Mark grinned at him. He was never one to avoid a fight and his sinister smile indicated he didn’t plan to start now.
“What did you have in mind?” Mark asked.
“Wait, wait,” Robert interrupted them. “We’ve got kids and women here. We can’t go staging some kind of Alamo.”
“Benjamin’s right. We have no choice. If we run they’re just gonna keep chasing us and eventually kill us. We have the element of surprise,” Lenny jumped in.
“Then it’s settled. Let’s stop talking about it and do it already,” Rebecca said in agitation.
Lenny smiled at her and then started devising a strategy. They had about five minutes before the men made it down the ridge and until then they were pretty much invisible.
Gloria and the boys were moved deep into the forest. Lenny handed her a pistol and a beige bag.
“If anyone, and I mean anyone that isn’t one of us heads this way, you run and don’t look back. You understand?”
Lenny had fierceness in his eyes that Gloria had never seen before. Something about his expression reassured her that he’d die before letting anything happen to them. But at the same time it illuminated the seriousness of the situation.
“I…I understand,” Gloria stuttered.
Lenny smiled at her and turned to head back.
“Lenny,” Gloria said barely above a whisper. “You will come back, won’t you?”
He swallowed the uncomfortable lump that had grown in his throat. Looking to Javier then Drew, he found Gloria’s hazel eyes and paused.
“I hope so,” Lenny mumbled and then hurried off.
Near the front of the trees Mark and Benjamin were busy setting up make-shift booby traps. They’d taken a number of smoke grenades and using fishing line for trip-wire they rigged them to the trees. Further into the forest they did the same with frag grenades creating a zone soon to be filled with smoke and destruction.
Once the traps were in place Lenny and Rebecca fanned out on one side and staggered back. Benjamin and Mark on the other side about fifteen yards ahead of them. Maddox and Robert were deeper into the forest, a last line of defense before anyone reached Gloria and the children.
“They’re coming,” Lenny said. “Right here, we kill them all.”
With everyone in position all they could do was sit and wait. It didn’t take long however for the action to begin.
Lenny watched from behind a dense patch of indigo bushes as the men moved closer and closer. They’d managed to climb down the ridge and were slowly making their way into the trees. While they’d been raised in the mountains and tracking was in their nature, tactical maneuvers and strategy were a foreign language.
They walked in a cluster with no real direction, haphazardly traipsing through the forest. Each of them was on high alert, but frantic. They spun in place, staring into the trees with their mouths gaping and dumb looks on their faces. It didn’t take long for panic to set in once the first booby trap was sprung.
Smoke rose into the air and flash bangs exploded with a deafening crack. It was disorientating and Lenny hoped they’d call off their search before he had to waste any of his dwindling bullets. Some of the men staggered backwards, debating whether or not to run, but Lucky and a few others charged on.
“Come on!” he yelled. “They gotta be close.”
With that, Lucky tore off at full speed. Lenny watched him through his scope as he sped towards the last of their traps. Unfortunately, the rest of his followers weren’t as eager and had lagged several yards behind him. None of them could imagine what would happen next, but Lenny and the others knew exactly what was in store.
Lucky’s thick military boots mashed through the brush, tearing the trip-wire without him even noticing. Pins ripped from over two dozen grenades that had been daisy-chained together and sat on either side of the trees.
Lucky made it another five feet before the explosion tore his body into shreds. Like a fine-tuned symphony, the grenades went off successively, exponentially magnifying the blast. A massive heat wave rushed through the forest and to those close enough, it might as well have been another suitcase nuke.
Lenny ducked and covered his ears as debris and shrapnel peppered the trees like drops of searing hot rain. He gritted his teeth in pain, his ears bleeding from the massive concussion.
The effect of the explosion was more than they had anticipated and Benjamin and Mark weren’t spared some of its impact. The rapidly expanding air blew them off of their feet sending Mark head first into a thick willow tree and rendering him unconscious. Benjamin was knocked backwards as well and while he avoided the tree he hit the ground with enough force to temporarily disable him.
