"You idiot! You used too much meat with this broth! We are supposed to be rationing and here you are giving out venison like it's easy to come by!"
Vincent smacked the chef hard against the ear, dropping him to the ground. Whimpering, the chef looked upward with a face that feared more than an open palm strike.
“You fat, filthy, undeserving piece of cow shit. It’s actions like this: over indulgence, blind stupidity, forgetfulness. Actions that can get us killed,” Vincent exclaimed. Then he pulled out a pistol and held it to the cook’s head.
Everyone in the Sanctuary paused their conversations and watched.
After a long moment, one filled with stuttering pleas of mercy from the chef, Vincent holstered the gun. “You’re lucky I’m in a good mood from the payoff yesterday. But do not let it happen again.”
“Oh, thank you, boss! Thank you!” the cook repeated.
“Your punishment will be no dinner. And double cleaning. Now get going. Go on, get outta here.”
Vincent picked up the dirty ladle and didn’t bother rinsing it as he filled up a bowl with two servings of soup. “I’ll be in my quarters. Don’t bother me unless it’s important.”
On the ledge overlooking the main room, the scouts pulled back.
"I see what you mean, Drew," admitted Kim.
“That guy is a freakin’ whackjob,” added Matty.
"Why don't we just kill him?” Alissa suggested. “Then everyone would be cool, right? I mean it seems like those people just fear him. Take him out of the equation and maybe the others will be more sympathetic?"
"No!” Drew whispered loudly. “You see those guys down there? The ones leaning against the wall next to the explosives? That’s Bobby-D. He worships Vincent. Bobby’s son Darin does whatever his dad says. That’s my wife and kids, but the other girls are Betty-Sue and her daughter Emma-Lou. I guess you could say Betty-Sue is Vincent’s girlfriend? Maybe everyone else would be fine, but those people especially wouldn’t let you get away with that.”
"Maybe this is a dumb question, but why the hell would you keep TNT in your dining room?” asked Matty.
“I said the same thing when I got here, but Vincent told me that it was actually safe to have around. He never went into detail, and I was afraid to inquire further. After all, he did take us in and keep us away from those crazy things.”
“I wouldn't leave it lying around like toys but it is safe-ish,” Charlie began to explain. “Most people make the wrong assumption thinking dynamite and TNT are the same. TNT isn't sensitive to shock or friction like the nitroglycerin in dynamite which is very unstable and sensitive. It won't absorb moisture either, so I can see why the previous miners used it in this climate.
The knowledge appeared to surprise the others.
"I've told you guys, I was good at killing and that didn't mean just with bullets."
“Alright, anyone got any ideas for a plan? There’s a lot of space and a lot of guys between us and our stuff.”
Matty didn’t have a suggestion, rather a very long complaint. "Why can't anything be easy on us? Seriously, for once life could throw us a bone. The guns could be right below us, not on the opposite freaking side. There could be no bad guys to worry about, and I wouldn't have to be freezing my ass off in wet, muddy clothes.”
"Been keeping that one for a while, eh?" Charlie smiled. He looked at Agent Kim and said, “You think that pistol has the range to hit those guys near the explosives?"
"That's about seventy feet away. Maybe, but I'd probably get one before the others ducked away.”
"No!” Drew protested vehemently. “I told you no one gets hurt! I don't want my wife or kids in the middle of a firefight!"
“I did agree we’d make every effort to keep people from getting hurt, but Drew, I'm not seeing any other way."
"Anyone? Ideas?"
Neither Alissa, Charlie nor Matty had any.
“Alright. Well, here’s how I think we should do this-”
“Wait! I do! I have an idea! But I need my gun back,” Drew interrupted, staring at Kim, pleading with his eyes. "You need to trust me. It will work."
***
Drew walked over and met his family. His wife Julianne could smell the stale menthol smoke on his sweatshirt and denim, but she asked anyway. “Where have you been? I’ve been worried. You missed Vincent. He almost killed Peter for putting too much meat in the broth.”
“Daddy,” said Drew’s youngest daughter, Emily, “why is your mouth puffy?”
