Sweetness in the Dark (26 page)

“It’s OK, Sheriff. She’s upset. She’ll be fine as soon as we get her back to Bruneau,” Amanda said.

“Anything else we need to do, Sheriff?” John asked.

“Stick around and let the town buy you drinks. That’s about all I can think of.”

“Some other day maybe,” John answered.

The four got into their vehicles amid loud clapping of the crowd. The drive out to Bruneau was long and quiet. Finally Amanda said, “We need to stay and make sure that things will be OK between John and Julie.”

“I can’t. You know I’ve been invited to return to Cheyenne a week early to meet with Professor Lars Lundquist of the von Mises Institute. He contacted me this week and may have a compromise position to our Convention deadlock. I have to go,” Paul offered. “But you can stay the week and help Julie. I’ll meet you later in Cheyenne.”

Mt. Tongariro, North Island, New Zealand

The month since the first American infantry troops had shown up had been hectic for Noel and his great-grandfather. As the official liaison team assigned to help the Americans coordinate activities with the Kiwi troops, they had been always on the move.

Noel continued to carry their personal gear, while his great-grandfather fought old age to show himself capable of his duties. Noel could tell his great-grandfather was struggling, but would never show the Yanks that a Kiwi in his eighties wasn’t able to keep up with any young stud from America.

Together they had reconnoitered the land in front of the Kiwi defensive line. Except for the initial probes south, the Indonesians seemed content to consolidate their hold on Auckland. They had pulled their troops back into a defensive position after running into Kiwi resistance. Refugees continued to pass through the Kiwi lines daily as the invaders forced the issue of ‘move or die’. The Indonesians had come to stay, and were moving into now vacant farms and businesses.

The Kiwis were fighting for their existence. With over two hundred million Indonesians before ‘the Pulse’, they had sufficient numbers of people to displace the four million New Zealanders. Luckily, the news of the American arrival appeared to have been missed by the Indonesians. Noel felt that the longer they were in the dark, the better.

“Word is that all elements of the 24th Division are in place now. We have orders to move north and close with the ‘Indos’,” the Kiwi Commander said. “Major Smith, as New Zealand Commander of this sector, I have overall command. But I would ask you to be tactical commander. You Americans are providing the bulk of our attacking strength and the New Zealand government has asked all its area commanders to relinquish control over the coming fight.”

“Thank you, Commander. We will work with the liaison team to make sure both armies work together,” Major Smith said. He looked at Noel and his great-grandfather as he said it. Noel gave the major an approving nod. GG snorted loudly.

“Right then, we’ve worked out our plan. Let’s close with the ‘Indos’ and show them whose bloody country this is,” the Kiwi commander said. His other officers mumbled their approval of finally moving out.
We’ve been sitting on this mountain pass long enough
, Noel thought.

Major Smith walked over to the communication tent and picked up the phone. He was soon in touch with Supreme Headquarters in Palmerston North. After a brief discussion, he hung up.

“Move out,” he ordered.

Noel picked up his personal gear and threw it over his shoulder. His great-grandfather handed his personal gear to Noel and followed the major and his staff out of the tent. It was a crisp fall day in the Southern Hemisphere. Noel was glad to be moving down to a more temperate climate. Winter approached the Desert Road, and he didn’t relish spending a cold snowy season stuck in the trenches here.

Lake Taupo and Rotorua beckoned and both had a milder climate, being at a much lower elevation. And both had numerous hot springs. Not only hot springs, but hot lakes and hot rivers covered this highly active geothermal area.

Refugees had reported that the ‘Indos’ were stuck in the Bombay Hills south of Auckland. They had been observed digging a defensive zone.
Why hadn’t they captured the area that lay between them and us?
Noel wondered.

Between Lake Taupo and Auckland lay some of the best farm country in New Zealand. The Chinese had recognized this and had spent billions buying up the agricultural land before the Pulse. Now, the Kiwis needed to secure this land to grow the food next summer to sustain the rest of the country.

Noel joined the column as the American and Kiwi troops marched out. The few vehicles running would be reserved for moving supplies up. When Noel’s units met up with the railroad from Wellington, then supplies would flow more easily to the forces defending the center of the island.

