"What can I do?" he blustered.
Paulie raised her head again and looked into his frightened eyes. "Be a man, Custer. Be a man."
The door burst open and two Chinese soldiers ran in, grabbed Petrov under the arms before marching him out of the room. As he left, his head twisted back to where they sat on the little bed.
"I am sorry," he called as the door slammed shut again.
An hour later, the door opened again to admit Major Liang flanked by four guards.
"Are you ready to answer my questions, Sheriff?"
"I can't," Paulie said, feeling adrenaline surging again at the sight of the man. "I've answered all those I can, Major."
He sighed, then signaled to the guards. Two dragged Paulie to her feet and the other pair grabbed Marvin and hauled him upright.
"Where are we going?" she asked, unable to hide the fear in her voice.
Liang ignored her, merely spinning on his heels and leading them out of the room that had become their cell. Paulie found herself wishing she'd had the courage to relieve herself in the bucket with Marvin there. Just one more source of discomfort and pain in a body that felt as though it had nothing left to give.
They were marched along a dark corridor in the basement, up a flight of metal stairs and out into the bright daylight. Paulie shivered in the sudden chill after the stuffy warmth of the cell and allowed herself to be guided around the corner to the side of the building. She felt as though she were in the middle of a dream, just waiting to wake up and find that this was all nothing but a nightmare.
Nicky Friedman stood against the brick wall. She was clothed in a hospital gown and leaned back as if needing the wall's support to remain upright. Paulie gasped when she saw the ruin that Friedman's face had become, her all-American good looks and blonde hair destroyed. But not her spirit. Friedman expressed no surprise when she recognized Paulie and Marvin. Her face remained impassive, as if she had been dosed with sedatives.
At a nod from Liang, two of their guards detached themselves and went to join the pair who were lined up in front of Friedman. They stood at attention, awaiting the command.
Custer Petrov was also there. Paulie assumed he'd been given the job of bringing Friedman here to face her death. His round face was gray with terror as he beckoned to his two guards to follow him.
"No, Petrov," Liang barked. "You will remain and witness what happens to those who oppose the People's Republic of China."
Petrov slunk into a position behind the firing squad as Paulie and Marvin watched from just behind the major.
"Now, you have one final opportunity to answer my questions, Sheriff. I believe you, at least, know something of our secret weapon and I require you to tell me or your deputy here will die."
"You expect me to believe you'll spare us if I tell you what you want to know?"
An evil smile crept across his face. "No, you at least will face the firing squad, Sheriff. But if you satisfy me, I will order the release of your deputies."
She felt Marvin tense. "You don't believe this maniac, do you?" he murmured as Liang turned back to the firing squad and barked an order in Chinese. The soldiers raised their weapons.
Paulie exchanged a glance with Marvin, trying to point to the guards behind them with her eyes. It was a desperate move, but she wasn't prepared to stand and watch her friend die without trying to intervene. She thought he gave a tiny nod, but then Liang raised his hand to the firing squad and called over his shoulder, "This is your final warning, Sheriff. Cooperate now, or she dies, followed by your accomplice."
Friedman let out a desperate moan as she seemed to finally register the guns pointing at her and shrank against the wall.
"Very well," Liang said, before drawing in a deep breath, "Hu—"
Paulie stabbed back with her elbow and caught her guard in the midriff, the man folded with a moan and fell to the floor as Marvin's fist connected with his guard's jaw.
In the same instant, Liang's arm fell and shots rang out. But Friedman still stood cowering against the wall as two members of the firing squad fell to the ground. Paulie leaped at Liang, but he slipped out of her grip as Marvin wrestled with one of the guards for control of his weapon.
As Liang spun away, Paulie grabbed his handgun and felled her guard who was struggling to his feet. All this had happened in a few seconds and the surviving members of the firing squad were taking cover. More shots, and now Paulie could see that they were coming from the window of the room they'd hidden in two days before.
"Wally!" she called.
