“Major?”
“Eight incoming men about a mile away. Tim caught ’em coming on horseback. They’re coming from Route 40. Radio stringers in support.”
“Lemme see.” Colonel Starkes pulled the map from her inside pocket, flipping it open. Quickly, she rushed to the table near the window to splay it out, tracing her finger to Masontown and working her way out to Route 40.
“Should we engage, ma’am?”
“Hold on, lemme think.”
“They’re coming ’cause they know we have a bird flying, ma’am,” said Amanda, “they saw it.”
“Yeah,” said Nicole.
“Shh,” said the major.
Colonel Starkes studied the map, figuring out the logistics. Near her shoulder, the major did the same, lifting the radio to his lips.
“Tim, do you copy?”
“I copy, go ahead.”
“The men you say are staggered behind the advance team, what’s the retro line? Over.”
“Sir, they head back to that winding road that leads up into the mountain. Route 40. Over.”
“Thanks. Update? Over.”
“They’re approaching three quarter’s of a mile from our position.”
“Understood. Wait for instructions.”
“Copy that. Waiting for further instructions. Out.”
Major O’Malley noticed the colonel’s intense concentration and thought. Patiently, he looked to Amanda and Nicole, ignoring the active movements of CJ who was trying unsuccessfully to garner his attention.
“Let’s see what these guys wanna do, major.”
“Ma’am?”
“Have Tim project where they will arrive near our position. We’ll have a party waiting for them.”
“Okay.”
“You and I will go out a hundred yards and say hello if it’s not too dangerous.”
“Can I ask why, ma’am?”
“Yeah, you can. I think this is a coordinated effort to see what’s up. Not just some local creampies wanting to take us on.”
“And we gain… what, ma’am?”
“That staggered set of men behind that team suggests they’re trying to stay in contact with a base of some type, right?”
“Good point, I see.”
“Might not hurt to say hello. If we can safely do it. Have the Professor power up. We’ll ready the team to leave on a second’s notice. You and I’ll hang back with a few men to see what’s up.”
“Ma’am, I’d prefer to do it with you in the bird. I can have the—”
“Oh, I know, major,” interrupted the colonel, “but I’d like to play along on this one. I need the excitement for a change.”
“Umm, okay, ma’am.”
“Let’s see what they got.”
“You sure, ma’am?”
“Yeah, major,” the colonel turned to Nicole and Amanda. “You two, back into the ’copter.”
“I’d like to be part of the team that meets them.”
“No, Amanda. You won’t. Not now.”
“Dammit.”
“Sorry. I can’t risk it.”
“I don’t like this shit, Hannah!” Amanda held up her hands in front of her, acquiescing. “Okay, okay. I understand. Damn, I miss getting into the thick of things.”
“Don’t worry you’ll have your chance, but not yet.”
“I’m a dead-on shot, ma’am. Long range. I’ve had to do a fair share of killin’ since the Sickness.”
“I understand that may be true, but right now you’re not going anywhere. Get into the bird.”
“Your loss, ma’am.”
“Please humor me for awhile longer, Amanda.”
Amanda shifted the strap of her Remington, easing it onto her shoulder. She turned toward Nicole. “C’mon, Nicole. Let’s get CJ settled in.”
Walking toward the helicopter, Nicole touched Amanda’s shoulder to catch her full attention. “Are you that good a shot?”
“Put me up against Timmy McDonald, and I’ll show you sometime.” Amanda glanced behind her to make sure the major and colonel heard.
Nicole explored her last comment. “Huh. No kidding, Mike tells me Tim’s the best.”
“Hah! No offense, but Marty’ll show him and probably Scott and GT a few things, for sure. As for me, I’d hold my own with those guys. Well, at least up to 300 yards.”
Nicole stopped walking. With obvious fascination, she gave Amanda a full once over. “Wow. I didn’t know that about you. Are you for real?”
“Um, yeah. For real. I shot live ammo since I was four. Trained by my granddaddy.”
“I see.”
“He was a military sniper, back when iron sights were more the norm.”
“Iron sights? Oh. Right. No scopes.”
“And, you know what?”
“What?”
“I’ve come to realize what Mac means about ‘boredom killing him by inches’.”
“Hey! He said that to me once! No kidding, he—”
“And I’ll bet some serious shit went down right after that.”
“Oh,” said Nicole. Lost in thought, she became silent.
Amanda smiled and started walking.
CHAPTER 10.15-A Trap is Made
“That town’s a ghost town, sir,” said Kaiden.
Larry approached and stood by his side studying Perryopolis. “You see any guards behind the walls? Any people moving around?”
“No. Not a one. Nothing the past hour.”
“Okay, I’m gonna let Phoenix know.”
“Yes, sir.” Larry left, rushing back to Phoenix who was resting fully in the back of the pickup. A cigar hung lazy in his hand and he was deep in thought. Stepping past Tippy Cup lounging on the hood of the truck, Larry stood at the tailgate and tapped it a few times to garner attention.
“Hey, Larry. What’s up?”
“No signs of life in that town. But, the town looks fresh and well maintained. But again, like I said, no activity. No guards.”
“Nothing at all?”
“Nope.”
“A trap?” asked Phoenix, clamping down hard on his cigar.
“I say we send a team in to see what’s going on. Maybe ten men,” suggested Larry.
“Go ahead, send in Commander Kaiden. Tell him to take the gates and give us the all clear.”
“Yes, sir.” Larry held the radio to his lips and issued the orders.
Phoenix smiled in anticipation. “We’ll blow in like fog on little cat’s feet.”
Ill at ease, Larry Reed shook his head. Tippy Cup hopped off the hood, concerned. He walked to the truck bed and looked in at Phoenix.
“Phoenix, I dunno—there something’s strange about this—I think…”
“What, Tippy? You think they have someone hidden out here keeping an eye on things?”
“Uh—that town should have people. Lots of people. Sir, this town’s growing some fresh shit. It’s a live town. There should be people there…”
“You think they saw us and just decided to run the fuck outta the way?”
“I dunno. Maybe.”
“I agree,” said Larry Reed.
“Uncle, c’mon! We have an overwhelming force coming up on an unguarded gate of a little piss-ass town. Tell me, either of you, what’s not to like ’bout this?”
“Well, for one thing, no one’s there to put up a fight? Why’s that, huh? Those are some solid gates that have seen some heavy assault. Why would they give this juicy little town up to any unknown Tom, Dick and Harry?” asked Larry.
Phoenix bristled, stood, and hopped down from the truck. He moved to within inches of Larry’s face. “We, as you may have noticed, are no Tom, Dick and Harry!”
“No, sir!”
Phoenix turned to Tippy Cup who straightened and took on a distant gaze not daring to meet the fury in his eyes.
“Them clearing out, Tippy, is probably the best option for them to stay alive today. They’re only being smart about it.”