Dean chose that moment to ask me the most random question ever. “Do you believe in God?”
“I’m too busy trying to believe in my ability to survive, let alone the existence of something I’ve never seen.” I said.
“You could have just said no.” He said.
“And you could have actually thought about the question, but here we are talking about it. Now shut up, someone’s coming and if they hear you, we will die.”
“Always so dramatic,” He whispered.
I slapped my hand over his mouth, holding the index finger of my other hand against my lips. He nodded.
One end of the log darkened as someone stood in front of it. We froze, unwilling to even breathe for fear of being found.
Blinding light illuminated the inside of the log from the other side, making us gasp and throw our hands up to protect our eyes.
“Come out, now!” A male voice ordered.
Chapter 17
“I said now!” He said again.
“You mind lowering your light so we can see?” I asked.
The light turned down, illuminating only the bark below us. Dean and I crawled out, trying to discreetly count the number of people surrounding us. As far as I could tell, there were only two. Dean was praying under his breath.
“What are you kids doing out here?” The man with the flashlight asked.
“We’re looking for someone.” I said.
Both men immediately pointed their guns at us.
“Who?” The second man asked.
“Whom,” I said.
“What was that?” The first man asked.
“Your buddy said ‘who’ when he should have said ‘whom’” I answered.
“Just answer the question you smart-ass bitch.” The second man said.
“We are looking for a guy named Leon.” Dean said.
“You know him?” The first man asked.
“No. We ran into someone who does, and we offered to help look for him. Why, have you seen him?” I said.
“We don’t have to tell you jack shit.” The second guy said.
“Assholes” I muttered.
“Who are you?” The first guy said.
“How about telling us who you guys are first? Make it so we can put a little trust in you. You’re military, right?” I said.
“National Guard. My name is Wilkins.” The first guy said.
“Boyle.” The second guy said, reluctantly.
“I’m Jo, and this is Dean.” I said. “Look, we found this guy’s kid, and we promised we’d find him. Just tell us if you’ve seen him so we can be on our way.”
There was a pause, with Wilkins and Boyle giving each other looks, communicating silently.
“Come with us.” Wilkins said.
Boyle rushed to his side. “Why aren’t we taking their weapons?” He whispered loudly.
“I don’t think they’re a threat.” Wilkins said.
“Well I do,” Boyle said, raising his voice slightly.
“I have seniority.” Wilkins said with a tone indicating the conversation was over.
Dean and I walked beside them, our swords held low, toward the place I had seen movement earlier.
As we stepped into a clearing, three men pointed their guns at us, startled. They surrounded a fourth man, who was holding a gun to a fifth man on his knees with his hands tied behind his back.
“Who are these kids?” One of the men said.
“Jo and Dean. They say they’re looking for Leon.” Wilkins said.
“And you didn’t disarm them?” The same man said.
“That’s what I suggested, but Wilkins pulled rank.” Boyle said.
“Stop whining.” The man holding a gun to the bound man said. He turned his head to look at us. “What do you want with him?”
“That’s him?” I asked, nodding toward the one he was pointing his gun at.
He nodded.
“His kid went looking for him. It wasn’t safe, so we’re helping out.” I said.
“How sweet.” He said.
“She went looking for me?!” Leon said.
“Yeah, took a gun with her and everything.” I said.
“Is she safe? Please, tell me she’s safe!”
“She’s safe. She’s being watched over by some friends.”
“Thank God!” He said, closing his eyes.
“If I may ask, what is he tied up for?” I asked the man pointing the gun at Leon.
“Trespassing and theft. “ He said.
“Trespassing where and theft of what?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Do you really think we should be telling them anything, Sarge?” Boyle said, stepping forward.
“You’re talking out of line,” The Sargent said.
Boyle shut up, glaring sideways at us.
“He was trespassing on government property. He also stole government property.” ‘Sargent’ said.
“What did he steal?” I asked.
“What does it matter?” He asked.
“It will matter to his daughter, who, it looks like, might not ever see him again.”
“He stole food.” He said.
“You’re holding him because he stole some food to feed him and his child after civilization as practically completely dissolved?” I asked.
“It’s government property.”
“Isn’t it part of the duty of the National Guard to help out US citizens in times of crisis?” I asked.
“That’s not the point!” He said.
“Then what is, Sargent?”
“The point is, I’m in charge, and I don’t have to put up with nosy civilian brats like you!” Sarge said, turning on me. “Arrest them.” He said to the other men.
Boyle moved swiftly behind me, twisting my wrists behind my back, making me drop my sword. One of the other men grabbed my pistol and holster as Boyle zip-tied my hands together.
“Hey!” Dean said as two other soldiers disarmed and bound him as well.
“Where are your little friends?” Boyle asked.
“Ich spreche nicht Englisch.” I said.
“Bitch, where are they?” He said, shoving my back.
“You really think I’m going to tell you assholes?”
“How about you Blondie? Are you a little more willing to talk?” One of the other men asked Dean, shaking him by the arms.
