by Brad Raylend
There were two doors on opposite sides of the hall. I kicked in the one that led to the outer porch. After I ensured it was clear, I turned and looked at the door that had the most wanted man in the world behind it. I gritted my teeth and kicked it in. I was met by a volley of fire. Two rounds connected with my torso, knocking me backwards into the hall. I lay in the supine position and shouldered my weapon. He held his wife in front of him as a human shield, screaming in Arabic. I leveled my sights on his wife’s head and I squeezed off a round. It snapped her head backwards and she fell at his feet. I stood up and walked towards him, keeping my weapon trained on him. He stumbled backwards against the bed, dropping the rifle. I pressed the suppressor against his chest and pulled the trigger; holding it down until the thirty-round mag was empty. His body twitched and blood spilled from his mouth and the bullet wounds. I dropped to my knees, breathing heavily. Tears mixed with thick blood ran down my face and dripped on the floor. I could hear the thumps of rotors outside drawing near. I quickly snapped out of my current state and stumbled to the door. I fell several times as I tried to get out of the house as quickly as possible.
I made my way to the entrance and the dust of the rotor wash blew into the open doorway. I fumbled to pull my visor down, and my fingers shook as I tapped the cloaking option of the MTX. I stumbled outside just in time to see an RPG round smack into the tail of one of the Blackhawk helicopters. The ear-busting boom echoed throughout the city and the helicopter began to spin out of control. It swooped down towards the building and crashed into the perimeter wall and began sliding towards me. I sprinted for the far wall as fast as I could, but felt the tail rotor slice my arm as I dove to the ground. I screamed in pain, my screams drowned out by the loud thumps of the main rotors chopping into the ground. I clutched my arm and stood up, stumbling towards the front gate. I couldn’t tell if it was flesh or the suit itself that my arm remained attached by.
For the next two hours, I stumbled through the streets towards my extract point. That was it … that was the end. The end of my time traveling. The end of my interference with the natural timeline.
I would go back to the facility, where I would spend the next several months in rehabilitation. There I would plan my escape into the past. Where I would prepare to say goodbye.
ESPRIT LIBRE
The mustang stared into Todd’s eyes, waiting for him to make the first move. He stepped around it, looking for a chink in its armor. It followed him every step of the way, not allowing him to get behind it.
Jack sat on top of the fence; next to him was Luke, who smoked a thin cigar, watching as two powerful souls eyed each other. Like two masters of their domain coming face to face, trying to work past the distrust and awareness they both used to stay alive. The horse snorted loudly and shook its head. The long black mane flopped from side to side. In Todd’s sweaty hands he held the saddle blanket. He breathed out slowly, his dark eyes staying trained on the horse’s. His sharp jaw line flexed and he moved closer to the animal.
“Apparently we have a lot in common,” Todd said softly.
The horse’s ears twitched as if it were listening to his words. He released the blanket with one hand, reached up and placed his hand on the horse’s sleek black side. He ran his hand down its back, talking to it very gently.
“I’m not going to try and change you, I don’t want you to lose sight of what you truly are. I need your help … to help me find another wild soul.”
The horse lowered its head and sniffed the ground. Luke pulled the cigar from his lips and watched in amazement as Todd and the powerful animal interacted. He had never been able to even get close to the animal let alone touch it. Todd moved over to its head. It looked up at him and gently he ran his hand down its long nose. It moved away slightly at first, but as he pulled his hand back, it turned its head back towards him and looked into his eyes.
“I need your help. This is your element … your environment. I need you to show me how to operate in it.”
He gently caressed the horse’s face and it sniffed his hands curiously. He pulled an apple from his pocket and held it up to the horse, who reached for it slightly.
“Nope,” he said, pulling it away from the horse. “You’ve lived your entire life without having to be fed. I’m not going to change that now. You have to earn your food … fight for it.”
He put the apple back in his pocket and with both hands gently placed the blanket on the horse’s back. It didn’t budge an inch. He stepped back and grinned at the large animal, who was quickly adapting to the unfamiliar situation. He walked to the fence and shouldered the heavy saddle that sat atop it. He walked back over to the horse as Luke watched with wide eyes and an open mouth. A smile grew on Jack’s little face. Todd breathed in, then let it out, his hard eyes glaring at the horse. Very slowly, he raised the saddle and set it on the horse’s back. The mustang looked back at the weight it bore and shook its head, letting out a wet snort.
“Don’t be a wimp … I’ve carried much worse, and you’re bigger than me,” Todd snickered.
He reached down and tightened the leather straps snug against the horse’s belly. Then he stood up and placed his hand on the saddle horn from which the bridle hung. He pulled it off and stretched it out. He moved to the front of the horse and held it out in front of its face.
“Worst part, okay.”
He pulled it over the horse’s head, placing the bit in the back of its mouth. The horse tossed its head up and down in disapproval of the bit.
“I know,” Todd said.
