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Post by solo on Jul 1, 2022 10:59:22 GMT -6
Chapter 36
“Who sent you?” Wes asked the man looking through under the hummer. The man glared back. “Look, I have plenty of rounds left. And I know where to put them where your agony will make you wish I had but the next one between your eyes.”
They stared at each other for a few moments later. Wes was still thinking about what direction to go in and what the secret radio squelch message form Sam he had gotten just a few moments before. It had said he was about to have company. He had just acknowledged.
They both flinched as the next round sound. A perplexed look fell on Wes’ face as he knew he had not fired. Jumping up but still crouched behind the vehicles engine block, he edged to the front of the vehicle. As he got closer, he saw a leg.
As he cleared more of the front fender, the body came into view. The skin was devilishly red as it poked out from ill-fitting shorts and tank top. Amy was laying at an awkward angle with a third eye created right between her other two.
“She was coming for you.” Veronica!
“What are you doing here?”
“I figured you needed some back up.”
“So you watched me and followed me? But not the long way. I would have known you were there.” Wes said.
“You think you are that good? You don’t know me very well.”
Wes stared at her for a few moments. They both heard a sound from the ground on the passenger side of the Hummer. Wes took a couple of steps and walked to the downed operative. “No, we still have some talking to do, you and I.”
He took some zip ties for a cargo pocket and secured the man. “She wasn’t armed.”
“You were not paying attention. She had the drop on you.” Veronica said. “Besides that is a problem solved.”
He stopped again and with a scrunched face he muttered, “We are going to have to have a long talk.”
“There are more things we could be doing than just talking.” Veronica smiled.
“Talking is just fine in my book. Which is what we are going to be doing young man.” Wes said.
“Ooo, let me. She took the man and put a rope through the zip ties and tossing the other end over a limb, she raised his arms and then looked at Wes. “Help me a bit.” He walked over and took the rope from her and pulled him up to where the wounded man was on his tip toes. With his hands otherwise occupied, Veronica took the opportunity to make sure there was definite bodily contact between her and Wes as she move out from the rope and away. Wes just shook his head.
She went over to one of the many rubbish piles that the campers had left and found a couple of mason jars. She walked to the edge of the clearing and finding what she was looking for, she kicked a dirt mound that was there. She moved on and found a bush that had what she wanted next.
With a deft hand, she took the jar, screwed off it’s lid and quickly used the jar and lid to collect a small red wasp nest that had about eight wasp on it. She got nest and all without missing one wasp and without getting stung. Screwing the lid back down, she took her folder and poked a small hole in the top. Looking back at the men, she said, “Don’t want them to die before I am ready.”
She then walked back to the dirt mount that she had kicked and used the other jar to scoop some dirt and a healthy offering of fire ants. Wes cocked his head to one side and just watched her. She knocked off the extra ants on the outside. But with a smile she put the lid on and moved back to the man.
Wes shook his head. “I believe you probably want to talk now.”
The man started to shake a bit as she approached. “Ask your questions?” Veronica said.
Wes did, “Who are you and who do you work for?”
The man just glared back at him and then spat in their general direction. His mouth having gone dry when his autonomic nervous system kicked in, this was more of a gesture than any thing else.
“Bannnnnnnnck, wrong answer. Tell him what he’s won, Johnny!” Veronica snorted. She took the jar of ants and shook it up. Then she walked to the man and unbuttoned his pants. She pulled them down to his ankles. Noting he was wearing boxer briefs, she thought, perfect. She unscrewed the jar and pulling the waistband back in the front, she dumped the content inside the briefs and let the waistband snap back into place. “Too bad, guess they will just have more to bite.” As she litely patted the front.
It wasn’t too long before he began to squirm. Sweat bead began to pop out on his forehead. Then the intense bicycling began as he twisted and turned from the pain. He threw his head back and screamed a large guttural scream. “Arrrgggghhh, get these things off of me!!!”
Wes, still looking him in the eyes, though he was a bit uncomfortable watching this. “Who sent you?”
The man yelled out again and followed with a “EFF You!”
Veronica picked up the jar of wasps. They weren’t happy. “What happens next if he doesn’t respond to those guys?” Wes asked.
“I don’t know, I’ve never had to do step two before; a scorpian, spider? Maybe a rattle snake?”
She took the jar and shook it up. She unscrewed the jar lid but held it in place. “Open his waistband again.” She said.
Wes pulled the front back again and he could see the ants had done a number in the man’s private region. Veronica shook the jar again, turned it upside down inside the brief and quickly slid the lid back and Wes let the waistband go.
