by Mark Goodwin
Sly waved at Javier as he walked away. “Find a good straight stick. I’ve got some more line. You can probably find a lure if you walk the bank.”
Danny waited for Javier to leave then tapped Antoine on the shoulder. “Ready?”
“Yeah. You and Gwen stay hidden until we’re sure they ain't gonna freak out on us.” Antoine calmly and steadily got up from his position and made his way over toward the men who didn’t notice him emerge from the brush.
“Y’all catching anything?” Antoine’s voice was smooth as silk and soft like warm butter.
“We ain’t . . . T!” Sly dropped his pole and fell into the water.
Friendly jumped up. “Big T! You’re . . . you’re . . . dead!”
Antoine shook his head and held his finger to his mouth. “Shhhhhh.” He tried desperately to calm them down. “I’m not dead. Everything is fine.”
Friendly reached out and touched Antoine’s arm, as if he still believed the big man to be a ghost. “T?”
Sly seemed unconvinced as well. He stood up but stepped back in the shallow water. “They said you and that white boy, Danny, were shot for being traitors, that girl too. They dragged JC around the airport tied to the back of a Humvee to show us how they treat spies.”
“Well, they lied. Look. I’m still alive.” Antoine held his arms out in a non-threatening manner.
Friendly let the fishing pole hang limply in his hand. “Did you blow up those fuel tanks like they said? What happened? What are you doing back here?”
“You guys better take a seat. Danny, Gwen, come on out here.” Antoine motioned for Danny and Gwen to come out from hiding.
Friendly and Sly looked baffled as they sat down and listened. Antoine explained how Danny and JC had infiltrated the camp and been captured. He told them of his role in the assault against the jet fuel holding tanks, how they’d escaped, and the subsequent action against the Greenville outpost.
“I don’t believe it!” Friendly’s mouth hung open. “Now what?”
Danny took over from there, laying out the impending invasion of the airport. Once he had covered the basic strategy, he said, “You guys need to pick a side or clear out of here.”
“And don’t pick Schlusser’s side. He’s going to lose. You can bet on that.” Antoine added.
“And y’all brought guns? For us?” Sly still seemed somewhat bewildered.
“If you pledge to fight with us,” Danny said.
“Antoine, Danny, what are you guys doing here?” Javier came out from the wooded area behind the river bank carrying a very straight limb from a tree.
Friendly stood up. “Oh! Forget about that fishin’ pole. You gonna wanna hear this!”
Antoine and Danny took turns bringing Javier up to speed.
Javier looked Sly in the eyes. “Are you in?”
Sly paused and turned to Friendly. “I guess so. I don’t have any love for Schlusser and I got nowhere else to go.”
Friendly nodded. “Yeah. I’m in.”
“Me, too.” Javier looked at Antoine. “But you have to promise me that Sylvie won’t be hurt. If something happens to her, I hold you responsible.”
Danny reassured Javier. “We’re going to take special precautions when we hit the terminal. The main force knows it’s mostly women and children. We’ll need Sylvia to help get the plan out to a few key people she can trust in the terminal.”
Gwen handed a piece of paper to Javier “I have some friends inside that I need Sylvie to contact for me, girls who will help us set up a trauma center for our injured, and maybe assist with some sabotage.”
Danny looked at Javier. “Schlusser may try to use the women and teenagers in the terminal as human shields, so you’ll need to put together a defense force to make sure that doesn’t happen. That force should wear something white on their head so our guys can identify them as friendlies. It could be a white ball cap, a bandana, or even the sleeve from a white tee-shirt.”
Javier held up his hand. “I’ll take that mission. I’ll put together a defense team for the terminal, and I’ll kill Spyder before I go.”
“No, I want to kill Spyder!” Friendly tapped his chest with his index finger.
Danny and Gwen retrieved the three backpacks full of pistols from the bushes where they’d stashed them. Danny unzipped one of the bags in front of Javier. “The abandoned cars around the parking lots are great places to stash these.”
