The Cry of the Wolf Chapter 13

Warriors stood opposite each other leaving a narrow path between the men brandishing war clubs in their upraised hands. Women stood amongst the men, a bizarre spectacle to the captives, the females also welding sticks and other sharp-edged objects.

"Run fast!" Falcon directed although none of the captives understood a word he said.

Shoving Guillaume forward, Maggie's husband staggered in an unsuccessful effort to maintain his balance, blood streaming from his head wound, sweat and blood blinding his eyes.

Scanning the group of natives, Guillaume searched for his wife a moment before being pummeled with clubs and the blunt end of hatchets.

Elderly women flogged him as hard as they were able with the sticks in their hands, unleashing their resentment and emotional pain on the man who had never harmed them.

Maggie grimaced, turning her head away from the scene. She simply couldn't watch as her husband was beaten.

Unflinching, Guillaume sprinted until he reached the end of the gauntlet, holding back a howl of pain as his fresh head wound was battered once again.

Chief Long Knife stood in silence, watching as Guillaume ran the gauntlet, his spirit starting to break although he refused to cry out or plead for mercy. Chief Long Knife admired the white man's stoic behavior, yet it was not up to him to determine the man's fate. No, Guillaume's outcome lay in the hands of the women who had been left behind during the Iroquois' raid on their village. If they decided not to bestow mercy, his hands were tied.

Nodding at Chief Long Knife, Guillaume was re-bound and unceremoniously hauled off to the side. Maggie, Adelaide and the children were forced to watch as Chief Long Knife raised his knife and in one swift motion, pierced Guillaume's fingers vertically, carving through tendons and nerves until the blade of his knife contacted bone. Blood flowed freely, draining Guillaume's already pale features, yet he did not beg for mercy.

Chief Long Knife made certain Guillaume would never be able to raise a weapon against his captors. Wiping the man's blood off his weapon he stepped away without a backward glance, knowing what was coming next.

Black Crow seized Guillaume, binding him to a pole in the center of their temporary village, a glint in his eye as one by one, he tore off each of Guillaume's fingernails. Guillaume paled, hanging his head as he experienced unimaginable torment, yet he didn't say a word.

Focus.

This world spun in front of his eyes as Guillaume forced his mind to focus on the suffering his brothers were facing back in France. If they had the fortitude to die for their faith, surely he wouldn't give his captors any satisfaction as they mutilated his hands.

Chief Long Knife didn't participate, yet he didn't suspend the torture either. It was the custom of his people when they took male captives. They could have easily just scalped him back in the village, leaving Guillaume for dead, yet that would not have exacted the same level of vengeance they experienced now.

One outcry of pain and Guillaume could have ended it, meeting an abrupt death. His captors abhorred weakness and, disgusted, would have put a swift end to his life. Guillaume, however, was valiant, unflinching. The qualities were honorable, although still powerless to help him.

Leaving Guillaume bound to the stake, they turned their attention back to the women.

Adelaide's hands were constrained behind her back, making it impossible to shield her children's eyes from the gruesome spectacle they had been forced to watch. No mother would wish that upon their child, yet Adelaide was helpless.

Witnessing Guillaume's torture since he had been made to run the gauntlet first had the desired effect on the women. Tears flowed unhindered as they watched Guillaume's suffering, unable to hide their horror at what he endured.

Guillaume sought his wife's eyes, an expression passing between them. Their future looked most grim.

Adelaide attempted to prepare herself psychologically to run the gauntlet, and whatever would happen afterwards, yet how can one prepare for such a thing? She would endure for the sake of her children, then entreat their captors to show mercy to her offspring. The plan would only work if she were chosen before the children. A mother fiercely protective of her children, Adelaide's body surged with adrenaline. They'd rue the day they harmed her kids.

Instead of thrusting her toward the gauntlet, the warriors stepped back, making way for their chief.

Small Bird stood alongside Chief Long Knife, her features solemn. She pointed to Adelaide's children, Thunder Cloud immediately moving to their side. Without a word he led the three children toward the wigwam, propelling them inside. Guarding them closely, he waited for the ceremony to conclude.

Falcon strode to the front of the gauntlet, speaking in a low voice with their leader. Chief Long Knife indicated his approval.

Clasping Maggie's wrists, he led her toward the wigwam, Maggie casting one last glance at her husband.

She didn't dare fight back, biting her tongue. Falcon would regret claiming her.

Chief Long Knife motioned for Adelaide to be brought into the dwelling, joining her children and Maggie. The two women glanced at each other. Now they only had one another. If they played their cards right, they might be able to appease their captors and then find a way to escape. One thing was undeniable: They would never stay in this godforsaken forest.

Guillaume was brought food and water, and the ritualistic torture at last ended. He savored the cool water held to his lips, gazing into the shadowy eyes of one of his captors, eyes that were unfathomable and...sorrowful?

A man without Christ, how could he know any better? Just maybe he was brought here to reach this man and the others with the Gospel. Guillaume's suffering, then, was for the sake of Christ and a small cost if even one soul could know the saving Grace of God.

More determined than ever, Guillaume hardened his jaw. For only one soul, this would all be worth it, Guillaume's heart echoing Brother Brebeuf's cry.

Guillaume, however, was not to see the longing of his heart.