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Entrapped By Anton Pan translated by Gert van Jaarsveld First, read the chapters in the previous editions: 01 – Powerless –– Edition 01 02 – The Beginning –– Edition 02 03 – The Shock –- Edition 03 04 – The murderers are in control – – Edition 04

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05 – The Jaws of Death

Tony shoots out of the water and lands on top of Hunter. “What the hell are you doing? Leave me and save yourself!” The FAPLA soldiers are now firing continuously and projectiles relentlessly spray water around them. “Work with me or we die together. I’m not leaving you! Suddenly Hunter feels as if a red-hot piece of iron spins through his hamstring and tears it apart and he knows it is the first AK-bullet. Tony spins around and firmly grabs the diver’s equipment on Hunter’s back before he uses the momentum of his movement and glides over Tony with his legs first while he is pulling sideways. He tries to free Hunter from the front side of the razor wire. Hunter realizes what Tony is trying to achieve and he pulls out his knife and cuts at the places the razor wire is grabbing, helping Tony to free him. All of a sudden he is free and they vanish underwater as Tony holds Hunter from the back in his arms and pulls him down. They still hear the snipes and pops of bullets that luckily miss them to the left and right. Then a tremendous blast when a grenade detonates just next to them and the shock waves knock them around. Tony still holds Hunter in a tight grip as they rock and roll. And then Hunter passes out.

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*** Hunter slowly regains consciousness and recognizes Tony’s image with the full moon behind him. He is on the bank of the river and realizes that Hunter has just finished nursing him. He still hears the siren’s screaming far off when he sits up and notices that Tony has sealed the wound. “Ah, you are with me again, Hunter. The shock of the hand grenade kicked you out completely and I brought you here to the bank. You’ve lost too much blood.” “Did we do it?” “Our colleagues had success. There were five explosions. So, let’s hope there is damage enough.” “Tony, you must go, now. I will survive …” “Don’t be daft, Hunter. I’m taking you home!” “Tony, you’ve got a home and a family that is waiting for you. Think about the photo of Clea with Zoey in her arms. You are a father now. How much time have we lost? You must get to the gathering spot as agreed upon. You know the rule. There’s no waiting for anyone. And then you’ll have to swim the seven kilometres and walk the twenty kilometres to the Puma’s pickup point. Go, time is running out. I will take the shorter, although more dangerous, route and head for the emergency pickup point. “And how are you going to do that, Hunter? You may be able to make your way in the river if you are lucky, but you are not going to reach that point with your wounded leg and the little blood in your veins.” “I will do it as I did it previously. Sergeant Anthony Eastwood, you are now disregarding a direct order! Just leave me and join the rest!”

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“Don’t try to pull rank on me, major. There’s no time for talking bullshit. Let me help you into the river. Either we survive or die here together. I’m not leaving you!” *** Tony is first to break the surface of the water and he scrutinizes the banks and sky for any sign of the enemy. He indicates to Hunter that it is safe and Hunter also breaks the surface and takes out his mouthpiece. Last night they swam downstream as fast as Hunter’s condition allowed them to do. They had the advantage of dark so they could swim on the surface without using their valuable oxygen. The enemy sent troops downstream and deployed soldiers all along the banks of the river while boats and helicopters crisscrossed the river looking for them. With sunrise, it became more dangerous and that’s why they spared their oxygen. Their only survival plan is to swim along the deep side of the river and submerge when they have to. They have encountered a dangerous situation when a FAPLA contingency spotted them at a narrow and shallow bend in the river and opened fire. Tony shot back with his pistol and when the soldiers ran for cover they were lucky to encounter a deep part and went down. Later they emerged but had to duck again because helicopters, boats and troops swarmed all over the place. They had to stay underwater for quite a long time and with twilight encroaching and their oxygen nearly depleted, they are now breaking the surface. They have nearly reached the place where they must leave the river and move overland to the pickup point where they must wait for the Puma. This is the most dangerous section of their escape. Time is running out and Hunter is doubtful if they would reach the spot in time for the Puma to pick them up at twilight. If they are not successful this evening, they’ll have to survive until tomorrow evening for another chance.

