Without II: The Fall

by E. E. Borton

  “How much time do we have?”

  “Not much,” said Braun. “If we’re not back with you soon, he’s going to know something is wrong. He’ll probably make a dash for home on horseback.”

  “That’s only a ten-mile ride,” said Doug. “We won’t catch him if he does.”

  “Any chance we can take a shot at him out in the open?” I asked.

  “He’s dug in,” said Braun. “They’re holed up at a farm about a mile from here on the other side of town. The men with him are fanatics, but well-trained soldiers. It won’t be easy getting the drop on them.”

  We set up security around the house while Braun and I continued to brainstorm a way out of our problem. JD was pissed, but he was also right. We could’ve taken out Castle and his men and been on our way home by sunset.

  I was glad Braun and his men didn’t suggest the easy way out. They weren’t our kids. A surprise assault would get the job done, but nobody was willing to sacrifice the life of a six-year-old girl. It gave me more confidence that Braun was the right man to lead the militia.

  “I ain’t apologizing for what I said.”

  “Nobody’s asking you to,” I said, watching JD walk over to the mess he made.

  “We just can’t seem to catch a break,” said JD, picking up a shattered picture frame. “I will apologize for this, though.”

  “I told him you weren’t pissed at him,” I said. “Just the situation.”

  “That’s true,” said JD. “I’m pissed at what we gotta do. I’m pissed at what you gotta do again.”

  “We don’t know what we’re doing yet,” said Braun. “We’re trying to figure that out.”

  “Ask him,” said JD, pointing at me. “He already knows.

  “I do?”

  “Cut it out, Henry,” said JD. “I’ve already come to terms with it. We’re gonna trade us for them.”

  “I haven’t come to terms with that,” I said. “I think that’s a lousy idea.”

  “We don’t have time for you to go over every damned angle in your head before you come to that conclusion,” said JD. “And you will come to that conclusion. I know you better than you think I do.”

  “Do you two need some alone time?” asked Braun.

  “This ain’t no time for jokes,” said JD, cutting his eyes at him. “He knows what I’m talkin’ about. He’ll go round and round lookin’ for a way out, but won’t find one that’ll get us close enough to Castle and free them kids. So let’s cut the crap and figure out how we do that without getting us both killed.”

  “That’s the easy part,” said Braun. “You’re already dead.”

  “Huh?”

  “No offense, but Castle doesn’t have a use for you,” said Braun. “We’re supposed to kill you and bring Henry back with us. He’s a bit angry with him and wants a little payback in front of his troops. If we make the trade, it’ll just be for him.”

  “Told you that was a lousy idea,” I said.

  “I don’t know,” said Braun. “It sounds crazy enough to work.”

  “Can you get Henry in front of Castle without them checkin’ him for weapons?”

  “I can,” said Braun. “That’s the irony. I’m one of the few that he trusts.”

  “How are you going to explain coming back two men short?” I asked.

  “We won’t be in there long enough for him to figure that out,” said Braun. “As soon as those kids are on their way, we take out Castle and his men inside. When the shooting starts, we’ll have your guys outside to mop up the rest.”

  “And you’re sure he’s going to let those kids go?” I asked.

  “I’m not sure of anything,” said Braun, “but we’re running out of time. The longer we wait, the more paranoid he’s going to get.”

  “I appreciate your willingness to sacrifice my life, Braun, but I can’t risk yours. I’ll kill the general – you can be sure of that – but we need you alive to take over the militia. Nothing we’ve done will matter if you’re dead.”

  “You won’t get through the door without me,” said Braun. “It’s a risk we’re going to have to take.”

  “Get us in the door, but then you find a reason to leave,” I said. “I’ll keep the general entertained long enough for you to get out.”

  “None of them can survive,” said Braun. “You know that, right?”

  “We do,” said JD, “and they won’t. We made a pact that Castle dies, or we die trying. Time to put our money where our mouth is.”

