by Ricky Sides
Pete had radioed specific instructions informing Sergeant Wilcox where to locate the game trail that they’d followed. He’d added that they should proceed at their best speed, but warned them to be careful because he still sensed the presence of another hostile in the area.
Patricia informed the strike team of the approximate distance they had to travel to reach the other team and they set out on the rescue mission.
Sergeant Wilcox’s team found the others a few minutes up the trail and radioed back that they were securing the perimeter while Maggie and the medics were working to stabilize Bill so that he could be transported back to the ship.
The three medical staff members quickly removed the saturated bandages and placed much thicker bandages over the wounds securing the field dressings as rapidly as possible. Bill groaned and one of the medics asked, “Do you need morphine?”
“Already injected,” Maggie said shaking her head as she deftly tied the last bandage and stood as the medics loaded Bill onto the stretcher. In the vegetation to their rear, there was a guttural rumbling snarl and the strike team members pointed their weapons in that direction but held their fire because they saw no movement. As the medics lifted the stretcher, the foliage parted and another tiger came charging at the medics. Rifle fire erupted in the area as several men sought to kill the beast charging the helpless medics who had their hands full. Sergeant Wilcox and Pete both leapt between the charging cat and the medical personnel, firing their weapons in a steady stream of lethal lead. Incredibly, the big cat managed to launch its body at the two men. Sergeant Wilcox dropped his rifle and shoved Pete aside out of harms way. The cat slammed into the sergeant knocking him to the ground clawing feebly at the man as it died.
Even the cat’s death strokes were enough to wound the sergeant severely. He cried out in agony as the cat clawed his upper arm and chest. Strike team members clubbed the cat away from their leader with the butts of their rifles. When they had the cat clear of the sergeant, one of the men placed the muzzle of his rifle against the cat’s head and pulled the trigger twice.
Cursing at the top of his lungs, Pete worked at a hectic pace to cut away the remnants of the sergeant’s uniform shirt while Maggie applied field dressings to the wounds. Turning to the medics Maggie said, “Now I do need that morphine. We’ve got to get him stabilized so we can get these two back to the ship.”
The medic handed the doctor his morphine and a moment later the pained expression on the sergeant’s face slowly faded. The medics pitched in and within a few minutes, they had applied field dressings to the sergeant’s wounds. “Sergeant, do you think you can walk with assistance?” Maggie asked.
“Yeah, I can make it, Maggie. Thanks,” the Sergeant replied. Looking at the medics he added, “Thanks guys but it’s time to go.”
Pete gestured to one of the strike force members who ran up to assist the sergeant and then Pete personally took point leading the team back to the ship.
On the trip back, Maggie radioed the ship and informed them about the latest casualty and requesting that Lacey prep the infirmary for two patients. She would need plenty of sutures ready for both. She laid out a litany of preparations that needed to be made as rapidly as possible.
Jim and Tim exited the ship and went to meet the approaching party with another stretcher for the sergeant. The sergeant said that he could have walked, but collapsed gratefully on the stretcher the moment the two men opened it for him. They made better time after that.
***
Tim slowly took the Peacekeeper out of the area and headed away from town. He maneuvered slowly so as not to disrupt the emergency treatment being conducted in the infirmary. He found a nice open space that was level enough and set the ship down without so much as a tremble. There it would rest until Maggie completed her emergency surgery.
Maggie and Lacey were both needed in the infirmary so Patricia went aft with the two children to prepare the evening meal since the kids were hungry.
Tim gave a detailed report as to what his team had learned in town. Pete observed that the location they’d just left was within the perimeters outlined on the map. Jim pointed out that if the circus had been in town and some of the townspeople were hiding something regarding the circus, there was probably a connection, because tigers were not indigenous to North America.
“Well then we may have a problem, because the people of Jonesboro seem reluctant to discuss the matter of the circus,” Tim replied.
“Then the people of the town have the problem, because I sure as hell intend to discuss this matter with them. And after what happened to us today I’m not taking their silent treatment on this topic,” Jim said angrily.
