"Go away!" I swung my shovel at his head.
He ducked my swing, then grabbed the shovel's sharp end and used it to pull me close. I had no choice but to let go and knee the guy in the balls. He doubled over, grabbing himself, howling. But the sound only brought two of his friends my way.
"Aimes!" I screamed when they took hold of me.
He'd just kicked a dude in the sternum and then rushed at us, his face twisted in rage. A quick punch to the jaw of one of my captors freed one arm, and I whirled on the other one and swung my fist as hard as I could. It made contact with his throat and startled him enough that he let me go.
"Can you climb a tree?" Aimes demanded.
What a strange, unexpected question. "Yes?"
"Then go. Hide!"
"And let you fight them alone!"
"If Connolly hired these