When the first wasp hit, the man actually broke his zip ties and fell to the ground. Each bite caused the man to jerk but he didn’t do anything to improve his condition. Wes was just about to say something when the man finally went rigid and settled into a grand mal seizure.
“No no no!” Wes exclaimed and took a step closer. But before he stopped the man came out of the seizure but was having an incredibly hard time breathing. Before their eyes he stopped breathing and quickly turned blue. Then the man was still.
“Wow. I guess he was allergic to stings. What a wicked way to go out.”
Wes just looked at her. “We are back at square one. We don’t know who he was or why they were here.”
Veronica took a step and kicked the body. A couple of the wasps got loose and were circling his body.
With a heavy sigh, Wes walked over to the Humvee and opened the back door first. There was just a lot of clutter from their expended supplies. He then went to the front and sitting in the driver’s seat began looking around. He leaned to look in the glove compartment when the radio broke squelch, “Scorpion Six, Scorpion Six, this is Scorpion One, come in please.”
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ydderf2
Member
"I'm from the government and here to help" hahahaha
Posts: 321
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Post by ydderf2 on Jul 1, 2022 20:35:00 GMT -6
Thanks
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Post by udwe on Jul 2, 2022 20:40:06 GMT -6
Wow! Don't piss Veronica off!
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Post by solo on Jul 11, 2022 8:59:23 GMT -6
Chapter 37
“Stupid Girl.” Sam Mused.
“What do you mean?” Jimmy asked.
“Here, take a look.” Sam moved so he could squeeze in behind the scope. Sam stood up and leaned into Anne. Talia was nearby too, trying to see what was happening on the beach.
“Incredible. They got a guy, I guess he came with that SUV strung up to a tree. Veronica just dumped something into his pants. Wes doesn’t exactly look happy.”
“She trying to get him to talk. That was ants. Next will be bees or wasps.”
Jimmy paused and looked up at SAM. She responded, “What? I know her. This is what she does. She’s very effective in getting info from tough cookies.”
He just shook his head slightly and said, “Remind me not to piss her off. What comes after wasps?”
“Usually something larger. I am not really sure. Men can be very open mouth when people start messing with their privates. I’ve never seen wasps actually used.” Sam said.
Jimmy turned back. “Oh no… They are about to use the wasps. How?”
“Dump them down the front of his pants.”
“A real attention getter.” Jimmy was quiet for a moment. “That has got to hurt, he just broke his flex cuffs and fell to the ground. And,” Jimmy was quiet for another heartbeat or two. “Wow, the man seized and died.”
“Guess he was allergic. How is Wes taking it?” Anne said.
“He is chewing on Veronica heavily.”
“She shouldn’t have shot Amy. She will say it was protecting Wes, but other than being an entitled biddy, she was no danger to Wes.” Anne said.
“Unfortunately, when an operator is remote, they have to make snap decisions. There is no Calvary here and like it or not, Amy put Wes into a bad position with the two guys.” Sam stopped. “I know how that sounds and it doesn’t make it right, but sometimes you have to make hard decisions.”
“What, you are defending Veronica now?” Jimmy asked.
“No. She is who she is. I am just saying that we are in a brand new world and we do not exactly know that rules yet.”
“Wes is in the Truck now. Looks like he is looking for information.” Jimmy said.
“Let me see.” Sam got back down and exchanged with Jimmy. “There is another set up the hill if you would like to grab them.
She watch as Wes was rummaging through the truck. She noticed when he sat ramrod straight and stared at the center console. “Oh No.”
“What?” Talia had asked.
“Looks like he found something.”
Back at the Humvee….
“I repeat, Scorpion Six, Scorpion Six, this is Scorpion One, SITREP, Over.”
Wes knew that he should not answer. But he also knew if he didn’t they may get more visitors. He slowly picked up the hand held mic and spoke quickly in a tone barely above a whisper. “Scorpion One, Scorpion Six, Situation Normal, Over.”
The radio was quiet. For quite a few seconds, then, “Say again Six?”
“Situation Normal, Over.” Wes replied.
“Copy that. You missed your last check in. Make sure you don’t miss the next one. What is your ETA? Over.”
“Unknown, Over.” Wes added.
“Copy, Continue Mission. Scorpion One, Out.”
“Acknowledged. Scorpion Six, Out.”
Wes quickly dropped the mic. He noticed a red light come on the radio. His heart sank. Quickly jumping out of the vehicle, he ran around the front and took off running toward the lake. “Let’s go, we are about to have company!” He shouted.
Veronica took off running after him.
On the Island….
“Uh oh. They are running.” Sam announced. Then she heard it.
They all looked up to the East, toward the faint sound of “Whomp Whomp” getting closer. “Everyone get under cover and do not move.”
