by C A Gleason
Doreen tugged at the bottom whiskers of his long brown beard. “We’re going to have to do something about this soon. It’s out of control.”
“Ow. Hey, it ain’t even summer yet.”
“Oh, I see. Those are the rules, huh? You get to look like a barbarian until then?” She studied him. “We’re not staying, are we?”
Jonah shook his head.
“I didn’t think so.”
Jonah wasn’t about to explain because there was no definitive plan, but they couldn’t remain here. His mission to find a safer place to live had failed. It didn’t mean the next mission attempting to accomplish the same thing would.
She gave him another peck on the lips, another squeeze, and then went to Heike. “Now we can pack appropriately.”
“Not yet though, right, Mom?” Heike whined.
Doreen turned, and Jonah shook his head.
“No,” Doreen said to Heike. “Not quite yet. In the meantime, you’ll need to think about which games you want to bring along.”
“How many can I choose?”
“Two.”
“Two?” Heike tucked herself under her mom’s arm. “OK, I’ll think about it and then choose my favorites.”
Although they already embraced before in the UV on the ride to the cabin, Henry gave Jonah a handshake capable of breaking bones. “You kept my girls safe. Thank you.”
“Whatever it takes.”
Henry grinned, and nodded. Another signal of gratitude but this one even more meaningful. It was a hell of a feeling to know Henry approved of him. Jonah felt as proud as he could remember.
“Looking good, Doreen.” Salgado pointed at Jonah. “Too bad you’re with this chump.”
“Hey,” Jonah said.
“Thanks, Salgado,” Doreen said, staring at Jonah. “I like him.”
Jonah mouthed, “I like you too.”
Heike held her arms out. “And I like everyone!”
Laughter spread easily since the inhabitants of the cabin had more than doubled to include Henry, Nico, Salgado, and Philip.
Jonah wondered how many of the men experienced such a reunion. No doubt some of them were parents.
Heike backed up and pointed at Salgado. “I remember you when you visited Henrytown. You’re the one who swears all the time.”
“Heike,” Doreen said in her mom tone.
Salgado laughed. “No, I don’t, you little tattle-tale. Not around little girls . . . unless they’re sneaking around and I say something by accident. You still a little trouble maker?”
Heike flashed a mischievous grin. “Maybe. Who are these gentlemen?”
Henry laughed. “Where are my manners? Doreen, Heike, this is Nico and Philip.”
Both men nodded, and Doreen waved. “It’s nice to meet you both.”
Heike peered up at Nico. “Do you always wear a scarf and goggles?”
“Heike, be polite,” Doreen said.
“Sorry. I get curious.”
Nico looked to be chuckling under the desert tan, military scarf he wore. “It’s all right,” he muffled. “Yes, I do.”
Jonah had been introduced briefly to Nico and Philip, but everyone would get to know one another better in time. After what they’d been through, any type of reunion was appreciated, even among strangers. Jonah definitely did.
Except for Nico, there were as many smiles on as many faces.
But then Jonah felt a war gear begin rotating like a sudden shift in the wind. And the obvious: daylight was burning.
His view coated the three military vehicles, covering them like a net. His battle instincts took in every detail, doing his best to judge their operational status even while the hoods were down. Also, the backup truck.
Jonah didn’t know where Henry’s truck ended up. Perry knocked him out with a hard punch so it might still be parked at Fort Perry for all he knew. He wished he could have handed Henry the keys.
Jonah had already apologized to him during the drive to the cabin, but Henry couldn’t have cared less. “Just a truck,” he’d said.
Henry’s truck served Jonah well. It got him and Doreen and Heike to the cabin after the battle of Henrytown. And it was the same truck he drove for the mission to find a safer place to live.
The mission failed, but the truck never failed him. It was curious how much Jonah got attached to it, but like Henry said, it was just a truck.
The truck—or any vehicle—could be replaced, just as any useful tool. Henry’s reaction was one Jonah could learn from. And should remember.
