“Anyone who wants to use the bathroom, follow me.” To avoid the crowds, he took them up a staircase to the second-floor bathrooms and asked if they would handle the bathroom runs from then on. By the time he turned back to his classroom, the hall teemed with returning troops, filthy and still sweating. He looked into Sandy’s now-crowded room. I wish Ash were here. I could use a hand. He asked from the doorway, “Do you need anything?”
“Sir, we could use some water bottles,” said one of the medics. Seeing the number of people in the room, Fritz stopped a soldier carrying a case and sent him in. He walked to the end of the hall and spotted Jim Shaw, directing the flow and moving everyone inside. He looked to the other end of the hall and saw Linda, still helping the settlers. She needs to sit down.
“Lin, you should sit. Are you okay?”
“I’m a little tired. When are you going to get them home?”
“Captain Burnett hasn’t come back. So I don’t know what’s left to do on the other side. I haven’t talked to the colonel, either. Are the Israeli soldiers helping?”
“Having them here has made this much easier. You could feel the settlers’ anxiety ease.”
“Why don’t you come down to Ash’s room and sit for a while? I’ll speak to Mitchell.”
Linda said that she would go straight away, but Lois needed a break too. He said he would get Lois then meet her. Linda nodded and started down the hallway.
“Is George still at the cafeteria?” Lois asked.
“I think so. I haven’t seen him since he opened it.”
“Fritz, I’ll go and help him. Is everything over?”
“They’re not all back, Lois. I don’t know what’s happening inside the portal. I’m going to talk to the colonel now. I’ll see you later.”
Soldiers were still straggling through his classroom door. Tony ignored them, still sitting, but on the chair. He thanked Fritz and rubbed his butt. A new group of soldiers arrived with more food and water. Fritz absorbed the again-changed environment. From quiet to very busy. “Amazing,” he said. He found Linda sitting with Colonel Mitchell when he walked in.
She said, “Colonel Mitchell described some of what happened.” Her cheeks reflected the dampness of her eyes. “The Eledorians bunched up around the community house but didn’t expect us to be inside. When they got in, there was a lot of shooting.”
The colonel picked up the story. “Then we battled hand-to-hand. They got upstairs and almost reached the portal. The major and Captain Burnett were on the other side of the balcony and started shooting. It looked like a whole clip hit her, so hard that she flew and banged her head on the wall. The captain held them back until they went back downstairs. Then he followed them. But he hasn’t come back. Someone said he’d been shot.”
“About thirty still haven’t come back,” Linda said
Fritz turned to Colonel Mitchell. “Sir, are you planning to go back in? It should start getting light there pretty soon. Do you think the guys inside need help?”
“Something just doesn’t smell right to me.” The colonel’s stare distracted Fritz from all the surrounding activity.
“What do you mean, Colonel?”
“I have to think about what’s happened, Mr. Russell. The Eledorians, well, they don’t seem like regulars. I’ve seen their standing army. These guys don’t look like soldiers.” His focus returned. “But we have work to do now. Sorry. We need to make sure the Eledorians can’t use the community house for cover. We don’t have reserves or supplies, and I don’t know where the Israelis are. Colonel ben Ami says he needs to go back shortly, but that he’ll leave a few of his men to help with the settlers. We’ll go back through in about five minutes.” He stood and addressed the roughly forty soldiers sitting in the classroom and told them to get ready to go again.
“Colonel,” asked one of the men, “do we have any extra clips? Most of us are low or out of ammo.”
Fritz said, “Colonel, I think the new guys brought some with the food and water.”
“Go see,” said Colonel Mitchell. “Then everyone, line up in the hall. Mr. Russell, do you know where Colonel ben Ami is?”
“I think he’s down the hall. I’ll tell him you want him.”
“Tell him we’re getting ready to go.”
In the other hallway, order began to settle in. Fear had been replaced with calm faces and relieved chatter. Fritz found the Israeli officer, passed along the message, and went to the cafeteria to check on George. I could use Ash’s help here. George and Lois remained at the cafeteria handing drinks to the soldiers and settlers. Fritz updated them. Then he asked, “Are you okay? Do you need more help?”
