Maddy's a Baddy

by David J. Wighton

  "Do you recognize my voice, Jock?"

  "I do, Hector."

  "Toronto is under attack. We're being bombed. I've seen soldiers of some kind setting houses on fire. We need help."

  "Declare martial law," the brigadier general instructed. "Saskatchewan has a mobile task force set up for quick assistance to governments under attack. We'll be there as soon as we can."

  Reese's investigation of the Ontario Supreme Court had revealed that all of the justices were honourable men. Hector, the chief justice, was the man in charge. Reese had also found the bureaucrat in city hall that had the lightest colours. He was a man in charge of the Toronto Metro and had the necessary authority to call for help. Both men had received visits from strangers, had heard what was going on behind the scenes in Toronto, and both men had agreed to make phone calls when they heard explosions in the city.

  Jock had one other conversation that Friday morning. He sent a mind message to Mathias who had two super transports sitting on a grass field in Surrey, BC. Is the cavalry ready to fly?

  Sitting around right now waiting for your call. We can be loaded in ten minutes.

  Saskatchewan's forces?

  Sleeping in tents next to the transport copter, I expect. I'll pick them up on the way.

  You have the coordinates for the landing sites in Toronto?

  Lucas sent them to me earlier. I'll set all three transports down simultaneously.

  Be sure to have the cavalry in place before lunch hour.

  Back to the Table of Contents

  Chapter 36

  As the three Wilizy super transports were approaching Toronto on that Friday morning, a smaller transport copter was landing in Dickinson, North Dakota. The pilot, a bulky woman in blue overalls and a red plaid woolen shirt, was directed to Louise Wilson's house.

  "I read a message that somebody wanted to transport a young girl to a Safe Haven ranch. Was that you?"

  "Yes. Her name is Maddy. She's in the backroom with my three little rascals." Louise observed the woman's size but didn't want to ask if she belonged to the Weight Watchers. Some people are sensitive about disclosing their religion.

  "My name is Birdie. Birdie Quarters. I'm the cook at a mobile work team currently stationed at Fort Peck. We're doing maintenance on the Peck Lake dam. Safe Haven copters fly over Fort Peck Lake once a week. I can raise a flag and they'll drop down and see what we want. One of their copters will be going by tomorrow morning. I can have this girl picked up and delivered to the ranch you want tomorrow if we act quickly. I don't have much time – I have to be back to prepare lunch. Gotta go to your store right now. Back in 15. After that, I'm out of here."

  Louise knew about Fort Peck dam. It was four miles long and had been used a long time ago to control flooding along the Missouri River. It had also been built to provide hydro electricity for the area. No worries about flooding these days and electricity was no longer being produced; but Fort Peck Lake was over 130 miles long and it provided a steady source of water downstream. She didn't know that the Safe Haven ranches were the main beneficiaries to that water. She did know that Maddy could be with her parents tomorrow. She rushed into the back room and that was the first thing she said.

  "Maddy! You're going to see your Mommy and Daddy tomorrow. A copter is here. The lady pilot can take you to a place with a huge lake. Tomorrow, another copter will take you to your Mommy and Daddy! You have to pack now. Get your suitcase."

  Louise's excitement was infectious. Maddy couldn't remember much about her mommy and daddy any more. She had had too many pretend parents and Weight Watcher moms. But she remembered enough about them to be excited. She would find her original mommy and daddy. She'd be safe. She'd live on Bainbridge Island again. Maddy pulled out her pink rolling suitcase and started folding her clothes. Louise stopped the folding and started the throwing. She took more care with Maddy's special story and her picture. Two minutes later, Maddy was standing by the copter. Louise had her hand over her eyes to reduce the sun glare and was scanning the street leading to the grocery store. No signs of Birdie.

  Maddy left her suitcase and looked inside the copter. She noticed it was as big as the copter that had taken her away from Safe Haven Ranch #4. There was a jumble of stuff lying around that Maddy didn't recognize. She did see some ropes, but she saw no chains. No metal bracelets either. No dog collars. No wands. She began to relax – until she recognized a smell coming from the front of the copter. There – between the two soft seats. A carton of some kind with six bottles of prayer juice in it. She leaned over for a better look. Two bottles were open and empty. One was open but it still had juice in it. The other three bottles were closed. The bottles didn't hold the same prayer juice that Brute had used. His juice had the letters C, O, O, R, and S on them. Maddy remembered the letters and their order clearly.

