The night was turning cold, and Mason buried himself under four blankets that were as ancient as the nuns who had slept beneath them. He was just dozing off when Bowie let out a loud bark as the dormitory door burst open. Mason shot upright, reaching for the Supergrade lying on the table beside his bed. Bowie snarled viciously as he scrambled to his feet, his claws scratching against the wooden floor.
Father Paul stumbled into the room, carrying a candle in one hand and a radio in the other.
“They’re coming!” he said, unable to quite catch his breath.
Detecting the familiar scent of the priest, Bowie softened his warning but remained standing between Father Paul and Mason.
“Who’s coming?”
“The convicts. All of them. They’re coming here! Now!”
Mason got to his feet and quickly dressed. While he was pulling on his boots, he asked, “Who called it in?”
“Chief Blue.” Father Paul shoved the radio toward him. “He saw them mobilizing. They’re getting ready to stage an attack. Here at the church!”
“How soon?”
“I don’t know.”
Mason clicked the talk button on the radio.
“Chief, what’s going on there?”
After a moment, a hushed voice said, “Marshal, thank God I reached you. Rommel and his men are pulling out of the Walmart parking lot. I count eleven fully-loaded vehicles coming your way.”
“How soon?” Mason asked, picking up his assault rifle and checking the chamber.
“The dark will slow them down, but they’ll be to you in half an hour.”
“Did you call the other deputies?”
“Yes. We’re all coming to you, but I’m not sure I’m going to make it in time.”
“Don’t try. Work your way in behind them, but maintain radio contact. You’re our eyes on this.”
“Roger.”
Mason pressed the talk button again.
“Vince, Don, Coon, are you out there?”
Within seconds, Vince replied, “I’m out in front of the church. Ask the good Father to let me in.”
Mason gestured to Father Paul, who immediately spun around and headed toward the front door.
The radio sounded again. The reception was poor and Don’s voice broke up several times.
“I’m about ten minutes—stopping at—station—ammo.”
“Got it,” said Mason. “Get everything you can carry, including a few spare rifles.”
“Roger—will get—see you—few.”
Mason waited to see if Coon would sign in. He didn’t. Coon’s house was out to the east, and he was most likely still out of range.
“Chief Blue, if you can reach Coon, get me an ETA.”
“Let me try.”
After about a minute, Chief Blue came back on.
“Coon’s ten minutes behind me. He’s not going to make it in time to get inside either.”
Mason needed every gun he could get. He thought for a moment.
“Tell Coon to find a spot near the church with a decent vantage point. He’s going to be our sniper.” “Will do.”
Mason looked over at Bowie. The dog knew something was coming. It held its head high, watching his every move.
“You’re in this too, boy. Your job is to make it unpleasant for anyone trying to breach the windows or doors. Can you do that for me?”
Bowie’s eyes narrowed and he gave a short bark.
Vince, Mason, and Father Paul huddled inside the front door of the church. Mason tapped his rifle against the heavy door.
“This door is bulletproof against anything smaller than a rocket-propelled grenade. If we can brace it, they won’t get through without a battering ram.” He looked around the church. “Vince, give me a hand sliding a pew over here.” Together, they pushed one of the long heavy benches against the door. “Now, let’s stack another one on top to brace it.”
Father Paul joined in, and the three of them lifted the heavy oak pew in place.
“That should hold.” Mason turned his attention to the rest of the church. Most of the windows had already been broken out and boarded up, but three along the front of the church remained intact.
“Those windows will be the first things to go when gunfire starts. We need to take them out to give us a clear line of sight.”
“You mean destroy them?” Father Paul asked, not hiding his disappointment.
“I’m afraid so. We’ll leave that to you, Father. Do it as gently as you want, but we need to see what’s coming.”
Father Paul made the sign of the cross, kissing the tips of his fingers as he finished.
“The Lord surely understands our plight and the steps we must take. They are but glass, after all.”
“What other ways can they get in?”
“Just the service entrance in the back. It’s not particularly well fortified. There are upper story windows, too, but I would think they’d be difficult to access. And of course, there’s the bell tower in the steeple, but again, impossible to get up there without ladders.”
“So, we need to cover three windows and a back door,” Mason said, thinking out loud. “Unfortunately, we only have three shooters. That leaves us one shy.” He looked at Father Paul. “Ever fire a gun, Father?”
When Father Paul didn’t answer, Vince added, “An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth, right, Father?”
Father Paul shook his head.
“Christ reminded us to abandon that way of thinking and to love and forgive our enemies. I’m sorry, my friends, but I cannot take another man’s life.”
“Even at the expense of your own?”
