She groaned. “He could be back up there right now. The dam could go at any second and we're not ready!”
“Shh, it's okay. I don't think he is going to be back today; especially if he’s injured. We’ll keep working and do as much as we can just in case.”
“I can't believe this is happening again,” she muttered walking back to the work site. “Every time we turn around, there is someone trying to kill us. It's insulting,” she said with so much frustration Wyatt had to fight back a smile.
Insulting was one word, but he was thinking more along the lines of dead wrong. He would make that man disappear one way or another. He was tired of people trying to kill him and his family, even if it was not intended solely for the lodge.
“Everything okay?” Tara asked, forming another brick with her hands.
“Yep. For now, anyway,” Megan said, dropping back down to the other tarp filled with the cob mixture.
“Yeah, right,” Garrett said, carrying a brick to the forming wall. “We all heard the gunshots. We know there is some menace up there. It's cool, though. We'll keep building this dike and you guys can tell us all about it tonight. Right? That's the plan isn’t it?”
Wyatt looked at the young man. He didn't appreciate the sarcasm.
“Pretty much sums it up,” he said, not hiding his irritation.
Bryan tried to soothe things. “Garrett, there was a guy up there. Wyatt shot him. We'll hash it all out after dinner. Right now, we need to stay focused on this job right here. This is all that matters at the moment. The rest will wait.”
Garrett nodded his head, but didn't look appeased. Wyatt wondered if he would leave. He was young, strong willed and convinced he was too smart for the world. Wyatt had once been like Garrett. It was part of growing up. It wasn't until you got some years and experience that you could see how young and cocky you were.
Garrett would soon get the wisdom that came with hindsight. Assuming the kid lived long enough.
Wyatt pulled Chase to the side and quickly gave him the rundown of his conversation with Megan. Chase quickly set off for the lodge.
The remaining people worked fast and hard. They all knew there was a sense of urgency to get the dike built. It was there before, but now it was amplified. There was little talk and none of the typical joking and goofing around.
They were all business with each one focusing on their individual task.
Wyatt would catch Megan staring up the hill with a pensive look on her face before going back to mixing cob. He prayed the Russian had not gone back to finish the job. Hopefully, the man was busy dealing with his gunshot wound.
They worked until dusk, before packing up and heading back to the lodge.
Wyatt was not looking forward to the after-dinner conversation. It was going to be rough.
18
Megan looked at the people she had come to love. The worry lines etched into each of those faces made her sad. She so wished they could have a happily ever after.
No one said a word after Wyatt shared the news about the man up at the dam. It was like they almost expected another enemy to try to take them out. She had felt the same way. She wasn’t all that surprised. It was a part of their lives now, whether they liked it or not.
“Do you think the Russians are responsible for all this?” Albert asked angrily waving his arms.
“The dam?” Wyatt asked.
“No! Everything. This whole blasted EMP business!”
Garrett chimed in. “I bet you they are. I bet they did this and they are here to gloat and make sure they take us all out. One by one if they have to.”
Megan nearly laughed at the theory. It was good to see conspiracy theories were alive and well. She had never been one to buy into the crazy stories that circulated on the internet and social media before everything happened but judging by the looks on the faces of the people around her, she was the oddity. They clearly believed the rumors.
Chase looked thoughtful. Megan couldn't believe he was buying into the idea.
“There was the one guy and we can't say for certain he was Russian,” Wyatt reasoned.
“You said you heard him speak Russian,” Albert shot back.
“That doesn't mean he was Russian or that he is part of some elaborate attack against the United States that happens to be focused on this one little corner of the country,” Evan chimed in.
Albert didn't look appeased.
“Then tell me, why he is trying to blow up a dam?” he asked.
Megan looked at Wyatt, who looked at Chase.
None of them knew. None of them had the slightest clue as to the mystery man's motivation. Megan thought it seemed odd. She hadn't even known the dam was there and she had lived here almost a year.
The area was sparsely populated. There wasn't a major city close enough to be impacted by the flooding that would occur with the destruction of the dam. There were other major dams across the country that would result in far more devastation. If it were the Russians, they would get more bang for their buck if they hit a bigger target.
“I think something is definitely off, but I would be more inclined to believe the man lives around here and wants to take us and some of the other settlers in the area out. Maybe he wants the entire area to himself,” Megan suggested.
“I agree with Megan,” Wyatt started before Albert's loud and exaggerated guffaw stopped him.
“Albert, the guy could have killed all of us. If he was some terrorist, don't you think he would have killed us when he had the chance? We were up there, working on the dam, not paying attention. He could have taken us out then or here at the lodge,” Wyatt said, not holding back his frustration with the man.
Chase cleared his throat. “It doesn't make sense for a terrorist to want to kill a few people. They go for the big targets. This area isn't exactly a major score. It is more likely he wants to run us and the rest of the people out of here. I'm sticking with the theory there is gold somewhere and he wants it all for himself.”
Evan laughed. “There's gold in them thar mountains!”
