Surviving (12 page)

              He laughed and shoved her until she started following Red. Karl was worried, but furious at the same time. He’d lost three of his best men and three of Manny’s to these amateurs and he would even the score regardless what it took.

              Karl gathered the others and said, “I will not allow you to give up, we only need to keep trailing them and wait for help. Then we will attack with many more men and heavy weapons.”

              Red agreed and said, “Let’s track the bastards down and make them wish they weren’t alive.” He then said, “Karl, you pay me to handle security and something’s wrong here,”

              Karl turned to Red and glared, “What is wrong, my friend?”

              Red said, “That ambush was halfhearted and I am sure that this was a couple of them just trying to keep us away from the main group. We need to keep following the main group’s trail and attack them. Watch closely for another ambush, but concentrate on the main group.”

              Karl thought for a minute and replied, “You are the warrior, I defer, but in the end I want them all dead.”

• • •

              Later, Jim said, “Scott, do you hear a helicopter?”               Scott replied, “I hear something and hope it’s a SWAT team.

              Scott said, “I don’t have a good feeling about this, they did not follow us and a helicopter shows up!” Scott then added, “Let’s get back to the cabin ASAP.”

              They quickly noticed that the helicopter was also heading towards the cabin.

• • •

              The pilot had directed Karl to a clearing about a half mile from the cabin. The pilot brought five well-armed men plus enough ammo and weapons to start a small war. They landed and quickly unloaded. Karl took stock of the weapons and told the new men his plan.

              He said, “I want you to mount the M 60 in the door and be ready to kill any that try to escape. Did you bring the RPG and the night vision equipment?” Karl wasn’t going to underestimate this bunch again. He was now prepared and was going to kill all of them. They were all armed with AK47s, 9mm side arms, one RPG with 4 rounds and a couple of tear gas grenades. There was five pair of night vision goggles. Karl’s plan was to surround the cabin, talk the “Campers” into surrendering and then rape the women and kill the men. Then, when done with the women, he would kill them also. If they would not surrender, he would blow them off the face of the earth.

              Red led the group to the cabin and then gave each instruction on what he wanted them to do. He sent two men back into the woods to ambush the two bastards that had ambushed them a few hours ago. He then had the rest surround the cabin and get ready to fire one shot through each window just before Karl told them to surrender. He went over to Karl and said, “We are ready and waiting your orders.” He had barely gotten the words out when there was gunfire in the woods.

              He said, “We got the SOBs that ambushed us earlier today,” and slapped Karl on the back.

              Karl shook his hand and said, “Things are going our way and the end is near.”

              Karl thought it was going to be dark soon and he knew they had surprise on their side. Finally, he would be rid of these pests.

• • •

              Scott saw the thugs first and started firing, Jim joined in with deadly aim. The firefight was intense, but one sided. The thugs had only gotten off a couple of random shots before they died. Scott and Jim quickly stripped the bodies of two AKs, two 9mm and several mags for each.

              Jim rolled the bodies over face up and exclaimed, “These are new bad guys. The helicopter must have brought in re-enforcements.”

              Scott added, “We have to get our asses to the cabin before they attack.”

              Scott looked at Jim and said, “Remind me to start going to church for God has been with us on this trip.”

              Jim agreed. They shouldered the extra firepower and took off at a full run.

• • •

              Dave made the 911 call and had trouble convincing the dispatcher that there were numerous men trying to kill them. Dave then told her that he was retired FBI and that she had better get the FBI and State Police out here quick. He gave her the names of the State Police Commander and Section Chief for the local State Police post and emphasized that he was friends with both of them. He demanded to talk with one of them. It took a minute, but she patched the FBI in to him.

              Dave told the Special Agent the description of the group, their arms and that a missile was used to shoot a plane down. That was all it took to get a major response. In a few minutes, the FBI section chief was on the phone and told Dave a major team was on the way. The response included FBI, State Police and a Terrorist SWAT Team. Dave begged them to hurry since they were not sure that they could hold out and that his kids were due back home in an hour. He was told that the SWAT team would be there in about three hours and the rest would be another hour behind them, he added that he would have local police block the roads out of town to block the kids or other innocents from being harmed. Dave told Julia that help was on the way and she was relieved a bit, but could not rest until she knew her kids were safe in her arms.

              Dave told the others, “Help is about three hours away.”

              Everyone started talking at one time.

✼

Chapter 16

The Stand

At the Cabin

May 18, 2020

              Gus said, “Shut up and deal with it. We have to survive about three hours before the Calvary gets here. Let’s get prepared!”

              Beth quickly asked, “What can we do?”

              Gus replied, “Well, first make sure that you have your guns loaded and spare ammo close by. This could be a two hour battle so hit the bathroom and get some food and water down.”

              Steve added, “We might want to place some buckets of water around in case they try to burn us out. Also, I will go outside and spray the roof and bushes close to the house.”

              John also took Beth outside to move the SUV while he put the lawn furniture in the garage so they would have clear fields of fire.

