After the Fall: Catherine's Tale Part 2: The warrior's fight for survival begins

by David Nees

  It seemed to Billy like John should be on the other side of the fight. Could he convince John to join them? Billy felt the urge to try, but he couldn’t speak. The risk was too great.

  “You should make yourself scarce tomorrow.” John said. “Don’t let someone put you on the barricades. I’m one who could do it, but you didn’t sign up for this.” The officer’s eyes grew dark. “I’d rather think of you being out in the woods, hunting. It’s cleaner. I don’t know if this is all going to turn out to be nothing, but if it doesn’t, it’s going to get bloody here. Even if we win.”

  A couple of hours later, Billy excused himself and left the bar. John stayed, talking with the bartender and working on the bottle of Jim Beam. Billy walked around the central area again. The generators were still humming, the work was still going on, bringing up more sandbags, desks, more office furniture, trailers, anything that could reinforce the barricades. Again, he took careful note of where the mortars were being placed. They could be moved, but at least he had something to report.

  Finally, with a heavy heart and a feeling of dread in the pit of his stomach, Billy slipped out of the headquarters and started back to Lori Sue’s apartment. The first hint of the sun was beginning to lighten the eastern night sky.

  Lori Sue rose before dawn. She knew that she had to leave before Billy got back. Otherwise they’d have a big fight, and she didn’t want that. She was naturally stubborn, and she was committed to freeing Donna. Billy had shown surprising stubbornness of his own in not wanting her to go back. There was no reconciling the two. Better to just go and get it done. There wouldn’t be a fight when she got back with Donna, having stolen her from that monster, Leo. It would have been nice to see Billy off before the attack started, but this way was better. Get this done and get the hell back here while everything else was blowing up.

  Chapter 24

  “You got that 9mm I gave you?” Lori Sue asked.

  “It’s stuffed inside of one of Leo’s shoes, behind some socks. It’s a pair I’ve never seen him wear, but I made sure they took all his shoes. I told them Leo would be pissed if they left any of his personal clothes behind,” Donna replied. She smiled for an instant. “They listened. They’re scared of him.”

  “I’ll bet he’s gonna be downtown until this fight is over,” Lori Sue said. “I’ll get your gun. Let’s also get you dressed in something other than that nightie. We may have to run for it.”

  “Get me loose first. I’ve got some clothes. I saw them when I got moved. But I haven’t worn anything but this and a house coat to go across the street.”

  “Bastard,” muttered Lori Sue. “Hold out your leg.” She pulled the bolt cutters from her jacket and began to go to work on the shackle. “Damn. These ain’t big enough. That’s some hard-ass metal.” She was squeezing the handles together as hard as she could and moving the jaws back and forth to try to gouge out the metal of the cuff. It was barely leaving a mark.

  “Just try to cut the chain. We can get the cuff off later.”

  Lori Sue switched to the chain. “That ain’t much easier.” She kept at it, grunting with the effort.

  “Let me help,” Donna said. “I’ll grab one handle, you grab the other, and we’ll try to push them together.”

  It worked only for a moment, then the cutter slipped sideways and they rapped their knuckles together.

  “Ow! Shit that hurts,” Lori Sue shouted.

  “Shhh.”

  “Who the hell’s gonna hear? The only guard’s down at the main door.” Lori Sue jumped up and looked around. “We got to get you free somehow. We could be here all day gnawing at that damn metal.”

  “Oh God. He’s going to come back before we get done. I know it,” Donna said. Her voice was rising in panic.

  “Don’t get hysterical on me. He’s probably not coming back today.”

  “But he might. He might check up on me before the attack. I can feel it.”

  “Will it make you feel better if I get that gun?”

  “Yes. Hurry.”

  “Then we got to figure something out with that damn chain.” Lori Sue went into the bedroom. “Where’re his shoes?” she shouted back to Donna.

  “In the far closet. There’s some shelves on the floor for shoes.”

