by Mark Goodwin
“We can lay down short three round bursts if you need cover.” Everett was very disappointed in himself.
“Not Courtney. She’s only got a twenty-round mag.”
Courtney looked down at the ground. “Sorry.”
“No time for apologies. Let’s just hope it’s Tommy and his boys.” Sarah held her rifle low and began moving quickly down the road.
Everett stayed close behind Sarah. Why did I let myself think it was okay to have a little fun? This is the Apocalypse. Literally. We’re always one mistake away from death. My carelessness may cost me my life. Or worse. It could be Courtney who dies. Everett shook the thoughts away from his head. Guilt and regret clouded his judgment. “Not now!” he said aloud.
“What?” Courtney was close behind him.
“Nothing.” He glanced backward. “Sorry, I put us in this position. I love you.”
“I love you, too. And it’s my fault as much as it is yours. Let’s just get through this.”
He nodded. He appreciated the fact that she didn’t blame him, but as her husband, he knew that the responsibility fell solely on his shoulders.
He listened as he walked. The noise of the motorbikes grew louder then suddenly stopped.
Sarah paused and turned around. “Do you think Tommy and his boys would be taking a break at the barn? Because that’s about where it sounds like they stopped.”
Everett shook his head. “Not Tommy. Some of his boys could be ripping us off, but I saw his face. His conversion was sincere and it was total.”
“You don’t think a hungry belly would inspire him to backslide a little?” Sarah seemed less convinced than Everett.
“No. But Devin, on the other hand. Who knows? That boy is capable of anything.” Everett thought for a moment. “Tommy, Preacher, and Devin are the only ones who know where we’re at. I’m sure Preacher wouldn’t be up here either.”
Courtney sneered, “It doesn’t really matter who it is. We need those animals to get through what’s coming.”
“Agreed.” Sarah quickened her pace. “We’ll stay to the right of the road and use the ditch for cover. I’ll take the position nearest to the house. Courtney, you travel down to the bend in the road and Everett you go on around another ten yards. You’ll take the first shot. As they are trying to locate your position, I’ll line up my next three shots. Once they figure out how close I am, they’ll be coming at me with everything they’ve got, so it will be up to you guys to pick them off.”
“It’s a good plan. I apologize for putting us in this position.” Everett followed Sarah toward the right side of the road.
“You didn’t know we had a surprise waiting for us today. I’m just glad we were here to intervene.”
Everett knew she was being generous with her grace. “Thanks.”
The three of them reached a location where they could see all the motorcycles. Six dirt bikes and two quadrunners were parked outside of the barn. Three of the dirt bikes had riders with helmets and long guns standing watch.
Sarah reclined against the left side of the ditch. “It looks like one shotgun, a deer rifle, and an AR-15. That shotgun will be bad news for me at this range. Try to take him first if you have a shot. When they start looking for you, I’ll take the AR next. The deer rifle is detrimental, but it’s lever action. He’s got to rack a round every time he fires. Get going and stay low! If you’re spotted, we lose the element of surprise, and we don’t have enough ammo for a prolonged, entrenched firefight.”
Everett nodded and began low-crawling along the ditch to his position. Courtney wriggled along behind him. They reached the bend in the road. Everett turned and put his hand on Courtney’s arm. He closed his eyes and whispered a prayer. “God. Watch over us. Especially my beautiful wife.”
She blew him a kiss with a smile. “Thanks. Now get going.”
Everett slithered through the mud, with his stomach in the dirt, using his feet and elbows to propel himself forward. He reached his position and slowly looked over the road. The rider with the shotgun was turned around with his attention on the two goats, which were bleating at having their legs tied together with a rope, securing them to the back of the ATVs. The man with the AK, however, was looking right in his direction.
