by Robert Boren
“Yes, seriously,” Jackson said. “You’re a life saver.”
“Glad to do it,” Mary said. She put her supplies back into her bag. “Nice job on the leg. Your name is Rosie, right?”
“Yes, thank you,” Rosie said, smiling. “I nurse in Philippines for many year.”
“Excellent. We’ll make a good team,” Mary said.
“What now?” Jerry asked.
“Did you get a look at Hilda’s park?” Charlie asked. Hilda came over close to him.
“Yes, I’m afraid I did,” Frank said.
“Oh no, what did you see?” Hilda asked.
“There was a nasty battle there. I think the buildings are alright, but our army friends are dead. The General and Major Hobbs…and the Doc too.”
“No,” Charlie said. He looked over at Hilda and she started to cry.
“George is dead?” Mary asked. “That’s awful.”
“How do you know?” Jeb asked. “You got that good a look at their bodies?”
Frank got closer to Jeb so he could speak quietly.
“Those creeps put their heads on spikes out by the front gate, and then focused a camera right on them. They knew we’d be looking.”
Jeb’s face turned red. “I’m going to take out as many of these jerks as I can. Jane didn’t see that, I hope.”
“No, I saw it and shut down the PC before she could look,” Frank said.
Jerry walked over and listened.
“What else did you see?” Jeb asked.
“Carnage everywhere. Lots of dead Islamists and dead soldiers too. The tank is blown apart back by the blinds. Bodies everywhere.”
“We got out just in time, didn’t we?” Earl asked as he walked up.
“You heard what I said too?” Frank asked.
“Yeah, I’ve got good ears,” he said. “Those sick bastards.”
“We need to get back in this fight, men,” Jeb said.
“I agree,” Jerry said, “but we need to do that from a safe base, and I don’t think this is it.”
“So what are you suggesting?” Jeb asked.
“I’m suggesting that we continue to go east. Get into Colorado, and find a good base of operations. Then we go back in and create havoc.”
“What kind of havoc?” Frank asked.
“Blow up their supplies,” Jerry said. “Blow up their vehicles. Kill as many as we can. Capture weapons. Rinse and Repeat.”
“You guys could also hack their systems, I suspect,” Earl said, looking at Frank. He nodded.
“Hey, any chance you can access that DVR at the park?” Jeb asked. “We might be able to identify the mongrels who led the attack and beheaded our friends. Maybe then we can go hunting.”
“You know, that’s a damn good idea,” Jerry said. “What do you think, Frank”?
“We can certainly try,” Frank said. “The place looked deserted to me when I was cycling through the cameras earlier. If they didn’t shut down that part of the system, we should be able to go back through the video.”
“That won’t guarantee that we’ll be able to tell who we need to kill, though,” Earl said.
“I know,” Jerry said, “but it’s worth a shot at least.”
“What are you men getting ready to do?” Jane asked as she walked up with Jasmine.
“We’re going to see if we can get on the DVR at the park and see who killed our friends.”
“Why?” Jasmine asked.
“So we can hunt them down,” Jeb said.
“Seriously?” Jasmine asked.
“I don’t know,” Jane said. “Maybe that’s the right thing to do. Maybe Rosie’s right.”
“Maybe it’ll get our men killed,” Jasmine said.
“I’m not staying behind anymore,” Jane said, defiance, like steel, in her voice. “I’m going to participate. Frank and I already had that discussion. If anything happens to him, I don’t want to be here anyway, and I think we’ve proven our worth in battle, don’t you think?”
Jasmine was silent for moment. Jerry got next to her and put his arm around her. She pulled him close and sobbed quietly, her head leaning on his chest.
“We aren’t going to do anything stupid,” Frank said. “We’ll only act if we have a good chance of pulling off our objective.”
“Hey, what are you guys talking about?” asked Jackson.
The group moved over towards him, just as Kurt walked back over.
“There’s coffee in the big pot, over in the kitchen there.”
“That sounds excellent,” Earl said.
“Could you grab me a cup, Earl?” asked Jackson. “I need to stay off of this leg for a little while.”
