Blood Red Road

north.
    I hear a strange sound. Like … a hammer poundin a nail in. I whirl around.
    Behind Pinch, from the direction of Freedom Fields, even more Tonton, at least fifty armed men by the look of it, come into view. They run towards us, across the plain, keepin in step with each other. The ground shakes as they approach.
    Tricked.
    Trapped.
    No way out.

    The Tonton line up in formation behind DeMalo.
    I watch as my friends lay down their weapons. Jack an Ike, Lugh an Ash an Tommo. The Tonton on the hill make ’em all lie flat on the ground with their hands behind their heads. They git a kick in the back when they resist.
    So.
    After everythin we done, after all we bin through, this is the way it ends. Not even the chance to die fightin. To die together.
    Twelve Tonton on the hill. Another fifty down here. Pinch ain’t gonna let us die easy. My mouth’s dry. The red hot’s gone.
    I’m small. Weak. Alone.
    Saba, says Emmi. Saba, do somethin. She starts to cry.
    Please, I says to Pinch. You got no reason to hurt her. Let her an the boy go. They ain’t done you no harm.
    Oh no, he says, they’ll be the first. So the rest of you can see what’s in store for you.
    I go down onto my knees. Please, I says. Let ’em go.
    A long pause. Then,
    No, he says.
    I look to DeMalo. Our eyes meet.
    Help me.
    My lips move. But no words come out.
    Pinch strokes Emmi’s face with the bolt shooter.
    Slowly or quickly, he says. Cutting or shooting. He kisses the top of her head, looking at me.
    Please, I says. Please.
    He breathes in deeply. There’s nothing like it, is there? he says. The smell of fear.
    Suddenly a hoarse cry rings out—caw! caw! caw!
    A black bird sails out over the red ridge to the west.
    It’s a crow.

    My heart stops.
    Time stops.
    There’s a low rumble of hoofs. A long line of horses an riders appears at the edge of the ridge. It’s the Free Hawks. But it’s more’n jest them. There must be another thirty or so riders who ain’t Hawks. Maev’s right in the middle. Nero swoops above me, screamin in triumph.
    The red hot kicks me in the gut. Slams into action. I leap to my feet.
    Nero! I yell.
    A small group of Free Hawks, maybe ten of ’em, come runnin outta the woods on Pine Top Hill. They take the Tonton completely by surprise. Lugh, Jack an the rest leap up an grab their weapons. The fightin starts.
    Maev comes thunderin down the ridge in a cloud of red dust, with the riders spread out behind her. They whoop an holler as they head straight fer the Tonton lined up behind DeMalo. Arrows fly ahead of ’em. The Tonton start to reel back, scream, as they hit their mark.
    What? shrieks Pinch. What is this? He looks around, frantic.
    DeMalo walks towards me. He’s got my bow an quiver slung on his back. He’s holdin my knife in his hand.
    That’s it! says Pinch. Slice her!
    DeMalo stands in front of me. He drops my bow and quiver at my feet.
    What … what are you doing? says Pinch.
    DeMalo puts his arms around me. Holds my eyes. With one slash, he cuts the ropes tyin my hands behind my back.
    DeMalo! Pinch yells.
    Until next time, DeMalo says softly. He tosses the knife on top of my other weapons. He turns to go.
    DeMalo! Pinch screams. Are you mad?
    DeMalo swings hisself onto his horse an rides off, away from the action, back in the direction of Freedom Fields. A few of the Tonton see him go an run after him.
    DeMalo! Pinch howls after him. DeMalo! Where are you going? Attack! Attack! He circles like a mad dog, wavin his bolt shooter. His lips is drawn back over his teeth. Like a wild animal in a trap. He’s still holdin Emmi to his chest. She looks terrified.
    I run at him, leap at him feet first. I kick his hand an the shooter flies up in the air. He yells in pain, spins away.
    Run, Emmi! I yell.
    Pinch lunges at me. A arrow whistles through th’air. Hits him in the chest. He screams. He staggers an falls back. I look to see who’s saved me.
    Maev gallops up. She’s got Hermes in tow behind her. He rears up, squealin with excitement.
    About time, I says. Who’re yer friends?
    The raiders from the western road, she says. We called a truce. They’re a wild crowd. When they heard there might be a fight, I couldn’t keep ’em away. She tosses me Hermes’ reins. Just outta interest, do you go lookin fer trouble, or does it jest find you?
    I wish I knew, I says.
    See you later! she says. She rides off to join in the fight.
    I swing Emmi onto Hermes. Put the reins into her hands.
    I point