Fernando was right, as usual. The air smelled wrong almost. The senses picked up on many thing, things that the brain didn't always process totally but they screamed of danger. The human senses can pick up the subtleties around them like an animal can but humans have their minds so busy on other things and they tend to ignore feelings they can't explain thus miss the warning around them.  
Fernando was keen to them from a life time of listening to the little feelings. Hondo was too but at times his mind was too busy to listen to them and they were strong in him. The Cherokee and Iroquois blood in Hondo made those senses even stronger than in most.
 
Hondo nodded that he would go around to the left. Fernando nodded and proceeded to the right around the building. As he came to the edge of the building he heard talk. He peered around the edge carefully. Another drunk had stumbled out and into the waiting arms of the slavers. They grabbed him by the arms before the drunk could do a thing.
 
Drunk: Wha . . Whach ur tink yur doin's?  
 
Slaver #1: Collecting merchandise for our slave market. Nighty night.
 
With that the slaver was about hit the man of over the head with a night-stick and knocked him out. Hondo could only see three, though he had a bad feeling there was another but he had to stop them. He stepped out from around the corner with gun in hand.
 
Hondo: I don't think so. Drop the baton and let the drunk go.
 
Leader: Or what? You will shoot all three of us.  
 
Hondo grinned and it was just able to be seen in the light thrown from the bar.
 
Hondo: Definitely
 
The leader didn't like the cowboy's grin or unwavering sureness. He knew from the moment they saw him he'd be trouble but they thought he was just a cowboy. He knew now that he was staring into the cold eyes of a man that had killed many before and knew what he was capable of. He wasn't a cowboy but a gun man, and a seemingly up-right one too. Not a person he could buy off. He hoped he was alone. Only then did they have a chance.
 
Leader: Big talk for a dead man.
 
Hondo: I could say the same. Now let . . Him . .go!
 
The leader  nodded and the other two let the drunk man go.
 
Drunk: Thanxth Merster. Yurb a fend eh werey goob feend an I jess whan a say . .
 
Hondo: Shut the hell up an' get outta here!
 
The drunk nodded and stumbled off into the night.
 
Hondo: Ok Hands where I can see them an' get on yur knees.
 
Leader: How about, um, no.
 
Hondo I said . . .!
 
About that time lying weasel sprung from the dark behind him and drove a knife (http://www.fairbairnsykesfightingknives.com/uploads/9/7/7/8/9778260/218969_orig. jpg) into Hondo's left shoulder. Had Hondo not heard the shuffle of his feet at the last moment and moved it would have been in the middle of his back and neck. The other three by this time were reaching for their guns just in case.
 
Hondo went down on one knee as Lying weasel was on his back trying to regain his balance enough to pull the knife out and go in for the kill but his head suddenly exploded, knocking Hondo's hat off in the process. Fernando appeared in the light of the side window with his Para in hand, smoke poring from the barrel. Slaver #1 turned towards Fernando as slaver #2 turned towards Hondo. Hondo put two rounds center mass on #2. #1 never fully turned around as he took one to the body sideways then one to the head thanks to Fernando. In the split seconds this all happened the leader, who was no true leader, turned tail and ran.
 
Fernando: Hondo, you all right.
 
Hondo lifted his gun and shot the leader threw the back of the knee sending him sprawling into the dirt on his face.
 
Hondo: Much better now.
 
Hondo holstered his revolver and reached over his left shoulder. He grasped the knife that was still in him and pulled it out. He sucked air violently through his teeth as he pulled it out.
 
Hondo: That will feel better when it quits hurtin', believe you me!
 
About the a large bird squawked and came hurling down out of the dark sky and attacked Hondo, leaving a pair of gashes  on his left cheek. As Hondo batted it off it steadied its flight path, gained altitude, and set up for another dive. This time as it dived at his had again Hondo struck out with the very knife he had just pulled from his shoulder. He hadn't gotten up from off the one knee he had fallen to when Lying Weasel had jumped him so he was close to the ground. Swinging the knife in an arc he stuck it into the large birds side and pinned him the the ground. The bird thrashed and squawked. Now, Hondo could see what it was. A vulture. Hondo realized what was going on. He moved his right foot onto its neck and ripped the knife downward letting it's blood and guts spew onto the ground as he nearly split it in half.
 