Not a half minute later, two olive drab H-60 helos came across the island and dropped down to water level. In a matter of seconds they both fired a couple of Hell Fire (AGM-114M) missiles that fragmented just before impact and completely obliterated the Humvee and everything within a 20 foot radius.
Wes and Veronica had both dove when the helicopters cleared the island and swam for several yards underwater before surfacing after they passed. He looked back at the island and the plume of smoke was impressive. One of the 60’s went into a HOGE, Hovering out of ground effect, about 500 feet up, while the other hovered in ground effect, HIGE at the beach line. When satisfied, the pilot executed a sharp pedal turn and dipped it nose forward, gaining speed before lifting dramatically before reaching the island.
It was all over in a couple of minutes.
Wes, turned over on his back and proceeded to slowly back stroke his way back to the island. Veronica, quickly out paced him and reached the island first. Wes had some thinking to do.
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ydderf2
Member
"I'm from the government and here to help" hahahaha
Posts: 321
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Post by ydderf2 on Jul 11, 2022 10:22:47 GMT -6
Thanks
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Post by solo on Jul 12, 2022 11:07:46 GMT -6
Chapter 38
When Wes finally reached the island, the whole group was there. Veronica, in true I don’t care fashion, had stripped to her underwear and was sitting in the sun, drying out. Wes saw this at a glance and shook his head.
“What was that all about?” Sam asked.
Wes unbuttoned and took off his OD shirt. After wringing it out, he spread it out over a bush that was in the sun. Wes knew that there was way more to Sam’s question than just those words. He knew she wanted to know what that morning was about when he left the island.
“Just had to go and clear my head a little bit. We are set up well here, better than most, but, there always is a but, what is missing? We do not have good intel and what is happening out there.”
“So you thought stomping off and going exploring on you own was a good idea?” Sam was trying to keep in control. She didn’t like feeling this way or caring this much about someone else. She just couldn’t help it.
“Well I’ve done well doing just that for all of my 53 years. No need to change now!” Wes.
Sam felt her focus come back. “Yeah, I bet. All you have to worry about is helicopters throwing missiles at you. Strangers shooting at you for whatever reason. A crazy partner that is having a hard time to accepting no for an answer….” Her voice fell off.
Wes stepped up to her and wrapped her in his arms. He pulled her tight and whispered in her ear. “You are the only crazy that I love in my life. That will not change. As for that other stuff, for some people, that is just life. This is the profession we chose to do from an early age. That is not going to change. You and me, we are both good at that. I know you are just worried for me. And I will admit, that we do need to go out in pairs or threes from now on.” He paused.
He started to pull back, but she just held on to him. “But I will remind you that I do my best work when I am solo.”
With a smile, she looked up at him and she said, “Not your best work.”
Wes laughed. “Okay. You good?”
She nodded yes and then they looked around. Everyone had left them to sort themselves out.
“I am sorry about this morning.” Sam started.
“Don’t.” Wes followed. “It doesn’t matter. What matters is that you know you matter to me.” “Weren’t you mad?” Sam asked.
“Not really. I just decided to go take a look around and clear my head a little. We are missing something and I don’t like that feeling.”
“Hey, is it safe to come back?” Jimmy asked from up the hill.
“Yes. We need to but our heads together and see what is going on.”
After everyone, even a dressed Veronica, gathered again, they moved up to the group area in front of the rock shelter.
Jimmy asked, “What kind of helicopters were those?”
“Those were H-60s.” Wes said.
“What kind of missiles?” Jimmy asked.
“They were Hellfire. The type that fragment, cause a larger damage pattern. Whoever Scorpion One was, want the area sanitized. Including whoever was talking on the radio to them.”
“I thought the only helo that carried those were the Apache or something like that.” Jimmy followed.
“Well, I know back in the late 90’s at least, when I was spending time in Jacksonville Naval Air Station, they had a 60 Squadron that were working with Hellfire missiles. Those were probably Navy helo’s.”
“Maybe, but they were painted OD.” Veronica offered.
“Okay. I am not sure that the missile or delivery vehicle matters the most. What we have is a patrol of some sort being destroyed when it was compromised. Now the question still remains, who were they and what were they doing?” Wes asked.
“Were they looking for us or just keeping track of the camp ground gathering?” Sam asked.
“Well, the camp left when Amy was incapacitated.” Jimmy pointed out.
“Yeah, we can cross that one out.” Veronica said.
Wes looked at her and said, “Why did you shoot Amy?”
“She was coming at you. I know you are a big boy and can handle yourself, but you were preoccupied.” She defended.
“Yeah, but couldn’t you subdue her any other way?” Wes asked.
