“I hope so. If they get to Fairfax, they’ll be fine. Clayne has the squad car, and squad cars are running everywhere right now. The way out is all set. I think they stand an excellent chance. In fact, they should be on their way out by now.”
“And what about us?”
“Actually, that’s an interesting question. I—”
The door behind them opened, and Eric stood up, pulling Nicole up too. “Hold on a minute,” the man said, pushing past them. He slowly lifted the garage door and called to his sons. “Watt Thompson should be coming up the alley. Watch for him.”
A moment later he grunted in satisfaction and stepped back inside. A short, squat man followed, no more than a darker shape in the thick blackness of the garage. The garage door slid down, and then the owner of the house opened the car door. The dome light inside was dim but provided enough light for them to see each other.
“This is Watt Thompson,” the man said, motioning.
Eric stuck out his hand. “I’m Eric Lloyd. This is Nicole Lambert.”
“Well,” Thompson said in a voice that boomed even though he was whispering, “Lloyd himself. I’m proud to meet you.”
Eric turned to the host and his two sons. “We didn’t even hear your names and here you are risking your lives for us.”
“Bill Johnston. This is Alan and this is Craig.” The two boys grinned, half embarrassed, but obviously proud and excited.
“We think we may be able to help you,” Johnston went on.
“How?”
“I’ve got a permit to leave the city,” Thompson said.
Eric’s eyes widened. “A valid one?”
“Yes. I’m the foreman on the graveyard shift at a large lumber mill south of town.”
Nicole’s heart leaped with sudden hope. “Really?”
“And,” he continued, “I happen to drive a camper. There’s some dead space under the benches on both sides of the camper, back where the wheel wells are. It’d be pretty tight for you, but I think you can squeeze in. We’d nail it shut. I don’t think they’d ever guess.”
“We’ll do it!” Eric exclaimed. Then he turned to Nicole. “That is, if you’re willing.”
She nodded quickly. “It’s no more risk than staying in town.”
“Good,” Thompson said. “I understand your camp is somewhere up toward Glacier Park. Once we clear the checkpoints, I could swing around north and drop you off wherever you say.”
“No way,” Eric said. “You just get us out of town, and we’ll do fine from there.”
“Okay,” Johnston broke in, “we’ll have to hurry. Watt has to leave by 11:30. That’s less than half an hour from now.”
“How can we ever thank you?” Nicole said, looking first at the father and then his two sons.
Bill Johnston held up his left arm so that the wrist computer gleamed in the dim light. “When it’s time, come back and get these things off. That’ll be thanks enough.”
“Within the week,” Eric said. “You have our word on it.”
Chapter 33
Shirley Ferguson moved away from the campfire, zipping her jacket against the chill night air. She forced herself to walk nonchalantly, as though bored and absently looking for something to do. This took an effort of will, for her mouth was dry and her heart pounding wildly.
It was a beautiful, crystal-clear night, the smell of pine and woodsmoke filling the air, but Shirley had no eyes for the stars, nor was she aware of the scents in the air. She licked her lips nervously as she glanced around the circle of tents. Stephanie Lloyd was at the door of the children’s lean-to, and Shirley could hear bursts of childish giggles. Other tents and lean-tos were dark, and only a few women and none of the other children were still awake. Charles Metcalf, the one man left in camp, was fussing around inside his lean-to, and Shirley noticed Madeline Lloyd sitting near the fire alone, staring into the night.
For the hundredth time, Shirley cursed Eric’s thoroughness and caution. As soon as he and Nicole had come back to camp, he had insisted that they change locations immediately, moving down closer to the highway. He had also packed the radio in the gear stowed next to his lean-to. Neither she nor Joe had had a chance to get even close to it for a broadcast, so the Major still had no idea where they were or what was happening. Now Joe had gone back to Shalev with Eric and the others, and the final act was unwinding. Shirley had still not been able to get to the radio as Joe had told her she must. They had drawn times for watch turns, and Shirley had tried to maneuver for a night watch, but she had drawn the ten-to-noon shift. With the whole camp up and about and the radio only fifty or so yards away, she hadn’t dared even lift the microphone.
