by Dirk Patton
I had only covered a few feet before the back door opened and another beast started running at me. I damn near shot Dog when he first appeared, and barely had time to safe my rifle before he slammed into me and knocked me to the ground. He stood on my chest and wouldn’t stop licking my face until I finally wrapped him in a bear hug and rolled him to the ground where I scratched his chest and pressed my face against his. I was grinning like an idiot.
When Dog calmed down, a little, I was able to climb to my feet. Rachel had been standing there, watching our reunion. As soon as I stood she threw herself against me, arms around my neck. Without so much as a thought, my arms went around her waist and pulled her tight to my body. Our lips met and the kiss quickly became much more than a greeting between two friends. It went on and on, only stopping when we had to come up for air.
We held each other, Rachel leaning back slightly to get my face in focus. She smiled a bright smile and laughed.
“Miss me?” She asked.
14
I could have stood there holding Rachel in my arms for the rest of the afternoon, but there were infected and razorbacks in the area and it was looking more and more like one hell of a storm was brewing. We needed to get somewhere safe, but first things first. Where was Jackson?
The smile at being reunited with me disappeared from Rachel’s face and she told me her story in a low, quiet voice. Finished, she took my hand and led me to a ditch on the north side of the freeway where she pointed at a half submerged truck sitting in the bottom. I asked her to stay at the top and keep watch, heading into the flooded cut in the ground when she nodded. I told Dog to stay with her, wanting his superior senses to help keep an eye out for danger.
Wading through the water, I climbed into the back of the truck, made my way forward and stuck my head into the cab through the broken rear window. I’d known Jackson all of two days, but combat has a way of compressing time and forging bonds. He was my friend, and he was dead. He deserved better. We all did. Reaching out I pulled his vest and clothing aside and removed one of his dog tags, slipping it into my pocket. A small, gold cross hung from its own chain around his neck, and I gently placed it atop his clothing.
Saying goodbye, I made my way back to where Rachel was standing with her rifle up and ready. I had noticed the heavy equipment earlier and now walked over to the backhoe. Climbing into the cab, I was pleased to find the keys dangling from the ignition. Pleased and surprised, but I wasn’t going to complain when luck finally came my way.
Starting the big vehicle, I played with the different levers for a few minutes until I got a feel for how the machine operated. I wouldn’t be doing the precision excavating that was required for most construction jobs, so I wasn’t worried about practicing for what I had to do. Driving the machine to the side of the ditch, I scooped up a big bucketful of dirt, pivoted the arm and dumped it into the ditch on top of the truck. I kept at it until the hole was filled in and Jackson was buried. It was the best I could do for a fallen brother. Leaving the backhoe where it was, I turned off the engine and climbed down.
“OK, we need to get the hell out of here.” I said. “But first, I have something in my pack for you.”
Rachel followed me to the Lexus, a curious expression on her face. Dog was ranging around the area after having thoroughly checked out each of the dead razorbacks. Pulling out my pack, I retrieved one of the syringes I’d filled with vaccine when I turned the box I’d received from Irina in for study. I had brought two doses, but unfortunately only needed one.
I gave Rachel an abbreviated version of what it was, but after her experience with the girls’ parents, and then Jackson, she didn’t require any convincing. Turning, she unfastened her pants and lowered them to expose her ass. Tearing open an alcohol swab, I cleaned a small area and stuck the needle in. She twitched slightly, looking over her shoulder at me.
“That was a little bit of revenge for all those antibiotic shots, wasn’t it?” She asked with a grin.
“No. That wasn’t. This is.” I said, pushing the plunger. Rachel looked confused for a second, and then her eyes opened wide.
“Holy shit! That hurts! Bad!” She said, reaching back and rubbing the spot where I’d injected her.
She rubbed hard for a few seconds, pulled her pants back up and kept rubbing. Dog trotted up and sat on my foot as I closed my pack and tossed it into the SUV. Rachel walked in a tight circle, rubbing her ass and shooting me an occasional look that said somehow this was my fault. I grinned, opened the back door and waved Dog inside the Lexus.
