The Price of Friendship Chapter 27
The forest was alive with the sounds of wildlife�birds�monkeys�and the quiet chirping of insects, all of which were signaling the approach to the end of another day on the island, but within the atmosphere of tranquility there lay an undertone of danger.
JC squinted into the rays of gradually setting sun shining through the branches overhead before glancing about him at the trees surrounding the sandy trail on which he, Davis and James were walking on. They had been searching in earnest for almost an hour for Chris and Justin, who had left earlier in the day in their own search for JC not knowing that he and the men who had found him, had been on their way to the cave. Vainly, the trio had been calling out for the young men, not knowing what had befallen them sometime ago�a brutal attack at the hands of Marco and his three cousins. Nor did they know that within a few hundred feet of their location was a battered and unconscious Justin, desperately in need of help and rescue.
As their search continued on Topowgo, on an island almost 8 miles away, all of Chris�s senses were heightened to what felt like the nth degree as he continued his charade of unconsciousness and hung limply over the shoulders of one of the four dark-skinned men who had kidnapped him hours ago. He knew that his very survival could possibly depend on his keeping his head about him and forgetting his heart�his breaking heart. The last thing he recalled seeing on the trail before blacking out was a lifeless Justin lying beaten�and�dead...lifeless. Chris inwardly shuddered at the intense memory of Justin�s body and the words that were uttered from uncaring lips.
Justin lying twisted awkwardly, on the sandy trail. Sand captured on his skin by the sweat shining on his body and the blood pouring freely from multiple wounds�too numerous to count in the short amount of time that Chris had to look at him. Justin�s curls plastered to his scalp by sweat and�blood�his curls no longer blond, but now pink�dyed with his blood.
Bruises covered his arms, legs�back�there wasn�t a place on his friend�s body that had not been touched�Justin seemed to be one massive bruise.
Just before being dragged away, one of the kidnappers, Samuel, had stated in a flat, unemotional voice that Justin was dead all the while knowing that he wasn�t. Unknown to Chris, Samuel�s intention was in causing Chris further pain�emotional pain was always much worse than physical. Physical pain, Mr. Johnson had once told the small group of natives, was easily healed, but emotional pain was much, much better to inflict upon an individual�much harder to heal from�much harder to forget. Samuel had known that he had succeeded in hurting Chris when he so easily submitted to being bound hand and foot�when he had cried out in anguish at his supposed loss�when he had become limp in their arms. Yes�Samuel had to agree with Mr. Johnson�inflicting emotional pain was much more satisfying that inflicting physical�much, much more satisfying.
As Chris continued to hang limply over the native�s shoulder, the thought of Justin�s murder threatened to overwhelm Chris, but he managed to reign in his emotions while desperately praying silently, �Dear God�please�please,� Chris pled in his mind. �Help me�help the others find me�help them to find Justin�s body...please help me.�
�Joey�s resting better than before,� Lance said quietly as he cradled his friend�s head in his lap while leaning wearily with his back against the cave wall. Thomas and Matthew had been very busy preparing poultices for Joey�s infected arm and for Lance�s head wound and now they were preparing a new concoction but Lance was unsure of what its purpose was, but he had a feeling that it was not going to be pleasant. He knew that it was intended for him, but other than that, he was clueless.
Lance closed his eyes and rolled his head around, trying to stretch the tense muscles in his neck. A flash of pain interrupted his movements and with a small groan, he reached up and touched the temporary bandage surrounding his head. Beneath the bandage was a deep gash that was still bleeding, but not as profusely as before he had awakened from his unconscious state to see JC kneeling over him along with the four strangers. Now, it was reduced to a slow trickle and, with his quick touch, Lance could tell that the bandage was once again almost saturated.
�Lance,� a deep voice said quietly in his right ear. With a start, Lance opened his eyes and glanced over to see that the man called Thomas was kneeling before him.
�Sorry�scare you,� the young man said slowly with a small smile. He looked over Lance carefully and tentatively reached out toward the bandage surrounding Lance�s head. With a small sigh, Lance leaned toward the hands and closed his eyes. He knew that removing the bandage was probably going to hurt, but he didn�t want the man helping him to think that he was ungrateful for all the care that he had been giving to both he and Joey. Joey�s fever was slowly going down and he was slowly showing signs of waking up and his arm was surprisingly looking better, even in the short amount of time that care had been given.
