Apocalypse Law 4

by John Grit

  “That man will come back.” Samantha’s frightened face spoke louder than her words.

  Caroline rose from her chair, her artificial leg slowing her only slightly, and walked across the room to Samantha. “If he does he’ll be sorry.”

  Samantha looked up at her. “He wouldn’t come after you. He’d be afraid of you.”

  There was an awkward five seconds of silence. “He might not be as stupid as I think he is, then,” Caroline said.

  Nate walked into the room.

  “Did you find her?” Brian asked, glad for the interruption. He was certain Samantha was referring to Caroline’s scars and just as certain Caroline took it that way, too.

  Mel came in behind Nate. “You might want to talk about that later, after Deni picks up her friend.”

  Brian’s chest deflated. He stared up at the ceiling. “I never even met her, but it feels like she was my little sister.”

  The fact Brian immediately assumed the girl was dead without it being told to him directly bothered Nate. He wanted to say something about how good things happen too, such as how the town came together to look for her. After struggling to come up with the right words, he decided it could wait until sometime when Samantha wasn’t listening.

  Caroline had not taken an interest in the conversation behind her; instead, she was looking at Samantha. “So, you’re saying I’m bigger than that bad man who took you?”

  Samantha nodded. “He’s not big for a man.” She pointed at Brian. “Not much bigger than him.”

  Caroline smiled and sat next to her on the bench she was on. “Was he the same height as Brian?”

  “I think so. But I can’t tell ‘cause I never saw Brian standing.”

  Brian threw a sheet he had over him aside. “I can fix that.”

  Nate raised a hand. “No way. Not until the doctors say you can get out of bed.”

  He swung his legs around and prepared to sit on the edge. “This is important, Dad. We’re finally learning something.”

  Nate rushed over and pressed on Brian’s chest. “What did I tell you?” He raised his voice without realizing it. One look at Samantha told him he’d made a mistake.

  “Never mind.” Brian lifted his legs back in bed and lay on his pillow. “We just lost our chance. Did I ever tell you that sometimes you scare kids? She doesn’t know you like I do. All she sees is this big man with a big voice.” He gave his father an exasperated look. “It might be the same one who took the girl this morning. Did you ever think of that?”

  “If you had just listened to me.” Nate started for the door. “I’ll see if I can find Dr. Brant. Maybe she’ll okay you getting out of bed.”

  After he left, Mel chuckled under his breath, making sure he kept it down so Nate couldn’t hear out in the hall.

  Even Caroline thought it was funny. “Brian, sometimes you push your luck with your dad. You’re probably the only one in the world who could get by with scolding him like that.”

  She and Mel broke out laughing. Samantha looked up at them and smiled, no longer afraid.

  Chapter 16

  Both Dr. Brant and Major Millhouse agreed it was time for Brian to get out of bed and test his balance, as well as start rebuilding his muscles. As soon as Brian was sure he could walk okay, he headed down the hall, through the lobby, and out the front door.

  Dr. Brant was on his heels the whole way. “Hey! Hold up there, bud. I didn’t say I was releasing you from my care.”

  Nate followed along behind, smiling at the fact his son seemed to be okay. “I guess he wants to feel the sun on his face, after being in bed for so long.”

  Dr. Brant glared over her shoulder as she tried to keep up with Brian. “Don’t encourage him. He’s already overdoing it.”

  Brian’s atrophied legs and back muscles were already protesting, but he walked on to the bench under a stand of oaks out front. Sitting down next to a young, pretty Army nurse, he said, “Nice day, isn’t it?”

  She nodded and went back to reading a paperback.

  The sun was just rising over the tree line to the east, and the dew had yet to melt away. Wet pine needles caught the sun’s rays, creating diamonds of sparkling light. Brian drank in the sights and smells, noting that mornings were turning cool again. He turned to look down the walkway and saw someone with a stiff leg walking with a little girl and realized it was Caroline and Samantha. It was too far for him to make out their faces, but he knew it was them. The woman had an M4 in her right hand and the little girl’s hand in her left. They seemed to be chatting away, which was unusual, both for the woman and girl.

