Dark Crossing

by Thomas A. Watson

  “But I saw the shell eject,” Denny mumbled.

  “Sometimes the stupid gun feeds two bullets,” Allie sassed. “Turn your rifle to the side, then look in and If,” she stressed, “you don’t see anything, Rack,” Allie continued, letting the charging handle go with a sharp ‘tang’ as the bolt slammed forward. “Tap,” Allie demonstrated the forward assist. “Then Shoot,” she finished, pulling the trigger and the rifle went ‘click’ as the firing pin hit the dummy round.

  “Okay,” Denny said, and did it just like Allie did. “Like that?”

  “Better,” Allie nodded, moving over to Rhonda. Lilly turned away to hide her grin, watching two little eight-year-old girls teaching people and one they only reached waist-high. Glancing back, she saw Allie and Carrie walking among the group like little drill sergeants.

  “She’s good,” Robin said, walking out and carrying a sandwich. “Made you one.”

  “Both of them are,” Lilly smiled, taking the sandwich as Kathy joined them. “How are you on food now?”

  Watching Lilly get a bite, “After last night, we can go a few months before worrying about food,” Robin said with relief.

  “A word of advice. Make a meal list and stick to it,” Lilly instructed, pulling her drinking tube off her vest and getting a drink. “Don’t let people just eat, or you will run out faster than you think.”

  “All I can do is tell them,” Robin said, turning to the front gate and watching Grady shoot a stinker and lower the .22.

  “Yeah, that’s true, but you can tell them if they don’t follow the rules, they go out alone to replace what they ate,” Lilly replied, then grinned. “If they don’t, you can kick their ass out.”

  “Like he would leave,” Robin moaned.

  “He would if you tied his ass up and drove him off and dumped him on the side of the road,” Lilly told her, and Robin jumped back in shock. “Hey, that’s what I would do, and I don’t even have kids.”

  Nodding as she turned back to Grady looking out the gate with binoculars, “I’ll have a talk with Heath,” Robin nodded.

  An hour later, Lance and Ian were still walking around with Heath. Leaving them, Dwain walked over to Lilly and Jennifer talking to the wives. “They can make a person feel stupid,” Dwain mumbled.

  “Yep,” Jennifer said. “Wait until they are trying to make you feel stupid.”

  Dwain looked at her in shock, “I’ll run away.”

  “That does work,” Jennifer admitted as Jodi ran up to her mom and dad.

  “Momma, Daddy, can I spend the night with Allie and Carrie?” Jodi begged, bouncing on her toes as Allie and Carrie ran up behind her.

  Kathy looked at Dwain remorsefully. “Baby, no,” Kathy said, turning back and looking down at Jodi. “I don’t want you far from me.”

  Tears filled Jodi’s eyes, but she didn’t start crying. “Momma, please?” Jodi stressed. “They are cool, and I don’t have anyone here I can play with. Did you see that neat stuff they were teaching?”

  Not wanting to be the bad guy, Kathy looked up at Dwain for help and he raised his hands. “Don’t look at me, because she is safer where they are,” Dwain told her and Kathy’s face paled. “Kathy, I can only imagine what they have, and I’m certain I’m not even close.”

  “But you don’t know,” Kathy snapped.

  “Don’t have to,” Dwain said. “We could still be in the old house, splitting a can of chicken noodle soup between three people for one day.”

  Staring at Dwain hard, Kathy’s face slowly softened. “I know, they saved us,” Kathy sighed, glancing down at Jodi holding her hands clasped and begging. “But we haven’t met the adults.”

  “Yes, you have,” Lilly said, and Kathy looked at her.

  Waiting for several seconds for Lilly to explain, finally Kathy asked, “When did we meet them?”

  “Last night and today,” Lilly popped off, then pointed at the ladybugs. “There’s two more right there who you didn’t meet last night.”

  When Kathy opened her mouth, Lilly held her hand up. “Choose your words wisely,” Lilly warned. “We’ve killed stinkers, bikers, and Nazis, and many of those were for your benefit, not ours. Just think of where we put that Battle Bot. What the fuck have you done? If there are any children around, I think they are all living here. So what’s your definition of an adult? Mine is, one who can take care of themselves.”

