I frowned, “I see. Where do you guys live?”
“All the way up in Eau Claire. That’s going to be a long walk for us.”
I snorted at her complaint, “Well, things are tough all over baby! We should kill you for what you tried to do to us, but luckily for you, I’m done with killing for today. My friends and I are leaving. If you try to follow us or attack us again, I will shoot you down like the dogs you have become…..is that clear?”
I went over to Jimmy’s body, kicked it over, and picked up the shotgun. It was a Remington 870 pump in pretty good condition, no doubt taken from some poor sap walking along the road by these assholes. I walked back to the prisoners, pumped the remaining three rounds out of the magazine, and handed the shotgun to Simone, who slung her rifle and held the shotgun at port arms.
“Let’s go folks, we’re burning daylight.” I motioned to Simone and Robert, who fell into line behind me as we walked towards our bikes.
The female yelled at our backs, “What about us you fucker! Are you going to leave us tied up in the middle of the road?”
I looked back at the defeated bandits, “Yep, it’s better than you deserve!” I shouted over my shoulder.
We rode past them in silence while they yelled and screamed at us for our callousness. I couldn’t believe how savage people became after such a short amount of time. I silently hoped that we made it to Whitewater in the next couple of hours so we could have some rest as guests of Robert.
The rest of the ride passed quickly. We increased the pace up to about 15 mph and saw very little activity on the road. We stopped once to talk to a lone backpacker. His name was Starwolf, and he was walking to his camping spot.
He tipped his hat and said “Greetings fellow travelers, where you headed?”
Robert piped up, “Whitewater, what about you?”
“To my home grounds brother, my home grounds.”
“Did you walk pats Whitewater by chance? Anything interesting happening there?”
Starwolf nodded sagely, “I would say so. The town is emptying out, especially the student body from the University. Most of them are trying to get to home base before the world totally goes to shit!”
Robert nodded, “I see, tell me, are the police still in control, or have they fled as well?”
Starwolf stroked his Vandyke style beard, “Well, they got a roadblock at the end of Janesville Street right that the edge of the school grounds to keep people from squatting at the campus.”
“That’s Good to know Starwolf. Say, you need anything, we’re thankful for the information and would like to give you something for your trouble.”
“I would be very pleased to accept some canned food if you can spare some.”
I nodded my head, “That we can do.” I produced two cans of sardines and a can of Beefaroni from my bags and handed them over to him. He placed them in his bag and folded his hands in front of him, “Namaste brother.”
We warned him about the robbers at the intersection of U.S 12 and WI 26, and he said he was close to his retreat and would avoid it. We watched Starwolf fade into the distance, and we mounted our bikes to ride into Whitewater.
Robert took the lead because he was in his home territory, and shortly we were stopping at the roadblock Starwolf told us about. We slung our rifles, and we kept our hands away from our sides as we approached the roadblock, which appeared to be manned by two uniformed campus police officers..
Robert stopped and yelled, “Burch, is that you?” to a heavyset woman in a campus security uniform.
The woman left the roadblock and made her way toward us, squinting her eyes in the failing light, “Robert, is that you?”
“Yeah, it’s me, can we come in?”
Burch came closer and looked Simone and I over, “Who are your friends?”
Robert relaxed for the first time since the attack, “These are my friends Ben and Simone. We’ve been together since the event.”
“I see, how is it out there?”
“Let me tell you Burch, you don’t want to be out there….people are killing each other for a can of food or a bottle of water!”
She nodded, “Well, you’re safe now. We have food and shelter here for you and your friends. Robert, go and see Gino at the Security office; he’ll get you squared away.”
“Ok Burch, thanks for letting us in.”
“No problem, good to have you back Robert, we need all the help we can get!”
We rode down the street into the main campus. Robert led the way to the security office and parked his bike next to a bike rack.
“Well, we’re here. You want to come in and meet Gino? He’s the Chief of Operations for security.