At the edge of the clearing, she gave one last look at the camp, then turned and walked quickly toward the creek where Dick Andreason had rigged the aerial up a tall pine tree for better reception.
Dawn Metcalf, a middle-aged, graying woman, looked up in surprise as Shirley approached her through the low underbrush. “Hello, Shirley.”
“Hello, Mrs. Metcalf. Any word?”
“None, but it’s probably just as well. Charles showed me how to work this thing—” she patted the radio near her feet—“but I’m not sure I could.”
Shirley dropped to the grassy creek bank, leaned back on her elbows, and tried to look bored, though once again her heart was pounding inside her chest like a series of tiny, repetitious explosions. You must give Travis at least three or four hours’ warning. Joe had said it so easily as he had hurriedly kissed her good-bye that morning. He acted as though he was merely suggesting she walk down to the corner phone booth and place a call. If you can’t get to the radio in an inconspicuous way, then wait until after dark and knock out whoever is there. But you must warn Travis and the Major that we’re coming. Joe could do it—or Captain Oakes, if he were here—but Shirley went into cardiac arrest at the sight of a spider. She had never hit a person in anger in her whole life that she could remember.
She thrust her hands under her legs to stop the sudden trembling. Could she hit this kindly woman over the head with a rock? The very thought made her nauseated.
“You ought to be sleeping,” Mrs. Metcalf said.
Shirley sat up and hugged her legs. “I tried. I just lay there and worried about Joe and the others.”
“I know,” the older woman answered. “The waiting is the hardest part.” Then she ducked her head. “I suppose in a way that I have the easiest task, what with Charles being left here to supervise the camp. But he wanted to go with them so badly that I—”
“I know. He’s still over there banging things around in frustration.”
“He’s too old. That’s what he thinks, no matter what Eric said.”
Shirley straightened, holding her breath. “Say, would you like me to take your turn? You could go be with him.”
Mrs. Metcalf looked up, startled. “Oh, no, I couldn’t do that. You already had your watch today.”
Shirley pressed in, trying not to appear too eager. “That’s okay. There’s no way I’m going to sleep anyway. I may as well sit here as in my tent.”
“Well, I don’t know if I should.”
Shirley felt her heart leap at the hesitation in the woman’s voice. “Go on. Your husband needs you. Really, I don’t mind.”
“Are you sure?”
“Really.”
Mrs. Metcalf stood up and brushed off the back of her skirt. “Well, he does need some cheering up. Thank you, Shirley. Thank you for being so thoughtful.”
Not until the woman was out of sight did Shirley let out her breath in an explosive burst of relief. “Thank you, Mrs. Metcalf,” she whispered triumphantly. “Thank you very much.”
Madeline Lloyd sat staring into the small campfire, lost in her thoughts, her face lined with worry. As Stephanie came across the clearing and into the firelight, Madeline looked up. “Are they asleep?”
“Yes, finally.” Stephanie sank down onto the log next to her mother.
“How many
stories did they worm out of you?”
“Well, actually it wasn’t stories. They wanted to talk about Eric and Nicole.”
“Ah,” Madeline said with a smile.
“How come Nicky had to go with the men? Does Ricky like her? Will they get married? Will I get to be a flower girl?”
“Married? Aren’t they rushing things a little?”
Just then Adrienne Robertson came out of a small lean-to and walked over to join them. “Who’s getting married?”
“Eric and Nicole, if our children have their way,” Madeline answered.
“And me too,” Adrienne said firmly. “I’m all for it.”
“Well, they’re hardly to that stage yet,” Madeline responded.
“The children saw Eric kiss her last night,” Stephanie said. “That’s what started all the speculation.”
Adrienne nodded. “I saw it too. I don’t think Eric realized that half the camp could see them there in the trees.”
They all chuckled and then gradually fell silent.
“And so,” Madeline said, after a few moments, “here we all sit and worry about our men.”