“Let me have a look,” Julianne said, gently grabbing his chin. “Drew, you are bleeding! Did someone hit you?”
“It’s nothing, really. No, no one hit me. Daddy just slipped outside on the mud and hit a rock. I’m fine though.” Drew’s smile helped drive the believability. “Where’s Beth?”
“She’s in the bathroom,” Julianne replied, nodding down the tunnel where Vincent took off. “She’ll be back in a few minutes…”
The others at and around the table were busy eating or holding their own conversations.
“Alright sweetheart, now that Daddy is back, let’s go get some food,” Julianne continued, holding Emily by the hand. But before they could take a step, Drew blocked their path.
“Jules, don’t go just yet.”
“Why, you’re not hungry?”
“No, it’s not that, it’s...well-”
After eleven years of marriage, Julianne could read the unease on her husband’s face. "What's going on, Drew? That's the same look you had the day you came home and packed us up to come here."
With the rise in volume, those nearest looked nosily at Drew.
In an effort to deter suspicion, Drew kissed Julianne on the lips, and then hugged her tight. With his head next to hers, he whispered, “Jules, do you trust me?”
“Of course. What’s going on?”
As quickly and clearly as he could, Drew replied, “I can’t say right now, but when Beth gets back, I need you to take the girls to our room. Pack a bag for each one of us and wait for me there. We’re leaving this place.”
“What? Leaving?”
“Yes, Jules, please just listen. This next part is very important. On your way, you are going to pass by some strange people but don’t worry about them. They are good people and here to help. And whatever you do, don't scream or say anything. Do you understand?”
Julianne pulled away from the embrace and stared with anxious eyes at her husband. “Yes.”
Drew kissed her again and pulled a lock of her strawberry colored hair around her ear. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too.”
Drew walked over to the elevator, around the grated metal cage, to the far side where the most recent stolen items had been piled up. He began to rummage through the bags, but soon after, Bobby-D shouted, "Hey, Spencer, what in the hell do you think you’re doing?"
Deliberately, Drew did not answer as he unzipped and continued digging through the bags.
"Spencer, you deaf?” Bobby-D repeated, walking over. “You know you're not supposed to go through this shit. Vincent checks the loot and makes sure everything is in order. He always does the count, always has. You know that."
"I know, I know,” Drew answered, hands on his hips. “Argh, I just was hoping to see if there was any more smokes. I just lit my last one. Gettin’ antsy, ya know?"
"Go on, get outta here. Go eat before I tell Vincent."
Drew moved to a position that was out of view from the others at the table. "I wouldn't be worried about Vincent right now," he said, drawing his pistol.
"What the hell do you think you're doing, boy?"
"Shut your mouth, put your hands down and do exactly what I tell you to do or I'll put a bullet in that thick skull’a yours."
Bobby-D was somewhere between aggressive and nervous, but when Drew pressed the barrel to his head, Bobby-D succumbed to nervousness. He lowered his hands, removed the rifle from his back and listened for the next set of instructions.
"Now you're gonna call over to your inbred son and tell him you need some help over here. Don’t do anything stupid,” Drew ordered. “And Bobby, sound convincing.”
Bobby-D peeked his head out from behind the elevator and shouted, “Hey, boy, come on over here and help me out a sec!”
Darin slurped the stew and called back, “Can it wait? I’m eatin’, Pop.”
“Need some help?” asked the broad-shouldered giant sitting next to Darin.
Drew pressed the barrel against Bobby’s back. “Not Cliff. Darin only.”
Bobby swallowed nervously. “No thanks, Cliff. Darin, get your ass over here this instant.”
Reluctant to leave the warm meal, Darin sauntered over. Upon arrival, he thought the situation was a joke. But when neither man smiled back, Darin realized the gravity. “What’s going on here?”
“Shut up and come closer.”
“Do as he says, son.”
"Set your gun down against the wall and back away from it. That includes the pistol on your hip, too."
"Dad, what is this?” Darin asked while slowly complying with the orders.
