Return of the Mockingjay

Chapter 13

I hang up Plutarch and immediately call Alek. I need him airborne and on his way here. I might even need him to give us some sort of air support if we end up cornered. Fortunately he's already up to speed on developments as he's been in contact with 13 and has the ship prepped and ready to go. I walk over to the others who are all staring and examining some strange looking objects that have spilled out from the containers.

"Okay everyone, Plutarch has got word that Wolfe is sending a force here to check on the train. It also looks like he knows it's us, and he might try to capture the squad. We need to move, and move fast" I look around my team and start giving orders.

"Pollux, film and photograph everything. Steph, Blaine, keep a close eye out on the forest. As soon as you see movement let me know. The rest of you with me"

Before we walk off to the other passenger cars I stop and look at these strange objects on the floor, something about them seems familiar. Strewn about the forest floor are large slightly curved metal plates in the shape of a large triangle. Cut into the surface are large curved grooves which look like teeth of some sort. I reach down to touch the surface and feel a rough sandy texture but then it dawns on me suddenly. Set into the surface are the same diamonds we found on the train. I stand up looking at the plates in complete confusion, I look across at Gale and he has the same look on his face. He's seen something like this before too.

"What do you think?" I say to him.

"I dont know" he says rubbing his chin. "I remember seeing something like this before, I just cant think where"

"Okay, we're wasting time, lets move on and check the last few passenger cars, maybe Beetee can figure out what these are"

We walk over to the remaining passenger cars at the rear of the train. These are the last to be searched and for the most part are still on the tracks and standing upright. The only access inside is through a narrow doorway on the side which only one person can enter at a time. Gale climbs the steps first with Johanna following up. As I start up the steps I hear some shouting from inside and then gunshots. My heart sinks at the thought that Gale or Johanna might of been hurt and I curse at my stupidity, taking it for granted that the train was running on automatic with no crew aboard. I take out my pistol and burst through the door to see Johanna unconscious on the floor but further along the carriage I see Gale pinned against the wall with a mutt's scaly hand gripped around his throat. But as I take in the scene I see this is no Mutt that I've seen before. Standing at only around 6 feet tall and built like a man this animal is much more refined than the usual ManMutt. I take aim at the mutt but my hand wavers as it turns to look at me. It's facial features, the hair, it's mouth, its black eyes, it........it's Peeta! My arm starts to drop to my side as I start to shake and tears begin to fill my eyes. Then I hear the deafening bang from a pistol behind me and the mutt releases Gale and stumbles injured toward the rear of the carriage. I turn my head to see Joel stood behind me with a smoking pistol in his hand but when I look back I see the Mutt has disappeared out the other door at the far end of the car. Gale lies choking on the floor while Johanna is still out cold. I rush to her side and as I lean her against the wall of the car she groans and I sigh in relief that she'll probably be okay. Gale is already on his hands and knees as he starts to regain his breath. I rush over to him and help him to his feet.

"What the hell was that" he croaks out.

"I dont know. Plutarch thought they'd be some light security on the train, I guess that was it" I reply.

I turn to hear Johanna groaning behind us as Joel tries to bring her round. Her eyes flicker open and the first thing she does is lean over and vomit as a wave of nausea hits her. Joel rubs her back as she coughs up the remnants of her rations.