A few minutes later we were all inside the vehicle, driving west. Rachel was still grumbling, wriggling around in her seat as the painful vaccine spread through her muscles. Dog seemed delighted for things to be back to normal, taking a seat on the back floor and resting his chin on the leather upholstered console between the two front seats. I had to agree with him. It felt good to have the three of us back together.
I pushed our speed up, wanting to get farther west before the storm struck. Even though it was still afternoon, and the sun was shining brightly somewhere, it was gloomy under the oppressive overcast. Rachel finally settled down, reached across the console and took my hand in hers.
“Thank you for finding me.” She said, giving my hand a squeeze.
“Try not to get lost again. OK?” I said, squeezing back. She smiled and relaxed back into her seat.
I tried not to let myself think about the change in our relationship that had just happened. I hadn’t planned it, and in fact was surprised at myself. But, it had happened. And it felt good. Until I thought about Katie. Suddenly, I felt like shit. Like I was betraying my wife.
There was only a very remote chance she was still alive. I was finally ready to acknowledge the facts and not keep going on hope and fantasy. If she was alive, somewhere without the vaccine, she could have already turned. And if she hadn’t turned yet, she would within a very few days according to GRU Captain Irina Vostov.
I wanted to share my thoughts with Rachel, but I realized if I did she might wind up feeling like a consolation prize. Nothing could be farther from the truth. I’d still feel the same way about Rachel if Katie were sitting at Tinker waiting for me. I just wouldn’t have acted on my feelings. But that wasn’t something I thought I could articulate without hurting her. Damn it.
“You alright?” Rachel asked, reclined in the leather seat, head turned in my direction.
“Honestly, right now I’m about as alright as I’m probably ever going to be.” I answered, smiling. Giving up unrealistic hope and moving on is a freeing experience.
15
Colonel Crawford broke the secure video link to Hawaii, Admiral Packard’s image blinking out a second later. They’d had a lot to discuss, and the call had lasted a long time. Captain Blanchard, who had stayed quiet and out of view of the camera, stepped up and shut down the computer that was used for video calls. Air Force Brigadier General Triplett, commander of Tinker Air Force Base, sat across the table from Crawford. He was a good administrator and did a good job of running the base, but he wasn’t a tactician or a warrior. Fortunately, he readily acknowledged that fact and had no problem deferring to the Admiral and Colonel on strategic matters.
Their first topic had been the immediate commencement of mass production of the vaccine. Crawford had urged they begin producing it as quickly as possible, and the Admiral had agreed. General Triplett already had Air Force personnel on the way to the University to oversee the production ramp up and ensure there was vaccine being manufactured around the clock. He would take on managing the distribution of the completed product and the prioritization of inoculations.
They had moved on to several other topics, including airlifting some needed supplies from stores on the mainland to Hawaii. A couple of hours into the conference, the Admiral had muted the microphone on his end and they had seen an aide step into the camera frame. Packard’s unruly eyebrows had shot up, then he’d unmuted and told Crawford that a Russian GRU office
r was calling on a secure US military circuit, demanding to speak with Major John Chase.
The Colonel was as surprised as Packard, suggesting the caller be joined to their conference so both of them could hear why the Russians wanted to speak with Major Chase. The Admiral agreed, glancing off to the side at an aide. A moment later there was a dual tone beep indicating a voice caller had joined the video conference.
“This is Admiral Packard, United States Navy. To whom am I speaking?”
“Admiral, my name is Captain Irina Vostov. I’m with the GRU of the Russian Federation. It is urgent that I speak with Major John Chase of your Army on a most serious matter.” Packard looked out of the screen at the Colonel and nodded for him to speak.
“Captain, this is Colonel Crawford. I’m Major Chase’s commanding officer. We’re on a secure line. What is this matter?”
