Dispatches
Page 22
Chapter 39
Belgrade, Maine
Alex’s arm throbbed inside the plaster short-arm cast lying across his lap. He stared at the lake through the spacious windows, still slightly dazed from four days of taking pain medications. Dark, hazy thoughts dominated his mental horizon. While grateful to be alive, sharing stolen time with his family, he couldn’t stop focusing on the long-term cost of the trip. His arm would be useless for most, if not all of the summer. Charlie’s hand was out of commission for more than a month.
The combination of injuries represented a significant setback to their gardening project, which was barely a feasible endeavor with all hands participating. Alex knew logically that it wasn’t the end of the world. They’d be fine. Grady had promised him food and supplies, which he had no reason to doubt. Emotionally, his outlook dimmed at the thought of sitting around idle, reliant on outside assistance. He’d planned so carefully over the past five years to specifically avoid this situation.
Maybe he was just angry at having the rug ripped out from under him after spending so much time believing that he was ready for anything. Who was he kidding? Ninety-nine percent of the population had it far worse than the Fletchers, even now. Alex had to remember that. He hadn’t failed on any level. If anything, he’d succeeded in the face of insurmountable odds, with a little help along the way. A lot of help, but that was how it worked. No man was an island. No family was an island. However that saying went. Words to live and die by.
“What are you thinking about?” asked Kate, appearing next to the couch with a steaming mug of coffee.
“Just staring out into space. Feeling sorry for myself,” he said. “Is that for me?”
“It wasn’t, but anything to lift your spirits,” she said, walking around the leather sectional to put the mug on the glass coffee table in front of him. “Ken is going to help us plot the garden beds. He knows a few others in the neighborhood that might be able to help.”
“More mouths to feed,” he mumbled, reaching for the coffee mug.
“Alex,” she started.
“Sorry. We need all the help we can get, not to mention that the neighbors are here to stay. I’m still dusting the cobwebs off that record. It’s just hard going from our compound in Limerick to coexisting in a community of strangers.”
“We’ll make it work somehow.”
Alex wasn’t sure how, but as long as the military subsidized their food, they’d figure it out eventually.
“Alex!” yelled his dad, the front door slamming behind him.
“On the couch,” he called, shaking his head and winking at Kate.
“I know where you are. It’s where you always are,” said Tim, rushing into the room.
“I might have broken an arm, Dad,” said Alex.
“Didn’t realize you walked on your hands,” said Tim, shifting the rifle sling on his shoulder. “Someone’s here to see you.”
The house started to vibrate almost imperceptibly.
“Who?” asked Alex, pushing off the couch to stand up.
“Lieutenant Colonel Grady,” said Tim. “We’ve got a Matvee and four of those big-ass armored trucks idling in front of Charlie’s house.”
“Grady came up?” said Alex, kissing Kate on the cheek as he hurried around the couch. “This should be interesting. Three MTVRs? That’s a lot of carrying capacity.”
“I don’t know what the hell they’re called. Back in my day they were called five-tons, and they had a canvas cover over the back. Barely protected us from the rain, let alone an RPG.”
Alex patted his dad on the shoulder. “Times were tougher back then, Dad.”
“Why does that sound like you’re patronizing me?” Tim followed him down the slate-tiled hallway to the front door.
“I have no idea,” said Alex, smiling at his dad.
Sean Grady stood at the far end of the front yard, talking with Ryan. The two of them nodded and grinned like they’d known each other for years. The Marine shook his son’s hand, holding onto his shoulder. A classic man-hug. Ryan took off down the compacted dirt road, disappearing behind the row of pines.
“Are you supposed to be wearing your helmet?” asked Alex.
The fury he’d promised to rain on Grady never materialized, along with the best intentions to endlessly lecture the officer that once served as a platoon commander under him. Sean’s smile, the familiar scar, the way he genuinely embraced Ryan—he let the anger go. Just like that, it was gone, leaving Alex feeling lighter.
“Alex, I want to—”
“Apology accepted,” Alex cut in. “You don’t need to mention it again.”
“Alex, I don’t expect—”
“Seriously, Sean. I think this is my new mantra. Let it go.”
“Is your son feeling all right?” Grady asked Alex’s dad.
