Three On The Run

' This forest seems never ending,'� said the taller man as they neared a stream that flowed on through the forest.
The other two did not answer immediately; though less than a minute passed before the only woman of the three spoke. ' I`m tired and want to rest up for a while'�.
' No we cannot rest up for long! The tall man answered rather sharply.
'We must carry on after quenching our thirst okay'�.
' But I`m tired and want to rest,'� she requested.
' Yeah let her rest,'� the other man cut in with in her defense.
' Look, they're after us and may not be far behind-we cannot stay here too long- they may catch up with us'�I know what they are like, they're likely to treat us very heavy-I know their way-we must carry on and reach the higher ground before nightfall'�.
'All right Jasper have it your own way then!'� the other man Bradley replied with a sigh.
' You must go on with us Sabina? It's important that we don't get caught- as he says they may torture and rough us about a lot and send us back to the compound'�.
' I'll try and carry on but I`m rather exhausted, don't think I can go on much longer'�.
' Here I'll help you then'�.
'No its alright I can go on myself'�.
' 'It's okay Jasper I'll help carry her along,'� said Bradley.
' I`m '�I'll be okay,'� she insisted and stood up.

They quenched their thirst in the free flowing stream and then carried on their way. Heading Northwest by the compass one of them had. The taller man Jasper leading the way as they scrambled on through the forest and at times thickset bush. At times their weary legs, stumbling and slipping over the wet ground that was damp due to a downpour of rain some hours ago that left them partially soaked and wet through with their clothes. Wisely, they sought to keep to the camouflage of the larger tree branches that gave them some protection from the rain otherwise they would have been socked right through their clothing. Also their old jackets they'd worn gave an adequate amount of protection from the cold, cool air of the woods.
The minutes dragged on, time seemed irrelevant as they made their way further on hopefully to what the three of them sought: the higher ground of the forest floor, the hills.
' Hey listen what's that? I heard barking-God no, those bloody dogs some distance off! Think I can hear their handler's voices just faintly, ' said Jasper with a trembling tone of voice, a glazed look in his eyes, a startled, frightened look breaking out over his face.
The three of them stopped momentarily to listen for so many seconds or so.

' I can't hear anything except the low tweet of a few birds,'� said Bradley discerningly.
' No listen closer- it's some distance off. Can you hear them Sabina yet?'� Jasper asked.
She paused to listen as if straining her ears to perceive something to pay attention to.'�Yes, just faintly though some way off'�. Oh I`m very exhausted and don't think I can go on. Leave me here, let them come to me. You`s two carry on don't worry about me okay,'� she said and she hung her head down indicating a sign of giving up.
' No we've come too far now to give up. Your not giving up now Sabina-I'll help carry you okay'�.
' Ah let her stay and be captured if she wants to,'� said Jasper. 'We must carry on no matter what, it will get dark soon and they might give up the chase till the morning. We are starting to go uphill just a little and will seek a make shift shelter for the night very shortly'�.
Then they heard it. Unmistakably the noise of rotating blades-a helicopter! The noise got closer and closer, till all seemed almost lost.
' Quick! Lets get behind the clump of thick bush over there,'� ordered Jasper and they hurried the three of them and waded into the bush and at Jaspers command either knelt or lay down amongst the bushes and trees as the helicopter hovered around by them close by for a short while as if scanning the area, after that it moved off till its motor noise was less hearable to earshot.
' Think we can emerge now?'� said Bradley.
' Yeah, it probably wont be back for today at least,'� replied Jasper.
Sabina as she stood up again, heaved several sighs of relief and brushed the twigs and dead leafs from her clothing with the fingers of a hand.