Dean just stuttered, probably too afraid to say anything. One of the soldiers hit him in the stomach with the butt of his rifle. I didn’t stop to think. I kicked Boyle hard between the legs, struggling to get out of the zip tie as three of the soldiers jumped me, momentarily ignoring their comrade, who was at the moment rolling on the ground, clutching his crotch. Someone hit me in the face with their gun, knocking me out.
Chapter 18
When I woke up, I was being carried through the woods on someone’s shoulder.
“Wha…?” I mumbled, groggy.
“Jo? Jo! You’re awake!” Someone said beside me. Dean. “I’m so sorry. After the knocked you out, I told them everything. I was afraid.”
“There will be no talking from the prisoners.” Someone barked.
I looked up in time to see Dean stumble, having been pushed by the soldier behind him.
“Now that she’s awake, can I stop carrying her? She’s heavy.” The man on who’s shoulder I was resting- Boyle.
“I way a hell of a lot less than you do fat ass.” I said.
“Yeah, that’s fine. Just don’t let any of them get too close to each other or near your weapons.” Sarge said.
“Yes, Sir!” The men said.
Boyle slid me off his shoulder and onto my feet.
“Walk,” He said, sending me reeling sideways, careening into a tree.
He grabbed me by the collar, yanking me in front of him. “I said walk! And don’t get any ideas.”
I looked around. It was nearly dawn; ahead of us loomed the high walls and barbed wire fencing of the National Guard base.
&n
bsp; “Sargent Hepburn to Base, come in Base, over.” Sarge said.
“Go for Base, over.” Someone said. It sounded like it was coming in over a radio.
I tried to look, but Boyle shoved my head down.
“We’re coming in the south gate, are we clear? Over.” Sargent Hepburn said.
“You’re clear. Did you catch the guy? Over.” The voice over the radio said.
“Confirmed. We have six prisoners in custody. Over.”
“Six? We only expected you to come back with one. Over.”
“I’ll tell you all about it when we get in. Over.”
As we got closer and closer to the south gate, it got easer to peek up and take note of what we were up against.
‘Damn.’ I thought. I couldn’t see any people, but they had cars, trucks, hummers, and even a tank or two. Guard towers lined the walls every few hundred feet, search lamps just barely visible under small conical roofs. This place would be about as hard to bust out of as a super maximum security prison. Come to think of it, super max might be easier to escape from.
We were blindfolded at the gate and led to a cell block where we were separated. Little Camilla cried for her father, afraid and frustrated to be so close to him, but unable to see or touch the only family she had left in this world.
“Are you guys ok?” I said through my cell door.
“Yeah,” was the general consensus.
“What happened after I was knocked out?” I asked.
“I told them where the house was.” Dean said. “They took us over there and dragged everyone out.”
“They tied us up and marched us out into the woods. I was afraid they were going to kill us.” Billie said.
“It’s my fault. It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have left Camilla!” Leon said from the other side of the room.
“Yeah, what the hell were you thinking anyways?” I asked him.
“We were hungry. I was just trying to get us some food.” He said.
“So you stole food from the military?” Sully asked, indignant.
“It was just one small box! I didn’t think they would miss it.” Leon said.
“Next time, just ask.” I told him.
“If there is a next time,” Sully said.
“What, you don’t think I can get us out of here?” I asked.
“This place is like Fort Knox.” Sully said.
“Ye of little faith.” I said, smiling to myself.
I didn’t know how I was going to do it, but I sure as hell wasn’t going to rot in this cell for the rest of my life.
“What are you going to do? Gnaw through the bars?” Dean asked.
“If it comes to that,” I said.
“So what’s the plan?” Billie asked.
“I don’t know yet.” I said.
I sat down, thinking hard. We probably couldn’t get out of the cells without help since the walls were made of solid concrete. If we got out of the cell block, it might not be too hard to get to a gate or wall, as long as we stayed away from any cameras that might be working, and security guards. We would have to get weapons, so that meant the armory or finding wherever the hell those asses put our stuff.
“Where’s the truck?” I asked.
“It’s still at that house.” Sully said.
“Is our stuff still in it?”
“As far as I know,”
A door banged, echoing through the cell block.
“Hey, let us out of here!” Leon yelled.
“Shut up!” Someone yelled back. “Prisoners are not allowed to speak unless spoken to.”
Their voice sounded muffled, like they were talking through a door.
Another door opened, this time closer.
“Stand back.” The voice said.
Feet shuffled to comply and a cell door creaked open.
“You’re coming with me.” The voice said and two pairs of feet walked off, never crossing my sight.
When they finally came back and put whoever it was in their cell, a guard stood on the other side of my bars.
“Stand back.” He ordered.
I moved up against the wall, pressing my back flat against it. The door unlocked and as it slid open, the guard reached in and handcuffed me.
“Don’t try anything stupid.” He growled.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“Shut up.” He said, and shoved me forward, through a heavy solid metal door.