Pete looked at Jim and smiled. “I like it when he gets angry. He thinks more like me then,” he said with a soft laugh. “But Jim’s right. It’s time for the people here to tell us what the hell is going on, and they know more than they’re admitting.”
Chapter 16
The crowd in the tavern was noisy, but when Jim opened the door and strode inside, followed by Tim, Pete and four other peacekeepers from the strike force, the crowd grew quiet. When the last peacekeeper entered and stationed himself by the door, several men glanced nervously at their neighbors. Jim strode to the bar with a sack in his left hand and ordered a bottle of the tavern’s best and seven glasses. The tavern owner asked him what he’d brought to trade for the liquor and Jim upended the contents of the bag in his left hand onto the bar.
“Bloody rags? You think I’ll trade you liquor for bloody rags? Are you insane?!” the tavern owner asked in outrage.
“Well now partner, let me just tell you about these bloody rags. They weren’t always bloody rags you know. Once they were brand new bandages. But today my men were attacked by two tigers while trying to help the people of this city. These bandages were taken off their bloody bodies so our surgeon could try to save their lives.” Pausing and looking the tavern keeper in the eyes he asked, “Are you telling me peacekeeper blood is worthless?”
“Well no, since you put it that way, here, take a bottle with you,” the tavern owner said setting a bottle on the bar.
“Seven glasses,” Jim said.
The tavern owner frowned, but set seven glasses on the bar and Tim poured the drinks. One of the men took a drink to the guard at the door and then sauntered toward the rear exit where he stood beside that door. The other patrons of the tavern didn’t miss this move. Jim sipped the liquor and politely said to the tavern keeper, “Not bad, not bad at all.” Pete was leaning back against the bar facing the other patrons biding his time and waiting for Jim. The remaining peacekeepers had spread out along the bar and following Pete’s lead, they had turned to face the patrons of the tavern.
Seeing Clem seated at a table Tim spoke quietly identifying the man as the troublemaker from this afternoon. He also gave the man’s location. This information was transmitted directly to the peacekeepers via the radio system. Spotting Bobby in the crowd, Tim said, “Hi there, Bobby, why don’t you come on up and join us in a drink and we can finish the conversation about the circus that we started earlier.”
Bobby smiled and waved. He started to get up but Clem leapt to his feet and pushed the man back into his chair. Jim stepped forward in the silence that followed and said, “Now that wasn’t really friendly.”
“I ain’t your friend,” Clem said coldly.
“I take it you don’t think Bobby should talk to us about the circus,” Jim said with a sardonic grin.
“I think it’s time you people left this town,” Clem said vehemently.
“Well, I’ll tell you what, Clem. Let’s make a bet, shall we?” Jim asked.
“A bet? What sort of bet?” asked Clem.
“I bet I can whip you. You’re bigger than me, and no doubt meaner. However, I think I can take you, so here’s the bet. If I whip you, then you tell me what I want to know about the circus. If you whip me, we leave. Sound fair to you?” asked Jim.
“Mister, you really d
on’t want to tangle with Clem. I saw him whip five men once,” Bobby said.
“Shut your mouth, Bobby,” Clem said with a grin. Then, flexing his muscles, he said, “It’s a bet!”
“Not in my tavern, men. Take it outside,” the tavern owner said.
“Sure thing, Jake,” Clem said and he headed for the door. The guard stepped aside and Clem strode out into the late afternoon air. Jim followed a few steps behind and the peacekeeper guard blocked the door before any of the other patrons could exit, saying, “This is one on one. The rest of you stay inside.” Then grinning he said, “You people really shouldn’t have made Jim mad.”
“Why’s that, mister?” asked Bobby.
“You’ll soon see,” said the peacekeeper with a chuckle and Pete and Tim outright laughed.
***
“This going to be just fists?” asked Clem who noted the big knife and pistol on Jim’s side.
Noting that the man was unarmed, Jim undid his weapon belt and laid it on the edge of the porch. “You don’t kick do you?” he asked.