Hondo: It's a damned Vulture, Jefe!
 
Fernando: Vultures eat the dead, don't hunt, nor fly at night.
 
Hondo: You're tellin' me! So what? It's a spirit?
 
Fernando: That one (pointing at lying weasels remains) sure looked native and you said that many of them could talk to spirits.
 
Hondo: #$@!. I was right. It's one of those #$@!in' damned spirit birds! That does it. Now they die!! Where's that Moro! I;m gonna #$@!in' blow her brains out an' any other spirit that crosses my damned path!  
 
Fernando: Take it easy. You're bleeding. We need to get that attended too first.
 
Hondo: Then we kill them. I know you see it. We are things to be used for their amusement and thrown away. I'm not lettin' them get Val or you killed.
 
Fernando: You know I'd like nothing better that to kick them all off our damned planet, but we this isn't as easy as showing them the door.
 
Hondo: No, we show them the business end of a gun! The spirits, the slavers, all of them!  
 
Fernando: These slavers were looking for people but I bet that spirit used them. These spirits have shown they don't act as underling; they control the situations around them.
 
Hondo slid the knife into his waist band and then Fernando helped Hondo to his feet. he grit his teeth a bit as he moved his arm too much as he stood up. About that time a gun boomed a ways off and Hondo felt something sting the side of his right thigh,
 
Hondo: Damn it!
 
Fernando looked and saw the leader propped up with a gun. He promptly shot the leader in the chest.
 
Hondo: That grazed me, but it's my own damn fault. Over here spittin' 'bout the damn spirits puttin' us in danger an' I forget about the ass-hole with one knee.
 
Fernando: Well, these three are definitely dead. Let's go check that one.  
 
They walked over to where the slaver leader lay. He was alive, but not for long. He was gasping for air as a red foam started to form around his lips.
 
Hondo: No more slavin' for you, hombre.
 
The leader gave a coughing laugh.
 
Hondo: What's so funny?
 
Leader (wheezing and couching): You think you have won? There are . . . many more of us. and when . .  I   . . don't make it back to my group . . . they . .  will . . . kill every person . . . they captured! Ha Ha *Cough Choke!!* You saved a couple from  . . a life of slavery . .  and . . condemmed many more to death!! The jokes on you!! *cough hack gasp!*
 
Hondo: Where are they?
 
The leader just smiled and stared at him.
 
Hondo: Where the #$@! are they? Tell me and I'll end your suffering!
 
The leader motioned for Hondo to come close. Hondo stooped down a bit as Fernando covered him. The leader whispered in between gasp.
 
Leader: suck . . my . . balls.
 
With that he died.

(In collaboration with Hondo)
 
If Moro thinks Fernando was less-talkative before, she's going to hate the silent treatment he is about to give her now. 6AM came and like it or not, Fernando had to wake up with the rest of the group.
 
The Bio-Pill Fernando gave Hondo worked well enough to to heal his wounds but he needs his time to rest which he will not do. Despite what happened the night before, Val could see why things had to be done despite the cost of someone getting hurt. Val, with Macey's help, makes a cheese omelet breakfast with slices of meat they bought the day before and one of the giant mutant chicken egg that made over 10 large omelets. Coffee, Juice, milk and oatmeal topped off the breakfast meal as not everybody is going want to eat the omelets for breakfast; maybe for lunch or dinner. While the others packed up and got ready to leave before the market opens at 8AM, Val made the lunch and dinner packages for those who wanted what she had to offer.
 
Fernando tells Jeanette that he and Hondo will be in the market later to see about the CB Radio for her Camper, and she should go in and get the other needed things (shower mat and other things). She takes the girls with her into the market. around 8:30AM.
 
