I found Night. I had to practice patience and I even bantered with people along the way and put up with their stupid knowing grins. She was where my company was bivouacked which meant I had more hands to shake and backs to slap. It was nice to see some of them. I was surprised how nice. Chief, the head of the Motor Pool was there too and I talked to him. Mostly because he was standing with Night and they were laughing about something to do with Ninja.
"Hey Chief!"
He had his back to me so he didn't see me come up on him. When he turned around his grin was genuine and his hand went out and I shook it without hesitation. It was funny but not a lot of people shook hands anymore. The distance between people in conversations had increased too. Letting someone get close was not such a good idea anymore and I think even if it hadn't changed there would be a significant group of people who would never let anyone get to close again. If you really trusted someone you would do a bro hug. There were only two people alive that I would let get that close; Max and Ninja.
"Well god damn if it isn't the returning hero!" He looked me up and down and added "Now don't you look all sharp, shiny, and deadly."
"Yeah." I returned the up and down and said "You got a truck for me?"
He laughed "Hell no. Every time I give you a vehicle you disappear with it and I never see it again. Might be able to find you a bike."
Thanks Chief."
"Your brother was by and convinced me to set up a tent." He pointed at one that was set off from the others "I'll be going now." He winked and left me with Night.
"Hey."
She looked up at me "Yeah?"
"Come here."
She started moving towards me smiling and I grabbed her and threw her over my shoulder and headed for the tent. She was laughing and beating on me and in the background I could hear more laughter and cheers. I dropped her gently inside the tent and by the time I had the door zipped up she was almost out of her armor. Life was good again.
Showing posts with label american apocalypse IV. Show all posts
Showing posts with label american apocalypse IV. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
American Apocalypse IV - Chapter 18c - by Nova
I suppose I should have felt awkward standing there in front of the three of them. I didn't because they were my real family. I never had a family, well one that not insane or high, but now that I did I didn't see any point in pretending things weren't what they were which, to me at least, was all fixed up. Carol had her kid. Max was Max. Night was Night. Life was good.
"Hey Max. What's up Carol?"
Max grinned, put his hand out, and as soon as we made contact he pulled me in and gave me a bro hug.
When we both stepped back he looked me up and down, and smiled again, this time it was tinged with sadness? Irony? How fucked up life can be? And told me "I would have gone." He didn't add or say anything else. We both knew what he was leaving unsaid.
"Yeah but it needed to be done right." Then I laughed.
After a second he started laughing too and told me. "Yeah. Somehow the word that comes to mind is expendable."
Yep. Everything was back to normal as far as I was concerned.
Carol had stood up and wasted no time getting to the point "G. I'm sorry." She paused and looked directly at us and said "No. I'm not. I did what I had to do and I would do it again." She said this defiantly but then her tone softened and she focused on Night "You understood don't you?" The plea for mercy and understanding was raw an apparent. I tried not to respond to it and instead I looked away. I had too. It may not have been what I should have done but I was afraid to have Night see my eyes right then. It was only for a beat, time enough to shut some doors in the head, then I looked at Night.
She wasn't looking at me. She was staring directly into Carols eyes. She gave her a brief nod, then told her in a voice that was as flat and toneless as a machine. It was her "I'm not fucking around voice" and it got a smart persons attention right away. "I don't like you. I never will. Stay away from me. Push it again and I will kill you and go into exile -- alone if I have to."
She unlocked her arm from around my waist, spun, and walked away. I looked at Carol and told her quietly "She means it."
"I know." Her voice was incredibly sad.
I looked at Zane and told him "See you around" and turned to follow Night. She wasn't moving fast and I stretched my pace to catch up. We had covered twenty paces when I heard Max "Night. You don't mind if me and G take a walk do you?"
She shook her head "No" and pulled away without looking at him. I knew why. She didn't want him to see her tears. Life was not as good as I had originally thought and as usual I was feeling clueless on what to do when it came to crying women and relationships in general.
It was a bit of a relief to fall in with Max. We walked silently and headed off towards the perimeter and began tracing it with slower measured paces.
"So what's up Max?"
He didn't laugh. I would have. Instead we walked for a bit more then he began with "First off I didn't know you then, let alone about you and your ... thing for her when we got together."
"Yeah. I know."
"I know you know. I just felt like I had to say that G."
Now it was my turn to be silent. A lot of things went through my head. None of them particularly uplifting or what I wanted to deal with so I just locked them down and told him "Thanks."
"I'm going to assume you're up to speed and know I'm sleeping with Freya." He quickly added "She isn't a kid anymore G."
"I know." I also knew this came under the same category as what he told me about Carol. The "I had to say it" category.
"It's all about survival. Our survival. "Our" meaning everyone you see" He had stopped walking and was looking at the Horde going about life. "What do you see G?
I knew this wasn't a rhetorical question. Max didn't do rhetorical. I also has some inkling about what the correct answer was to this but I didn't do correct answers with Max. I told him my truth. I shrugged and told him "Outside of us," us meaning my family, "I see cattle. A herd that might be useful."
" I know. I do sometimes too but I can't let that be me. I see people. I see casualties. I see possibilities. I see a future. I can't live by just killing G. I need to make something worthwhile. I may have to kill a lot of people to get it but when I do it will be worth it. This I promise you."
He let it end there. We both watched our people do whatever for a little bit. I broke the silence asking him "What about Carol?"
"Yeah....she is good at organizing. She'll find a place and I will make sure her and Zane are taken care of. What was then is long over. She'll find someone, probably sooner than later."
"Okay. What was the deal with Freya earlier?"
Max shook his head. "She loves ceremony. It was going to a tribal presentation and recognition of your success. At least that's what she told me."
That last part didn't get past me. "You don't trust her?'
"I don't trust anyone who has an agenda and she most definitely does. There is some shit going on that is bigger than us G. I don't have a total handle on it and I think we are just a piece on the board but I tell you what..." He paused, grinned "We are aren't getting fucked like my people did last time around." He reached out and smacked my arm telling me "Lets go find our women. I think we are both are going to have to do some sweet talking. Oh yeah. Tell Night her troop movement didn't get past me." I was still processing the last thing he said but I didn't get it. I stored it away to tell Night and followed him back into the heart of the camp. Now I had to find out where Night was because that was going to be where I was if it had any privacy for the next few hours at least.
"Hey Max. What's up Carol?"
Max grinned, put his hand out, and as soon as we made contact he pulled me in and gave me a bro hug.
When we both stepped back he looked me up and down, and smiled again, this time it was tinged with sadness? Irony? How fucked up life can be? And told me "I would have gone." He didn't add or say anything else. We both knew what he was leaving unsaid.
"Yeah but it needed to be done right." Then I laughed.
After a second he started laughing too and told me. "Yeah. Somehow the word that comes to mind is expendable."
Yep. Everything was back to normal as far as I was concerned.
Carol had stood up and wasted no time getting to the point "G. I'm sorry." She paused and looked directly at us and said "No. I'm not. I did what I had to do and I would do it again." She said this defiantly but then her tone softened and she focused on Night "You understood don't you?" The plea for mercy and understanding was raw an apparent. I tried not to respond to it and instead I looked away. I had too. It may not have been what I should have done but I was afraid to have Night see my eyes right then. It was only for a beat, time enough to shut some doors in the head, then I looked at Night.
She wasn't looking at me. She was staring directly into Carols eyes. She gave her a brief nod, then told her in a voice that was as flat and toneless as a machine. It was her "I'm not fucking around voice" and it got a smart persons attention right away. "I don't like you. I never will. Stay away from me. Push it again and I will kill you and go into exile -- alone if I have to."
She unlocked her arm from around my waist, spun, and walked away. I looked at Carol and told her quietly "She means it."
"I know." Her voice was incredibly sad.
I looked at Zane and told him "See you around" and turned to follow Night. She wasn't moving fast and I stretched my pace to catch up. We had covered twenty paces when I heard Max "Night. You don't mind if me and G take a walk do you?"
She shook her head "No" and pulled away without looking at him. I knew why. She didn't want him to see her tears. Life was not as good as I had originally thought and as usual I was feeling clueless on what to do when it came to crying women and relationships in general.
It was a bit of a relief to fall in with Max. We walked silently and headed off towards the perimeter and began tracing it with slower measured paces.
"So what's up Max?"
He didn't laugh. I would have. Instead we walked for a bit more then he began with "First off I didn't know you then, let alone about you and your ... thing for her when we got together."
"Yeah. I know."
"I know you know. I just felt like I had to say that G."
Now it was my turn to be silent. A lot of things went through my head. None of them particularly uplifting or what I wanted to deal with so I just locked them down and told him "Thanks."
"I'm going to assume you're up to speed and know I'm sleeping with Freya." He quickly added "She isn't a kid anymore G."
"I know." I also knew this came under the same category as what he told me about Carol. The "I had to say it" category.
"It's all about survival. Our survival. "Our" meaning everyone you see" He had stopped walking and was looking at the Horde going about life. "What do you see G?
I knew this wasn't a rhetorical question. Max didn't do rhetorical. I also has some inkling about what the correct answer was to this but I didn't do correct answers with Max. I told him my truth. I shrugged and told him "Outside of us," us meaning my family, "I see cattle. A herd that might be useful."
" I know. I do sometimes too but I can't let that be me. I see people. I see casualties. I see possibilities. I see a future. I can't live by just killing G. I need to make something worthwhile. I may have to kill a lot of people to get it but when I do it will be worth it. This I promise you."
He let it end there. We both watched our people do whatever for a little bit. I broke the silence asking him "What about Carol?"
