by Mark Goodwin
Noah nodded and went to wash his hands in the bathroom. He washed his face as well. It made him feel a little better. Afterward, he went to the kitchen and ate the sandwich Jim had made for him. Jim was right. Isaiah would expect them to keep going and see this thing through to the end.
Benny returned from the bathroom, grabbed a sandwich, and sat down next to Noah.
Noah glanced over at him. “How’s David?”
“Sleeping, but he’s good. He lost a lot of blood. It will take him a couple of days to recover. I hope we don’t get hit again. He’s in no shape for another gunfight.”
“Can you try to intercept DHS communications and see where they are in the search for us?”
“No, it’ll likely be on a scrambled channel that uses revolving encryption, but I can probably listen in on the base and see what kind of chatter I can pick up.”
Jim patted Noah on the back. “Elliot and I are going to find a peaceful spot to dig a grave while you guys check out the airwaves. Come tell us what’s going on as soon as you hear something. We’ll have our rifles by our side. Make sure you’re keeping your eyes on the driveway. We’ll be listening for vehicles. If you get hit while we’re gone and you have to engage from the house, we’ll flank the enemy from the woods.”
Noah nodded. “Sure, but don’t bury Isaiah until David comes around and we can all say a few words.”
Jim said, “Of course not. I’ll come get you when we get a spot dug out.”
Noah followed Benny to David’s office where Benny had a provisional comms station set up. He watched as Benny worked his magic with the dials of the ham radio and decryption software on the computer sitting next to it.
Benny put a finger in the air. “We got it.”
Noah listened closely to the garbled messages coming over the speaker. It was hard to discern, but they could piece together the overall message.
Noah smiled. “Sounds like there’s some dissension amongst the ranks.”
Benny smiled back. “Might be a full-scale mutiny.”
“Is there any way to find out if the discord is spreading to other detention facilities?”
Benny lifted his eyebrows. “I can keep scanning the airwaves to see if other hams are talking about reports of mass desertion, but we need to get this information out to the rest of the country. I worked in intelligence long enough to see how these things progress. A lot of soldiers are sitting in military bases right now hating what they are being asked to do. Some are ready to do something about it but don’t see the point if they are the only ones ready for action. When they see an entire base fall to dissenters, they know they’re not alone.
“I’m sure there was some contention in the camps after the liberation of the detainees in Columbia and Yakima. I’d say the troops in both bases are ripe for an insurrection.”
Noah looked at Benny. “Is there anything we could do to help that tinderbox find a match?”
Benny rubbed his hand across the top of his head in his own curious fashion as he thought. “If we put out something like an audio edition of The Tallmadge Letter to the hams, it’d spread like wildfire. We could cover the attack and resulting rebellion at the DHS facility in Knoxville.”
Noah smiled. “We could call it The Tallmadge Report. Cassie would love to do it. The only problem is, we can’t go out there. Do you think we should write it up and produce it ourselves?”
Benny rubbed his head again. “There is a reason that the CIA used the mainstream media over the years to disseminate propaganda. If you think back to 2012, the CIA handed over their version of the mission to kill Bin Laden to real Hollywood producers. If they’d made Zero Dark Thirty themselves, it wouldn’t have been nearly as effective at controlling the narrative on torture, in the minds of American citizens. I’ll talk to David when he comes around, but I think it’s worth the risk to have the report produced by someone with Cassie’s experience in the media. We’re talking about fueling a revolution. Some corners can’t be cut.”
“Sounds like you’ve done this before.” Noah expected a lighthearted comment or a snicker from Benny. He got neither.
Benny sighed heavily. “We all have our regrets.”
Noah had to remind himself to breathe. He had meant the comment as a joke. He had no idea he was touching such a sore spot in Benny’s spirit. Noah wished he could take back the statement, which had been intended as a lark. It was impossible. The genie was out of the bottle with no way to be put back; nor was there anything he could say to lessen the intensity of the misspoken remark. As the embarrassment of outing his friend for such a weighty matter passed, Noah’s mind began to speculate on what revolution he could have been involved in. He recalled that Cassie had studied the CIA’s involvement in the overthrow of the Iranian government in the fifties, but that was before Benny’s time. Noah considered what others the intelligence community could have been involved in. He remembered the 1973 US involvement in Chile and the atrocities committed by the CIA backed leader, Pinochet. But Benny worked for the NSA, he couldn’t have been directly involved. Noah dropped his head as he imagined the shame if he’d had a hand in the thousands of people murdered and tortured under Pinochet’s reign of terror. How many similar outrages have been committed that we’ve never even heard of?
Noah sensed that Benny wanted to be left alone. He felt horrible for bringing up the memories, but the best thing was to let him have some time to himself. Noah walked into the living room where David was resting. He peeked out the front window to be sure no one was coming up the drive. All clear. We’d hear them as soon as the tires hit the gravel. Still, we need to take a peek every now and then.
David stirred for a moment, and his eyes half opened.