“We’re fine now, Fritz,” said Lois. “The chaos ended when the Israeli soldiers showed up. Now it’s manageable.”
George said, “Go finish up, Fritz. Let us know when the settlers start to leave. How’s Linda holding up?”
“She’s sitting in Ashley’s room. She says she’s all right.”
Lois said, “Go. Get this over with.”
Fritz returned just as the colonel entered the hallway, ready to go. Walking straight to the door, he looked for Tony’s nod and touched the doorknob. Once the portal reset, Fritz could hear distant, intermittent pops as the soldiers re-entered. When he shut the door, he still wished he had stepped through to look.
“Now we wait again,” he said to Tony. Linda had come out of the classroom. Fritz waved her behind him and took her hand.
“I’m glad you’re okay, Fritz. But I hope this can stop,” she said, soft enough that Tony wouldn’t hear her.
“I know, especially since the cat’s out of the bag. The president wants to come here tonight.”
Only a few minutes passed before Colonel Mitchell returned. Alone.
“Is everything finished, Colonel?” asked Fritz.
“Just mopping up. It’s hard to tell, at least until daylight, if the Eledorians are gone. Our guys and the Israelis have the house, and the Israelis are going door to door in the village.”
“Is everyone accounted for?”
Mitchell hesitated. “We’ve lost a few tonight. Including Captain Burnett.” Tears trickled down his cheeks. “I’ve known Jerry for twenty years. It’s always so hard. I’ll find out more when the rest come back.”
“I’m sorry for your loss, Colonel.” Fritz’s throat and chest tightened. Linda sniffled. “Colonel, do you have some protocol when they bring him out? I don’t want be insensitive. I just don’t know.”
The colonel placed a strong hand on Fritz’s shoulder and looked him in the eye. “Mr. Russell, we saved a lot of lives tonight thanks to you. All those people,” he nodded down the hall, “would be dead by now. Or worse.” He ran his sleeve past his eyes. “That’s what we do. That’s what you need to teach.” Then he wiped his eyes. “I have to check on the wounded. Excuse me.”
Fritz looked at Linda, tears cascading. He hugged her, his eyes growing moist, and he felt an emptiness he’d never known before. He, they, were part of this team.
The door opened again and Fritz held it. The rest of the teams were returning, some carrying stretchers, others with arms draped around shoulders in a solemn parade. The last ones back, led by Captain Dolan, carried the stretcher that held Captain Burnett. Streaks ran down the smudged faces of the stretcher bearers. Others followed with the rest of the dead.
Fritz went to Colonel Mitchell, but before he could say anything, the colonel hollered, “Atten-hut” and saluted as the stretcher passed into the hospital room. Everyone stood ramrod straight and saluted.
Chapter 17
COLONEL,” ASKED FRITZ, “Should we let the Israeli soldiers go back now?”
“No. They’ll stay with the settlers until they all go back together.”
“Then we’re done with the first part?” asked Fritz.
“Yes.”
“The president wants to come. He asked me to come and get him. Is that okay?”
The colonel inhaled, and then exhaled the sadnes
s. “Yeah. Can you show me how it works?”
“Sure. Come with me.”
Fritz warned Tony that the president would be their next visitor. He went into the classroom, found the White House brochure, and placed a paperclip. The colonel watched as Fritz took the floor plan off the desk and replaced it with the brochure. “Colonel, there’s some kind of connection between my desk and the doorknob. I place something here and go back out. If I get a shock when I reach for the doorknob to go back in, it means the portal is open. Before, I needed a thunderstorm. Now, Tony’s set it up so I’m supposed to get a shock. Something didn’t work a minute ago. I have to think about that.” They left the room. Fritz reached in his pocket for his phone.
“Mr. President, are you in your office?”
“I’m here. Is it done?”
