When the table settled, Burroughs asked, “Whatcha think Phoenix is gonna do for this big dinner he’s planning for tomorrow night, colonel?”
Colonel Starkes slowly rested a half-eaten rib on her plate and took another sip of ale. She stood, her actions demanding the full attention of the men. She glanced around the table, gathering her thoughts and wiping her hands with her napkin. “I want you all to listen up.”
She waited for a moment to be sure she had everyone’s ear. “First of all, we all owe thanks to Lieutenant Burroughs for testing this meal we’re enjoying. At the risk of his own life, he ate these ribs and drank this ale four hours ago to determine if it there was tampering in any way. He might have died if that was what Phoenix had intended for us.” She waited while the men around the table offered their thanks to Lieutenant Burroughs. Many glanced at their ribs with a newfound appreciation.
“Don’t forget, we took something of a risk in assuming that pig meat is safe from the H5N1 spectrum virus. Though, as an epidemiologist, I did run a few basic tests to clear the meat while we waited on the lieutenant’s digestive reaction.
“I want to make myself perfectly clear, gentlemen,” she continued. “We will not lose sight of the fact that we’re in a combat situation. It’s also an unknown environment. Our primary goal here is the continued safety of Nicole and CJ. Our secondary goal is to find Colonel Connor MacMillen. Understand?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Understood, colonel.”
Everyone, including Nicole voiced consent and understanding.
The colonel studied their faces, ensuring they all understood the full import of her words. Satisfied, she sat and resumed eating and the men who weren’t finished did the same. When she finished, Colonel Starkes wiped her hands, refilled her glass and calmly left the table. At the door to her quarters, she turned and faced the table.
“Major?”
“Yes, ma’am?”
“You will select nine men to attend tomorrow’s dinner with you and I. It will not be necessary to notify Phoenix of this. The eleven of us will simply show up at the proper time. Nicole will not be one of your selections—this is not open for discussion. The remainder of the men will guard her and CJ as well as the bird. Full combat protocol and security alert measures remain in place and ‘shoot to kill’ is hereby sanctioned.”
Wiping CJ’s face with a warm wet towel when the colonel broke the news, Nicole hesitated. She wouldn’t be attending the dinner the following evening. About to protest vehemently, the major’s severe stare stopped her from objecting.
“Understood, ma’am,” he said.
The colonel nodded briskly, opened her door, and disappeared inside. There were several minutes of quiet before gentle conversation resumed.
CHAPTER 5.3-A Pressing Need
“Good morning, Liam,” said Terry.
“Morning,” he grumbled in answer, sweeping past her in the hallway. He headed for the kitchen.
His brusque manner confirmed that he hadn’t yet accepted his mother and Uncle Andy’s new relationship. Terry made a mental note to speak to him later in the day. Maybe a one-on-one conversation would help to take the sting out of what her son was feeling. She didn’t relish the confrontation, but resolved to handle it with control. “Crap,” she said, disappointed that her exceptionally good mood had turned bad so early in the day.
She entered the bathroom and removed her clothes. As she stretched for a towel on the top shelf of the linen cabinet, she discovered that her body had a pleasantly satisfying ache.
She turned the shower on and waited for the hot water, silently thanking Connor for his—what seemed at the time—insane desire to install secondary energy grid sources in the form of solar panels and a small windmill. She stepped into the warm spray of water, groaning with satisfaction. Her body and emotions felt alien to her and, with a jolt, she realized she was happy. For this moment in time, she felt as if she were a complete woman.
She quickly decided to hasten her shower—Andy was still sleeping and she felt a pressing need to wake him in just the right way.
CHAPTER 5.4-Telling a Story
“I have some ammo you might be interested in,” said McLeod. “Plenty of nines and some forty-fives. I can’t use them, but I carted them along hoping for trade.”
“I’ll take the nines, for sure,” said Connor. “Whatta you want in return?”
“I’ll give you twenty-five nines as payment for breakfast for me and my men. I’ll part with another hundred if you want.”
“Thanks, John. What about the forty-fives?”
“Those are a little harder to come by. Are you carrying any vitamins, Connor Mac?”
“Yeah, we have some multi-vitamins and some fish oil. Not sure how much punch they pack now anyway, but I’m not sure I want to trade any of that, though.”
“How much might you part with?”
“It depends on what you have to trade.”
“I have seven packs of Marlboro Reds—still sealed. Of course, I can’t guarantee they’re not stale, but I keep ’em in an airtight Ziploc along with a damp rag.”
“I might be talked into trading for some of that. I have about 600 multi-vitamins and 250 salmon oil pills.”
“I’ll give you three packs of smokes and fifty forty-fives for half your stock.”
“Not half, that’s too steep. Maybe I’ll part with a third.”
“I’ll give you three packs of smokes and thirty forty-fives for a third. But I want a half dozen cigars, too.”
“Those cigars are Rhonda’s—they’re not mine to trade.”
“That’s my deal, Connor Mac.”
“If Rhonda agrees, you have a deal.”
Amanda stepped onto the porch and joined them while they were shaking hands over their transaction. She sat down next to Connor and lightly stroked his shoulder. “Mac, since we’ll be staying here, at least until tomorrow morning, I’m gonna take Marty and Cody out and do a little hunting. Maybe we can scare up some wild veggies, too.”
“Sounds like a plan, Snuff. Keep an eye out for that wild pack running around that we saw yesterday.”
“Sure thing, Mac.”
“Amanda?” said McLeod.
“Yeah, John?”
“You should take BB along. He and Marty are inseparable and he can out-hunt just about anyone.”
“That’s bold talk, John,” said Connor, defending Amanda and Marty. “You haven’t seen what Snuff and Surf Boy are capable of.”
“That’s true, but I’ve seen what BB can do and I’d put him up against the best.”
Connor laughed easily and stood. He checked his watch. “Do you want to take him along Snuff?”
“Sure, why not? The more the merrier.”
“Okay. Watch out for that pack. I’m serious. They’re brazen. Be back by 14:00 or we’re coming after ya.”
“Copy that, Mac,” she answered in a true imitation of Marty. Connor and John watched her walk to where Marty and BB were talking and, after a few moments, they began preparing to leave. Cody was sitting with his parents, bored. He raised his head in hope at Amanda’s approach. The boy’s face lit up at Amanda’s suggestion and he turned to his parents for their approval. They nodded assent and the boy was out of his seat and into the house for his weapon. He caught up with Amanda, Marty, and BB at the bottom of the porch steps, jumping with excitement like a pup. The foursome disappeared at the tree line and the two men resumed their conversation.
“So, John,” said Connor, “where were you guys coming from, if you don’t mind me asking?”