Ichabod

by Mark Goodwin

  “I’ve got to run over and ask JC something. I’ll be right back.”

  Alisa looked up from her Bible. “Can’t it wait till morning? What are you going to ask him?”

  “Guy stuff, I’ll be right back.” Danny wasn’t going to lie to her, but he didn’t want to have this conversation. He headed out the door before she had a chance to respond.

  “Danny!”

  He hurried down the stairs without looking back. When he arrived at JC’s trailer, he wasn’t alone. She had put her boots on and followed him over. Danny sighed as he knocked on the door.

  JC opened the door. “Come on in.”

  Danny looked at Alisa and then turned to JC. “Any word on tomorrow?”

  “It’s a go. Nick, Korey, and Catfish are heading over to Catfish’s place first thing in the morning to get two empty metal drums that he picked up from somewhere. They’ll bring them back here, clean them out, and we’ll all leave after lunch. It’s a one-shot deal, and not that far, so we’ll have plenty of time.”

  “I knew you were trying to sideline me, Danny Walker!” Alisa’s face showed only excitement.

  Danny wasn’t sure if it was anger because he’d tried to cut her out of the mission, or happiness because she’d caught him. Maybe it was a little of both.

  JC smiled as if he enjoyed seeing Danny squirm. “I guess you’ll be on the team then?”

  “Yes.” Alisa crossed her arms and glared at Danny.

  Danny turned to leave the trailer. “Never should have let her train with us.”

  Alisa followed. “See you tomorrow, JC.”

  “You guys be nice to each other. I need you both.” JC chuckled as he closed the door behind them.

  The next morning, Danny awoke, feeling rested and ready for the day. After breakfast, he and Steven went to collect firewood. It was the first time they’d really worked together since the disagreement over the trailers. Danny harbored no ill will, but it was a constant source of awkwardness.

  Steven broke the silence. “So, does JC hate me? Does he think I’m a coward and I’m hiding behind my conviction?”

  Danny shook his head. “I don’t think so. He just wants to see everybody on board with the same plan. Having a divided camp is historically dangerous.”

  Steven pulled a small downed tree that was hanging over the ledge of the creek bank and began snapping the smaller limbs off. “I know, but there are going to be disagreements. I’m trying to understand your side’s convictions, trying to be considerate . . .”

  Danny cut him off. “Shhh. Listen!”

  Steven looked offended. “What?”

  “Vehicles, on the road. It’s not Catfish.” Danny dropped the wood he’d been collecting and began walking briskly up the hill toward the house. Steven did the same. Danny switched off the safety of his AK as he looked toward the end of the long gravel drive. An old Jeep and old Ford Bronco were turning in from the road and driving slowly toward the house.

  “Run to the back door, get the girls, and tell them to gear up and be ready to fight. I’ll go get JC and we’ll talk to them. Stay inside, but be ready to come out shooting if you see us get in any trouble.” Danny sprinted to JC’s fifth wheel.

  JC came out the front door just as Danny arrived. “I saw ‘em. Lay that rifle under the trailer. Do you have a pistol?”

  “No.”

  JC passed his Glock to Danny. “Stick this in the back of your pants and cover it with your shirt. I’ve got my .38. Let me do the talking. Just back me up if I need it. Jack is in the window with the .308. He’ll be working on the guys farthest from us. You start shooting the ones close up.”

  Danny’s heart raced as he followed JC to the front of the house where the vehicles had stopped.

  “Remember to breathe. Hopefully, we can talk our way out of this.” JC had slowed his walk to a calmer pace by the time he got to the men coming out of the vehicles. Four men got out of the Jeep, and two more came out of the Bronco. All were wearing a hodgepodge of camouflage pants and black Polo shirts, with an assortment of battle rifles, except for the man who got out of the passenger side of the Bronco. He wore khaki cargo pants, a black button-down shirt, a black tie, and a pistol belt with a drop-leg holster, and black leather gloves.

  “Gentlemen, how can we help you?” JC was polite, courteous, and sounded very relaxed.

