by Angela White
“That’s right, man! We choose not to.”
Major Donner kept his smile in place. “You don’t have to convince me. I’m just telling you that men who serve with me won’t be going to the base after the fight. Ever. We’re going to…promote ourselves, to free contractors.”
No one spoke, confused to hear such talk from someone with so much authority.
Major Donner waved toward the serene mountains. “That’s where I’m going first. After I take over that camp, I will have supplies, livestock, and females. Maybe even a few powerful slaves to keep Uncle Sam off my ass.”
Now there was complete shock, exactly what Donner needed in this uneasy moment. He looked to Philips “You with me? They plan to send you off to Mexico to be a lackey there. One way ticket, I hear.”
Philips felt rage grow thicker in his heart. “Free contractor sounds good.”
His choice confirmed, Philips was surprised when other soldiers began giving their agreement. It was as if they’d followed his choice. Philips hid a frown. Thy were responding to the intimidating man next to him. Pretending he had their loyalty could get him killed and Philips wasn’t going to let that happen. Not after everything that he’d already suffered.
Sergeant shilling felt his power slipping as men in his little group agreed with Philips, and snarled in defiance of the change in leadership. “This is my team! My men! We’re not following you!”
The ten men came forward despite their true feelings, as Philips had known they would. He got out of the line of fire, sure he was about to witness Donner’s murder.
Ready for the reaction that he’d provoked, Major Donner jerked his rifle upward and began firing.
Soldiers scattered, some reaching for weapons still in holsters, but the element of surprise gave victory to the lone man and the hot machine in his hand. The Butcher mowed down the entire group.
The nearest witnesses fled, while the rest observed in shock. None of them had ever seen a commanding officer do that before the war.
If he had wanted to, Donner could have wiped out nearly a hundred gaping lemmings. Instead, he deftly slung the rifle over his shoulder and headed toward the largest tent. “Is that the mess? I’m starved.”
Philips waited for the other soldiers to attack the crazy man or at least protest, but the shifting, eager faces said it wasn’t going to happen unless a spark was tossed.
Philips thought about it, but in the end, knowing his planned future tipped it in Major Donner’s favor. Philips limped after their new boss, getting his notebook and pen ready.
“Someone clean that up,” Philips called over his shoulder, no longer worried about his orders not being followed. He stopped at the flap and looked back long enough to memorize the sight of his bitter enemy lying dead and to order, “Drag that one into a thicket and let him rot.”
Most of the men here knew how Shillings had killed Philips’s son over a whore they’d found on a supply run. The order was obeyed without argument.
Major Donner ducked into the mess canvas and dropped his rifle and kit onto the front table. Behind the bare racks, a dirty, sullen cook stood mixing something in a large bowl. The smell wasn’t encouraging.
“We’ll start on plans in a bit,” Donner said. “For now, no more calls to or from base. Tell them we’re going quiet.”
“Yes, sir, but won’t they send a plane to find us after a while?” Philips made himself ask.
“Yes.”
“Do you know when?”
“Of course not,” Donner lied. “Well watch for it.”
When the plane came, Donner would either order it shot down or use it to secure his own ride to the bunker for that attack. He hadn’t made up his mind yet and he certainly wasn’t going to let these unhappy soldiers know when it was coming so that they could plot a mutiny around it.
Philips studied the hand-sewn patches and symbols on the Major’s kit. It appeared that the Butcher had traveled the world during his career.
“I have,” Major Donner answered, facing the opened flap where half a dozen men were watching and listening.
“You’re one of them!” Philips accused.
“How else did you expect to defeat an entire group of descendants?” Donner replied. “You guys didn’t stand a chance on your own.” Donner eyed them, making silent promises. “But I can’t kill them and take that mountain, not without all of you. Pass that on as well.”
Philips was sure the troops would feel better knowing the Major was powerful. All of them had dreaded fighting Safe Haven after witnessing the destruction here. Their egos had prevented them from saying it, but the reason for refusing to fight had been clear.
“That’s why I’m here,” Major Donner answered that thought, noting empty dishes waiting for mess to be called for this side of tent city. “We’ll lose a bit–don’t doubt it, but more than half will survive if they follow my orders. That’s better odds than a bunker now, right?”
“Yes,” Philips answered easily. Survival rates below ground were under 35%. The government needed control of the land again if they were going to rebuild their evil empire.
“We’ll get freedom after that? From you?” Philips found the courage to ask.
Major Donner shrugged. “I’m the boss wherever I’m at and I like to have a wide space around me to roam. Any good man can stay with me and follow my lifestyle, or run for their tiny lives and stay out of my way. I couldn’t care less.”
Philips didn’t care for the sound of all of it, but not answering to the government ever again was enough to start with.
“I’m in.” Philips ignored the surprised sounds from those listening. “What do you need first?”
Major Donner grinned, brown eyes becoming solid black in his joy. “Hostages. As many as you can find. Any age will do.”
In the silence, Donner pinned the surely cook with a hard glare. “Get out.”
The boy didn’t waste any time, and Donner finally began the part of this job that Philips was familiar with.
