Devastation
Page 28
“Yeah.”
“And I want that ‘copter real bad. Try to keep a few other men alive if you can. The rest are expendable.”
“I’ll make it happen.”
“Good. I want you to take some time to figure specifics and lay out your plans for me after lunch.”
“Sure thing,” said Larry Reed.
They stared out the windows at the city for a moment.
“Oh, and on your way out, see if you can find my new little virgin Mandy. I’ve not yet finished my breakfast with the little newbie…and I have a feeling—”
Phoenix stroked his crotch and he smiled.
“What kinda feeling?” asked Larry.
“I’ll be needing to keep my strength up the next few days before we send her on to the Pound. Go on. Get to it.”
Dismissed, Larry Reed moved toward the door.
“I’ll locate her, Phoenix. I’m sure she wouldn’t go far.”
“Good. And take one of the new young ones we just rounded up for yourself today, if you feel the need.”
“Thanks for the thought.”
“Rumor has it Ace and Jay are saving a feisty redhead of about eleven from that bunch nabbed near the lake. Heard she’s just for you.”
“I might just do that, nephew.”
CHAPTER 5.16-Women and Battle
Ryan approached the cottage deck with a small smile on his face. He ascended the three steps and stood at the picnic table where Andy, Terry and Liam were eating lunch. His favorite Remington twelve-gauge was held in his left hand and pointed away.
“We got guests, T,” said Ryan.
His widening grin was out of place amidst camouflage clothing, weapons, and face paint.
“Hey, bro,” said Ryan.
“Explain,” said Andy.
All business and fully alert, Andy stood with his Berretta 9mm unholstered and Terry beside him, eager for information. Taking stock, Terry scanned the nearby woods, her own .45 Kimber drawn and ready. Surprised, young Liam listened with rapt attention, left hand resting on the knife hilt at his thigh while his right slid away from his armpit and the Glock 17 tucked in tight.
“No imminent threat. Relax,” said Ryan, waving his hand in reassurance. “But, the great Mark Harmon’s coming down Dinner Bell Road with forty-one well-armed men.”
“Yeah?”
“Thought you’d want to know sooner than later, bro.”
“Thanks.”
“He’s got twenty on horseback, eleven Quads, and the rest in two working Humvees. The man’s so damn predictable. No scouts, spotters or snipers that I can find.”
“Damn,” said Terry, “What’s he want now?” She visibly relaxed, holstering her Kimber.
“C’mon, T.” said Ryan, “Why you always ask that? Especially when we’re this close to his fancy Nemacolin Woodlands Spa & Resort.”
“I dunno—”
“C'mon, for the fifth time, I’m tellin’ ya he wants to take our land and add it to his little kingdom.”
“Back off on Harmon, Ry,” said Andy; making it clear that Mark Harmon was off limits.
“Say what?”
“You heard me, brother. C’mon. Quite ridin’ ‘im. He’s one of the good ones.”
“Yeah, well don’t be so sure.”
“Dammit, Ry! C’mon. Mark’s just coming to trade, like always…or, maybe, to give us some news.”
“Yeah, right.”
Ryan remained unconvinced of Mark Harmon’s intentions with the clan.
“Inform the perimeter not to shoot first and ask questions later.”
“Good idea,” said Ryan.
Taking his cue, Ryan grinned and strolled across the deck toward the stairs. He approached the deck steps and turned. He knew his brother had more to say.
“You think Harmon’s comin’ in hot? Is that your concern?”
“Nah, I don’t think so. Probably just the usual pesky crap.”
“Okay then, make sure we keep ‘em back some. T and I’ll come out and meet ‘em there.”
“Already set that up, bro.”
Ryan hesitated like he had more to say. Andy noticed.
“Anything else, Ry?”
“Yeah, I guess there is definitely one other matter. More of a personal nature.”
Ryan crossed the deck and returned to his brother, whispering in his ear. Andy straightened a bit at the news.
“You sure?”