The three fugitives carried on their escapade journey with Jasper leading the way. Sabina, who was starting to falter and wilt, suddenly fell down and lay there on the ground of the forest floor,
' We're starting to get to higher ground now, are you still okay Sabina?'� said
Bradley who didn't notice it at first, although suddenly upon turning around on instinct as he had been keeping a regular check on her progress and occasionally turning around to say a few words to her, saw her lying on the leafy ground further back about a hundred yards or so away. He was about to shout out-yet remembered their pursuers were probably still hot on their trial and might hear his voice, so he said in a calm urgent, yet firm voice to Jasper: ' Dam it! Sabina's falling down 'I`m going back to get her Jasper, wait here for a mo would you?'�
' Yeah-right hurry then,'� he said turning his head around with a look of distain.
' Just that we can't muck around for long. If she refuses to get up we may have to leave her to it,'� he said rather coolly.
Dam him ' who the hell did he think he was Bradley said to himself and he hurried up to Sabina lying on the ground. She was looking tired and somewhat distressed so he asked her. 'Are you all-right?
' Think so-I`ll be okay Bradley just let me be - you`s go on there'�.
' No, I wont let them get you. Look! Can't you see what they might do to you?'� he replied in pleading voice tones. 'No come on,'� and he went to help her get up again but she resisted him.
'Come on-for Gods sake Sabina, don't be stupid!'�
' I can't go on,'� she protested.
' Look-I`m help carry you-it won't be long now before we can rest up for the night. Please! Now think of what might happen to you-I cant bear the thought of leaving you to those bastards. Come on now-you'll be save with us. Soon we`ll reach the seashore and make our escape, that I can promise you if you'll only come'�.
' Just how will you do that?'� She replied, a frantic look in her glazed brown eyes.
' We`ll catch a ferry or steal a small boat-they wont catch us,'� he said trying to reassure her.

Hesitantly, next she got up with him assisting her and by holding her with his arms around her shoulders; they walked back along through the woods to where Jasper was waiting with an impatient look on his face, a nervous twitch in one of his eyes.
Before long, thirty minutes or so had elapsed before they had started to ascend up a slanted incline of the forest with Jasper leading the way. Sabina was still looking not the best and had to be ably assisted by Bradley, who held one of her hands as he pulled her along up the embankment, the forest trees blotting out a large part of the view except the vision close on hand and the beaming streaks of yellow light, that filtered through the gaps in the trees.

'Can't hear those dogs anymore nor the voices now,'� said Jasper.
' No either can I,'� replied Bradley, a feeling of relief in his croaky voice.
' Hear, okay-we`ll stop and rest for a few minutes. Um look, I`m climb up this nearby pine-tree and see if I can detect any movement from down below, just to be on the safe side'�.
'Yeah righto,'� said Bradley as both he and the lady sat down to rest on a slant in the matted, leafy ground.
In the next few minutes, he had climbed up the pine tree and gazed about around him. Hardly anything significant appeared to stir in his view, with just the faint movement of a tree branches-leaves here and there in the light breeze that blew on and off. To his left he could just make out part of the seashore in the distance. The forest and native bush, blended together with the hills to make a lovely, rather spectacular view, though he didn't have the time to appreciate it. So urgent and perilous was their situation.
Meanwhile, Sabina had gone behind another tree and knelt down-pulled her pantries down from under her dress and urinated onto the ground, the pee water running in rivets down the slant in the embankment.
Bradley looked at her for a few moments, grinning away as he did so, after that turned his face away again trying to hold himself from breaking wind, his boner almost bulging through the crotch of his trousers.
Shortly, upon deciding it was safe, Jasper descended quickly down the tree to inform the other two resting on the ground below.

' Well, see anything? Asked Bradley inquisitively.
' Nothing to get alarmed about. I think that our pursuers have retired for the night'�.
'Pew!'� that's a relief-well what now?'�
' I think that in my opinion, we should perhaps go on further to the forest hilltop and attempt to descend down it part of the way to the seashore,'� said Jasper.
' Well, what do you think Sabina?'� said Bradley. ' Would you be willing to come with us? We`ll be safer-the further away we get you know'�
She remained silent for several fleeting seconds, then nodding her head in agreement said: 'Yes, okay then'�.