"Yeah....she is good at organizing. She'll find a place and I will make sure her and Zane are taken care of. What was then is long over. She'll find someone, probably sooner than later."
"Okay. What was the deal with Freya earlier?"
Max shook his head. "She loves ceremony. It was going to a tribal presentation and recognition of your success. At least that's what she told me."
That last part didn't get past me. "You don't trust her?'
"I don't trust anyone who has an agenda and she most definitely does. There is some shit going on that is bigger than us G. I don't have a total handle on it and I think we are just a piece on the board but I tell you what..." He paused, grinned "We are aren't getting fucked like my people did last time around." He reached out and smacked my arm telling me "Lets go find our women. I think we are both are going to have to do some sweet talking. Oh yeah. Tell Night her troop movement didn't get past me." I was still processing the last thing he said but I didn't get it. I stored it away to tell Night and followed him back into the heart of the camp. Now I had to find out where Night was because that was going to be where I was if it had any privacy for the next few hours at least.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
American Apocalypse IV - Chapter 18b - by Nova
I looked at our leadership cadre. Ninja was looking out of the corner of his eye at Max who was standing there as stone faced as Freya. I don't know what through his head, he didn't even look at Freya, he just started walking towards Carol and Zane. As soon as Ninja saw that he broke away and headed towards me and Night. That was the signal for the crowd. They broke ranks and like a wave headed towards us. Most of them, especially the women, headed towards Carol but a sizable bunch came to us.
It was one of the more bizarre experiences of my life. I hated it, I loved it, and I didn't let go of Night. It was like I had thrown the winning touchdown or won the lottery. Everyone wanted a piece of me. My face went rigid with what I hoped was a grin and I began repeating the same phrases I had seen on television a million years ago.
"I was glad to do it."
"He's a great kid."
"Oh, there were a few rough patches but we made it."
"Glad to be back."
"Damn. You're uglier then when I left."
Night was spooling her responses out just like I was.
"Oh yes! I am so glad he's back.
"I never doubted it.
"He would do the same for you I know."
I only got about thirty seconds with Ninja before he stepped away. It was time enough for him to say "What took you so long?" Punch me in the arm and grin.
I did have time to see Freya had disappeared and Max standing next to Carol and looking as uncomfortable as I felt. At least for him.
Eventually we were left alone enough that I could blow off the few who didn't get the message by telling them "Don't you have work to do?" They looked like I had slapped them with a fish but they left which is all I wanted. I felt Night shaking and looked down at her. It took me a couple of beats to realize she was shaking from holding in her laughter.
"Jesus G. I love you."
Then using the arm she had wrapped around me she pushed me in the direction of Max. I whispered to Night "This is going to be interesting." Night didn't say anything but Max heard me. He looked over at us, flashed a quick grin, and began telling his people it was time to go. He was a little more diplomatic but not much.
It was one of the more bizarre experiences of my life. I hated it, I loved it, and I didn't let go of Night. It was like I had thrown the winning touchdown or won the lottery. Everyone wanted a piece of me. My face went rigid with what I hoped was a grin and I began repeating the same phrases I had seen on television a million years ago.
"I was glad to do it."
"He's a great kid."
"Oh, there were a few rough patches but we made it."
"Glad to be back."
"Damn. You're uglier then when I left."
Night was spooling her responses out just like I was.
"Oh yes! I am so glad he's back.
"I never doubted it.
"He would do the same for you I know."
I only got about thirty seconds with Ninja before he stepped away. It was time enough for him to say "What took you so long?" Punch me in the arm and grin.
I did have time to see Freya had disappeared and Max standing next to Carol and looking as uncomfortable as I felt. At least for him.
Eventually we were left alone enough that I could blow off the few who didn't get the message by telling them "Don't you have work to do?" They looked like I had slapped them with a fish but they left which is all I wanted. I felt Night shaking and looked down at her. It took me a couple of beats to realize she was shaking from holding in her laughter.
"Jesus G. I love you."
Then using the arm she had wrapped around me she pushed me in the direction of Max. I whispered to Night "This is going to be interesting." Night didn't say anything but Max heard me. He looked over at us, flashed a quick grin, and began telling his people it was time to go. He was a little more diplomatic but not much.
American Apocalypse IV - Chapter 18a - by Nova
Then what ever was planned became unplanned. Zane took off like he was rocket propelled towards Carol all the while screaming "Mom!" Shelli yelled after him "Come back!" Then in a quieter voice I heard her mutter "That little shit." She told one her acolytes "Go get him!" They looked at her like she was an idiot and one of them told her "I ain't getting between that boy and his Momma." I was already moving towards Night but I heard one of the other Shellites mutter "And anywhere near that dog."
I was laughing and picked up my pace. Night saw me coming, grinned that delightfully evil grin of hers and came running. I opened my arms and let her come running into them. I was glad when she impacted that I was still geared up like she was. That woman was hard with all kinds of crap slung on her load bearing gear. Then again so was I. We had even gotten tangled up once before doing the exact same thing and we had almost fallen over from laughing so hard. I didn't care. I held her tight, kissed her, and whispered in her ear how much I had missed her.
When we came up for air I became aware of the yelling and cheering going on behind us. Even more surprising was I was hearing my name -- a lot. People were delighted that I had gone to Night and kissed her like we were at the altar. I looked over and saw Carol on her knees hugging Zane and crying. It was one hell of a hell of a Hallmark moment.
I was laughing and picked up my pace. Night saw me coming, grinned that delightfully evil grin of hers and came running. I opened my arms and let her come running into them. I was glad when she impacted that I was still geared up like she was. That woman was hard with all kinds of crap slung on her load bearing gear. Then again so was I. We had even gotten tangled up once before doing the exact same thing and we had almost fallen over from laughing so hard. I didn't care. I held her tight, kissed her, and whispered in her ear how much I had missed her.
When we came up for air I became aware of the yelling and cheering going on behind us. Even more surprising was I was hearing my name -- a lot. People were delighted that I had gone to Night and kissed her like we were at the altar. I looked over and saw Carol on her knees hugging Zane and crying. It was one hell of a hell of a Hallmark moment.
Monday, January 24, 2011
American Apocalypse IV - Chapter 18 - by Nova
Woof was uneasy and sticking close to Zane who was in turn was damn near stuck to me. Probably because I had pulled him close. Funny how Shelli and her friends hadn't rushed up real close to pinch Zane's cheek and tousle his hair. I guess the worlds largest known German Shepherd has that effect on people.
Damn Woof should be past his growing stage but he was getting bigger, a lot bigger since we had first met. Probably all the growth hormones and what not in the people dined on. He did seem happier lately too. I wondered who was taking antidepressants that he munched on. These were just random thoughts that run through your mind as head into what was probably going to be some kind of meaningful for the masses but intensely boring for me ceremony.Then it struck me that this might be my ceremony! That would be nice. Unlikely, but nice.
Shelli led us or rather I let her take the lead. The Horde started moving too. I could hear orders being barked around me. They were being called to formation. Shelli was talking over her shoulder to me and Zane telling us "Okay guys. When we get almost to the church I'll show you where you need to stand. Freya and everyone should be coming out .... yes...here they come. You will need to wait for my prompt..."
They filed out of the double doors of church like they had practiced it which I really hoped they hadn't. First came Night with Ninja right behind her. I grinned at her, she waved and Ninja gave me a raised fist salute while grinning like a maniac. Maybe fifteen paces behind them came Freya and Max. Freya looked radiant and yes, she was not a kid anymore. Her hair was still shiny. That unicorn piss worked wonders. The long white cotton dress she wore set her best features off perfectly, especially when the sun got behind her and outlined her body. Max wasn't geared up, actually, for him, he looked dressed up. Plain green BDU's, a white t-shirt, and his .45 worn in a law enforcement rig on his belt. He was looking past me to watch the Horde as it finished getting in formation. I was wondering where in the hell you find stainless white clothes like that these days when Carol came out after them maintaining the same spacing. She too was wearing a long dress but hers was more of an organic brownish white. It suited her. Her hair was down and the blond highlists seemed brighter as did her eyes. She had put on a couple of pounds and she looked good. Real good. I went back to looking at Night.
Damn Woof should be past his growing stage but he was getting bigger, a lot bigger since we had first met. Probably all the growth hormones and what not in the people dined on. He did seem happier lately too. I wondered who was taking antidepressants that he munched on. These were just random thoughts that run through your mind as head into what was probably going to be some kind of meaningful for the masses but intensely boring for me ceremony.Then it struck me that this might be my ceremony! That would be nice. Unlikely, but nice.
Shelli led us or rather I let her take the lead. The Horde started moving too. I could hear orders being barked around me. They were being called to formation. Shelli was talking over her shoulder to me and Zane telling us "Okay guys. When we get almost to the church I'll show you where you need to stand. Freya and everyone should be coming out .... yes...here they come. You will need to wait for my prompt..."
They filed out of the double doors of church like they had practiced it which I really hoped they hadn't. First came Night with Ninja right behind her. I grinned at her, she waved and Ninja gave me a raised fist salute while grinning like a maniac. Maybe fifteen paces behind them came Freya and Max. Freya looked radiant and yes, she was not a kid anymore. Her hair was still shiny. That unicorn piss worked wonders. The long white cotton dress she wore set her best features off perfectly, especially when the sun got behind her and outlined her body. Max wasn't geared up, actually, for him, he looked dressed up. Plain green BDU's, a white t-shirt, and his .45 worn in a law enforcement rig on his belt. He was looking past me to watch the Horde as it finished getting in formation. I was wondering where in the hell you find stainless white clothes like that these days when Carol came out after them maintaining the same spacing. She too was wearing a long dress but hers was more of an organic brownish white. It suited her. Her hair was down and the blond highlists seemed brighter as did her eyes. She had put on a couple of pounds and she looked good. Real good. I went back to looking at Night.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
American Apocalypse IV - Chapter 17e - by Nova
Jackson told me "Night has most of our company on guard around the vehicles and food stores." He told me that like it was supposed to mean something. I was slow, I didn't get it, but it told me Night had a plan which was good enough for me.
