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Devastation

Page 78

by Paul Kirk


  “C'mon!” screamed Phoenix at his uncle. “You sound just like those—“

  An immense explosion interrupted his tirade. He focused on the fireball that was once a group of eighteen-wheelers and saw body parts falling from the sky among a fierce bloom of crimson. He dropped his radio on the seat.

  “Fuck me.”

  SECTION 11: The Battle at the Summit

  CHAPTER 11.1-Expertise in Play

  “That outta slow them bastards down,” said Connor. His Spartan grin and intensity made it clear he’d seen this type of explosion once or twice before and appreciated the destructive power.

  “What a waste of good horse.”

  “It is that, John…”

  Near a black RV being used as cover, Renaldo and Cody shared binoculars side by side, watching the calamity unfold a half-mile behind them. They stood next to Connor, John McLeod, Jason and Captain Daubney, ignoring the insistent demands of Gabriella to use the binoculars. Unobtrusively, they listened to the men talk.

  “We gonna wait here for Marty and Mickey?”

  “Nah, Top and Surf Boy are doing fine, I think. They’ll run cover while we head up the mountains. C’mon, we gotta move. John, talk with Rhonda and see who needs recovery time. Make sure those that do, ride for the next ten miles. I want a report on how Jackson’s doing, too, would ya?”

  “Sure thing.” John turned to leave, but stopped. The radio in Connor’s hand crackled to life.

  “Mac, Team Green. Do you copy?”

  “Go Team Green.”

  “We’re barely a quarter click out from the little surprise we left. Burroughs is down. Repeat, Burroughs took a hit high in the left lung. It bypassed the body armor. Not sure he’s going to make it, over.”

  Connor swallowed deeply. His arm holding the radio dropped to his side. Beside him, Captain Daubney raised his hands to his head, issuing forth a fierce stream of profanity.

  “Not Burroughs! Fuck!” said Daubney.

  John quickly motioned for Jason to usher the children away and came to stand beside Connor, placing a supportive hand on his shoulder. Furious, Captain Daubney paced behind the RV with raw energy. As he passed, Connor grabbed his shoulders to slow him down, consoling. A few seconds slipped by before the radio was raised again.

  “You have him, Top. Correct? Over.”

  “Of course, sir! Over.”

  “You bring Burroughs to the black RV at the top of the crest up ahead. Bring the entire team in for now. We’ll regroup. If need be, I’ll carry Burroughs from there. We have meds standing by. Over.”

  “Understood, over.”

  “Give me a sit-rep on the explosion, over.”

  “Yes, sir. We had a solid vantage point. Estimate at least twenty or so horses and as many men down, probably dead. Unknown how many incapacitating injuries involved. Complete chaos. White trucks and men are coming up on it now. We’re heading up to your position. Surf Boy is laying back, radio silence, taking what he can. He thinks he has a bead on that Phoenix guy based on Daubney's description. He wants a head shot if he can before he has to fall back. Over.”

  “See you here ASAP. Over and out.”

  CHAPTER 11.2-An Impossible Discovery

  “Cam? What the hell’s wrong?” asked Terry, studying the sweat dripping from his forehead. The man was having some difficulty catching his breath, but Terry MacMillen recognized the urgent look on his face.

  “Nothin’, T,” he answered between deep breaths.

  “Nothing? You’re sweating like a racehorse and so is JR. What the hell’s going on? You’re supposed to be with Andy and Ryan. Has something happened to them?” Her hand went to her mouth.

  “No, they’re okay, T. We have to initiate the H-4 protocol immediately.”

  “What?”

  Cameron took a long gulp of water, swallowing half of it and spitting the other half out. “Andy wants you to begin the H-4 protocol. There’s an army coming up the mountain with around two hundred men. They're using horses and trucks, dirt bikes and four-wheelers. They’re well armed and they’re coming fast, T.”

  “Tell me you’re kidding, Cam.”

  “No joke, T. We need to button down our place for a shit storm.”

  “How do you know this?”

  “General Harmon’s in contact with Commander Bastin at the Summit garrison. He talked to his scouts—to Major McLoy down in Masontown. I’ll fill you in on the way, T. You and Liam and Shannon need to come with us. Andy and Ryan said you won’t come to Nemacolin without the kids. C’mon, T, we need to go. Make sure everyone's started on the H-4 protocol and let’s go.”