Simone dismounted her bike and kicked out her side stand, “I’ll stay here and watch over our stuff, Ben go check in with this guy. Simone began to do some deep knee bends to limber up after the long ride.
“Suit yourself Simone. Come on Robert, let’s go meet Gino.”
Robert and I made our way into the lit building. It was strange to see electric lights after such a long time without them. We approached a door that had a nameplate that said, “Casselli” on it.
Robert knocked at the door, and we heard a muffled, “Enter.”
Robert opened the door, and I followed him into the room. In a pool of light coming from a 40-watt bulb, sat a mountain of a man. The tip of a stinky cigar glowed as he took a drag. Casselli’s hooded eyes looked us up and down, appraising us. He looked like a mafia enforcer with a name like Jimmy the fish or Bobby the eye. He shifted his bulk and rose from his chair, his eyes never leaving us. He rounded his desk, approached Robert, and grabbed him up in a bear hug, “Bobby boy! It’s fucking great to see you! I didn’t think I would ever see you again!”
Robert could only swing in the powerful man’s grip and say, “Yeah, I’m back. What’s going on Gino?”
Gino Dropped Robert back to the floor, “Man Robert, it’s been Hell here. We had a mass exodus of both staff and students over the first week. We lost eighty percent of our staff in the first few days; they just walked off the job when the reality of the situation hit them. They took all of their shit with them as well. We’re missing; radios, guns, uniforms….you name it. I figure we’ll be defunct by next week if it keeps going like this. By the way…I have no idea when you’re getting paid next.” Gino chuckled at his own joke.
Robert laughed along with him, “I don’t think any of us is worried about that under the circumstances Gino.”
Gino’s eyes flicked in my direction. “Who’s your friend Robert?”
“This is Ben. He’s a cop from Milwaukee that got us through the past ten or so days. We got another cop with us too. Her name is Simone, and she is a Deputy in Waukesha. We decided to team up and travel together for protection.
Gino gave me a look, “That true Ben?”
“Yep. Simone and I are just looking for a place to stay tonight. We’re going to head out tomorrow and continue on to Waukesha.”
Gino smiled, “I think we can help you out…but you have to leave your guns and supplies in my office…..we don’t allow any weapons inside the perimeter, that is, unless you’re working for me.”
My suspicions immediately went on high alert. Why did he want my weapons and my supplies? Perhaps the impression I had of him as some sort of mobster wasn’t so off the mark after all. I didn’t want to insult Robert or Gino, but there was no way on God’s green earth that I was going to be disarmed and stripped of my supplies by this guy for my own protection.
I took a breath, choosing my next words carefully, “Gino, thanks for the offer, but I’m not giving up my weapons or supplies to you…neither is Simone. If that means we can’t stay, so be it. I got Robert home, so I consider my obligation to him fulfilled. Lots of luck to you gentlemen, but I’m hitting the road.
Gino’s eyes narrowed to slits, “What? Our hospitality ain’t good enough for you?
“Not when it has strings attached to it Gino,” I retorted in a
n even tone of voice.
Gino moved in closer and poked me in the chest with a sausage-like finger, “It looks like you got some nice stuff here Ben, how ‘bout you share a little with us huh?”
Robert moved in closer and tried to get between us, “Gino….”
“Shut up Robert, Ben and I are talking here. Why don’t you go get Simone and bring her in on the conversation.”
Robert retreated out of the room to get Simone like a whipped puppy. I couldn’t believe it; this guy went from Mr. Nice Guy to strong arm robber in a heartbeat. I’m sure Gino was planning on kicking Simone and I to the curb once they got our stuff, and was depending on Robert to go along because he was a part of their group. I knew if I continued to debate this guy I was just giving him time to nail my coffin shut, so I decided to take action.
Gino took a step closer to me, “You’re gonna give up your shit now Ben. If you don’t, I’m gonna make you wish you did!” He cracked his knuckles to emphasize his point.
In a flash, I drew my Glock and rammed it in his crotch, “Gino, I’m going to walk out of here now. If you try to stop me, I’m gonna blow your nuts off.
