.

“Nope,” Bertha answered.

Cole turned on Libby, waving his AK-47. “Come on, Libby! You’re not falling for this shit, are you?” He spun toward Bertha. “If you’re not here to harm us, then why’d you chase Eddy?”

“I thought he was in trouble,” Bertha answered.

“Yeah! Right!” Cole rejoined.

Bertha looked at Eddy. “Didn’t you attack me, Fatso?”

Eddy seemed confounded by the unexpected query.

“Didn’t you attack me first?” Bertha prompted him. “Wasn’t I mindin’ my own business, and you jumped me from behind?”

“I wanted your gun!” Eddy blurted.

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