“Put down your weapons,” the voice roared.
Gordon counted twenty guards. The person speaking was right; they were outnumbered. It was hopeless.
“Fuck it!” Autry said and brought his rifle up and shot the lock on the door.
The crack of the 5.56MM round penetrating the metal door bounced off the marble floor and wood-paneled walls.
“President Van Zandt, I appreciate what you’re doing. You’re a fighter, I respect that, but you’re also hardheaded and don’t know when you’ve been defeated. It’s over. Put down your weapons and surrender to my men,” Jacques said, his voice booming down the narrow hall.
Gordon looked for Jacques but couldn’t see him. The glare from the lights made it difficult to see clearly.
“What should we do, Gordon?” Autry asked.
Knowing his actions would lead to Samantha’s death, he lowered his rifle. “We can’t win.”
“We can’t give up,” Samantha defiantly declared.
“It’s over,” Gordon relented. He would fight if it was just him there, but with Samantha there he could only think of her. What aggravated him was this proved Jacques’ point: his weakness was his family.
“We can take them,” Autry barked, his rifle still leveled at the guards, with one directly in his sights.
“Stand down,” Gordon said.
Autry grumbled and lowered his rifle.
Heartbroken with the outcome, Samantha followed suit.
“Toss your weapons on the ground,” Jacques ordered.
Gordon looked at the rifle and for a brief second reconsidered.
“Put your weapons down and we will forget everything that happened. As you’ll see, we’re forgiving here in Western Canada,” Jacques boasted.
The faint sound of gunfire could be heard coming from outside and even inside from higher levels.
The guards out in front of Gordon looked around, unsure of what was going on.
“Four of you go bring them to my office. The rest of you go deal with that situation,” Jacques ordered, his voice showing concern.
Four guards headed for Gordon while the others headed towards the gunfire.
Gordon looked for Jacques, but he wasn’t to be seen. He had slipped into the darkness near the lobby.
The gunfire grew louder.
Samantha walked up to Gordon and took his hand.
He looked at her and said, “Whatever is going on, this is our second chance.”
Tucked snugly in Gordon’s waistband was a Beretta 92F 9 mm pistol. Ever so slowly he moved his right hand towards it.
Seeing what Gordon was doing, Autry blurted out, “I will need to speak with a representative in Austin immediately!” He began to motion with his hands and continued to talk, “Do you boys know who I am? I’m a two-time World Series champ!” He walked past Gordon and kept rambling.
With Autry distracting the guards, Gordon acted. With his left hand he pushed Samantha out of the way and snatched the pistol with his right. He raised it and let two rounds go immediately. They struck the guard closest to him.
Autry grabbed another guard and began to wrestle with him.
Gordon moved towards the guards. He pointed at another guard and shot him in the throat.
The guard clenched the entry wound and began to gag on his own blood.
Grunts and cursing from Autry and the other guard could be heard. They had gone to the ground and were grappling with a knife that Autry had pulled out.
The remaining guard pointed his rifle at Gordon.
Gordon saw the guard but knew he was too late.
A gunshot cracked behind Gordon and hit the last guard in the shoulder, causing him to discharge the rifle. The round whizzed by Gordon’s head.
Not wasting a second, Gordon put two more bullets in that guard, both striking him in the upper chest.
The guard went limp and dropped to the floor.
The bitter struggle on the floor Autry was experiencing had taken a turn. He straddled the man and thrust down with his knife.
The guard blocked Autry’s movement and the two were frozen at that point.
“You can’t win; you can’t beat me. I’m stronger than you; you won’t win,” Autry said, mocking the guard.
Gordon walked up and shot the guard in the head.
The deafening gunshot rattled Autry, who jumped off the dead guard. “What the fuck?”
“We don’t have time to fuck around and wrestle,” Gordon said.
“I had him though; you didn’t need to do that.”
“Let’s get out of here. You can bitch at me later,” Gordon said. He looked to Samantha, who stood confidently a few feet back. “Thanks.”
“I’ve always got my man’s back,” she replied.
With their fight over, the sounds of another gun battle above them and outside raged on.
“Is there another way out of here besides the front lobby?” Gordon asked.
“The gym, there’s a window there,” Autry said.
The entrance to the gym was through a door down from the stairwell they had exited from.
Leading the way, Autry entered the gym and weaved around the equipment until he came to a large single-pane window. “Whoa,” he said when he looked outside.
Gordon saw the tracer rounds colorfully lighting up the early morning sky. It was obvious Jacques was under attack, but from who?
“Is it safe to go outside?” Samantha asked, watching the tracer rounds fly in forty different directions.
Using the butt of his rifle, Autry smashed the window with a single strike.
Gordon helped and cleared out the smaller pieces.
With the glass gone, the sound of the raging battle roared. The frigid mountain air whipped past them as they one by one jumped out.
“Follow me,” Autry said and sprinted.
The heavy thump of helicopter rotors sounded overhead.
“Who do you suppose it is?” Gordon asked.
“It ain’t Texas,” Autry joked.
“Canada, it must be Canadian forces,” Gordon said, looking up.
Running alongside the men, Samantha added, “Let’s not wait and see who it is.”
