Ancient Echoes

CHAPTER 46



EARLY THE NEXT morning, before dawn, all six of the village men entered the community house, their faces grim.

They awoke Charlotte, Melisse, Rachel and Brandi and ordered them to dress and come down to the gathering room.

After a long silence, Kohler spoke, his voice deep and troubled. “We have tarried long enough.” He cast cold eyes on Melisse. “You have done wrong.”

“She didn't mean any harm,” Rachel said in a high and quivery tone.

Kohler glared at her. “She stole our food and supplies; she is a thief. Are you saying you are as well?”

Rachel shook her head, then meekly stepped back into the shadows, too afraid to stand up bravely, and too embarrassed and ashamed by her fear to look at anyone.

Charlotte glanced at Melisse, who shook her head waving Charlotte off.

“Bring the criminal forward,” Kohler commanded.

Melisse glared at Kohler as Sam Black and Arnie Tieg each grabbed one arm. She easily pulled herself free of them and marched on her own to stand in front of Kohler, her chin high and defiant.

“You are bold,” he said, a hint of approval in his voice.

She made no reply.

Kohler slowly marched around Melisse eying her as she stood alone. “I've given this great thought. It is not right to flog a woman as I would have done to one of my men. Nor is it manly to use a woman in a conjugal way as punishment—much as that would have pleased several in this room.” He gave a studied, distasteful glance at Black and Tieg.

No one spoke.

“There are other means, however.” He walked up to her. She never flinched as he unzipped her jacket and dropped it from her shoulders to the floor. She wore a turtleneck with a flannel shirt over it, multi-pocketed cargo pants, and hiking boots.

He said nothing but looked at her shirt and top and nodded.

Her face a mask of disgust, she removed the shirt, and then pulled the heavy turtleneck over her head, revealing a tight knit camisole. Her breasts were full, her waist small, and a flat abdomen disappeared into loose-fitting trousers. Every man, including Kohler, made a sharp intake of breath at the sight.

“Stoke the fire,” Kohler ordered, then glanced toward the large fireplace in the room. Ben Owens went over and did as commanded.

No one moved as Kohler took an iron poker and placed it in the fire. He waited a minute, then used a wadded cloth to pick it up. The tip glowed as he walked toward Melisse.

“This is barbaric!” Charlotte cried. “What’s wrong with you?”

Arnie Tieg approached her, knife in hand. Her protests stopped.

Brandi whimpered “No,” as tears filled her eyes.

The other men crowded near, expecting Melisse to run.

“Hold her,” Kohler ordered.

As they tried to grab her, she fought. She knocked Gus and Sam out of the way with ease. The elderly Olgerbee hung back, as did Will Durham who looked sickened, but didn't interfere even when Rachel begged him to stop this outrage.

Finally, Olgerbee and Will joined Gus and Sam. Together they wrestled her, face down, to the floor. While the others held her, Kohler knelt on the ground, straddling her hips. Angered by the struggle, he gripped her camisole and ripped it open to expose her bare back. Then he gasped.

“What is this?” he whispered.

Scars from lashes and burn marks crisscrossed her back. His fingers lightly touched the puckered, tortured skin.

She turned her head to look up at him, but made no reply.

“Who did this to you?” he asked.

“What does it matter? It's your turn now, it seems.”

He tossed aside the poker then moved off of her. He grabbed her arm, made her sit up and turned her to look at him. The other four stayed close, ready to act if she lashed out or tried to run. She gripped her camisole to cover herself.

“I want to know!” Kohler demanded.

“I was with a couple of men doing recon in Afghanistan when we were captured by the enemy. The men were killed. Fortunately, our unit found me—saved my life.”

“You were in combat? A woman?”

“Why so shocked?” she said bitterly. “It happens.”

He held her gaze. “How long were you a prisoner?”

Without flinching, her tone saying as much as her words, she replied, “Four days...three nights.”

His jaw tight with anger, he stood. “Leave her be,” he ordered the others. They didn't move. “Damn it, did you not hear me? I said, leave her be!”

They hurried out of the room.

After once last glance at Melisse, Kohler also left.