by Mark Goodwin
Everett nodded. “Where’s Sarah?”
“I’m under the truck.” Her voice came from beneath the MaxxPro.
Courtney knelt down to look below the vehicle. “Are you okay?”
“I took one in the shin. It’s not bad. Kevin patched me up. I can still shoot. If you want to toss me your empty mags, I can reload for you.”
Everett removed his pack, squatted down, and slid his magazines to Sarah. “I’m glad you’re alright. There’s loose ammo in the front pocket.”
Kevin pointed across the lot. “I’m going to grab Tommy and those two guys. We’ll push the peacekeepers to the back side of the car. You and Courtney, be waiting for them when they come around. Try not to fire or give away your position until you have a shot.”
Everett nodded and led Courtney to the location Kevin had indicated. Everett took aim at the corner of the vehicle. He steadied his breathing as he waited. The prolonged firefight was wearing on his mind and his body.
“There they are!” Courtney fired first.
Everett followed suit. Each of them let out a volley of rounds to ensure the hostiles were dead. Afterward, they rendezvoused with Kevin, Tommy, and the other men.
Courtney removed her pack and took out a canteen of water. She took a long sip and passed it to Everett. “Here. You need to drink.”
Everett drank deep and passed the canteen to Tommy. “Where’s Lloyd?”
Tommy’s gaze fell to the asphalt beneath his feet. His lower lip curled and tightened beneath his thick beard. The lines around his eyes shifted, revealing his deep sorrow. “He’s gone.”
“I’m so sorry.” Everett put his hand on his shoulder.
“One of them heathens up on the roof got him.” Tommy took a drink of the canteen and handed it to Kevin.
“He was a good man. He helped us a lot.” Kevin took a drink. “We’ll get his body and take him home. Don’t you worry about that. But for now, we need to wait for the smoke to die down so we can get in there and clear the building.”
Kevin looked around at the remaining fighters. “Everybody reload. Drink water if you have it. Address your injuries and be ready to move in.”
Kevin dropped to his hands and knees and passed the canteen under the vehicle to Sarah. “How are you holding up?”
“I’m good,” she replied.
“Yeah, you’re always good. Even when you ain’t.” Kevin looked up at Courtney. “Can you grab one of the guys and help Sarah back to the ORP?”
“Sure.” Courtney squatted down and looked under the MaxxPro. “Come on, let’s get you out of here.”
Everett put his hand on Courtney’s back. “You can stay with Sarah if you want.”
Sarah winced in pain as she inched out from beneath the truck. “I don’t need a babysitter. Courtney is one of the best-trained people on this operation. And I doubt she wants to sit this one out.”
Everett knew Sarah was right. “There’s more 5.56 ammo in the back of Preacher’s truck. Bring as much as you can when you come back.”
Tommy pointed to two of his men. “Russ, you and Jimmy get our wounded out of the area. If they can walk, send ‘em back to the trucks. If they can’t, help ‘em over to the road then drive back and pick ‘em up in a truck.”
“You got it, Tommy.” Russ waved as he and Jimmy walked away.
Everett called to the men on the roof of the Life Sciences Building. “Elijah, you guys stay vigilant. It ain't over yet.” He wanted to let them know not to let their guard down without tipping the team’s hand and letting the peacekeepers know they intended to make entry. “Is everybody okay up there?”
“Stewart was hit,” Preacher said.
“Is it bad?” Everett inquired.
Preacher’s voice came back over the radio. “Headshot. He’s in glory with our Lord right now.”
“At least he’s in heaven.” Tommy shook his head. “Right after the disappearances, him and Preacher both got right. Lloyd might have too if I hadn’t razzed Preacher and Stew so hard about all of it. Lloyd’s probably in hell right now. And it’s probably my fault.”
Everett looked over at him. “You can’t blame yourself. Every man makes his own decision about whether he’ll accept the free gift of salvation. Lloyd had his opportunities. He made his decision.”
Tommy shook his head. “Maybe if he had just one more chance. Maybe if he’d known today would be his last.”
“Very few people know for certain when their time will come.” Everett sipped his water. “Although, when you’re coming into this sort of a situation, you have to know it might be the last thing you’ll ever do. We’re not out of the woods yet.” He put his arm around the big man’s neck. “And as of this moment, you still have one more chance to repent.”
Tears streamed down Tommy’s cheeks and were lost in his long beard. “I don’t feel much like I deserve it. Especially after knowing ol’ Lloyd is gone.”
“None of us deserves it.” Everett patted him on the back. “But Christ died to atone for everybody’s sin. Even yours.”
Tommy began to sob. “Oh, Jesus, I’m sorry. What a fool I’ve been. I’ve wasted my whole life trying to be a big shot. I’ve been a horrible friend to Lloyd and a bad example to all the men who looked up to me.” Tommy wiped his eyes and looked up toward the sky. “I don’t know how much of my life is left, but whatever there is, Lord, you can have it.”
Everett hugged him. “Welcome to the family.”
“You made a good decision. Congratulations!” Kevin put his arm around Tommy.
Everett looked back over his shoulder. “The rioters are creeping back out of the shadows.”
