He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to visualize himself sailing through the air and grabbing its rungs. Instead, he saw only Issa’s face.
“Don’t you die,” she mouthed.
“I hear you, darlin’.” He turned toward the rooftop door and exhaled hard. “Enough running. Time to do what I do.”
Tanner walked back to the mangled door and centered himself in the doorway. The stairs were narrow, which meant that only one man could come up at a time. And one-on-one were the kind of odds that few men wanted with him. No doubt they would eventually overwhelm him, either with a lucky strike or by simply wearing him down. But not before he took his pound of flesh.
They appeared at the bottom of the steps. Two abreast, three rows deep. They carried rifles and shotguns, but upon seeing him at the top of the stairs, unarmed, they stopped and stared.
The lead man raised his rifle.
“Game’s over. Come down, or I’ll shoot.”
“Six of you. One of me. What are you? A militia or a ladies’ bridge club?”
The guard looked uncertain. “I mean it. I’ll shoot you.”
“You do that, and you’ll never know where your precious operators went. Try explaining that to your boss.”
That gave the man pause. He looked at the guard next to him, who shrugged and propped his rifle against the railing.
“I’m okay with teaching this bozo a lesson.”
One by one, the men set their weapons aside, preparing for an all-out charge.
Tanner bent at the waist and waved them on.
“Come on. I don’t have all day.”
The first man up the stairs fell back down them nearly as fast, his nose and jaw both broken. The second did a little better, landing a flurry of punches before Tanner drove a knee into his face that sent him tumbling down the steps.
As the next two men stepped over their fallen comrades, Tanner took a moment to collect himself. One tooth loose. Nothing broken. Issa had given him worse.
The third man was smaller than the other two, but twice as mean. He came in low, like a wrestler, hoping to either take out a leg or slip past him. Tanner knew that if he was allowed to do either, the fight would be over.
As the man lunged for his legs, Tanner tried to drop a hammerfist to the back of his neck. The guard was quicker than he had anticipated, and the blow caught him in the center of his back. It surely hurt, but it didn’t pile-drive him down to the floor the way Tanner had intended.
Realizing that he wasn’t going to upend or slide past Tanner, the man leaned in and bit the inside of his thigh. It stung like hell, and Tanner instinctively reached down to pull him off. Unable to get a good hold, he drove his fingers deep into the man’s eyes and lifted his head like a bowling ball. The guard screamed and pulled at Tanner’s hands, but before he could get free, he found himself toppling headfirst down the stairs.
The fourth man bent at the waist and charged, driving his head into Tanner’s gut. He managed to drive him back a couple of steps, creating an opening for the next man to slip through. Tanner slid a forearm under the charging man’s throat, but before he could give it a good hard yank, the guard who had slipped by punched him on the side of the head. Tanner’s ear burned, and the world wavered for a moment, but his grip didn’t falter as he swung the fourth man around to act as a buffer against the other.
One of the guards he had tossed down the stairs raced forward and crashed into the group, sending all of them tumbling onto the gravel rooftop. Tanner managed to roll away and get to his knees before another of the Watchmen tackled him. He turned and hit the man with three quick jabs to the face. As that man fell away, the other two lunged at him, using their combined weight to drive him to the ground.
He rose up and slammed the top of his head into the first man’s face, breaking his nose and jarring several teeth. Before he could turn to the other, a sharp blow caught him on the jaw, and then another below his eye.
Tanner reached up and pulled the man down on top of him, pressing the guard’s face against his chest. As he kicked at one man while squeezing the life out of the other, he thought for a moment that he might actually win the fight.
But only for a moment.
He watched as a fresh group of Watchmen poured out onto the roof, their faces twisted with anger. Fists rained down, and Tanner accepted that he was going to be on the wrong end of a beating.
Chapter 14
Issa stared down at the young woman lying in a shallow grave. A clump of dirt had fallen onto the sheet covering her body, as if the earth couldn’t wait to swallow her up. The other eleven infected women and girls, who only hours earlier had been doomed to a life of slavery, stood around the grave with their heads bowed.
Issa had not known the young woman, nor did she consider herself particularly religious. But she believed that no one should be put to rest without a few words being spoken over them.
“Rest easy knowing that those who harmed you will never know the comfort of a grave. Instead, they will rot behind the tavern, devoured by maggots and scavengers. This is all I can give you.” She reached down and tossed a handful of dirt onto the body.
Others followed suit, offering words of condolence for the woman’s suffering, or praise for the justice that the Almighty had brought about. When they had finished, the women filled the grave, using rusty shovels, spades, and rakes found in the nearby shed.
With the young woman finally put to rest, the group gathered around Issa.
The old black woman said, “I know Christen would have appreciated you buryin’ her like that.”
Issa looked back at the grave. “Was that her name? Christen?”
She shrugged. “That’s what she told me on the truck. Who’s to say for sure?” She extended a hand. “I’m Dolly, by the way.”
Issa gently shook her hand. The old woman’s skin felt soft and loose, as if it were three sizes too big for the bones beneath.
