Into The Darkness (9 page)

“Thanks,
fish bait. I needed a cigarette,” Ramirez sneered mockingly at Richard.

Still
standing over Richard’s prone body, Ramirez did not notice the second soldier
returning with the colonel.

“Ramirez,
what are you doing?” barked the colonel.

Ramirez
jumped at the sound of the colonel’s voice. He flicked the lit cigarette into
the air, dropped the pack of cigarettes, and nervously stood at attention.
“Sir, we captured intruders, sir.”

The
colonel turned to the second soldier. “You said you captured terrorists.”

The
colonel was a short, stocky man with a shaved head, camouflage hat, and
sunglasses. He stepped in front of Dylan and Kevin to get a look at the captured
men. He stared at them and tilted his head to the side. He kept looking back
and forth at Richard on the ground and the two men standing, and then he took a
step back and began to laugh loudly as he removed his hat and sunglasses.

“Colonel
Byrd?” asked Dylan.

The
colonel laughed louder and slapped Dylan and Kevin on the back.

Ramirez’s
disposition totally changed. He kept glancing at the other enlisted soldier
with a confused look on his face. The other soldier tried to ignore Ramirez
staring at him, because he had just realized that they must have made a terrible
error.

“You
ladies made a dumbass mistake here,” the colonel said, looking at both
soldiers.

The
colonel stepped closer to Dylan and lifted Dylan’s shirt enough to reveal the
pistol in his beltline. “If this ‘terrorist’ wanted you dead, we wouldn’t be
having this conversation right now. Go find your sergeant. Both of you are
relieved from patrol.”

“Am
I glad to see you,” said Dylan.

“Now
that you’ve been captured, do you want to be interrogated in the mess hall?”
the colonel asked, laughing.

“Food?”
Richard asked, still prone in the dirt.

“Yes,”
the colonel replied, but then he corrected himself, “a ration of food.”

The
colonel leaned down close to Richard’s ear and whispered, “You might as well
get up now. I already know you pissed your pants.”

Colonel
Byrd escorted the men into the mess hall for an early lunch. They each got a
ration of cold food, and sitting at a small round table, they devoured it. They
told the colonel about their plan to get home and what they had seen so far. He
nodded with approval at their plan and reminded them that they needed more
practice at not letting the bad guys catch them. The colonel started to tell
how he made it to Great Falls, but was interrupted.

“Sir,”
said a young soldier, standing at attention.

“What
is it?”

“Sir,
the general needs to speak with you right now, sir.”

Colonel
Byrd reflexively looked at his wrist to see the time and was embarrassed when
he realized that the digital watch was no longer there. It had stopped working,
along with all the other computerized devices he owned, and being useless, he
had already thrown it away. He sent the soldier on his way with orders to let
the general know he would be right there.

“Duty
calls,” said the colonel. “Follow me. I’ll take you to my room on my way to
meet the general. You can get cleaned up there. When I come back, I want to
trade some more stories before you go.”

The
colonel’s room had a small window facing in the direction of the river. The window
allowed adequate light for the three men to see as they cleaned up in the
bathroom. They took quick showers, washing their dirty clothes in the shower
with them. Dylan opened the window and they spread their clothes out to dry.
The men, overcome with fatigue, promptly fell asleep.

The
men awoke later to the door swinging open and the colonel’s loud voice
commanding them to, “Rise and shine.” The light through the window was much
dimmer now. After Dylan rubbed his eyes, he realized that they must have been
asleep for hours and that the colonel was not alone.

The
general had told Colonel Byrd to meet them in the cafeteria. They would discuss
business over evening meal rations.

“Get
dressed,” ordered Colonel Byrd. “General Matthews has business to discuss with
you.”

“What
could he want from me?” asked Richard.

“Actually,
all of you. Meet me back where we ate lunch. It’s more like a favor, so don’t
worry about it.”

Dylan
was the first to get dressed. He looked out the little window toward the river.
It was late in the day and he realized that it was too late to get started
around the dams. The river valley reminded him of what he needed to do and that
his only objective was to get back to his family and protect his children. He
wanted to leave now, but felt obligated to stay and listen to the general.

The
three men walked back into the cafeteria. They immediately noticed Colonel Byrd
with the general and several other officers sitting at a long table. The general
was at the end of the table speaking. The colonel looked up and saw the men
standing at the entrance to the cafeteria. He motioned them over and several
people moved away from the table so the three men could sit together. With a
few quick hand gestures from the general, a young soldier hurried off to the
food line and brought back three rations of food for their new guests. The
general stood, and in a southern accent, addressed the three men.

