***
Blake answered the radio. When Roy told him they had an emergency and he had to talk with the governor, Blake told him to hold on. He ran to Grayson’s office. “Charles, they’ve got trouble at Sector 4. Roy’s on the radio.”
Grayson jumped up from his desk and followed him to the radio room. “Hello, Roy, this is Charles. What’s this about you having trouble out there?”
“We need your help, and in a hurry.” Charles could hear the panic in Roy’s voice.
“What’s wrong?” asked the governor.
“A hostile clan of about one hundred have attacked us. They’re already through the gate. We need your help before they breach the doors of the compound.”
“How long do you think you can hold out?”
“Not long. They’re well armed and they have explosives.”
“Do you know who they are or why they’ve attacked?”
“I don’t know who they are first-hand, but I’ve been told you’ve seen them before.”
“I have?”
“Yes. Remember when you rescued John and Daniel? These are the ones who were chasing them.”
“I do remember. They were crazed maniacs. I’ll have Blake mount the fifty-caliber gun to the helicopter and we’ll come as soon as we can. It’ll probably take a couple of hours to get there. Can you hold out that long?”
“We’ll have to.”
***
Jeremy escorted Roy down the stairs to where Ryder continued to stand at the door, watching with Levi for another assault.
“Did you get through to Grayson?” asked Ryder.
Roy nodded. “He’s on his way.”
Samuel leaned in close to Ryder’s ear. “This would be a good time to give this Uncle Don a chance to retreat. Tell him reinforcements are coming.”
His dad was right. It was worth trying even if he didn’t think it would do any good. They had two hours to hold off Uncle Don’s people, either by force or manipulation.
“Don!” he yelled. He didn’t feel like calling him ‘Uncle’. It sounded much too familiar for someone who was intent on killing him.
“Yeah!”
“We’re going to give you a chance to save your people. We’ve radioed for help and they’re on their way. This would be a good time to go home.”
“I’m very grateful that you’re so concerned for our welfare. But I’m afraid we must decline. Besides, I think you’re lying. Nice try though.”
“I’m telling you the truth. Remember losing John and Daniel when they were rescued by a helicopter?”
“You mean Master Gant?”
“That’s right. And that same helicopter is on its way with a fifty-caliber machine gun. You won’t stand a chance. So, if you care anything about the welfare of your people, leave before they arrive.”
“How do I know you’re telling the truth?”
“I guess you’ll have to take my word for it. Otherwise, it’ll be too late.”
There was no immediate response. Ryder assumed Don was thinking it over. “So, what’s it going to be?”
“What’s your hurry? Give me a minute,” yelled Uncle Don. A devious smile spread across his face as an idea came to him. “Hey, Ryder! Before I decide, will you give me a chance to send a couple men to gather our dead friend?”
Ryder had to believe there was some treachery involved. He aimed his rifle through one of the gaping holes in the door. “Sure, come ahead!”
Uncle Don turned to the man next to him. “Mack, I have a plan.” He reached into his pack and pulled out two sticks of dynamite. “I want you to take someone with you. When you get to the kid, light the fuses and throw them at the door.”
Mack wasn’t enthusiastic about the plan. No one would be at risk except for him and the other lucky individual. They would probably both be shot, just like Chris. He was hesitant to take the explosives.
Uncle Don’s eyes flashed with rage, forcing the dynamite into Mack’s hands. “Just do it!”
Mack wasn’t going to force anyone to go with him, instead asking for a volunteer. A young man, Scott, know to be a bit full of himself, was anxious to prove himself to their leader. They kneeled next to Uncle Don who approved of Mack’s selection.
“Do you both understand what I want you to do?” Uncle Don asked.
They nodded, but just to be sure, Mack repeated what he understood their mission to be. “After we throw them, we’ll grab Chris and rush back.”
“No! You’re going to leave him! Once you’ve succeeded, we’ll all be rushing the open door.”
Mack and Scott looked at each other. Scott had lost his eagerness, finally realizing it was most likely another suicide mission. But if it worked, they would both be heroes to the clan.
Uncle Don yelled to Ryder, “I’m sending two men to collect our man!”
“Come ahead!” yelled Ryder.
“Walk slowly until you reach the body,” directed Uncle Don. “And then, when you kneel down to pick him up, light your fuses and throw. Don’t wait for each other. Now, go!”
Both stood and began the long and perilous walk to their dead comrade. Each had the dynamite tucked inside their shirts. The only thing in their hands were the matches, ready to strike.
Amy had been overcome with grief after seeing Chris shot and fall to the ground. Those around her had to hold her back to keep her from running through the gate to him. Now, she saw two men carefully walking toward where he fell. She was filled with a sense of hope. Maybe he wasn’t dead. She watched as they reached him and knelt down.
***
Jenny watched the intruders through the scope of her rifle from a perch in the upper branches of a tree. When she heard the warning shots earlier, she’d gone to her camp to gather a few personnel items to take inside the compound for safety. By the time she returned to where she could see the compound, the enemy was already approaching the fence. Too late to get inside with the others, she climbed into one of the trees where she could hide and have a good vantage point.