“Like a damned mule,” Clem said laughing and then he asked, “You want me to not use my feet?”
“You can use yours if I can do the same,” Jim said grinning.
Nodding his acceptance of those terms Clem said, “I reckon that’s enough talk. Time to win my bet.”
Dropping into a crouch, Jim waited for the man to attack. When Clem didn’t move first, Jim began to circle around and move steadily closer to the big man. When he closed within arm reach of Clem the big man’s right fist shot out toward his face. Jim blocked that punch outside his body and darted in landing three punches to Clem’s midriff in rapid succession and then he darted back out of reach. Clem moved after him in anger determined to hit him now. He threw another right this time it was a right hook. Stepping inside the attack, Jim slammed the heel of his hand into the big man’s solar plexus causing him to gasp for air.
Jim quickly backed away and this time Clem tried to kick him as he darted out of range. Jim reversed directions and grabbed the leg with his left arm torquing his body against the trapped leg to destabilize Clem. Then he pumped his right fist up into the air and slammed his elbow down onto the center of the thigh muscle causing instant spasms of pain to radiate through the leg. Clem howled in pain as Jim kicked the back of the knee joint of the leg that Clem was standing on, toppling the giant like a felled tree.
In the tavern were gasps of astonishment and men began to bet drinks on who would win this fight.
Jim stood back and let Clem climb back to his feet. “Had enough?” Jim asked willing to end the fight there.
“This ain’t over. Not by a long shot!” Clem spat angrily.
Shrugging as if to say, “Suit yourself,” Jim stood passively waiting. Clem charged him with both hands extended. He was sure that if he could just grab the wiry Jim, he’d beat the ever loving hell out of him. Jim snaked his right hand out and intercepted Clem’s left wrist. Twisting his body in the direction of Clem’s charge, he pulled hard on the wrist while going down on one knee. As a result of this application of force, Clem was thrown through the air to land on his back.
“The Circus?” Jim asked.
Clem struggled to his feet and charged Jim again. This time, the Cajun planned to be ready if the peacekeeper tried to grab his wrist. Jim faced the charge head on, his feet a bit more than shoulder width apart. At the last instant, Jim shifted his upper body to the left but he left his right leg extended. His right elbow pistoned into the back of Clem’s head and the Cajun’s legs encountered Jim’s extended right leg. The man fell sprawling once more in the dirt.
“The Circus?” Jim asked again.
Roaring in primal fury, the frustrated man leapt to his feet once more and charged Jim. This time he stopped at the last moment and put his hands behind his back. He began to dance up and down like a boxer as he circled Jim looking for an opening. Suddenly his right foot pistoned up aimed for Jim’s groin but the sole of Jim’s boot slammed into his shin stopping the kick well before it could land. Clem tried to use the other foot and swept it around in a crescent kick aimed at Jim’s head. Jim crossed his forearms and intercepted that leg at the shin. His left foot stepped on top of Clem’s right foot, which remained on the ground and Jim’s left hand released the hold on Clem’s left leg. The peacekeeper captain’s elbow slid alongside Clem’s leg and slammed into Clem’s groin.
In the tavern, Bobby said, “Oh man, that’s going to hurt in the morning,” and then he laughed.
“In the morning, hell! That would hurt right now!” exclaimed Fred, who was also watching the fight.
“Yes and that’s why I said you people really shouldn’t have made Jim Wilison mad,” the big peacekeeper responded.
“I see what you mean now,” said the tavern keeper who was as interested in the fight as his customers were, since it wasn’t taking place in his tavern.
In the street outside the tavern, Jim walked over to Clem who was lying on the ground retching. “I think you’ve had enough, partner. Look, I don’t want to hurt you. We came to this town to help with your problem. Now, I’ll ask again. Tell me about the circus.”
“All right, just give me a minute to catch my breath. God that hurt,” Clem said groaning in pain.
A minute later Clem was able to get to his feet. He said, “We may as well go back in and I’ll buy you a drink.”