  “This is for real?” she asked again. “This isn’t some elaborate test run Andy came up with to see how prepared we are? What makes you think I’d leave this place after calling for an H-4 protocol? Let alone take my children closer to the danger?”

  “Terry,” said Cam, “this is as real as it gets. Andy and Ryan sent me here to bring you back. C’mon, T, we trained for this. You don’t need to be here—everyone here knows what to do.”

  “Yeah, Terry, Cam’s right,” said JR. “Everybody knows what to do—we’ve run through it a hundred times. You need to alert them.”

  “JR, you look like you saw a ghost.”

  “I’m just tired from the run over.”

  “C’mon, T, let’s get the clan ready. We have less than five hours.”

  “You better give me a good reason to go with you if we need to start H-4.”

  “I know you want to stay, T, but we need to haul ass to Nemacolin right now. I can’t take ‘no’ for an answer.”

  “Hey, Margaret!” called Terry across the yard. She walked toward the back porch. A young woman on the porch, stirring the contents of a pot, turned toward Terry. She put her spoon down when Terry waved for her to join them and walked quickly toward them. Tall and naturally reserved, she had been preparing the sauce for the evening meal. She wiped her hands on her apron and approached Terry and the men.

  “What’s up, Terry?” she asked. “Hey, Cam. JR. How you guys doing?”

  “Maggie, listen up. I need you to set the clan to H-4 protocol right away.”

  “You’re serious, T?”

  “Yes, I am. This is not a drill. Andy and Ryan are at Nemacolin so I’m puttin’ you in charge of getting everyone moving.” Maggie stared at her, uncomprehending. “Maggie,” continued Terry, “we trained for this and I know you never had to do it on your own, but you need to today. I'm assigning you full lead. I'll leave it to you to pick your second-in-command. Hell, Maggie, the last couple times we had drills, I was stuck with nothing to do ‘cause you took care of it all. Just make it happen.”

  “You’re going now, Terry? Right now?”

  “Yes.”

  “Okay? Why?”

  Terry stared at Cameron and JR with a fury. She respected the emergency status, but she wanted to know more information. “Listen, Maggie, there’s a well armed military force moving up the mountain. They’ll be here in less than five hours, so you need to start H-4 protocol right now and shut this place down. Don’t leave anything here—like we trained. Hide everyone in the safe bunker for the duration. You understand?”

  “Umm—”

  “Maggie, this isn’t a drill, this is real. I wouldn’t ask you if I didn’t think you could do it.”

  “Okay, Terry, yes, I’ll see to it.”

  “Good. I’m going to Nemacolin to meet with Andy and Ryan. It probably has something to do with tactical coordination with Mark and his Woodland soldiers. I only know it’s important I go—Cam and JR won’t tell me why I need to be there.”

  “Andy will tell you when you get there, T,” said Cam.

  “Okay. Maggie? You sure you’ll be okay?”

  “Yes, Terry,” she answered, concern lining her face. “Everyone here knows what they have to do.” She stared at the two men, angry with them, but not knowing why. “I’ll gather everyone together and we’ll do it like we practiced. We have enough time.”


  “Good. Don’t forget to grab the extra food and all the weapons and ammunition. Make that's your first priority. And make sure the bunker entrance stays hidden. Keep three men running protective cover and distraction. Pick good men, Maggie. You guys could be in that hole for a long time, but you should have enough food and water. Be patient. We’ll be back—all of us—as soon as we can.”

  “I’ll do my best, Terry.”

  Terry turned toward Cam and JR. They were eager to return to Nemacolin, but there was something else. They were strangely excited in the face of the real danger of an attacking army. Terry walked across the deck to the door.

  “Liam, Shannon!” she called. The two appeared quickly. “Go get your go bags and a few extra waters—enough for a few days. Liam, bring your rifle and make sure you have plenty of ammunition.”

  “What’s up, mom?” asked the boy. Shannon stood beside him, eyes wide.