“I’ll be there in a second.” Fritz hung up and grabbed the doorknob, pulled, and he and the colonel stepped through. The president walked to the door, followed by James. Fritz and James exchanged nods. They all entered the hallway. All the soldiers stood and saluted. Their commander-in-chief returned the salute.
“As you were, gentlemen” he called down the hallway. “Colonel, is there a place we can talk?”
“Use my room, Mr. President.”
“Colonel, Fritz, come in. Hi, Linda, you come too.” Linda and James exchanged greetings. They all sat, except for Fritz, clearing his desk. The colonel told the president all that had happened. Three of his men had been killed, more than a dozen wounded, as well as the major. He said he didn’t have a count on the Eledorians, but no Israeli casualties had been reported yet.
“Fritz, I sent another map a few minutes ago. The prime minister wants to come and accompany his people back. Can you do that?”
Linda said, “My computer’s across the hall. I’ll get it and print the map.” Moments later, she handed it to Fritz, who had a paperclip in his hand.
“Mr. President, where is he?”
“I’ll call him and get him ready. Then I’ll go get him.”
The call made, the location identified, they all left the classroom. Fritz twisted the doorknob, and the portal opened to the prime minister’s residence. The president stepped through. James followed. Fritz could see the high ceiling, wide staircase, and some kind of stone-tiled floor of a large entrance hall. “Tony, I can see in.” Moments later, they returned with a tall man with wavy, salt-and-pepper hair, a feature cartoonists loved. A slim figure, and under his suit coat, his shirt outlined his taut frame. Turning right, they proceeded down the hall, where the settlers, tired and restless, greeted their leader with cheers. He announced they would be returning to a safe location very soon. More cheers and some tears. The relief radiated. While the prime minister mingled with the crowd, the president returned to Fritz and Linda at the doorway. Colonel Mitchell joined them.
“I owe you big time, Fritz,” said the president.
“Many civilians helped, Mr. President. Ashley’s still at the hospital with the major. George and Lois have been in the cafeteria for more than an hour. They’ve been getting drinks and keeping things calm. I should get them. I’m sure Colonel Mitchell wants to speak with you.” He took Linda’s hand and left the two men to their own private discussion.
They had just reached the cafeteria when Ashley came around the corner, looking less cheerful than usual. Jim Shaw walked with him.
“Hi, buddy. You okay?” asked Fritz.
“Jane’s resting. They gave her blood and sewed her up. Fritz, she’s one tough, lucky woman. I got a ride back with the medics. They figured they could be of more use here. So what’s going on?”
“I’ll fill you in later. We need to start putting things back together. George, how much clean-up does the cafeteria need?”
George said, “Not much. A little. And the trash needs to go out.”
“Maybe Colonel Mitchell will lend us some hands again. We’re going to need the painters again, too.”
“One of these days, we’ll get the rest of the place done. It could take three coats just to catch up.” George snickered again.
“Three times in one night, George. Maybe the portal is changing your personality,” said Fritz.
“Mr. Russell,” said Jim Shaw, “will you tell me what this is all about.” They reached Fritz’s classroom. Tony got up and stretched. The president and the colonel stopped speaking when they opened the door.
Fritz said, “Excuse us. Mr. President, you remember Officer Shaw.” The president greeted him and shook hands. “He’s asked me to tell him what this is all about. Is that okay?”
“Mr. Shaw, we’ll tell you, but you must agree to secrecy. This is top secret.”
“Yes, sir.”
A knock on the door interrupted the president. Through the door’s window, they saw Lieutenant Ferris’s face, looking at Fritz. Fritz waved him in. “Mr. President, he’s a medic.”
The colonel asked, “What is it, Lieutenant?”
“Sorry to bother you, sir. The doctor asked if we should start moving the wounded.”
“Not unless you have critical patients. Take them now, if so.”
“Yes, sir.” Ferris glanced at the president, then to Fritz.
“Mr. President, allow me to introduce Joel Ferris. He’s been with Tony and me, guarding the portal for unwelcome visitors. He’s now aware of some of the trips we’ve made.”
