The Army Comes Calling (21 page)

     John came into the room and sat down with them.

     “What real world? You mean we’re all not a figment of your overactive imagination?”

     “Hi, Dad. Hannah was just trying to explain to me why you and she get to go on the tour.”

     “Well, honey. I get to go because I hope to get some intel to help us improve our security operation. As for Hannah going, I don’t have a clue.”

     John turned to Hannah with a smile on his face.

     “Hannah, tell me again why you’re going.”

     “I’m going mainly because I want to ride in a helicopter. And because everybody loves me and wants me to go.”

     Sami offered another theory.

     “Or… everybody secretly hates you and wants you to leave for a few hours so we can throw a big ‘Hannah went away’ party.”

     “Oh girlfriend, you are so evil. John, why did you raise such an evil child?”

     “Hey, leave me out of this. This squabble is between you guys. I just saw you two sitting here and stopped in to say hello.”

     “How are you feeling these days, John? Do you feel up to going on the tour this time?”

     “Oh, I’m fine. Fine enough to go on the tour anyway, if that’s why you’re asking. After everything that Karen and Frank told me about their facilities, I can’t wait to see the operation for myself.”

     Hannah gushed.

     “I can’t wait to go, John. We’re gonna have such a great time. And it’ll be great getting away from here for a day.”

     The radios on their sides cracked to life.

     “Hey, everybody, this is Bryan at the control desk. Marty’s pulling off of Highway 83. Was he supposed to bring us a trailer of something?”

     John answered, “He didn’t say anything about a trailer.”

     “Somebody want to go out and greet him?”

     John said, “I’ll go.”

     He looked at Sami and asked, “Would you let me out the gate, Sugar?”

     “Sure, Dad.”

Chapter 35

     “Hello, Marty! Whatcha got back there?”

     “Hi, John. I brought you gifts. I think you’ll like them.”

     Marty pulled out the knobs for the tractor and trailer brakes, releasing loud shushes of air. Then he hopped down out of his rig and led the way to the back of the trailer.

     Cracking the door on the trailer, he swung the right side door open to reveal four sparkling new Gator all-terrain utility machines.

     “Wow,” John said. “I should have known. The trailer painted in John Deere green, with yellow trim, should have been a hint.”

     “Lenny and I were going through a bunch of abandoned trailers in the east lot, trying to make some space back there. We found three of these, side by side. The manifests said they were headed to a John Deere dealer in Houston. They were probably traveling in convoy just before Saris 7 hit the earth and decided they’d rather be home with their families instead of delivering cargo that would likely never be used.

     “But it turns out it will be used after all. Lenny and I kept two at the Trucker’s Paradise and gave two to the old farmer you gave the seeds to.

     “He asked me to tell you that the seeds all came up fine, by the way. He brings tomatoes and ears of corn and squash to the truck stop every few days or so. He has us give them to travelers. And he always tells us the same thing, as though my memory’s as bad as my looks: ‘Be sure to tell them to save the seeds and plant them when they get to wherever they’re going.’”

     John picked up the story for him.

     “… and you brought some Gators for us too. Thank you, my friend. That’s right generous of you.”

     “Hey, it’s easy being generous with somebody else’s property. I don’t reckon John Deere will miss them much. They’re probably out of business for good, just like everybody else. If anyone is still alive from the company, maybe they can take pride in knowing that at least somebody is making use of their very fine equipment.”

     Marty climbed back into his cab.

     John stood on the driver’s step, talking to his friend through the open window.

     “And we’ll darn sure do that. Make use of it, that is. Are you here to do some fishing?”

     “Yep. Mark promised to show me a fishing hole he found. Said there’s some good eatin’ catfish in there.”

     “There are indeed. I’ve eaten more than my share. You’re making my mouth water, just thinking about them.”

     “Well, come along then, John. The more the merrier.”

     “No, that’s okay. I live here, so I can go anytime. Besides, I’m scheduled to relieve Hannah, so she can go with you guys. That’s gonna be an adventure, for sure.”

     John chuckled.

     “Why?”

     “I love Hannah like she’s my own daughter. You know that. But the child is a bit scatterbrained and… how can I put this? The girliest girl you ever met. You or Mark will have to bait her hook for her, and pull the hook from the fish’s mouth for her. She’ll call everything ‘icky’ and ‘stinky.’ But she’s sweet as honey and fun to have along. And her antics will keep you in stitches.”

     “Looking forward to it. Where can I park this trailer?”

     “You can put it in the back lot, right next to the load of dog food you brought.”

     “How are those dogs doing?”

     “They’re great. The whole camp has fallen in love with them. Hannah says she thinks the female may be pregnant, but I don’t know how she can tell. I mean, last I heard there was no early pregnancy test for dogs. But she’s a scientist and a girl to boot, so she’s probably smarter on that kind of stuff than I’ll ever be. So I’ll just take her word for it.”

     Marty said, “You’ve just made my day, John. Hannah promised me a pup from the first litter. It’ll be nice having somebody to talk to.”

     “Don’t you have Lenny to talk to?”

     “Yeah, well, Lenny is Lenny. He’s a good man and a good friend. But he ain’t a great conversationalist. For every twenty words out of my mouth, I’m lucky to get a grunt.”

