Now that the Haven group had found the Suzy Q, and won the battle with the Chimera, the race was on to unload the VTOL and clear the area before more stinks arrived. So a frantic effort ensued as mules were moved into position and crate after crate was lowered to the ground using ropes.
Then came the ticklish task of loading the often recalcitrant animals properly as even more boxes were sent down from above. After persuading Susan to function as a lookout, Capelli worked shoulder-to-shoulder with the others to get the pack train ready. It was difficult to keep his eyes off the sky, knowing it wasn’t a question of whether stink reinforcements would arrive but when.
So Capelli felt a tremendous sense of relief when the final box was roped into place and Bo led the group away from the bluff and into the creek. It was impossible for the heavily laden mules to travel at anything more than a walk. And the relatively slow pace set Capelli’s teeth on edge as the pack train followed the creek bed north before turning into a half-frozen stream. It led them in under the branches of trees that grew along both banks. They offered a little bit of cover as a pair of sonic booms rolled across the land. Capelli couldn’t see the Chimeran aircraft, but figured they were fighters, sent to scope out the situation before the shuttles arrived.
Bo led the pack train up out of the streambed into a covered sluiceway. The sound of hooves echoed back and forth between concrete walls as the group continued up a gentle incline to a point where the dry sluiceway ended and a metal roof hid them from above. Capelli saw the words “Osage Cement” on the huge processors all around and realized they were in what had been a tribally owned manufacturing facility. That was when Bo came to speak with him. “I suggest that we hole up here, split the load, and go our separate ways once it’s dark.”
Capelli was about to respond when Tilson took it upon himself to speak for the entire group. He had a noticeable tendency to show up whenever decisions were being made. “That will be fine.”
A slow grin appeared on Bo’s face as he made eye contact with Capelli. “I’m glad to hear it. But first we’d better check the plant for pods and post guards. I’ll work with Joe here to take care of that.”
Tilson nodded importantly and said, “Good. I’ll wait here.”
It was nearly dawn by the time Capelli, Susan, and the rest of the team arrived in the town square, where the entire town turned out to greet them. And with lots of people to help, the effort to unload the shipment of arms and get it underground went quickly.
Once that task was over, Capelli and Susan were happy to let others take care of the mounts as they descended into the tunnel complex and began to make their way home. That was when Mr. Potter intercepted them.
“There you are!” he said cheerfully. “Welcome back, and please allow me to thank you on behalf of the council. I know you’re tired, but we have some very special visitors, and it would be nice if you could say hi.”
Capelli would have declined, but Susan responded by saying, “Sure, we’d be happy to.” That left him with no choice but to go along.
Potter led the way. As Capelli followed the banker and his wife into the meeting room, he was shocked to see uniforms. Army uniforms, all worn by men he had never seen before, with one very notable exception. And that was Captain Marvin Kawecki.
Kawecki saw the old man enter, followed by a pretty woman, and a male who looked familiar somehow. Then came the moment of realization and the resulting flood of anger. Kawecki pulled his Magnum and aimed it at the man’s head. “Joseph Capelli! You shot Hale. Now it’s your turn to die.”
The voice in Capelli’s head had been largely silent ever since his marriage to Susan. Suddenly it was back. What goes around comes around, Capelli.
With a loud click, Kawecki thumbed the hammer back. Capelli knew there wasn’t enough time to bring a weapon to bear. So he stood up straight and braced himself for the impact. It took all the willpower he had to stare into what looked like a railroad tunnel. The hammer fell.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
FRIEND, OR FOE?
Mr. Potter’s cane was already falling as Kawecki pulled the trigger. The wooden shaft hit the officer’s forearm with a thunderous boom and the Magnum went off.
Capelli felt the bullet nip the top of his right shoulder while the revolver clattered to the floor. He was surprised to be alive as the soldiers raised their weapons. But Susan’s Fareye was aimed at Kawecki by that time. “Hold your fire,” she said grimly, “or the captain dies.”
“That will be enough of that,” Potter said firmly, stepping into the space between the potential combatants. “All of you will lower your weapons and do so now.”
A long silence fell, during which Kawecki and Capelli glowered at each other. It ended when Kawecki said, “You heard the man. Lower your weapons.”
The soldiers obeyed, but with obvious reluctance.
“That goes for you, too,” Potter said, as he directed a look to Susan.
Susan brought the rifle’s barrel up and back so that it was pointed at the ceiling and rested on the front surface of her right shoulder. A position from which the weapon could be brought to bear very quickly.
“Good,” Potter said, as his eyes shifted from Capelli to Kawecki. “It appears that you two know each other.”
“You could say that,” Kawecki replied. “Capelli was a soldier once. And a reasonably good one. Back before he chose to kill our commanding officer.”
“Who had started to turn,” Susan stated flatly.
Kawecki looked at her and frowned. “Excuse me! But who the hell are you?”
“My name is Susan Farley. I’m Nathan Hale’s sister and Joseph Capelli’s wife.”
A look of astonishment appeared on Kawecki’s face. He opened his mouth but nothing came out.
“Which brings us to you,” Capelli put in. “Is that uniform for real?”
“The simple answer is yes,” Potter replied sternly. “The President of the United States sent Captain Kawecki and his men here. And we are citizens. So regardless of what took place in the past, you will find a way to get along with these soldiers or leave Haven. Is that clear?”
Capelli nodded. “Yes.”
“Good. That’s enough for tonight. Everyone is tired. We’ll come back together tomorrow.”
Susan took Capelli’s arm. “Come on,” she said gently. “We’re tired, and you’re bleeding.”
Capelli looked at his wife. He knew that when she said, “We’re tired,” she was referring to both herself and the baby. Somehow the past, present, and future had all come together in a single moment of time.
As the Capellis left, Kawecki bent over, retrieved his revolver, and returned the weapon to its holster. It was, he reflected, a very small world.
A strategy session was convened the following day. The entire city council was present, as were Kawecki, his soldiers, and leading members of the community. That included Mel Tilson, his strongest allies, and the Capellis.
Mayor Locke chaired the meeting. The first hour was spent listening to an off-the-cuff presentation by Kawecki, who brought the group up to date regarding the attack on Freedom Base One, the subsequent trek to Freedom Base Two, and the status of the Hale vaccine.
Capelli looked at Susan when Hale’s name was mentioned. She was clearly determined to keep it together, but he saw a tear trickle down her cheek, and was reminded of the way she had been willing to kill for him the night before. Love, he decided, is a very complicated thing.