“Securing this half of the country,” Frank said, “until you’re big enough to take it all out?”
“Yes. We’ve gained many defectors, those who have the microchip, as you put it. We’ve found if you lock then away for two weeks then gradually expose them to our men, we become the ally and no longer the enemy.”
Ellen snickered as she enjoyed her apple. “My friends Henry and Danny can erase their microchips in a second.” Ellen snapped her finger, “then they just reprogram them.”
“Your people are much more high tech than ours,” Sgt. Ryder commented. “We like to think of ourselves as old world.”
“Like the cavalry,” Ellen commented. “They come in and save the day.”
“Yes, exactly,” Sgt. Ryder said.
“Frank is a one man cavalry.” Ellen looked at Frank and smiled.
Frank had to question. “Why haven’t you contacted Beginnings? We’re on the same side.”
“We realize this now. We’ve begun to monitor you constantly, your radio transmissions that is. Sometimes it’s entertaining. Anyhow, I believe in due time we will. Right now, we have our work cut out for us.”
“You do your work well,” Frank said. “Someone trained these men well and with style.”
Sgt. Ryder smiled proudly. “Our Captain is a good man. He inspires us and we believe in him. I’m sure he’d feel much better if you and the woman came to our home and stayed until you are well.”
Frank shook his head. “We have to go.” He shifted his eyes to Ellen.
“Then let us at least get you to the Anderson Farm. You can rest there. There’s a radio so you can contact your people in Beginnings to come and get you.”
“Where’s this at?” Frank asked.
“About fifty miles east of Beginnings and a little south. An old man and a woman lived there. They both survived the plague then the woman died about six months ago. Mr. Anderson died three months later. They used to feed our men and let them rest there. We’ve kept up their place in their memory and we use it for the purpose that they would want, a safe place pretty well hidden for the UWA.”
Ellen saw Frank’s hesitation. “We should do this. We can call Robbie so he can fly and get us. We’ll get you home and get something in you for the pneumonia.”
Frank reluctantly agreed and he looked to Sgt. Ryder. “We appreciate it. If you people ever need to retreat to Beginnings or need a place to stop, rest, eat, whatever, you just ask for me. You’re in.”
Sgt. Ryder nodded in appreciation. “We’ll remember that but there is one thing we would like to ask of you. We’re heading into dangerous battles. We’ve lost lives and have injured men. We know Beginnings is medically very versed. All we ask is if our men can’t be treated by us, that we can bring them to you to try to do your best to help them.”
Ellen was the one that responded. “Without a doubt, I’m a nurse there. You can be reassured that we have the best medical staff. In fact,” her voice became chipper, “we have this doctor that is not only the greatest mind in the world, but also very good with his hands. He has this vision and he. . .”
“El,” Frank shut her up, “can we not praise Dean?”
“Sorry.” Ellen bit her bottom lip then looked at Sgt. Ryder. “Just bring them to us.”
The UWA began to disperse, heading home while Sgt. Ryder stayed behind until Frank and Ellen were rested enough to journey to the Anderson farm. He kept men behind to escort them, though Frank insisted he could handle it. But to Sgt. Ryder, one couldn’t be too careful when it came to the Society. They were showing up everywhere. Little did he know, there was one in the trees near by them, listening to every word they said.
CHAPTER TEN
Quantico Marine Headquarters
He sounded sacred to George. He noticed the trembling in his soldier’s voice, but through the trembling, George received a message that helped ease the pain over the loss of his camp, the position of Frank and Ellen. Not only did George know where they were, but he knew where they were headed.
The soldier heard the name Beginnings. In hope to divert the anger of the President he told him about the two, describing them to George. What made it all better for George was the fact that his group in South Dakota would be checking in. As soon as they did, he knew just where to send them.
^^^^
It was something Robbie wanted to land and check out for himself. From the air it was an odd sight. He swooped down close catching as good of a glimpse as he could, then remembering where it was, he flew east thirty miles to the area where the search parties moved.
Henry looked up in oddity when he saw Robbie landing and turning off the chopper. Henry was on Jess’s team and all four of them stopped walking and faced Robbie who moved toward them. At the instant Henry saw his face, he knew something was up.
“Robbie.” Henry approached him first. “What’s going on?”
Robbie raised his head in acknowledgment and closed into Henry and Jess. “Jess, radio the other search teams in the area. Tell them to hang tight. I think I found something. Let’s go. I need you guys.”
Without hesitation and a real response, Henry followed and was the first to board the chopper. He waited for Jess, Mark, and Cole to join.
The helicopter landed not far from the town of Williston, North Dakota, half a mile out on what used to be a highway. They turned off the chopper and unloaded.
“I saw this from the air. You guys are not gonna believe this,” Robbie said.
“What is it?” Henry asked.
“You especially, Henry,” Robbie told him. “I hope your stomach is strong today.”
The sound of many buzzing flies greeted them first. The next thing they saw was the American flag, and further into their footsteps into town, the massacre.
Henry immediately covered his mouth. “Oh shit.”
