Part 4

  A faint whine from the prey was enough for Carlo to identify it as human and not mere animal. Carlo’s motivating instinct did not abandon him and, in point of fact, it seemed to intensify.

  He plunged one hand into his cloak pocket,wrapping his hand around the cool metal cylindrical lightsaber, while with a separate motion, his other hand pointed at a branch laying on the ground between himself and the raging bear. His wrist flicked, barely a gesture at all and the brench leapt into the air, flipping end over end, slamming into the bear's raised shoulder.

  The massive creature roared, more out of surprise than pain, twisting to discover the source of the interruption. It saw Carlo at the other side of the glade and its twist became a full rotation ending with a savage lunge, its massive paw outstretched.

  The bear crossed the clearing in less than the span of a single breath.

  Carlo, still enveloped as he was in the instinct he would later come to understand emanated from the Force, stepped to one side as he removed the saber from his cloak. It came to life with a snap-hiss and flash of green. With an almost unnatural calm, Carlo cut a downward arc with the blade severing the bear's reaching arm.

  The creature roared, this time with real agony, rising as it did to its full height.

  Carlo pushed out with his empty hand and the Force exerted a push against the bear. It crashed into a tree on the opposite side of the clearing.

  It shook off the impact and was on its feet again in an instant, growling and snarling. It gathered itself and —despite its injury— leapt toward Carlo.

  The young hunter stepped forward, closing the distance and, stabbing forward with a two handed grip, drove the point of the saber into the bear's forehead. The creature crumbled, falling first to its knees and then on its face with a loud thud.

  Carlo finally felt the rain on his face as he exhaled the breath that was being held captive within his chest. Raindrops fizzled as they hit the saber’s blade. With a flick of his thumb the saber’s light vanished as did the metal hilt into Carlo’s cloak.

  Carlo turned his attention to the small human form at the other side of the clearing. He crossed the space and knelt down. It was a young man, only eight or ten winters old by Carlo’s guess. It must be the lost one. For a moment Carlo struggled to remember the boy's name.

  “Charles? Are you Charles?”

  The boy's eyes were wide with fright and his breathing was rapid and shallow. His fright had not yet passed.

  “It’s ok. It’s going to be alright. It’s over.”

  The words didn’t seem to reassure the young child.

  “It’s over,” Carlo repeated. “I’m a friend. I’ll help you get home.”

  Charles seemed to relax slightly and Carlo helped him sit up. The rain was starting to come down more heavily now. Carlo wiped some moisture from his face and looked down, seeing Charles shiver and hug his knees to his chest.

  Carlo removed his cloak, removed the saber, and placed the cloak gently about the boy’s shoulders.

  The rain was coming down in sheets and the sky was black as midnight by the time VP16 caught up, leading the soaked and bedraggled fathier behind him.

  VP16 took notice of the dead bear and then Carlo on his haunches attempting to comfort the clearly frightened child wearing Carlo’s cloak.

  “Master Carlo,” the droid said, “You’ve been busy.”

  Carlo ignored the sarcastic tone and replied, “We really do need to find some shelter.”

  “Agreed.” The droid paused for a moment. “Is this the missing child?”

  Carlo merely nodded.

  VP16 seemed to stare off in the distance for a moment. “My visual sensors are able to detect the cliff face in that direction,” he said pointing. “We may have some luck seeking shelter there.”

  Carlo swept the boy up onto the back of the fathier. The dark, combined with the pouring rain, had severely limited visibility and he was compelled to trust the mechanical man. “Let’s go.”

  However, as they were leaving the clearing and crossing back into the forest, Carlo banged his foot against something in the ground. He stopped for a moment, activating the saber still in his hand. The green glow revealed the root his foot had struck. There was a tangible flash of deja vu. Carlo’s heart raced, the bear! He turned quickly but it was still there, laying dead on the ground. The deja vu was gone as quickly as it came as did the anxious feeling that he was being chased.

