Chapter 14

A year has passed. We are in contact with Atlanta by the radio that they furnished. Their operator has become part of our community and we have exchanged persons on an irregular but frequent basis. We haven't heard from the Sin Loos during this period. I didn't know to be worried or not. We continued to patrol with the Lu's who were our close allies with people traveling back and forth all the time, particularly from Dorset. Old Charlie was showing a little bit of age but wasn't willing to slow down yet as leader of Dorset or as a council member. He was enjoying life and I think he always has.

I am a father of two. Hanti, my son, was born first and my daughter Suzanna, was born less than a month later. Both mothers were doing well as were the children. Susan's parents were doting grandparents to both showing no favoritism. Stephanie had become pregnant but lost the child. The midwife did not think she would become pregnant again. I'm not sure either she or Ed was sad about not having more children. They were enjoying grand parenting to the fullest. Dorothy's situation is interesting. It isn't known even throughout my household that she is Stephanie's daughter. She had become known for being subservient to all and totally uninhibited sexually.

We heard little of the world outside our area of Virginia and Luray. We heard from the people of Atlanta and The Oaks mostly by radio messages. I told my wives that I was beginning to worry because things were going too good and life was getting too easy. Susan told me of the old Luray saying of the calm before the storm and I agreed that that was my concern.

It was late spring when the messenger came in from the mountain pass sentries telling of a large party coming our way. I called for a full meeting of our council and asked Seniors Glenda and Mandor to join us with some other Lu's in consultation. They agreed and we met two days later in Rich City.

All of the council plus Stephanie and Ed joined with Glenda and Mandor and two other couples from Luray. I had a large table placed in my chambers and we sat around with many others in attendance. We had no further information about the large party though the sentry corps was continuing to watch them and try to find out whom they might be and why they were coming our way.

Mandor said, "I had a report just before we left. They don't seem to be Sin Loos and are primarily male. No one has made contact. They are getting close to one of the passes. We can't avoid contact much longer. I would prefer to stop them at the pass until we know more.

"Handor, we will need Virginian troops. My understanding is that they are too large for us to handle if they are belligerent."

I nodded, "I believe that will happen. We will support you. We will call up some squads to go to Luray and follow your instructions to meet the strangers. The initial report is that they don't have horses except for harness and not many of them. If there's a fight, we will have an advantage, as we are well horsed.

"How should we meet them?"

Glenda spoke up, "I have an idea. It's a different approach but would give us a quick read on their intentions."

Charlie said, "Go ahead, Glenda."

Glenda explained, "It does entail some risk primarily to the volunteers. I have in mind sending a couple and one member of the couple would be Dorothy. I don't think that anything can be done to her that would result in her objecting. The man would have to be someone to play her mate or brother or uncle. They would allow themselves to be captured and we watch to see what happens. If they can get away, then we can question them to determine the attitudes they found and get more information. This plan also should give some time to better prepare for trouble. The couple will be given a story to tell that would do two things. First, it will give believability to them and divert any invader away from Luray."

Charlie said, "You're right. There is some risk. The couple could be killed outright or tortured or die in the fighting later if there is any."

"That's true," she replied. "The question is can we find the people we need?"

Dorothy was serving drinks. She came forward and knelt before me. "Master, I will do it."

One of the cooks came forward and said, "I heard some of this and I will go with Dorothy as her 'brother.' We will go into their camp and find out their intentions and pass them on to you."

So it was agreed. The cook, Reggie, and Dorothy would openly approach the camp with the intent of being taken in to find out what kind of people these were and what they planned. I wasn't sure how we would get information back but we would have to see what happened.

Later that day, I went with them when they left for the pass with a small crew to try to watch. It was a group of hunters and trappers who volunteered their services to help and I cheerfully accepted their offer. They were to meet with our sentry group tomorrow. Reggie and Dorothy would ride to the stranger camp that day.

I watched from a distance as Dorothy and Reggie rode into the camp on one horse. I had a spy scope from The Oaks and could see them and the others quite well. Two men from the strangers met them. They dismounted and were searched and Reggie's sword, spear, and knife were taken. Dorothy had a knife that was also taken. The two of them and the horse were led toward the camp. We followed them as far as we could see. When we pulled back, one of the sentries told me that they had found a vantage point to the camp that might work with my spy scope. We moved there as quickly as we could. It gave me a panoramic view and the spy scope pulled in the details fairly well.

I saw that Reggie and Dorothy had just arrived and a tall man came out of a tent and talked with them. Both Reggie and Dorothy stepped back as if in shock at what he was saying. Men stepped behind them and held them. He then stepped in front of Reggie and held his head in both of his hands. Their leader then said something as he stared at Reggie. Reggie slumped and would have fallen had he not been held. When the leader released him, his head lolled loosely. The men holding Reggie released him and he collapsed limply.