“I’ll be in touch,” Gunny said and hung up.
Gordon’s face was flush with anger. He looked at the phone and wondered if he should call Samantha. He was sure she was upset but would he help by calling? His thoughts of her were vanquished when he heard Bernard go back to asking the prisoners questions.
Gordon turned and marched back to his Humvee. He popped the hatch and dug around until he found what he was looking for, a hatchet. He gripped it firmly and headed directly for the young prisoner.
“I can understand how you must feel, but you have to understand that coming here like you’ve done isn’t productive,” Bernard said to the prisoners.
Gordon was seeing red and he was determined to get answers. He pushed Bernard aside and asked, “Are there more of you south of Lewiston?”
The prisoners didn’t know how to answer the question. They weren’t sure if Gordon was just threatening or was seriously considering using the hatchet.
“Anyone have an answer to that question? Huh? Let’s play a game. There’s seven of you; I’ll asked seven questions. Each time a question isn’t answered, this hatchet here will end up in one of your skulls.”
The young prisoner laughed and said, “You don’t scare me.”
Gordon swung the hatchet and buried it in the young man’s head.
Bernard gasped but was quick on his feet. He pulled out a camera and began to film.
“Make that six,” Gordon said as he kicked the young man to remove the hatchet from his skull. “You, are there more?”
“Ah, I-I,” the prisoner said as he stammered.
“Not good enough.” Gordon swung hard and slammed the hatchet into the side of his head.
Two of the prisoners began to throw up.
Gordon pulled the hatchet out of that man’s head. He stood, towering over the remaining five, blood dripping from the hatchet. “Answer the fucking question!”
“Yes, yes, there’s more of us,” the presumed leader of the group blurted out.
“Where?” Gordon asked.
“I’m not sure. We—”
“Bad answer.” Gordon took a wide swing and hit an older man on the end.
“We weren’t sent, we weren’t sent, but I know more from the army deserted. We’re deserters. We left a week ago. Shit is falling apart. There’s no food. The people are fighting back. And Jacques, he began to kill everyone, everyone. He’s murdering women and children. He’s wiping out the entire town.”
“How big is his army?” Gordon asked.
“It’s probably down to two-thirds or less than what we had when we invaded.”
“The defenses, tell me about the defenses,” Gordon said.
“I don’t know much,” the man replied.
“Bad answer.” Gordon swung for the fourth time killing another prisoner.
“Stop, damn it, stop! I don’t know everything but enough. I know they created bunkers and hardened positions along the south edge of town.”
“Can you draw me a map?” Gordon asked.
“Yes.”
“And do you know where Jacques is located?”
“I heard he’s living in a house on the lake, a big house.”
“If I showed you a map, could you point it out?” Gordon asked.
“Yes.”
“And lastly, are there more of you in your group?”
“No, it was just the nine of us, you killed two in the house.”
“And you used the woman as a decoy to draw us in?” Gordon asked.
“Yes, precisely.”
“Get him a map and have him sketch the defenses and have him show you the house where Jacques is,” Gordon ordered the Cascadian squad leader.
“Yes, sir.”
Gordon turned around and saw Bernard was white as a ghost. His trembling hands were holding the camera. He walked up to him and asked, “Did you get all of that?”
“Um, ah.”
“That’s how you get intel,” Gordon said and pressed the bloody hatchet against Bernard’s chest. “Keep it as a souvenir.”
“Ah.”
“And make sure you add in your report that Jacques’ group in McCall attacked my house thirty minutes ago. They slaughtered six Marines and my son is missing. Make sure you add that to your report. Welcome to the war, Bernard,” Gordon said and marched off.
Frank Church Wilderness, Southeast of McCall, Idaho, Republic of Cascadia
Luke caught up to the man. His months of riding had made him extremely proficient. Deep inside, Luke felt an anger, a desire to hurt the man who had killed men he knew and threatened his family. Now that he was in sight, he wouldn’t stop until he caught and killed him.
