As the two canoes veered into a sharp, right turn around a collection of boulders, topped with a moss-covered tree, their hearts dropped. The stone archway, marking the border of Mallee, crossed the river 100 yards ahead of them. At least twenty more bandits stood across the width of the stonework, their crossbows cocked with deadly arrows.

Turning his head, Nolan saw the remaining two canoes still following. He knew now their purpose was to shepherd them into this trap. The bandits wanted them alive. It seemed hopeless. He had to find the energy. Daniel, Germaine and the others had put their own lives aside for him. Now he had to find the strength to repay them. Almost in a trance, the Earthman looked within his inner self. His strength built and slowly one fireball formed at each of his hands. His face pointed towards the bottom of the boat, but in his mind’s eye he saw the archway ahead of them and the faces of each and every bandit. As his mind went from each dirty, unshaven face, the fireballs grew in size, swirling around his fingertips.

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