Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 67263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 336(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 336(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
“Exactly. There’s booby traps and shit all around.” I leaned closer to him. “But most of all, I bet the traps are where the leaves and unkept bushes are on the ground. The steps might be fine.”
“What sort of traps?”
“Maybe trip wire or something like that.” I shrugged. “My uncle X stayed in this shitty abandoned mini-bus in a dangerous part of Harlem. He had all types of high priced high-tech shit in it. It was great stuff to steal and everyone knew he had it. But they also knew that he had the area around his bus stacked with cameras and trip wire.”
“So, people would explode if they came close to the bus?”
“Naw. X wasn’t that crazy. But the trip wire would set off his alarm.”
“So then how do we make sure we don’t trip on anything—”
“Or step on land mines.”
Boris widened his eyes. “What?”
“We’re fucked on the land mines part, but at least I can help us avoid trip wire.” I leaned down and grabbed the largest stick by my foot. “Give me one of your shoelaces, Boris. I don’t have any.”
One of Jean-Pierre’s men muttered something in French. A few laughed.
“Ignore them.”
Boris lowered, untied his brown leather shoe, and pulled out one of his laces.
“Actually, I’ll need both laces. They’re kind of short.”
Boris’s frown deepened, but he went to the other shoe and yanked it out. When he rose, he gave them both to me.
Jean-Pierre yelled. “We do not have all day, Maxwell!”
Suck my dick.
“Eh, man. I’m superstitious.” I took the two strings and tied them together at the center, making a knot. I then took the long string and tied it around the stick, letting it dangle down. The string was long and thin, made of a strong material.
Perfect.
I held the hand out, holding the stick. The string dangled at least five feet from my chest.
The French laughed again. This time Jean-Pierre joined.
Boris whispered, "Should we say something about the possibility of trip wire or—"
"Hell no. I would rather look crazy, let their asses get blown up, and then drive off with their Bentley."
Jean-Pierre chuckled. "What are you doing, Maxwell?"
“Eh, man.” I glanced back at him. “This place looks like it has ghosts and spirits. I just want to be careful.”
Smirking, Jean-Pierre leaned against the Bentley and crossed his arms. “And the stick and string will stop the ghosts?”
“Sure will. It shows them honor.”
Jean-Pierre smiled. “Then carry on, Maxwell. Just make sure that you take steps forward, get on the porch, and knock on the door.”
I turned back around. “Boris, get behind me.”
No dummy, he did as I said.
I swallowed and took a step forward. Leaves crackled under my feet. Nothing occurred.
Maybe, I’m too paranoid. I am pretty high right now.
Yet, I didn’t think it was all in my mind.
Timur came to the mountains to be alone. Those early signs didn’t say that he enjoyed the company of people. Plus, the fact that he ran with the Brotherhood in the past meant that his threats about death on the signs were not jokes. Additionally, he would have known about weapons from his time in the Brotherhood.
I couldn’t forget the fact that there was no church in sight. That didn’t make any sense. My gut said to do what I needed to do. If that meant appearing like an idiot, then I would.
I got to be right. Please, let me be right.
I swallowed again, and could taste the fear in the back of my throat. I kept the stick ahead of me and watched the string dangle straight.
Good so far. . .
I took a step forward, and more leaves crackled under my feet.
Alright.
Another step and the shoelace bent at the bottom, letting me know that there was a barely-visible wire in front of us.
There it is.
Under the space near the bent string, there was a line of yellow crumpled leaves under it. They appeared glossier than regular ones. In fact, I doubted that they were even real leaves.
Relief hit me.
Okay. I was right.
I moved the stick away so the French didn’t see.
Boris whispered behind me. “What?”
“Trip wire is in front of us.”
Fear radiated off Boris. “Are you serious?”
“You see the line of yellow leaves right there?”
Boris nodded. “Four feet in front of us?”
“Yeah.” I checked the rest of the path. “In fact, there’s several lines of yellow leaves up ahead too. Maybe that’s how he knows where it is himself. X used to check out his stuff bi-monthly to make sure everything was in order. He had huge painted rocks near the area so he wouldn't trip it himself.”
“W-what do you think will happen, if we tripped these wires?”
“We will find out soon.”
“How?”
“Just follow me, man. And do everything I do. Even if it looks stupid as fuck.” I raised my knee up dramatically and gently placed it down. Then, I raised my voice. “Ancestors of this land! We come in peace!”