“Yes, even at the expense of my own life. I’m sorry.”
Mason saw no need to waste time trying to convince him to change his mind. A man’s convictions were usually only strengthened in times of crisis.
“Better that we know that now,” he said. “Can you at least help keep our weapons loaded?”
“That I can do.”
There came a heavy knock at the door. Before they could even ask, Don’s voice sounded from outside.
“It’s me. I need a hand with the ammo.”
Together, they transferred the extra weapons and ammunition in through the windows. Don quickly followed. All told, he had brought three assault rifles, a dozen thirty-round magazines, and several thousand rounds of ammunition. It was enough to stay engaged in a prolonged firefight if they kept the weapons loaded and were careful with their shots. In addition, he had brought a shotgun and fifty double-aught shells. The shotgun would be particularly useful if things got up close and personal.
“Okay,” Mason said, looking to the group, “let’s load every available magazine and set up firing points at each window.” He gestured to the base of the three windows. “We also need to block off the back door as best we can. The pews are too big to fit down the hall, so we’ll have to use bookcases, chairs—anything else that might keep that door from opening. We’ll put the shotgun at the end of the hallway, ready to point and shoot that direction should it come to that.”
Vince immediately starting loading cartridges into the magazines as Don worked with Mason to move an assortment of furniture in front of the back door. Meanwhile, Father Paul knocked out the remaining windows with a framing hammer, offering up a prayer for forgiveness with nearly every stroke.
After fifteen minutes, they were as prepared as the situation would allow. Fire points had been set up at each window, with spare magazines and weapons at the ready. The back door was barricaded with several hundred pounds of furniture, but no one was ready to say it would hold.
Rather than expend their energy performing meaningless tasks, each lawman sat quietly beneath his window, back to the wall and rifle in hand. Mason sat under the one closest to the front door, anticipating that much of the action would take place there. Bowie lay down beside him, resting his head on Mason’s lap. The room was quiet, save for the static of the radio and the dog’s heavy breathing.
Mason watch
ed a long string of lights approaching from the east.
“They’re coming,” he said.
His radio sounded. “Marshal, are you there?”
“We see them, Chief. How far behind are you?”
“I got out in front of them. I’m across the street from the church on the second floor of the ski shop. I can make a run for the door if you want.”
“Don’t bother. We’ve barricaded it. Just stay where you are. We’ll need eyes on what’s going on out there. Where’s Coon?”
“I’m down about two blocks, Marshal. Just climbing into the trunk of an abandoned car. I’ve got the lid wedged open just a hair, so I figure I’ll take my shots from here.”
“Good. But keep in mind that the flash of your hunting rifle is going to give you away pretty quick. Once they know you’re close, they’ll come for you.”
“They’ll find I’m as slippery as a cat burglar covered in mayonnaise. If they do finally corner me, I’ll give a good account, I promise you that.”
Mason smiled. His worries about Coon’s commitment were proving to be misplaced.
“Just keep your head down.”
“Yes, sir, I’ll do that.”
The lead vehicle in a long procession pulled past the church and rolled to a stop. Another car pulled up next to it, and two others directly behind them. The remaining vehicles stopped halfway down the block and barricaded the street. Dozens of armed men climbed from the cars and trucks like the ragtag army of a Colombian drug cartel. They carried an assortment of weapons, ranging from snub-nose revolvers to double-barrel shotguns.
Slim’s bright orange hunting vest made it easy for Mason to pick him out in the crowd gathering out in front of the church. Rommel was standing directly beside him. The two of them began shouting orders for the men to take up various positions. Several men ducked around the side of the building, searching for a way into the church.
“I’d like to have a word with you, Marshal,” shouted Rommel.
Mason peeked through one of the broken window panes.
“I’m listening.”
“Yesterday, you came to us with a demand. Today, I’m here to make one of my own.”
“What’s that?”
“I’m appointing myself mayor of this crappy town, and as such, I’m giving you one chance to surrender to my lawful authority.”
“And if I don’t?”
“Then I will have no choice but to punish you and all those inside.”
Mason looked around the room and found only determined men willing to fight.
“Well?” Rommel asked in an impatient tone.
Mason popped up and shot him in the chest.
For a moment, nothing happened. It was as if time was a vinyl record stuck spinning on the same track. Slim and the other men stood mesmerized, looking at Rommel on the ground, then back at the church, utter bewilderment in their eyes. Then the world broke loose.
Men ducked for cover. A few fired wild, uncontrolled shots at the church. Slim and two others grabbed their leader’s twitching body and dragged him behind the closest vehicle. Mason was disappointed to see Rommel stagger to his feet as they helped him to safety. The only possible explanation was that he was wearing a bulletproof vest.