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Tony calculates their precise position when Hunter joins him on the surface and he informs Hunter: “We are here, Hunter. Just over there around the corner.” Suddenly something grips around Hunter’s uninjured leg and try to pull him down. Tony vanishes out of Hunter’s eyesight and he only sees dark water while he feels as if sharp, short spikes penetrate his upper leg. Hunter puts his mouthpiece in and looks in amazement at the source of the attack. He gets a fright when he sees the giant man-eating crocodile that grips him in his jaws. He pulls his knife and starts to stab the creature but it as ineffective as when you stab a rock. He keeps on stabbing frantically hoping to get an eye. And he knows what is going to happen next. The monster is going to spin and with that, it will be tearing off his leg. Crocodiles tears off pieces of flesh or limbs by spinning. Then suddenly Hunter sees Tony on top of the crocodile, viscously attacking the monster with his knife. The crocodile suddenly opens its jaws and spin away from them. He disappears as stealthily as he came. They dash for the surface and take out their mouthpieces. “How many times are you going to save my ass during this operation, Tony?” “Come, we have to get on land as soon as possible for I don’t need another scuffle. Don’t ask me why he let us escape, because everything I stabbed felt like hard rubber.” *** The sun is setting when ten soldiers anxiously look at the Puma that has landed at Fort Foot. The medics come running with a stretcher and they see how Tony runs alongside looking down on their beloved major. The soldiers all join in the running as the medics make their way to the field ambulance.

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Major Hunter looks weak but is fully conscious as he looks up to see whether they are all there. Over the noise of the Puma he yells: “Looks like you are all here. Has no one tasted a lead pill?” Sergeant Gerald yells back while smiling happily: “No major, as usual we left the honour to you to swallow that small pill. We knew that you would make it, as usual!” Hunter shakes his head in disagreement and shows with his thumb towards Tony. “This time the staff saved my ass many times. He saved me from the razor wire with rifles trained on me; he saved me from drowning after a grenade kicked me lights-out; he saved me from helicopters, boats and a whole army of soldiers on the banks of the river. But that’s not all! Honestly, he even saved my ass from the jaws of a monster crocodile! And then he carried me for kilometres to be in time for the Puma! And now he will be giving his precious blood to me! But don’t worry. I will tell you everything later on. I only hope I am not going to inherit his stubbornness also. My good men; have a good rest before our next mission!” The troops stand at attention and silently watch their beloved major and staff sergeant Tony climbing into the ambulance before it races away.

To continue edition 6...

The Script of Evil

By Anton Pan translated by Gert van Jaarsveld

First, read the chapters in the previous editions:

01 – The strange writing - Edition 02

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02 – The meeting – Edition 03

03 – The danger – Edition 04

04 – The solution of the puzzle – Edition 05

05 – The trap

Arnav sits down on the bench under the giant, old tree next to Park Drive and looks up to Aryan and Mohammed in front of him like a naughty schoolboy. Aryan is talking fiercely to him: “From now on you sit here every afternoon after school in the shade of this tree and watch the people that pass here. That snot ran away so fast up the steep path, he was out of sight when we followed him. I’m telling you now, he probably is an athlete and he resides somewhere near. There is a big chance that he will run around the park some time or other.”

He points at an elderly woman who runs past. “You see, this is a favourite place for people to jog, just don’t take a bloody nap because I’m not going to save your ass with the Boss next time. I swear I’ll burn your ass. He is fed up with you and you know what that means. This tree is a good hideout in a cove between the plants, so there is a good possibility that you will see him first if you are vigilant. If he runs fast again, he will probably not see you. So, phone us immediately and follow him at a distance so that we can

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wait for him and surprise him so that he doesn’t have the opportunity to get away.”

***

It is Wednesday and fine weather prevails. During lunch Kadin reads Wikipedia excerpts. “Sanskrit is a language of ancient India with a documented history of about 3,500 years. It is the primary liturgical language of Hinduism; the predominant language of most works of Hindu philosophy as well as some of the principal texts of Buddhism and Jainism. Sanskrit, in its various variants and dialects, was the lingua franca of ancient and medieval India. In the early 1st millennium CE, along with Buddhism and Hinduism, Sanskrit migrated to Southeast Asia, parts of East Asia and Central Asia, emerging as a language of high culture and of local ruling elites in these regions. The body of Sanskrit literature encompasses a rich tradition of philosophical and religious texts, as well as poetry, music, drama, scientific, technical and other texts. In the ancient era, Sanskrit compositions were orally transmitted by methods of memorisation of exceptional complexity, rigour and fidelity. Sanskrit is one of the 22 languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India. It continues to be widely used as a ceremonial and ritual language in Hinduism and some Buddhist practices such as hymns and chants.”

