by Robert Boren
They left the clubhouse as Mary walked in to join Hilda.
“They setting up this meeting?” Mary asked.
“Yeah. Kurt fill you in?”
“Yes. You obviously know. Can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m really going to miss this place.”
“I know, me too,” Hilda said. “Maybe it will survive. This clubhouse and the barn are built like a fortress, and the basement is even stronger.”
“True.”
People filtered into the clubhouse within a half hour, filling three quarters of the room. General Hogan came up to the front, with Clint and his men following. Clint had a grim look on his face.
Charlie joined the men up front.
“Everybody here?” he asked, looking out over the crowd.
“Yeah,” a few voices said.
“Okay, then let’s get started. General Hogan, you have the floor.”
“Thanks,” General Hogan said, standing, waiting for the voices to settle down.
“Hey, mommy, look at all the people!” shouted Derek as he skipped inside the door. Vicki hurried in after him, with Jamie on her heels. “Quiet down, honey.”
Gentle laughter floated through the room.
“Okay, now we’re all here,” General Hogan said, twinkle in his eye. “Frank, you and your group on?”
“We’re here,” Frank said over the speaker, the road noise making it hard to hear. “Go ahead.”
“We’re on too,” Dobie said. Vicki looked up at the speaker, a soft smile on her face.
“We’re on from Malcolm’s rolling palace,” Agent Williams said, snickering.
“Good,” General Hogan said. “As a few of you already know, there’s been some major developments. You all know that Jeb was rescued.”
“Thanks for that,” Jeb said, standing and waving. He sat back down next to Rosie. Ned and Dick nodded to the crowd as well, smiles on their faces.
“Our actions up in northwestern New Mexico have sped up the enemy movement to their base in the southeast part of the state.”
“We gonna hit ‘em?” Jeb asked.
“Yes, Jeb, we are. Here comes the hard part. The militia’s spy got some information out to them before he was killed.”
“Uh oh,” Dick said.
“They are sending a large force here, to take us out.”
Murmurs went through the crowd.
“Can we trust that info?” Terry asked.
“We can verify it,” Jerry said. “Frank’s snapshot program is still running. I just pulled up the history from the last 24 hours. I can see them coming down from the northwest. Must be a huge group of vehicles, because there are a lot of hits.”
“Where are they now?” Ned asked.
“They stopped just west of Albuquerque. They’re headed for route 285, which will take them right down to Carlsbad Caverns.”
“You think they’ll get to their base and then attack us, or are they going to send a branch off towards us?” Jeb asked.
“We’ll know pretty soon,” Jerry said. “If they send a force off towards us, we’ll see movement north on I-25.”
“Well, keep on that program,” General Hogan said.
“We need to get outta dodge in a hurry then, don’t we?” Ned asked.
“Yeah,” General Hogan said. “We’re already planning our attack with the militia. We’re gonna hit their base hard.”
“How do we protect this place?” Ned asked.
“That’s the bad part,” General Hogan said. “We need to be gone, but we need to make them think we’re still here.”
“Shit, we’re gonna have to leave our rigs here, aren’t we?” Jake asked. Frankie moved closer to him and put her arm around his shoulder, nodding her head yes.
“I don’t like this,” Clint said, “but it needs to be done. We can always get new rigs.”
“My life savings are tied up in my rig!” one of Clint’s people shouted.
“I made a deal with the Pentagon,” General Hogan said. “All of you will be compensated for your losses. No red tape. No taxes.”
A murmur went through the room.
“How long before we need to clear out?” Terry asked.
“We need to be out of here in a day or two,” Charlie said. “Air surveillance will start within the next 48 hours, according to our source.”
“Aren’t they gonna notice that our toad vehicles are gone?” Jeb asked.
“They might,” General Hogan said. “We’ll just have to risk it. There are a few assets we’ll move today, before they get seen. The armored semi, the backhoe, and the tow truck. Our vehicles are gonna be filled to capacity.”