"Okay Jackson. Stick around." I looked at Shelli and said "Don't tell me you don't know the back story here. You, of all people, are not who I would expect to see standing here grinning."
She gave me a wry smile and said "You're not up to speed with our new world. Max and Freya are a couple."
That surprised me and angered me. "She's a kid Shelli."
She laughed. It was a bitter one but it was a laugh. "Yeah. Right. You may be the only man here who could say that and have me believe him. She has the body of an eighteen year old and the heart of a 4,000 year old." She paused, then added "Well, I don't think she has a heart but you know what I mean."
I thought about it. I flashed some images through my mind and realized she was right. I said, and I didn't bother to hide the disgust "I go away for a couple weeks and come back to As the World Turns."
She smiled "No G. Think of it as a really bad reality show. That's what I do."
I shrugged and told her "Sounds like bullshit to me." I looked at Zane and told him "C'mon kid. Lets go find your Mom." As soon as I started walking Jackson got in front of me and said "I can't let you do this Gardener."
I looked at him and said "Then you die."
He looked at me, whispered "I know," and shut his eyes. I thought "Well this sucks." I hesitated, I didn't like this, I would do it but I didn't like it. That is when the church bell started ringing and Shelli said "That's the signal. Zane...time to meet your Mama."
I know I had told Shelli to shut up and I also knew that it was like telling water not to be wet but I was actually happy to hear her say that. Probably not as happy as Jackson though.
"Okay Jackson. Stick around." I looked at Shelli and said "Don't tell me you don't know the back story here. You, of all people, are not who I would expect to see standing here grinning."
She gave me a wry smile and said "You're not up to speed with our new world. Max and Freya are a couple."
That surprised me and angered me. "She's a kid Shelli."
She laughed. It was a bitter one but it was a laugh. "Yeah. Right. You may be the only man here who could say that and have me believe him. She has the body of an eighteen year old and the heart of a 4,000 year old." She paused, then added "Well, I don't think she has a heart but you know what I mean."
I thought about it. I flashed some images through my mind and realized she was right. I said, and I didn't bother to hide the disgust "I go away for a couple weeks and come back to As the World Turns."
She smiled "No G. Think of it as a really bad reality show. That's what I do."
I shrugged and told her "Sounds like bullshit to me." I looked at Zane and told him "C'mon kid. Lets go find your Mom." As soon as I started walking Jackson got in front of me and said "I can't let you do this Gardener."
I looked at him and said "Then you die."
He looked at me, whispered "I know," and shut his eyes. I thought "Well this sucks." I hesitated, I didn't like this, I would do it but I didn't like it. That is when the church bell started ringing and Shelli said "That's the signal. Zane...time to meet your Mama."
I know I had told Shelli to shut up and I also knew that it was like telling water not to be wet but I was actually happy to hear her say that. Probably not as happy as Jackson though.
American Apocalypse IV - Chapter 17c - by Nova
We met up with the Horde team about an hour later. It was uneventful. We both spotted each other at almost the same time. I saw them first and told Zane to drop flat on the ground in the high grass and stay there. They glassed me and I flashed them our recognition sign. It was probably out of date but it was generic enough to be recognizable to one of us. What was surprising was none of the team were mine. They had Ninjas patch but there was no Ninja leading them. No Night either. I wasn't sure what to make of that. As soon as they approached close enough that we could talk quietly I asked the three man team leader "Where's Ninja?"
"He's busy sir."
"What kind of busy?"
I hadn't told Zane to move yet and I was pretty sure they didn't know exactly where he was.
"Sorry sir. He wanted to come, as did the Lady Night, but they had to stay for a meeting."
"No shit" is what I said. What I was processing was 'the Lady Night' thing which was a little weird. This was the first time I had heard that. What strange shit had gone on that I had missed? I mean I hadn't been gone for that long.
"Sir...we should get going. Where is the boy?"
I wasn't getting a bad vibe. I recognized all three of them. One had turned to watch behind his team and the other had split off about ten paces and was watching the horizon and not me. Never the less I decided to ping him "What boy and who the hell are you?"
He let my implicit challenge roll over him and calmly told me who he was, and what he did in Ninja's company, battalion, or whatever the hell we were calling it this week.
I stared at him and told him to wait here. I backtracked a bit and called for Zane. After a couple of beats he popped up and we joined up with our welcoming commitee. We headed back with them walking a wedge, Zane behind that, and me walking drag.
Note: I am using a laptop without spellcheck to write this as I am at work dealing with a down circuit and a tech that was supposed to be here an hour ago.
"He's busy sir."
"What kind of busy?"
I hadn't told Zane to move yet and I was pretty sure they didn't know exactly where he was.
"Sorry sir. He wanted to come, as did the Lady Night, but they had to stay for a meeting."
"No shit" is what I said. What I was processing was 'the Lady Night' thing which was a little weird. This was the first time I had heard that. What strange shit had gone on that I had missed? I mean I hadn't been gone for that long.
"Sir...we should get going. Where is the boy?"
I wasn't getting a bad vibe. I recognized all three of them. One had turned to watch behind his team and the other had split off about ten paces and was watching the horizon and not me. Never the less I decided to ping him "What boy and who the hell are you?"
He let my implicit challenge roll over him and calmly told me who he was, and what he did in Ninja's company, battalion, or whatever the hell we were calling it this week.
I stared at him and told him to wait here. I backtracked a bit and called for Zane. After a couple of beats he popped up and we joined up with our welcoming commitee. We headed back with them walking a wedge, Zane behind that, and me walking drag.
Note: I am using a laptop without spellcheck to write this as I am at work dealing with a down circuit and a tech that was supposed to be here an hour ago.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
American Apocalypse IV - 17b - by Nova
Walking is what we did too. Eating regularly in the land of the feds had confused my stomach. It was rumbling and asking "Wheres my meal?" I ignored it because I had no choice. One of the things I noticed about Zane was he never complained about being hungry. He was either used to it or life so far had taught him that sporadic eating was how it was.
Somewhere around 10:00 I heard crows cawing. We were skirting the edge of a field and I was trying to adjust to the change in terrain. I didn't like it. Not enough woods and creeks to screen us from sight. I was thinking about what the Great Plains would look like while keeping an eye on the world and listening to the crows when Freya appeared in my minds eye and startled the hell out of me.
"I thought we had agreed you were going to say something like 'Stand by' before you did that." I didn't bother to hide the irritation I felt either.
She giggled and said "I forgot."
"Right."
She "hmmpfed" in my brain and replied "Maybe you'll like this better." Then Night was there.
"Night!"
She was there. Damn, I had missed her. That smile and those laughing dark eyes. Her hair. Those nipples. Then I remembered that everything I was thinking was going out live and cut that off until later.
Her voice was amused "So you missed me?"
"Yeah. A little." I said it pretty casually I thought but the peals of her and Freya laughter told me otherwise.
Softly she replied "Yeah. I missed you." Then the steel was there "You found him?"
"Yeah."
"Not bad. With weeks to spare too. Let me see him."
I turned to look at Zane and sent her his image. There was a moment of silence, then she said calmly and coldly, each word clipped "That. Slut."
In the silence afterward I waited. Nothing else was said so I told her "He's a good kid and I won't stand for him being hurt."
I didn't know what she had planned or was thinking. I also knew saying that could hurt her our relationship, maybe even fatally, but that was the way it was going to be. I waited and walked and tuned out Zane's "What's going on? Who is that blond girl?"
We had covered a couple hundred paces when Night broke her silence, the tiredness apparent to me in her "Just come home to me G. That's all."
edited
Somewhere around 10:00 I heard crows cawing. We were skirting the edge of a field and I was trying to adjust to the change in terrain. I didn't like it. Not enough woods and creeks to screen us from sight. I was thinking about what the Great Plains would look like while keeping an eye on the world and listening to the crows when Freya appeared in my minds eye and startled the hell out of me.
"I thought we had agreed you were going to say something like 'Stand by' before you did that." I didn't bother to hide the irritation I felt either.
She giggled and said "I forgot."
"Right."
She "hmmpfed" in my brain and replied "Maybe you'll like this better." Then Night was there.
"Night!"
She was there. Damn, I had missed her. That smile and those laughing dark eyes. Her hair. Those nipples. Then I remembered that everything I was thinking was going out live and cut that off until later.
Her voice was amused "So you missed me?"
"Yeah. A little." I said it pretty casually I thought but the peals of her and Freya laughter told me otherwise.
Softly she replied "Yeah. I missed you." Then the steel was there "You found him?"
"Yeah."
"Not bad. With weeks to spare too. Let me see him."
I turned to look at Zane and sent her his image. There was a moment of silence, then she said calmly and coldly, each word clipped "That. Slut."
In the silence afterward I waited. Nothing else was said so I told her "He's a good kid and I won't stand for him being hurt."
I didn't know what she had planned or was thinking. I also knew saying that could hurt her our relationship, maybe even fatally, but that was the way it was going to be. I waited and walked and tuned out Zane's "What's going on? Who is that blond girl?"
We had covered a couple hundred paces when Night broke her silence, the tiredness apparent to me in her "Just come home to me G. That's all."
edited
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
American Apocalypse IV - Chapter 17a - by Nova
I woke up in the middle of the night, or did in my dream. I wasn't sure what state it was other than it felt real.
