No Normal Day II (Unity)

by Richardson, J.

  The two men shook hands. Jack went to spread the news and Mac sped away. He was retracing the route that he and Lacey had escaped by. He planned to approach the movie theater, from that same direction. He didn't ride in, near as close this time. He was taking no chances. He left the cycle a little farther away. He walked in, through the neighborhood and trees, towards the back of the movie complex. He remembered the man that he had tied to the tree. He did not see him. He began to hear voices and vehicles moving, a lot of commotion. He moved up, staying low in the trees and undergrowth.

  The very door that he and Lacey had escaped out of, was propped open. It was the exit from the small theater where the gang's weapons were stored. Men were going in and out, their arms loaded with guns and ammunition. The three pick up trucks and the van were parked near this door. The weapons were getting loaded into those vehicles. There were also two long flat trailers at the back of the building.

  He was too far away, to hear any conversations clearly. He moved farther down through the trees, to the opposite end of the building. The stinking area that was used as a toilet, was a few feet across the open paved lot. The exit door was on the side of the building. He waited until the men had gone back in for more guns and sprinted across the open area and up beside the building to the door. He opened the door a slim crack. He didn't see or hear anyone at this end of the hall. He edged in and stayed against the wall. He let his eyes adjust. The long hall curved slightly, on the opposite end, as it left the lobby. He could see a faint light at the end. It would be coming from the theater where the guns were. It looked like practically all of the gang was involved in the loading.

  Muffled voices came from the lobby. Mac recognized the deep voice of the tall black man. His hand on his pistol, he edged along the wall, moving closer. The leader said, “How's it going?”

  A voice responded, “We are getting it done, boss.”

  “Good,” he said. “I want to move in the morning, they won't expect us early in the morning. I want those two bitches that are so good with the guns...you know the blonde and that other one...in my van. I want you, and you choose about four more. Be sure there at least two red caps in each truck. All of the people who can't ride in the trucks will ride in the trailers until we get within two blocks or so. Then, I want them out and on the ground.”

  “Okay, boss. Uh-h, some of the people are complaining they are hungry. We just ain't had much food lately, you know.”

  The leader, who looked plenty well fed, puffed smoke out. “We will have food tomorrow. Just shut them up. You understand? How far is it from here to the hippie barricades?.”

  “Yes, boss, I got it. I would say it's about three miles. If we travel down that main street that crosses in front of the car wash, we will come out about three blocks from their border.” The man was moving out of the lobby.

  Mac flattened himself as much as he could and moved back more into the dark. He saw the red capped man turn down the hall towards the gun room. He eased along to the exit, slid out. He waited for another opportunity and hustled back across the open, to the trees. He was running now, back to the motorcycle. This war was going to happen by tomorrow morning. These thugs might not be as prepared as the people of Unity. But they were very dangerous. They had numbers, they were hungry and armed and vicious.

  The loner lowered his head, goosed the bike and returned to Jack's, as fast as he could. When he had told them the news, Jason said, “I have an idea. Since we have this warning, let's carry out our plans ahead of their approach. We have the rest of the day to let everyone know. I think that we should get our evacuees to safety, while it is still dark. Before dawn, in the morning. Our militia can deploy from the fire station, right at daybreak. We can move into position and wait. They may not even notice until they are at the border that we are there behind the barricades.

  They all dispersed to spread the word. Eric volunteered to go and tell Joel the plan and he would let Herm know. Jack went to let the other groups know. Lee and Jason would go and move the catapult into position.

  There had been quite a bit of testing and trial and error. It was determined that the contraption should be located at the end of the barricade nearest to the pay booth where the bombs were stored. From behind the triple row of cars, the catapult would propel the approximate two pound projectiles across the cars and beyond. It could be moved some, as they had mounted it on wheels. Sand bags formed the counterweight and a tube, a piece of PVC pipe was the holder for the bomb. More than one piece of pipe was slung off of the contraption along with the missile. They finally got it bolted down secure. There was a metal handle on the end of the “throwing” end. They could grab the handle with a hooked rod and pull down, lifting the counterweight end up. When the handle was released the molotov cocktail would be slung some 500 feet.

