Praying for War: The Collin War Chronicles

by W. C. Hoffman

  An Eagle came inside. “Major Logan, Pastor Pendell is outside and would like to speak with you, sir.”

  The Major sighed but stood up and started to head outside. “C’mon Collin, I’m sure whatever he has to say you’ll need to hear it too.”

  “Shouldn’t we just invite him inside? I’m sure he’ll want his ration.”

  Several Eagles chuckled.

  Major Logan smiled at him. “The good pastor won’t set foot in here because we serve alcohol downstairs. He thinks it’s a sin.” The Major rolled his eyes.

  “Ah, I see. Never mind that Jesus drank wine.” Collin smiled.

  The Major held his hands up in mock surrender. “We’ve had that conversation.” Then he turned to the sergeant from earlier. “Sergeant, you’re in charge of distribution. When you’re done, get these cases over to the hospital. If Dr. Horner wants help unloading them, please oblige her.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Collin followed Major Logan outside.

  Pastor Pendell was standing in the middle of the gravel road, hands behind his back, waiting for them. “Good afternoon, gentlemen. Major Logan, could you please bring me a roster with the names of your fallen Eagles for the memorial tomorrow?”

  Collin stood beside the Pastor.

  Major Logan sighed. “You could have told my soldier to tell me that.” But he turned around to fetch the requested information from inside the Eagle’s Bar.

  The Major strode quickly back toward the building that served as their military headquarters, when a massive explosion slammed into them.

  Collin and Pastor Pendell were thrown back several feet, as the blast wave pummeled them. Their momentum ground them along the gravel road like a cheese grater, before they skidded to a stop. A dust cloud blew over them. Collin raised his head a little but couldn’t see Major Logan.

  Uninjured, but rattled, Collin was slow to stand up. His ears rang from the blast. Pastor Pendell appeared to be uninjured, but he wasn’t conscious. Collin dragged him across the street in case there was a secondary explosion, and propped him gently against a tall oak tree. He placed his cheek near the Pendell’s nose to feel for breath, found he was breathing fine, and went back for Major Logan.

  It was difficult to see with all the smoke and dust. Collin covered his nose and mouth with his hands and pressed on. The mountain breeze was slowly clearing the view and he found Major Logan after only a minute of searching. Collin could hear commotion and yelling, but it was muted by the ringing in his ears. A terrible gift from the percussive blast wave.

  The Major was closer to the blast. His face was peppered by fragments of glass and wood. One splinter caught him just underneath his left eye. If he was lucky, it wouldn’t affect his vision. Blood trickled from the various small cuts but he didn’t appear to have any major external injuries. Only the doctor could determine if he suffered any internal blast injuries. Collin carefully dragged him across the road and propped him up beside the pastor. The two men lay there slumped together like over-sized rag dolls.

  He couldn’t see clearly with all the smoke billowing from the building. So he jogged across the road and looked at the Eagle’s Bar.

  Or where it had been.

  The explosion littered the area with splintered wood and bodies - whole or in pieces. The building itself was blown apart. Whatever was left had collapsed in on itself. Smoke curled out of the wreckage where small fires started burning.

  Collin gasped and covered his mouth in shock. Just moments before the blast, he was inside. The soldiers had laughed at his naive question about Pastor Pendell coming inside. Now they were gone, all of them.

  Realization of what happened slowly dawned on him. The Viper’s hadn’t just tried to take the medication. Instead, they had somehow booby-trapped it to deny Goshen the vital medication and kill, or injure, the Eagles.

  Ruthless, thought Collin. He was furious and sickened at the loss of life.

  Townspeople began arriving at the Eagle’s Bar. Some collapsed, sobbing, as they realized their loved ones were likely inside. Proactive people went up to the building and began moving debris, hoping to find survivors.

  Collin joined them, both anger and agony burning his eyes, as sweat streaked his soot covered face.

  Chapter Eleven

  When Pastor Pendell came to and saw the devastation, he immediately ordered them to open the basement of the church as an emergency medical unit.

