My feet slid on some kind of paved path and I ducked to the right, trying to keep quite as I continued to run. My legs started to feel like they had a mind of their own and I felt like I was back in the mountain forest, running through the shadowy pines at sundown. I always knew where to step without having to think about it.
Let me get to a building I kept praying, please, please, let me get away was all I could think about. Hope is a truly amazing emotion. It can give you strength you didn’t know was possible. It can extend your endurance beyond your wildest dreams. The thought of seeing Claire and the kids again, the possibility that I might live, sent a warm felling throughout my beat up body and gave me what I needed to keep going.
"He's over here," Someone yelled behind me. They sounded way off.
The road on the opposite side of the park sprang into focus and I almost tripped on the smooth surface. I didn’t know this side well but I could tell there where buildings on the other side. Of course there were, I’d studied them from my perch in the bell tower. Glancing over my shoulder as I ran I saw several torches and a couple of flashlights weaving back and forth through the grass. Good I thought, the lights will ruin their night vision.
The night I rescued Claire and Ellen flashed into my memory. The night I shot the man with my bow.
My heart broke a little remembering them ruining the weapon earlier in the day. I turned again and saw that the lights were far enough away so that I could turn up the street then duck down the first intersection I came to. I kept that up for several blocks, ducking and turning down different streets and alley ways. It was darker here in the city. My eyes had adjusted enough so that I could make out big objects.
My left foot clanged on a manhole cover as I ran down the middle of a street. I skidded to a stop and walked back but realized I didn’t have any kind of pry bar, and I think my injuries might have prevented me from moving it anyway. I stood there with my hands on my knees, fighting to take a deep enough breath to fill my lungs. Searching my mind for some kind of hiding place. Some place where I could make a weapon, because I wasn’t done with Big Jake yet, not by a long mile.
Chapter Twenty
My body felt like a burlap bag of broken china. The dark night had covered me in an invisibility cloak and they’d never find me now. I spent the next several minutes catching my breath and reviewing my options.
Every fiber of my being wanted to kill Big Jake. On his orders, his men had hurt Jenny, burned our roof top home, and branded me like an animal. All I could think about was getting my hands around his throat and squeezing the life out of him. I thought about making my way to Claire and the others and getting fixed up again before I took on these guys.
A small part of me wanted to crawl into a hole and lick my wounds. A much bigger part of me knew I couldn’t do that, I had to end this before they found the others.
After a few minutes I felt well enough to start moving again and made my way back to the edge of the park. I found a good observation point on top of a parking garage and watched them give up looking for me.
I thought about the men around the campfire, every moment was burned into my brain like the S burned onto my chest. There had to be about a dozen men left, which meant we’d gotten about six of them so far. A huge grin spread across my face. Who’d have believed we’d get that many. I was elated and felt a surge of pride in my family.
I found some blankets in the cars and made myself a nested perch on top of a sedan in the corner where I could watch the park and start making plans. An old bottle of water under someone's front seat tasted stale but drinkable. The crackers out of a clove compartment were worse but filled an empty hole in my stomach.
The night began to grow cold as I watched the men return to the camp fire. They seemed to come and go like ghosts, flickering in and out of the light as they reported to Big Jake. I sat there and smiled knowing they’d never find me and that now I had the upper hand, or at least I would as soon as I got another bow and some arrows.
.o0o.
Claire’s Diary
Day 2078
Jenny - is recovering – I think she’ll make it. What kind of a monster shoots a little girl? I hope there is a special place in Hell for him. The wound in her side has stopped bleeding. I am worried about infection. We will have to keep it clean.
Ellen - is doing good, she cried herself to sleep when Kris left. I didn’t stop her. I knew how she felt.
Kris left us. I know it was because he thinks he has to protect us. It still feels like he left for good. We have remained inside the apartment building, being sure to not make any noise or expose ourselves to the street. I remember that first night he rescued Ellen and me and how we had hid in his room. He was right, if you don’t move around, they can’t find you.
Claire’s Diary
Day 2079
Jenny - has a low fever. But she will be ok, Please god.
Ellen - is doing well. She has bounced back from yesterday’s terror and spends her time trying to make Jenny smile.
Kris hasn’t come back. Hector said he thought he heard shooting last night. The thought of him being out there alone, needing our help, makes me want to throw up. I don’t want to think about what we will do if he doesn’t come back. I don’t want to think what I will do, because a part of me will die.
I swear Kris, if you don’t come back soon; I am going to go find you.
.o0o.
It didn’t take me long to get rearmed. Within two hours of first light, I was in the nearest sporting goods store and testing out the bows.
I found a nice composite compound bow and dozens of hunting arrows, the kinds with four big metal razor sharp blades in a pyramid layout, the kind that could take down a man. There was a glass display case with a nice selection of knives, nothing real big, but a nice hunting knife. I started to feel normal again when I strapped it on. It wasn’t as good as my machete but would have to do.
Grabbing a bunch of the first aid stuff I picked up a handful of ace bandages and some salve for burns. I covered the brand on my chest with the ointment and wrapped up my ribs as tight as I could. The bandages helped a lot and made it easier to breath. When I tried pulling on the bow string I could feel a sharp stabbing pain but it was manageable.