Gino realized his mistake at trying to corner me. He began to back off.
“No, no, no, Gino, don’t’ you move or you’ll be singing Soprano!”
Robert and Simone burst into the office, pistols drawn, “You ok Ben?”
I looked up, “A lot better now, help me move this asshole out of the way!”
Gino sputtered, clearly realizing that he has lost control of the situation, “You can’t get away with this! There’s no way you’re getting out of here!”
I moved behind Gino and kicked him in the back of his knee, causing him to fall to the floor facedown. “Simone, get my handcuffs out of the top pouch of my bike bag…and bring that roll of duct tape too.”
Simone rushed out of the office to get the stuff, and Robert and I covered Gino with our guns.
Simone returned in a flash with the duct tape and handcuffs and put them on the floor next to Gino.
I pointed my pistol between Gino’s eyes, “Here’s how it’s going to go Gino, We are going to handcuff you and bind your feet with tape. Then we’re going to leave. You try to stop us or alert your troops there will be a gunfight…and your guys are going to lose, judging by the equipment you still have at the roadblock! Be smart and let us go, and there won’t be any fuss. Fuck with us, and I will kill every one of your people who get in my way. Have I made myself clear?”
Gino looked at me with undisguised hatred, “Yes, I get it you fuck!”
“Good, now put your hands behind your back.” Gino complied, and Simone snapped the cuffs on his wrists. She then bound his ankles and knees with the tape and put a large strip over his mouth.
We then left the office as quietly as possible, turning off the desk lamp and leaving Gino in the dark. We gathered our bikes and rode off campus using a bike path that Robert knew wouldn’t be guarded, and took us into Whitewater. Robert guided us to the far northeast corner of Whitewater proper, and we made camp in East Gate Park. The neighborhood around the park was eerily quiet with houses standing in the dark blacked out and seemingly unoccupied as we silently passed on our bikes. We parked our bikes in some bushes and using a small red filtered light, set up our sleeping mats under a small picnic shelter. Robert volunteered to take the first two hours of guard duty, and Simone and I turned in for some much-needed rest.
As Simone and I lay on our mats and contemplated the day, Robert spoke up.
“I’m so sorry guys, I had no idea Gino turned into such an asshole.”
I knew I had to answer my friend, “Water under the bridge Robert. The pressure of the past period has the power to change even the toughest of us. What are your plans now Robert? You’re welcome to come with me to New Berlin; I could use some backup.”
“Thanks for the invite, I’ll take you up on that.”
Simone began to snicker to herself.
“What’s so funny big stuff?” I inquired.
“I noticed that your name was stamped into the swing arm of the handcuffs. I think once Gino gets free, he might complain to your supervisor. Looks like you might face some Departmental discipline. Don’t worry I’ll come to your defense!” She then began to laugh heartily.
I snickered, “You’re right Simone, I’d better call my union rep and let him know.” I made a show of looking for my phone, “Oh, that’s right I can’t call him because of the EMP, oh ignoble fate!” I pressed the back of my hand to my forehead in Shakespearean agony.
We all drifted off to sleep snickering at the absurdity of it all.
Chapter 21
The search for Mary and Delquan was not going well. Once word got out that the prisoners were loose, most of the town pitched in to help find them. Unfortunately, because it was so hard to organize such a large group without modern communications equipment, much of the initial work got duplicated, and some spots escaped any search at all. The house that Delquan and Mary were using for their hideout was one of those places that missed scrutiny.
As night fell, the pace of the search slowed dramatically. Without many flashlights to go around, groups thinned out as people returned to their homes to protect their own families. Only a few police officers and members of the embryonic militia stayed to help Grink continue the search of the outlying areas of the town.
