“Yes, sir.”
“Talk to me, uncle,” grumbled Phoenix without turning.
“No, sure, makes some sense, Phoenix. But no one? Not even a token effort? Too strange.”
Phoenix calmed. His voice took on a softer tone. “Relax, Tippy. Speak your mind. That’s what you’re fuckin’ here for.”
“Yes, sir. Maybe they’re in hiding, sir,” suggested Tippy Cup, “ready to launch a counter. Maybe they set explosives.”
“Could be…” said Larry.
With Larry and Tippy Cup following, Phoenix moved toward the foremost truck and studied the town with binoculars. He scanned the fields around it. The town was well established and several fields were recently harvested, suggesting many people tended to the crops. In fact, a shiny blue combine rested in the closest field nearest the town. It looked quite operable.
“There’s gas here somewhere. We need to find it, uncle.”
“Yes, sir.”
“There’s people around, Tippy, that’s for sure,” said Phoenix, “Where they went is anybody’s guess. But, lucky for them, we’re not out to grab townies right now. And, if they left us free access to any supplies on our mission to hunt down the Rat Pack, so much the better.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Secure the gates, uncle. Make sure Kaiden and his men finish the task quickly. Make sure that gate’s not rigged to blow. Once we’re in control of the gate, we’ll bring this army down, joining the party. Let’s move on it! Daylight’s wasting.”
“Yes, sir.” Larry left as he radioed further instructions. Five minutes later, Kaiden and his ten handpicked men had taken the gates.
Phoenix smiled at the ease by which Kaiden took the gates.
“It’s a trap, sir. I feel it,” said Tippy Cup. “I needed to stress that fact, sir.”
“Don’t worry, Tippy Cup. I know. I learned long ago, that if things look too good to be true, they usually are.”
“So you agree, sir?”
“Sure. But we’re gonna try to waltz through town, touching nothing. We’ll slip through to the southern gates like we can care less. Tell Larry to instruct all men to stay sharp for counterattacks.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I do think everybody skipped town, hidin’ out somewhere, but, if we meet any resistance, tell ’em to blow them bastards to kingdom come.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Oh, and Tippy, this is important.”
“What’s that, sir?”
“Make sure he tells ’em they are to touch nothing enroute, understood? No entry into any building or even a stray foot on the sidewalks. Got it?”
“Yes, sir.” Tippy ran to Larry Reed and updated him as to Phoenix’s plans. Larry radioed the commanders, conveying the new orders. Phoenix raised a hand to gain full attention, waving his uncle and Tippy over.
“Uncle?”
“Yeah?”
“Once the entire army’s on the other side of the southern gates, I want you to send in a full brigade to level that town after they search for supplies.”
“Level it?”
“Yeah. You’re right that something’s strange. You got a good nose. Always have. And, I figured out why.” Phoenix studied the town with increased anticipation. The emerging grin beneath the predatory eyes delivered a spin-tingling shiver that Larry felt all the way into his toes.
“Why?”
“Uncle, they’re hiding everyone because they know who the fuck we are.”
“Not sure I understand you, Phoenix.”
Phoenix laughed, energized by his thoughts. “I think this town’s been fuckin’ coached by that Rat Pack colonel and his minions. I see it now—the bastard knows we’d strip any man, slowly of his hide, in front of his children if we have to, to find out where he is. Damn, he’s convinced this town that a complete evacuation was necessary in order to save his own sorry ass.”
“I dunno, Phoenix. A town this size wouldn’t do that. Not for one man. No offense.”
“It’s the only logical solution that makes any sense right now. We know this town’s way too fresh and active to have become a ghost town overnight. That is, without help.”
“Well—”
“Of course, if Kaiden and his men find a townie or meet any resistance in their search, my theory goes down the drain.”
“Oh, I see—and you think the townies just up and left, leaving it high and dry, ripe for us?”
“Well, they’re still alive and hiding out so that’s gotta count for something.”
“Oh.”
“Instruct Kaiden to keep an eye out for traps on the main road through town. Instruct him and his men to slip in a hundred yards or so. Have him run point. I won’t lose another bunch of men to that explosive shit.”
“Okay.”
“Go on.”
“Right.”
Larry and Tippy left and Phoenix stayed near his truck, waiting for Kaiden and his advance team to secure the area inside the gates. Puffing on his cigar, he caught the go signal and the army moved the 200 yards down Route 51, converging near the northern gates of Perryopolis. Taking a moment, Phoenix admired the human skeletons resting on pikes on each side of the road. He laughed to himself, knowing that a town that put up such warnings as this, would not readily vacate on a whim. He took a moment to examine his army on the move. It was an impressive sight.
“That’s what I’m talkin’ about,” he mumbled.
A vast display of white trucks, beautifully maintained cavalry and well-equipped and well-armed men on foot, all well fed, were ready to crush any resistance the town had in store. A new dawn had come and the noise of so many men, trucks and horses in such close proximity created an energy all its own. Men crouched on tailgates. RPGs or .50 caliber weapons were ready to blow away anything that moved. An impatience was building and all looked at Phoenix for the sign to let slip his crazed dogs of war. Stunned once again at the power in their hands, Larry Reed came to stand by his side, mesmerized.
“Look at ’em, Phoenix.”
“Yeah.”
“They’re at your command.”
“No, they’re at the command of the dark side—waiting to unleash the bloodlust hidden in all men.”
“A bloodlust you harnessed.”
“Hmm, we’ll see how much has been harnessed.”
“What’s that mean?”
“Order the commanders to have the men walk straight through town. There are to be no side trips into any buildings yet. I repeat, no side trips.”
“Got it.”
“Cavalry, trucks, quads, bikes, and men on foot. In that order. Let the men know that we will reacquaint ourselves with the town from the other side to take what’s ours—tell ’em to be patient for their spoils of war.”
“I understand. Makes sense.”
“But beware, uncle. I expect about a ninety percent compliance rate at best. They’re gonna be tempted to take because that’s what they’re good at.”
“Umm—”
“Keep to the back here with me for now.”
“Why?”
“Well, in case that Rat Pack commander’s figured out the weakness of such a large army in a conveniently vacant town ripe for the plucking. I’m sure the fucker left a surprise or two.”
“You think the colonel was here?”
“All signs point to his mark.”
“Care to elaborate?”
“You’re the one that was so gun-shy earlier.”
“Yeah, that’s before Kaiden told me we got the green light.”
“Oh, we have the green light to waltz through this town. It’s the not walking through that’s gonna cause us problems.”
“Then what?”