  Lori Sue got down on her hands and knees and poked around the closet floor. It was too dark to see anything. She pulled out a pair of shoes. No gun. Another shoe, then another. Still no gun. Shit. Did he find the gun? If he had he’d be coming back, coming back for her. She reached back into the closet and pulled more shoes out. Finally she felt the gun. She reached into the shoe and pulled the 9mm loose from where it was jammed into the toe.

  After pulling the gun out, she checked it. It hadn’t been unloaded. He didn’t find it! She could imagine Leo playing a trick like that. She ran back to the hall near the door where she had left Donna sitting. Donna looked up at Lori Sue with tears in her eyes. “Give me the gun and you get out of here,” Donna said. “He’s going to come. I can feel it. And he’ll kill you. I’ll use the gun on him when he comes.”

  “You ever shot someone?”

  “No.”

  “You ever shot a gun?”

  “No.”

  “You won’t stand a chance. Look.” Lori Sue pulled another pistol out of her back waistband. “I got a gun too. Picked it up after I gave you mine. I wasn’t gonna go without.” She shoved it back into her pants. “And I shot someone once. Some cowboy who thought he could manhandle me into some sex. Came following me out from the roadhouse out on Vickers Pike, couple of years before that shit happened. He grabbed me but I got free and ran across the parking lot. He made the mistake of comin’ after me, so I shot him. Hit him in the shoulder. He went down and started bawling, ‘Why’d you have to go and do that?’ ‘Why?’ I told him, ‘Why’d you come after me, you dumbass? Serves you right’—”

  “Okay, let’s hurry,” Donna said.

  Lori Sue put the jaws of the cutter over a link of the chain, with one of the handles on the floor. Then they both pressed down on the other handle together. They were pushing with all their strength, sweating and puffing in their exertion. They didn’t hear the key turn in the lock. .

  The door swung toward them.

  “Need the keys?”

  Leo put the key he was holding in his pocket. Smiling, he pulled out a small key ring. “It’s easier than trying to cut through high-strength steel. The shackle and chain are not wimpy decorations. Nothing cheap like that for my girl. I got her quality gear.”

  They were frozen in place. They stared up at Leo.

  “Don’t I get a welcome home?” He shook his head slightly at Donna. “The last time you were all over me, wanting to make love. Now you’re trying to get loose? And who’s this?” He pointed at Lori Sue. His expression was gentle, a smile played at the edges of his mouth, but his eyes were dark and malevolent. “You got a girlfriend? Without asking my permission? Maybe I should add her to my collection.”

  He stepped forward and shut the door without taking his eyes off them. “Slide the bolt cutters over to me…on the floor. Don’t get up,” he commanded as Lori Sue started to move.

  “I was just trying to make her more comfortable,” Lori Sue said. “That shackle around her ankle chafes, in case you didn’t notice.”

  “That so?” Leo replied. “I wouldn’t get smart with me. It could get painful for you. I don’t think she’ll be doing much without that shackle for some time, now that I’ve seen this.” He switched his gaze to Donna. “And I thought I could trust you. I thought you were coming around.”

  He moved, and Lori Sue tensed, but he just stepped around them and into the living room. He turned a chair partway round, so that it faced them, and sat down. “I’m now curious,” he said. “All that loving the last time. Was that just an act?”

  Donna didn’t answer. She just stared at him, her eyes wide with fear.

  Leo abruptly bellowed, “Answer me!” His cool veneer had cracked, and his rage
was now plain to see.

  Donna flinched and didn’t answer. Lori Sue’s mind was on Donna’s gun. He hadn’t seen it; in the struggle with the bolt cutters, Donna had actually ended up half-sitting on it. But as soon as Donna moved, he would see it.

  “Don’t yell at her,” Lori Sue said. “Ain’t you done enough? You’re just a bully. I seen guys like you before, pushin’ women around, makes ‘em feel big—”

  “I told you to hold your tongue.” There was no pretense now. “That’s gonna cost you.” Leo stood up.

  Lori Sue jumped up. “I ain’t afraid of you,” she said, even as she stepped back.

  “You will be.” Leo said. He stepped forward. His speed caught her off guard. He moved shockingly fast.