Billy frowns. "Sounds quite puzzling to me. I begin to wonder about our theory.”

"What are you saying?”

"Listen, our theory is based on the question: why is the booklet so important to assault or kill someone. We thought that something might be there that can lead to something precious. I am beginning to think it is not as simple, especially when I think what your father said about Sanskrit. He said there are people who believe it originated from another dimension. What if there is special knowledge in that booklet? What if it is the knowledge of this alternative dimension that is the treasure that men are looking for?”

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Kadin once again consults her tablet and reads the last sentence: “It continues to be widely used as a ceremonial and ritual language in Hinduism and some Buddhist practices such as hymns and chants.”

Kadin scans the rest of the Wikipedia article and she finds another piece that resonates with their thinking. “Listen to this: The earliest Sanskrit texts were religious texts of the Rig-Veda. No written texts of this early period survived if they ever existed. But researchers are confident that the oral transfer of these texts was reliable. This is ceremonial literature of which the correct pronunciation is crucial for their religious effectiveness.” Then she explains what she finds significant: “If I understand correctly, only when a priest carries out the rituals and pronounces the words correctly, only then is it effective. If people are after sorcery in these scripts they will probably have a priest amongst them, maybe their leader. Maybe it is some occult thing.”

“Maybe we are being farfetched now, this is all speculation. I hope that holy man at the temple can tell us what we want to know. If he knows Sanskrit he will tell us whether it’s an occult thing and if we are off the track completely.”

"Hi, may I change the subject and bring us back to reality. I want to buy running shoes today and to test them this evening around the park. I need your advice to buy the best. Mother gave me her credit card; she is delighted that I want to run. Is the timing bad or can I ask your help?”

“I will gladly help you. That’s a good idea and today is the best time for your first jog. Tomorrow I’m taking off to spare myself for the squash match against an opponent I could not win thus far.”

***

They get off the bus in Newton Park and visit different sports shops. Billy lets her test different brands while he feels the space at her toes and heels. He is so patient and it looks if he cares and enjoys himself thoroughly.

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They visit different shops and every time she fits a pair he makes sure that the laces are tied and that she tests it by walking around. In the end, they decide on a pair of Nike running shoes that fits her and feels lovely on her feet. It’s a beautiful pair that even fits into Rene’s budget. They catch the bus back and make preparations for the running. Billy comes to her home and together they walk to the park.

They are now standing in front of the King George art gallery at the main gate ready for action. Kadin ponders the history of this place. The gallery opened on 22 June 1956 and British, South African and international printings and Eastern art are to be seen. Kadin regrets the fact that the Horse Monument that was situated on an island in front of the gallery was moved to the corner of Cape Avenue and Rink Street in 1950. That monument really should have been here. It was inaugurated in 1905 and commemorates the role horses played in the Anglo-Boer War of 1899 to 1902. Most of the horses were brought by ship and landed in Algoa Bay.

Billy points with his eyes at her shoes. “How are they feeling? They are probably going to hurt you a little during your first few outings until they are run in.”

“They feel stiff here and there.”

“Yes, that’s why I say: don’t overdo it the first time.”

“I tell you what, sir, I dare you …”

“What!”

“Yes, I am going to go around the park once and you twice and I bet you, I will be here first.”

Billy looks a bit worried. “Only if you promise you won’t hurt yourself.”

She pulls a face and shamelessly sticks her tongue out. “You chicken …!”

Billy suddenly starts to run and sprints anticlockwise around the park. She realizes that he took her by surprise and that he is a far way off before she knows what is going on. She yells after him: “You rascal, you’re dishonest!”

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She hasn’t got far and he is out of sight when she feels that she doesn’t want to continue and wants to slow down and walk. This is really hard work! No, she must hang in there and must not give up! She must force herself to circle the park at least one time before she stops. She thinks about something that can occupy her thoughts and suddenly realise that Billy lives in this street. She begins to look out for the address at the opposite of the road, 24 Park Avenue, as she continues to run. There it is. A giant double storey.

