by Pete Thorsen
“Having us all stay together is a good idea. But we need to know how many there are. This would be the safest way to do that. It’s not a perfect plan and there is risk but the information is vital.”
Eve said “At least promise that you will go no farther than the hospital, even if that does not pan out.”
“I promise not to go past the hospital tonight. I’ll leave here before it gets full dark so I can have some light for at least half the trip. I can always stop and just wait for full dark before I get too close.”
They talked a little more then Del went out to get the bike ready. Bill took Peter home with him and said they would stay at their own house tonight but all of them would come back in the morning so everyone could be in on the discussion as to what to do.
Hopefully Del would have some helpful information from tonight’s trip. Del tried to take a nap that afternoon with poor results. After supper he was ready to go. He brought a rifle and had it slung across his back out of the way. He hoped he would have no use for the rifle tonight.
Chapter Eleven
As the sun was just dropping out of sight Del left on the bike. He had not rode a bike in quite awhile but his legs were strong and he was in no particular hurry because he had all night. He set an easy pace for himself and tried to look as far ahead as he could see but with the rapidly dimming light he could not see very far at all. After awhile he could just barely see where the road was and tried to stay in the middle. He could sometimes make out the center lines on the road.
He was totally unconcerned about anyone seeing him because it was very dark. With the power off he actually rode the bike almost up to the hospital and just laid the bike in some weeds on the side of the road very close to the hospital. He did slowly make his way around to the back of the hospital. Then he didn’t really know what to do, so he walked up and just tried the back doors as quietly as he could to see if they were locked. The second one he tried was unlocked and he put his head close to it and listened for a few minutes. When he heard nothing from inside he opened the door very slowly and quietly.
There was a dim emergency light in the room. They must run their generator once in awhile and that charged the batteries. He was alone in the room and went to the inside door and again listened for a couple minutes. Hearing nothing he opened the door a crack and looked out. The door opened to a hallway that was empty. First he reached around and tried the door knob on the other side of the door he was holding to see if it was locked. It was, so he retreated back into the room to look around.
He saw a cardboard box and cut a piece off the lid. Then back to the door leading to the hallway and let himself out while carefully holding the cardboard so the latch would not latch to lock him out when the door shut behind him. He had no idea where he was or where to go or even if anyone was even here. The hallway was dimly lit and looked to be in an ell shape so he walked as silently as he could in one direction until he came to another door. He could see this one was not made to lock and listened then opened it a little to try to see what lay ahead.
It looked like the reception area and he decided he did not want to try walking out there so he went to the opposite end of the corridor and peeked out that door. This looked like maybe a nurse’s station so he crept out. He was half way across the area when he heard footsteps coming his way. He was caught; he knew if he ran back to the door he would be heard.
He took his rifle off his shoulder and got ready to fight. When a nurse in scrubs walked around the corner he brought a finger to his lips in the quiet sign while he put his rifle back over his shoulder. While startled, the woman did not seem that frightened. Del took a few steps toward her and whispered “Can we talk?”
“What do you want from me?”
“We saw some bad guys today. One was wounded do you know who I’m talking about?”
“Yes they were here. We patched up their man in return for ‘amnesty’. None are here right now.”
“Do you know how many there are? Do they control the town? Are they still in town?”
“There were nine or ten when they came here the first time and later more came bringing more of their wounded and sick. At first it looked like we would all be raped and killed. We realized that and told them if they let us be we would be their own private hospital and honestly try to keep them healthy. Otherwise we likely would have all just be killed anyway so none of us would help them at all.
They said they killed all the police and had taken over the town. We don’t know how many there are but we think it is many. We heard a lot of shooting in town all day. Our time here is very limited we think. At some point they will leave and likely kill all of us after they are done with us. Are you here to help?”
“Let’s just say I am trying to start an armed resistance movement. Any of you that want can come with me tonight. I’ll take you to at least temporary safety and shelter.”
“We are safe here for the time being. As long as we are useful to them we are safe. How can we help you kill all of them?”
“I don’t know yet. We will have to organize all the people in the area. This will have to be done very quickly before none are left. I or someone else will come again tomorrow night. If possible try to get a feel for how many bad guys there are if you have a chance. Don’t be obvious about it. Do not risk your safety in any way. We will work throughout the day organizing. Together we can beat them. Stay safe and we’ll talk again tomorrow night.”
“Thank you. There are nine of us here. We will all fight but we have no weapons. We all know our fate if we wait too long. We’ll try to get information if possible. Good luck to you.”
Del turned and left the hospital the same way he entered. Soon he was on the bike and returning home. The going was a little faster now as the quarter moon was up giving him a little more light. Both girls were waiting for him at home. Both knew going to bed with Del in danger would be pointless and they were relieved to see him in one piece.