"Hello sleepyhead."
Freya was sitting on an overturned five gallon bucket maybe five paces from me. Her hair was unbound, golden, and gleamed in the moonlight which was strange as the sky was overcast with clouds.
"How do you get your hair to gleam like that?"
I wasn't surprised to see her, in fact it seemed pretty natural for her to appear sitting on a bucket in the middle of nowhere.
She replied straight faced "Unicorn urine."
For half a beat she had me believing that but she started to smile and I caught myself.
"That's nice. Pony piss is supposed to be high in vitamins too." I stretched, smiled back, and asked "Bring any cookies?"
Her smile went away. "No. Everything is stale that used to be good. Before you kill people can you ask if they know how to bake?"
She asked it seriously too. Just as seriously I replied "No."
We both stared at each other for a couple of beats, then she grinned and told me "It's good to see you."
"Thanks. Whats up?"
"I've come to bring you home." She looked over at Zane and Woof. Woof was awake too and watching the both of us. She looked over at the sleeping Zane and said "So that's him. The once and future king."
"Somehow I don't think that's Arthur."
She shrugged. "I like saying that. It reminds me of the old days. So that's Max's kid. Kind of scrawny."
That should have taken me by surprise. It didn't. "When did you figure that out?" I was expecting her to tell me she had seen it from afar in the stillness of a pond or a crow had told her. Instead I got "Looks like him and Max is not exactly Mr. Celibate."
"Oh. Okay." Somehow I wasn't really comfortable with the idea of discussing Max's sex life.
"Yes." She looked off into the distance for a second, I heard a crow caw three times, then she said "Warriors are not supposed to be. It's part of the job description." She paused "Well it used to be."
I really hoped this wasn't going to turn into one of those Freya speaks in cryptic phrases conversations. That shit got old fast. "So how far away are they?"
"Maybe twenty miles as the crow flies. Max will send a team to meet you. Just keeping going north when you wake up."
"I thought I was awake."
"No silly man. I'm not going to walk this far unless I have to. Now go to sleep."
That was all I remembered until I woke up just before the dawn. The weird thing there was a five gallon bucket exactly where I dreamed it was.
"Wake him up Woof."
Woof got up and Zane moved. I told him "Wake up kid. We got some walking to do."
"Hello sleepyhead."
Freya was sitting on an overturned five gallon bucket maybe five paces from me. Her hair was unbound, golden, and gleamed in the moonlight which was strange as the sky was overcast with clouds.
"How do you get your hair to gleam like that?"
I wasn't surprised to see her, in fact it seemed pretty natural for her to appear sitting on a bucket in the middle of nowhere.
She replied straight faced "Unicorn urine."
For half a beat she had me believing that but she started to smile and I caught myself.
"That's nice. Pony piss is supposed to be high in vitamins too." I stretched, smiled back, and asked "Bring any cookies?"
Her smile went away. "No. Everything is stale that used to be good. Before you kill people can you ask if they know how to bake?"
She asked it seriously too. Just as seriously I replied "No."
We both stared at each other for a couple of beats, then she grinned and told me "It's good to see you."
"Thanks. Whats up?"
"I've come to bring you home." She looked over at Zane and Woof. Woof was awake too and watching the both of us. She looked over at the sleeping Zane and said "So that's him. The once and future king."
"Somehow I don't think that's Arthur."
She shrugged. "I like saying that. It reminds me of the old days. So that's Max's kid. Kind of scrawny."
That should have taken me by surprise. It didn't. "When did you figure that out?" I was expecting her to tell me she had seen it from afar in the stillness of a pond or a crow had told her. Instead I got "Looks like him and Max is not exactly Mr. Celibate."
"Oh. Okay." Somehow I wasn't really comfortable with the idea of discussing Max's sex life.
"Yes." She looked off into the distance for a second, I heard a crow caw three times, then she said "Warriors are not supposed to be. It's part of the job description." She paused "Well it used to be."
I really hoped this wasn't going to turn into one of those Freya speaks in cryptic phrases conversations. That shit got old fast. "So how far away are they?"
"Maybe twenty miles as the crow flies. Max will send a team to meet you. Just keeping going north when you wake up."
"I thought I was awake."
"No silly man. I'm not going to walk this far unless I have to. Now go to sleep."
That was all I remembered until I woke up just before the dawn. The weird thing there was a five gallon bucket exactly where I dreamed it was.
"Wake him up Woof."
Woof got up and Zane moved. I told him "Wake up kid. We got some walking to do."
American Apocalypse IV - Chapter 17 - by Nova
We drove for a couple of hours through the darkness. When I say darkness, I mean darkness. That was the one the many things I had to get use to was how dark it was out in the country. I had pretty good night vision now thanks to Freya and eating my vegetables whenever I could. Still it was dark and the road was rapidly approaching unusable. I found myself thinking more than once that the trade off for mileage verse the higher clearance and four wheel drive might have been a mistake. I consoled myself that it was only in books and movies where the good guys made all the right choices.
I repeated that to myself when the axle broke. It didn't help but it did wake up Zane who had fallen asleep. I got us all out of the car and loaded up with what we could carry which wasn't much. One of these days I was going to have to find someone to sew up a couple of doggy packs for Woof. I didn't think he would wear them but who knows. We hadn't seen a single car so far and only the occasional light from a farmhouse. I had been sending out Freya connect messages to no avail. Never the less I knew we were close. How I knew I didn't know, but I did. Then cable TV used to have lots of shows about how people had some kind of ability. My Mom liked the Ghost Whisper for just that reason though the best I could tell her only talent was picking losers for boyfriends.
We walked about 300 yards off the road into a clump of trees and found a place to sleep. Zane curled up with Woof and he was back to sleep in seconds. Woof watched me and occasionally lifted his head to sniff the faint breeze that was blowing. The clouds had been building all day and I was sure we were going to end up soaked by noon tomorrow. I saw a bolt of lightening and heard the roll of thunder and revised that to very soon. My problem was I didn't know the weather here. It was hot, sticky and the breeze felt good. Maybe the rain would cool it down. With that I stretched out and told Woof he had the first, second, and third watches. I would relieve him before dawn. He seemed okay with that idea.
Note: Sorry about the slow posting. I have a lot going on at the moment. Thanks for reading.
I repeated that to myself when the axle broke. It didn't help but it did wake up Zane who had fallen asleep. I got us all out of the car and loaded up with what we could carry which wasn't much. One of these days I was going to have to find someone to sew up a couple of doggy packs for Woof. I didn't think he would wear them but who knows. We hadn't seen a single car so far and only the occasional light from a farmhouse. I had been sending out Freya connect messages to no avail. Never the less I knew we were close. How I knew I didn't know, but I did. Then cable TV used to have lots of shows about how people had some kind of ability. My Mom liked the Ghost Whisper for just that reason though the best I could tell her only talent was picking losers for boyfriends.
We walked about 300 yards off the road into a clump of trees and found a place to sleep. Zane curled up with Woof and he was back to sleep in seconds. Woof watched me and occasionally lifted his head to sniff the faint breeze that was blowing. The clouds had been building all day and I was sure we were going to end up soaked by noon tomorrow. I saw a bolt of lightening and heard the roll of thunder and revised that to very soon. My problem was I didn't know the weather here. It was hot, sticky and the breeze felt good. Maybe the rain would cool it down. With that I stretched out and told Woof he had the first, second, and third watches. I would relieve him before dawn. He seemed okay with that idea.
Note: Sorry about the slow posting. I have a lot going on at the moment. Thanks for reading.
Friday, January 14, 2011
American Apocalypse IV - Chapter 16d - by Nova
The place was empty. I thought "Everyone had shown up to watch the fight and get their tickets punched." I laughed to myself. I really cracked me up sometimes. I found a cardboard box and began loading it up with what looked worth taking from the kitchen. There wasn't much. I walked back to find Zane sitting in the same place I had left him, my .38 on the table, his arm around Woof and the dead already attracting flies.
I set the box on the table, slipped the .38 into a pocket, and told Zane "Go through their pockets, look for keys, we need a new ride."
He hadn't looked up at me when I came in and he wasn't responding to what I told him to do. I bit back my irritation, took a deep breath, and dropped to a knee so we were all at the same level. "Zane." He twitched but he didn't look at me. "Zane." He slowly turned his head to look at me and I saw he had been crying. In the softest voice I could manage I told him "Zane. It sucks. I know. Your Mom is somewhere around here. I need you to help me find her."
He looked at me blankly and I watched as he came back to reality. It took longer than I wanted but he did. I got a nod from him and "I'm okay." I doubted that but all I needed was him functioning. "Lets change up. I'll look for the keys. I want you to go pour their drinks from the bar on the floor. Do the same for any alcohol you can find behind the bar. Okay?"
"Got it."
"Okay." I slapped him on the shoulder and stood up ignoring the twinge of pain in my hip. "Let's do it."
We did it. I tossed the handguns from the bodies in the box with the food I found. It ended up full. I found a couple of sets of keys with clickers. I was going to drive all night and hope for the best. Not much of a plan but it was about all I could think of. I wasn't all that much of a plan guy anyways.
I set the box on the table, slipped the .38 into a pocket, and told Zane "Go through their pockets, look for keys, we need a new ride."
He hadn't looked up at me when I came in and he wasn't responding to what I told him to do. I bit back my irritation, took a deep breath, and dropped to a knee so we were all at the same level. "Zane." He twitched but he didn't look at me. "Zane." He slowly turned his head to look at me and I saw he had been crying. In the softest voice I could manage I told him "Zane. It sucks. I know. Your Mom is somewhere around here. I need you to help me find her."
