by Mark Rounds
The Hammer was next through the door, followed closely by his road buddy Ace. Dave came up behind as fast as he was able.
Henderson was in the living room meeting with a disreputable character that Sayla had earlier identified as another Slash dealer. The Hammer, using his tool of choice, hit him hard on the hand nearest his holstered pistol and Ace had his .45 caliber Taurus aimed at his head.
Henderson froze for a minute which is all it took for Major David Tippet, wearing, for the first time in a long time, a Marine’s dress blue uniform. They had chosen that uniform to give what was about to take place an air of official sanction that it might not otherwise have. In Dave's hand was a Ruger Red Hawk with a seven inch barrel that he jammed in Henderson's face. At that angle, it looked like a hand cannon.
“Daniel Henderson,” said Dave in his best parade ground voice, “I am placing you under arrest for the attempted murder of Pullman Police Chief Yates, trafficking in Schedule One drugs, misuse of city assets, and various other crimes against both federal and Washington State statutes!”
That last shook Henderson out of his trance.
“You have no jurisdiction here!” said Henderson.
“Let's let the courts decide who has jurisdiction,” said Dave. “We are taking you into custody. Of course the first thing they will do will be to give you a blood test.”
“You can't ...” began Henderson.
“By the time you can get a lawyer in place to protest it,” said Dave, “the test will be done, and we both know the results, don't we? Your pusher is in our custody and he is singing like a jaybird.”
“You want something,” said Henderson. It was a statement, not a question.
“Several somethings,” said Dave. “We have all the evidence we need to bust you, and get the Chairman of the City Council installed as Mayor. Then we get mandated testing, most of your monitors are in the hospital, and you are in an isolation cell at the hospital.”
“The one problem we have, is that will take time that we can better use elsewhere. We need to move on some other things. If you are really good, we won't out you. We will supply your Slash and come election time, you will announce that you are retiring. We will get you out of town with a supply of Slash big enough to last for the foreseeable future and you will be free to go your merry way, anyplace but Pullman.”
“That's unacceptable!” shouted Henderson who still was at heart a politician and a deal maker.
Dave shoved the .44 in Henderson's face for emphasis which quieted him down.
“You misunderstand,” said Dave. “You can either, A, get tested and go to jail and we will figure out our problems ourselves, or, B, you can help. If you are very helpful, then we don't test you and you can fade away. Decide! You have until the count of three and I count fast!”
“Wait can't we ...” began Henderson.
“One,” said Dave.
“Shouldn't I have …” continued Henderson.
“Two,” said Dave as he waved Sayla in who, after having subdued the monitors, was coming toward Henderson with handcuffs and leg restraints.
“You win,” said Henderson dejectedly. “What do you want?”
“The monitors are taking over the perimeter,” said Dave. “Now!”
“What about the police?” said Henderson.
“Those that I don't need will take over internal security,” said Dave. “Chief Yates will set up the plan.”
“Next, you will open up the Police Armory and the City Garage fuel stores,” said Dave.
“How will I maintain control over the police?” asked Henderson.
“You won't.” said Dave. “You will defer to the City Council. But right now, before you leave, call Chief Yates. Then call whoever runs your monitors and let’s get this show on the road!”
July 10th, Friday, 1:45 pm PDT
The National Guard Armory, Moscow, ID
“So how do we do this?” asked LTC Amos. “I am nominally in command, but much of this is new to me. I have sent three ten-horse patrols out, keeping the last squad in town for messenger duties and what-not. Assuming Major Tippet completes his mission, what will we send?”
“We know the Pullman fuel stores are not large,” said Chad, “and that they are not all gasoline. Some of it is diesel. I suspect we can get two or three tankfuls at best before we run too short to pump water to the storage tanks. What are the choices we have for vehicles?”
“We have the fifteen passenger van,” said Sergeant Borden. “There is some heavy equipment like dozers and graders and some HEMTTs to haul them around, but not much else, save a single Humvee. Most of the rest of our equipment was shipped to the Yakima Firing Center for summer camp.”
“So we load what, three-quarters of a platoon?” asked Amos. “Doesn't sound like much.”
“It's not and it’s probably going to be worse,” said Chad. “You will need some … specialists for this mission. We are hunting the people who started ‘The Plague’ and who have some abilities that will surprise your troops if we don't have them along.”
“Who did you have in mind?” said Amos.
“I am afraid it will have to be Amber,” said Chad. “She can sense Nergüi which will be a big asset. But if you are going to take her, we need to send a team to protect her.”