  Chapter 49

  Mr. President

  I stepped out onto the front porch for some fresh air. I could see my breath, but I wasn’t concerned about the chill. It wasn’t as cold as the day before. Big, heavy snowflakes fell in silence over a landscape that had little color other than white. It was a sight few had seen in this part of the country. Before my thoughts could drift toward home, Braun stepped outside with me.

  “You can do this, right?” I asked, catching him in the corner of my eye. “Take over the militia?”

  “I can,” said Braun. “You made it easier for me. When the people hear that he lost an entire army because he was stupid, they’ll realize it was a mistake to follow him. A lot of families are going to get some bad news soon.”

  “Because of us,” I said. “They’re going to want their revenge. I would.”

  “You have no idea how strong you guys are, do you?”

  “I’m not feeling it right now,” I said.

  “That guy, JD,” said Braun. “I like him.”

  “Yeah,” I said. “Nobody else I’d want by my side. He and his brother have pulled my ass out of the fire many times. And once literally.”

  “I feel the same way about Crazy,” said Braun. “He’s done the same for me many times. I recognize that, just like you do. I believe that’s what makes a good leader. The guys that follow Castle do it out of fear, not respect. When he dies, so does their loyalty.

  “Our people on Signal Mountain are scared to death. They’ll attach themselves to anyone that says they’ll keep them safe. Castle showed up wearing his uniform with a handful of men wearing theirs. He looked the part, spoke the right words, and showed them just enough to set the hook. After that, the power went straight to his head.”

  “I’m familiar with the type,” I said.

  “The people aren’t going to want revenge,” said Braun. “They’ll think you’re coming for them next. I’ll convince them that you’re not and show them the real Castle. I’ll explain to them what really happened out here. Then we can start working on helping each other out. Everything is going to be fine, Henry. You’ll see.”

  “As long as he dies,” I said. “And his men with him.”

  “That’s the only way,” said Braun. “If he’s anything, he’s charismatic. He comes across as a man who knows what he’s doing. Even after such a brutal defeat, he’ll find a way to rally everyone around him. He’s never been in a fair fight and will lie, intimidate, and murder to keep his position.”

  “Do you have a family?” I asked, looking down at his wedding ring.

  “I did,” said Braun, looking out over the clearing. “But it’s not something I’m ready to talk about.”

  “I understand,” I said.

  “When this is over,” said Braun, “you need to come up to the mountain. In spite of Castle, the people are strong and resilient. They work hard every day to help each other survive. The militia offers them protection, but little else. The general has it set up so most of his troops don’t have to work for anything. They just take what the people provide. That’s all going to change soon, and if they don’t like it, they’ll find themselves on the road or in a grave.

  “It’s going to make a good situation even better when the militia becomes a workforce. Your train can help us secure the entire area between us. We can start working together instead of killing each other.”

  “You have my vote, Mr. President,” I said, smiling at him. “I’m glad I went with my gut.”

&nb
sp; “So am I,” said Braun. “If not, I’d have been the first one shot on that dam.”

  “Here comes Tom and Angie,” I said, pointing down the road. “I don’t envy that guy.”

  “He really did screw this up,” said Braun.

  “He did,” I said, exhaling. “I’m not even sure why we’re doing this.”

  “What?” said Braun, “Risking our lives for strangers?”

  “Yep.”

  “Because we can,” said Braun, slapping me on my back. “We still have heart, my friend. Not much for brains, but we still have heart.”

  “That actually makes sense,” I said, watching him walk back inside.

  Tom wasn’t a bad guy, but I still wanted to punch him in the face. I had a feeling Angie was going to do that for me when she found out her children had been taken. With that thought, Braun’s words made even more sense.

  For whatever reason, I was with a group of men who could do what others couldn’t. Tom would have no chance rescuing his kids from Castle. He’d end up dead, and Angie would be soon after they had finished with her. A six-year-old girl wouldn’t last much longer. Knowing that makes something inside of us snap. It makes us angry. It makes us do those things others can’t.

