Ultimately the need for air brought them back to earth, both gasping but anxious to begin where they’d left off. Ziggy moved in for another passionate exchange but hesitated, opting to hug her instead. He easily settled her feet back onto solid ground and gingerly brought his lips to hers for a parting kiss, before he stepped away.
“I know,” she said, having the same yearning need but understanding the place and the circumstances. “Of all places to find somebody . . . the middle of a pandemic nightmare.”
“Complete with Huskers,” he added.
“Precisely. Okay, back to the question at hand. Did you sweep me off my feet to change my mind or to see if I’d just forget about it?”
“Neither, actually.” He smiled over his shoulder, as another stream of gas poured from a can and into the tank. “I did it because . . . ”
“Because, why?” she said, reaching out and rubbing his arm affectionately.
“Because it was the only way I could get you to shut up so I could finish my work.”
“Jerk!” Raven doubled up her fist and struck him with gusto in the upper arm. “Take that, but I’m counting on you,” she finally concluded, knowing he’d be keeping a special watch over her from this time forward.
They completed the task and began the walk back to the upper floors. Shortly after the native convoy had roared out of town, the community had an informal council and vote. However, the result was not unanimous but very close. Three of the locals had opted to leave the inn, warning that being clustered together would only create a target for future problems. They left, taking a small supply of food and returned to a home where they felt they could hide out and remain incognito. The remainder of the survivors discussed options, strategies and possible avenues of retreat, should they need it. Officer Nowicki had managed to arm most of those who did not bring their own guns, having high jacked the RCMP weapon’s locker.
Keeping the assailants out of the building was the priority. They would not initiate offensive maneuvers but would try to keep the entrances secure and monitor the hallways. So many windows, and not enough people to cover every room, were a problem but they strategically made assignments, maximizing views to prevent anyone having access to stairwells and the upper floor. They were grouped into units of two, in most cases an experienced hunter with someone less qualified. This was not always the case, as some couples chose to stay together and not all had shooting experience.
In the hours following the vote, mattresses had been thrown adjacent to windows, furniture secured against intrusion at the front and rear of the building and an escape route prepared, leading from the underground parkade, up the ramp and out the back of the garage. Vehicles were lined up, fueled and guarded by two groups of roving sentries. The route, north, away from Banff, was demarcated with plans to reunite with survivors near Lake Louise. No one had a clue what would be waiting for them there but it couldn’t be worse than driving into the violent storm that would await them if they traveled east and into the reserve.
The roof of the inn was their best bet, not only for spotting an attack but also for defending against one. There was a crown or berm that ran the circumference of the building, extending almost a meter high, that was dense and heavily constructed. Ziggy estimated it would withstand a rifle’s round and provide adequate cover to fire from. Five groups of two were assigned to monitor all avenues of access to the inn and to fire a shot if they spotted trouble. Hannah and Bobi, along with the Daniel’s, were given the frontal area and Banff Ave. They nervously walked the length of the facade, whispering periodically but mostly staying quiet and contemplating their inner fears. The other guards appeared to be doing the same thing.
Inside, anyone not assigned to guard duty tried to sleep or help in other ways. Mick had assumed the responsibility of caring for the children. A mother of one of the adolescents helped, telling stories and making sure they were tucked in and ready for bed. The other adolescents were orphaned by the viral-enslaver, leaving them to fend for themselves, but were luckily taken in by neighbors before the Huskers found them. The inner rooms of the third floor were the group’s dormitories, the least likely to receive direct fire and the most easily defended. The outer rooms, as with all those in the inn, were barricaded with furniture or mattresses and a u-shaped hallway, legs running away from Banff Ave, connected all the rooms. Walking units patrolled back and forth and fixed guards stood in the stairwells.
Raven stuck her head in the room where she knew Mick would be, and found her patiently rocking the smallest child to sleep. The teacher brought a finger to her lips to hush her friend until she laid the four year old down and joined Rave in the hall. “How’s it going?” Raven inquired.