“Yep. Not too much doubt.”
“Thanks for the heads up, little brother.”
“Just watchin’ out for my own,” said Ryan, disappearing silently into the woods.
“Liam, alert the clan about Mark's visit.”
Terry promptly turned to Andy.
“What was that about?”
“Umm, not sure just yet. Might be a new player coming in with Mark.”
“And?”
“Let’s just see, okay?”
“Umm...”
“Trust me, T.”
“I do. What suggestions do you have?”
“Well, I must admit, Mark’s been kinda impatient this entire summer. Don't you think? This’ll be, what, his sixth ‘personal’ visit in two months?”
“Yeah, so?”
“And, I know it must bug his ass that we still don’t need him for any of the neighborly ‘protection’ he’s so fond of providing to everybody sitting here in Fayette county.”
Andy rechecked his weapon, before slipping his Beretta into his belt holster.
“True. But Mark’s building quite an empire right in our backyard, Andy. Right now, I mean, he has what, a hundred fifty soldiers or maybe two hundred covering that resort? Probably another twenty-five he’s added since we last checked…you know, I’m wondering how long he’ll let us just sit here butting up tight against his eastern flank.”
Andy chuckled.
“What?”
“I love it when you talk military terms. Soldier strengths. Eastern flank, listen to you! I know I said it before, but I tell you again, I still don’t think we have to worry about Mark. Whether you and Ry believe it or not, he’s always a straight shooter, and, he’s very keen on this property being Mac’s to begin with. In fact, I'm sure he considers it hallowed ground.”
“Hmm,”
"I’m tellin’ ya, Con and Mark have some serious history, going back a long ways. Given that, that’ll hold him for a few more years, at least.”
“You sure on that?”
“Why do I have to keep reminding you guys of this fact?”
“Okay, but—why you so sure?”
“Well, ‘cause he’s Mark, that’s why.”
“What the hell’s that supposed to mean?”
“Means what it is. Mark’s a builder, not a destroyer. That’s why everyone from the border towns in Maryland, West Virginia and the whole damn Fayette County are coming to him for answers. They know they can trust him. Like Connor did. Granted though, Mark does pretty much have a reputation that nothing he does is for free.”
“So why’s he keep pushing by personally? He must have better things to do.”
“Truthfully?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, I know one thing.”
Andy hesitated in speaking like he had a secret he would not reveal.
“C’mon! What?”
“Hah. I think he’ll be real disappointed that you became involved with a man below your station, T.”
Terry tucked a stray hair behind her ear, but did grin at the thought. She turned toward the cottage entrance only to discover Kevin’s interest in their conversation. Giving him a quick nod, he reentered the cottage to attend to other important matters.
“Men,” mumbled Terry, frustrated and shaking her head.
“What?” asked Andy.
“Always reducing everything down to a battle over a woman.”
Smoothly, Andy slipped behind her, wrapping his arms around her shoulders. Immersing himself in the sweet smell of the hair at the crook of her neck, he to
ok a few seconds before responding.
“But, T, what else is there?”
CHAPTER 5.17-Making Babies
“Amanda, was Mr. Connor Mac mad at me this morning?”
“Nah, he’s just focused, Cody. He’s focused on the Cleveland mission.”
“Yeah?”
“A huh. But, I’ll tell you...you don’t want to ever see him pissed.”
“No.”
“Unless he’s on your side, I guess.”
“Yeah. I saw that when he took out those guys on my momma.”
“No, that was Mac comin' in careful and methodical and having…um…fun. You’ve never seen him mad.”
“Oh.”
Continuing their steady progress on the small, rarely used deer path, they moved together in tandem. Amanda tread carefully on the soft forest floor a hundred yards to the south of the ribbon of Interstate 80. She took a pleasurable moment to smile at Cody and his innocence. Though at the same time, she subconsciously swept the terrain, keeping an eye for any movement near the abandoned highway vehicles that often served as ambush points for less suspecting travelers. Everywhere, the obligatory brown rats rummaged in and around the vehicles scrounging for that last morsel of greasy processed food left over from the devastation.