  Lori Sue’s 9mm was in her hand in a flash, but it felt slow as he reached for her. She fired. The bullet grazed his side. He lunged at her. Something small and silvery spun from his hand. She pulled the trigger again as he grabbed the weapon and the shot went into the wall. Before she could get off another shot he twisted the pistol toward her, almost ripping it out of her hand. His hands squeezed tight over hers, he turned the gun and the pistol fired again.

  A huge fist slammed into her stomach. She couldn’t stop herself from falling backwards.

  “Stupid bitch. Serves you right,” Leo said above her.

  Above her she saw Donna standing, one arm out, with a pistol in her hand. The gun fired with a sharp explosion of sound and flew out of Donna’s hand back toward her ashen face. Leo staggered sideways, looking at Donna in surprise. Lori Sue felt him trip over her legs. He fell out of her view, her gun thumping on the carpet.

  She saw Donna almost leap over her and stoop to snatch something up. It was the little key ring. She heard Leo groan and begin to roll over. Donna crawled back past Lori Sue and twisted around, trying to insert the key into the shackle lock. Her hands were shaking badly, and she couldn’t seem to make it work. No, shoot him, Lori Sue wanted to say, but the words wouldn’t come out. She could see Leo now, slowly getting to his feet. He’d be on Donna in a moment. There was the click of the lock springing open. The gun! She wanted to say, but Donna forgot it and leaped for the door.

  Leo lurched overhead. “Come back here, bitch. I ain’t done with you.” His voice harsh with rage and pain.

  Lori Sue saw the door fly open, and heard the sound of running feet, and she was glad.

  The map room was just starting to fill with people for the final meeting when Catherine saw Billy run in. The boy looked around wildly and saw her and Jason; he ran over to them, almost knocking over one of Charlie’s people in the process.

  “Billy!” Jason looked at him in astonishment.

  “Lori Sue’s gone to rescue Donna. At Leo’s place.” Billy’s face was flush with frustration and alarm. “I told her to wait, but she don’t listen. Left me a note. I got the address. Leo moved to the south side. He’s back in town. She could run into him. We got to help her.”

  Jason stared at him. “Billy…we’ve got to get ready for the attack. It has to be quick and effective. Before Joe gets things more organized. Before he finds out we’re in town and we’re the ones who get hit.”

  Billy looked at Jason in surprise. “You ain’t goin’? I thought you was my friend.”

  “Billy.” Jason rubbed his hand over his face. “Lori Sue should have waited, like you said. I can’t jeopardize the mission for her.”

  “So you say.” Billy’s expression had changed to disgust. “I helped you when you asked me to. Thought I’d get some help in return. Fat lot of good that did me.” He started for the door. “Guess I’m gonna have to do this without any help.”

  “Wait,” Catherine called out. “I’ll help you.”

  Billy stopped and turned to her.

  “Catherine, we just talked about this last night,” Jason said sharply. “You agreed to work with a plan, not go off on your own.”

  “Yeah, but this is different. A woman’s in trouble, another one went to help, and now Billy, a valley neighbor, needs help to go to them…and Leo may be there.” She stared back at him, driving it home. “You remember what I said, I get to take Leo out. This may be the best chance we have. And he’s boss of the whole militia. If I can kill him, they’ll be disorganized. Cut off the head of the snake, the body dies.”

  “It’s what my pa said,” Billy said.

  Jason just looked at her.

  Catherine continued. “When we’re done, I’ll link up with you, or find that rooftop and start sniping. I can do a lot of damage from up high.”

  Kevin said quietly. “Can we talk privately for a moment?” He looked alarmed.

  She looked at him grimly, but she nodded. They stepped out into the hallway and walked to the stairs.

  “Catherine, don’t do this. It could be suicide for you.”

  “You’re telling me to not help two other women? One of them Billy’s girlfriend?”

  “What do you owe them? Think about the larger picture, the battle to free this town. It’s one of the reasons I stayed behind.”

  “I thought you stayed behind for me.”

  “You know I did. And now we’ve both gotten caught up in the town’s battle, in ending this, freeing up the town and trying to make a more normal life…for us and everyone else.”