He looked at me blankly and I watched as he came back to reality. It took longer than I wanted but he did. I got a nod from him and "I'm okay." I doubted that but all I needed was him functioning. "Lets change up. I'll look for the keys. I want you to go pour their drinks from the bar on the floor. Do the same for any alcohol you can find behind the bar. Okay?"
"Got it."
"Okay." I slapped him on the shoulder and stood up ignoring the twinge of pain in my hip. "Let's do it."
We did it. I tossed the handguns from the bodies in the box with the food I found. It ended up full. I found a couple of sets of keys with clickers. I was going to drive all night and hope for the best. Not much of a plan but it was about all I could think of. I wasn't all that much of a plan guy anyways.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
American Apocalypse IV - Chapter 16c - by Nova
There was a beat of stunned silence while they absorbed the fact that the world champion Indiana Militia mascot was no more.
As soon as they had come around the corner I had been doing the death math in my head. Who is armed with what? What are the angles for my shots? Who has the right and wrong look in the eyes? The big what if? running all the time in the background. One of these days I was going to guess wrong and pay but I didn't care. If anything it just made it better. What was weird was I had sucked in math all my life but I was good at this. Good enough that you could have blindfolded me right then and I still was sure I could run the table.
In that one stunned beat of time I shot two of the Militia guys in the face, then I recocked and dropped the Rugers back in their holsters. Unsafe? Who cared when the fraction of a second saved made all the difference in a gunfight. While I did that I read faces. The waitress was just raising her hand to wipe blood and brain spray off her face. The couple that had been at the bar when we came in were dropping their jaws. The remaining Militia guy was going for his gun. They hadn't brought their rifles with them and this wasn't rifle work anyway. Woof had launched and brought down the bartender. That left five people, the bouncer and Militia guy being first in the queue.
Max had told me "Never react the way they expect. Act in the way that benefits you first." Well, it was something profound like that. Anyways I had been working and refining my responses since. Plus I liked blade work, maybe more than I liked my Rugers. Also it made a difference I had found. In close quarters a long gleaming piece of steel totally scared people who might have hung in there and exchanged rounds with me.
I drew Sword, stepped forward, and buried the blade about four inches into the remaining Militia mans gut. Sword could be swung with two hands but the blade was shorter than "real" swords. It had been made with the dominant infantry weapon of the world in mind, the Roman short sword, and had been adapted to the conditions that came 400 years later. It was deadly in close and I liked getting close. I screamed "Freya!" then stepped forward again and punched the couple with two quick jabs of steel..
I turned, trying to relocate the bouncer, and tangled my feet in the bartender who was on the floor screaming. I had decided to skip him and it had been a mistake. I had gone forward to reach the couple and he had used that extra bit of time to pull his weapon. I saw him out of the corner of my eye, turned, did the math, and thrust Sword at him while screaming "Freya! again" It was enough to make his first shot miss and for me to draw and not miss.
I turned again and saw the waitress coming fast and already way to close with a steak knife gripped tight in her hand. I did the math and thought "Shit. I fucked up." There was a loud bang and she stopped, looked at Zane in surprise, opened her mouth to say something but it remained unsaid because he shot her again. I looked at him, his face was white but his hands were steady and he was still pointing it at her as she went down.
I told him "Point it down and stay with Woof. I have to see if we're clear."
I was moving towards where the kitchen had to be when he stopped me in my tracks. "Gardener. I killed her." It wasn't the words that stopped me. It was how he said them. I knew he was having a moment. The problem was there was no time for it.
"Yeah. You saved my life too." Then I got moving.
As soon as they had come around the corner I had been doing the death math in my head. Who is armed with what? What are the angles for my shots? Who has the right and wrong look in the eyes? The big what if? running all the time in the background. One of these days I was going to guess wrong and pay but I didn't care. If anything it just made it better. What was weird was I had sucked in math all my life but I was good at this. Good enough that you could have blindfolded me right then and I still was sure I could run the table.
In that one stunned beat of time I shot two of the Militia guys in the face, then I recocked and dropped the Rugers back in their holsters. Unsafe? Who cared when the fraction of a second saved made all the difference in a gunfight. While I did that I read faces. The waitress was just raising her hand to wipe blood and brain spray off her face. The couple that had been at the bar when we came in were dropping their jaws. The remaining Militia guy was going for his gun. They hadn't brought their rifles with them and this wasn't rifle work anyway. Woof had launched and brought down the bartender. That left five people, the bouncer and Militia guy being first in the queue.
Max had told me "Never react the way they expect. Act in the way that benefits you first." Well, it was something profound like that. Anyways I had been working and refining my responses since. Plus I liked blade work, maybe more than I liked my Rugers. Also it made a difference I had found. In close quarters a long gleaming piece of steel totally scared people who might have hung in there and exchanged rounds with me.
I drew Sword, stepped forward, and buried the blade about four inches into the remaining Militia mans gut. Sword could be swung with two hands but the blade was shorter than "real" swords. It had been made with the dominant infantry weapon of the world in mind, the Roman short sword, and had been adapted to the conditions that came 400 years later. It was deadly in close and I liked getting close. I screamed "Freya!" then stepped forward again and punched the couple with two quick jabs of steel..
I turned, trying to relocate the bouncer, and tangled my feet in the bartender who was on the floor screaming. I had decided to skip him and it had been a mistake. I had gone forward to reach the couple and he had used that extra bit of time to pull his weapon. I saw him out of the corner of my eye, turned, did the math, and thrust Sword at him while screaming "Freya! again" It was enough to make his first shot miss and for me to draw and not miss.
I turned again and saw the waitress coming fast and already way to close with a steak knife gripped tight in her hand. I did the math and thought "Shit. I fucked up." There was a loud bang and she stopped, looked at Zane in surprise, opened her mouth to say something but it remained unsaid because he shot her again. I looked at him, his face was white but his hands were steady and he was still pointing it at her as she went down.
I told him "Point it down and stay with Woof. I have to see if we're clear."
I was moving towards where the kitchen had to be when he stopped me in my tracks. "Gardener. I killed her." It wasn't the words that stopped me. It was how he said them. I knew he was having a moment. The problem was there was no time for it.
"Yeah. You saved my life too." Then I got moving.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
American Apocalypse IV - Chapter 16b - by Nova
She came back with the bowls and was smiling all the way. Just before she had come back one of the militia boys had looked around the corner and given us a thumbs up.
"Here you go honey" She set the bowls down and brightly asked "Will there be anything else?"
"How about some utensils and something to drink?"
"Oh my" She covered her mouth with her hand, laughed, and said "I'm so sorry. Ice tea or water?" Zane and I both said "Ice tea." When she left he semi-whispered "Shes not real smart is she?"
I shrugged and told him "Give Woof his bowl. He doesn't need any utensils." He set the bowl down and we both watched Woof sniff it and pass. Zane looked at me. I looked at him. He said "It can't be that bad."
"Naw. Woofs probably still full from his Mexican food. Grab it and we can split it." I noticed he didn't hesitate to reach down for it either. The waitress came back with the rest of our stuff, apologized a couple more times, and finally left. We dug in. It was bad but edible. No meat. Just beans and a tomato sauce. I'm a fast eater but Zane was faster. I pushed the other bowl over to him and said "That's yours. I'm getting full." He nodded and swapped the bowls out like a pro. He was almost done with the second bowl when it started. "Nice timing" I thought.Woof had stood up and was in his warning stance.
Five beats later the bartender was towed around the corner by one big, ugly, scared brown pit bull. Behind the bartender trailed the militia members and everyone else in the place. Woof was bigger by 70 lbs was my guess. He was growling from deep down inside and I felt it inside my gut where it was making the crappy chili vibrate. The pit bull didn't make a sound. He just looked at Woof and sneered. He had taken some hits, the missing ear said that, as did the bite marks and scars. He didn't look bothered because my guess was he had never lost. The scratched up one inch wide steel collar he was wearing helped that winning streak I'm sure.
I got up from the table and stood at an angle in front of Woof. "What you got there?" I asked them casually.
Bartender told me proudly "This here is the mascot of the Indiana Militia! Never been beat. No sir. Just like us."
"No shit." I nodded gravely. "Nice dog. It have a name?"
Bartender and everyone else grinned. He told me "Yes indeed. We call him...Vick."
I laughed. So did everyone else. We were all becoming such buddies.
"So why you showing me your dog?
He looked around at his buddies. The grins had changed. They weren't the lets laugh kind of grins. They were slimy and more than a little maggoty.
"Well, we figure you being a rich Zoner" he really stepped on the word Zoner too, "that you might want to bet. You know...your dog against ours."
"If I don't?"
The grins got mean and he told me "I guess you don't got much of a choice."
I smiled at them, drew, and pumped two .357 rounds into Vick. As the sound died away I recocked and told them "I always got choices."
"Here you go honey" She set the bowls down and brightly asked "Will there be anything else?"
"How about some utensils and something to drink?"
"Oh my" She covered her mouth with her hand, laughed, and said "I'm so sorry. Ice tea or water?" Zane and I both said "Ice tea." When she left he semi-whispered "Shes not real smart is she?"
I shrugged and told him "Give Woof his bowl. He doesn't need any utensils." He set the bowl down and we both watched Woof sniff it and pass. Zane looked at me. I looked at him. He said "It can't be that bad."