That’s when the heavy firing started. For about twenty seconds, hundreds of rounds of every caliber pounded the walls and door of the old church. Dozens of bullets passed through the open windows, tearing up the dais and crucifix. But the solid stone walls held, and not a single round came close to anyone inside the room. To keep Bowie from getting hit by a stray bullet, Mason had to hold him down. Bowie struggled to get to his feet, but when he saw that it was of no use, surrendered and settled to the ground.
When silence finally came again, Mason keyed the radio.
“Chief, tell me when they begin to move on us.”
“Will do. You guys okay in there?”
“We’re fine. Coon, you ready?”
“Yes, sir. Just waiting for go time.”
“They’re charging the door!” yelled Chief Blue.
Mason made a quick motion with his hand, and all three shooters rose to their windows and began firing. The sound of the gunfire in the church was absolutely deafening as Mason, Vince, and Don laid down a heavy barrage. Coon also started firing, taking his time in order to get meaningful hits. The volley of bullets left six convicts bleeding in the street and two others crawling back behind cover, screaming in pain as they went. As magazines were emptied, each man dropped back down and quickly reloaded. Father Paul shuffled across the room in a low squat, gathering up the empty magazines and taking them to his impromptu reloading area.
Mason looked over at Vince and Don.
“Good shooting. Remember, take what you can get. We don’t have to kill them, just put them on the ground. Legs, shoulders, and gut shots will do just fine. There are no medics here.”
A loud explosion sounded from the back of the church. Before Mason could stop him, Bowie bolted that direction, barking wildly. Mason motioned for the others to stay put as he charged after the dog. Turning the corner from the hallway, he saw that a three-foot-wide hole had been blown in the bottom of the back door. A man was crawling through on all fours, sliding a shotgun ahead of him like it was a sack of gold he had pilfered from a tomb.
Before he cleared the furniture heaped in front of the door, Bowie scrambled under and grabbed him by the top of his scalp. The man screamed and fumbled unsuccessfully to raise his weapon. Bowie dragged him into the hallway, shaking him viciously from side to side until his neck snapped.
A second man immediately scurried in through the hole, holding a pistol at the ready. Mason brought his rifle up and fired three quick shots, killing him instantly. He nodded to Bowie, who released the first man, and turned back to see if any more dared to crawl through the hole. For the moment, none did.
Mason yelled over his shoulder.
“The back door’s been breached. Bowie and I will hold them here.”
“Got it!” shouted Vince. “We’ll give them hell up front.”
A long string of shots rang out again from the front of the church. Bullets smashed into the walls and door, tearing away at the church. Don and Vince used any lull in the barrage to return fire, the sharp tat-tat-tat of their assault rifles echoing through the building.
Suddenly, several powerful shotgun blasts tore grapefruit-sized holes in the back door. Mason dropped to one knee and stayed close to the wall to avoid the shrapnel. Bowie stood beside him, the dog’s body tense with excitement.
“Wait ‘til they come through,” he said.
Bowie turned his head and licked the side of Mason’s face, leaving a smear of the dead man’s blood on his cheek.
The body of the man lying dead in the hole was dragged backwards by his legs. Another man scrambled forward in his place, firing several shots from an assault rifle as he advanced. Mason returned fire, striking him in the neck and head. He jerked for a few seconds and then fell silent. No one else followed in what had so far proved to be a flawed strategy.
Just when Mason thought that the convicts might abandon the back door altogether, a large man smashed against it with his shoulder, splitting it in several places. Mason brought his rifle up and took aim. When he hit the door a second time, Mason fired a single shot through one of the large holes. The bullet caught the man in the rib cage, and he screamed in agony as he fell to the ground. His attack on the door, however, had had the desired effect. It wasn’t going to hold much longer.
Vince and Don weren’t doing much better. There were so many rounds shattering against the window frames that neither could rise up to get a clean shot. Instead, they resorted to holding their rifles above their heads and firing blindly out into the street. Father Paul was also having difficulty keeping up with the reloading because he couldn’t safely traverse between the windows. They had adopted a method of sliding empty magazines to him, and when reloaded, he would slide them back. It proved slow and ineffective
because some of the magazines missed their mark and now lay in areas too dangerous to retrieve.
Vince screamed as a bullet hit his wrist, shattering it and sending a steady stream of blood down his arm. He dropped his rifle and clutched the hand, his face twisted in agony.
“I’m hit!”
Before anyone could respond, Coon’s voice sounded over the radio.
“They’re pressing me pretty hard. I’m ducking into one of these buildings.”
Mason grabbed the radio from his belt.
