I kept blood flowing to my limbs by shifting periodically as the day wore on. They didn’t offer me food or eat themselves. The one I watched took his eye off the horizon only twice, to drink a few sips of water and to check a compass. He signaled to his companion before he adjusted our direction from south, to west. As we turned that way, a sick feeling settled in my stomach. I checked the light again as we continued to ride hard, into the sunset. There was no doubt about it: we were headed straight for Cobane.

We continued to ride late into the afternoon, slowing down only when the horses showed signs of fatigue. The desert sand reflected the light of a full moon and illuminated everything in our path. Through the sack, I saw the terrain changing, becoming more familiar. We were mere hours away from Cobane. What business could two White-Face soldiers have there? Jones would have them arrested on sight. I feared what she would do with me, back before the deadline with only bits and pieces of the information she’d requested. I knew the Director was up to something, but I didn’t know what or how it would affect the New Seed vote. Would I be able to protect Hosea and the bandits? My thoughts chased each other in circles as I tried to formulate a plan.

* * *

We halted unexpectedly. We were still several miles from Cobane and I thought my captors would ride through to the Schoolhouse. I wasn’t prepared to stop. My body shifted forward and I cried out—a loud cry, clearly unimpeded by a gag. Through my peephole, I saw my captor’s head turn sharply. His eyes narrowed as he studied me through the bag. I froze. If he found me unbound, all would be lost. He was still eyeing me when his companion called out.

“We have luck. Our prey follows in the open.”

The first captor’s attention shifted away from me. The second captor dismounted, rounded my horse, and handed something to his mate.

“Look here,” he said.

The first man held the proffered telescope to his eye and aimed it east, the direction from which we’d come. He looked for a moment, then smiled, revealing broken, yellow teeth. “We have luck,” he repeated. There was greed in his voice. “We have the girl. And now, we will have the man. The prize for him is great.”

The second man unfolded a Wanted poster from his pocket. “A bag of coin,” he said.

“And Condor will be pleased,” the first man said. “We will stop here.”

“But, he is almost upon us. He will make war.”

“He will not catch us,” the first man said.

The second man frowned. “You make no sense.”