Lance winced as the cloth was finally pulled away and had to steel himself to keep from flinching away from the gentle fingers that probed his cut.
�You�need�um�sew,� Thomas said as he motioned with his hands the action of sewing with needle and thread.
Lance swallowed hard and gave the young man before him a look that said, �no way�nuh uh.�
�Um�don�t afraid,� Thomas said as he watched Lance�s pale features become even paler. He had seen white men before, but never had he seen one who had the ability to lose all color so rapidly.
�You want to sew me up?� Lance asked, his voice shaking with nervousness as he once again ran his hand over Joey�s head�the motion was relaxing and he definitely needed that feeling at that very moment.
Thomas nodded his head and motioned for Matthew to come over to them. He carried with him a small bowl with a bitter smelling liquid in it.
�What�s that?� Lance asked, his eyebrows rose as he took a whiff of the concoction and turned up his nose.
�Um�I not want hurt you when sew�you drink�you short sleep,� Thomas quietly explained. �No hurt when sleep.� Lance looked at the men before him. They both had looks on their faces that expressed both sympathy for Lance�s injury and understanding for the fear that he must be feeling.
�You afraid?� Thomas asked. Lance saw that his body language was expressing his need to reassure him so he decided to be honest.
�Yes�very,� Lance admitted quietly, his voice slightly trembling with fear. He took a deep breath then continued to speak knowing that he was going to have to put his trust in both of the strangers�if JC could do it�so could he. �I�m afraid, but�I don�t want my cut to get infected like Joey�s arm�so�I�ll trust you. You can help me sleep then sew me up.�
A slow smile formed on Thomas�s face and he quickly explained his conversation with Lance to his brother, Matthew before motioning for Lance to come lie down. Lance nodded his head and took the lifejacket that was being handed to him. He carefully lowered Joey�s head onto the jacket then crawled a few short feet away from his friend.
Minutes later, Thomas and Matthew had sterilized the needle and thread in boiling water, much to Lance�s relief and were now ready to work on Lance�s deep cut. As Lance allowed Thomas to scoot him closer to being underneath the natural hole in the ceiling of the cave, for what Lance thought was acting a the best source of light, he realized that Joey might be awakening to two strangers alone if he were still asleep.
�I won�t be asleep too long, will I?� Lance asked as he took the bowl handed to him when Thomas had arranged him where he wanted him to lie down. �I don�t want Joey to wake up without me being awake�I don�t want him to be afraid.� Lance looked back and forth at the men kneeling before him, unsure if they completely understood his concerns�his fears.
�No worry,� Thomas said as he placed his hand on Lance�s shoulder. �Um�Joey�he sleep long�no wake soon. You wake more soon.�
�Okay,� Lance said as he rraised the bowl in a mock toast then began to drink the bitter smelling solution.
�Oh�man this is awful!� Lance exclaimed as he swallowed the last foul tasting mixture in one gulp. �Good grief�that was horr�oh wow,� Lance said in a sudden small voice as the room began to slowly spin.
�Geez,� he whispered. He brought his hands up to his head and was startled to feel them being grasped in a pair of strong hands. He slowly moved his head until he could gaze up at Thomas who was giving him a reassuring smile.
�No fight�sleep�wake soon�sew done,� he said as he nodded his head all the while gently squeezing Lance�s hands.
Lance nodded his head and closed his eyes. He could hear Thomas and Matthew speaking in quiet tones all the while feeling the hands gripping his continuing to hold on, then he heard nor felt anything.
Thomas watched as Lance�s head lolled to the side and he felt the young man�s hands become limp in his grasp. With a small smile he laid Lance�s hands at this side before looking up at his brother.
�He is asleep my brother,� Thomas said in his native language. �He was very afraid�we must make quick work of sewing his wound closed�soon before he or his friend awakens.�
�Yes�let us begin,� Matthew answered as he handed Thomas the threaded needle.
