The Price of Friendship Chapter 32
�We are at the very bottom of the hill young one,� Davis whispered so low that JC barely registered that any words had been said.
�Johnson saw you put up a fight on the trail and he will expect no less from you now�understand? The cameras are near and may be watching us at this very moment.�
JC thumped his head against Davis�s back and mumphed into his gag.
�Do not be concerned with hurting one of us�you must try to protect yourself�you must attempt to fight against us,� James added as he grabbed a handful of JC�s hair and gave it a small tug causing him to yelp mutely into the cloth between his lips before pulling away and kicking into Davis�s chest with his knees.
�That is good, young one,� Davis said with a grunt as JC�s knees made contact with his chest. He then tightened his hold on JC�s body when he felt the young man begin to twist and buck against his grip.
With a small nod of his head in James�s direction Davis then shifted JC�s body on his shoulder before continuing with their journey up the steep hill.
�Is that them, dear?� Leigh Johnson asked as she stepped behind her husband to view one of the monitors sitting on the counter in the video room.
�Yes, my love�that is Davis and James are finally here, bringing Mr. Joshua Chasez to me,� Russell answered without looking behind him. He could see his wife�s reflection in the blank screen of another monitor and was delighted to see that she was smiling broadly. He remembered that she had taken a liking to the young man�saying that when he had once been in his youth, he favored the young singer.
�Do you think that this could be a trick, Russ,� Leigh asked as she watched the group�s slow progress up the hill on the monitor before her.
�I�m not sure,� he answered. �I will have to test their sincerity when they finally do arrive at the top of the hill.�
With that said, the pair continued to watch the monitor not realizing that Leigh�s words had been an omen of sorts.
�They are asleep, Mama,� Thomas said as he gazed at the trio situated in various positions on his mother�s bed.
�Yes, my son,� Imelda replied. �Soon, the others will be here to take them to the beach.�
Imelda was speaking of the fact that Matthew would be sending at the very least 12 to 15 men to help carry Joey, Justin and Lance in crudely made stretchers across the island to safety within the next hour or two.
In order to make sure that the Americans would remain comfortable and free of pain and fear it had been decided that they would be put into a deep sleep by using an old island potion that had been handed down through the generations. It had always proven safe to use with those injured as well as those ill, so they felt confident in using it on the trio.
The fact that they were all now sleeping would make the task much more manageable and they worked swiftly to insure that they would not miss this opportunity.
Imelda turned from the doorway and headed back into the hut�s small kitchen while Thomas remained watching over the group. Seconds later the old woman returned with a handful of wet cloths.
�They must continue to sleep so that their journey will be swift,� she said quietly as she place one of the cloths in her son�s hand.
�This is for the one called Justin,� she said. She had made sure that the concoction that she had soaked that particular cloth in had been very mild to be on the safe side while the other cloths had been soaked in a liquid more potent.
The pair moved silently into the bedroom and without so much as causing the three young men to stir in their sleep, they gently placed the wet cloths over their faces.
Within minutes, Imelda and Thomas could tell that Joey, Lance, and Justin had slid into a deep sleep that they would not awaken from for several hours.
As they left the room, a voice calling out in the distance could be heard.
�They are here, my son,� Imelda said.
Russell and Leigh Johnson stepped out onto the front lawn and walked toward the two figures approaching their home.
They watched with neutral faces as Davis and James stopped before them.
�Who do we have here?� Russell said with slight amusement as he stepped around Davis to get a better look at the figure slung over his shoulder.
�Drop him,� he said in a low voice and, without hesitation, Davis pushed JC off his shoulder then inwardly winced when he heard JC�s painful moan after his body hit the ground.
With a swift kick of his foot Russell turned JC from his stomach to his back and grinned in delight at the muted whimpers that escaped from behind the young man�s gag as he attempted to pull his body into a ball.
In an effort to protect the young man from further harm Davis began speaking while JC struggled to remain conscious as waves of darkness washed over him.
�I have brought you this young man in the hopes that your anger against me will be erased,� he said in a steady, but humble tone of voice.
Johnson looked up from JC�s form and addressed Davis and James while his wife knelt down beside the young man who continued to quietly moan.
