David’s look of surprise was soon replaced by a grim set of his jaw. He adjusted the sling of his shotgun while ensuring there was a buckshot round in the chamber.

“Are you sure?” asked Joshua, almost pleading, and Nathan knew in that moment he was thinking of Daisy, their dead pet, and not the rabid packs of wild beasts that were a constant concern.

“I’m sure,” answered David. “There was talking, then the dog barked and the voices stopped and then the dog too. Must still be tame, but means they’re part of that group we just dealt with.”

Everyone was silent and looked at Nathan.

“We could try to keep going. Maybe get past them,” said Bethany struggling to keep her tone neutral.

Nathan shook his head. “They already know we’re here, probably have known since this afternoon’s. They likely expect us to continue on the road and then they'll ambush us. We’ve got to surprise them ourselves. Hit their camp in the night.”

David was already facing north, “The voices were coming from that direction and I can see a light trail in the woods.” He indicated a path that would have probably been plain in the day, but was now difficult to see in the faint glow from the rising moon.

Nathan considered their situation. Nothing today has gone as planned, and we're fortunate none of us has been hurt…well, not hurt seriously, he thought, while shrugging his sore shoulder. He would rather try to get around this group, but the mountain highway was narrow and they would be channelized into a perfect kill zone in some curve down the road.

“Okay, here’s the deal,” Nathan began as he bent down to the ground near the fire and grabbed a small stick. Everyone gathered around him and also squatted. “Let’s say their camp is up here.” Nathan made a circle in the dirt. “And we’re here.” Another circle under the first. “And this is the highway.” A thin line below both circles. “We’re going to approach in file until we’re within good earshot. If we’re lucky we can take them piecemeal. We’ll hit their camp first, while the others are out on the road waiting to ambush us, and then we get them on their way back after hearing the fighting. We have to be careful approaching, because they might be smarter than most, and set an ambush for us on the trail, or be coming for us now.”

“What happens when we get close?” asked Joshua.

“David will lead, and also go up alone and scout it out for us. Once he comes back, we’ll figure out what to do, but more than likely it will be the standard plan.” Nathan again began drawing in the dirt. “David, Joshua, and I will make a line with me in the middle. Bethany, you go back about twenty yards to our rear and cover our backs. Wait for my signal. Also, don’t be too quick to rush in when it’s over. Remember that others might be coming back to help. Any questions?”

No one said anything, but he could sense Bethany’s distress. “What is it?”

“Maybe we shouldn’t be so ready to kill everyone that we come across. Maybe these will walk away if we give them half a chance.”

“Honey, I know, and I wish there were another way, but these are the same group of crazies that were set to kill me today.”

Bethany just looked at him. He hated that look. It made him feel like he was letting her down.

Nathan shook his head. “I’m sorry, but we don't have a choice."

Bethany obviously understood. “I know, but let’s leave open the possibility of letting them go...they may not be all bad.”

Nathan wanted to tell her it wasn’t about good or bad; it was about circumstances that made simple survival uncertain. He wanted to tell her it was about worrying every day if he would watch his family starve, or get radiation sickness, or get tortured to death by some insane bandit. He wanted to tell her that things were different now, that she needed to let go of how she thought before; but he couldn’t do it. She certainly had the same fears and concerns. The look on her face nearly broke his heart anyway, and besides there just wasn’t time for talk.

He simply looked up at the sky for a moment and then stood up. “They'll get an opportunity to be reasonable. That's all I can promise. If there's blood, it will be on their heads.”

*******

About a half hour later, they lay motionless in the cold snow. The going was tedious in the night. Luckily the snow dampened their sound and the half moon rose fully so they could see somewhat better. David had not returned from his reconnaissance, but Nathan could see the glow of a fire ahead and hear soft voices occasionally. It was not long before David glided out of the woods ahead, as silent and sure-footed as a wraith. He slid gracefully down beside Nathan and put his mouth to his father’s ear.

“Seven women, eight small girls, no men or boys. Oh yeah, one German Shepherd.” David stopped and when Nathan looked at him questioningly he answered the obvious question. “No weapons, no sign of a trap. Also, they look like they’ve been mistreated. Some are obviously ill and they're all eating now, but in a frantic sort of way as if they haven’t had food in a while.”

“Maybe they aren’t with the others,” whispered Bethany, who moved up near them. “Or maybe they were taken prisoner and…” She stopped and looked at David and Nathan before continuing, “…taken advantage of...” She finished while flicking her eyes at her boys.

She's still trying to protect them from the worst of everything, Nathan thought and although he believed her effort were futile, her loved her for trying. “Maybe…maybe not. We don’t know yet. Could still be a trap,” he said.

