by Brian Meeks
It took Henry a few minutes to find a way down. He checked the wounded man, took his gun, and patted him down. Strapped to his right calf was a hunting knife. This should do nicely. Henry also took the man’s lighter.
The supply table was a few feet away. Henry flicked on the lighter, and a soft glow fell upon a bevy of weapons and gear. He saw American, British, German, and Russian guns; belts of heavy rounds; all the necessary ammo; two canteens; and even some grenades.
Grenades? The major didn’t skimp. I guess he wanted a fair fight...aside from the numbers disparity, Henry thought.
He grabbed a belt, put it on, and attached his flashlight, some grenades, and a few more clips. There were two canteens. Henry opened one of the canteens and took a long pull. The water was still cold. He clipped both of them to his belt, picked up an M1 Tommy gun, and headed towards the back wall. He could retrace his steps and circle around to the dead end where he’d climbed up the pipe.
Halfway there, he had an idea. He turned and walked towards the “Bravo” path until he reached the upturned model. Henry took out the lighter and lit the cardboard model in a few spots. It burned easily. The light made it easy to find the far side of the warehouse and soon Henry was making his way down towards the pipe.
As Henry made his way back up the pole, he heard the major’s voice call out. All the commotion headed towards the fire.
Henry heard footsteps pass over him and waited a few seconds before making his way back onto the crates. He was about to make a dash for Luna when he had another idea.
The center dividing wall led to a gap that was the entryway into the maze. The light was dim, but Henry could see shapes all taking position on tops of the canyon walls and moving towards the flames. Henry moved to the edge of the opening to the maze., knelt down, and shoved the top box. It was heavy, but he could move it. Henry edged it forward almost to the point the box would tip, then took three grenades from his belt and set them down.
He listened. Barking dogs and yelling could be heard near the fire.
Henry pulled the pin from the first grenade and heaved it towards ‘alpha’, then did the same with ‘bravo’ and finally, ‘Charlie’ path. The first landed on top of the outer wall of boxes and exploded with great fanfare. Henry pushed the box. It smashed to the floor as the second grenade exploded. The third came a few seconds later.
Gunfire erupted at the front of the warehouse, but Henry was already to the edge of the warehouse. He stopped when he saw he had a clean shot at a guy on the “Charlie” path. Henry was about to pull the trigger but stopped. Right now, they were shooting at shadows. The idea of reducing their numbers by one, though tempting, was a bad move. Henry ran along the crate wall.
He soon was back with Luna. He pulled the gag from her mouth and kissed her. “Did you miss me?”
She whispered, “It seems you’re winning. I’m very proud. Now, about these ropes.”
Henry set the .45 in her lap and began cutting through the ropes. The ropes were thick and took some effort, but he was able to free her right arm. The chaos had died down and Henry figured they had realized he wasn’t up front. Henry took the Tommy Gun off and set it by his feet.
The left arm went more quickly and now he just had her feet and the ropes that were around her waist. The feet weren’t secured as tightly, and Henry had them free in a few seconds. He shifted behind Luna and started to work on the last bit of rope. It was much thicker than the one used for her arms and legs.
A flashlight turned on. It blinded Henry. All Henry could hear was the major who said, “Perhaps you did deserve those medals.”
Henry looked up. There he stood. He was five feet away and held a gun in one hand and a flashlight in the other. The machine gun was between Henry and the major.
“It looks like you almost...”
Shots rang out, and the major disappeared off the platform.
Henry was stunned. Luna said, “Henry, they’re coming.”
Henry said, “Almost through...nice shot.”
“He was a jerk.”
When Henry finished cutting the rope from around Luna’s waist, he asked, “How’d they get you up here?”
“There is a ladder over here,” Luna said. She stood, her legs a bit wobbly, and pointed towards where the major had just been.
A torrent of bullets pounded the walls behind them. Henry yanked Luna to the ground, picked up the machine gun, and said, “Cover your ears.”
* * *
Henry jumped off the ladder as bullets crashed into the platform behind him. He turned to Luna and asked, “Any way out from here?”
“We came through the maze.”
Henry pulled her behind him. “Get in the corner. The platform will give us some cover.”