He traced the reins back to the saddle and stood beside the mustang. He looked at the sun that peeked over the dark mountains and over the horse. He looked back at Luke and Jack, who watched in awe. Jack stared at Todd in fascination; his big green eyes stayed fixed on Todd as he grasped the reins and prepared to mount the horse. Todd grinned at Jack and winked, then turned to the saddle and placed his hand on the horn. He placed his left foot in the stirrup and stepped up, throwing his right leg over. The moment his right foot entered the stirrup, the mustang began to buck wildly, throwing her hind legs up ferociously. Todd held on tight to the reins with his left hand and his right stayed out to his side to help him keep his balance.
“Whoa, whoa!” he yelled to the mustang. “Come on girl!”
Jack cheered while Luke leaned over the railing and called out to Todd, “Stay with it, you got her!” he yelled.
Todd’s body whipped back and forth violently as the horse pounced in circles around the corral, kicking up clouds of dust. “Come on!” he yelled. The mustang continued to buck and then it reared back, standing tall, silhouetting itself in the rising sun. It neighed loudly, tucking its front legs to its chest. Jack and Luke’s jaws dropped at the incredible sight. The horse’s front legs came back down with a loud thump and it burst into a gallop, leaping over the corral fence. Todd ducked, keeping a low center of gravity as they were airborne. The horse’s hooves hit the patches of grass that led to the endless open fields and it raced out into the rising sun. Todd leaned forward as they picked up speed. The shrubs and trees shot past them as the mustang sprinted through the open field.
“Yeah!” Todd screamed. As he spurred her, she lurched forward, picking up speed.
Todd laughed excitedly as the cool wind hit his face and his heart raced. The horse snorted in short controlled bursts as it powerfully cruised through the winding trails leading to the hills. For the first time in a long time, Todd felt joy and happiness. He laughed and called to the horse, encouraging its aggressiveness.
Luke stared in shock at the dust trail leading off into the open field. He had never seen such a thing in his entire life. He didn’t know what was more amazing: Todd breaking in an untamable horse, or the fact that it was on his first attempt. His eyes began to become glossy, and he blinked several times, trying to keep control of his emotions.
Jack looked up at his emotional father. He had rarely seen him so excited. Luke looked down at his son, who smiled up
at him. He reached down and pulled him in closer, patting him on his back.
Todd came trotting back soon thereafter, and Luke opened the gate to the corral and led him back in. He didn’t bother reaching for the horse; he let Todd hop down and take the reins to lead the horse into the stable.
“That was amazing,” Luke said, his eyes wide.
Todd looked at the horse, then back at Luke and shook his head. “I don’t know … I just felt like …”
“Like it was meant to be,” Luke interrupted.
The two chuckled, and Luke patted him on the back and congratulated him and shook his hand firmly. Jack ran to Todd, his arms stretched out towards him, giggling happily. Todd leaned down and picked him up. The two laughed as Todd spun in circles and pulled him in and hugged him. Sarah watched from the porch, holding on to a pillar as Todd held Jack with Luke next to them laughing heartily. It felt good to see her family so happy. This stranger, a man they had not known until two days ago, had single-handedly brought this family together unintentionally. He had shown Sarah that there were good men out there who were capable of earning her grim husband’s trust. His kindness had rubbed off on Luke, and his troubled past had reminded Luke of what he had overcome. Todd had not only brought their son back to them, but he had also given him a friend.
The two walked to the house with Todd carrying Jack on his shoulders. Luke continued to appraise his bravery and his natural skill. Sarah stepped down from the porch and met them.
“He’s a natural,” Luke said with a smile.
Sarah put her hands on her hips and shook her head. “You are one crazy man, Todd,” she said in disbelief.
Todd looked up at Jack, who smiled down at him. “Beginner’s luck,” he chuckled.
Luke laughed. “Bullshit … fate, is what it was.” He nodded his head and smiled. “So … what are you going to name her? She’s your horse.”
Todd looked down and pondered for a moment. Then something hit him, something he had remembered from his first Op as a young Ranger working with an ODA team in Africa. He looked back towards the stable and smiled. “Esprit Libre.”
Luke canted his head at the odd name, then asked, “What’s it mean?”
“Free spirit … it’s something some people I once helped used to say.”
“It’s a beautiful name for a beautiful animal,” Sarah said.
The three made their way inside and washed up for lunch. As Todd was about to sit down, he stood up quickly and ran to the door.
“What is it?” Sarah asked.
“Be back in minute,” he said as he ran outside.
He ran to the stable, hopped over the fence and walked over to Esprit Libre, who stood in her stall. He pulled the apple from his pocket and held it out to her. She leaned forward and gently took it from him, chomping down on it.
He stroked her mane and whispered, “You earned it.”
* * *
Odin hummed softly as it continued its journey back to the North Pole. The thick cloud coverage below reflected the bright sunlight onto Kara’s face. She sat alone in her private office and bunk room, gazing out at the slight curvature of the Earth. Her thoughts were of him. She missed him, and wished he would return to her; take her away from this life. There was hope inside her now, almost an excitement that she had not felt in a long time. She looked at the intercom; the speaker icon was unlit. She wished that at any moment, D would come on and announce their landing. She imagined the ramp would open and he would be standing there. Their eyes would meet, and he would step towards her, wrapping his arms around her. She rubbed her forehead, trying to put her mind on different things. A knock on the door snapped her out of her daydreaming.