The rest of Lucky’s men stood in shock as chunks of his body landed at their feet. They yelled in outrage, the smoldering pieces of their fallen comrade sending them into a blood-crazed frenzy. Lenny’s plan had done the opposite of what he wanted. Instead of decimating the uncoordinated gang it unified them. The rag-tag band spiraled into a berserk rage that made them more deadly than ever.
“My brother!” Ned screamed. The pain in his voice was stabbing and seemed to be shared amongst the rest of his crew.
Like a thundering stampede of bulls, they charged forward firing blindly ahead of them. Bullets cracked over Lenny’s head as he and Rebecca dove into the dirt. He rolled over and quickly scrambled for his gun. The men were still at least fifty yards away, but they were closing fast.
Even farther behind Lenny, Maddox and Robert were stooping behind a group of trees. They jumped with each pop as they listened to the battle raging up ahead. Through the dense forest they couldn’t see anything, but they could hear the sounds of war, the crackling of gunfire and screams of death.
“They…they won’t make it back here will they?” Robert asked, immediately feeling foolish for sounding so much like a child.
Maddox considered him briefly. He didn’t share in Robert’s fear and preferred that he be on the front lines with Lenny and the others. Still, he understood that everyone had a part to play today and his was necessary.
“I don’t think they will, and if they do we will handle them,” he said to Robert, resolution drenched all over his face.
Robert grinned back at him then turned and looked towards Gloria and the kids. He could barely see them from where he was, but knowing his son was back there made him feel just as confident as Maddox sounded.
“We’re gonna be okay,” he said to himself.
Back near the front Lenny was firing his rifle like a man possessed. He’d already taken out four of the men and Rebecca had finished off two more. This hadn’t exactly put out the fiery rage, but had brought some since to Ned and his companions.
They were now moving cautiously forward, still deliberate and aggressive, but using the trees as cover making it harder to find a clean shot. Ned waved his hand at the remaining members and they fanned out. They were rapidly closing in on Lenny and while he’d easily dispatched more than half of them, he was now worried that they’d stumble upon Mark and Benjamin who were still unconscious.
“We need to split up, get behind them,” Lenny whispered.
He was breathing heavy, exhausted, but fueled with adrenaline. He leaned over a thick tree trunk that had been knocked over in the explosion. From there he had a decent view of the field and an easy shot should one of the men show their face.
“I’m gonna move back and then try to get around them. You stay here and –”
“Bullshit!” Rebecca cut him off. “I’m faster and you’re a better shot. Just cover me and I’ll go.”
“No, just stay here. I don’t have time to argue about this with you,” Lenny retorted.
“I know and that’s exactly why I’m going.”
Before Lenny could object again, Rebecca took off. She sprinted back in a zig-zag pattern and then hid behind a cluster of trees.
As soon as Ned and the others heard movement they started firing again. They were close, but they didn’
t know where Lenny and Rebecca were hiding. Smoke still hung in the air clouding their visibility.
“Fucking women!” Lenny grunted through clenched teeth.
Shaking his head, he turned back around and opened fire. He caught one of Ned’s men in the stomach and he made a guttural moan then collapsed to the ground. Lenny fired again, but the remaining four took cover.
Rebecca darted out from behind the tree and started to loop around heading behind Ned’s group. She moved slowly as she entered the dense smoke, but had a good idea of the area. Like a hunting jaguar her feet barely made a noise, quietly navigating through the cluster of looming trees.
“We’re gonna kill you, you know that.” a voice called out. “We’re gonna track you down and kill you.”
Lenny smiled and let off a few rounds as a response. He then waited in silence, hoping Rebecca would be in position soon. Minutes passed with nothing, not a sound or any sign of movement.
He couldn’t help but start to worry. They’d been certain there were only twelve of Lucky’s men that made it to their location, but what if there were more? What if they had Rebecca now and were hauling her off to do God knows what?
Lenny’s fears vanished when the snap of gunfire broke the silence and Ned’s men started to scramble forward. They ran out from behind their cover and tore off into the woods.
