49
Bloody incursions
The
wagon arrived at the road block manned by the sailors. There were seven of the
sailors dressed in white and carried rifles. They had placed a barricade there
across the road.
“Road
closed.” The Petty Officer addressed the driver of the wagon. The driver was
alone on the wagon. He sat there and smiled.
“Me
deliver food there.” The driver, Ermir, smiled. “I come every week.”
“Well,
not today.” The Petty Officer said. “The road is closed.” “Who pays for my food
then?” Ermir protested then. “My fishes and meat…... Shko keq.” (Translated
form Albanian to English; go bad.)
“Move
it, mate. The road remains closed.” The Petty Officer approached the wagon. It
was then Ermir pulled out the revolver and levelled it at the non-commissioned
officer.
“I
am close to shooting you.” Ermir said. The Petty Officer was shocked and called
out to his men manning the roadblock.
“Boarders
on the the deck!” The Petty Officer called out his usual warning as if he was
on the deck of the ship. He heard no clicking of the rifles and turned around.
His team of six sailors had then been disarmed, with each of them having a
revolver or the dagger at their throat.
“A
mund t'ua presim fytin?” (Translated form Albanian to English; can we slit
their throat?) One of Ermir’s friends asked.
“Jo,
ne nuk mund ta bëjmë këtë. Ne nuk jemi vrasës, jo sot.” (Translated form
Albanian to English; No, we cannot do that. We are not murderers ...... not
today.) Ermir shook his head.
“Not
today. We promised the Doctor, unless needed.” Ermir looked at the Petty
Officer. “Can we call it …... squared off now? You will remain here on the side
of the road while we move on. Kuptohet (Understood).”
Ermir
smiled at the officer.
“Stand
down, men.” The officer called out. The sailors were hog tied after being shown
the moves by Mary, and left at the side of the road.
“They
would not know to untie these knots.” Ermir smiled. His men collected the
rifles and rode the wagon to the castle.
Meanwhile
at the woods, Mycroft, and his men with Doctor Watson and Holmes took their
trekking from there after they disembarked from the coaches. They filed off in
single line with Mycroft leading. The woods were quiet with the chirping of the
birds spaced out, and the hares hardly seen at all.
“I
say old chap, either we are a noisy bunch or the woods dwellers deemed us
unwelcomed.” Mycroft said.
“Most
likely the latter. We do not hold the familiar scent to theirs.” Holmes cut in.
It was then one of the men released flatulence from his morning breakfast.
“Pardon
me, Sir. I had baked beans this morning.” The man said sheepishly. He liked his
missus’ morning layout of bangers, beans, and potatoes. The group moved on
hurriedly.
Suddenly
Mycroft signalled a stop to the others. He crouched down and then moved
forward. The others stayed put while Mycroft scouted the area ahead. He then
returned and told them the outcome.
“Three
men ahead, armed and resting by the trees. I think they are hostiles.” Mycroft
reported. “Jim, and Sean moved to the right and flanked them. Bruce and
Stevens, move to the left and maintain cover fire if needed. I will go with
Tony and the others from here. We need to capture them alive without any firing
if possible.”
At
the creek, Colonel Moran had assigned the hunters to take the different paths
towards the castle. The Colonel and the Sargeant Major was told to take guard
at the rear.
“In
case, we need to do a retreat, both of you can provide fire cover.” Colonel
Moran then looked at Olad. “You will take four others to approach the castle
from the garden to rescue the ones there.”
“Does
he think me for a fool?” The retired Colonel glared at Moran while talking to
the Sergeant Major. “I can march like any others.”
“Bloody
unlikely, but I think we can serve better here at the rear.” The Sergeant Major
was to dispute the order or develop a mish mash of “I am the Colonel’ here.
“The
others will take positions at the treelines All of you are sharpshooters so let
us prove that to the others.” Colonel Moran told the ones following him.
“Pardon
me, Colonel Moran. I can hear the roar of big cats. Like a lion or tiger.” Olad
tuned his ears to pick up the roars. “They are nearby? Are there any here in
the estate?”
“I
would not know but if you see any bigger cats than the ones at home, just
shoot.” Colonel Moran gave the instruction. “And guys, happy hunting.”
The
cats upon their release of the chains. The predators prowl around unsure of
where to move on. Their hunger was triggered when they smell the blood
there. It came from the pot where Rosa was hanging over. It also caught
the scent of Count Vlad who was still nursing the wounds on his skin. The
handlers have the long pike to prod the animals towards the Count.
The
cheetah was the first to approach the Count. It was pacing its stride and
watching for the opening to strike.
“Run,
Count. I will hold the animals back.” Doctor Jekyll pushed the Counr to the
rear. “I can buy you time.”
“You
are a fool, Doctor. I will not get more than a few steps before I am set on. We
can fight better together.” Count Vlad approached the Doctor. “You must be Mr.
Hyde.”
“How?”
Doctor Jekyll was confused.
“Focus
on Rosa. She will get you to change.”
Rosa.
That was in the Doctor’s sight. She was dying.
“They
violated her like an animal.”
Rosa.
“Rosa
loves you.”
You
cannot die. Doctor Jekyll felt the pain in him. He must save her.
“She
gave me her blood for me to escape.”
Rosa.
“I
have to save ……”
No,
not Rosa. She is Daisy.
“I
loved Daisy too.”
Doctor
Jekyll felt the anger inside of him. The pain was becoming anger.
“Daisy!”
Mr. Hyde roared out.
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