Chapter 14
_______________________
The caravan stopped along the roadway for a break and lunch. Don landed the helicopter in a nearby field, joining them in the crowded RV.
Jane pulled sandwiches from the refrigerator. “We have roast beef, ham and bologna. Who wants what?”
The sandwiches were handed out as Vanessa opened a large bag of chips. “Hope y'all enjoy these.”
Tres asked, “Why?”
“Because they aren't making them anymore. Didn't you get the memo?”
“I guess that goes for just about everything. Food, clothes, toilet paper... I don't know that I like the sound of that last one.”
Johnny nodded. “We're about to find out what roughing it really means. We have the luxury of this motorhome right now, but it will eventually need parts just like everything else. And those parts will be hard to come by.”
Don said, “That's assuming that power stays out. I have to believe they will remedy that at some point. I don't think the generating stations are out, just the transmission lines.”
Mace added, “Well, let's hope they do figure this out and our trip out here is only for a few days or weeks at best.”
Jane said, “When we get to the cave, we should secure the area first. And then immediately begin a hunt for longer term food supplies. If we lock down those two things we should be in good shape.”
“Don, you pick up anything at all over your radio?”
Cam answered, “I've been searching almost non-stop. I don't think anything is getting through since we lost the short-wave.”
They were startled by a knock on the RV door.
Johnny pulled his weapon as Jane glanced out the window. “It's a kid. Maybe thirteen.”
The door was opened. “Can I help you?”
The kid gestured toward a bicycle with a large basket. “Want to buy any eggs?”
Jane looked-on with curiosity. “How many do you have?”
“Five dozen. Truck didn't show to take them to Petersburg yesterday or today and we're overloaded.”
Jane said, “How many more you got?”
The boy took a deep breath. “We usually sell five thousand a week. We've got plenty.”
Jane asked, “How far you live from here?”
The boy pointed. “Just over that hill.”
Jane looked toward the hill in question. “You vaccinate your hens for salmonella?”
The boy nodded. “Yes, ma'am, we do. Most people don't, but we do. My daddy says he runs a clean farm.”
Jane turned back to face them. “I say we stop for some eggs. They'll stay fresh for two to three weeks at room temperature if the hens have been vaccinated.”
Tres replied, “We've always kept ours out. It's a British thing.”
“You do know that most eggs are refrigerated here in the States because the hens aren't vaccinated, right?”
Johnny laughed. “Now why would he know that? That supposed to be some kind of common knowledge?”
“The Brits don't refrigerate because their laws say you have to vaccinate. I read it in one of the prepper magazines. Anyway, We could take a dozen dozen and be in egg heaven for a couple weeks.”
The boy held up his hand. “If you break 'em and mix in a little salt, they'll stay good in the freezer for a year.”
Jane pointed to the box on the back of the boy’s bike. “The eggs already packaged?”
“Yes, ma'am. Ready for transport.”
“Johnny, I'll be back in a few minutes. Taking the SUV on an egg run.”
“Hang on. I'll go with you.”
Jane shook her head as she set the crate of eggs on the steps. “Stay here. It's a boy on a bike. I'll be fine and back in a few.”
Johnny frowned as the SUV pulled away, following the boy as he pedaled his bike with all the power he could muster.
“Mace, you still want a strong woman? You know they can be stubborn, right?”
“She'll be fine. We're out in the sticks now. The people around here are busy with their lives.”
Mace picked up the crate. “Where you want these?”
“Put them in the corner of our room.”
Vanessa asked, “Brits don't refrigerate their eggs?”
Tres shrugged. “My dad never has. You all act as if that's shocking or something.”
Vanessa replied, “No. It's just you'd think they would rot.”
“I don't really know. I just eat them.”
Don said, “Next closest airport is in Lynchburg. We're in OK shape with fuel at the moment, but I would like to top off if possible.”
Mace said, “When we get close, come down and pick me up. I'll ride in there with you.”
“Thanks. I'd appreciate that. Most aviators are reasonable people. Although, with the current situation, one never knows.”
Mace looked over at Cam. “You play football?”
Cam shook his head. “Baseball. Second base.”
Don said, “He made all-county two years in a row. Was hoping to get him in front of a few college scouts this next season.”
The baseball talk continued for several minutes before the SUV screeched to a halt beside them. Jane jumped out in a rush. Mace opened the door.
Jane said, “Let's go. We need to get out of here.”
