by W. R. Benton
"Yep," Parker said, "he's a smart man and an excellent guide. Prior to the fall he was a wildlife management officer for the state and knows every damned rock and stream in the whole state."
"'Possum patrol, or so we called them before the fall," I said, and then laughed.
"What now?"
"We're gearing up to attack." Parker said, and then smiled.
"Attack? Hell, there ain't but a handful of us, so who could we attack?" Tom asked with a confused look.
Parker smiled again, which worried me more than just a little, and said, "The big base your team sketched and visited a while back."
Willy's jaw dropped and he said, "Not me. I don't have a death wish."
"Relax," Top said, "and it won't just be us. How does close to three thousand of us sound?"
Parker ran his hand over his stubble covered chin and said, "Not a month ago we joined forces with another large group and combined under one central commander. Our total strength is close to four thousand, but none of them are gathered in any large groups. We're scattered all over the state, but in the morning, we'll all start moving toward one location. I will not tell anyone this location until we are moving and then only those with a need to know. Once together, we'll form up and attack the base. Keep in mind, we'll take no prisoners and can't because when we leave we'll leave quickly."
Top, obviously unaware of all of this, asked, "Am I to accompany this group on the attack?"
"Top, you can go, mainly because I'm tired of listening to you bitch and moan everyday about how you hate G2. Additionally, when the actual attack takes place you're to remain with me, the commander. Do you understand the order?"
Top snapped to rigid attention and replied, "Loud and clear, sir! Airborne!"
Tom, Willy, and I gave a loud "Hooaahh! Airborne!"
While Sandra smiled, Parker looked shocked, but finally he said, "Damned airborne troops, get the hell out and let me get back to work. Willy!'
"Sir?"
"Feed your folks good tonight. I've asked the cook to give each member, including Kate, a steak from the deer you brought back. Prepare to march in the morning, let's say an hour before daylight. Now, get out of here. Dismissed!"
As we left, we were all in a good mood and there was the usual grab-ass and jokes as we made our way to the door of the barn. Dolly moved to my side, so I asked, "Willy, does Dolly get a steak, too?"
He'd just put his beret on and it hung at a cocky angle on his head as he replied, "Of course she does. The colonel said every member gets a steak and she is a member of our team."
I scratched the top of her head and said, "We'll eat good tonight, girl."
*****
Morning came with a misty rain that I hoped wasn't an omen of what was to come. I wondered what we'd do if Russian Aircraft showed, because we had nothing that would down a plane or chopper. While I'd not seen any Russian choppers, if they had airplanes it seemed to me they'd have to have them around, too. I put my makeup on, jumped up and down to listen for noise, then checked my weapons. I'd oiled my shotgun and it was hanging on my shoulder, near the bow on my pack, but I now carried an AK47, which I respected a great deal.
Willy walked to me and said, "You and I will be point for the group. Our heading is 120 degrees and here's the map. Remember our magnetic declination is zero degrees for Mississippi. I'll count the paces when we're relieved, until then Tom will do the job."
I gave him a smartass look and said, "Let me guess, he has his ranger beads out, right? He carries those things like some do a rosary."
Willy gave me a big grin and said, "Now you know he does. Tom's a Ranger all the way. I was wondering, too, why you never tried to be a Ranger or Green Beret."
"I thought about it, but my first wife got pregnant at about that time and I decided to get out of the army. I loved the army and I'm as patriotic as the next guy, but I didn't want to get my ass killed and leave a wife with a child to raise on her own."
"Well, you have what it takes to be either, and I don't say that lightly. Did your child survive the fall?"
I lowered my eyes and said, "No, the fall killed my two kids and my wife. My wife's death is a long story, but my kids were killed when things turned to shit, and the have nots came looking for those that had. My boys were grown by then, but both were killed defending their families like real men. Unfortunately they didn't save them in the long run. I lost both boys and four grandchildren that day. Not to mention both daughters-in-law as well."