Kevin turned around toward the row of brick dormitories. “Yep.”
Everett surveyed the entire surrounding area. Men were emerging from the corners of the building and coming over the hill behind the parking lot. He watched as three of them crossed over the downed fence and began picking up weapons of the fallen peacekeepers. “We’re not going to be in control of this situation for very long if this keeps happening.”
Kevin nodded. “Let’s get the bodies of our men loaded up into the van. Make sure you get all the weapons we came with.”
Tommy looked around at his men. “Guys, you heard the man. Let’s go. And I want a few of those peacekeeper guns for souvenirs. Let’s get some of that gear too. I don’t mind the rioters having some of it, but we’ve earned our share of the loot.”
Kevin nodded in agreement. “Okay, but let’s be quick about it. These are desperate, hungry people. We want to be out of the area before they make entry into the compound and start scavenging for food.”
“They’ve got no training. If the rioters enter that compound, any GR troops holed up in there will eat them alive.” Everett watched as Tommy’s men began stripping the deceased peacekeepers of their weapons, vests, helmets, and boots.
“I know, but if we go in with an untrained horde, we’ll be the ones who die.” Kevin followed Tommy toward the van. “I hate to say it, but most of these rioters have the Mark. There’s nothing we can do for them.”
Everett nodded as he walked alongside Kevin. He knew they were lost souls. Yet he still felt compassion for them. He pressed the talk key on his radio. “Courtney, hang out at the ORP. We’re scratching the last part of this operation. It looks like the situation is going to take care of itself.”
“Roger that.” Her voice came back over the radio.
Everett hit the mic again. “Preacher, if you and Elijah can manage to get Stewart down to your entry point, we’ll be by to pick you up shortly.”
“We’ll manage,” Elijah replied.
Everett, Kevin, and Tommy collected the bodies of Bennett and Silas, loading them into the back of the van with the other corpses.
“Hey, where are you guys going with all those guns?” One of the growing number of men coming across the broken-down perimeter fence called out to Tommy’s men.
Tommy leveled his weapon toward the man. “We’re leaving ple
nty for y’all. But we put our butts on the line for this mission. We’re all on the same team here, so don’t create a problem where there ain't one. Trust me; you don’t want that any more than I do.”
Everett helped Kevin get Lloyd’s body moved to the back of the van then walked over to stand by Tommy with his rifle at a low ready position.
The man who Tommy had addressed grumbled and began talking to some men in the mob who were collecting weapons.
Kevin observed what was happening. “We need to move fast. Tommy, have your guys start exiting the parking lot area.”
Tommy stuck his fingers in his mouth and let out a screeching whistle. “Leave everything else. Get on back to the trucks and watch your backs.”
Everett sat in the driver’s seat. He started the ignition and put the van into reverse. “Hang on.”
Tommy sat in the rear with the sliding side door open, ready to fire in case the mob turned on them before they could get out of sight. Kevin rode shotgun and held his weapon out the window as a show of force. Five of Tommy’s men walked beside the van as Everett backed out of the lot.
Everett drove slowly down Wade Miller Drive so the men walking beside them could use the van for cover if a firefight were to break out. He saw elements of the mob entering the back doors of the GR compound as they pulled away. He drove to the side of the Life Sciences Building where Preacher and Elijah stood next to Stewart’s body.
Everett got out to help load Stewart into the back. “We can walk back to the ORP if you guys want to roll on over to the fallback position and meet up with the rest of your men.”
Tommy helped to position Stewart’s corpse next to the others. “Okay. We’ll see you back at the farm.”
Tommy took the wheel of the van and Everett slid the side door shut. Everett waved, as he, Kevin, Preacher, and the prophet walked back to the Objective Rally Point.
Everett’s body felt extremely heavy. He was completely exhausted. The adrenaline that had sustained him over the past several hours was gone. He fought to put one foot in front of the other as they journeyed back. He couldn’t think about the trip back to the farm, the long road to the landslide area, and finally, a grueling hike back across the rough terrain, made by the mass of earth and debris which slid down the face of the mountain during the Great Quake.
When they arrived at the ORP, Everett could hear gunfire erupting from the Global Republic compound on the other side of the campus. “I hope they finish off the peacekeepers.”
Kevin helped Sarah into the bed of the truck and then crawled in to stay beside her. “They will. Over a hundred people are in that mob. I suspect more will show up to fight for the spoils. At most, we’re talking about ten or fifteen peacekeepers holed up in the dorm. The GR goons don’t stand a chance.”
“I hope you’re right.” Everett closed the tailgate. “Sarah, how are you feeling?”
“Good, thanks.” Her face didn’t display the same confidence in her situation that her words implied.
Courtney turned to the old prophet. “Elijah, can you pray for Sarah’s leg?”
“Yes, of course.” Elijah put his hands over the tailgate, placing one on her wounded shin and the other on her prosthetic leg. “Everyone, gather around me.”
Everett, Courtney, and Preacher all put a hand on Elijah’s back. Kevin held Sarah’s hand and bowed his head.
