by Robert Boren
“We’re probably in trouble even with a large number of troops on foot,” the Sheriff said. “We could use snipers on the roof if the number was small enough, but anything like what Hilda’s park was hit with the last time would be really bad.”
“There’s nowhere I can think of that would be safe from a force that size,” Jerry said. “Hell, they overran the army base, remember?”
“True,” the Sheriff said.
“What keeps vehicles from being able to get onto that meadow, Gabe?” Jackson asked.
“There’s a good sized creek that runs along the roadside there. It’s got a mixture of rocks, dirt, and trees on each side, and the banks are steep. It’s hard enough to get over on foot. It’s too deep for any kind of vehicle to get past….even a tank.”
“Is that the main source of water?”
“No, thank God,” Gabe said. “It’s not safe to drink without purification. Quarries ruined it. We have a spring, though, back by the cliff behind the park. That’s what’s feeding us here. I think it would be pretty tough to shut off.”
“So what now?” Hilda asked.
Suddenly the sound of a helicopter was approaching.
“Get many choppers around here?” Charlie asked.
“Medical, every once in a while. You know what happens sometimes at an RV Park full of old people.”
“That’s how somebody could get onto that meadow, I bet,” Jerry said. “Let’s go see who this is. Hope it’s not bad guys.”
Everybody ran out to the veranda. Lucy started to bark. There was dust blowing around beyond the swimming pool, but the chopper wasn’t visible.
Chapter 02 – Army Interrogation
“Let’s get out there and see who this is,” Charlie shouted, trying to be heard against the noise of the chopper. Gabe nodded and went with him.
“Grab your weapons,” Frank shouted. Then Frank and Jerry joined Charlie and Gabe.
There it was, coming into view. It was a US Army chopper. A big transport Chinook, not an attack chopper. Frank recognized Private Jenkins right away as he climbed out and joined the officer that was walking towards the group of them.
“It’s our friends,” Frank shouted. “That’s Private Jenkins.”
“Good,” Charlie said. “I was hoping that’s who it was.”
“Hi, Frank,” Private Jenkins shouted when he got close enough. “This is Major Donaldson.” He was a little bit older than Majors Hobbs and Darcy….Frank guessed him to be in his late 40s. He was black, with a shaved head and a warm smile.
“Good to meet you, Frank,” the Major said, extending his hand. “I’ve heard a lot about you and your group. Very impressive.”
“Thank you, sir,” Frank said. “Let’s go into the clubhouse so we can talk.”
“Yes, please,” Gabe said. “I’m the owner of the park…name’s Gabe.”
“Nice to meet you, Gabe,” the Major said. As they walked, Frank looked back and saw eight to ten men climbing out of the chopper. They kept watch in all directions. This gave Frank a lump in his throat. Are we in a hot spot? he thought to himself.
Jane, Hilda, and Jasmine were all on the veranda, holding their weapons, watching their men walk up with the Major and Private Jenkins.
“Isn’t that one of the privates that was with us on the trip up here?” asked Jasmine.
“Yes, that’s Private Jenkins,” Jane said. “Nice kid.”
“Jane, this is Major Donaldson, and you know Private Jenkins already,” Frank said. “My wife, gentlemen. And next to her are Charlie’s wife Hilda and Jerry’s wife Jasmine.”
“Nice to meet all of you,” the Major said. “Is this where we can talk?”
“Yes, go on in. We have some coffee that’s still warm, if you’d like some.”
“That sounds great, thanks,” the Major said. He looked over at Private Jenkins. “Want some?”
“Sure, Major, thanks. Black.”
“Yep, make mine black too,” the Major said. The sat down at the first row of benches. The major looked around the room. “Very rustic, very charming.”
“Thanks, Major,” Gabe said. “My dad and grandfather built it, many years ago.”
Kurt and Mary came walking over with the Sheriff. Rosie also walked over. Jackson an Earl were at the next table over. They turned around to face the group.
“Anybody else in the core group?” asked the Major.
“I don’t see Jeb or the Deputy,” Private Jenkins said. “Are they still with you?”