  The man in the tie removed his gloves. “We represent the interim government, headed up by Regent Darren Schlusser. We wanted to stop by, introduce ourselves, and let you know that Regent Schlusser is committed to restoring order and rebuilding the American way.”

  JC’s smile looked very genuine. “That’s fantastic. Things were starting to get a little rough.”

  The man returned the smile and gave a signal for the men behind him to stand at ease. “It’s going to be a long process, but the regent has a plan and the means to implement that plan.”

  JC stood in a very non-threatening way with his hands at his side. “You said interim government?”

  “Yes, Regent Schlusser is just trying to fulfill his civic duty and provide a framework for government until such time that order has been re-established and free elections can once again be instituted.”

  “I’m just happy somebody out there is trying to put all of this back together,” JC snickered. “We appreciate everything you men are doing.”

  “Thank you for that.” The man stepped forward and offered his hand to JC. “I’m Sergeant Gorbold.”

  “JC, and this here is Danny. The pleasure is all mine.” JC shook his hand exuberantly.

  “Hi.” Danny was confused. He couldn’t tell if JC had really been taken in by these guys or if it was all an act.

  “JC, we are going to be asking that folks who are getting by relatively well help in our efforts to alleviate the suffering of the less fortunate in our society.” Gorbold looked over the compound.

  JC looked at the trailers to see where Gorbold was looking. “Oh, ah, well,” JC stammered as if he hadn’t expected the question. “We just put our crops in. I’m sure we’ll have extra this fall.”

  “Times are very tough out there, JC. Isn’t there a little something you could spare now?” Gorbold sounded sincere.

  JC took off his hat with one hand and rubbed his head with the other. “We might have a couple pounds of rice, maybe some dried beans that we could share. I’m hoping to have some fresh vegetables in a few weeks. It would be cutting it close for our little community, but like you said, it’s tough for folks everywhere.”

  “Thank you. We’re not asking for handouts. Whatever you can give will be credited to your account, and you’ll be fully reimbursed when the new currency is issued.”

  “Oh, wow, that’s great.” JC smiled as if he were genuinely relieved.

  Gorbold looked over toward the cattle. “Would you be willing to sell one of your cows?”

  JC furrowed his brow. “I wouldn’t know how much to ask, in the new currency, I mean.”

  “The administration is setting up standardized pricing until such time that the free market can take over.”

  “And it would be credited to my account?” JC asked.

  “Yes.”

  JC looked over at the cattle and then back to Gorbold. “How would you get it back?”

  Gorbold said, “We have livestock vehicles. I’ll send one out tomorrow.”

  “I can slaughter it for you, first thing in the morning, if you can come tomorrow afternoon and pick it up. Unless you want it for breeding, of course.”

  “Slaughtered would be fantastic. If you wouldn’t mind getting those rice and beans, we’ll be moving along, for today.”

  “Oh, sure. Danny, give me a hand.” JC walked toward the house.

  Danny followed him inside.

  As soon as the door was closed, JC pointed to Steven, Dana, and Alisa. “Get ready to move out. I’m going to send them to Rocky’s, and we’re going to circle around back and hit them when they leave.”

  Steven looked frantic.
“What if they hurt Mr. and Mrs. Cook?”

  “Steven, shut up and follow my lead. No time to talk this one over. I’m doing what we have to do to survive.” JC went to the back porch and found some old containers that were slated to be used for gardening. “Danny, bring me a bucket of rice and beans.”

  Danny quickly complied. He ran up to his room and grabbed the bucket nearest to the door and brought them down.

  JC opened it and hastily poured some of the beans and some of the rice out of several bags, tying them off, then placing the opened bags of beans and rice in a large trash bag. “Follow me back out.”

  Danny walked back out the door with JC, trying to remain calm. It had been easier to stay relaxed before he knew what they were getting ready to do.

  JC handed the man the garbage bag. “I’m sorry about the presentation.”

  Gorbold opened the bag and looked inside. “That’s very generous of you. The regent will be very proud to know folks like you still exist.”

