96 Watch and wait

Everyone was settled. 

The old Master had been moved further up, along the track. He could cuss and become as difficult as he wished, his noise wouldn't carry to the main path and the physicians could administer whatever was needed to keep him calm.

Horses and mules were taken into the forest where they happily grazed, again, well away from noises. 

My main concern was they would startle. 

Men went with them to keep them quiet. They all had lead lines so could be taken deeper if needs be.

The sick and injured were positioned such that their smells would not transmit outside the side track and the rest remained quiet but alert.

Bǎo and his men had placed themselves at the entrance to the side track. If anything went wrong and any of the Mu army came nosing, they wouldn't live long enough to send any messages back to their superiors.

Xin and I were positioned further back, near the wagons which contained the injured men. They had fought so bravely protecting the garrison town, it was our turn to protect them.

We waited with the soldiers, ready to pick off any who might get through. 

Protect the sick and injured was our aim, and protect those who attended them. The physicians were vital to their survival. They were not fighters.

We were ready and the sounds of the approaching army reverberated in the dust, shaking the ground with their rhythmical marching strides.

Silence reigned in the enclave, all eyes on Bǎo and his men. We had been briefed to take our orders from them. They were our eyes.

For the first time I felt vulnerable; I was not in control of my own destiny.

When I was walking, I would be alert for predatory signs. My survival was down to me. Now, it felt stunted, I was not seeing the predator.

Bǎo raised his arm, we dropped down to the ground, crouching but ready to respond.

Bǎo's men pressed themselves into the rocks and watched as the army began its march past. They were full of verve and bravado, singing their marching songs as they pounded the floor. 

The rhythm was mesmerizing. The combination of noise, stamping and marching in unison, added to the ferocity of their appearance. 

I heard a noise from one of the wagons behind me and my heart jumped into my mouth.

I heard a quiet voice whispering and knew a physician was trying to quieten a patient. I prayed they remained silent, we couldn't move anyone, not now.

The Mu army were so engrossed in their own activities, they were unaware of the numerous eyes which followed them. 

The whole procession took what felt like a lifetime but probably took less than an hour.

We remained silent until we couldn't hear detail in their song. It was only then Bǎo gave the signal to relax. 

A collective out breath from everyone showed just how tense we had been.

"What's the chance they'll come looking for us?" Second Master asked Bǎo. "I'm concerned their bravado might spill over and come looking for us to settle old scores."

"They might. Once they'd got settled and realised we weren't about, they'd presume we'd bolted with our tails between our legs. A few might well come to enjoy a drunken brawl." Bǎo looked at us, "what does your instinct tell you, Niao?"

I nodded. The chances they'd come to urinate over us to show us their dominance was highly likely. 

"I would say we get moving now and travel through the night. Those of us who've trained to fight at night have good night sight so we can scout out ahead and lead. We can also follow up behind to look out for, how shall I put this? Idiots with a burning ambition to score points." I smiled. I knew Xin adored slitting these boy's throats. She hated boasters.

Second Master nodded. "Seems like a good plan. Okay, hitch up and let's move out as quickly as possible." Turning he walked up to his father's wagon, "how is father doing? Still cooperative I hope?"

The attending physician smiled, "he is finding the journey soothing, condusive to his continued restful sleep. Shall we not wake him for another six hours or so General?"

"Excellent plan, thank you for your care of the Senior Master."

Second Master walked back to the main body of carts, traps and wagons. A smile played on is lips at the thought of the blaspheming which will come as a torrent from him when he finally wakes. 'He'll be well rested', he said to himself. 

By the time he got back to the wagons, all were in the final processes of being hitched up, the drivers were getting in place and covers tightened.

The barriers which had once blocked the side entrance were cleared and the last people out,  swept the area clear of tracks. 

"Keep sweeping for about one hundred paces that way they'll melt into the rest of the markings." Bǎo kept a close eye on the logistics of the caravan's departure, his instructions keeping the whole process ticking along like clockwork.

"Now we move Sir, preferably as far as we can get without over tiring the men." He looked up at Second Master who nodded his acknowledgment. With his usual gesture of his arm, Second Master gave the order to 'forward march' and set the pace which, he hoped, would put distance between them and that whole area. 'The Emperor will get a full report from me on our return. This will not go unrecorded.' With that, he faced forward and allowed his mind to drift to home, his wife and his two children.