Chapter Twenty
Karl was staring off toward the trees, a frown on his face. "So this gang you were mentioning, oriental or what?"
"Actually no." L-C Greene said quietly. "The orientals seem to have a different approach. This was something we don't see much of. Have you ever heard of 'the Russian Mafia'? From what we can find out, it looks like this gang might have been an offshoot of that."
"Oh great!" Karl sighed deeply. "Well that explains the JTF2 contingent being here."
L-C Greene snapped his head around and stared at Karl.
"What gave you that idea?" He asked quietly.
"Oh come on Greene, I happened to be talking to CPO Elgin and he mentioned that you were commanding a mixed force. I was raised in the bush country up north. I notice things. You've got two guys here who are better woodsmen than I am, Springfield and Winchester, and you came here expecting trouble. In fact, you came here so damn fast that I'm willing to bet this group was sitting around waiting for any sign of being needed, ready to take off at a moment's notice. Hell man, I know the travel time from Esquimalt to here on a chopper, even though you used a Cormorant, it's about forty minutes and you were here inside of an hour. Since you came so fast, that means that the chopper had to be warming up as we called in. I'll bet all you had to do was grab the closest doctor and jump aboard."
"Now the rest of this bunch is Navy, which I would expect since Esquimalt is the closest military base. You say you've been chasing these guys for a while, that means you had a chance to get some special help from some experts at dirty fighting in the field. I'd imagine that the government being as paranoid as it is, they'd immediately think that since the infrastructure was all shook up around here, it would be a perfect time for an invasion of some sort. So they'd send out someone they felt could depend on to fight dirty if need be. If we were in the States I suppose it'd be Special Forces, but from what I've read, we have a few guys here who are specialists in dealing with terrorists and such too and I remember that the group was called JTF2. To me, that explains the two guys named after rifles in your command."
"Now you've told me a bunch but there's more to this than you've said. I'd be willing to bet that if I were able to see out toward the strait, I'd see a patrol vessel of some sort heading this way at full steam or perhaps it's already on station where it could observe the entrance to the cut leading into the bay. It'll be there just in case the gang you've been talking about makes a break for it. What do you think Springfield? Do you think it's there yet?" Karl leaned back in his chair and then slowly spun around to look over his shoulder.
The tall man behind him leaned back against the wall and shook his head slowly.
"Right now, I think you have eyes in the back of your head. I will admit that I might have made some noise coming up onto the porch, but how the hell did you know it was me, you never turned once."
"I have a few advantages. This is my ground and I know it well." Karl sighed softly. "But like you, I don't give away all my secrets. Now, since the chopper came in with the lift door open and you came up the gorge, I'm going to ask you a question that you needn't answer if you don't want to. How many men did you drop off down below?"
"Well, you might not expect an answer, but I'll give you one. We didn't know about the rockslide in the channel so just in case, we dropped off two men to take and hold your boat."
"I imagine with orders to sink it if need be, huh?" Karl sighed.
"No sir, with orders to disable it."
"Oh, it already is." Karl smiled. "The burner is pulled out of the boiler and the fuel pump is removed, so are the fuel and water filters. As well as that, I've disconnected a link in the prop shaft. The boat won't move until I repair it."
"Ah, that explains a question or two." Springfield smiled.
To Karl's surprise he pulled a tiny cell phone from his pocket. Lifting it to his ear, he waited a moment.
"Gatling ...? Springfield here. Steady down, vessel previously secured. Hold and guard."
He grinned at Karl. "There, now they won't do any further damage to your baby."
"Thank you." Karl said quietly.
L-C Greene looked at him strangely, then sighed. "Why is it I feel that we're about as necessary here as tits on a boar?"
"Oh I wouldn't say that." Karl chuckled quietly. "First off, I can think of all the things I'd like to do, but I don't have the physical capability of doing them. Secondly, you brought a doctor and we desperately needed one. Third, you're giving me a break and filling in holes in my knowledge that make it easier for me to see the whole picture. Because of you, I'll be able to sleep tonight and feel safe doing it."
"Well, thank you for that." L-C Greene said quietly. "Now since you seem to be one hell of a tactician as well as an extremely good observer, what would you do if you were me?"
"For tonight, I'd get the tents set up and a meal into your troops. Then I'd do a quick sweep of the plateau on this side of the gorge. It's mostly open ground so it won't take long to do a cursory sweep. After that, I'd post a guard nearby and another one at the bridge, which is where I think Elgin went. Either later tonight or tomorrow morning before daylight, I'd ask for an overflight by a copter with an infrared camera to check out the rest of the island. When I saw the results of that, I'd make up my mind what to do tomorrow."
Springfield chuckled softly, then walked around their chairs and headed toward the tents.
"See you in the morning, sir." He called over his shoulder.
"I think he has the right idea." L-C Greene smiled his weird smile at Karl. "You might go inside and relax for tonight. We'll make sure no one disturbs you. Goodnight and thank you for your advice."
"Goodnight." Karl said rising to his feet and watching him walk away.
Sighing at the fact that he couldn't feel any trust toward L C Greene, he stood in thought for a moment as he reviewed his impressions of the man. Perhaps his feelings were tainted by his initial dislike for Greene's attitude, but other than that, he couldn't put his finger on a specific reason for his distrust. Finally, with a dismissive shake of his head, he turned and opened the door to go inside.
Dr Baker and Ely were about to open the door from the other side when Karl opened it. Ely actually jumped in surprise.
"Oops, I didn't mean to scare you Ely." Karl apologised then looked at the doctor. "Lets see, that was Lieutenant Baker wasn't it?"