  Flabbergasted, Kathy turned to Dwain. “Don’t look at me. She’s right,” he said. “Kathy, I was in the Army for three years, and those little girls are running their rifles better than I’ve seen many soldiers. And, they were teaching our daughter to do the same.”

  Turning back to Lilly, “So, you think I should let my daughter spend the night?” Kathy asked.

  Shaking her head, “I didn’t say that. I was addressing your view on age,” Lilly answered, then turned to Allie and Carrie. “A decision like that rests with Lance and Ian.”

  “Duh,” the ladybugs moaned.

  “The one spending the night asks first, goober,” Carrie sassed, wobbling her head side to side.

  “So, would Jodi be safe?” Kathy asked, looking at Lilly’s face for any sign of doubt.

  Turning to look Kathy in the eyes, “You want true honesty?” Lilly asked, and Kathy nodded. “Jodi is safer with us riding around in buggies on patrol than here with you. We know what we’re doing. As far as home, let’s just say, Fort Knox.”

  Glancing at Dwain, “So, you think she should?” Kathy asked.

  “If Lance and Ian don’t have a problem, I don’t,” Dwain answered, and Jodi gave a small cry of hope and then looked at her mom, breaking out the super sad eyes. “We are always looking for her, and one thing Lance told me about their spot, they have two fences over ten feet, completely enclosing five acres. I know Jodi can’t climb out because one fence is pure razor wire.”

  “Yeah, and they hate that shit,” Jennifer giggled.

  “Mom, you can even call and check on me,” Jodi whined big time.

  “We really need to teach her more,” Allie said with a serious expression that did not look right on such a young face.

  “She doesn’t even know fractions, so we really need to show her,” Carrie added, looking at Kathy like she had done something wrong as a parent.

  Looking down at Jodi, “If Lance and Ian say so,” Kathy said hesitantly.

  Allie and Carrie grabbed Jodi by the hands and all three took off running. “I bet you a shift at control, Lance and Ian cave,” Jennifer chuckled as the three stopped beside Lance. With Jodi between them and holding their hands, Carrie and Allie started pleading their cases.

  “No bet,” Lilly said. “If it was only Ian, I would take you up on it. Ian acts tough around the ladybugs, but he gives into them almost as much as Lance does.”

  “He does, because Lance will bitch if he doesn’t,” Jennifer laughed, watching Lance shake his head ‘no’ and the ladybug assault began.

  “Here comes the puppy eyes,” Lilly said.

  Everyone was watching the interaction, but couldn’t hear the words when Ian turned to the three. “Would you say no?” Dwain asked.

  “Depends,” Lilly said, watching Ian say something and the ladybugs shoulders slumped as they looked down. Lance slapped Ian across the chest and then looked down at the ladybugs. “If I had to deal with Lance and the ladybugs, there is not much I wouldn’t do. Dealing with one depends on my mood.”

  “So, Lance might say no?” Kathy asked with hope.

  “Kathy,” Lilly said curtly, never looking away from the ladybugs. “The real one here who has the say is Ian. The ladybugs can almost get Lance to move the Earth for them. Ian isn’t as affected, but I can see now Lance has taken the ladybugs side, so Ian will cave.”

  “The only thing I can think of since we got here that Lance has totally refused was getting them tiger kittens,” Jennifer grinned, watching Ian throw up his hands and then punch Lance in the shoulder.

  “That’s one I would’ve put up a figh
t on,” Lilly chuckled as Ian pushed Lance backward.

  Watching Lance wave at the ladybugs as he talked to Ian vehemently, Jennifer nodded. “I would’ve shot them in the knees.” When Ian put his hands on his hips, turning to the ladybugs, “The ladybugs won,” Jennifer stated.

  “Didn’t take them as long as I thought it would,” Lilly admitted as Ian protested to the girls.

  It was five minutes later, the three girls started jumping up and down and then ran inside. When Lilly and Jennifer turned back to the group, they found Dwain, Kathy, Brenda, and Robin staring at them. “She’ll be fine,” Jennifer assured Kathy.

  Lance and Ian were walking back with Heath just behind them, writing as he walked. “Jesus, Lance, you have got to learn to say no,” Ian grumbled. “They don’t cry that long.”

  “To you maybe,” Lance snapped, not looking at Ian. “They’ve done great work as always, so they deserve a reward.”

  “We made them a cake for Jennifer’s birthday,” Ian snapped.