Deep in their heart of hearts, both young men knew that they were doing the right thing in helping the injured Americans. Now, all that remained was helping the small group to leave the island and send them on their way home. Little did they know that their healing abilities were going to be put further to the test later on that night. They also had no idea how much their courage and mettle would be tested in the days to come.
�Justin! Chris! Where are you!� JC shouted out in growing frustration and worry. His ears strained to hear some sort of response but there was only disappointment. With a groan, JC shut his eyes and run his hands through his hair in distress and kicked at the sand under his bare feet. Hearing the young American�s groan, Davis and James turned around from their position, a few steps further down the trail and walked back to JC.
�Are you becoming tired, Joshua?� Davis asked as he stopped in front of the young man and watched him shrug his shoulders wearily as he continued to look around him.
At that moment, Davis was becoming even more concerned by his reaction that JC might be pushing himself too hard, especially after the knock on the head that he had experienced the previous evening, not to mention the scare that Joey had given them all a short time ago. He could tell that the young man, whom he was getting to know well in such a short amount of time, had too be exhausted, both physically and mentally�emotionally. Those thoughts further spurred Davis�s resolve that somehow, he and his brothers, mother and sister were going to get the American and his four friends off of the island and back home to their friends and loved ones. James patted Davis�s shoulder and pointed further up the trail as he spoke. Davis nodded his head and watched his sister�s wife walk away toward the dense undergrowth surrounding the trail.
�He�s going in search of some food for us,� Davis quietly explained.
JC started to protest then stopped when he realized that he was getting slightly hungry and that a small snack might help in re-energizing him�he was starting to feel the last 24 hours beginning to catch up with him and they were no where near close to finding Chris and Justin. JC and Davis sat down across from each other on the sandy trail and leaned back against a pair of palm trees as they waited for James to return. Neither spoke for a few minutes. Each was lost in their separate thoughts. JC was dreaming of returning home�of seeing his family�his friends. Davis was also thinking of JC and the others returning to their homes, but his thoughts were more centered in how to get the young men there. He knew his options but he was unsure of which would be best in accomplishing the ultimate goal.
�How much further down the trail do you think they went?� JC asked as he motioned toward the trail ahead of them, interrupting Davis�s thoughts.
�I�m not sure, but we will continue searching for them until they are found,� the older man answered with a reassuring smile. �I�m sure they are somewhere very near.�
At that very moment, James came running breathlessly up the trail, babbling quickly in his native language with a wild look in his eyes. JC glanced questioningly at Davis and then he suddenly understood why there was a sound of urgency in the man�s voice and his frantic manner.
Before either man could finish their brief conversation, JC had already run in the same direction in which James had a returned from with the other men following closely behind.
Chris felt himself being shifted on the shoulders then lowered to a hard surface�a wooden surface. Before pretending to black out and before a blindfold had been tightly bound over his eyes, Chris had seen a large, stately home in the distance as they broke through the cover of the dense forest. He realized that they must have made it to the house and now he nervously lay there, waiting for something to happen.
�Is this one of them?� a deep, resonating voice asked from above him. In surprise, Chris jerked in response and instantly felt the blindfold being roughly yanked up to his forehead. Chris blindly blinked at the sudden invasion of light then groaned into his gag and looked down at the bare feet of those standing around him without noticing the one pair of feet wearing shoes.
�So�you are awake young man.� Chris jerked his head up and squinted as an older man moved into his view, effectively blocking the waning light that had been shining directly in his eyes. This man was not quite as tall as the dark-skinned men�he had sparse white hair and his steel-gray eyes twinkled mirthfully and, for a brief moment, Chris�s mind raced with hope�this white man could speak English�he could help him�help the others.
With hope surging through him, Chris mumbled into his gag and struggled unsuccessfully against the bonds that were stifling his movements. The man looked down at Chris and shook his head and a small smile began to work its way across his face. Chris looked up at him in confusion. He had expected this man to jump to his defense�not laugh at his situation. Chris�s confusion was further strengthened when a swift kick in the side from one of his captors caused Chris to fold his body in upon itself in an effort to protect himself from another assault. Through eyes blurred by confusion and pain, Chris looked up at the five men standing over him
Russell Johnson put his hand up and stopped Marco before his foot could make contact with the figure cowering at their feet then he knelt down in front of Chris.
