by Robert Boren
“This is Dobie and Gabe,” Jake said. “And Duchess.”
“Well, nice to meet you guys,” Clint said. “Heard you had a wild trip.”
“Good to be home,” Dobie said. “It was fun getting my rig out, though. First time I’ve had it on the road.”
“Really?” Clint asked. “How’d you get it here originally?”
“It was at this park when we took it over,” Dobie said. “Long story. We’ll have to tell you all about this place.”
“Yeah, heard rumors,” Clint said. “Something about a dungeon and a serial killer?”
“That’s right,” Jake said. “We’ll take you there if you’re interested, but it takes a strong stomach.”
“He might like to see the cell,” Dobie said.
“Why?” Clint asked.
“Because that’s where we had Saladin when he bought it,” Gabe said.
“Holy shit, really?” Clint asked. “That son of a bitch killed one of our best.”
“We’ve got his body,” Dobie said. “It’s wrapped up and sitting in the walk-in freezer.”
“Seriously?” Clint said, grinning ear to ear. “What are you gonna do with it?”
“Don’t get them started,” Jake said. “They’ll probably bring up pigs blood or something like that.”
“That would be too good for him,” Clint said.
“He beheaded General Walker at Hilda’s park,” Gabe said. “We watched the video from my park after the group escaped. They barely made it out alive.”
“Yeah, heard about that,” Clint said, eyes narrowing. “Glad you guys got him. You kill him down there?”
“No, he died of his wounds,” Gabe said. “We actually treated him, but he was burned too badly.”
“How’d he get burned?” Clint asked.
“Fire bombs in the cave he was hiding in,” Dobie said. “At Capitol Reef.”
“Good,” Clint said.
“You don’t have any family with you?” Dobie asked.
“My boys,” he said. “My wife got taken by cancer a few years before this mess started. She’s lucky in a way. We lost way too many friends in this war.”
“Your kids all survive?” Gabe asked.
“So far, thank God,” Clint said. “They live in that fifth wheel over there, but they’re down at the lake fishing right now.”
“Okay,” Jake said. “Take it easy.”
“Nice to meet you folks,” Clint said as they walked away.
“Likewise,” Gabe said. Dobie nodded, and pulled Duchess along.
The next rig had two small children playing in front; a boy of about ten with short blonde hair, and a girl of about twelve with light brown hair. The girl’s face lit up when she saw Jake.
“Hi, Jake,” she said.
“Jamie,” Jake said, smiling. “How are you this morning?”
“Bored,” she said. “Why else would I be hanging out with him,” she said, glancing at her younger brother.
Jake chuckled. “Good morning, Derek,” he said. The boy looked up from his toy car.
“Hi, Jake,” he said. He looked back at his car right away.
“This is Dobie and Gabe,” Jake said. “And Duchess.”
“Hi,” Jamie said. She eyed Dobie. “You’re gonna like my mommy.”
“Wow, it looks like Princess and Simon and Peabody!” Derek said, getting up and walking over. Duchess nuzzled him, and then licked his face, causing Derek to giggle. “I love the other dogs, and this one is even nicer.” He hugged the dog around the neck, then sat down in the dirt next to him. Duchess got down and put her big head in his lap.
“Will you look at that,” Jake said.
“Duchess loves kids,” Dobie said. “More than the other three.”
“Where’s your mom?” Jake asked.
“She’s at the laundry room next to the barn,” Jamie said. “She’ll be back in a little while.”
“We’ll swing back by later, then,” Jake said. “After we introduce Duchess to the rest of the people.”
“Can I go along?” Derek asked.
“Of course,” Dobie said, smiling. “I’m sure Duchess would love it.”
They continued on, taking over an hour to get through the three rows of coaches.
***
Malcolm and Ted carried the crate of movies from Agent William’s car to the trap door in the barn. Agent Williams followed, but had his phone to his ear, talking with the office. He slipped his phone back in his pocket.
“Everything okay?” Ted asked.