It felt good to be armed again, like I wasn’t so vulnerable. I remembered the man I killed the night I rescued the girls. Was it wrong of me to be looking forward to doing it again? I think my dad would have understood. What would Claire think if she knew the truth about me? I cared, but it wasn’t going to change anything. I was going to kill as many of them as I could before they could hurt any more of us.
I found a backpack and loaded up on some camping food packets that’d been left behind by the last scavenger and a bunch more of the ace bandages.
I was getting ready to step outside when I thought about getting some binoculars. The store had an excellent selection. I picked out the best pair small enough to be handy but strong enough for my needs then headed for the park. I was in full hunting mode.
The day was starting to turn warm, a few puffy clouds broke up the blue sky and the air lay flat, without any wind to speak of. It only took me a couple of hours to find the first of my prey. I heard them arguing about a block away. Stopping at the edge of a building I peeked around the corner.
Two men were standing about thirty yards up the street outside a hotel. They were both armed with pistols and looked like they knew how to use them. The taller of the two seemed to think it was useless to check out every building, the smaller guy was the one who’d laughed when Big Jake was burning that iron into my chest. I wanted him, but he shook his head and walked into the hotel.
Oh well, it didn’t matter, they’d all be dead before I was done. I kept hidden behind the corner of the building watching the tall guy. He scanned up and down the street, never staying still enough for me to get a shot.
An eagle cried in the distance, probably over the river. The man turned his back to me and broug
ht a hand up to shade his eyes. That was all I needed, I stepped out away from the bricks and brought the bow up and pulled the arrow back to my cheek. My mind blocked out the pain as I sighted on a spot exactly between his shoulder blades.
I didn’t hesitate, I didn’t think about whether it was dishonorable to shoot a man in the back without warning. I didn’t worry about the fact that he would never enjoy life again. A picture of Jenny covered in blood flashed through my mind as I let out half a breath and I let the arrow go. I saw it hit its mark and heard the thuuup as it sunk into his spine exactly between his shoulder blades. He fell forward like a pine tree cut down by a chain saw. I didn’t stay to watch but was back around the corner before he hit the road.
I couldn’t afford to be seen, with their numbers and their guns, if they saw me they had me. The city offered a thousand possibilities and they couldn’t know where I’d pop out next.
I ducked through an office building and was blocks away within minutes. It was a little surprising how little regret or remorse I felt about what I’d done. Not a lot but some. I wished it wasn’t necessary. I desperately wished it could be different. I wanted our home back and my family safe. The thought of anything bad happening to them sent a surge of adrenalin spiking through me.
I spent the rest of the morning working around the outskirts of the park but couldn’t find another good opportunity and decided to call it a day. I found a nice quiet – empty - house to hide in for a few hours of sleep.
I woke long after the sun had gone down and smiled when I looked out the window to see that the night was going to be as dark as last night, fewer clouds so more starlight. Plenty dark enough for what I wanted. I’d have to hustle if I was going to get it done before the moon came up.
Moving into the bathroom I lit a candle and rebound my ribs after spreading that stinking burn salve. God I stunk to high heaven, like an old garbage dump. You know it’s bad when you can smell your own stink, between stale sweat, burnt skin and muscle, sewer splashed cloths, and smelly ointment anybody would be able to smell me a mile before I got there. I’d have to make sure I approached from downwind.
The house had been real comfortable, it was a shame I couldn’t use it again. I wouldn’t be revisiting any of my hiding holes, at least not until this was all done.
I stepped outside and let my eyes adjust. It was darker once again. I wouldn't have to worry about a moon for a couple of nights. Even in the dark, I could see enough to make my way to a building next to the park. I slipped inside and climbed the stairs to the roof so I could watch the men around their campfire. The binoculars really gave me a great view. It looked like all of them were there. I counted eleven men and one lying on his stomach next to the fire. I figured that was the man I shot earlier, maybe he was only wounded. I felt a little better about that, as long as he was out of action and couldn’t hurt me or mine then it was OK with me.
As I watched two men broke away from the group and walked away from the fire. Both of them carried rifles and were obviously the night guard. At last they were starting to take things seriously. Oh to be a fly on the wall listening to their conversation around that campfire. These guys weren’t used to having someone hunting them. They were the type always doing the hunting and the hurting. I wondered when the last time anyone stood to them.
I felt my way down the stairs and out the back of the building.
It took me an hour to get into position at the edge of the tree line. I was able to locate the first sentry relatively easily. He made enough noise to raise the dead, walking back and forth with the rifle resting on his shoulder like some kind of soldier guarding a base in an old time movie. The second sentry was harder. He’d settled down in the tall grass on the other side of the camp. I might not have spotted him if the horses hadn’t given him away. They kept coming up to a spot then shying away.
Once I had him identified I backed off and waited for the camp to quiet down. Slowly men started to get their bed roles and go to sleep. Big Jake commandeered the back of the wagon. I was tempted to try and creep up on him but I wasn’t that good. My only chance was to stand off and take them one by one.