"I prefer Dr Baker." She smiled. "We were just on our way to get you. I'd like to do a quick examination please."
"Well, since I've never had a doctor come here on a house call before, I think I should take advantage of it." Karl smiled, then he curled his nose and looked over at Bruno. "David, do you suppose you could take Bruno out onto the porch. Oh, damn. He might want to check out the people out there and that could be trouble. I guess I should do it, he might need to take a leak before we tie him up for the night."
"David and I will do it Karl." Ely said shortly. "You stay here and let the doctor check you out."
"Yes boss." He smiled at her then turned to the doctor. "I'm actually feeling much better Doc."
"I'll be the judge of that." She said, lifting her stethoscope.
Later that night after Dr Baker had signed Karl off as healthy enough to live until she could do a more thorough examination in the morning and after she had checked both of the women a second time, she left. When they were alone, all of the family that were awake sat down to a quick meal. Karl filled them in on what Lieutenant Commander Greene, CPO Elgin, and Springfield had told him.
George chuckled softly when Karl told of L-C Greene's conclusions about the 'disappearing' boat.
"He damn near had it figured out right." Karl said quietly. "He just picked the wrong boat."
"Well, just as long as his report goes in the way it is now, we should be left free and clear of any suspicion." George sighed. "What is rather nice about it is that you have set up your description of happenings in such a way that he automatically made assumptions which confirm his own conclusions."
"Don't you think Karl knew what he was doing Dad?" Ely smiled. "I wouldn't have expected any different. Every word Karl said was the truth. He simply left out a few details."
"That my dear is what makes for a great liar, being able to make another person believe what you want him to, while telling him only part of the truth." George laughed heartily. "In fact, give me enough time and I could make a great fiction writer out of your man."
"Oh God help me, no!" Ely sighed heavily. "I've lived with one of those already. Please Karl, promise me you won't listen to him."
Everyone at the table laughed, especially George and that set the tone for the rest of the evening.
Dr Baker did come in to check on Trudy and Keri once more before everyone went to bed for the night and Karl did make one trip out onto the porch to check on Bruno. Other than that, they all simply relaxed in relief from the pressure of the last few days.
Later as Ely snuggled against Karl's side in bed, she said quietly; "Dr Baker really impressed me, I think we're in good hands."
"Well, once they get sorted out, I think the troops out there are a good crew too." Karl smiled at her. "I'm glad they're here."
"Mmm, that's good." Ely sighed softly and to both her and Karl's surprise, they both drifted off to sleep.
Karl was awakened early the next morning by the sound of a helicopter flying overhead and he found that he had a self-satisfied grin on his face as he started to roll out of bed. Perhaps he had given Greene the idea of an early morning overflight or perhaps he'd simply guessed what had already been planned. Either way, he felt pretty damn proud that he could second guess the military.
"Good God, it's only five thirty in the morning." Ely moaned softly. "What the hell are the sailor boys playing at this early in the day?"
"They're overflying the island with an infrared camera." Karl whispered as he bent and kissed her forehead. "It'll help them find if the crooks exist and how many there are. As well, it will probably let them know where the crooks are hiding."
"Oh shit. Are you getting up?"
"Unh huh, I want to be out there when they get the pictures of their survey. I forgot to warn them that there are pigs down in the bottomland. They'll show up on infrared and confuse the issue." Karl answered. "You can go back to sleep. I'll try to be as quiet as I can."
"Will the military be quiet though?" Ely sighed. "On top of that helicopter, I'll bet the dear doctor is chomping on the bit. She'll be waiting for delivery of her medical supply order then she'll want to start Keri on her new medications as soon as she has them in her hands."
"Probably." Karl grinned, gently running a hand over a soft breast that had been exposed by the shifting of the covers. "Wasn't it you who lulled me to sleep last night by singing the dear doctor's praises?"
"So?" Ely swatted his hand gently. "I've changed my mind before and if I'm going to get woken up at this ungodly hour, I may change my mind this time too."
"If this sort of noise happens another day I promise I'll rock you back to sleep" He tweaked her nipple gently between thumb and forefinger. "However dear, as much as I'd love to stay and play, I really want to see what results they get. It's not that I'm worried about those damn pigs. It's just that I'd hate to hear about someone getting hurt because he thought he was sneaking up on a man and it turned out to be an angry sow protecting her piglets."
Suddenly they heard Linda giggle from the other bed where she lay beside Keri.
"Oh shit, did we wake you?" Ely sighed.
"No! That frigging chopper did, it's loud. I think the only one sleeping is Keri. " Linda answered. "I was just giggling at the image of a sailor in full battle gear being chased by a mad sow."
"Well, I'm off to try to stop that happening." Karl said quietly. "I'm wide awake now anyway and I need my morning coffee."
"I think you might as well make a full pot." Ely sighed. "I imagine the noise will have wakened Dad and Trudy as well."
"Oh I hope not." Karl sighed. "Both of them need sleep."
"And I don't?" Ely snorted.
"You're in far too good a mood to pretend that you're short on sleep. You're just upset that I can't stay and play with you." Karl grinned at her, then grabbed his clothes in one hand and slipped out of the room before either she or Linda could say anything else to slow him down.
After a quick dash to the can he hurried downstairs, yanking on his pants and carrying his shirt. Since he could hear George still snoring, he sighed in relief as he readied the coffee pot. Pulling on his shirt and slipping on his boots, he hurried outside. The rain had let up and although the clouds were scudding by overhead, the day looked not too bad. He wasn't at all surprised to see Springfield lounging at the bottom of the porch steps scratching Bruno behind the ear.
