Apollo Project

by Brittany E Brinegar

  Tom positioned himself to watch the wheelbarrow and the ragtag collection. “Go on.”

  “While Nate and Jeremy worked on Gus, I made polite conversation with Hunter. I broached the subject of his brother and this mystery shooter.”

  “Did you get anything specific? I would have leaned on him. I would not have beat around the bush. I’d go right at him.” Davidson’s modus operandi was a series of orders and accusations over the polite conversation.

  “She’s is an expert with the soft touch for troubled youth approach. What did he tell you, Barb?” Tom asked.

  “When he talked about his brother, he almost cried. He made an impossible claim. Said he and his brother were on a hunting trip.” She waited for a few beats. “In the mountains in Montana. When the weather anomaly hit, he said he blacked out.”

  “And woke in Louisiana?” Tom focused his mind. His daughter was on a camping trip in Montana. A crazy coincidence? “Okay, before we outright dismiss this, let’s give it some thought.”

  “Another mind game, Cassidy. We tie him to a tree leaving one of our guns to watch the area and not him.”

  “But we were 250 miles away when the storm hit,” Barb argued.

  “How far is Montana from Louisiana?” Tom asked. “Must be 2,000 miles.”

  “Good guess. I brought a map from the store.” Barb reached into her backpack and unfolded the map. “From Sabine National Wildlife Refuge to Glacier National Park it is about 2,300 miles.”

  Davidson wiped his glasses. “This Hunter guy is utterly and completely full of crap. I say we hang him from the next tall tree. And for good measure, we put the shifty park ranger right next to him.”

  Tom marched onward. “How about Agent Sherwood and Emerson?”

  Davidson frowned. “What about them?”

  “Better part of discretion is to keep our eyes open. ATF and Bull have been helpful. The ranger saved the kid’s life. But hold on, you said you wanted to dump the kid too.”

  “Don’t put words in my mouth, Cassidy.” He wagged his finger.

  Barb intercepted Tom. “Let William bluster. At the end of the day, you and I will make decisions for the group. I’m sure what Hunter said makes you think of your daughter. If there’s a connection, we’ll figure it out.”

  Chapter 31 – Hi-Yo Silver

  Reagan

  The trek to Kalispell had yet to begin and exhaustion hung over Reagan like a storm cloud. Her feet throbbed and everything from the base of her neck to her lower back screamed in pain either from the burn mark or the strain of the last few days.

  Travis Wayne leaned against the porch railing. “Howdy.”

  “Why are you so chipper?” Kelly glared at him.

  “Y’all look ridiculous in your beekeeper getup,” Travis Wayne said. “We have a surprise.”

  “Did you find the ranger?” Scotty asked.

  “No sign of him. Trail went cold,” Travis Wayne said. “Mr. Oliphant insisted we keep going.”

  Reagan cleared her throat. “How is Jasper?”

  “Better than Mrs. Oliphant.” Travis Wayne stroked his neck. “He’s angry. Wants revenge.”

  “What’s this surprise?” Kelly bounced on her toes. “Oreos?”

  As they strode behind the cabin a whinny greeted them. An ear-to-ear grin spread across Reagan’s face. “You found horses.”

  “Six of them.” Travis Wayne stroked the neck of the nearest gelding – an Appaloosa - white with black spots. He resembled a Dalmatian.

  “But there’s twelve of us,” Scotty said. “Are we planning on ridding double?”

  “Eleven,” Reagan corrected.

  “Found a hay wagon. I’ll drive these two draft horses.” Travis Wayne pointed to the biggest of the brood one black and the other chestnut. “Wagon is a bit crowded. Four can saddle up.”

  “I like this one,” Kelly said approaching a gray quarter horse. “He’s my size.”

  “She’s a filly. Probably no more than two.” Reagan stroked above the horse’s nose.

  Travis Wayne stuffed his hands in his pockets. “I figured you’d ride in the wagon, Kell.”

  “With the Caribou Crew? Fat chance. I’ll be a scout or whatever with Reagan.”

  Reagan took a shine to an energetic paint horse. She was white with palomino patches and a flowing white mane. “Here you go, girl.” Reagan held a sugar cube from her pocket.

  “You just happened to have a sugar cube on you?” Scotty shifted his weight.