�Look at me young man,� Russell commanded in a hard tone. Chris opened his eyes and gazed painfully up at the man before him.
�Mmmph�mmmph�mmmph,� Chris mumbled through his gag as he worked his jaw frantically in an attempt to work the thick cloth out of his mouth.
In response to Chris�s attempts, Russell quickly slapped him across the face hard enough to cause Chris�s head to bounce off the wood porch that he was lying upon. Chris saw a burst of color flash before his eyes and heard laughter in the background as darkness threatened to overtake him. Slowly, he shook his head in an effort to clear the cobwebs that the blow had caused. Russell snorted as he stood up and watched Chris open his eyes wide and once again shake his head before seeing his eyes seem to lose their focus.
�Pick him up and deliver him into the guest house,� Russell said, his voice acknowledging his disgust at Chris�s apparent weakness. �I believe it is ready for our young guest,� he added in a voice with menacing undertones. If Chris�s vision had been clear at that moment, he would have seen a look of pure evil pass over the older man�s face�a look that Chris had only seen on the big screen or on television�never in real life�never this close�this personal. The look that Russell Johnson displayed could only tell of what was in store for Chris and fortunately Chris lacked the imagination necessary to fully comprehend what was coming.
Chris flinched as he watched through blurred vision as several large hands reached down for him. He was pulled roughly up to his feet in one quick movement and the speed of the move caused a wave of dizziness to wash over him and he closed his eyes against it. If it had not been for the hands holding him up, he knew for sure that he would have found himself back on the porch. Before Chris could even regain his sense of balance, he felt the blindfold being pulled over his eyes then the brief sensation of flying before being roughly settled over someone�s shoulder.
�Prepare him for the first injection�make him comfortable�very comfortable.� Sounds of laughter drifted into Chris�s ears.
The foreshadowing of the coming situation caused a shudder to course through Chris and response to the feeling of dread, he silently prayed for strength to withstand what was in store for him and wisdom in knowing what to do in order to survive as the body carrying him moved forward.
Justin slowly became aware of hands�several hands�touching him�causing him pain. There was a tugging sensation at his hands and feet along with his mouth�then release and free movement. He found that he was now able to breathe easier now that his gag had been removed. He let out a small groan of protest and weakly attempted to pull away from them, but found that he was unable to. The hands gently lowered him to the sandy trail.
A familiar voice penetrated the darkness surrounding Justin and he felt instant relief knowing that he was no longer alone, but where was Chris? With the sudden memory of Chris leaping into his consciousness, Justin began to struggle to climb through the darkness. With a groan, Justin reached up and grabbed the hand that was gently moving over his head.
�It�s okay, J,� the shaking voice crooned in his ear as he carefully ran a trembling hand over his friend�s curly head. �You�re safe now.�
As JC tended to Justin, Davis and his brother-in-law, James, walked the surrounding trail in search of any sign of Chris or who may have attacked Justin and left him seemingly to die.
Just minutes earlier, JC, Davis and James had found Justin tied face-first against a large palm tree. Much to JC�s horror, there didn�t seem to be one area of Justin�s body that was not bloodied or bruised. JC�s terror didn�t end there�Chris was nowhere in sight. Davis had been able to read the trail and could instantly tell that there had been at least 3 or 4 or individuals who had crossed paths with Justin and Chris. There was definite evidence of a struggle and Davis was able to point out the fact that an individual had been dragged away from the site�Chris.
JC glanced up at Davis, who had just returned from his short search and shook his head. �Why would anyone do this?� JC asked in a voice choked with emotion as he gestured at Justin�s prone figure with a trembling hand�his head laying in his lap�his body limp and unmoving. The slight but steady rise and fall of Justin�s chest and the slow trickle of blood from various wounds were the only outward signs that the young man was indeed alive.
�What would cause anyone to want to do this?� JC�s questions went unanswered. Davis and James were just as horrified as the young man weeping before them.
�I want to go home�I don�t want to be here anymore,� JC openly wept in a tortured voice as he hugged Justin�s limp body to his chest. �Please�please help us go home, Davis�please.� JC looked up at the older man before him with tear filled eyes. �I just want to go home,� JC repeated in a much smaller voice. �Please��