  JC lowered his head in a gesture of humility. “Oh, we’re around. Times like these, we have to work together.” He looked back up toward the hill across the creek. “Folks over there are good Christian people. If they knew what you were doing, they’d be glad to help. Like most of us, I doubt they have much, but they might have a little flour and sugar they could give.”

  Gorbold placed the garbage bag of food in the rear of the Bronco. “Every little bit helps.”

  JC waved. “Folks over on the hill, Cook is the name. You tell ‘em JC sent you. Tell ‘em I said you’re alright.”

  “We’ll do that. Thanks again, you’ve been most helpful.” Gorbold smiled as he got back in the Bronco and waved the vehicle forward.

  JC slowly walked back toward his trailer as the Jeep and the Bronco drove back up the drive. “Go gear up and meet me on the back porch in thirty seconds. Just grab your vest and ammo. Your rifle is under my trailer I’ll bring it with me,” he ordered Danny.

  “But . . .”

  “No time for buts, Danny, Go!”

  Danny focused as he turned toward the house, circled around back, and went inside. Alisa, Dana, and Steven were waiting on the porch with rifles, shotguns, and ammo.

  Dana held up Danny’s tactical vest. “Need this?”

  “You’re awesome.” He took it, put it on, and quickly zipped up.

  “What’s going on?” Dana asked.

  “Just be ready.” Danny placed the Glock that had been in his back waistband into the holster on the front of the vest.

  JC was at the back door in seconds with Jack close behind him. Jack had the .308 in his hands with his AR-15 dangling from a single-point sling in front of his tactical vest. JC handed the AK-47 to Danny, and handed an AR-15 to Steven. “This is Melissa’s rifle. Don’t scratch it; she’ll kill you.” JC repositioned his own AR-15, which he was carrying with a sling, and motioned for them to follow.

  Dana followed close with Steven’s pump-action shotgun. “What are we going to do?”

  “Kill ‘em.” JC’s answer was short.

  “What about Nana and the Reese children?” Danny asked.

  “Melissa is going to get Cami to tell the Reeses, then she’ll take Annie over to Nana’s. They’ll all hunker down in the house until it’s all clear. Don’t worry about them; they’ll be fine.

  “Pay attention because there’s no time to repeat the instructions. When we get into position, you four are going to lay low while Jack and I get into a sniping position. We’ll kill two men with the first shots. As soon as you hear us shoot, you guys open fire. If you can hit someone, great. If not, the most important thing is to make noise. Just keep shooting, reloading, and shooting some more. They’re going to be focused on you and returning fire. So hide behind a tree, whatever, but keep shooting in their general direction. Your shots are going to keep them distracted so we can pick them off, one shot at a time.

  “If it looks like they are going to be able to flank you and fix your position before we can finish them off, I’ll yell ‘retreat’. Jack and I will draw their fire and you fall back to the creek bank. Drop down inside the creek and wait for us to lead them to you. Then, you’ll have to kill them before they get to the creek. We can’t let them come across the creek. That’s where the kids are. Everybody understand?”

  Steven rushed to keep up with the fast-moving assault team. “If we kill these guys, aren’t they just going to send more troops out to hunt us down?”

  JC continued to lead the team back through the woods to a place where they could cross the creek at a hurried pace. “I didn’t see or hear any radios. I don’t think this bunch is that well-organized. Wherever their headquarters is, leadership will only know the general direction this squad was supposed to cover and that they never returned from their operation. For all they know, this team could have hit it big and decided to branch out on their own.

  “Regardless of what the rest of their group looks like, these goons are going to be back if we don’t kill them now. Whether the total force is 100 or 1000, it will be six less in about ten minutes.”

  Once the team crossed the creek, JC put his finger to his lip. “No more talking from this point forward.”