“We had to talk in codes,” Agent Williams said. “My boss is good with me being involved in Boise. He’ll hide it from the execs. Says there’s still mostly good agents in the bureau, but the systems have been compromised, and everybody is being watched. There’s a whole lot of agents sitting around doing nothing.”
“Just when we need them the most,” Ted said.
“Don’t worry,” Agent Williams said. “We’re taking it back. They’ve already started surveillance of the DOJ administrators who are causing the problems. They’ve got about a week to live.”
“If they know who they are, why the wait?” Ted asked.
“They’re probably waiting until they can take the whole group out at the same time,” Malcolm said.
“Yeah, that’s the plan,” Agent Williams said.
“So you’re not getting out after all?” Ted asked.
“No, I’d rather stick around and help to fix it,” he said. “While that stuff is going on in DC, I’ll be with you guys, concentrating on the root of the problem. These damn Globalists are behind the rotten DOJ people.”
The men wrestled the crate of film cans down the stairs into the workshop, then through the doors into the lounge.
“My, my, isn’t this nice,” Agent Williams said. “That bar stocked?”
“Well, we’ve run it down a ways,” Malcolm said, chuckling. “But there’s plenty left. Scotty had it well stocked. I’ll need help with this next trap door.” They set the film cans in the far corner of the room, next to the ancient projector.
General Hogan walked out of the bedroom area. “Hey guys, going into the dungeon?”
“Yeah, and then we’ll watch some movies,” Malcolm said. “Care to join us?”
“Later,” he said. “Waiting for a call back from Ned.”
“Okay, general,” Malcolm said. The men got around the trap door and pulled it up, breaking the seal.
“Phew!” Agent Williams said.
“Yeah, it stinks down here,” Malcolm said. “You’ll get used to it after a few minutes.” He went down a few steps and pulled the light chain. They all went down, and Malcolm turned on the lights over the work bench on the far wall.
“This place is similar to the basement in Columbus,” Agent Williams said, looking around. “Looks like you’ve used this first cell.”
“That’s where Saladin died,” Malcolm said.
“Oh,” Agent Williams said. “What’s that patch of dirt over there?”
“Not sure, exactly,” Malcolm said. “Doesn’t look like there’s bodies buried there. Might have been used for blood disposal. This place doesn’t have a nice center drain setup like we saw in the Columbus basement.”
The men spent a few minutes looking around, studying the pictures over the work bench, and looking inside drawers.
“This place is a treasure trove,” Agent Williams said.
Suddenly there was commotion upstairs. The men looked at each other and hurried up the steps to the lounge. Charlie, Kurt, and the Sheriff were talking frantically with General Hogan.
“What’s up?” Malcolm said.
“Just saw a team of five strangers on their way to our cell tower,” the Sheriff said, sounding out of breath. “Drone video.”
“Need help?” Malcolm asked.
“Hell yeah,” Kurt said. “Got that crossbow handy?”
“Yeah,” Malcolm said. “Want to get the drop on them and capture a couple?”
“That’s the idea,” Kurt said. “I’m getting my bow, too, but we’ll have rifles with us just in case.”
“I’m calling Dobie,” Malcolm said. “Those dogs will come in handy. So will his pistols.”
The men hurried up the steps to the barn.
Chapter 4 – The Beast
Malcolm called Dobie on his phone as he was trotting to his rig to get the crossbow.
“Malcolm?”
“Dobie, we see a group of about five men heading towards the cell tower. Feel like getting your dogs out?”
“Hell, yeah, and my pistols too.”
“Good, meet us by the back gate.”
“Got it,” Dobie said. Malcolm slipped his phone back into his pocket and opened the door of his coach, rushing in and out again with his crossbow and handgun.
Dobie got his dogs and headed to the back of the park. John Harper saw him.
“Something going down?” he asked.
“Yeah, cretins on the way to the cell tower. They disabled it last week. They’re not gonna have an easy time now.”
“How did you see them?”
“Drone video,” Dobie said, walking his dogs away.
“I’ll join you,” he said, going back into his rig.
