by Hunt, James
“At first I just thought it was weapons,” Nolan answered. “More bullets and guns, but there was food. Water. Medicine.” He glanced to Mary when he said that last word, and then aimed his old and watery eyes back to James. “It was enough to feed an army.”
James paused, waiting for Nolan to continue, and then nodded. “And I’m guessing that you remember where all of these supplies are located?”
Nolan nodded. “And I doubt they moved them. It looked like they were getting ready to ship them again, seeing as how they didn’t take them out of the packaging.”
“And how are we supposed to move all of those supplies?” Luis asked, joining the inner circle. “We can’t carry them.”
“The semi-truck,” James said, talking to himself. “That’s what they loaded in that trailer.”
James ran through the scenarios in his mind. He glanced to the eager faces, looking to him to make the hard decision. But not everyone had the tactical training needed to pull this off, and he would need more than just himself and Luis to pull this off.
But Zi had come into her own as a fighter, and what was more, James trusted her. And the others didn’t necessarily need to fight as much as they could load the truck. But even if they managed to infiltrate the town, locate the supplies, load them onto the truck, and then drive the truck out of town, they would still have to deal with the repercussions of the enemy.
Which meant that the only way for this to work was to not just beat the enemy, but to wipe them off the face of the planet.
31
It had taken some time, but James thought he had come up with a plan that gave them a fighting chance. With Nolan’s help and James’s understanding of the town, they had a good idea of what to expect from their enemy.
The plan boiled down to three components. The first was locating the food and supplies that Nolan had overheard their leader talking about that was stashed near the gas station, which James kicked himself for not noticing on his first visit.
The second component was rescuing the townspeople, who were hopefully still being held in the bank.
And the final component, which was the most difficult, would be making sure that they managed to evacuate both the supplies, and the townspeople, from Ruckins without the enemy following, which meant making sure there weren’t any of them left to follow.
But in order to fight the enemy, they needed weapons, and while the bunker provided enough rifles to arm everyone, they didn’t have enough to go toe-to-toe with these people, so James resorted to the tried and true method of guerilla warfare and a little shock and awe.
“We’re going to take a page out of their book,” James said, looking to the group. “Once we have secured both the supplies and the people, we’ll be setting off explosions to clear the roadblocks that they have set up on each end of town and setting fire to the buildings. The townspeople will be loaded into the semi-truck with the supplies, and everyone else will escape on horses. I’ll also be rigging their Humvees with explosives so they won’t be able to follow. Once the shooting starts, we kill as many of them as we can, and I’ll set fire to the town. Now, does everyone understand their role?”
Luis and Zi were charged with recovering the townspeople. While they were breaking the others out, Mick and Ken would be loading the semi with the supplies from the gas station. And James would be charged with setting the explosives, preparing the fires, and one last personal mission.
James turned to Nolan, wanting the doctor to go over what he saw one last time. “And you’re sure that their leader stays in Mel’s Hardware?”
“I’m sure,” Nolan answered.
To help ensure that the enemy didn’t try and chase them back down, James wanted to chop the head off the snake, operating under the premise that if their leader was dead, then the others would turn tail and run.
James nodded. “Our big advantage is that they think we’re on the run. And I don’t think they’d expect us to strike back as quickly and as strongly as what we’re about to do. But we treat this as if they’re expecting us and hit them right before dawn.” James stood, glancing to the faces turned toward him. “Let’s get ready.”
The group broke apart, and James returned to his wife’s bedside and took a knee, the pair having a rare moment where neither were pulled in the other direction.
“How are you feeling?” James asked.
“Tired,” Mary answered, then shut her eyes, swallowing hard. She was quiet for a while and then drew a deep breath, her voice and expression almost returning to normal as if she weren’t injured. “I can’t believe it’s all gone.”
“It’s not all gone,” James said. “We’re still here. That’s what’s important.”
Mary cried, and the tears surprised James. But her expression softened and she brought his hand to her lips and kissed it. “You’re a good man, James Bowers. And I want to make sure that you don’t forget that.”
“James,” Nolan said, interrupting the moment. “I need to speak to you.”
The old doctor waved a finger that beckoned James away from his wife and the others and to the very back of the bunker. The old man crossed his arms over his chest and remained hunched forward in that permanent stoop, his brow creased in hard lines.
“I didn’t want to say anything before when tensions seemed to be a bit high, but you should know something about me,” Nolan said, drawing in a breath, working his mouth to speak, but only managing a few unintelligible noises before he finally spit it out. “I have cancer.”
The news didn’t seem real, and it took James a moment to realize that Nolan was being serious. “What?”
“It’s terminal,” Nolan answered, then pointed to his lower abdomen. “Started in the pancreas and got into the bloodstream. Found out last week.”
James studied the man who had looked old, but still fit. “Are you okay? Do you need—”
Nolan uncrossed his arms and waved his hands. “It’s done. I made my peace with it, but… well. I wanted to make sure you knew in case… I became too much of a burden.”