“Not bad, they were pretty worn out. Big day for them but their stomachs are full and they should sleep okay. Some of them are complaining about nightmares.”
“Do you blame them? I’m having them too,” Rave confirmed.
“No doubt, eh? I guess there’s no sign of our native friends?” Mick leaned her ear against the partially closed door and listened. It was still.
Rave whispered her reply, “Nope, as quiet as that room full of kids.”
“Good, hope it stays that way.”
“Me too. You okay? Worried?” Raven asked her best friend.
“Aren’t you? I’m scared to death for the children. What kind of life can we have, waiting every minute for some group of zealots or Huskers to attack?”
“I know but what else can we do? There’s no help coming, Mick. None! There’s you and me, the girls, Ziggy and these townspeople. That’s it, and I’d rather stay and fight for what we’ve got than get pushed out into circumstances beyond our control, or worse.”
“I totally agree but . . . you know, the youngsters, they always seem to be stuck in the middle of adults fighting over something.” Mick stepped toward Rave and quickly hugged her. “We’ve been through worse,” she said, smiling.
“Bull-crap,” Raven replied, making them both laugh. “Where’s your gun?”
“I’ve got that old shotgun inside with the kids. I gave the AK’s to Bobi and Hannah. They’re on the roof for the next four hours. How ‘bout you? Where are you assigned?”
“Zig says I’m assigned to his hip pocket.”
“Ohhhh, is that right? I thought I saw some sparks there.”
“Maybe a little,” Rave responded, her cheeks flushing with color.
“Leave it to you to find romance during the Zombie Apocalypse. Where’s Pooch? You better keep an eye on her.”
Rave pointed down the hall where a door led to the rooftop. “Ziggy just took her to the roof to keep the girls company. She prefers being outside with cooler weather and a plethora of smells.”
The friends spoke for another few minutes before Mick slipped back inside with the sleeping minors. She sat in a cushioned rocker and placed the shotgun over her lap. Hours before she’d checked the chambers for shells but to ease her anxiety she quietly released the action again and confirmed two brass ends were visible. The chair pivoted back and forth for a few minutes until exhaustion closed the teacher’s eyes and she drifted off to sleep.
* * *
On the outskirts of Banff, a train of trucks and SUV’s exited off of Highway 1, near the Tunnel Mountain overpass. ‘Braves’ as Darwin liked to call his fighters were packed into a dozen vehicles, their faces painted black and their guns loaded. Trevor drove the lead Suburban, as he’d done earlier in the day, but this time Chief Gladue sat in the back seat. Lou sat quietly in the passenger position, stroking his extended rifle while he thought of how the night might play out. Coming to a stop at the eastern end of Banff Ave, Trevor and Louis looked over the seat for instructions.
“Trevor, you stay here. Lou and I’ll go in alone,” Darwin ordered. He was dressed in black, except for a buckskin leather vest with decorative beading and detailed stitching. An ornamental necklace hung around his neck, a bear claw dangling at his sternum; a gift from a grateful people. Hi
s dark hair was pulled back and kept in place with an ebony Stetson, which he wore for special occasions. Hidden beneath his vest and slick, black jacket was the 9mm pistol, loaded with hollow points. “While we’re gone I want you to get the Braves into position. If the inn’s as you’ve described we should be able to get firing positions at the front and back without them knowing. Break up into two groups and get ready. I’ll fire a shot if I want you to engage. Is that clear?” Arcand had turned and was looking out the windshield, trying to organize an attack plan. Chief Gladue reached up and tapped him on the shoulder, “I don’t want any screw ups.”
“Yeah, yeah, we got this,” Trevor stammered back. There had been a lot of talk since their trip earlier in the day but now that they were ready to begin the attack, something just didn’t sit right with him. “And where will you both be while we take the inn?”
