Earthseed

and her companions would have to keep that knowledge to themselves.
    “We tracked you,” Daniella said. “We’ve been waiting for you to come out. You weren’t very careful.”
    Zoheret pulled at the rope around her ankles and then saw that another length of rope connected her wrist to Dmitri’s. “What are you going to do?”
    Owen shrugged.
    “Let us go.” She tried to stay calm. “By the time we get loose, you’ll have a lead.”
    Owen shook his head. “You’d just come after us.”
    “The settlement will send out a search party for us.”
    “Let them.”
    “You can have what’s in our packs.”
    Owen laughed. “We’ll take that anyway.”
    Dmitri stirred.
    “Get up,” Owen commanded.
    The ropes around their ankles hobbled them; they could walk, but would be unable to run. “Put the packs back on them,” Owen said to Manuel.
    Dmitri leaned against Zoheret. “Are you all right?” Manuel asked as he approached. Dmitri managed to nod.
    “Our friends’ll come after you,” Tonio said.
    “But we have hostages now,” Owen replied.

    The ankle ropes inhibited them, making them stumble and move more awkwardly. The packs felt heavy. Zoheret, tied to one end of the connecting rope, set the pace for her companions. Once, unmindful of the rope at her ankles, she had taken too long a stride; Manuel had caught her before she fell.
    Their pace was slowed by the thickness of the foliage in this part of the woods; they were moving toward the lake, but by an unfamiliar route. They stopped only once, and asked for water. Manuel gave them a canteen before Owen could object.
    They reached the lake after dark. The water was silvery in the pale night light. Zoheret, trying to orient herself, realized that they were at the end of the lake farthest from the river that led to the settlement.
    They relieved themselves under the eyes of their captors, and then Manuel led them to a mossy spot. They sat down. Owen untied their packs roughly while Manuel and Daniella guarded them. The three took turns eating while their captives watched.
    “Who goes back?” Daniella asked.
    “You go,” Manuel said. “Find out what we should do and bring help.”
    The girl stood up and walked toward the shore. She pulled up branches and leaves, and Zoheret saw that a boat had been camouflaged by the growth. Daniella pushed the boat into the water, hopped in, and began to row, moving out of the bay toward the open water.
    Manuel and Owen were sitting on a rocky rise, close enough to observe their prisoners, yet far enough away to be able to fire upon them before being overpowered.
    “Do we get fed?” Zoheret called out. “We haven’t eaten all day.”
    “You won’t die if you don’t get fed,” Owen shouted back.
    “We’d better give them food,” Manuel said. Owen shook his head. “If we don’t, they might get sick, and that’ll be more trouble for us.”
    Owen scowled, but nodded. Manuel threw them packets of food; after they ate, they were allowed to creep toward the lake for water.
    The captives drank from cupped hands. Zoheret bent down and tugged at her ankle ropes, loosening them while pretending to drink.
    “What are you doing?” Dmitri whispered.
    “I might be able to get free.”
    “Don’t try it. They’ll shoot you again.”
    “We have to do something.”
    They finished drinking and stretched out on a grassy spot among the rocks. Zoheret pressed against Dmitri as if seeking warmth while tugging at her ropes. “My wrists are free,” she murmured into his ear. “Can you untie yourself?”
    “I don’t think so.”
    Manuel had curled up, using a pack as a pillow, while Owen watched. The blond boy stood up and began to pace back and forth. Zoheret tensed, waiting for her chance. An owl hooted and a bush rustled. Owen pivoted toward the sound, his back to her.
    She sat up, pulled the ropes from her ankles, and leaped to her feet, running along the bank. A beam shot past her. She was too clear a target here; she had to get up toward the woods. Her foot hit a rock and she fell, splashing in the shallows. As she stumbled out of the water, Owen was suddenly before her.
    He seized her by the hair, forced her to her knees, and pushed her face under the water; she heard a throaty laugh. “You shouldn’t have tried that.” He pushed her face under again. She could not breathe; her lungs felt as though they would burst. He pulled her up and she had time only to gasp before he pushed her head under