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CHAPTER 1

Running, running, stu his face He didn’t see the root He fell, hands splayed into the moss and ht Eyes wide, frantic now, Laurent Lepage scanned the forest floor and swept his hands through the dead and decaying leaves

He could hear the footsteps behind hi He could alot closer, closer, while he, on all fours, plowed the leaves aside

"Come on, come on," he pleaded

And then his bloodied and filthy hands clasped the barrel of the assault rifle and he was up and running Bent over Gasping for breath

It felt as though he’d been on the run for weeks, h the forest, dodging the tree trunks, he knew the running would end soon

But for now he ran, so great was his will to survive So great was his need to hide what he’d found If he couldn’t get it back to safety, at least, maybe, he could make sure those in pursuit wouldn’t find it

He could hide it Here, in this forest And then the lion would sleep tonight Finally

Bang Bangbangbang The trees around him exploded, ripped apart by bullets

He dove and rolled and ca wood No protection at all

His thoughts in these final o to his parents at hoo to his puppy, no longer a puppy but a grown dog He didn’t think of his friends, or the gaiddy, down the hill while the mad old poet shook her fist at them in winter He didn’t think of the hot chocolate at the end of the day in front of the fire in the bistro

He thought only of killing those in his sights And buying time So that maybe, maybe, he could hide the cassette

And then e would be safe And those in other villages would be safe There was so there would be purpose to this His sacrifice would be for the greater good and for those he loved and the place he loved

He raised his weapon, took ai the assault rifle thrust into his shoulder "Bangbangbangbangbang"

The front line of his pursuers fell