Apex Predator

by Glyn Gardner

  “But if I screw up, then somebody could die.”

  “Yup, you’re right. And, someone could die if you do absolutely everything right. You can only do your best…”

  “Don’t give me that ‘your best’ bullshit,” she interrupted. “I don’t need a fucking cheerleader.”

  “No, you need a win. And you got one when you shoved that tube in that girl’s chest.”

  “No, I didn’t. I’ll get my win when she opens her eyes and can breathe without that tube.” She wiped the tears on her sleeves.

  “So, go get your win,” he finally said. “Let us know if you need anything.”

  She threw her arms around the big NCO. “Thank you Sergeant Brown.” He squeezed her as tightly as she squeezed him

  She didn’t know it, but he was just as scared he would screw something else up. His mind went to Mr. White, Maria and Wilcox at the convoy. He knew he’d screwed that up. He thought about his troopers who had died on day one. He thought about Anderson and the young kids they’d rescued. No, she’s not the only one afraid of screwing up and killing people.

  “He’s right you know,” Kerry said. Jen had forgotten about the other girls in the room.

  “You’re the only person with medical training in this group. We can help, but you’re the only one who knows this stuff.” She pointed at the little girl on the table.

  “I know,” Jen replied. “It’s just a little overwhelming.”

  “We’re all overwhelmed right now,” added Theresa.

  “It’s ok guys. My pity party is over. I’ll be fine.”

  “Good,” the big NCO said. “I’m gonna go check on the others. Let us know if you need something or if there is any change.” He turned to walk out.

  “Oh,” he said over his shoulder. “After we get the inventory done, I’m gonna work on some dinner.”

  He strode into supply room with the two young engineer troops. They were just finishing up. “Here’s the list of everything we have,” reported Jefferson. “Haven’t gotten to the ammo yet, but this is the rest.” SSgt Brown looked at the list. Good, we should have enough food and water for at least a week.

  He walked to the kennel area. The kids were almost done with their task. He stood there for several seconds, still amazed at the resourcefulness of the engineer NCO. There were essentially two lines of fencing with two gates across the doorway. It wasn’t the Maginot line, but it would do.

  “Nice job Sergeant Procell,” he announced.

  “Thank you Sergeant. I think it’ll hold for a few minutes in a pinch.”

  “In a pinch,” he repeated. “I’d say that Vauban couldn’t have done a better job,” he stated. The reference to French King Louis XIV’s chief engineer wasn’t lost on Sgt Procell.

  “I don’t know about all that,” the engineer replied with a twinkle of pride in his eyes.

  “Now you need to find us a ladder,” SSgt Brown quipped.

  “Already on it,” replied the engineer. “I saw one in a storage room around the corner.”

  “How about the girl?” SSgt Brown asked.

  “Still working on that one,” he replied. “I’m heading to talk to the nurse in just minute.”

  “Good. When you get finished here, let these folks go get some chow.”

  “Roger that,” he said. “We’ll head out in just a few minutes.” SSgt Brown nodded and exited the room. He walked into the veterinarian’s office. He found Lieutenant Cruzan sitting at the desk with his head in his hands.

  “You ok sir?” he asked.

  “Fine Sergeant,” the officer replied with a sigh. “How is everything out there?”

  “Actually sir, not too shabby,” he replied. “We have enough food for about a week. Don’t have an ammo count, but I think we’re ok there. Your Sergeant Procell has fortified the kennel area into quite a nice little fallback position. The girl seems to be stable, no change there. Jackson has the emergency radio up and running. Two of the teachers have, uh um, volunteered to help out with guard duty. The women are helping Jen with the little girl.”

  “What about the kids? What are they doing? Sitting around eating and playing grab ass?”

  “Sir, do you have a problem with the kids,” SSgt Brown asked angrily.

  “Yes Sergeant Brown I do,” the officer replied.

  SSgt Brown Shut the door. “Ok sir, what is it?”

  “They’re going to get us all killed. You know that don’t you?”

  “What do you mean, sir,” the NCO asked.