  Guns were cleaned and readied, ammunition was gathered. Soldiers and evacuees were prepared to follow through with the plans. There would be very little sleep for the adults of Unity tonight. A storm was blowing in their direction.

  Chapter Eleven

  WAR ON THE BORDER

  It was early and still very dark, the youngest of the children were sleepy eyed. They were not aware at all of what was going on. The War Wagon, with Gilley's van close behind pulled through the gates of the church compound. Kat, with Matt following and Smitty's wife, from Gilley's group made their way to the hospital. Smitty's daughter and grand-son would also help there. The nurse and veterinarian were already making preparations that they all hoped would not be needed.

  The children were taken to the farthermost building from the front gates. That building had already been prepared to house the young ones. Lacey and Gilley's wife, Joel's wife and several others from the church group would care for the children. The children from the church group had already settled in. The young teen girl and her baby, Jackie, sat on a cot. Michelle and Mindy went to sit beside her and coo at the baby. Brook and BJ both went to the cots, pulled up a blanket, not ready to be awake. Nicky found some of the other children that she already knew. Shawna would stay near this building for security.

  There would be extra security around the church compound. David and Smitty would help with this security. David moved the War Wagon, between a couple of the buildings and went to see where he needed to post. With all of the evacuees behind the gates of the church compound, Gilley's van sped back to pick up his soldiers. About twenty minutes before dawn the militia was gathered at the fire station.

  Forty seven residents of Unity stood, prepared for battle. Beth looked at her three daughters, at the two daughters of their old friends. About twelve of the militia soldiers were women, including Michael's wife and five others from Gilley's and the church group. Standing in the fire station and at the ready were young men and old men. Even after the reality of these past many months, the scene was surreal to her, her heart pounded in her chest. Someone offered to say a prayer. Beth bowed her head, believing they needed all the help they could get.

  The mean green machine would lead the convoy. It had already been decided that Jack would drive the bad Suburban. He had drove many a race car and motorcycle. Gilley's armored van pulled out next, the old truck, Michael's SUV and Mac on his motorcycle rolled in behind. The bus loaded with all the extra ammo, guns and remaining soldiers pulled up the rear. In the first hint of an autumn dawn, the strange caravan rolled into position behind the northern barricades of Unity.

  Most of the militia exited the vehicles and took positions behind the rows of cars. Gilley's fortified van with about six soldiers, hung back from the border about two blocks. They would watch for any foot soldier attacks, moving in from the east. Mac parked the motorcycle behind the pay booth where some of the molotov cocktails had been stored. If things were not going well at the border, the loner would get to his bike and warn the church compound. The majority of the catapult bombs had been moved closer to the contraption. Eric and Lee had agreed to man the catapult, with Lynn and a couple of the other women rela
ying tampon bombs to them.

  As it slowly got lighter, the tension was nearly a visible thing. Beth heard a muffled gagging sound, on down the row of cars. She felt pretty nauseous herself. Dane and one of the young men from Gilley's group had gone on foot through the gated neighborhood. They had moved to a place where they could view the street that the gang would be traveling down. As soon as the spotted them, they would run back with the warning. The sky clouded over and the first light faded into a gray haze. Everyone held their positions but it was more uncomfortable as two hours passed. There was a low murmur of talk and a shifting of bodies.

  Beth looked up and saw Dane and the other scout, climbing over the brick wall that fronted the gated neighborhood. They were staying low, moving down the barricade and saying, “They are coming!” At that moment, Beth heard the first low growl of engines. Dane dropped down, within the two car lengths between her and Jack. She caught one look from Jack and drew her pistol.