Mary and Delquan slept heavy thanks to the adrenaline letdown and alcohol and painkillers they consumed that afternoon. Mary woke first to find Delaquan snoring lightly, still dead to the world. She went into the bathroom, cleaned herself up, and dressed in the clothes she had found in the house. She dressed in a pair of tan pants, sneakers and a pink top. She could easily be mistaken for a resident of the town from far away, but Delquan was another story entirely. Although there were a few black families in town, a black man with a large bandage on the side of his face would be a dead giveaway that he was the one on the run, so they needed to get out of town as soon as they could. Once finished dressing she went back to the bedroom and woke up her lover.
“Delquan, wake up, it’s dark now.”
Delquan grunted and then slowly rose from the bed, “Huh? Ahhhhhh, ok, ok I’m up.”
He moved to the bathroom, and the sounds of him washing himself up drifted through the closed door.
Delquan looked at his ruined face in the mirror. “Fuck, I look terrible!” He thought to himself.
He popped another oxy he left in the medicine cabinet and gave himself a triangle bath, getting all of his critical areas a quick wash and dry before he dressed in the new set of clothes Mary laid out for him before they went to sleep.
Once dressed, he knew they had to split before the search party reached them. He knew if they caught them now, it was certain death. No force on earth would protect them from the town after Mary murdered one of their cops. He also knew their death wouldn’t be pleasant. After the description of the torture Mary experienced at that motherfucker’s hands, Delquan was sure that he would get much more imaginative if they got caught. He also knew if they were able to escape, the town probably didn’t have the resources to pursue them, and would more than likely leave them be.
Delquan exited the bathroom dressed to travel, “Time to go baby girl, let’s bounce!”
Delquan and Mary peered outside of the front window of the house at the ground floor. He decided to leave the basement door blocked, giving them the impression that they might still be in the house. The coast appeared to be clear, so they exited the front door and headed down the street into the park at the end of the neighborhood. They spent some time in the park listening for any pursuit and after about 30 minutes, decided to continue out of town via Route 12.
As they walked, Delquan peppered Mary with questions regarding his army’s failure to take the town. He wanted to know how his commanders failed so he wouldn’t make the same mistakes after he raised another army to plunder the countryside.
“Did you know that th
e town had made landmines to destroy our compatriots?”
“No Delquan, I was locked up in that cell with that sicko Ben asking me questions. I did get a look around town at some of their preparations, but I had no idea they were that inventive. I thought you would roll in and save me with little difficulty.”
Delquan frowned and then scowled at Mary, “Well, because of your capture and willingness to talk, our dream of a Nubian kingdom stretching across this wasted land is now impossible! We can only hope to survive the winter once we reach Milwaukee.”
The comment stung Mary. He was trying to blame his failure on her…typical man!
“Delquan, you forget that we still have each other. With that, we still have a chance!”
Delquan sniffed, “I suppose so. Let’s keep going southwest….I don’t think they have any presence this far away from the town.”
They quickened their pace along the moonlit road, sticking to the shoulder in case they had to hide from a roving patrol. As they got farther from Cambridge, Delquan and Mary began to relax….they began to believe that they had escaped and now could devote their energies to getting to Milwaukee and surviving the rapidly approaching winter.
As they were approaching the intersection of Highway 12 and Cedar Road, a voice called out,
“Maury, Bill, is that you?”
Delquan and Mary froze; they couldn’t see where the voice came from but knew that they were far enough away from the voice to be mistaken for “Maury” and “Bill”. They decided to fake it and see if they could get by.
“Sure is, what’s happening”
“Well, get up here and relieve me, I want to get to bed!”
Delquan and Mary approached the voice, hoping that they could surprise the person and overwhelm him, but they could not pinpoint where exactly the voice was.
James Peterson saw the two figures approach. He wanted nothing more than to get back to town for a hot meal and a bed. He secretly hoped that they would take down this listening post soon so they could get back to normal. He stood up from his chair and looked through the vision slit on the deer hide concealed within the branches of a large Oak tree and looked over the approaching figures. As he watched the approaching people, he realized that the two figures coming towards the hide were not Maury and Bill, but the escaped prisoners from the jail.
Lights out in America's Dairyland: An EMP Adventure Page 17