Leigh ran a hand over JC�s sweaty head and smiled when she felt him flinch beneath her touch. She then allowed her hand to hover over the knots that were keeping his blindfold in place. She wanted to see the young man�s eyes, but she also knew that her husband had a better idea of what he wanted him to first see once it was removed and she would not spoil her husband�s fun�not at all.
Minutes later, Leigh rose from her knelt position and watched as Davis bent down, roughly pulled the young man off the ground then pushed him over James�s shoulder before following Russell Johnson toward the small guesthouse behind the main home.
�Your journey will be a swift one, my son?� Imelda asked in her native language as she watched her son, Thomas help several other young native men lift Joey�s unresponsive form from her bed then lay him down gently on grass mats, which were tied to thick, bamboo poles.
�As swift as possible, Mama,� he answered without looking up. He kept his eyes trained on Joey to see make sure that he remained free of discomfort.
�Mama�please bring me the cloth that you placed the herbs in,� he quietly requested over his shoulder.
Seconds later, Thomas wrapped the cloth around Joey�s slightly swollen, right arm then stood up. He quickly moved to Lance�s side and checked the bandages surround his head and was relieved to see that no new bleeding was taking place. He then moved over to Justin and carefully adjusted the soaked cloths that had been placed over his swollen and bruised eyes.
When he was sure that everything and everyone was ready to leave, Thomas quickly spoke to the group of men that had gathered inside his mother�s hut. After giving out instructions, Thomas kissed his mother goodbye then joined four other men who lifted Justin�s stretcher from the ground. With little noise, the group quickly made their way out of the hut and disappeared into the darkness that surrounded the hut.
�Dearest Father,� Imelda quietly breathed into the silent, night air. �Dear Father, protect my children�protect my sons and those that they are protecting. Guide them�make their feet swift�their actions sure. In your Son�s name�amen.�
Imelda quietly walked back into her now empty hut with her thoughts remaining on her sons, their friends, and the five young men whom she now called her own.
Chris jerked into wakefulness as the sounds of keys rattling in the doorway across the room permeated his senses while thoughts raced wildly through his head.
�Please�don�t let it be JC�don�t let it be JC�they were bluffing�it was a trick�it was a trick�no�no.�
Chris pulled weakly against the ropes that were bound about his wrists and ankles and he moaned into his thick gag when he heard the door opening.
�Ah�I see that you are now awake, Christopher,� a deep voice said in the distance.
Chris stilled his movements and breathed harshly into the cloth between his lips. He had to gain control over his emotions�that much he knew. He couldn�t let the man, whose voice he just heard, further gain the upper hand in this terrifying situation.
�I have a visitor that you just might be interested in seeing,� the voice seemed to croon, now much closer, just within a few feet of his restrained position.
A hand roughly jerked away the blindfold covering his eyes and Chris immediately squinted against the sudden invasion of dim light. In the distance behind the couple standing before him, he could make out two large figures standing near the door. The size of the men was alarming enough, but it was the sight of the figure slung over the shoulders of the smallest of the pair that caused Chris�s heart to seize in terror.
For a splint instant, Chris was sure that his heart had stopped beating altogether. He recognized the figure almost instantly and was horrified to find that his guess was correct when the native turned just enough to reveal the profile of the body slung over his shoulder�JC.
Russell took in Chris�s distraught features and had to work hard not to crow out in triumph�it was much too soon for that. Instead he motioned for James to come closer.
�I want these two have the opportunity to see each other,� he said as he walked over to the pair of men then reached for the blindfold covering JC�s eyes. Seconds later, once the cloth had been removed, James was instructed to bring the young man closer to the bedside.
James followed the instructions and turned so that JC could look down at his friend.
�Ma Phee?� Chris grunted into his gag.
�Criff,� JC grunted in return as their eyes locked�both not daring to break the simple form of contact that they had with each other.
Both young men continued to look at each other, their eyes conveying the messages that their lips could not. JC fought against the tears that threatened to fall as he watched Chris struggle against the ropes holding him in place. He could only imagine what Chris was thinking about. He had to be terrified�afraid of what was going to happen. Somehow, he was going to have to let his oldest brother know that there was a plan�a hope of escape, but how would he be able to do that without the Johnsons finding out?
Before JC could come up with a plan, James turned and dropped him unceremoniously to the floor then quickly bent over him and roughly pulled his gag out of his mouth while, at the same time, Davis moved over closer to Chris and stood watching the others.
