They piled into their vehicles and drove the short distance to the last of the buildings that could conceal their vehicles while they scouted the overpass.
They parked behind a Burgerville restaurant, a popular fast food chain in the Northwest that, before the plague, would have been overflowing with customers. I wonder if I’ll ever get to taste one of their fresh blackberry shakes again, Cooper thought. His mouth watered at the thought.
“Jake, it’s up to you to protect these fine women,” Cooper began before being interrupted.
“Please, Cooper. I was hunting squirrel and possum before you were a glimmer in your father’s eye. I’m quite sure Jake and I will make a splendid defense team, won’t we?” Lily said, hefting a hunting rifle as she got out of Dranko’s Jeep.
A hesitant smile crept onto Jake’s face. That’s the best thing I’ve seen in days! Cooper thought as his heart leapt.
“And, I’m sure I can hit something with this,” Julianne said, raising a shotgun over her head with both hands, and smiling meekly. “And, before you say a damn word, Cooper, I know to keep it tight against my shoulder when I fire.”
Cooper smiled, “OK. You both got me. I’ll shut up now.” Jake’s smile was replaced with a grimace as soon as Julianne began speaking. He moved a few paces closer to Lily. Seeing this, Cooper pursed his lips.
He turned to address the others, “Let’s move.”
Bright sunlight cascaded down from the cloudless sky, which was rare for a late spring morning in Portland. The group formed a loose diamond pattern, crouching and running from one cover point to the next and leapfrogging one another. To an untrained eye, their movement would have looked martial. Cooper saw the many flaws as his group moved: covering distances that were too far from one another, picking up and running before the person had settled into their new firing position, and leaving firing lines uncovered. We’d get wiped out by a trained force while crossing into new terrain. He pushed the negative thought aside. Do your best, that’s all you can ask of anyone, his father’s sage words came back to him. Cooper longed for the familiarity of his own ground and the easier task of defending, rather than attacking.
As he moved, he did his best to model for the others how to do it. Occasionally, he’d bark across the radio to try and correct the most egregious misstep or use it as an educational moment. But, he knew there was no replacement for training and the repetition of drilling.
He was about halfway to their ‘jumping off’ point that would be in full view of the overpass when it struck him. I’ve probably passed at least a half dozen cars with one or more bodies, most of them stinking to high heaven, and I haven’t even noticed. That thought brought a bitter taste to his tongue. His lips curled and he spat to rid himself of the foul taste. Damn, I can’t stop seeing. I can’t lose touch.
Light glinted off the cars as they moved. Dranko was the ‘point’ of the diamond, while Cooper brought up the rear. Calvin, Angela, and Freddie were spread across the middle of their formation. They figured that this formation would give them the best way to control and direct the untrained trio.
Soon, Dranko called them over the open channel, “Form up, on me. The overpass is in view.” The diamond collapsed upon him. When Cooper arrived, Dranko passed him the binoculars without needing to be asked.
Cooper started at the far side and worked his way back. Across the overpass was a wooded hill that was pockmarked with houses that had been cut into the steep hillside. Around the homes, the Evergreens were packed tightly. Damn fine cover for anyone on the other side. Could be in the houses looking out from behind the windows or could be bunkered in the woods. Cooper deliberately scanned this area, looking intently for a reflection off of metal or the glass from a scope. Finding nothing, he passed them to Angela, who spent several minutes looking over the area, too.
“Well, what do you think,” Cooper asked, breaking the tense silence.
“It’s dangerous. They could be in any of those houses, looking out with a scope or binoculars right at us. But, with the windows, we aren’t likely to see inside from here. It’s too far,” Dranko answered.
“I was thinking the same thing. Angela, focus your attention on those houses. Look for any sign of movement. A window that shakes could mean something is pressed against it. A bird that takes to flight could mean a noise startled it. If you see something, take your best guess and just open fire. At the worst, we’ll get an unneeded scare. At best, you’ll hit someone or at least force them to fire before they want to. Make sense?”
Angela nodded, and licked dry lips.
“Calvin, I think it makes sense for you to stay back here with Angela. Scanning the same with the binoculars. Same advice to her. You see anything, tell her just where to fire. You’ll do more good here than running across the overpass. Got it?”
“Sure. Easy enough,” Calvin said, taking the binoculars from Dranko.
Cooper turned to Freddie, whose face had lost all color, and Dranko. “Take a deep breath, Freddie.”
“I can switch roles with Freddie,” Calvin offered, his deep voice an octave higher than normal.
Freddie bent over, placing his hands on his knees, and drew air deep into his lungs. He waved his hands, “I got this. Ain’t gonna be scaredy Freddie!” His forced laughter rang hollow and died of loneliness.
“It is not about that. No one here would call you that,” Calvin continued, his eyes sympathetic.
Freddie looked up, his face pale, “Nah, I know that. But, I’d call myself that. And, that’s what matters. You know, what you call yourself. Besides, in the post-BP world, I gotta be able to deal with the threat of violence. Didn’t you guys read Cosmo this week? Violence is the new black.” His joke elicited a few chuckles from his friends. His own smile was thin.
“Okay, here is what we do. Dranko, you have point again. My .308 has better range, so it’s best at the rear. Freddie, you got middle. Move the shortest distance you can from one cover to the next. Don’t ever pass up cover. You got that, Freddie?”
Freddie nodded and spat dry spittle to the ground. Cooper continued, “Make sure the last man moving is settled and in a good firing position. Believe me, if you are moving and are fired upon, you want everyone able to return fire immediately.”
“OK, mom. You told us all this when we did our briefing this morning,” Freddie exaggerated his whine.
Cooper grabbed him by the shirt collar and pressed his face close, “Yes, I did. And, I saw you violate this basic rule twice just crossing to where we are now. My nagging might save you from getting your ass shot off.”
Freddie stepped back and upraised his hands, “Alright, Coop. I got you. Chill.”
Cooper’s face still flashed red and his lips were tight, “I’ll chill when we are across this ground. Until then, you best be on edge. On your toes. Got it, Freddie?”
“Sure thing, boss,” Freddie answered, irritation creeping in. Always let the other guy save face. It’s the rare man that will forget or forgive a slight. Too many and your best friend can turn your worst enemy. Cooper’s father’s voice rang inside his head.
Cooper softened his face deliberately, “You know. You’re right, Freddie. Thank you for the reminder. Good advice. How about I calm down a bit and you ramp it up a bit? We do need to be on our toes, but not over the edge. Deal?”
“That’s all I was saying,” Freddie offered meekly.
“Yeah, I know. It just took me a minute to hear you.” Freddie perked up and his typical smile replaced the scowl. Glad I fixed that. “We ready, team?” Once more, his father’s advice came to him: build the team every chance you get. A team that trusts each other will kick the butt off one that doesn’t. Cooper surveyed the group standing around him and saw the fear and the confusion in their faces. “C’mon, bring it in,” he barked, while cocking his eyebrows playfully.