"Good morning Mister Rifleman." Karl grinned. "You'll wear your fingers out before he'll be satisfied you know."
"Does nothing surprise you?" Springfield sighed. "I'm sitting here with your guard dog, for cripes sake, and you treat it as normal."
"Some guard dog." Karl laughed. "Of course with a bit of training, he could be one I suppose."
"Yeah, I bet." Springfield smiled. "I'm willing to wager you let him run free until he's needed, but he follows your commands when you want him to, or does he?"
"Oh, he does all right for what little training he's had." Karl chuckled and said quietly. "Bruno, home, now."
The dog limped quickly up the steps and sat on his rug.
"He's healing fast." Karl smiled and looked the taller man in the eye as Springfield chuckled. "Well, what did you want to tell me?"
"I wanted to ask you what animals you had running around down near the bay." Springfield stood slowly and brushed off his pants. "By the way, your dog sheds."
"Yup, so do the bloody pigs, which I'd guess your infrared survey found since you're asking about them."
"Aha, I was right. How many pigs?"
"Probably lots, according to Linda." Karl sighed. "One of the women won a few of them in a draw and they kept escaping then making a hell of a mess. Finally we just let them run free in the bottomland where we could keep them semi-penned away from anything important. I'd gladly be rid of the whole bunch. How many did you find?"
"Lots, I don't know how many though. We'd better go see L-C Greene. He's ready to call in the whole Navy, figures there's an invasion force down there." Springfield grinned. "He's not going to be happy with you for forgetting to warn him about those pigs."
"Well, turn about is fair play. Ely and Linda aren't happy with him about the early morning overflight either. He could have warned us." He looked up at the cruising helicopter, noticing that this was a far smaller one than had been there the day before. "Hey, how are you getting the pictures already? The chopper is still cruising."
"Direct transmission." Springfield pointed to a dish that seemed to be automatically following the chopper's path.
"I'll be damned." Karl sighed softly. "Did that come in with yesterday's supplies?"
"Yeah, it's meant for a satellite link, but it's adaptable." Springfield grinned. "Now let's get down to the main tent, so you can explain to the man how you forgot those damn pigs."
"Oh thanks." Karl said somewhat sarcastically. "I'm looking forward to that."
The main tent that Springfield had referred to was the mess tent amongst other things. L-C Greene was standing near a coffee pot and staring at a computer printout while drinking a cup of coffee.
"Good morning Greene. If you've got a cup of coffee to spare, I might be able to reduce your frustrations." Karl said quietly.
"Karl." L-C Greene frowned as he nodded in greeting. "If you can reduce the number of heat sources on this printout by a factor of a hundred or so, I'll give you the whole damn pot."
"Well, I forgot to mention the pigs that are running loose down near the bay, but there can't be hundreds of them. I admit I forgot to warn you about them, but then they weren't on the top of my list of concerns yesterday. In fact they're a pain in the ass most of the time."
"Well, that might explain some of the sources down near the bay, but there are more minor heat sources near the edge of the cliffs than anywhere. Can you explain those?"
"Oh shit." Karl sighed as he glanced at the scan. "I forgot about the feral cats too. Some idiot dropped of a pregnant cat here years ago. Keri, the woman who was raped, hates them because they kill all the birds they can. She hunts them when she has time. That would explain all those small dots in the trees. Your infrared camera is set extremely high for it to be picking up something the size of a cat."
"You hear that LeBeaux? L-C Greene just gave away your coffee pot." Greenfield grinned.
"He can keep the pot if I can have a cup of coffee out of it." Karl grinned.
"Help yourself. Grab a cup and come over to the computer if you would, Peacock is building up a survey of sorts, showing the main heat sources." L-C Greene said quietly. "Maybe you can help us separate those pigs and cats of yours from the probable sources of human heat signatures."
"Just going by shape, we can pretty well do that, Sir." Peacock spoke up, pointing at the screen image. "Look, here is an obvious one, a sleeping man, and these other three figures nearby would probably be men who are trying to hide or at least be less visible. It looks like they have a fire there too. See how small and intense that heat source is and how its influence diminishes as the heat signature spreads outward."
"I'd say you found their camp, Dave." Karl said quietly resting a congratulatory hand on Peacock's shoulder for a second. "Can that computer filter out the heat signature from a smaller source?"
"Easier to do it from the camera end, but yeah, I could. Why?"
"Well, if you get rid of all the tiny sources, you'd be left with the larger pigs and the crooks you're looking for. As far as I'm concerned, you can just go down there and shoot any larger heat source." Karl replied as he had a sip of coffee. "Whooeee, this isn't coffee, this is pure caffeine."
"You want us to shoot your pigs?" L-C Greene questioned.
"As far as I'm concerned if they bother you, shoot 'em." Karl said quietly. "Originally there were only a few of them, but it seems that pigs breed like rabbits and they cause a lot more damage. They broke free and we've let them run wild in the swampy land down there in the bottom. I'd just as soon be rid of the whole lot. They're something like the cats, a pain in the ass."
"All that fresh meat and you want to just get rid of it?" A lower ranked young woman, spoke up. "Do you know how hard fresh meat is to come by in Esquimalt or Victoria right now? People would fight for it."
"Well, I'll tell you what, miss, if you catch me one sow from that bunch and put her in a pen for me, you can have all the rest of those pigs as a meat supply. No charge, absolutely nothing, but only if you get rid of all of them." Karl laughed softly.