"Naw. Woofs probably still full from his Mexican food. Grab it and we can split it." I noticed he didn't hesitate to reach down for it either. The waitress came back with the rest of our stuff, apologized a couple more times, and finally left. We dug in. It was bad but edible. No meat. Just beans and a tomato sauce. I'm a fast eater but Zane was faster. I pushed the other bowl over to him and said "That's yours. I'm getting full." He nodded and swapped the bowls out like a pro. He was almost done with the second bowl when it started. "Nice timing" I thought.Woof had stood up and was in his warning stance.
Five beats later the bartender was towed around the corner by one big, ugly, scared brown pit bull. Behind the bartender trailed the militia members and everyone else in the place. Woof was bigger by 70 lbs was my guess. He was growling from deep down inside and I felt it inside my gut where it was making the crappy chili vibrate. The pit bull didn't make a sound. He just looked at Woof and sneered. He had taken some hits, the missing ear said that, as did the bite marks and scars. He didn't look bothered because my guess was he had never lost. The scratched up one inch wide steel collar he was wearing helped that winning streak I'm sure.
I got up from the table and stood at an angle in front of Woof. "What you got there?" I asked them casually.
Bartender told me proudly "This here is the mascot of the Indiana Militia! Never been beat. No sir. Just like us."
"No shit." I nodded gravely. "Nice dog. It have a name?"
Bartender and everyone else grinned. He told me "Yes indeed. We call him...Vick."
I laughed. So did everyone else. We were all becoming such buddies.
"So why you showing me your dog?
He looked around at his buddies. The grins had changed. They weren't the lets laugh kind of grins. They were slimy and more than a little maggoty.
"Well, we figure you being a rich Zoner" he really stepped on the word Zoner too, "that you might want to bet. You know...your dog against ours."
"If I don't?"
The grins got mean and he told me "I guess you don't got much of a choice."
I smiled at them, drew, and pumped two .357 rounds into Vick. As the sound died away I recocked and told them "I always got choices."
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
American Apocalypse IV - Chapter 16 - by Nova
I was halfway across the gravel parking lot, I really like listening to the sound of gravel crunching under my boots, when it hit me. I was close! No. No bird email. No Freya. I just knew. I yelled "Yessss!" and turned around and told Zane and Woof "We're close. I know it." Zane yelled "Yea!!!" Woof just looked bored.
I covered the rest of the ground to the door feeling good until I saw the crude sign at the doors. It said:
"Put your arm down very, very slowly I told him."
He did.
"Thank you. You do serve food right?"
He nodded his head. He wasn't paying attention to me. He was entirely focused on Woof.
"Who's the men at the bar?"
I had noticed the right away. Three guys talking to the bartender who was a piece of work just by himself. They were drinking something clear out of tumblers and I knew it wasn't water. Two of them were wearing armor and they were trying real hard to look like they were military. They had a couple of black plastic AR looking clones and a Russian SKS that looked pretty nice. I could see two handguns which meant I had a lefty or less likely, someone who didn't have a handgun. The bartender looked like a shotgun type and the bouncer had a handgun tucked under his t-shirt which he had made no attempt to go for. The other male and female who were talking didn't look like much. Her worse weapon probably required money and wouldn't show up right away.
"Indiana Militia."
He said it like it meant something.
"Nice." I told him. Then I started walking over to the other side of the room to an empty table. I hoped Zane would have enough since to follow. He did.
I covered the rest of the ground to the door feeling good until I saw the crude sign at the doors. It said:
No Zone Punks Allowed
Someone had keyed threw the "Punks" and scratched "Bitches" underneath it. "Nice" I thought and locked the good feeling away.
Without thinking about it I flashed the hand sign for "On Me" and walked in. As soon as I cleared the door I knew it was going to be an interesting night. It was a shit hole. It had been one before PowerDown, hell, probably since it was built, and would be until the end of time or someone burned it to the ground.
They had a bouncer working the door. He was big, bald, and had a nice snake tat on his neck. He looked fierce but I didn't think it went all the way to the core.
I told him "Table for three." It looked like it was going be time to find out how much Max the kid had in him. Then I grinned at him. I don't think he was used to witty banter because all he could come up with was "No dogs."
"Service dog." Then I walked past him. I thought he would let it slide but of course not. They seemed to breed that type out this way. He held out his arm to block Zane and said "No minors allow..." That was a mistake. I am fast but Woof was closer. I drew and had the barrel of the Ruger between his eyes. Woof silenced the place. All eyes had been on us when we came in but they were talking. Woof's growl silenced everyone except the jukebox which was playing Toby Keith's "As Good As I Once Was." Not one of my favorites by any means.
He did.
"Thank you. You do serve food right?"
He nodded his head. He wasn't paying attention to me. He was entirely focused on Woof.
"Who's the men at the bar?"
I had noticed the right away. Three guys talking to the bartender who was a piece of work just by himself. They were drinking something clear out of tumblers and I knew it wasn't water. Two of them were wearing armor and they were trying real hard to look like they were military. They had a couple of black plastic AR looking clones and a Russian SKS that looked pretty nice. I could see two handguns which meant I had a lefty or less likely, someone who didn't have a handgun. The bartender looked like a shotgun type and the bouncer had a handgun tucked under his t-shirt which he had made no attempt to go for. The other male and female who were talking didn't look like much. Her worse weapon probably required money and wouldn't show up right away.
"Indiana Militia."
He said it like it meant something.
"Nice." I told him. Then I started walking over to the other side of the room to an empty table. I hoped Zane would have enough since to follow. He did.
American Apocalypse IV - Chapter 15d - by Nova
We finally got it together and I started us rolling though both of us for the next couple of hours would look at each other and bust out laughing.
"So what's up Gardener? Where are we going? Is my Mom here?"
"We need to eat. We're heading northwest. I hope so" I grinned at him. "Did I miss anything?"
"Do you think we are close?"
"I hope so. You get anything at night? Any dreams?"
He shook his head, looked down at the floorboard and mumbled "Sometimes I think I might never have another dream or see my mom again." Even quieter he said "Sometimes I'm afraid I will forget what she looks like."
I thought about what he said and told him the truth, or at least my truth, "Your Mom is unforgettable kid. Trust me on that one."
He nodded his head but I doubt if what I said helped.
We were losing the light when I spotted the tavern. It was busy and it probably had shitty food but it would do. We parked away from everyone. I don't know why I bothered. I knew we would come back out and find a big ass SUV or truck parked next to us and closer than I liked. Such is life. I thought about leaving Woof in the truck but I decided not to. No reason really. It just felt right.
"C'mon Zane. Lets go see how bad they can screw up a bowl of soup."
"Good. I'm hungry."
I was getting ready to jump down out of the truck when, for no reason, it just seemed right, I stopped and told Zane "Hold up." I dug the snub nosed .38 I carried strapped in a holster around my boot and handed it to him.
"Look at me" I told him.
I waited until he was, struck again by his eyes and who they reminded me of, and asked him "No bullshit. Can you use this?"
"Yes."
I didn't hear anything I didn't like in that "Yes" so I told him "Find a place to put it" and handed it to him. Then I dropped down out of the cab, and headed towards the tavern. I didn't call him and I didn't hear Zane call him either but Woof was out of the truck and looking at the tavern.
"So what's up Gardener? Where are we going? Is my Mom here?"
"We need to eat. We're heading northwest. I hope so" I grinned at him. "Did I miss anything?"
"Do you think we are close?"
"I hope so. You get anything at night? Any dreams?"
He shook his head, looked down at the floorboard and mumbled "Sometimes I think I might never have another dream or see my mom again." Even quieter he said "Sometimes I'm afraid I will forget what she looks like."
I thought about what he said and told him the truth, or at least my truth, "Your Mom is unforgettable kid. Trust me on that one."
He nodded his head but I doubt if what I said helped.
We were losing the light when I spotted the tavern. It was busy and it probably had shitty food but it would do. We parked away from everyone. I don't know why I bothered. I knew we would come back out and find a big ass SUV or truck parked next to us and closer than I liked. Such is life. I thought about leaving Woof in the truck but I decided not to. No reason really. It just felt right.
"C'mon Zane. Lets go see how bad they can screw up a bowl of soup."
"Good. I'm hungry."
I was getting ready to jump down out of the truck when, for no reason, it just seemed right, I stopped and told Zane "Hold up." I dug the snub nosed .38 I carried strapped in a holster around my boot and handed it to him.
"Look at me" I told him.
I waited until he was, struck again by his eyes and who they reminded me of, and asked him "No bullshit. Can you use this?"
"Yes."
I didn't hear anything I didn't like in that "Yes" so I told him "Find a place to put it" and handed it to him. Then I dropped down out of the cab, and headed towards the tavern. I didn't call him and I didn't hear Zane call him either but Woof was out of the truck and looking at the tavern.
American Apocalypse IV - Chapter 15c - by Nova
He went, sobbing every step of the way. I went around the truck and found Zane where I thought I would. I told him "Toss the phones and gear out the door."
"Gardener?"
"Yeah?"
"Does Woof eat everyone?
"I haven't seen him eat any Black people yet."
"No..." His voice trailed off. "I mean is he bad like those people are?"
"No. Though lately he has been pretty worthless. Get moving. I want to get out of here."
I yelled at Woof "Get your ass in the truck Woof!" He just looked at me and went back to working on detaching Jesus's left leg below the knee. Juan was watching this and it was making him most unhappy. He might have been good with the young chickens but he wasn't impressing me.
Woof wasn't moving. I shrugged, slammed the gate shut, and got in the cab. Zane was looking at me all worried "Your not leaving Woof?"
"No kid. Just seeing how fast he can run."
