Penelope's Secrets

Flashback 200 years

The Last Thing They'd Expect...

Peace had descended on the deserted camp at the foot of carnage hill. Spartak, Barrak, Vargas and Klepto were sprawled gazing skywards, shielding their eyes with their hands. Their substantial breakfast with Axil, and his three lieutenants had ended an hour earlier. They had agreed to commence fighting at noon which was still two hours in the seemingly distant future. In the meantime Axil and his men had returned to the woods to gather their strength.

"It's a shame we've got to kill them" voiced Barrak philosophically "after such a fine meal."

Spartak had been watching a cloud slowly crossing the sky. It was nearly time he decided.

"I agree it's a shame. But the morning hasn't been totally wasted. We've had a healthy meal, and we've found out why the army moved out."

Klepto broke in "Getting someone else to do your dirty work must be an old army tradition, just like in the navy. I agree with Barrak. This business of us killing Axil and his men. I've nothing against the idea, but it will be a lot of effort, and in effect we'll be fighting for nothing."

"I agree with both of you. But there is another way." Spartak leapt to his feet.

"Everyone up! Leave whatever will slow you down. It's time for us to go."

They were used to obeying that voice. So they had all risen before anyone thought to ask where this command was taking them. Being used to action and knowing where the nearest enemy was, Vargas, Klepto and Barrak grabbed their swords and set off towards the woods, assuming that an early sneak attack was what Spartak had in mind. After a few seconds they realized they were on their own. Spartak was going the other way.

"Which way are we going?" asked Barrak?

"The wrong way," Spartak answered without slowing down. He was already bounding at a brisk jog. They had to sprint to catch him. From time to time he paused to slice the heads off some tall clumps of weeds on the side of the road.

"I thought our fight was back there?" - Barrak.

"No our fight went this way. I'm sure that Axil and the others will follow us when they see we've gone. Let's hope so, because after that breakfast, I'll be looking forward to a substantial supper."

"But we haven't got any food."

"No, but they have:- lots. And it's better for us if they carry it. We've still got some unfinished business to attend to."

Barrak didn't know what to make of this, so he dropped back. Vargas moved up front to be alongside Spartak.

"What's the plan Spartak?"

"Ahead of us is what's left of those persistent hill climbing buggers. They've got a head start and can move quite fast, on the flat. So it might take a few days to catch them."

He jerked his thumb back over his shoulder.

"Behind us, we have Axil and his merry men who won't be quite so merry when they see that we've enjoyed their main course and didn't stay around for the desert. Behind them, if I guess right is probably another army group just in case Axil decides to change his mind and go back home without doing the dirty."

Barrak and Klepto had pulled alongside to hear this exposition. Spartak dropped down to a brisk walk.

"I didn't have a plan this morning. But my starting point is that I've had more than enough of the damn empire telling me what to do. We all have. So if they want us to stay where we are and fight old comrades, then I'm definitely keen on the notion of doing something else."

"What are we going to do about food?" Barrak returned to his earlier question. "The army ahead will be scavenging, and they won't leave anything for us."

"Tonight when we rest, we will have to look at the options. On the one hand I might have to talk nicely to Axil, and ask him to be generous, or on the other hand, Klepto will have to sneakily steal some. Preferably without killing anyone, because that's what the high-ups want us to do."

"This is the plan?" Vargas sounded mystified. "I still don't get it."

"The hard part, which I haven't yet worked out in detail, is how we persuade Axil and his crew to change their minds about killing us, and then the harder part is how we get them to join us instead. After that, we'll take one day at a time. As we used to say in the arena:- another day, another life. Luckily I've always found that jogging is good for working out my ideas. Weve got many miles ahead of us, and it's not likely to be heavily patrolled."

Spartak dropped down to a steady walk. "We might have to slow down a bit to let Axil and our supplies catch up in time for supper. That's our biggest problem, not going too fast, and not going too slow. I'm not so worried about what's waiting for us up front because we've got the tactical advantage of surprise. The last thing those mountain climbing boys will be expecting is us being still alive, and chasing hot foot after them."

"Yes, that's the last thing I'd expect, too" agreed Vargas.

Klepto was pleased to learn that there was a plan which involved him and stealing even if he didn't understand it all . "Good thing I got these boots" he grinned cheerfully. "I know this part of the country. Rough roads coming up ahead."