There was a long pause and Crawford was about to ask if she was still on the line when she spoke again.
“If you are truly his commanding officer, you will know what I gave him and what he gave me.”
Crawford hesitated. If this were really the GRU Captain the Major had briefed him about, then it would hurt nothing to reveal what he knew. But how could he be sure? What if this was an attempt by the Russians to catch the real Captain Vostov?
“If you’re really Captain Vostov, you can tell me the specific injuries one of Major Chase’s team suffered while opening the loading bay doors during exfiltration from Los Alamos.” It was the only event he could come up with that had a specific answer, but wasn’t important enough for anyone that wasn’t there to have all the details.
“That would be Technical Sergeant Scott. He fell and broke his right arm, below the elbow. He also suffered a head injury and lost consciousness. How is he, by the way?” She hadn’t hesitated for a second. Certainly hadn’t had to look through notes to come up with the correct answer.
Crawford looked up and nodded at the Admiral, letting him know the correct answer had been given.
“Thank you, Captain.” The Colonel said. “Scott is recovering nicely. So, are you calling about the vaccine, or the three special packages the Major gave you?”
“The packages, Colonel. They were on board an Antonov cargo plane bound for Moscow. Two hours ago you shot that plane down as it took off from Kirtland Air Force Base. I want to know why you are going back on the deal I made with Major Chase.” Her voice had a hard edge to it as she spoke.
“Captain, I assure you I did not shoot down any Russian plane two hours ago.” Crawford said, Admiral Packard interjecting before Irina could respond.
“Captain, Admiral Packard. That plane was shot down on my standing orders. As I’m sure you can understand, things move slowly within the chain of command, and they’re moving even slower after the attacks on my country. Updated orders had not yet reached the team that fired on your plane. No one has violated the agreement you made with the Major.”
There was silence on the line as Irina thought about what she’d just been told. “I accept your explanation, Admiral.” She finally said after a nearly a minute. “But we now have a problem. There’s a madman in the Kremlin and my comrades and I no longer have any way to stop him. If he’s not stopped, the vaccine will only delay the inevitable for America. He is determined to destroy your country to the last man.”
“Please stand by, Captain.” Packard pushed a button that placed Irina on hold, isolating her from the call. “What do you think, Jack?” He asked Colonel Crawford. Use of the Colonel’s first name told him the Admiral wanted the pure, unvarnished truth.
“I think we have three specials in our possession. If we can trust this woman, whom I’m still not one hundred percent sure about, those three bombs won’t do us any good. Sure, we can deliver one to each of the three Air Force bases they’ve captured, but what will that really gain us? A few dead Russians? They’ll fly replacements in within 24 hours.
“My opinion is that we don’t have a better option than making a leap of faith and supplying her with whatever she asks for. I’ve been doing some research today, and her uncle is Fleet Admiral Shevchenko. He’s about as moderate as a Russian gets, and personally I’d much rather see him in control of Russia than this asshole Barinov who’s been butt fucking us for the past month. Sir.”
Packard smiled and nodded. “Succinctly put, Colonel. OK, I’m bringing her back on.”
“Captain Vostov?”
“Admiral, I’m still here.”
“Captain, we are prepared to provide you with whatever equipment and support you require, but I need to check with my superiors first.” Packard said.
“That’s not acceptable, Admiral! I made a deal with Major Chase, and the inefficiency of your military is the only reason we’re even having this conversation. I have honored our deal, and I expect you to do the same. I happen to know you don’t have any superiors to check with. Do not forget I’m GRU. I know you are the highest ranking survivor, and that your President and Congress are all dead. Do not play games with me!” Irina’s voice was hard and loud. The woman was obviously under a lot of stress.
“Captain, there are things you don’t know. I will recommend we supply you with what you need, but I will not hand over special packages without proper approval. Major Chase should not have done so, either, and under any other circumstances he’d being facing trial and quite possibly execution.”
