Dark Days Rough Roads (49 page)

The rest
of the injured suffered arm, leg and torso hits, but were able to continue out
of the area. The tear gas had them coughing with tears and snot running down
their faces. They either didn’t don masks or plainly didn’t have any. As the
flares all died out so did the firing from the militia. The militia were now
just trying to get the hell out of there and handle their injured and dead.
During this, however, the south end of the property and north end had their own
battles they had endured.

The
militia assault on the west side of the house had actually placed all of the
militia into action. On the south side, David, Mike, Kevin, Diana and Dawn were
firing on one militia member still by the empty neighbor’s house and also
across the street at the nosy neighbors. There was militia located there as
well. Diana was having a real hard time and had to stop. Her arm was too weak now
and she could not load the rifle anymore. She had a pistol and saved it in case
of any closer activity.

The shots
went back and forth between them and the militia, but there was no rush, no
forward movement toward the Haliday house, just sustaining fire to keep
everyone pinned down. The dirt and shrubs around them were torn to pieces now.
If it hadn’t been for the fighting positions set up to provide cover and take
the inbound rounds, it would have been far worse than it was.

On the
north end, Randy, Sarah and Blake only had a couple of people to contend with.
They were firing at a sustained rate to keep the militia in place. There was no
advancement being made and neither side was hitting anything with accuracy.
This only lasted a couple of minutes. The man Haliday hit in the ass had made
his way to his friend’s location. The militia fire was constant enough to keep
everyone in place so they could not help out on the west.

Haliday’s
group at the south side thought they had seen someone sneaking up to the road
and the ditches. They fired over to that location, but couldn’t tell if anyone
was there or not. They too were only being fired on in order to keep them busy.
It was just a ruse to keep everyone away from the west, but it worked. The
firing died down almost to a complete stop. Everyone was now waiting. They were
not sure what to expect. They prepared themselves for another rush.

Almost on
cue, the militia started firing methodically again around the entire perimeter.
It sounded much different though, Mark listened to their firing and thought it
was a ploy and called Haliday. Mark explained his thoughts to Haliday, “What do
you think Roger?”

“I’m with
you, Mark,” he answered. “Pass the word, very light fire to let them know we
are still dug in here. We’ll let them do it.”

They both
knew now that the militia was firing to keep them in check while they pulled
out of the area. They wouldn’t pursue the militia. They didn’t have the troop
strength to leave the house guarded and track down the escaping militia. They
wanted to, but had to maintain their positions at the house.

The
militia was still firing, but only received a few shots in return. They used
this time to gather their wounded and retreat. They were leaving their dead
where they had fallen. Nobody knew this though. Had Mark or Roger known, they
would have continued to assault the group. This went against everything they
had ever learned and that had been ingrained in them during their time in the
military.

Haliday
had not been able to get in the fight and do anything. It had happened so
quickly he didn’t have time to get there. Now he had moved in closer and
watched as the militia continued the retreat. He didn’t engage for one reason.
He was far outnumbered and still behind their lines. He would wait it out and
that’s exactly what he did. He called everyone and told them to cease fire
unless they were being attacked. The militia was out of effective range now.

The group
sat there at the ready. It was a surreal scene. Light smoke drifted in some
areas, muted light from clouds and a small sliver of moon, dark bodies moving
in the night dragging people away. A group of very unique people were scattered
about the property waiting for another fight.

Almost an
hour passed after the last round had been fired. Haliday sat there still. He
had not heard any of the vehicles move out yet. He was worried they might
launch an assault on one single location and he knew if they did it would be
costly. He closed his eyes and he prayed. He heard an engine start. The damn
deuce and a half. He heard another engine start as well. He warned the group, “If
they come in vehicles, get the hell out of there.” That wouldn’t be the case
though, they wouldn’t have to.

The
engine noises got quiet as the vehicles were leaving the area. Haliday called
Rob on the radio. Rob answered, “Roger, you ok man?”

“Rob, we
took some serious shit with the fan on high and I have to tell you this. This
damn family and these friends of ours put up a hell of a fight. We all made it
through, some injuries but I’m not sure how bad yet.”

“Look,
Roger, I can probably get a nurse to you guys if you can hold on six hours or
so.”

“That
would be great,” Roger answered back. “Look Rob, these guys are now heading
back. I can’t tell you how many or what shape they are in. I can tell you this
much. If they are stopped from reaching that damn airport, then that would be
the best thing for everyone.”

“What do
you suggest, Roger?”

“You
fight dirty Rob, dirtier than you have been. They have to come through that main
gate. There are only two ways to get to it. From the east or from the west. You
need to put as much of your firepower on those areas as you can. Put them on
the roofs, put them in the windows, put them wherever you can.”

“Make
sure they have cover and make sure they hit them hard and fast. No heroes. No
storming the convoy. Don’t use anyone as bait, don't do anything stupid. Brad
will help you. Once you get these guys taken care of, the compound can be dealt
with at another time. Once they realize they are on their own, things will
change. You have about 30 to 45 minutes tops. Good luck, we’ll be thinking
about you.”

“Ok,
thanks Roger.”

Haliday
waited a bit more. He listened intently for any signs of movement. He called in
for a situation report from everyone. Everyone was able to either call in, or
get word to someone with a radio who passed it on to Roger. The news was
incredible. Haliday sat down against a tree, his eyes welled up. They had
beaten the odds and did so without losing a single life in his group.

He made
his way back to pick up his M24 and the rest of the gear he had left behind. He
called the group and told them he would be using the edge of the woods to reach
the house. He reached the west side and called them and told them he was coming
out of the woods and to hold their fire. He jogged in and made it to Mark’s
position.

