Trapped in Time 1: The Time Takers Read Online Free PDF

stood up and started talking. Joshua translated as he spoke. “Why are you being so selfish? You know you are the best one to lead. Do you care so little for us?”
    Linnae looked at Andy and saw him stare the Roman down. Andy was certainly brave. Maxus was dangerous.
    “I won’t lead you because you really don’t want me to lead you.”
    Joshua said, “Why wouldn’t we?”
    “Because I will demand things some of you won’t want to do. I will turn everything you know upside down and you’ll curse the day you asked me to do it.”
    The room was silent. Finally a huge Viking stood up and stared at Andy. He started speaking and Linnae translated, “It seems to me that we stand a better chance of not being killed again if you lead us. All of us in this cave are in a new world where everything we’ve ever known has been erased. My world has already been turned upside down. I don’t see anything you could do that would make me feel differently.”
    Andy said, “You will never be allowed to feud over honor again. If you harm or kill another person because they bring dishonor on your family, you will be put to death and there is no acceptable reason to defend you.” The huge Viking’s face showed his shock; then anger.
    The Samurai said, “What would you do to shake up my world?”
    “Every person in this cave will learn how to kill that beast that stuck its head in our cave.” The Samurai smiled until Andy said, “And that includes the women. They will learn how to kill and will be on an equal standing with the men.” The Samurai’s smile disappeared.
    Maxus said, “And me?”
    “You will have to follow the orders of a woman.” Maxus’ face turned red. Andy looked around the room and said, “I told you that I am not the one to lead you. Choose someone you feel more comfortable with.” Andy stood up and walked out of the center of the circle and went to his normal spot against the wall. The volume rose and Andy closed his eyes and hoped they’d quiet down. Suddenly the room grew silent and Andy heard a woman’s voice. He opened his eyes and saw Linnae in standing in front of Maxus yelling as Joshua translated, “There are only four hundred of us here. Do you think we stand a better chance with all four hundred fighting for our survival or just the two hundred men? Are you so set in your ways that you can’t see that we can learn to use that bow to defend us. You belittle what we can contribute.”
    A woman said, “I don’t want to fight.”
    Linnae looked at her with disgust on her face, “Then you should walk your behind out of this cave and see how far you get. It’s no longer about what you want; it’s about doing what has to be done to avoid being killed.” She pointed at Maxus, “It’s not about what you want.” She turned to the Samurai, “Or what you want. It’s all about what we have to do to survive. If we manage to live, and that’s a giant if, we can look at doing it another way. As far as harming another person…” Linnae looked around the room, “This is all we have. We can’t afford to lose any of us and certainly not to each other. You men disgust me.”
    Linnae walked over to the Vikings and stared at the huge Viking leader; he held up his hands and smiled. Andy looked across the room at Linnae and she caught him looking at her. She stared at him and he smiled and then nodded slightly. No one noticed the exchange; everyone listened to the warriors arguing about women using weapons. After two hours Joshua yelled, “We will discuss this tomorrow. Let’s get some sleep.”
    Andy sighed, “Silence at last.” He started to lie down but saw Maxus’ wife standing close and pointing her finger in his face. He looked across the cave at Togawa and saw all of the women around him had deliberately walked away and turned their backs to him. He spoke to one of them and she ignored him. He spoke again and she still refused to answer. He stood up and went over to her; she whipped