Henry looked around. Walls of crates were all around; they were vulnerable from above; and, once the dogs made it into the maze, they would be vulnerable from the front as well. Henry used the butt of the Tommy gun to hammer into the side of the crate. The wood splintered and splintered again as shots poured down from above. Henry jumped back, pulled his .45, and handed the machine gun to Luna. “Here, hold this, but keep it pointed away from me,” he said.
Henry yelled, “The major is dead. What do you say we call it a draw?”
“Nobody said nothing about quitting if the Major died,” came the voice and then another blast of bullets.
The muzzle flash was enough. Henry darted out from cover and got off three quick rounds. He had to jump to avoid the falling body. If he hadn’t heard the shots coming from behind, the game might have ended for Henry then and there. Luna saw the flash from behind Henry, screamed, and pulled the trigger. The kick from the Tommy gun sent the bullets high, but they were enough of a distraction to let Henry dive back to the relative safety of their corner.
“Maybe we should trade,” Henry said.
“Are we going to die?” she asked, handing the gun to Henry and taking the .45.
“It sure looks like it.”
Luna smiled. It was the right answer. Henry never lied to her, not even when she might have preferred it. “Then I’ll need another clip.”
Henry grabbed her and kissed her, ignoring the bullets raining down around them. They had about six square feet that seemed unassailable from above, and Henry didn’t know if he would get another chance. When he pulled back, she smiled, and he stepped out and fired a long blast. Henry emptied the Tommy gun. A dull thud come from off in the darkness.
Sounds of hope and despair started at the same time. Sirens were blaring and getting louder, but they were being drowned out by a chorus of barking. The single crate hadn’t plugged up the maze much at all.
Henry pulled the Tommy gun from the body by his feet and found an extra clip. Henry had no idea how many rounds were left in the new gun, so he pulled the clip and tossed the gun aside. He yanked the empty clip from his own machine gun and dropped it on the ground. He heard a hollow, metallic clink when it hit. With the full clip in, Henry’s mind caught up to his hands. What had made that sound? Henry pounded his heel against the floor. Sure enough, they were standing on metal.
“Here,” he said, “Take the flashlight and find the handle. I think we’re standing on a door.”
“To where?”
“Hopefully someplace with fewer biting dogs.”
Luna flipped on the light, feeling like it exposed them to the world. The barking was getting louder and seemed almost on top of them.
“I found it!” she cried.
Henry spun around and reached for the handle just as another shot rang out. He felt it dig into his shoulder. The door came up easily enough, and Luna darted down the steps. Henry raised his weapon and fired down the maze. Six, separate muzzle flashes lit up dogs being released by their handlers. They were less than 50 feet away and closing fast. Henry scrambled into the darkness below and pulled the heavy metal door down. It didn’t have a latch, but Henry was able to wedge the Tommy gun through the handle.
“That should h
old them for a bit.”
“Are we going to die now?”
“Yes, but maybe not today.”
Henry took the flashlight and .45. from her and said, “All we need to do is either find the way out or keep them from finding us until the cavalry arrives.”
The lights came on, and a familiar voice said, “Mr. Wood, you are correct, but sadly you’ve been found. Now, I’m going to need you to drop the gun.”
Henry turned around to see Associate 2 and 3 with guns raised.
Luna stood behind Henry. She wrapped her arms around his chest.
Henry laid the gun on the floor and kicked it away. “You still bitter about me getting the drop on you the other day?”
Associate 2 said, “Now that you mention it, yes. It made me question whether I was losing my touch.”
Associate 3 added, “I think you just got lucky.”
“You’re probably right. If that delivery guy hadn’t been there, you’d have checked the closet.”
“That’s kind of you to say.”
The polite conversation was too much for Luna. She started to sob and buried her face against Henry’s back.
Henry reached behind him and patted her on the leg. “Is there any reason she needs to be involved?”
Associate 2 and 3 looked at each other, and 3 said, “She’s a witness, and we did kidnap her, which, I’m told, is frowned upon.”
“Though, I have to say, she was very well behaved. Miss, you think you could behave if we let you go?”
Luna raised her head. “I’m not going anywhere without Henry.”
Henry shrugged. “I’d argue with her, but I’ve tried it before. The conversations can be lengthy affairs.”