9AM the local police arrive with the truck and motorcycles the Slavers arrived in and walked to talk to Fernando and Hondo. They walk outside to meet with law enforcement.
 
"The rescue of the people from the truck and the killing of the Slavers, there is no one to prosecute. A reward is in order but we got nothing to give, so their stuff is now yours - three motorcycles and the truck. Sign on the dotted lines to make this exchange legal." One of the local police officers says to them as he hands them a clipboard with several papers on them.
 
Fernando and Hondo look at each other before signing the paper work. Keys were handed to them along with the paper work. With this exchange over, the local police leaves. Fernando and Hondo look at each other before going through the vehicles. They find money hidden a few secret locations and CB Radios in the truck and motorcycles which they quickly liberate. The truck has a Cobra 25 and the motorcycles each had a Uniden PC78
 
Though in no time they had the CB Radios liberated from the vehicles and put into into the electric camper for study and hook up into the other campers, four young ladies in a sad state of affairs approached Fernando and Hondo as they took inventory.
 
"Excuse me, sirs. We were told that you both had rescued us last night." the oldest of them approaches them.

Hondo took a quick swallow of his coffee as he looked them over. He already was on his third cup. He would have loved nothing more than to sleep but there was too much to do so for the day he'd run on caffeine.  
 
Hondo: Yeah, that would be us, miss. I'm Hondo an' this here hombre is Fernando. What can we do for you ladies?
 
Oldest: My name is Ruth. This is my Sister Esther.  
 
Ruth was 21, about 5' 9" with long black hair, shapely, and about 150 lbs. Esther was 16, 5' 10" with long brunette hair, not very curvy, and about 120 lbs. Ruth was not only the oldest of the four but definitely the leader of the four. The others looked to her for guidance. She was handy with about anything, a jack of all trades and a master of none. She was also an accomplished airplane pilot, mainly for crop dusting. Esther was tall and thin. She was shyer and a bit of a home body. Could cook anything, sew anything, and had a green thumb.
 
Ruth:These two are our cousins. This is Joanna and Susanna. They are sisters. We were out gathering berries south of the family farm when we were captured by those . . . animals.
 
Joanna, usually called Jo, was 20, 5' 2",  with short Brunette hair, wider hips, smaller chested, and was about 145 lbs. Susanna was 15, 5' 7", with medium length blond hair, smaller hips, well endowed for her age other wise, and was about 130 lbs.  Joanna was the tom-boy. Rough, rowdy. The real out-doors woman. Hunting was a passion of hers, but she could cook and preserve her catch as well as or better than most. Susanna was outgoing and friendly. Good seamstress, better with leather, and a great mechanic. She could drive any ground vehicle.
 
Hondo: Did they hurt you or do anythin' else?
 
Ruth shook her head.
 
Ruth: other than a few bruises and some scratch marks. We tried to fight back but . . . there was just too many. One wanted to . . to . . take me but their boss wouldn't allow it. He said their master would be mad if they spoiled their catches. I guess they haven't been meeting their quote of young women lately.
 
Fernando: How many did you see when you were captured?
 
Ruth: I don't know exactly. There was 16 maybe more.  
 
Hondo: We saw only four. Were their other trucks?
 
Ruth: Yes. at least 4 other truck, several motorcycles, but they went different directions. The leader was mad at the one that tried to take me and wouldn't let them come to town. He made them split up and cover the country side. We were to meet them somewhere east of here.  
 
Hondo: I'm sorry, here you ask for help an' we interrogate ya.
 
Ruth: We had to ask someone who has done so much already, but we need help getting back to the farm.
 
Fernando: Where is your farm?  
 
Ruth: About 2 and a half days east.  
 
Hondo: We are followin' a caravan of merchants east.  
 
Ruth: Misses Clean's group?
 
Fernando: That is the group.
 
Ruth: Our farm is 20 miles north of the second town from here they go to.
 
Hondo: Heard of the town.  
 