  The hospital had sustained substantial damage in the previous attack, and even after Koby’s hard work, electricity was spotty. Pastor Pendell said even heathens like the Vipers wouldn’t dare strike the church for fear of God’s wrath. Collin wasn’t so sure the Vipers were worried about anyone’s wrath considering the low they had just stooped to.

  Anna treated Major Logan first, at Pastor Pendell’s insistence, plucking out the bits of glass and wood. He was indeed lucky and didn’t sustain any permanent damage to his eye from the wood splinter. But his face was puffy and wrapped with bandages, like a mummy.

  The pastor had a small cut along his freckled cheek where a piece of wood had embedded itself in his ebony skin. It didn’t bleed at all until Anna pulled the splinter out. The pastor didn’t require any stitches, just a thick bandage. Collin had made it out virtually unscathed. Just a few minor scratches on his hands where he’d been scraped while clearing debris off the Eagle’s Bar looking for survivors.

  Pastor Pendell walked with Collin and Major Logan through the makeshift hospital, ensuring everything was in order. Major Logan was limping slightly.

  From their initial estimates, the Eagle’s lost an additional fifteen soldiers in the blast. If that number stood, it would bring the day’s casualty count to thirty-two killed in action. A staggering total for such a small community. Virtually a deathblow to a defense force that was comprised of a mere seventy-five soldiers just hours before.

  On one stretcher was a critically injured private. He was maybe in his early-thirties. He was impaled by a massive piece of shrapnel. Just surviving this long was a miracle of its own. It was clear that he wouldn’t make it. Doctor Horner just didn’t have the trained personnel or equipment available that she’d need to repair his organs and replace the blood he’d lost.

  Major Logan stopped and knelt beside the man’s cot. He took the private’s hand and squeezed it. “You did well today, private. I’m really proud of you.”

  The man gasped but was unable to form words.

  “Shhh. You rest now private,” said Major Logan. “You’ve done enough today. Fine, fine work.”

  The man settled back in his cot. His eyes fluttered.

  “Rest easy, Eagle. Your watch is over.” Major Logan held the hand a moment longer. Then he checked the man’s pulse and shook his head. He closed the man’s eyes and stood up.

  “Thirty-three dead.” Major Logan rubbed a hand through his hair in disbelief.

  “What was his name?” Collin asked.

  “Peter Woolworth,” said Major Logan.

  Collin stood at attention and saluted the man. “Rest easy, Private Woolworth.”

  Pastor Pendell made the sign of the cross and placed a finger in between Woolworth’s eyes. He whispered a short prayer, stood up, and moved on.

  Collin pulled the sheet up over his face.

  Nurses rushed past them. Soldiers were carrying in another body scavenged from the remains of the Eagle’s Bar. Considering the size of the blast, the resulting building collapse, and the fires, Collin was amazed to see dozens of Eagle’s in the makeshift hospital. He was grateful so many survived.

  Pastor Pendell stumbled. Collin caught his arm.

  “Are you okay, Pastor?” he said.

  Pendell smiled and nodded although he was obviously in pain. Collin guided him over to a chair nevertheless. He waved over Anna, hoping that she could take another look at his injury.

  Anna hurried over, looking concerned. “What’s the matter, Pastor?”

  “Seems like he’s light headed. He just stu
mbled and almost fell,” said Collin.

  “Where’s the doctor?” asked Pastor Pendell.

  Anna looked hurt but she answered. “She’s gathering supplies from the hospital. Seems like half the town is helping her.”

  Pastor Pendell nodded and eased back in the chair. It didn’t look like he wanted to move. He closed his eyes for a moment then sat up.

  “Major Logan, I’d like you and Collin to go investigate the Eagle’s Bar and see if you can figure out what happened. And if any of the BT76 survived. We need that medicine,” Pastor Pendell said.

  “What about helping here?” Collin said.

  “My Eagle’s need help,” Major Logan said.

  The two men looked at each other. Major Logan nodded his thanks.

  “Everyone here needs that medicine,” said Pastor Pendell. “Even if they survive their injuries, they won’t survive the fever until the next supply drop. We have to put the town’s well-being first. Goshen must survive. Right now, you two are the shepherds guarding my - our flock.”