She runs past the Prince Alfred’s Guard Memorial and concentrates on the history. This memorial was inaugurated in 1907 and is one of the biggest and heaviest Victorian architectural products made by the Saracen Foundry of Walter MacFarlane of Glasgow in Scotland. It is a monument for the many people who died in the Transkei War of 1877, the Basotho War of 1880-1881, the Betchuana War in 1897 and the Anglo-Boer War 1999-1902.

She is nearing How Avenue at the Settlers Park entrance. She notices a sturdy man in the cove between the plants in the shade of a giant tree fast asleep while she struggles past. Suddenly she gets a fright when Billy shoots past her and yells at her: “You’re halfway. Keep going, you’re going to make it.”

“Damn! He runs so fast! How does he do it? He is already past her on his second round; he is going to win this race easily. She almost wants to stop as she notices how easily he runs and tomorrow he will be competing in a tough squash match! She wonders whether she will be able to even walk and won’t be surprised if she ends up half mutilated. He must be super fit.

She struggles past the hospital and convinces herself that the end is near. The cricket fields are her next target. She passes the bowling club and its history fills her thoughts. The Port Elizabeth Bowling Club started in 1882 as the only bowling club in South Africa. Next, she passes the rugby fields and the cricket nets.

St George's Park is the place where the first cricket test took place outside England or Australia in 1888. It was also the place of the last test before South Africa’s isolation started in 1970. The first international rugby match

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against England was played on this field in 1891. Even the Crusaders club, where Billy plays, has a rich history. This club is one of the oldest amateur sports clubs in South Africa. It started in 1843 as a cricket club and was later taken over by the Crusaders rugby club and after that, the sports codes followed.

How many sportsmen grit their teeth and worked through pain to achieve success! Now for the first time in her life, she is running around these historic grounds with her nice Nikes. She gets new motivation and also grits her teeth as she passes the main entrance to the cricket fields. She now hears Billy’s voice when he accompanies her and jogs alongside her. “How do you feel? You’re almost there. I will jog with you up to the end.”

Gasping for breath and with pain all over her body, she replies: “How can you run so fast? It’s your third round and I begin to suspect you are a secret member of Superman’s family.”

He mocks her: “I also ran to SPAR and bought lunch in the meantime …”

“O, come on, Billy, don’t rub it in, this is the first for me,” she answers out of breath.

“Okay, I’m just joking. You did well for the first time. I hope you’ll be able to walk tomorrow.”

“I also hope so but I’m not so sure. Maybe I won’t even want to get out of bed and it’s going to be your fault.”

“How about a quick swim then we can wash away the sweat in the swimming pool?”

“You want me to drown! Remember the pool is a diving pool and what would happen when I’m in the deep end and I have a cramp? You are soft in the head.”

“Okay, here are we now. This is the end. You have done it. Congrats.”

“You will now have to carry me.”

“Okay, just jump on my back.”

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“I’m only joking.”

They are walking back along Bird Street when Kadin suddenly yells anxiously and grabs her right foot and thigh. Billy grabs her and helps her to sit down. “Straighten your legs, quickly, and pull back your toes.”

“Ouch! I can’t; it’s too painful.”

Billy quickly pulls out her right shoe and forces her leg straight by pushing down on her knee with his left hand.

She protests loudly and wants to stop him but the relief comes suddenly as the muscles stretch and come out of the contraction and relax. He takes her right foot in his right hand and bends it backwards and pushes her toes back. “Ouch, it helps. Please keep it there, Billy, don’t leave it now, it feels if the cramps are coming again. Damn, it was painful!

Billy keeps her in that position until she starts to relax. “The cramps will come again. What you need now is table salt. Do you have cacao powder and milk at home?”

“Yes, I think so.”

“Okay, first take water with lemon juice and a lot of salt and after that many glasses of water during the day. Then you mix cacao powder and sugar and make chocolate milk. Drink quite a few cups today.”

“Why cacao and milk?”

“It contains the minerals you have sweated out. All that it lacks is table salt.”

She looks at him with admiration in her eyes. “You’re so clever, Billy.”

Billy gets down on his haunches in front of her. “Come, stand in front of me and put your legs against my shoulders so that I can carry you on my shoulders.”

