Prisoner of Fate by Tony Shillitoe Page B

was long past. The Ranu soldier was speaking excitedly and gesturing. ‘I think he wants us to get down,’ Meg said warily, interpreting his antics and tone.
    ‘Is there someone who speaks Andrak?’ Bill asked, attempting to make his question understood by speaking slowly and pointing at his ears and shrugging. The soldier raised his peacemaker threateningly and barked an order. ‘I think we’d better get down,’ Bill conceded.
    ‘You said they had no issue with ordinary people,’ Meg argued as they climbed down from the wagon.
    ‘They don’t,’ Bill replied. ‘They came through our farm two weeks ago and wanted nothing except supplies.’
    The Ranu soldier was gesturing at the rear of the wagon and several Ranu soldiers gathered around the vehicle. ‘I think you’d better get down too, son,’ Bill instructed. Lee called the dogs as he slid off the back of the wagon and they obediently followed the boy, but once down they started sniffing the ground and circling among the soldiers. Some soldiers petted the animals as they followed their curious noses. ‘Get the dogs under control,’ Bill told the boy. Lee went to whistle, but a Ranu soldier’s hand caught the boy’s wrist. Bill’s shoulders straightened and he glared at the soldier. ‘Leave the lad alone.’
    The Ranu who stopped the wagon stepped between Bill and the soldier restraining Lee, and he poked his peacemaker aggressively close to Bill’s face, yelling in his language. The sudden change in events left Bill awkwardly caught between choices. ‘Don’t argue,’ Meg warned.
    ‘But my boy,’ Bill muttered.
    The Ranu shouted again and pushed the peacemaker muzzle against Bill’s chest, forcing him back. The dogs stopped their fossicking, ears erect, tense. Ranu soldiers climbed aboard the wagon and it started to move. ‘Hey! That’s my wagon!’ Bill yelled, and then he grunted and collapsed as the Ranu struck him with the butt of his peacemaker. Instantly, the dogs attacked, one latching onto the Ranu leader’s leg, the other grabbing his arm, and pandemonium broke loose as soldiers either ran to their leader’s aid or stood back to laugh at the chaos. Meg helped Bill to his feet, his lip bloodied and split, as the dogs were beaten off and Lee wrestled in vain withthe man holding him. The Ranu leader wheeled furiously and aimed his peacemaker at a dog, but before he could pull the trigger an authoritative voice stopped him. A short man in the white Ranu uniform, with a black waist sash, pushed through the crowd and the Ranu soldier lowered the peacemaker immediately. Words were spoken and the soldiers dispersed, leading away the horse and wagon, but Lee was released and he ran to his father’s embrace. The Ranu who started the incident departed without a backward glance.
    The man who stopped the fracas faced Bill and Meg and bowed his head slightly. Noting how his moustache and beard were trimmed close to his skin and that he was well groomed, Meg assumed him to be the commanding officer. ‘Please accept my apologies for my men’s misinterpretation of my orders,’ he said in fluent Andrak. He looked at Bill’s injury. ‘I will have a surgeon look at that. It will need sewing.’
    Bill shook his head, still angry. ‘My lip’s fine. I want my wagon back.’
    The man shook his head as if he was disappointed by something. ‘I am sorry, but your wagon is now the property of the Ranu People’s Army. You think that you have more need of it than we do—I understand that—but we need good transport for our supplies and wagons are becoming harder to come by out here.’ He smiled. ‘Please. I am Rasu E’mal Kareem, military commander of the Ranu People’s Army, son of Eman Rasu Kareem.’ He bowed as he completed his introduction. When he straightened, it was obvious that he expected them to introduce themselves. He was smiling at Bill.
    ‘Bill Runningriver,’ Bill muttered through his aching jaw and bloodied lip.
    ‘Rees Feond,’