Javier pulled out a semi-automatic pistol. “That’s what I’m talking about!”
“Do you know how to shoot?” Danny asked.
Javier racked the slide, dropped the magazine, and cleared the chamber. The ejected shell shot up into the air, and he caught it with his hand. “Growing up in my neighborhood, I learned to shoot before I learned to tie my shoes.”
Danny looked at Sly and Friendly. “Can you guys handle a weapon?”
“We got this, Danny.” Sly pulled a revolver out of the bag and opened the cylinder.
“Friday afternoon is going to be when you should start employing your sabotage techniques.” Danny gave Javier a nod. “Make sure Sylvia gets that across to whoever she taps inside the terminal. And sabotage doesn’t have to be complicated. Pull a spark plug out of a Humvee or cut the fuel line. Steal a flashlight or a set of keys; it’s the little aggravating things that will cause Schlusser’s men to be irritated and have their minds off of their task at hand.”
“Not to mention, the rougher their day is on Friday and Saturday, the more they’ll drink on Saturday night.” Antoine laughed.
Gwen said to Javier, “Make sure Sylvie knows that just mixing up the laundry for the guys on the peninsula can really get them aggravated. The cooks can dump a ton of salt in the food on Saturday so the guys won’t eat as much. Then, the liquor will really hit them Saturday night. And tell Sylvie I said hello.”
“We’ve got a whole week to think up ways to give Schlusser and his boys a bad day. I’m going to enjoy this.” Sly looked at Friendly, and the two men laughed.
Antoine said, “When you’re deciding who to tap for the operation, you guys know who you can trust. Anyone you are the least bit concerned about, don’t even try to feel them out.”
Danny pointed to Javier. “And Sam, he’s a good guy. But, if you decide to bring him in, wait until the eleventh hour. He knows his way around the peninsula because he’s been on the moving crew, but he has a mouth that won’t shut up. All it takes is one person to say the wrong thing at the wrong time, and we’ll all die. I’ve got a baby on the way. I’m not ready to go just yet.”
Javier took Danny’s hand and shook it. “Congratulations on the baby. We won’t let you down.”
“Thanks.” Danny could see that Javier, Sly, and Friendly were all sincerely committed to doing the right thing. They were all street wise and needed little education on how to behave in a covert operation. “So we’ll see you guys next Saturday night.”
“What time?” Javier asked.
Danny signaled for Antoine and Gwen to follow him back toward the tracks. “After dark. Before dawn. When you hear gunshots, you’ll know we’re here. That will be your cue to start eliminating anyone who is going to be a problem.” He turned and pointed to Friendly and Sly. “And don’t fight over Spyder. You’ve got plenty of dirtbags in this place.”
“Thank you, Danny.” Sly waved as they walked away. “For including us in this operation.”
“Yeah, thanks for trusting us,” Javier added.
Danny gave them one last nod as he walked into the bushes. He remembered how JC had insulted Spyder in order to get on the worst possible work crew. His plan to intermingle with the disenfranchised was still paying dividends. Danny’s first hope was that he would live long enough to see his baby. His second was that he could rescue JC.
CHAPTER 9
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Behold, all they tha
t were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
Isaiah 41:10-13
The following week passed faster than any other seven-day period in Danny’s life. It was filled with planning, training, and going back and forth from Pickens to iron out the details of the joint action. Of all the skirmishes and battles Danny had been involved in, this was the largest. It also had the potential to be the most consequential.
The fate of four counties hung in the balance and would be decided by those who prevailed in the coming confrontation. On a higher level, the outcome would have a ripple effect that would oscillate around the world. One tyrant allowed to impose his will on one small piece of the globe was an infection which sickened the entire planet. And like the grave, a tyrant is never content with what he has. He must have more and more, his hellish appetite to control the souls of men, women, and children can never be satisfied.
Danny’s team would have one chance, a single opportunity to put an end to the ruthless jurisdiction of the regent and the reprobate depravity that Schlusser represented. This would be the contest of all contests.