“Send out a hunting team. There’s a small farm ten clicks due north. Bring back everything they find–alive. Then call them all together right here. I have things to say.” Donner took a map from his jacket and unrolled it. “There are two underground ammo dumps, here and here,” he said, pointing as Philips came forward to hold one side. “We’ll scavenge what we can and the head here.”
He pointed again. “This is a stockpile zone and has likely gone untouched. We’ll be in the black on weapons by this time tomorrow.”
The men were glad to discover the three areas were close by. It wasn’t hard for Philips to gather three teams to head out on those missions. They were quickly out of sight as Philips returned to Donner’s side, waiting for his next orders.
3
Donner stood on a stack of crates, rifle in hand as he addressed the troops. In only an hour, the rumors had circled the battalion and there was no need for a bullhorn the soldiers all strained to hear and passed it back.
Donner knew how to set up a takeover. “Fresh meat for lunch!”
The cheer from that was loud enough to send birds flying and bring spies to their feet with notebooks in hand.
“Fresh ammo for breakfast!”
Another cheer came, this one nearly as enthusiastic. Bullets were always needed.
“I have promotions, awards, and a pass to give.”
Quiet fell as confusion took over as Donner stared at them. “I’ll let forty of you compete for the bunker pass. Who wants to go? See me privately.”
The soldiers muttered, wondering what the chore was.
Donner filled in the blanks with a simple sentence. “Snatch and grab. I only expect a few of the forty to survive.”
There were more mutters as Donner finished his address by pointing to a small dust cloud in the distance. “That’s our food rolling in. Pick the best three cooks and get them into the mess. Steaks for dinner, as rare as you want them.”
He hopped down from the crates and str
ode toward the coming team and their cargo. The four cows running behind the vehicle didn’t look as good as they had when he’d flown over, but Donner didn’t worry over it. The fresh meat would be enough. He would gain their loyalty through the benefits he delivered and when it all finally came together, south wasn’t the direction they would go. He’d decided on west, toward the skeleton crew of protection the government now had. It was the perfect time to take over the world. He just needed a few Safe Haven descendants to help him control things. After that, nothing would stand in his way.
4
“What are you doing?”
Shawn didn’t answer as he handed Angela a kit and a heavier coat. He pointed toward the truck nearby that was already running.
Angela kept a hand on her gun as she went to check it out. Around her, the camp was emptying and there wasn’t much for her to do. She’d been planning to grab a shower and a snack.
Angela opened the passenger door to find an envelope, a small purple flower, and a grinning driver. “What’s going on?”
Greg clicked his mike once, looking pointedly at the message.
Angela tore open the white envelope to read the small card.
I’m naked, I’m alone, and I have chocolate. Get in the truck.
Angela flush bright red, sensing her driver was aware of what it said. Greg was a great blocker. His thoughts were currently full of gun names, serial numbers, and the various gear for those weapons-something she never bothered to memorize. He knew it would distract her.
Angela read the note again.
Then she got in the truck.
5
Dog scanned the camp as Angela left. She had moved the weaker members of her pack, leaving only the strength and the magic here. For Dog, who caught too many of their thoughts and often sought out Charlie’s one-track mind for relief, the change was stressful All the people here were worrying over the future, and so were the ants. Dog was trying to work with them, mostly to keep busy, but their thoughts were full of anger at the sacrifice being asked of them. They also held loathing for the soldiers. Their communications were buzzing across the wolf’s brain.
Dog padded into the middle of the struggling ants, sending a shout for silence.
The ants around him froze for an instant, then advanced aggressively.
Do it!
The insects weren’t used to challenging things larger than they were and Dog had no trouble shaking them off. He tried to be careful not to step on them, as well, but that was a lost cause as the ants attacked.
Bite too!
The ants began nipping him, using their bodies to shove, and the wolf allowed them to tip him over, completing the run.
Dog stayed laying down. He would have to do the wet work. The ants would make an excellent distraction so that he would be able to get close to his target. That would have to be enough, because these insects weren’t fighters, despite their size and numbers. He was relieved that Angela was only counting on the decoy.
Watching from nearby, Shawn joined Dog, kneeling down as the ants backed up.
“Things okay?”
Dog liked Shawn almost as much as Dale. He pushed up to nuzzle Shawn’s arm for a scratch.
Shawn did it carefully, still not used to the big animal’s human qualities.
Yeah, right there!
Shawn rubbed a little harder, snickering a bit when the wolf began reacting to the urge to roll over and had to stop himself.
Dog got up after a minute, sitting on his haunches to view the Eagle he often walked their perimeter with. I feel your unhappiness.
Shawn’s false cheer fell as the wolf glanced toward the couple walking by. Charlie and Tracy were laughing and whispering, arms around each other. Both males watching them sighed heavily.
“Yeah,” Shawn agreed, forcing his attention back to Dog. “But it’s just not our turn yet, you know?”
That’s not my problem, Dog huffed, rising.
It is mine, Shawn thought. He was happy for the couples here, but loneliness was hard.
“I need to do rounds. Come along?”
Dog padded to Shawn’s heel. Yes. She only gave the ants training lessons today to keep them ready for tomorrow.