“If I take out the shotgun first, the guy with the AK will see my muzzle flash.” He hated to venture from Sarah’s instruction, but he had to adjust the plan. “I can take them both before Sarah gets off a shot. I have to.” He raised his rifle into position at a snail’s pace so the man with the AK wouldn’t detect his movement. Once the barrel was over the edge of the asphalt, Everett turned the rifle right side up so he could take aim through the reflex sight.
A head shot was out of the question. The weapon wasn’t configured for a long-range shot, but at this range, he’d have no problem hitting the gunman in the center of mass. Everett placed the red dot in the center of the illuminated circle on what he imagined to be near the bottom of the man’s sternum. He took a breath and released it, squeezing the trigger with the pad of his finger.
Pop! The man dropped his weapon and grabbed his chest. Everett had no time for such an elaborate process of aim taking before his next shot. He quickly placed the glowing red pinpoint on the rider with the shotgun who was pointing his weapon in Everett’s direction. He fired three times. POW! POW! POW! The shotgun fell to the ground just as a projectile struck the pavement, inches from Everett’s face. Debris from the road flew into Everett’s right eye. He turned to the side, wiped the additional chunks of dirt and asphalt from his brow and eyelid then blinked his eye repeatedly to clear the obstruction.
He could hear the exchange of gunfire and knew he must get back in the battle as rapidly as possible. To lighten his load, Everett had also neglected to bring water, leaving him to rely completely on his tear ducts to uncloud his vision. Blinking several more times and blotting the corner of his eye with the back of his hand, he was finally able to see well enough to shoot.
He popped up from cover and began firing at the remaining two men who were attempting to get on a bike while shooting at Sarah and Courtney. The two survivors worked as a team. Both had AR-15s. One would fire while the other got on the bike. The engine of the bike roared, and the two men tore out across the yard toward the road. Everett let out a volley of fire at the riders who were heading straight for him. The man on the back of the bike fired at Everett while his partner drove.
Several rounds peppered the pavement near Everett’s head, forcing him to take cover. He waited for the bike to get closer then sprang from cover once again. He fired several times. The man in the rear of the dirt bike turned around to fire at Everett once more, sending a stream of lead projectiles in the direction of the ditch. Once more, he had to take cover in the recess of the ditch. Everett listened for the gunfire to cease then came up from the respective safety of the ravine. The riders were fleeing, but he knew he had to take the shot. The guy on the bike had practiced shooting and riding at the same time. Whether they were self-taught or had received training from the military, the riders knew what they were doing. They also knew where the food was and they would likely be back. Everett pulled the trigger. The rifle fired and the bolt locked back. Everett’s magazine was empty. He’d hit the man in the rear, but the rider remained on the back of the bike.
Everett hit the magazine release, catching the mag as it dropped. He dug the five rounds, which Sarah had given him, out of his pocket. Adrenaline pumped through his chest, causing his hands to shake as he tried to push the shells into the top of the magazine. One of the brass rounds slipped from his fingers. He expeditiously retrieved the single bullet he dropped and clicked it into place along with the other four. He racked a round into the chamber, stood up, and took aim. The bikes were out of sight. He listened as the engines roared in the distance growing less and less audible.
“Everett!” Sarah’s voice rang out from behind him.
He turned, first to see that Courtney seemed to be okay, then he looked at
Sarah. She circled her finger in the air, signaling for Everett and Courtney to rally around her. Everett bent low as he hustled back up the ditch to her location.
She changed her magazine. “How many rounds do you have?”
“Five,” Everett responded.
Courtney looked at her rifle. “I’m out.”
Sarah took the magazine back out of her AR-15. “This is the mag I took ten rounds out of. It’s all I’ve got.” She shelled five rounds out of the magazine, handed them to Courtney, and popped the mag back in the well. “That leaves me fifteen rounds. I’ll take point. One of the guys who went down had an AR. We’ll approach the barn, kick their rifles away, and Courtney, you pat them down. We don’t want someone playing possum so they can pull a handgun on us the second we turn around. We’ll see if we can get more ammo from the guy with the AR. You guys can take turns reloading your mags then we’ve got to clear the barn, inside and around back. Those quads could have had more than one rider each. The dirt bikes may have also, for that matter.