  Maddy pulled the partially full bottle out of the carton. Smelled it. Looked at it. Took a taste. She turned around and dribbled the juice out of her mouth and onto the copter floor. It was terrible. She saw the letters. B, U, D. Bud she said in her mind. Sounding out the letters like Pililiani had taught her. Maddy had learned from experience that people who prayed with bottles of juice were not very nice people. She hopped out of the copter, grabbed the handle of her suitcase, and headed back to Louise's cabin. Louise was still scanning the street. A couple of minutes later, Maddy and her suitcase were back in front of the copter.

  Birdie returned before the 15 minutes were up. She stored several big boxes in the back of the copter and looked at Maddy standing next to her suitcase. Pink, she thought with disdain. How typical for a cute little blonde girl. She said something more friendly instead. "Are you ready or not?"

  Maddy saw a lady like Pililiani. Most of the Weight Watcher guides were like this lady and they had all been nice. Maddy made the decision to go. She tried to pick up the suitcase and hold it to her chest so that it would be with her during the flight. It was too bulky. Louise lifted Maddy into the copilot's seat and strapped her in. When Maddy grunted and pointed to her suitcase, Louise lifted it up onto her lap. Maddy relaxed. The scissors she had stolen from Louise were in the front pocket. Louise waved good-bye; Maddy undid the Velcro tab on the front pocket.

  Ten minutes into the 230 mile flight to Fort Peck, Birdie looked at the pink monstrosity. She grabbed it out of Maddy's hands and heaved it into the back. Hope that didn't break your little fancy-dancy perfume bottles. "Too dangerous to hold it on your lap," she said instead. Then she took a swallow of prayer juice.

  # # # # # # # #

  Lucas spent that Friday morning learning to march and salute. Well, he did more than that during those hours, but it seemed like that was all he was doing. The general had told Lucas that he needed an aide to serve as a glorified messenger between himself, General Cameron of B.C. and the troops. Was he up for it?

  Lucas said that he was, so Jock pulled out a Saskatchewan uniform that he happened to have lying around and had Lucas try it on. It was a little tight around the chest but otherwise it fit well. "I'll ask Yolanda to move those buttons," the general said. "You'll be more comfortable."

  "What are these things on my shoulder and sleeve?" Lucas asked.

  "Those indicate your rank. I have some on my uniform too. The yellow dot and crossed swords on black indicate that I am a brigadier-general. You have the same yellow dot and what we call a pip."

  "What rank is my uniform?"

  "You're wearing the uniform of a former second lieutenant. A general's aide must always be a lieutenant or higher."

  After that, Lucas received a whole lot of instruction on how to approach Jock and General Cameron, how to salute, how to stand, how to turn away, and much more. Lucas didn't mind. He and Theo had often played games of army.

  When Mathias messaged that they were half an hour out, the general told Lucas that the sergeants securing City Hall and the police station would be reporting to him on what they had done. Lucas knew the plan best, so he should tell them what to do next.
He should only report to the two generals when the operation to secure the two buildings was complete.

  "Oh, before I forget. Second lieutenants are entitled to wear a sidearm. Put this belt and holster on. There's a pistol inside the holster and it's loaded. I have a similar weapon."

  # # # # # # # #

  Lucas and Jock were standing together in a street intersection in Toronto that was close to both City Hall and the police station. They watched as a Wilizy transport landed in front of City Hall. Soldiers dressed in khaki quickly leapt out of the transport and placed themselves in front of all possible exits from the building. City Hall was a big building and it had a lot of exits. Lucas would be working with 100 B.C. soldiers.

  The police station was smaller, but the police would be armed, so Lucas had assigned 100 Saskatchewan soldiers to that building. Their transport landed at the same time as the B.C. transport and the Saskatchewan soldiers surrounded their building quickly too. Like Lucas, they wore khaki uniforms with a Riders' green beret on their head. The B.C. soldiers were stuck with a khaki cap. A third transport landed nearby too. It was carrying supplies for the two armies.