“They’re behind us!” one of the men screamed as he rushed towards Lenny’s position.
Lenny calmly took aim and fired two rounds center mass. The other men, realizing they’d been surrounded, starting firing hectically as they rushed forward. Lenny ducked as a hail of bullets ripped into the tree trunk in front of him.
He heard a grunt as another man fell only feet away from him. Rebecca’s bullet had found its mark. Lifting his gun, Lenny mowed down another man and then surveyed the scene.
Rebecca rushed towards him. She was out of breath, but an enormous grin spread across her face.
“Told you I could do it,” she smiled.
Lenny winked and started to count the dead bodies that littered the forest floor. “How many people did you shoot?” He asked as he turned to Rebecca and scratched his head.
“I don’t know. A fucking lot,” Rebecca said with a smile on her face.
Suddenly, there was a bloodcurdling scream and Lenny knew he’d missed one.
“Gloria!” Lenny shouted and tore off deeper into the forest.
He’d never run so fast in his life. Leaping over downed trees and tearing through the brush he moved like an Olympic sprinter. Rebecca followed after him, but she couldn’t keep up.
In under a minute Lenny had made it to the area where he’d left the others. To his horror, Maddox was lying on the ground unconscious. His face was covered with blood and his eye had already begun to swell, but he was breathing.
Robert was standing in the open. He held a rifle in his trembling hands pointing it at the last of the gunmen. He’d made it to Gloria and was using her as shield. His arm was wrapped around her neck, his pistol pressed against the side of her head.
“Hey, hey!” the man shouted. “Don’t you fucking move!”
“It’s okay Gloria. You’re gonna be okay,” Lenny spoke directly to Gloria ignoring the gunman and his orders.
“Ain’t shit gonna be okay. You move any closer and I’m gonna decorate these leaves with old Gloria’s brains.”
“Calm down friend, just take it easy,” Lenny said in a monotone voice.
“I ain’t yer fucking friend,” the man spat back.
“Okay…okay what’s your name then?”
“Ned,” the man said grimly. “And yall are gonna back off, then me and Gloria are gonna walk up outta here. I normally aint into the mamacita’s, but end of da world and all,” Ned grinned then ran his tongue up Gloria’s neck.
Gloria squirmed and he squeezed his arm tighter. Lenny clenched his jaw and narrowed his eyes.
“You’re not leaving with her,” Lenny growled defiantly. “If you leave at all.”
“Asshole, I’ll kill this bitch right here. I’ll fucking do whatever the hell I wanna…”
Ned’s last words were swallowed by the deafening clatter of a bullet exiting a rifle. Blood exploded into the air and Ned’s head snapped backwards. Without protest his body crumpled to the ground.
Gloria was frozen in shock, her face covered with the blood of the deceased. Lenny slowly turned and looked back. Robert was kneeling beside him, still in his firing position. A look of blind rage smoldered in his eyes.
“Fuck him!” he said in a dark voice.
CHAPTER 15
RETURN OF THE SCOUTS
“Wake up big guy,” Lenny said jokingly.
He shook Mark one more time then slapped him across the face. Rebecca tried to suppress a giggle as Mark swiftly sat up with a look of bewilderment.
“What the hell?” he said and stared around the room in confusion. “Where the hell are we?”
Mark was lying on a white, tile floor surrounded by tiny gnome statues. The walls were lined with pictures of cats in various poses and enormous glass windows that let blinding rays of light in. Metal shelves ran the perimeter of the room, stocked with seed packages and other gardening supplies.
Benjamin was lying next to Mark, his limbs sprawled out across the floor. His eyes were open, but they were glazed over, fixed to the ceiling. Maddox was leaning over him snapping his fingers and yelling.
“You guys are useless,” Lenny muttered then turned around and walked away.
Mark scratched his head and wrinkled his face. He had no idea where they were or how they’d ended up there. The last thing he remembered was Lenny yelling at him in the forest.