Four vehicles—three UVs and one pickup—were at their disposal at the moment. There was bullet damage from the battle all over the up-armored UV with the SAR at the gunner’s hatch, but all four of them looked to be fully mission capable.
He glanced down at the tires. They were all snow tires and still looked to be sturdy and plump with air. He wasn’t worried. There were five air compressors in the cellar. And patch kits.
UVs had served him well in the past. Other than them being quite the pain in the ass to keep running. The three before him looked like they would continue to be as functional as he hoped they would be.
Working with a team of people to keep vehicles running instead of just himself and Doreen was a game changer. The more vehicles in a convoy the better, and four would serve fine for what he was beginning to plan, except the more vehicles, the more fuel required.
It wasn’t like it was years ago when Molters were more predictable, how the majority—or all—hunted at night. That was when he could access fueling stations at military bases as he pleased. Surely all the fuel was used up by now.
But even if there still was fuel at fueling stations, and accessing them was a reliable certainty, relying on the ability to evade Molters hunting night or day was not.
Much and more had changed since the Molting began, so he needed to convince the others it was best to leave the cabin; not just the cabin but the territory. And sooner rather than later.
Dormant war gears linked to his inner soldier were always well-lubricated, whether activated or not, but right now they were all rotating blurs.
“I know that look,” Salgado said, staring at him. “Don’t worry, I got your back.”
Jonah gave him a grin.
“I will be right back,” Doreen said.
Doreen dodged into the open door of the cabin, careful not to kick over the rocket launcher she’d set down on the porch against the wall.
Jonah’s reaction was to ask her where she was going but she was as capable as any soldier he’d ever met. She knew what she was doing.
Salgado went over and hefted the rocket launcher. “Nice.”
“Hey,” Heike said. “That’s mine.”
“You wish, kid.” Salgado carefully aimed away from all of them and was even mindful of the back blast danger. In case it accidentally fired. “Are you chewing gum?”
Heike chomped. “Yes.”
“May I have a piece?”
“Yes, you may. Here.”
“Thanks.”
With Doreen out of sight, Henry said to Jonah, “Sorry for not being here sooner.”
“You do not have to apologize. You are now.” Jonah studied him as they spoke quietly. “What the hell happened?”
“It’s a long story.”
“Answer one question,” Jonah said. “How did you stay alive?”
CHAPTER 4
It could mean certain death but he didn’t care.
Get back to your daughter. Get back to your granddaughter. Help Jonah share the burden.
The guards left about ten minutes ago, so it was just Archard in there with him. It was the moment he’d hoped for. Ever since he’d been abducted. In order to make it happen, it required him to be a bit more compliant.
Including faking depression, which was difficult. His acting was poor but it was enough for Archard to think he’d broken and was close to indoctrination. Archard thought that Henry was compliant enough to be transported to the next cell l
ocation.
Since Archard holstered a .45-caliber pistol on his hip, and there were armed men outside, Archard believed it was enough to keep Henry under control if he rebelled again.
Henry grabbed Archard by the scruff of his neck when he was stupid enough to turn his back on him on the way out of the tent. He got a firm grip on his green fatigues too.
The way Archard reacted was like he’d hoped Henry would do it. That was how fast a lightning quick elbow met Henry’s cheek. The blow broke the silence in the small space of the tent, and Henry felt like he’d been shot with the .45 caliber pistol.
But Archard didn’t call out for assistance to the armed men he’d brainwashed, as Henry feared he might. The way Archard glowered, Henry thought he should probably try and strangle him to death before it occurred to him.
Although Henry didn’t know where Archard served and for which military, he was clearly trained to fight hand-to-hand. Plan of action or not, Henry instantly found himself on the dirty floor of the tent with Archard atop him, swinging away.
The open cell door was still within reach. Henry’s hand was knocked away before he could use the door to stand up.
