“Jump in back, Mark,” someone hollered.
Mark looked up and recognized a sergeant in the passenger seat. “I’m looking for my dad,” he hollered as he trotted beside the truck.
“He’s in back. We were told to put him under arrest. I don’t know why.”
“Can I ride with him?”
“I don’t see why not. Jump in.”
Mark waited until the truck had nearly passed, then jumped onto the bumper. Two sets of hands helped him over the tailgate, and when he looked up, he saw his father sitting between two men with rifles. His father looked scared. He walked back and knelt in front of him.
“They arrested me, Mark!” Harold said in a quivering voice. Harold suspected the women had been caught, and wondered if his son knew about it. The look in Mark’s eyes told him he had and was wondering if it were true. “I didn’t have a choice, son,” he pleaded. When Harold saw the hurt look in his son’s eyes, his heart dropped into his stomach. He knew he was going to be shot, but the look from his son made him feel as though he already had a bullet in his heart. He stared at his hands and saw them shaking.
* * *
Chapter 31
Joyce slowed the motorhome and Christa and Judy jumped out, taking the suitcase of samples with them as they ran between the tents and into the woods. They suspected Everex would have soldiers still searching the forest for them, but felt they would be searching out, away from the camp. Joyce had told them where to hide, and she would join them as soon as she could.
Joyce turned the motorhome around, parked in front of Sergeant Major Davis’ cabin, and walked through the motor home, to the side door. She opened it and saw Davis standing in front of her. “I need a place to stay,” she told him. “Let me have your cabin while you’re gone.”
Davis grinned sadistically. “Okay, Joyce, but if you move in, you stay here with me when I get back.”
Joyce knew she wouldn’t be there, even if he did return. She smiled at the thought, knowing Davis would misinterpret it. “Sure thing,” she told him and picked up two suitcases before stepping out of the motor home. She set the cases down and sat on one while Davis and four other guards loaded their gear inside.
Davis waited until the other men were in the motor home, and nodded for Joyce to go into his cabin. He followed her as far as the door and stopped. When she started unpacking her suitcases, he smiled leeringly, knowing he now had what all the other men in camp wanted. “If I wasn’t so busy, I’d get a quick one before I leave,” he said to her.
Joyce turned to him and smiled. “I think there will be plenty of time for that when you get back, don’t you?”
Davis grinned broadly. “Save it all for me, Joyce. I’ll arrange it with the Major.”
Joyce smiled again. This was working out better than she had hoped. “Sure thing, honey. I’ll see you off.” She followed him out to the motorhome.
Davis saw the other men watching and grinned up at them. “Guess who’s out of service, guys?” he said and grabbed Joyce around the waist, pulling her close. He gave her an overly zealous kiss, and climbed into the motor home.
When the door slammed shut, Joyce spit nastily and wiped her hand across her mouth, then grabbed a short piece of string hanging out of a side compartment door. She yanked it out, and with string in hand, smiled and walked into the cabin as the motor home moved away.
*
The truck stopped in front of the jail, and Mark followed his dad and the two armed soldiers into the building. Mark watched them shove his father into a cell with two other men he didn’t recognize, and saw his mother in the next cell with Marcia.
So, it was all true, he thought as his parents exchanged stares. They turned toward him, and Mark saw a pleading look in their eyes. How could they do this to me! He glared at them for a moment, spun around, and stomped out of the jail.
He was filled with so much rage he paid no attention to all the people rushing around as he found Pam sitting on a log bench outside the dormitory and sat next to her.
“Did you find Dad?” Pam asked.
“Yeah. He’s in jail.” Mark stomped his feet and leapt off the bench. “How could they do this to us!” he screamed and stared at his sister.
Pam stared up at him in sympathy. She thought the camp was all right, and was glad she’d found a boy who really liked her, but she knew this army meant everything to Mark. “It wasn’t their fault,” she said to him.
Mark looked away. “I hope they get shot!” he snarled bitterly.