Two huge shapes emerged from the shadows, followed by Custer Petrov. They fell upon the remaining soldiers, beating them with their bare hands and shouting curses in Russian as Petrov grabbed their weapons.
Marvin silenced his opponent with a final mighty punch and then looked up. "He's getting away!"
Paulie aimed at the retreating back of Liang, but her shot with the unfamiliar Chinese weapon went wide.
"Cease fire!" she called, waving to the open window that hid Wally Hammond who, it seemed, was a deadly accurate shot. Four Chinese soldiers lay dead and two others wounded.
"Marvin, deal with the survivors," she barked.
"What d'you mean, Sheriff? Finish 'em off?"
"No! Tie them up and throw them in one of the shops opposite, we'll deal with them later."
She ran over to Friedman and embraced her. "It's okay, Nicky," she murmured. "We're here. You're safe."
Wally's friend Maggie came scampering across the street and guided Friedman away.
Paulie broke off and ran back toward the department store entrance, a sudden dreadful thought cutting through every other.
"Where are you goin'?" Marvin called.
"We've got to get Liang!" she replied. "Petrov, bring your men! Come on!"
In her mind's eye, she saw the Reaper. Liang would have the codes to activate it and if that thing got loose, they would all die.
Chapter 7
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base had been transformed since Solly had last been there on his journey back from Arbroath. Where it had once been a rump of its former self, with personnel occupying only one small defensible corner, it had now expanded outwards as the call to arms was answered by service personnel, veterans and volunteers.
"I'm sorry about the boy," Colonel McBride said as he watched his assistant, a young lieutenant by the name of Khan, pour the coffee.
Solly sighed. "I appreciate your doctors taking a look at him. At least we know it's unlikely to get any worse."
"Or any better," McBride said. "Do you wish to leave him here in our care?"
"I do, but he won't even consider it."
McBride sipped at his coffee. "Does he have a choice in the matter?"
"Call it cowardice if you like, but I'm not going to refuse to take him along with me. Last time I did that, I lost someone I loved dearly."
"Janice. Yes, I understand the desire to keep family close."
The colonel's normally impassive face softened and Solly thought he saw his eyes moisten. "So many people have lost so much," McBride continued. "But we must look to the future, such as it is. Will you do as I ask?"
"I will. We're heading south and I'm happy to leave a trail of transmitters behind us."
"Good. Sheriff Ramos has done a good job to the west and we have others heading to all points of the compass. Events are moving quickly, Mr. Masters, and we must have information if we are to act. We are the ears and eyes of the new government."
Solly swallowed a mouthful of coffee—hand roasted if he was any judge. "What's the latest from DC?"
McBride's eyes narrowed a little. "Well, I suppose I can be frank with you. I'd be happier if you were a military man, Mr. Masters—"
"Oh, I doubt that, Colonel," Solly said with a smile. "I think I'd make a pretty lousy soldier."
"Once, maybe. The first time we met, I dismissed you as just one more agent of chaos I didn't need, but you have changed. The fact that you came here ra
ther than taking the direct route to Texas proves that you are thinking more strategically and of more than just yourself."
Solly shrugged, feeling his cheeks warm at the unexpected compliment. "I wanted Ross to be examined by a qualified doctor and, in any case, I'd hoped your tech guys would be able to reactivate Alison."
"Yes, that's been disappointing. But, as for DC, it's resisting the Lee Corp's stranglehold so far, but there's growing unrest as more and more people come in. It seems DC's been reinforced by a contingent from the Pennsylvania National Guard—also your doing, I believe. You are something of a catalyst, Mr. Masters. DC can survive for a while at least, but we need intelligence if we're to act against the Lee Corporation and our other enemies."
Downing the last of his coffee, Solly said, "I certainly seem to attract trouble everywhere I go, Colonel, so the sooner I'm back on the road, the better."
They headed south on I-675, skirting the eastern side of Dayton and aiming for the 75 which would take them to Cincinnati. The first ten miles of roads had been cleared by McBride's forces and the suburbs they passed through also seemed to be organized and well kept. Many people heading for DC from the south and west had stopped here, in the protective shadow of the base, and were reestablishing the city piece by piece.