He lay
down next to Mark. “Mark, can you get the injured into the house? See about
getting them stabilized and I’ll take over your position for you.”

Mark
said, “Roger, I’m good out here, get your people inside and taken care of.”

“Mark,
listen, you’re a part of this family now, too. No way in hell could this have
worked without your help. Do me a favor, get our injured in there for me.”

“You got
it, sir.”

“It ain’t
sir. It’s Roger.”

Mark
called Alan, “You keep your eyes peeled 360 degrees. Let us know if you see
anything.” Mark told Blake to meet him over by Diana’s hole. They met up with
Diana, pulled her up out of the hole, and she moaned in pain. They ran her over
to the house. Rich was keeping an eye out on the woods and Karen and Bev tended
to Diana.

Mark and
Blake ran out and helped David up; they got him over to the house as well. Mark
asked Alan how he was doing and Alan said he was fine for now. Roger crawled
over to Kayla, “How you doing kiddo?”

“Holy
shit Dad. I mean what the hell just happened here?”

He patted
her on her back, “You did good kiddo. You did good. What happened was you
fought for your life and ours.”

He
crawled over to Lisa next. “You doing alright?” he asked. She responded, but he
didn’t understand her. Lisa’s words were scrambled.

She said,
“I guess so, I feel dizzy a dizzy a little dizzy, but might just hungry be.”

“Nothing
to eat in that hole?” he asked.

“I forgot
that, I guess I do, I think maybe, I can eat it.” She didn’t really make any
sense. He put his hand on her shoulder to ask her again if she was ok. He
pulled his hand back and it was wet with blood.

“Mark,
get your ass over here,” Roger said. Mark came running with Blake. “She’s hit
or something. Get her in the house.” Mark lifted up Lisa and quickly ran to the
house. He ran inside and yelled for some help. Roger told Blake to get down and
stay here. Blake asked if he could move the body of the militia man.

“Ya, go
ahead,” Roger said.

Blake
went to grab the body and yanked his hand back. “Damn, I cut my finger,” he
said.

Roger
said, “Don’t move Blake.”

Haliday
grabbed his flashlight and took a chance and turned it on. “Damn it,” he said.
He reached over and grabbed the foot trap that was still stuck in the dead mans
body. He tossed it toward the front of the hole. “You gonna live Blake?” he
asked.

Blake
said, “Ya, just a small cut.”

“Grab
your first aid kit and clean it out now. Put a band aid on it. I’ll be right
back.”

Haliday
ran into the house. They had Lisa on the floor and on her stomach. Haliday
dropped down and pulled out his knife. Get her jacket off. After they took her
jacket off, Haliday cut her shirt open. He looked at Mark, “No offense man,” he
cut her bra away and they all looked at the wound. Haliday barked out some
orders.

When the
man half fell into her fighting position, the spike strip caught her in the
back. She thought it was just him falling on her. After she got him out of the
hole, she thought the pain was just a torn muscle or something. One of the
spikes had caught her on her shoulder blade and hit a vein.

Bev and
Karen put some gloves on; they grabbed a large syringe and irrigated the gash.
They opened a sponge with antiseptic agent on it and scrubbed the whole area.
Bev used some quickclot on it and waited. The blood stopped oozing out. She put
a bandage on it and taped it up. Haliday said, “Put her by the wood burner and
cover her up.”

He looked
at Mark, “I’m sorry man, I didn’t know.”

“I didn’t
either. I don’t think she knew herself,” Mark said. “She’s supposed to eat
every few hours too. I think we just got caught up in everything.”

“Mark,
you stay in here, I got the outside covered.” Mark started to follow Haliday
outside. Haliday turned around; “Get the hell back in there.”

“Roger,
she’s in good hands, we might still have problems.”

He looked
at Mark again, “Get in there. You come out before I tell you to and I’ll shoot
you my damn self.” Mark went back in the house and over by Lisa.

Haliday
did a check of everyone. They were all sitting tight and waiting. No one knew
what to expect or if they should expect anything. Haliday made sure he talked
to them individually as people, keeping things as personal as possible. He had
to make sure they hung on to their humanity. They’d fight their own demons over
time, but he knew how to help them with that. Start now and it would help in
the long run.

“Hey
Blake, just think, two weeks ago you were asking people if they wanted fries
with their order.”

Blake’s
response was quick; “You mean pick up or delivery?”

Haliday
thought, good, he has that contact with the past. “Of course I did Blake, get
used to my screwing with you on a regular basis, pizza boy.”

“Hey
Kayla?”

“Ya Dad?”

“You mind
running out to Starbucks for me?”

“Oh,
you’re a riot Dad, but I am craving some coffee.”

Roger
spoke to everyone, “Go ahead and bust open those thermoses. Crack open the hand
warmers too. I’ll see if I can’t order up some hot food, but stay alert.
Weapons checks too and let me know if you need ammo.”
Mark was sitting next to Lisa holding her hand. She was very weak, but doing
fairly well. The past couple of days they had had little food, expended a lot
of energy travelling, and the stress from the assault and everything else
combined with the injury had worn her down. She looked up at him. “I’m fine
honey, I love you.”

“I love
you too,” he said.

She said,
“Go help the others. I’ll be fine.”

Mark
called out to Haliday. “Anything going on out there?”

Haliday
told him, “No, just some cold hungry troops.”

Mark
said, “Lisa is doing great. She wanted me to help out. You mind?”

Roger
thought about it a second. “Sure, come on out. I’ll see about getting these
guys some hot drinks and food.”

“I have
an idea as well,” Mark replied. Mark went and put a stack of wool blankets over
by the wood burner.