* * *

Noel reached the outskirts of Hamilton and imagined how his great-grandfather felt. He was tired. A week of forced marches had brought the troops even with what had once been New Zealand’s second largest city.

The units to the west of them had formed up on their left shoulder. Troops had been moved up from the East Cape and crossed the mountains. The flat farm land around Ngatea was now secure.

The Bombay Hills lay about 20 km in front of the Kiwi position. As a natural barrier protecting Auckland, the American Commander had decided that he would hold the line short of the ‘Indos’. To attack troops dug into hillside positions, proper preparation was required.

“What the bloody hell are we digging in for? The ‘Indos’ are over there. You Yanks love your shovels. Why don’t you bloody well use those fancy rifles you brought?” GG admonished. Noel had resigned himself to his great-grandfather’s rants. So, it appeared, had Major Smith. Noel noticed that he didn’t even look up at the insults anymore.

“Noel, we’ll let our supplies catch up to us here. And get a little reconnoitering of what’s in front of us,” Major Smith said.

“Yes, Sir. You need us for that?” Noel asked. He needed to get some rest, especially so for his great-grandfather.

“No. You and GG sit tight. We’ll get our scout team on it.”

“‘Bout time they scouted something. Been a bloody walk in the park. I could have put a baby in a pram and made better time than you blokes,” GG hurled back. “And that would have counted the breaks to change the nappies.”

The major was back on the field phone giving orders. The phone offered more security than the radio. New Zealand Telecom worked hard to provide basic service and had reverted to mechanical switching, like everyone else in the world.

Suddenly the air was ripped apart by the roar of two jets dropping down over the Bombay Hills. Noel ducked instinctively as the jets turned and flew right over Hamilton.

“First signs of a recon flight. The ‘Indos’ are slow. MiG 21s. Hmmm.” Major Smith picked up the phone to report the fly over. “Yes, Sir. We’ll keep under wraps until we’re ready. Roger that.”

“Headquarters wants a change of plan. No Americans on any recon. Only Kiwis. They want our presence here to be a surprise,” Major Smith said. “Commander, if you could put together a scout team.”

Noel gave a look to the Kiwi Commander indicating his desire to join the recon team. He wanted to see the invaders up close. They had been in the field for months now and hadn’t even seen one.

“If it’s OK with Sergeant Illingworth, go check with him,” the commander offered.

After Noel found the Kiwi sergeant, he got his answer. “Hell no,” Sergeant Illingworth said. “I know your GG means well, but this is a job for people that can move fast.”

The sergeant had seemed open to the idea of having Noel on the team, until Noel’s great-grandfather showed up and announced that he went everywhere Noel went.

Much arguing ensued, until GG essentially pulled rank. Sergeant Illingworth was one of the many that had turned out to fight when Connor Leffingwell had headed off to war. Noel knew his great-grandfather held sway with all the military men in their area, and he now used that influence.

“OK, but if you can’t keep up, I’ll send the two of you back. No bloody screw-ups now,” Illingworth said.

“Sergeant. You weren’t even bloody born when I was sending Japs to their ancestors,” GG said.

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Illingworth said. The other men on the team smiled at the sergeant’s dilemma. Everyone was here because of GG’s call to arms. To deny him would be almost sacrilegious to these men.

“You Kiwis will be the death of me. Taking an old man out on recon. You’re all crazy.” Major Smith yelled as the Kiwi Recon Team marched by heading north.
He might be right. What have I gotten ourselves into
? Noel wondered.

To cover the twenty or so kilometers to the base of the Bombay Hills would require them to be out two days. They would march out most of the way in the daylight, rest until dark, recon the hills and return to Hamilton. Not an easy task even for someone in their twenties.

And Sergeant Illingworth hiked the team hard. Noel struggled to keep up against the older men who were bigger and stronger. Noel looked at his great-grandfather and saw a man who enjoyed the experience. He seemed to come alive as they approached the enemy.

Reaching their rest stop, the sergeant ordered everyone to catch some rest till it got dark. He stopped where Noel was bedded down.