Hondo turned to his camper: Val! Need you!
 
Valentine opened the door of the camper and came trotting out.
 
Valentine: What's up.
 
Hondo: These young ladies we rescued last night. They need some help gettin' home. Fernando an' I need to talk. You think you could take them in, let them clean up. Get sizes for us an' we'll see about some clothes. Ruth, this is my wife, Valentine. Please go with her. She'll look after you.
 
Ruth: Thank you.
 
They waited a moment until all the ladies were in the camper then Hondo turned to Fernando.
 
Hondo: Well, Jefe, What ya think.

[1.5 posts retract]
"Yes there is breakfast to be had." Val says to Jeanette, "Hope you like cheese omletes and fried meat. If not there is oatmeal. We also have Juice, Coffee, Tea or Milk."
 
"Jeanette, if you do not mind, I would like for you to get the assorted things we need at the market like the shower mats when it opens at 8AM. Hondo and I will get the CB Radio for you if we can find one and put it in the gas camper. We will be leaving later than you will. Hope you do not mind." Fernando tells her.

---

 
(Retyping after System Crash erased original post).
 
"Back in the mid 1990s, an EMT friend of mine, Doc Mitchell, and his partner was in a serious vehicle wreck on the Queens Expressway in their ambulance and 3 other vehicles. Thing is, for some reason there were several news crews following them and other ambulances throughout the city. And they were there when Nat had the crash before back up came in to rescue them. So his unconscious face ended up in the front pages with the headlines of 'Who Rescues The Rescuers?'" Fernando begins with a rant of sorts, "They came to us for help. It is only fitting that we give them that help. They were forced into this situation, not volunteered for it." He then looks at the Slavers' Truck, "We do not need a 4th truck. We do not have the drivers to support it, so they can have it. They will also need supplies and convert that truck into a half-camper of sorts with a couple of beds and a small kitchen. But we do not have that much money to do it if we are going to save cash for this long trip we are doing. So, we sell one or two of the motorcycles to get the truck converted for them. They can sell the other motorcycle when they need cash. They can go home with that."
 
"I 'gree with ya, Jefe. But I reckon that you and I fear that there is no home for them to go when they get there." Hondo replies.
 
"I have that same feeling. But this is about saving people, not following what the crows tell you to do. If they got no home to go to, they can join up with us. Furthermore, they were captured once by the Slavers, they will be captured again if we just leave them to their fate with no home to go to. I do not care what Jeanette or Moro has to say about that, I'll take them in, its that their truck needs to be furthered modified into a full camper with shower and toilet facilities so they can have their privacy. We would need to sell off the remaining motorcycle for that in the second town." Fernando points out, and then adds, "As soon as we get to the second town, we rest for a couple days for the next long haul but on the first day we find out of their home situation. If they got no place to go too, they can join us to go to Texas if they like to start a new life there or go as far as they want with us. either way they gotta put in work and share resources that we share with them. It is only fair."
 
"It is only fair." Hondo says, adding, "I'll go tell Val about the plan."
 
"Lets wait on that, and strip the van and the bike for what they are worth. Who knows, maybe we can find more money before we take them to sell a bike and get the truck modified." Fernando says.

[Morning post with Jeanette]
 
"Well, it is to start to pack up and get ready for the long trip tonight. Since most of our things are put away, we should top off our tanks - both water and for you Gas. There are two 5 gallons of gas for the gas camper in the electric camper engine compartment in case we get on a very long trip you got ten more gallons of fuel with me." Fernando explains, "But in the least we should prepare for a big lunch and dinner bags to eat and sleep in on the road tonight. When most of the shopping is done, you can nap for a couple of ours since this will be a long drive for you."
 
He pauses for a second, "Because of the commotion at the bar last night, I know the police will want to drop by and ask questions. If you are not here to answer questions you got no answers for, the better. If you get my meaning. I'm not saying when but I guess they will dropping by after the market opens. And Uhm, whose 'they'?"