Into the Abyss полностью

The ground squished muddily under Rupert’s feet. He was trying to get close to the sentry’s position without giving away the direction he’d came from. He wasn’t sure why, since he was going to give himself up anyway, and Tom would be gone back to the Abyss to wait for his call. It just seemed like the thing to do. He’d known Tom would see it his way. It was the only reasonable plan. Further, for whatever Tom’s protestations, he had to know there was no way the soldiers were going to hurt him. He’d come up with the plan on the couple hour flight back to the castle, and he was proud of it. It was his first major battle plan.

His hearing detected the step of a marching sentry nearby. Quietly, he snuck closer to the sentry’s path, and purposefully broke a stick. The sentry stopped. The air in the clearing where they were was quiet. It stunk like ashes, and not even a cricket was chirping. “Who goes there?” the sentry called out. Rupert made a small whimpering noise. He picked up some ashes and threw them in his eyes to make them water. “Halt I say. Stay where you are,” the sentry marched closer to Rupert’s position, but still didn’t see him.

What an idiot, thought Rupert, Exador should have him hung. Well, if I’ve got to do it myself, I do it myself. Rupert made another whimpering noise and then tried to bolt through the long grayish grasses that had been concealing him. He pretended to trip on a root and cried out. “Got you!” said the sentry as he grabbed Rupert by the shoulder as he floundered. “Halt or I gut you.”

Like I am really scared of you, guy, thought Rupert. Nonetheless, he halted and stood trembling in mock fear, tears running down his face. “Who are you?” asked the soldier. Rupert just sniffled and trembled some more. “Come on kid, tell me who you are and I won’t hurt you.”

Rupert trembled some more and snuffled, “Wupert, sir.”

“Rupert? What are you doing here Rupert? You know you shouldn’t be here.”

“Looking for sissy,” Rupert mumbled.

“Looking for your kitty?”

Give me a break, Rupert thought, how did these guys ever force us to leave the castle? “No, my sister. She was in the castle... snnnffff... snnnfffff... and now it’s gone... waaaahhh... waaahhh...sniff sniff”

“Hmm, I’d better take you to the major. If you’re from the castle, he’ll want to know.”

Take me to your leader! thought Rupert. Let’s get on with it already. The soldier marched Rupert into the center area of the camp. Rupert shook his head as he pretended to sob and snuffle. What sort of stuff were they teaching these soldiers? The man just abandoned his post to take a bawling brat to the commander. If only Rupert had had an army waiting in the trees. Here he was, a little kid and he knew more about strategy and tactics then these grown soldiers in Exador’s army. Rupert just couldn’t get over it.

He was led to a large tent. The tent flap was opened by two other guards as the sentry approached. “Major?” the soldier called out as they entered the tent.

“Yes,” said a tall man in a red uniform with lots of shiny medals.

“I found this kid out on my patrol. He was trying to sneak up on the camp. Claims he’s looking for his sister.”

“He was doing what?”

“Sneaking up on the camp.”

“Did you check to make sure there weren’t any others as well?”

The soldier paused, looked abashed, “uh, uhm, no.”

“You are lucky Lord Exador isn’t here, or you’d be regretting it for the rest of eternity. You take more men and scour that area, immediately or I may just tell him.” The major thundered. The soldier let go of Rupert’s shoulder and ran out the tent.

The major looked down at Rupert. “Now, were there any others?” Rupert shook his head no. “What were you doing out there, son?”

Rupert shrugged, acted scared, he mumbled, “looking for my sister.”

“So you told Dobson. Why did you think she might be here?”

“Cause she was in the castle, and now there’s no castle. What did you do to it? Did you kill her?!” Rupert let his voice escalate getting shriller and shriller.

“No, no son.” The major put his hands on Rupert’s shoulder, Rupert flinched. “We didn’t do anything, the castle people did it themselves. It’s not clear if your sister survived, but many others did. If you promise to be a good boy and stay here with us, we’ll find your sister for you. Ok?”