***
When they turned the corner a streak of light flew past them. A loud explosion shook the ground and sent fire and debris screaming into the air.
All three squatted down and covered their heads as pieces of Autry’s helicopter landed around them.
Looking up in disgust, Autry moaned, “Well, ain’t that a son of a bitch.”
“Find a vehicle, something,” Gordon said.
“They have some parked in an underground parking structure,” Autry said.
“You know a lot about this place,” Samantha said, noting the obvious.
“I used to come here before everything went to shit,” Autry explained.
“Who cares? Where is the parking structure?” Gordon asked.
“You’re going to hate this, but it’s back there,” Autry said and pointed back towards the hotel.
“Fuck,” Gordon griped. “Let’s go. There’s no choice.”
“Maybe there is. Why not just keep heading east, just leave on foot?” Samantha suggested.
“I guess we could. When we’re away from all of this, I can contact Austin and have them send up a team to get us.”
“I’m not so sure you and the officials in Austin will be getting along after this,” Gordon said.
“I’ll be fine, I’m Autry Lewis,” he said with a cocky tone.
The gunfire from the hotel was diminishing, but the thumping of helicopter rotors overhead was still heavy.
“I say we get as far away from here as we can,” Gordon said.
“Too dangerous,” Samantha said.
“I kind of agree with her,” Autry said.
Not wanting to argue, Gordon relented, “Fine.”
They took off down the sloping street.
A helicopter flew just above them.
Gordon lo
oked but could only see a rough silhouette. The night sky still dominated and with the helicopters running dark it was difficult to see them.
The heavy thumping of rotors soon sounded in front of them as the helicopter lowered to the ground and landed on the street in front of them.
They stopped and raised their rifles.
A faint voice called out.
“Should we light it up?” Autry asked.
“No, believe me, if they wanted us dead, we’d be a raspberry stain on the pavement,” Gordon replied. He knew this had to be either the United States or Canada. With their helicopters and nighttime capability for raids, it had to be one or the other.
The faint voice grew louder.
“They’re telling us to go with them,” Samantha said.
“Should we make a run for it?” Autry asked.
“Yeah, let’s head to the right,” Gordon said.
A man stepped out of the darkness and cried out, “Come with us if you want to survive.”
Gordon stopped and yelled back, “Who are you?”
The man stepped closer and replied, “Sir, we’re the United States Air Force.”
“Sorry, we’ll pass,” Gordon said.
Another figure emerged from the darkness, “Gordon, come, now.”
Gordon knew that voice. He looked closely and said, “Andrew?”
“Yes, now hurry. I’ll give you safe passage back home, you have my word,” Cruz said. He gave Samantha an odd look then looked back at Gordon with imploring eyes.
Gordon was shocked to see him. Why is he here?
“Let’s go, Gordon.” Samantha said.
“Where?” he asked.
“With them, I trust him,” Samantha said.
Gordon looked at Autry, who only shrugged his shoulders.
“Gordon, trust me. I’ll give you safe passage back to McCall,” Cruz reiterated.
“Okay,” Gordon said.
They ran to the helicopter and climbed in.
The helicopter lifted off and banked hard to the left and headed south.
Cruz gave Samantha another strange look.
Noticing he was staring, Gordon asked, “Why do you keep looking at her?”
“I thought she was dead. Jacques told me he had killed her. He let me watch as they carried away a body from that bloody post.”
“I’m clearly not dead,” Samantha said.
“Did Jacques have your mother’s hand cut off?” Gordon asked.
“No, she’s fine, shook up, but she’ll be fine,” Cruz answered.
“The bastard lied to get me to sign,” Gordon said.
“He’s a great deceiver and manipulator, but he won’t win. I won’t let him,” Cruz said defiantly.
“What’s to become of me and Sam?” Gordon asked, wanting to confirm if Cruz had ulterior motives.
“Like I said, we’ll deliver you home, safe and sound. What happens after that? I don’t know, but I thought we were making a deal, weren’t we?”
“I think I owe you one,” Gordon said.
“No, consider it me paying you back.”
“Thank you.”
“And you, I’ll get you back to wherever you came from,” Cruz said to Autry.
“I’m from the great republic of Texas,” Autry proudly said.
Cruz looked each one in the eyes and said, “What happened here, never happened. I want us to hold this close to our chests. This must remain a secret. What differences we have we will work out peacefully. We must also know that today was just a battle. It’s over, but the war with Western Canada has just begun.”
Sandy, Utah
Pablo hated waiting. He tolerated it on the compound but disapproved of such treatment from his own men. He looked at his watch and grunted. He knew he had ordered Luis to be at the gate in the morning. He knew he wasn’t mistaken. His memory had gotten worse, but this he distinctly remembered.
He pulled his radio from his pocket and made sure it was on. Growing more impatient, he thought of walking back but the rumble of a vehicle changed his mind.
He looked towards Charlie Company’s campsite and saw a vehicle heading towards him at a high rate of speed.
The vehicle barreled to a stop feet from him. The rear door opened and Domingo Luis jumped out. “Emperor, my father couldn’t make it in time, so he sent me.”
“You’re late.”