“And one woman,” Stephanie shot back. “Why did Eric take Nicole down?”
Madeline’s answer was patient. “You know why. She was the one who convinced them that they needed her. Clayne and Joe and Eric all know their way into Central Control, but only Nicole and Rod Loopes know how to run the computers. And Rod will be busy with Eric setting the charges. That leaves Nicole.”
Stephanie sighed. “I know, I know. I just can’t stop worrying about them.”
The lines on Madeline Lloyd’s face deepened. “Neither can I.”
Adrienne stood up. “It’s all this sitting around waiting with nothing to do. Come on, Madeline, let’s go for a walk.”
“You’re right.” She stood up. “Steph, do you want to come?”
“No, I think I’ll go up and join Shirley at the radio—see if she’s heard anything yet.”
“Shirley?” Adrienne echoed. “I thought Dawn Metcalf was on the radio tonight.”
“She was, but I think Shirley is worrying too, about Joe Jensen. She volunteered to take Dawn’s turn.”
“Okay,” her mother answered. “If you hear anything, call us.”
Stephanie, who had already started toward the creek, turned and waved. “I will.”
As she approached the clearing through the trees, Stephanie could see Shirley’s white sweater in the pale light of a quarter moon. She nearly called out to her; then she heard over the quiet gurgling of the water the murmur of Shirley’s voice speaking into the radio. Stephanie felt a sudden clutch of anxiety. Had something gone wrong that they were calling in so early? She quickened her pace, moving through the short grass of the creek bank as swiftly but as quietly as possible, so she could catch Shirley’s words. Shirley’s first distinguishable sentence froze Stephanie in midstride.
“Yes, Captain Oakes, that’s right.”
Captain Oakes? That was Travis! Stephanie stared at Shirley’s back and dropped into a crouch, inching forward to hear better.
“I will. If they call in, I’ll radio immediately. Yes, I’m positive about the target. Eric hasn’t given them any of the details, in case someone gets caught going in, but he did tell them what they were going to do. Joe said he’ll try to get clear and call you as soon as he gets the details.”
Stephanie reached down to the soft earth and pried loose a baseball-sized rock, then straightened slowly as Shirley finished. “Thank you, Captain. I’ll call in again if we hear anything.”
Shirley took the headset off and ran her fingers through her hair, then jumped and gave a startled cry when Stephanie appeared from nowhere.
“What are you doing?” Stephanie cried. “Charles!” she shouted. “Come up here—quickly!”
Shirley looked around wildly, her eyes large and white in the darkness.
“Move away from that radio,” Stephanie said, raising the rock high and starting forward. Then she tipped her head back and screamed again with all the power in her lungs. “Charles!”
“No!” Shirley lunged forward, head down, and bulled into Stephanie, coming up under the swinging arc of the stone. The rock flew out of Stephanie’s grip, and the air whooshed out of her with a soft explosion of sound. She flew backward and hit the grass sprawling. With one swift movement, Shirley whirled and snatched up the radio, snapping the aerial with a sharp ping. Raising it high above her head, she hurled it against the rocks in the rushing waters of the creek. Then, like a deer pursued by a pack of wolves, she crossed the water in one splashing leap and disappeared into the trees.
Stephanie was on her hands and knees, gasping for breath, when Charles Metcalf came pounding up. He helped her to her feet. “What’s the matter? What happened?”
“Shirley!” Stephanie managed to gasp. Her cry had aroused the camp, and the others were coming quickly through the trees.
Metcalf looked around. “What about Shirley? Is she hurt? Where is she?”
Stephanie shook her head, then blurted out the words between desperate gulps of air. “She ran—she was broadcasting—to Shalev. She told them—about Eric coming. I was too late—couldn’t stop her.”
Stephanie’s mother and Adrienne Robertson had arrived in time to listen to the gasping account, and her mother’s hand flew to her mouth. “Oh, no!”
Metcalf ran several yards upstream, his head turning quickly as he searched the night. Then he spotted the canvas bundle in the water. He retrieved the dripping hulk and set it down on the ground to examine it.