“Yes, but we know we can now go around them, or maybe even try to talk to them.” Bethany pleaded.

Nathan sensed she was right, but inwardly cringed. He had just been through this situation that morning.

Bethany grasped his arm forcefully, “There will be less chance of bloodshed if I approach this time, instead of you.” She felt Nathan’s resistance, but continued on anyway. “If it’s a bunch of women and their children who have been captured and hurt, they’ll be less alarmed by a woman than you. Also, in case you haven’t noticed, you look like a damn butcher covered with all that blood from today. You would scare the living crap out of them right now.”

"Maybe we should just go around them," mumbled Nathan uncertain.

Bethany chuckled lightly, "Oh, now that we might be able to help someone and not just kill them, you're not interested in meeting new people?"

Nathan cursed under his breath. She was right and wouldn't be dissuaded at this point; but he didn’t like putting Bethany in a dangerous position if he could help it. “Okay, but if anything goes wrong, you just hit the ground and stay there. We’ll be watching and we’ll come for you.”

Bethany nodded, and handed David her rifle and Nathan her pistol. She rolled out of her backpack and left it there on the ground while the others did the same.

“You stay here until I signal for you,” said Nathan to Bethany. “We’ll crawl up into our positions and when we’re there, you stand up and walk down the trail.” Nathan paused again, “And don’t take any chances you don’t have to.”

Bethany smiled, nodded, and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. Nathan motioned Joshua to crawl over and he quietly briefed them on the plan. Once everyone understood, the three began to slowly and carefully crawl forward in the snow toward the sounds of strangers.

*******

Nathan looked down at the camp in the hollow. The site was well chosen for concealment. The natural bowl in the earth, and the thick trees on the edges, masked the firelight and sounds. David’s description was true. There looked to be a fairly large stockpile of food under several tarps. Wild-looking women were still going through the food pile and it appeared that their previous searches weren't conducted with patience. There was also a line of about two dozen stakes hammered into the ground. Each of these stakes connected to a length of metal wire attached to a now empty dog collar. Nathan could almost smell the evil and desperation of the place. He felt another moment of hesitation, but then turned and gave Bethany the signal.

Bethany stood slowly and walked down the path between the trees to the edge of the hollow. She stopped hesitantly, taking a few deep breaths at the shadowy edge while Nathan said a quick prayer. What his wife was getting ready to do was probably one of the most courageous things he had witnessed and he had witnessed plenty. Why in the hell am I letting her do this? Nathan decided he was going to stop her and stood to get her attention.

Bethany took three long steps forward and down into the hollow. She was totally exposed. Nathan expected shouting and confusion and maybe fighting…but nothing. The women and children were preoccupied with eating or trying to help each other with their injuries. She just stood there staring at the pitiful figures shoving food into their mouths. What finally gave her away was the dog.

The big silver and black shepherd was sleeping on its paws near a group of children. Its ears were up, but its eyes were closed. Something made the dog’s ears twitch and it slowly opened its eyes and gazed directly at Bethany. For a moment nothing happened. It was almost as if the dog thought she were one of their pack. Then with sudden understanding, the dog let its protective instinct take over.

The dog jumped to its feet with hair standing on end and gave a quick series of barks before charging forward, teeth bared and snarling. Bethany’s eyes opened wide in sudden fear. The dog was running flat out at her and was less than twenty yards away.

Nathan cursed silently as he brought his rifle on the dog, but he knew it would be a difficult shot. The dog was running fast and laterally to his position. There’s no reasoning with a dog protecting its own.

Nathan was preparing to fire a series of shots in the dog’s path when it suddenly jerked up short with its back end flipping forward under its front legs, the chain on its neck going taunt.

Bethany put her hand over her heart and laughed nervously. “Oh dear goodness,” she gasped smiling in relief. “I thought he was going-”

She didn’t finish because a wild-looking woman standing to Bethany’s left moved as quick as a snake, pulling what looked like a rusty screwdriver from somewhere and slapping Bethany backhanded across the face with the butt of the tool. The wild woman jumped on Bethany as she slumped to the ground and straddled her, bringing the point of the screwdriver to Bethany’s neck. Even in the dim firelight, Nathan could see the woman smile through her long filthy hair.

Bethany was dazed with blood on her face, but looked over at Nathan who stood, leaned against a nearby tree ready to take a shot. She raised a hand palm out towards her husband and mouthed faintly, “Wait.”

The wild woman spun her head around without taking the screwdriver from Bethany’s neck and met Nathan’s tense gaze. She smiled impishly.

Nathan noted with dismay that the woman’s eyes didn’t appear to hold any shred of sanity. She laughed suddenly, turned back to Bethany, and pressed down on her neck.