by Robert Boren
“Hey, Ed, what’s up?”
“You guys okay?”
“Of course,” Sid said. “Believe it or not, we’re still following the way the enemy came in last night. It was quite a trek.”
“Okay, then I won’t bother you,” Ed said. “I worry more in my old age, and I can’t afford to lose any more friends.”
“Got you,” Sid said. “We’re fine and we’re armed. It’ll take a while to get back, I suspect, unless this hits a highway that we can use to come back in the front way.”
“Clem with you guys?”
“Yeah, and Yvonne,” he said. “Clem was hoping to find a good place to put some surveillance equipment.”
“Oh, that makes sense. I’ll let you go.”
“Thanks for checking, Ed. See you later.”
Sid ended the call, then looked over at Clem. “You didn’t tell anybody you were coming with us?”
“Sam and Garrett,” Clem said. “Those two are probably wearing out their women.” He and Sid laughed.
“Oh, brother,” Yvonne said. “Minds in the gutter, as usual. Sam and Erica are probably spending quality time with Mia while we have a break.”
“I know, honey,” Sid said. “We’re just joking around.”
“How long does this road go, anyway?” Clem asked.
“There’s the highway up ahead,” Yvonne said.
Sid smiled. “Your eyes are so much better than mine.”
“Only for distance. I can’t track like you. Never could, even when I was young.”
“That’s ten percent eyesight and ninety percent experience,” Sid said. “Do you guys recognize that road?”
“I don’t,” Clem said. “Unless there’s a good fishing stream around here, I probably never bothered to come out.”
Sid slowed down as they reached the road, getting out again to look at the ground. He turned towards the Jeep. “Left turn. This looks familiar to me. I’ve been on this road before.”
“We need to find a sign,” Yvonne said.
“I know,” Sid said as he walked back over. He drove onto the road and sped up. After about five minutes they found a road going off to the right, with a street sign.
“Honey Springs Road,” Clem said, squinting to read it. “Hell, I’ve been on this road a lot of times, just never this far back.”
“Damn,” Sid said. “This leads back to Highway 94, but it’s a long way. We’ll get home faster going back the way we came. Kinda makes sense, though.”
“Makes sense?” Yvonne asked.
“That the enemy would go this way. The junction with Highway 94 is close to Otay Lakes Road.”
“Wow, that is a long way,” Clem said.
“I get it,” Yvonne said. “It’s a long way northwest of Dulzura. They stood a good chance of sneaking in without being seen by townspeople.”
“Yep,” Sid said. “Shall we go home?”
“Might as well,” Clem said.
Sid turned the Jeep around and they headed back up the highway towards the dirt road.
“Have any ideas on surveillance?” Yvonne asked.
Clem looked back at her and smiled. “Yeah, a couple ideas.”
“Let’s hear them,” Sid said.
“Step one is to put some small motion sensor cameras in the area by the break in the fence. The kind with radio transmitters.”
“Okay,” Sid said. “What else?”
“Repair the fence, and put some of those landmines on the far side.”
“Far side?” Yvonne asked. “Why bother to repair the fence? Wouldn’t it be better to leave the break in the fence there, and use that to funnel the enemy over the mines?”
Clem laughed. “We’d have cattle going through there.”
“Oh shit, you’re right,” Yvonne said. “Kaboom. Hamburger!”
Sid chuckled. “I can see putting one there, but we ought to look along that fence for other good places they might try.”
“I agree,” Clem said. “Those motion sensor cameras are cheap. We could buy about forty and stick them all over the place around there.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Sid said.
***
Jonathan was at his laptop, working the message board for Central Oregon on Ben Dover’s site.
“Hey, babe, should I cook a pizza?” Courtney asked.
“I guess it is dinner time,” Jonathan said, looking at her. She’d cleaned the kitchen and been very interested and helpful, after watching the video testimony of the California women.