Once the gag was removed, James untied JC�s feet then forced him to stand upright beside the bed, roughly grabbing a handful of his dark hair. JC winced and yelped out loud when James�s large hand brushed against his open cut while Chris yelled muffled curses at the man for hurting his friend.
�Now�let me introduce us,� Russell Johnson said to the pair of young Americans once James had JC situated and Davis had quieted Chris�s muffled threats by holding his knife to the young man�s neck.
�My name is Russell Johnson and this is my lovely wife, Leigh,� he said sweeping his hand in the older woman�s direction.
�You are Joshua Scott Chasez and you are Christopher Alan Kirkpatrick,� he stated as he pointed at each of the two men.
�I�m sure you are wondering why you have been brought to my humble home.
He looked down at Chris and then over at JC and saw that both young men�s eyes told of the hate that was radiating from their bodies�hate�anger�fear, but the daggers being thrown in his direction did not deter him in the least as he continued to speak.
�You are here to help me in pursuing my goal�my greatest accomplishment. You will be the avenue that will pave my way to reaching new heights in the field of mind-control.�
�Why us?� JC asked quietly as he glared at the man standing across the bed.
�Why not you?� Russell quickly replied. �Do not think of yourselves as having too high of a station with your celebrity status not to face what you will be experiencing within the next 12 hours.�
�How�do you know who we are?� JC asked incredulously.
�There are such things as the news and internet, Mr. Chasez,� the older man answered. �By the way, I must say this�you and your group has quite a following. You are well loved and missed by fans�friends�family.�
JC�s blinked his eyes in disbelief at the words said, but before he could speak further about the matter, the older man interrupted him.
�Now�back to what you will be facing during your stay here at my humble home,� Johnson said as he gestured about the room.
�What will we be facing?� JC asked, not really sure that he actually wanted to know what the man had in store for them.
With a sneer on his face, Russell planted both hands onto Chris�s bed then leaned heavily on them.
�You, my young man�you will be facing your worst nightmares at my hands,� he said in a menacing, foreboding tone of voice.
JC swallowed hard but did not break eye contact with the older man. He had to somehow convey to the monster that he could and would handle anything that he would throw his way�he�d have to in order to get himself, Chris, Davis and James out of the situation that they were currently in.
Russell stared at the young man standing before him. His thoughts raced about in his head. How could he turn this situation into something even more interesting? What could he possibly do? He felt the bed shift below him and knew that Chris�s frantic movements on the surface of the bed were causing the tremors.
�Hmmm�yes�Christopher�what would Joshua be willing to do for his friend?� A small smile began to snake its way across the older man�s face as he thought of the possibilities.
Davis inwardly groaned at the sight of Mr. Johnson�s sick smile�he knew that the man had to be thinking of something that would cause further distress for the pair of young Americans. Davis�s gaze traveled from Russell Johnson�s face to the faces surrounding him.
James�s features were stony�unemotional. He was doing his best to remove himself from the situation in order to complete their plan successfully. Then Davis�s gaze dropped to his brother-in-law�s hands and he could see that he was tugging at the rope in minute bursts of energy.
Davis�s gaze then traveled to Leigh�s face and his stomach turned at the look of pleasure and glee that adorned here finely wrinkled features. He could not understand how a woman as beautiful as she could be involved in someone so inwardly ugly�so evil as her husband.
He then looked down at Chris and saw that he was slowly shaking his head mutely in JC�s direction. Apparently, he knew that something was going to happen and he knew his friend well enough to be worrying about the next few minutes.
Finally, when his gaze traveled to JC, he found that the young man�s eyes spoke of more determination than fear�he knew that that look would spur Russell Johnson to desire to break him�weaken him.
�What price are you willing to pay for your friend, Joshua?� Russell asked as he leaned further over the bed.
JC continued to look directly at the man before him as he answered without second thought.
�I would give my all for Chris�I would trade my life for his,� JC answered in a steady, calm voice as he broke eye contact with the madman and connected with the figure on the bed.
�I would take his place.�
Chris�s frantic movements against the ties that bound him to the bed ceased at JC�s words. Tears spilled from his eyes and he shook his head no at his friend. He couldn�t possibly let JC endure whatever Johnson had had in store for him.