She was quiet for a long time before speaking again. “Apologies for my tone, Admiral. It has been a long day.”
“Captain, besides the special packages, do you need anything else?” Crawford interjected.
“No, Colonel. We have everything else well in hand.”
“Very good. Assuming Admiral Packard receives approval, how would you like to go about collecting the items from us?” He asked.
“2200 hours tomorrow I will be in El Paso, Texas. It is just far enough outside of our CAP that you can come in without being detected, but close enough that my pilot can deviate from his patrol without drawing scrutiny.”
“Are you sure?” Crawford asked. “Between El Paso and Juarez there are about three million infected people wandering around.”
“The location will be secure. I will call back in precisely 16 hours for the Admiral’s answer and with the rendezvous coordinates. You will have Major Chase available for me to speak with. If I don’t hear his voice, no coordinates. Also, he must be the one to deliver the devices. He’s the only one I trust to not start shooting simply because his orders didn’t get updated.”
Crawford glanced up at the screen, Admiral Packard looking like he’d just sucked on a particularly sour lemon.
“That may be difficult, Captain. He is currently out of radio contact, searching for some missing personnel.” The Colonel said.
“Colonel – I’ve studied the United States Army for the majority of my adult life. I know how resourceful you are, how swiftly you can move when you must. Even allowing for what has happened to your country. Find him and have him standing by for my call tomorrow. Dosvedanya.” The dual tone beep sounded again, only in reverse order, letting them know she had disconnected.
16
We had only been driving for about half an hour when I spotted black smoke in the distance, directly to our front. Rachel had fallen asleep, my hand firmly grasped in hers. Dog was stretched out on the plush leather seat in the rear. He was snoring like a sawmill going full bore, lying on his back with legs extended straight out. He looked comfortable and I wished I could join him.
My hands ached from the wounds of being nailed to a cross in Tennessee, my chest still hurt where I’d been shot in Georgia and I was bone tired; my only sleep in the past few days a couple of naps on the hard decks of aircraft. That was fine when I was 21. Kind of sucked now that I’m not a kid anymore.
When it became apparent the smoke was coming from something burning either on or immediately adjacent to the Interstate, I woke Rachel. She sat up, rubbing her eyes and looking where I pointed ahead. Someth
ing with a lot of petroleum in it was burning. I could tell that much from the density and color of the smoke. I lowered our speed, and now at the limit of my vision I could see bright, orange flames on the shoulder of the road. Slowing further, I kept approaching; reaching down to make sure my rifle was ready to go.
A quarter of a mile from the fire I brought us to a stop. A vehicle lay on its side on the right shoulder, completely engulfed in flames. I knew it hadn’t been burning just a few hours ago. We had already passed the Black Hawk I had abandoned, which meant I’d flown over this stretch of the freeway. There definitely hadn’t been a fire then, or we would have checked it out.
Nothing was moving, and I decided to transition to the eastbound lanes to give the furiously burning vehicle a wide berth. The Lexus navigated the soft soil in the median without much difficulty, then back on pavement I drove a sedate 20 miles an hour as we pulled abreast of the wreck.
“That’s the Bronco I told you about.” Rachel said, staring out her window at the fire. I thought so too. The shape was right and there were a couple of small areas not yet blackened where I could see what looked like orange paint. “There’s nothing else around. What do you think happened?”
“Maybe a blowout at speed.” I mused. “Or some kind of mechanical failure that caused them to lose control. Or maybe one or both of them turned while they were driving.”
Rachel looked at me, the horror of the thought clear on her face. I shrugged my shoulders to say it was all just speculation. Maybe it was something as simple as vehicle failure. It didn’t really matter and once we were clear of the heat from the fire I drove back across the median and sped up to 80. The Lexus did a good job of smoothing out the road, and was well insulated and quiet. Within a few minutes Dog started snoring again, Rachel’s eyes closing shortly after that.