  The team circled around from the woods behind Rocky’s house in time to see two of the soldiers from the Jeep walking out of the Cooks’ house carrying Rocky’s rifle, shotgun, and several ammo boxes. They loaded them in the back of the Bronco and went back inside. JC whispered, “We’ll hit them as soon as those two come back out. The second they come out the door, start shooting. Since those two will probably be carrying supplies, they’ll have to drop what they are doing before they can return fire, so worry about the other guards first. Gorbold only has a pistol. He isn’t as big of a threat at this range, so take out the riflemen first.”

  JC motioned for Danny’s team to find large trees for cover as he and Jack melted back into the woods.

  Danny’s heart pounded as he pointed to Alisa and Dana, then pointed to the guard nearest them, signaling that both girls should center their fire on that guard. Then, he pointed Steven to the next nearest guard. Danny said a silent prayer, asking God to give him the precision to kill the guard farthest away.

  Rocky was standing on the porch holding Pauline, who was crying as Gorbold stood nearby with a condescending look. It sounded as if he was lecturing them, but Danny couldn’t make out what they were saying. He couldn’t worry about that anyhow. Danny had to focus on the doorway and be ready to take his shot the second the men came outside. He began counting his breaths to make sure he was remembering to breathe. His eyes darted back and forth from his target to the doorframe. Each time he made minor adjustments to the aim of his rifle, he took the slack out of his trigger so he wouldn’t jerk the rifle off target when he squeezed the trigger. Danny saw a foot come out the bottom of the doorway; he took a deep breath and pulled the trigger.

  CHAPTER 17

  Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

  Joshua 1:9

  Danny’s target dropped to the ground. He wasn’t sure if it was from his own shot or if Jack or JC had eliminated the target. He had no time to consider it. He moved directly to the next armed guard, but that man also fell before Danny could take a shot. By now, the two men coming out of the house had dropped their supplies and were trying to get control of their weapons in order to return fire. Danny took a shot at the one nearest him. He distinctly saw the bullet hit the man in the upper leg. A bullet coming from JC’s direction ran through the head of the other man, pushing a fountain of blood and brain out with it.

  Danny took a second shot at the guard that he’d hit in the leg as the man was still trying to shoot back. Danny fired once, twice, three, four, and five times at the man, riddling his body with bullets. The man finally fell limp and Danny turned his attention to Gorbold, who had Pauline by the hair with one hand and his pistol pointed at h
er temple with the other.

  Gorbold called out. “This stops right now or the lady dies!”

  “Please! Stop!” Rocky called out toward the woods.

  JC emerged from the woods with Jack close behind him. Both had their weapons trained on Gorbold. JC continued to advance toward Gorbold who was backing toward the Bronco. “Put the gun down!” JC commanded.

  Gorbold’s voice grew more agitated as he backed away from JC who was getting closer and closer to him. “I’ll kill her! I swear!”

  POP! A flash shot out the barrel of JC’s AR-15. Gorbold’s wrist exploded and his pistol went flying. Blood gushed out of Gorbold’s mangled wrist as he screamed. Blood was all over Pauline’s head. Danny thought that perhaps the pistol had gone off and she’d been shot, but he doubted anyone who’d been shot in the head could scream the way she was screaming. Danny led his team in closer to kick the rifles away from the fallen men. JC stepped to Gorbold and hit him square in the nose with the butt of his rifle. Gorbold dropped backwards and JC jumped on top of him to zip tie his hands together. Next, he put another zip tie beneath Gorbold’s armpit; evidently JC was using it as a tourniquet. Danny winced at the thought of what the unfortunate man was about to go through if JC had determined to keep him alive.

  Jack walked around and double tapped all of the men who looked like they were beyond saving. Only one of the other five men appeared as though he was still conscious. Jack stood guard over him as he tossed a zip tie to Dana, who quickly secured him. Danny scanned the scene to make sure they hadn’t missed anything.

  Alisa was attending to Mrs. Cook. “I’m going to take her inside to get cleaned up.”

  “There might be someone inside,” Danny protested.

  “It’s six people, the same six that were at Nana’s.” Alisa continued toward the door.

  Danny looked over at JC, who was sitting on top of Gorbold. JC nodded. “It should be fine, but you go in with her, Danny.”