Alone, there wasn’t much she could do to help her friends or herself. She felt helpless sitting in the tree as the gate was destroyed by explosives. As the attackers poured through the gate, Jenny fought the urge to jump down and help her friends. Gunfire erupted between those outside and those inside until it gradually died down, appearing as though a stalemate had been reached.
Then, through her rifle scope she saw an increase of activity behind the concrete barriers, perhaps preparing to rush the compound, which alarmed her. Suddenly, the clan began to fire repeatedly at the main entrance while a single individual jumped up and began to sprint toward the compound wall. Believing her friends were in grave danger, and that she was possibly the only one to see the danger, she set the crosshairs on the moving target and fired.
She had always been an excellent shot, frequently bringing wild game back to the compound.
The single shot struck her target, dropping him face-forward to the ground, but not before hurling an object toward the door, falling short. An explosion did minimal damage but was close enough to scare those just inside the door. Jenny let out a sigh. If she had been only a bit slower, and the runner had gotten closer to the doors, the results would have been much different. The intruders would have had direct access to the inside of the compound. She expected the attacker’s guns to be turned on her, but evidently the sound of their volley of shots had masked her single shot. The way that their leader had jumped up and begun to shout at those around him, he must have assumed that Chris had been carelessly shot by friendly fire, his own people. She smiled at getting away with it.
Jenny climbed higher into the tree where the branches and leaves would provide even more cover and protection. She was essentially stuck where she was, unable to get down without being spotted. Even darkness wouldn’t do her much good since she had nowhere else to go. Fortunately, from her vantage point she was able to see everything that was going on. As long as she wasn’t discovered, perhaps she would have another
opportunity to help her friends on the inside.
After she’d shot the individual running toward the compound doors, all shots had ceased. The entire site went deathly quiet until Uncle Don jumped up in a rage screaming for the responsible person.
Jenny heard everything of the following exchange between him and Ryder. Ryder had called him by his first name, which she thought was odd. Did they know each other?
When Ryder agreed to let Don’s people come out to claim the body, Jenny anticipated deception. She raised her rifle, aiming with the scope directly at the leader, the crosshairs on his back. She wondered what would happen if she was to shoot him. Would the others lose their will to fight and give up or would they retaliate? She had no way of knowing, left to wait and watch.
Two more of Uncle Don’s men, who had moved near to him, suddenly stood. Jenny followed them with her scope. Slowly, they began the walk to their dead comrade. Jenny, expecting the worst, kept the scope on them, her finger on the trigger. They kneeled down when they reached the body, as though they were going to pick him up. Jenny thought it was taking longer than it should have. Ryder was thinking the same thing.
Their suspicions were justified when both jumped up and ran for the doors, each with a stick of dynamite in his hand. Jenny, as before, didn’t hesitate, firing and striking the runner closest to her before he had taken two strides. Before she could get a bead on the other attacker, he also went down. Neither one had a chance to throw his dynamite, but almost immediately, there was an explosion near one of the runners. If the two shots hadn’t killed them, the explosion would have finished them off.
This time Jenny had fired during a time when all was quiet. After the shock of seeing two more of their own being shot again, followed by the explosion, heads turned to the trees. There was no doubt this time, one of the deadly shots had come from there.
Uncle Don was outraged at another failure and at the thought of possibly being drawn into a trap. Before that moment, he hadn’t considered the idea of the people from Sector 4 placing someone outside for just this purpose. He couldn’t see anyone in the trees, evidently well hidden. He had no idea how many were out there, but from the distance it was obvious that one of them was an excellent marksman. He was confused at what to do next, charge the woods or retreat so they could regroup.
Ryder had taken care of one of the threats, but didn’t know who had fired at the first runner. Before, during the first attack, he’d assumed the runner had accidentally been shot by his own people. But the chance of it happening a second time was extremely unlikely. He asked Levi to check with the men in the towers to see if one of them had fired the final shot. From inside the walls, it had been impossible to tell where the shot had come from.
Uncle Don had his people fall back to outside the fence while he constantly scanned the area along the woods. There was no sign of anyone, which made him even more uncomfortable.
“The shot came from the woods!” Uncle Don shouted, leading the way. “Everyone, spread out and search the area! I don’t want them getting away!”
Everyone did as told, except Amy. She walked the opposite direction through the gate and proceeded in a straight line toward Chris’s body, unconcerned about her own safety.
“Ryder,” said Jeremy, “there’s a woman walking toward the bodies.”
“Just one?” asked Ryder.
“Yeah.” He moved aside so Ryder could look.
The young woman didn’t appear to be any kind of threat. She knelt down beside the first attacker. Then Ryder had to assume that they had been very close, perhaps husband and wife.
She wiped the tears away, then carefully turned the body over, knowing immediately that he was dead. She wasn’t sure who to be angry with – Uncle Don for sending him into danger or at the ones inside the compound.
