Page 11 (1/2)

The Trail

Sally saw thehtened her skirts and collected her thoughts Go for it, girl, she told herself You can do it Just put on your Welco Sally took refuge behind the bar and, for the first ti cafe hours, she poured herself a tankard of Springo Special and took a large gulp

Eurgh She had never liked the stuff Too many dead rats in the bottom of the barrel for her taste

As Sally took another ht beam cut into the cafe and swept over the occupants Briefly, it shone straight into Sally&039;s eyes and then,on, lit up the pale faces of the Northern Traders The Traders stopped talking and exchanged worried glances

A moment later Sally heard the heavy thud of hurried footsteps co it, and the cafe shook, its plates and glasses nervously clinking with the ht and with great difficulty put a welco smile on her face

The door crashed open

The Hunter strode in Behind hiht, Sally could see the Pack lined up along the pontoon, pistols at the ready

"Good evening, sir What can I get you?" Sally trilled nervously

The Hunter heard the tremor in her voice with satisfaction He liked it when they were frightened He walked slowly up to the bar, leaned over and stared at Sally intently "You can get me some information I know you have it"

"Oh?" Sally tried to sound politely interested But that wasn&039;t what the Hunter heard He heard scared and playing tor ti

"I aroup of terrorists," said the Hunter, carefully watching Sally&039;s face Sally struggled to keep her Welco Landlady face, but for a fraction of a second it slipped, and the briefest of expressions flitted across her features: surprise "Surprised to hear your friends described as terrorists, are you?

"No," said Sally quickly And then, realizing what she had said, stuttered, "I - I don&039;t e was done How had it happened so easily? It was his eyes, thought Sally, those thin, bright slits of eyes like two searchlights shining into your brain What a fool she was to think she could outwit a Hunter Sally&039;s heart was pounding so loudly she was sure the Hunter could hear it

Which of course he could That was one of his favorite sounds, the beating heart of cornered prey He listened for a delightful er and then he said, "You will tell us where they are"

"No," muttered Sally

The Hunter seemed untroubled by this small act of rebellion "You will," he told her ainst the bar "Nice place you&039;ve got here, Sally Mullin Very pretty Built of wood, isn&039;t it? Been here a while if I rely well, I&039;m told"

"No" whispered Sally

"Well, I&039;ll tell you what, then You just tell one, and I&039;llHer hts made no sense to her All she could think of was that she had never got the fire buckets refilled after the Washing-up Boy set the tea towels alight

"Right, then," said the Hunter "I&039;ll go and tell the boys to get the fire started I&039;ll lock the doors behind etting hurt, do we?"

"You can&039;t" gasped Sally, understanding that the Hunter was not only about to burn down her beloved cafe but intended to burn it doith her inside it Not to lanced at the themselves

The Hunter had said all he&039;d co pretty much as he had expected, and noas the time to show that he meant business He turned abruptly and walked toward the door

Sally stared after hiry How dare he coer off to burn us all to cinders? Thatbut a bully She didn&039;t like bullies

Sally, impetuous as ever, ran out from behind the bar "Wait!" she yelled

The Hunter s It always did Walk away and leave them to think about it for a moment They always come around The Hunter stopped but did not turn

A hard kick on his leg froht the Hunter by surprise "Bully," shouted Sally

"Fool," gasped the Hunter, clutching his leg "You will regret this, Sally Mullin"

A Senior Pack Guard appeared "Trouble, sir?" he inquired

The Hunter was not pleased to be seen hopping about in such an undignified manner "No," he snapped "All part of the plan"