  “Don’t question me right now, Liam—move your ass! Both of you!” she yelled. The two needed no other impetus to move. She stared after her children. Angry, she turned on Cameron. “What’s going on, Cam? Huh?” She could control her mounting anger no longer.

  “T, we gotta move. We need to get back.”

  “Is Andy okay?” She had a sudden image of Andy lying in a pool of his own blood. Her hands began to shake.

  “Andy’s fine, T—everybody’s fine. Nobody’s hurt. We gotta get you to Andy. He has some news.”

  She found little comfort in Cam's assurance. “You mean there’s more news besides a big fuckin' army coming up the mountain?”

  “Well, um, maybe. Andy can fill you in.”

  She studied the two men, knowing they were holding important information that they were reluctant to share with her. “Really? There’s more important news than that huge enemy army? Do you think Mark’s army can handle the assault?”

  “C’mon, T, grab your bag and let’s go,” answered Cameron.

  “Okay,” she said, “just hold on.” She ran quickly into the cottage and grabbed her go bag and extra ammunition for her Beretta. By the time she made it back outside, Maggie was giving instruction to the rest of the clan, but stopped when she saw Terry.

  “Wait a second, guys,” Maggie said to the gathered clan and walked the few steps to Terry. “Everything’s okay here, Terry. If you have to go, then go. The longer you’re here, the less they listen to me.”

  “Okay, Maggie, good luck.”

  “Thanks. Why are you taking Liam and Shannon?”

  “I’m not sure, Maggie. That confuses me, too. But Cam and JR won’t tell me any more—they say Andy will tell me everything once I'm there. Make sure you release the chickens. Dump ‘em in the dandelion field in the hollow. We’ll pick ‘em up later if things work out. Move everything edible you can from the storage sheds into the bunker. Squeeze as much stuff in there that you can.”

  “Don’t worry, Terry, I’ll take care of it. Go.”

  “You have maybe five hours. Two hours from now send out a group of four scouts and rotate them out every hour. The scouts should give you a warning on this army’s approach.”

  “I sent ‘em out already, Terry. I can’t trust that five-hour number—I don’t know if there’s an advance party or if part of their force is trying to flank us. I’ll make it—please don’t worry about us.”

  “Good point. You're in the zone. I hate the fact that I’m being told to leave my home!”

  “There must be a good reason, Terry.”

  “I can’t figure out what Andy could be thinking. This isn’t the way to go about an assault.”

  “I trust Andy—Ryan, too. If that’s the decision they’ve made, they must have a reason.”

  “Yeah, Maggie, I trust them, too. Now back to your organizing—I’ll see you soon.”

  She walked toward the edge of the deck where Cameron and JR were talking with several men. As she approached, the men around Cameron and JR stiffened and nodded to her. “Don’t you men have things you should be doing?” she asked acidly.

  “Yes, ma’am,” came the response and they dispersed, gathering again on the porch to listen to Maggie’s additional instructions.

  Liam and Shannon joined them and the five began a quick walk up the driveway gravel to Dinner Bell Road toward Route 40. “You guys got everything you need?” asked Terry of her children. They nodded and Terry turned to Cameron. “Okay, Cam, we’re on our way so fill me in.”

  “T, I’m supposed to let Andy do that.”

  Terry inhaled deeply, trying to control her rising anger. She stopped walking. “Cam, I’m in the process of walking with my two children into danger. I’m walking away from my home and my friends, not knowing if I’ll ever see them again, worried about whether they’re capable of the task at hand without my help. If you don’t fill me in right now, I’m gonna take this Beretta, shove it up your ass, and pull the trigger.”

  “Ahh—”

  “I’m fucking serious, Cam.”

  He studied her face before he glanced at JR who had moved out of her line of sight so as not to incur her wrath. JR shrugged his shoulders at Cameron. Terry was furious, her voice was low and slow, but it had weight—there wasn’t much doubt that she would do what she said.

  “Cam, I’m the leader of this clan! Do you understand? It’s not Andy! It’s not Ryan! It’s not Kevin! It’s me! You got that?”

  Shannon cowered behind her older brother who was watching the conversation with his mouth open. He had never seen his mother this angry. “Mom?”