He told them of the exchange he had with the nurse and that they had a lot of work to do tomorrow and all should get as much sleep as they could now. When morning came it did not look like any had got much sleep. They were just finishing breakfast when Sally, Bill, and Peter came over. Peter looked very sad and it was obvious that Bill had told him his parents were dead. They did not send him outside today when they started to talk about what needed to be done. He would have to grow up fast as times were hard.
Del again went through what he had found out last night. He said we have to move quickly, organize, and fight. No time to walk, we will take my truck. We will have to be careful when we approach people but we have to do it quickly. We will have to have a safe place to meet for everyone and then work up a plan of action.
This planning is not something that can be drawn out for a week or two. Every hour we wait means more neighbors will die. We all don’t have to go but I would like one of you ladies to come with us. Seeing one of you could defuse a potential error on our neighbor’s part. Eve said she would go with right away. Then everyone wanted to go.
It was decided everyone would still work out, two could ride inside the cab and the rest could ride in the box. All would be armed (except Peter) with both a pistol and a long gun but would not display their guns unless needed. They quickly packed a lunch and some water then piled in the truck and left to seek help. At the first house Del honked the horn once and then Eve and him walked toward the house hand in hand.
They weren’t shot at. While armed, the man did come out to talk and they quickly brought him up to speed on the current state in the town. The man asked to go with as he knew many people on this road and he thought things would go much smoother if he was with. He got in the truck and they continued stopping at every house. No one wanted to run. Everyone said they would fight.
They all realized they really had no choice in the matter. Everyone came with. At the third house they hooked on a long flatbed trailer and soon they had that full of armed people and another pic
kup behind with the cab and box full. By the time they got to the burned remains of Peter’s house they had over fifty armed people.
They stopped on the road in front of the burned house and Del said we need a plan. We can not drive into town where the bad guys would have cover in the buildings and we would be sitting ducks on the street. One guy said we should go up this other side road and collect more people to help us. Everyone seemed to agree so the other pickup with two locals in left to enlist more help from additional neighbors. Del said let’s have a plan ready by the time they get back.
“I have one idea but feel free to think of more or change this one. Just on the very edge of town before you get to the hospital is that bluff. I say we put all but three or four people on that bluff. The three or four others take a pickup or car into town and shoot the first bad guy they see. Then at the first hint of pursuit they hightail it out towards the hospital. The road curves by the bluff and we pre-position a car there blocking most of the road with our guys stopping their vehicle to block the rest. Our guys take cover behind the vehicles and when the bad guys come around the curve and stop for our roadblock everyone opens up on them.
It should be a massacre. The ones up on the bluff will be pretty safe but the ones behind the roadblock will be in grave danger. We could help by building a sandbag fort for them to get behind. It should all be over fairly quickly. OK can we improve on that or do you have a safer idea?”
Everyone started talking and after a few minutes, Bill shouted for quiet then said.
“First does anyone have a better idea?”
No one answered.
“Does anyone have improvements to this plan?”
“I think we should alert the hospital that we might have several with gun shot wounds coming in shortly so they are ready.”
“That is an excellent idea that might save some of our lives. Anyone else?”
“We should put the roadblock right where that fence line comes up to the road and the cattle guard is located. It would keep them from just driving through the ditch to get away.”
“Another very good idea. I think those two we should definitely do. Any more ideas? “
No one said anything.
“Don’t be shy. Even a very small thing may save my life or yours. If you think of something at any time bring it up. I wish we had more time to make better plans but every minute we wait may end up meaning the death of someone in town. Anyone got anything else?”
“We need to have an agreement on prisoners. Kill them all, take their guns and let them walk away, or something else. We have to know before we start. I talked to someone from the hospital and I can safely guess what they would say. You either kill them now or they will kill more innocent people either here or somewhere else.” This from Del.
“Let’s just have a show of hands to see if we need a discussion. Should we let any walk away free when we are done? If you think so raise your hand.”
No hands went up.
“OK this is all or nothing. I have two volunteers to be the bait but I think we should have one or two more. This will be dangerous. Any volunteers?”
Several hands went up.
“You with your hands up. If you have a family put your hand down for a minute.”
There were still four hands in the air.
“OK you four come over to me when we’re done and you can draw straws or decide between the four of you who stays and who goes. This is going to be maybe too long of shots for a shotgun unless you have heavy buckshot. Bring rifles if you got them. I suggest we use this trailer as part of the road block but its owner has to volunteer its use (a shout of ‘you can use it’ was heard). OK that’s settled. Anything else”
“You said you had two other volunteers but I never saw any others?”
“Del and I will be going as bait. I would never ask any man to do something I wouldn’t do myself. And though I only have known him a short time I believe Del would feel the same so I never even asked him. Now we need to find some sand bags or similar for the ‘bait’ to take cover behind. Also if you need to run home for more ammo or guns now is the time. We need to get this in motion as fast as we can.”
