by TW Gallier
"This position gives them easy access to the highway and bridge," I said. "Head west and get us around them, but this doesn't look good."
A block over we found it was mostly still wild, with trees for cover again. Charlie turned northward, and it wasn't long before we were looking at Lake Michigan. There were homes lining the shore, mostly on wooded lots to provide us with cover. We didn't get much closer to the bridge, thanks to Fort Michilimackinac.
"What the hell is that?" Mike asked.
"Fort Michi…Michimac… Um," Charlie said, staring down at the map. "Some Indian named fort from olden times, I guess."
Having an old colonial fort wasn't a problem. Having it full of Canadian soldiers was a big issue. The troops were in and out of the gate, going back and forth to a couple dozen inflatable landing boats pulled up on shore. Soldiers were doing maintenance on the outboard motors, while others hauled gear down from the fort.
"Those guys are probably patrolling the shoreline and boarding any boats trying to cross over," I said. "So the Canadian Army, Navy, and Coast Guard are standing between us and Upper Michigan."
"You make it sound like that's a bad thing," Mike replied. "It just makes things more interesting."
"Seriously?"
He shrugged. "Okay, it's a bad thing."
"Follow me," I said, and moved back down the shore until we were safely away, then turned inland. Using trees, homes, and businesses, I headed back south of and around the old fort. We didn't have to go far to find the bridge.
I stared incredulously at tanks blocking the bridge. "Okay, it officially sucks big greasy donkey balls."
The Canadians had a tank in every single lane. There were tankers crawling atop and milling around between the tanks, so there was no way for us to get across that bridge. They'd blow our cars up a mile short of the bridge.
"Looks like we've found our way across to Upper Michigan," I said.
Mike and Charlie stared at me the same way I looked at the tanks. I pointed westward.
"Those Army landing boats," I said. "Tonight, in the dead of the night, we go in and steal a few and speed across to the other side."
"Wow, and you call me crazy," Mike said. "I like it."
Chapter 32
Roger
The clouds and rain moved in around sunset. It was pretty bad for an hour or so, and I was speaking with Sean about delaying our crossing for one night.
"Wind is dying down." Brett came inside, soaked to the bone. Terrel had just relieved him as guard. "The whitecaps are gone, but it's still drizzling."
It was 1 AM, and the adults were up to make the decision to go or wait. Every face was stressed.
"Okay, that's good," I said. "I know it's miserable out there, but tonight might be our best chance after all." That assessment got me some concerned looks, but no one outright objected. Yet. "Here me out. The weather will affect the guards as much or more than us. So it should be easier to secure boats, and maybe it'll take them a little longer to figure out what's happening. I think our chances are better tonight than tomorrow."
"I agree with Roger," Sean said. He slowly looked from face to face. "Any objections?"
There were some scowls, and a few looked away, but no one objected. Not after three Army patrols drove past the campgrounds, and countless helicopter flyovers. It proved an anxiety-filled day for everyone. There was just too much military activity for any of our comfort.
"Wake the children. Get everything back in your packs," I said. "We move out in fifteen."
"It's especially important to keep the kids quiet," Sean said. "They're going to be sleepy, wet, and miserable. I want an adult paired with each child."
I thought that extreme, but better safe than sorry. There were only seven kids, and two teenagers. Jenny and Nicole quickly paired childless women with a child, and Fred insisted on carrying his one year old, Isobel. Ally and Nicole each took one of his other kids. Jenny paired with Harlan, with Sara and Leslie taking Timmy and Sookie. Sonya, of course, would walk with twelve year old Terrel, Jr., who was also given a rifle.
It bothered me arming a child, and Terrel liked it even less, but his son was big and strong enough to handle a weapon and wanted to help. Sometimes they wanted to grow up too fast.
We finally sorted ourselves out and departed the campground at 1:50 AM. Charlie and Mike went ahead as our scouts and vanguard. I took point, with Sean, Kate, and Brett next in line. Vince, Jake, and Haley brought up the rear, with the other single men and women mixed in with the women and children for security.