Finally the last man threw a couple of pieces of wood onto the fire then rolled over and went to sleep. Slowly letting out a breath I moved to the right and started to crawl towards the marching soldier. I’d gone about twenty yards when I heard a movement from the camp. I froze to the ground and watched the other guard approach the fire and grab a water bottle. He called out to marching dude in a load whisper. “Jimmy, two more hours and we can wake our reliefs.
“Excellent,” marching dude said and then spun on his heel and started walking towards me.
I planned on taking him out at the far end of his route but with the other guard in the camp I couldn’t risk it. I slid back and slithered through the grass away from his path. I backed a few feet when I heard him approaching. I had to freeze. He wouldn’t be able to miss me if I moved.
The man stopped walking and I slowly turned my head to see what he was doing. He stood there, his rifle held at the ready while he sniffed the air. My heart dropped, I must really smell bad I thought and stood without thinking.
The man jumped back with a surprised expression on his face, I don’t think he really knew what he was seeing. All he knew was that a man was standing in front of him. He didn’t know if it was a companion or the devil himself. That slight hesitation was all the time I needed to pull back the arrow and shoot him square in the neck. The arrow missed dead center and caught him in the jugular. It was a great killing shot only didn’t keep him quiet. Blood started squirting and he let out a strangled sound as he reflexively fired his rifle into the ground between us.
The explosion lit up the night for a split second while the sound reverberated off the buildings. It was all the motivation I needed to take off running into the trees. Just like the night before the men started firing wildly into the night, twice I heard bullets whipping though the leaves and pine needles around me as I ran through the trees.
The forest was deafeningly quiet and darker than dark, It was tempting to slip into the trees and find a place to hide and wait. Maybe I could pick off another one. Sliding to a stop, I crouched behind an old log and looked back as I tried to catch my breath. It was like last night, men carrying torches and flash lights walking towards me. Only this time I had a weapon that could reach out and strike. At about a hundred yards they were way out of my effective range but I could send a message. I stood and tried to steady my breathing, pulled back and launched at an angle. Really all I could hope for was to get it in the general area.
The men suddenly froze and dropped to the ground, All except Big Jake. He stared in my direction as if he could see me in the dark. The other men slowly started to get up one by one. Jake said something pointing towards me. Each man men raised their guns.
“Oh crap,” I said and jumped back behind the log as bullets tore into the forest around me. Big Jake was sending a message back.
I spent the night ducking in and out of buildings. Knocking over a trash can here, breaking a window there, always staying one step ahead of the searching men, leading them in circles and back on themselves.
I went into an auto parts store and was headed out the back when I knocked over a display of spray paint cans. I got a great idea as I picked myself up off the floor. I stuffed my pack with about four or five cans and continued out the back.
A nice fire engine red paint would do an excellent job. My face cracked into a smile as I painted LEAVE NOW Six feet high on a store front I knew they’d have to pass. Then I used two cans of ‘Sun Burst Yellow’ to paint, ONLY COWARDS ATTACK CHILDREN Further down the street. After I emptied the cans of paint I set some snares and dead falls. I doubt it’d hurt anybody. It might make them think about what they got themselves into. I wanted them tired, pissed off and questioning why they were here.
Finishing the last snare, I stood and stretched my lower back and realized I’d forgotten to connect th
e previous deadfall to the trip wire. My vision began to blur as I became dizzy and my legs got all rubbery, like they weren’t going to be able to support me much longer. I was pretty sure the last of my energy reserves were running out. I’d been operating on little sleep and food for three days, plus the beating I’d taken. I hated the idea of letting up on them but I couldn’t hand it off to someone else. I need rest before I started again.
Taking a deep breath, I accepted the inevitable and started walking towards Claire and the others.
Chapter Twenty One
Claire’s Diary
Day 2080
Jenny continues to get better, she has a fever but it hasn’t gotten any worse. Her wound is clean. I don’t want to close the holes. I think we want to let it heal from the inside out. I hope I am right about that. It’s not bleeding but looks raw and very painful.
Ellen is doing fine; she is helping Susan clean up after dinner.
Kris - ??? Where are you? We heard gun shots again last night, did that mean he was alive. Please god. My stomach hurts all the time now. I can’t sit down and snapped at Margaret for no reason. What am I going to do?
We’ve posted a lookout on the roof and everyone gets a turn. But no one has seen anything other than distant smoke over by our old home. I thought about what we had left behind. It wasn’t only the things we’d made, but the things we’d brought to the library. Personal things like my suitcase of pictures. They were the only thing Ellen had left of her mom. The only things I had left of mine.
We have about two more days of food until someone is going to have to go out and find some more. I will go tomorrow. I should be honest; I hope to get some idea of what’s going on with Kris, maybe I could find him.
I didn’t know a person could feel this way. We haven’t really talked about it, but I think Kris feels something. Is it like what I feel? How can a person be so sad and so happy at the same time? I wish there was someone I could talk to, I miss my mom a lot. I miss a lot of things, but my mom most of all.
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