The Keepers of the Rose

by DJ Dalasta

  Rock threw the last case in the back of the old truck. It fit snuggly with the rest of them. He quickly tied it down and hopped in the cab. Benji looked uncertain in the passenger seat. Sayla sat in the back.

  “I warned you,” he said to Benji.

  “I know,” the boy admitted. His leg was shaking and his breathing had become quick and shallow. He must have finally grasped their situation. “Easy,” Rock assured him. “Nothing’s happened yet.” He patted him on the leg. The gesture didn’t seem to ease the tension.

  Nate pulled out ahead of them. He drove Wallace’s new truck and managed to squeeze four people inside the cabin along with most of the sensitive gear. Skylar sat in his passenger seat while Wallace and Marcus Redman sat in the back.

  Behind Rock, Manuel Garcia drove Skylar’s small compact, carrying Kiara Toudrey and Natasha Bilsby. The three of them were just as jittery as Benji. They were caught up in something beyond their knowing and were beginning to realize it. Rock was a little upset with Wallace for having brought them into the situation. He had chosen to ignore Rock’s urgent warnings and now four more people were in danger because of it.

  Nate’s truck lurched forward and Rock followed. They skidded along the road at fast speeds causing their bodies to bounce around like pinballs. As they made a few right turns he caught brief glimpses of Skylar readying his weapons. Rock had a gun hidden under his seat but didn’t plan on using it. He’d rather hand everything over peacefully if it came to that.

  The helicopter finally arrived and made a single pass overhead. It quickly turned around and began hovering above them as they drove, heading towards the highway.

  “They’re going to have the road blocked,” Sayla said. “It’s the only way in or out isn’t it?”

  “Yeah,” Rock replied. “As far as I know it’s a single road.” He had chosen the cabin for its remote location and never thought about the escape routes. It was a poor choice and now they were all caught in a trap of his making.

  “Then we shouldn’t go this way. They‘ll catch us in the open,” she stammered.

  “Well where the fuck are we going to go then Sayla?” His voice was laced with annoyance.

  “I don’t know!” She yelled back. “But they’ll have at least a dozen men there and then however many more in that helicopter.”

  “Hold on.” Rock picked up the radio. “Skylar,” he called to the other vehicle.

  “Ya,” the mercenary’s voice clearly came back.

  “Tell Nate to stop for a moment, I have to talk to you.” Rock looked to Benji and then to Sayla. “Watch the helicopter, honk the horn if it looks like anybody is coming down.”

  Red brake lights glared from the front and the vehicle came to a stop. Rock slid behind them, almost touching the bumper. He jumped out and ran to the right side of the truck. He glanced overhead and was grateful to see the canopy of the forest shielded him from the helicopter’s direct sight. As he came up to the side, Skylar rolled down his window. “Sayla says that they’re going to have the road blocked off some place ahead of us. She said there’s likely to be a dozen or so men, armed.”

  “Why would you listen to her?” Nate interjected from behind the wheel. “She’s probably just stalling. Lying again.”

  “No, she’s right,” Skylar said. “If they have a helicopter at their disposal and they know exactly where we were, they’ll have the road blocked off. It’s only one way in. Remember? They wouldn’t alert us to their presence until it was in place. That’s the smart move.”

  “So what do think we should do,” Rock asked.

  Skylar forced a smile. “I say we go through them. Unless they’ve erected a cement wall, this truck here can punch a hole through most things. Then you guys can follow on through.”

  “That’s it.” Rock was hoping for some tactical analysis. He’d known Skylar for years and one of the man’s strengths was strategy. Unfortunately Skylar’s expression told him there wasn’t much room for maneuvering.

  “Do we have another choice other than holing up in the house? I know how that’s going to end. Badly. Plus. I am always one for simplicity and this plan is fairly simple.” Skylar laughed. Rock couldn’t believe the man. He was as calm as ever. “But if you want, we could go back to the cabin and hold the pieces hostage. I have a good amount of ammo if we need to try and wait it out. Though I think eventually we’ll have to come out or they’ll just come on in. Truthfully I think we have a better chance before they are completely set-up properly and that time is right now.”

