The Seven Days of Halloween : Stranded, Part 5

[avirra.livejournal.com]

Both April and Mildred fussed at the men when they finally returned.

"Oh, for goodness sakes! I think you're both wetter than when we arrived here."

"Do both of you want to come down with dewy lung as well? Quickly, get out of those wet things and I'll make sure the fire's going well."

April stopped herself from commenting further when Mark discretely showed her one of the THRUSH weapons and indicated the side porch with a tilt of his head. Coming over, she took the THRUSH weapon from him along with both of their service weapons before they went back onto the back porch to peel out of their wet clothes.

After the two were rewrapped in blankets and settled in front of the fire, April declared her need for some fresh air. Going out to the side porch, she looked over the collection of backpacks with a frown, then began methodically going through them to see what they contained. Finding one of her shoes tucked into the second backpack she opened confirmed in her mind that these agents hadn't been in the area by coincidence.

By the time she had gone through all three backpacks, she had a small pile of information that she needed to share with the others, some basic survival gear including food and water and a mix of small weapons. Thinking back, she was sure she hadn't heard any noises she would have associated with gunfire, so how had they managed to get hold of the backpacks?

Finding a waterproof pouch among the items, April placed the information she's found inside it and tucked it under her belt as she secured the backpacks and weapons out of sight as well as she could. When she joined Napoleon and Mark in front of the fire, she showed them the packet and Napoleon nodded in approval.

"The three of us need to have a few words in private - or as private as we can manage."

Mark bit his lip then remarked.

"We all speak passable French and, so long as we stay far enough away that we don't make Illya crazy with our accents, we should be able to pass along what we need to."

Napoleon smiled.

"Grande idée, Mark."

For the next hour, the three agents passed back and forth the little oddities that none of them had thought worth mentioning - the flashes of red, the elongated index fingers, the keen hearing and the almost proprietary way she was with Illya. Then Napoleon and Mark told April the details about the three THRUSH agents that they'd found - and the condition that they'd found them in. April reciprocated by telling them about the various contents of the three backpacks - including the presence of one of her shoes.

Mildred glanced in for a moment just to ask if they'd mind terribly if she laid out things for sandwiches instead of fixing a full meal and they assured her that they were fine with that. Both April and Mark offered to assist in the kitchen but were politely turned down.

"Oh, Illya and I have already eaten, so no need to worry about us. I'll have everything laid out on the table and I'll be back before dark."

All three looked up at that.

"You're leaving?"

"Just going over the hill to tend to my rabbits - I can go a couple of days without seeing to them, but they'll need fresh water and their area cleaned out by now. I hoped I could wait until the rain stopped, but time to put on my coat and boots to tend them."

Mark immediately offered to help, but again was turned down.

"They're terribly skittish around anyone they don't know. If you'll tend to the wood stove and the fireplace while I'm out, that will help me greatly."

They all remained near the fire until they heard Mildred leave, then Mark and April headed to the table. Napoleon decided to go check on Illya first. The ups and downs of his health made him wish for a helicopter evacuation, but at the moment, he might as well wish for the moon.

Napoleon hadn't thought Illya could get any paler, but he seemed almost waxen now. No matter what, he needed to get a doctor for his friend soon. Thinking Illya was soundly asleep, Napoleon started to turn away, but was startled when Illya reached out and grabbed his arm without warning. Looking down, he saw his partner's eyes were clear, but his expression was one of desperation. He lowered his voice as Illya was looking around anxiously as if worried about someone else hearing.

"What's wrong, chum?"

Illya kept his own voice low, but insistent.

"When you leave here, do not leave me behind. No matter what she says - no matter what I may say then. Do not leave me here. Swear it."

The intensity of Illya's demand made Napoleon hesitate. He had been thinking of heading out the next day to try and contact help whether the rain stopped or not. Taking Illya out in that weather could be the equivalent of signing his death warrant.

"Listen, Illya - that may not be . . .'

His words trailed off as Illya's grip grew tighter.

"No! No excuses - no reasons. Swear or our partnership is over."

The threat wasn't what Napoleon was expecting, but he knew Illya well enough to know by his tone that he wasn't bluffing. He still didn't feel good about agreeing, but he nodded.

"I swear, Illya. If I leave here, you'll be with me even if I have to carry you."

Slumping in relief, Illya released Napoleon and seemed to fall back asleep immediately. The whole experience left him feeling unsettled as he went to check in with April and Mark.

Comments

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

Wow, that last bit was intense. Keep going :D