Willy cleared his throat and said, "I lost all of my immediate family and none of my brothers or sisters survived either. My father, who was ill, killed my mother, who was even sicker, because they couldn't find any food or medicine. He then turned the gun on himself. Listen, we could stand here all day and talk about this shit, but we need to get moving and do it now." He gave me a quick pat on the shoulder and I knew most of us carried heavy losses.
The barn was a real animal house as folks ran around trying to locate gear, ammo, or their lost heads. Most had no idea what we faced, and I heard a couple say they were looking forward for their first combat mission. I knew they'd return, if they survived, different folks then they were now. No one can see the elephant and not change inside, no one.
Colonel Parker entered and folks grew quiet. He wore his camouflage makeup, had an M16 in his right hand, and an old steel helmet on his head. He said, "We are about to start the first of many efforts to regain the control of our country, the United States of America. Look around at the faces on either side of you. Some of you will not be returning. Many of you will die in this effort, but your death will not be in vain. I promise you, once we have our nation back, we will always honor those who fall this day. Now, Chaplain James, please lead us in prayer."
A short black man with little hair walked from the group with a Bible in his hand. He look at us as if searching each soul. Finally, he said, "Let us kneel. Oh heavenly Father, we are about to embark a dangerous mission, and death for many of us is a real possibility. We do not fear death, Father, because we know once we throw away our human bodies, we are born again in your kingdom. Father, we do not kill because we are murderers, but to regain our nation and to bring glory to your name. Once you assisted our forefathers in carving a nation out of the wilderness and we thank You for that, only now we need help again. Return our nation to us and we will glorify the name of God for evermore. This I ask in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen."
Parker stood, put his hands on his hips and yelled, "Let's go kick some Russian ass, Hooaahh!"
The barn echoed our loud war cries and I heard at least four people scream, "Airborne."
Well, they're loud enough, but it remains to be seen if they can fight worth a shit, I thought as I moved for the door. Yellin' doesn't win wars, guts do that.
"I hope to hell they make less noise than this once we get in the field." Tom said as he walked to my side. "If not, we might as well stay home."
"Tom, these folks aren't soldiers or fighters, but keep in mind, they'll learn quickly or die. In the past our citizen soldiers have saved our country many times, and I suspect if these people get pissed enough, they'll fight."
"I don't think they'll have much of a choice in the matter once we hit the base. Every swinging dick on that base has experience, so our folks better be fast learners. You know, I never in my wildest dreams, ever imagined our country would go hell like it did, and so fast, too."
Parker shouted, "Okay, form into your groups in a few minutes and from this point on no talking at all, and I mean not one damned word. If one of you compromises this mission due to noise, I'll personally shoot your ass when we get back. Let's move people, we have a mission to complete."
Folks began to move around, some obviously lost, but the colonel came over to us and said, "Willy, you're the point man for this goat roping affair, so keep your group a good hundred meters in front of us. Avoid contact, if you can, at all costs. Once we meet the others, we'll decide then how to
best attack the place. I'm afraid this group, while their spirits are high, really couldn't overrun an empty shithouse."
I chuckled and then Parker continued, "John, I want you and Willy to run a recon on the base once we meet the others. It's imperative that you not be seen or even suspected of being in the area before we attack. Do you think you two can do the job?"
Willy grinned and said, "Yep, as long as you keep these folks far enough away that they can't be heard. Keep in mind, the Russian and Chinese have aircraft in the area so when you get to the staging area, get these folks under cover and quickly."
Parker looked at his watch and said, "Let's move, we've an appointment that I don't want to miss."
The misting had stopped, but fog filled the valleys and low spots as we moved into the woods. It felt cooler, so there was a cold front moving in, but the fog would help us in reaching our destination. My concern was if any of the aircraft the Chinese or Russians had could see through the clouds using thermal imagining or infrared technology. I'm a grunt, not a fly boy, but I know both methods work, only I was unsure how the weather might come into play.