  “You don’t see it? Don’t you think it would be easier if we didn’t have all these civilians around slowing us down? I mean c’mon. One of them is in a damned coma from playing grab ass in the back of a moving fucking truck!” Lt. Cruzan was getting angrier as he went on.

  “Where would we be right now? I’ll tell you. We’d be halfway to the fucking river if we didn’t have to stop and watch a fucking nurse perform emergency surgery on one of those kids!”

  “Sir,” SSgt Brown interrupted. “Are you saying we should abandon the civilians?”

  “God damn it Sergeant,” he yelled. “I don’t want to abandon them, but this is a survival situation. We’re only as strong as our weakest link. For fuck sake, right now our weakest link can barely string two breaths together! If those things find us here, we’re screwed.”

  “Sir, we’re pretty isolated out here. The doors are secured. We’ve got food and supplies. We can hold up here for a while. We’re no safer out there than in here.”

  “Bullshit! If it was just six soldiers we could move faster, and quieter than we can saddled with these kids!”

  “Sir, my unit was sent here to help these people,” SSgt Brown shot back angrily. “They need our help.”

  “Everyone needs help right now. You’d better fix your bleeding fucking heart and start thinking about what’s important.”

  “And what is that sir?” he asked

  “We are soldiers of the United States of America, a country that, as we speak, is being overrun by the enemy. Our job is to make it back to friendly lines with as much combat power intact as we can. Once there we fight to take our country back.”

  “No sir! Jackson and I are members of the Louisiana National Guard activated by the Governor of the state of Louisiana to assist the citizens of the Shreveport Bossier City area.” SSgt Brown wanted to choke this selfish asshole.

  “My mission is to help these civilians, not to abandon them to their fate. And it sure isn’t to make a mad dash across the country and to-hell-with everyone else. And, are you for real? You think you could live with yourself if you left a bunch of seventh graders to die when you could have helped?”

  “I’m having enough trouble living with myself knowing that I lost most of my platoon. I’m not losing the fucking rest!”

  “Sir, we’re not losing the rest.” He let his anger pass, and calmed his voice. He felt like he was talking to one of his high school kids. “We’re going to stay here, let that little girl heal, and move out smartly when all of us can.”

  He lowered his voice, and leaned over the desk. He was so close to the Lieutenant’s face that he could tell he hadn’t brushed his teeth in several days.

  “Are we fucking clear El-Tee?”

  Lt Cruzan knew the NCO was right. Shit! “Roger Sergeant.”

  “Good,” SSgt Brown said as he stood up. He turned and walked to the door. He stopped as he grabbed the handle. “And sir, if you even think about abandoning these people again, I’ll fucking cut your throat. Are we clear?”

  Lieutenant Jason Cruzan was 100% sure that SSgt Brown would follow through on his promise. He felt a shiver run down his spine as he watched the big NCO walk away. He stood up, straightened his ACU jacket, and walked out of the office.

  He found the rest of the group sitting in the reception area. They were in little groups, talking and eating. The kids were together with the priest. One of them must have told a joke because the rest burst out in laughter, even the priest. The soldiers
were all gathered around SSgt Brown. Unlike the children, this group seemed to be eating in silence. Lt Cruzan wondered if any of them were aware of the argument he and SSgt Brown had in the veterinarian’s office.

  “Hey El-Tee,” Sgt Procell greeted him. “Pull up some floor. And get some chow. We have a fine selection of MRE’s, beef jerky, cheese crackers, peanut butter, and assorted candy bars and sweat treats. Will you be dining alone or with the peasants?”

  “As the only member of the gentlemanly class, I feel it is my duty to keep a close eye on the peasantry. So, Garcon, I believe I shall dine in the company of the unwashed masses.” Good, he thought, at least Sgt Procell is treating me like normal.

  “Sir,” it was Father Albright.

  “Father,” he replied.

  “SSgt Brown made a reference to history, and I was wondering if you could educate the kids about it.”

  “Ok,” replied the officer. “What historical reference did my distinguished colleague from the Nasty Guard make?” SSgt Brown and Jackson chuckled, the rest of the soldiers laughed.