In another twenty minutes, they had reached the forest hilltop and were slowly making their way down it as darkness started to fall. Part of the way down they came upon an abandoned shack. Cautiously the three of them approached it with slow steps, Jasper holding a pistol he had in one hand and a knife in the other, Bradley holding in one hand, a dirty brown beer-bottle he had picked up from the ground nearby.
Jasper opened the surprisingly unlocked door and went inside, while the other two waited outside. Very soon he appeared again at the open door way and exclaimed: ' its unoccupied. Looks like no one has been here for some time I'd say'�. So they decided to bed down inside it for the night to Sabina's relief. The two men gave her the only bed with a rather tatty mattress to sleep on and one of several spare blankets they had carried, tied onto their backs settled down for the night. The shack also possessed a small wooden table and two chairs and a lamp which still, when given a handshake had some kerosene in it, so after covering up the window with a damp cloth found inside the hut, Bradley lit the lamp with his lighter and the two of them lay on the floor their blankets wrapped over them-trying to rest and get some sleep.
' Tomorrow, we`ll get up a first shades of light and make our way down to the seashore, find a small boat somewhere or ask someone if they'll willing to take us across the strait. I have 500 dollars in my wallet and will pay the boat owner several hundred dollars if necessary to get us to safety'�.
' I dunno, think that we should try and board the ferry near Domgale and make it to safety to the independent island of Wikau. We`ll be safe there, because they wont be able to touch us,'� said Bradley, the apprehension and anxiousness of his words leaving room for Jasper to have some doubt as to their plans for the morning.
Meanwhile, Sabina slept on the bed with the blanket over her, at times stirring in his fitful sleep. The other two each smoked a cigarette watching the smoke rings drifting upwards and evaporate in the cool air and made plans for the future. Talking on quietly in the dark, chatting on into the night, even long after blowing the lamp out.
Sabina had awoken for a short while and lay there on the bed listening to part of their plans, but fell asleep again, still being very tired from the day's escapade.
The three of them had escaped from the compound camp where the group of revolutionaries as the media had described them, had been held since the September civil outbreak of violence that had erupted in the capital. The authorities, the soldiers were hot on there trial. Yet freedom was possible on the separate state island of Wikau, a matter of a few kilometers from the shoreline of Domgale.

Morning broke, to the whistle and tweet of birds outside the shack. At first light the faint, but undistinguishable sound of barking dogs with human voices could be heard in the near distance of the woods.
' Listen, It's them again l can hear them-the dogs,'� said Jasper now fully awake and sitting on a chair.
' Yeah its them our pursuers -we had better get going, I'll awaken Sabina,'� he replied nervously. Both had let her sleep on for a short while before Bradley, now sensing the danger about them took a cup on the window shelf and went outside for a short period and returning back inside, shook her lightly on the shoulder to awake her.
' Sabina' Sabina,' wake up its time to go 'let's get going okay,'� he said awaking her from what had been possibly a wondrous dream.
' What time is it?'� she asked pulling the blanket away from her face and wiping the sleep from her eyes.
'Just after seven,'� he replied glancing at his wristwatch. 'Here, take this cup of water-I got it from the tank tap outside'�.
' Oh thank`s'�.
'How do you feel now-okay,'� he asked.
' Much better,'� she replied sitting up on one side of the bed.
For the first time, he really noticed her attractive features. Particularly her moist brown eyes and oval shaped face with its dark hair, tied back into a ponytail that dangled part of the way down her upper back.

Soon without any further delay they prepared to leave, wrapping up their blankets and tying them with string to their backs. Jasper took a packet of chocolate out of his trouser pocket and breaking it into three pieces handed a piece to the other two saying: ' It's not much but we`ll see about getting some food down by the ferry wharf '�.