Someone had located or brought in two old RT-10 survival radios and they were the pits, unless you were kids. The range was line of sight, or less, depending on hills and other obstacles that might block the radios. Top, who walked with us had one radio and the colonel had the other. We had two spare batteries, but when I looked at them earlier, the batteries had expiration dates of five years ago. My only hope was that we didn't have to depend on them to save our asses, because I had absolutely no trust in them.
"Echo One, go Golf One."
There was a minute or so of silence, then Top said, "Roger, copy five by five."
Top stored the radio in his old Air Force survival vest and gave me a grin. I liked the man and wished I'd had served with him on active duty. He was at least twenty years older than me, only I suspected he could walk me into the ground, and I saw how he reacted when injured at the cave. See, some folks grow scared after being injured in combat, and I think it's a perfectly normal reaction. I had an old first sergeant named Wilcox who said, "The best thing for a troop after being injured and they are released from the hospital, is to go on another mission." I know I'd been injured twice, neither were life threatening, but both scared the hell out of me. I jumped after every loud noise or sudden movement for a long while. Finally, Wilcox, who must have seen my jitters, sent me on a recon. It didn't cure me, but it did relax me a bit, and then after a few more missions I calmed down some. I've always remained vigilant, but I'm not as jumpy.
Hours passed and I was surprised that I heard nothing from the group behind us. Then, Tom stuck his fist into the air and we went to ground. He pointed to himself, then his eyes and raised two fingers, and then pointed straight ahead. This clearly meant, he saw two men. Then, he'd indicated he was going to check them out.
I flipped the safety on my shotgun off. I heard Top break squelch on his radio, which meant to the colonel to hold up a few minutes.
Minutes passed slowly before Tom returned and moved to my side. He cupped his hands around my ear and whispered, "Two men guarding an intersection of two dirt roads. I need you to take 'em out with your bow. Can you do that?"
I nodded and then slipped the safety back on and handed my shotgun to Willy. I removed my pack and pulled the bow from the D rings. I made one arrow ready, met Tom's eyes and nodded.
Willy, realizing what we were about to attempt, shook his head as if we were crazy and then grinned. I think he liked the idea, which scared me, because Willy was dangerous at times. Before I could move forward, Kate appeared and pointed at her rifle.
She'd made some sort of silencer for her sniper rifle and I chuckled when I saw it. Using an old plastic soft drink bottle, she'd attached it to the muzzle of her gun. The bottle was held in place by a radiator hose clamp. I'd seen them before, in various military classes I'd attended on unconventional warfare, but had never seen one actually used.
Willy gave a huge broken tooth grin and nodded in an excited manner, so I cupped my hands over her ear and said, "Let me try to take them both, if something goes wrong and it likely will, you take 'em out."
She nodded in understanding and we moved forward very slowly. As we moved I thought, Kate is a confusing and complex woman. She's beautiful, intelligent, a sexual tease, and cold when it's time to kill. She is a perfect woman for the conditions we live in now. While I love Sandra and deeply, Kate is a real woman in many ways. I respect the hell out of her.
Tom stopped and pointed to his 10 O'clock position. I saw three men, not two, and they were sitting on a sandbagged position, obviously guarding the crossroads. All three were wearing a mixture of old military and civilian clothing. Kate moved to the left and Tom right, so I gave them a few minutes to get into position. After about five minutes, one of the guards moved straight toward me, unbuttoning his pants as he neared. I'd already stuck two arrows in the soil beside me, so they'd be handy. I pulled the bowstring back as far as it would go. He'd just pulled his penis out when I released the arrow and saw it take him in the middle of his chest. He staggered, looked down at the blood on his shirt, and then fell to the ground without saying a word. I noticed, just before he fell, the arrow had gone completely through his body.
"LeRoy! What's the matter with ya? LeRoy?" A huge figure of a man called from the sandbags. He was well over two hundred pounds, six feet and then some, and wore a camouflage cowboy hat. The hats had been popular a few years back, so I wasn't surprised. I watched as he slipped the safety off his open sights 30.06 deer rifle. He turned and said something to the other guard, which I couldn't hear, who promptly moved behind the sandbagged position.