Russell Johnson simply watched the pair realizing that his experiment was already beginning. Emotions�emotions were flying across the bed between the two young men�anger�fear�determination�love�love. As his gaze bounced between the two, he was reminded of a Bible verse that his grandfather had quoted during the times of the great wars and he found himself whispering the words aloud, �greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends�John 15:13.�
JC�s gaze flew from Chris�s to Johnson�s.
�Yes�I love him enough to do that�� JC said with much conviction and without batting an eye. In the background he could hear Chris moaning into his thick gag, but he did not break eye contact with Johnson. He felt movement beside him, then hands tightly gripping his elbows and realized that James was now holding him up�his knees were shaking almost imperceptibly and the native must have seen them. James�s grip was firm and from anyone else�s vantage point if more than likely appeared that he was keeping JC from backing out of his decision through escape rather than simply keeping him upright on his feet. James looked over at Davis�their eyes speaking for them as time seemed to stand still and stretch much farther�much, much farther than the two or three seconds that actually passed between JC�s words and those next heard coming from Russell.
�So be it, Joshua�then, so be it,� Russell said slowly before turning to James, beside him and Davis, who was standing on the opposite side of the bed near his wife.
�Prepare Joshua for tomorrow, James and Davis.� He motioned toward his wife who quickly walked over to her husband�s side, reached into her apron pocket and pulled out a white cloth and small, brown bottle.
�Leave Christopher alone,� he said. �He will have the opportunity to watch over his friend�the one willing to end his life in order to spare his.�
Russell and his wife stood watching as, the ropes holding JC�s hands behind him were slashed through with a knife while Davis briefly left the room, then return several minutes later with a large mass of canvas in his arms. He dumped his burden to the floor then began to lay the canvas material on the floor, fasten thick cords to its ends before throwing those cords over the beams that hung from the ceiling overhead.
In the meantime, James had retied JC�s hands in front of him, wrapped a cord around his knees several times and added another to his ankles. He then forced JC�s hands to remain down by tying a cord between the one wrapped about his wrists to the one wrapped about his ankles. With all of the effort that James was putting into tying him up, JC was beginning to wonder exactly what Russell Johnson had in store for him in the event that the plan completely fell through. At that thought, JC inwardly shook himself�he had to put those fears to the side. He had to remain strong for Chris.
He brought his gaze up from the bonds tightly surrounding his limbs to meet Chris�s and as the preparations continued, the two young men continued to gaze at each other through tears that quietly tracked their way down their faces.
In the background, JC could hear Davis, and the Johnsons speaking, giving him the opportunity to speak quietly without them possibly overhearing him.
JC whispered encouragement to Chris all the while wishing that his friend had the ability to communicate with him.
�Sh�it�ll be okay, Chris�I�ll be okay,� JC whispered low enough that he was sure only Chris and James would be able to hear.
Chris quietly mumphed into his gag as tears continued to stream down his face.
�Chris�you gotta stop crying�okay? Calm down so you can breath�okay?� JC was growing concerned with the fact that his tears might hamper his friend�s breathing and the thick cloth jammed into his mouth. Chris closed his eyes and appeared to be trying to calm himself with deep breaths through his nose and seconds later, his breathing didn�t seem as labored as before, allowing him to turn his attention back to those wishing to bring them harm.
�You know�you�ll never get away with this�people will find out what you did to us,� JC said angrily to the older man now standing across the room.
�As I hope that they someday will, Joshua,� Russell replied with a smile on his face. �You will be my proof of the drug�s capabilities�its true capabilities,� Johnson added with a larger smile then a shake of his head.
�As for you and your friends being missed, haven�t you noticed, my boy�in the three�no, four weeks that you and your companions have been on the island, no one has come looking for you. You and your companions are believed to be dead or rather, drowned at sea with the boat crew. The searches have ceased. They ended two weeks ago.�
JC stood dumbfounded at the man�s words. He felt a lump rise in his throat�a lump of despair�hopelessness.
In the entire time that he and the others had found themselves to be on the island, home and family had only been mentioned once. No one had dared to dwell to long on those thoughts when they found themselves struggling to survive the attacks�their fears�their illnesses and injuries. But now, as his thoughts raced so quickly through his head, he was becoming dizzy�how were their families coping�had they given up so easily on them�what would become of them if the plan did not work out?�
He tore his gaze from Russell and looked down at Chris to see that his thoughts had to be mirroring his�they had to be.