  Carlo exhaled, closed down the saber, and walked into the forest at the fathier’s side. Carlo kept his left hand in the small of Charles’s back to steady him as they moved through the dark, soaked forest. For the boy’s part he slumped forward on the great animal and shivered in the cold.

  *****

  On the other side of the forest the rains started with the gathering clouds. The searchers were soon soaked and one by one they returned to the site of the speeder crash that Ghor was using as a temporary base of operations.

  Will was the last to arrive. Ghor had a pang of sympathy as she saw him drag himself up to the group at the wreckage. His face was long and drawn. Only his eyes betrayed the emotion churning beneath the surface. He was practically dragging himself along, his bedraggled state adding to his already dejected appearance. When he spoke his voice was little more than a croak. “Sheriff,” he said. “Any sign of him?” It was a plea, pure and simple.

  Although it pained her, Ghor shook her head with cast down eyes. “No, Will. No sign at all.”

  The rain was coming down in sheets that were now threatening visibility. the shadow from the gathering clouds and, combined with the setting sun, day was gone and with it any chance that they would find the missing Charles. Will knew that as did the rest of them, but could not, dared not bring himself to say it. That unfortunate duty was left to the sheriff.

  Ghor raised her voice and addressed the group, saying what none of them really wanted to hear. “Everyone! We lost the light and now the rain is coming on. We need to get back to town. We can start again in the morning.”

  No one really objected. They all, one by one, got back into the personnel transport borrowed from the mine. Will was the last to board. Ghor was there at the door and helped him through. She closed it behind him. Ghor patted the driver on the shoulder and she pressed the accelerator control, putting them in motion.

  Will slumped silently into a seat with his head in his hands.

  Out of deference, the rest of the searchers were silent as well. They knew as well as Will that the odds of a child surviving a monsoon storm alone in the forest were slim indeed.

  *****

  Without the benefit of the cloak, Carlo had soon become drenched. The wind whipping through the trees chilled the desert dweller to the bone.

  Only the droid seemed not to notice the wet or the cold. VP16 marched forward guiding the fathier and the travois by the lead rope.

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  Carlo felt as if they were being led deeper and deeper into a well of impenetrable darkness. The sun had set. The clouds above obscured the moon and stars. Only the occasional flash of lightning lit their way. Carlo kept the saber off, the small benefit that the green glow produced probably would not have helped them navigate the dark. Instead, he focused on following the droid.

  All at once the droid stopped and the fathier turned sideways, almost pushing Carlo off his feet. He grabbed at the beast with his free hand to steady himself. “What happened?”

  “Something unexpected. There’s a ravine here,” the droid explained.

  Carlo ignited the lightsaber and stepped around the head of the fathier to stand next to the droid on the edge of a deep cut in the earth that barred their progress toward the cliffs. It was filling quickly with rushing water that was blasting its way down the mountain toward the desert lowlands.

  “I didn’t know there was this much water in the whole world,” the young hunter ruminated under his breath.

  “Flash flood. Possibly the most dangerous part of a desert storm,” the droid explained.

  VP16 pointed upstream. “We may be able to find a way across further up. I’m afraid the ravine will only widen as it loses elevation.”

  “Ok,” Carlo agreed. “Let’s go.”

  They turned to head up the mountain along the ravine. Carlo shut off the blade and fastened the hilt securely to his belt next to his hunting knife.

  The group’s progress was slow. The rain beat down on them and outside the protection of the tree line the wind blasted them, deepening the chill.

  *****

  Deputy Kiro pushed his way out of the rain, through the door, and into the dry saloon. He took in the scene without a word as he put a fresh toothpick in his mouth. Normally a lively place, there was a pall over the small group that was there. The rains which were normally welcome, heralded poor news for the search for the missing boy.

  As Kiro stepped into the room, the Colonel, who was sitting at a corner table, spoke: “What's the word on the search, Deputy?”

  Kiro swept the hat from his head and hung it on a hook near the door, shaking his head slowly. “No sign of the boy. Sheriff called off the search till morning.”