“Of course,” he said. He got up and walked over to the kitchen.
“Want some?” Jane asked Frank.
“Sure, I don’t see us going to bed very early tonight,” he said. Jane followed Earl over to the kitchen.
“I think I’ll pass for now,” Jeb said. “I’m wound up enough as it is. I still have those hackles on the back of my neck. I don’t think we’re in the safest place.”
“Hackles?” Kurt asked. “I don’t like the sound of that. Been around when you got the hackles before.”
“Yeah, I usually get this kind of feeling before something happens. Get it hunting a lot, but also in battles.”
Earl and Jane came back over, both carrying two cups of coffee. Jackson sat up and Earl handed him a cup. He took a sip.
“Mmmmm,” he said. “The only beverage I like better than beer.”
“Here, honey,” Jane said, handing a cup to Frank. He smiled at her and took a sip.
“Alright, bring us up to speed,” Kurt said. “I saw you guys talking over there.”
“Yes, I want to hear too,” Mary said, as she walked over with Charlie, Hilda, the Sheriff, and the Deputy.
“Me three,” Rosie said.
“Alright, here’s what we are thinking of doing for the next few hours,” Frank said. “Jerry and I are going to see if we can access the DVR at Hilda’s park and see what went down, and who the main perps were.”
“Why?” Mary asked.
“So we can hunt them down and kill them,” Jeb said.
“Oh, that’s foolishness,” Hilda said.
“No it not,” Rosie said. “Now you talking. Army can’t stop bad guys alone. Need help from citizen fighters.”
“Actually, we could put together a pretty capable force,” Charlie said.
“How,” Kurt asked.
“Frank’s basically a genius with computer networks,” Jerry said, “and both Jasmine and I know a lot too. We can track these guys…follow their movements. See where their supplies are. Then we can either hit them ourselves, or help the authorities to go after them.”
“You guys aren’t going to do much against two hundred thousand enemy fighters,” Mary said.
“Oh, I beg to differ,” Jeb said. “Most of these folks are stupid. We’ve gone up against them enough to know that. We can’t kill all of them, but we can do things like take out key personnel and blow up their supplies.”
“Yeah, supplies are getting scarce,” Jackson said. “I’m sure that’s why they were after us on the road. All of the Williams Militia folks that were after us are dead now.”
“Any sign of any militia folks in the road engagements?” Frank asked.
“Nope, it was all Islamic fighters and some of those cretins from Venezuela, from what I saw,” Earl said.
“I like what I’m hearing,” the Sheriff said. “Count me in.”
“Me too,” the Deputy said.
“I think you’d better count us in as well,” Kurt said, looking over at Mary. She shook her head, but had a resigned look on her face.
“I don’t like this one bit, but I think you guys are going to need a medic,” she said. “You’d better not get yourself killed, Kurt. I don’t think I could take that.”
“Okay, so the short term plan is to look at DVR recordings, if we can access them,” Charlie said. “That won
’t take the whole team. What can the rest of us do while you are busy with that?”
“We need to find out how safe it is to be here,” Frank said. “You guys can help with that. I will too, after I’ve got the DVR setup going. I don’t need to be involved watching all the video, just getting it set up.”
“Would it help to have more horsepower for your hacking activities?” Kurt asked. “We’ve got a new desktop machine over in the corner there. You’re welcome to use it.” He pointed over in the corner of the room.
“That would be helpful, and it’ll free up my laptop to display the DVR footage.” Frank said.
“Who knows how to work on diesels other than me?” Charlie asked.
“I do,” Jeb said.
“Me too,” Earl said.
“Good, then we can take a look at the Sheriff’s rig,” Charlie said.
“I’ve got a set of flood lights if you want to do it tonight,” Kurt said.
“Good,” Charlie said. “I think we want to be ready to fly the coop at a moment’s notice.”
“Yes,” Kurt said. “I’ll go get those two rental coaches on the charger, and make sure they’re ready to go. Then Mary and I’ll continue getting our rig ready to go.”
