PROLOGUE

Larouse, Choiseul, September 1961

The lone young woman limped through the thick, green underbrush as fast as her weak legs could carry her. Barefoot and bruised she trembled as she stumbled yet again, this time on a coconut branch lying in her path. She hardly noticed the debris in her way or the burning sensation under her feet. With every step, she could feel her toes sinking deeper into the rough dry gravel. Wincing, she bit her lower lip against the pain and protectively clutched the small bundle in her arms to her breasts.

She was drenched, soaked to the bone from sweat and dirty water that had splashed across her body from stepping into many potholes. She could smell herself; the remnants of rotten fruit and chicken droppings still clung to her, but she could not worry about that now. Her dress was almost in tatters and she shivered against the chilly wind. Dusk had just set in, bringing with it a gray, overcast sky. Somewhere, an owl screeched eerily; the crickets had suddenly ceased chirping. She cringed as she felt something crawl across her left foot. Slinging whatever it was aside she plodded on.

For how long she had been walking? Most likely an hour, maybe more. It was impossible to be certain in such an alien and rough terrain. All she could discern was green - so many tall, huge trees towering above her. Where was she going? It would be dark soon and the area did not promise shelter from the elements; or predators, which would venture into the open soon. All she knew was that she had decided to keep moving.

Grimacing, she pressed on, fighting through the rough foliage that kept clinging to her, making it almost impossible to pass through. It looked like the ferns had a silent language of their own and were trying to keep her in the woods. With the extra load in her arms, it took great effort for her to push through the thickets, but she managed and was out in the open. She had overexerted herself in the process. Her heart was beating wildly, and she could feel something warm running down her legs.

“Oh God please be merciful to me,” she begged. Without glancing down, she knew that she had started to bleed again, but she could not stop, not for a moment. She had to get away from this place. The only way was to put as much distance from herself and whoever it was that had been following her.

Her long, brown, dirty strands of hair kept falling onto her small, pale face, blocking her vision. With a limp hand, she brushed them aside, leaving a streak of dirt on her forehead. Panting, she could hear the sound of her heartbeat in her ears; she flicked her tongue across her parched lips to alleviate the soreness and soothe the dryness. She was so thirsty, her throat felt as dry as a bone. She could not recall the last time she had something to drink, was it yesterday morning or the day before?

She faltered when she heard the soft moan emanating from the bundle. Pausing, she opened the blanket and gazed into a pair of big, brown eyes. The babe was awake.

Then she heard it. Someone treading on the dry leaves, the footsteps were coming from behind her. ‘Soon he will catch up with me,’ she thought. She was trapped. There had to be a way out. Feeling helpless, she frantically looked around for a place to hide, somewhere, anywhere.

She spotted an old pine tree with a small opening covered by overgrowth. Quickly she wiggled her small frame into the opening and covered the bundle with her body. The babe stirred restlessly and whimpered. She had to ensure that they were quiet; if not they would be discovered. Without thinking, she pulled out a swollen breast and brought it to the babe’s mouth. He latched on, suckling greedily.

The footsteps were closer now. Blindly, she patted the ground, searching around her for something to use as a weapon to protect herself. Her hands fell on a stick; it was short, but sturdy enough.

With eyes as wide as saucers and fear gripping her heart, she stared through the opening, waiting…