Johnny put his hand on her shoulder as she sat in the captain's chair. “Whoa. Slow down. What's happened?”
Jane covered her eyes. Tears flowed.
Johnny knelt beside her. “What is it?”
“I waited in the drive as the boy went to the house. When he opened the door, a shotgun...“
Jane looked away for a moment. “He took a shotgun blast to his chest. I got out, caught two of them as they came out the front. Two others took off out the back in a pickup. They had a girl with them, kicking and screaming. I tried to get in a shot, but they were moving too fast. The boy was dead. I went inside. They executed his parents.”
Johnny stood. “Mace, Tres. Let's go get 'em!”
Jane slowly shook her head. “I wanted to chase them down, but I couldn't decide on whether to or not.”
“You did the right thing. Don, want to be our eyes?”
“Absolutely.”
Jane gave a detailed description of the truck and its direction. Don and Cam were soon in the air.
Johnny said, “You stay here. Watch the RV and keep Vanessa safe. You've had enough excitement. Lock this place up tight. You should be able to track us from wherever Don is hovering. We'll be back as soon as we can.”
Tres followed Mace to the Jeep as Johnny peeled off in his SUV. Within minutes, Don gave them a sign the truck in question had been spotted. They followed as he flew overhead.
Several minutes later, Don landed on the road in front of them.
Cam ran up to Mace's window. “They went down this road up on the left. Third one. Go in slow. You'll come to a small building on the left. Park there. There's a road that goes behind it. It's short and dead ends in those woods. I counted three trucks and four cars down at the end.”
Mace nodded. “You two head back and keep an eye on the RV if you could. And thanks, Cam. You're good people.”
Cam half smiled as he turned to run back to his father.
As they turned off the main road, Tres said, “Twin Lakes State Park.”
Mace replied, “What? You been here before?”
“No, we just passed a sign.”
As the mentioned shed came into view, Mace shut off his engine.
Johnny was standing beside the Jeep. “Hear that music they have blasting? I say we park my SUV over there, blocking their exit. Then we make our way through the woods.”
“You go to the right, I'll work my way around to the left. Tres, you stay here with the cars. Give us three minutes and then lay on the horn a couple times. I want their attention to be focused on you. And, Johnny, take at least five mags with you. Seven vehicles. I'm betting we're dealing with at least a dozen people.”
Johnny pulled a small bag from the back of the SUV. “I have a dozen full mags. Take half.”
Mace nodded. “Kind of wishing I still had that Israeli gun. Was just getting used to it.”
As Johnny started to turn away, Mace grabbed him by the shoulder. “Hey, don't take any risks. That vest only covers your chest. Look around for ways out as you go. If these people killed that kid like Jane said, they're as bad as they get. And whatever you do, don't shoot until I've started the party rolling. This is my game we're playing here. I'm trained for this. When I have their attention, you can pick away at them from behind.”
Johnny nodded. “Let's do this.”
Mace moved cautiously from tree to tree. Working his way around the left side of the gathering, he could hear loud voices over the music, along with a girl's screams.
As he closed, he dropped to the ground, crawling up behind the base of a large elm. Five men and two women were standing in a circle with beers in hand. Mace took off his hat, carefully propping it against the side of the tree where it was in full view.
A man yelled, “Would you cut that music in half! I can't hear myself think!”
When the volume dropped, one of the women could be overheard. “We keep her and make her wash clothes. I'm tired of being a slave to you monkeys!”
A male voice replied, “You gonna share your food and beer with her?”
The woman replied, “No!”
The man shoved her in the shoulder, nearly knocking her down. “Then shut up! You got no say! Get back to your tub!”
An angry scowl was returned as the woman spat on the ground next to him. Mace quietly crawled over to the trunk of the next tree.
The man said, “Now, since the question has been broached... who's gonna start the bidding? Tommy?”
A car horn sounded three times. The group's attention was focused on the road.
Mace yelled from his location. “How about I start the bids! You let her go and I let you live!”
The men scrambled for their weapons, taking refuge behind their cars.
The de-facto leader of the group gestured for two of the men to work their way around behind Mace. Each was quickly downed with a round to the thigh as they left the protection of the cars. Each crawled back to cover.
Mace again yelled, “That was a warning! Send her out or we start picking you off one at a time!”
One of the men pointed. “There! Behind that tree!”