After breakfast, Danny spent Saturday morning alone in his trailer with Alisa. The two of them talked some, but more than anything, they held one another in each other’s arms. Danny cherished these moments. They could be his last.
Danny stood up. “It’s time for me to go.”
Alisa followed him to the door. “I’ll be praying for you.”
“Thanks. I’ll be missing you.” Danny grabbed his gear and opened the door. “I’ll see you soon.”
“I love you.” She turned away as she closed the door.
Danny knew it was tough on her. He couldn’t imagine being in Alisa’s shoes. He could handle the stress and anxiety of battle, but to sit home, wondering, worrying; it would be more than he could take.
Danny walked to the vehicles where the team was loading their gear. “Does everyone with night vision have fresh batteries?”
Chris and Jack nodded as they placed more ammo in the rear of the tan Humvee. “We tested them last night,” Jack said.
“Dana, Gwen, did you girls check your night vision?”
“Yeah. We’re good.” Dana placed her pack in the back of the Humvee.
Danny checked Antoine’s backpack to make sure he saw the handles of the bolt cutters sticking out. In his own bag, Danny carried a crowbar and two-foot length of iron pipe that could slip over the crowbar for more leverage.
“I want to see everyone’s black polo.” Danny walked from person to person, waiting for them to pull the uniform shirt out of their packs and confirm that it was with them. Black wasn’t the best color for a ninety-degree day in the Carolinas, so they’d all change just before the raid was launched at dark.
Danny watched as Catfish emerged from his trailer wearing his signature overalls with magazine pouches affixed to the shoulder straps. “You know, Catfish, we’ve got plenty of load-bearing gear.”
“So do I.” Catfish placed an old messenger bag and his AK-47 in the rear of the F-150.
“I was referring to the tactical vests we’ve taken off Schlusser’s men.” Danny pressed his lips together. “I think you’d be more comfortable. All of this, just doesn’t look . . . stable.”
Catfish spat out a long stream of tobacco juice, which landed inches from Danny’s feet. “It’s stable, and I’m comfortable.” Catfish opened the door of the truck. “Antoine, you’ll have to ride in the middle. I need to be by the winder so I can spit.”
Danny shook his head. “No, no. Antoine’s legs are too big for the middle. He’d be up against the steering wheel and the gear shifter. You can go three hours without chewing.”
“I can, but I don’t want to. I reckon Miss Jennie’ll give me a spit jar for the trip.” Catfish walked to the house while the rest loaded into the vehicles. Chris took the wheel of the Humvee with Jack riding shotgun. Gwen and Dana rode in the back.
Danny started the engine of the F-150. Antoine stood by the door of the truck.
Chris looked at Danny and shrugged as if to ask what the holdup was.
Danny called out. “We’re waiting for Catfish to get a spit jar.”
“Mission critical piece of equipment. I’m glad we didn’t forget that,” Chris replied.
Finally, Catfish made it back to the truck and slid into the middle seat.
Antoine got in and closed the door.
Danny waved at everyone who had come outside to see them off. Alisa did not come out of the trailer, but that was okay. Danny knew she was hurting.
Once on the road, Catfish scooted closer to Danny, holding his spit jar and looking at Antoine. “You been a eatin’ a mite too many of Miss Jennie’s biscuits there.”
“And you’ve been skipping too many baths.” Antoine scowled and turned his head toward the open window.
Danny likewise kept his nose pointed toward the olfactory refuge provided by the outside air. The scent of stale tobacco went a long way in covering up the general stench of Catfish’s poor hygiene.
In just under three hours, the two vehicles arrived at the abandoned coal-fired electrical plant, which would be used as a staging area for Ben and Danny’s teams. Within minutes of Danny’s arrival, the first vehicles from Ben’s team began to arrive.
Ben and Lucas arrived in an old US Army Jeep. They pulled up to Danny’s truck and Ben stepped out of the passenger’s side. “So this is where it all started.”