"I heard that." Dr. Baker said coming up with a plate of what Karl assumed was supposed to be scrambled eggs and toast, only the toast was recognisable. "It isn't going to be that long before any source of animal protein is needed, I may very well hold you to that offer."
"The Navy is not in the business of supplying butcher shops." L-C Greene barked.
"No sir, but the Navy is in the business of assisting the general population in recovering from this catastrophe." Dr. Baker snapped right back. "Even you know that one of our problems is food supply and right now the worst problem is fresh meat."
"Well, if you two want to work on that, go through supply and not this company, especially not at this time." L-C Greene said in a tone that made it an order.
Karl was astounded to see Dr. Baker wink openly at the young woman who grinned back for an instant. He knew he'd opened a kettle of fish and he sighed to himself, knowing that he'd have to be involved.
"Karl, you know this area, what do you make of their campsite?" Springfield asked quietly.
"Well, that area is slightly higher than most of the bottomland. It's got some smaller trees and I'd say they must have a shelter there of sorts. They're actually backed up against a steep rock face, probably for the protection it gives them."
"You're right sir. You can make out the outlines of a shelter just from the reflected heat of the fire." Peacock volunteered. "The guy who's laying down is actually under it. We can still make out his body's heat pattern though, so it's got to be canvas or something of that sort. Do you suppose he's injured?"
"You said you shot at a man, could that be him?" L-C Greene asked quietly.
"I suppose." Karl said quietly, then glanced around and sighed, deciding he might as well get it out in the open. "Look, the last shot I got at him, I was damn tired, almost out of it, so I wanted to make it count. I had a clear shot and I'm sure I hit him."
"Right here." He brought his hand up and touched his finger to his chest above his breast bone and centred over his heart. "If he survived that, he's made of fucking steel."
"You ever hear of Kevlar?" Springfield asked. "What were you using, that .32 special rifle of yours?"
"Unh huh."
"Standard issue, hunting rounds?"
"Unh huh."
"How far away were you?"
"Thirty, maybe forty yards at the outside."
"Then if he was wearing a vest, the guy is laying there with one hell of a bruise, maybe some minor bleeding from a surface wound, probably two or three broken ribs. He ain't in much shape to give anyone a fight, he hurts too damn much, but he'd still be alive. You say this happened yesterday?"
"Yeah, after noon."
"He's probably still in shock, I'll bet they've got him covered and that's why the fire is going. They're trying to warm him up because he's complaining of the cold. Maybe he's got some minor internal injuries, who knows, but just the shock of being hit with a slug like that is damn traumatic even if you're wearing a bullet proof vest."
"Shit!" Karl said quietly. "I was almost positive that I'd killed the bastard."
"That kind dies hard." Springfield said quietly. "And if he was wearing a vest he probably felt somewhat invincible, especially if he saw you aiming. Most people shoot at a man's chest since it's a nice big target. I'd be willing to bet he was in the Russian Army at one time and he was counting on you aiming there."
"If I'd have known he was wearing a damn vest, I'd have put out his eye." Karl said so quietly it was almost a whisper.
He felt Springfield's hand rest on his shoulder and give a light squeeze.
"My hope is he lives long enough to give us a blood sample." Dr. Baker said quietly. "After that, who cares?"
L-C Greene stared at her in astonishment. "That came from Miss Peacekeepers mouth?"
"Sorry Greene, I have no sympathy for anyone who assaults women or children." She snapped. "Now, are you going to get me a sample of that man's blood? Otherwise I am going to have to go into that house and begin administering a drug to a woman just in case that bastard has HIV or AIDS. I really don't want to start that treatment, she's been through enough and the side effects of that drug are no damn picnic."
"Just how long can you hold off?" Springfield asked quietly.
"The treatment should be started within forty-eight hours of the possible infection. With the time that's already passed, I only have about thirty hours at the very most and that includes the time it takes to test for HIV. Even if the lab starts the test the instant they get the blood sample, testing takes a while. I'd say I have four to five hours to get my hands on that blood and you have to include travel time for delivering the sample to the lab too."
"Damn." Karl said quietly, then he set his coffee cup down and headed for the open flap of the tent.
"Just where do you think you're going?" L-C Greene said loudly.
"To get a blood sample." Karl growled, then found himself staring into Springfield's face as the tall man moved in front of him.
"You will not do any such thing." Springfield said quietly. "I'm making obtaining that blood sample my own personal job, but I do need your knowledge. I've looked at the aerial photos and I want to know how I can get down that damn cliff face without alerting the fugitives. I don't want to try to cross the stream, that would warn them. I want to come at them from above if I can."
Karl sighed as he realised Springfield was right. Besides, if he got close enough to the rapist to get a blood sample, that crazy berserk feeling he had felt yesterday would be likely to take over and he knew that if it did, he would kill the man. He allowed Springfield to guide him to a seat at a table where several aerial photos were spread out and he sat down heavily. The young woman who had asked about the pigs got up from her seat and picked up Karl's coffee cup to refill it and set it next to him, then she stood back and watched along with the others as he leafed through the finely detailed photos.
"Jesus, when were these taken?" He asked.
"First run of the chopper this morning. High resolution, low light settings on one of our digital cameras. I printed them out from a direct transmission." Peacock answered, still busily working on the computer. "That camera's separate from the infrared."
Karl slid two photos out of the bunch, then a third, quickly shifting the others aside. He glanced up at Springfield and smiled almost apologetically.
"This is a dumb question, but have you got rapelling gear in your supplies?"