The big man was experienced and as he moved toward the downed man, his head scanned his surrounding and his weapon was held at the ready.
I'd picked up another arrow as soon as my first had struck LeRoy, so I was ready for the man. I pulled the string back and thought, Just a few more feet and I'll put this right in your breadbasket.
He stopped beside the downed man and just as I released the arrow, he squatted. I saw my arrow take him high, in the shoulder, so I picked up another arrow, but before I got it to my bowstring, he was up and charging right at me. While he'd dropped his rifle when the arrow struck, I saw a huge Bowie knife in his right hand.
He struck me hard and knocked me ass over teakettle. The big bull of a man was on me in a flash, so I raised my hand to block his falling blade. My hand met his and I knew he was stronger than me, injured or not. I pulled my Ka-Bar knife and heard him grunt as I pushed it into his soft belly. My blade hadn't gone in far, when he suddenly rolled from me and then rose instantly to his feet. Blood was pouring from his gut and shoulder, but he still looked as mean as hell to me. I knew his injuries had weakened him some, but he was still much stronger than I was, and as pissed as a grizzly bear with a toothache.
He suddenly charged and I sidestepped, extending my left leg hoping to trip him, but he simply jumped over my leg and then turned and rushed me once more. At the last second I fell to my back and using my legs, I caught him in the chest and propelled him over me. He landed on his belly, so I rushed to where he lay and pushed my blade to the hilt into his back near his kidneys twice.
He raised his head to scream, and I grabbed his hair and cut his throat. He moaned and then began to choke. A few minutes later he died clawing at the dirt.
I heard a soft pop and when I glanced at the last man, he was down, the upper half of his body draped over the sandbags. Blood from his fatal injury flowed slowly down the sandbags to the dirt below.
I turned back to the man I'd killed. I stripped him of a grenade, Bowie knife, pistol, and all of his ammo. I retrieved his rifle and cowboy hat. The hat fit, so I tossed my old hat away and donned his. Tom suddenly appeared and whispered, "Cover me."
I flipped the safety off the 30.06 and watched as he approached the man I'd killed with the arrow. Tom squatted, and his knife flashed o
nce as he cut the man's throat and then he stood. He then moved to the man on the sandbags and when he neared, he sheathed his knife. Picking up gear and supplies, he returned a few minutes later.
Kate returned as well, wearing a big grin.
Tom looked at Kate and said, "Head shot at the sandbagged position and your silencer worked well. Now, Kate, I need you to return to the colonel and bring him forward."
"I could use the radio." Top offered. He and the rest had moved to our position once they spotted us walking fully erect.
"No, no radio. Let's not use it unless we need it. I want to keep the noise level down as much as possible." I realized Tom didn't trust the radios either.
Top nodded and Kate disappeared down our back trail.
CHAPTER 23
Parker looked at the dead men and said, "This was a remote outpost to check any vehicles or people moving on the roads. Pull the bodies into the woods, remove the sandbags, and make it look as if no one was ever here. Now, I know we can't cover every trace and a well trained eye will even spot our attempt to cover the killings, but the average person will see nothing. Continue your mission, Willy."
We moved forward once again and I was holding Dolly by her leash when she suddenly growled and I thought, Hell at the rate we're moving, it'll be next year before we get to our target. I looked, but saw nothing. I raised my fist into the air knowing everyone behind me would freeze.
Minutes passed and finally I spotted a large buck step into a clearing. I gave a loud sigh of relief and moved forward. The buck saw my movements and in two jumps was back in the woods. I chuckled inside, because Dolly hadn't been much of a deer hunter in the old days.
Four hours later we'd seen no one and neared the rally point of our other forces. Once again I was on point with Dolly, when a man wearing bib-overalls and ball cap stepped from the woods. He pointed an old double barreled shotgun at me and said, "That's fur 'nough. Who are ya, and what're ya doin' heah?"