“Coon, try to get to higher elevation. We need to take out Rommel.”
There was no reply.
Chief Blue said, “Marshal, what can I do?”
“Give them something to worry about. We’re falling apart in here.”
A section of the back wall suddenly collapsed inward as a car smashed into it, sending large chunks of brick and rock tumbling inward. Dust and mortar filled the air. By the time Mason could get a clear shot at the windshield, the car was already reversing. Not only was the door now breached, but another hit would bring down the entire wall.
He shouted to the men in the front room.
“Enemy in the wire! Upstairs quick!”
Father Paul grabbed an armful of ammunition boxes and dashed for the stairs. Vince and Don took a moment to collect their magazines before bolting after him. When Don was about halfway across the room, a bullet hit his prosthetic leg, breaking it off at the knee. He toppled to the stone floor like a marionette whose strings had been cut.
Vince turned back to help him, but the onslaught of bullets forced him to resume running toward the heavy staircase.
Don rolled to his back and held his rifle at the ready.
“Go on!” he yelled. “I’ll hold them as long as I can.”
Without warning, Bowie darted across the room, took a firm bite of his collar, and began dragging him toward the stairs. Bullets smashed all around them.
Mason moved to the bottom of the staircase and directed Vince and Father Paul to go up and find cover. They took off like a pack of hell-hounds was hot on their heels.
A convict wearing a black ski mask started climbing through the window closest to the door. Still lying on his back, Don shot the man twice in the chest. Another man dove through the second window, landing hard on the shotgun he was holding. Mason fired three rounds as the intruder scrambled to his feet. Two bullets hit him in the hip, and a third took off the top of his head.
Bowie and Don finally arrived at the bottom of the staircase, both breathing heavily. Mason squatted down and took a quick look. The prosthetic leg was completely missing, but Don was uninjured.
“Can you get up these stairs?” he asked.
“Hell, yes!” Don rolled onto his belly and started high-crawling up the stairs.
Mason looked over at Bowie.
“Get up there,” he directed. The dog took off up the stairs, flying past Don to search for Vince and Father Paul.
Men began climbing through all three windows, and another loud crash sounded from the back of the church. The enemy was coming.
Backing up the stairs, Mason laid down suppressing fire, and convicts dove for cover. He was the last to arrive at the top of the stairs. The other three men were already clustered at the end of a long hallway. Vince was wrapping a pillowcase around his injured hand.
“Where?” Mason asked, looking to Father Paul.
“I…I don’t know. The dormitories won’t hold.”
Mason spied an open doorway to a small cast iron spiral staircase leading up to the steeple.
“There!” he said, pointing. “We’ll fight from high ground.”
Bowie took off up the stairs, barking as he went, and the men followed. Despite having to crawl, Don was nearly as fast as any of them as they made their way up into the steeple.
A loud whoosh followed by a boom sounded from outside in the street. It was followed by two more. The steady pounding of gunfire stopped, giving Mason and his team time to navigate the stairs and secure a heavy trapdoor behind them.
The steeple was an open-aired bell tower that measured about fifteen feet across. A large church bell was hanging at the center with a donut-shaped walkway surrounding it. The railing was only about four feet high, and the men could see out into the cold night. Several cars were now on fire in front of the church, the yellow flames licking up into the darkness like the tongue of a rising Balrog. Chief Blue had given them their diversion.
Father Paul began to say a prayer. “Dear Lord, rescue us from—”
Mason placed a hand on the priest’s shoulder.
“Father, while we appreciate your plea to the heavens, the time for prayer has passed. Now is the time for men to act.”
He nodded. “What can I do?”
Mason looked around. The floor of the steeple was only about ten feet above the roof, making it possible for him to lower and drop. Bowie wouldn’t make it, and neither would Vince nor Don with their injuries. Father Paul was a maybe, but there was no point in sending him down into the fray.
“I need you to ring the bell just as you did the other day. Let the town know we need their help. Vince, you and Don stay here and protect him.”
Father Paul smiled and tears formed in his eyes.
“Of course. We will send out God’s call, and they will come.”
Mason wasn’t so sure, but he didn’t put his doubts into words.
“You’re going over?” asked Vince.
“I’ve got to get Rommel.”
Detecting that his master was about to do something without him, Bowie inched closer. Mason squatted down next to him and cupped his hands on either side of the dog’s head.
“You can’t come this time. I need you to watch over these brave men.”
Bowie whined and pressed hard against his chest. Mason kissed Bowie on the nose before pushing him away. Then, without another word, he climbed over the railing and dropped to the roof below.
Chapter 21
The Survivalist (Frontier Justice) Page 22