  The three pick-up trucks, two of them pulling trailers with gang members loaded on them and the van pulled into the intersection about two blocks away from the barricades. Two of the red caps got out of the trucks and unhooked the trailers. Each of the trucks looked to have about six armed men in the back. One of the red caps ordered the people from the first trailer out and to the front of the vehicles. About twenty people began to move towards the barrier, their guns ready. The three trucks were easing along behind them, the leader's van held back. When the walking attackers were less than a block from the rows of cars, five of the militia stood and shot above their heads.

  The walkers immediately dropped to the ground. “SHOOT!” orders were yelled from behind them. The now crawling line started firing wildly towards the cars. A bullet zinged between the cars and tore through Cody's arm, right above the elbow. Joel was nearby, he scuttled over and helped Cody get into the back seat of Michael's SUV. Just then one of the gang's trucks squealed around the end of the crawling mass and raced across in front of the barrier, shooters were firing from the pick-up bed. As they turned back to the north, Michael and his wife shot, one shooter fell out of the truck and two more went down. Lee and Eric launched two molotov missiles. They didn't quite reach the line but exploded in fiery splashes on the pavement. Some of the liquid fire flew onto the attackers. Three ran screaming and three more stood up and started running away. Only one escaped, the red caps stepped out of the pick up trucks and shot the others. Several of the gang that had been crawling along the ground, were laying motionless. Most of the others were still firing and inching backwards.

  One of the trucks swung backwards, it then took off down a wide power line right of way that was on the western flank of the Unity fortifications. The remaining gang members were ordered from the second trailer. With the two trucks and the red caps pushing from behind, they started slowly moving forward, their guns firing. Three more fiery bombs launched into the enemy lines. Lee and Eric were picking their targets as carefully as they could. They did not want to set the woods on fire, on the western side. The smoke from the fires was hovering over the attackers and more were down. The militia was firing at the approaching crowd from various points behind the barricades.

  Jack had hunkered down and made his way to Michael and his wife's position. He shouted over the gunfire, “Cody got shot...who else?”

  Michael said, “I think one of Gilley's son-in-laws and one of the church group are down.”

  Jack said, “Cody is already in your SUV. I think you should load up the injured and take them down to the hospital. As you move, tell Gilley to bring the van and his men, closer in.”

  At that time, about half a dozen shots were heard from Gilley's position. During all this time, the gang leader's van had sat back, pretty much out of range of the firing. There was a loud crashing and sound of scraping metal. Out of the smoke, the van came bursting through an opening at the eastern end of the barricades. Gun fire flashed from the windows. A gap in the militia's strategy, they should have flattened the tires of the vehicles on the end. Gilley's men had been firing at some intruders on foot. The people on foot had managed to push away a couple of the barrier cars for the leaders van to break through and were running south through Unity. Gilley and his men took them out.

  Michael had already sped away, his SUV, now ambulance, racing towards the church compound. As he passed Gilley's position, he shouted for them to move up. Jack, Dane, Jason and Tate ran for the mean green machine to pursue the gang's van. Jack swung the pride and joy of the Unity Motor Company, in a wide arc. The bad ass Suburban was not as nimble as they hoped, but it was hard as a rock. The machine jumped easily up on the sidewalk and Jack put his foot in it. Jason raised the door on the top and positioned behind it. Dane pushed up one of the back metal doors and put his rifle in the mount. Tate was right behind Jack at the mesh covered window. The intruding van was slightly ahead of them, weaving through the remaining cars on the four lane, the passengers firing back at them.

