20: Old People

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It was like an hour walk to the Black Bandits' camp

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It was like an hour walk to the Black Bandits' camp. The camp was situated at the centre of the forest and it was quite organized. There were over a hundred huts scattered around, and that was the few Ella could spot.

Men and women stared at them as the passed. Some were seated in a circle around a huge fire talking animatedly, a few dancing and laughing, others were just patrolling the area in twos and threes, weaving in between the huts in different direction. They all seemed happy. Ella had imagined them to be a gloomy set of psychotic criminals. This was a shocking discovery.

Ella spotted about five lookout towers and picked out a dozen or so men manning them.

"We have security measures here at the base too." Said Billy, following the line of her gaze.

"Has no one ever tried to betray your group?" Ella asked, glancing over her shoulder to see Eric following behind with the men who struck up a conversation with him.

"There are no traitors here."

Ella laughed. "How are you so sure?"

Billy shrugged. They stopped walking when they reached a hut much bigger than the others. Four men and two women stood keeping watch over the vicinity.

"Meet Marcel, Stephen, Philpi-"

Ella snickered. "You mean Philip right?"

Philpi rolled his eyes at Ella's humor. "No, it's Philpi."

Billy chuckled. "Trisa and Pascal who's a rascal by the way, so you might want to keep away from him."

Point taken. Ella grinned.

The other men guffawed and even some passersby caught on and joined in making fun of Pascal who grumbled at the unfair jibe at him.

Marcel had long brown hair, blue eyes and his lip was turned up in a permanent scowl. Next to him was Trisa.

She was quite beautiful, not the fragile kind, it was the rugged kind of beauty, the one you get after living the hard life for a long time. Her hair was red and short, the kind of hairstyle called the Pixie Cut, her eyes were brown and there was this jagged line running from the top of her right cheek down to her jaw.

Pascal was the soft-faced one among them with short pitch-black hair and brown eyes like Trisa.

Ella could not make out the other two, Stephen and Philpi because they remained in the shadows beside the hut. One of them went into the hut to pass an information to whoever was inside there. Then, he emerged and muttered some words in Billy's ear.

Billy faced Ella. This time there was no humour in his eyes. "Our leader will see you now."

"Burham?" Eric asked, stepping forward.

"No, Becca."

Ella was awed at the fact that a woman was head of the Black Bandits. Interesting.

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