A hand dropped hard on his shoulder causing Little Jimmy to go still as a stone. He swallowed the scream that wanted to shame him. In the dark, in the shadows, all manner of debauchery collided. Good folks were generally indoors at night, safe from brigands and the walking dead.Although the townsmen were vigilant to keep the defiled ones weeded out, occasionally one or two would slip through. Little Jimmy shuddered at the touch from the dark. The hand was strong, squeezing on his thin shoulder.The pressure could have snapped his collarbone, but only held him in place. Before his heart could resume beating, he was ushered down the even blacker alley, where he was sandwiched between two large, hard bodies.Little Jimmy squeezed his buttocks together.He had been sodomized once and did not fancy the experience again. He wanted to ask who they were and what they wanted. If he had been a bigger lad, he would have demanded the information from his assailants, but his time with the smith had taught him that those who were big and strong were often cruel. He had learned to be as invisible as possible and here, all he could do was remain silent  and pray these men wouldn't kill him. If only Kell were here to rescue him, he thought. Kell was his hero, even though the man didn't even know he was in the world. Little Jimmy sighed, if ifs and ands were pots and pans, there'd be no work for tinkers.<br/><br/>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br/>Isolde slapped the reins on the horse,urging it to walk briskly but not to lively. She didn't want to hurt the woman in the coffin any more than she was. The hair on the back of her neck prickled with the small army at her back. They drew close to the walls of the city<br/><br/>"Stop, State your name and your business." the sentry called from the turret.<br/><br/>"I'm Isolde Devereaux, the healer. I have a wounded lad with me." Isolde answered.<br/><br/>"And where did you get fighting men?" the sentry called back.<br/><br/>"They are honorable men. I met them upon the road. They have helped me and have protected this wagon." she answered, shifting uneasily.<br/><br/>"So you say," he answered.<br/><br/>"Open the gate. Every moment we stay trapped here by the wall, we are in danger from the walking dead. I must get this one to my apothecary." Isolde called back to the sentry, standing up so that he could better see her face in the moonlight.<br/><br/>The wait seemed to draw out for eternity. Finally, the postern gate eased open and five armed men poured out to guard the gate. A sentry motioned to Isolde. She climbed down.<br/><br/>"You, your patient and your horse may enter. The cart will have to stay here." he commanded her.<br/><br/>Isolde gritted her teeth.<br/>"I will need help getting my patient to the apothecary. He is in the coffin and cannot be moved before he can be seen in my shop."<br/><br/>The captain signaled to his men. Two big ones stepped up and slid the coffin off the cart, shouldered it and headed into the city.Screams began in the distance but started to move closer as she slid the harness from the horse.<br/><br/>"Healer, you need to hurry. The walking dead are moving tonight.The full moon has called them and I'm sure they can smell the warm blood from you and these men."<br/><br/>.Isolde tugged the horse behind them. She had cleared the gate when she heard a man grunt. Another shouted and clashing swords meeting flesh signaled an attack. The men made short work of them and came in, securing the door behind them.<br/><br/>The captain held a lantern aloft, examining his men. The last man examined was bleeding from a bite wound on his shoulder. At a nod from the captain, one soldier lopped of his head. Shaking his head,the captain motioned for his soldiers to burn the body.<br/><br/>At the apothecary, Isolde lit candles throughout while the men sat the coffin on her work table.<br/><br/>"Thank you, sirs," she bobbed a curtsey.<br/><br/>They nodded their heads and turned to go. Isolde followed them to the door and watched them march back toward the wall.<br/>She latched the door and turned to the coffin.<br/><br/>"If you are alive," she spoke softly, her mouth against the wood. "I am not here to hurt you. I am a healer and I will help you. I am a friend. My intent is to help you."<br/><br/>She eased the coffin lid up, hoping for the best.