“Yes,” Gabe said. “Jeb wanted to walk the grounds.” Suddenly Jeb slipped in through the door, his hunting rifle in his hand.
“You guys scared the crap out of me,” Jeb said, laughing. “I was worried until I saw Private Jenkins. How are you, son?”
“I’m great, Jeb, good to see you again. This is Major Donaldson.”
“He OK?” Jeb asked, grinning.
“I hope I am,” Major Donaldson said, laughing. He extended his hand and they shook. “Heard some crazy stories about you. Apparently you’re pretty good with a bow.”
“Ah, shucks,” he said. “Simple technology for simple folks.”
Everybody laughed.
“Rosie, you hit on this guy yet?” Jeb asked. “He looks like fresh meat to me.”
“Oh, I get around to,” she said. “Right now I only have eye for you, big boy.”
More laughter, but you could tell that people were wondering what the Army was doing there. The group hushed quickly. Everybody was nervous.
“I guess I should get down to business,” the Major said. “You are charming people…I can see that - and good friends with each other.”
“Yes, we are,” Charlie said. “We’ve been through a lot together.”
“Private Jenkins said you guys were on your way to Leadville. We wanted to warn you about that area.”
“We had pretty much decided against going there,” Frank said. “When somebody blows up a bridge in the area, it makes you think twice.”
“Good,” the Major said. “The problem is really in New Mexico. There are a lot of Islamists there. They got kicked out of Texas, and they haven’t been able to move into Arizona, although they’re trying hard now that there is an offensive going on with their brothers from the north. They have to cross a lot of open territory to get into Arizona, and the Air Force has been pounding them as soon as they show themselves. They can’t go south….we’ve got the border completely closed. That leaves Colorado, so they’ve been creeping up towards that area. We think they just want someplace to hide at this point. We don’t expect them to try to attack Denver or Boulder or any other major city, but they have made it into the less populated areas in increasing numbers.”
“So, do you think that they blew that bridge to keep forces from going south and killing them?” asked Frank.
“That’s exactly what we think,” the Major said. “Like I said, this isn’t a huge force like the one that is currently in Utah and Arizona. It’s more like a few hundred, not thousands. They’re stragglers, but they’re still plenty dangerous. You don’t want to be around them.”
“I suspect we don’t want to be around there if you guys get a good air campaign going against them, either,” Jerry said.
“Yes, that’s the other thing,” the Major said. “We would rather not have more good guys in there right now. We don’t want to kill the wrong folks.”
“So what do you suggest we do?” Charlie asked.
“It’s really up to you guys, but if I were you, I’d try to stay here. This is pretty safe. We took a look at the topography as we flew in. It’s much more defendable than the place in Utah that you came from.”
“Are there enemy fighters around here?”
“Not that we’ve seen so far,” the Major said.
“As the crow flies, that bridge isn’t all that far from here,” Jeb said.
“True,” the Major continued, “but it’s a lot longer to get here if you have to drive, and the roads around here are b
eing watched pretty closely. We have a staging area right on the other side of I-70 in Eagle, and the Government wants to make sure it doesn’t get overrun like the Utah base did.”
“What was that ‘as the crow flies’ number, again?” Jackson turned to Gabe. “I forgot already.”
“Roughly 40 miles,” Gabe said, “but keep in mind - this isn’t flat desert that they could just walk across. It’s the Rocky Mountains. The 40 miles I’m talking about isn’t passable. You’d have to be repelling sheer rock walls more times than I’d like to consider, and there are plenty of rivers and creeks. And bears. And extreme cold, even this time of year, when you’re near the peaks. So they aren’t coming as the crow flies, and the 60 miles of roads they would have to take to get here aren’t easy either. They’re mostly two lane roads, going through a bunch of small towns full of rednecks. A large group would never make it here without us knowing about it. They probably wouldn’t make it here alive, period. The rednecks would just love to collect a few ears.”
“Eewwww,” Jasmine said.
“I’ve got to agree with Gabe on that,” the Major said. “If the bad guys get here, it’ll be because they’ve overrun Utah and Arizona, and can navigate on the big roads such as I-70 without getting blown to hell. It would be the northern faction. I think that’s unlikely.”