“That sounds good to me,” Jim said and retrieved his weapons belt and buckled it around his waist.
“Why do you bother with those?” asked Clem “A man with your fighting ability surely would rarely need them.”
“Never take a fist to a knife fight, and never take a knife to a gunfight,” Jim responded with a grin.
“You as good with those toys as your fists and feet?” asked Clem.
“My friend, Pete, says I’m about the same with the gun, but a bit worse with the blade,” Jim answered as he led the way back inside the tavern.
The two men walked to the bar and Clem bought Jim that drink. They both downed their drinks and then Clem explained what had happened at the circus.
The circus had come to town in the midst of the chaos when the disasters were at their worst. They’d been stranded here when the fuel ran out before a relief shipment could arrive. Most of the performers and trainers left. In the end, only the owner and his son remained to try to care for the animals. Meanwhile, the grocery stores in Jonesboro ran out of food. It got bad, very bad. People couldn’t feed their children. Crops were planted but the people had to wait for the crops to be ready for harvesting. One day several men decided to go and see the circus owner about his elephants. He had several, and the elephant meat could feed hungry people. But the owner refused to part with the elephants. The owner became so irate that he pulled a gun on the people. The town chief of police, who’d gone along with the crowd to act as mediator and make sure things didn’t get out of hand, was shot when he stepped in front of the gun to protect the citizens of the city. After that happened, the old man turned the gun on himself. He killed himself.
His son told the townsmen to take the elephants and leave. He was furious and blamed the people of the town for his father’s death. The townspeople took the elephants and left. Some of the men went back to the circus the next day but found everything burned and the animal cages empty. Everyone assumed that the son had set the animals free and left. Most of the animals were hunted down and killed for their meat, but the big cats were never found.
After hearing the explanation Jim asked all of the assembled patrons, “Is that really what happened?”
“That’s what happened all right, Jim,” Bobby answered. “I was there.”
Several of the other patrons declared that what Clem had said was the truth. The townspeople hadn’t killed the owner. He had killed himself because he’d accidentally killed the chief of police. One man stated it best when he said, “We aren’t exactly proud of what happened, peacekeeper. Two men died as a result, but we did
n’t go there aiming to rob the circus. We took trade goods aplenty including several thousand dollars in cash we raised, knowing that elephants aren’t cheap. But we did take the elephants and leave when the son told us to do so. Our kids were hungry,” the man said with a shrug.
“By any chance does anyone know what the son did in the circus? Was he a performer?” Jim asked.
“He was the animal tamer,” Bobby said in excitement reliving in his mind the show he’d seen when the circus came to town before things got so bad. Jim was beginning to realize that Bobby was slightly mentally retarded and he felt compassion for the young man in these trying days. At least the townsfolk here seemed to take care of him.
“He worked with tigers and such?” Jim asked Bobby.
“Yes, there were two tigers and two lions,” Bobby said in excitement.
“Well, the two tigers won’t be attacking anyone else,” Pete said in satisfaction.
Chapter 17
The crew was assembled in the mess hall for a meeting. Notable by their absences were Bill Young and Sergeant Wilcox. Maggie was present so that she could give the crew a progress report on the condition of the two men. Jim called the meeting to order and said, “Let’s begin with a report for our doctor on the condition of our injured crewmates.”
Maggie stood and said, “Sergeant Wilcox’s wounds, though severe, are not life threatening. He will have to let them heal prior to going on another mission. The danger of infection is great, but by keeping him in a controlled environment, we should be able to minimize it. We’re talking weeks of recovery needed. Bill Young’s condition on the other hand, is life threatening. Bill sustained considerably more serious injuries as a result of his attack. There is a great risk of secondary infection and as you all know, he lost so much blood I had to perform an emergency transfusion. Thank god, we had the blood types of Bill and the crewmembers handy for cross matching. Thank you, Patricia for donating. You saved Bill’s life,” Maggie said pausing as spontaneous applause erupted in the mess hall.