  “I run a ranch with Granddad. I'm always needing to bribe the horses.” Reagan examined the expensive leather saddles with intricate tooling. “Where did you find them?”

  “Barn not far from here,” Travis Wayne said. “Park rangers probably use them to navigate the rougher areas.”

  “Any supplies? Clothes? Food?” Kelly fired.

  “Nah. Only a few horse blankets, which we put in the wagon.”

  “Who’s riding the buckskin?” Scotty asked patting the rear of the sixth horse.

  “I'm sure Jasper will want to take the lead,” Reagan said.

  “Mr. Oliphant had enough after the Appaloosa threw him.” Travis Wayne managed to mask his amusement.

  Kelly didn’t have as much luck. “I would have paid big money, top dollar, and an arm and a leg to see him bucked.”

  “Kelly.” Reagan bit her lip. “Jasper and Olivia are going through a lot right now.”

  Kelly didn’t back down. “I'm sorry for what happened to Junior. He was a good kid. But Jasper is a jerk and him getting thrown is funny.”

  “We better get going,” Travis Wayne said heading for the door.

  “Did Granddad give you the radio?” Reagan asked.

  “Yeah. No one else saw.” Travis Wayne pulled the radio from his pack. “Nothin’ yet. I’ll keep trying.”

  Scotty rubbed the Appaloosa responsible for throwing Jasper. “Hey, who’s a good boy?”

  “Are you regretting choosing Pongo?” Reagan asked.

  “Pongo? Like the Disney dalmatian?”

  “My mother has a dalmatian. I begged her to use one of the names in the movie. It fits this guy.” Reagan grinned. “Are you scared of him?”

  “Nope. If he threw Jasper, it means Pongo here is a good judge of character.”

  Reagan shadowed Scotty inside the cabin. Bickering filled the room. Reagan squinted through the darkness as her eyes adjusted. Granddad and Jasper were in the middle of the disagreement.

  “While they were out gallivanting through the woods, I was doing something productive,” Jasper said. “Nate Campbell is a danger to all of us.”

  “I don’t disagree with you,” Granddad said. “But you’re nuts for wanting to stay here in a secluded cabin.”

  “Nate Campbell needs to be brought to justice.” Meredith’s smoker cough hacked into his Hawaiian shirt.

  “And how are we going to do that?” Granddad threw his hands in the air. “We’re in no shape to hunt him down. Our best bet is to leave this mountain.”

  Jasper’s menacing stare glowed by the firelight. “I don’t need you people to find Nate Campbell. Just give me the gun you’ve been hiding, old man.”

  Reagan stepped in the middle before the situation escalated. “What’s going on?”

  “We’re not going anywhere without Nate Campbell,” Jasper repeated.

  “I understand you wanting to find him.”

  “None of you do. He killed my son. I knew he was bad news the minute the psycho arrived in the RV park.” Jasper pointed a finger at Reagan. “You’ve been trying to tell my people what to do since the minute we met. I'm sick of it.”

  “Terrible things happened on this mountain. Most of which we can’t explain. We’re isolated, cold, sick, and our resources are limited.” Reagan tore her gaze to Jasper. “You are welcome to stay here if you want to. But we are leaving on those horses in one hour.” She focused on the rest of the Caribou Crew. “Dawn, Meredith, Olivia, you can stay with Jasper or come with us. It’s up to you.”
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  Reagan exited the cabin and returned to the horses. She loaded a pack of water onto the wagon.

  “Nice speech,” Jon said adding a pack to the load.

  “It wasn’t a speech.”

  Jon perched on the edge of the wagon. “Why are you still putting up with them?”

  “The Caribou Crew?”

  “They’re helpless and they offer nothing of value,” Jon said.

  “I should abandon them in the Bizarro Enchanted Forest? Is it what you’d do, Vic Mackey?”

  “Not like we owe them anything. We’ve done more than most.”

  Reagan removed her Stetson. “What kind of lawman are you? Since Annabeth pulled you off the cliff you’ve been begrudgingly helpful.”

  “The world’s changed. It’s survival of the fittest,” Jon said. “If they don’t make it, it’s not on us.”

  “We don’t know if the world’s changed. You can’t honestly believe Nate Campbell’s nuclear bomb story?”

  “No, not really. But whatever caused this, things aren’t the same as they were a few days ago.”