“No!” Pam snapped at him. “Sit down and listen to me!” Mark started pacing in front of her. “I said sit!” she shouted. Mark stopped and stared at her, then flopped onto the bench, a scowl frozen on his face. “They didn’t have a choice.” Pam continued. “The spies were blackmailing them. They threatened to make up stories to get Mom and Dad in trouble. Mom and Dad knew it would probably get you kicked out of this army, so they did what they had to. They know how much this army means to you. That’s why they did it.” She watched his scowl melt away in surprise.
“They did it for me?” Mark asked. Pam nodded, and Mark thought his heart would rip apart. He didn’t know what to do now, and stared at the ground. I didn’t know they loved me that much, he thought. If I try to help them, I’ll be kicked out of the army. I love being a soldier! I have a uniform and everything! But I can’t let Everex shoot my Mom and Dad! He buried his head in his hands. What should I do?
Pam saw her brother’s anguish, and knew he was torn between two loves. She decided to make the decision for him. “We’re going to get Mom and Dad out of jail,” she said firmly.
Mark looked up at her, his eyes still full of anguish. “If I help you, they’ll kick me out of the army.”
Pam laughed harshly. “So what? This isn’t a real army. It’s just a bunch of sick-headed people holding a bunch of scared people hostage. You saw what they did to Mr. Berry. Do you think a sane person would have done that?”
Mark shook his head slowly. He knew she was right. As much as he admired Major Everex, he did seem awfully mean to everyone. “So what do we do now? Everex will probably shoot them before he leaves.”
“I found out that Colonel Blackwood is going to lead the army, and Everex is staying here in case the Colonel fails.”
“How will we get them out of jail?”
“I don’t know yet, but whatever we do, we’ll have to wait until the Colonel leaves with most of the soldiers. Let’s go to my room and try to think of a plan.”
*
Joyce met Christa and Judy and told them about getting the cabin. “It’ll be dark in a half hour, and I think the army is ready to leave. When they’ve gone, come to the cabin. I’ll be waiting.”
Christa gave Joyce a hug. “Thanks. We really appreciate this.”
Joyce smiled. “Anything to get out of this madhouse.”
*
It was after 9:00 P.M. when Jerry Monroe parked his truck and trailer in front of Blackwood’s cabin. He and the Colonel had become friends, of a sort, and Blackwood had begged him to come with him. Jerry had heard about the Woollys being arrested, but knew he couldn’t do anything about it, so he offered to use his truck and trailer as the lead vehicle and act as the Colonel’s driver. He had been surprised at Blackwood’s reaction and gratitude, and realized the Colonel was scared to death about all of this.
Jerry climbed out of the truck and walked up the steps. The door was open, and Jerry could see Blackwood scurrying around inside, his arms full of papers and rolled maps. “Can I give you a hand, George?”
Blackwood turned and smiled nervously. “Thank God, you’re here, Jerry. I can’t make up my mind what I’m going to need!”
Jerry smiled reassuringly and took the maps out of Blackwood’s arms. “Let’s see. I don’t think we’ll need all of these. Put your gear in the trailer while I sort these out.”
Blackwood smiled gratefully. When he stepped out of the cabin, Everex was waiting for him.
“I hope yo
u’re ready,” said Everex. “The rest of the convoy is waiting.”
Ready? I don’t think I’ll ever be ready for this, Blackwood moaned inwardly. He saw the wary look in Everex’s eyes and tried to think of something appropriate to say.
Monroe stepped around the truck. “I’ve loaded everything you ordered, sir,” he said for Blackwood’s sake. “We’re ready to move out.”
Blackwood nodded gratefully, gathered his courage, and stood tall in front of Everex. “Take good care of my camp, Major,” he said with forced bravado. “I expect everything to be in order when I return victorious.” He turned and climbed into the passenger side of the truck, then released a deep sigh. If I return, he thought.
Everex watched the truck and trailer drive away. If you’re not victorious, he thought, you’d better not return. He turned and strode across the parade ground and down a trail that led to the end of the convoy. At the end of the line of trucks were three big food carriers behind two big fuel tankers. Ahead of them was the big Roadmaster motor home Davis and the rest of his elite guards had taken from the whore. A long string of covered troop carriers preceded the motorhome, and in the lead, he saw the headlights of Monroe’s truck start down the road.