“I hate them damn rats,” said Cody. He scanned the Interstate, seeing the large bunch of noisy rats gathered near a blue truck.
“Me, too.”
Confidant that BB, Marty as well as Jason on horseback were in overwatch and covering the position of the unit; and that Connor and Roger were on point, Amanda still found it unacceptable to let her guard down. Burned into her psyche, the hard lessons she’d learned in Kansas remained forever fresh; she knew she would never place herself in such a despicable and vulnerable position again. And, she knew Connor demanded extreme vigilance during any travel into unfamiliar territory; she planned never to disappoint him.
“It’s pretty here,” said Cody.
Studying Cody further, she liked how he moved beside her. Perhaps a bit careless with his feet, at times, and not so quiet when excited, but even so, there was a natural woods craftiness that would blossom into true forest mastery.
“It is. It’s very pretty.”
Amanda considered the rest of their squad, each keeping sensibly close and within the established defensive perimeter as they mirrored I-80 on their easterly trek toward the I-90 corridor and, eventually, Cleveland. The new crewmembers were a good addition, given the limited supply of qualified people and the current survival circumstances. Indeed, Rhonda, walking in the company of McLeod, was a particular surprise, as she moved like a hungry wolf hunting prey, yet still took time to snatch up the occasional wild mushrooms or other edible plants that might make it into the dinner pot that evening. Jackson, she noticed, moved with an enviable covertness well beyond her own skills and she wondered if BB and Jason were better or worse. Jackson would be hard to beat despite bringing along both his and McLeod’s horse on foot. Always, Jackson moved smoothly and she was often surprised to find him ahead of where her ears expected him to be. But, it was too early to tell about BB and Jason. Though, from Marty’s take, BB was the true “ghost” of their outfit, even suggesting he had the ability to run circles around Connor.
“Keep an eye out,” said Amanda.
“I am.”
“Good.”
Though the pace was hard, they’d made good time since they set off August twenty-ninth on the ‘Cleveland Mission’ as everyone now called it. And, today, September fourth, meant they were fast approaching the outskirts of the city with plans to stop this evening for final approach, reconnaissance, and clearly assigned execution tactics.
“Amanda?” whispered Cody, sensing her solitude, yet hesitant to interrupt.
He did so anyway.
“Yeah?”
“The president wants Mr. Mac ‘cause he can make babies?”
Reflexively, Amanda’s left hand slid to her belly and she thought of the tiny life it held. A warm wash of pleasure nearly overtook her before she spoke.
“Might be the reason, Cody. We'll hafta see.”
“Okay.”
Seemingly satisfied with the answer, they walked together for a while listening to the noises of the forest.
“Amanda?”
“Yeah?”
“Do you think I can make babies?”
CHAPTER 5.18-A Spider
“Mr. Harmon, what a pleasure!” said Terry.
Standing with Andy in the middle of Dinner Bell Road near the second perimeter line, they greeted Mark Harmon and his new arrivals like long lost guests late for dinner.
“Terry! Great to see you again!” said Mark Harmon.
His genuine pleasure brought a pink blush to his pale face and his crystal blue eyes brightened. Slowing to stop his horse on the two-lane blacktop, he smiled.
“And, c’mon, you know better than that! How many times do I have to ask? Please call me Mark.”
“Oh, right, sorry.”
“Andy.”
“Mark.”
Each nodded in greeting, before Terry jumped into the fray.
“What brings you here this lovely summer day?”
Riding in the center of nineteen, well-armed men on horseback, Mark and his men were an imposing sight, each clearly experienced in horsemanship. Mark, himself, was a big man, burly and good-looking in a 'mountain man' way, but with a well-trimmed red beard and perfect white teeth. Easily, his natural charisma overshadowed the other riders, though a few of the horses they rode were impressive enough to warrant a strong glance or two.