When Dobie got to the gate, Kurt, Charlie, the Sheriff, and Malcolm were already there. Kurt had his bow and a rifle on a sling. Charlie and the Sheriff had their rifles.
“Okay, we’d like to take at least one of them alive,” the Sheriff said.
“Roger that,” Kurt said. “Let’s go.”
The men trotted through the gate, cutting through the brush quietly until they could see the power pole with the cell antennas.
“Look, see them?” Charlie whispered, pointing. Two men were creeping towards the pole, as the three others positioned themselves to cover. They didn’t have uniforms on.
“Wait until the three fan out further,” Malcolm said. “Hopefully they’ll get far enough out where they don’t see each other.”
“I’ll sneak around the other side,” Kurt said. “I can hide behind the trees around that spring.”
“Okay, be careful,” Charlie said.
“I’m going towards the other side,” Malcolm said, sneaking off. Dobie held the dogs still. They had already seen the enemy, and were staring at them like a wolf stares at their prey.
Malcolm got to a good vantage point, and then his cell phone buzzed. Text message, addressed to him and the others. He looked at it.
Four more operatives coming in from the north – Hogan.
“Shit,” Malcolm said. He looked back at the others and they nodded. Miss those chips.
Suddenly there was a squeal by the spring. The enemy men froze. Dobie could see the man covering the far side fall, arrow in his chest. He turned and nodded to Charlie and the Sheriff, who had their rifles ready to shoot.
Malcolm could see the operative on his side through the bushes, watching, trying to see what the noise was. He was close enough, so Malcolm let the arrow go, hitting him in the side, bringing him down.
“Damn it!” the man shouted as he writhed in agony. The two men who were at the pole broke into a run as the third man fired in Malcolm’s direction.
“Let the dogs go,” the Sheriff said.
“Not until we see where that third guy is,” Dobie said, watching. Then there was another arrow flying from Malcolm’s crossbow. The third man dived out of the bushes to the ground, the arrow just missing him. A rifle shot cracked the silence, rocks around the spring splintering. Kurt fired his rifle, and a man screamed. The Sheriff had his rifle aimed at the third man, while Charlie tried to re-position himself to see where the two men from the pole went. The brush was too dense.
“Let them go, man,” the Sheriff said to Dobie.
Dobie nodded and unhooked the dogs, then got his pistol out. “Get ‘em.” The dogs took off running, heading right for the brush. Gunfire erupted, and both Kurt and Charlie opened fire.
“Don’t hit my dogs!” Dobie cried as he scurried forward, low to the ground, scanning. A man stood out of the brush, aiming a rifle at him. He rolled onto the ground and fired his pistol hitting the man in the chest. Then several other shots cracked through the air. Dobie dived behind some cover.
“That’s the other four men,” Charlie said.
The dogs snarled, and two men ran towards the lake, dogs in hot pursuit. One of the second batch of men rose to fire at the dogs, and Kurt nailed him with his rifle, sending him to the ground. The dogs got the two men on the ground.
“Dammit!” yelled Kurt. A big man had him by the arm, dragging him out into the open.
“Call off your damn dogs or I’m gonna waste this old codger,” the man yelled.
“Sic ‘em!” shouted John Harper. The Pit Bull snarled and raced towards the man. His eyes grew wide and he took his gun off of Kurt. He frantically tried to get a bead on the rushing dog with his rifle, but he wasn’t fast enough, the Pit Bull leaping onto him, pulling him to the ground, massive jaws around his neck. There was a cracking noise, and the man died. Kurt dived for his rifle as more shots when off. The Sheriff, Charlie, and Malcolm all fired back. Dobie saw his chance and ran towards the spot where his dogs were holding the two men, kicking their guns away from them and crouching as the gunfire continued.
One of the men rushed Malcolm. He laughed, aiming his pistol, waiting until the man got close enough, then dropping him with three shots to the torso. There was still one person firing, from deeper in the brush. He fired at Kurt, just missing him, but giving off his positon. Kurt and the Sheriff both fired, hitting him from two sides. Then there was silence.
“Any of them still alive?” Charlie called out.
