The Sudden Star by Pamela Sargent Page B

bullet for you, just remember that." He reached again for his knife. "I'll handle the boy."
    "No," she whispered fiercely, standing in front of Juan. "René likes him. You kill him and the old man'll be after you too. He won't talk, he's my friend. I'll make him swear it, he won't dare."
    Juan looked up at the man. Aisha was right. The guy was probably scared enough without taking another risk. She leaned over him. "Swear you won't tell what happened," she said, "or Mura's Star'll strike you dead."
    He groaned. It was a powerful oath; it would bind him forever. "I swear," he rasped.
    "By the star."
    "I swear by the star I won't tell."
    "For God's sake," the man said. "Let's go." He pulled out his revolver. Juan filled his lungs, ready to scream; the man would kill him anyway.
    "You can't be too careful," the man said as he brought the revolver down on the back of Juan's head.
     
    Juan opened his eyes. It was dark; he didn't know where he was. He tried to move, and realized his hands were bound to his feet. His head throbbed painfully and his right arm, pressed against hard rock, felt bruised. He groaned.
    Aisha, he thought. She had run away and made him swear by the star. He remembered now; an escaped convict had tied him up.
    "Help," he called out weakly. His voice startled him. "Help." It sounded hollow in the silence. He was suddenly frightened of his helplessness; if they left him here, he would die. He screamed. "Help! It's Juan, help me! Help!" He filled his lungs and let out a long wordless scream.
    Someone was thrashing about in the leaves. Boots appeared near his face; it was Ernie. The guard leaned over, cut his bonds with a knife, and helped him up.
    "You little bastard," Ernie said. Juan wobbled on his feet, which felt as if they were full of sand. He stomped on one and groaned in pain.
    "Been looking for you since that girl saw you were gone. Look at all the trouble you caused, you little prick." Ernie hit him on the side of the face. Juan fell, scraping his knees against the rock. Liquid filled his mouth; he retched, holding his stomach.
    Ernie pulled him up and dragged him up the hill, pulling his arm cruelly. Juan staggered after him, moaning. Another guard met them and they continued to the clearing.
    Ernie wrenched him toward a truck. Ildico was pacing wildly, clenching her hands. She stared blankly at Juan as he passed her. Ernie shoved him into the back of the truck.
    René lay on a mattress, half of his dark face lighted by a lantern. Juan tried to sort out his thoughts. His head ached. Ernie climbed in, pushing Juan closer to the old man. Juan crawled toward the lantern and sat. Ernie squatted near him.
    "What happened?" René said. "Why were you in the woods?"
    "It was Aisha," Juan replied, trying to decide what to say. "See, she went into the woods, and I didn't want to get her in trouble, so I figured I'd follow her and find out where she was going." He thought of his oath, and cringed, then remembered that it only applied to talk about the doctor. He looked at the old man appealingly, batting his eyes.
    "What happened then?"
    "I don't know. She must've seen me coming and hit me over the head. That's all I remember." Juan rubbed his sore wrists.
    Ernie said, "He was tied up."
    "She must of found some rope," Juan said desperately. "Maybe she wanted to make sure I didn't come after her."
    The old man was silent. Juan waited. At last René said, "Why did she leave?"
    "She didn't want to go to the farm," Juan said. "She must of gone back to the city or something. You going after her?"
    "You can leave us, Ernie," the old man said. The big man climbed out of the truck. Juan sat, feeling sick and sad. At least I'm alive, he thought. Aisha had saved his life. She was his friend, even if she had made a mess out of everything. He wondered if he would have done the same for her.
    "It hurts," René said. "She could have had something. My daughter ran off like that. Let her go, I won't harbor trash. She can go to