“Good question. Spencer, what the hell you think you're doing?"
"You'll see," replied Drew, and moments after he whistled, Kim, Charlie, Alissa and Matty sprinted for the weapons station.
Every bandit at the table jumped up, startled. Cliff and a few others tried to make a move for weapons but were beaten to them. Betty-Sue and Emma-Lou shuffled back against the wall as Kim and company armed themselves and took control of the mine.
Still present, Julianne flashed a look of "What's going on?"
"I’ll get Beth! Go, do as I told you!" Drew shouted.
Julianne grabbed Emily by the wrist and hurried out from where Kim and company entered.
“Listen up,” Agent Kim said assertively. “We’re just here for the things you stole from us. We don’t want to hurt any of you. But if anyone decides they wanna be brave, I can assure you that me and mine will have zero problem killing you where you stand. Don’t be stupid.”
After arming himself with a shotgun, Charlie split off to assist Drew.
Bobby-D recognized their faces and said, "Spencer, you're with them? Oh, you're dead for sure. No if’s ands or buts ‘bout it.”
“Shut up, and join the rest of them.”
Corralled around the dinner table, the bandit-miners were collectively tense. Some were nervous, while others hurled comments and threats alike.
“Found it,” Matty exclaimed, locating his bag. He double-checked that the complete contents were present then threw the strap over his shoulder.
“Drew, Alissa, help Matty with our stuff,” Kim ordered. While watching over the cave entrance he opened up the wooden crates and pocketed a few cylinder-like pieces of TNT. "This could come in handy," he mumbled to himself, then called out, “Matty, how much longer?”
“Almost everything.”
“Shit, hurry up guys, looks like we got company,” Kim said, nodding at the cave entrance. He flipped over a crate, and steadied the assault rifle on the flat wood. When the shadow drew near, Kim fired a warning shot. “Don't come any closer!"
The unsuspecting shadow yelped and hopped backward before disappearing.
Storming out from his personal tunnel, Vincent shouted, "What the hell is going on? Who fired a gun in my cave?"
"Boss, don’t come out! It’s a trap!” yelled Bobby-D. “It's Spencer! He's working with the people we jacked yesterday!”
Vincent was one step away from being in Drew’s crosshairs, but the warning came just in time. Vincent hugged the stone wall and quickly peeked an eye out to survey the scene. “Spencer! What have you done?”
“Like I told your people, we don’t want any trouble. No one needs to get hurt here,” Kim declared, but his audience had retreated into the tunnel.
A few seconds later, Vincent returned but not alone. Walking in front of him was Drew’s other daughter, Beth. Behind her curly hair was a pistol. “Look what I found coming back from the bathroom…”
Confident with his hostage, Vincent stepped out from cover and looked around, gaining complete perspective of the situation.
Kim remained kneeling at the front entrance, hovering over the crates. Charlie was positioned on the opposite side of the circular entrance with a rifle pointed at Vincent, while Matty and Alissa guarded their gear and the group of bandits.
Drew yanked Bobby-D out from the pack of hostages and used him as a shield. “Vincent! Let her go!”
"Fill me in here, Spencer. What’s going on?"
Beth was too scared to say anything.
“Everything is going to be okay, honey,” Drew promised. “Vincent, they came to get their stuff, that’s all they want! And all I want is to take my family with them.”
“You mean my stuff. Those things are on my property and have thus become my property. Didn’t answer me, Spencer, why ya helping them?”
"You caused this, Vincent! You are stealing from good people, and we don't even need their stuff. AND you're surprised when they come to reclaim their belongings?"
Vincent nodded his head from side to side, repeatedly making a “tick, tick, tick” sound with his tongue and the roof of his mouth. "You compromised my mine and my safety. I don't see this ending well for you or your pretty little girl."
***
Charlie, Matty and Alissa pulled back to the exit tunnel, keeping their guns oscillating between Vincent and his cohorts. Kim, too, retreated, but only to the other side of the entrance.
"Charlie, we got what we came for, let's go,” Alissa petitioned quietly.