The old man bowed his head. “Dearest Father, great and mighty Jehovah. We ask that you show your mercy to this precious child. Heal her. Restore her strength.”
Elijah continued to pray, but in another language. Everett assumed it was Hebrew. Afterward, they loaded up. Preacher in the driver’s seat, Elijah riding shotgun, and Everett and Courtney in the back seat.
Everett tried to stay awake. “Talk to me. How was Sarah doing? Emotionally, I mean.”
Courtney held her eyes open wide as if she were fighting off sleep also. “I think she’s worried that she’ll lose her foot. She had a team of doctors, custom-fitted prosthetic, and months of physical therapy when she lost her leg. The fact that none of that is available seems to be worrying her.”
“That’s understandable.” Everett watched the buildings closely for possible threats as they traveled through the burned-out town. “How are you?”
“What do you mean?”
“How are you holding up? We were in a stressful environment today. It’s not normal. I wish you didn’t have to be exposed to all of that.”
She shrugged. “Nobody likes war. But we have to do what we have to do. It’s survival. I feel about the same as everybody else I guess. I’m tired more than anything.”
He took her hand. “Me too.”
Everett breathed a sigh of relief as Preacher reached the Winchester city limit. Barring any unforeseen disaster, they were home free.
Minutes later, Everett was fast asleep.
CHAPTER 8
Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
Acts 3:1-8
Everett awoke to Elijah’s voice.
“Wake up. We’re here.” Elijah reached over the seat and gently nudged Everett.
Everett yawned and looked out the window. They had arrived at Tommy’s place. He glanced over to see Courtney sleeping with her head against the window. He stroked her leg. “Time to get up, sleepy head.”
She took a deep breath and stretched her arms. “I can’t wait to get back to my sleeping bag.”
Everett opened the back door and got out of the truck.
Tommy pulled the van behind the house and cut the engine. He exited the vehicle and walked over to the truck. “Preacher, I’ve got a list of the men who died. I need to walk over to the barn and inform the families. I need you to drive these good folks back to their mountain. I’m sure they’d like to get home before dark.”
“I’m low on gas.”
“Can you get them there and drive home?”
Preacher nodded. “Yeah, but that’s about it.”
Tommy patted him on the shoulder. “I’ll give you five gallons to give you a buffer. We’ll go back to Winchester tomorrow and get the fuel out of those GR vehicles. I didn’t see anyone with gas cans or cars in that mob. The gas should still be there.”
Tommy extended his hand to Everett. “Y’all did good work. I’m mighty thankful for your help. I owe you one. A big one. If you ever need anything, don’t hesitate. Preacher will be monitoring Stew’s radio. You know how to reach us.”
“It serves our interest as well to not have a Global Republic outpost nearby. Thank you for organizing the raid. I’m sorry it cost so many lives.” Everett got back in the truck.
“Freedom is never free. We’ll see y’all soon.” Tommy closed Everett’s door and waved.
Everett drifted back to sleep as he waited for Preacher to get his gas so they could be on their way home.
His eyes opened when the truck came to a stop. Everett looked up to see the pile of earth and stone blocking the road. “This is our stop. Thanks for the ride.”
“It’s the least I could do. You all be safe. I’ll be praying for you.” The man smiled.
Everett, Courtney, and Elijah exited the cab of the truck and helped Kevin get Sarah out the back.
“I can fireman carry you if you want.” Kevin watched her artificial limb a
s it came to the ground, and she put all of her weight on it.
She balanced herself on her prosthetic, holding to the bed of the truck. “You can’t carry me all the way to the other side of the landslide. Besides, it’s very rugged terrain. The least little slip and you’ll go straight down with all that extra weight.”
“I can do it. I’ll let Everett, Elijah, and Courtney carry our gear.”
She pursed her lips. “No thanks. If two of you can walk on either side of me, I can swing my fake leg from point to point. It will be slow going, but much safer than a fireman carry on such an uneven walking surface.”
Kevin nodded. “Everett, can you get the left side?”
He handed his rifle to Courtney. “Sure.”
Each of them worked with her, slowly climbing onto the mound of dirt, rock and tree limbs. The three of them developed a synchronized rhythm where Everett and Kevin would take a step forward then pause, allowing Sarah to swing her artificial leg forward. They repeated this process over and over.
Elijah and Courtney followed close behind, carrying the rifles and assault packs for the group.
It was an arduous journey, taking more than twice as long as it took that morning, but they finally arrived on the other side of the landslide. The team loaded up into Elijah’s old truck and drove back to the creek.
Everett got out and looked at the clear water. “I’m going to get some clean clothes, wash up, eat something, and go to bed.”
Sarah looked at the stream. “If you guys don’t mind. I’m going to clean up while I’m here. Courtney, could I ask you to bring me a change of clothes down from the cave?”
“Sure. No problem at all. I’ll bring you some soap too.” Courtney headed up the trail.
Kevin helped Sarah toward the creek. “I’m going to stay with Sarah and help her get washed up. I’ll get her to the cave and come back later.”
“I can come back down after Sarah is dressed and help you get her to the cave. See you in a bit.” Everett waved as he followed Elijah and Courtney up the trail.