3 nodded his head and said, “Broads.”
2 smiled.
Henry said, “Before you two finish this game, I gotta ask - how did the Enclave end up doing the major’s bidding?”
2 answered, “It’s a long story, but it seems a debt was owed to his grandfather.”
“What sort of debt?”
“He provided a service, and the Enclave agreed to do the same whenever he needed it. After the major made bail, he called in his grandfather’s marker.”
“And he asked you to kill me and Luna?”
“Actually, now that you mention it, no, we were to assist him by kidnapping Luna and providing soldiers in his stupid battle. I have to admit, I didn’t imagine you’d make it this far. How many of our guys did you get?”
” Well, the first guy is up front. He’s bleeding but is alive. I know I got one more. He fell from right above us, and then there was another one I heard fall...oh, and Luna killed the major.”
“Really? How?”
“He was focused on me, as I was untying her, and he didn’t see I’d given her the .45.”
Luna popped her head up again. “He was a jerk.”
2 and 3 laughed, “He really was.”
The sounds of dogs barking and men beating on the metal door made talking hard. 2 waved his gun and said, “I don’t care for dogs.”
Henry and Luna did as they were told and walked through the doorway and down a long brick hallway. The door at the other end led to the boiler room. They weren’t on, as it was summer, and the room was cool. Henry and Luna were directed to a couple of chairs at a card table.
2 whispered something to 3 and walked through another door. 3 said, “He’s calling it in. We never discussed what to do if you won.”
Henry pulled a canteen from his belt and unscrewed the top. He handed it to Luna who took a long drink. Henry said after she handed it back, “You want any?”
“I’m good, thanks.”
Henry took a pull and grabbed Luna’s hand. Somewhere deep in his mind there was a voice saying that this would be a good time to come up with a plan. Despite the voice, Henry knew that there weren’t any more plans. Their lives were in the hands of the Enclave now.
2 returned and relayed the conversation to his partner. They seemed to be talking for a long time, considering it seemed to be a yes or no question. Henry noticed the slightest nod from 3.
“The Director has said we need to kill you.”
Luna squeezed Henry’s hand and looked at him.
“We’ve decided to retire.”
Henry stood up slowly, knowing the gravity of what they had just said. “I owe you for helping catch the major and now for this.”
2 said, “The life of international assassin can wear on you after a while.”
“I’m sure.”
“What’s going on?” Luna asked.
“They’re letting us go.”
Luna jumped to her feet and threw her arms around Henry. She turned to the two men and said, “I’ll never tell anybody about you. Your secret is safe with me.”
2 and 3 smiled. They knew the police were the least of their worries.
Henry shook their hands and asked 2, “I assume that all the fears you had after the Palmeroy incident will now be a reality.”
“Yes, but we’ll be fine.”
3 didn’t look so sure but let 2 do the talking.
“Will the Enclave send someone else?”
“I have no idea. I think the director is mostly relieved that the marker has been paid. Still, I’d be cautious for a while.”
Luna said, “I don’t like the sound of that, but I guess it’s better than the alternative.”
2 said, “I’ll show you the way out.”
EPILOGUE
Epilogue
It took three days for the New York papers to lose interest in Henry and the major. The coverage was mostly negative.
Henry explained the details to Mrs. Palmeroy for which she was thankful. After that, he stayed home and slept. His shoulder was sore, but Luna took good care of him. She was adamant that Henry avoid stress. She made him comply through the clever use of baked goods and her serious face.
Henry’s close friends were still standing by his side, because they knew the truth, and it made the press coverage bearable.
The closet door was open and Henry sat on a wooden stool in front of it. It had been a tough year, and the battle with the major had been the worst of it.
What’s next? Henry asked himself. He held the earrings and pen in his hands. He’d told Luna they were presents from the closet, but his gut wasn’t so sure. Maybe it was the pain pills or a bad attitude, but Henry sensed trouble was coming.
The End
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About the Author
The author can be found at his blog, ExtremelyAverage.com or on Twitter @ExtremelyAvg. His bio on Twitter sums him up well. “I have delusions of novelist, am obsessed with my blog, college football, and occasionally random acts of napping. I also Mock! Will follow cats & guinea pigs.”