“I’d like you and your GG to hold this position while we’re gone. It’s important that we have someone at our back,” Illingworth lied.

“What? Sergeant, if you’re trying to ditch us, you can bloody well drop dead. Nobody is leaving me behind to guard some damn bushes,” GG said.

“Suit yourself then. Be ready in four hours.”

* * *

Noel jumped when the sergeant kicked his boot to wake him up. He couldn’t believe that four hours had passed already. He had barely closed his eyes.

“Gear up. We head out in five,” Illingworth whispered.

Noel looked around for his great-grandfather, but saw nothing. He started to panic when a rustle in the bush was challenged by one of the team. A short burst of profanity revealed that GG had returned.

“Are you ready yet? I’ve been to the top of the hill already. Most of the ‘Indos’ are asleep. We could capture the place if you sods would get a move on,” GG said.

“The top of the hill? I told you to catch some rest,” Illingworth said.

“Couldn’t sleep. Can we move out now, if you wankers are done doing your nails, or whatever it is you’ve been doing?” GG asked.

Sergeant Illingworth got the men lined up. They had two night scopes among them, borrowed from the U.S. Army. The sergeant put one up front and one on the rear. Noel and his great-grandfather were in the middle of the small column.

Things went well for the first hour while they climbed the hills. GG showed the sergeant where he had gone on his previous visit. Noel wondered how his grandfather had found his way in the dark. Even with the night scopes, the team made a couple of wrong turns and had to backtrack.

They stopped on a ridge that had good cover to hide their presence. The south ridge line overlooked the open slopes that the farmers had cleared for grazing. The spot offered an excellent vantage point to determine the ‘Indo’ defenses.

Sergeant Illingworth decided that they could gain more information if they stayed during the day and observed. He passed through the men informing them of the change in plans. He ordered men to team up and move out to positions to protect their flanks in case the ‘Indos’ had patrols out.

Noel and his great-grandfather would provide security at the patrols makeshift headquarters. The sergeant and an observer would use field glasses and make notes on enemy dispositions while Noel and GG watched for trouble.

The day went by slowly as Sergeant Illingworth scribed in his notebook. Noel noticed that his great-grandfather was antsy just sitting concealed in the bush. The ‘Indos’ didn’t seem to put patrols out, so the guards eventually became lax.

The situation changed quickly. Noel didn’t hear anything, but Grandfather certainly did. Suddenly his grandfather sat up, cocking his head from side to side to determine the direction from which danger was coming.

“Noel, we have visitors. Back side of the ridge. Our team is only on our flanks. Nobody is behind us. We have to act,” GG whispered.

Without telling the sergeant, GG pulled out his bush knife and motioned Noel to do the same. Then he set off in a low crawl. It was all Noel could do to keep up. His legs ached from crouching as they quietly moved down the backside of the ridge, keeping in brush the entire way.

Noel ran into a motionless grandfather at the edge of the bush. Ahead lay open pasture. The sheep were missing, already eaten by the locals. In their place, six Indonesian soldiers climbed the hill. In their hands were AK-47s, with bayonets mounted on the front lug.

His great-grandfather reached around and patted Noel reassuringly on the leg. He lowered himself and pulled Noel down with him. They were now lying on their bellies, hidden in the tall grass, with large bushes above them. Perfect concealment. They waited.

Noel was finally seeing the enemy, but he was nervous. They had spent some time training on using a knife in combat, but he had never done it for real. As the six enemies climbed the hill toward their position, his great-grandfather intently waited to attack.

Noel loved his great-grandfather. There was no doubt about that. But he was fearful at what was about to happen. Six against two, and what looked like experienced soldiers against an old man and a young boy.
What am I doing here?
Noel wondered.

“Don’t worry boy. Your genes will take over. You have my blood in you,” his great-grandfather said, reassuringly.
But mine is so young, and yours is so old
, Noel thought.

The six soldiers continued to climb the hill. They were bantering between each other, only casually checking the area. When they reached the top of the clearing the leader stopped and turned around. He motioned his men to light up and take a break. Noel couldn’t be sure what he said, but from the cigarettes being pulled out, they were going into rest mode.