She frowns shyly: “Don’t be silly.”

“I do it all the time and it’s the easiest way, we’re not far from home.”

She wonders whether he will be strong enough or does he try to impress her. He waits and she decides to do what he wants to see what happens.

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“You’d better not drop me or lose your balance; the pavement is hard; I’ll never forgive you.”

“No, I won’t. Now just stand like that and bend your knees a little.” She complies and Billy takes hold of her upper legs with his hands and the next moment he lifts her onto his shoulders. “That’s right. Now use your stomach muscles and balance yourself on me.”

"O, it’s high."

Billy starts to walk. "You are now riding me like a horse, here we go.”

"Am I not too heavy, your back and abdominal muscles must work very hard?”

“My friend, Danny, and I do this sometimes over weekends during his Kun Fu exercises. Then we carry each other all the way with Brickmaker’s Cliff path to St George’s and back. Danny lives at the lower end, and believe me, you are as light as a feather in comparison to him.”

“You both are nuts! I’ve never come across someone as nutty as you; that’s one of the steepest hills around!

“Well, it gives me strong abdominal and back muscles for my squash.” She now remembers his body and she now knows where it comes from. She suddenly looks very much forward to see him in action in the squash match.

Rene is still at work and she invites Billy inside. He ensures she drinks all the stuff to prevent cramps. He insists to massage her legs because this could prevent sore, stiff muscles the next day. She gets her dad’s Deep Heat and relaxes in a chair while Billy rubs in the lotion and messages her legs before he goes off.

The place is so quiet after he left. She takes a warm bath and relaxes and overthinks the fun they had together the past three days. Her life is suddenly full of fun and adventure. She thinks back to the swimming and sees his well-formed body in detail in her mind’s eye. She sees him swimming like a dolphin and she remembers how he carried her on his back like a horse while he holds her legs.

What is happening to me? Billy is slowly taking over my thoughts and life.

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Later that evening she texts before she puts out the light: ‘Wonderful time, thank you, my prince …’

She is amazed when he immediately replies: ‘My pleasure … how is body?'

‘Toes sore.’

‘Legs?’

‘Also.’

‘Must massage again.’

She thinks: “Yes, you devil. Of course, you enjoy the messaging immensely because it is a nice excuse to touch my legs.”

And then she suddenly realizes that she can’t get enough of Billy’s touching her.

***

Earlier that afternoon Aryan slaps Arnav awake. “What the hell? Are you sitting here and sleeping all the time, what if that snot runs past and we lose a good chance to catch him?”

Arnav is frightened and looks up at Aryan and Mohammed in front of him. “Just remember I was awake the whole of last night as I watched the 24/7 shop in Western Street.”

To continue edition 5...

Via the Grapevine

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Crazy stories Anton Pan heard via the grapevine

1 - Doctor, can you help?

Duncan Pony cleans his face in front of the bathroom mirror. He looks closely at his nostrils. Why do his nostrils look bigger than usual this morning? He feels a vibration in his throat and is flabbergasted when he suddenly bellows. His ears are looking elongated and pointed. What is going on? He must get to the doctor quickly.

He gallops frantically into the doctor's office. "Doctor I think I am changing into a horse. Can you help?" and bellows involuntarily as if to confirm his suspicions.

The doctor looks at him ponderingly as Duncan Pony bellows again loudly shaking his head and now scratching the carpet with his foot. The doctor starts writing something on a prescription pad.

Duncan Pony asks the doctor curiously. "What are you prescribing doctor? Is there a medicine that can help?"

The doctor keeps on writing while answering. "No, this is a license to urinate and defecate in public."

More via the grapevine edition 5...

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Extracts from edition 5 Entrapped 05 - In the Jaws of Death “Tony, you must go, now. I will survive …” “Don’t be daft, Hunter. I’m taking you home!” The script of evil 05 – The Trap

Aryan is talking fiercely to him: “From now on you sit here every afternoon after school in the shade of this tree and watch the people that pass here. That snot ran away so fast up the steep path, he was out of sight when we followed him. I’m telling you now, he probably is an athlete and he resides

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somewhere near. There is a big chance that he will run around the park some time or other.”

Via the Grapevine

Crazy stories Anton Pan heard via the grapevine