“Colonel
Byrd has explained your quandary to me. I commend you for adapting, and
overcoming this crisis facing us Americans, if not the entire world. Those of
us who have grown accustomed to and dependent on high technology will be
affected the most. I fear a dire outcome. However, like you three gentlemen, we
are also going to adapt and overcome.”

The
general exhaled with a sigh. “We need food. There are thousands of people in
town and on this base. The trucks are not going to show up with food anymore
and the high-tech machinery used to harvest the crops is obviously not going to
work. Ironically, farmland and cattle ranches surround us. We need help from
the communities surrounding us. Our city population can provide manual labor to
help harvest the crops. This base can supply an organized force to provide
protection and security. The country is going to Hell in a hand basket, and
soon organized gangs will form and have the power to terrorize the small
communities that surround us. If we can get those communities to cooperate,
everyone benefits.”

The
general sat down and leaned forward as he continued to speak. “I would like you
gentlemen to deliver a message to Fort Benton from the people of this base and
the city of Great Falls. I understand your chosen route is to take the Missouri
River back to your homes. Fort Benton is right on your way. I have a handwritten
message signed by the members of the city council and me, promising protection
for their community, and workers to harvest the crops. All we want is food in
return for that protection and security.”

“Forgive
me for asking, but why don’t you have your men do this?” Dylan inquired.

“We
are all working double time to keep things orderly around here. There are a few
vehicles…older and maybe unreliable vehicles…that our mechanic crew has been
able to get operating again. We have a lot of people on patrol to deter
impending chaos, civil unrest, and all that comes with it. A contingent of
personnel is currently heading westerly to rescue the missile launch officers
in the Minuteman silos. Our resources are spread thin. In a nutshell, it’s on
your way and we need your help,” said the general, now leaning back in his chair
waiting for a response. The general had noticed that Dylan and his two
companions were nodding their heads as he spoke. He did not doubt that they
would cooperate.

“I
want to help,” Dylan responded.

“Fantastic!”
exclaimed the general. “I should also tell you that we want to help you. The colonel
has requisitioned one of the trucks that is still working. Using the truck, we
can get you around the dams, all five of them. That should get you home a little
faster. Before you go, have the colonel take you to see a supply sergeant. He
will get you some MREs and supplies for your journey. I can’t give you any
weapons. I hope you understand.”

“You
have a deal,” said Kevin, nodding to Dylan and Richard.

With
a few quick hand gestures from the general, a young soldier scurried off and
returned with three cots.

“Stay
with the colonel tonight. I have assigned him to get you on your way in the morning.”
The general nodded, then turned abruptly and left the dining hall.

“Let’s
put the cots in my room and go find a supply sergeant,” the colonel said, as he
stood, waving the men toward his room.

The
supply sergeants were located across the base, away from the officers’
quarters. The colonel walked them toward the inventory building. They passed
countless stalled vehicles cluttering the base. As they walked, the colonel
said in a low voice to the three men, “Look around. If we were attacked right
now, there’s nothing we could do. Let’s hope nobody can take advantage of what
has happened to us.” Speaking in a normal but sad tone, the colonel added, “I
hope the best for the missile launch officers in the underground missile silos.
They have sent teams of volunteers to get those the men out. I hope the missile
silos don’t become their graves.”

Sergeant
Haber stood at attention when Colonel Byrd entered the supply requisition
office. Dylan, Kevin, and Richard, walked in behind the colonel. Colonel Byrd
introduced the men to Sergeant Haber, who was working alone. The colonel
returned the sergeant’s salute and said, “At ease, Sergeant. These men need
some supplies,” as he handed the sergeant the signed requisition. The colonel
turned and pointed toward the door where they had just entered the building.
“Is that jalopy out front the transportation for these men to get around the
dams?”

“Yes,
sir. The mechanic told me to tell their driver to choke the throttle hard to
start it,” said Sergeant Haber. He held up the truck’s key and dangled it with
two fingers.

“The
mechanic is not their driver?” asked the colonel.

“No,
sir.”

The
colonel turned to face the concrete block wall. He raised his forearm to the
wall and leaned against it, burying his forehead into the bend of his arm. “Oh
crap, they need someone to drive them and then bring the truck back.”

Sergeant
Haber held up the key again and said, “Sir, I’ll volunteer. I’m cycled off duty
tomorrow and would like to get a chance to drive that old thing. It reminds me
of an old flatbed we had on the farm back in Illinois. I’m a little homesick, sir.”

