70 - Trapped Part Two

John is working at a ford in a stream halfway between the listening post and the east coast of the peninsula. Like so many other strategic places, traps are placed here. The traps on the west side are already done, and on the east side more than half have already been placed.

Here at the ford in the stream, John and one of his men lay pointed stones in the water. No more than an annoyance for infantry, but dangerous for cavalry. The stones can penetrate deep into the horses' hooves.

Further on, Muras is busy digging a trap in the middle of the road, and Charles is busy undermining the watering place that is neatly laid out next to the ford.

All in all, John doesn't expect to be able to stop a Chakraan army with this, but it will certainly slow them down. If they have to look for new traps from this point on, it will take them a while before they get to the real line of defense.

While all of them are still busy, Jonny comes running. He almost manages to fall into Muras' trap, but after a shout from him, Jonny manages to avoid the pit.

When John arrives, Jonny starts talking while still panting.

"Chakras are coming. I could barely get away before their scouts saw me."

"How many are there?"

"I counted twenty men on horseback."

"That's the vanguard, I suppose, but how many are there in total?"

Jonny looks at John sheepishly.

"No idea really, I had to use too much effort to get away without those first twenty warriors seeing me. Next time I will hide to be able to count the rest, then those scouts can find you when you are busy playing with mud and water."

John lets out a deep sigh.

"This is the problem with bringing in such wayward people. No respect for their superiors." After a short break, he continues. "Well then, how long before those scouts are here?"

"I think a few more minutes, Mr. squad leader, sir. I ran the whole way, and they rode at ease so they wouldn’t get too far ahead of their main force."

"Nice, that gives us enough time to prepare something fun for those men. Jonny, if you could help Muras cover his hole, at least then you won’t have any more witty remarks. Charles, finish what you can as soon as possible. Me and Maarten are going to set up some things for our guests on the other side. Muras, Jonny, Charles when you're done with your traps, you finish what Maarten and I started. Then you come to us to finish the latest presents for our new friends.

Full of enthusiasm, the five men throw themselves at their tasks. In no time the first preparations are ready. Full of energy, Maarten throws himself on preparing a large tree. With only his battle axe, he chops the first wedges out of the tree, so that he can later drop them across the road with a single blow.

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Meanwhile, John is busy measuring a long rope. He measures about three times the width of the road, after which he cuts off the piece of rope. Then he cuts the remaining piece of rope in half again so that he now has two pieces that are long enough for his plan.

When Charles comes running a little later, he can help out right away.

"Charles, come and help me. We are going to stretch these ropes over the road so that those scouts are knocked off their horse."

"Are you sure that's going to work? Surely those people must be keen to discover tracks and the like?"

"Bah, we don’t know for sure. But those scouts will probably mainly look at the ground, and at the sides of the road. That’s why we must ensure that we don’t leave fresh footprints while setting up the traps. Now, this first rope, like I just said, is meant to knock them off their horse. We are going to hang this rope higher than we can reach."

"How do you want to do that?" asks Maarten curiously.

"You just pay attention." John walks to the first tree he has chosen. "Do you see that nice thick branch there? At a height of three meters?"

"Yes, it looks good. But how do you want to tie your rope to that?"

"Well, I know several ways to do it. I'll show you two at once. Come here."

As Maarten cautiously approaches, John leaves him standing next to the tree.

"And now on your hands and knees please."

"Uhm, do I really have to?"

"Yes, hurry up now. If you take much longer, those scouts will be here before we’re done."

When Maarten is on his hands and knees in front of the tree, John lifts his feet high and then quickly steps on top of Maarten's back. A deep moan comes from the lower soldier.

"Don't whine so much Maarten, you wanted to know how I could reach that branch." John doesn't waste a moment of time on the soldier, but is already busy tying one of the ends of his rope. Within moments he has tied a loop at the end, which he quickly throws over the branch. Then he takes the loop and steps off Maarten's back.

"So, now just this end through that hole, then tighten, and that's it."

"And you couldn't have done that from the ground?" shouts Maarten indignantly.

"Of course I could, I just wanted to show you how it can be done."

John pulls the rope tight and gives it a few jerks to see if it's really firm.

"Great, now we can do the other side. And you know what the fun part is? I can't do it with a loop there. So you can play as a stepstool again."

At the sight of John's extremely happy face, Maarten breathes another sigh, and then trudges towards the other tree.

When the other end is done and the rope is pulled tight, it is time for the second rope.

"Oh no, not really. At the next one you can be the stepstool, John."

"Fine Maarten, let's take those trees a little further away. Those are nice and close to the road."

When we arrive at the designated trees, Maarten immediately points to the ground.

"Your turn, Mr. squad leader."

"Ha, no such luck, soldier. With this trap, we don't have to go that high." After a look at Maarten's dazed face, John can't help letting out a chuckle. "We stretch this rope about a foot off the ground. If those scouts don't pay attention, their horses stumble, or if they’re walking, they themselves fall flat on their faces."

While John and Maarten were bickering and setting up their traps, the last two soldiers have also arrived. They quickly get busy on the roadside, to ensure that no one can easily move off the road to escape the ambush.

With branches and bushes, they make a natural wall of obstacles. A determined person can struggle through without too much effort, but not before he can be attacked in the back.

While they are still busy, Muras suddenly hears the snort of a horse.

"Shit, John, they're nearby."

"Well, you know your positions. Hide quickly and then be silent until we know if our traps work."

The men quickly rush to their hiding places. John hides with Muras, Jonny and Maarten near the second fall with the ropes. Charles hides by the tree he has prepared moments before.

After five minutes, Jonny and Maarten start to get a little restless.

"I thought you said they were nearby, Muras?"

"Yes, you heard horses, didn't you, Muras?"

"Guys, keep you quiet. Those scouts can be right around the corner. Who knows, maybe they just stopped for a moment so as not to get too far ahead of the rest of the warriors." John isn't happy that the two younger soldiers can't keep their patience.