“All Society soldiers,” Robbie looked at them. “I think this is way too close to not be where they took Frank and Ellen.”
Jess breathed outward, the smell tripled in a bad effect from the heat. “But they’re all dead.” He nudged a soldier’s body with his foot. It was stiff. “Three, four hours maybe more.”
“Someone massacred these men,” Robbie said. “As hard as it’s gonna be, we have to look among all these bodies and through this town for Frank and Ellen.”
Cole’s voice sounded distant even though it was close. “I don’t think we’re finding Frank or Ellen here.”
“Why?” Robbie asked.
“Come here.” Cole raised his hand to him.
Robbie hurried over with Henry and Jess. “What?”
“Frank’s signature,” Cole pointed. “This is a Frank thing. He makes us men do this.”
Robbie took a closer look at the body with a single bullet hole in the center of the forehead. “Anyone could have done this.”
“True,” Cole said, “but there’s more than one person shot in the head with the assurance bullet. And . . .” Cole took his M-16 and nudged a body with it. “This guy doesn’t have any arms. Only Frank would shoot him in the head to make sure he’s dead.”
Robbie looked all around. More than he realized, contained that single head shot. “Henry? What do you make of it.”
“Frank’s work, but we have to think. As much damage as Frank can do, He’s only one man. He didn’t do this alone but the bullet hole in the forehead is definitely Frank’s shot.”
Jess joined the group. “The bullet to the head to make sure that they are dead is Frank’s thing. But . . . Is this?” so nonchalantly he held up a decapitated head, clenching it by the hair, and emerging it into the circle of men.
Henry shrieked and jumped back. “Put that down. Oh my God, that is gross.”
Robbie laughed. “Cute. Man, makes me miss the days when we’d whip out our phones and take a picture. That would have been a shot.””
Jess tossed the head and wiped his hands on his pants. He looked curiously at Henry who made a loud audible sound of disgust. “What,
Henry?”
“I am not sitting next to you on the chopper.”
“O.K.” Robbie held up his hands. “We should comb this town but I don’t think we’ll find Frank or Ellen either. Something happened here, and if they were here, Frank did his share then he and Ellen moved on.”
Henry nodded in agreement. “Then you should put the chopper in the air and search. If they’re on foot, they can’t be that far.”
“Good idea but there’s only one problem,” Robbie stated. “Which way did they go?”
^^^^
Mildred, Montana
Hidden and tucked away was an understatement when the UWA soldiers left Frank and Ellen at the Anderson property edge. They were apprehensive while walking through the high brush and thick trees, wondering what they had gotten themselves into.
But like a light at the end of the tunnel, they emerged into a scene that could have been set twenty years before their time, a small farm, perhaps at one time bigger. The farmhouse was tall and wooden, the paint on the shingles weather-worn. The porch was long and spread out the front of the house, straight from some summertime lemonade commercial.
Frank and Ellen walked slowly toward the house. Ellen felt the effects of the hot sun but Frank did not. He moved slower than usual, his hand hot as it held tightly to Ellen’s. The house looked so old fashioned from the outside. A hand pump water well was off the back. Set further away from that were two graves where the grass had barely time to grow.
The wooden screen door squeaked when they opened it. The front door was open and they walked in. The house smelt old, dusty, but it was neat and it was evident someone had stopped by recently.
“Oh Frank,” Ellen said breathlessly as she walked into the living room. “Look at this place.” She immediately walked to the long table that was placed against the far wall, a thin table and had sprawled across it tons of photographs. “This must be them.” Ellen lifted a picture of a couple, embraced, and elderly. “This is us in thirty years.”
Frank moved closer to Ellen. “It’s amazing they had all this family. They and their kids both lived through the plague.”
“So did we.” Ellen set the picture down and smiled at him. The smile dropped when she noticed how pale he really looked. “Frank, you look bad. How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine. The one guy said the radio is in the kitchen. I’m uh . . . gonna check it out. Why don’t you open some windows for some fresh air?”
“I’ll do that.” Ellen watched Frank walk away, staggering some, slumping. She walked to the front widow, struggling at first, and then lifting it with a grunt. A warm breeze blew in, flapping the lace white curtain out at her. She moved on to the other windows, stopping and looking at the photographs many times.
Frank looked disappointed when Ellen made her way into the country kitchen.
“What’s wrong?” She asked as she walked in.
“It doesn’t work.” He laid down the microphone. “Power supply is bad.”
“O.K.” Ellen walked to the table. “So now what?”
“We can start walking home.”
Ellen laughed in ridicule. “You think? Look at you. You’re sick. You’ve put up this big front. We’re here so why don’t we stay here? I need to find you a bed and make you rest. Maybe tomorrow you’ll be strong enough and you heard Sgt. Ryder. They have search parties out for us. We can flag the house somehow, hang a bed sheet out so Robbie can see it from the air.”
Frank breathed loudly and slowly out, laying his face in his hands. “Would you be O.K. with that?”
