The minions had stayed off any trails. Doing so had made the journey longer, but they assumed that retracing the original route would result in some sort of conflict. They guessed that Maggot and their other comrades were dead and their heads placed atop poles as a warning to others. After all, that’s what Saul would have done.
Their mission was to survey the actual village or villages and return undetected to report their findings. They had skirted their way along the hilltops, trying to remain as high up as possible, thereby retaining their visibility. But it was slow going.
This was the direction that had been given by the man whom they called Mr. Li. He was a rarity. They called this type of person an “Oriental,” and he was the only surviving one among the minions. Saul didn’t seem to care for Orientals, which explained why there were almost none. But he Liked Mr. Li. Saul called him “Confucius,” although no one knew why. Mr. Li was older, although no one knew exactly how old. There were rumors that he was over a hundred. All of this made people keep their distance, especially because Saul confided in Li, and sometimes the two of them spent hours alone discussing no one knew what.
Mr. Li had been asked to go on this expedition. It was of grave importance to Saul. It was always when the mob made camp for a long time and resources started to be depleted that Saul felt the most anxious. He was currently at this point and feeling a great deal of anxiety, so he needed to find new people to plunder. He was blind to the natural abundance surrounding him. His only paradigm involved people and taking what belonged to them without stopping to consider how these people had survived by simply living from the abundance of nature surrounding them.
Mr. Li was very fit and nimble. He never spoke much— only when asked for advice. The leader of the mission was Baggus, a large, crude and yet smart man. He stood up well under the weight of Saul and his tirades, and he could execute his duties efficiently. Baggus didn’t care whether he appeared to need help or advice. He only cared about ensuring that he did not fail. So, he sought counsel from Li daily, as he knew that he was a wise man. Li had directed Baggus to always stay off trails and to maintain high ground. And they were not allowed to wear bright colors. So far, they had been able to spot some Victory patrols from their high vantage point.
Li was always watching, and despite their high, far-off position, he would call for the expedition to suddenly halt, freeze, and stay low when he spotted any movement below. Li had cautioned Saul, “Be patient. Do not send another party if you don’t see us return quickly. We don’t know how far we are going, and we must proceed carefully to avoid detection. Give us one month.”
“Are you freakin’ nuts? A month? I’ll be eat’n my own mudda by den. We gots ta move soon; not much left heya fa us.
You do what ya gotta, but move fasta dan dat.”
It had been nearly ten days, and they were noticing more activity below and feared that contact with Victory was now a serious risk. That was when Mr. Li noticed a lookout point that was situated even higher than they were. They could not proceed further without being seen from above, so they waited until nightfall and then moved down closer to the trails below.
“We should stay here. It is well away from the trail.
Tonight, we watch so we can see the timing of the patrols.
Tomorrow night late, I will take two smart guys—not loud idiots—with me. We’ll go down to the trail, then beyond the high lookout, then back up into the mountain. The next morning, we will see what we are looking for. Then, the night after that, we will come back here. You don’t move anywhere.”
“Hey, Li. I’m goin’ wid you. We will take Abe wid us.”
“That’s fine. Tonight, we just watch.”
No one actually watched, except for Mr. Li. He took note that there was in fact a large window in the middle of the night when there was no movement. He looked at the position of certain stars as he noted the patrol movement, so he had a good idea when to go.
The next night, Baggus went around slapping heads and warning his crew about the do’s and don’ts, the essence of which was do nothing, and don’t do anything.
With that, Mr. Li came over and said, “It’s time.”
The three men started down the mountain in the dark.
They hit the main path at the bottom about thirty minutes later and walked briskly along, none of them feeling comfortable as they trod along the main trail of these people, who seemed disciplined, organized, careful, and security-minded. Li also noted that he had not seen them walking; they only ran, except for some who were carrying heavy loads on their backs. These people could never be evaded—not by the rabble that he was with. It was by stealth only that they could learn anything and return to tell about it.
After about three hours shuffling down this well-worn trail, Li signaled that they should start climbing again. It took them another two hours to get up as high as he wanted, where they would be above their lookout and have the best chance of seeing everything. By the time they reached a place that satisfied Li and he signaled them to stop, the sun was already starting to glow on the horizon.