“How’s the recruitment going?” she asked, sitting next to him, her arm going on his shoulder. He turned and kissed her, then looked back at the screen.
“I haven’t checked for a while. Been discussing it on the message board that Jared set up here. Lots of people seem interested. Let’s see if they put their money where their mouths are.” He clicked on the metrics link, and his eyes got wide. “Oh my God.”
“What?” Courtney asked, leaning in closer to the screen. “Does that say eighty thousand?”
“Yeah, and look at it ticking up. At this rate, it’ll be over a hundred thousand in the next ten minutes.”
Courtney shook her head. “Wow.”
“I’ve got to call Jared,” he said, picking up his phone. He hit the contact and put it on speaker when it clicked.
“Hey, Jonathan, how goes it?”
“Are you watching the metrics page?”
“Not for a while. We had six hundred people last time I checked.”
Jonathan chuckled. “Look at it now.”
There was silence on the line for a moment, and then a few expletives. Jonathan and Courtney laughed.
“No way,” Jared said. “I expected a decent turnout. This is insane.”
“Guess people are more pissed off than we thought,” Jonathan said.
“I’m cutting it by area code.”
“Good idea,” Jonathan said.
“It’s mostly 970 and 503. Crap, that’s Portland. Who did you contact out there?”
Jonathan chuckled. “All those death metal bands that I do sound for. Most of them promised to put links on their fan websites.”
“It’s gone viral,” Courtney said. “Wonder if we’ll get anywhere near this many folks?”
“That’s the real question,” Jared said. “Maybe we ought to leave earlier so we can help them organize.”
“Maybe we ought to get out of here before the authorities figure out who’s doing this,” Jonathan said. Courtney shot him a worried glance.
“Don’t worry about that, dude. The way this site is set up, all the info on the posters is encrypted. They aren’t gonna find out.”
“They might mess with some of the bands, though, since the info is on their websites.”
“Good point,” Jared said. “You’d better call them.”
“I’ll do that,” Jonathan said. “What time do you want to leave?”
“Get some shuteye, and let’s leave at midnight,” Jared said.
“Okay with you, honey?” Jonathan asked, looking at Courtney.
“Yeah,” she said, still looking worried.
“Okay, Jared, I’ll talk with you later.” Jonathan ended the call, and then tried to call one of the bands. He listened to the rings. “No answer.”
“Dammit,” Courtney said when he set his phone down.
“Don’t get too upset yet,” he said, turning to his laptop. He clicked on the link to the first band’s website. “Shit, it’s gone. Got a 404 error.”
“You just called their phone,” Courtney said. “If the police have that phone, they now have your number.”
“Son of a bitch. Throw some stuff in a bag. We’re leaving for Portland now.” He shut down his laptop.
Courtney nodded and got up, running into the bedroom for their clothes. “Call Jared.”
“Yeah,” Jonathan said, hitting the contact. It rang twice, and Jared picked up.
“Leave now.”
“What are you talking about?�
� Jared asked.
“Can’t raise the first band, and their website is gone. Now they have my number because I tried to call.”
“Slow down,” Jared said.
“No, we’re leaving now. If they know who I am, they’ll figure out about you and the rest of our buds soon enough. Warn them and let’s blow this joint.”
“Crap,” Jared said. “You’re right. Are you taking guns?”
“What do you think?”
To be continued…
Cast Of Characters
Note: some of these characters are not in the first book. They will show up later in the story.
Dulzura RV Park Group – Mostly retired people, but mixed. Full-timers.
John – Older man, drinking problem, but fighting it. Brave and strong.
Sarah – John’s wife. Doesn’t his like drinking, but loyal anyway. Good heart.
Clem – Old widower. Shrewd with sense of humor, and technically savvy.
Sid – Indian, capable, good man in fight, loyal, cunning.
Yvonne – Sid’s wife. Resourceful and brave. Younger than him by ten years
Harry – Older man, heavy, doesn’t move well, good negotiator and strategist.
