Evasion In The Woods - Part 2

by RichardUK

After being hidden for perhaps half an hour we heard raised voices some way off and I found myself wondering if one of the others might have been discovered. All however became quiet again until, about 10 minutes later we heard footsteps and I saw over James' shoulder, 2 pairs of legs pass the shielding bushes which were being thoroughly searched.  Not however thoroughly enough, and they began to move away when James said, in a hoarse whisper "Oh damn, I'm going to sneeze!” I was horrified and he tried desperately to control it to no avail.  The concrete pipe amplified his two sneezes and within moments we heard voices returning in our direction.  Moments later the bushes shook and a voice called out "We know you are in there and have you surrounded.   Throw out your weapons and come out with your hands above your head". At the same time, we heard footsteps as someone tiptoed over the track.

James turned and whispered "Stay here. If I give myself up they won’t know you are here provided I am in time to stop them looking!"  and before I could reply he threw out his water pistol and crawled through the bushes, raising his hands as he did so.  I crawled towards the mouth of the pipe where I could just see what was happening through a gap in the undergrowth, grateful for his sacrifice but apprehensive for what might happen to him.

James was standing, his hands raised, facing Peter who was pointing his pistol at him and within moments another boy, Roger, joined him.  It appeared that James' ploy had been successful so far as Roger stepped behind him, searched him and removed his pocketknife.  Roger then changed places with Peter, who pulled out a length of rope as he stepped behind James, telling him to lower his hands and remove his tee shirt.  This he did, handing it to Roger.

I was now in a quandary - the fact that they had made James remove his shirt suggested that they would "interrogate" him straight away.  If they did I was sure it would only be a few minutes before they discovered me.  On the other hand, the distance between us was too great to launch an attack on both of them with any chance of success. I could therefore only lie there and watch and hope.

Peter now grasped James' hands pulling them behind his back and as the first loop of rope was pulled tight James let out a slight yelp.  This didn't deter Peter, who lashed James' wrists tightly palm to palm, cinching off the rope several times before knotting it off well out of reach of searching fingers.  James struggled ineffectually for a few moments and then stood still.

"We had better keep him quiet Roger - use his tee shirt," said Peter, and I saw the former step behind the prisoner, rolling the shirt as he did so.  He dropped the cloth over James' face saying, "open wide" but James struggled frantically to keep his mouth free.  Peter stepped in front of him and grasped his nose and after a few more moments James opened his mouth gasping for breath, the cloth was forced between his teeth and the gag tied off tightly behind his neck.  I felt a pang of conscience at the surge of delight that passed through me as I saw James gagged - in that state he could not be questioned before he was back at their base!

Peter stepped behind the prisoner again saying to Roger, "Give me another length of rope - we can get some more when we are back at base".  He formed a noose in this cord, passing it up James' arms until it was above his elbows.  Roger then held his arms, forcing them together while Peter tightened the noose.  James was fairly skinny and also very flexible and consequently, in a few moments his elbows were pulled tightly together behind his back until they were touching.  More turns of the rope were added before being cinched off and knotted.  Satisfied with their handiwork the two boys frog marched their prisoner off.

Time for some quick thinking.  If I remained where I was I knew it would take Mike and Peter a very short time to extract my whereabouts from James and I would be trapped.  I therefore decided my only chance was to get back to the enemy base while keeping well hidden in the hope that I might get a chance to rescue James when they came looking for me.  They were disappearing as I emerged from the drain, with Peter and Roger helping James down a steep part of the path which his bound arms would have rendered otherwise impassable.

I had to follow a more circuitous route to keep well hidden and my progress was slow as I had to keep stopping to listen in case I was being followed.  Things had therefore moved on when I finally reached the shelter of the bushes surrounding the opposition's base.  James had been made to kneel with his knees apart and his ankles crossed, his trainers and socks having been removed.  Roger was busy tying his ankles, passing loops both horizontally and vertically before cinching it off and knotting the end of the rope.   Meanwhile, Peter gave two blasts on his whistle (we often used these to signal in our games) and I guessed he was summoning Mike.  He then started to untie James' gag at the same time saying conversationally, "We need to find out where the others are hiding and thought you might like to help us.  But you obviously can't with this nasty gag on!"

"I don't know where any of them are," James replied, a slight tremor in his voice.  True enough, I thought with considerable relief. 
"Oh, there's no rush.  Mike is on his way.  He may be able to jog your memory" Peter said sinisterly.  Roger had finished tying James' ankles and the 2 boys pushed him forward onto his stomach, grasped his feet and using a cloth tied them to his wrists in a hog tie so tight that his fingertips were brushing his heels.  With his elbows still tied together James lay there with his back arched to relieve the pressure.

"We may as well make a start before Mike arrives," said Roger with an evil grin. 
"Fair enough," replied Peter and with that he sat down beside James and ran his fingers lightly down the taut skin of his ribs.  The effect was electric.  The younger boy immediately let out a piercing giggle and started to squirm as much as his bonds would allow.  Repeating the process produced exactly the same result and now James was writhing on the floor.

"Where are the others?" asked Peter.

"I don't know," came the response before James was subjected to further torture.  I did sincerely hope that James would capitulate quickly and save himself from too much of this treatment. I was assuming that they would then leave him alone while they went after me, giving me the chance to stage a rescue...

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