I needed something to hold down the jeep’s accelerator. I looked around. There were no convenient heavy rocks lying about – or none I could see in the dark. Puffing out a breath of frustration because the longer this took the greater the chances were that someone was going to notice us on one of those cameras and come running, I looked in the back of the jeep. Nothing there except an x shaped lug wrench. It gave me an idea.
I went back to the driver’s side, pulled the thick floor mat forward until it covered the accelerator, mashing it down. To keep it that way, I set the lug wrench on top of it on its end, turning it so one side wedged snuggly under the seat and the other under the dashboard. It would do. I got in and turned the ignition. It started up with the engine racing. I was going to have to be fast.
“Open the gate.”
Duncan pushed until it swung back and banged against the fence. I slammed the jeep into gear and jumped, rolling from it as it cleared the gate. It was a dangerous move but one I’d made before. The timing had to be right but I knew it could work. The jeep shot forward heading straight for the first delivery van. Unless it hit something that turned it too much to the left, it would hit the van broadside. The open driver side door caused it to veer slightly to the right but it was almost a straight clean shot and within seconds, it made a satisfying loud crash as it smacked into the van, pushing it into the one beside it. It kept revving and its front end bounced up, as if it was trying to mount the van.
By that time, the guys had run through the entry and into the trees carrying the cocktails, and I scrambled to join them. We got to the edge of the trees and I grabbed one of the cocktails, lit it, took aim, and lobbed it hard toward the growling jeep.
I threw it trying to hit the pavement behind it so that the flaming gas would run down and make contact with the jeep from its underside where some of the gas spread over the interior was dripping. I threw it too high and the bottle sailed over, hit the flat metal frame on top of the jeep and shattered. Even better. There was a flare as the cocktail fuel ignited and rained down inside, and a whoosh as fire hit the gas that was all over the seats.
We lit and threw more cocktails towards the vehicles. They hit the pavement, breaking and spreading flames beneath them. Then we exited the trees and ran down the side of building. As we sped toward the back, apparently one of our bombs got lucky with a gas tank because a loud blast sent a bright ball of fire out into the night. By the time we rounded the corner and headed for the back door, there was a full-fledged conflagration out front – and a lot of hollering had started.
We got through the door – apparently, none of the Binqua believed in checking so it was unlocked – and sprinted up the stairwell to the second floor. We burst through the doors at the top – and right into a gaggle of Binqua milling in the hall. I didn’t know how many there were but if they had guns, they weren’t using them.
I plowed in and took one to the floor. He let loose with one of those weird giggles as I punched him in the face, then I hit the release on my knife and slashed down. Oily blue blood flew and I rolled off. Duncan, Lem, and Percy, without knives and too close to use their rifles, were each grappling with an opponent, punching and kicking, and I was coming to my feet, ready to take on another when suddenly, the back of my head exploded and everything grayed out before going dark.
Chapter Thirty-five
LIGHT GRADUALLY FILTERED IN. I WAS LYING on the floor on my back staring up at a white ceiling. I brought my eyes down, and found myself looking at Talbert.
He was sitting stiffly in a hard backed wooden chair holding my .357. Oddly, he wasn’t looking at me and the gun wasn’t pointed in my direction.
Instead, his face was pale and he looked scared as he stared at something behind me. I remained still. I closed my eyes to a slit and slid them to the left. Duncan, Lem, and Percy, wearing frustrated looks, were sitting on the floor with their hands on top of their heads. From that, I didn’t think we were still in the hall.
Duncan flicked his eyes at me but the only indication from him that he’d noticed I was conscious was a slight widening of his eyes. Judging by the muffled noises coming from out front, I hadn’t been out long, only a matter of a few minutes.
“What th’ fuck is up with y’all?” said a voice from near where the aliens had to be. “Y’all some kinda freaks… ain’t no human got blood like that, y’all some goddamn UFO aliens! Whadda you really want with th’ girl? I thought all y’all wanted was to put a little heat on her sister… to git a better deal. What, y’all gonna stick something up her ass or something? Naw, naw, that ain’t right…” he trailed off muttering to himself.
I gathered the voice belonged to the guard who’d helped cart Morgan down to the company. He was likely upset at having seen – and smelled – the blood of the alien I’d slashed. I’d cut the Binqua’s throat so he was probably dead. The other Binqua were behind me, near what I thought must be the door to the room, and no doubt were staring at the big gun Talbert was holding. They were quiet. I wondered where Henderson was and got my answer in the next moment.
“Y’all just stay right where you are,” said Talbert, his voice strained. “We’re gonna all just stay here quietly, and wait on Mr. Henderson to finish handling that shit out front.” He looked to where the guard was. “Slim, bring Morgan over here. I don’t want her near these… these… freaks until we find out what the fuck’s going on.”
There was a shuffling noise and Slim stepped around me half-walking, half-carrying a dazed Morgan. There was probably a chair or couch back there since, in that condition, she wouldn’t have been able to stand for long. He lowered her into a chair where she slumped to one side.
He was not the guard who’d been with Talbert before. I guess that one stayed behind this time. He probably had a headache – and a sore tongue.
I’d kept my eyes narrowed to a slit so I couldn’t see much, but Morgan didn’t look good. Slim stayed beside her squatting down next to her chair. He had a .45 in one hand but he and Talbert were keeping their eyes and guns on the aliens, more interested in them than in us.
I remained motionless and took inventory. I felt all right. Again, my hard head had sustained only minor damage. It hurt and it would be sore the next day, but there was no dizziness or nausea and I could ignore the headache. I was still wearing my jacket though it had been opened and the gun removed from my shoulder holster. The knife I’d used to slash the alien was gone. They hadn’t been very thorough and had missed the mini .45 up my sleeve.
I didn’t intend to lie there until Henderson showed up but I was going to have to act fast. I rolled my eyes back to Duncan and he was looking at me. I slid my eyes toward Slim, who was concentrating on the aliens, and raised an eyebrow. Duncan gave an almost imperceptible nod. His elbow touched Percy’s and Percy shot a look at him, and then noticed me. He leaned slightly forward, bumping Lem at the same time. Lem frowned at him until he motioned with his eyes, and Lem looked at me. I shut one eye completely and they kept theirs on me.