     “I think I heard Mark say they’re taking the dogs on the fishing trip.”

     “Wow, John. You’re just full of all kinds of good news today.”

     “Glad to be of service, my friend. Can I hitch a ride back into the compound?”

     “Hop in.”

     “Naw, I’m just fine here on the step, where I can feel the breeze in my hair and the bugs in my teeth.”

     Marty laughed.

     “Well, at four miles an hour I don’t know how many bugs you’ll collect, but suit yourself.”

     John called in on the radio and said, “Okay, Sami, we’re headed to the gate.”

     Hannah added, “No activity on the cameras, Sami. All clear to open the gates.”

     “Ten-four.”

     Bryan met John and Marty at the paved yard north of the building where several other trailers were parked.

     “Hey, Marty, what’d you bring us this time?”

     “John Deere Gators. Four of ‘em.”

     The look on Bryan’s face was akin to that of a young boy on Christmas morning.

     “All right! New toys to play with. Want to unload them now?”

     “Nope. I’m just gonna dump the trailer and let you guys do the off-load at your leisure. I’m going fishing with your brother and sister in law.”

     “Well, have fun. Bring back some good sized fish. I’m tired of the minnows and sardines that Mark usually calls ‘fish.’”

     Marty chuckled.

     “I’ll try my best.”

Chapter 36

     Marty parked his rig without dropping the trailer and walked to the control center with John. He was carrying a small bag.

     Hannah met him as he walked up and hugged him.

     “Hi, Stinker Head. How are you?”

     “I’m fine, evil child. I’m looking forward to going fishing.”

     “Well, I hope you brought more fishing gear than that.”

     “Nope. Your husband said he had all the rods and reels, and more tackle that we could use in a lifetime. He said he’d dig up some bait and all I’d need was myself and a set of earplugs.”

     Hannah eyed him suspiciously.

     “Ear plugs?”

     “Hey, that’s between you and your husband. All I am is an innocent bystander.”

     “How good are you at cleaning up blood and disposing of bodies?”

     Mark walked up and joined the pair.

     He asked, “Hey, what’s up?”

     “Honey,” Hannah asked him, her voice dripping with honey, “Did you suggest Marty bring a pair of earplugs with him?”

     “Uh… yes. Maybe. I don’t know.”

     “Why? Because you think I talk too much?”

     “Oh, no, baby. Not at all! I just thought that… maybe he might want to take a nap out there. You know, it’s so peaceful and all, and there’s all that soft grass to lie on next to the lake. I thought if he got tired from the hike, he might want to lie down and take a nap. And the earplugs would keep us from disturbing him while he rested. That’s all.”

     Mark looked to Marty for help.

     Marty just smiled and shrugged.

     Hannah eyed her husband and said, “Uh, huh…”

     “Really, honey.”

     “You’re on probation, mister.”

     “Probation? What the heck does that mean?”

     “That means you’d better be on your best behavior today, or I’ll cut you up and use you as bait.”

     “Then you’d have to bait your own hook.”

     “Na-uh. Marty or Markie will do it for me.”

     “If you cut me up and use me for bait you won’t have me around for my dazzling wit and my charm.”

     “Wit and charm are way overrated.”

     “Sure. You say that now, but you’d miss me.”

     Hannah put her arm around Marty and kissed him on the cheek.

     “Marty, are you still single?”

     “Yep.”

     She looked at Mark again and said, “Nope. Wouldn’t miss you a bit.”

     “Okay, okay. I’ll be on my best behavior for the rest of the day.”

     “And you’ll bait all my hooks for me?”

     “Yeah, yeah…”

     “And you’ll take the fish off my line?”

     “Yeah, yeah.”

     “And you won’t ask me to cut the heads off the stinky fish, or to scale them or gut them or anything?”

     “No, I’ll do all that myself. Like always…”

     He sighed.

     Marty interjected.

     “Hannah, if you don’t mind me asking… why on earth do you want to go fishing, if you don’t like any of the icky stuff?”

     “Because it’s lots of fun. Except for all the… you know… fishy parts.”

     “Of course.”

     “Come on, honey,” Mark said. I’ve got all the gear stacked next to the gate. Let’s pick up Markie from school and get going. Did you pack the lunch?”

     “Yep. Miss Karen’s homemade peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and Miss Helen’s fresh made potato chips.”

     Marty said, “Wait a minute. I’ve been craving a PBJ for months. But all the peanut butter I’ve been able to find has separated and gone bad.”

     “Yes. But you don’t have Karen, who has the greenest thumb in all the world. She grows her own peanuts in the greenhouse. Coffee, too. And fresh strawberries for the jelly.”

     “Wow. I should have packed a bigger bag. I think I’m moving in.”

     “Yeah, I was gonna ask you about the bag.”

     “Last time I came to visit I had to leave after dark. You guys told me to pack a bag next time so I could stay overnight and head back the next morning. So I did.”

     Hannah smiled, and said, “Awesome, dude!”

     Mark asked, “How about Lenny? He won’t miss you?”

     “Hey, Lenny lives on his own planet. He may not even notice I’m gone.”