James placed a comforting hand on the old doctor’s shoulder. “You’ll stay here until the end, Doc.”
“Thank you, James.” Nolan smiled, and then walked away.
James remained in the back of the bunker for a moment, reflecting on Nolan’s words and what Mary had told him. Sometimes it was hard to understand why things happened the way the did in this world. Maybe James just wasn’t meant to understand.
James grabbed the rest of his supplies, making sure that he had everything he needed for the detonations and to start the fire, and he barely had enough. With the collection of all of his caches at the house when it blew, most of his spare weapons had been destroyed along with his food and medical supplies. It had been an error on his part, and he was more than paying for that now.
After handing out the rifles he kept in the bunker to everyone else, James was left with his trusty .306 Winchester. It had belonged in the Bowers family for generations and was just as trusty now as it was when his grandfather had used it to hunt.
“Dad?” Jake joined his father in the back.
“Hey, son, what—” James stopped, studying his son’s attire, and he saw that he wore a pistol and holster, along with boots and a jacket.
“I want to help,” Jake said.
“No, it’s too dangerous.”
“Dad, I can help—”
“I said no, Jacob!” James’s voice shook the bunker, silencing everyone. “Now is not the time. You will stay here and that is final.”
Jake kept his head bowed and then wiped at his eyes. He said nothing as he turned away from his father and sat on the edge of his bunk, then turned his back to everyone in the bunker.
James lingered in the back, watching all of the eyes staring at him. He had been harsh with his son, he understood that, but sometimes that was necessary to protect the people that he loved. And now he would travel back to that town, to stop the spread of evil from touching anyone e
lse. He just hoped he’d survive to see the fruits of their labor.
32
Packed and confident in their plan, James, Luis, Zi, Ken, and Mick saddled five horses and started the long ride into town a few hours before sunrise.
While the rest of the folks were still riding off the flood of adrenaline, James was forced to pop a caffeine pill to keep him awake. He was running on fumes.
Before James even saw the town, he heard the caw of birds in the air. He looked up toward the sky and saw the dark wings circling above in the distance. Even in the darkness, James knew that they were buzzards, because the place they were heading was filled with death.
When the lights of town came into view, James slowed their pace and set them on a course to head for the east end of town first. He wanted to make sure that the semi was still there and that they’d be able to get it running before the rest of the plan went into motion. It all hinged on making sure that they could get the supplies, and the people, out of there before the enemy knew they were there.
James kept the group one hundred yards from the gas station, then he and Luis moved closer to investigate.
“If there are guards, then you take the one on the left, and I take the one on the right,” James said, keeping his voice to a whisper. “I’ll shoot first.”
They approached slowly, crawling through the tall grass, and sure enough spotted the pair of sentries on patrol around the station, which helped confirm that they still had the supplies inside. No reason for them to guard an empty building.
Suppressors had been applied to both rifles, and while James knew the weapon would still make some noise, the garage was isolated away from the rest of the town and he was confident that the shot wouldn’t be heard. So long as he didn’t miss.
If the bullet hit glass or the side of the building, then the guards would be alerted and their plan would end before it began. But both men were skilled hunters. He was confident they could make their shots.
James steadied his hand as he brought the crosshairs over his target, waiting until Luis was ready. They would need to squeeze the trigger quickly after one another.
The sentries wore no masks, and James didn’t recognize either of them from the raid on the ranch.
There was a light breeze on the air, and James waited for it to pass. The men turned the corner to head up the side of the building toward the front, and James had his target dead center of his crosshairs. But just before James squeezed the trigger, both of them ducked behind the trailer.
James lowered the rifle, gritting his teeth. “Shit.”
“I didn’t have a good shot anyway,” Luis said. “So how much longer do you want to wait?”
“We’re not waiting.” James unsheathed his hunting blade, showing it to Luis who did the same, and then followed his boss to the backside of the garage, the pair quickly chasing the two guards around to the front of the station, where they ensured the coast was clear.
By the time the pair of guards had walked back around to the backside of the building again, James and Luis had crept silently up behind them. It was different than the first time, and James wasn’t nervous. It was just a part of the job, part of their mission.
James placed the knife against the guard’s throat as Luis did the same. He pressed his palm over the terrorist’s mouth to muffle the scream, then sliced. And then it was done. Only a few seconds. So quick. So easy.
James and Luis dragged the dead men deep into the tall grass where they couldn’t be seen.
Once both bodies were concealed in the tall fields, James and Luis returned to the gas station, confirming that their needed supplies were still inside.
Massive pallets with crates filled the inside of the station, and James and Luis worked their way inside to confirm it was the rations that Nolan believed it to be.
“If there isn’t any food in here, what are we going to do?” Luis asked, standing next to one of the crates, crowbar in hand.