  I’m a different man since I dragged my bloody, broken ass onto my uncle’s front porch in Stevenson. It took a planet-wide power outage and civilization tumbling into a dark madness before I could see it. It wasn’t just our mission of trying to save our town and the people in it. It was me trying to save my soul. It gave me a purpose.

  As I watched Tom and Angie come closer, I could see the fear on his face and the worry on hers. She knew something had gone terribly wrong, and he had no idea how to fix it. I did. It was my purpose.

  I – we – had the ability to take away that fear and worry and give them hope. We had the ability to bring their family back together. Tom wasn’t the reason his life was spiraling out of control. We were. And if we walked away and left their family bloody and broken, my soul wouldn’t be worth saving.

  I no longer wanted to punch Tom in the face. I wanted to apologize to him. He didn’t ask for us to break into his home and point guns at his family. He didn’t ask Castle to put a bounty on our heads and force him to turn us in. He didn’t ask his son to put his little girl in harm’s way. He didn’t ask for anything that was happening to him. We gave it to him anyway. Like JD said, it was time to put our money where our mouth was. It would start with helping Tom.

  “Castle has Bear and Ashley,” I said, following them inside and sitting with them.

  “Oh dear God,” said Angie, clutching Tom’s arm. “They have my babies.”

  “They’re okay,” said Braun. “My men are with them, and they’ll keep them safe until we get there. He’ll let them go if we bring him Henry.”

  “And that’s exactly what we’re going to do,” I said.

  “He’s going to kill you,” said Angie, crying. “You told us that.”

  “He’s going to try,” I said. “We have a plan, but we’re not doing anything until Bear and Ashley are released. He doesn’t care about them. He wants me.”

  “I’m so sorry, Henry,” said Tom, lowering his head.

  “You don’t owe me an apology,” I said. “You don’t owe me anything. None of us. We owe you and Angie the apologies. You didn’t ask for any of this. It’s our fault, and we’re not leaving until we make it right.”

  “My apologies as well,” said JD, taking off his hat. “I’m sorry about kicking over that table. I let my emotions get the best of me. Had nothin’ to do with you folks. Henry is right. None of this would be happening if it weren’t for us.”

  “I don’t care about any of that,” said Angie, clenching her fists. “All I care about is bringing my children home safe.”

  “We will, ma’am,” said JD.

  “I’m going with you,” said Tom, standing.

  “I appreciate that, Tom,” I said, “but your kids are going to need a father. There’s going to be a fight today. An ugly one. You need to stay here.”

  “What kind of father would I be if I didn’t go get my children?” said Tom. “This isn’t an argument. I’m telling you that I’m going.”

  “Those men are professional soldiers,” said Braun. “They’ll fight to the death.”

  “What do you think I’ve been doing?” asked Tom. “I’ve fought for my home and this town since day one. I’ve killed more people than I care to think about, but I did what needed to be done. You’re going to need every gun you can get out there. I know that farm well and can show you where to set up your shooters outside. I won’t miss and I won’t run. I never have.”

  Angie didn’t argue. He had been defending his family long before we showed up. She knew things about him that we didn’t. I wasn’t going to argue with that.

  “I’ll go in with you, Henry,” said Tom. “I want them to see me first. I want my children to know I came for them. Angie will be a safe distance away. After she has the kids, I’ll take my place beside your men. Nobody takes my children from me. Nobody.”

  “Seems I may have underestimated you,” said JD, smiling at Tom.

  “You did.”

  We gathered around Tom as he drew a map of the farm and surrounding area. He pointed out the high terrain that would offer the best concealment and concentration of fire. Braun detailed the inside of the farmhouse and showed us the location of the barn where the supplies and horses were located. He wasn’t sure which room Castle would be receiving me, so I had to memorize the entire layout. It was a big house.