When they left the valley floor and began to climb into the mountains just west of Jughandle, the snow got deeper. This didn’t slow him down, as again, the hours and hours of riding had given him the ability to tackle and maneuver through such conditions; however, it was impacting the man he was pursuing.
Further and further they climbed.
Luke was close enough now to clearly read the lettering on the back panel of his sled and close enough to shoot him. Luke pulled out his Glock, took aim and squeezed off a round.
The bullet whizzed by the man.
“Argh,” he grunted.
Luke again took aim as best he could and squeezed. The bullet exploded from the barrel and struck the man in the right shoulder.
The man jerked the handle of his snowmobile hard to the right, caught an edge and flipped over. The heavy machine and he went tumbling with sled resting beside him.
Luke was following too close to make an evasive maneuver. He shoved the pistol into his side cargo pocket and grabbed the handles to steer away, but it was too late. He slammed into the other sled. The force of the collision threw him over the hood and down into a large tree well. He rolled hard and smacked his head and shoulder into the tree. He sat up and looked around but could only see blurred images. He clenched his stomach as it tightened. Nausea and vertigo set in. With great effort, he tried to stand, but the snow was chest deep and his condition didn’t help.
The sound of a slide racking came from above him.
Luke looked and saw the man pointing a pistol at him. Thinking quickly, he reached for his pistol in his cargo pocket but not before the man shot and grazed his left arm. He drew his pistol, pivoted and stepped like Sanchez had shown him, providing the man a moving target. He didn’t aim as much as he just pointed and pulled the trigger. That single 9mm round traveled right through the man’s chest.
The man heaved and dropped to his knees.
Not content with his last shot, Luke again pulled the trigger. Another well-placed round exited the muzzle and this one proved to be fatal instantly as it hit the man in the face. He lurched forward and rolled into the tree well, stopping just at Luke’s feet.
Luke exhaled heavily and stepped, but his feet felt like bricks. The crushing vertigo and nausea became overwhelming. He looked up and could see flurries slowly drifting down. Fatigue followed with gravity taking over. He fell backwards into the snow and blacked out.
South of Joseph, Oregon, Republic of Cascadia
Lexi slowly and quietly opened the back door. Her hope was she’d be able to sneak back into the house without encountering Conrad, whom she now found too creepy after finding him blankly staring out the window that morning. She had attempted to spark up a conversation but he stood silent and motionless.
She always prided herself on having good instincts and those instincts went from concern yesterday to a four-alarm warning after his odd behavior this morning.
The only problem she had with stealth fully coming back into the house after walking the dogs was the dogs themselves. Like two children wanting to see who could get in first, they playfully growled and snapped at each other and barged their way back into the house.
“Ssh, be quiet,” Lexi said.
The dogs were having none of it. They burst through the cracked door and barreled down the short hal
lway and into the kitchen.
“What the hell!” Conrad hollered from deep in the house.
“Shit,” Lexi said and rushed in.
“Damn dogs!” Conrad screamed.
One of the dogs squealed in pain.
Lexi came into the kitchen to see Frenchie scurrying back with her ears back and her stubby tail tucked low. She ran under the dining table and sat.
“Get out of here!” Conrad yelled from the living room.
Beau shot into the kitchen, his composure exactly that of Frenchie’s.
Lexi looked under the table and asked, “You okay?”
Frenchie looked at Lexi, but the fear was still there.
Beau pushed his way under the table and sat next to Frenchie.
Conrad came in and yelled, “Out. I want those damn dogs out of my house!”
“What happened?” Lexi asked.
“That little one came running in and knocked over a puzzle I was working on,” Conrad yelled.
“I’m sure she didn’t mean it. They were playing,” Lexi said.
“I don’t care. Dogs don’t belong in the house.”
Katie rushed in. “Is everyone alright?”
“Those damn dogs, I want them gone. They just ran into my table and knocked it over. The puzzle is all over the floor,” Conrad shouted.