Veronica just shrugged at that.
“What if they were some advance unit of some sort and something bigger is coming?” Anne asked.
Wes pursed his lips. “That is possible. This is a resource rich area with animals and fish. The water can be filtered and there is a lot of it. I am not sure they know it is spring fed so it is better than most, not as stagnate as most. Plenty of room and wood and other resources.”
“Okay, but now what?”
“Wish we had more people for watch and patrol. It is going to get old quick with a lot of fatigue.” He paused. “The first thing we do is make sure we all have a bug out bag ready to go. Talia, we will get you a bag and get you set up. You will need the 10 ‘C’s and plenty of food. When you finish getting your 10 ‘C’s together, I have a few cases of MRE’s in the storage area. This is our just in case supplies. Make sure you all have your sidearms with you always, it wouldn’t hurt if you all carried your M1’s.”
“Wes continued. Let’s set up a watch rotation for all six of us for every day. Veronica, you take the first watch from 2000-0000, 8 PM to Midnight. I will take the Mid watch, Midnight to 0400. Sam you take the Morning watch from 0400 to 0800. Talia, I would like you to take the Forenoon watch from 8 am to Noon. And Anne, I would like you to do the Noon to 4 PM watch. Jimmy, you got the Dog watch, 1600 to 2000. Traditionally, we would have 3 teams doing this with three sections that would rotate one watch each day and split the Dog Watch. Therefore, each team stands watch one and a half watch on one day, two full watches on the second day and two and a half on the third day.”
Jimmy looked at him. “Okay, that is probably more than I ever wanted to know about watches. I thought you were one of those special Navy guys. Why do you know so much about this?”
“Yeah, didn’t you bounce a ball on your nose or something?” Veronica laughed.
“Okay, that it for the SEALs jokes. No, I was an E-4 before I went to buds. I had just stuck as a parachute rigger. So I had to work as ships company when my squadron would deploy.”
“You mean all you did in the Navy before then was play with parachutes?” Jimmy asked.
“Not exactly. Our tasking was to maintain al the aviation equipment that our aviators would use. This included flight suits, helmets, survival vests, O2 masks, G-Suits as well as the survival equipment. I wasn’t in it long, but that is where I started learning about the 10 ‘C’s, though those vests were not too 10 C friendly.”
“What is this 10 ‘C’s you keep talking about?” Talia asked.
Over the next few weeks, I will show you. For now the list is: 1. Cutting Tool, 2. Combustion Device, 3. Cover, 4. Container, 5. Cordage, 6. Cotton Material. 7. Cargo Tape, 8. Compass, 9. Canvas Needle, and 10. Candling Device.”
“I get most of them, the first five at least, but why would you need something like Cargo tape?” Talia asked.
He reached into his bug out back and pulled our a small roll of one inched Gorilla duct tape. “Well, let’s see.” He pulled off a two inch piece and then held up his finger. “Say I have a not so good cut here and I don’t really have time to tend to it, like we are under attack or something.” He wrapped the tape around his finger. “Problem solved.”
He then tore another swath off. “Let’s say I have a rip in my tarp, which for the 10 ‘C’s is Cover,” and he put the piece on the fabric of his pants to illustrate. “There, you have a temporary fix until you can use your Canvas needle and Cordage to mend the rip.”
“How about this?” He too several strips and tore them in half lengthways and with the pieces made a birds nest. He then pulled out his lighter and lit the nest and set it down. The tape burned slowly but consistently. “There, you have a firestarter that will give you a flame for five to ten minutes. This is especially good when trying to start a fire with damp wood.”
Then the stood up and walked over to where a group of saplings were growing. He took out his folding pocket saw and quickly sawed there somewhat straight six foot saplings. After cleaning them up a bit, he bundled them together and took the tap and wrapped it around them. He then took the middle stick and flipped it around and set up the tripod for her to see. “And it makes a decent make-do lashing. With this tripod, you can cook over a fire or suspend a tarp for shelter if you make another.”
She look at him with a bit of awe. “I never knew.”
Jimmy chuckled, “Hell, I didn’t either. Thank you professor! Do all the C’s have as much usage?”
“Yes, and they are a key part of bush crafting.” Wes followed. “Okay, we’ve had a heck of a day! It is almost 5 PM. Jimmy you are up. Make sure you keep an eye on the beach but also keep an eye on the other shore as well.”
Talia walked over and took the tape and looked at it in a bit of wonder. Wes smiled and said, “come on, I will show you the Dakota fire hole and how to make a good fire lay.”
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Post by accountant on Jul 13, 2022 10:49:42 GMT -6
Oh duct tape, is there anything you can't do?