  “What do you know, Little?”

  “Nothing worth sharing.”

  “Why aren’t you worried about your partner or this fugitive you were hunting? Are you even ATF?”

  “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

  Reagan crossed her arms. “I’m pretty open to the impossible these days. What do you have to say, Mulder?”

  “Robin and I weren’t looking for a fugitive in Montana.”

  Reagan’s eyes narrowed. “What were you looking for?”

  “Wrong question,” Jon said shaking his head. “Before I woke up on the cliff, I was in the swamps of Louisiana.”

  “What?”

  “Robin was sick and we had car trouble. The last thing I remember is leaving to get help.”

  “In Louisiana?

  “I knew you wouldn’t believe me.”

  “It’s no stranger than everything else we’ve seen.”

  The revelation from Jon kept Reagan’s mind spinning. Strange things happened, but she didn’t entirely buy the yarn. She couldn’t shake the feeling he hid something. Her mind fixated on the growing litany of problems. The ride to Kalispell, Montana began when the sky looked like honeydew. The Caribou Crew reluctantly joined Travis Wayne, Granddad, Annabeth, and Mickey in the wagon. Reagan, Kelly, Scotty, and Jon rode the horses. It wasn’t until the sky faded to the color of spinach before they reached the outskirts of town.

  “How is it possible we didn’t see a single car or person on our way here?” Kelly squeaked as she dismounted the gray filly, Silver.

  Reagan’s eyes scanned the dark prairie. No lights shined in the town below. “Everyone’s exhausted. Why don’t we wait until morning to explore the town?”

  Jasper stumbled off the wagon. “What are we going to do until then? Twiddle our thumbs?”

  Annabeth shined a flashlight at the sign on the side of the highway. “There’s a motel at the next intersection.”

  “I doubt they’ll accept our late check-in or the stench of a horse.” Jasper scrunched his nose.

  “I’ll ride ahead and see,” Reagan said remounting the painted mare she called Bailey.

  Jasper circled to the wagon. “Oh no, you don’t. We’re all going.”

  “I thought y’all might want to rest.”

  Jasper plopped next to his wife. “You’d probably book the last motel rooms for your people.”

  “I’m pretty sure they’ll have a vacancy,” Scotty said nudging Pongo.

  They reached the hotel a few minutes later and Reagan handed her reins to Kelly. She snatched her rifle from the saddle and headed for the office. Not even Jasper protested. Travis Wayne padded behind her, his Glock drawn. They eased through the creaky office door. Several thoughts drifted into Reagan’s mind. What if Nate Campbell or the shooter lurked on the other side?

  “Hello?” Travis Wayne shined his flashlight. Several heart-thumping seconds passed in silence. “Nobody’s here.”

  “See if you can find a light switch.” Reagan ran her hands along the wall.

  “What makes you think the lights are gonna work?” As Travis Wayne spoke, the lights flickered.

  “Hey we got power,” Kelly said running in behind them. The others weren’t far behind.

  “Who’s watching the horses?” Reagan asked.

  Kelly pointed a thumb behind her. “Don’t sweat it, Tucker’s handling it. Jon hung back to help.”

  Dawn rang the bell at the check-in counter. “Yoo-hoo? We’d like to check in please.”

  Scotty tilted. “We’re the only ones here, Meredith.”

  “Dawn,” Annabeth whispered.

  “Ugh… Dawn. Why is that so difficult?” Scotty slapped his head.

  “It isn’t,” Dawn wheezed. “Why don’t you call us Mr. and Mrs. Von Reichenau?”

  “Doesn’t make it any easier.” Scotty hurdled the front desk. “How about I check y’all in.”

  “Are we sure it’s safe to stay here?” Annabeth asked taking one of the keys Scotty offered.

  Reagan pantomimed a dramatic stage search in all directions. “I don’t see Norman Bates anywhere.”

  “Don’t joke about that,” Annabeth said shoving her sister.

  “Why are we wasting time? The town square can’t be far.” Jasper eased his wife into a chair.

  “Everyone’s exhausted, including the horses,” Reagan said. “We’ll head to town at first light.”

  “Does the computer work?” Kelly circled the desk approaching the 90s era Compaq Computer.

  Channeling the Fonz, Scotty karate chopped the landline phone springing the receiver into the air. “No dial tone.”

