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An Autumn Camp Believing they would now hear what they wanted Matthew withdrew, leaving me gasping for air. Mike and Roger stood before me as I managed to catch my breath but before they could say anything I began the tale of how, when we had split up in the early afternoon James and Stuart had taken all the packages, that Paul and I had not seen either of them until we were rescued by Stuart and that I had no idea of the whereabouts of the contraband now. As I spoke I watched James become more and more agitated. He was making weird facial expressions at me made more grotesque by his gag and he seemed to be whimpering into it. He tried to shake his head but it clearly caused so much discomfort that he gave it up. We had of course been given no opportunity for discussion after our capture, even while all our mouths had been free briefly. That James had already been interrogated when we first saw him under escort had been obvious, but Stuart and I had no way of knowing what he had told his captors. They had pre-empted any opportunity for collusion on our part by making sure James and Stuart were securely gagged before my interrogation began. Now I was about to hear James's tale. Mike laughed out loud, "Really young feller, you ought to do better than that. You sold my chums that cock-and-bull tale earlier today and we have wasted the whole afternoon on a wild goose chase. Your skinny pal," he nodded in a friendly manner in James's direction, "has told us this is not true. He insists you all took your own. We have his here," he held out the small parcel, "and I feel sure your blonde friend will tell us he successfully delivered his. What we need to know is what you and Paul did with yours so we can recover them and claim our rightful victory." My mind raced. My first thought was why James had told them this outrageous fiction but in a moment I realised that by doing so, he must have kept the hiding place secret. He must have been very convincing, probably aided by Matthew seeing a further opportunity to get at his brother for the apparent lie we had told him earlier. They would probably not have wanted to waste too much time on James there and then, preferring to interrogate him more thoroughly once they had him back at base. After a long, uncomfortable march James would be more vulnerable to their questioning methods. He knew this but would also know he had bought a considerable amount of time for the rest of the team. Our subsequent capture would have helped - Mike's team would be eager to question their new acquisitions without bothering to determine the veracity of James's story. None of this was going to help me now. James and Stuart were both gagged and I had no way of knowing precisely what James had said. All I could do was stick to my story. Matthew was recalled and after only a few minutes I was pleading for him to stop - much more and I knew I would wet myself. As my giggles subsided and I caught my breath, I looked up at Mike as far as I was able, turning my big brown eyes on him and positively snivelled that I was telling the truth. "The look" had its effect - even Mike couldn't help bursting into giggles. Then he said, "Very well, but in that case it appears someone else is lying." He looked sinisterly at James. "Perhaps we had better see what your other mate has to say." With that Roger stepped forward with my gag. I was so used to it by now that I simply stretched my jaws wide while he prodded the cloth into my mouth with his fingers, then stepping behind me, began tying the second one tightly at the back of my neck after inserting it between my teeth. As I felt the knot drawn tight to complete it Mike said, "On second thoughts, leave his mouth free. It might be interesting to hear what these two have to say to each other." I felt the knot being teased free and moments later fingers were groping in my mouth before pulling the gag out once more. Meanwhile, Stuart's had also been taken off. They didn't waste time on questions. Matthew simply began his tickling straight away. Over the past months Stuart had been remarkably fortunate. While being captured from time to time, he had almost invariably escaped the joys of interrogation, so the ferocity of Matthew's attack took him completely off his guard. I knew he was less ticklish than me but in moments he was giggling frantically while trying to move to escape the probing fingers. Like me he found this impossible because of the need to concentrate on his balance. It took less than four minutes before he pleaded with them to stop. Matthew stepped aside and Mike asked, "I suppose you would like to tell us something?" "Yes," Stuart gasped. He got no further. There was a rustling in the bushes facing us three prisoners. Mike turned round in time to see a white handkerchief tied to a stick being poked out of the foliage. A few seconds later this was followed by Paul. We heard a gasp from our group of captors but, unable to raise our eyes, were unable to see our mate's expression as he stepped forward into the clearing. "I think it is time to negotiate," Paul began. "As you are holding the rest of my team I guess I shall have to take care of it for our side!" Stuart was most indignant, "We are just as capable of joining in a discussion as you are," he exploded. "I hardly think so," came Paul's rejoinder. He looked at Mike and said, "He's your prisoner. Can't you keep him quiet?" I could hear the amused tone in his voice but, indignant for my bound friend, I couldn't help interrupting with, "That's hardly a fair way to treat a buddy who set you free earlier!" "Better silence that one too," Paul chuckled but it was unnecessary. Robert and David were already putting our gags back as tightly as ever. Paul would have his way - he was certainly the only one in a position to negotiate now. He strolled nonchalantly into the middle of the clearing although his attempt to swagger somehow didn't quite come off - it is difficult to look suave and sophisticated in nothing but a pair of droopy cotton gym shorts! Mike viewed him suspiciously and said, "OK, let’s hear what you have to say." After a short pause Paul replied, "The situation as I see it is like this. You are holding these three clowns prisoner and I guess you have one of the packages. The other three have been safely delivered and are therefore beyond your reach. Additionally, I am pleased to be able to tell you I am holding Peter and Andrew hostage." I heard several gasps from our captors - that Paul had succeeded in capturing Peter single-handed was almost beyond belief. That he had caught Andrew as well would really be the icing on the cake. It would take Peter an age to live this down! "Under the terms Mike laid down this morning victory for you is clearly unobtainable. On the other hand, it seems to me a pointless exercise to keep on the run for the next hour and a half until the time limit is reached. I need hardly say that your mates are less than comfortable and don't think for one moment they will be able to escape. You would have to waste your time looking for them and who knows, while you are doing that some more of you might have to join them!" I couldn't see his face but I could sense the wide grin on his face. "I suggest we work out some sort of draw." Up to this point, I had felt incredible relief from Paul's appearance. Now, a sudden chill ran through me, shared as it was revealed afterwards by both my fellow prisoners. Under our rules, the captives of the victorious side got to hang on to their "trophies", usually for at least an hour after the game. This would mean they remained bound with no thought given to their comfort. I had the thought that Paul was about to negotiate away our freedom and he had craftily made sure none of us were able to protest.
Paul continued, "My suggestion is that one member of each team is selected as a 'hostage to victory' thus enabling the remainder to be liberated." "And just who would you choose for this enviable role?" Matthew asked suspiciously, "and I suppose you don't intend to include yourself as part of the victory spoils?" "I think you know very well who I would choose, Matthew," his younger brother replied acerbically, "but I'm not that vindictive. My proposal is that, if my armistice terms are accepted, each team should choose its own player to be held hostage. The only proviso is that the person from each side must accept the penalty." Our captors whispered amongst themselves for a few minutes then Mike spoke for the group. "Your idea certainly appeals to us although we shall require evidence that you are holding our team mates. We need to make one more condition however - we haven't quite finished with your mates here," he gestured at my hapless friends and me and then spoke in a whisper to Paul. Suddenly, the latter burst into fits of laughter and said he would agree to that...
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