Ichabod

by Mark Goodwin

  “Did you bring it?” JC asked.

  “Yep,” Korey replied.

  JC looked back at Jason. “Then how about you stand guard with your .22, in the room with the kids?”

  Jason stood tall and proud. “I’ll protect them.”

  Seven-year-old Kalie Reese stood next to her older brother. “I can watch Emma, and Annie, too, if you want. I watch Emma all the time at our house.”

  “That will be fine. Thank you for your help.” JC bit his lip. “Miss Jennie, we’re going into a less-than-ideal situation. I’m going to do everything I can to go over the basics and get everyone up to speed for this mission. But, there’s a limit to what we can accomplish with the amount of time we have to work with. Besides that, I’m just a man. If we’re going to bring Alisa home safely, we’re going to need some help from the Lord. Would you be in charge of a prayer vigil? If you could dedicate a room to prayer and have someone manning that position constantly until we return, I’m sure God will honor your petitions.”

  “We’ll be intercedin’ for y’all. Don’t you worry about that,” Nana said.

  “Thanks. And Kalie, I need you and Jason to take care of Rusty. Bring him in the house and keep him inside until we get back. If he starts barking at the bad guys, it will give away our position. Besides that, he’ll add an extra layer of protection for the house.” JC grabbed his rifle and the duffel bag he’d brought with him and stood by the door. “Gentlemen.”

  “Ahem.” Dana cleared her throat.

  “And Dana,” JC said, “let’s head on down to the barn. We’ve got a few things to go over.”

  Once at the barn, JC took out a small box of plastic army men.

  “Are those mine?” Jack inquired.

  “Yeah, you haven’t touched them since you were ten. Video games and cell phones took all of your attention.” JC separated out the taupe-colored soldiers from the green ones.

  “Cell phones and video games are a thing of the past,” Jack said.

  JC began arranging them. “What, do you want ‘em back?”

  “I don’t know. I might.” Jack seemed to be toying with JC more than anything.

  “Ahhy.” JC shook his head. “This box is the barn, where we are now. Here’s the road to the right, and the woods behind us.

  “The enemy has to be coming in through the pasture. This hill is giving them cover for their approach. I’d guess they’re taking the road in from Anderson and cutting across the field next to the school. Danny and I walked the perimeter. We didn’t see any cut wire on the fence separating the Walker place and that back pasture, but if I was running their op, I wouldn’t cut the fence until I had to, for the cattle.

  “Rocky, you’ll be up here in this hedgerow along the road. You should be able to spot them coming over the hill. Just sit back and wait until the fireworks start. Hopefully, they’ll bring Alisa, take the goods, and leave in peace.

  “If so, Danny and I will follow them back to their AO and recon the location. Then, we’ll decide if we have the strength to go take our stuff back.

  “If they don’t bring her back, Rocky, you’ll have to cut down anyone trying to leave the property. If anyone gets away and gets back to their operating base to tell them what’s going on, they’ll probably kill Alisa.”

  Rocky crossed his arms. “What if it’s a kid that they’re using for a runner? What do we do then?”

  JC shrugged. “Listen, folks, we are all risking our lives to try to get Alisa back. We have to decide if we’re willing to do whatever it takes to get her back or not.”

  Rocky shook his head. “I don’t mind dying, but I don’t want to be in the position to have to shoot some kid that’s running away.”

  Catfish spoke up. “Put me up on that hill, boss.”

  JC nodded. “Rocky, we’ll move you down to the cover position, overlooking the ambush. Our genius assailants have requested lots of heavy items and two cows that they’ll have to figure out how to retreat with. We plan on giving them the two orneriest cows in the herd and plenty of rope to hang themselves with. While they’re fumbling with the goods, the fire team -- me, Jack, Danny, Korey, and Dana -- will come in and take them; we need them alive, if at all possible.

