“One Zero, we’ll work out the details when we get back. I’m starting my trek into the reservation. See you in a few minutes. Out,” said Alex, turning off the radio. “You think the staff sergeant will let him in one of the turrets?” he asked the corporal.
Corporal Gibson shrugged his shoulders. “It’s up to you, Captain. He sounds a bit excitable.”
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea, Alex. He’ll drive the staff sergeant crazy,” said Ed.
“I wasn’t going to put him in the rear vehicle,” said Alex.
“What? No wonder you’re so excited to drive the Jeep. Forget it. It’s my Jeep. I get to drive it to—”
“With all due respect, sir, one of the marines in the rear vehicle will drive the Jeep,” said Corporal Gibson. “Based on the current conversation, I’d feel more comfortable if both of you were present when Durham One-Zero steps into the turret.”
“Apparently, Corporal Gibson is far more savvy than he appears,” said Alex. “Let the staff sergeant know we’ll need one of his marines to drive the Jeep back to Maine.”
“My pleasure, sir. Truly my pleasure.”
PART IV
“Remember the Alamo”
Chapter 25
EVENT +60:04
Limerick, Maine
An unfamiliar digital tone resonated from the kitchen. Kate walked out of the steamy dining room and looked around, unable to identify the source of the sound. Her stomach knotted. More visitors? Maybe today’s law enforcement visit had been legitimate. She hesitated, not wanting to leave Emily alone in the surveillance hub. The two “deputies” had triggered one of the sensors on their way back to the road, but they had agreed to monitor the room 24/7. Tim Fletcher bolted through the sitting room doorway next to the intercom station and saw where Kate was headed.
“That’s the satellite phone,” he blurted. “It’s charging next to the coffee maker.”
“Is that the satphone?” yelled Samantha from the great room to Kate’s left.
“Yes!”
She snatched the phone off the granite and read the display: “GOVT.”
“Shit. It says government. Are they calling us with messages now?”
“Who cares?” Samantha said impatiently. “Pick it up. Either way it’s important.”
Everyone crowded around her as she pressed the green button. “Hello?”
“Honey? It’s Alex.”
Kate found herself unable to answer for a moment. “Yes,” she uttered finally. “It’s me. Is everyone all right?”
“The kids are fine. Ed and Charlie are fine. I’m a little beat up, but I’m fine too. We did it, honey. The kids are with me right now, and we’re headed home.”
She started nodding, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Everyone’s fine. They’re on the way home,” she said to the group gathered around her.
Everyone cheered, and Amy ran over to the dining room. “They got the kids. Everyone made it!”
“Honey, I’ll talk to you in a couple of minutes. Pass the phone to Chloe so her mom can talk to her. She’s worried sick,” said Kate, holding the phone out to Samantha.
“Like you weren’t worried,” said Sam, eagerly taking the phone and walking onto the deck.
Kate hugged Emily and was quickly joined by Amy. They held each other while the phone was passed around. Tim peeked out of the dining room, smiling and nodding.
“How far out are they?” he asked.
Linda handed the phone to one of her daughters. “Charlie said they were still in Medford. They’re moving slowly because the streets are jammed with people. They’re thinking it might take four to five hours to get back. After dark for sure.”
“I hate to have them drive into Gelder Pond with those nutballs out there. They could be waiting near the entrance for all we know, with more fake cops,” said Tim.
“Charlie said they’re with a convoy of marines,” said Linda.
“What?” said Kate, making her way toward the screen porch.
“I love you too, Dad,” said Alyssa Walker, handing the phone out to Kate.
She took it. “Charlie?”
“Kate? Great to hear your voice. You won’t believe what we went through. Apocalypse-fucking-Now kind of shit. Your boy will heal up nicely and probably get a Silver Star! Alex too.”
“What do you mean? Charlie, can I talk to my son?”
“Oh sure, sorry. Here’s the hero right now!”
In the background on the phone, she heard Charlie say, “I think I screwed up, Alex.”
“Mom, I’m fine,” Ryan slurred on the other end of the phone. “Mr. Thornton was being a little overdramatic.”
“You don’t sound fine. What happened?”
“They had to give me morphine. I got hit in the leg.”
Kate found herself unable to breathe. “Hit by what?’ she said, sitting down on one of the chairs.
“A bullet. We had some serious trouble getting out of Boston, but I’m totally fine. Mom? You there, Mom?”
“I’m just a little… it’s so good to hear your voice. We didn’t know how bad it would get down there. I can’t tell you how happy I am,” she said, sobbing in between sentences.
“Me too, Mom. I thought about the sailing trip and—”
“I know. I know, sweetie. We barely made it back,” she said, rubbing her eyes.
“How is Chloe doing?”
“She’s doing great, Mom. I went to her apartment right after the shockwave hit. The city got pretty weird.”
“You can tell me all about it in a few hours. I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep tonight. Let me talk to your father. I love you very, very much, Ryan.”
“I love you too, Mom. I can’t wait to get back.”
“Me either.”
“Here’s Dad.”
Kate waited for her husband’s voice to fill the digital void.
“Kate, Ryan is fine. I didn’t want to worry you. We ran into some trouble.”
“You’re bringing him back in one piece. That’s all that matters. I love you,” she said, her voice cracking.
“I love you more, honey. I would have done anything to get him back.”
“I know you. That’s why I was so scared. I wasn’t sure I’d get to see both of you again,” she said.
“You almost didn’t see either of us. The situation down here is beyond comprehension. If we had waited another day… we might not be having this conversation. We can talk about it over an ice-cold dirty vodka martini down by the pond. How was your trip out? Sounds like everyone made it fine.”
“I think happy hour will have to wait. We ran into a bit of a problem,” she said.
“Everyone’s okay, right?”
“Everyone is fine, but we were stopped by two drunken idiots in Waterboro claiming to be part of a militia group. It didn’t end well for them. They wanted us to give up our weapons or pay a toll to use the road.”
“How much did they want?”
“They didn’t want money,” Kate stated.
“What did they want?”
“I think they had something a little more personal in mind.”
“Shit. Sorry, hon. One of us should have gone with you.”
“I don’t think it would have made a difference. Actually, it might have confused the situation. We did fine. Linda shoots an AR better than you do,” she said.
“That’s good to know,” he said, pausing. “So what’s preventing happy hour?”
“We ditched the bikes and took their SUV. I didn’t want any of their buddies running us down on Route 5. I think someone in Limerick recognized us. The York County Sheriff’s Department paid us a visit this afternoon.”