We rolled out moving slow. Slow enough that I could look back over my shoulder and watch Woof look puzzled while Juan got up and moved towards the pile we had left. Zane was watching with me and yelling "Woof! Woof!" That did it. Woof got to his feet with the leg bone clenched in his jaw and came running. Juan saw Woof, screamed and went running head long into a picnic table. "That had to hurt" I told Zane. Woof landed with a thump in the back and Zane and I laughed so hard I had to stop driving for a couple of minutes. It's the little things like that that make life worth living.
"Gardener?"
"Yeah?"
"Does Woof eat everyone?
"I haven't seen him eat any Black people yet."
"No..." His voice trailed off. "I mean is he bad like those people are?"
"No. Though lately he has been pretty worthless. Get moving. I want to get out of here."
I yelled at Woof "Get your ass in the truck Woof!" He just looked at me and went back to working on detaching Jesus's left leg below the knee. Juan was watching this and it was making him most unhappy. He might have been good with the young chickens but he wasn't impressing me.
Woof wasn't moving. I shrugged, slammed the gate shut, and got in the cab. Zane was looking at me all worried "Your not leaving Woof?"
"No kid. Just seeing how fast he can run."
We rolled out moving slow. Slow enough that I could look back over my shoulder and watch Woof look puzzled while Juan got up and moved towards the pile we had left. Zane was watching with me and yelling "Woof! Woof!" That did it. Woof got to his feet with the leg bone clenched in his jaw and came running. Juan saw Woof, screamed and went running head long into a picnic table. "That had to hurt" I told Zane. Woof landed with a thump in the back and Zane and I laughed so hard I had to stop driving for a couple of minutes. It's the little things like that that make life worth living.
Monday, January 10, 2011
American Apocalypse IV - Chapter 15a - by Nova
I turned around slowly and started back towards them while quietly saying "Tell me about these bodies."
Juan replied just as slowly "You don't know?"
Jesus looked at him and said something fast in Spanish. I caught "Federales" and the look in his eyes told me even more. This guy was scared shitless. My hand was slapping leather at the same time they decided to bolt. Juan changed his mind when I drew on him. My problem was I was facing them and they both gone in different directions. Juan had gone to my left, well he had attempted to, Jesus had gone the other way and had caught me in an awkward position. I was backing up trying to swing enough around so I could get both weapons pointed in the right direction without being off balance and turning my back on Juan.
I did it but it took a couple beats. While I was doing that a big fast moving fur blur crossed my peripheral vision. Woof had finally decided to get off his ass and provide some backup. Juan and I watched Woof hit Jesus like a four footed land shark and take him down hard. I saw the plea in Juan's eyes for me to stop Woof. I shrugged and told him "Talk to me. Now."
He swallowed hard and shook his head "No."
"What?" I was incredulous. "Look. I have somewhere I need to be. You, I hope, want to live. Talk and you can go."
Jesus picked up the volume on his screaming for a second. "Nice timing Woof" I thought. He switched to gurgling as Woof got past his guard and ripped his throat out.
"You really let me go?"
I really wanted to kill him about then but I wanted to know about the bodies. "Yes. Stop fucking around."
In the background a bone cracked. I stepped back as Juan threw up. While he was puking Zane called for me "Is Woof okay? Can I..."
"No! Keep your ass in the truck."
I told Juan "You got five seconds to quit puking and start talking." Then I started counting. He hadn't eaten much lately because he was talking by the time I said "Three."
"Pardon" he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and I stayed where I was. His breath stunk. "Me and Jesus" he gestured in Woofs direction without looking. "We worked in a chicken plant not far from here. Everyone left when the power went out. We didn't." He shrugged "We had no car and no money. We stayed and ate chicken until it made us throw up. Then we ate the rats. We did what we had too." He made a quick sign of the cross and continued "We tried robbing but we didn't have guns. That was not good. We were..." He paused, obviously searching for the English word and gave up "Rats. We had to go. We found a car and we were going to drive to El Salvador. We made it not far from here."
"Can we move this along. I really want to move." I was getting that feeling, The one that told me it was time to go."
Juan replied just as slowly "You don't know?"
Jesus looked at him and said something fast in Spanish. I caught "Federales" and the look in his eyes told me even more. This guy was scared shitless. My hand was slapping leather at the same time they decided to bolt. Juan changed his mind when I drew on him. My problem was I was facing them and they both gone in different directions. Juan had gone to my left, well he had attempted to, Jesus had gone the other way and had caught me in an awkward position. I was backing up trying to swing enough around so I could get both weapons pointed in the right direction without being off balance and turning my back on Juan.
I did it but it took a couple beats. While I was doing that a big fast moving fur blur crossed my peripheral vision. Woof had finally decided to get off his ass and provide some backup. Juan and I watched Woof hit Jesus like a four footed land shark and take him down hard. I saw the plea in Juan's eyes for me to stop Woof. I shrugged and told him "Talk to me. Now."
He swallowed hard and shook his head "No."
"What?" I was incredulous. "Look. I have somewhere I need to be. You, I hope, want to live. Talk and you can go."
Jesus picked up the volume on his screaming for a second. "Nice timing Woof" I thought. He switched to gurgling as Woof got past his guard and ripped his throat out.
"You really let me go?"
I really wanted to kill him about then but I wanted to know about the bodies. "Yes. Stop fucking around."
In the background a bone cracked. I stepped back as Juan threw up. While he was puking Zane called for me "Is Woof okay? Can I..."
"No! Keep your ass in the truck."
I told Juan "You got five seconds to quit puking and start talking." Then I started counting. He hadn't eaten much lately because he was talking by the time I said "Three."
"Pardon" he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and I stayed where I was. His breath stunk. "Me and Jesus" he gestured in Woofs direction without looking. "We worked in a chicken plant not far from here. Everyone left when the power went out. We didn't." He shrugged "We had no car and no money. We stayed and ate chicken until it made us throw up. Then we ate the rats. We did what we had too." He made a quick sign of the cross and continued "We tried robbing but we didn't have guns. That was not good. We were..." He paused, obviously searching for the English word and gave up "Rats. We had to go. We found a car and we were going to drive to El Salvador. We made it not far from here."
"Can we move this along. I really want to move." I was getting that feeling, The one that told me it was time to go."
American Apocalypse IV - Chapter 15 - by Nova
We rolled with only minor slowdowns. The worst delay was near Louisville outside of La Grange which I had thought was in Texas. I remember one of my "Uncles" playing some band that sang a song about it over and over. He would be sitting back in the recliner, knocking back a bear or five, and would tell me "That's real music boy. They don't play shit like this no more. " I learned not to come inside when he started playing that music, especially if Mom was home. He got excitable and he when he did they went at it like animals. It also didn't help that I had, without thinking, said "Thank God" the first time he told me that.
I blew down the side of the road and stopped only when I had to. The Army guy told me they were conducting a tactical counter insurgency sweep a couple of miles away and they didn't want people getting off the ramps and driving into the operational area. He was more than a little patronizing about telling me this too. I told him that was great but I was transporting suspected insurgents to Louisville and I was not going to be getting off on any ramps around here. He gave me reluctant tactical permission to proceed. I resisted the desire to shoot him, got back in the truck and kept going. It was nice. No traffic and I was able to stay at 60 mph for about 30 minutes. I was feeling good. I started looking for crows and trying to contact Freya. I saw plenty of crows but I wasn't getting a connection yet.
It was a couple of hours before nightfall and I wanted to find something to eat and a place to sleep so I took the off ramp from I-64 a few miles out of Louisville for some state highway that desperately needed its pot holes filled in three years ago. Driving one of those electric hybrid cars might save you some money but if they didn't start fixing these local roads soon you would end up saving even more gas because that hybrid wasn't going to be able to go anywhere. Even the Interstate required me to keep the speed down so I could avoid some of the holes that pockmarked it. Jesus and Juan appreciated it I'm sure. They were going to be even more bruised since they had been bouncing around in the back every time I caught a hole too fast.
I pulled off the state road into a roadside pullover that was the home of a couple of sofas and a burnt our car of unknown make. There was an empty suitcase in the weeds not far from it and some clothes that were well on the way to rotting into rags strewn around it. Leftovers from someone else who tried to make a run for it. It was getting to the point were I didn't even notice anymore the wrecks that still littered the roads.
"Okay Zane. Gather up all our cell phones and the other stuff they gave us at the camp. Get them together and stay in the truck for now."
I jumped down, closed the cab door behind me and told my two terrorists "Hey guys." Then I dropped the gate and motioned them to get out. Once they were out I told them "Okay. Turn around." That's when the older one dropped to his knees and began begging me not to shoot him.
I looked at him. I looked at the younger one who looked like he was going to bust out into tears any second and said "You idiots. I'm not going to shoot you. I'm going to cut you loose. Get up and turn around."
Both of them were babbling their thanks as I cut them loose. I think the young one wanted hug me but changed his mind. I'm not really a hugging type of guy.
"Look. I'm going to leave you some clothes and cell phones. They're yours. Just don't tell anyone where you got them. You're on your own."
Juan and Jesus were still thanking me and swearing on some saints heart they would never say anything. I had backed up a bit as I wanted a little room when I walked back to the truck. I had made it halfway when the younger one stopped me cold. He said "Don't worry sir. We tell no one about the bodies we saw in the garbage."
I blew down the side of the road and stopped only when I had to. The Army guy told me they were conducting a tactical counter insurgency sweep a couple of miles away and they didn't want people getting off the ramps and driving into the operational area. He was more than a little patronizing about telling me this too. I told him that was great but I was transporting suspected insurgents to Louisville and I was not going to be getting off on any ramps around here. He gave me reluctant tactical permission to proceed. I resisted the desire to shoot him, got back in the truck and kept going. It was nice. No traffic and I was able to stay at 60 mph for about 30 minutes. I was feeling good. I started looking for crows and trying to contact Freya. I saw plenty of crows but I wasn't getting a connection yet.