  “Well, he told your Sergeant Procell that Vauban couldn’t have done a better job in the kennels. Would you educate us on this Vauban fellow?”

  “Vauban,” he began with a little pride in his tone. “He was a Frenchman who worked for the king of France at the end of the 17th century. He is considered to be the father of the modern combat engineer. Could all of the combat engineers in the room please raise your hands?”

  They did to the applause of the rest.

  “He literally wrote the book on siege warfare and fortress construction. He was not of noble birth, much like my peasant soldiers,” he motioned to his guys who broke into laughter. “He earned his way through the ranks for his bravery and innovation. He designed fortresses that still stand in France today. He developed or improved engineering techniques like military mining and siege trenches. His French sappers…” The engineers broke out in a series of grunts at the term. “His sappers would dig trenches to the walls of opponent’s castle, so the artillery could batter down the walls while being below the level the opposing cannons could fire. Or, they would dig tunnels under the walls, and blow them up, causing the walls to crumble, thus allowing French infantry to exit their approach trenches and overwhelm defenders.”

  He bowed to the priest. “That concludes today’s lesson.”

  He sat down to the cheers of his men and clapping of the children. “You are so gonna pay for that Sergeant Procell.”

  “Oh, but it sounds so much better coming from you than from the uneducated, unwashed masses.” The soldiers broke out in laughter.

  Father Albright had asked the engineer NCO to explain the Vauban reference, but was told that Lt Cruzan loved to give speeches. He wiped the sweat from his brow. He couldn’t tell if it was just warm in here, or if he was starting to run a little fever.

  After everyone had eaten, SSgt Brown asked the three Privates, Sgt Procell, Mike and the two volunteer teachers to join him the office.

  “Alright guys, I’ve made out the guard shifts. Jackson and Mike, you have the first guard shift. Two hours then wake up Jefferson and Williams. The next shift will be Sergeant Procell and Mr. Love. The last shift will be Mrs. Arrington and I. Keep an ear on the radio. Don’t use firearms unless you have to. Jackson and Williams go out the trucks and bring in the pioneer tools. We use shovels, axes, picks-axes, or bayonets if anything gets in. Got it?”

  They all nodded. The meeting broke, and everyone but Jackson, Mike and SSgt Brown headed to the kennel area for some much needed rest. SSgt Brown found Jen sitting next to her patient, keeping vigil.

  “You need to get some sleep,” told her as he entered the room.

  “I know,” she replied.

  “Do you girls have a rotation set up?” he asked.

  “I’ll be fine.”

  “No, you won’t,” he replied. “You don’t do her any good if you can’t keep your eyes open. Get the girls in here, tell them what they need to monitor, and get some sleep. That’s an order.”

  “Are you pulling rank on me Sergeant?”

  “Yes,” he replied.

  “I think nurses in the military are officers, aren’t they?”

  “Not in this unit they’re not. Get your nurses in training in here and get some sleep. Don’t make me force you to go to sleep and put a guard on your ass.”

  “Yes, sir,” she gave in. She called the girls into the room. “SSgt Brown agrees with you guys. I’ll take the first three hours. Kerry, you get the next three. Theresa, you finish up the night.” She looked at the big NCO. “Happy?”

  “No. You get the last shift,” he ordered. “That is not negotiable. Kerry, Theresa then you can get up.”

  Jen was furious. She knew he was right. But, she didn’t want to leave the other girls to have to watch her patient. She felt like the girl’s life was her responsibility. She didn’t want anything to happen when she was asleep.

  “Ok, I’ll sleep,” she conceded. “But, if anything changes you wake me up. Do you two understand?”

  They agreed. SSgt Brown escorted her to the kennels. She found a corner near the door to call her own. She fell asleep almost immediately. For the first time in over a week her dreams were not filled with images of walking corpses. On this night it was filled with images of a twelve year old girl gasping for breath. She woke several times in a cold sweat.