  Rock shook his head. “These people want the book but they have gone through much labor to see it was never found. I doubt they would care that much if we destroyed it. Holding it hostage isn’t going to work. They’d come in anyway. What about abandoning the trucks and heading into the forest?”

  “I’d be fine,” Skylar said. “But that would only work if we could split up. A large group could be easily tracked and we have a large group. And I don’t think all these people are capable of roaming around the mountains for a few days. And then I’m sure all the nearby establishments, including cabins and rest stops would be monitored, if they have the manpower, but it appears they do. Again, I think our best shot is to do this now, before they are completely organized.”

  Rock straightened up. As much as he didn’t want a confrontation involving radical and armed men, he knew Skylar was right. If the helicopter just arrived, the men on the ground might not be completely ready or even still arriving. Now was the time. “Ok, we’ll follow you through.”

  “Then forward it is.” Skylar said and cocked one of his pistols. “Just tell everyone to duck down as we do it and once through don’t look back, no matter who might get through and who might not. Just keep going.”

  “Sounds good. You keep the rose, you’re more likely to get through,” Rock said. “We have a copy of everything, high quality pictures, translations and all Wallace’s notes. If even one of us gets through so does the information.”

  Skylar nodded. “Good luck then,” he said.

  “You too,” Rock returned. He held out his hand and they clasped momentarily. “Nate, Wallace, Marcus.” We’ll see you once we’re out of this.” Rock gave them a nod of assurance.

  As he was leaving, Skylar called him back, “Rock.” He turned. “One last thing, if you get out, head towards an airport, the helicopter won’t be able to follow without clearance from the tower. It’s a long shot but you might be able to lose them.”

  “Thanks.” Rock jogged back. He passed by his truck and came to the last car in their small train. He leaned in the window and quickly relayed the plan to Manuel, Kiara and Natasha.

  “But we have nothing to do with all this, we didn’t know what we were getting into, can’t we tell them that,” Kiara said.

  “You can, but I don’t think it’s going to make a difference.”

  “This is bullshit,” Manuel said. “Can we go back and hide in the cabin. Let you sort all this out.”

  “That sounds good,” Natasha blurted. “Let’s do that. It shows them we’re not a part of this.”

  “They’ll come get you,” Rock threw up his hands, he didn’t know what else to say.

  “It doesn’t matter, we’re not the ones they want.”

  “You are part of this now. I didn’t want anyone but Wallace involved but he called you. I can’t help that. Since you’ve worked on this, you are very much a part of it. So follow the plan, it’s our best shot.”

  “Fine,” Manuel said. Natasha and Kiara started to object but Manuel hit the steering wheel. “Enough! We’re going to go, if he says it’s our best chance then we’ll do it.” The girls fell silent.

  “Thanks, “ Rock said. “And good luck and I’m sorry you got involved.” Rock left the car and jogged back to his truck, climbing into the drivers seat.

  “What are we doing?” Sayla asked immediately.


  “We’re going through them.”

  She cringed. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  “We don’t have a choice.”

  “Fuck,” Benji added quietly.

  The helicopter still hovered overhead. It’s blades held to a constant, thumping beat. The noise was unsettling. In front of him, Nate started driving again. Rock quickly followed. He visualized the road from his drive on the way in and decided it would be another ten minutes before they came to the most likely spot for the blockade. The place he pictured was a small clearing where the road widened out and then quickly narrowed through two large trees. It would give their pursuers a wide berth to station men and only one small section of road to protect.

  The ride was silent. With the decision to go forward already made, Sayla didn’t say a word and Benji just looked out the window. Rock didn’t have anything more to say either. He figured they were each readying themselves for the coming situation.

  The truck in front of them finally came to a sudden stop at a section of the road that curved sharply to the right. Skylar came over the radio. “This is probably it, remember, don’t stop, just keep going. Keep moving forward. Here we go!” The truck lurched into gear, squealing around the corner and Rock hit the gas to keep up. As he looked into his mirror he saw the small compact begin turning around.

  “Fuck,” he said as they slid around the corner. But there was nothing he could do about that now. Immediately, gunfire erupted from the front and little sparks ricocheted off both vehicles as they screamed towards the blockade. Sayla and Benji ducked and Rock squatted down just enough so he could still see. Skylar was leaning out the passenger window returning fire from a weapon in each hand.

