Dwellers of the New World Chapter Nine ( Pt 8 ) Moving On

The tension between the men was mounting as Rue spoke up. “You wouldn't dare burn down our wagons, we have as much right to be here as you.”

The stranger's smirk turned to an expression of rage. Lifting his arm, he was about to give an order to torch one of the wagons, when Brad suddenly announced. “Okay...okay, we'll leave, but we need time to get everything packed up.”

“Well then...you'd better get going straight away,” said the man with the torch. “We'll just wait here till you're ready to leave, then lead you out the way you need to go, we wouldn't want you taking a wrong turning...now would we?” He had a self satisfied, smug look on his face as he spoke, laughing at the same time with the other men.

Rue started to argue with Brad. “You know, giving into these men will only make them think they've got the upper hand.”

“Look Rue...there's nothing else we can do, we don't want to loose the wagons now do we?” Brad knew these men meant business.

“We could fight them...put them in their place,” replied Rue.

“No...no fighting.” Brad was totally against violence, he stared over at his son, knowing that he'd always brought Simon up to respect his elders, he knew aggressive violence never solved anything.

Brad had enough of arguing with Rue, he needed to get things organised. Turning to Joe, who was stood with them, he spoke. “Joe! You and some of the other men, go and tether the horses to the wagons.”

Joe agreed and gathered some of the other men, telling them what to do.

Brad was feeling slightly concerned about Cinnamon, who was still asleep in the wagon. He made his way over to Ida and his son. “Simon, I want you to take River and stay with Ida, we have to pack up and leave.”

Ida couldn't believe her ears. “What do you mean Brad? We've never been moved on before.” She had a worried look on her face as she spoke.

Brad smiled at the old woman. “It's okay Ida, as long as we leave now, there won't be any trouble.”

“Well...I think it's a disgrace, moving people in the middle of the night. Come on Simon, we best go to my wagon, leave the men to pack up.” She took the boy's hand, as River followed, a disgruntled look on her face as she tut tutted.

The men with the torches stood on the side lines, a patronizing look on their faces, sneering at the travellers.

Brad noticed Rue's exasperation. He started to cut the meat from the animal. “Here, help me slice the meat from this pig, we can wrap it up in this skin I've laid out on the ground. We'll put it in my wagon for later.” Brad hoped that cutting the meat would take Rue's mind off the men.

But Rue's anger was building as he picked up his sheath and removed the cutting implement. As he began slicing bits of meat off the carcass, he turned to Brad. “I'll tell you now, nobody tells me what to do...not them nor you, so stop trying to organise me. I've been a traveller longer than you've been alive, I've never been treated like this before.”

Brad tried to console his friend. “Look Rue...I'm not trying to tell you what to do, I'm just trying to keep the peace. Once we're away from here, we can travel down to the ocean see if we can barter your wares, then you can be away from here.”

Rue stopped what he was doing, he had a dispirited feeling. “What do you mean Brad? Aren't you coming back with us?”

“No Rue...I thought I'd stay down South for a while, show Simon some of the sights, he's never seen the ocean before. I also want to find my sister Missy and her husband Gerard and I haven't seen Teelas, Daisy and Alfie for so long, they must have grown...they're all the family me and Simon have left now.” Brad could tell Rue was disappointed.

“We'll miss you Brad, it's been a real pleasure having you with us. You know you're always welcome at our camp any time.” The man's anger changed to sadness, suddenly it didn't matter about leaving the forest.

It was a struggle to pack up, with the only light coming from the fires. The travellers busied themselves, some confused as to why they had to leave.

As Brad and Rue cut the last of the meat, they folded the skin and carried it over to Brad's wagon, loading it inside.

Brad went and got Cinnamon's clothes and the bedding and took them over to where she was sleeping.

Tawny came to land on Brad's wagon, watching the commotion, even he was aware of the danger, wanting to stay close to his friend.

Daisy watched Cinnamon sleep, wondering to herself, who she was and how different their lives were.

The curtain to the wagon was pulled back, the figure of Brad stood beckoning Daisy out. She turned to leave as Cinnamon's breathing became erratic, letting them know she was probably dreaming.

“What's going on?” whispered Daisy, still slightly tipsy from the liquor she'd shared with the other girls.

“Here's Cinnamon's clothes. We have to leave,” said Brad. “I want you to stay with Cinnamon, if she wakes, explain to her that on no condition is she to leave the wagon, otherwise we're in big trouble.”

“But how will we see where we're going in the dark?” declared Daisy.

“See those men with torches?” said Brad, pointing in their direction.

“Yeah! What about them?” replied Daisy.

“Well...they're going to lead us out of the forest, we have to leave, they've given us no choice.”

Brad knew that this part of the journey was nothing compared to crossing the moors, he'd done it on foot many a time on his travels down this way, but taking the wagons across at night was crazy. He just couldn't understand why these men wouldn't let them stay till first light, after all they weren't causing trouble, but he couldn't risk the wagons being burned down, he could tell these men meant business.

Brad was relieved that Daisy didn't ask any more questions, as she climbed back in the wagon, he didn't want to frighten her.

Sometime later they were ready to leave. After lighting some candles inside the wagons, the men dampened down the fires leaving trails of smoke. The night air felt damp and cold to the drivers of the wagons. Now the only light that could be seen, were the torches that the men carried.

The travellers set off, the forest seemed hauntingly scary with the eerie night sounds and the wind as it blew the trees. This was certainly a night they wouldn't forget.

Dwellers of the New World Chapter Nine ( Pt 9 ) More Trouble Lies Ahead | ABCtales