"Can't. The three guards from outside have the main entrance covered and even if we get to the top, they'll chase us."
"He's right. Besides, I made a promise,” Kim followed, but was interrupted by activity from the main entrance. He fired a three round burst into the dirt and shouted, “I said don't come any closer!”
"So what do we do?" asked Matty.
"Nothing we can do. Nothing yet at least. Let’s see where this goes."
***
Vincent paced slowly toward the crates of TNT. A few feet from them, he stopped walking but ordered Beth to continue. “Go on now. Reach in there and grab one of those sticks.”
Beth’s legs shook violently, prohibiting any movement. “Daddy,” she sniffled. Her grey sweat pants soaked up uncontrollable urine.
Vincent took the frightened girl’s stagnation as an act of insubordination. “Spencer, if I were you I’d tell her to get moving or bad things will happen.”
"Come on, Vincent! What the hell are you doing? She's got nothing to do with this! She's an innocent girl!"
Even a few loyal to Vincent had expressions of disapproval and disbelief, but they remained silent.
Vincent pulled back the hammer but didn't bother repeating himself.
"Fine! Please, I beg you, just don’t do anything!” Drew lowered his gun and looked only at Beth. “Honey-bear, I know you're scared, but I need you to do what Vincent says, okay? It's very important."
“I want Mommy.”
“I know you do, baby. Soon. Just do what he says, okay? Then you can see Mommy.”
Beth summoned enough courage to reach into the crate and remove the cylindrical explosive. It almost fell from her trembling hands when she turned around.
Suddenly, when the attention was on Beth, Cliff made a move to disarm Drew from his blind side.
But Drew’s nervously shifting steps caught the movement and at the last second. He shot Cliff in the leg, favoring the upper thigh.
"Cliff!” Betty-Sue exclaimed, coming to the aid of her companion.
Emma-Lou followed her mother and pressed her hands against the entry wound. “You’re dead, Spencer!”
"Fuck! I'm sorry!” Drew half-apologized. He grabbed a handful of his own hair as he looked at the others with whom he had survived the previous year. “This is crazy! But no, he’s crazy! That’s right, Vincent is crazy! Crazy for robbing p
eople and leaving them to die! Crazy for not listening to these people! About the government having a cure! Come on, guys, you can come. Come with us!”
As Drew looked to each one, hoping to find supporters, sadly, there were none to be found. The faces that stared back at him were hateful, stubborn, angry, and ready to act on behalf of their leader.
“You got no one,” Vincent said, bringing the attention back where he liked it. “They don’t believe you, and why should they? They’re like me. They don’t trust traitors. But you know what? I’m gonna give you a chance to walk out of here alive.”
Disbelief spread across Drew’s face.
“Life is all about survival, Spencer. And today, we are going to see if you have what it takes to survive. I swear to you I will let you and everyone else in here go. All you have to do is...tell your daughter to light the fuse.”
Drew’s heart skipped a beat.
“Andrew!” a woman screamed from behind. It was Julianne. She stood mortified, one hand over her mouth, the other clutched on to Emily’s hand.
“Jules,” Drew said as though he was out of breath. His eyebrows pinched close together, nearly touching. As much as he wanted to tell his daughter not to light the fuse, he knew that was not an option. "It's okay, honey. Do as he says. You’ll be fine, I promise, baby."
Beth trembled as she shuffled to a nearby candle. Drops of tears nearly extinguished the flame.
Vincent backed away slowly, but kept his gun on the girl. "That is a thirty centimeter safety fuse. No external burn. You can light it underwater or around combustible fuels. It's a thing of beauty if you ask me. Oh, and in case you were wondering, you can count on detonation in no more than thirty-seconds...”
"This is fucked," Charlie whispered, keeping the iron sights fixed on Vincent.
“Ya, what do we do, David?" followed Matty.
Kim was thinking, but he couldn’t think fast enough.
Even the bandit-miners questioned Vincent’s actions, petitioning him to implore an alternative to blowing up a child.
The Longest Road (Book 3): The Other Side Page 48