“How about my bob-tail?” Jake asked.
“We should take that,” General Hogan said. “I suggest you get all of the damaged stuff out of there, to make room for more cargo.”
“I’ll get started as soon as we’re done with the meeting,” Jake said.
“You guys sure the enemy hasn’t already sent the attack force our way?” Clint asked. “Albuquerque is kinda out of the way, ain’t it?”
“They don’t have a choice,” Jerry said. “The only way they could’ve short cut from where they were is through Durango, up into Colorado. That’s not safe for them.”
“Why not?” Clint asked.
“I’ll tell you why not,” General Hogan said. “The US Army has moved a shit-load of armor and men to southern Colorado, and they’re engaging the UN as we speak. The enemy can’t get through that way, and they know it.”
“General Hogan, should we be coming back there?” Frank asked. “If they don’t see our rigs in the aerial surveillance, why put them there?”
“I was getting to that. We don’t want you guys to come back here. We want you to set up the area we’ll use as our staging point.”
“What do you think, away team?” Frank asked.
“I don’t think we have a choice,” Malcolm said.
“Me neither,” Dobie said. “Where?”
Jerry raised his hand. “How about Lubbock, Texas?”
“Yeah, Texas,” General Hogan said. “That’s along the lines I was thinking.”
“Good,” Frank said.
“Hey, Frank,” Jeb said. “Why don’t you guys hit some Walmart’s and Cabela’s on the way down? Buy as many tents and sleeping bags as you can carry.”
“That’s a damn good idea,” Frank said. “We can do that, can’t we, folks?”
“Hell yeah,” Gabe said. “We’ll get plenty of those water containers and Coleman stoves too.”
“Excellent,” General Hogan said. “When you decide on the exact location, put it in George’s drop box, okay? Just in case.”
“I can do that,” Ted said. “No problem.”
“Can some of us go there early?” Vicki asked.
“Don’t go by yourself,” Dobie said. “We can wait another few days.”
“Okay,” she said, suddenly self-conscious as everybody in the room looked at her.
“Any more questions?” General Hogan asked.
There was a murmur in the room, but no more questions.
“Okay, let’s get things ready.”
“Hey, George?” Malcolm asked.
“Yeah, Malcolm, what’s up?”
“Could you move those films down to the dungeon? They’re behind the couches in the lounge.”
“Sure, they ought to be safer down there,” George said. “Unless you want me to bring them.”
“They aren’t important enough,” Malcolm said. “You guys have enough to carry.”
“Agreed,” George said. “I’ll take care of it.”
The group left the clubhouse, going to their rigs to get busy.
***
Jake and Frankie walked up to the bob-tail with Terry and Trish.
“This is gonna be a big job,” Jake said, as he rolled the cargo door open. “I’ll get the shot-up stuff out now. Want to go through it, you guys? We’ll just stack the worthless stuff over there for now.”
<
br /> “Sure,” Trish said. Frankie and Terry nodded in agreement.
Jake was quick about it, shoving the lighter stuff to the end of the truck for the others to pick up. Two piles grew quickly. One for trash, the other for salvageable stuff.
“You okay, honey?” Terry asked, looking at Trish. She had tears welling in her eyes.
“Our first place,” she said. “Not ready to give it up.”
“I know,” he said. “I don’t want to either, but we’ll get it replaced.”
“Don’t worry about it too much,” Frankie said.
“You can see what’s going to happen?” Jake asked, as he paused at the back of the truck to catch his breath.
“I can’t tell exactly which rigs will survive, but I can see things a lot further out.”
“Oh, really?” Terry asked. “Not sure I’m believing all of this stuff. No offense.”
“None taken,” Frankie said, smiling.
“I’ve seen enough from my dad to listen,” Trish said. “Sometimes I even catch a glimpse of things.”
“You’ve never told me that,” Terry said.
“It’s pretty weak with me,” she said. “Not like dad. He’s scary sometimes.”