  “Dana and Korey, you two are going to be the restraint team. As soon as we get them face down on the ground, you’ll zip-tie them.” JC handed several sets of plastic zip restraints to Dana and Korey.

  “Keep them out of the way of the rest of your gear, on your back belt loop with these.” He handed them both a small carabiner clip.

  “Steven, you’ll be along the back tree line, about halfway between the house and the barn. You’ll be responsible for making sure no one slips up on us from that side, taking out hostiles if the fire team has to engage, and providing a barrier between the barn and the house. I don’t have to tell you how important the last part of that mission is. If hostiles get to the house and overtake it with our wives and children inside, it’s game over. We all might as well shoot ourselves in the head right then and there.”

  Steven nodded. “Got it.”

  Danny had gotten to know JC fairly well over the past three weeks, but he was never sure when he was serious and when he was making a statement for effect. Nevertheless, he’d made his point clear to Steven and everyone else in the group.

  JC pointed at Steven. “And always be conscious of where the rest of your team is. Remember, we’ll be approaching from this back wooded area, Rocky is right across from you here, and Catfish is up in this area of the hedgerow. And obviously, all the ladies are in the house. You can’t take a shot if any of us are behind your target.”

  JC pulled some chemical lights, mousetraps, and fishing line out of his duffel bag. “Unfortunately, no one has any functioning radios. If I had it to do over, that would have been the one thing I’d change. I would have built a Faraday cage and put some radios in it. That would have been an absolute game changer. No point crying over should’ve, would’ve, could’ve. We just make do with what we have.

  “We’ll rig up a chem light on a tree nearby each of the sniper hides. It’ll be far enough away from each one of them to not give away the nest, but close enough to be able to trigger the light with a length of fishing line, about forty or fifty yards away from each sniper. As soon as any one of you see the hostiles approaching, trigger your light. You’ll all be able to see one another’s lights, so only the first spotter triggers his light. That will also give the fire team a clue on the direction that they’re coming from.” JC looked around at the group. “Any questions? Ask ‘em now.”

  Danny wasn’t super clear about how all the parts of this plan were going to fit together, but he couldn’t formulate his present confusion into a cohesive question so he remained silent.

  JC pulled a tube of green face paint out of his duffel bag. “Snipers, go change out into your best camos. Meet back here in one hour. We’ll get you positioned and covered up with brush as best as possible.”

  Catfish said, “I don’t reckon I never seen no need fer camouflage. I’ve always hunted in my overalls.”

  Rocky patted him on the back. “Come with me to the house. I’ve got a jacket for you at least. I might have some pants that would fit you as well.”

  Catfish nodded and followed Rocky out the barn door.

  Steven walked up to JC. “I’m not really the outdoorsy type. At least I wasn’t before all of this. I don’t have any camouflage either.”

  “Jack’s stuff will fit you. It might be a little loose, but with a belt, you’ll be okay.” JC looked over at his son. “Jack, take Steven back to the house and get him in some camos. Your old woodland stuff will work. I’m going to be going over the basics of small unit troop movement with these guys, stuff you already know, so you won’t be missing much. But get back quick, so we can practice the specifics of our mission. Daylight is burning.”

  “Yes, sir.” Jack motioned for Steven to follow him.

  JC stopped them. “On second thought, Jack, you run and g
rab it for him. I don’t want him wearing out that bum leg. He might need it tonight if things get dicey.”

  “Okay.” Jack shut the barn door behind him.

  “Steven, even though you’re not on the fire team tonight, pay attention to all of this. Your day to put the training to use may come.” Right away, JC began drilling Danny, Korey, and Dana on hand signals, distances to keep between one another, and various formations. He instructed them as to what sector each one would be responsible for guarding, depending on their position in the formation. He had them all drill with reloading weapons and discussed how they would handle the situation if one of them were to be shot.

  When Jack returned, they set up a practice ambush site with the actual buckets of provisions that would be left out for the kidnappers. JC instructed them on how they would approach the hostiles and the method that Korey and Dana would use to place the restraints on the ones who could be captured.