“We’ve got to warn Eric,” Stephanie cried. “It’s a trap.”
“Nobody is going to warn anybody,” Metcalf replied. “Not with this.”
“That means Joe Jensen is probably one of them too.” That was from Darla Kooska, whose husband was with the men.
“Yes,” Stephanie said, gradually getting her breath back. “She said Joe will call Travis as soon as they’re down there.” She turned to her mother, her face stricken. “We’ve got to warn them!”
Metcalf shook his head and stood up, giving the radio a disgusted kick. “Both Eric and Clayne went down prepared for trouble. We can’t do anything for them now. But we’ve got to get out of here. We have to assume Shirley told them where we are. We don’t dare assume otherwise.” He turned quickly. “All right, everybody, you know your jobs. We’ve trained for this very thing. Let’s go.”
He took Stephanie’s arm. “If your mother helps with Dr. Cameron, can you handle the children?”
“Of course.”
As one body, the frightened little group turned and ran for camp.
“Shirley called in!” Travis nearly shouted into the phone. “Eric is on his way here now.”
“Great!” the Major said. “I’ll be right down.”
Travis paced back and forth nervously, his mind racing. When the door opened, he spun around. Then, without waiting for the Major to take a chair, he began giving him the report.
When he was finished the Major frowned. “The central computer banks. Then we were right. As much as he hates me, he hates what I have done even more.”
“Exactly. That’s why he’s got Rod Loopes and Nicole with him. He’s going for the heart of the system.”
“Well,” the Major said, “he’ll never make it. We’ll cut them down like young wheat in a hailstorm.”
“Where?” Travis asked slowly.
“Where? Anywhere. In the city, at the outskirts. What do you mean where?”
“I have a suggestion.”
“What?”
“Suppose we let Eric take Central Control.”
The Major shot up out of his chair. “What? Are you crazy?”
Travis went on. “Maybe, but think about it for a minute. We both know that Eric is coming here, but Shirley didn’t know exactly when or from which direction. Evidently Joe can’t get away or get a radio to tell us what’s happening. But we both know that Eric has the sympathy an
d support of many of the citizens. If we start moving men—the numbers of men it will take to trap him—somebody will see it. Maybe they’ll warn him. Eric could slip away from us again.”
The Major nodded. “Go on.”
“Even if we let him come to Alliance Square and try to take him in the central quad, we still stand a good chance of some of them slipping away. Perhaps even Eric himself. But Central Control is like a fortress. Besides the front entrance, there are only two ways in or out—the fire doors on the north and the south sides. They’re heavy metal and locked. He’d have to blow them off to get in that way.”
As the Major sat down slowly, Travis went on.
“Eric knows there’s a skeleton shift at night, only one man at the front desk. So let’s let him take his whole team inside, where we’ll have two squads of men set up, one hidden in the cafeteria, the other in the main conference room. Once Eric and his people are inside, we’ll have them trapped. And there won’t be any citizens around to help him escape.”
For a few seconds the Major was silent, considering the proposal. “With explosives, we’re taking a tremendous risk. What if something goes wrong?”
“The computer banks are on the lowest level, at the very back of the building. Just to be sure, what if we put a third squad of men in the equipment room, which is just two doors away from the Monitoring Room. If for some reason the other two teams let anyone past them, the third group would still be in their way. For that matter, we could attack too, from the outside, the minute he’s inside. We’ll cut him off from both directions.”
The Major slapped his hand down against the table. “Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. I agree. How long will it take you to get ready?”
“Less than half an hour. Shirley said the target time was set for roughly two in the morning. That gives us plenty of time.” He picked up a pencil and rolled it back and forth in his palms. “We also pinpointed the location of the mountain camp from Shirley’s transmission. We’ll sweep in there at dawn and get the rest of them. We can end this thing once and for all.”
“It’s time, Travis,” the Major said grimly. Then he gave the younger man a long, appraising look. “And if something does go wrong, we always have our ace in the hole.”
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