  Collin looked satisfied by the explanation. It was true the citizens of Goshen needed BT76 more than the small amount of help they could offer here in the temporary trauma ward.

  “Very well,” said Major Logan.

  They turned to leave.

  “Bring me good news,” Pastor Pendell said behind them.

  Major Logan started up the stairs. He grunted and leaned against the wall, after just one step. He put a hand on his lower back and winced.

  “Are you okay?” Collin stepped up to catch Major Logan.

  “Yes, sir. I’m fine. Just a little sore.”

  Collin looked concerned. Before he could suggest the Major stay behind, he started up the stairs with a grunt.

  This wasn’t the first time Major Logan called him sir, and it was becoming more concerning each time. He was in no position of authority over Major Logan.

  “Why do you-”

  “Major Logan!”

  It was Dr. Horner. She came stomping down the stairs toward them. She was carrying two bags of supplies. “What’s the situation?”

  “Sixteen KIA from the blast, possibly more, we haven’t fully cleared the building yet. Another thirty or so wounded,” Major Logan said. He sucked in a breath and continued up the stairs. “The remaining soldiers were dispatched to their posts to watch for any further aggression by the Vipers.”

  “Very good.” Dr. Horner scurried past them. “Where are you going?”

  “Pastor Pendell asked us to recover whatever medicine we can,” said Collin. “And investigate the cause of the explosion.”

  “Good luck,” she said.

  “You too, doctor,” said Major Logan.

  Collin watched Major Logan carefully as they finished the flight of stairs and started down the gravel road.

  “I think we both have a pretty good idea of what caused the explosion, right?” Major Logan said. He glanced sideways at Collin.

  “Some sort of explosive,” said Collin. “Attached to the crates somehow. But by whom?”

  Major Logan frowned at the obvious implication. “It wasn’t HAGS. It was the Vipers.”

  Collin cocked an eyebrow at Major Logan. “You seem rather certain of that.”

  “If HAGS had a problem and wanted to eliminate us, all they would have to do is withhold the shipment,” said Major Logan. “It doesn’t make sense to go through the trouble of booby trapping their own product.”

  “Would they have any reason to make it look like the Vipers? Or cooperate with them?”

  “Doubtful. The Vipers haven’t been any more kind to HAGS than they have with us.”

  Smoke curled through the air. The flames were put out by the firefighting volunteers, but some of the debris still smoldered. The smell of the fire permeated the air.

  A man ran up to them. He was breathing hard, but managed to get out his message. He looked at Collin and said, “Sir, Dr. Horner wants you back at the medical clinic right away.”

  “First, don’t call me sir. Second, what does Julie want me for?” Collin stood with his hands on his hips.

  “Well, um, she said you have ‘O’ negative blood and needs you for donations right away. She was very insistent that you come back immediately.” The man’s eyes pleaded with him not to argue.

  Collin looked at Major Logan.

  “Fine with me.” Major Logan waved his hand.

  “Okay. See you soon.” Collin turned toward the man. “Lead the way.”

  They ran back to the church. As soon as he cleared the last step, one of the nurses pulled him into a chair, and began wiping his arm down with an alcohol swab. It was a flurry of activity that Collin tuned out from. He hated giving blood because it always made him feel lightheaded and sick even if he drank juice right after. And from the looks of it there was no juice available.

  Collin leaned back and closed his eyes. He understood the need, and was willing to help, but that didn’t mean he had to like it.

  Suddenly the lights flickered and went out.

  “God damn it.”

  Collin smiled, he could tell it was Julie.

  “We’re in the Lord’s house, doctor.” Pastor Pendell reminded her gently as he recognized the woman’s voice just as Collin had.

  A few seconds later, the lights came back on. An audible sigh of relief filled the room and then the bustling activity picked back up.

  Collin resumed his slouch and hoped to mine some more memories while they drained his blood like greedy vampires.

  Dr. Horner walked over and patted Collin on the shoulder. He opened his eyes, interrupted yet again.

  “How are you doing?”