“Issa.”
Dolly nodded. “What now?”
Issa looked around the circle of women. They were staring at her as if she held the answers to all their problems.
“Now we go our own way.”
Several of the women murmured uneasily.
Dolly turned and looked up at the sky.
“It’ll be gettin’ dark soon.” She left the words hanging, as if waiting for Issa to offer a solution to something that was inevitable.
Issa felt frustration welling in her belly. She should be at Mount Weather by now, sharing her news with Mother and the other women of her settlement. Instead, she had turned into a babysitter.
She looked back toward the tavern and sighed.
“Those who wish to can stay the night with me in the tavern.”
Theresa, the plump red-haired teenager, said, “But what if the other slavers show up? They’ll kill us for sure, after what you did.”
Issa lifted the muzzle of her rifle.
“If they come, they’ll be joining their friends out back.”
Several of the women started to grumble, not at all certain about the outcome of such a confrontation.
Dolly said, “Issa’s right. If the slavers come, we can fight ’em with the dead men’s weapons. Together, we can protect ourselves. Besides,” she said, scanning the group, “how many of you have kinfolk on their other truck? Brothers? Sons? Husbands?”
Nearly all of the women raised their hands.
“I say let ’em come.” Her eyes narrowed. “And when they do, we’ll take back what’s ours.”
The women seemed to stand up straighter, Dolly’s words giving them newfound courage, even if only temporarily.
Issa watched as the group slowly wandered toward the tavern. Some held hands. Others looked nervously over their shoulders. They were frightened and uncertain about what tomorrow would bring, but they were uniting in a common struggle.
She took a deep breath and slowly let it out. This was a problem she couldn’t solve. Didn’t even want to try. As Tanner
would say, it wasn’t her fight.
Issa nodded, clear on what she needed to do. She would help them get through the night. After that, each woman would have to find her way, either alone or together. She had her own family to get back to, and every minute she delayed was a minute they spent worrying.
Issa sat up late into the night, staring out the tavern’s broken window as the cool air blew in. The Merkel rested across her lap, and women and girls slept on the floor all around her. None went upstairs to rest. Perhaps they couldn’t bear the prospect of sleeping in the same bed in which Christen had been raped and murdered. Or perhaps they just wanted to be closer to Issa’s powerful rifle. Either way, it was just as well. They were in her charge until morning, and having them close made it easier to make sure that one didn’t wander off.
Dolly slid a chair over next to Issa’s and carefully lowered herself into it.
She offered a friendly smile. “I imagine about now you’re prob’ly wonderin’ how in heavens you got to be sittin’ here.”
“The thought had crossed my mind.”
Dolly reached over and touched her arm.
“What you did, child, it meant somethin’. To me, and all the girls here.”
Issa nodded but said nothing.
Dolly leaned back in her chair.
“I know you got a family waitin’ on you. I can see it in the way you fret.”
“My husband and daughter.”
“What’s he like, your husband?”
Even thinking of Tanner brought a smile to Issa’s face.
“Not like any other man I’ve ever met. Strong, like a bull. And mean like one, too.” She shook her head, and her eyes filled with tears. “He’s the kind of man who makes you feel safe, like nothing in this whole world can harm you when he’s around.”
Dolly smiled. “And your daughter?”
“Samantha’s a special child. Smart, and able to adapt to any hardship. But somehow no matter what she sees, her heart stays as pure as gold.”
“Sounds like a real nice family. Me, all I got left is my grandson Jerome. He’s a good boy. Came back and took care of me when the pox hit.” She stared out into the night. “It’s my turn now, I s’pose.”
Issa offered a cautious nod.
“I prayed those who took him would come here tonight. That way you could kill ’em.” She looked out the window. “It looks like God’s not gonna answer an old woman’s prayer.”
“God does what suits Him. No amount of praying’s going to change that.”
Dolly nodded thoughtfully. “You think they’re taking ’em up to Luray? To sell ’em?”
“That’s what he said. No reason to think otherwise.”
“Then I s’pose that’s where I’ll be goin’.”
Issa eyed the old woman. She seemed barely strong enough to travel to Luray, let alone free her grandson from the vilest of men.
“You’d be better off trying to buy him back.”
“With what? My good looks?” She smiled, revealing teeth stained from years of coffee and tobacco.
“Do you have anyone you could ask for help?”
Dolly turned and met Issa’s stare.
“I don’t know, child. Do I?”
They looked at one another for a long time, neither willing to turn away. Finally, Issa broke the silence.
“You don’t understand. I have to—”
Dolly waved her words away. “No need to explain. I understand. I’m no one to you. Jerome’s even less. That boy don’t even exist in your mind. You go on and do what you need to. Don’t mind us none. We’ll be all right.”
Dolly turned back toward the window and started to rock back and forth in her chair. After a time, she began to sing softly. Issa didn’t know the song. Something to do with Christian soldiers marching off to war.
“I’m just a mother,” explained Issa.