  A man with a lot of braid on his sleeve started walking towards Jock. Move away from me now, the general instructed Lucas. Don't speak until you're spoken to. General Cameron saluted Jock because Jock had the higher rank and would be in charge of both armies. Jock saluted back. They chatted for a while about family and friends that they had known. "I believe we're ready to start," General Cameron finally said.

  "We are too," Jock said. "I'll make the announcement at both sites; your sergeants should report to my aide," and he pointed at Lucas.

  "Second Lieutenant," General Cameron said. Lucas snapped to attention, gave him the A#1 salute that he had practiced, and dropped his hand. "Shall we take a stroll?" Jock asked his counterpart. Keep two steps behind, Lucas.

  They strolled to City Hall first. Strolling in army talk means marching but without the high arms and feet. "Bugler, sound Attention," Jock said. "Put some ooomph into it." A corporal had a bugle on his belt and he used it as directed. All of the B.C. soldiers had been briefed as to who was in charge. They came sharply to attention. If people inside the building weren't already watching the soldiers, they were now. Some opened windows; others came out onto the big front steps and gathered in front.

  Jock waited for a crowd to develop. "Bugler, sound Prepare to repel boarders." Technically, this was a naval command, but armed forces in B.C. and Saskatchewan were a combination of navy, army, and air force personnel. (Saskatchewan was a little light on the navy part. The largest standing body of water in the province could be found inside the Regina water tower.) As soon as the last peal on the bugle had sounded, all the men pivoted sharply so that their backs were to the city hall building and so that they were in triplets – all with weapons at the ready. One man scanned to the left; one man scanned to the right; the third directly ahead. They paid particular attention to the tops of the building now facing them as well as to their windows.

  "Civilians! As per orders from the Ontario Supreme Court, Toronto is now under martial law. The men in front of you are from the B.C. army and they have been assigned to protect you. We have received credible information that your City Hall will be attacked in the next 24-48 hours. The attackers will be from a foreign country that we have not identified yet. They were responsible for last night's explosions. For your own safety, you should leave your building now and gather in front of it. The B.C. army will take you to a safe site where you will be able to rest and feed yourself. Do not be alarmed. We don't believe that they've had a chance to place bombs inside the building yet, but we'd hate to be wrong."

  This last statement had been designed to get the bureaucrats moving. It worked. Jock had issued that statement without any amplifying equipment. Everybody within one block of city hall heard it.

  "General Cameron, I leave Toronto's city hall in your capable hands. My lieutenant will coordinate operations." The B.C. general waved two fingers and two sergeants approached Lucas and saluted him. Lucas returned the salute and gave his first ever army order. "Spread the word inside the building to leave quickly but safely. Bring everyone to the front plaza. Report to me when done."

  Jock repeated the same speech in front of the police station, Lucas repeated his orders to another two sergeants, and then he waited in the intersection between the two buildings.

  Lucas' next set of orders was for the armies to send search teams through both buildings. That prompted some city officials who had been hiding to find alternate exits from the building. B.C. soldiers caught them using a hand-cranked elevator and brought them to Lucas. "They say they're tunnel inspectors," a corporal reported. Lucas looked at them. "Put them with the others," he ordered.

  "Would you like my men to take their names and positions?" General Cameron asked, thinking that should have been done but technically not having the authority to tell Lucas to do so.

  "Thank you, General. I know who these men are."

  Soon afterwards, the B.C. sergeants reported that the building was empty and the crowd in front was under control. "Take them to Maple Loaf Gardens," Lucas said. "Let them sit anywhere inside the arena. Control all exits. Nobody leaves."

  At that, Lucas' responsibility for City Hall ended. He still had the police station to handle and Jock was waiting there for him.

  "The police are all out, but I expect to have difficulty disarming them. I'll give the orders; you follow my lead."