              John went to Dave to get the keys and Dave said, “Please follow me to the bedroom.”

              They went into the master bedroom and Dave reached under the left corner at the foot of the bed and the end of the bed tilted up to show a doorway with a ladder going down under the house. On both sides of the doorway were various pistols, assault rifles and numerous magazines already loaded and ready to go. There were also several smoke grenades and flash bangs.

              John exclaimed, “We were right, you are a major Prepper! What is down in the cellar?”

              Dave replied, “More guns, food, medical supplies and Bug Out gear for our family.”

              They came back in the room with two-12 gauge pumps, four AR 15s, six Glock 9mm and the grenades.

              Gus said, “Christmas came early! I almost feel sorry for those dumb SOBs.” Dave and John gave out the weapons and ammo while Gus showed the ladies how to use them.

              An explosion suddenly shook the cabin and rattled the windows; they all ran outside. There was a cloud of smoke rising about a half mile away in the direction of the town.

              Julie cried out, “That’s towards town! You don’t think……..…” Her voice tailed off.

              John said, “Don’t assume the worst, but it can’t be a good thing. John said a prayer to himself that it wasn’t Julie’s kids.

• • •

              The sun had been down for an hour and a mist was forming in the air. It wasn’t quite fog, but heading that way. John had Dave turn on the light at the end of the walkway by the end of the driveway. They also turned the light on at the front of the garage and one at the back of the yard. John turned off the lights in the house and told everyone to stay low and not present a bigger target than necessary.

              John then went to Beth and gave her a quick hug and said, “How about a date when we get back home?"

              She laughed and said, “Your timing sucks, but let’s get out of here alive big boy and I’ll think about it.”

              As he left, she pinched his ass.

              John turned around, smiled and said. “Pay back is rough around my neck of the woods.”

              Gus took charge and said, “Quit playing grab ass! Get your guns and be ready, we have to keep them out of the house. Steve and Bill, take the kitchen. John, Beth and Julie take the front door and living room. Dave and Alice, take the master bedroom. Janet and I’ll float and be ready to handle any surprises.”

They all started moving furniture in front of the doors and windows that they weren’t planning to shoot from. He barely got the sentence out of his mouth when the windows exploded and rained shattered glass on all of them. The cabin rocked from the explosion and part of the porch roof fell. Luckily, no one was hit by the glass and shrapnel. They all hit the floor and jumped under or behind whatever they could find. John shielded Beth while shooting through the window to slow the attackers down.

              Steve yelled, “Is everyone okay?”

              All answered that there were no serious injuries, just some cuts from flying glass and bruises from hitting the hardwood floor. While no one was seriously hurt, the women were scared and Julia was sobbing again. Even Beth was visibly shaken and trembled in John’s arms.

              John told her, “Don’t worry, we’ll get out of this and I promise you that the bad guys will be dealt with.”

              Dave yelled, “I’m turning on the outside flood lights, be ready to shoot. They are bright, cover your eyes!” Dave flipped the switches, lit up the lights and flooded the outside of the cabin with bright white light. The GAO was caught flat-footed. Shots rang from the cabin and the GAO scattered like cockroaches in a cheap hotel. Gus had a bead on two that were caught in the open trying to sneak up on the back door. He fired a burst from the M 16 and two bad guys fell.

              John missed as he tried to shoot the red headed bastard and another guy as they came around the end of the garage. He did have them pinned down behind a couple of trees and was covering them with bark and dirt when he shot.

              John saw a guy aiming an RPG at the cabin. He fired a burst into the guy and shredded him, blood and brains blew out everywhere. John saw the RPG lying on the ground and told the others not to let anyone get close to it. He knew the RPG could blow them to hell and back. One guy tried and Julie got him in the gut with her shotgun; he was dead before he hit the ground. Beth missed her guy, but had him running back to the road and hiding in a ditch. Bill and the women were laying down a withering fire that kept the bad guys pinned down.

              The red headed guy and several others opened up with heavy fire while two others tried to get to the RPG. They shot out most of the floodlights and just as the two got to the RPG, John and Julie braved the fusillade and took both of them out with accurate return fire.

              John was hit in the side by a ricochet and Julie was hit in the chest. She was smiling at Dave as he walked towards her, she told him that she loved him and then her head slumped over. Dave shook her then started crying. Janet came over to console Dave, but he pushed her away. He ranted and raved about killing all of those Mexican sons of bitches. Dave had lost it and was out of control. Gus and Steve grabbed him and kept him from running out the front door on a suicide attack.

              Beth looked at John’s side and picked out a piece of a bullet that had shattered. She taped a bandage to his side, slapped him on the, butt and said, “Get back in the game and save us Big John. Please kill the SOB that killed Julie.”

              John replied, “Pain killers please?”

              Janet and Gus had kept the remaining GAO pinned down while the wounded were patched up.

