Operation Phoenix:  The Hunt For Samhain


Part 8


 
	Samhain ran off into the forest as best he could in his injured 
state.  He'd heal quickly of course, but he only HAD 10 minutes to run 
before they came after him.  Which, as quickly and efficiently as they 
moved and tracked, meant he had about 12 minutes to run, since he couldn't 
really set any more traps.... he didn't have anything left to set traps 
WITH, after all... so he ran towards the one place he might be able to 
slow their pursuit and hamper their tracking ability... the river.

	Samhain charged towards the river bank.  He was at the outside of 
a rather sharp elbow in the river, meaning there was a very steep drop of 
about 8 feet to the river, and deep, swirling waters below.  He did what 
he had to do--he dove off the edge and plunged into the water without slowing 
down to reconsider.  And he started swimming downstream and back across 
the river...



	The new X'hirijq Commander stood and waited patiently, watching 
his chronometer.  He had his men spread out in a line from the river to 
the cliff, all awaiting the order to go.  They, too, waited patiently.  
They all wanted to kill Samhain as much as the next member of the invasion 
force, if not more after seeing their previous commander bested in combat, 
but they knew what the deal had been.  And so they waited...



	Samhain was swimming for his life.  He had to keep going and put 
as much distance between himself and his X'hirijq pursuers as possible 
before they came after him again.  And he hoped to Grimace that all the 
snipers and watchers had been pulled for the pursuit across the river...



	Time was up.  The Commander roared, and charged into the forest, 
his troops following suit.  They reached the river's edge and paused 
briefly, sensing where he'd gone.... which was into the river.  And so, 
into the river many of them went too.

	They swam quickly, their powerful tails helping them to move at 
amazing speeds...



	Samhain climbed out of the river, and paused briefly to get his 
bearings.  He knew he needed to do something other than run... if all he 
did was run he'd eventually tire, and then they'd get him.  Even though it 
was now early evening, he doubted he could keep up this kind of all-out 
flight for another several hours while he waited for darkness.  He 
needed... some equipment of some sort.  He preferred to be able to fight 
without needing it, but there are times when you're so outnumbered, so 
overwhelmed... and this was one of them.  He suddenly remembered his 
backpack of equipment.  If he could just get there... yes, that was what 
he had to try and do.  It was risky--undoubtedly it'd be trapped, likely 
even watched--if it was even still there.  But it was his best chance.  
And as such, he started towards it.  But not by a direct route... he 
started by running the opposite direction...



	The X'hirijq reached the shore, and again used their magical 
direction finder to track Samhain's direction.  He was running... 
downstream, and slightly inland. They'd have him soon...



	Samhain ran about a half mile downstream, then made a huge 
double-back and angled further inland.  He was now moving at his normal 
pace and strength level again, having had a little time to heal, though 
the pain was still a very real memory.  He ran about another 3/4 mile back 
upstream and inland at a 45 degree angle from the river, zigging and 
zagging somewhat so it wasn't a perfectly straight line to follow.  He was 
inland and upstream of his gear now, and corrected his course to head back 
towards it.  He slowed his pace down some, knowing it was getting 
dangerous... and that the X'hirijq would be there at any moment...

	Samhain stopped suddenly.  Something wasn't right... he could just 
feel it.  But it wasn't an ambush as before... it was... and then he 
looked down.  A tripwire stretched across directly in front of his 
ankles. Shaped charges of explosives were placed at either end of the 
wire, and directed inward.  Double switches meant that if it was either 
cut or pulled on, they'd fire.  He marvelled at his luck... and proceeded 
to disarm the trap...  then moved it do a different location.

	Samhain took his time now, finding several more identical traps, 
and moving them as well.  At long last, he approached the clearing where 
he'd left his backpack... and checked for snipers...



	The X'hirijq sniper in the tree suddenly awoke from the combat nap 
he'd been taking.  His senses had alerted him to someone's presence.  He 
looked around, and scanned the area through his telescopic rifle sight.  
He looked, and couldn't believe what he saw... and lined his firing point 
up on Samhain's head...

To be Continued....


"The Hunt for Samhain"
Copyright 1995, David R. Hibbs
All Rights Reserved.