“Wow,” Terry said. “None of that in my family.”
“Your children might be very sensitive,” Frankie said. “It skips a generation sometimes.”
“So, what are you seeing?” Terry asked. “For Trish and I, that is.”
“You guys are gonna run a place like this,” she said. “A place in Arizona.”
“What does it look like?” Trish asked. “Can you see it?”
“Its buildings are cinder block. There’s a nice pool area in the front of the park.”
Jake cracked up. “That sounds like Charlie’s place.”
“You been there?” Terry asked.
“No, but he’s talked about it enough times.”
“Wait a minute,” Terry said. “You mentioned that they may need somebody to run one of their parks, since Hilda has one too. You knew already, didn’t you?”
Jake chuckled. “Yeah, you found me out.”
“Why didn’t you tell me then?”
“I didn’t want you to think you were marrying into a family of nutcases. At least not that quickly.” His goofy laugh floated out of the truck.
“Did you know about this?” Terry asked, looking at Trish.
“No,” she said. “He never tells me stuff about my future. I’m surprised he let this slip.”
Frankie laughed, and looked over at Jake.
“No, don’t tell her that,” Jake said.
“What?” Trish asked.
“Never mind,” Frankie said.
“Dad!” Trish said.
“Trust me, it’s better this way,” Jake said. “Suffice it to say you are going to have a very long, happy life with Terry.”
“How about you guys?” Terry said. “You knew you would get together, I suspect.”
“I didn’t,” Jake said.
“I did,” Frankie said.
“Where are you two going to end up after all this?” Trish asked.
“Right here,” Frankie said.
***
Jerry was watching the computer monitor in the clubhouse. His eyes got wide. Jasmine noticed.
“Uh oh, what’s up?”
“Look,” he said. She looked at the screen and gasped.
“General Hogan!” Jerry said.
“Yeah?”
“Better take a look at this.”
“Okay,” he said, rushing over. George, Clint, Ned, and Dick were with him.
“Shit, is that what I think it is?” Ned asked.
“Yeah, short hits along I-25. Lots of them. They’re already on their way here.”
Chapter 19 – Flying South
George, Clint, Ned, and Dick were huddled around the PC next to Jerry, Jasmine, and General Hogan.
“How many hours away are they?” General Hogan asked.
“Just over seven,” Jasmine said, look of horror on her face.
“We need to leave now!” George said.
“Yeah, no shit,” Clint said. “I’ll go spread the word. We’ll be ready to go in a half hour.
General Hogan walked away and called his son.
Jerry called Charlie.
“Hey, Jerry, what’s up?” Charlie asked.
“We need to leave now! A large enemy force took I-25 north. They’re only about seven hours away from us.”
“Son of a bitch,” Charlie said. “I’ll get right on it.”
“I’ll call the Sheriff, Kurt, Jackson, and Earl,” Jerry said. He ended the call.
“Honey, I’ll go get our Jeep loaded,” Jasmine said. She rushed outside.
Ned looked at Dick. “Let’s go get the guys ready.”
“Yeah,” Dick said.
George sprinted down the stairs through the kitchen, running to the couches in the lounge. General Hogan’s kids were down there.
“We just heard,” Private Brown said. “Dad called. We’re going up top in a moment.”
“Open that trap door, okay?” George asked.
“Sure thing. Why?”
“I want to put these films down there for safe keeping.”
They rolled the rug back and pulled the door open.
“Pew,” Private Brown said. “Hate this smell.”
George picked up the crate of films and wrestled it down the stairs, then came back up. They closed the trap door and left, going up top, General Hogan’s boys carrying duffle bags.
Jake pulled the bob-tail up in front of the clubhouse and opened the rear door in a panic. “Guys, grab as much food as you can and stuff it back here.”
Terry, Trish and Frankie sprinted into the kitchen, Jake following close behind.
A line up of vehicles was forming by the gate. General Hogan sprinted up to the front and got people’s attention.
“Where we going, General?” Jeb shouted.