“Oh, I dunno. Just needed to ride for a bit.”
Calming the beautiful palomino beneath him, Mark made subtle adjustments to his seat and shifted toward Terry and Andy. Whether in deference or training, the men spread out across the road to give them room and protection.
“That right?” asked Terry, smiling.
“Yeah.”
One muscular man, wearing a black patch across his left eye, stayed put, never separated from behind Mark by more than ten feet. Coming across as stern and unyielding, the man had a thin facial scar on his left side from chin to eye. White and jagged, the scar stood out against the eye patch. Confidently, he scrutinized the horsemen separating to his apparent satisfaction. That done, he used hand signals to instruct the Quads to split into two teams, taking up protective detail fifty feet down the road. At the man’s further signal, the remainder of men covered their flank and the two Humvees disgorged men to disperse silently several yards into the surrounding woods.
“Lotta men for a neighborly stroll down Route 40, Mark,” suggested Andy. He studied the dispersal of men, interested.
“Yeah, well—”
“Something we should know about?”
“No. No, I’ve recently been told I need to be more cautious on my trips out of Nemacolin.”
“I see.”
“Can't ride alone anymore. Need a 'protective detail' so I'm told.”
Watching the action, Andy took a special interest in the one-eyed man. He was a new, first time addition to the equation and was efficient, concise and in command of the men. Before any further pleasantries continued, Andy interrupted.
“Who’s the new guy, Mark? I’m thinking I might know him.” Andy gestured at the one-eyed man.
“Who? Oh, you mean, Spider?”
“That his name?”
“No. His name’s William Parker. He’s new, came ‘bout a month ago—”
“Call me Spider,” said the deep, baritone voice.
“Call me Spider,” said Andy. He kept his voice just as deep in mocking imitation, but with an unimpressed tone.
Terry caught the tight tension in Andy’s shoulders and slight change in stance.
“Where you come from, Spider?” asked Andy.
The question was none too friendly. Confused by Andy’s behavior, but sensing the harsh tone, Mark intervened, dragging his eyes from Terry and the curves of her breasts.
“Spider’s military, Andy,” said Mark, “He’s Army Ranger. Served in Iraq and Afghanistan, three tours.”
“That right?”
“Yep. He was a captain up for promotion before the bird flu hit everywhere.”
“I see.”
“Right. And, he’s pretty much taken control since he showed up last month.”
“How ‘bout that.”
“Don’t hear much complaining from the men under his command.”
“That right?” asked Andy, unconvinced.
Protectively, he stepped in front of Terry.
“How ‘bout you?” asked Spider with interest, “Seen any action?”
Andy laughed at the man’s intensity, taking his time to respond.
“Been there, done that, got the T-shirt.”
“Some hotshot, huh?” Spider took an instant dislike to Andy. The feeling was, apparently mutual.
“Yep. Seems I managed to keep both eyes when I left that sandbox, too.”
“Andy!” said Terry.
CHAPTER 5.19-Sneaking into Cleveland
“Mac and Roger say to gather at the barn up ahead. Hidden defensive positions for cover,” said John McLeod.
“Yeah?” asked Amanda.
Rhonda, McLeod and the others gathered around BB, Jackson and Jason as they sat atop their horses. Marty materialized out of nowhere, returning from scouting duty.
“What else is going on, Marty?” asked McLeod.
“A scouting party’s coming our way. Be here in about twenty.”
“How big? How organized?” asked Amanda.
The rest of the crew had the same thoughts and waited for his response.
“Two squads. Eight each. Well trained. Well armed. Mac says they move with some experience.”
“Damn,” said McLeod.
“Yep, Mac says we need to avoid discovery at all costs at this juncture. If that fails, the entire Cleveland scouting crew needs to be…suitably detained or eliminated.”
“Let’s move it, then! Cody you’re with me,” said Amanda.
“Jackson, Jason and BB, take the horses back aways and cover. You know the drill,” said McLeod, “Jude, you’re with me.”