White by Ted Dekker Page A

be.
    â€œWe could go back,” William said.
    â€œNo! We can’t endanger the others. Have your fruit ready!”
    As soon as he said it, he heard the cry ahead. Thirty mounted men rode into the open, cutting off the mouth of the canyon.
    Still they galloped, straight for the waiting Horde.
    â€œJustin, give us strength,” Thomas breathed.
    The Scabs weren’t attacking. No arrows, no cries, just these thirty men on horses, waiting to collect them. There was no way past them.
    Thomas reined his mount and held up a hand. “Hold up.”
    They stopped a hundred yards from the Scabs.
    â€œYou’re going to let them take us?” William asked. “You know they’ll kill us.”
    â€œAnd our alternative is what?”
    â€œMikil and Johan have had the time they need to get the rest through the gap. We can still make it!”
    â€œThey’ll have men in the canyon by now,” Suzan said. She’d been a latecomer to the Circle, and there wasn’t a person Thomas had been so glad to have join them. As the leader of the Forest Guard’s scouts, she’d studied the Horde more than most and knew their strategies nearly as well as Johan himself.
    â€œAnd if we’re lucky, they won’t find the tunnel,” Thomas said.
    â€œThen we have to fight! We can beat them—”
    â€œNo killing!” Thomas faced Cain and Stephen. “Are you ready for what this may mean?”
    â€œIf you mean death, then I’m ready,” Cain said.
    â€œI’d rather die than be taken to their dungeons,” Stephen said. “I won’t be taken alive.”
    â€œAnd how do you propose to force their hands? If they take us alive, then we will go with them peacefully. No fight, are we clear?”
    â€œI helped them build the dungeons. I—”
    â€œThen you can help us escape from their dungeons.”
    â€œThere is no escape!”
    The brothers had been latecomers as well, and their discovery of life on the other side of the drowning was still fresh in their minds. Both were dark-skinned and had shaved their heads as part of a vow they’d taken. They were adamant about showing as much of their disease-free flesh as was decently possible.
    â€œNo fighting,” Thomas repeated.
    They held stares for a moment. Stephen nodded. “No fighting.”
    They sat five abreast, facing the Horde. Hooves sounded behind them and Thomas turned to see that the team Suzan had predicted was emerging from the thinning smoke.
    â€œWe’re buying a whole lot of trouble here,” William said.
    â€œNo, we’re buying Mikil’s freedom. The freedom of the Circle.”
    â€œMikil? Don’t tell me this has to do with these dreams of yours.”
    The thought had occurred to him. He wasn’t sure what they’d done by writing in the blank Book now in his belt, but either he or Kara had to get back. The lives of six billion people were at stake. Not to mention his own sister’s life. If Mikil died, Kara would die.
    â€œIf I were concerned only with the histories, I would save myself, wouldn’t I? We’re doing here nothing less than what Justin himself would undoubtedly do.”
    There was nothing more to be said. Thomas withdrew the Book from his belt and shoved it into his tunic.

    Woref rode past his men and studied the standoff in the canyon.
    Five.
    The other fifty had disappeared.
    But among the five was Thomas. If he’d estimated correctly, the others would emerge from these canyons in the south, where his men would deal with them appropriately. His concern was now with these five.
    This one.
    â€œSend word: when they find the others, kill them all. I have Thomas of Hunter.”
    He nudged his horse and rode with his guard to meet the man who was responsible for the grief he’d suffered these past thirteen months. Thomas of Hunter’s name was still whispered with awe late at night around a thousand