Russell and Leigh simply stepped back and watched the anguished looks being exchanged between the two young men, not knowing that the looks that briefly flew between Davis and James were just as sorrowful and pained. Davis quickly finished what he was doing in order to move on to what would be required of them. They would need to bind JC to the hammock then knock him out�only then would the Johnsons leave and he and James could remove the young men from danger.
�I am finished, Mr. Johnson,� Davis said as he walked over to JC�s side and picked up a cloth that had been placed on the bed by Leigh, then wadded it into a small ball, then stood before JC.
�Open,� he said in a quiet, menacing tone, ignoring the muted mumphs of protest coming from the figure on the bed thrashing against his bonds.
JC also ignored Chris�s muffled cries as he looked into the native�s eyes and searched for recognition�anything to let him know that Davis was still with him�that the plan was being carried out, but there was nothing. This was the man that JC feared and he felt slight panic beginning to creep into his being. Davis had warned him several times that the situation would have to be as realistic as possible to convince the Johnsons�but this was too real for him�he was becoming afraid�deathly afraid.
So, as a result of his growing terror, JC shook his head no and pulled futilely at the bonds that encircled his wrists in an effort to bring his hands up to protect himself, but alarmingly found that he was unable to.
�Open mouth,� James said forcefully from behind before roughly grabbing a handful of his hair and purposefully raking his fingers over his open head wound.
JC cried out in pain at the contact and instantly, Davis took advantage of his cry and shoved the cloth into JC�s mouth. Before the young man had the chance to spit the cloth out of his mouth, James clamped his hand over his lips while Davis grabbed a long strip of cloth, then nodded his head at James.
Davis placed the cloth over James�s hand then wrapped it around JC�s head twice before applying pressure. It was at that point that James slipped his hand out from under the binding then Davis finished with the gag by wrapping the cloth once more around the young man�s head, effectively muting his cries.
JC mumped as loudly as he could in anger at what was taking place. He bucked against the arms holding him�he fought and struggled as both James and Davis picked him up and placed him in the hammock that hung from the ceiling. He wiggled as both men wrapped several coils of rope around him, tying him to the canvas, but all of his movements were for naught�he was trapped and there was no escape. At least, not until the Johnsons would leave the room, then Davis and James would get them out of there, but the couple was making no move to leave while James and Davis continued to carry on with what they were being instructed to do.
Davis picked up the white cloth that Leigh had handed him earlier then reached for the open bottle that James was handing to him. He quickly doused the cloth with the sickeningly sweet liquid then handed the bottle back to James before kneeling to face JC�s struggling form. He made eye contact with the young man and it was then that JC recognized the man that he had come to trust for in the twinkling of an eye, Davis�s hard, determined look slightly softened as he mouthed words to JC knowing that the Johnsons would not see what he was doing.
�Trust me�must trust me,� he mouthed and immediately, the terror left JC�s eyes and he nodded imperceptibly at the man hovering over him.
Davis nodded in return then placed the cloth over JC�s face and watched as the young man valiantly struggled against him. Seconds ticked by as JC�s frantic movements became sluggish as the drugs invaded his senses, then non-existent. With a small sigh, the young man�s eyes rolled back into his head and his body became limp and unresponsive.
As Davis had administered the chloroform to JC, the Johnsons kept their gaze on Chris who had full view of what was happening not ten feet from his position.
In amusement, the couple watched as Chris pulled against the bonds wrapped about his wrists and mumphed angered protests then screams of terror into his gag. This was an unexpected bonus to the experiment�seeing one so willingly exchanging his own safety�his well-being�possibly his very life for another.
�Hmmm,� he thought. �I wonder if he would do the same for another�a stranger maybe?�
�He is unconscious, Mr. Johnson,� Davis said as he stood up and continued to look at JC�s lax form.
�You have done a good job, Davis�James,� Russell Johnson said as he ushered his wife toward the door.
�You will stay here and watch over the two young men until tomorrow, then you will help me in carrying out the next phase of my experiment.�
With those words said, the couple left the room. As the door closed, James swiftly moved across the room and pressed his back against the wall beside one of the open windows to watch the Johnsons slowly walk up the dirt pathway toward their home. Minutes later, when the couple had entered the home, James moved away from the window.
