“Maybe we should split up and hide behind trees,” Foote said. “Then we can pick them off.”
“Only if it’s our only option,” Armstrong said.
“He’s right,” Ray said to Terry. “We don’t know how many there are, and it would expose Gene and Sandy. I think we should head back north by northwest, toward the road. The pursuers might be shooting at phantoms that way.”
“Good idea, Ray,” Armstrong said.
The plan seemed to be working, since the continued gunfire seemed to be toward the left of them; then the next bad break came. They began hearing gunshots from the road and behind them. They couldn’t go back to the road. It must be the original pursuers, thought Armstrong. Then he whispered, “Stay off the road. Go west.”
Sandy went down. Eugene’s heart almost stopped, but she only tripped. She got up with his assistance, and they continued to run. Suddenly Sandy and Gene stopped as they saw the grass moving in front of them like a snake was racing through it. Wrenn caught up to them and said it was gunfire. “Keep moving,” he repeated. Everyone was panting now. It got so loud Chad was afraid their pursuers would pick up on them. Maybe they already had.
“Olin, it’s Kostroma. I heard them. They’re about a half klick from you, maybe less.”
“We’re running up behind them as fast as possible.”
“You shouldn’t have fired. They would have come out to the road. Now, my guess is they’ll stay where they are. We’ll try to outflank them and force them to the road.”
Eugene fell. Armstrong figured he’d tripped since there wasn’t any more shooting, but it was exhaustion. This time Sandy was there to offer encouragement. Gene got up, but their pace was too slow. The Blues knew it, but no one was going to say anything. The journey was simply too long. Armstrong estimated they were only about a third of a mile from safety, but even a third of a mile was too far when you felt like your heart was about to leap out of your chest. Your body screamed at you to rest, but the adrenaline, produced by fear, said to go on. Sandy and Eugene did, but at a child’s pace. Armstrong knew it was time to lay out a defense perimeter.
“Ray and Cassandra, stay with Sandy and Gene. The three of us are going to try and hold them off. Foote and Wrenn—set up a point perimeter, fifty yards. I’ll take the middle.”
Wrenn moved to the south, about fifty yards, and stood on the west side of a thick tree. Foote did the same thing about fifty yards to the north. Armstrong moved about fifty yards due west. They waited until the enemy fired to get a fix on their location or until they showed up. They figured they wouldn’t have to wait long. Meanwhile, Ray and Cassandra flanked Gene and Sandy. They were moving slowly, which allowed Ray and Cassandra to fall back temporarily, and look for the enemy. They could easily catch up to them.
They heard another shot, and this time Cassandra cried out. Ray ran over to her, but she was dead. He estimated that the bullet went through her back and through the left ventricle. Ray cried as he stood over her. Eugene stopped first and went over to Ray. “Is she dead?” Ray just nodded.
Sandy ran up from behind. “Please, Ray, we have to go.”
“I can’t go. I can’t leave her,” he said sobbing.
Sandy wore a fearful expression, “They’re catching up to us.”
Ray looked up at them. “I estimate you’re less than two hundred yards from the border. Run straight ahead for thirty seconds, then go right until you reach the road. Then straight for the border.”
“Come with us, Ray,” pleaded Eugene.
Ray tugged at Eugene. “Listen to me, Gene. Professor Zinney once told me that my tactics would never work, but I never listened. He was right. This country will collapse under its own greed. People will have to replace it with something. We have to bring the New World to the Old World. People have to know something better is out there. We’re their hope now. I don’t know if I’ll make it, but you and Sandy must. Now GO!”
Ray knelt down and kissed Cassandra for the final time. “See you in heaven, my love.” Then he heard a noise and looked up at his brother. He stared at a Colt pointing right at him. Then Ray felt the pain of a .45 slug ripping through his intestines.
Chapter 28:
An Unlikely Hero/An Unlikely Villain
“Kostroma, it’s Olin. I heard one of them yell. A woman, I think.”
“Good. We’re pinned down here by three of them. I think there’s only five left. Keep on the others.”
“Kostroma, one of my men said he got another one. I don’t know if he’s dead, but if he is, I believe it leaves only four left.” Then after a pause, “Make that five left. My best guy says he believes the one who yelled only faked it to throw us off. He’s now changed position and firing back. He got one of my men. We lost eight so far.”
“Where are you?” Kostroma said.
“About twenty-five yards behind you, but we were fired upon as well. I believe the best of them are what’s holding you back. Goddamn border is in sight and I see militia over there. They’ve fired at us. We’re going into the woods to pursue them there.”
“Okay, but get them. You are our last hope now.”
Dennis approached him quickly until he was standing over his brother, sneering at him. Ray lay at his feet with blood oozing from a stomach wound.
“Good to see you, Denny,” Ray said as he looked up at his brother. “I was sure we’d meet up.”
Dennis just glared at his brother, and then began to smile; a smile of satisfaction. “That’s really hysterical, little brother. I was thinking the very same thing: How nice it’d be to run into dear old Ray.” Dennis’s expression turned to anger. “I dreamed of this. You lying at my feet, dying at my hand.”
He expected Ray would plead for his life, but Ray calmly reached under his vest. Dennis was startled and raised his piece while Ray held out his hand in a friendly gesture.
“It’s just an envelope,” Ray said, as he reached out to his brother. “Open it.”
“That again!”
“I realized you weren’t ready for it the first time I showed you it. I didn’t know then you’d start dreaming of us.”
Dennis still had his weapon trained on Ray when he reached out and snatched the manila envelope. He undid the clasp while still keeping an eye on his brother. There were a dozen or so papers inside. The top one was titled DD214.
“They’re your discharge papers.” Dennis stared at them. “Do you remember, Denny? You’ve started dreaming of us, haven’t you?”
Dennis looked perplexed. How does he know about the dreams? No one but Teresa knows. He continued to stare at the discharge paper.
“You were a Seal. Look at the next paper.” Dennis did so, and began to read. “You were the best of ‘em. That’s Captain Miranda’s commendation. You were the best he had. The Navy discharged you in favor of mercenaries, so you became one. Not just any soldier of fortune, mind you. You joined the French Foreign Legion. Hell, they recruited you.”
Dennis was still bewildered and disbelieving. “This is impossible. I don’t believe you. You’re a goddamned liar. You always were. I remember everything from the time we were kids. You were always the favorite son. All the opportunities went your way. I hated you. You went into the Blues and I bounced around doing construction jobs.”
Ray listened with amusement, even though the pain was relentless. “Construction, huh? What’s a balustrade?” Dennis looked bewildered.