“Alright,” Dane’s voice floated over thewall. “One by one.”
Witt knelt and cupped his hands for Burke,letting the man use his hands and shoulder as a stepping stool. Oneby one the others repeated the process, climbing over the woodenplanks to the other side. As Paul rose for his turn, there was acommotion at the front gate of the pen.
“Get down,” Witt ordered.
He grabbed Paul by the neck, forcing him facedown and following him. He lay on his stomach, keeping his faceturned towards the men approaching the pen. In this light, theywouldn’t be able to tell if his eyes were still open.
These new Trateri carried torches and weredressed in finer clothes than the guards. Witt thought herecognized one of the men from their journey.
There was a heated discussion as one of thenew men pointed at the sleeping men and then gestured back at thecamp.
“We have to go,” Paul whispered urgently.
“Stay still.”
“They’ll catch us if we stay.”
“If you try to climb out of here right now,they’ll see you.” Witt snarled. “Do you really want anotherbeating?”
“Oh, fuck you,” Paul spat, leaping to hisfeet and making a run for the wall.
The motion attracted the new Trateri’s andthe guard’s attention. They lifted the gate and entered the penquickly. The sleeping men started to wake as the Trateri ran pastthem.
Witt cursed loudly. He’d known Paul wouldmake him regret freeing him. Always good to see his predictionscome true.
Witt leapt after Paul, pulling him down andgrabbing him by the collar while shouting at Dane, “Get out ofhere!”
“What about you?”
“Don’t worry about me. Just get out of here.”Witt hauled Paul after him in the opposite direction of Dane,forcing his pursuers to decide which group they wanted tochase.
All but one decided to go after the easierprey, Witt and Paul. The last leapt over the wall.
Witt figured Dane could take care of one man,so turned his attention to evading capture as long as possible. Itwas difficult while dragging Paul along, who cursed and fought asthey wove through men who minutes before had been sleeping.
He was too old for this shit. This was thekind of thing the young and dumb did. Not him.
A heavy body tackled him, taking him to theground and pressing his face into the dirt before hauling his armsbehind him. He didn’t resist, knowing the game was up. He wascaught.
Paul wasn’t as smart and flailed at the mantrying to grab him. He got off one lucky shot to the man’s nosebefore his legs were swept right out from under him. He was kickedseveral times in the stomach and took a couple of blows to the facebefore his captor secured Paul’s arms behind his back and tied themoff with rope.
“Your friend’s not too smart.” Witt waslifted to his feet and made to walk before his captor.
“Nope.”
“You, on the other hand,” the man trailed offas he looked in the direction of the wall.
Witt heaved a sigh. Right now he didn’t feelvery smart.
“We’ll catch them before long.”
Witt shrugged. “Maybe.”
Paul gurgled blood as he was hauled back tohis feet and shoved forward.
“Where are you taking us?”
Witt didn’t think he would actually get areply and almost wished he hadn’t given the answer.