With no further ado, they left the shack, closing the door that creaked on its hinges behind them and made their way down the hill of the forest with its flora of native bush and lush greenery as the sun was making its way over the Eastern hills throwing streams of misted, sifting light that shone through the gaps in the tree branches and small clearings.
Before long, they were at the bottom of the hill and were striding confidently across the flat ground of wild gorse-bush and shrubbery, the beach was in sight, the shush sound of the surf could be heard as the waves rolled in onto the sandy beach-the adrenalen inside them was flowing away accelerated, soon if only, yeah hopefully everything would be all right! Each of the three could hardly wait for that real feeling of freedom. Although, was it to be or not, was the question at hand?

' Look there's the wharf down there, ' said Sabina in an enthusiastic show of delight. 'See down there! ' She cried out extending an arm to indicate its position on the shore.
' Yeah, there's a ferry at the wharf too- so lets see if we can board her, its bound to be heading for the island. Come on let's hurry and see if we can catch her,'� replied Jasper and they hurried along the sandy beach. It was about a kilometer away and with their legs now straining every step of the way; it felt like ages before they reached it. Upon nearing the small wooden wharf jutting out from sea shore, both of the men started to laugh and throw in a pun joke to each other as they came closer it their goal; each also commenting how hungry they were for something to eat, Sabina walking not far behind them, now a spring of exuberance in her foot steps.
At the small building at the wharf, Jasper asked what looked like the ticket man or guard. ' Excuse me sir where bout's is the ferry headed for?'�
' The island-yes the independent one across the bay called Wikau, '�he stated emphatically.
' Could we board it now?'� asked Jasper,'� as we were happy to pay for the ferry ride?'�
' Where abouts are you lot from?'� he inquired, a steely look in the eyes of his ashen white face.
They talked on for a few minutes, the ticket man whoever he was, stalling for time-it would seem. Then suddenly he excused him from and went inside another room in the building.
' Stuff the negotiations, let's just get aboard the boat no matter what!'� said Bradley he's suspicious and seems to be aware of us'�.
'Here take this,'� said Jasper passing him the handgun, which Bradley stuffed into his trouser pocket.
In the next few moments, the adjoining room door burst open and out stepped several security man with guns in their hands.
' Right hold it there you three! Who is your leader-I believe one of you is? Said one of the men.
' I am!'� Replied Jasper take me, but let the other two go'�.
' No, the three of you are wanted by the military. You sir step this way. Guard these other two here-you three okay!'� he said firmly.
'Right Captain,'� one of them replied.
' I am captain Manson of sea coast security. We were aware of your possible coming here. Now step this way sir or I may have to use force at my disposal to make you,'� he demanded. Both he and Jasper then went into the other spare room.

A heated argument could be heard between Jasper and the captain-that went on for several minutes, till suddenly it erupted into a shouting match.