“Yes,” Dolly said, leaning forward and placing a warm hand on Issa’s stomach. “And some might say a mother’s exactly what these women need right now.”
Issa’s unborn baby stirred, gently kicking Dolly’s hand.
“Lookie there. He’s a fighter. Same as you.”
Issa took a long time to answer, and when she did, there was a cold seriousness to it.
“I’ll take you and the others to get your men. But after that, don’t ask anything more of me.”
“Of course,” Dolly said, gently rubbing her stomach. “You and I, we’ll do this thing together. And when it’s done, we’ll go our separate ways. I think that was God’s plan all along, don’t you, child?”
Issa turned back toward the window.
“Let Him have His plan, and we’ll have ours.”
The old woman smiled. “Don’t you see they’re one and the same?”
“Maybe,” Issa said, rubbing her palm over the stock of the big gun. “The only thing I can see for sure is that ours is going to involve killing a whole lot of people.”
Chapter 15
Samantha stood at the edge of the trees, watching as a dozen flashlight beams swept the fence line. If they hadn’t already, the Watchmen were about to discover their escape route.
As if on cue, the radio at her side sounded.
Hardin, sir, we’ve found a hole in the fence.
A second voice responded, incredulous.
Are you telling me they’ve escaped? All of them? The workers? Their families? Everyone?
There was a brief pause.
Yes, sir, it appears so. Permission to push outside the plant to see if we can round them up?
A third voice cut in. The man was breathing hard.
In pursuit of… suspect. Headed into… pool room.
Hardin barked, Take him alive! I need to know where the operators went.
Yes, sir.
Samantha strained to see through the darkness. The Watchmen were closing in on Tanner. She needed to do something, and fast. She turned and looked at the families milling around. Duncan and his wife stood close by, but many of the others squatted with blankets pulled over them, the chill of night setting in. Everyone was wondering the same thing: what next?
Duncan’s wife, Carla, put her arm around Samantha.
“Dear, I think it’s better if you come with us now.”
Samantha turned to her, baffled. “What?”
“I’m sure your father will be fine. But until he can get clear of this, we’ll take care of you. We have a place—”
“You’ll take care of me?” Samantha’s tone was anything but appreciative.
“I only meant—”
“Which way is the highway?” Samantha said, slowly turning in a circle. She pointed. “That way?” She shifted another direction. “Or maybe it’s that way?” At Carla’s blank look, she said, “How can you possibly take care of me when you can’t even take care of yourselves?”
The woman said nothing.
Duncan stepped forward. “My wife was only trying to help.”
“I don’t think your wife understands what’s happening here. You’re not rescuing me. I’m rescuing you. My job is to get you to the road. From there, you’re to head to Spring City. As for my leaving Tanner to those men…” She shook her head. “It’s not going to happen. Not ever.”
“Okay,” Duncan said softly. “She meant no harm.”
Seeing the wounded look on his face, Samantha suddenly felt the pangs of regret. This wasn’t about Duncan or Carla. It was about Tanner and his foolish choices.
She turned back to Carla and said, “I’m sorry.”
Carla smiled. “No harm done.”
Duncan stared off into the trees. Without sunlight, there was a cold lifelessness to the forest. It felt like a place where someone might walk into and never come out.
“Can you really take us to the highway without getting lost?”
He was clearly offering an olive branch, and Samantha was quick to accept it.
“Sure, I can. First, we need to find the Big Dipper.” She searched the sky until
she found the distinctive group of stars. “There,” she said, pointing. “Now we draw an imaginary line straight up from the two stars on the far side of the pot.” She ran her finger up a few degrees, finally settling on a bright star. “That’s Polaris. It’s over the very top of the Earth, so it always points north. If we follow it, we should come out onto the road.”
“How’d you learn that?” Duncan said, obviously impressed.
Samantha looked back toward the power plant.
“The same way I learned how to do most everything.”
The radio squawked.
Hardin, sir, he’s beating the hell out of us. Four men down. Permission to use lethal force?
Negative. I say again, negative. I need him alive!
A brief pause, followed by an exasperated voice.
Yes, sir.
Duncan shuffled his feet, obviously afraid to offend Samantha again.
“We should probably, you know, get moving.”
She sighed. Duncan was right. Tanner would have to take care of himself. He had given her a mission, and he would expect her to see it through.
“Everybody up,” she said, sounding more confident than she felt. “It’s a good mile to the road, and we’ll have to move slowly to keep from losing anyone.”
“I’m cold,” whined a young woman.
“I’m cold too,” Samantha said, pulling the scarf up over her mouth, “but I know we can do it. Stay right with me, okay?”
The woman nodded, wrapping the blanket a little tighter around her shoulders.
Samantha turned and trudged deeper into the forest. Husbands held onto wives, and wives onto kids, as they followed after her.
Minutes later, Samantha’s radio sounded one final time.
It’s over, sir. We got him.
The hike through the woods took a full hour before the group emerged onto Highway 68. Children complained about scratches and the endless swarms of bugs, but no one did so loudly.
Dark Days Page 18