  “Computer’s dead too.”

  “So why do the lights work?” Annabeth asked.

  Everyone’s eyes drifted to the ceiling and then to Kelly. “How am I supposed to know?” she croaked.

  “Why doesn’t everyone get cleaned up and get some rest? We’ll figure things out tomorrow,” Reagan said.

  The group went their separate ways and Reagan returned to the horses. Granddad and Jon removed Bailey and Silver’s saddles.

  Scotty assisted Granddad. “Y’all head inside. I’ll take care of this.”

  Kelly filtered in. “I hate to be the one to mention this, but shouldn’t someone stand guard?”

  Travis Wayne stretched his neck. “I’ll do it.”

  “You’re sick,” Scotty said dismissing him. “I’ll take the first shift. Jonny will relieve me in, say, three hours?”

  Jon stifled a yawn. “Fine by me.”

  Annabeth placed Mickey on the ground. Scotty threw him dog cookies. “Take Mickey in with you, he’ll enjoy the warmth.”

  Annabeth beamed. “Come on boy,” she heading for room four.

  Everyone said their goodnights and Reagan entered the room after Annabeth. She ran her fingers through her oily braid eager for a shower.

  “Water’s freezing,” Annabeth said upon exiting the bathroom. “But at least I’m not covered in dirt.”

  Granddad kicked off his boots and laid on his queen-sized bed. “Water heater probably doesn’t work. Not sure why the lights do.”

  Reagan snatched a towel from the rack as she entered the bathroom. “Let’s not press the issue. It’s nice being able to see.”

  She closed the door behind her and twisted to see the burn mark on her neck. No matter how far she turned, she couldn’t see it in the mirror. At times it pulsed and throbbed, almost emitting heat. But for whatever reason, the pain faded. Despite the frigid water, Reagan allowed it to massage her sore body. She changed into a clean shirt and wished she brought another pair of jeans. She piled her hair atop her head and collapsed next to Annabeth who fell asleep holding Mickey. Annabeth’s long legs sprawled onto Reagan’s side and Reagan scooted her.

  Granddad hobbled toward the bathroom. “Try to turn your mind off. I can see it turning.”

  “Is Nate Campbell the sh
ooter?”

  “I'm not sure, girly. We haven’t had any more run-ins with the shooter since we met Nate Campbell.”

  “It doesn’t make them the same person.”

  “No, it doesn’t. Try to get some rest.”

  Chapter 32 – Twister

  Tom

  The assembly stopped outside the airfield gate to assess the situation and decide on an approach.

  “The green haze isn’t quite as thick.” Hibbert gazed at the sky. “The sun wasn’t as hot today. I’d say the temperature hit ninety, whereas the last few days it crept much higher than one hundred at times.”

  “What’s this mean, Doc?” Tom asked.

  Dixie wiped the sweat from her forehead. She did the heavy lifting transporting Gus across the rough terrain of a golf course shortcut. “Call me when we have a nice autumn day and then I’ll celebrate the temperature drop. Ninety or a hundred, I sweated off thirty pounds.”

  “Perhaps five pounds,” Hibbert mused. “Plus, we have the Gatorade to hydrate. I would estimate less.”

  “What are you getting at, Hibbs?” Davidson poked his finger toward the Englishman. “Is this significant?”

  “Heavens yes. I would venture a guess the green haze dissipating is fabulous news. Mr. Campbell heard some things about the weather before the blackout.”

  Campbell leaned in on a knee. “Sunspots caused an EMP-like interruption to electronics. With the green haze thinning, communication could resume.”

  Davidson whipped out his cellphone. “Still no kind of signal.”

  The rest of the crew tried cellphones as well. Tom’s device was waterlogged at the bottom of his pack. “Listen, guys, if this was an EMP event, then all of our electronics got damaged. Even if the fog lifts these phones are all damaged.”

  “Likely true,” Hibbert said. “And damaged automobiles won’t work in some miraculous way now. But new devices and new motors might work.”

  “Well can you build us a car like Henry Ford or something?” Dixie threw her arms in the air and spun toward the airfield fence, where she launched her iPhone6 fifty yards. If the phone had been a softball, the runner would have been out at the plate. When everyone stared, she released a giggle. “That felt kind of good. I’ve always had a love-hate relationship with my phone.”