90. The trauma

The Script of Evil series books: "Meet the Devil", "The Mystery unfolds", "Invasion of Evil" and "The Cannibals". Important role players migrates from the two book Entrapped series ; "The Phantoms" and "The Disturbing..." This is book 5, "Dreadful shockers".

This morning Yolandi is entering into the guests’ quarters accompanied by two soldiers. Yesterday evening she wondered about the identity of the soldiers who were brought here and locked into the quarters. Only later on, when she with the escort brought supper, she saw that they had changed their clothes and were not soldiers but ordinary people. Naturally, they were the important guests who were brought here by Joss and his men.

Joss ensures that she is being guarded when in the presence of the people. He told her unequivocally and made it clear that he doesn’t want unnecessary communication between her and the guests, only if it is completely unavoidable. Joss had used their farmworkers to erect these quarters opposite the farmhouse in the middle of the yard before he departed to fetch them. Yolandi was relieved when Joss returned because she didn’t trust Rasta. The longer they stayed away, the better was his chances to do something devilish to her.

At dusk yesterday Joss and his men returned. She was amazed. There were fewer soldiers. Not all the soldiers have returned. She also expected many more guests. The wooden quarters have separate rooms for many more guests.

She and Deon are quite curious as to what is going on. Twenty-one soldiers departed but only sixteen have returned and only four guests. Five soldiers thus haven’t returned and she knows two of them who were always very self-assured and around Joss. She even knows their names, Recce and Spyker. She simply burns to talk to the guests to find out what is going on, but now she is under the eyes of John and Rambo who is helping to carry the breakfast on trays.

Yesterday evening she felt very sorry for the two women and the young girl for they were incredibly upset. The old man was very worried about them and tried to console them all the time. Yolandi has a strong suspicion that someone they love and care for very much is in trouble or has befallen something serious.

Yesterday evening John allowed them to introduce them to one another. The old man, Johan, is a professor, and the crying young girl, Martie, is his granddaughter. The two pale-faced women with red eyes are Rene and Emilie. They seemed very agitated and worried.

The four guests are waiting at the table when Yolandi and the soldiers enter with the trays and start to lay the table. Yolandi notices that only one plate from last night’s supper is empty. The food in the other three plates is untouched.

Professor Johan looks straight at Yolandi: “Are we prisoners here, Yolandi?”

She is caught by surprise and looks at him confused.

John helps her out: “Direct all your questions to me. She only is here to bring your breakfast. We are all prisoners of our circumstances, aren’t we, Sir? Just enjoy your breakfast for now and then you are welcome to stretch your legs outside whenever you like. We are all in the same boat. You should rather be thankful for our protection.”

Johan isn’t satisfied and rises cheekily. “Your protection? We have the right at least to know what is going on! Why am I not allowed to speak to her? It is clear you want to prevent it. Why?”

The soldier again explains: “Joss’s orders are that you should only talk when absolutely necessary. Joss is law and order. I suppose it is for security reasons. No one of us wants to disregard his orders, thus, please sit down, Sir, and enjoy your breakfast. Yolandi put in a lot of work for you.”

Johan ignores the soldier and doesn’t sit down. He grabs Yolandi’s hand when she is laying the table near him and they look into each other’s eyes. “Are you a prisoner like us?”

She only looks at him flabbergasted and nods. Johan takes a wild guess: “Let me guess that this is your farm that these devils confiscated it.”

Yolandi tries to free her hand as courteously as possible but he holds her hand: “Please, Professor, leave my hand. You have heard Joss’s orders.”

Johan keeps her hand for a while. Then he lets go when John takes him by the arm.

Johan glares at John. “We could all have been together with the Eastwood Estate community. Look at the state of these women. I doubt whether they will be able to eat. There is their supper untouched. They didn’t even want a bite.”

Yolandi’s eyes widen when she hears Johan mentions their neighboring farm of the Eastwoods where the army camp is. She now suddenly realizes why Joss doesn’t want conversation between them. It seems as if the guests would rather be there and that they were abducted. If they realize how near they are to the Eastwood Estate, they could be motivated to try to escape. Very clever of Joss, she thinks.

Flabbergasted John only looks at him and he continues: “They are out of their minds from worry. Rene, because of her husband, Jack, and their gentle daughter, Kadin. Emilie, because of her lovely, brave son, Billy. We don’t even know where in the world they are. Look, they did not eat a thing last night. Your supper was delicious, Yolandi, and I have tried my best but they simply refused. My granddaughter, Martie, is just as worried over her friends and also refused to eat. I forced myself and swallowed the food with difficulty because we are extremely worried about the children.”

John tries: “Professor, Sergeant Tania and Corporal Lesley unluckily made an error of judgment in the chaos when the monsters attacked us. The one was unaware of the other’s plans. Tania didn’t know that Kadin and Billy jumped into the last cab when she sent that cab to lure the monsters away from us while we were waiting for Joss and the men to return. Your friend, Michael, is convinced that the children are safe in the gorges stranded with another unknown group but normal people. If there are men who can bring them back, it is Recce and Spyker. They are the best operational soldiers I know. Believe me, Professor, Joss has given them until next week. If they don’t return with the children by that time, we will go and search for them. Just give them rope. I’m sure Recce and Spyker will soon be here with your kids.”

John looks at the women that listen to him despondently. “Please, try to eat your breakfast now. I am sure they will soon be here.”

Hostilely Emilie looks at John and Rambo. Suddenly she triggers and bursts out like a dam wall that collapses: “We mustn’t be worried! You will safeguard us, not so? You are talking shit! You sent our lovely children back as bait for hundreds of cannibals and they are entrapped in the woods while the monsters block their only route to escape! Where are they now? Still alive or devoured by the cannibals? Or are they starving from hunger entrapped somewhere in the bushes?”

She suddenly hits the table continuously with her fists while she yells out insanely: “Fuck you, fuck you, fuck you …!”

Rene jumps up and grabs her. They hug each other and burst out in a crying duet over each other’s shoulder while Johan and Martie join them and stroke them pacifyingly over their shoulders with their hands.