Next time I go camping, I'm only bringing duct tape.
A.
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Post by solo on Jul 18, 2022 8:30:22 GMT -6
Chapter 39
Three more weeks went by since the helicopter attack. People in small groups have come by the Campground, but would always walk on by when they saw the wreckage.
Wes was on watch at 0330 when he heard a little rustling behind him. Sam eased in beside him. “You still have 30 minutes of hang time.” Wes whispered.
“I can’t sleep. Thought I’d come down here and snuggle with you a bit.” She smile. “Anything going on?”
“There was a small fire about 0130 over there. Probably someone came in late to overnight. I checked the starlite and saw a person maybe two. I think they moved on now.”
“At least you get to see something, that morning watch is absolutely dead.”
“We are in the blind here. I am thinking about going on a small walkabout, see what is going on.” Wes said.
Sam was quite for a while. “Do you think we should all go?”
“No. I do know some of them have camp fever. But someone has to stay to watch the place.”
“How many then?” Sam asked.
“The easy answer is three go and three stay. That is going to wreck the watch schedule.” Wes smiled.
“Yep. Who would go?”
“I guess while we are gone, they could just rely on passive measures. Not as effective, but they won’t wear themselves out.” Wes continued his thought.
“Okay, you said, ‘They’ so that means you and I are going. Who is our third?”
“It will have to be Veronica. The three of us have the most field experience.” Wes said.
“You should leave Veronica here because they need an experience operator to manage things if it gets hot.” Sam countered.
“Who would you take in her place? Anne? Talia?” Wes asked.
“Jimmy.”
“He does have experience, but he is like me, he doesn’t move as well as he used to. He will tell you he is more comfortable on the defensive.” Wes replied.
“Then Talia, Anne can man a position, but she is about the most civilian of all of us. Talia is learning a lot from you. She would benefit from learning on the go in the field. We all have to learn sometime and the more we have with some experience the better.” Sam proposed.
“That is a good idea. The only issue is she doesn’t have gun discipline and experience and most assuredly never had to shoot a person.” Wes said.
“She is dead on with the bow, though. That could come in handy.” She said.
“Why don’t you want Veronica to go so bad?” Wes said.
“My trust in her is pretty low. So you want to leave her here sitting on top of all our supplies?” She countered.
“Last time we talked you weren’t that big on Talia, either.” Wes said.
“She’s the lesser of two evils.” Sam said.
“Come on, now. She is just a teenager.” Wes smiled.
Sam was quiet. Wes looked at his watch. It was almost 0400. “Well, I need to get some rest. My hammock is calling me.”
“Would you mind getting that rest here?” Sam asked.
“I think I can manage that.” Wes answered. He curled up next to where Sam was sitting behind the spotting scope. Sam Smiled.
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Post by solo on Jul 22, 2022 7:52:22 GMT -6
Chapter 40
“I get the impression that she doesn’t like me none.” Talia whispered to Wes. They were set up in the tree line, about fifty feet from the parking lot keeping watch on Sam as she moved stealthily along toward the rear of the strip mall.
“It’s not you. She is having a hard time sharing me.”
Talia looked at him perplexed a little, then just shrugged. Wes continued. “Okay, I am going to move around when she stops at the corner to where I can cover her in the Alley. You stay up here and keep an eye on things.
They were on the third day of checking out the town. They had taken a day to travel, then that night did a scout right through the middle. It seemed like a bit of a ghost town, but there were three locations where people had gathered. Wes did not poke around to see if they were friend or foe. He also wondered what happened to the other people. It has been a few months. Hopefully, they all moved out.
On day two, they kept watch and then that night made another couple of passes, noting fall back spots and rendezvous points. Now it was at the crack of dawn and they were checking out the small strip mall, one that held a gun shop, just to the West of their motel/safehouse with Anne’s café in the parking lot.
From the front, the windows were all bashed in and the insides were pretty ransacked. Around back, they hoped to gain entry unnoticed.
Once Wes was in position, he signaled to Sam. He had positioned himself where he could keep an eye on both Sam’s six and on Talia.
It didn’t take long before Sam was back with him and just shook her head. “Totally ransacked and what’s left is ruined.”
“How was the gun shop?” Wes asked.
“No inventory. Owner must have packed up and fled.” Sam replied.
They motioned for Talia to join them. In no time and with little sound she joined them. Sam actually smiled. “You are wearing of on her. That was good. One thing I would add is just try to roll your feet a little more, outside to in. Slow down a little more and I think you would have it.”
Wes gave a little smile behind Sam and raised his eyebrows like he was saying, ‘See?’.
“It did look like, maybe some people had stayed in the laundry-mat, but no one was there now. Did you see anything?” Sam asked Talia.
