Return to Earth

Chapter 30

The moment they'd been waiting for didn't happen right away, which was what Victor had hoped for. Several days had passed since the drone was sent to watch the elders before they caught one of them in the act. There was no precaution taken when the order had been given by who Victor identified as Chief Elder Zachariah McKenny to the Chief Guard Alex Williams.

They had recorded the order to attack and all they needed to do was wait until the right moment to catch them in the act. Showing the recording may not be enough, no matter how much Victor wanted to believe it would happen. There was a risk to life, but it couldn't be avoided. Everyone had to see who the attackers were with their own eyes to know Victor was telling the truth.

Kierst was sitting next to Victor on a fallen tree in the dark listening to the sounds of the insects. They arrived in time to find a good spot as Dune and Petrovitch remained close to the Medjay. There shouldn't be any need for assistance, but was going to be there if needed.

As they sat in silence, Kierst prayed in a more comfortable way without looking up. He had accepted God was listening, but the answers weren't always what he accepted. A lot of people on Earth had been praying for their deliverance for generations, which God did answer by sending a few unpleasant characters from Mars in God's time.

He no longer avoided reading the Bible, but hadn't had the time to read anything. There was no going to the meetings Dune held, which Victor so enjoyed. Kierst didn't want to go in blind. He would read and study other things from that time before going. The archaeological data alone would take almost as much time as the Bible, but he wasn't going anywhere. It wasn't like the scientists on Mars could recall them. They could try, but there was no way any of them were leaving before the mission was finished.

Animals fell silent before they heard the snapping of a branch close to where they sat. Victor wanted to stop them before they reached Sheep Head, but had been convinced they needed to wait. If they didn't catch them in the act of terrorizing the villagers, too few would believe to be of any use.

Two passed close enough to hear their whispers as the visors brought the darkened figures into the light carrying bows with quivers full of arrows on their backs. Neither was Williams, which was a bit of a disappointment to Kierst. He wanted to ask Victor, but they were too close to risk anything.

Once they made their way as silently as they could, Kierst rose to follow with quiet steps as he whispered. "Did you recognize them, Victor."

Victor moved with the same caution as he trailed behind. "I did. They're both guards who answer directly to Williams. The one with the blond hair's Andrew Templeton and the one with red hair's Bruce Alexander. No way they'd be out here without orders from him."

The movement ahead stopped as they neared a small house in the center of the village with the laughter of children coming from within. Victor almost made his move, but Kierst held him back. It wasn't easy knowing what they were risking, but had to wait. Stopping them before they acted would ruin whatever hope they had of revealing the truth.

Kierst whispered as they watched arrows prepare to fire. "I think I got their names mixed up. Doesn't matter. I'll go after the blond. You go after the redhead. After they begin their attack. Keep him alive, Victor."