  The Colonel wore a grave look but motioned toward the bar. “Get a drink, deputy. You look tired. Lexa?”

  Standing behind the bar, Lexa nodded and poured a mug for Kiro. He sat at the bar and she slid the mug over to him. He gripped the handle but didn’t lift it. He looked into the face of the bartender and smiled, a little shyly.

  The Colonel’s face remained grave but inwardly he gave silent thanks to the Force or whatever was guiding his luck at the moment. His operation at Tunnel B depended upon secrecy and although he’d taken steps to ensure that the boy wouldn’t talk, the Colonel would rather that the boy simply stayed missing.

  Lexa picked up a rag and started wiping a mug. “So, they found nothing at all?”

  “Nothing,” Kiro confirmed.

  *****

  The huge 8 wheeled transport stopped in front of Holly and Will’s home. The side door opened and Will stepped heavily into the mud. He paused for a moment. This was not something he was looking forward to. He had promised to bring their son home and now he had to go inside and tell his wife that Charles was going to spend another night in the wild and this time in a monsoon storm.

  The transport door closed behind him but the vehicle didn’t move.

  Will sighed trying to exert control over his fears, doubt, and anger. Yes, there was anger. Anger at the universe for letting something like this befall his child, anger at himself for not being a more attentive father, and even anger at Charles for not following the family’s rules. There was shame also. Shame for feeling the anger toward the boy. What was the most painful of all was that he could never admit any of this to anyone.

  Before Will could take a step, his wife Holly appeared in the doorway. She paused and saw the look on his face. Their eyes met, communicating their shared fears and sorrows. Holly ran out into the rain and the two young parents embraced in the pouring rain.

  No words were said. Holly took her husband's hand and they went inside the house.

  *****

  Lucy arrived back at her apartment. The rain was coming down and she paused after opening her door to wave to Gary who’d driven her home in his speeder. He returned the wave and he turned the speeder back toward town where the Sullustan kept a residence.

  Lucy headed inside noting that Carlo had not returned from the mountain.

  She put a pot of water on the tiny stove for tea when a knock came at the door.

  Lucy opened the door to find Anga standing in the rain. “Come in, you’re soaked!”

  Anga stepped inside, she shed her wide brimmed hat hanging it on a nail near the door. “Rains really coming down,” she said, accepting a hand towel from Lucy to wipe the moisture from her face. “Carlo’s not back yet.”

  Lucy nodded. “I hope they’ll be back soon.”

  Anga chuckled softly. “Yeah. Old Walt has complained all day long that VP16 hasn’t been here to wait on him hand and foot.”

  Lucy motioned to a chair by the little table. “Tea?”

  Anga sat and smiled, “Yes, please.”

  Lucy poured a cup of tea for each of them and took the other chair by the table.

  Anga sipped from her cup. “You always have the best tea.”

  Lucy sipped and then placed her own cup on the table. “You’re worried.”

  Anga looked her friend in the eye. “Of course. They have my fathier. I rescued him, you know.”

  Lucy chuckled but sobered quickly. “I’m worried too.” She frowned. “Carlo doesn’t know the area well and with the storm. . . well. . . Charles isn’t the only one who may be lost and in danger.”

  Anga patted her friend's hand with reassurance. “My fathier knows the way home. He’ll bring them back safely.”

  *****

  Carlo stayed between the fathier and the abrupt end of the ravine. He had a brief sense of vertigo when he peered over. The roiling water below was rushing loudly and Carlo was half glad he couldn’t see it well so he kept his eyes forward. He held his left hand up to steady both himself and Charles who was not hanging on to the big animal as tightly as Carlo would have liked. The rushing torrent was working against them in another way, however. The edge, undermined by the flood, suddenly gave way under their combined weight. Carlo found himself falling fast into the torrential pour with the massive fathier coming down on top of him. He grabbed for Charles, twisting in the air to try to get them both from under the beast. He was only partially successful.