The president reached out his hand. “Lieutenant, you already are cleared, but just a reminder, the portal, and everything about it, is top secret.”
Looking at the president’s hand, Ferris snapped to attention and saluted. “Yes, sir.” When the president returned the salute, he stretched out his hand again, and Ferris shook it. When he glanced at the colonel, he saluted again. “Sorry, colonel. I’m going.”
“Thank you for your service, Lieutenant.” The president’s comment sent the lieutenant from the room with a wide grin.
“Now, where were we? Oh, yeah, Mr. Shaw. I give Fritz permission to tell you. But not now. We have things to complete tonight. If you’ll all excuse me, I need to speak to the prime minister.” The president left with James. The rest remained for a moment. Fritz needed to set up the settlers’ return, so they all went to Ashley’s classroom to sit down.
Fritz said, “Colonel, I know this has been a rough night, but we could use some help cleaning up. Mr. McAllister wants to get the cafeteria closed.”
“No problem. I’ve also called the repair crew. They’re outside.” Looking at Jim, still unenlightened, he said, “So young man, you want to know. You’ve just been witnessing time-and-space travel. We left here and rescued almost five-hundred people in Israel, attacked the Eledorian invaders in the Golan, and drove them off. Now we’re going to send the people we saved back home. All through that classroom door.”
Jim didn’t look stunned. He just asked, “How does it work?”
Fritz said, “That’s too long a story for now, Jim. When this settles down, I’ll tell you more. And I’ll show you when we send the Israelis home.”
The door opened and the president, James, and the prime minister entered. Colonel Mitchell stood up. “Sit. Colonel, Fritz, I’d like to introduce you to the prime minister.” They shook hands. The president then introduced the rest. “I’ve explained the portal to the prime minister and how we accomplished last night’s doings. His soldiers and the former hostages will be informed about the need for secrecy as soon as they get home. He said he’s never been to North Dakota.”
Lois elbowed him when George started to say something. Often gregarious, the prime minister had been very quiet. He asked, “Would you tell me some time how this works? Just for my information, of course.”
Fritz glanced at the president, who nodded slightly. “Certainly, sir. I’m sure the president can set up a meeting when we could do that.”
“Wonderful. I look forward to it. I hope to find out, too, how a school in New Jersey can also be in North Dakota.” The prime minister chuckled at Fritz’s wide eyes.
“I saw your trophy case.”
Although the amusement at his expense was good-natured, Fritz shrugged and said, “I guess that’s why you’re the head of a government.”
“Mr. Russell, I live in the most volatile area of the world. It’s my job to be on my toes. But I would still welcome your story. It must be fascinating. Now I must take my people home.”
“Of course, sir. I’m all set. Just say when.”
“When.”
Fritz left them, and went to his room. Tony looked bored. “Ready?” asked Fritz.
“Very. Once we get them going, I can go to the bathroom.”
“Good point. I expect the prime minister will be ready any second.”
When Fritz came out, the prime minister watched in the hall as the first of the freed hostages headed toward the door. They had been told they would be going to an open field, checked out by a medical team, fed, and then taken home once the army had secured the area.
Fritz opened the door and the procession began. Single file, the line moved slowly as the Israeli leader hugged each person. Fritz watched for a few minutes. Although weary, the settlers knew they were safe. Grateful, some even thanked Fritz, or shook his hand. The relief of returning home overshadowed their shock at being in a school in the United States. The president had adjourned to another room with Colonel Mitchell. Linda, Ashley, George, and Lois wandered in and out of view. The president occasionally poked his head out to see the progress and once rolled his eyes, a look that Fritz took to mean “why isn’t he done yet?” It took more than an hour to move the Israelis through.
Before leaving, the prime minister thanked the president for his help and insight into America’s newest technology. He turned to Fritz and said, “We thank you, Mr. Russell, and I look forward to speaking with you again. Perhaps then you can tell me how you got to Naria.” He shook hands all around and disappeared through the portal. Fritz shut the door.
Sand Storm (Quantum Touch Book 2) Page 17