“We’ll be around, don’t you worry. Make sure we don’t end up with some crossfires, last thing I want is our people killing each other. If you can get some men up on the buildings nearby, that would be advantageous.” Darwin sat back against the seat and winked at Lou. “This is the first big step, boys. We take Banff, sure up some supplies, and link with the reserve to the north and west. It’ll be like knocking over bowling pins. Won’t be anybody that can stop us.”
Trevor Arcand sat motionless, taking in the promises and wondering what they meant for his future, but kept to himself. “Go on now, get your butt in gear. We got a town to take,” Darwin exclaimed. The GAW leader exited and took his AR-15 with him. He nodded at Chief Gladue but ignored Lou completely. The security man also left his side of the SUV and took the driver’s spot, adjusting the seat well back to accommodate his size.
“I hate that little turd,” Lou said, when he knew Trevor was out of earshot.
“But he serves a purpose and has the support of the younger men and women. We can’t do without his . . . ah, special skill-set. Not just yet.” Gladue grinned and remained in the back seat. “Give the Braves a few minutes to start down the road and then we’ll drive up and have a chat with this . . . Officer Nowicki.”
Dark-faced men and women split off into two groups, one to the south and the other to the north side of Banff Ave. They weaved in and out of buildings, trees and cover, to wind their way to the inn. Darwin watched carefully as about 70 of his followers prepared to do his bidding. “They are good people, brave souls doing God’s work. We will be victorious.” He spoke the words as he gave Lou permission to roll the SUV forward; confident he’d covered all his bases.
* * *
“Yeah, I see ‘em,” Zygmunt confirmed, after Bobi raised the alarm. A single set of headlights was breaking through the night and heading their way.
“Do you think it’s them?” Hannah asked.
“Who else, but there’s only one car. Maybe they’ve just come to talk,” Bobi said, trying to sound upbeat.
“There’s more than one carload. Keep your heads down and watch those spaces there . . . and there,” he said, pointing to some obvious locations where attackers could hide. “Spread the word . . . this could be it.” Hannah held her position while Bobi ran from one pair of guards to the next, issuing Nowicki’s instructions.
“You going down?” Hannah asked, looking at the officer.
“Yup, they’ll be looking for an answer and I don’t think it’s the one they want to hear.”
“Be careful.”
“Thanks, you too,” he replied.
Raven stopped Ziggy on her way to the roof as he descended the stairs. The look on his face was grim and she knew the answer to her question, even before she opened her mouth. “They’re here and you’re going out to meet them?”
“One kiss and you’re already reading my mind?”
“That’s about it. I’m coming with you.”
“Fine, but stay well back and behind the desk.”
“Yes sir,” she said, cocking her arm in an awkward salute before quickly kissing him on the cheek. “Please, watch yourself.”
They jogged down the two flights and arrived at the entrance about the same time the black SUV pulled to the curb. Ziggy twisted and slid an upended couch away from the main entrance, flicked the lock and stepped outside, his carbine resting comfortably on his hip and a finger on the trigger. He walked to the edge of the steps but did not descend to ground level. Lou crawled from the driver’s seat, with effort, and walked around to open the rear passenger door.
“Hey Lou, you’re wasting your time, or have you come to surrender?” the officer yelled.
The large, native man ignored his antagonist and stood aside when Gladue slid into view. “Officer Nowicki, is it?”
“Yup, and you’re the fellow wanting to expand your real estate empire?”
“You might say that,” Darwin said, feigning a light chuckle. “I’m Chief Darwin Gladue, perhaps you’ve heard of me?” He took a couple of steps forward, expecting to shake the officers hand but stopped when Ziggy rebuffed his question.
“Nope, can’t say that I have. What brings you to my city?”
“Your city?” he snapped, with a renewed emphasis and strain to his voice. “I like a man who is direct and to the point, but I will argue your assertion of who owns Banff.”
“Give it your best shot, Chief. I really don’t care because we’re not moving out. We’re happy to share and live in harmony with your people, as we’ve done for years, but we will not be booted out or robbed.” Nowicki tried to remain calm but he could feel his blood pressure and temperature rising.
