Page 2 of Arresting the Warlord

Mama closed her eyes.

“Mama needs help,”I cried desperately.“Please. Help Mama.”

“Where are you, little one?”A warm, reassuring male voice said in my head.

“Don’t know. Car crashed.”

“Look around. What do you see?”Themental voice was reassuring and at the same time full of authority.

The lightning illuminated an upside-down tree. The twisted roots formed a man pointing at the road.“A pointing man.”

“I know where you are, and I will come for you.”

“Promise?”

“I promise. My name’s Samuel. What’s yours?”

“CeeCee.”

“Okay, CeeCee, keep talking to your mother.”

“I try, but the light calls to her.”

“You can see the light?”

“Uh huh, it took Uncle Max and I don’t want it to take Mama too.”

Samuel brushed my mind in a gentle caress.“You’re a special child.”

“That’s what Mama says. Is that why bad men want to kill us?”

“I won’t let them hurt you.”

Somehow, I believed him.“Kay.”

Mama moaned. “Baby?”

“I here.” I patted her face. “Samuel is coming to help you.”

“Where. Bad. Men?”

I frowned and focused on them. A quick wash of fear swept over me. They were close.“Samuel, bad men come.”

“I sense them. I want you to run and hide.”

“Won’t leave Mama.”

“Baby. Where bad men?”

Headlights pierced the darkness.

“Here, Mama.”

“Find. Find my purse. Get. Gun.”

“Yes, Mama.” I looked around. The strap of her purse protruded from under the seat. Grabbing it, I opened it and carefully picked up the gun. “Here Mama.”

She took the gun. “Hide CeeCee.”

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