  “That’s what I’m trying to do. Help Billy’s girlfriend and rescue a woman.” She stepped close to Kevin and tapped his chest. “You think she’ll have a normal life as Leo’s captive?”

  “Catherine…” Kevin looked pained. “Are you still angry at me for Bird’s death? Is that what this is?”

  “This isn’t about getting back at you. I can’t believe you’d think I’d be that petty. This is about lives. And, yes, I’m still mad about Bird’s death, but not necessarily at you. But this is a chance to get Leo. I need to do that for Bird…and for myself.” She glared at him.

  He touched her shoulder. She could see him hesitate. Then he sighed. “I can see I won’t talk you out of this.”

  “No, you won’t.”

  “I can’t go with you. I have to—”

  “I know. I know, Kevin.”

  “I just fear for you. It’s natural.”

  “And I’ll fear for you when you’re in the battle. It’ll be in the back of my mind, but I’ll try to block it out so I can fight better. I’ve learned a lot about fighting…about needing to empty your mind of everything except the moment, about controlling the fear. You do the same. I want you to come back from this fight as well.”

  She reached up around his neck and pulled him close to her. They kissed, long and deep. His arms were tight around her.

  “This is hard,” Kevin said.

  “Yes. It’s hard times.”

  Catherine saw Billy standing impatiently behind Kevin. Jason was with him. “Leave the M110 here,” Jason told Catherine. “The Bushmaster will be more useful to you. When you’re done, come straight back. We’ll be ready to go in about ninety minutes.”

  Catherine nodded. Without a word, she and Billy went to grab their weapons.

  Chapter 25

  Catherine stuffed four extra magazines in her jacket pockets. She could see Billy’s pockets already bulging with his five-shot magazines. With no more words, she and Billy headed down the stairs and into the streets. It was now midmorning. She had gotten only a couple of hours of sleep during the wait for the rest of the group to arrive. Fatigue was beginning to attack Catherine’s focus. She fought it off. Time enough to rest when this is done. The chance to find Leo and kill him drove her, pushing her fatigue aside.

  They made their way towards the address. Billy walked a short distance ahead of Catherine, a few steps out into the street. She sometimes had to hide when a patrol came by. When Billy saw someone, he would make a small gesture with his hands down by his sides, but each time she had already noticed a change in his posture. They saw three patrols, groups of three or four men each. None reacted with alarm to Billy walking with his rifle slung behind his shoulder;
it was clear that they knew him by sight. One of the patrols actually stopped to talk to Billy for a moment. Catherine had plenty of time to duck into a basement stairwell.

  She heard Billy say, “You’re joking.”

  “Not joking,” she heard a voice reply. “Reckon you can forget about hunting for a while. They’ll probably be telling you to join up with us. They think the attack will come anytime.”

  “Who would be stupid enough to attack us? The whole city!”

  “It’s for real. Knew three guys they pulled out to go on the valley raid, and they sure didn’t come back. Bet you get assigned to the barricades. I’d try to avoid that if I was you.” A couple of the others nodded.

  “I will. You be careful then.”

  “You know it.”

  The footsteps took a while to recede. She looked out carefully to check and then emerged. Her mind was sticking on the controlled tension she had heard in the man’s voice. They’re going to be ready. “After we finish this, we got to connect with Kevin and Jason,” she said. “Right after. We have to stop the militia before they start using their heavy weapons.” She started walking with him again.

  “They that dangerous?” Billy asked.

  Catherine shuddered. “You don’t want to be on the receiving end of a mortar shell. There’s no place to hide.”

  “Bad, huh?”

  “Yeah. I was trying to crawl into the ground, laying there so flat so nothing would hit me. You just don’t know where it’ll hit and how the shrapnel will spread.” She shuddered again at the memory. Her mind swung to Bird. “I don’t want to talk about it. We’ve got something to do. Go back on ahead.”

  When they got near the building, Billy told Catherine he should approach the guard. “The guard will be focused on me. I should look like I’m coming up alone.”

  “Wait till we see the place. Maybe there’s no guards.”