It was a couple of hours before nightfall and I wanted to find something to eat and a place to sleep so I took the off ramp from I-64 a few miles out of Louisville for some state highway that desperately needed its pot holes filled in three years ago. Driving one of those electric hybrid cars might save you some money but if they didn't start fixing these local roads soon you would end up saving even more gas because that hybrid wasn't going to be able to go anywhere. Even the Interstate required me to keep the speed down so I could avoid some of the holes that pockmarked it. Jesus and Juan appreciated it I'm sure. They were going to be even more bruised since they had been bouncing around in the back every time I caught a hole too fast.
I pulled off the state road into a roadside pullover that was the home of a couple of sofas and a burnt our car of unknown make. There was an empty suitcase in the weeds not far from it and some clothes that were well on the way to rotting into rags strewn around it. Leftovers from someone else who tried to make a run for it. It was getting to the point were I didn't even notice anymore the wrecks that still littered the roads.
"Okay Zane. Gather up all our cell phones and the other stuff they gave us at the camp. Get them together and stay in the truck for now."
I jumped down, closed the cab door behind me and told my two terrorists "Hey guys." Then I dropped the gate and motioned them to get out. Once they were out I told them "Okay. Turn around." That's when the older one dropped to his knees and began begging me not to shoot him.
I looked at him. I looked at the younger one who looked like he was going to bust out into tears any second and said "You idiots. I'm not going to shoot you. I'm going to cut you loose. Get up and turn around."
Both of them were babbling their thanks as I cut them loose. I think the young one wanted hug me but changed his mind. I'm not really a hugging type of guy.
"Look. I'm going to leave you some clothes and cell phones. They're yours. Just don't tell anyone where you got them. You're on your own."
Juan and Jesus were still thanking me and swearing on some saints heart they would never say anything. I had backed up a bit as I wanted a little room when I walked back to the truck. I had made it halfway when the younger one stopped me cold. He said "Don't worry sir. We tell no one about the bodies we saw in the garbage."
Saturday, January 8, 2011
American Apocalypse IV - Chapter 14b - by Nova
She agreed to everything but wouldn't commit to the cookies. I decided to see what happened there. I really was in the mood for cookies. Of course there was paperwork and of course it was somewhere else. Somewhere else this time was on the other side of the road. The gas pump was about a mile or so away at the airport. Much to my amusement it was called "Clinton Field." She didn't hesitate to tell me it was because this was Clinton County and that was why it was called that. When I came out of the office, not to my surprise, a group of uniforms were waiting me. Corn Fed of course was one of them.
I stopped on the wooden landing they had built for the door and looked at them. I waited for all of them to focus on me and then told them "Didn't you all forget something here?"
"What's that hot shot?" This from Corn Fed.
"Handicap ramp."
"We don't have any handicapped here except maybe you asshole." Corn Fed had pushed it to far. I knew he would. I sighed. I probably wasn't going to get my cookies now.
I walked down the two steps and kept going until I was standing a few paces away from Corn Fed. He had his color up again and I knew where he wanted to go with this. So I snap kicked him in the balls. As he doubled over from the pain I drew and whipped the Ruger upside his head. He went down. Then I scanned each one of them and said "You're going to need the ramp now."
I stopped on the wooden landing they had built for the door and looked at them. I waited for all of them to focus on me and then told them "Didn't you all forget something here?"
"What's that hot shot?" This from Corn Fed.
"Handicap ramp."
"We don't have any handicapped here except maybe you asshole." Corn Fed had pushed it to far. I knew he would. I sighed. I probably wasn't going to get my cookies now.
I walked down the two steps and kept going until I was standing a few paces away from Corn Fed. He had his color up again and I knew where he wanted to go with this. So I snap kicked him in the balls. As he doubled over from the pain I drew and whipped the Ruger upside his head. He went down. Then I scanned each one of them and said "You're going to need the ramp now."
Friday, January 7, 2011
American Apocalypse IV - Chapter 14a - by Nova
I walked over to the coffee pot, poured myself a cup, and asked her if they had any doughnuts. I thought I had blown her up but she caught herself and laughed.
"No. No we don't. She shook her head, snorted, and told me "You want to hurry up? My shift ends soon."
I just nodded my head. I couldn't say anything because they kept their coffee hot enough to melt a McDonald's and I had just burned the shit out of my tongue and lip.
She held out her hand and said "Credentials."
I slapped them into her hand and watched her. She gave them a cursory look, gestured at a nearby chair, and told me to pull it up and sit down.
She dropped my credentials to her desktop, pulled on a head set, and starting clicking with her mouse. She looked over at me like she was measuring me for a suit, then she adjusted the web cam clipped to the top of her monitor. That's when I got a "Oh shit" feeling in the pit of my stomach. She gave me an evil grin and told her microphone "This is Forward Base 71/Bravo 2. This is Captain Jennings and I would like to talk to the Marshall please. Yes, I can wait."
She didn't lose her evil smile when she told me "I am doing a visual confirmation. I'm sure you won't mind Mr. Gardener."
"Nope. Do what you got to do."
She drummed her fingers and worked on trying to twist a kink out of her neck. I blew on my coffee and tried to drink some more. I was hoping to have drank enough that I could grab a refill on the way out.
"He's not available? Fine. Yes, I will talk to Marshall Lee."
She cleared her throat. "Hello Marshall. Yes. I will be playing softball this year. Great! Yes, she isn't bad. I'll ask her. No. No. Ah...yes. Why I'm calling is to have you ID one of your people. Hang on."
She reached up and adjusted the cam. I smiled and waved. "Really. I see. I see. I'll tell him. Sir! Before you go. I have a job I could use a Marshall on. We're short handed and I need him to help with a prisoner transfer. Yes. I will. Thank..."
"He hung up you. Didn't he." It was my turn to grin evilly.
"No. He got busy."
She sniffed and pretended to be busy for about a minute then said "He told me tell you job well done."
I shrugged modestly. I knew she wanted to ask what I had done but she didn't. Instead she said "I need a couple of prisoners run down to the Louisville courthouse." She paused a space and added "That's what you people do isn't it?"
"You sure you don't have any doughnuts are cookies?"
"No!"
"Oh. So what's the story on them?"
Her voice turned on a dime. Now it was clipped and professional. "Two male Hispanics. We caught them digging into a landfill east of here."
I laughed. "A fucking landfill! You're kidding?"
Her voice got even tighter "No. It was federal property. Plus they had priors and someone thinks they may have connections to the Republic of Aztlan."
I drained my cup of coffee. Damn if it wasn't still hot. "Okay. I might need one of them Abrams to run security for me."
"Are you going to do this or not?"
I walked over to the coffeepot and poured myself a cup. I had to tilt the pot to get it. No wonder it tasted like shit and was molten.
"If you can gas me up and find me some cookies I will."
"No. No we don't. She shook her head, snorted, and told me "You want to hurry up? My shift ends soon."
I just nodded my head. I couldn't say anything because they kept their coffee hot enough to melt a McDonald's and I had just burned the shit out of my tongue and lip.
She held out her hand and said "Credentials."
I slapped them into her hand and watched her. She gave them a cursory look, gestured at a nearby chair, and told me to pull it up and sit down.
She dropped my credentials to her desktop, pulled on a head set, and starting clicking with her mouse. She looked over at me like she was measuring me for a suit, then she adjusted the web cam clipped to the top of her monitor. That's when I got a "Oh shit" feeling in the pit of my stomach. She gave me an evil grin and told her microphone "This is Forward Base 71/Bravo 2. This is Captain Jennings and I would like to talk to the Marshall please. Yes, I can wait."
She didn't lose her evil smile when she told me "I am doing a visual confirmation. I'm sure you won't mind Mr. Gardener."
"Nope. Do what you got to do."
She drummed her fingers and worked on trying to twist a kink out of her neck. I blew on my coffee and tried to drink some more. I was hoping to have drank enough that I could grab a refill on the way out.
"He's not available? Fine. Yes, I will talk to Marshall Lee."
She cleared her throat. "Hello Marshall. Yes. I will be playing softball this year. Great! Yes, she isn't bad. I'll ask her. No. No. Ah...yes. Why I'm calling is to have you ID one of your people. Hang on."
She reached up and adjusted the cam. I smiled and waved. "Really. I see. I see. I'll tell him. Sir! Before you go. I have a job I could use a Marshall on. We're short handed and I need him to help with a prisoner transfer. Yes. I will. Thank..."
"He hung up you. Didn't he." It was my turn to grin evilly.
"No. He got busy."
She sniffed and pretended to be busy for about a minute then said "He told me tell you job well done."
I shrugged modestly. I knew she wanted to ask what I had done but she didn't. Instead she said "I need a couple of prisoners run down to the Louisville courthouse." She paused a space and added "That's what you people do isn't it?"
"You sure you don't have any doughnuts are cookies?"
"No!"
"Oh. So what's the story on them?"
Her voice turned on a dime. Now it was clipped and professional. "Two male Hispanics. We caught them digging into a landfill east of here."
I laughed. "A fucking landfill! You're kidding?"
Her voice got even tighter "No. It was federal property. Plus they had priors and someone thinks they may have connections to the Republic of Aztlan."
I drained my cup of coffee. Damn if it wasn't still hot. "Okay. I might need one of them Abrams to run security for me."
"Are you going to do this or not?"
I walked over to the coffeepot and poured myself a cup. I had to tilt the pot to get it. No wonder it tasted like shit and was molten.
"If you can gas me up and find me some cookies I will."
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