We got everyone out of bed in a hurry, although some were already up preparing breakfast. We have to start early on meal preparations around here with so many to feed. Our remaining leaders were together in the library with a few others as well. Aari was missing, but he got the guys up and they were soon on their way over here. While they were coming Angel got in touch with Kat again. They found one of the guys, one of Paul’s men that had gone along with Paul.

He was dead, they found him hung in one of the towers. These people mean business, but they will soon realize that we mean business as well. Then Angel called Kat again. There was a note on the man saying that all the men would likewise be killed unless everyone left within two hours. The men would be returned if the girls promised that they would all leave. I told Kat to say they would leave and we would send the helicopters right away to pick them up.

Angel yelled the answer as loud as she could from the middle of the castle courtyard. There was no response. But once the helicopters were in view, the men came out from one of the other towers. Soon they were picked up, along with the dead man and they were on their way back home. “Are we going to let them get away with this Steve?” asked Kat.

“Not a chance,” I said, “we will be going back, that is, the team, not me. I will continue to obey Samantha until she gives me the green light to return to work.” “Thank you Steve,” said Jennifer, smiling, and hugging me. “I will say thank you as well,” said Samantha, smiling. “When you thank Steve, you also give him a hug,” said Jennifer, “just like everyone else, and that is an order to everyone.” “But I…” began Samantha, but Jennifer pulled her arm and she fell onto my lap.

“Now you are close enough to hug him,” said Jennifer, giggling. So, she hugged me, but turned red as could be. “Maybe next time you won’t be so embarrassed,” I said. “Very funny,” she said and got up. “We will wait until the others return before we start making plans,” I said, “but if any of you have some ideas, please share them with Kat, Jennifer, or myself.” I then asked Beryan to give me a massage. “What is the problem Steve,” asked Jennifer once we were in our bedroom.

“I’m not sure,” I said, “just suddenly I’m in a lot of pain. That reminds me, tell Kat to talk with Annelie.” Jennifer did so immediately. “Annelie,” asked Kat, “what is bothering you lately? You seem to be in pain and having trouble walking up stairs now.” “Oh, you noticed,” she said, “I was hoping to hide it from everyone.” “Actually, it was someone else who noticed,” said Kat, “I wish it had been me though. I’m sorry for not watching more closely, that is part of my job.

I don’t know how Steve managed to look after things for so long on his own. Now, the problem?” “It’s my hips, they are really starting to bother me again, and it has me a bit scared,” she said. “Time to get checked,” said Samantha, “and I mean right now. Rock, please take us to the clinic right away.” He did so and Kat asked Tracy to take her place at the computer, with Cynthia to help her. While Beryan was massaging me I started getting a headache so Jennifer called for Samantha, but she was already gone, so Carolyn came up with my pain medication.

It worked, as usual, which was good, but Jennifer was concerned anyway and so was Carolyn. She thought maybe I should go to the clinic as well. However, I played it down saying that Annelie was more important right now and there is nothing odd about me getting headaches, which is true. Soon we heard the helicopters coming and I told Jennifer she needed to go down and join Kat to hear about what is going on. “You need to hear about it too Steve,” she said.

“I also need a massage right now,” I said, “you can fill me in, but send up four bodyguards.” She called them and then left. Shortly after Jennifer was gone I started to feel very strange and I asked Dawn who else had come up. When she mentioned Melina I asked if she would lie down beside me and hold my hand, so she did. “Are you okay Steve?” she asked. “I just feel scared for some reason,” I said, “and wanted someone close.”

“And what is wrong with me Steve?” asked Dawn. “You’re the leader, so I couldn’t ask you, or you would get in trouble,” I said, “otherwise I would have asked you.” “Oh, that makes sense,” she said. “Hmm, the pain has gone Beryan,” I said. “Wow, that was quick today,” she replied, “but it is earlier than normal too, so maybe that’s it.” “How could people get into that castle without leaving tracks Steve?” asked Amber.

“That part is easy, they just let people down a ladder from a helicopter onto the wall,” I said, “and from there they can go wherever they want without touching the ground. And they probably stay in that underground network of tunnels and rooms that we found out about from that book. Apparently those rooms down there could hold up to 2,000 people.

My guess is that the castle was attacked and taken over by people from another castle, and because they lived above, the people that had escaped below eventually ran out of food and water and died. Then, for whatever reason, the conquerors left the castle after the others were dead. Perhaps even sickness wiped them out. Someone more recently found out about those tunnels and rooms and decided it would be a great hideout and they don’t want to be disturbed. That’s just a guess, however.” “Certainly sounds possible though,” said Melina.

Since I was feeling better now, we all went downstairs. As we were about to enter the library, Sapphire met us and asked to talk with me, so we all went into the kitchen. Jennifer saw this and came after us to see what was going on. “Steve, that is not my dad in there,” she said, “I know my dad, he would never do that to me.” She told us what he had done. “Could they have been switched to infiltrate us?” asked Jennifer.

“I don’t know, but we will soon find out,” I said, “let Kat and Angel know, we need to take their guns quickly.” She communicated with Kat and Angel right away so they would be ready. Jennifer went back into the library. “Okay, who are you mister?” she asked. “What, what do you mean by that?” he asked, “You know who I am.”

“All of you take out your guns please,” said Kat, the girls already had theirs out as soon as Jennifer questioned Matt, or whoever he is. The men took out their guns and they right away became hot and they dropped them quickly. Then I came in. “Lock them up for now,” I said, “until we find out who is real and who isn’t…”

To Be Continued.

©2024 Steve McLeod.