"I can make do."
"Enough for two men?"
"Not if you plan on coming along."
"I was thinking of Winchester as the second man." Karl sighed. "I know I can't do what I'm going to ask you guys to do."
"You need to get something through your head, you old S O B, we are here to do a job. You aren't asking us to do anything we wouldn't have to do, normally in far worse conditions, even if we were just out training. So far you've provided us with almost everything to make it easy. I'd like to earn my pay for once. What did you have in mind?"
Karl looked at him and sighed. He pulled one of the photos to the front.
"Well, there's a narrow ledge that runs along this cliff face, it's only about a foot wide and it's got a couple of places where it's only a few inches, but almost all of it is hidden from view by trees. The only place it shows up from below is . . ." He slid his finger to a spot on the picture. "Way down the cliff, about here. That's when it's near the top of the cliff though."
"At that upper point, it's still about eight or ten feet from the top edge. Now that's just outside the fence, almost at the far end of the goat pasture and damn near at the cliffs. It'd surprise me if the fugitives would be keeping an eye on that area at all. The problem is that only a few feet further along this way there's an outcrop of rock that would keep you from getting down to the ledge from above. To make it interesting, the first hundred feet or so are visible to anyone looking up that way. If they did look up, they'd see you. After you got past that you'd probably be sheltered by the trees growing up from below." He was pointing out the features he was mentioning as he went along, using a spoon handle as a pointer.
He pulled out another photo. "Now by the time you get close to their shelter, you'd be about thirty-five or forty feet above it and just off to one side. It looks to me like they built their shelter on what was left of the slab that makes up the ledge. I think they're right on top of the debris of the ledge where it collapsed in the past. That means the ledge might not be very safe toward that end either, it might be separated from the cliff and possibly could break off underfoot. Unfortunately you can't look down at it from above to check that because of that damn overhang that I mentioned."
He shifted the last photo of the three to the top. "Other than that, the best place to go down would be on the upstream side of their shelter, about where you see this big arbutus tree on the cliff just above. There's no overhang there. It's a sheer drop straight down. The problem with that spot though is that it's completely exposed. There's hardly anything in the way of trees or bushes down below and it's out quite close to the stream. Anyone going down there would be seen from almost anywhere below."
He put his hand out and lifted the coffee cup, nodding to the young woman who had brought it to him and out of the corner of his eye saw Springfield edge toward the entrance to the tent.
"What I can't understand is why they'd stay down there of all places." Someone said.
"Probably because it's not that bad a campsite and I think they were just trying to make the most of a bad situation. From what I can tell, they must have been trapped on that side of the stream and the only one to make it across was that one big brute. I don't think they have much for weapons, maybe spears and such." Karl said quietly as he noticed Springfield slip outside.
"Why do you think that?" L-C Greene asked.
"Well, first off my dog disappeared. We kept an eye out and didn't see him for a couple of days. I think he was acting as a guard dog in a way, keeping an eye on strangers. Maybe they did something that threatened us in some way because I think he attacked them and they had to fight him off. Anyway, he came back to the house wounded badly and the wounds weren't gun shots or knife wounds. They looked like stab wounds from a duller object, almost as if the flesh was torn, like you'd get from a crude spear or something of that sort."
"I suppose that makes sense if they weren't well armed, but why do you think they didn't cross the stream?"
"Huh, it may have slowed down now, but that stream drains off almost all the water from the top end of the island plus the water from the springs that feed it normally. It's been raining to beat hell lately and that stream is running bank full. I'd sure hesitate to try to cross it without help of some sort. The other reason I don't think they crossed it is the lack of weapons that guy had. There's a building down at the dock where my boat is. It's half full of tools and although there are bushes around it, it's not hidden. Inside that building there are axes and knives, there's even electricity available. All they'd have had to do is close the door and plug in an electric heater. Then they'd be a lot more comfortable than they are now, as well as being armed a lot better."
"And how do you explain the one who attacked the women?"
"I can't." Karl said quietly. "To me, he's an enigma. But then, I don't think I even want to understand someone that brutal and that bloody senseless. You've got to remember he wasn't armed either. He overcame them by surprise and sheer force. When he saw that we had weapons, he ran like hell!"
He paused for a moment and then described what he knew about the attack and what he saw when he came on the scene, then managed to gloss over how he had felt and how long he had chased the rapist before shooting at him the final time. Finally he fell silent.
"Well, enough talking." L-C Greene announced. "Springfield what do you . . .? Damn! Where is Springfield?"
"Probably half way down the cliff by now." Karl said quietly. "And I imagine Winchester is with him."
L-C Greene looked at Karl as if he wanted to explode, but instead he turned to the others in the tent. "Did any of you notice where those two went?"
"Winchester walked out shortly after Mr. Larson started to talk about the pictures, sir." Peacock said softly. "He'd checked them out earlier, and Springfield left shortly after that."
"Who's on guard duty?"
"Able Seaman Archer, sir." Someone said. "Mathews is scheduled to take his place after breakfast."
"Mathews, relieve Archer now and have him report to me." L-C Greene ordered.
"Yes Sir." The young woman who had spoken to Karl about the pigs leaped to her feet and rushed out.
Greene was bristling as he glared at Karl, who just frowned and shook his head slightly then slowly got to his feet, nodding his head toward the tent flap before walking outside. He wasn't really surprised when L-C Greene followed him.
"You misdirected my attention." Greene said quietly.