He hated to send all his personal guards with the convoy, but he didn’t trust the Colonel’s leadership. The Colonel was just a figurehead, but most of the troops didn’t know that and would do what he ordered. He preemptively gave his guards orders to shoot the Colonel if he tried to back out or tried something stupid.
Everex waited until the last taillight disappeared and climbed back up the trail. His thoughts turned to the spies in jail. I think I’ll have a little fun with the Amazon woman before I shoot her and her friends, he thought.
As he walked across the parade ground, a young soldier ran up to him, panting fiercely.
“Some of the soldiers have deserted!” he managed to say between breaths.
“Damn!” Everex swore. I only have about forty soldiers left in camp, he thought. He couldn’t afford to lose a single person. “Sound the assembly bugle. I want everyone here on the double!” When the boy ran off, he stared across the far end of the parade ground, at the jail. They’re not going anywhere, he thought. I’ll take care of them in the morning. He continued across the parade ground and stood on Blackwood’s porch as the first soldiers ran to assemble before him.
*
Christa and Judy listened to the growl of the convoy trucks fade away, and ran from the woods to the cabin Joyce had indicated, Judy carrying the suitcase of explosive samples. Although Joyce had said the plastic explosives couldn’t go off without being detonated, Judy was still nervous about being so close to the suitcase. As she followed Christa through the door, Judy gingerly set it down just inside and hurried to the far wall of the room, collapsing into a cushioned chair as she stared up at Joyce.
Christa could smell dirty socks and sweat in the room, and wrinkled her nose in disgust.
Joyce noticed, and pointed to a plastic bag near the door. “I put that pig’s clothes in there, but it might take a while to air this place out. In the meantime, I suggest we try to come up with a plan.”
The three of them exchanged looks when they heard a recorded bugle echo through the camp. Joyce indicated for Christa and Judy to sit tight, and stepped out of the cabin. She watched several soldiers run past, and knew they were going to the parade ground, at the other end of the cabins. She stepped back inside and closed the door. “Everyone’s assembling. I don’t know why, but this might be our only chance to help your friends.”
“What should we do?” Christa asked.
“I showed you how to set the timers on the explosives,” said Joyce. “Now’s a good time to set them up as a diversion.”
“Out on the main road, I think.” Judy told her. “If the soldiers go that way, it will give us a chance to blow the jail.”
Joyce shook her head adamantly. “The road is fine for the diversion, but we can’t use this stuff on the jail. We’d kill everyone inside. When you get back, I’ll try to get the guard to come outside and you can hit him over the head or something.”
Judy nodded. “Okay. Let’s do it.” She stood and walked nervously to the suitcase. She stopped short and looked at Joyce. “Maybe you’d better show us one more time.”
Joyce smiled, opened the suitcase, and showed them what to do.
*
Mark and Pam heard the bugle call and followed the rest of the soldiers. They stood to the right side of the crowd in front of Blackwood’s cabin, and saw Everex as a silhouette in front of the porch light. No one was talking, and they could hear the rumble from the big generator out in the forest.
Everex stared down at the crowd. Nearly all of them were people he’d forced into training. Most of them were never issued a rifle or pistol, he knew, and he tried to decide which people he could trust. He decided to let them come forward on their own. “Listen up!” he shouted. “I need volunteers to watch for deserters. I’ll issue a rifle and give a promotion to anyone who wants to stand guard. We need everyone here to protect our supplies from the fanatics if the Colonel fails. Remember this, if even one person leaves, it increases your chances of getting killed.”
Pam poked her elbow lightly into Mark’s ribs. “Raise your hand.”
“I thought we were going to rescue Mom and Dad?”
“We’ll have a better chance if we have guns.”
Mark agreed, and raised his hand. Everex saw several hands rise from the crowd. He recognized Mark and Pam in front and to his left, and was surprised to see their hands, since their parents were in jail. He’d have to talk to them first, he decided. “Follow me to the munitions issue building,” he told everyone and descended the steps.
