Free Lunatic by Ted Dekker Page A

demoted."
    The renegade general's rebellion started as mere disagreement. To him, the albinos, in their pacifist state, were more a distraction than a threat. Insult to injury, Eram was sick of the many restrictions half-breeds endured.
    "He's a traitor."
    "Not to many."
    "Irrelevant."
    Marak had warned Qurong not to push the matter and had warned Eram not to do anything rash, but neither had listened. Eram simply packed up his followers and his belongings and left Middle. Every last one of them former Forest Guard, with Guard training and knowledge.
    Both sides had exchanged words and idle threats, but neither was ready to move to war. Eram was outnumbered, but he was a force with which to be reckoned.

    Marak had neither time nor patience for any of it. Neither did Cassak, for that matter.
    Eram's men continued their march, unaware.
    "What do the scouts say?"
    Warryn didn't respond.
    "What do-"
    The throater had remounted and was starting down the hillside toward the rebels. Cassak swore. "Bloody fool ..."
    He hurried after Warryn and cut him off, breaking between the throater and the startled rebel scouts.
    "Let them pass," Cassak warned, sword half-drawn.
    Warryn snarled. "Do not-"
    Cassak's sword rang out. He pressed the tip at Warryn's neck. "I will cut you down now if you detain them."
    Long pause.
    "You," Cassak ordered the rebels, "take a message to your general. Tell him this man was in dereliction of duty and that we do not wish a fight. Now go."
    He released Warryn. "Marak will be waiting."

thought you said this was a shortcut."
    "It is," Johnis protested. They had taken the shortest route to the east side of Middle Lake, around the edge of the forest, winding their way through the trees like phantoms.
    "It's almost noon," Silvie said. "You realize how far back we have to retrace before-"
    "I know."
    Each step toward the city was a step that would have to be retraced before they found precious healing water.
    But this was a matter of principle.
    So they stared down death.
    "Look at this place, Johnis."
    Most of the forest houses had been crushed. The place looked like a war zone, as if someone had uprooted most of the trees and flung them into homes and another had come along and rebuilt Scab huts in their place.

    As they neared, the ever-watchful spire of the thrall glared at them from the horizon, looming over the trees like a sentinel god. Silvie shielded her eyes from the late-morning sun and studied the temple for a minute.
    "Don't." Johnis took her hand and led her on, unwilling to dwell on the hellish monument to Teeleh. "We can't stop."
    "We're wasting our time." Silvie started to say more, then closed her mouth and looked away.
    They stole deeper into the trees, ignoring the steady onset of stiffness and pain brought on by the Horde disease.
    Until they found water, they were as good as Scabs.
    Elyon help them.
    "Still have the book?" Silvie asked.
    "Yes. Once we get Darsal we need to retrieve the others."
    "Bathe first."
    Right. Bathe.
    Not go traipsing through the desert for beautiful women.
    Johnis took her through some old hiking trails and over an outcropping of rock in a narrow ravine. The rotten-meat smell of the disease was already on the wind.
    Inviting ...
    What? Since when had the disease ever smelled inviting? He didn't think that. He never would, even if he became one.
    They came up on a house from the south side, with a small yard and two or three Scab children playing in it. He pulled Silvie behind a tree, and they watched the youngsters for a minute.

    "What are we doing?" she demanded. "The lake's right there. Let's get down there, collect Darsal, and get out of here."
    "We need to fit in. Clothes. And morst. Wait here."
    He gave her his sword and stole around to the north side of the house, keeping to the fence and below the tall grass. The kids were too busy playing to notice him, and he hoped he wouldn't encounter anyone in the house. His stomach turned over, but he forced back the