Don't Catch Me!

Chapter 13 - Flashlights

Chapter 13 – Flashlights

I woke with a start.  It was dark.  I was shaking and my arms were stretched wide and braced.  Joel’s arms were tight around me and his whispering voice was in my ear.  I fought against my racing heart beat as my eyes leaked for no reason other than exhaustion.  Then I remembered.  I had been falling again.

“Shh, Shh, Cissy, I am here, I have you,” His soothing voice repeated. 

I turned my eyes to him and gripped him, drawing him closer still. 

“Cissy, we have company,” he whispered urgently, “Shh, my love, we must be quiet.”

That’s when I saw them.  From within our hiding place I could see spots of light whirling around against the outside of the barn’s walls.  The lights randomly flooded the darkness inside as they filtered through the gaps in the cladding. 

The turmoil outside was unmistakeable, the sound of heavy boots on hardened dirt, the clanking of metal against metal and the ominous growling of a harsh voices.  All this left no doubt as to the intent of those who created the noise.  Military, soldiers, police, law enforcers, which ever branding they used, I knew one fact – we were in trouble.  I felt myself tense and I automatically tightened my grip on Joel.  They had found us.  They were here.

The barn door slammed open and the heavy boots swept into the space beneath us.  I didn’t have to see the weapons to know that they were there.  The metallic clicking sound of safety catches being released was a bit of a giveaway.  These might not be crack soldiers, given the amount of noise they made in their approach, but any trained monkey could fire a loaded weapon and stand a good chance of killing something.

I gripped Joel who was tensing, presumably getting himself ready to bound out of our hiding spot and get shot to pieces.  Great idea Muscles!  I caught his eyes and tried to give him my ‘just wait’ look.  He obviously got it because he nodded and resumed his tight hold on me.

The flashlights must have all been aimed downwards because only once did one quickly skim the surface of the hay.  They either knew exactly where we were and weren’t bothering to illuminate our hideout or they were in no hurry to find us.  Either way we were fairly stuffed.

I was lying facing Joel and we were surrounded by hay bales. He had even placed some above us to form a roof.  Our house of straw, Joel had teased last night.  But right now, well that just didn’t seem so funny.    Right about now it felt like the big bad wolf was on the doorstep with a bad case of the sneezes. 

 Without being able to see what was happening in the dark beneath us, I closed my eyes and relied on my hearing.   All movement had stopped and a pending silence transcended.  They were waiting for something.  There were no words just the scuff of a boot and the heavy breathing of a large group of men in a small space.  What were they waiting for? 

Joel was getting tenser by the minute and I could tell he was considering sacrificing himself to save me.  I latched onto him and wrapped my arms around his chest pressing my body to his to let him know that I wasn’t going to let that happen.  If we were discovered we would do this together.  I had my judo skills.  OK so not as effective against armed opponents but better than nothing.

I was desperately trying to remember any Judo throw that would disarm a man or allow me to dodge a bullet, when the barn door opened again.  Squeaking on its hinges all other fidgeting sounds ceased with a snap of multiple leather boots coming together with a lazy respect.  Atten-ha!  I almost said aloud in recognition of the situation below us.