“I’m so sorry, dear. Let me go clean it up,” Katie said.
“I’m sorry, they get excited,” Lexi again apologized.
Conrad reached under the table and snatched Frenchie by the collar. He started to pull but she resisted. “Come on, you filthy animal.”
“Let her go. I’ll put the dogs out,” Lexi said.
Conrad wasn’t listening. He was in his own head. He pulled harder.
Frenchie whined and whimpered.
Her cries only made Conrad pull harder.
“Let go of her and I’ll take them out,” Lexi said, walking over to Conrad and reaching for Frenchie.
Conrad repositioned his grip and wrapped his hands around Frenchie’s neck and clamped down.
Frenchie squealed in pain.
“Fucking let go of her. You’re hurting her!” Lexi yelled.
“Conrad, please, honey, calm down,” Katie said.
Lexi could see he was beginning to choke Frenchie and feared he could kill her. She grabbed Conrad by the arm and yelled, “Let go of her!”
He cocked his head and gave her a frightening look. “Get your hands off me!” With his free hand, he shoved Lexi.
She stumbled backwards and smacked her head against the cabinets.
Katie stood paralyzed, unsure what to do.
Without Lexi interfering, Conrad took his free hand and wrapped it around Frenchie’s throat and began to squeeze.
Lexi sat up and shook her head. The impact with the cabinet had made her see stars. She blinked a few times and saw Frenchie gasping. Lexi pulled the knife from her pocket, flicked it open with one hand and grabbed Conrad by the collar with the other. Using as much control as she could muster she put the serrated six-inch blade against his throat and held it. “Let go of the dog.”
Conrad froze.
She pressed the blade harder against his Adam’s apple and said, “Let go of the dog or I’ll cut your fucking throat.”
Katie looked on in shock, muttering unintelligibly.
Seeing he was up against someone who appeared ready to commit the act, he let go of Frenchie and slowly recoiled.
Not disengaging, Lexi kept the blade at his throat as she stood up. “Just stay down on your knees.”
Conrad did as she said.
Lexi glanced over at Katie, who was shaking with fear.
“I’m going to step back. If you try anything, I shove this knife into your heart,” Lexi warned.
“Oh, my God,” Katie said as she began to cry.
“Fine,” Conrad replied.
Lexi removed the blade and stepped away quickly. She walked around the table and into the short hallway that led to the back door. “Come,” she said to Beau and Frenchie.
Both dogs scurried from underneath the table and ran to her side.
Lexi opened the door wide. “Out, go,” she said to the dogs.
Beau and Frenchie raced outside.
Lexi closed the door and walked back into the kitchen. She was still holding the knife in her hand.
“You and your dogs need to leave. You’re not welcome here,” Conrad said.
“That’s fine. Let me get my stuff, and we’re gone,” Lexi said.
“I want you out of here in ten minutes,” Conrad blared.
“Honey, please, she’s pregnant. You can’t put her out there,” Katie begged.
“Shut up, just shut up,” Conrad yelled.
Katie recoiled in fear. “What’s happened to you?”
“I’m going to get my stuff. I’ll be out of your hair in minutes,” Lexi said.
“No, you stay,” Katie said and turned to Conrad. “She stays. You can’t let a pregnant woman go out in that world.”
“I told you to shut up!” Conrad barked, taking a step towards Katie.
Seeing his aggressive move, Lexi stepped towards him. “You touch her, I’ll kill you.”
Conrad stopped.
“I’m going to get my things and I’ll leave,” Lexi said.
“Go, hurry,” Conrad yelled.
Lexi walked backwards down the main hallway towards her bedroom until she reached the door.
Conrad stepped into the living room, his gaze on her the whole way.
Before Lexi stepped into her room, she gave him a hard stare.
He returned the look but broke eye contact to go pick up the puzzle pieces.
Lexi rushed into the room. She closed and locked the door behind her. In the closet, she found her backpack and quickly began to pack it with her clothes. She emptied one drawer after the other. When she found the box with the baby’s outfit, she paused. How can I leave Katie with him? she asked herself. She couldn’t, she needed to find a way to convince Katie to come with her.