“Yeah, the two over here,” Dobie said. “They’re chewed up a little bit.”
“They’re lucky,” Malcolm said, chuckling as he returned to the group. He looked at John Harper. “My God, man, that thing is a beast.”
“Pretty much,” he said. “I’m John Harper.”
“Malcolm Davis,” he said, shaking hands.
“Really? Heard you were here. Pleasure.”
“Likewise,” Malcolm said. “Let’s go help with those men. We got a couple of cells waiting for them.”
Dobie was next to the two men, gun on them, dogs sitting around him watching. There was a snap in the underbrush behind him.
“Don’t shoot!” a voice said behind him. “We were fishing at the little lake. Would have joined in, but we didn’t have our guns with us.”
“Who’s that?” Charlie asked as he approached, gun at the ready.
“Clint’s kids,” Dobie said. “It’s okay.”
“You guys were back here without any firearms?” Kurt asked, walking up.
“Yeah,” Angus said. “Didn’t think this was dangerous.”
“We’ll bring our guns next time,” Jason said sheepishly.
“Yeah, you do that,” the Sheriff said. “No matter, though. Do any good?”
“Yeah, there’s fish in there,” Louis said grinning. “Lots.”
“We’ll talk later. Let’s get these two into the dungeon,” Charlie said.
The Sheriff, Kurt, and Charlie grabbed the men and led them away.
“We’ll go on body detail,” Dobie said.
“Good, but have the dogs check them,” the Sheriff said as he was walking away. “We don’t know if they’re all dead for sure.”
“Got it,” Dobie said. He pulled his cellphone and hit Gabe’s contact.
“You all right?” Gabe asked.
“Yeah,” Dobie said. “We got some bodies to bury. Want to bring the backhoe out here?”
“Sure,” Gabe said. “Be right there.”
“Thanks,” Dobie said, slipping his phone back in his pocket. He walked along, John Harper trotting to catch him.
“That was intense,” he said.
Dobie smiled. “That pit bull of yours is scary as hell.”
“Yeah, Zack takes no prisoners. He can get you out of troubl
e. Great for turning the tables.”
“So I saw,” Dobie said, laughing.
The diesel noise of the backhoe started up, and they turned towards the park and watched it approach.
“Nice!” John Harper said. “That another thing you guys found here?”
“Nah, that was at Gabe’s park. We towed it here when we had to split.”
“What happened to his park?”
“The enemy was sending a tank over to blast us,” Dobie said. “We figured it was time to cut and run.”
“Wow. Did it destroy the park?”
“We don’t know, to be honest. It might still be standing. We blew a bridge on the road to the park, which stopped the tank. It could have lobbed shells from there, though.”
“Where do you want the hole?” Gabe asked as he drove over to them.
“I don’t know, maybe that clearing over there?” Dobie asked, pointing.
“Looks as good as anywhere, I guess,” he said
“Here’s the first body,” John Harper said. “Should we check their pockets and grab their weapons?”
“Yeah,” Dobie said. He bent down and went through the man’s front pockets. “This guy isn’t an Islamist. Don’t see any UN stuff on him either.”
“Looks kinda like one of those militia idiots,” John Harper said.
Dobie turned him over. “Yeah, look at the scar on his triceps,” Dobie said. “This guy had a chip.”
“Son of a bitch,” John Harper said. “I thought these guys were gone.”
“We need to tell the others,” Dobie said as he pulled his phone out of his pocket. He took pictures, and then hit General Hogan’s contact.
“Yeah,” General Hogan said.
“Hey, general, I’m out here doing body disposal. First guy looks like militia, and there’s a scar on his triceps.”
“I had a feeling,” General Hogan said. “They’re still around. Dammit.”
“Just wanted to let you know. We’re checking pockets before we bury them.”
“You’re gonna bury them?”
“Might as well,” Dobie said. “Gabe’s got his backhoe out here. No reason to send a bunch of smoke into the air, and they don’t have chips anymore.”
“Roger that,” General Hogan said. “See you guys when you get back. We’ve got a couple people watching drone video, so keep your phone nearby.”