Danny looked toward the river with one side of his mouth curled up. “No. It started at Nana’s farm. All I wanted was to be left alone. I was pushed to come here by a man who stole my peace, took my food, and killed my friends.”
Ben put his arm on Danny’s shoulder. “That all ends tonight.”
“I hope so.” Danny turned to look at the carefully hand-drawn map, which Lucas was spreading out on the hood of the Jeep. The map was slightly smaller than the hood and had been meticulously delineated on a sheet of brown wrapping paper.
Ben pointed to the railroad bridge. “I’ll take my main force across the bridge and hold them in the tree line here where Old Dowd Road crosses the tracks. My guess is that when Parnell’s army is spotted by Schlusser’s scouts, Schlusser will send as many as he can spare from the peninsula into the airport. The most direct route takes them right across these tracks. We’ll ambush the reinforcements coming from the peninsula, and then head on down toward Schlusser’s place to help you out.”
Danny nodded. “I think it’s a good plan. We’re heading out right now to set up a cable ferry at the southern tip of the peninsula.”
“That sounds like a lot of work. Why wouldn’t you cross the train bridge and walk down?”
Danny placed his finger on the map. “We think the house on this bank is vacant. Chris and Jack are going to set up a sniper’s nest inside. It has an unobstructed view of Schlusser’s house. The ferry would allow them to get to us quickly if we needed them to leave the nest and provide direct support for the rest of my team. The ferry also provides an alternative avenue of retreat in the event that any of us get cut off from the tracks. It cuts two miles of walking out of the retreat for anyone who is injured. Since we’re on foot, that might mean life or death. The women in the terminal are setting up a field hospital, but we won’t be able to access it until the battle is pretty much over.”
Ben pointed at two large military trucks with canvas coverings on the rear. “We’re setting up a trauma unit where we can get folks stabilized for transport back to Pickens or to the airport terminal.”
Danny turned around and pulled a large coil of rope out of the bed of his truck. “I’ve got to go rent a canoe. We’ll see you before dark.”
“Be safe.”
Ben waved as Danny and his team set off to establish the ferry.
They sprinted up the tracks, which ran parallel to the river until they reached the first clearing. Danny scanned the area for the small craft he thought he remembered seeing on his last visit to the area. “There’s the canoe.”
Dana volunteered. “I’m light, and I’m a pretty strong rower. I’ll go with you.”
“Good.” Danny nodded his approval. “Catfish, Chris, and Jack, you guys are on overwatch. Gwen, feed us rope as we cross the river.” Danny pointed at a covered dock on the opposite bank. “We’ll be after that pontoon boat at the dock on the southern tip of the peninsula. Antoine, help to pull us in when we come back across.”
Danny tied the rope around his waist and entered the canoe with Dana. The two of them powered against the current to the other shore. Danny intentionally chose to fight the current going to the peninsula so anyone needing the ferry for a retreat would have the river helping them back.
The two of them accelerated as they reached the bank so the canoe would push up past the water line. Once there, Danny stepped out and gave Dana a hand to help her up. The two of them carried the canoe up onto the dock and lowered it onto the pontoon boat. Danny fed the rope around the piling of the dock and tied it to the rear of the boat, using a clove hitch knot. He untied the pontoon boat from the cleat. The boat was gently pulled away from the dock by the current while Danny effortlessly guided it across via the rope they’d strung up on their trip across the river.
“It looks easy,” Dana said.
“This direction is.” Danny kept pulling the rope. “But going back, it’s going to take some effort.”
Once they’d crossed, Antoine pulled them to the dock and helped them out of the pontoon. Danny fed the rope around the piling on this side and tied this end of the rope to the front of the boat. Now the rope made a complete loop around the pilings of the two docks on each side of the river. The boat could be retrieved by a person on either shore or pulled across the river by the passengers. “We’ve got just enough time to clear the sniper’s nest, get Chris and Jack set up, and then eat. The sun will be setting by the time we’ve done all of that.”