Right about then the others showed back up with about twenty more armed people. Everyone was brought up to speed on what the plan was and a few asked for a ride home for equipment. This was soon accomplished and they all headed for town. A quick stop at the hospital to warn them to get ready (several there wanted to be shooters) and the trailer was placed across the road as people started to climb the bluff (it was a gradual rise on this back side so it could be walked up).
Del’s truck was left down the road a safe distance from the road block to be used as an ambulance if necessary. Del, Bill, and one other guy climbed into the back of the older pickup and the other volunteer got in the driver’s seat. When they saw a wave from up on the bluff they knew everyone was in position and the ‘bait’ took off to town.
As was their plan they turned down a side street to make a circle past the Sheriff’s office then the county government center then down Grand Avenue back towards the trap. They saw their first bad guys at the Sheriff’s office and fired on them without stopping. Turning on to Grand Avenue and heading back they saw several more and again fired on them. By the time they made the turn towards the trap area there were four vehicles after them.
Just before the curve next to the bluff Del had the driver stop and all three in back really opened up on their pursuers with their rifles. This had the desired effect and the bad guys bunched up some and allowed a fifth truck to catch up. With a tap on the roof as a signal the driver again took off and went around the curve out of sight from their pursuers and stopped in position at the road block. All four jumped out and got behind their hasty dirt barricade.
The five pursuing vehicles hit their brakes and stopped just before hitting the road block. The four volunteers started shooting into the lead vehicle and then everyone on the bluff started shooting. The last vehicle made an attempt at backing up but a huge volley of fire stopped that movement. It was a total massacre. None of the good guys were hurt.
When the shooting finally stopped everyone waited a couple minutes while they were reloading and the four volunteers went through the five vehicles to make sure all those inside were dead. Each vehicle looked like Swiss cheese. They found three barely alive but they were quickly dispatched with shots to the head.
There were only twenty three bad guys in the vehicles and none of those vehicles were in running condition. As they had planned they moved the trailer to the hospital parking lot (and told the staff that no one was wounded so far) then pulled three of the damaged vehicles into the parking lot also. The other two they left to block the road at their original spot. Then everyone just waited at their spots for an hour. As expected the bad guys sent two more trucks full of guys out to check on the first bunch. They were moving pretty fast and one hit the road block with some force when trying to stop.
When the volunteers in behind their barricade saw all the guns and no one they recognized in the scruffy lot they started shooting. This was the signal for those above to shoot. It was a repeat of the first time. This group did return fire but it was ineffectual. Soon all was quiet again. Again they checked the trucks and did the coup de grace on those found alive. There were thirty one in the trucks. Fifty four total.
They towed the two extra trucks away leaving two for the road block but they thought this trap had likely run its course. After two hours everyone came down off the bluff and all were brought to the hospital to decide what to do next. All the captured guns and ammo were distributed to those who wanted them including arming all those in the hospital.
They held a meeting with all the hospital staff included to decide their further course of action. All assumed there were likely more bad guys in the town. The question was how to find them and kill them or drive them out. Every plan they came up with was deemed too dangerous. All said they would come back the next morni
ng and car pool arrangements were made (even though it was only around ten miles). One of the guys (Steve) said he would stay at the hospital until dark and go into town to see what he could find out. He was a former Army Ranger and had done stuff like this before. He should have information they could all use in the morning.
Back home Del, Eve, and Deb had a bunch of chores to catch up on and Bill, Sally, and Peter went back to their house. Peter seemed to already have adopted them as replacement parents. Del said he would swing by their house in the morning to pick them up.
Chapter Twelve
The next morning everyone was again at the hospital for the meeting. Steve reported that he believed the bad guys that remained alive had all left town. He could find no evidence of them in town last night. It was decided to drive in with a pickup and several guys in back to see what they could see. The rest would just man the road block so if the town squad had trouble and were chased back they could stop the pursuit at the road block with superior firepower. The pickup left with five guys in back and two in front.
They drove slowly on the same route through town they had used yesterday. They saw on one. So they visited three churches and the school but all were empty. There were many bodies of town’s people lying here and there throughout the town. They drove back to the hospital with the shocking news. Everyone went into town only leaving a few at the hospital.
They were going to go through every house and building and find all the dead for burial. One person was assigned to find a back hoe because it was decided with so many a mass grave was the only practical solution. Two people went in each building and anyone found inside was wrapped in a blanket or sheet and laid on the edge of the street. Those already in the street were wrapped and laid to the side. This was done in all buildings in the small town.
Many women were found naked and dead. Many of those carrying the dead threw up until they had nothing left inside them (except sadness and anger). It took most all of the day. One team picked up the wrapped dead and brought them to the cemetery where they were placed in a long wide trench that had been dug by a back hoe. None stopped for lunch as no one wanted to eat.