The three of them sat watching the beautiful sunrise as they drank water and ate what few provisions they had with them. As the sun rose, the details below and in the distance came into focus. Mr. Li, Baggus, and Abe could see the mighty river off in the distance. Along parts of the river, the landscape was green and uniform looking. Li knew that it was agriculture, but he didn’t bother to explain this to the others. Nearer to their position, the dawn light began to reveal the village, the structures, smoke rising, and a few people who were already moving about. Another small string of hills blocked most of their view of the village, but they could see structures stretching out in both directions, indicating a very large settlement; perhaps it was even bigger than that of the great nation they had conquered on the plains two years earlier.
But Li had some concerns about these people: the army, the way they ran, and the fact that they only ran. They also looked big and fit. It would certainly be a difficult campaign. Li breathed deeply, trying to calm himself. He hated Saul and all of them. Well, not all of them. He did not hate the oppressed— only the oppressors. They were below the animals, in Li’s view.
Below leaches and worms. As he spied on this peaceful, organized-looking society, he contemplated his options.
“Baggus, I think we have seen enough. We know the size and location. Before there is too much light, we can save a day by leaving now and quickly getting back to the others. Saul will appreciate this. We have little time.”
“Okay, Mr. Li. You da boss. Les boogie.”
They set out, retracing their steps. Now, in the early morning light, they were able to move faster than they had before. They soon dropped back down to the trail, which was the most dangerous part, and trotted along as quickly as they could. Being a bit overweight and terribly out of shape, Baggus struggled. Abe was much better. To Li, running was effortless.
He kept himself fit and was disciplined with his diet, exercise, and meditation. He was also very sure-footed, which is why it was so odd when he suddenly cried out from behind the other two.
They whirled and didn’t see him at first. But then, they noticed him struggling on the ground just off the trail. They rushed back to him.
“Li, what de shit did you do ta yaself? You stupid ass.”
Li’s ankle was red, bleeding, and twisted, indicating that he had broken it somehow. “Oh shit. We gotta get out heya. You unnustan’ me, boy? Shit!”
“Baggus, if you try to help me out, we will be caught … all of us. And the others are not smart enough to make it back without getting caught. I’m not sure they even know how to get back at all.” Li winced in pain, holding his shin in the spot just above his injury.
“Go and get them. And get out of here. I will act as if I am a lone wolf. I won’t say a thing. And I will learn about them then escape to come help Saul.”
Actually, Li’s plan was exactly the opposite. He intended to defect, help these people fend off Saul, and establish himself in a real community. He would be a member of a community of real people—not animals … not leaches and worms.
“Go now! It’s your only chance! I’m sorry, Baggus. I let you down. But you can make it. Just keep moving. Tell Saul. He will appreciate it.”
Baggus saw an opportunity arising from this mishap.
Mr. Li was so revered by Saul and had essentially been put in charge. Now, Baggus could be the one to come back a hero and a success. Yes, a dazzling success.
“Okay, Abe! Let’s go! Li, you keep quiet ’bout us. Ya heya? Take cay-ah yaself. We be back!” And with that, Baggus and Abe pressed eastward on the trail. Baggus’s steps were now lighter, and he moved quite well for a big man, inspired by delusions of grandeur.
Once the two men rounded the corner, Li laughed out loud, overjoyed at his own performance and his prospects. But then, he winced again. His performance had been so convincing because, even to his own surprise, he really had broken his own ankle. He got himself up and leaned on a big rock. It was painful to stand. His ankle had now blown up to twice its usual size, and it was hot and throbbing. He had to sit back down and raise his leg. It was pointless trying to move without help. It was an hour before the first patrol came steaming up the path. There were four of them.
“Whoa! What’s this?” The lead runner raised his hand, slowing down the pack. “Who are you?”
Megan was sitting up humming while cleaning her feet in a small tub of dirty water. When the tent door swung open, she was startled, but when she saw it was Angie, she smiled. Upon seeing that Megan was up and looking much better, Angie felt great relief.
“Megan, I have lots of good stuff I lifted from Saul’s place.” She pulled out a piece of bread, and Megan grabbed it and tore into it.
“Mmmm.” Megan hummed as she ate.