“That’s the first logical thing he’s said since the fall, so I’d say he’s doing just fine,” said Tim, patting Alex on the back. “I’ll head on down to the convoy to see what’s in those armored trucks. If you can even fit anything in there. In my day—”
“We know. Marines walked everywhere, with twice the gear and no body armor,” said Alex.
“You see that, Colonel? No respect for his elders,” said Tim, shrugging his shoulders, and they all had a good laugh.
“We’ll be right there, Dad,” said Alex.
“Take your time,” said Tim, heading down the road toward the armored vehicles.
“Grab a cup of coffee? Fresh brewed with a new batch of grinds,” said Alex. “Looks nice enough to sit out on the deck.
“I’ll take you up on that,” said Grady. “But I need to push off in about fifteen minutes. I’m headed up over to Searsport next. I need to collect some personal gear.”
“How many did Staff Sergeant Taylor lose?” asked Alex, aware that a fierce battle had been fought over the terminal the first night of the military coup.
“Five. The National Guard garrison took the brunt of the casualties. Eighteen out of the forty-two soldiers assigned to guard the terminal. They threw at least fifty Homeland mercs against the facility, supported by heavy weapons and several up-armored Humvees. Hit the place hard.”
“Jesus. I’m sorry to hear that.”
“They fought all night. We couldn’t use the helicopters because the mercs breached the northern gate and took up positions near the fuel farm. We ferried half of the Sanford-based Ranger company up to Searsport to conduct a predawn attack. Finally cleared them out,” Grady told him.
“What about the rest of the state? We heard some explosions. Sounded like they came from Waterville.”
“A National Guard garrison was attacked on the outskirts of the city, but the same helicopters that brought you home managed to intercede. Homeland spread the battalion too thin. Searsport was the biggest attack, outside of the coordinated raid on the governor’s mansion and state government in Augusta. Colonel Martin’s Stryker battalion met them in force outside of the state capital. There wasn’t much left of the Homeland force after that. We hit them all over the state with Medina’s intelligence.”
“And how is our former RRZ administrator?”
“Helping us keep the peace. Homeland doesn’t want word spreading about this. As far as we know, it’s been swept under the rug,” said Grady. “They barely have the support of the military at this point. A few of the RRZs have been torn apart by these mercenary battalions, right under the noses of some very disgruntled and confused military commanders. The New England RRZ has a chance of surviving now, which is more important to D.C. right now than a petty control battle between two bureaucrats,” said Grady.
“You’re not a big fan of Dague or Medina?”
“What choice do we have?” said Grady. “The military can’t be put in charge. The last vestige of trust in the government would be eradicated if the military took over. Those two will figure it out. They don’t have a choice at this point.”
Alex showed Grady to the kitchen, where Kate w
as pouring an extra mug of coffee.
“Kate, it’s a pleasure to see you again,” Grady said. “Feel free to slap me as many times as you’d like.”
Kate eyed him warily, shaking her head. “A slap? I’ve been practicing a frontal kick, aimed low, for the past few days.”
“Point taken,” he said, looking to Alex.
“Don’t look at me,” said Alex.
She handed Grady the mug she just poured, the Marine hesitant to take her offer.
“I’ve decided it would be in nobody’s best interest to assault you—today,” she said. “Plus it sounds like my husband has found it in his heart to forgive you.”
“I’m truly sorry,” he said.
“I know,” Kate said, her face softening. “I live with a man who still wakes up in a cold sweat, blaming himself for every Marine killed or injured under his command. I know it’s not something you take lightly, and that it stays with you forever. But my son and husband are not part of your battalion. You had no right to send them up their without the full picture.”
Grady swallowed hard.
“Never again,” she said, pointing at him.
“Never again,” Grady agreed.
“All right. I’ll let the two of you catch up. I hear you brought four trucks with you?” she said, trying to smile.
“It’s the least I could do to thank everyone,” said Grady. “In addition to enough food to last your whole crew at least two years, we grabbed some gear from the Limerick compound. Solar panels, the whole system, along with the batteries, ham radio, personal effects. Nobody has gone near the place since we left.”
Kate’s eyes watered, her stern look melting.