The insert of humor helped break the tension in the room.
After the burst of laughter, everyone got serious again.
“I need that map of the area,” Albert said.
Megan could practically see the light bulb above his head. He was on to something.
She jumped up and found the map of the area they had referenced on occasion.
“Here,” she said handing it to him.
Everyone waited while Albert hunched over the map, studying every detail.
He sat up, leaned back in his chair and appeared to be deep in thought.
“Well?” Wyatt asked.
“I'm not sure. I want to study this a bit more and see if I can get anyone on the radio. Maybe they have some idea about what is going on. You all head off to bed and I'll let you know if I hear anything,” he said, rising and taking the map with him to the corner of the large downstairs area where the HAM radio was set up.
Chase stood, extending a hand to Willow. She grabbed it as if it were a lifeline.
Megan felt terrible for everything Willow was going through. She thought back to the days of being pregnant with Caitlin. The instinct to protect her unborn child was very strong. With so many serious threats, it was no wonder the woman was so stressed out. That, on top of her loss and the desire to protect Ryland, would be overwhelming for anyone.
“Can I get you some tea?” Megan asked, feeling as if she needed to do something to help make things easier on Willow.
“No, thanks. I'm tired so I'm sure I will fall asleep with no problems,” she said in a weary voice.
Rosie walked up the stairs behind her daughter-in-law. Megan could hear her telling her to wake her if she needed anything. They were all doing what they could to help Willow, but there was only so much they could do.
“Let's turn in,” Wyatt said, heading for the bedroom.
Megan watched as everyone went their separate ways.
Everything felt wrong. Unsettled. She was the one who would need some tea to help her relax.
Bryan was standing at the door. “It'll be okay. We'll figure this out. Get some sleep and we’ll tackle this newest problem tomorrow morning. There is nothing more we can do tonight.”
She smiled. “You're right. Goodnight, Bryan. I will see you bright and early.”
When she walked into the bedroom, Wyatt was sitting on the end of the bed, staring at the wall.
“You okay?” she asked with concern, suddenly worried he was injured in the skirmish earlier.
“Yeah, just thinking. I think Albert may be onto something. I didn't want to say it in front of everyone else. We certainly don't want them to think there is another doomsday around the corner.”
“The theory about a Russian targeting us and that dam?” she asked in disbelief.
He nodded.
She thought about it and supposed the idea did have some merit, but she couldn't believe their little mountain would be a target.
“Let's get some sleep. Albert is on top of it and I have a feeling he will have some answers for us in the morning. He is like a dog with a bone when it comes to stuff like this,” she said with a smile.
“He’s tenacious. It isn't my favorite quality about him, but in this case, it will come in handy,” Wyatt said with a chuckle.
Megan drifted off to sleep envisioning a future filled with war. Could they be on the brink of World War III? Had it already started and they had managed to live blissfully unaware this whole time?
19
When Megan walked out of the bedroom early the following morning, Albert was at the table with a steaming cup of coffee in front of him.
“Did you sleep at all?” she asked, suddenly concerned for his health.
The man looked rough. His thinning hair was standing up in different places as though he’d been running his hands through it repeatedly. There were deep, black circles under his eyes. He looked extremely weary.
“No, I don't think I did. I was on the radio with quite a few different folks from across the country. Is Wyatt up yet?” he asked.
“Yeah, he'll be right out.”
She didn't bother asking him what he found out. He would tell them together. That was the way they did things. It saved time and ensured everyone got the same information. They couldn't afford to risk a piece of vital information being forgotten or a fact being embellished. They needed everyone on the same page.
Megan filled the coffee pot and set it on the wood stove. Everyone would want coffee and she suspected they would all be up very soon.
It wasn't long before folks filtered into the kitchen, grabbed a cup of coffee and waited quietly for Albert to reveal what he learned.
“We need to go on a little field trip to verify my information and suspicions. I don't want to alarm anyone, but I do think we are dealing with a more serious problem than one guy being a pain in the butt. I have a feeling this guy is part of a much bigger picture,” Albert explained.
“What kind of a bigger picture?” Bryan asked.
“Like the kind I suggested last night. A terrorist attack. Me and a couple of buddies I have over the radio suspect this guy is part of an organized plot to keep the United States down. This hasn't been the first attack in an odd area. Before we get into it all, Wyatt and Chase, I want you to come with me,” Albert said, standing from the table.
“This could all be a lot of nonsense, but I would feel better if I can check things out myself. I hate relying on third party information,” the old man said.
He held the carefully folded map in his hand.
“Where are we going?” Wyatt asked, not one to play guessing games.
“I don't know for sure. I have a general idea, but we need to get some eyes in the area,” Albert said.
“Let's go,” Chase chimed in, clearly not wanting to wait another minute.
The three men quickly left the lodge, leaving the rest of the group to wonder what it was that had Albert so spooked.
“THIS WAY,” Albert ordered.
“Where are we headed?” Wyatt asked.