  After about an hour of training, Catfish and Rocky returned.

  JC said, “Fire team, take a break. I’m going to get these guys painted up and set up in their nests. While I’m gone, try to think of some soft-sabotage methods for the ransom goods. Nothing that looks like we are obviously trying to make it more difficult, but dumb stuff that could slow them down. I’ll be back in a while. After that, we’ll do a quick sweep to make sure we’re still not under observation, then get into position. Everybody clear?”

  “Clear,” Danny said.

  Korey, Dana, and Jack all nodded that they understood as well.

  “Good. Be right back.” JC headed out with the snipers.

  Jack looked at the buckets containing rice and other dried goods. “I guess they are planning to lay these across the back of the cows.”

  Danny snorted. “Good luck with that, especially with the cows we’re planning to give them. If I can get Old Red-Eye over there with the patch of red fur around one eye, they’ll have the time of their life trying to get her to do anything.”

  “How will you catch her?” Korey asked.

  “She always bullies her way to the trough first. If I only put feed in two of the milking stalls, I can almost guarantee she’ll be in one of them,” Danny answered.

  “Too bad you don’t have two cows that difficult.” Dana crossed her arms.

  Jack put a finger in the air. “We might be able to give the second cow a slightly less-sunny disposition. What if we can wedge a rock in between its hoof? It won’t permanently injure the animal, but it will be uncomfortable, and it will slow down the retreat of the hostiles if they do get out with the cattle.”

  “Really good idea, Jack.” Danny smiled.

  Korey looked at the buckets. “What if we give them feed sacks instead of buckets? We could get a small starter hole in the bottom of the bag that might eventually tear out before they get back to camp.”

  Danny put a finger on his chin. “Especially if we put something small right near the opening of the hole and heavier items on top.”

  Jack looked at the rope that was to be used for the cows. “If you cut this rope and rejoin the two pieces with a square knot, there’s a good chance it will slip loose, particularly if you have an unhappy animal on the other end of it. Unless they are really up on their knots, they’d probably never notice. You should always use some type of bend knot to join rope that will be load-bearing.”

  Dana looked at the rope. “And I’m sure we could tie it in such a way that would encourage it to slip loose. Right?”

  “Exactly,” Jack said.

  Shortly thereafter, JC returned to the barn. Danny and the others filled him in on the proposed soft-sabotage techniques.

  JC smiled. “Good work, guys. Let’s get those two cows in the stalls and roped up. Get them outside to the overhang by the cattle entrance to the barn. Then, implement your sabotage ideas as quickly as possible so we can do our perimeter sweep. I want to be in position well before sunset.”

  CHAPTER 7

  And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.

  Genesis 14:14-15

  Danny sat silently just inside the tree line. He’d been in the same position for more than three hours. The deep anticipation of rescuing Alisa made it seem like a much longer period of time. The nagging questions persistently assaulted his mind. Was Alisa okay? Was she even alive? Would they bring her back and keep their word to exchange her for the goods requested? In the duration of monotonous waiting, he had to stay ever vigilant to not let worry and anxiety completely overtake his thoughts.

  The moon was more than half full, but the sporadic clouds made it unreliable as a light source. It was after ten o’clock and still no sign of the kidnappers.

  “I have to go find a tree,” Korey whispered.

  “Hurry, and be as quiet as possible,” JC replied in a low, agitated mutter.

  Danny knew JC wouldn’t like it, but he was also going to need a tree soon. He decided he would go right after Korey returned. As bad as it was to be moving around at this time, it was much better than having to go after the kidnappers had been spotted on the property to retrieve the ransom. And, he definitely did not want to go into a firefight with a full bladder.

  Korey soon returned. Danny looked over at JC. “Be right back.”

  JC pursed his lips, tapped his watch with his index finger, then put that same finger over his lips. Finally, he pointed with the same finger into the direction he wanted Danny to go.

