Page 117 of Circle of Days

Soon he emerged, and this was the moment of highest risk. Would he spot them in the starlight, as they lay motionless on the dark field? If he fled, would they be able to catch him? Would the four woodlanders be able to overpower a young man so big and strong?

Stam came closer. He seemed all unsuspecting. If he saw them early enough, he might be able to run to the nearest house and shout for help, then they would have to abandon their plan and bolt.

Bez would have to think of another plan, and a second kidnap attempt would be more difficult because Stam would be on his guard.

A moment before Bez was ready to jump, Stam stopped and grunted an exclamation.

Bez leaped to his feet, and the other three did the same.

Stam turned to run, but he was a moment too late, and they were on him.

Bez quickly stuffed the leather bundle into Stam’s mouth to stop him crying out. Then they threw him to the ground and held him down. He grunted, but not loud enough; and he struggled, but he could not escape.

Bez lifted his gaze and looked at Pia’s house. There was no movement. Pia and Yana had not heard anything. That was good. Tomorrow they would be questioned about Stam’s disappearance, but they would know nothing.

Bez tied a cord around Stam’s neck that went into his mouth and secured the gag.

They took off his shoes, then—with some difficulty—wrestled him out of his tunic. They tied his hands behind his back and stood him up.

The plan was working, so far.

They marched him naked into the wood, one man on either side of him holding his arms tightly, one man in front, and Bez behind. Stam did not try to escape.

They paused there, at the edge of the wood. Looking back, Bez scanned the fields. No one was about. No one had witnessed the kidnap. He took Stam’s tunic and his shoes and walked quickly back across the fields and down to the river. He folded the tunic, set it on the ground near the water, and placed the shoes neatly on top. Then he returned to the wood.

They took Stam through the wood. Then they had to cross theBreak, where there was a clear view across the fields; but no one was up. Farmers slept heavily.

At last they reached West Wood, and gratefully entered the concealing vegetation.

There, close to the village, they had dug a hole about as long and wide as Stam.

Now, watched by woodlanders who had awakened and emerged from their huts, they tied his feet and made sure the cords on his wrists were secured. Bez decided to retie the gag to ensure Stam’s silence. He untied the cord and pulled the gag out of Stam’s mouth.

Stam gasped: “Water, please.”

Bez said: “Did you give my brother water when he was bleeding to death?” Then he stuffed the leather back into Stam’s mouth and tied the gag again.

Finally they lowered Stam into the hole in the ground.

He strained against his bonds and grunted through his gag. Bez guessed he was terrified that he would be buried alive. In fact the death Bez had planned for him was worse than that.

They piled branches on top of him. A heavy one landed on his chest, making him grunt again. He probably had a broken rib. The branches left space for air, ensuring that Stam could breathe.

Over the branches they laid leaves and ferns, so that he could not be seen. His grunts were now inaudible. They raised the heap above the ground and made a roughly circular mound, so that the result looked just like a random pile of foliage.

Bez noticed that people looked at him strangely and quickly averted their gaze. He knew that his face was as rigid as stone. Hewas doing something terribly cruel but he was determined to go through with it. He would not show emotion, and he would not back down.

He lay down beside the pile to guard it, and the others went to their houses.

Then they all slept.

Troon came to Pia and Yana’s house early in the morning. Looking in, he said: “I see that Stam isn’t here.”

Yana said: “Isn’t he at your house?”

“If he was, I wouldn’t be looking for him, would I?”

“Well, he left here at the normal time, and I don’t see how he could have got lost between here and there.”