Archard didn’t say a word to him. He’d realized his mistake.
Archard also wasn’t planning on implementing Henry among the ranks anymore. He wasn’t going to put him in another cell to contribute further to the Draw either. He wasn’t concerned about any purpose that Henry could continue to serve.
All Archard cared about, what he wanted to do, was to kill Henry for betraying his trust.
Trust Henry happily betrayed. He owed the lunatic nothing.
Henry endured punch after punch after punch. Every inch of his face received a heavy-handed fist. But he’d gotten his ass kicked before. And he’d even lived through a Molter attack.
Archard’s calloused hands squeezed Henry’s throat. Since the fight was somewhat reversed—strangling was what Henry wanted to do to Archard—it allowed Henry to get a hold of the pistol on Archard’s hip.
He strengthened his grip on the handle, but Archard’s sweaty hand squirmed under it, and yanked the pistol out of the holster.
Archard swung the barrel to Henry’s temple. Henry grunted, stabbing his arm downward, digging into Archard’s forearm, clattering the pistol off the open cell door as it fell inside it.
Archard leapt off Henry, and dodged into the cell.
Henry raised a booted foot and kicked the door shut, and Archard aimed the .45-caliber pistol in his direction, the barrel protruding out the narrow gap as the door bounced back open.
Henry reached and tore the gun from Archard’s grasp to Archard’s shocked surprise, as well as his own.
There was a brief moment.
Both men rammed their side of the door.
Archard, ironically, was trying to desperately escape a cell of the Draw, and Henry was trying to keep him in there by pushing with all his strength and body weight behind his six feet five inches.
Both were grunting and swearing under their breath, practically face to face during the reverse tug-o-war.
Henry sprung back, aiming the gun, Archard’s gun, as the door ricocheted, but not with enough time for Archard to right himself from falling over. His thick black eyebrows rose closer to his gray hair.
Henry fired three times. The bullets disappeared into his chest.
Archard crumpled in a heap. A hand reached out on the floor as the cell door tapped it, nearly closing on its own.
Exhausted, Henry sat down on the floor, and seconds later, the men outside started yelling.
CHAPTER 5
Henry didn’t have to explain anymore. Neither of them needed a history lesson.
Jonah shook his head. “I should have been fighting alongside you the whole time.”
“A rearview mirror is full of different paths,” Henry said. “I hate to think of what might have happened. I did my part. And you did yours. And now you’ll get another shot to do what you do best.”
Jonah glanced around, seeing everyone busy talking among themselves. Doreen was still in the cabin. She would likely appear momentarily.
Jonah leaned toward Henry. “I’d like to ask your permission to marry your daughter.”
It didn’t come out as smoothly as he’d imagined. Henry’s reaction was probably as close to gasping as he’d done during his entire life. He clearly wasn’t expecting such a request, especially today, but Jonah had thought about it for a long time. Years.
And he honestly never thought he would get the chance to ask Henry, thinking him dead, so now was as good a time as any. But, to Henry’s amusement, Jonah was still nervous for some reason.
Henry thought about it. As he did, Jonah held his breath.
“You haven’t proposed yet?”
Jonah shook his head. “I wanted your permission.”
“At Henrytown, Doreen mentioned you were married before.”
“Yes, sir. I was. But I was a younger man then and desperate to begin a normal life as the result of being deployed. War zones make you think about what is important. I was right about marriage, but I was too young, and I picked the wrong woman to marry first. I was supposed to be with Doreen all along. But I hadn’t met her yet.”
“OK. Yeah. You have my permission.” His tone expressed cautious optimism, one aware of present dangers. “Promise me you won’t die on her. OK?”
“OK. I promise.”
Henry gave him an approving nod, patted him on the back, and they turned toward the cabin door as Doreen reappeared excitedly with something in hand.
Jonah wiped his sweaty hands on his army green pants. Doreen held the hand-drawn calendar she drew to show how many days it had been since last seeing her father.