  “I’ll be better when you stop siphoning off my body fluids.”

  Julie smiled. “Don’t be such a baby. We’re almost done.”

  “How much longer?”

  “Maybe two minutes. And then you can run outside and play with your friends,” Julie said.

  “Sarcasm. It’s one of your better features, doc.” Collin closed his eyes and smirked. “And I’m not sure the Major would consider me a friend.”

  She checked his arm and fussed with something else. Collin didn’t want to watch.

  When she didn’t respond, he said, “How are the men?”

  “We stabilized a few, lost a few; it’s basically a shit show,” said Dr. Horner. “The bastards really crippled my hospital in the last attack. It’s all I can do to keep these brave souls alive. Now with the supply lost, we’re in a real bad spot.”

  “I know.” Collin shifted on the hard chair. “Who pulled through?”

  “Paul is stable, Andy lost his arm, but he’ll live, and Deedra needed stitches on her artery, but she’s tough. Leroy is a coin-toss at this point. Roger, Ronnie, and Li passed on. So did Peter Woolworth but I’m told you were there. The rest are critical.”

  “So many casualties.” Collin grunted. “There has to be a way to get more medicine.”

  “No, not really. HAGS chose the time interval of the drops. We don’t even have contact with them.”

  “I hate this.”

  “Me too. It’s why your blood is so important to creating a vaccine. It removes our dependency on HAGS and frees us from their control,” said Dr. Horner. She sighed. “I should get back to the others. I’ll send over a nurse.”

  “You’re a good doctor, Julie. Thank you.”

  She patted him on the shoulder and walked away.

  One of the nurses he hadn’t spoken to yet came over to remove his IV.

  He was about to introduce himself, when he saw Doris come down the stairs. He groaned softly.

  The nurse pulled the IV out and pressed a cotton ball to his arm. A strange sensation ran through him, sending a chill across his skin. He’d never given so much blood before. He tried to sit up straight, but immediately slouched down again. The room spun. He gripped the sides of his chair for support but the nurse pried his hand free and bandaged his arm where the IV had been.

  “You’ll
be fine,” she said to Collin with a wink.

  Doris was weeping. She dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief. When she saw Collin slumped over in the chair, she ran over and took his hand.

  “Good heavens, dear. Are you okay?” Her eyes were glassy with tears.

  “It’s sweet of you to ask, Doris.” Collin sat up a little, to look less desperate. “I’m fine. Please, the others need much more help than me. I just donated...all of my blood, it feels like.”

  “I came over just as soon as I heard you were by the Eagle’s Bar when it blew up.” She dabbed her eyes. “I pray every night for the good Lord to smite the Vipers. He does work in mysterious ways. That they’re allowed to continue harassing our town, killing our people, is incredible.”

  Suddenly Doris leaned over and kissed Collin on the cheek.

  He froze. Unsure what to do, he simply shifted his position in the chair. She was heavily scented with old lady perfume. White Diamonds by Elizabeth Taylor came to Collin’s mind. He was afraid the smell would stick to him and he tried his best not to cough. She meant well, even if she was overly affectionate.

  “I’m so thankful you survived,” Doris said.

  “We lost a lot of good people today.”

  Kobyashi walked in and came over to Collin.

  “Hey,” Collin said with a nod.

  Doris looked at Koby and rolled her eyes.

  “A hospital is a strange place for love birds. Don’t you think?” Koby said with a smirk. He raised his eyebrows at Doris.

  Doris shook her head in disgust. “You should find better friends, Collin.”

  Collin smiled.

  “Don’t be fooled, Collin. She secretly loves me,” said Koby.

  “You’re a disgusting little China man,” Doris said, tucking her handkerchief into her purse.

  Collin’s eyes popped open wide.

  “That’s not what you said a few summers ago.”

  “Good heavens.” Doris looked at Koby in mock surprise. Collin could see guilt all over her face. He fought to stifle a laugh.

  Koby didn’t, he just laughed.

  “Good day to you,” she said and stormed off.

  “Doris!” Koby shouted causing her to turn around and look at him.