In front of the munitions building, Everex took Mark and Pam aside. “What are you two up to?” he asked sternly.
“We’re soldiers, sir,” Mark answered and stood at attention. “This is our army, and we have to protect what’s ours! Right, sir?”
Everex looked at him skeptically. “What about your parents?”
“They got what they deserved, sir,” Pam told him. “A little time in jail will straighten them out.”
Everex grinned, but not for them. They didn’t know he was going to shoot the prisoners personally. “Very well. Check out your rifles.”
“I’d like a pistol, sir,” Mark told him. Everex didn’t reply. “You said if I proved myself, I could wear a pistol.”
Everex remembered when Mark first came into Blackwood’s cabin. Why not? A pistol was the only thing the boy really wanted. Maybe this would assure his devotion to him. “Very well, Sergeant Woolly.”
Mark felt a stirring of pride. Did he hear right? A promotion? He smiled at Everex and saluted smartly. “Thank you, sir!”
When Everex walked away, Pam looked at her smiling brother. “What are you doing?”
Mark looked down at her, still grinning. “Did you hear that? I’ve been promoted!”
“What about Mom and Dad?”
Mark’s grin faded. “Well, they could have turned the spies in right away. Major Everex would have believed me instead of the spies.”
Pam was surprised by Mark’s change of heart. “So you’re going to let them be shot?”
Mark stared at the ground, slightly ashamed. “I just can’t be a traitor. The Major needs me.”
“Does that mean you’d shoot me if I try to save them?”
Mark glanced at her, then back at the ground. “I, ah, no, I won’t try to stop you, I guess.” He looked into Pam’s eyes. “But if you get caught, you have to tell the Major I didn’t know anything about it, okay?”
Pam felt a deep disgust for her brother. How could he turn against their parents? “Fine,” she said curtly and stepped in line to get a rifle.
* * *
Chapter 32
It was 12:30 AM. when Christa and Judy emerged from the woods, ran inside the cabin, and found Joyce pacing nervously. “I was beginning to think yo
u got caught!” Joyce said anxiously. “How long before the first explosion?”
Christa looked at her watch. “Thirty-eight minutes.”
Joyce took a deep breath. “All right, take these. They’re the best I can do for a weapon.” She handed each of them a pink tube sock with a baseball-sized rock inside. “Follow me to the jail. Just act like you belong here.”
They stepped out of their cabin, and walked boldly past the rest of the cabins. A few soldiers hurried past them, but didn’t stop. When they reached the jail, Christa and Judy stood on either side of the door as Joyce entered.
When Joyce opened the door and stepped inside, the elderly guard suddenly jumped out of his chair behind the desk and pointed a pistol at her. She hesitated a second, then stepped up to the desk. “So, how’s it going, Randy?”
Randy smiled nervously and set the pistol down on the desk. “Oh, hi, Joyce. I’m getting a little twitchy in my old age, I guess. What are you doing here?”
“Everyone else has something to do, and I’m bored. Just thought I’d stop by to . . .”
She heard a muffled explosion, but it was too far away to be their diversion.
“What the hell was that?” Randy asked as if he thought Joyce would know. A moment later, they heard another muffled explosion, then a third. “It’s them!” Randy moaned. “They’re attacking the Colonel!”
Joyce tried to look frightened, which wasn’t hard. “Oh my God! What should we do?”
Randy looked at the prisoners, who had heard it and were staring at him. He didn’t know what was going on outside the jail, but knew he couldn’t leave the prisoners. “I’d better call in for orders,” he told her.
Christa and Judy heard the explosions, and Christa looked at her watch. “It’s too soon!” she told Judy.
They both flinched as a female soldier ran past them. Judy nodded toward the door. “We have to go in!”
Randy picked up the phone to call central control. His finger was pushing the second digit when the door suddenly burst open and two women rushed in.
The Alex Cave Series. Books 1, 2, & 3.: Box set Page 24