  JD, Tucker, and Doug left most of their gear behind so they could move faster through the snow. They stuffed their pockets with magazines and every round they could carry. Braun’s men were impressed with their camouflage and watched as they disappeared into the landscape a short distance from the porch.

  I slid two handguns into my waistband and covered them with my coat. Braun tied a loose knot on my restraints that I could remove with ease. All I could do was trust him that Castle’s men wouldn’t frisk me as soon as I walked into the room.

  “How many do you think are going to be inside the house?” I asked.

  “There’s going to be at least three men with Castle wherever he is,” said Braun. “Those guys never leave his side. I’m pretty sure they even wipe his ass. Maybe two or three more upstairs at the windows.”

  “I take it they’re his best men,” I said.

  “They are,” said Crazy. “But they won’t be a problem for us. They’re going to be very confused when this thing starts. As soon as they figure out what’s happening, they’ll be more focused on me. By then it’ll be too late.”

  “I can see that,” I said.

  “He has a bit of a problem with authority,” said Braun. “They’ve all seen Crazy in action.”

  “I bet it’s something to behold,” I said.

  “I understand your guys are good at long range,” said Crazy.

  “They’re very good and damn near impossible to see,” I said.

  “Perfect,” said Crazy. “The men outside are not, but they’re deadly at close range. They’ll look for cover, so be careful on the way out if you still hear shooting.”

  “Where are you going to be?” I asked, looking at Braun.

  “I’m going to be running like a little girl,” said Braun.

  “Exactly,” I said. “I know you’re not happy about it, but you need to sit this one out. Nobody will think any less of you.”

  “You just focus on Castle, Henry,” said Crazy. “We’ll take care of everything else. If for whatever reason he makes it out and you don’t, we’ll hunt him down. We won’t let him make it home.”

  “Trust me, Crazy. That man will have my undivided attention.”

  Chapter 50

  Little Man

  I took a deep breath and then watched it float away when I exhaled. I stood on the porch for a moment and welcomed the frigid air burning in my lungs. The pain heightened all of my sen
ses.

  The storm front had passed, leaving a flat, gray sky that was blanketing the landscape with more snow. It started with a roar, but had since calmed itself into a quiet rage. There was an occasional rustle through the treetops as the cold wind swirled high over our heads. The temperature that had been holding fast earlier started to drop.

  We walked in single file with Crazy on point. He was a human snow plow. I was behind him and followed in his footsteps after his massive frame compacted the snow to the ground. With my hands tied behind my back, it made it easier to keep my balance. It was still going to be a long mile. Braun was behind me with Tom, Chris, and Palmer following in a tight formation.

  “You seem pretty calm about all this,” said Crazy, speaking out of the side of his mouth.

  “Believe it or not,” I said, looking down to find his steps, “I’ve been here before.”

  “How’s that?” asked Crazy, turning his ear toward me.

  “The circumstances were a little different,” I said, “but the reason was the same. Swapping my life for someone else’s. The big difference being, I was doing it to impress a lady.”

  “No shit,” said Crazy, chuckling.

  “Actually, it was to impress three women,” I said. “My aunt, my cousin, and a woman I basically just met.”

  “I take it she’s hot?” asked Crazy.

  “My aunt?” I asked. “She’s attractive, but she’s like sixty-something.”

  “No, man,” said Crazy, turning his head around to give me a look. “The woman you just met.”

  “Kelly,” I said, smiling at him. “Yes. Very.”

  “I’m guessing everything turned out okay,” said Crazy, turning back around.

  “I was beaten, shot, stabbed, and set on fire,” I said. “Don’t know if I’d call that being okay, but it all worked out in the end.”

  “This will too,” said Crazy. “We’ll get those kids out of there.”

  “How did you get out of it?” asked Braun, walking up closer to me.

  “The town rescued me,” I said. “And when I say town, I mean damn near everyone in it. Well, except a preacher and his devout followers who were trying to kill me.”