I was guided through a maze of hallways at a quick march. All the walls seemed to be concrete and plaster, with metal doors everywhere. Finally, after walking up a set of stairs with peeling paint, I was pushed unceremoniously into a brightly lit room that smelled strongly of polish. It blinded me at first, and I held my hands up to my face to block the glare, giving my eyes a chance to adjust.
It took several long seconds, and a few more prods forward, before I saw that I was standing in an empty courtroom.
“He’s ready for her.” An unfamiliar female voice said from across the room.
“Get to moving.” My escort said.
I hesitantly walked forward between the bench seats, wondering who else was in the room, and just whom exactly I was meeting.
As I got to the partition separating the bench seats from the desks for the litigants, I saw a short woman in military uniform standing just in front of a door behind the Judge’s bench.
Chapter 19
“This way,” The woman said, opening the door for me.
I was guided to another door, this time plain and wooden. The guard stopped me just short of it and said:
“Be respectful. Speak only when spoken to, and do not try anything stooped. I have orders to shoot to kill. Is that clear?”
“Crystal,” I said.
He was trying to be tuff, but his shaking hands gave him away.
“Who are you more afraid of? Me, or whoever is behind that door?” I asked.
“Just get in there and sit down.” He said.
The room was small and grey, with a single heavy wooden table bolted to the floor and two chairs, one on either side. A small ring was bolted to the side of the table I was facing, so a prisoner’s hands could be secured away from the person sitting across from them. In my case, it was a tall, older man in a crisp dress uniform. He had a pad of paper and a few pencils with him, and little else that I could see. His hat rested on the table next to his elbow, leaving his balding head of white hair exposed. The man had impeccable posture and cold blue eyes.
The soldier that had led me in chained me to the table the second I sat down, quickly moving back to stand in a corner, gun held low but ready.
“I’m Colonel Colvin.” The man said.
“Joanna Dagen,” I said.
“Do you know why you’re here?” He asked me.
“Because your men are idiots?” I said.
The smallest smile flashed across his face before he responded “No Ma’am, you are here because you assaulted an officer and are suspected of theft.”
“One of your officers wrongly imprisoned us, and assaulted one of my friends.” I said. “And just what do you mean by ‘suspected of theft?”
“We’ll get to that in a moment. Please, tell me about the assault on your friend.” He asked.
“I was looking for a little girl’s father with one of my friends. He tripped, which alerted the officers that were out there. At the time, we did not know who they were. They could have been gun toting lunatics for all we knew, so we hid. Two officers found us, and forced us to follow them back to the others in their group. We told them who we were looking for, words were exchanged, and the Sargent ordered us to be arrested. They demanded we tell them where our other friends and the girl were, and when we didn’t tell them, one of the men struck my friend with the butt of his rifle. I wasn’t really thinking, it ticked me off so much that I fought back. I kicked Boyle between the legs. Several men jumped me, wrestling me to the ground and another soldier hit me in the face with his gun, knocking me ou
t.”
As I spoke, the Colonel’s pencil flew across his notepad.
“What is the name of the friend that was with you?” He asked.
“Dean Russell.” I said.
“Do you know the names of the officers who struck the two of you?”
“No.”
“And what about this theft?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. The Sargent said the guy we were looking for stole some food. That’s it. We have nothing to do with it.”
“I will be looking into this incident. If, after questioning the rest of your group, I find that you are not a risk to the soldiers on this base, you will all be moved into slightly more comfortable quarters until I have completed my investigation. If you are found to be innocent, you will be given the choice to stay here with moderate freedom, or you can leave. If you are found guilty, your punishment will be deliberated.” He said, then motioned for the guard to take me back to my cell.
“Yes sir, Colonel, sir.” The guard said.
“Bring me this ‘Dean Russell’ when you’re done.” The Colonel said.
“Sir, yes Sir.” The guard said.
“And make sure he’s cleaned up first if he’s covered in blood like this one.”
“Do you want me to make sure she’s cleaned up too?”
“Yes,”
I was led quickly back to my cell where I was un-cuffed and locked in again.
“You can wash your face when I come back,” He said.
When Dean was taken through the door, Billie and Sully whispered to me.
“Are you ok?” “Where did they take you?”
“I’m fine.” I said. “I talked to some JAG guy, I guess, a Colonel.”
“JAG?” Sully asked.
“Judge Advocate General.” I said.
“So what does that mean?” Billie asked.
“It means I was talking to a lawyer who might be able to convince the person in charge to let us go, should he find that we’re telling the truth.” I said.
“If he finds out we’re telling the truth? We Are telling the truth, where is the need for proof?” Sully asked.
“You know how some people are, they would lie through their teeth to avoid being punished, especially in the military and police.” I said.
“Do they know we’re not military?” Billie asked.
“That doesn’t really matter right now. I used force against an officer. There is no police force to speak of anymore, so stuff like this falls to these guys. Especially since it involves them.” I said.
“What’s going to happen to all of us? I feel awful for inadvertently dragging you kids into this.” Leon said softly. I had almost forgotten he was there.