The Red And Savage Tongue (Historical Fiction Action Adventure Book, set in Dark Age post Roman Britain) by F J Atkinson

Author:F J Atkinson [Atkinson, F J]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2013-01-12T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

After Murdoc and Dominic had left to chase Cissa and Egbert, the others had inherited the problem of the bear. The animal had fed well on Hereward, and was now stretching up the side of the pit with its snout only feet from the rim. Withred and Simon had ushered Martha, Tomas and Ceola into the hut and instructed them to stay there with the door secured.

Back at the pit, Simon peered cautiously over the edge and could see that the bear had eaten its fill and now wanted to be away. ‘We can’t leave the animal in the pit,’ he said. ‘I would rather we release it if possible, better that than chance it gets out itself and take us unawares.’

‘Now’s the time then,’ said Withred. ‘It shouldn’t be hungry now, so it might not see us as its next meal.’

Simon looked towards the hut. ‘Would it not be better that we kill it? There are spears in there.’

Withred shook his head. ‘That could get messy and dangerous. Its hide is damn thick, and it would take much of the morning to kill it I reckon.’

‘Then we must free it and hope it leaves us. That seems to be the easiest choice.’

‘I think I know what Dominic intended,’ said Withred. ‘Over there’s the branch he left for the bear to get out of the pit. I’m afraid he left the problem with us.’

Simon stretched taking the kink out of his back. ‘Let’s get on with it then, I’ll help you with the branch.’

Together they pushed the heavy branch by its severed end to the edge of the pit until it overhung the drop.

‘When I count to three, push hard so that it drops over the edge, and then run for cover,’ said Withred. ‘One…two…three!’

They pushed until the bough pivoted then dropped over. They ran to the hut and stood by the door.

Simon knocked on the door. ‘Martha, Ceola, Tomas,’ he urged, ‘stay inside, we are freeing the bear.’

Tomas’s head appeared at the window gap beside the door, his eyes big and fearful, while Martha cradled Ceola in her arms, speaking to her softly and reassuringly.

They waited and nothing happened for a while. Standing outside, Withred had his hand on the door of the hut, ready to push Simon inside and follow him, should things go badly.

Soon though, the bear’s head appeared and then its body as it jumped effortlessly out of the pit. It stood hunched, looking around the square—its bloody muzzle sniffing the air. It turned to observe Withred and Simon.

Withred, conscious that it could be on them in three bounds, pushed open the hut door slightly and shot a warning look at Simon. ‘I’ve no wish to have my flesh mixing with Hereward’s inside its belly,’ he whispered. ‘Be ready to move inside with the others.’

The bear continued to look at them—its nose twitching as it took in their scent. Then, seeming to lose interest, it turned and swaggered across the clearing. After nosing around the debris on the edge of the encampment, it again focused its gaze on Simon and Withred.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.