I thought it would take us two or three hours to traverse the few miles to the old fort. The children especially surprised me with how quickly they were willing to move in the scary darkness. They remained remarkably quiet considering how cold and wet I felt, and I was kind of used to it. We reached the shore east of the fort just after 3 AM.
"The rain is picking up," Kate said. "Do you think we can still cross?"
"Rain's not the problem. It's the wind, and as long as that doesn't pick up we're good," Sean said. He squinted off into the darkness. "How far across the water is Upper Michigan? Ten miles?"
"Five," Mike said. "Or thereabouts."
I actually never considered how far it was until that moment. It didn't look like much at all on the map. At that moment, in the dark and rain, I couldn't see the other side. All I saw was the dark bridge vanishing into the distance.
Not exactly inspiring confidence.
"Y'all wait here," I said. "I'm going to take Mike and Charlie up to check out their security. We'll be right back."
"I'm coming with you," Jenny said. When I started to object, she held up her hand. "I can volunteer for danger just like you."
She had that look in her eyes I always feared. I would not win that argument.
I led the way eastward through the trees and yards of abandoned homes. The waves crashed loudly to our left, drowning out all other sounds. We reached the fort quickly, and lay on our belly in the trees and scanned the three lines of beached boats.
"I only see two guards," Charlie said.
"Can the fort see them?" Jenny asked.
I nodded. "Yes, but I doubt anyone is constantly watching them."
"I hate to be the one asking the question, but are we going to kill the guards?" Charlie asked.
I cringed. Killing Canadians freaked me out as much as killing Americans. They were just soldiers doing their duty. It wasn't like they were rogue soldiers or common men gone feral. I couldn't justify killing them without accepting that I had become another savage. So I studied the situation a little longer.
Both guards were sitting on boats, on opposite ends of the line of boats closest to the water. One of them looked like he was about to nod off. It kind of looked like the soldier closest to us was staring down at his smartphone.
"This is what we're going to do," I said. "Mike and I will go back a ways and then wade into the water and then try to sneak up on them. Knives only. Sneak up, put a hand over his mouth, and put the knife to his throat. If he doesn't surrender, then kill him. Otherwise, bring them over here and we'll tie and gag them. Which one do you want, Mike?"
"The head nodder," he replied.
"So you have the closest one, Charlie," Jenny said. "Roger's going to sit this one out."
"No, I will not send – "
Charlie stopped me. "She's right. Mike and I will handle this."
Jenny was unaffected by my glare. She actually looked rather satisfied. Mike and Charlie vanished as quiet as ghosts. I kept a careful watch, and Jenny and I sighted in on the two guards once our friends waded into the water. Neither of the Canadians showed any sign they saw anything amiss.
I cast frequent glances at the nearest corner of the fort. Occasionally I saw a guard walking his post. Once we secured the guards, we'd need to get everyone up and into a boat pretty fast. Our window of opportunity would be small.
And all hell would break out once we started those outboards.
"Someone's coming,"
Jenny said.
My heart leapt into my throat. Three soldiers appeared. The two guards stood up and headed towards them. We watched the changing of the guards, fingers next to triggers. Mike and Charlie were hard to see in the waves, but I could make them out. Fresh guards might as well.
After the Sergeant of the Guard left with the two relieved men, the new guards walked around together for a good fifteen minutes. All of our plans appeared ruined. And then they separated, went to opposite ends of the same line, and sat down. Though now they were sitting on the middle line of boats, but facing away from the water.
No one could attack from the water. Yeah, right.
I watched my friends slowly emerge from the water and stalk forward. I cast frequent looks back at the fort. Then they timed their strikes in perfect unison. In a flash they had knives to the guards' throats. All resistance stopped immediately.
"Thank God," Jenny sighed.
Mike and Charlie bound their captive's wrists and forced them to hurry towards us. Jenny and I threatened them silently with our weapons, while the soldiers were disarmed, gagged, and tied to trees. Even their ankles and knees were tied together.