“Who is it?” she called to the door softly.
“It’s me.”
Steven Bodhen’s deep voice was unmistakable. The door opened slowly and he peeked in. She turned in the chair to face the desk squarely. He closed the door behind him and sat down in front of her, adjusting in his chair. She looked to her monitor and began scrolling through news articles. Bohden watched her, waiting for her to look at him.
“I couldn’t help but notice you’ve been a little … ‘absent’ lately,” he said.
Without looking up from her monitor, she rolled her eyes and replied, “What do you want, Steven? I already told you … I don’t want to talk about it.”
Bohden glared at her. “I know you still have feelings for him, and I want you to know I still care about him too. He was my friend, and I miss him, but you and I need to come to terms with how this is going to end.”
Her eyes shifted up to him, and his hard glare eased slightly. He ran his fingers through his greying hair and exhaled loudly. “He’s not coming back … never. I know him too well. I know what he’s been through …” He shook his head slightly, staring at the glass table. “This new Todd … he will do the same thing. He will end up running, because they are the same person. It was a mistake to bring him into this. I told Brian before I rescued him that we should have chosen Rob Ackerman instead. Someone who knew York well enough.”
Her eyes dropped and she brushed back a long stray hair that draped down to her nose.
“You know better than anyone,” he said, leaning forward in his chair.
She looked up at him, her eyes saddened.
He shook his head. “We may be able to change time, but we can’t change people.”
THE MAN WITH THE SCARRED FACE
He sat alone on the far end of the bar drinking a glass of bourbon, wincing slightly as the alcohol stung the open cut on his lip. The bartender didn’t bother prying for conversation as he usually did with his customers. He had been around long enough to recognize when a man had no intention of making small talk. His body language was enough, but his stern face, littered with scars and the pain of hard years, was enough to make the bartender pour him another glassful and quickly walk away.
Courtney Holland was a whore. The oldest profession in the world was the only life she knew. Her mind had become numb to the idea of being a prostitute after several years of having to accept it as the only way to survive.
Her usual spot to lure in customers was the back corner of the saloon, next to the piano. She liked to listen to the pianist and daydream about being someplace else. She imagined she was somewhere green, someplace where pine trees swayed back and forth in a cool crisp breeze. She had lived in the desert her entire life and she dreamed of anywhere without dust and sand. Her daydreaming was cut short as she noticed the lonely man sitting at the end of the bar.
It was not like her to approach a man and ask him if he were interested in spending a few hours upstairs with her. Ordinarily she would wait next to the piano for a drunken imbecile to come stumbling over. This man was different. He wasn’t like the other desperate cowboys looking to cheat on their poor wives who were back home with their children. He didn’t look with lustful eyes at the other girls who flaunted their flesh around the saloon. He just drank quietly and stared at his hands folded atop the bar. His eyes held a dark glare, and his hands repeatedly met at his face and slowly rubbed downwards from his forehead and stopped at his chin. He remained propped up on his elbows.
She looked at herself briefly in the mirror above the bar to ensure her bright, beautiful red hair was still in its tight bundle atop her head and adjusted her breasts in the revealing dress. She made her way towards him, becoming more hesitant as she approached and his grim appearance came clearer. Behind the scars, long hair and unshaven face was a handsome man. He had dark green eyes that didn’t drift from the wood of the bar. His thin lips were pulled in as if he were in pain. She turned towards the center of the main floor, towards the tables encircled with hairy men rubbing elbows and cursing each other. She went around one table in an effort to catch him by surprise. She approached him from behind, strutting daintily. He raised the glass to his lips and took a large gulp that finished it off.
“Don’t bother,” he said.
Although intimidating, his
voice had a sincere sound to it that made her stick around for a moment to test his commitment. She sat down on the bar stool next to him, her back to the bar and her elbows resting on it. She tilted her head back and looked at him. His eyes shifted from the mirror behind the bar to hers and she felt a cold chill. He didn’t intend to look angry at her, but his gaze intimidated her nonetheless. It was as if he were born looking angry, or maybe it was sadness. She wondered what had made him this way, what had given him the scars and the thousand-yard stare.
“You look like you could use some company, cowboy,” she said sweetly. An almost scripted line that was commonly used by the working girls at the saloon.
He canted his nose to the side and sniffed, sounding as if he had a cold. His nose had most likely been filled with blood not too long ago. He waited patiently as the bartender poured him his third glass of bourbon and walked away. She watched him as he took a sip and set the glass down loudly in an aggravated way. She was about to get up and leave when his voice made her freeze on the edge of the stool.
“How long have you been doing this,” he asked.
She was confused at the question at first, not used to being asked such a thing. “Does it matter?” she asked.
“I’ve seen many women in your line of work in my life. I’m just curious.”
She stared at him in disbelief. She thought she saw where the conversation was going. “What do you want?” she asked. She had been lectured many times before by Bible-thumping religious nuts; their threats of an eternity in hell were no more intimidating than their abusive nature in bed.