�They are in their home, my brother,� James said quietly before moving with Davis to Chris�s side.
�Let us move swiftly then in releasing them�Christopher first, then Joshua,� Davis replied.
Chris fearfully watched the natives approach, having heard his and JC�s names said among the strange words that had been quickly spoken.
He cringed and moved as far as he could against his bonds in an effort to get away from the man who was seated on the bed beside him but found that he had to move once again when the other native sat at his other side.
�Christopher�do not be afraid,� Davis said in quiet, calming tones. �We came here to get you out of here. I will not remove the gag until you promise not to yell out or scream.�
Chris�s fearful gaze made Davis realize that his words were falling on deaf ears and he immediately tried to dispel the young man�s fears with words that JC had said might help much earlier in the evening. Words that could be used to convince Chris of their intentions in the event that JC was unable to.
�Justin, Joseph and Lance are at my home on the island that you were brought from�they are all well�they are all safe and being cared for by my mother and my brother�an island healer.�
At the mention of Justin�s name, tears sprang to Chris�s eyes and began to course their way down his face. Davis then began to use the group�s nicknames for each other to further reassure the frightened, young man.
�Curly has bruises, cuts but was resting when we left. Flirt�s fever was falling and his arm is looking much better. Poo Fu is safe and has been taking good care of them. They miss you and are very worried.�
Chris simply nodded his head as the tears began to flow in more earnest, causing his breathing to become labored in the process and soon, much to his alarm, he could not bring in enough air and his panicked eyes and small, fading grunts told of his difficulty.
Davis noted the change in his breathing patterns and quickly began to move.
�I will remove the gag�do not yell out�you will be heard by them,� he said as he turned Chris�s head to the side in order to get to the knots holding the cloths in place all the while listening to the young man�s wheezing breaths becoming weaker and weaker.
Seconds later, the knots gave way under his fingers and Davis swiftly pulled the cloths away from the young man�s face. When the cloths were gone, Chris�s gasps for breath were the only sounds heard in the room. It was several more minutes before his breathing was more under control and in the mean time, James had cut away the ropes binding Chris to the bed but not those holding his wrists and ankles together. There simply was not enough time. The knots were too tight and Davis feared that he would accidentally cut Chris in the process, so those bindings would have to wait until they reached safety.
�We must work quickly my brother,� Davis whispered as he moved over to JC and began hacking away at the ropes holding him in place.
At the same time a strange cry was heard through the window while Chris began to frantically ask about JC...his panicked voice becoming louder with each passing second.
Davis turned to see James making a move to untie Chris�s hands and feet.
�There is no time my brother�gag him before he causes attention.�
�No�No�mmmph,� Chris cried out before a cloth was shoved into his mouth then held in place with another wrapped about his head.
�Be quiet, young one�my brother, Matthew and many others are here to help�you must be quiet,� Davis whispered as he pulled JC�s still bound form up off the hammock then balanced him over his shoulder.
James pulled Chris off the bed and moved quickly to the window on the backside of the building where Matthew and three others were now standing.
�There are more in the woods, my brothers,� Matthew said quietly as he the others reached through the window for Chris�s struggling form.
�Be still, young one,� James said as he pulled Chris back into the room and held him tightly against his chest as he quietly called out to Davis.
�My brother�the chloroform�he will not help�he is too scared. I am afraid that he will have trouble breathing again.�
Davis carefully placed JC on the bed that James had just pulled Chris from then picked up the discarded cloth and found it to be still damp�hopefully just the right amount to incapacitate the young man long enough to flee from the island.
�Christopher�we must put you to sleep�you are not helping us�� Davis said as he pressed the cloth over the young man�s face. With regret he watched his terror filled eyes begin to lose focus then his eyelids briefly flutter before closing altogether. To be on the safe side Davis continued to hold the cloth over Chris�s face for several more seconds, watching the young man�s body become totally limp in his brother-in-law�s strong grasp.
�Let us leave now, my brothers,� Matthew called out from the window as he and one other reached through the opening to take Chris�s limp form.
Minutes later, the process was repeated as JC was lifted through the window then placed over someone�s broad shoulder.
Now�it was simply a race to safety�a race against time and the Johnsons.
As the group of eight men raced toward the edge of the woods their steps faltered at the sounds of gunshots�Russell Johnson was not going to allow their escape�not without a fight.