“You make it sound like you already know it’s not safe here,” Mary said.
“I know Jeb,” Kurt told her. “If he’s got hackles on the back of his neck, I pay attention.”
“Hey, Sheriff, were you guys able to get all of those guns and the mortars out of Earl’s rig?” asked Jerry.
“Yep, and a few thousand rounds of ammo too,” the Sheriff said. “You can thank Terry for that. It took a lot of climbing around in the wreckage of Earl’s coach.”
“Excellent,” Jerry said. Then he looked at Mary and Kurt. “How are you two with firearms?”
Jeb started laughing. “Hell, Kurt is as good with a long gun as I am, and better with a bow.”
“You’re thinking I should bring my bow?” Kurt said.
“That damn bow of Jeb’s saved our butts in town a few days ago,” Frank said. “He ambushed the ambushers with that thing before they knew what was going on.”
“Figures,” Kurt said. “I’m a little rusty, but I’ve still got all my stuff. I’ll pack it. Never used it on humans.”
“Alright, everybody, let’s get to work,” Charlie said.
Chapter 09 – Enemy Wave
“Need anything from the coach, honey?” Frank asked.
“Why, you going over there?” Jane asked.
“Yes, I need to get the laptop and bring it over here.”
“I’ll go with you. We need to feed Lucy and Mr. Wonderful.”
“Don’t go eating anything back there,” Mary called to them. “I broke out a few trays of lasagna that we had in the deep freeze. They’re in the oven now…be done in an hour or so.”
“Sounds great,” Jane said.
“We’ll be back in a few minutes,” Frank said as they left with Lucy.
The night was cool and clear as they walked.
“What do you think?” Jane asked.
“I think we’re getting organized in the right way. You?”
“Same. I was hoping we could stay here for a day or two. At this point, I feel like we’ll be lucky if we’re here long enough to get some sleep tonight. I’m tired.”
“I was, but the coffee is helping. You should have some.”
“I don’t know, Frank. I might not be able to sleep when it’s time if I drink any of that. Eating dinner will help though. I’ll get a second wind.”
They got to their coach. Frank unlocked the door and held it open. Mr. Wonderful stood by the door and started his ‘feed me’ meow.
“Don’t worry, old boy, you’ll get fed in a second,” Frank said.
“I’ll feed them while you pack up the laptop. I take it you’re going to try to get the DVR up?”
“Exactly,” Frank said.
“Well, you’ll be busy and I won’t have much to do,” Jane said.
“You can help with trying to find out what’s going on around this area. Bring the iPad and start checking around. Maybe that’ll tell us if we can stick around here or not. Look for things like break-ins where guns have been stolen, assaults on the roads, people disappearing.”
“OK, I can do that,” she said. “Just shove the iPad into the backpack with the laptop.”
“Will do.”
“Alright, come and get it,” Jane said as she put the dog and cat bowls down on the floor. They both attacked their food like they hadn’t eaten for weeks.
Frank had everything packed.
“Should we take Lucy back over with us?” he asked.
“Yes, I think so,” Jane said. “She’ll curl up in the clubhouse and sleep when she needs to. If anything happens, she’s going to know it’s coming before we will.”
“Alright. C’mon, girl, time to go back.”
They got ready to leave their coach. Frank had the backpack over one shoulder as he came down the steps. After Jane came out with Lucy he closed the door and locked it.
“It’s cooler here,” Jane said. “I’m surprised. Thought it would be warmer.”
“Why?” Frank asked.
“It’s more like desert terrain.” She looked up at the sky as they walked. “Wow, look at those stars. What a gorgeous canopy.”
“It’s pretty here alright. We should try to take a few moments to enjoy where we are. I know we can’t really relax, but it’s still beautiful.”
“I know. I liked that forest we were in at Williams. Too bad we had to leave so soon.”
“Yes, that was a shame,” Frank said.
They were back at the clubhouse in a few moments. Frank held the door open for Jane. She went through with Lucy. The smell of lasagna had filled the room. It was a comfortable smell.