Noah asked, “You doin’ alright?”
David opened and closed his mouth, which made a loud sticky sound from the dryness as his face wrinkled to show his displeasure.
“Can you drink some water if I bring it to you?”
David made a simple nod by dropping his chin to his chest.
Noah walked to the kitchen and poured David a glass of water. He whispered to himself, “Probably won’t be able to hold his head up.” He dug through the silverware drawer to find a straw, stuck it in the glass, and brought it to David.
David half smiled as he sipped the water. He finished the glass and opened his eyes a bit more.
“Still thirsty?” Noah inquired.
David shook his head and looked around.
Noah sat the empty glass on the wooden coaster atop the coffee table. “Elliot and Jim went to dig a grave for Isaiah. Benny is gathering information from the radio.”
David slurred, “Did you guys eat?”
“Jim made sandwiches for everyone. There’s one on the counter with your name on it. Think you can eat?”
David took a deep breath and yawned sleepily. “Yeah.”
Noah patted David’s arm. “Be right back.”
Noah brought the sandwich and sat it on the table in front of David.
“Thanks.” David wearily sat up and started eating.
Noah said, “Sounds like we started a ruckus among the troops in Knoxville. A bunch of them went AWOL after our encounter. A lot of soldiers that were going along to get along are rethinking their positions. I guess everyone prefers peace, but if blood is going to be shed, folks want to be sure they’re on the right side of history.”
Noah heard the sound of tires in the driveway. His heart stopped for a second; then he jumped toward his rifle in the corner, next to the window. He yelled, “Benny, we’ve got visitors. Grab your rifle and get in here!”
David put his good foot on the floor and grabbed his rifle, which was propped up against the couch. “Did Elliot and Jim take a radio?”
Noah peered out the window with his rifle at a low ready position. “No.”
Benny rushed in the room, rifle in hand. “How many?”
Noah reported, “It’s a green pickup. Doesn’t look like DHS.”
David sc
owled. “They should’ve taken a radio.”
Benny peaked between the blinds. “The truck is from Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency.”
Noah said, “It might be Kevin.”
David shouldered his weapon. “Stay ready till you know for sure. It could be a trap.”
Benny confirmed, “Yep. It’s Kevin and Sarah.”
The back door opened, Noah spun around, raised his rifle, and took aim.
Jim’s voice came from the back in a loud whisper. “Don’t shoot. It’s us!”
Noah lowered the rifle and took a deep breath. “We need a secret knock.”
Elliot walked in behind Jim. “We heard a vehicle and ran right over.”
Noah nodded. “It’s Kevin and Sarah. I think we’re okay for now.”
Kevin walked in the front door, followed by Sarah. “Did everybody make it out okay?”
Noah stared at the baseboard. “Isaiah didn’t.”
Kevin’s voice changed to a more somber tone. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
Sarah sat down next to David and glanced at the blood-stained bandage on his thigh. “Your leg looks pretty nasty. Did you get it cleaned up?”
David’s voice still slurred. “Benny took care of it for me. I’ll live. Did all the detainees make it out?”
Kevin raised his eyebrows. “The ones that made it across the river did, thanks to you guys. The vans were all taking fire until your team started shooting. It would have been a different story if you fellows hadn’t taken out that chopper.”
Jim nodded. “Isaiah’s life wasn’t wasted then.”
Noah said, “There’s more. Besides freeing the detainees, a full-scale insurrection is happening inside the base in Knoxville.”
“Good,” Kevin replied.
Benny proceeded to fill the others in on the latest developments at the DHS staging and detention center. Next he explained the idea of The Tallmadge Report to David.
David nodded. “I’m not thinking clear enough to make a decision on that right now, but go ahead and put a plan together.”
Noah nodded. “I’ve been thinking about it. Cassie could actually produce the report at the cabin, and we can bring the recording back here to transmit. Maybe we could set up a transmitter at Isaiah’s in case the signal is tracked.”
Benny crossed his arms. “I could do that. In fact, I can set up a transmitter anywhere I can get power.”
Jim asked, “Could you run it out of a van with an inverter hooked up to the engine?”
Benny nodded. “Yep.”
Jim pulled his keys out. “There are a couple of old beaters in the police impound lot. I can work on getting one running and set up with an inverter while you guys go get the recording; if David says the mission is a go.”
David pointed at Kevin in such a way that showed the morphine was still affecting him. “What do you think?”
Kevin shrugged his shoulders. “If you’re going to do it, you should get going while DHS is still tied up with the trouble at the base. They’ll have reinforcements here by tomorrow, and this whole area will be locked down.”
Noah understood Kevin’s reasoning. “Can we have a quick memorial service for Isaiah first?”
Kevin replied, “Absolutely. David, do you need some help getting over to the burial site?”
“No, there are some crutches out in the barn. If someone can bring those to me, I can hobble out by myself.”
Sarah stood up. “I’ll get David’s crutches if the rest of you want to carry Isaiah over to the grave.”