“Take Route 83 south, then cut west to Lubbock. Keep your phones charged up.”
“Okay, general,” somebody yelled.
“You guys take off now. We’ll catch up. Let’s meet in Amarillo to re-group,” General Hogan shouted.
“Got it,” Jeb said. He got into the Jeep, patted Rosie on the thigh, and drove through the gate, followed by more cars.
“Hey, Terry, can you give me a hand with the M107?” George shouted, running over.
“Sure, let’s go,” Terry said. They sprinted into the barn and climbed the ladder inside, getting to the roof. They carried the big weapon down the stairs slowly, and then rushed it over to George’s Jeep.
“Oh, good,” Heidi said. “Got the rest of the guns and that OICW thingy loaded already.”
“Perfect,” George said. “Thanks, Terry.”
“No problem. See you guys there. You heard what the General said?”
“No, what?” George asked.
Terry turned back as he was trotting towards the bob-tail. “We’ll meet in Amarillo to re-group, then on the Lubbock.”
“Good,” George said. He turned back to Heidi. “How much more to go, honey?”
“Not much,” she said. “C’mon.”
Private Brown pulled one of the Humvee’s next to General Hogan. “Hey, dad, get in.”
“In a minute,” he said, watching Clint’s people hook up the armored semi-trailer. “Those guys should be last.”
“I wouldn’t worry about it,” Private Brown said. “We aren’t in a convoy. People have been leaving in groups of four or five. Let’s hit it. You can get to everybody on your phone.”
“Okay, son,” General Hogan said, sounding out of breath. “You got all the guns and ammo, right?”
“Yeah, and all the mortars are packed, too. We’re in good shape. Don’t worry.”
General Hogan got into the passenger seat. “Where are the others?”
“They’re in the other two vehicles, full of cargo,” Private Brown said. “Oh, and w
e took a fair amount of the booze.”
General Hogan laughed. “Yeah, like we’ll have time to drink.”
They drove out on the road, heading for the highway, the other two Humvees behind them.
“Ned’s people already gone?” Private Brown asked.
“No, they’re going last,” General Hogan said. “They’ll make sure everybody gets away safely.”
“Good.”
Kurt and Charlie pulled up next to each other. Jerry and Jasmine pulled up behind them. They all got out.
“Hey, Jerry, you want to let Frank know what’s going on?”
“Yeah, Charlie, I’ll get him on the horn after we get on the highway,” he said. “Got everything?”
“Sure do. You?”
“Barely could fit the mortars and rounds in the back,” Jerry said. “Bad place to take a round. It’ll probably blow us to the friggin moon.”
Charlie chuckled.
“Come on, Charlie, let’s go,” Hilda said from inside the car.
“All right, honey,” Charlie said. “See you guys in Amarillo.”
They all drove towards the gate.
Jake was just about ready to leave. Frankie came running up to him. “We ready?”
“You’re not driving your car?” he asked.
Frankie laughed. “That thing would crap out on the way. I’m riding with you, if you’ve got room.”
“Of course I do,” Jake said.
“Where are Terry and Trish riding?”
“They’re taking that tow truck in the barn, pulling the back hoe,” Jake said.
“Good, it’ll come in handy.”
“The tow truck might as well. I can always tow the back hoe behind this thing if they need to pull somebody else.”
“Good,” Frankie said, sliding into the middle of the big bench seat. “Let’s go, honey.”
Jake drove out the gate, catching Terry in the rear view mirror, pulling away from the barn.
“Wow, this thing is huge,” Trish said, sitting next to Terry.
“Yeah,” he said. “Hope it’s road worthy enough. We’ve only driven it around the park.”
“It’s got a bad vibe,” Trish said.
“I know,” Terry said. “Wondered if you’d pick up on that, after what you said earlier.”
She looked at him with a sheepish smile. “Wonder what Frankie was gonna tell us?”
“I can guess,” Terry said. “Probably kids. Lots of them.”