"We just want a few boats," I said. "And we want to do it without hurting anyone. Don't worry, we aren't trying to get into Canada. We just want to get over to Upper Michigan with our wives and children."
Yeah, I was trying to get some sympathy from them. Not sure that's possible after threatening to kill them, and then tying them up. Maybe they would share that info with their officers and the Canadians wouldn't try to chase us down. Worth a try.
Mike and Charlie stayed behind to guard the Canadians. Jenny and I hurried back to the others. Jenny went to our children while I briefed Sean and the other adults.
"Okay, everyone, we're going to line up just like before," I said. "Only this time there will be two Canadian soldiers tied to trees when we stop. Don't worry, no one's going to hurt them."
Sean spoke. "While you were gone, I divided everyone up by which boat they'd be in, so I hope the boats are still the 12-man boats you said earlier."
"They are. Once we're all safely there, I'll make sure the coast is clear, and then we'll need to rush down to the boats closest to the water and push them in. Once afloat, we load the kids first. Adults will push the boats out to deep water, and won't get in until the motor starts. Once it starts, keep the bridge to your right and follow it across to the other side.
"It's a long way," Sean said. "But be brave. Once you spot the opposite shore, turn left and we'll follow it until we run out of gas. We want to be as far from this area as possible."
"Remember the first rally point it Brevort on US-2," I said. "If we manage to get past that point, then the next will be Epoufette, and then Naubinway."
"Those are awful far apart," Vince replied.
I shrugged. Naubinway looked to be about forty-five miles from the end of the Mackinaw Bridge in St. Ignace. That was a couple days hard march for our little troupe. The first rally point at Brevort was at the midway point. And it looked to be all wilderness along that stretch of highway, or at least there were few towns large enough to make the map.
"Those are the only towns our maps show," Sean said. "All three rally points are on the coast, and on Highway 2."
No one looked satisfied, but then no one offered any alternatives. We didn't have any other options. I felt a little wavering within the group's determination.
"If we're ready… Follow me," I said, and slowly headed back toward the boats.
There was only the slightest of hesitation, before they began gathering up their children. I didn't blame them. It was a shitty plan that needed way too much luck to pull off, but if we turned around now we took the chance of being spotted and attacked by the Canadians again. Also, if we did head south and loop around the bottom of Lake Michigan, going far enough to avoid Chicago, we might not reach the Rockies before the first snowfall. It could get pretty cold in September in the mountains.
"Winter is coming," I muttered. "God, I miss that show."
We moved toward the fort like ghosts. I'd never been so proud of the children. Even little Elsa had a look of determination on her tiny face. The baby Isobel was the real wild card, but Fred carried his youngest child and kept her quiet. She slept the whole way to the boats.
Charlie was watching the fort, and Mike the prisoners, when we reached them. Everyone gave the captives wary eyes, and a few sympathetic looks. The children all seemed spooked by the sight of bound and gagged men.
Sean had men experienced with outboards designated. He planned on three boats. One with the mothers and children, with Brett operating the motor. Fred and Terrel would be the guards onboard. With the rest of us divided between the other two boats. His plan was to keep the children's boat between the other two on the trip across the strait.
"We're going to take the first three boats in the line closest to the water," Sean said. "While we prep the boats and get children loaded up, I want everyone else to puncture all of the other boats."
"The foot patrol on the fort wall just went by," Charlie said. "Go."
Sean led the bulk of the group toward the designated boats. I watched Jenny with our children, and had a good feeling about it. Everything was coming together as planned, so I headed for the line furtherest from the water and plunged my knife into the first boat.
As men and women punctured and sliced open inflatable boats, Sean got the women and children loaded into the first boat, with Brett working on the motor as it was pushed out into the still rough water. Isobel started crying, but not too loudly. Others rushed to the second and third boats as soon as they heard her, leaving some boats still undamaged. Then I noticed Jenny was one of the few people still puncturing the second row of boats.