With her pack full and all her weapons strapped or slung over her small frame, she opened the door to find Katie crying on the floor just outside her room. “Katie?”
“I don’t want you to go,” Katie cried.
“Inside, come inside,” Lexi said.
“No, I can’t. But please don’t go. Just stay in the shed out back. I’ll give you extra blankets and I’ve got a cot—no, wait, I’ve got a blow-up mattress. I’ll inflate it for you. But please don’t leave. You can’t live on the road, not in your state,” Katie pleaded.
“I can’t stay here. Even if I wanted to, he won’t allow it, but I can’t. I’m sorry, Katie, I hate to say this, but Conrad…something is wrong with him.”
“I know, he’s never acted like this. Something is wrong with him. It’s not him, I don’t know. Last night, he, he…”
Lexi knelt and held her trembling hand. “Did he hurt you?”
“He was really rough. It’s been so long since I’ve made love and he was never so cruel before, but last night he was—he hurt me. It’s not him and I don’t know what to do,” Katie said in a rambling and emotional voice.
“Come with me. Let’s leave together,” Lexi urged.
“I can’t. I know he’s not right, but I can’t leave him. He’s suffering. Something bad happened to him and I need to be here to support him.”
Lexi wanted to keep pressuring her but Conrad stepped in.
“Time for you to go,” Conrad said, standing at the end of the hallway.
Katie stood up and wiped the tears from her face. “She’s pregnant. Let her stay in the shed. We can’t put her out on the road, not in her condition. We can’t do that, that’s not who we are.”
“She put a knife to my throat,” he snapped.
“You were killing my dog,” Lexi said.
“Please, sweetie, she needs a home. It’s murder to put her out there,” Katie pleaded.
“I’ll be fine,” Lexi sa
id.
“You see, she said she’ll be fine,” Conrad said, pointing at Lexi.
“No! She’s helped me. I was so close, so, so close to killing myself. Then Lexi showed up on my doorstep. Helping her gave me purpose and now I’ve found someone I love as a friend. She’s a good person, Conrad, and I won’t let you just toss her out. I’ll compromise with you on sleeping in the house, but she can stay in the shed until she has that baby.”
Conrad opened his mouth to speak but Katie spoke up again.
“No, I won’t have it. You’re a good man and the man who left here before all this happened wouldn’t make her leave. Dig deep, you know I’m right,” Katie blared defiantly.
He looked down, grumbled and said, “Fine, she sleeps with her dogs in the shed. She can come in for meals, but those dogs aren’t allowed in here ever again.”
“Thank you,” Katie gushed.
Lexi didn’t want to stay and controlled her urge to say no, but Katie had pushed hard and she wanted more time to help convince Katie to leave. She knew now without a doubt that Conrad was a ticking post-traumatic stress time bomb ready to blow.
Katie turned to Lexi and hugged her. “Stay, please. Eventually he’ll come around and you can move back in.”
“I’ll stay but I’m only doing so for you,” Lexi grunted.
“Let me go get a bunch of blankets and pillows. And ooh, I’ll get that inflatable mattress,” Katie said, rushing off.
Lexi picked up her stuff and headed down the hall.
Conrad still stood staring.
Ever the stubborn person, Lexi kept her gaze on him. She refused to back down.
Like before, he broke eye contact and walked back into the living room.
When she made it to the back door, she thought that Conrad was a broken man. Something horrible had happened to him on the road home. He might have been a good man before but Lexi could see that man had died, and in his place was something twisted and sinister. She worried for Katie and was only staying with the hope she’d convince her to leave because if Katie stayed, she’d eventually be killed by him.
MARCH 12, 2016
“When God desires to destroy a thing, he entrusts its destruction to the thing itself. Every bad institution of this world ends by suicide.” – Victor Hugo
The New World (Book 7): Those Who Remain Page 10