  Mike lay down next to his wife after an uneventful guard shift. He knew that Jen was stressing over the girl. Hell, he understood. She’d always been a type-A personality. That was what made her a good nurse. But, it sometimes made it tough for her to deal with things that were out of the ordinary. He felt her stir once. Her breathing quickened. She jerked. He placed his arm over her, snuggling up to her. She fell back to sleep. He drifted off to sleep shortly afterwards.

  Day 11

  The Animal Hospital

  Theresa woke Jen about 0500. Jen was pissed. The girls had conspired to let her sleep. It didn’t cross her mind that she had planned to do the same thing to them. She stumbled, blurry-eyed, to the bathroom.

  The stench hit her as she opened the door. She tried to flush the toilet. It wouldn’t flush. Great! She hovered as she did her business, then out the door as fast as she could. She found Theresa sitting next to the little girl. She debated saying something about the little medical mutiny. No, they were just trying to help.

  “Any changes?” she asked Theresa.

  “No. Her vitals are still stable. Well, her pulse-ox has come up to 94%. You said that’s good right?”

  “Yes,” Jen replied. “It means her lungs working better. Maybe that lung’s inflated. Let’s listen.”

  Jen placed a stethoscope she’d found in the veterinarian’s office against the side of the child’s chest. A smile crossed her face.

  “Here,” she said. “Listen right here.” She took the stethoscope from her ears and let Theresa listen. She could hear air moving. Yesterday there was no sound on this part of the chest.

  “Does that mean her lung is healed?” the girl asked.

  “It means the air that was trapped in her chest and keeping her lung collapsed is gone,” explained the nurse. “It means that we’re on the road to recovery.”

  She took her flashlight out, and shined it in the child’s eyes as she held the lids open. Both pupils responded to the light. She then drove a knuckle into the middle of the girl’s chest. This was euphemistically called a sternal rub. The girl arms came to her chest as she moaned; another good sign. Satisfied that the girl’s neurological status was not deteriorating, Jen told Theresa that she was officially relieved.

  SSgt Brown walked into the room as the teen was leaving. “How’s our patient doing this morning?” he asked.

  “Better,” she replied. “It sounds like that lung has re-inflated. She’s still unconscious, but doesn’t seem to be deteriorating.”

  “Good. Did you sleep well,” he asked with a mischievous grin.

 
“Oh, I get it. You were in on it too weren’t you?”

  “I may have suggested Kerry to stay on an extra hour,” he said.

  “Well, thank you Sergeant. You guys were right. I was too tired and stressed to see it.”

  “That’s my job ma’am. I get to see when people aren’t making good decisions, and fix them. You were easy. At least I could reason with you.” He turned on his heels and left the room.

  Several hours later, the rest of the survivors were awake. Jen could hear people sitting around talking in the reception area. Mike walked in with a cup of hot coffee.

  “You ok this morning?” he asked.

  “Why does everybody keep asking me that?”

  “You had a rough day yesterday,” he replied. “We’re just worried about you”

  “I’m fine,” she answered curtly. “I know I was stressed, but I’m good.”

  “Are you really,” he asked. “You ready for something like this to happen again? You know it’s gonna happen. Next time it might be worse. Next time might be something you can’t fix. You gonna be able to deal with that?”

  “I don’t know,” she replied meekly. “I don’t want this. I don’t want to be the doctor for this traveling circus. I just want to get to safety. I really don’t want to be responsible for these people.”

  “I know sweetheart,” he replied pulling her to his chest. “None of us asked for this. But, it is what it is. You have a tougher choice than the rest of us. You have to decide if you can stand by and let someone die, or if you’re going to do what you can to save them.”

  She felt the tears welling up. She wiped them on her sleeve.

  “Whichever decision you make affects people,” he continued. “If you choose to help, you take the responsibility; but if you don’t do anything, it also affects them. You can’t just bury your head in the sand.”

  She knew he was right. Hell, she knew it three days ago. She just didn’t know if she could handle it.

  “So,” he went on. “Now is the time you need to just accept the situation. What was that prayer you always told me I should learn? You know the prayer for peacefulness or serenity or something?”