“Are you thirsty?” Gloria asked and offered him a small, silver canteen.
Mark grabbed the can and quickly took a swig. He took another gulp then shoved it back into Gloria’s hands and stared around the room.
An abandoned nursery garden on the outskirts of North Carolina had become their temporary shelter. Lenny and company carried Mark and Benjamin over five miles to make it there. It was the first building they’d found and Lenny was certain he couldn’t have gone another foot.
“How long was I out?” Mark asked.
“Too long,” Maddox replied. “It was bad.”
“Did we lose anyone?”
“We came close,” Robert cut in as he walked over to check on Benjamin. “Glad to have you back.”
“Robert, I didn’t hear you come in,” Gloria said with a whimsical look on her face.
“Lenny’s keeping watch now,” Robert smiled back at her.
Gloria patted Benjamin’s face with a wet rag and he started to stir. Robert eagerly rushed to his side and grabbed his hand.
“Benjamin…Benjamin. Come on, wake up Benjamin.”
Benjamin groaned and a bit of life seemed to come back into his eyes. He rolled over and gasped for air.
“Benjamin, Benjamin,” Robert called again.
Benjamin finally sat up, his head spinning like a pinwheel. He grinned at Robert and then tried to stand up. A wave of nausea rushed over him and he doubled over and fell to his knees.
“Take it easy,” Gloria said and caught his arm.
“What…what happened?” Benjamin asked between bouts of dry heaving.
“You got knocked out and Robert here saved the day,” Lenny said as he grinned from the doorway.
Benjamin gave him a weak smile as his face flushed red. Lenny winked and then continued to fill them in on everything they had missed since being rendered unconscious by the explosion.
Mark took the news as usual. He insisted that he didn’t need saving and he would’ve been fine had they left him there to sleep.
Benjamin was much more appreciative however. He thanked them all and apologized profusely for failing at his duties.
For the next day they stayed in the nursery taking shifts at standing guard outside. The building was in the middle of nowhere and all the roads that led to it had
been overgrown with weeds and thick vines. Still, Lenny had an uneasy feeling and didn’t want to linger.
Mark and Benjamin spent the day resting on the advice of Gloria who suspected they suffered concussions. There wasn’t much at the nursery in way of comforts, but Rebecca had managed to rustle up some blankets for them. The rest of her time was spent complaining about all the ammo they’d left back on the truck.
“For the last time Rebecca I didn’t mean to leave your bag,” Maddox said with a half grin on his face. “We were running down a damn mountain.”
“I don’t give a shit Maddox. You’re gonna find me some bullets and another Sig.” Rebecca said, rolling her eyes.
Maddox laughed and took a sip from his canteen. Rebecca rolled her eyes and chucked a pack of freeze dried beef at him.
“Hey! Be careful, I’m injured,” he said and rubbed his swollen eye.
Rebecca shook her head and stood up. It was early in the morning and the sun hadn’t quite come up yet. Everyone was busy packing their bags as they prepared to head out. They were on a clock with an unknown amount of time and they needed to get moving.
“The fucking water’s gone!” Lenny stammered as he burst through the door.
“What?” Mark jumped up.
“The water, the camel packs, it’s all gone. The fucking water’s gone!”
Lenny’s words took a minute to sink in. Everyone was still amped up from the gunfight and the last thing they’d thought about was their water supply.
“No, no…that’s not right,” Maddox declared. He stood up and moved towards Lenny. “I checked that last night.” He held up his canteen and wiggled it, making the water slosh about.
“It’s all empty now. Every last bit of it is empty,” Lenny said angrily.
“Well I didn’t drink it all. I just filled up my canteen,” Maddox looked around sheepishly. He knew they were hundreds of miles from D.C. and Lenny didn’t need to tell him that their lack of water would be a big problem.
“Was it locked up? Did you secure it?” Benjamin asked with an accusatory tone in his voice. He stood at the doorway behind Lenny, his long arms stretched across like eagle wings.
Escape: The Wasteland Chronicles Book Two Page 13
