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Evasion In The Woods - Part 3 Engrossed in the scene before me, I suddenly froze as I felt a water pistol thrust into my neck and a voice (Mike) say, "Don't move, you are my prisoner". Summoned by Peter's whistle, he had crept up quietly and spotted me from some distance away. He pinned me to the ground with a knee in my back, ordered me to open my mouth, stuffed a balled up rag into it and completed my gag by forcing a second cloth between my teeth and knotting it off tightly. "That should keep you quiet. Put your hands behind your back". I did so and he crossed my wrists. I felt the prickle of the first loop of the hemp rope as Mike pulled it tight before adding further loops, each one being worked taut like the first. Now further turns were being added vertically around my wrists. Mike was being very thorough and deliberate in his work and my heart sank with the realization that I was not going to be able to free my hands without help. The rope was cinched off between my hands and I felt it being knotted off at the back of my wrists, well out of reach of my fingers. Finally, Mike finished and I lay there testing my bonds. I found I could barely flex my fingers and my hands were held rigidly in the small of my back, as I was incapable of moving my wrists. I was forced onto my stomach and my arms were once more pulled behind me, my wrists crossed and tightly bound. Finally, my hands and feet were tied together in a hog tie at least as tight as James. James's gag was replaced. He had learnt his lesson quickly and this time co-operated when he was asked to open wide. "I really don't know where Matthew and Paul are," I pleaded. "They went off separately. I was with James in the culvert and followed you here when you took him prisoner. James will confirm this if you ask him". I heard him give a sigh of relief as he regained a little freedom. My gag was also removed although I guessed this was only temporary but it did give my aching jaw some relief. We were put back on our knees and blindfolded as Mike told us he didn't want us to see his "surprise" until they had finished! I felt my hands being untied but my new found freedom didn't last long. My arms were pulled in front of me and tied palm to palm approximately 6 inches apart. When the rope had been cinched off and knotted an effective handcuff lashing was produced. I found myself thinking Mike must have gone soft as this shouldn't be too hard to untie with my teeth once we were left to our selves. Little did I realize - I suddenly felt my elbows grasped by two boys who pulled them back, forcing my bound wrists into my stomach while I felt a knee pressing into the small of my back. Immediately I felt something being pushed through the crook of my left elbow (in fact, a cricket stump). The stump was pushed further across my back until suddenly I felt the end against my right elbow. The pressure from the knee in my back was increased while hands continued to force my elbows back, causing me to arch my back and after a few moments I felt the end of the stump slip through the crook in my right arm, after which it was thrust triumphantly further into position. The hands holding me relaxed and I found myself rigidly trussed with the wooden bar across my back holding my elbows behind me, my hands meanwhile held tightly in my stomach. My blindfold was removed to reveal James squirming as he received the same treatment. Resistance however was useless and a few moments later the boys holding him released their grip to reveal him trussed in exactly the same way. His blindfold was then removed. Finally, we were each lifted off our knees and sat down on the ground facing one another, our ankles still securely bound. Mike now thoughtfully asked us if we needed a drink before leaving us to rejoin the hunt for the others. We both said we did and the three of them left us to fill some water bottles. At last we had a brief opportunity to discuss our situation. "I doubt if we have long to talk as I am sure they will put our gags back before they leave us," I said. "How are you feeling?" "Not too bad," James replied. "My arms and shoulders were aching before they untied my elbows but they are OK now. However I don't seem to be able to move an inch trussed like this!" "Me neither," I said ruefully, "and if we accidentally lose our balance and roll over I doubt if we will be able to sit up again pinioned with these stumps. Even if I manage to get close to you I can't use my fingers with my hands held tight in my stomach and the stumps protruding beyond our elbows will prevent us getting close anyway!" James only had time to nod his agreement before our captors joined us. They had two bottles of water which they held for us as we drank gratefully. When we had finished they poured the rest over our heads and shoulders which was a great relief in the summer heat. The fears I had voiced to James were now confirmed as Mike said, "We are off now. Sorry, but we can't take the risk of your summoning help so the gags go back. Open wide!" Neither of us offered any resistance this time and a balled up cloth was thrust in each of our open mouths. Thankfully, they had been soaked in cold water. A second cloth was forced between our teeth and tied tightly behind our heads. I tried experimentally to try a few words but could only get out a faint, unintelligible mmmmphfff. Satisfied with their handiwork, the three boys disappeared silently into the undergrowth. Immediately, we began to attempt to get closer but we soon realized that my fears were well founded. The risk of toppling over was too great and I guessed that, if either of us were unfortunate enough to fall face down, we would be pinned there with our hands trapped unable even to roll over because of the protruding bar pinning our elbows and shoulders back. After a few minutes, by mutual consent, we both sat still and accepted our fate... |