  “Not now, Liam,” she answered venomously and without taking her eyes from Cameron’s face. She had her hand on the grip of her holstered Berretta. Her look of rage said she expected his answer immediately. Cameron brushed his hand through his hair. They were stopped about thirty yards from the cottage, out of earshot of the busy clan members.

  Cameron looked into Terry’s eyes. “I’m supposed to let Andy tell you, T,” he said pleadingly, his voice soft and nearly incoherent.

  She moved quickly to stand squarely in front of him on her tiptoes and staring hard into his eyes. “Andy's not here! And I’m the one in charge! Do you understand?”

  “Yeah, T, I understand.”

  “Good! Now tell me why we’re implementing a primary defense protocol here, but you’re taking me and my kids closer to danger?”

  “I understand your frustration, T.”

  Terry stepped back and unholstered her Beretta. She held it casually by her side, pointing toward the ground. “I’m way beyond frustration. I’m very close to killing you, Cam. And that’s a sentence I was sure I could never speak.”

  “T!” he said, panicking. “It’s...um...it’s Mac. His name’s come up. They think he’s being chased by this army and ahead of them coming up the mountain.”

  Terry’s knees weakened at the mention of her husband’s name. She caught herself before she dropped to the ground and quickly holstered her weapon.

  “Cam!” hissed JR.

  “What? What the hell was I supposed to do? She’s head of the clan, JR, not Andy. Besides, she was gonna shoot me!”

  “No she wasn’t.”

  “Yes, I was,” said Terry, her voice raw. “You can tell Andy that if he gets on your case about telling me. I woulda shot you both.”

  Without warning, Liam ran back toward the cottage.

  “Liam!” yelled Terry.

  “I forgot something, mom. I’ll be right back,” he said without stopping.

  “Hurry up!” said Terry.

  “What’s he doing?” asked JR.

  “I dunno,” said Terry, her shoulders drooping from the recent news. Hearing Connor’s name was the last thing she had expected. Her mind began to contemplate a new reality, a reality with Connor MacMillen very much alive. She stood frozen, briefly thankful for Liam’s forgetfulness—she wasn’t sure she had the ability to continue walking without thinking things through. Images ran past her eyes, moments with Connor—his smile, his laughter, and his incredible lo
ok of lust when he found her naked in their bed.

  “T? You okay?” asked Cameron.

  “Umm, yeah,” she whispered. She wondered how he had survived for the last five years. How had he made it across the Pacific Ocean? It was impossible. It was against all odds. She smiled, knowing she had married a man who liked a deck stacked against him. It was more of a challenge to Connor when hope was a limited option. She should have known—she should have realized he would have simply analyzed his situation as if it were any other problem and simply knocked down the barricades, one by one.

  Her smile faded quickly as she thought of Andy—wonderful, kind Andy. Her knees weakened again. Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Liam’s return. Besides his go bag, he now carried something in a big, black plastic bag. He didn’t stop where they waited, but continued past them, running with the energy of youth on the well-worn path toward Route 40 and Nemacolin Woodlands beyond.

  Terry followed her son at a slower pace, lost in her own thoughts. Cameron and JR followed behind with Shannon trotting-walking-trotting-walking to keep up with her mother. Terry stumbled on, lost in her thoughts.

  “What have I done?”

  CHAPTER 11.3-A Visit to Perryopolis

  “Colonel, the men need orders, ma’am. Are we flying back to Perryopolis, flying to the rendezvous, or up the mountain to meet with Commander Bastin?”

  “Things are becoming complicated, major,” she answered. She put her face in her hands, not in despair, but in the brief respite it gave her from making decisions. She was exhausted.

  “Yes, ma’am. Complicated,” he repeated, his level of concern rising at her apparent lack of focus. “The helicopter’s ready now, colonel.”

  “Okay, major. Have you and Major McLoy made safe arrangements for his horses?”

  “Yes, ma’am. Major McLoy has instructed, Pike, one of his men to run the horses to the mountain garrison.”

  “Good.” She stared silently at the ceiling.

  “Are you okay, ma’am?”

  “Yeah, major, I’m fine. I’m just thinking...what a long journey. But we finally have a bead on Colonel Connor MacMillen.”

 

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