              John looked over to Gus and said, “These aren’t normal thugs, RPGs and choppers, we have pissed some bad guys off.”

              Gus replied, “You thinking what I’m thinking? When we finish these bastards, a hundred more will be coming for us and our families.”

              John replied, “Yes, that’s what has me worried. We need to clean this mess up and wipe out our trail. We do have experience at that crap you know.”

              Gus replied, “That we do, but I’m afraid that we can’t get all info contained or enough of them killed before they do some serious damage.”

• • •

              Scott and Jim heard the explosion and stopped to see where it had come from. There were no signs of the explosion.

              Jim said, “I think it came from over that way. Shouldn’t we head towards the explosion?”

              Scott countered with, “No, Dad and Gus will try to hold the cabin. I don’t know what that was, but I would bet the thugs just got some help. Be ready for anything.” They again started running full speed towards the cabin.

              They were panting heavy, but managing to make good time when Jim saw a clearing up ahead. Jim heard the pilot even before they saw the chopper in the clearing ahead. He was chattering away in Spanish to someone. Jim could speak good Spanish so they stopped to listen. Jim listened for a minute, then quickly took aim and shot the pilot. He dropped like a sack of potatoes.

              Scott shook Jim and said, “What was that about? We could have gotten info from him."

              Before Jim could answer, they heard a volley of gunfire coming from the direction of the cabin.

Jim said, “He was telling someone that their leader, Karl, had given orders for all of us and our families to be killed to set an example. I don’t think I stopped him in time.”

              Scott replied, “We have to get to the cabin, kill these bastards, get back to the GAO office and clean house. They have our home addresses, next of kin and Dad’s credit card info.”

              They ran up to the copter and Scott calmly walked up to the wounded pilot, pulled out his pistol and shot him between the eyes.

              He then said, “I guess you won’t threaten my family again.”

Scott then went to the copter, opened a fuse box and took a couple of fuses to disable it. Then they continued to the cabin.

• • •

              The remaining GAO thugs regrouped back in the trees. There were only Karl, Red, Manny and Maria left alive. Karl, Red and Manny had flesh wounds and Maria had been hit with buckshot, but all could continue the fight.

              Karl ordered, “We have to get the RPG. I’m tired of screwing around with these hombres; send them to hell. I must kill them all and make examples so that no one fucks with GAO ever again,” Karl swore as he glared at Red and the other two.

              Red stepped towards Karl and said, “Karl, we are beaten, we should retreat while we can. Trying to get the RPG will be suicide, they will mow anyone down that gets out in the open.”

              Manny added, “Karl, I will do what you ask, but we will all die.”

              Karl pulled out the Sat phone and called the GAO office. He started with, “What did you find about these pieces of shit?”

              Jorge, the head guard, told him, “I talked with a lady that works for their leader and found out about the whole group, where they live and who they love. She thinks I am a news reporter doing a story about their leader.”

              Karl asked, “What’s so special about him?”

              Jorge replied, “He is a local redneck who was in the army and is now a survivalist who has a radio program.”

              Karl said, “Be ready for my return, you know what to do, make them pray to die. We will capture some of these assholes and put them on the phone to hear their women and children die. Get more info from the bitch!”

              Karl then added, “Have you reported any of this back to the Wolf?”

              Jorge said, “Yes, I thought that you would want news to go back home that you are victorious.”

              “Thanks for having a head on your shoulders, be ready for more responsibility and pay my friend.” Karl hung up. Jorge thought that the shit must have been hitting the fan for Karl to call him his friend.

              While Karl was on the phone, Maria got Red off to the side and tried to get him to help her get Karl to retreat.

              Maria said, “Red, you know that I am dedicated to our cause and making all that money is great, but dead people don’t enjoy the fruits of their labor. What can I do to convince you to help me stop him from getting us all killed because Karl is pissed at the Gringos."

              “The Wolf will kill you if you screw with his fair haired boy. We can only try to talk him out of this madness. Also watch out for Manny, he will back Karl to the end.”

              Maria, placed her hand on Red’s arm and said, “Red, if you help me stop this I will be yours forever. You could take Karl’s place in our organization. We just shoot both of them now.”

              Red slapped Maria hard enough to knock her down. He bent down and shook her; she was groggy.

              Karl turned just in time to see Red checking on Maria. “What the hell is going on behind my back?”

              Red replied, “She got smart and I guess I hit her a bit too hard. Anyway the bitch will watch her mouth in the future.”

              Karl motioned for Manny to come to them and said, “Manny, go get the RPG. Red and I will throw the tear gas grenades and lay down suppressing fire to pin them down.

              Manny was visibly upset, but replied, “Karl, anything you want I’ll do.” With that, he left to get in position to fetch the RPG. Both Red and Karl threw the tear gas grenades as far as they could, but only got them about 50 feet from the cabin. They began shooting at the cabins windows. The return fire from the cabin was heavy and hit all around all three of them. Manny got his courage up, charged out in to the open, grabbed the RPG and ran for cover.