  Danny hurried, moving as silently as possible, deeper into the woods. Once finished, he returned to his position in the same manner.

  JC looked at Dana and Jack. “If you guys need to go, do it now.”

  They both nodded and went in turn. Jack went first, then Dana. While Dana was still back in the woods, JC waved his hand and pointed toward Catfish’s position up on the hill. “Chem light. We’ve got company. Jack, you stay put with Korey and Dana. Danny and I will sweep for an overwatch team, then rally back here with you. Keep watch with your night vision. If you see us moving toward the barn, break cover and move your team, ranger file, to meet up with us.”

  Jack nodded that he understood. JC put the bow over his shoulder via a sling and led the way, watching through his night vision scope as they walked. Danny slung his AK over his back and held the Benjamin .357 air rifle for the initial sweep as he followed JC.

  Dana was returning to the position just as JC and Danny were walking away. JC pointed at Jack. “Go back over the plan with her.”

  Jack nodded and gave his father a thumbs-up as he and Danny departed.

  It had been discussed during training that if Danny had to take a shot at a hostile in the woods, he would do so with the air rifle in hopes of not alerting the other enemy teams. The advantage of the Benjamin bullpup rifle was that it was a silenced, large-caliber rifle, capable of taking out a hostile with minimal noise. The disadvantage was that each round had to be loaded by way of a side lever, so that the Benjamin functioned similar to a bolt-action weapon. The pre-charged rifle could shoot up to ten rounds per charge, and the magazine held five rounds plus one in the pipe, but the precious seconds involved in working the side lever made it a poor choice for close-quarters combat. If the hostiles weren’t taken out by Danny’s first shot with the Benjamin or JC’s initial arrow via the bow, they’d be forced to switch to their primary battle rifles which would make a lot more noise.

  JC picked his way through the exact same path they’d used in their earlier sweeps. This helped Danny to be quieter, since he had some familiarity with the trail and the obstacles therein.

  When they reached the point where they could observe the individuals who had come to collect the ransom, JC halted. He whispered to Danny, “Six guys. No sign of Alisa.”

  Danny’s heart dropped, and n
ausea filled his gut. He felt dizzy for a second but gritted his teeth to force himself to stay focused. He sucked back a wave of sorrow and swallowed the knot forming in his throat.

  As they reached the first likely position of an overwatch sniper, JC slowed to a crawl, and Danny followed his lead. No one was there, so they proceeded to the next possible position. Sure enough, Danny spotted a lone figure holding a long rifle with a scope. JC had spotted him too, evidenced by his distinct motion of putting one fist in the air signaling Danny to halt. JC continued to put one foot in front of the other with extreme caution at a glacial pace. He moved less than three feet in the course of the next two minutes as he found a position. JC silently surveyed their immediate area with the night vision scope mounted on his rifle for the next few seconds. He then slowly turned to make eye contact with Danny. He held up one finger indicating to Danny that he saw only one sniper. Danny nodded and moved into position.

  They had discussed that in the event there was only one enemy shooter, JC would shoot first with the bow, and Danny would shoot as soon as he heard the release of the arrow.

  Danny could see the dark silhouette of the sniper just ahead of him. He could see that the shooter’s attention was focused on his team moving toward the barn.

  Once in place to have a clear shot of the sniper, Danny nodded to JC, who drew his bow. Danny took aim at the man’s head and held his breath.

  JC released the arrow, which made a muffled bump; the arrow hit the man, creating an even thud, followed by the low pop of Danny firing the air rifle. Half a second later, the dark figure in the brush ahead dropped his weapon and fell on top of it. JC dropped the bow and pulled up his rifle by the single point sling. He picked his way through the brush to the sniper with Danny five feet behind. When he reached the sniper, JC kicked him over so he could see his face. Next he kicked the rifle away, let his rifle hang by the sling, and pulled his knife from the sheath. Danny looked away as JC bent down and slit the throat of the fallen man.