“Ready?” Sarah took point and raised her rifle.
Everett held his rifle low. “Ready when you are.”
Sarah tucked low and advanced toward the barn with Everett and Courtney right behind her. They reached the first downed combatant. Sarah kicked his shotgun away and scanned the area for threats. Courtney patted down his back side. Everett kicked the man over onto his back, keeping his sight trained on the body. Courtney frisked the man from the front side. His helmet rolled off, and Everett looked into his hollow eyes. He was sure this particular hostile would not be giving them any more trouble.
“Clear.” Courtney stood up.
Next Sarah moved to the man with the AR-15, kicking his rifle away. Everett and Courtney repeated the task of checking for a secondary weapon.
“Two extra magazines in the side pocket of his cargo pants.” Courtney held them up.
“Good.” Sarah took one. “Changing.” She switched her mag for the fresh one, tucking her other magazine in her waist. “Set.”
Everett stood watch with Sarah as Courtney loaded another fifteen rounds into the magazine of her Mini 14.
“Set.” Courtney handed the half-empty mag to Everett.
He removed the shells from it and tossed it on the ground. “I’m going to check the rifle to see if I can get more bullets.”
“We’ve got you covered. Go ahead.” Sarah pivoted from the entrance of the barn to the left side.
Everett pulled the magazine from the AR and extracted the shells. The rider who’d carried the AR-15 never got off a shot. Everett topped off his mag and slammed it back into the magazine well. “Set.”
The team continued to clear each remaining hostile. Once the task was completed, they unloaded the various weapons tossed about on the ground. The shells and magazines were collected in Sarah’s pack.
Next, the three of them stacked up at the entrance to the barn. Sarah nodded to let Everett and Courtney know she was ready. She entered quickly, turning left. Everett came in right behind her and covered the area to the right. Courtney walked through the door last and scanned the area. The goats and chickens had all left, fleeing the chaos of the gunfight.
Everett walked back to the stalls on the right side of the barn. His heart stopped as he peered around the corner. A blast from a silver revolver rang out, leaving him temporarily blind and deaf. He pulled the trigger of his HK repeatedly. When he looked down, two women lay, slumped up against the wall of the barn. He stood motionless over them. Immediately, the regret began to creep in. “Oh, no. What have I done?”
Sarah moved passed Everett, quickly clearing the remaining stalls.
Courtney stood behind him. “Don’t start that, Everett.”
“Girls. I just killed two women.”
“You just survived someone shooting at you from close range. And the only reason you’re still here is because you pulled the trigger. Sarah and I are girls. When we pick up guns and go play with the boys, we accept the fact that we’re not going to get any special treatment.”
Everett looked at the two lifeless corpses. “But they were just hiding. I don’t even think the second one had a gun.”
“Then her idiot friend is to blame for her death. The second she pulled that trigger, she sealed both of their fates. You had no choice.” Courtney put her hand on his back. “Come on. We still have to clear the back.”
Everett felt sick to his stomach. He felt light-headed as if he needed to sit down. “I’m feeling dizzy. You better take second position behind Sarah.”
“Snap out of it, Everett. Your meltdown is going to have to wait a few more minutes.” Sarah held her rifle up as she exited the barn.
Courtney trailed behind her.
Everett focused on his wife. I’ve got to keep Courtney safe. He repeated the phrase over and over. He followed the girls around the corner. What if he saw another woman with a gun? Would he hesitate? I’ve got to keep Courtney safe. Repeating his mantra, he was determined to do anything necessary to fulfill its purpose.
Sarah scanned the hill behind the barn. “I think we’re clear.”
Everett exhaled. The weight of what he’d just done hit him. His stomach churned, and he threw up.
Courtney patted him on the back. “Everett. It’s okay. You did what you had to do.”