“Meaning my troops aren't good enough?” said Amos, bristling slightly.
“Not at all,” said Chad, “I am proposing we send Sayla along. He is deadly at most ranges. He will also sicken if he is too far from Amber. Frankly, Amber won't go unless her fiancée goes, Chris Vaughn, the highway patrolman. Finally, we have another intel asset that you don't know about. He is another of the remission subjects and he is over two hundred years old. He has fought Nergüi before and could also be useful.”
“So that fills up the Humvee,” said Amos. “I wish there was another way to add some force to this.”
“Sir,” said Sergeant Borden, “I have an idea.”
“Go ahead, Sergeant,” said Amos.
“Seeing those two bikers got me thinking,” said Borden. “It won't take much gas to fill up some motorcycle tanks. Some of the soldiers have road bikes sir. We can send a few more troops along double-up. They would also be useful as outriders and scouts.”
“Good idea, Sergeant,” said Amos. “Get some volunteers. We need to be able to roll as soon as we get the word!”
July 10th, Friday, 1:58 pm PDT
Pullman City Garage, Pullman, WA
“This had better work,” said Chief Yates. “After we fill you up, we will have just enough fuel left to pump the water tanks full once and then maybe another third-full later. We will be out of water before the end of August.”
“Moscow is worse off,” said Dave. “We are pumping now, but I don’t think we will get all the tanks full. Then, even with the most draconian rationing we can get people to abide by, we are dry in a week, maybe two, depending on how much water comes down Paradise Creek.“
“At that, the rescue team doesn’t look all that impressive,” said Chief Yates.
Dave looked over the force and had to agree with Chief Yates. The team included the MRAP from the Moscow police department, full to capacity with the Pullman SWAT Team and an Army M-60 team. The fifteen-passenger van was judged to be the best compromise between carrying capacity and gas consumption. Onboard was a twelve-man squad along with a two PJ’s for medical support and to watch out for Dave.
There was also the single Humvee that was in the Guard lot when the Plague swept over the area. On board were Amber, Sayla, Little Bear, and an Army driver and gunner. This is where Dave was going to ride after everyone was fueled. On the roof, an M-60 machine gun was mounted, manned by two more National Guardsmen. It was going to be a crowded trip.
The last portion was led by Ace and the Hammer and consisted of half a dozen assorted motorcycles of various types. Sergeant Borden had put the word out at the National Guard armory for motorcycle riders and rounded up four. They were all riding two up
with other Guardsman to help build some numbers. Ace and the Hammer had planned to ride single and be outriders but for the trip to the Pullman City Garage, Amy had caught a ride with the Hammer to say goodbye one last time to Connor who was riding in the van.
As Chief Yates and Dave talked over last-minute details, Amy got off the Hammer’s bike and walked over to the Van to talk to Connor.
“You are still hurt,” said Amy. “You shouldn’t have to go.”
“They need me, Amy,” said Connor. “The troops that are left in town are going to have a heck of a lot of work to defend both cities and secure the power line.”
“Why aren’t you doing that then?” asked Amy as she reached out to hold Connor’s hand through the window. “You always go where it is most dangerous. That’s what got you wounded.”
“Warriors go where they are needed,” said Sayla who appeared seemingly out of nowhere.
“God, you scare me when you do that,” said a shaken Amy.
“With Connor and his big rifle along,” said Sayla, “we are more likely to come back.”
As quick as he appeared, he was gone, stepping around the side of the van.
“He’s right, you know,” said Dave, who had also walked up. “There are those who fight because they crave it. They are scary and die early. There are those that have it their blood and are good at it. They will survive.”
“Connor, cover your ears or you will blush,” said Dave with a wink as he guided Amy away.
“Connor is still hurt, Mr. Tippet,” said Amy. “He shouldn’t have to go.”
“His mom said the same thing,” said Dave. “But we are taking few enough soldiers as it is. Every one of them brings something special to the party. Connor is a deadly shot and cool in a crisis. Just about anybody else I take will weaken this patrol and, frankly, make it harder for LTC Amos and Chief Yates to secure that power line. I need him.”
“He’s only a high school senior …” said Amy.
“He is more man than most,” said Dave. “Sayla sees it. I promise to do my best to bring him back, but as William Shakespeare said in The Tempest, 'At this hour, lie at my mercy all mine enemies.' Macklin is out there. Nergüi is out there and their normal protection is in disarray. We have an opening and we are going to take it, and I want people I can trust with me. That's Connor and Sayla and Chris and all the rest. I mean to take them down!”
The End.