Nancy – Harry’s wife, retired school teacher. Smart but has problems with stress.
Sam – Owner of RV Park. Middle aged, strong, wily, cautious. Former Navy Seal with some PTSD issues, which he has mostly under control. Good in a fight, knows modern military tactics and weapons systems.
Connie – Wife of Sam. Thinks one step ahead. Keeps park running. Deeply in love with Sam.
CHP Officer Ryan – Older officer. Brave, sense of humor, borderline redneck, good in fight, but has temper.
CHP Officer Patrick – Just past rookie status. Extremely good with guns. A little green. A little hapless. Good in fight. Brave to a fault.
Jack, aka One Eye – Barona Indian, friend of Sid’s who helps at the battle of Fernbrook.
Hank – police officer in the town of Julian. Older man, gray hair, feisty. Joins group after they destroy the enemy checkpoint in his town. Works with Jason.
Jason – police officer in town of Julian. Younger, fast with a gun, smart as a whip. Aggressive. Joins group after they destroy the enemy checkpoint in his town. Works with Hank.
Kaitlyn aka Still Pool – young woman in Barona Tribe. Curvy, pretty face, strong personality. Goes after what she wants, loyal and passionate, smart.
Megan aka Sage Flower – young woman in Barona Tribe. Tiny, delicate beauty, feisty, loud, aggressive, brave, smart. Wicked sense of humor.
Zac aka Sandy Creek - young Indian warrior. Brave and handsome, cunning.
James aka Crossbow – young Indian warrior, expert with weapons, especially crossbows. Brave, funny sense of humor, loved by the tribe.
Ryan aka Touchdown – young Indian warrior, brave, fast, CIF MVP in High School, great in a fight.
Tyler aka Quiet Fox – young Indian Warrior, smart, thinks a couple levels deep, quiet, reserved, observes and thinks before acting, usually makes right choice. Future Chief.
Nurse Grace – Emergency room nurse, taking care of Sam and Connie at the hospital in La Quinta. Pretty middle-aged woman, tough as nails and smart as a whip.
Kenny – warrior with the Barona Tribe.
Bradley – warrior with the Barona Tribe.
Silver Wolf – overall chief of the Barona Tribe. Older man, medium build, looks younger than his years. Total tech nut, very talented and inventive.
Kerry aka Yellow Bird – young warrior. Fast, too emotional. Unpredictable.
Shane aka Red Snake – warrior, a little older, family man but also great fighter.
Will aka Swimming Bear – warrior, early thirties, negotiator, helps Silver Wolf with technology.
Mia – wife of Tyler. Strong, beautiful, smart. Delicate features, hair-trigger emotions.
Riley – wife of Ryan. Very small, below five feet tall. Beautiful face. Has Ryan wrapped around her finger.
Abby – wife of James – heavy set larger woman with an infectious smile and a gentle, kind way about her. Beautiful face.
Redondo Condo group – Thirty-something
Robbie – Thirty-something son of Frank and Jane from original series. Brave, thoughtful, writer, shy, cynical
Morgan – neighbor of Robbie, love interest. Strong, more outgoing and aggressive than Robbie, pretty, transplant from Utah, good with guns.
Gil – Robbie’s best friend from High School. Hispanic. Good with guns, brave, sense of humor, cautious, protective.
Steve – Robbie’s friend from college. Smart but not serious, surfer, scrappy, good in fight
Justin – Robbie’s friend from high school and college. Sparks with others, temper, suspicious nature but good heart
Killer – Pit Bull – from Justin’s family. Strong, protective, dangerous to evil-doers.
Colleen – girlfriend of Steve. Beautiful redhead. Flighty, aggressive, but loyal and loving.
Katie – Steve’s sister. Strong, rebellious, great in a fight, beautiful. Justin adores her. She brings out his courage.
Cody – neighbor who lives across the street from Frank and Jane’s Condo. Friends with them. Tough reserve police officer and early resistance fighter. Large muscular man in his early thirties with a military style haircut, light brown hair, and a goatee.