Doreen held it up. “I marked every day since we last saw you.”
Henry grinned. “Well, I’m glad you don’t have to make any more Xs.”
“Me too.”
Doreen withdrew a lighter from her pocket and lit the calendar pages on fire. Flames rose up from the paper quickly and she set them carefully on the wet ground.
As they blackened into curly ashes, she gently stepped on them to extinguish the embers, sending a spiral of light smoke into the air.
Salgado gave Jonah a look. He was probably thinking they should hold off on producing any smoke. Jonah agreed but didn’t say anything either. Salgado smiled. The smile seemed forced.
Neither of them wanted to ruin the moment. But it was another reminder that Jonah wasn’t the lone former soldier present with war gears rotating.
Doreen, another former soldier but currently more in mother-daughter mode, sighed. “We’re all together.”
“Nearly all,” Henry said.
Doreen’s hopeful eyes went to him. “Before we get to any more exciting news and who it may involve, we could hole up here for a while longer. I haven’t even invited any of you in. Rude of me. Until we come up with a definitive plan of what comes next.”
She looked to Jonah for reassurance. Jonah was about to tell her what he thought they should do, which was to get on the road as soon as possible, but Henry took the words right out of his mouth.
“We’re not staying.”
Doreen wore a familiar expression. Expectation halted, then altered, and a smile blossomed. “Then I have an idea.”
CHAPTER 6
Doreen’s instincts as a nurturer were never sated, even when the stakes were high. The pan was filled with steaming meat. There were canned beans heated in a pot. There was even freshly made bread meant for their next meal.
The stack of plates with utensils on top shrank away as people dished up, and also helped themselves to freshly brewed coffee.
Some sat at the picnic table to eat and drink. Others stood. They weren’t all coffee drinkers, but everyone was hungry, especially those who’d been part of the battle at the firing line.
“Sorry for the smorgasbord,” she said.
“Sorry?” Salgado forked a steaming bite far too large for his
mouth but his hunger swallowed it quickly. “My goodness, I love smorgasbords. This is the best meal I’ve ever had in my life. Thank you so much, Doreen. I was starving.”
The rest of them thanked her as well, but Jonah said, “Maybe we should—”
“We have plenty,” she said, cutting him off. Doreen beamed, as she loved to satisfy appetites. “You’re all welcome. Isn’t this wonderful?”
Jonah nodded to his future wife—hopefully she would accept his proposal—seeing a glimpse of the attentive grandmother she would one day be. She was definitely someone who wasn’t afraid to speak her mind.
“It is,” Jonah said. “I love you.”
She stared back at him. “I love you too.”
Salgado rolled his eyes. “Jeez, get a cabin, you two.”
With the meal over, it was time to get to work. They grouped together. Except for Nico and Philip.
The men who’d helped save Jonah’s life stood guard away from the cabin, close to a hill. They’d taken it upon themselves. It was where Jonah had hunted down Molters after returning from Heike’s first hunt.
Even though Henry likely instructed them to keep an eye on things, their solid instincts told them where to stand guard. It was such a relief to share the burden, Jonah thought.
He called out to them. “Philip, Nico, you guys get enough to eat?”
The two men armed with automatic rifles gave a thumbs up in the distance.
“Need anything else?”
Philip cupped the side of his mouth. “To be left alone to do our duty!”
“Understood,” Jonah said.
“It’d be nice if we could think of a way to exterminate all of them,” Salgado said.
Jonah thought back to the nightmare they’d witnessed at the firing line, where not even the Behemoths were safe. “You saw what I did. There are probably hundreds of thousands.”
“Shoot. More like hundreds of millions. They were never ending, man. OK maybe playing exterminator isn’t such a solid plan. But they nap somewhere during the day and we know where a lot of them will be at night. Find ’em and light their asses on fire. Burn those fuckers up.”