“Sir, I just received word from the general. I came as soon as I heard,” Domingo said, hoping his excuse was valid in Pablo’s eyes.
“Take me to your father immediately,” Pablo said, his throat cracking.
“Yes, sir,” Domingo said as he walked Pablo to his vehicle.
The compound guards looked at Pablo and Domingo with suspicion, a look not lost on Pablo.
When they sped off, Pablo asked, “The prisoners, who disposed of them?”
“From the other night?” Domingo asked.
“Are there more?” Pablo asked.
“Um, no, no, sir,” Domingo replied with hesitation.
“Are there more?” Pablo barked. He touched his throat and swallowed hard. Yelling hurt his vocal cords.
“The American prisoners, just those three men, but, um…”
“Tell me.”
“We do have others, mainly women we pick up now and then,” Domingo confessed.
Pablo looked at Domingo, his eyes wide with anger. He couldn’t contain his emotions any longer. With his left hand he smacked Domingo in the face.
“Who disposed of the Americans?” Pablo asked.
“I did, sir.”
“Stop the vehicle!” Pablo hollered, his throat burning.
The driver slammed on the brakes.
Pablo turned and asked, “You personally disposed of them?”
“No, sir, not me personally, my company was given the responsibility,” Domingo answered, clarifying his role in the botched disposal.
“They weren’t dead, and secondly, you buried them just outside of camp!” Pablo bellowed.
“I’m sorry, sir, I was told it was done properly,” Domingo said.
“Bring me those men to your father’s camp immediately; I want to personally deal with them.”
“Yes, sir,” Domingo said and picked up his radio.
West of Joseph, Oregon, Republic of Cascadia
Nicholas walked into the kitchen, expecting to find Lexi, but only found another can of corned beef hash cooked and sitting covered on the stovetop and a note lying on the table.
He picked up the note.
Went on patrol, be back in two hours. – Lexi, 0630
He glanced at his watch and saw it was almost eight. He had overslept, but after the way he felt yesterday he forgave himself. It was obvious his body needed the rest, and with the vigor he woke feeling, it was clear evidence of his need.
He wasn’t sure what the game plan was for the day, but if it included anything remotely like yesterday, he would need to eat and get ready.
He filled a plate and sat down. His mind raced with feelings for Lexi. Even though she had rushed away, he could tell she felt something for him too.
With breakfast out of the way he began to assemble what few things he had into a small backpack just in case they were going out.
A crash outside sounded loudly.
He rushed to the window to see Lexi kicking a man, who from a quick glance looked tied up. Alarmed, he sprinted from the room, down the hall and outside. “Lexi, who’s this?”
“Just your run-of-the-mill scumbag,” Lexi replied. A trickle of blood dripped down the edge of her mouth.
The man grunted and tried to sit up.
She kicked him hard in the face. “I said to lie down!”
The thick soles of her boots made contact against the man’s square jaw and sent him falling backwards onto his bound arms. “Argh, you fucking bitch!”
Nicholas ran over, stopping next to her side, and asked, “Where did you pick him up?”
“While we were out yesterday I spotted a
little gas station.”
“The one with the market,” Nicholas said, interrupting her.
“That’s the one,” Lexi said and out of nowhere stepped towards the man and gave him a swift kick in the side.
“Jesus,” Nicholas commented. Even he was shocked by her ruthlessness.
“He’s a rapist,” she said.
Nicholas finally got a good look at Lexi’s face, and besides the blood from a small cut on her lip, her left cheek had a quarter-sized abrasion. In fact her entire left side looked scuffed up, from her coat down to her jeans.
“I was curious if there was possibly anything of value there, and while scavenging this motherfucker jumps me.”
“I thought you were someone else,” the man said in his own defense.
Lexi reeled back and kicked him again. “Like who, huh? So you only tackle people you know and then threaten to fuck them!”
“He tried to rape you?” Nicholas asked, a tinge of anger now rising in him.
“Yep, he gets on my back and, well, you know how things go,” Lexi said.
Beau burst from the forest suddenly.
“And where was he?” Nicholas asked.
“He and I will need to have a come-to-Jesus meeting. He left my side to go sniff something out,” Lexi said.
Beau ran up to the man and growled.
“You’re a bit late,” Lexi snapped.
“So why is he here?” Nicholas asked.
“I’m betting he’s with those others down the road. I plan on getting him to talk. The more info we have, the better. And once I’m done, I’ll set him free,” Lexi said.
Nicholas leaned in closer to her and asked, “You’re not serious, are you?”
“Absolutely serious, I’ll set him free. Only thing is he needs to talk,” she said and kicked him. “And be honest,” she continued and kicked him once more.
The man groaned in pain and rolled away from her.
“You gonna talk?” Lexi asked and again kicked him.
“Lexi, you won’t leave him able to talk,” Nicholas said.
She paused and said, “You’re right.” She gave Nicholas a smile and kicked the man one final time. “Sorry, I’m incorrigible.”
“I can see that.” Nicholas laughed.
***
With Nicholas’ help, Lexi propped the man up against the house, binding his arms to a pipe.
The Razor's Edge: A Postapocalytic Novel (The New World Book 6) Page 16