"Accidentally guilty as charged." Karl smiled sardonically. "Springfield and Winchester are professionals at this sort of thing. Your people aren't. They simply don't have the training to tackle thugs of this sort. I think Springfield and Winchester decided to take care of things themselves. If I were you, I'd wait a while and see what results they get before charging in myself."
"But they should have waited for orders." Greene snapped.
"Perhaps, at least it looks that way to me right now, but then I don't know Springfield's actual rank, do you?"
"He's a lieutenant."
"Is he? I thought he was in JTF2?"
"I'm not allowed to confirm that."
"Oh for fuck sakes!" Karl just shook his head. "I don't need confirmation. I know!"
"And if he is?"
"Then if he is, he might have any rank as an officer, from what little I heard all the officers seem to prefer to refrain from mentioning either their real name or their actual rank when they're in the field. Besides, you have no authority over him and you know it." Karl said quietly "JTF2 is a semi-independent branch of the services. You may not like the idea, but that's what I read into the research I did on the subject."
L-C Greene just stared at Karl for a moment and then as a serviceman approached he walked away. Karl felt that his welcome to the military camp had been withdrawn, at least momentarily, and walked slowly toward the house pausing on the front porch to reach down and scratch Bruno's ears.
After Karl had rolled out of bed, Ely thought about trying to go back to sleep, but the sound of the helicopter tracking back and forth was more than she thought she could take. Besides they had gone to bed rather earlier than she was used to last night so she'd actually had almost as much sleep as she normally would. She sat up and stretched slowly, then looked over at Linda.
"Good Morning, Linda. Did Keri sleep soundly?" She asked quietly.
Linda shrugged her shoulders and lifted a finger to her lips, gesturing at Keri who stirred for a few seconds and then sighed before relaxing again. Linda slipped out of the bed and came over to sit on the edge of the other bed near Ely.
"She seems to do that every few minutes, it's as though she isn't sleeping soundly." She whispered. "I'm wondering if she's remembering that bastard and what he did."
"I wouldn't know. Has she been like that all night?" Ely frowned.
"No, just for the last while, actually she snored most of the night away."
"Well, it may be the chopper then. We're going to have to let her wake up soon, either that or the doctor will have to start an IV drip, otherwise Keri is going to get dehydrated."
"Oh, yeah, I never thought of that. Did you hear the doctor come in last night?"
"No, was she here?"
"Unh huh, about two in the morning. Scared hell out of me when I woke up with her leaning over us, then she started to bawl me out for sleeping with Keri. I told her to fuck off, that Keri liked to be cuddled at night. She actually laughed at me, patted my arm and told me if it made Keri rest better it was just fine. She took Keri's pulse, then gave her another injection and told me she'd see us this morning about eight or so."
"Damn, I wish she'd have wakened me." Ely sighed softly.
"Honey, you and Karl were so wrapped around each other, it would have been a puzzle just which shoulder to shake."
Ely actually flushed and Linda sighed softly. "Don't get upset, I know he's like cuddling a big teddy bear, only he cuddles back."
"I still don't see why you're not jealous." Ely sighed. "Even if you and Keri are sort of partnered, I mean it's just not the same."
"Not too much 'sort of' about it." Linda smiled. "Actually, I get more thrill out of a cuddle with Keri than I do out of sleeping with Karl and that's saying a hell of a lot because I love sleeping with him."
"Sleeping, or . . .?"
"Or!" Linda snorted. "And don't pretend you don't know what I mean."
"Yeah, I guess I do." Ely smiled, then sighed. "Damn I wish I could turn back the clock right now. I'd rather it was me that was laying there sedated rather than Keri. I should have been the one walking with Trudy."
"Don't blame yourself but I know what you mean." Linda gave her a quick hug. "Now I'm gonna make a quick run to the bathroom, then it's back to snuggle at her side for a bit longer."
"Would you like me to bring you a cup of coffee when I go downstairs? Karl will have put it on already."
"Nope, I'll wait. Maybe I'll get lucky and doze for a while." Linda smiled and slipped away to the bathroom.
Ely got out of bed and walked over to the other bed to take Keri's hand, putting her fingers on her wrist. Her temperature felt fine and her heart beat was strong and steady. Ely stood up again as Linda returned, then slipped into her clothing before heading to the bathroom and after that going downstairs. The first thing she did was to glance over at the David, sleeping on the couch and Mary-Beth, sleeping on a foldaway bed, then she checked on her father and Trudy. George was softly snoring and Trudy was sleeping soundly so she went into the kitchen area and poured herself a cup of coffee.
Carrying her coffee cup in one hand, she walked out onto the front porch. She hadn't been outside since the military contingent had arrived and she looked over at their small encampment curiously, assuming that Karl was already there. Her eye was caught by the movement of the dish that swung slowly back and forth and she wondered about it for a second, then decided she'd ask Karl what it was when he came back to the house. Her face twisted into a slight smile, he'd be up to his armpits in the technology that the military would be using and then she grinned to herself. Of course! She could see that the dish followed the helicopter's travel, it was a radio link of some sort, probably a tv link for the infrared pictures Karl had mentioned. Yeah, Karl would be needed to explain all the details of the area. He'd be there for a while.
Sighing, she was going to turn and go back inside when Bruno's thumping tail caught her attention.
"Well, hello Bruno." She greeted him as she walked over and bent down to pet his head. "And just how are you? I wonder if we should get Dr. Baker to have a look at you too, huh? I wonder what she'd think of that?"
Bruno didn't seem to care. He was just happy to be getting attention.
Ely stood again, smiling at him. "And I used to think you were such a scary beast. You're nothing but an old softy aren't you?"