  Giving a long sigh as he stared at Lilly. “Ian, they wanted the little girl to spend the night. It’s done,” Lance said, feeling tired. “I trust, you knew?”

  “Yeah,” Lilly chuckled.

  “You could’ve handled it,” Lance popped off.

  Dropping the smile, “What, and deal with both you and them? No!” Lilly barked. “I’m just like Ian. I’m not that stupid.”

  “Thank you!” Ian cried out. The bear trap team was shocked because the group acted like they didn’t exist.

  “I think it will do the ladybugs good to teach a little girl. Plus, it gives them someone to talk to and I don’t have to hear the snowman,” Lance grinned.

  Jerking his head to Lance, “Hey, that’s a good point,” Ian agreed.

  Walking out the back door, Denny looked over at the group and shouldered his AR. “Um, Lance, Ian, you think I could spend the night?” Denny asked hesitantly.

  Ian looked at Lance and shrugged, “I don’t care,” Ian said, and Jennifer walked over and poked him in the chest hard with her finger.

  “You put up a fight like that for the ladybugs and then just say, ‘I don’t care’?!” Jennifer shouted, then lowered her voice. “I should kick your ass.”

  “And here comes the ladybugs last level of backup,” Lilly smirked. “Ian never stands a chance.”

  Watching Jennifer glare at him, Ian kept his attention on her hands. “Denny, you can spend the night, but like I told Jodi, we learn and there is no play,” Lance explained. “Except tonight when we get home,” Lance added quickly. “We are watching some guy movies. No plot and all action.”

  “Thank you, s-,” Denny stopped quickly. “Lance, Ian,” he finished and then took off for the back door.

  Jennifer’s head was tilted back as her chest touched Ian, looking up in his face. At only four-foot-ten, Jennifer seemed smaller standing next to Ian’s now five-foot-five frame and it seemed to dwarf Jennifer, but it didn’t take intelligence to know, Ian was more than a little worried.

  “Want to make something of it?” Jennifer offered with a snarl.

  “Not really,” Ian admitted.

  Finally stepping back from Ian, Jennifer relaxed as the back door opened and Lori came out, looking very depressed. “Lori!” Jennifer barked, then locked eyes with Ian. “Get your shit, you’re spending the night!”

  “Yes!” Lori cried out, jumping in the air and landing in a dead sprint for the house.

  “You gonna say something?” Jennifer asked, stepping back up to Ian. With a wild glare in her eyes, Jennifer seemed ready to pounce.

  “Nope,” Ian answered vehemently.

  With her tactical vest touching Ian’s abs, Jennifer cut her eyes to Lance. “How about you?” Jennifer snarled.

  “I haven’t heard them ask their parents,” Lance pointed out and Jennifer spun around, and Kathy and Dwain held up their hands.

  “We were asked for our child and said yes,” Dwain said as he and Kathy backed up with Grady’s wife, Brenda.

  Robin and Heath looked at the scowl on Jennifer’s face. “I dare you, to say Lori can’t spend the night. Fuck that, I double dare ya,” Jennifer growled.

  “I think it would be good for Lori,” Heath admitted in a breaking voice, nodding his head and Robin just smiled.

  Walking off, “Say something about that fucking card and I will shank your ass!” Jennifer shouted, walking around to the front of the house.

  Leaning to Ian, “I’m betting we are getting close to a certain time,” Lance mumbled.

  “What gave it away?” Ian sighed, throwing up his hands. “I’m expecting green shit to fly out her mouth and her head start spinning around on her shoulders.”

  Lance turned to Lilly and she just grinned. “I already had mine, so you’re given a reprieve,” Lilly responded and then walked off.

  “Makes sense. That’s why she was beating stinkers to death with a baseball bat,” Lance nodded.

  “The kids won’t be a problem, will they?” Heath asked. “We can send some of the food you helped us get.”

  Lance laughed, and Ian grinned. “Dude, we won’t even know they were ever there, even if they ate the entire time,” Ian chuckled.

  “Want to help put up some Battle Bots?” Lance asked, looking at Heath.

  “Hell, yeah!” Heath gasped, almost dropping his notebook.

  Pulling a map from his thigh pocket, Lance pointed to the house behind the ridge they were using to prep stuff. “Meet us here at 1500 tomorrow. It shouldn’t take long,” Lance told him, then gave Heath the map. “Don’t mark your area or anything dealing with us.”