Noah looked at David. “Do you have a white sheet we can wrap him in?”
David glanced toward the hall closet. “In the same place where you found the towels.”
Noah retrieved the sheet and led the way to the barn. Once there, they wrapped Isaiah in the sheet securely and carried him to the grave Jim and Elliot had dug.
David and Sarah arrived minutes later with one of David’s arms slung around Sarah and the other over a single crutch.
Using ropes, Noah, Kevin, Elliot, Jim, and Benny lowered Isaiah’s body into the ground.
Noah retrieved a small New Testament Bible from his back pocket and read from 1 Corinthians 15. “When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. All flesh is not the same: Men have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor. So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.”
Noah closed the Bible and put it back in his pocket. He bowed his head and prayed aloud. “Lord, we know that Isaiah will be resurrected to live with you in eternity. Our grief is for us that are left behind. We pray that you will comfort us in our sorrow and grant us victory against our enemy. We also pray that you’ll watch over our families. Amen.”
No one else spoke. They all stood around the grave for a few moments. Then, without saying a word, Noah and the others began to fill the grave with the dirt piled next to it. Soon, the job was finished; all of them walked back to the house quietly with their spirits and their heads hung low.
When they got back to the house, David started a pot of coffee. “Noah, who were you planning to take with you out to the cabin?”
“Benny.”
David shook his head. “I love Benny to death, but you need a gunfighter by your side.”
“Okay, I guess I can ask Elliot.”
Sarah walked into the room. “Did you make extra coffee?”
David nodded. “I made a pot for whoever wants some. Would you mind riding out to the cabin with Noah? It’s important and he needs good security. Besides, if a man and a woman get pulled over by DHS or hit a checkpoint, you’ll look less like militia members.”
“Sure. I’d be happy to.”
Noah tried not to show his objection in front of Sarah, but he knew by the way she looked at him that she’d figured out that he didn’t agree with the decision.
“Give me a shout when the coffee is ready.” Sarah pursed her lips and left the room.
After she walked out of the kitchen, David asked, “What’s wrong?”
“It’s going to be a little awkward,” Noah said.
“Attacking a DHS detention facility wasn’t awkward? You got through that. I think you can handle driving in a car with a girl.”
“Cassie is already a little jealous because Sarah is on the team and she’s stuck out at the cabin. This won’t go over well at all.”
David poured a cup of coffee. “This is war. I think she’ll understand. Sarah is the best shooter on the team. If you guys get in trouble, she’s your best chance of survival. On top of that, it looks much more normal to have a man and a woman in the car. It greatly reduces your odds of having to engage in the first place. I think you’re not giving Cassie enough credit. If she understands the risk you’re taking on this mission, she’ll be glad you’re employing tactics to mitigate your odds of dying.”
“Yeah. I wish you were going to be there to explain it to Cassie.” Noah poured himself a cup as well.
Noah changed into a pair of David’s overalls to look as harmless as possible.
David retrieved one of Becky’s pink tee shirts for Sarah to change into and called Sarah into the kitchen. “Sarah, leave your ID here. Noah, you drive. If you get pulled over, you’re Mr. and Mrs. Parker. If the questioning goes beyond that, you’ll have to start shooting. I’ll be right back.”
David hobbled off on the crutch
es.
Sarah looked at Noah. “I know you’re not too thrilled about having me as your partner on this mission, but I promise that I’ll do everything I can to keep you alive. I don’t know if your misgivings are because of my prosthetic leg or because I’m a girl, but I’m well trained, and I’ve learned to operate efficiently within my limitations. You could be in a lot worse hands than mine.”
Noah’s face turned blood red. “It’s not that at all. I’ve seen you run the course. I know how well you shoot. And you can move faster than most of the people on the team who have two legs.”
“Then what is it?”
Noah hesitated. He took a deep breath then exhaled. “It’s Cassie. She already feels left out because she had to stay at the cabin and take care of Lacy. She’s a lot like you. She never served in the military, but she has a warrior’s spirit. She wanted to be on the fire team.”
Sarah chuckled. “No way! I noticed she was giving me the cold shoulder, but I’d have never guessed she could be jealous of me. I thought she felt I was jealous of her.”
“Why would she think that?”
“Well, I guess because it’s partly true. Not because of you, of course.”
Noah jokingly rolled his eyes. “Thanks.”
Sarah put her hand on his arm. “No, I didn’t mean it like that. I meant because she has everything. She’s married, you two have a beautiful little girl, and she has both legs. I mean, Kevin is great, but I don’t think he’s the marrying type.”
David walked back into the room with a backpack slung over his shoulder. “Looks like you guys have worked out your differences. That was quick.”
Noah smiled. “Everything is fine.”
David leaned on one crutch and removed the backpack and sat it on the table. “Here’s a little something for good luck.”
Noah laughed. “I don’t believe in luck.”
Sarah opened the bag and looked inside. “You will when you see what’s in here.”
“What is it?”