Not getting any answer but a tail wag and a lolling tongue, Ely paused to check that he still had both food and water, then went back inside the house. She was busying herself with picking up and sorting the dirty laundry from around the house when she heard the front door open and turned to see Karl coming back inside.
"Well, how soon are the soldiers going after the crooks?" She asked.
"I'd say a couple of them were moving in on them right now." Karl sighed. "But I really don't know. I do know Dr. Baker prodded them to move a lot faster than I think they had planned on."
"Oh, why is that?"
"She really doesn't want to start Keri on that AZT stuff you were mentioning. It looks like I didn't kill that bastard who attacked Keri so the doctor wants a blood sample from him to send for tests."
"How did they figure out that the guy is alive?"
"The infrared scans. They show a guy laying down, not moving to try and hide like the rest of the fugitives did when the chopper went over. Lieutenant Springfield, thinks the raping bastard might have been wearing a bullet proof vest. He and his buddy seem to have gone to get a blood sample."
"Do you want to explain that? What do you mean when you say 'seem to have gone'?"
"Well, I was explaining about the lay of the land. I'd explained how I'd get down the cliff if I was in good physical condition and Dr. Baker told everyone the time constraints she was under. Once she'd explained that AZT was a rough treatment and might hurt Keri or her baby, Springfield and his buddy Winchester just seemed to evaporate. I was talking and everyone else was concentrating on me, so they slipped away without orders or official permission. Now L-C Greene blames me for covering for them."
"How can he do that?" She frowned. "Aren't they the two you said you thought were in this semi-secret elite force?"
"Unh huh." Karl nodded his head as he poured himself another cup of coffee. "In truth, Greene is partially right about my covering for them. When Springfield and Winchester took off, I noticed them go and figured that was where they were going, but I swear all I did was answer the questions that everyone was asking, it's not like I intentionally set it up or anything."
Ely just looked at him with a knowing look on her face. "Oh sure." She said sarcastically. "And you didn't draw your answers out or anything, knowing you could give Springfield time, huh?"
Springfield's perspective of what had happened was slightly different than Karl's. As he looked at L-C Greene's face and then glanced around the tent, he realised all eyes were fixed on Karl as he spoke. He was left with an opportunity that he could use to his advantage so he moved away slowly. He'd seen Winchester leave just after Dr. Baker had mentioned the time frame she was fighting and knew he was already prepping the tools they'd need for the quick drop down into the fugitives camp. He shouldn't have looked back because just the act of looking can sometimes draw someone's attention but as he stepped out the door, he glanced back at Karl. Sure as hell, Karl was looking right at him. The old bastard knew what was up and Springfield knew that he'd manage to hold the whole crew's attention for a few minutes, not long, but long enough. Springfield just walked away shaking his head, did the old S.O.B. have this planned or did he just adapt to things just as soon as they happened?
In a way, Springfield hated to bypass Greene's authority, but damn it, he had a feeling about this job. They had to act fast. He was sure that Greene would dither and Springfield felt they should do something now, not later. Those damn crooks would do something weird if it was too long before Greene took action. Winchester must have felt it too, maybe more than he had himself, Winchester had acted even faster.
As Springfield stepped into the tent where they'd left most of their gear, Winchester already had the ropes and some gear laid out. His eyes lifted and questioned as he pointed at the big box that held their heavier weapons. Springfield shook his head. Instead he opened another small case and tossed over a small package of oversized zip-lock ties with a grin.
"Hand work only. Too much paperwork if they're dead. We'll just knock 'em out and tie 'em up, let the Navy boys carry 'em out later."
Winchester nodded and grinned. "Suits me, not much of a pencil pusher myself. Got a blood sample kit?"
"Pocket pack, half a dozen vials, colour coded, test 'em all. I'll get the big guy first."
"Generous, giving me three to take care of."
"You need the practise. But I can help if you need it."
"Unh huh, sure! Gloves?"
"Yeah, definitely! Ready?"
"Yup."
One glance outside to be sure they were still in the clear and they were off at a fast paced trot. Springfield led the way, his mind churning like it always did on a mission.
"The open cliff is a natural, Karl's first mistake. Being so wide open the crooks wouldn't watch it as closely, saying it was 'too open' was a mistake any amateur would make. Or was it a mistake? Damn would Karl have mentioned it last and looked directly at me if he . . . ? No, I am not going to give the old S.O.B. the satisfaction of asking him."
The short run down the field to the Arbutus tree wasn't even enough to get them really warmed up. Still he knew both he and Winchester were ready by the time they reached the point they had mutually chosen even without asking each other. Springfield's mind rattled on as he tied off a rope around a tree almost automatically, then moved to the edge of the small cliff, glancing down.
"Eighty-five, maybe ninety feet, damn near a straight drop, no loose rock, all we have to do is watch out for the edge, this is perfect, just don't knock loose a clump of dirt or anything from the top."
Feeding the rope down quickly, he glanced over at Winchester. He needn't have bothered, they'd worked together long enough that they were a team. Winchester raised his thumb and nodded.
"Over the edge, set, bounce, drop, catch, let the legs take the pressure, easy does it. This drop was easy. Not far down, just a few drops and there's the grass, one nice long step down. Hunker down low, leave the rope hanging, it's camouflaged enough against the rocks for this light. There goes Winchester, damn that man is good. Let's see, remember that picture, orient to the stream behind me, the camp should be over . . . there! Five seconds maybe and I can be into the first trees. There it is, small fire, rock reflector, hunk of ratty tarp tied to the trees. Uh oh, the tarp is pinned against the rock face with poles, they're just leaning, have to watch and not hit those. Where is the guy we want? Ah, there, under that hunk of old sailcloth. Damn, he is a big son-of-a-bitch!"