  Although both he and Charles were initially pushed under, Carlo was able to grab a hold of the animal as it launched itself to the surface. It turns out that fathiers are natural swimmers and even in this torrent, the muscular beast was able to hold its head above water.

  Carlo held tight to the fathier’s neck and dragged Charles to the surface with his opposite arm. He pulled the child close to his chest and the boy instinctively grabbed onto the fathier’s neck. All the while, they were swept along with the current.

  Carlo had lost sight of the droid and he attempted to call out, “VP16!” but his voice was drowned out by the crashing water around him.

  The fathier, in a mild panic, was making an effort to reach the shore but even if he’d been able to do so Carlo was doubtful that the beast would be able to pull itself out up a muddy, slippery embankment. Carlo drew his knife and cut the travois loose, hoping to help keep the fathier above water.

  Charles for his part, kept his eyes squeezed shut, hands grasping onto the fathier’s neck for dear life, never even attempting to make even the slightest sound that Carlo could tell.

  The night was so black that Carlo could not tell how fast they were moving and it felt to him as if the three of them were being thrashed and tossed this way and that, never slowing. He tried to put his feet down but couldn’t touch the bottom. He was certain that the fathier was occasionally touching bottom and then pushing off as they bounced down the rain-swollen flood.

  Seconds (or minutes, who knew?) later they finally had their chance to escape. The flood took a sharp turn and the fathier’s instincts took over. The beast clamored at the muddy bank, digging his hooves into the back in a desperate attempt to leave the water.

  Carlo also seized the opportunity, he grabbed Charles by the cloak he was still wearing and, managing to break the boy’s grip on their mounts neck, threw him upon the shore. A split second later, he clamored onto the fathier’s back and launched himself after the boy.

  Freed from the weight of his two passengers, the fathier was able to scramble after them up onto the shore. It stopped after a short distance, its breath heaving in the darkness.

  Carlo went to Charles’s side. “Are you okay?” He asked.

  Charles, as before, said nothing and made no sounds.

  It appeared that both he and Carlo were uninjured, the soft mud of the bank had lessened their impact.

  “Stay here,” Carlo instructed. He went over to the fathier. It also appeared unhurt, just out of breath from their near-drowning. Its breathing was still rapid and its sides were foam flecked.

  Carlo freed the lightsaber from his belt, thankful it was still there, lighting the blade, he looked around them, taking stock of their surroundings.

  They were at a bend in the flood, on the opposite side of the bank from before. The weak light from the saber revealed little beyond their immediate surroundings, only the muddy bank, the rushing water, and the tree line. The rain had not let up and the skies were still black. There was no sign at all of the droid.

  Carlo secured the fathier to a nearby tree by the lead line and helped Charles move away from the bank into the relative shelter of the tree line.

  Now they just had to wait out the storm. If they could wait it out.

  *****

  Back at the saloon, Lexa had just finished wiping down the bar. She could hear the rain coming down outside. All of the patrons had gone but Deputy Kiro. He was standing by the front window looking outside.

  Lexa stepped up next to the deputy. “I’m closing up now.”

  Kiro was snapped out of his thoughts. He pulled the toothpick from his lips and threw it with amazing accuracy into the trash can across the room.

  “You need help with anything?” He asked with a little timidity.

  “No, thank you.”

  Kiro threw his still damp serape over his shoulders and put his hat on his head. He turned back toward the bartender, “Stay safe.” With that he stepped out of the door into the downpour and was gone.

  Lexa turned the lights off and picked up a rain poncho hanging by the door. She pulled it over her head and pulled the hood into place. She opened the door and the full roar of the rain storm filled her ears. In the distance there was a flash of lightning.

  Lexa paused for a moment after closing the door and just stood on the porch listening to the rain, breathing in the musty scent, and hoping that her best friend’s son was safe.

  She stepped off the porch and walked quickly around the side of the building never taking notice of the shadowy figure watching from the dark.