  # # # # # # # #

  A little background may be necessary. Maple Loaf Gardens is where Toronto's pro hockey team had played before the troubles. That team used to be known as the Maple Leafs and their uniform had a logo of a big maple leaf on it. Their building used to be known as Maple Leaf Gardens. Different owners came along, the team changed arenas, and the Gardens arena was downsized. But it remained an historic building. In 2042, when the Maple Leaf fans had endured 75 years without winning the Stanley Cup even once, they re-named the building Maple Loaf Gardens and the team symbol became a hockey player sitting in a recliner in his skates and gear while sucking on a beer. Hockey hadn't been played in Toronto since the troubles, but the Gardens still could function as a place large enough for the Wilizy to store hundreds of people and keep them under control.

  # # # # # # # #

  The crowd in front of the police station had a different feel to it than the crowd of bureaucrats in front of City Hall. They had all exited quickly enough when Jock had mentioned the "b" word, but they came out belligerently and then clustered together in groups – staring at the Saskatchewan soldiers. The soldiers maintained their own discipline – ignoring the glares and scanning the nearby buildings around them for foreigners with guns. The prevalent feeling of the police was that they didn't need an army wearing spiffy green berets to protect them. Nor were they willing to let the same berets find the foreigners. That was their job.

  "This area is under martial law according to a lawful order from your Supreme Court," Jock started. "Military law dictates that weapons can only be carried by the military with jurisdiction in the area. This only makes sense. You can't have two different armed forces operating independently. If somebody fired a gun, innocent people could be killed – yours as well as ours. As the military commander in Toronto, I am hereby ordering the members of the Toronto constabulary to place their weapons at the base of the statue in the plaza."

  Nobody had trouble hearing the general, but nobody responded. Most were looking around to see what others would do. A lot of glances were focused on a clump of experienced policemen, standing shoulder-to-shoulder and staring down anybody who looked inclined to unbutton a belt.

  Do you see the leaders, Jock asked Lucas.

  Yeah. I've seen some of them in the bar with the underbosses of the families. They're on the take.

  We will identify their alpha male. "Bugler, sound Dixie," Saskatchewan's brigadier-general ordered.

  When the last pea
l had sounded, all of the soldier turned 180 degrees and focused their guns on the police and the civilians standing in the front of the station. Dixie was the bugling song that the general had told them he'd use if they had to go from protecting the police to threatening the police.

  "Stay calm," Jock continued. "Slowly, put your hands on your gun belts and let them fall to the ground."

  "Don't!" one male voice said.

  "Lieutenant. Reason with that man." Buzzards and eyeballs, Jock sent privately.

  Lucas performed his A#1 march and positioned himself nose to nose with the man. Being that close, he was able to see that the man had a large, bulging red nose that indicated a fondness for alcohol. Lucas knew that this man liked checking the strip joints during his duty watch. He wasn't checking for violations of the Below the Waist Edict. He was looking for alcohol that had been specially priced for members of the constabulary.

  "I encourage you to obey a lawful order, Sir."

  "I'm not giving up my gun, beret boy."

  "General, the man won't reason."

  "Shoot him."

  Lucas pulled out his revolver and placed the muzzle against the man's shoulder.

  "Shoot to wound or shoot to kill, General?"

  "Shoot to kill."

  Lucas raised the muzzle to the man's forehead. "I'd recommend that you don't stand near this man," Lucas said to the crowd within blood spatter range. "There's a high velocity bullet in this gun." The seas parted. The man was now standing all by himself. He'd be feeling a little lonely right about now.

  "You wouldn't dare shoot me. I'm an innocent man standing in front of my station."

  "Men like us follow lawful orders, Sir. You are disobeying a lawful order. The general has ordered me to shoot you. Would you prefer that I leave your body here in the square or would you like me to arrange a burial for you? The crows will probably take your eyeballs before I can get you buried."

  Big gulp. The veteran policeman looked at the soldier in front of him. Great stone face. Not an emotion showing. He lowered his hands and unbuttoned the belt. The others followed suit.

  Toronto's police arrived at Maple Loaf Gardens soon afterwards and flowed into the seats. The Saskatchewan army took over guard duties at the Gardens. The B.C. army took up visible positions throughout the downtown core to deter the Japanese gang. It was 12:30 Friday. Time for lunch.