  Dr. Brant huffed up. “Now let’s see if you can make it back. Maybe I’ll have to call for a wheelchair.”

  The nurse got up and left.

  Dr. Brant sat next to Brian. “Any dizziness?”

  Brian looked at his father as he spoke. “No. Just give me a day or two to get my muscles working.”

  He enjoyed being outdoors for the first time since his operation. His gaze focused again on something only he saw, his eyes fixed on a point in space somewhere between the horizon to the east and the sun that was hiding behind the tree line, its glow escaping the earth’s edge, rays radiating up and outward. The weather-faded boonie hat protecting his head rested in a way that announced he wasn’t trying to look macho. No, it was strictly utilitarian. The rings of sweat salt and tattered brim declared he didn’t care what it looked like to others; it was an essential part of his apparel, as important in bright sun as a poncho in a rain storm.

  Nate regarded his son with amusement. Brian reminded him of himself at a slightly older age and knew he was relishing being alive. He had experienced the feeling many times after a battle, and he knew Brian had been in a multi-week-long battle for his life. “I tell you what; I think you’ve been in that room long enough. We’ll hang around town a day or two, and then go back to Mrs. MacKay’s farm.”

  Dr. Brant gave him a look of disapproval. “He still might have a seizure.”

  Nate started to speak, but Brian interrupted. “I haven’t had one in weeks. Hell, it won’t be long before it’ll be time to take this cast off my arm.”

  “We’ll stay close by for a couple days,” Nate assured her.

  She stood. “He’s your son, and you’re too big for me to argue with. I’ve got to get back to work.”

  Nate hooked his thumbs in his belt and looked at the ground. “We’re both indebted to you. If you ever need anything…”

  She smiled. “You’re welcome.”

  Nate watched her walk away for a second, then sat next to Brian. “I want you to take it easy for a while.”

  Brian kept his eyes on the sunrise as he spoke. “Then it’s back to Mrs. MacKay’s farm?”

  Nate nodded. “From there on to Mel’s place.”

  Brian finally tore his gaze from the developing morning. He seemed concerned. “What about Kendell? He won’t leave those kids, and we can’t take care of all of them at Mel’s.”

  Nate noticed that they had company. “I’m sure he’ll stay at the farm with the others.” He stood. “Would you two like to sit here and rest after your walk?”

  Brian looked to his right and noticed Caroline and Samantha had already arrived. They had walked faster than he expected. He stood to make room for them on the bench. “You ladies walk fast. The last time I looked, you were way down the street.”

  Samantha smiled and looked up at Caroline, but said nothing, waiting for her to speak, instead.

  Caroline was more interested in the fact Brian was out of bed. “What did you do, escape the clutches of Drs. Brant and Millhouse?”

  “We left them tied up in a closet,” Brian said, “and snuck out.”

  Samantha put her hand over her mouth and smiled.

  Caroline motioned with a hand. “Sit down. There’s enough room for three of us. I guess your dad will have to stand.” Samantha sat down beside her.

  Brian watched another heavily loaded truck go by, heading for the lake. He sat
next to Caroline. “There were four people in the cab. Looked like a family.”

  “Did you notice the look on their faces?” Nate asked. “They had the same look all those heading for the lake have: a sense of purpose.”

  “They have a purpose all right,” Brian quipped. “There’s a lot of work to do out there.”

  Nate watched another loaded truck go by. The driver waved, and Nate waved back. “There’s a future waiting for them by the lake. That’s what I was talking about.”

  “Maybe,” Brian said. “It won’t be easy, though.”

  Caroline reinforced his thoughts. “More like almost impossible. They’re going to need outside help. The Army’s here in town now, but even they admit they’re not staying, and there’s no guarantee the Guard will move in behind them, as some have claimed. Mel says the Guard’s resources are stretched thinner than the Army’s.”

  Nate leaned against a nearby oak tree. “If they stay here, the warehouse food will run out, and they’ll be completely dependent on outside help, help you and I agree isn’t reliable. The quicker they get a farm going, the more secure their future will be.”