“I don't know for sure, which is why I want to see what we are dealing with. I plotted out the general area the flood would hit if that dam blows. I have a feeling something down here is being targeted because it doesn’t make sense for it to be us,” he explained.
Wyatt nodded in agreement. He didn't think they were the targets and he absolutely didn't buy the guy's story. While he’d tried to hide what was in his hands, unless he had a serious love of Silly Putty, that was C-4 he tossed back in his pack thinking we wouldn’t notice, he mused.
They walked about a half mile when Albert stopped.
“Look!” he pointed to the tall fence. “I knew it! They were right!”
They walked a little closer, through the trees and stopped.
It was a power station and part of the dam's hydroelectric system. If the dam burst, this area was in the direct path of the water. It would be destroyed.
Albert cursed. His distress at the discovery seemed to be a lot of worry for nothing.
Wyatt saw the power station, but considering it didn't work anyway, he wasn't sure why Albert was so upset.
Chase must not be following what the problem was either. He looked at Albert, then Wyatt and back to the fenced in transformers and boxes.
They both waited for Albert to explain.
“This isn't the first incident of its kind,” Albert started. “You said you heard the man speak Russian?”
Wyatt nodded.
“This is the working theory. There is a slim chance it is wrong, but from what I gathered from others, I don't think so.”
“What Albert?” Wyatt said a little too loud.
“It's the Russians. They’re targeting power stations across the country to keep us in this perpetual blackout. As of now, there’s still a chance to repair these transformers, but if entire stations are destroyed, it will seriously delay the restoration of electricity by years.”
Wyatt and Chase were both quiet as they processed the information. Wyatt couldn't get his head around it.
“You know this because people are telling you or there are some facts to back up this theory?” he asked.
“I know this because I gathered information,” he said angrily. “I'm not crazy, Wyatt. Take a minute to review everything we know. Like I said, there have been other similar attacks and they were successful.”
“Why not take out one of the bigger dams?” Chase asked.
Albert shrugged. “I’d be willing to bet they’re still heavily guarded against something like this. Or maybe they don't want to draw a lot of attention to their operation. Not every country was hit as hard by the EMP as those of us in the Americas, and countries farther away have thrown in their support to help us get back on our feet. Now, what if some of those countries don’t want us to rebuild? What if, some of those countries would like nothing better than to force us to remain in the dark?”
“Like Russia? Come on, Albert, that’s ludicrous,” Chase scoffed looking around at the others.
Wyatt didn't want to believe it, but he had a sick feeling that Albert was right. Russia didn't cause the EMP, but they were certainly not going to miss the opportunity to become the world's top nation; especially with the United States still completed disabled. This was the perfect time to make a move.
“So other small scale power stations have been blown up?” Wyatt asked.
Albert nodded. “There have been fires, small dams collapsing, vandalism, and in one case, a semi-truck barreled through the security fence and destroyed a bunch of equipment. These stations have been relatively small. There could be more destruction that we don't know about.”
Wyatt was thoughtful. It did appear as if it was a quiet attack that would be as harmful, if not more so, than an attack on a much larger scale. The minor incidents would be ignored or completely undetected. When it did get the attention it deserved, it would be too late
and the damage would be done.
“Do we tell the others?” Chase asked with a grim look on his face.
“No,” Wyatt said immediately.
Chase looked surprised.
“There is nothing any of us can do. I don't want Megan or anyone else risking their lives to be a hero. We need to focus on protecting ourselves and less on attacking. We need to be on the defense in this one,” he stated.
Albert didn't look convinced.
“They are going to find out,” he said. “And when they do, they aren’t going to be happy.”
Wyatt looked at him. “But, they will be alive provided we get the dike finished and prepare for the dam breaking. The Russians will have completed their mission and will move on. If we make a big stink, who's to say there aren't more agents up here? They could attack. Even one life lost is too many. It's a risk we don't have to take and I don't see any real benefit to attempting to stop them.”
Chase looked a little surprised. “Really?”
Now, Wyatt was getting irritated. He knew Megan. He loved her and he wouldn't let her go off and be a hero, again. He had already lost Jack, he wasn't prepared to lose her or Chase or anyone else for that matter.
“You know Megan will come up with some cockamamie plan to save the world by putting her life in jeopardy to thwart the Russian's plan. She will take the hit to save millions of other Americans who are not doing well in this perpetual blackout.” Wyatt pleaded with Chase to see reason.
Megan would give up on the dike and let the lodge be flooded if it meant she could save the power station. She would want no part in extending the blackout. No matter what, the flood from the breaking dam would still destroy a good portion of the power grid and there was nothing they could do about it. He hoped when she did learn of the plot, she would see reason.
“I get it, Wyatt. I do, but I think she is going to find out eventually. Is that something you want to keep hidden from her? She may never forgive you if you keep this information from her and she inadvertently allows a major disaster to unfold right under her nose,” Chase said. “If her actions cause more damage, it will absolutely devastate her.”
Dark Destruction (EMP Lodge Series Book 4) Page 12