There was a single stick of dynamite with a six-inch fuse near the other man with a book of paper matches still in his hand. Taking a glance at the third man, she quickly looked away, placing her hand over her mouth. Evidently, he hadn’t been able to throw his dynamite after lighting the fuse. An arm was missing and the rest of his upper torso was bloody and mangled. She reached over and took the stick of dynamite and matches from the nearest man, then settled back down on her knees next to her husband, staring at the small explosive stick.
Ryder, unsure about what she might do, raised his rifle and pointed it through a gaping hole in the door. He hoped she wouldn’t do anything stupid, but prepared himself just in case. If Uncle Don’s influence and his way of looking at things had rubbed off on her, she could do anything. If this was the same couple that had spied on them, they had already proven their devotion and commitment to him.
She held the fuse, rolling it between her thumb and forefinger. She flipped the book of matches open and tore off one before closing the flap.
Ryder could see everything. He didn’t want to shoot her. He waited, watching, giving her every opportunity to drop the match and dynamite. He could tell she wasn’t sure what she should do. He switched the safety off on the rifle. “Please don’t light that match,” he said under his breath.
Amy stared at the match and then at Chris.
Ryder placed his finger against the trigger, ready to shoot, only if he had to.
***
Uncle Don led his people into the woods running and screaming excitedly, having them spread out, searching for locals, prepared to kill anyone they came across. It wasn’t the kind of hunt they were accustomed to. This time they couldn’t see their prey. Reaching the other side of the woods, their enthusiasm had died down, not seeing one person, bewildered. The thrill of the hunt was short lived. Don’s people looked to him for what they should do next. However, he didn’t know himself. He was sure the last shot had come from the woods, but from where?
His people followed him back toward their wagons. Passing under the tree where Jenny had taken refuge there was a cracking sound from overhead. Jenny hugged the thick branch next to her in an attempt to remain hidden from those below. Uncle Don stopped and motioned for the others to do the same. He looked up into the surrounding canopy as he circled the nearest tree, seeing nothing.
As Jenny shifted her body ever so slightly, the branch beneath her let out another crack, just enough for Uncle Don to zero in on her location. He smiled as he spotted her. She was looking directly at him.
“Come down on your own or I’ll shoot you down!” he yelled up to her.
She had been caught and there was nothing else she could do. With her rifle slung over her shoulder, she began picking her way down, moving from branch to branch, checking her footing as she went.
Uncle Don gave orders for the others to spread out and check up into the branches of the other trees. By the time she reached the ground the others had returned, finding no one else.
He held out his hand, requesting her rifle. “Are you the one who shot my people?”
“I’d do anything to protect my people!” she spat out with a sneer. “I should have shot you too!” She made no move to hand over her rifle.
Uncle Don nodded to one of his people who stepped over to her, roughly jerking it away.
“If you know what’s good for you, you should tuck your tail between your legs and run home,” said Jenny as she poked him in the chest. “We’re ready for your kind.”
He smiled. He liked her spunk and willingness to stand up to him. “Where are the others hiding?”
Others? She was momentarily caught off guard. Why would he think there were others out there with her? Whatever the reason, she decided she could try to use it to her advantage. “Let me go or you’ll find out soon enough!” Jenny turned to face into the woods. “Stay where you are!” she shouted.
Uncle Don and the others exchanged looks of concern. They’d searched the woods twice and had found no one. He didn’t know whether she was attempting to play some game or if her people were just very well hidden. But he couldn’t take any chances. “Head back to the wagons and bring her alon
g. We’ll use her for a hostage.” He looked directly at Jenny. “If anyone does attack, you’ll be the first to be shot.”
“It doesn’t do any good to tell me, you idiot.”
***
Amy stared at the match. Ryder prepared to fire. He didn’t want to shoot her but he had to think about the safety of those with him. Suddenly, she dropped the match to the ground. Ryder relaxed his finger. But where was the dynamite? He didn’t see it. Was it in her hand? She slowly stood, looking back to her people and then at the walls of the compound in front of her, appearing confused about where to go.
As Uncle Don returned to the wagons with his people and their prisoner, he saw Amy standing alone near the bodies. He knew there was still one stick of dynamite that hadn’t been used. There was still a ray of hope. “Amy! Light it and throw it!”
Amy heard him, but ignored him, angry at him for sending her husband on a suicide run. She had already decided that she didn’t want to have any more to do with him or Camp Liberty. She and Chris had both looked up to him. He’d taken them in and showed them how to survive and they would do anything for him. This time he had asked too much. She was now seeing him for what he really was – a controlling maniac.
Ryder cracked the main entrance door open and yelled to her, “Amy?”
“What are you doing?” asked Jeremy. “She’s the reason Uncle Don is here.”
“No, he’s here for me,” said Ryder. “The rest is just a bonus.”
Amy was surprised to hear her name called out from inside the compound. She and Chris had only introduced themselves to one person when they were there. She looked up. Ryder was motioning for her to come to him. She didn’t understand why. Did they actually want to help her or to take her as a prisoner?
Uncle Don couldn’t believe Amy was ignoring him. His people knew better. His anger was growing. Even if Amy and Chris had come to this place to spy for him as a favor, there was no excuse for this. He couldn’t let her undermine his authority in front of the others.
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