Escape from Endeavor by Daniel A. Jones

  ***

  The guard had been gone for almost an hour when the door to the meeting hall finally opened again. He went directly to the table to report what he’d found. “It’s bad; the boy was right. We found Jared and the rest. They’re all dead.”

  “What? How?” Thomas yelled. He had thought that Jared might be hurt but he hadn’t really thought he was dead. The guard continued his report but Thomas could no longer hear what he was saying, all he could think about was his son. It must have been that Grayson bitch and her damned ability to screw with people’s emotions. She must have gotten the boys to let their guard down so her dimwitted brother and the spacer could get the drop on them. He could see it all. Why hadn’t they sent an adult with them?

  Something the guard said snapped Thomas out of his grief-inspired delusions. ”What was that?” he demanded.

  “We found their tracks leaving the barn and heading to the river. We checked the other side but didn’t find anything, so they must have gone upriver. Leo Burgemen and Jed Garret went upriver to try and track them while I came back here to report.”

  “Why do you think they went upriver and not down?”

  “If they’d followed the river down they would have come pretty close to town and right through a few farms, too risky. I’m sure they went upriver. Faust took Daemon with him on his trips to the old city so he knows what to watch out for in those woods. I’m thinking they’re going to the ship.”

  “No. You heard them on the radio—the ship needs some parts, and it can’t fly without them. I bet they’re making for the spaceport to get the parts and then to the ship.”

  With that the men started to break up into smaller groups to discuss what was more important and what they should do next.

  “Enough talk! I’m going after them. Who’s coming with me?” Thomas bellowed, frustrated at all the talking and lack of action. He wanted revenge and he wanted it now. A few men spoke up, volunteering to go with him.

  “All right, meet me at the Grayson’s farmhouse in an hour. Pack light, but bring enough supplies to last for three or four days.” Thomas took one last look at the men in the room before leaving. He needed to get his gun and pack for the hunt. He was also going to have to tell his wife their son was dead.