The lady who owned the tent was now hovering closely, waiting for food that could be prepared or distributed to her family and the others dwelling in her tent. Angie handed over the bag to her, and she snatched it and walked away, rifling through its contents and taking inventory. Food was becoming scarce, and people were beginning to eat less.
Sadly, there were starving tribespeople locked in a pen and growing thinner. Even the staunch cannibals among Saul’s followers were more inclined toward jerky, vegetables, and grains, if these were available. But supplies had dwindled, and selections would soon be made from the pen. Everyone dreaded this moment, especially those who had not yet had to resort to this last option. It put tremendous pressure on Saul, who became increasingly agitated as reports of severe shortages started to come in. He did not want to violently quell an uprising, but invariably, it always came to this.
Saul was not a planner, nor was he an organizer. He was only an oppressor driven by impulse and greed. He took complaints and criticism personally and lashed out at those who made such comments.
“Sis, I will go back tomorrow. I can handle it,” declared Megan.
“We will go together and look after each other,” Angie offered, feeling unsure. She had already tried to stay close and help out in Saul’s cabin several times, only to be ordered out.
On one occasion, she was beaten and then ordered out when she tried to protest. But, together, she and Megan would survive.
“Saul will be easier on you now. He likes you, but he knows you have your limits,” Angie reassured Megan, hoping that what she was saying might be true.
Baggus, Abe, and the others all arrived back at camp weary and exhausted. They had taken the most difficult routes possible to avoid detection, and they’d hardly rested, eager to return and please Saul with the good news.
“You dumb bastad! I dun care if eleven of ya all croaked if I jus’ got Li back heya. Got it?” Saul bellowed, and it could heard halfway across the village. Baggus hung his head, his visions of glory dashed in that instant. He dared not challenge Saul, despite the compelling reasons he had to explain what had happened. Saul kicked over a table, and things flew and shattered. “I caan’ believe dis shit. I need dat little oriental back heya.” His tone started to descend into sobbing due to his sense of loss. Saul was a delegator, but he also outsourced some of his brain work to Li. Now, he felt exposed.
“Wheya deh take ’im? Did you see? Huh?” Baggus looked up slowly to meet Saul’s gaze and shook his head. “Fuck it aaaalll!” Saul picked up a chair and flung it across the room, where it smashed against a wall. “Megan! Get me a drink!”
Megan scurried about in the background, her nerves raw once again. Saul sat and buried his face in his hands. He was a sobbing, unstable, emotional wreck. After a while, he settled and lifted his red face, revealing bloodshot eyes. Megan handed him a large jar. He tipped it back high and guzzled the applejack, some of it splashing out the sides of the jar and onto the floor.
“Okay, Baggus, you dumb shit! Tell me everyt’ing yuh seen. We gotta move dis show like now!”
Across the village, ten soldiers stood at the gate of the pen holding the captives.
The leader barked, “Okay, boys! Round up a few.” He stayed outside the pen while the rest of them entered with their spears and knives drawn. The weak and suffering prisoners moaned and cried, running to the far side of the pen and grabbing onto anything they could. The soldiers circled in, a few carrying lengths of rope with loops fashioned at one end. They moved in toward the huddled mass of captives.
The approximately fifty prisoners in the large pen were watched and heavily guarded at all times. The village residents always tried to sneak them provisions by essentially throwing them over the fence from a distance before the guards noticed. The prisoners would lunge for the offerings and fight over them while the guards yelled out and tried to chase the perpetrator.
This time, as the guards extracted prisoners from the pen each day, the villagers watched in anger, but they kept a safe distance, not wanting to join the poor imprisoned souls, all of whom had been deemed a threat or somehow guilty of resistance.
The doomed prisoners were mainly soldiers from the former village, along with others who, at Saul’s discretion, had been added for various misdeeds. The first soldier in the front forced the rope around the neck of a large but emaciated man.
He started to struggle but was quickly prodded into submission with spears. The guards trapped and secured two others and then pulled the three from the pen. They then marched off toward a location at the edge of camp, where a butcher was waiting.
The bulk of Saul’s army was around the perimeter of the village, forming a permanent circle to prevent anyone from running off. Invariably, many would manage to escape whenever they moved camp, but for the most part, Saul managed to continue growing his nomadic horde as he progressed westward in search of something. No one knew quite what.
Comments