"Why aren't you with the kids?" I whispered as I rushed up to her.
"They're safe with Sonya and Fred," she said. "Y'all needed me more here. Besides, I have plenty of time. Brett's not going to leave until everyone is ready."
"Jesus. You make me crazy," I said, maybe a little too loudly. "Get over there before…"
Too late. Brett started the motor, and my jaw dropped as I watched that boat turn and head toward the bridge at a good speed. Jenny gawked, and then began cussing furiously.
"That's all of them," Mike said in a loud whisper. "Time to bug out."
The rest of us rushed toward the two remaining boats. Sean was at the motor of one, and Vince the other. Kate was holding Sean's boat, with Jake in the water holding the other in place. Both motors were running.
"Get in Vince's boat. I'll join you in a second," I said. Jenny nodded and splashed into the water. Mike, Charlie, and I stopped at the water's edge until everyone else was onboard. "One of you comes with me, and the other needs to go to Sean's boat."
"I'll come with you," Mike said. "Sean looks at me like I'm crazy or something."
"You are, but I like your kind of crazy."
Ratta-tat-tat-tat! Bullets whizzed by us. We instantly dropped to our bellies in the surf. Ratta-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat!
"It's coming from the fort!" I shouted, and then we returned fire.
"Get in!" Sean called. "Now!"
I heard one of the boat motors rev up, and turned to see it speed away. Sean's boat actually moved closer to us.
"Get in. I've cover you," I said, standing and opening fire.
I could see soldiers charging toward the beach. Muzzle flashes were seen in all directions and atop the fort walls. I felt a burn in my left hip, and my left shoulder as I slowly backed deeper into the water. And then two sets of hands seized me and hauled me into the boat.
"Wahoo!" Mike cried. "Take that, Canada!"
Chapter 33
Roger
"Keep your eyes on the bridge," I shouted over the wind and rain. "There could be soldiers up there."
I wasn't too concerned with the bridge. We were so far away from them that I could barely see its dark shape through the foul weather. Any soldiers would
have a harder time spotting us down in the dark waters.
Jenny's boat was ahead of us, just at the edge of visibility. The first boat with all of the children was out of sight. That was not good. The plan was to stick together. Sean was running full out and not gaining on the other boats.
It felt like we were going a hundred miles an hour in that small boat, and the bigger waves scared the crap out of me. All I could do was pray Sean and the two other drivers knew what they were doing and kept us all right side up and out of the water.
The crossing took an extraordinary long time, or at least felt like forever. Explosions hit the water around us moments after the Upper Michigan shore coalesced out of the darkness.
"Mortars!" Mike shouted.
Sean began evasive maneuvers. Vince did the same in the boat ahead of us, before he veered left and vanished into the rainy darkness.
"Where the fuck is he going?" Sean cried. He turned in the same direction. "Hang on."
Ka-boom!
That mortar round almost swamped us, and brought us to a halt. The concussion left me disoriented. Sean got us moving quickly enough, but a few minutes later the bridge loomed out of the darkness ahead.
"Turn around," I cried.
We had to parallel the bridge again, but veered to the northwest as soon as we spotted land ahead. God only knew where the other two boats had gone. But we had a plan, and as long as everyone followed it we would be good.
The mortar fire started again. Sean steered us further away from the shore. I was starting to get worried before he finally turned toward what I hoped was due north. How was I to know north from south in that dark gray mess? All I could see was water.
Of course it started to rain harder and harder as the wind picked up. We had to slow down by half to keep from being capsized.
"I see land," Charlie called.
Sean turned left to follow the shoreline. That was our original plan. Follow the shore until we ran out of gas. Brevort was our destination after the crossing's clusterfuck.
I studied the shore as we sped along. There were a lot of trash and dark splotches on the beach, so it was nearly impossible to see if one of our boats was beached. I tried to not think about the chances of a mortar finding its target, or just shrapnel puncturing a boat. If one of the boats was forced ashore before Brevort, then they'd have to reach the first rally point on foot.