The Magpie's Call

Alfredo crawled out of the cave, stretched, scratched, and went behind a boulder to relieve himself. He then built up the fire and took a pot to the stream for water. When he came back, he added coffee grounds to an open pot and began to skin the hare Alonzo had shot the day before. He then cut it into small pieces, tossing them into the kettle. To this he added the roots and herbs. He moved the pot of coffee to the side of the campfire, hung the kettle over the flame, poured himself a mug of coffee and sat back on his haunches to wait. He knew nothing would happen until they were all together. Ramon appeared at the entrance, followed by Alonzo; then Roberto stumbled out, rubbing sleep from his eyes.

"There's only four down there. Where are the other three?" Tomeo asked.

"I saw them leave earlier with their guns—probably hunting," Juan answered.

A mournful note trembled on the air. The magpie's shrill call followed.

This waiting is driving me crazy, thought Karl. Then he saw the horse with two riders emerge from the forest. It's Gretchen and that bastard. Look how she's holding him. Now she's caressing his face. God damn them. When I get her home she's going to pay for this.

He nudged Francisco.

The ugly one ran up to the riders, said something, and then helped Gretchen from the horse.

LeClare, Karl was certain it was he, dismounted, put his arm around Gretchen and led her into the cave.

Karl's jaw tightened. He squirmed, his eyes glued to the cave entrance.

None of the watchers knew there was another way out of the cave. The guerrilleros were playing games, coming and going— keeping Francisco and the others off guard.

"There's only three of them now," Karl said.

One of the guerrilleros walked into the woods, another crawled out of the cave.

"I'm losing track of how many there are down there," Karl whispered.

The morning sounds of the forest were all around them. Birds twittered calls to their mates, chattering their conversations. A chamois, downwind from the men on the ridge ambled out from the trees, caught their scent and scampered back to safety.

Peering down at the clearing, Francisco hissed, "I think they know we're here. Where the hell have the others gone?"

The guerrilleros had melted into the woods.

André had long since slipped out of the cave and was hidden in the forest watching, waiting for the signal—the magpie's call. Then he heard the haunting sound followed by the magpie's "kaug, kaug, kaug, kaug."

Shots came from behind the soldiers. They scrambled for cover.

The forest was alive with gunfire. It sounded like a hundred weapons instead of a dozen.

Francisco fired at every sound hoping his bullet would find its mark. One guerrillero plummeted from a tree.

Juan dropped to his knees in intense pain as a bullet hit him and made an exit through his stomach. He clutched his belly as his blood-soaked fingers tried to shove his escaping guts back through the gaping hole. Karl fought the bile rising in his throat. One of the other Guardia Civil fell.

Francisco took careful aim at a moving figure. They heard a grunt and the sound of a body dropping in the underbrush. A shot ripped Tomeo's head open. Karl couldn't see anyone to shoot at. Where were those sneaky bastards? They were like phantoms. A bullet grazed his shoulder, ripping his jacket. He saw another Guardia fall and one other sneak off into the woods.

A head popped up over some shrubbery. Karl fired and heard a body fall. I hope to hell that was LeClare.

Gretchen crouched at the entrance to the cave trying to see what was happening on the hill. The shooting had stopped. The only sounds were the scurrying of small animals and the screaming of frightened birds that rustled leaves as they flew back and forth.

She wondered where André was, where anyone was. She huddled there in the dark recess, peering at the forest above, searching. I cannot stand this any longer. I have to know what's going on. I wouldn't want to live without him. Gott im Himmel, what am I going to do? Please André come back, my love, I will die if anything happens to you. She crept out the back entrance of the cave and ran toward the hill, hoping to find André, to find him alive. She stood quietly, listening, then scrambled up the hill.

Someone grabbed her arm and put a hand over her mouth. She struggled then saw it was Alfredo. He put his finger to his lips and pushed her down behind a boulder.

"Stay here, don't move," Alfredo admonished before running into the woods. She hesitated, wondering if she should obey. No, she had to know what was happening.

Gretchen peeked out from the trees and saw Karl at the other side of the clearing, partly hidden in the brush. What is he doing here?

Francisco was standing among the dead, turning slowly, his gun ready to fire at any sound.

André, his Enfield ready, called, "Francisco, you bastard."

Francisco turned and fired wildly, missing André.

Gretchen saw Karl taking aim at André. "Karl, no," she screamed and ran toward him.

Francisco grabbed her and held her in front of him, his gun swerving from Karl to André. He wondered which man would be fool enough to try and take him.

André froze in horror. Could he get a head shot? Who of his men was in a position to shoot without hurting Gretchen? He glanced toward Karl, who was staring stupidly at Francisco.

Karl turned his gun on André. Gretchen screamed.

She heard only one shot and saw Alfredo emerge from the trees. A stinging sensation raced through her body before she and Francisco fell in a heap.