Sparky – Morgan’s boss at the card club. Big, dangerous man with a shady past but a good heart. Protects his employees to a fault. Has underworld connections. Not a good person to mess with.
Ivan the Butcher – mob boss. Most people assume he’s from Russia, but he’s actually an American who built his organization in Russia and Europe, before being hounded back home by the EU authorities. Dangerous and unpredictable, but a strategic thinker. Childhood friend of Sparky.
Jules – right hand man of Ivan the Butcher. Belgian national, good in a fight, a little crazy but very calculating.
Tex – Friend of Sparky and Jules. Crazy with wicked sense of humor, great in a fight, brave to a fault.
Ted – Robbie’s boss at the restaurant. Former Navy Seal, tricked into joining the battle by Sparky. Old friends with Ivan the Butcher.
Bryan – cook in Ted’s restaurant, acquaintance of Robbie’s. Heavy-set large man, good in a fight, not the brightest but loyal and brave to a fault.
Jordan – black man, former Army Ranger. Near genius tactical expert. Brave and cunning, trusts nobody until he’s sure, then as loyal as the day is long. Wicked sense of humor.
Dana – beautiful girl who was kidnapped by the UN to use as a sex slave. Rescued by Jules’s team after the battle at Torrance Civic Center.
Karen – beautiful redhead, daughter of Gil’s boss. Captured and held at the Torrance Police Station with the other girls. Not sure where she fits in the group.
Tisha – wild young woman, former captive. Small, tattooed and pierced, fiery, hard to handle, brave and loyal but prickly. Passionate.
Alexis - a brunette with a hauntingly beautiful face and a thin build. Tough and loyal but with a sadness in her that she battles constantly. Valuable member of the team.
Brooke - tall, dark haired beauty with a strong build and a defensive demeanor. Lesbian. Protective of her woman. Fierce, loyal fighter. Touchy but with a good heart. Smart.
Audrey – Doctor. Lesbian, close to Brooke. A small waif with ginger hair and freckles.
Lily – a small blonde, willowy, with a delicate face. Has emotional issues. Bipolar. Suicidal. Barely survived captivity.
Shelly – short, perky blonde with a beautiful face and a way with organization. Valuable member of the team.
Ashley - Curly-haired brunette with a dancer’s body and grace, with a quiet demeanor. Not sure she’s up to the fight, but feels it’s her duty. Likes Jordan, because they both have the theater bug.
Brianna - a young-looking girl with an innocent face and curly light brown hair. Not very confident. Frightened by the war. Bryan is pursuing her, and s
he’s okay with it, but not passionate.
Haley - an ice blond with a curvy figure and a lot of self-confidence. Good fighter.
Allison - a redhead of medium build. She has a country look to her, innocent but with a touch of mischief. Expert hunter and backpacker, champion level shooter. Ready for anything. Will become a principle in the group over time.
South Torrance Group – Ages from 19 to 24. Well-to-do parents. Some recently on their own, some live with parents. Gun hobbyists. Immature but with enthusiasm.
Seth – defacto leader of group due to calm, easy going nature mixed with charisma. Gets along with everybody in group. Slightly more mature than the others. Has serious girlfriend, centers his life around her, in love.
Emma – Seth’s girlfriend. Beautiful, was popular in high school, aggressive, controlling, but nice, loyal. Needs Seth when she gets scared or upset. Doesn’t like Matt or Trevor much. Feeling is mutual. Likes Angel.
Trevor – talented, brilliant, great with guns, nutty, good sense of humor. Aggressive with temper. Likes to argue. Younger than the others by a year. Came into group as Seth’s friend, closest to him.
Angel – cynical sense of humor, honest and trustworthy. Hispanic. Lives with family, but inching out. Good in fight. Seth’s best friend. Pivotal member of group, head for business and practicality. Slightly more mature than the others.