'�In the next few moments' mayhem broke loose! Jasper unexpectedly made a lunge for Captain Masons pistol and they struggled away-locked in a fierce wrestling match for the gun-knocking chairs and table objects over, banging their bodies against the walls, the din very audible outside in the small passenger terminal.
' Right! Ben you guard these two, said one of the guards with a corporal stripe on his shoulder sleeve jacket.'� George lets handle this!'� and he opened the office door - giving it a swift kick, pushed it wide open. The two quickly entered the inside the room as the scuffle continued for a brief instance before several shots were fired, followed by an abrupt groan. After that, a body slumped to the floor. Jasper had died fighting like a man, a true revolutionary leader that he was.
Barely several seconds had elapsed, when Bradley on noticing at a glance, the guard's inattention -pulled his gun out from his pocket and pointing it at him saying: ' Don't move or I'll shoot you- drop that gun quickly you!'�
Trembling-the man dropped his gun to the floorboards with a clunk''.
Next acting on instinct-quickly Bradley kicked the gun away from the guard sending it spinning across the floorboards.
'Sabina run for it-get aboard the ferry quickly now! ' he demanded.
' But it's just left the wharf-its too late now! ' she cried out.
' We`ll have to swim to it then 'come on lets get going!'� and they both took off running up the wharf ramp-way leaving the guard in the terminal enclosure standing there, still looking petrified.
At the wharfs end ramp part, they realized that the ferry had left the dock-yet was only slowly making its way at a snails pace across the bay. Immediately upon seeing a flight of wooden stairs that lead down to the water, Bradley quipped ' Quick down here-we`ll have to swim for it!'�
' But I can hardly swim,'� she replied.
' Doesn't matter-dog paddle if necessary, 'he suggested and grabbing one of her arms, he lead her down the steps and told her to get into the water and start swimming to the ferry only a short distance away.
At the bottom of the stairway, she paused briefly, then moved towards him, looking at him-the fear in her eyes and he held her for a few fleeting moments in his arms, their heads touching side on and he said calmly to her: ' You'll be okay, don't worry about me'�. He really wanted to tell her that he liked her and cared about her, just that the words remained unsaid. He opened his mouth to speak, yet didn't say what he really felt.
Telling her firmly to take her jacket and shoes off and to tuck her dress up she did so, exposing her shapely-slim legs. In so many moments that further lapsed, she got into the water. Another minute or so had passed when they heard the coast guards come walking briskly along up the wharf way. Captain Manson, still visibly shaking and traumatized by the scuffle in the adjoining room -which had led to Jaspers grisly end, had delayed for several minutes a follow on chase of the escapees. Perhaps knowing the other man had a gun, made him hesitate, not wanting to risk getting any of his men under him injured in a shoot out.

' Get going-don't worry about me okay!'�
' No you come too!'� she shouted out in despair from the water'�.
' Uh maybe,'� he said.
' You come too, oh you come you!'� she cried out.
' Just get going-start swimming to the boat-hurry, I'll be okay!'� he told her in a vain attempt to reassure her.
But it was really too late: those were the last words she heard him utter. As soon as the guards saw him they fired: Bradley fired back also almost simultaneously at the same time. Several shots rang out through the air.
One of the guards uttering a cry fell wounded in the chest. Bradley also hit by several bullets collapsed, letting out a groan and fell backward plunging into the water with a splash.
Then, quickly one of the guards took a few steps towards the wharf end ramp and raised his gun to fire at her in the water. In another moment to two, an arm suddenly grabbed his and jerked it back making him misfire, the bullet hitting the floorboards.
' What the f. k! ' he exclaimed in surprise.
'No let her go. If she makes it-she might drown yet,'� Captain Manson said with a humble tone in his voice.
' I take it you know her from somewhere Captain Manson?'� he said with a feeling of distain in his voice.
'�He paused before speaking. ' Maybe'�. It was long time ago'�. In another few fleeting moments or so he turned away, a smile breaking out across his face.

Bradley's body was floating onto the shallow waters of the surf where the pied oystercatchers were running amuck, quacking away madly as they went.
The mortally wounded guard was being attending to on the wharf; the wind draft was tampering, playing and shifting the waves that rushed eagerly to the zigzagging, lonely shore.

Soon Sabina had swum; struggling-almost drowning as she did so to the ferry, which the skipper on being informed of her difficulty from below deck had stopped the boats engine just a short distance out from the bay, so as to try and retrieve her from out of the water. '�. She made several leap ups from the water with an outstretched hand to connect with her rescuers on the main deck, but kept slumping back into the sea. Now almost exhausted, she dogpaddled for another few moments then tried once more.
'� The arm of a passenger was reaching out-downward from the railing to pull her aboard'�. Extending themselves two hands touched, immediately after that-they were clenched together momentarily, yet because her hand was still wet it began to slip losing it grasp -then another hand came over and clasped her wrist and in a firm grip.


The island of independence was now beckoning, gleaming in the simmering heat waves of the approaching noonday sun.

________________________________________________

Anthony Foote Tuesday, June 28, 2005

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