“Deal.”
The colonel motioned for Sergeant Haber to keep the keys. “They’re going to
bunk in my room tonight. Work out what time to meet in front of the officers’ quarters
tomorrow morning. I have to get to another meeting right now.” The colonel
walked away and turned to give a quick salute just before he went through the
exit door.

Sergeant
Haber picked up a pad of paper and a pen, walked to the row of windows, and
pulled the blinds up to let in the remaining light of the day. He tapped the
pen on the pad and asked, “What do you need?”

The
three men stood facing each other. They exchanged ideas with brief debates.
Their immediate concern was food and they were each able to get a case of MREs.
Dylan requested some digital camouflage clothing. Richard mentioned they did
not have anything for first aid, so the sergeant handed him a first-aid kit. As
an afterthought, Dylan doubtfully asked for a multi-tool with a small saw and
was pleased to get one that would help him finish the bows. Kevin looked down
at his worn shoes and requested some boots from the sergeant, who found each of
them a pair. Dylan thought it would be a good idea to get wool blankets, just
in case the weather got cold at night. He still doubted how fast he could get
back home, although he desperately hoped it would be before it truly did get
cold.

After
an extended period of silent contemplation from the three men, Sergeant Haber
asked, “Is that it?”

Each
man nodded silently as they looked at their supplies.

“What
time shall I meet you?” said Sergeant Haber, lifting an eyebrow.

Richard
held his bare wrist up to the sergeant. “We don’t have watches that work
anymore.”

“Shit…you’re
right…I don’t either. Can you get your breakfast rations, then meet me at sunrise
in front of the officers’ quarters?”

“Sounds
like a plan,” said Kevin, speaking for the others as he turned to walk toward
the exit. “We have to get going now.”

On
the way back to the room, they noticed dark clouds coming in from the horizon.
Dylan mentioned the two rafts they had left concealed on the riverbank; he was
concerned about the approaching storm raising the water level. They decided to
drop the new gear off at the room, move the two rafts up to the top of the dam,
stake them down, and use the tarps to cover their supplies.

Dusk
was approaching rapidly and so were the dark clouds. They trotted down to the
riverbank and untied the two concealed rafts. With three men to a raft, they
moved them to higher ground. Kevin used his little axe and made stakes to lash
the rafts to the ground before covering them with a tarp. They finished just as
it started to rain, and jogged swiftly back to the room, but to no avail. They
were soaked by the time they got inside. They were all still fatigued and
agreed the best thing to do would be to just go to sleep. They needed the rest,
and everyone agree that this was probably the last time they would sleep inside
for a while. They took off their wet clothes and covered themselves with their
new wool blankets. Deep sleep came quickly to all three men. They did not hear
the colonel come back, bumping the furniture in the dark room, and cursing at
his dead flashlight.

The
colonel was the first to wake the next morning. He stood up and clapped his
hands loudly to announce the dawn of the men’s departure. Richard groaned and
pulled the blanket over his head. Kevin stood up and gave Richard’s cot enough
of a kick to get his attention, then pulled the blanket off his head.

“It’s
probably later than you think. Cloudy and raining outside, looks miserable,”
said the colonel, as he lifted the blinds on his small window. “Let’s get some
chow and get you out of here.”

Dylan
was noticeably withdrawn that morning. He had dreamed about his children being
in danger and he could do nothing to help them. He woke up thinking about his
current situation and began to brood over his new reality, which was a
nightmare he had to struggle through. All he could do was survive day by day
and keep moving forward. As the other men talked at the cafeteria table, he
rested his face in the palms of his hands, hovering over his meager ration of
food. Kevin noticed the change in Dylan’s disposition. He slapped him on the
back to bring him into the conversation at the table. He did not ask what was
bothering Dylan. He knew, and there was nothing he could do about it.

“Let’s
find our chauffeur,” said Dylan, as he stood up, looking toward the exit.

Sergeant
Haber was ready and waiting for them by the flatbed truck. He was wearing a
rain poncho and had brought three more for the men. They quickly put the rain
gear on and jumped on the flatbed, tucking the wool blankets and other new
supplies under their ponchos to keep them dry. As soon as they jumped on the
truck, the colonel dashed for the entrance to the officers’ quarters and
saluted them quickly before he stepped inside. The Sergeant pulled the choke
fully and closed his eyes as he turned the key. To his astonishment, the motor
turned over on the first try, with a cloud of dark smoke from the exhaust. He
pumped the accelerator a few times with his foot, the engine responded with a
moan and more smoke.