“It was difficult to know what store you were in, so I mostly watched for movement out front and around the parking lot.” Talia replied.
Wes thought for a moment. “I thought I heard movement behind me, over behind the discount shoe store in the woods. I am sure it was a two legged vice a four legged varmit.”
“Oh, there is a lookout in the clock tower over by in the square.” Talia added.
“Are you sure?” Sam asked.
Talia looked at her for a while. She had an aunt who would question every little thing she said or did. It wore on her until she just stopped being around this aunt and went no contact. Now that same feeling welled up in her. Instead of giving her a sarcastic answer, she simply held up the monocular she had.
Sam nodded her head, “Good. We need to make sure we move out of sight of that tower. We also need to assume that roof tops and other vantage points are covered as well.”
“You know that means we have to check this roof.” Wes said.
“Yes. Let’s go to that corner and you give me a boost up.” Sam said. “That’s a good way to lose your head.” Wes retorted. “Hey, where are you going?”
Talia had taken a dozen or so steps further into the woods. There was a thick cedar tree that was growing on the upslope of the hill. She walked to the base and before Wes could say anything else, she had disappeared into the bottom of its Christmas tree like denseness. They saw bits of her as she climbed, but they allowed that it would pass unnoticed. In about fifteen minutes, she rejoined them on the ground and gave a brief report.
“There are three of them on the roof, but it was strange, they were all watching the main part of town, like over toward the square and what have you. Over at the motel, I saw people up there, but couldn’t tell how many, but they too were watching toward the inside. People were on the street over there too. They had rifles and looked very guarded. Why were they watching the wrong way and not the woodline.”
“They are not protecting the town form outsiders. They are protecting themselves from other people or groups from other parts of town. This is a small town, but there are still resources to be had and what you are seeing is a fight for control. I definitely do not want to be here when they decide to settle it.” Wes said.
He patted her lightly on the shoulder and then said, “Let’s go.” More quietly this time.
Talia paused before she left and said, “What about the men with guns above us?”
“This is not our fight and I aim to keep it that way.”
The moved through the woods, paralleling the strip mall and came to the Motel. He was looking over at the rooms when Talia tapped him on his arm. He looked at her quizzically. She wrinkled her nose and that is when it hit him. He smelled bacon. Looking at the café, there were some wisps of smoke coming from the kitchen exhaust.
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Post by CountryGuy on Jul 22, 2022 9:04:49 GMT -6
Hope it's crispy...
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Post by solo on Jul 22, 2022 11:25:08 GMT -6
I just hope it is really bacon.....
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Post by CountryGuy on Jul 22, 2022 11:38:49 GMT -6
I just hope it is really bacon..... Long pork... the other white meat... it's whats for supper
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Post by papaof2 on Jul 22, 2022 15:06:39 GMT -6
Unless the folks are eating very well, long pork might not have enough fat to make good bacon...
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ydderf2
Member
"I'm from the government and here to help" hahahaha
Posts: 321
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Post by ydderf2 on Jul 22, 2022 16:24:44 GMT -6
Thanks
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Post by CountryGuy on Jul 28, 2022 5:01:02 GMT -6
The MOAR hounds are getting antsy..
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Post by solo on Aug 1, 2022 10:09:09 GMT -6
Chapter 41
“What do you make of that?” Sam asked Wes in a hushed voice. They had worked themselves around to where they have a line of sight into the café.
Wes was introspective for few moments. Looking through the front windows he could see several people. There were really no demarcation between them other than more than a handful wore the leather vests of Motor Cycle Clubs. They all seemed to be together and while they were milling around, there was something off about these guys wearing the leather.
“It appears that they are from a motorcycle club of some sort.”
Sam fought hard to hold in a snort. “Well, Einstein, there are a lot of motorcycles parked out front. Did that give it away?
“Smarty! Look at those rides again.” He retorted.
“Okay.” Sam replied.
“Now look at those people inside. Do they look like they fit the image?” Wes stated.
“Not all of them, no….” She left it to hang out there.
“Now look at the motorcycles. Most Motorcycle clubs I know of use Harleys. I can only pick out one or two of those around.” Wes started.
“Wait a minute. You can go off on this based on a stereotype. There are many other types of Motorcycle clubs.”
“Yes. That is true. But they usually run the same bike for the entire club. That there is a hodge podge of rides.” Wes pointed out.
“Point taken.” Sam said.
“Now who are these people? They do not seem to be too worried about being seen. Big open windows like that where outsiders can just look through them willy nilly…..” Wes was going on.