  “Understood,” Heath said, studying the map. “How many should I bring?”

  “Depends on you,” Lance said, turning around. “We know what we’re doing, but a little help moving shit never hurts.”

  “We’re all going,” Robin told everyone. “We can learn with them protecting us.”

  “Just do what they say,” Heath told her.

  “Yeah, got that part,” Robin said, walking off to tell her kids ‘bye’.

  Chapter 13

  The bear trap kids were in awe as they rode back to the cabin. “Always watch your sector,” Allie told Jodi, sitting beside her while Lilly drove them home.

  With the side by sides full, Dino was sitting up in the bed of the UTV and looking around. “So, do I call out if I see something?” Denny asked, looking over at Allie.

  “Yes,” Allie said.

  “I see a stinker,” Denny told her.

  “I got it,” Lance said as Lilly slowed, and he squeezed the trigger. Denny grinned, watching the stinker drop.

  When Lilly pulled into the trees and slowed down, Denny and Jodi felt more afraid. “You don’t have to call out that deer,” Allie told Lori as Lance leaned out, looking back to find Jennifer right behind them.

  “You don’t drive out in the open much,” Denny said, trying to will his eyes to look through the trees.

  “Yeah,” Allie scoffed. “In the trees, it’s harder for things to see us but driving in the open, something hiding in the trees can see us.”

  “But if something is hiding in the trees now, it can see us,” Jodi said.

  “Then we can kill it,” Allie smiled.

  Feeling the confidence from Allie, Jodi smiled with her and looked out through the trees. When they reached the diversion fence, the kids stared at the eight strands of barbed wire in wonder. As Lilly pulled through the chute, Denny turned back to watch the trailer.

  “Why not build it straight?” he asked, watching the trailer rub against a tree.

  “Stinkers can walk straight,” Lance said over his shoulder. “With this, they will get turned around and leave.”

  “Neat,” Denny grinned, and Lilly pulled out of the chute.

  “Stop, so Dino can get out,” Lance told Lilly, and he climbed out while Jennifer started pulling through the chute. “Out, Dino,” Lance said, and Dino jumped out, sniffing around.

  After Lance climb
ed back in, Lilly drove on and Dino sprinted until he was in front of them, then slowed to a trot. Coming down the hill, Denny gazed at the shiny razor wire fence and then noticed the chain-link fence behind it. “You put that up?”

  “We did,” Lance admitted, looking out as Lilly turned to follow the west fence line. “Work fast or get killed is all the motivation you need.”

  When they saw the cabin and buildings, Denny and Jodi grinned. “That’s cool,” Denny said when Lilly rounded the fence, heading for the gate.

  Glancing back to Allie, “I trust, you are going to help open that first gate?” Lance stated.

  “Yeah. I closed it, didn’t I?” Allie smarted off

  “I know,” Lance said, turning around. “Lilly, stop along the fence and cover.”

  “Lance, nobody is in the cabin,” Lilly said, slowing down.

  “I know,” Lance said, motioning toward Dino in front of them. “I think the kitties are close. Denny, Jodi, stay in the buggy.”

  Looking ahead, Lilly saw Dino looking down the dirt road leading to the gates. “Oh,” Lilly said, climbing out with Lance.

  “Dino sees the kitties?” Ian asked, jumping out and pulling his AR into his shoulder.

  “He doesn’t like something,” Lance said, walking sideways and keeping Allie between him and the fence.

  With no trouble, Allie reached through the strands of razor wire to unlock the gate. Lance caught the gate before it swung open and hit Allie. “Open the next one and get on cover,” Lance said softly, seeing bushes move just below the rise.

  Running up to the inner gate, Allie unlocked it and started to shove it open. Never taking his eyes off the trees Lance jerked his head, telling them to pull in. Walking beside Jennifer’s side by side, Ian stopped as she passed Lance.

  “One is right below the rise,” Ian said softly.

  “The other one is just to the right of that clump of bushes,” Lance told Ian.

  “Get your asses in here,” Lilly called behind them. Both backed up holding their ARs ready and didn’t stop until the inner gate was closed. When they lowered their ARs, both tigers stepped out onto the road and walked up to the outer gate in a crouch.