The ground around the tree where Mace had been erupted in flying dirt and leaves as a half dozen guns were emptied in its direction. Two of the men fell from gunshots to their backs.
Another yelled, “They're behind us!”
Mace squeezed off three rounds. Two found their targets through a set of car windows, while a third found the center back of an unlucky man who had taken refuge against a far truck. All three men were on the ground and no longer moving.
Mace yelled out, “The rest of you can live! Just send out the girl!”
Another man yelled back, “How about this! You shoot another one of us and we kill the girl!”
Taking careful aim, Mace's next round found center forehead of the man who had spoken. Johnny picked off another from the other side.
Mace counted feet from under the cars. “Six of you left! Not too late for you! Send her out!”
The tree in front of and the ground surrounding Mace popped and frizzled as his location became known. He stood behind his thick wooden protector.
Slowly leaning out, he took aim at a foot as splinters flew from the tree in front of him. The trigger was squeezed. A man fell to the ground. Three hot rounds quickly found their way into his body.
Mace yelled out: “That leaves five!”
The engine of a truck started. Rocks and dust flew as one of the women attempted an escape. Mace's first thoughts were of an unready Tres waiting back at the cars.
The windshield of the trucked shattered as a half dozen holes found their way inside the cab. The truck rolled off the road, crashing into a tree as the driver slumped over the steering wheel. Tres had made himself known.
Johnny yelled from his position. “Four! Time's running out!”
Two of the men sprinted for the back woods, zigzagging as they ran. A dozen rounds from Mace and Johnny could not find their mark.
Mace yelled, “Johnny! Stay your ground! I've got 'em!”
With that notice, Mace vaulted from behind the tree. Several shots were fired in his direction before Johnny's work forced the remaining two back into hiding.
The woods quickly opened up onto a small lake. The two men who had fled had taken refuge in an aluminum boat they had launched out into the lake. Mace stopped behind the protection of a tree as one of the men took shots at his position.
He leaned around the tree with a single thought in his head. Idiots.
Four slugs found their way into the slow moving vessel.
One man yelled at the other. “Row faster, dumbass!”
Mace took careful aim, popping another three holes in the slowing boat. The man in back stood, wobbling from side to side as he attempted to bring an end to the assault. A quick burst of three rounds found the center of his chest.
As the man fell over the side into the water, the rower threw down the oars and began firing at Mace with his pistol. No hesitation was taken to bring the shooter's evil existence to an end. With the lake cleared, Mace hustled back through the woods toward the others.
He came to a stop behind a broad tree. “And then there were two! Send the girl out if you want to live!”
Johnny yelled. “Better yet, drop your weapons and come out in the open!”
The surviving man yelled, “You let us drive out of here and we'll leave peacefully. We'll leave the girl up the road with your friend!”
Mace replied, “Girl stays right here. You want to leave, that's up to you. We just want her safe return!”
The woman yelled back: “Deal! You can have her! Just give us your word that you'll let us go!”
Mace stepped into the open. “You have it. Now go before I change my mind. Tres! Let them pass!”
The man stood from behind a car, opening the driver's door. The woman crawled across into the passenger seat with the man right after. The engine started. As the car began to move forward the blast from a shotgun shattered the driver's-side back window. The woman slumped over.
Two shots from a pistol came back at the girl as she pulled the trigger on the second barrel of the shotgun she had picked up. It was a gruesome scene as blood, hair and brain matter splattered forward onto the windshield. The car rolled ten feet before bumping another vehicle and coming to a stop. The girl collapsed where she stood.
Johnny was the first to arrive. The girl had been hit. Mace made a quick check of the other culprits and vehicles. The area was secure.
Johnny said, “You're OK. We're here to help.”
After a quick once-over, and with applied pressure to her obvious wound, Johnny asked, “You hit or injured anywhere but here?”
The girl slowly shook her head. “No, sir.”
Johnny half smiled as he lifted his hand from a torn and bloody shirt. “Bullet passed all the way through. Gonna be sore for a bit, but you'll heal.”
The girl looked up at Johnny's face before breaking down in tears. Johnny's heart sank as he thought about the horrors she had just witnessed. Her brother and her parents were dead. Evil had crept into her once peaceful world and taken the foundation of her security.
Mace placed his hand on his friend's shoulder as Johnny fought back his own tears, attempting to be strong for the girl. Tres pulled up in the Jeep.
HADRON Dark Matter Page 15