“Well, we were supposed to be safe at my place,” Hilda said. “We know how that worked out.”
The Major looked down silently for a moment.
“You’re right, Hilda, we did think it was fairly safe there, and we were caught with our pants down. Nobody knows that better than me, and I’m really sorry. The General was my mentor and friend. I was also close to Major Hobbs, and Major Darcy. That incident keeps me up at night.”
“We had constant problems there, and both of them warned us about it,” Jeb said. “I’m not blaming them for what happened there. No way in hell. I do blame the jerk weeds in DC for allowing all of those sleeper cells to settle here un-molested, though.”
“Yeah,” Jerry said. “I’m not real happy about the lack of seriousness on the borders over the past thirty years, either.”
“Well, you guys are preaching to the choir,” Major Donaldson said. “There are things you can do to fortify this area. I suggest you start thinking about that.”
“What kind of things?” Jane asked.
“Things similar to what you did in Utah,” he replied. “Set up watches on the roofs. Work on a security system. Patrol. Stay sharp, and stay ready.”
“We want to go beyond that,” Jeb said. “We want to go after the enemy. We’re really just looking for a safe home base.”
The Major laughed. “I’ll tell you something. A month ago I’d have laughed you guys right out of this place. No more. I’ve seen what armed civilians in large numbers can do to an enemy force. Folks like you are probably going to end up turning the tide. Just be careful, let us know what you’re planning if you can, and don’t screw up and hit any of my soldiers.”
“That’s basically what Major Hobbs and General Walker were telling us,” Charlie said.
“Those cretins really pissed me off,” Jeb said. “I saw what they did at Hilda’s park. I’m going to kill as many of those low-life sixth century idiots as I can…and I’m even madder at the militia traitors and the assholes in the military that turned.”
“How come you brought so many soldiers with you?” Frank asked casually.
“They aren’t letting officers go anywhere without a significant force,” the Major answered.
Earl shot a glance over to Jackson. He nodded towards the window. Earl squinted as he looked out there. The soldiers from the helicopter were taking up positions around the clubhouse, getting ready for an assault. Earl glanced over at Jeb when the Major wasn’t looking and nodded over there too. Jeb picked up on it right away, and went over by the window. He shot a glance at Private Jenkins, who also looked out there. He turned towards the Major, hand on his weapon.
“Major Donaldson, why are your men approaching this clubhouse in assault formation?” he asked.
He turned towards the Private, and attempted to pull his sidearm. Jeb leveled his rifle at him and fired, throwing the Major backwards. He was dead before he hit the floor.
“Grab your guns!” Jeb cried. “Traitors on the way in. Keep down.”
Jerry pointed his AK-47 at Private Jenkins. “Whose side are you on, son?”
“Not his,” he said. He set down his weapon and began to back away.
“Pick that up,” Frank said. “I wondered why he brought you in here. Get in the fight. Then he turned to the rest of the group. “Those of you who have weapons, get around the windows and get ready to fire. Those who aren’t fighting, get on the floor under the tables in the middle of the room and hope for the best.”
Jeb, Charlie, and the Sheriff were all aiming their rifles out the window. They shot. Then a volley of automatic weapons fire went off, shattering the windows in the room and sending wood chips flying all over the place. Jerry got up to the door and let loose with his AK, spraying fire into the area in front of the clubhouse. Half of the soldiers took off running for some cover, but the hunting rifles blasted again, sending all but one of the traitors flying to the ground, dead. The last one was still running, close to two hundred yards out, moving out of range fast.
“Got him,” Kurt cried. He fired, hitting the soldier square in the back.
“Damn, that 30-06 makes a lot of noise,” Jeb said.
The back door flew open and three soldiers ran in. Frank turned and nailed one in the chest with his Winchester. Jane fired her M-16 and got another one, but the third dove for cover under a row of tables. The civilians in the middle scrabbled to get away from them, except one, who turned and stuck the man in the neck with a bowie knife. The man fired off a couple of shots but they just hit the wall. He was dead. Then it was silent.
