Chase the Northern Wind

Webber's judgment had been accurate. Because the Carnford Fleet's fierce bombardment and the brutal close-quarters fighting on the docks had drawn most of the Sauron Army's attention, this relatively remote cargo yard and abandoned small-berth area on the right side of the harbor was astonishingly empty of defenses.

Only a few wounded Sauron soldiers staggered about on patrol, and even their eyes were mostly drawn by the firelight and clamor from the main battlefield.

"Quick! Charge with me!" Webber growled. Like a cheetah, he sprang from the shadows of the woods, keeping low as he advanced rapidly along the edge of the mountainlike piles of broken barrels and abandoned fishing nets!

Tom supported Mia, Jenny dragged Juan along, and Erich and the other three women followed close behind. Everyone's hearts hammered wildly as they used up the last of their strength to sprint after Webber!

"Who goes there?" A wounded Sauron soldier resting against a wrecked boat spotted them and shouted in alarm, trying to lift the short spear beside him.

Webber paid him no attention at all. Without slowing in the slightest, he swept straight past them!

Quick-eyed and quick-handed, Tom swung the wooden stick he had been using as a cane hard into the wounded soldier's face, knocking him to the ground. The other wounded Sauron soldiers either reacted too slowly or were too badly hurt, and could only watch helplessly as this suddenly appearing little squad rushed through their defensive zone like a whirlwind.

Meeting almost no real resistance, Webber's squad miraculously pierced the Saurons' weak right flank and rushed to the edge of the dock area!

Before them lay a relatively calm little bay, with all kinds of garbage and debris floating in the water.

"Look! There!" sharp-eyed Jenny shouted, pointing to a crude little pier