“I think that is enough for you. Both of you slowly stand and raise your hands. And I mean slowly. Nothing would make my day better than to add to our meat stores. And you, honey, would be most delectable before and after we put on you ice.”
“Oh not you, Sugar.” A new voice from the side. “He was talking about him.”
Wes stood there silent for a moment. Then hearing Sam sort of chuckle made up his mind. “It is going to take a lot more that the two of your sorry lot to get within three feet of me.”
“Oh there is way more than two.” Yet another voice.
“Oh good, then I will not get bored. Three, four, Five, it don’t matter.” Wes growled. His low gravelly voice penetrated the night.
“Oh Dear, Just you don’t worry. There are ten of us and we have insatiable appetites!”
“Hey, Myron, Kasey said he wanted these chump alive so he can talk with them.” Another voice said.
“Myron? What a wus name is that?” Wes growled. He had just found a hot button and decided to push it.”
“Go ahead, Dear. Keep it up. You’ll still be alive, but you will definitely still be walking funny.”
Wes saw the red dot appear on the man’s chest. As it was late morning now, it was only visible because the man was in shadow. No one else seemed to notice. He held out his hands to the side and said, “How bad can it be? You guys look like a bunch of minute men anyway.”
With his hands out, he moved them subtly up. The guy was wearing armor so a center mass hit would do little. He watched as the dot moved up to the man’s forehead. “You know what? I am tired of this.” He dropped his hands behind his back as a large hole appeared in the man’s forehead.
He pulled both of his Glock 19s from the double holsters in the smalls of his back. Pausing to see which direction the red dot was going he started working the opposite way. Sam had pullout her Mossberg 590 Shockwave SPX and was rhythmically pumping rounds into the carnage.
In less than a minute, they were finished and a deafening silence fell in the wood line. Instinctively, they dropped behind cover as the door to the café opened up. Sam quietly replace the spent shells. They watched in dismay as roughly 25 people poured from the front door and headed their way.
“Grab Talia and get going. I am going to get them to rethink their decision.” Sam said then swung around the tree and pumped two rounds into the crowd, hearing a couple of cries in pain.
Wes looked at her a moment then nodded. He took off at a crouch when rounds started to pop around him. The crowd was returning fire. When he got to the crest of the small hill. He pause to look back. Just to his left, Talia was methodically placing rounds into the crowd. People were dropping.
It was at this moment that the pitch and tone of the incoming changed drastically. He realized that other groups have joined this fight. He jumped back down the hill, landed wrong and twisted his ankle. The searing pain ripped up his leg. He ignored it and soon was up on Sam. She was down on a knee catching her breath. There was a blooming of blood coming out her back.
He emptied a mag of 9mm into the crowd then scooped up Sam and ran up the hill. Rounds were cracking all around him and he soon felt a tug at his arm and then in the ham string region of his leg.
Still he kept going not knowing how bad any of this was. Cresting the hill he dropped down the other side. There was a small stream there and he was able to take an immediate left and still carrying his load was in five minutes about half of a mile away. He heard splashing behind him and knew that Talia was behind him.
Finally he saw was he was looking for and ducked over the small berm there and under a large fir tree with a deep green canopy. As he was setting Sam down, Talia popped in with them. He ripped at his shirt and tore off two big pieces. Wading both of them up, he reached up under her Shirt and placed them on both sides of her, the entry and the exit wounds. “Here, hold these firm. We got to stop the bleeding. Hopefully, the stream will give us a little time so we can take care of her. I’ll be back.
He went back out and covered their tracks as much as possible. He was hopeful that any blood that dripped out went into the water. Soon he went back in and took a closer look at Sam’s wounds. It was in the lower left part of her back and closer to the side. Hopefully, it as it was a through and through, it didn’t hit anything.
Pulling off his pack, with a little difficulty for some reason, he retrieved his med kit. Pulling out some honey, he poured a generous amount on both sides them placed a feminine pad on both sides and taped them in place. Then place the stained T-Shirt piece on the outside of her top and secured them in place with a third long piece of T-Shirt tied in place.
“Why honey?” Talia whispered.
“It has natural antiseptic properties.” Wes said.
“And the pads?” Talia asked.
“Super absorbency.” Wes muttered.
About that time, he heard baying in the distance. “Damn, they got dogs! We got to go.”
“What about you?” Talia asked him.
“What about me?” Wes asked.
“You are bleeding too.”
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Post by texican on Aug 1, 2022 15:43:50 GMT -6
Cannibals?
Texican....
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Post by bluefox2 on Aug 1, 2022 16:43:49 GMT -6
Well, somebody did mention "Long pork" But really, gay cannibals?