“Thanks.” He knew she was right, but his mind wasn’t about to let the issue go.
Sarah gave him a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder. “We need to check all of the hostiles for a pulse and figure out what we’re going to do with the bodies.”
Courtney put her arm around Everett. “Come on. You’ll be okay.”
Wishing he had brought water to rinse his mouth, Everett straightened up.
As they came around the corner of the barn, Sarah raised her weapon “Don’t even think about it!”
Everett came around the corner to see one of the hostiles crawling toward the pile of emptied weapons. The bloody figure still wore a motorcycle helmet and was bleeding from the torso and the thigh. Everett approached with his rifle pointed at the hostile. “Lie down, pull off your helmet, and place your hands on your head.”
The helmet came off revealing the rough face of a young man, about Everett’s age. Everett was relieved that it wasn’t a female. It was the person who’d had the AR-15, standing guard, the first hostile Everett had shot.
“I’m dying. I need a doctor.” The man’s voice was weak.
Courtney’s training as a subcontractor for the NSA covered profiling. Though she’d never been directly involved in an interrogation, her analysis had been passed on to other agencies for the purpose of information gathering. It was understood that she’d be the one who would handle the questioning. “You’re a long way from a hospital, but I’ll see what I can do to help you.” She turned to Sarah. “Can I get some water for the gentleman?”
Obviously, the man was no gentleman. Everett doubted that such a thing existed on this God-forsaken planet. He’d just shot a woman himself. If Everett ever had been a gentleman, those qualities had been erased by the hardscrabble struggle to survive. Yet, he understood that Courtney was going with the old you-get-more-flies-with-honey approach.
Sarah handed the canteen to Courtney. “Everett, watch her. I’m going to check the others for a pulse.”
Everett nodded and watched as Courtney took a drink of the water for herself. “Oh. That’s good. You must be thirsty. Would you like some water?”
The man rolled over slightly, looking at the canteen. “Yes, please.”
“Okay. I’ll give you some, but first, you have to give me something. How many people are in your survival group, and where did you guys come from?”
The man lost his hopeful expression. “I can’t tell you that.”
“Listen, I don’t have any intention of going after them. If you have friends or family at your compound, they’ll never hear anything from us. We just want to know if we should expect more trouble.”
The man sho
ok his head. “There won’t be no trouble. All that’s left of our bunch is old people and kids.”
Courtney held the water out to the man. He reached out to take it. She snatched it away. “There are no little kids. The youngest people left behind by the disappearances were fifteen. That was two and a half years ago. They’d all be close to eighteen by now. Are you telling me you have a bunch of eighteen-year-olds at your compound? The GR considers that military age.”
Everett stepped on the man’s hand gently to flatten it out. He looked closely through the dirt and grime. “He has the Mark.”
Courtney glanced over at his hand and nodded. She stared at the man as she waited for an answer.
“Some. And some of the girls had babies after.”
Courtney shook her head. “I think you’re lying to me. The oldest possible child is a year and a half old. I’d call that a baby, not a kid. I hope you realize that you’re making it very hard for me to be able to help you. And that’s a shame. I’ve got water. Maybe we could get you patched up. Even in your condition, you could probably navigate a quadrunner back to your people who could probably take care of you until you heal up.”
Sarah called out from inside. “I’ve got a pulse on the girl in the barn.”
“Okay. This guy doesn’t want to talk. Why don’t you come out here and keep him company? We’ll go chat with the girl,” Courtney replied. She turned to the man. “I hope I don’t find out you’re lying to me. I’m going to be really angry. I mean really angry!”
“Wait. Don’t leave. I’ll tell you.” He held his hand up.
“Be quick about it.” Courtney took another drink and exaggerated her satisfaction from the water. “Oh, that’s good water.”
“We’ve got four people standing guard back at our place.”
“Where is it? How many males and how many females?”
“Let me have a drink,” he pleaded.