"Slip over slow and easy, don't disturb him until my hands are around his neck . . . gently . . . gently, find that special artery, there it is, I feel the pulse, press hard . . . hold for the count, one thousand and one, one thousand and two, one thousand and three . . . make sure he's asleep. . . ."
"Ah, there we go, felt him relax. Now, the most important thing is the blood sample. Let's find an artery in your arm for this needle. We'll give you the little bottle coded red. How's, that you Russian bastard? Does that suit you? Too fucking bad if it doesn't. Well, your blood's nice and bright red too, what do you know? How much do they need, ten cc's, fifteen? Aw shit, just let the little vial fill right up. Who cares if you wake up a little weaker and a bit spaced out? You won't mind will you. You're gonna be lucky as it is 'cause I'm gonna let you wake up at all, even if no one would blame me a bit if you didn't."
"Now, I should tie you up, then go help Winchester. Aww why should I spoil his fun? Instead let's have a look, see where Karl clocked you. Well, well, dead center, right where he said and just like I thought, you're wearing a vest. Tsk, tsk, it didn't help much did it? Hmm, I wonder, did you fall and bust your nose? Looks like you musta. Oh what's that, blood and pad of cloth on your shoulder? The old bugger got you twice huh? Too bad he didn't gut shoot you, give you some real misery like you did those women. But a guy like you, never gets what you deserve do they? Well Karl gave you a little dose didn't he? Made you suffer a little? Like I said, too bad it wasn't more."
"Oh well, enough gloating. Tuck that arm down tight, now roll you on your side, other arm. Love these zip-lock plasti-cuffs, put 'em on nice and tight, keep you out of trouble. Aaww, what the hell, you're such a big boy, let's double 'em up. . . ."
"There, see, the second one didn't take long, did it? Now since you're laying on your side so nice, let's see those feet. Left one first, there we are, fold it tight against your ass and a little push! That's it, right there. I can tie it to your left arm that way. Now the right. . . ."
"There we go. One turkey, all dressed and ready for the oven. Aw what the hell, lots of these ties left, lets just zap those ankles together too. Now just in case you wake up, how about I stuff a hunk of your shirt sleeve into your mouth, a couple of zip-ties will hold that."
"Don't use all the ties, I need a few more over there." Winchester said quietly as he came up.
"You got the others?"
"Got two, one's hiding somehow. The one guy's still awake, seems he's goin' through withdrawal, lotsa drug tracks on his arms. Seems upset."
"Well, I guess we can just forget the runaway for now, unless he comes back this way." Springfield said. "Let the Navy boys take care of him. We've gotta leave them some fun too."
"Yeah, I s'pose. This guy get hit where you figured the old guy shot him."
"Yup, dead center, damn good shot. I'm gonna take the doc his blood sample right away. How many of these do you need for the other guys?" Springfield asked, holding out the sampling kit.
"Three. That's cause I figured two samples from the druggy though. Why doncha do the same fer this guy?"
"Good idea, take four, the other guy may show up. I'll make another withdrawal here." Springfield chuckled almost maliciously, jabbing the needle roughly into the trussed man's bare arm again. "I suppose I might as well take 'em all up top to the doc at once huh?"
"Yup." Winchester agreed. "You want names on these samples, if I can get 'em?"
"Good idea. I wonder if this guy carries ID?"
He turned back to his prisoner and eyed his comatose body.
"Now, who are you anyway?" He said sotto voce. "Are you carrying ID?"
He began to rudely pat his hands over the areas where he would have expected the man to carry a wallet. "Oh yeah, there we are, nice big fat wallet in your hip pocket and since your body's bent so nicely, I bet it slips right out doesn't it?"
"Whoa! Carrying lots of cash aren't you? Mostly Yankee dollars too. Drug money I bet, which means it goes into government coffers and pays my wages for catching crooks like you, don't you think that's fitting?" He grinned and he flipped open the wallet. "Ah, here we are, Dimitri Karpichov. So they were right, you are a Russian huh? Well, let's just put this wallet back, wouldn't want to be suspected of short circuiting the process of getting paid. I'll wait to get your money totally legally, in the form of a check for my wages from the government."
He backed out of the shelter and stood up slowly. He should warn Gatling that one of the smugglers was still on the loose and that they'd broken up their camp. He pulled the special scrambled cell phone from an inner pocket, hitting redial as he brought it to his ear. "Gatling . . .? We're down at the smuggler's camp . . . Winchester and I . . . Yeah, we got three out of four, one's loose and running, keep an eye out, okay . . . ? Right, down the cliff, no problem . . . They ain't going nowhere, all of them are plasti-cuffed. . . . I'm going back up the cliff with the samples, I'll tell Greene and company . . . Yeah, the Navy should be there in a while . . . Okay, gimme a buzz if anything happens."
He paused and looked around, what a messy camp. "These guys are pigs, look at the fucking mess. Oh well, better help Winchester drag the other two over here, stuff 'em all together under the tarp. Wouldn't want 'em to catch a cold or something."
He chuckled to himself as he walked away from the shelter, he'd have to use that on Winchester, he'd appreciate the joke.
Half an hour later, Springfield walked back into the military camp with one rope looped over his shoulder and the vials of blood in the special pack in his shirt pocket. Winchester had stayed below to just make sure none of the 'gentlemen' left the scene.