  “And farming requires lots of water,” Brian added. “So the lake’s their best bet.”

  A familiar flatbed truck came up the street. This one wasn’t heading out of town for the lake. The driver blew his horn and waved out the window.

  Brian jumped up and ran. His left arm was still in a sling, and he held it with his other hand. “It’s Mr. Stinson and Renee! And he has Kendell with him.”

  Kendell jumped out of the passenger side door before the truck came to a complete stop and ran to meet Brian, obviously excited to see him on his feet. “Everybody was worried about you, especially Renee.” He looked Brian up and down. “I guess I was right when I kept tellin’ them not to worry so much.”

  Renee ran up and wrapped her arms around Brian’s neck. By the time she let go, both of them were a little embarrassed.

  Austin had parked the truck and joined them. He stood there smiling. All he said was, “Well.”

  No one had noticed Nate standing nearby and watching. He chuckled. “Well what?”

  Austin shook Nate’s hand. “I’m almost as happy as you are to see Brian back on his feet.” He gave his daughter a wink. “And as you can see, Renee’s happy, too.”

  Their reunion was cut short when Chesty’s truck raced up the street and came to a screeching halt. Chesty stuck his head out the window. “Nate, I need your help.”

  All smiles vanished.

  Nate stepped closer. “Don’t tell me it’s happened again.”

  Chesty swallowed. “Yeah, afraid so. Her name’s Trisha Foreby. She may have been missing for hours, but the parents just got around to telling us. They thought she was in the backyard playing.”

  Brian was already standing next to his father. “Where’s my rifle and pack? I’m coming with you.”

  “We brought ‘em with us,” Kendell said. “I’ll get ‘em out of the truck.”

  “Glad to see you on your feet.” Chesty looked Brian over. “I can use all the help I can get – if you’re up to it.”

  Brian’s face was a picture of determination. “Don’t worry about me.” He pulled his arm out of the sling and flexed his hand. “The cast will protect it.”

  Nate took his broken arm and examined it. “It hasn’t had time to heal completely yet, so be damn careful. Don’t put any strain on it at all. Use it for nothing more than holding the other end of your M4. And don’t forget your broken ribs.”

  “What’s going on?” Austin asked.

  Chesty motioned with his head. “If you want to help, hop in. I’ll explain on the way.”

  “We’ll follow you.” Austin ran for his truck. Renee wasn’t far behind. Kendell ran to Brian and handed over his pack and rifle.

  Caroline looked on, obviously wanting to go with them and help, but she had Samantha to take care of.

  Nate and Brian jumped in Chesty’s truck. They were soon speeding across town. The Army had been alerted and soldiers were out in force, stopping every vehicle at strategic roadblocks, searching them for a little girl. After a short conversation, they waved Chesty and Austin through.

  Chesty spoke into his hand-held radio. “Do you have anything new for me, Tyrone?”

  Tyrone’s voice came back, “Nothing yet. We’ve already covered most of the neighborhood and will finish the rest in about thirty minutes. Why don’t you and your crew take 41st Street, east of 25th Ave., then work north from there?”

  “Will do. I have five volunteers with me.”

  “Good. My team will work west of 25th Ave, after we’re done here.”

  “Remember to tell them to concentrate on finding the girl,” Chesty said, “but the guy we want may be a smaller white man. It’s not much but all we have.”

  “I think it’s best to tell them to look for the girl. If we find someone with her, that’ll be another story. I expect if one of us doesn’t get to him soon enough, he won’t live long.”

  “Right on both counts.” Chesty glanced over at Nate, who remained silent; though it was obvious his mind was racing.

  He turned right onto 41st Street, left on 25 Ave., and stood on the brakes. “You and Brian work the east side of 25th Ave. here.” He pointed. “I’ll work the west side of 26th, which means I’ll be working the houses behind the ones you’ll be working. If the home looks abandoned, go on in. If it’s occupied knock and ask for permission to search. I’ll leave it to your judgment as to how to handle any suspicious smaller man you might find inside. Be careful of your own safety, but also watch stepping on citizens’ rights. Please don’t shoot an innocent person.”