“Think we got all of ‘um?” Gabe whispered.
“We got most of them,” Jeb said. “I watched them coming out of that big chopper before I got in here. There were only about ten.
The chopper started.
“Listen, Jeb said. “It’s trying to take off. Let’s go see if we can hit the pilot.” He slipped out onto the veranda, looking for a good place for a shot. Charlie and Kurt ran out after him, and then the Sheriff. Jerry and Frank stayed put, eyes on the back doors and windows, ready for anybody coming through.
“You want to go out?” Frank asked, looking at Jerry.
“Naw, this is a job for those big bore hunting rifles. If anybody can take out the pilots, it’s one of our sharpshooters. This AK doesn’t have the accuracy anyway.”
“Maybe I can help,” Private Jenkins said. He stood up and went to the doorway. Then his head exploded all over the room. Jasmine screamed as he slumped to the floor.
“Crap,” Frank said. “Stay down, everybody.” He looked out the window to see where the shot came from. He saw some movement in the bushes, an aimed his Winchester there, watching. Then a soldier stood up and started running towards the meadow. Frank fired, throwing him several feet forward.
“Nice shootin,” Jeb said from the veranda. “I’d know the sound of that .44 of yours anywhere. Who got it in there?”
“Private Jenkins,” Frank shouted.
“Dammit. Frigging traitors,” he said. “Cover us while we try to get a bead on that chopper, okay?”
“Got it, Jeb. Take the damn thing out.”
“I’m watching too, honey,” Jane said, pointing her M-16 out the window.
“Good,” Frank said. “Nice shot, by the way.” She nodded.
The chopper rose into the sky, getting above the trees. The cockpit was facing away from the clubhouse, but then it turned.
“There it is,” Frank said. “There’s the shot!” He saw all four of the sharp shooters aiming, then they all fired. The chopper lurched over to one side, and rolled upside down. It went down below the trees, and then there was a loud explosion as it hit th
e ground in the meadow.
“Yahhhhhoooo!” Jeb yelled. “We got that son of a bitch!”
“Lord have mercy,” Gabe said, looking out the window in disbelief.
“Let’s go out there and check around for survivors,” Jerry said. Frank nodded.
“I’m going too” Jane said.
“Me too,” Jasmine said.
“Lucy,” Frank shouted. She came running over, her leash dragging behind her. He unhooked it, and threw it on the veranda. “C’mon, girl, let’s go hunting.”
They went out in a crouch, weapons in hand, and spread out to sweep the area. The sharpshooters joined them.
“Keep your eyes open,” the Sheriff said. He saw Lucy out of the corner of his eye, and smiled.
Lucy started to growl, and looked into some bushes. Frank aimed his rifle there, and then somebody threw an M-16 out onto the dirt.
“Don’t shoot,” a voice said. A soldier came out of the bushes, hands up. His haircut wasn’t right. The Sheriff rushed over to him and frisked him. “He’s clean,” the Sheriff said. He pulled handcuffs off his belt, and got the prisoner’s hands locked behind his back. “Stay here.”
“I got a bead on him,” Jasmine said. “Go ahead and keep searching.”
They continued their sweep. They slowly got all the way back to the meadow, seeing the smoking rubble of the chopper. Then they split up and went to either side, all the way to the front, and all the way to the back. Nothing. It was clear. The team slowly made their way back to the clubhouse, except for the Sheriff, who went over to retrieve the prisoner, and Jeb, who went back behind the clubhouse to see if anybody else was hiding there. Earl and Jackson followed Jeb.
“On your feet,” the Sheriff barked. The soldier slowly got up.
“Where we going?”
“Clubhouse,” the Sheriff said. “I’ll follow you. Slowly.”
He nodded and started walking.
“Heads up,” the Sheriff shouted as they approached. “I’ve got the prisoner in front of me. He’s been frisked, and he’s cuffed.”
“Alright, Sheriff,” Charlie said, coming up on the veranda. “Maybe we ought to keep him out here on until we find out a few things.”