“Thank you, Sean,” she said, having trouble forming the words. “You don’t know what this means to us.”
“I should have brought this up to you a lot earlier,” said Grady.
“It means a lot. We’re truly grateful for everything you’ve done. We wouldn’t be having this conversation if you hadn’t helped Alex in Boston,” she said.
“Friends help friends,” said Sean.
“Then I should be glad some things haven’t changed,” she said, extending her hand. “Square?”
“Unless you need something,” said Grady, shaking her hand. “I mean it. It’ll be easier for us to get around the state now.”
“I’d give you a hug, but I’m done hugging rifle magazines and body armor. I’ll let the two of you catch up,” she said.
“See you in a few minutes,” said Alex, giving her a kiss.
Alex and Grady stepped onto the deck, basking in the warmth.
“Not a bad place up here,” said Grady. “Now I can see why they call Maine vacationland. I never understood why people flocked to the southern coast. Same with Cape Cod. The last thing I want to deal with on vacation are crowds of people. This is nice.”
“I never understood why people wanted to vacation in the summer. I know the kids are out of school, but for shit’s sake, why go from one warm place to another?”
“I never understood ski vacations either,” said Grady.
“Don’t even get me started. Going from cold to cold makes no sense either,” Alex replied.
“I wonder how long it will be before any of us takes a vacation again,” said Grady.
“I was on my way to warmer climates, maybe Europe, until my boat was taken by the state,” said Alex.
“You don’t want to go to Europe,” Grady said gravely. “Things are falling apart quickly. The Russians have swept through half of their former satellite states, stopping at the Polish and Romanian borders. There’s nothing in place to stop them if they want to drive further.”
“I was thinking Argentina or Brazil,” said Alex.
“Not a bad idea, though it’s only a matter of time before the economic ripple effect starts to tear things apart down there. Mexico is essentially a no-man’s-land, along with most of Central America. The Caribbean islands are folding one by one as the supplies from South America slow.”
“Sounds like you’re trying to sell me on staying in the U.S.”
“Frankly, it’s starting to look more and more like the best bet,” said Grady.
“I was hoping to subsist on more than MREs and Brations for the rest of my life,” said Alex.
“I was going to surprise you on the walk back, but I might as well break the news over the best cup of coffee I’ve had since last August. Harrison Campbell gave me a small cooler filled with heirloom seeds. Said he thought your garden might need a boost. Sounds like he was right,” said Grady.
“He really did that?”
“He was adamant about it,” said Grady. “Made me wait while he put it together.”
“The RRZ relocation thing was bullshit, right? You still went out to visit him?”
“Medina did plan on moving the RRZ once the state government was neutralized. I knew that wasn’t going to happen, but I promised you I’d talk to Harrison. He was touched by your generosity, and very happy to learn that the RRZ security zone wasn’t moving north.”
“I bet he was,” said Alex.
“Well, I better get moving,” said Grady. “I’ll leave one MTVR, with a squad of volunteers to help you dig up the garden beds. Harrison led me to believe that you might need some help with that as well.”
“Harrison must have been worried all winter about us,” said Alex, leading him into the house.
“We were all worried about you. Like it or not, you’re somewhat of a celebrity back at the MOB. Even more so now. I’d never say this around Kate, but if you’re interested in a job with the RRZ, I’ll make it happen. Just say the word,” said Grady.
“I think I’m done with all of that, Sean,” said Alex. “I just want to start over and enjoy what I still have.”
“I don’t blame you, Alex,” said Grady, cracking a smile. “You have more than most up here. “If you change your mind, you know how to get in touch.”
Alex swiped the ROTAC from the kitchen table on the way past, stopping to hand it to Grady.
“I’ll drive down and let you know personally,” said Alex. “Maybe after everything settles.”
Grady accepted the ROTAC, nodding. “Hopefully, I’ll be back with my family by then.”
“I’ll drink to that,” said Alex, clinking Grady’s coffee mug.
The End
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Go back to Contents
Table of Contents
Dedication
Acknowledgments
About the Author
About Dispatches
PART I “BIG PICTURE” Winter 2019-2020
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
PART II “LITTLE PICTURE” Late April 2020
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39