  “Great advice,” Nate remarked. “But I doubt you think a few hurriedly spoken words have turned us into trained cops. Any way you look at it, Brian and I are vigilantes breaking into private homes. Excuse me while I put my son’s life ahead of all other concerns.”

  Chesty gave him a strange look, and then chuckled. “Yeah, it’s crazy. What else is new?” He exploded from the cab and ran to the rear, a pump shotgun in his hands. Yelling at at Austin, who had parked behind his truck, he said, “You, Renee, and Kendell come with me.”

  The house-to-house search was nerve racking. The fact Nate and Brian had found all of them empty so far did little to lower the stress of entering a home that may contain an armed madman lying in wait. Brian was forced to let his father lead the way, but he provided another set of eyes and ears, increasing his father’s chances many fold. No one would blindside Nate while Brian watched his back.

  Brian soon learned that his father never turned his back on an area he hadn’t already searched. Not a single blind spot behind a couch or the inside of a dark closet was bypassed until it was checked out. He also had the opportunity to see his father work his way around many corners, a pie slice at a time, with rifle shouldered. Watching his father taught him a lot about clearing a house and how dangerous it was. He also realized that two men wasn’t enough of a team to do it safely. He had been surprised to hear his father gripe to Chesty about the situation back in the truck. His father wasn’t the kind to bitch and moan about anything. But he soon understood why he had spoken out. They had been put in a damned if you shoot/die if you don’t position.

  Dad was right: We’re not cops.

  After searching three homes that housed only the moldering skeletal remains of plague victims, they rushed to another home next door. This one was obviously occupied by a family. The uncut grass in the front yard was beaten down, and the sound of children playing could be heard through open windows. Nate knocked on the front door.

  A woman in her thirties appeared, holding a revolver in her right hand. She scowled at Nate. “What do you want? My husband’s asleep in the living room. If you wake him, there’ll be trouble.” She eyed their weapons. “Those guns don’t scare us. We have guns, too.”

  “We don’t want you to be afraid, Ma’am.” Nate removed his boonie hat. “We’re help
ing the acting sheriff search for a lost little girl. Her name is Trisha Foreby.”

  Her eyes opened wide, and she shook her head. “Well, she’s not here. The only children in this house are mine.”

  Nate put his hat back on. “I’ll take your word on that.” He took two steps back. “Just keep in mind that a mother is worried sick at this moment, and we’re trying to find her little girl for her.”

  She gave Nate and Brian a cold stare. “Searching here would be a waste of time. She’s not here. Someone should’ve kept a closer watch on her little girl.” She slammed the door in their face. They could hear her turning a bolt inside.

  “Come on,” Nate said. They rushed to the next home; this one they soon discovered was empty.

  Brian’s leg and back muscles had convened to register their complaints about how out of shape they were, after such a long recovery period spent in bed. His throbbing headache wasn’t doing him any good, either. Fortunately for him, his broken ribs and arm seemed to be holding up well enough, but the arm barely had strength enough to hold up the rifle. Brian said nothing and just forced his way through the pain. He wasn’t about to let his father down.

  Nate didn’t need to hear his son complain; he could tell he needed a rest. The tension was ratcheting up for them both every time they forced their way into another house and searched it room-by-room, looking over their rifle sights, ready to shoot in defense of their life. After clearing another home, they returned to the living room. “Hold on. We’ll sit here a while and take a breather.”

  Brian protested. “Dad, that little girl…”

  “I know.” Nate slipped his pack off and sat on a dusty couch. “Nevertheless, we’re taking five. Sit down and rest your nerves as much as your body.”

  Brian did as he was told, sitting down and massaging his left arm where it wasn’t covered by the cast. “I know this is dangerous. The thing is I doubt this bastard has the spine to take on an adult. He likes to go after little kids.”

  “I’m not going to bet your life on that.” Nate leaned back in the chair and looked up at the ceiling. “Drink some water, relax, calm your nerves. We’ll be back at it soon enough.”