  ***

  Gilley had eliminated the runners and moved up, they took positions along the barricades. The gunfire and smoke from the molotov cocktails still filled the air at the border. Beth shouted at Dianne and Trish, who were not far down the barrier, “Go for the red caps...remember, try to take out the ones in the red caps!” One of the trucks had pulled up with the doors swung open, the men firing from behind them. Trish, squatting low, moved a little to the east and fired at a flash of red behind the door. A man fell out to the ground. The red cap on the opposite side raised slightly and Dianne shot. The man grabbed his chest and fell. Beth had been laying out flat, trying to see under and through the rows of cars. If she saw feet or legs, she shot. Several attackers were hopping or rolling around on the ground. There was still one truck with a red capped driver. It was behind what had become only about half a dozen walking shooters. Four females and two males retreated back to the truck. The females pulled the red cap out of the driver's side and threw him to the ground. Before he could move, a shot rang out from behind the barricades and he crumpled to the pavement. The truck sped away from the battle field, up towards the city.

  The body littered battle field in front of the barricades had quietened except for some moans and groans. Small fires still dotted the area. The militia soldiers were waiting and listening. Four loud booming shots came from the west, then some sharper reports. The clanging bell was heard and Herm appeared from the woods to the west. His white hair sprang out from under a football helmet, his booted feet spurring on the tall mule that he rode. The clanging bell was around the mule's neck. A big sawed off shot gun was on a sling around Herm's neck, a metal garbage can lid was tied around his skinny old chest. He turned and the gun fired out a shot that sounded like an elephant gun. Barreling out through the construction road in the woods came the pick-up truck that had exited the battle earlier. They were firing on the old hermit. Mac ran to the motorcycle. He gunned the cycle, spun around in front of the truck and started firing. He flattened the front tires and busted out the windows. The truck screeched to a stop, a man in the back stood and fired towards Herm. The mule reared up and dumped the old man on the ground. The animal was panicked and came down, right on Herm's chest.

  All of the militia were watching the scene play out. Lynn screamed out, “No-o-o!” and started moving towards the old man. Lee reached to stop her, she was already away. Trish and Dianne instantly were running in the same direction.

  Beth was yelling, “Stop, stay down!”

  The three girls with Beth, Lee and Eric close behind, reached the hermit. He was straining for breath and the hazy eyes were trying to focus. The girls bent over him, Lynn holding his wrinkled hand. He smiled a weak smile and whispered, “Pret-ty girls”, he gasped out his last breath. Lynn raised up and saw a man climbing over the back side of the truck. She pulled her pistol and emptied it towards the man. The truck and all in it were dead.

  Mac spun up and jumped off. Lynn stood, her gun still in her hand at her side. All the girls looked up at h
im, tears running down their dirty faces. “Damn-it,” cursed the loner. Shots still echoed from deep in the three mile town.

  ***

  The mean machine was picking up speed, it had pulled past the van. Jack was still maneuvering along the sidewalk, keeping the machine under control. Dane was firing out the back of the Suburban, moving his rifle in the mounting and aiming for the van. The van had become jammed up between a couple of dead cars. Jack twisted the Suburban around, it's big tires smoking and squealing. They charged towards the van, Jason still manned the top port. Dane slammed the back door and moved to the side window, opposite Tate.

  The leader exited the van, his black arm encircling the neck of a woman in front of him. He held a gun at her head, counting on the humanity of the militia men. The mean machine stopped only a few yards from the van. Jack looked through the site of his AR, aimed and fired. The bullet whizzed right across the top of the woman's spiky hair and entered the black man, right above his eye. The woman bent down for the gun that was dropped and raised it. Jason shot, she went down. Two men were exiting the sliding side door of the van, Tate and Dane fired and they went down. Two women begin to scream and exit with their hands up.

  They loaded up the two women, moved the Suburban back up on the sidewalk and raced back to the northern border. The shooting had ended. A smoldering scene of destruction spread out, beyond the barricades. Jack spotted several of his family huddled around, up to the west. His heart skipped a beat, he and Jason hurried to the site. Dane and Tate stayed with the two women. The girls reached for their dad, he encircled them. Beth's tear stained face looked up at him. She knelt beside the grubby old hermit. “I am sorry, girls.” He looked down at the comical figure of a man, the bent trash lid on his chest, the removed football helmet, beside his head. “How did he get here?”