“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.” James stared down at his own hand, still covered in that man’s blood. It was shaking. He forced the hand steady by using it to pry open the nearest box.
“What are they?” Luis asked, plucking one of the packages from the crate.
“MREs,” James answered, whispering as he stared at the three big letters that meant their salvation. He set it down and then searched through the rest of the crate. The box was filled with hundreds of them. If all of the crates were packed full with these, then they’d have enough rations to feed everyone for the next two years. “Put the lids back on.”
Finished at the station, James and Luis returned to the group.
“The truck is there,” James said. “Along with the supplies. Load them into the back as fast as you can.” He looked to Mick. “You’re sure you can hotwire it?”
Mick nodded.
“All right.” James nodded, knowing that they needed this to work. “Everyone knows their job.” He looked to Ken and Mick. “Load the truck.” He glanced to Zi and Luis. “Get the townspeople.” He addressed all of them. “And for the love of God, do it quietly. The faster we can get this done without drawing attention to ourselves, the better.”
It had taken a while, but Jake finally managed to leave the bunker, convincing both Nolan and his mother that he just needed some fresh air. He took one of the rifles with him, telling his mother that it was better to have protection on him after what happened, and she didn’t argue.
But the moment Jake was topside, he grabbed one of the horses and sprinted away from the bunker, heading into the darkness.
Jake had spent a lifetime having to sit on the sidelines. Because of his AVS, people thought he couldn’t handle himself, but they were wrong. His father was wrong. And he was going to prove it to him.
Eventually, Jake saw the town, but he made sure to keep his distance. Not wanting to draw attention to himself and knowing that the sound carried on the wind in the plains, Jake rode to the south side of the town, downwind close to two hundred yards, and chose to move the rest of the way on foot.
He brought his rifle with him, and he was embarrassed at how much his arms were shaking. He stopped several times on his approach to the town to try and keep himself calm.
Jake had gone hunting with his father before, and that’s all this was. Except this time, what he was hunting could shoot back.
The only building he recognized from the rear was Nolan’s office, so he used that as his point of entry into the town. He felt better going into a place he was familiar with.
Jake slipped to the back door, and he poked his finger through some of the bullet holes as he peeked inside and confirmed that there was no one inside.
But even with the coast clear, Jake didn’t take the open area for granted. The hallway had patient rooms on either side, and Jake stopped before each one, clearing it before he moved on. He probably could have made it down the hallway safe enough, but his father had always taught him to be thorough.
Once the hallway was cleared, Jake moved swiftly through the waiting room and posted up on the left side of the door, peering out through the shattered glass.
The street was dark, and there were cars littered sporadically along the streets. Jake studied the layout, looking for anything out of the ordinary.
His eyes adjusting to the darkness, Jake saw something move in one of the cars. It was nothing more than a shifting shadow, but with the stillness of the town, Jake knew that it was a sign to stay off the street.
From his position at the doctor’s office, Jake spied the hardware store. Just beyond that at the east side of town, he saw the vehicle blockade. If he snaked around the back of the buildings, he could use the blockade to get to the other side at the hardware store.
That’s where Nolan had said the leader lived. And if Jake could kill the leader, then he could end all of this.
Jake glanced down in the opposite direction and saw another blockade of vehicles on the west side of town. It would be a longer
route, but he figured that it would less guarded than the east side.
Jake moved quickly along the backside of the buildings, staying low, eyes peeled for any other traps. He managed to cross to the other side of main street without incident using the cars in the blockade as cover.
Again keeping to the backside of the building, Jake moved quickly through the grass, making sure that the coast was clear as he made his way to the back of the hardware store where whispers escaped, growing louder. He ducked down a side alley just before a patrol unit passed by.
Jake aimed his rifle at the alley’s back entrance, his finger on the trigger and unable to keep his body still. The tip of the rifle wavered back and forth, and Jake shut his eyes, trying to calm himself. But the adrenaline running through his nerves was too much.
The voice grew louder, and just when they sounded as though they were going to turn down the alleyway, they grew softer.
Jake exhaled, the tip of the rifle lowering from its aimed position. With the moment of danger gone, Jake inched toward the rear of the alley. His muscles turned to jelly, and he saw that the coast was clear.
Jake sprinted the rest of the distance to Mel’s Hardware and burst inside before his courage vanished. He found it empty.
Jake lowered his weapon and placed his hands on his knees to catch his breath, his face covered with sweat, most of it dripping down his neck or off the tip of his nose.
But as he stood there hunched over on his knees, catching his breath, he caught the scent of something rotten.
Jake sidestepped toward the wall, moving away from the back door, but the scent only grew stronger. He kept to the wall, moving slowly until he finally stepped on the slimy remains of what had died on the hallway floor.
The substance was slick and sticky beneath his shoes, and while Jake was glad that the body had been moved, he still couldn’t work up enough courage to actually stare down at the remains of what he had stepped in. He could only take so much.