“Jerry, where should I set up the laptop?” Frank said.
“How about over close to the desktop? Then once you hand it off, you’ll be close if we need help.”
“Sounds good.” He walked over in that direction, and Jerry joined him.
“Hey, wait, give me the iPad,” Jane said, rushing over to Frank. He stopped and put the backpack down on the table next to him. He unzipped the main compartment, reached in, and pulled the iPad out.
“Here you go.” He handed it to her.
“Thanks, sweetie. ‘greenvalleyrv, right?”
“That’s it.” Frank turned back and walked over to where Jerry was. A table had been moved over closer to the desk that had the PC on it.
“Mary, got any extension cords?” Jerry asked.
“Look under the desk that the PC is on. There’s a power strip there…..it’s got a long cord. You can probably get it pulled out far enough to plug in that laptop.”
“Excellent, thanks.”
Kurt walked into the clubhouse and joined Mary.
“The rental coaches are on the chargers, but they won’t need much. I had them ready to rent. Double checked the gasoline and propane. Full up. Same with the fresh water tanks.”
“Who’s going to drive them?” asked Mary.
“Earl and Jackson would be my guess, since they’re the two that lost their rigs…assuming that there isn’t anything seriously wrong with the Sheriff’s rig.”
Charlie and Earl walked through the door together, followed by the Sheriff, Jeb, and the Deputy. They were laughing.
“Jeb, you are one sick character,” Charlie said. “Where do you hear jokes like that?”
Jeb shrugged his shoulders, feigning innocence. Kurt walked over.
“How’s the Sheriff’s rig?” he asked.
“Nothing serious,” Charlie said. “He took a bullet in a big hose that is part of the smog equipment. It’s not high pressure, so we fixed it with duct tape. That’ll hold for quite a while.”
“He was lucky,” Jeb said. “There were several bullet holes in the engine compartment, but the only one that hit any part of the engine was that one. Could have been a
lot worse.”
“How about the slide?” Jerry asked as he walked over.
“No problem, the damn thing still works,” the Sheriff said. “If it gets too cold I’ll probably have to plug up some holes, though.”
“You’ll want to do that as soon as possible anyway,” Jeb said. “You don’t need water getting in there. You’ll delaminate.”
“What else do you guys need us to do?” Earl asked.
“Frank brought his laptop up here, and he’s trying to get connected to the DVR. You guys can help us to review the footage, if we can access it.”
“I want to be in on that too,” Hilda said, walking up. She put her arms around Charlie and kissed him. “Sounds like you guys fixed the Sheriff’s rig.”
“Yes, it’s in good shape. You sure you want to look at that footage?” It’s going to be tough.”
“Yes, I do,” Hilda said.
“Alright, I’m not going to try to stop you,” Charlie said.
“Looks like Jackson’s getting an earful from Rosie,” Earl said.
Jeb started cracking up. “Good, then I get a break.”
“Don’t count on it,” Jerry said. “Where did Jasmine go?”
“She was helping me in the kitchen,” Hilda said. “We made some salad to go with the lasagna.”
“Oh,” Jerry said. “Good. Hopefully that took her mind off of things for a little while.”
Frank stood up and looked at Jerry. Jerry gave him a thumbs up sign and a questioning look. Frank shook his head yes.
“Frank’s in. Let’s go check it out.” They went over and gathered around behind Frank.
“Alright, everything appears to be working. This is going to be slow going, though. We have so many cameras. You can fast forward through things with six cameras at a time in the multi-view, but then you’ll have to go back and start at the beginning with the next 6 cameras. It’s going to take a while. The view is too small if you go with more than six cameras.”
“Anything change on the live camera view? Jerry asked.
“Not that I can see. The place looks deserted.”
“Well, we’d better get at it, then,” Jeb said.
“When you guys see any faces of fighters that look like leadership folks, let me know. I’ll do a screen capture and try some facial recognition. Also, be on the lookout for the Lieutenant and the Sergeant. They’re heads weren’t on spikes. Maybe they got away. It would be good to know.”