Soon enough, however, they were on Route 75 and, by nightfall, they'd arrived at McBride's forward base on the north side of the Ohio River. A detachment of around one hundred soldiers had occupied a gas station opposite a hotel that they were using for accommodation.
Solly pulled the Humvee into the forecourt and was half-blinded by an arc light that was turned in their direction. A face appeared at the door, and Solly was aware of rifle muzzles pointed at him from the darkness. He handed over the pass and orders McBride had given him and watched as the sentry examined them under a flashlight and then peered suspiciously into the vehicle.
"Please get out of the vehicle while we search it," he said with a brusqueness that, Solly thought, didn't quite hide an edge of fear.
Hands raised, Solly and Vivian got down.
"You too!" the sentry called out to Ross, who'd sat motionless.
"He can't walk," Solly said quietly. "Give us a moment to get him out."
They felt suspicious eyes on them as they pulled the wheelchair out of the back and unfolded it. "Come on, son," Solly said as he helped a red-faced Ross down from the passenger's seat and into the chair.
Half a dozen personnel swooped on the Humvee, one checking the outside, one beneath and four the interior. "Clear," they called in turn.
"You may proceed," the sentry said, "but all weapons must be left in the vehicle. You may refuel, then park over there and report to Lieutenant Bryant across the road."
"Thank you," Solly said. He thought he saw a flicker on the man's face, but the mask was on tight. He looked as though he was barely functioning, but whether that was due to stress or lack of sleep, he couldn't tell. The poor devil had probably only pulled a military uniform on for the first time after the Long Night. He'd probably been an accountant in the old world.
Solly examined a sooty patch on the outer wall of the hotel and a mound of debris beside the entrance as his pass was again checked by a guard before he was shown inside.
Lieutenant Bryant came out of the office he'd commandeered and offered a weary hand to Solly.
"Have we arrived at a bad time?" Solly asked.
"What? Oh. Yes," Bryant responded. "We're at FPCON Charlie. There was an attack on the hotel yesterday. No friendly casualties, but they tried to ram the main entrance."
"No wonder your sentries are jittery. Would it be better if we left immediately?"
Bryant scribbled a signature on the clipboard he was carrying and handed it to a waiting soldier. "Tell Kamau to bring the guard rotation forward an hour," he said before returning the salute and watching the man march off.
"Honestly Mr…I'm sorry…"
"Solly Masters, Lieutenant."
Bryant nodded and then tried to crack a smile, but only succeeded in making his exhaustion all the more obvious. "Of course. It would be safer for you to be elsewhere, I think. My advice is to get across the river and south of the city before you stop for the night. Even a Humvee isn't safe in the city."
"What's going on here?"
"I'm not sure," Bryant said, shrugging. "We set up the outpost to guard the gas station. We've been using it as a fuel dump for operations to the south of Wright-Patt. Some of the local politicians have been trying to set up an administration and they welcomed us; we even provided some gas to the local population. Then yesterday's attack happened, completely out of the blue."
"Any idea why?"
He shook his head. "No. One driver in a van. We didn't find anything on him or in the vehicle, except the IED on the driver's seat."
"I've got a bad feelin' about this place, Solly," Vivian said, tugging on his arm. "Let's go. We can camp somewhere once we're out of the city."
Solly couldn't help thinking she was right. He was not a sensitive soul, himself, and had always been suspicious of gut feelings and intuition, but his spider sense was tingling.
"Perhaps some people don't like the idea of any sort of normality being established," Bryant said, as if he hadn't heard Vivian's words. "We're only trying to help."
"Have you contacted Colonel McBride?"
"Yes, we should have reinforcements tomorrow. Good luck, Mr…"
"Masters," Solly said, shaking hands with the officer before grabbing the handles of Ross's chair and swinging him around.
The lieutenant was marching back to his office before they'd left the building.