Gladue pulled the cowboy hat from his head and looked inside, where a small derringer was velcroed against the felt. He considered using it on the mouthy, disrespectful officer but held his emotion and replaced it atop his head after sweeping his hair back. “Let’s agree to disagree on that point but I can’t have your people using up our resources. We’ll escort your band to just outside Calgary and let you go with no harm to anyone. I don’t know what else I could offer you. It’s more than fair.”
“And what happens to you and your people when we don’t go and you kill a bunch of us or we do the same to you? How do you think the Canadian military will look at that? Whose side will they take?”
“What Canadian military? You mean the submarines at West Edmonton Mall? That’s probably all that’s left. You really are out of touch aren’t you?” Darwin looked at the man in disbelief, thinking that surely he must have some knowledge of what was happening, the world over.
“That’s a lie and you know it, and if it’s not, it doesn’t change our situation or our resolve,” Ziggy said, stepping down a single stair.
“A man with balls and a big mouth. You don’t vacate this hotel in the next 30 minutes, I’m gonna stuff the first of those into the other. You get my drift?”
“Loud and clear but as much as we don’t want a fight, we will not give up and be led away to who knows what. We’ve got women and kids in here . . . ”
“Then send them out and we’ll escort them to safety. You have my word.”
“I don’t think you’ll have any takers. But what’s to stop me from dropping your sorry ass right where you stand?” Lou heard the words and moved to grab his automatic rifle from the front seat. Darwin turned and stopped him with the wave of his hand.
“Because you’re an officer with integrity and you won’t shoot an unarmed man . . . not while we’re negotiating.”
Nowicki almost laughed, knowing the ambitious chieftain was packing at least one, and maybe two, pistols. “I don’t, for a second, believe you’re unarmed but you’re right . . . I won’t shoot you, at least not until I have to. You take your gorilla, back there,” Zygmunt said, pointing at the bodyguard, “drive on out of town and take the dozens of troops you’ve got circling us with you, and we’ll call it a night. Press your claim and there’ll be hell to pay.”
“That’s your final answer?” Darwin thought again of the small pistol tucked into his hat, but pushed the idea aside. He liked to think it wa
s the rifles on the roof that were staying his hand but truth be known, his life, in the eternal perspective of things, was more valuable than any of his followers.
“That, sir, is my final answer, now get out of my driveway,” he barked, lowering the carbine’s muzzle to make his point.
“Very well, you’ll be to blame for the loss of life here and not me . . . not me.”
Officer Nowicki watched until they’d spun the Suburban around and raced toward the edge of town. He backed through the open door and quickly slammed it shut, pushing the couch back into place.
“So?” Raven asked.
“They’re coming, pass the word.”
Chapter 16
A single gunshot, fired from a small caliber pistol, stirred Eli but did not bring him completely from the vice-like slumber, which had held him for hours. The stove, though still warm, no longer glowed with red embers and dancing flames. Rolling onto his back, he crossed his feet at the ankles, briefly dislodging Tommy Cat, who clawed at the blanket before wrapping back into a furry ball. Moments later, and not too far away, a staccato of gunfire perforated the darkness and shattered the night’s calm.
Fireworks? he thought, his mind racing to find the date in his mind’s calendar but none existed. Military? Why is the military . . . ” Sitting upright and now fully awake he shouted, “Huskers!”
His attempt to jump from the couch and into action was hampered by stiff joints that were still healing. He tripped, launching the cat onto the floor and winding up next to the Tabby in a twisted knot of aching limbs. “Come on, Tommy, we’ve got to go. The girls are in trouble.” Finding the strength and coordination he needed, Eli quickly scoured the adjoining bedroom for a weapon, anything he could use in a fight. He came up empty handed, but then remembered the garage and hurriedly stumbled down the steep, angled stairs to the ground below.
The Raven Falconer Chronicles (Book 2): Rise of the Huskers Page 13