“I suggested that.” Ellen grabbed his hands. “I’m sure Robbie will spot us. If he doesn’t, day after tomorrow we’ll start walking. Frank, if you don’t get well, you won’t be able to do what you do best. Besides, I’m in a really nosey mood right now. Do you realize how long it’s been since I’ve been in a real house? And those pictures, I love them. I’m sure I can find more.”
“They’re strangers, El.”
“Yeah, but they’re a little bit of the old world, aren’t they?” She gripped tightly to his arm. “Let’s go upstairs and find you a bed. I’m gonna try that pump thing out back.”
With no energy, Frank rose from his seat. Ellen put her arm around his waist and he immediately embraced her. As her head rested against his chest, she could hear the gurgling of his breathing. Ellen knew without saying anything to Frank that if Robbie was going to find them, he had better do it soon because for the first time ever, Frank had been worn down.
^^^^
Bowman, North Dakota
From the roof of his apartment building Hal could see the digging of the graves for the men lost in the battle. Nineteen of his men died as a result. He held a certain sadness even though he knew he was victorious.
“Captain!”
Hal heard his name called from below. It echoed up at him and he peered over the roof’s ledge to see Sgt. Ryder. “You’re back. I’ll be right down.” Hal hurried from the rooftop, into the stairwell, and raced to the street below. “Sergeant.” Hal walked out to the street. “Where are they?”
“Who?”
“The Beginnings people? Your men that arrived before you said you found the two they’ve been searching for.”
“We did,” Sgt. Ryder said, “but they didn’t come back with us.”
“Why? I heard the man was ill.”
“He is but they wanted to go home. We secured them safe passage to the Anderson farm. They can radio for help there.”
“But we’ve been monitoring radio transmissions and heard nothing.”
Sgt. Ryder was silent. “Do you suppose the radio isn’t working?”
“That’s a possibility.” Hal ran his hand over the top of his head. “All right, I’m gonna send a team of six up with them. If he’s ill, he can’t protect the woman he’s with. Let’s have some men go there crack of dawn and watch the house.”
Sgt. Ryder nodded. “I think that’s a good idea. He’s a stubborn man. He’ll get upset if he knows they’re there.”
Hal sort of chuckled. “He’s from Beginnings. All of them hold a certain arrogance about them.”
“That they do. Has anything been said about our raid. I mean, with them searching, have they found it yet?”
“Our radio monitor said Eagle one spotted it. Let’s go to the station and see if anything else is happening.” Hal and the sergeant began to walk. “Maybe they’ll start searching for their people in the farm area.”
“If they’re as determined as the Beginnings man, they will. Do you realize he walked up to every single Society soldier and if they moaned or moved, he shot them in the head.”
Hal stopped walking. “He … what?”
“Shot them in the head. Killed them for assurance.”
“It’s uh . . . that’s kind of sadistic.”
Sgt. Ryder shook his head with a laugh as they started to walk again. “This guy was the epitome of sadistic. I might also add… mean.”
“Really?”
“Sir, I kid you not. If this man is a representation of what they are breeding in Beginnings, I could be a little apprehensive about ever visiting there.”
Hal fluttered his lips in Slagel arrogance. “Don’t you think you may be exaggerating?”
“No. Check out the lack of respect this man has. He said to me ‘Sir? I call no man sir. People call me sir’.” Sgt. Ryder heard Hal laughing as they stopped in front of the police station. “I’m telling you in both size and appearance, this big, mean looking son of a bitch, makes Mad Max look like a puppy dog.”
Hal Slagel stopped laughing.
^^^^
Beginnings, Montana
If it wasn’t for the air of sadness that hung over Beginnings like a rain cloud, all would look normal. In the living section, beyond the last row of houses, Joe stood with Danny Hoi. The day light hours were fading as Danny’s team worked in finishing the foundations. The helicopters flying in caught Joe’s attention. They were back a little early. Joe�
�s heart sunk. Something must have gone wrong.
Dean didn’t want to work, but since Andrea insisted she be home to prepare the Slagel Sunday dinner, Dean was stuck doing rounds. He stood before the John Doe that had been dropped off, wounds cleaned, at Beginnings front gate. He was a quiet man who didn’t speak much. They learned his name was Tom and that he was shot running from the Society army.
“How’s this.” Dean held a needle at his ankle. He poked him. Tom didn’t move. “Nothing?”
“No.”
“How about here?” Dean ran the needle up the sole of his foot.
“Nothing. I’m not gonna walk again, am I?”
“It’s too early to tell,” Dean explained. “You’re still healing.”
“I’m not feeling anything.”
“No,” Dean stated in his doctor mode, “but the fact that the paralysis is confined to the lower region is a good sign. With therapy, who knows?”
Tom nodded and leaned his head deeper to the pillow. It snapped back up and he looked to the window when the helicopter noises came into ear shot. “It’s still light out. They’re back?”
“Shit.” Dean closed his eyes. He knew if they had found Frank and Ellen, a radio call would have been made but there was no call. With some day hours still left, and Robbie back already, Dean feared that the old saying, ‘no news is good news’ wasn’t going to hold true.
The Big Ten: The First Ten Books of the Beginnings Series Page 359
