The albino laughed. Indicating each side, he said, “There you have, in a nutshell, the dichotomy of my brother and myself. I, Chan, I weave the legends and history of the ville, indeed of the world as we know it, into something that can help and guide us through the darkness of the future and into the light of destiny. I work with this,” he added, tapping his head, “whereas my brother Markos works with this.” He flexed his biceps and hit his chest. “He is a good man, but he believes in actions above words. As I am the opposite, then we are complementary to each other.”
“Markos, head of sec?” Jak queried.
Chan looked at him quizzically. “Sec? Ah, you mean security, I would assume. Yes, he is the boss of security on Pilatu. But come, I know nothing about you as of yet, and we will have to decide what you can do to be a part of this land.”
“Name is Jak Lauren. And I hunt…” Jak began.
IF THE ALBINO HUNTER had wondered where Markos had disappeared to—for he had parted company with them before they had reached the homestead—he would have been interested to know that the sec boss was walking across the awakening ville to the home of Sineta, with an intention to find out more about the woman he had discovered the night before.
Mildred was still asleep when he knocked softly on the door to Sineta’s homestead. The baron’s daughter was awakened by the insistent sound, and rose to answer the call. “Markos, what are you doing so early?”
“I have come to see the newcomer. It is important that we find out more about her. Chan has spoken to the albino who was with them, and has taken him away. The whitelanders freed him when they realized the position in which they found themselves.”
Sineta frowned, then looked back at the sleeping Mildred. “Freed?” she repeated. “I would not…”
“Would not what?” Markos questioned, sensing that Sineta was on the verge of a revelation.
The fine-boned baron’s daughter returned her gaze to him, and a look of bland indifference masked the curiosity she had felt. “I would not talk to Mildred now. She has only just fallen to sleeping, and she will need rest.”
Markos bit hard on his lip. There seemed to be some ambiguity surrounding the outsiders, and it would be best to find out the truth as soon as possible. However, it would not be appropriate to contradict the baron’s daughter. He contented himself for now with a brief nod.
“Very well. I shall return later.”
Sineta watched him walk away, then closed the door behind her and walked over to the sleeping Mildred.
“What games are being played here?” she asked rhetorically.
THE COMPANIONS SPENT the next couple of days under armed guard, locked up in the jail, only the sound of everyday life outside the barred window and the feeble illumination it offered as markers of the passing of time. They were fed every day, at around sundown. A tray of food, enough for all, was brought in by a woman, while a sec guard stood by with an H&K at the ready for any trouble.
There was no indication that the prisoners wished to offer any resistance. They allowed the food to be left without the slightest sign of giving any trouble. Mostly because of the five that were left in the jail, only two were fit enough to consider any kind of breakout. Doc was weary and battered by his experiences at sea, and although he had incurred no serious damage, his bruised body and even more bruised mind sought the solace of an enforced peace to gather its resources once more. J.B.’s leg was improving, and he exercised it as much as possible within the confines of the cell, making sure that the damaged muscle in his calf didn’t stiffen and seize up. As for Ryan, he still ached all over, but it no longer hurt him to breathe and the pain was lessening with each day. His ribs could do with a longer resting period if they were to heal properly, but as long as he was able to function, Ryan figured that they may not have the time for him to make a full recovery. Each hour, each minute, he hoped to hear news of Mildred, or for Jak to return to facilitate an escape. But with each hour that Jak did not, he was aware that he was healing more and would be better equipped for when the time came.