“So it will happen then?”
Dog nodded his huge head. Oh yes. Nothing can stop it now except fate. I believe this was her plan all along.
Shawn wasn’t comforted by that, but with nothing to do now except wait, he tried to put it from his mind. He and Dog would walk a while, then come back and surprise Charlie and Tracy.
Dog caught the thought and blew out an amused snort. I’ll jump through the window if you want.
Shawn chuckled. “That’ll kill their mood.”
The pair made it to the rear of the newly shrunken camp, noting Jennifer and Kyle going into the training tent that was empty of people but not gear.
Dog looked up. We’ll make it a two-for-one.
6
“Can I ask you something? You won’t like it.”
Kyle nodded, bracing a bit. “Sure.”
“If I were doing a…hit, what’s the most important thing to remember?”
Kyle’s expression was thunderous and Jennifer was glad she’d waited until they were alone in the training tent.
“Are you?”
Jennifer nodded quickly. Angela knew they would have to release some details to their trainers. “More than one.”
Kyle was instantly terrified. Fear stopped the anger and replaced it with concern. “At the same time?”
Jennifer shrugged. “That wasn’t revealed.”
Kyle’s face lit up and he spun toward the small hay room to take his rage out on the punching bag. He already knew yelling at her or Angela wouldn’t change anything.
Jennifer winced when Kyle swung and blood splattered the bottom of the bag. He hit again, harder, and she forced herself to stay there and watch. She would be facing much worse soon.
Kyle seemed to catch the thought, but before he could begin ranting, Jennifer shoved into his darkening mind. Come kiss me twice and then teach me. I’d like to survive this.
Kyle was stunned with pain and desire, brain and body in opposition. “What?”
Jennifer leaned against the hay wall. “We’re alone and you keep thinking about kissing me. I said you can.”
Kyle was being led away from the danger line and he knew it, allowed it, but only because there was no other choice. Angela would have her way and maybe Jennifer’s life.
Jennifer paled a bit, but nodded. “If that’s what it takes, I’ll give it willingly, Reece. Wouldn’t you?”
“It should be me!” he shot back. “You’re a kid, not a killer!”
Jennifer stiffened. “I’m neither of those things, though I’ve been both. Now, I’m a mother and there isn’t a hell I won’t smother myself in to save my daughter.”
She went back to their setup and resumed firing at multiple targets as quickly as she could.
Kyle watched without speaking, still running through ways to stop this even though he knew there weren’t any. Angela’s warning was ringing in his ears as Jennifer rolled and fired smoothly. She was mad at him.
“Yeah, a little,” she spit out, reloading. “You expect me to sit by when you risk your life, but I don’t get the same respect.”
“It’s not what I want for you,” Kyle answered. “I know it’s your life, your choice. I still don’t want it.”
“Then we have a problem, Kyle,” Jennifer said, resuming her starting position. “If I survive this run, there will be others.”
If you stay, he thought, before he could stop himself.
Jennifer went through her run again and Kyle felt her waiting, teetering on the edge of a choice, though he wasn’t sure exactly what decision she was stewing over.
“Us,” she filled in, firing too slowly for comfort. “I either have your support or I don’t.”
“I’m afraid you’ll be killed. Or hurt.”
“So am I,” Jennifer
admitted, unhappy with her coverage of the two dozen targets scattered around the tent. “But I’m more afraid of hiding and letting everyone else die for me. That’s not the person I am, not after everything I’ve been through.”
Kyle often forgot how much older she was mentally because of the hells she’d suffered. All he could see was a beautiful kid about to give up her life for nothing. In his mind, there wasn’t anything Jennifer could do to help or hinder this war. At least not any more than Angela’s male fighters.
Kyle was unprepared for her reaction to the thought.
Jennifer shoved her gun into the holster and faced him with her hands on her hips. “Do you think she’s doing this so women can be eagles? Or to prove we already are? Do you really think she would ever send females to the front lines if it wasn’t needed?”
Kyle hadn’t been able to come up with a reason and he shrugged. “Then why?”
“Numbers,” Jennifer placated, knowing the biggest answer was one he couldn’t handle yet. “She gave us the numbers, Kyle. Our enemy expects to face an army of men. If that happens, we’ll lose our fighters, our protectors. Safe Haven will be exposed to every group of evil that comes by and it would take decades for those who survive to be old enough for any adult chore, like reproduction.”
Jennifer stared toward where her daughter was currently napping in Angela’s tent, with a guard inside the open flap. “By using women and kids to lure those soldiers into traps, she will have saved us now and for the future.”
Kyle accepted that answer only because he knew it was the only one he was going to get. Jennifer had made up her mind. She was doing this.
“Yes, I am.” She motioned to the target. “But I have to do better. My aim is great, but I have to hit them faster. Help me?”
Kyle nodded, reluctantly moving back to the training position. “You only have one issue that I see.”
Jennifer gave him a go-ahead gesture and Kyle forced the rest of it from his mind. She was doing it. He would help her. “Change the order of your targets. When you face a group, there’s a simple rule to remember. Packing, Possible, everyone else.”
