“Yes, ma’am.”
CHAPTER 10.17-Tripwires
“Hope those tripwires actually work.”
“They will, Surf Boy,” said BB. He slipped up next to Marty who was lying prone near a tractor. They focused on Perryopolis and studied Phoenix’s army with binoculars. “That’s one huge army forming up on our ass out there, Mac.”
Connor smiled. “I know, BB. But remember, they’re still only amateurs playing in our sandbox.”
“Phoenix has some smarts, colonel,” said Captain Daubney. Lying next to Connor, they both were tucked in low behind the wheels of a hay bailer.
“Oh, I know captain,” said Connor, “never said he didn’t. But, it’s pretty hard to control that many men effectively without years of true combat leadership experience. I’m talkin’ years. Keeping them under wraps through a few minor skirmishes like that Erie excursion you told me about is nothing like this. Right now, they’ve met up with the best.”
“Hoorah,” said Marty.
“Fuckin’ hoorah,” said Mickey, obviously listening in a few yards away to their left and hidden in a small depression. He stared at the massed army converging at the northern gates, “Wish I had me a fifty cal—”
“Why, so you can try to hit somethin’ worthwhile every third shot?” interrupted Marty, smiling.
Connor laughed. Captain Daubney joined in and BB grinned.
Mickey glared before grinning. “I’d show you a few things, sniper.”
“Oh, yeah. I’m sure. Like a ‘swing and a miss’ and then another the first two rounds.”
“Yeah, we’d see.”
Marty smiled before both he and Mickey refocused on glassing the northern gates.
Connor refocused toward the town. “We need to leave this wheat field soon, guys. The town people are buttoned up in the cave and good to go. We can’t stay much longer. I don’t think we can watch the fireworks, not that I wouldn’t like to myself.”
“I’d love to see that army break rank and enter the bar, Mac. Like you say. At least let’s watch that first explosion.”
“John, we should get movin’.” Connor was torn. He was just as interested in seeing the results of their explosive traps.
“Let’s watch some shit blow up, Mac,” suggested Jude. He and the remainder of the unit were all hidden amongst the hay bales fifteen feet behind them.
Jackson agreed along with Jason. Well hidden, the entire unit waited outside the southern gate beyond the last wheat field yet to be fully harvested. A few hundred yards from town, their elevation and view from the southwestern edge gave them an easy view of both gates and most of the buildings closest to the southern entrance. It also gave them a decent escape route away from the city and towards Uniontown once they decided to move.
“Here they come,” said Jackson. He gestured toward the massive army.
Phoenix’s army was an impressive sight. Men, horses and white trucks jostled about for position as the army stormed through the northern gates, which they’d taken only moments ago. A few scattered quads and bikes contributed to the mix.
“Not sure we should risk it, men. We need to go.”
“From a purely psychological perspective, I’d love to see if your assessment of human nature will prevail, Mac,” said John McLeod.
“Oh, it will. They’ll walk right into that bar.”
Cody and Renaldo, along with Gabriella and Rhonda were off to the side listening to last minute instructions from Roger. It was obvious Cody wanted nothing more than to use his binoculars to scope the gates and the army bearing down.
“Okay, there they go,” said Connor, “Well, I guess we might as well watch the first round of our little creation. It is definitely a bit of a risk.”
“Yes!” said Jude.
“Be ready to move when I say. Everybody got that?”
Excitement at watching the pending fireworks captured the attention of all, but each nodded.
“Jason, you’re in charge of the horses, understood? I want them out of that hay storage shelter ASAP!”
“Yes, sir.”
Renaldo and Cody took the initiative to slip closer to Connor and the rest of the team for a better view. Gabriella tagged along, not sure what was happening, but especially pleased to be eating the gumball Rhonda had provided. Smiling, she harbored hopes that Rhonda could maybe be her new mom before a sadness enveloped her. Images of her mother dying of infection swirled in front of her eyes. And at that moment, Rhonda slid beside her, wrapping an arm across her slim shoulders.
“You okay, Sweetie?”
Feeling warmth infuse her chest and arms, Gabriella leaned into the embrace, turning to better study the town everyone was so interested in. “Yeah, I’m good, Miss Rhonda. What’s going to happen?”
“Um, that guy named Phoenix and those bad men are going to try to conquer that town. Colonel Mac and Commander Del Re left them a few surprises. You know, to make them think twice about it.”
“I don’t like Phoenix. He’s a bad man.”
“Oh, trust me little one, I know.”
The huge explosion came, as Gabriella was ready to respond.
“They went right for it, Mac!”
“You doubted me?”
“No, of course not,” said John McLeod. He simply shook his head at the easy predictability of human nature. The fact that the men would so carelessly assault the saloon of an unknown town devoid of people made him grin. “I would of never thought of doing that.”
“Yeah, well, a few hard missions with tough-minded men can teach a great deal about priorities—and what we can and can’t control.”
“Such as?”
“Alcohol being one of them. Women the other. Pretty little valuables next. Especially portable ones.”
“Damn.”
“Surf Boy?”
“Yeah?”
“How’s that leg of yours holding up?”
“It’s fine! I keep tellin’ ya that!”
“Good, just checking.”
“My knee’s perfectly fine! Since just after the mill, Mac!”
“Like I said, just checking.”
“Well, like I said before, you can stop checking.”
“Okay. I’ll stop. For now.”
“Good.”
“And, since we’re sticking around a bit, I’d like for you to make your presence known.”
Marty smiled at Connor and then turned to BB. Immediately, he reached into his pack for equipment he would need. “About time. Copy that.”
“I figure they’ll bust most men through the town to the south gates and form up outside it to come back and assault it from there. If I was that commander, I’d want to know I had free reign to both gates before I decided to retaliate for the loss of men.”
“Okay.”
“Once they start to settle in on this side of the gates, probably on that little knob of a hill, try your best to take out any command structure.”
“Copy that.”
“Shouldn’t be too long a wait.”
A few more explosions blew. Marty smiled after the next explosion. “I hear that.”
Phoenix’s army poured out of the southern gate, forming on the expanse of highway and grass-filled knob beyond. Marty settled into position using his rice bags for support, BB slipping easily into the role of spotter. Like a long married couple, they settled into a rhythm and dance, discussing wind speed, trajectory angles, and range to target that only a sniper and a spotter could fathom. After a few moments of watching Phoenix’s army, Connor spoke. “Your time to shine, Surf Boy.” Immediately, shots rang out and Connor tracked the results.
“Good selection.”
“Appreciate that, sir,” said BB. Marty was too busy to hear.”
“Shake up that cavalry, BB.”
“Will do, sir.”