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Post by solo on Aug 1, 2022 21:41:56 GMT -6
Well, somebody did mention "Long pork" But really, gay cannibals? Yeah... Have to see how much of a reaction I can get. Right? LOL
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ydderf2
Member
"I'm from the government and here to help" hahahaha
Posts: 321
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Post by ydderf2 on Aug 2, 2022 10:57:27 GMT -6
Thanks
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Post by solo on Dec 28, 2022 13:49:17 GMT -6
Chapter 42
Improbable. That was the word that came the most to Wes’ mind. He looked down at his leg and saw the damage to the large muscle just above his knee. There was an entry and an exit wound. There was a lot of blood.
Strangely, there was no pain. He soon realized he was in shook. He also realized he wasn’t going anywhere.
“You have to take Sam and get her back to the island. Veronica will know what to do.” He instructed.
“I can’t leave you here like this.” Talia’s eye had started to water.
“You have no choice. You can’t carry me and I don’t think I can walk much now.”
“Let me get you dressed at least.” She pleaded with him. Sam spoke up. “We have to keep going.” She looked at Wes. A knowing look passing between them.
With that she managed to get herself up but could not stand fully upright, even after she stumbled out from under the fir tree. Talia hugged Wes, then followed. Taking up a position next to Sam for support, they started out together.
Wes turned and began working on his leg. He was very lucky as the artery was not hit. With the same application he used on Sam, he managed to get his leg bandaged. He tried as he could, but when he left the protection of the tree, he could not put any weight on his leg. With resignation he crawled back under the tree.
He sat back as the baying up the creek got louder and then faded. For now he had escaped. Improbable was the work he thought of before he passed out.
When he awoke next, he realized that he was very thirsty. He calculated that he could make it to the creek if he crawled. It would probably give him Montezuma’s revenge, but tainted water was better than no water.
Giving himself a few moments to check his surroundings, he noticed the sun was high overhead. It was midday sometime. He must have slept through the night. He noticed nothing out of sorts or unusual with the flow of the woods around him. Birds were making a racket, Squirrels were complaining. Typical forest happenings. He eased out and with much effort, made it to the creek and drank his fill.
He rolled over on his back and looked up through the tree tops to the blue sky above. He let his mind drift a bit. The next thing he knew, he startled himself awake and the shadows showed it was late afternoon. He has slept through the afternoon, out in the open.
He decided to test his leg and took a few moments to stand up. He found a dead but sturdy sapling closer to the tree and with a little work fashion a make shift staff to walk with. He collected his pack and put his Glocks inside and after donning the pack, tested the leg and the staff.
It wasn’t pretty, but with great effort, he made it about a quarter of a mile before he had to stop and rest. Then he kept moving, settling into a walk, rest cycle that helped propel him.
The trip was extremely slow going, but it did have its benefits. It forced him to maintain the fragile balance between extreme pain and situational awareness. He knew that maintaining his cognizance of what was happening around him, the flow, could and probably would be the difference between surviving this and not. Soon the darkness that the afternoon shadows had warned against caught up to him and the temperatures dropped into the lower single digits.
Finding another spruce with low hanging limbs, he crawled under after moving enough snow to block the wind, he was soon in a fitful sleep.
It was in the predawn that the water he had drank came back with a vengeance. He was able to crawl out and keep the mess to a minimum but after more than a day of this it did leave him weak and dehydrated. He kept his canteen cup full of snow to melt, but it was a slow process.
Exhausted, he again fell into a fitful sleep for another night filled will interruptions. Before he passed out the final time, he thought that he was good and ready for his next colonoscopy.
The next he woke up, he judged it was again about midday. But something was different. He was being carried on a stretcher. And more disconcerning…. He was strapped down.
“Oh Honey, you poor dear, you are awake.” A disembodied voice sing-songed out.
Wes turn his head and made eye contact. “You would be Kasey.”
“Sugar, I am way more than that. I am now your worst nightmare!”
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Post by CountryGuy on Dec 28, 2022 18:55:20 GMT -6
Solo, Great to see a new installment. Can't wait to see where our intrepid survivors go next.
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Post by feralferret on Dec 28, 2022 23:07:59 GMT -6
Solo, I just found this story today when the new chapter bumped it. I hope there is more to follow as I am enjoying it greatly. Thanks!
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Post by imahic on Jan 8, 2023 21:46:40 GMT -6
Great story. Thanks for the update.
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Post by oldcutlas on Jan 22, 2023 12:16:31 GMT -6
good story so far, I've only gotten through the first page of the thread, but would like to offer a bit of advice... you have a tendency to switch "tenses" between past tense, and present tense... you need to pick one and stick with it... I recommend past tense as it tends to flow better in both the writing and reading.
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