He went into the storeroom in the corner of the barn. Opening his backpack, he checked his supplies. Taser with extra cartridges. Syringes. Plastic ties. Check. He slid the pack’s straps over his shoulders. Two bottles of water and a few protein bars went into the bottom cage. Sacrifices had to be alive.

Before he left, he checked on Evan. The food Nathan had left out remained untouched. Refusing to eat was Evan’s latest protest. Fortunately, the ceremony would be over before he starved. Four months of imprisonment were taking their toll on his son’s physical and mental health. But everything Nathan did was for Evan’s benefit, whether he knew it or not.

Nathan strode out of the barn and around to the rear of the building. There he started the tractor and towed the boat along the track to the water’s edge. The boat wasn’t big, but launching it took some effort. Tying the bow line to a tree, he moved the tractor and trailer to dry ground and returned to the boat. He said a quick prayer for a day of good hunting.

He paddled to deeper water, then switched to the small outboard motor, grateful for the assistance. He tired quickly these days. The summer solstice was seven weeks off. At his current rate of decline, he wouldn’t be much use by then. He leaned over the side and scooped a handful of water. Cool and dark, the lake water invited him to slip over the side, bypass the torture of his disease, and skip right to his inevitable demise. Tempting. So tempting. A few minutes of submersion would allow his mind to escape, to surrender, to seek the eternal rest his body craved.

With exhaustion pounding in his temples like an incessant bongo, death sounded like a vacation.

If it weren’t for Evan. Thought of his son brought Nathan back to the moment. Water lapped against the sides of the boat, and feminine voices drifted over the whisper of air through leaves.

Could it be that easy?

Three figures appeared, strung out single file along the rim of the lake. Triple luck indeed. Nathan watched them hike up the slope toward a trail. The tall blonde in the lead moved like a gazelle.

Belenos liked prime offerings.

Nathan steered toward the bank. Could he subdue all three? He pulled his Taser from his bag and stuffed plastic zip ties in his pocket. It would be best to catch them on the narrow path, when they were single file. He scanned the lake’s shores. Empty and desolate. Perfect.

His chances were better if no one could hear them scream.