  The impact was immediate. Nate’s truck burst into a little clearing and then slammed into the front of a parked SUV, busting through the engine block and turning the car in a complete circle. In what seemed like slow motion, Rock witnessed men flinging themselves out of the way but many were caught up in the collision. Bodies flew through the air and screams of pain erupted from those that couldn’t react quick enough to avoid the vehicles. The truck made it through but lost the front left tire and veered off to the left, violently colliding with a tree. The engine block burst into flame and the bodies inside jumbled together like jell-o.

  A bullet suddenly flew through Rock’s windshield, throwing bits of glass over his face. It shattered a small hold between him and Benji and continued to crash into the back window as well. Without thinking Rock slammed his foot down on the gas and aimed directly for the gap made by the truck. He shot through it, scraping against the backside of the destroyed SUV. He kept his foot down and drove away from the scene, leaving behind his friends. A quick glance in the mirror brought flashes of light from the barrels of guns still firing but they all missed and soon he was beyond their range.

  A few miles later Rock came to the highway and turned West, heading for Knoxville. Above, the helicopter shadowed them. The door was wide open and they were taking shots at the truck but nothing made much of a connection. After a few minutes, the helicopter suddenly gave up its pursuit and sped away from them. They watched it follow the road and then begin to lower. It settled on the highway, cutting off their route.

  “Turn around, turn around,” Sayla said.

  “You don’t think they’ll be coming after us in their other vehicles,” Rock shot back. “We have to keep going this way.”

  Rock slowed to a stop thirty yards from the helicopter. He opened the door and stepped out. Across from him, one man got out of the chopper and started cautiously walking forward. He immediately recognized Michael Cooper. The man held a gun steady in his hands and pointed it directly at Rock.

  “Hand me the gun,” Rock told Sayla. She fumbled under his seat for a moment and then handed it over. He took it and held it low, behind the open door. He wanted desperately to fire two shots into the man in front of him but he couldn’t risk it. Not now. He only had a few bullets. There would be no ability to reload if a gun battle started. He couldn’t afford to waste ammo. But the anger boiled within, reaching his trigger finger. It twitched.

  When Michael Cooper was far enough away from the noise of the blades he yelled over, “Rock, give it up, I don’t want to kill you.”

  “Cooper, you know I can’t do that.”

  “Yes you can. Like I told you before, this isn’t of your concern. Just hand over everything and I’ll let you go, let everyone out and let us search you and the vehicle and take what we need, then we‘ll leave you and your friends alone.”

  “No you won’t. I’m not stupid.”

  “You can’t go anywhere Rock. I have men coming right behind you.”

  Rock looked behind him but didn’t see any pursuit at the moment. “Can you fly that thing,” he yelled.

  “What?”

  “I’ll take that as a no.” Rock quickly brought the gun up and shot two rounds into the pilot side of the helicopter front window. He immediately ducked as Michael Cooper started firing. The first bullet whizzed above him and another two slammed into the door. Rock crawled back into the car, shifted into gear and hit the pedal. He drove onto the shoulder and sped by as men jumped out of the helicopter and started firing. The bullets slammed into the truck. The windows exploded and small bits of glass flew over their hunched bodies. But in moments, the gunshots faded as they drove away. He dared put his head up and looked behind them. He was relieved to see the chopper still sitting on the ground. He must have made contact.

  A few miles down the road Rock swiftly turned onto a small junction and floored it. The worn truck shook with effort but Rock wasn’t about to let up.

  “Why’d we turn?” Sayla said.

  “Cause I don’t know if someone else can fly that thing and the men that follow in the cars will assume we’re still on the highway. They’ll all think we’re headed towards Knoxville. And if they find us again, they won’t make the same mistakes. We have to go a few more miles and turn again and keep off the main roads until we can get out of the area.”

  “Do you think you killed that man flying the chopper,” Benji asked. It was the first words he muttered since the whole thing started.

  “I don’t want to think about it,” Rock said. “I truly hope I didn’t but it was either him or us.”

  “It was a good shot. And when you think we’re safe, I have to pee.”

  Rock reached between his legs and handed him an empty soda bottle. He made his next right and kept his eyes towards the sky and his ears open for the beat of metal blades.

  Chapter 36

  Tennessee, August 2012