"This place gives me the creeps," Ross said as he was guided across the road, aware they were being watched by guards in every direction.
The sentry who'd greeted them earlier had received directions by radio and was waiting for them when they walked into the forecourt. He escorted them to the Humvee and helped Ross get back into the passenger seat.
"Thanks," Solly said as they stepped back.
The guard nodded and Solly put out his hand then noticed movement over the guard's shoulder.
"Who's that?"
A figure in black was walking with determined purpose towards the gas pumps, from the direction of the river.
The guard spun around and immediately went for his sidearm. "Halt!" he called, running off into the darkness.
Without thinking, Solly grabbed his Glock out of the glove compartment and sprinted after him.
The figure in black appeared from behind the forecourt, ignoring all orders to stop.
Shots punched the darkness and the figure stumbled backwards but then righted itself and moved forward again. Bulletproof vest!
It appeared between two pillars and Solly realized he was the only one with a clear shot. He raised his Glock, aiming for the legs. Then he saw. The figure was female, there could be no doubt about it. What had he become, that he would open fire on a woman?
Whatever he'd become, he squeezed the trigger just as she plunged her hand into a pocket and she was instantly engulfed in a thunderous ball of flame that expanded in all directions. Solly dived sideways and ended up in a heap behind a trash can as heat licked at his boots. Stinking smoke filled his lungs and he retched before pushing his face to the ground and sucking in cleaner air. Cries erupted from all around as he pulled himself to his feet.
The sentry who'd helped Ross into the car was on the ground. He'd been closer to the woman and had taken the full brunt of the fireball.
"I can't feel anything!" he was crying, over and over. The skin of his face was a blackened ruin and any moment now the pain would engulf him, followed by the threat of shock.
"Solly! You okay?" Vivian was calling out to him and Solly could also hear Ross's voice in the distance.
"I'm fine. Get a medic, quick!"
She had hardly run five paces when the guard gripped Solly's hand. "John. My name's John Summerton."
"Okay, John. We're going t
o get help."
"How are the others?"
"I haven't checked them," Solly said. "I didn't want to leave you."
"You did the right thing. Any closer and the whole gas station would have gone up. Go help the others."
Solly hauled himself to his feet and ran over to the nearest prone form. He didn't need to get too close to know that he couldn't help that soldier.
He heard the thudding of boots and a figure bent down to examine the third soldier before almost immediately getting up again and running over to Solly.
"Are you hurt?"
"No. This one's gone, but Summerton's alive," Solly said, pointing behind him.
After no more than a cursory glance at the body, the medic passed Solly who got up just in time to see Lieutenant Bryant running through the clearing smoke.
"Form a perimeter!" he barked as the rest of his contingent fanned out.
"Be careful," Solly said, "Vivian and Ross are over there."
"What happened?" Bryant said.
"Suicide bomber. Aiming for the gas pumps."
The medic appeared on Solly's shoulder. "Summerton should live, but we need to get him inside, sir."
When Bryant had barked his orders, the medic said, "He wants to give his report, sir."
Bryant nodded and Solly watched as he knelt beside Summerton's form, leaning close to listen.
"It seems we have you to thank for preventing total disaster here, Mr. Masters," Bryant said, all the weariness and indecision banished by adrenaline.
"Two men are dead," Solly responded. "If I'd shot sooner…"
Bryant took his hand and shook it. "I knew those men and no one in this twisted new world will mourn their deaths more than me, but if you hadn't taken that action, we'd have lost far more people and a strategic fuel supply. I'm going to get Summerton inside and leave him with the medic and one guard. The rest of us are going to put a ring of steel around this dump. I can't order you to help, but I'd sure appreciate it."
Bryant had a dozen personnel—not counting Solly, Vivian and Ross—and a military transport, so his ring of steel was badly perforated. He arranged his forces in pairs, each of which was tasked with building some sort of cover for themselves from whatever they could find.
Betrayed: Book 5 in the Thrilling Post-Apocalyptic Survival series: (The Long Night - Book 5) Page 6