by Ashton, Josh
"What? I don't get it."
"Don't worry, you'd have to be a geek to get it. I'll explain it later upstairs."
"Damn, right! Let's get out of here."
Moving with group the officer moved to the stairwell, then as fast they could the exited the basement.
Chapter VIII
A day had passed since the firefight in the basement. The heavy basement door had been locked and bolted. Not taking anything for granted, Ford had assigned a rotating guard to keep an eye on that door. Ford as usual had put everything in perspective when he had told his men about the creatures in the basement.
"I don't give a damn about a rings, wizards or elves but I sure as hell don't want some monsters sneaking up from behind us."
The basement had had one positive side effect. The entire platoon now knew why they were holding the building. And knowing that the monsters were for real, the survivors were even more determined to hold the building. It was a slim hope. They were betting on being alive if and when Jones returned with help.
Sadly at this point the platoon was at half strength. O'Neil, who had coined the Lord of the Rings reference, was dead. Murphy was gone too. And so were a half dozen others. Everyone had some kind of wound. Up on the second floor, the Captain knew three men were dying. It was only a matter of time. There was no medevac. There were no doctors. The wounds those men had were too grievous. Knowing they were dying, the men had refused to be moved from their windows they were guarding.
They would die at their posts with their platoon.
Ford and the Captain were holding another conference. Ford began as usual.
"How's the ammo upstairs?"
"Thin, about sixty rounds per person."
"Shit."
"Yeah it was the basement firefight. You guys tore through a lot getting me out of there," lamented the Captain.
"Oh, well. We could of just left you down there."
"No, no. I'm glad you came."
"That's what I thought. So what do you think?" queried Ford.
"I want to try and sneak another guy out tonight."
"Really? Why?"
"I think we're fucked. I've compiled rough notes of what I've had time to read out of the files upstairs. I want to sneak a guy out with them."
"Yeah we're cooked, but in all honesty we're all so beat up I don't know if any of us could make. I think we're done." Ford sounded resigned.
"I still think it was worth it,“ commented the Captain.
"No, sir. You were right. Even if this fails, it was the right decision. If our guys are holding to the south, they needed to know about this."
The conversation was interrupted as both men were knocked flat, and the world around the building began to explode.
Ford recovered first, yelling, "What the hell?"
"Damn artillery."
"I know its artillery, but why now? They should have used it days earlier."
The two men sat huddled against the wall as explosion after explosion rocked the building. So far the building had not suffered a hit.
"Well at least they suck."
"Right."
The Captain found it odd that he was holding a conversation in between explosions while waiting to see if the next impact was a hit that would kill him and Ford.
The bombardment lasted for over a half an hour. Shell after shell hit everywhere but the building where the platoon lay huddled. And then it was over. Ears ringing from explosions Ford and the Captain suddenly came to the same conclusion and looked at each other.
"You think?" the captain asked hopefully.
"We'll see. It might be. Not even the slanties are that bad of shots. If it was the slanties, they'll try to attack again. Let's go get the guys ready for another attack."
Ford and the Captain moved around the building trying getting the men ready for another attack. It was an attack that never came.
It was Hughes that saw it first from the third floor.
"Sergeant, Captain, you both better get up here," he yelled.
Ford and the officer scrambled up to third floor window and Hughes pointed out the window. Walking up the street like he was going for a leisurely stroll was a man wearing a US uniform.
"Let me look." Ford grabbed Hughes sniper rifle and looked down the scope at the man coming up the street.
"I'll be damned," he whispered. He handed the scope to the Captain.
"Take a look, is that who I think it is?"
The Captain held the scope to his eye.
"Holy shit, he survived. I didn't think he would have."
Ford was not as impressed.
"Well, he won't for much longer if he just walks around like that."
"Well, let's go get his ass in here."
The men bounded down the steps to the first floor. Hurriedly they removed the barricade from the main door. Crouching in by the door, Ford screamed at the man on the street.
"Hey, over here! Hurry, get your ass in here."
The man saw Ford and the Captain, waved a hand, but did not pick up his pace. Ford couldn't believe the audacity of the man.
"I can't believe you talked to him like that," murmured the Captain.
"I don't care who he is. Stupid is stupid."
Ford was sure that any moment the Koreans would shoot him down. But no enemy fire came. The man casually walked up the steps and stood before a crouching Captain and Ford. Not knowing what else to do the Captain got to his feet and saluted. Ford followed suit.
The man returned the salute and spoke.
"Gentleman, I hope what you have in here is worth it. We came a long way risking a lot of men."
Tiredly the Captain spoke.
"It is, General. It's all worth it. But can we please get inside."
Ford was not to be dissuaded, general or not.
"Where the hell is everyone? And I why are you walking up the road alone? You're going to get your ass killed. “
The General smiled.
"Don't worry about that. My scouts have assured me the town is empty. The rest of the Battalion I brought up from the South are about thirty minutes behind. I wanted to get here as fast as I could. So I came up with the scouts."
The Captain was still confused along with Ford.
"What scouts?"
But Ford had another question. He was worried about his man.
"Did Jones make it? Is that how you found out about us?"
The general's face grew tight.
"He kind of made it. But he's assigned to my scouts now."
He saw the confused looks on Ford's and the Captain's faces.
"I just better show you. It's easier."
The general turned and shouted out into the street.
"Scouts in!"
After a few minutes nothing happened. The Captain wondered if the General had gone insane. But the General seemed irritated
"Knock that shit out. I want these two men to see my scouts."
Behind the general, twenty ghostly forms appeared. Their forms were a hazy blue shape that was distinctly human.
"These are my scouts. Jones, front and center."
One of the blue shades separated from the group and floated forward. As it came forward, its blue form took on a more definite shape. Tears came down Ford's and the Captain's faces seeing the form. And they all for the first time saw a ghost cry.
Tears, or the images of tears... it didn't matter which, were rolling down Jones' cheek as he spoke.
"I told you I would make it; no matter what."
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