The Fall of America: Enemy Within (Book 3) (26 page)

Handing the bottle to Senior Sergeant Titov he said, “Take this back with you and enjoy it.  Mixing it with these painkillers is not good. I am sleepy now. Congratulations, Sergeant, you are a damn fine soldier.” Paley's head dropped to his pillow and the Sergeant saw his pilot was asleep.

Putting the bottle in his coat, he turned and left the room.

Colonel Bunin, his promotion confirmed, stood and said, “We now have more than 3,000 prisoners, sir.  More than enough for any work or other projects you may need done.”

“Speaking of work, the word from Moscow is to screen the prisoners and put their skills to work for the good of our motherland.” Colonel Dubow said.

“Put them to work?  But they sabotage everything they touch.”

“You will need a tough quality control center then, made up of soldiers. If one worker keeps messing up, shoot his ass and make the other workers watch the execution.”

“That might work. But, really, sir, what kind of skills do you think these people will have?”

“It may surprise you, Colonel. At any rate, discover their skills and develop a plan to put them to work. Workers are to have 1400 calories a day and non-workers, 900.”

“I will see to it immediately, sir.”

J
ohn moved through the trees on point with Dolly at his side, scanning the countryside as he moved.  He was pissed. When the chopper had gone down after he'd struck it with a LAW, the group had moved to the fallen bird. Skeeter had tried to control them, but nothing had worked.  Now, they were missing about half of the original group, killed by the Black Shark helicopters when they attacked the trees. John had warned the people to move away at right angles, but most ran blindly.

Bill moved to him and asked, “Do you want me to take point a while?  You've been out here since we left this morning, and a tired man does none of us any good.”

“Sure, take my place for a couple of hours, and thanks.” John stepped to the side of the trail and let the younger man take the lead; Dolly stood at his side, her tongue hanging loosely from her mouth.  He fell in beside Skeeter.

“What's on your mind?” Skeeter asked.

“As I said earlier this morning, we need to get your people under control or we'll arrive with no escapees except three or four of you.”

“John, first these aren't my people and second, they know nothing of the military. I suspect of all the men, maybe ten have served. The rest have no idea what they're doing most of the time. I do know they rushed the chopper last night in hopes it carried food, not realizing it carried death instead.”

“Well, we'll feed all of them, once back at camp, but right now they need to follow orders. I want you to pass the word, anyone failing to follow our orders will be shot.”

Snapping his head toward John, Skeeter grinned and asked, “Surely you're not serious?”

“Oh, but I am serious. I'm dead serious. We're, to the last person, a very professional acting group and the first thing we all learned is to follow orders. Your people must learn it too, because not listening to orders can place me and others in danger. I demand all orders be followed at all times, or I will shoot their asses. And feel free to quote me on this subject when you speak with them.”

Lowering his eyes, Skeeter said, “I know you're serious, but don't you have jobs some of these people can do and keep them out of the fighting?  Some want to serve with us, but lack the skills needed to stay alive.”

“Where they serve is up to the Colonel, not me, so I have no say in it. However, if we get back, I'll voice your concern to the man.” John said and then added, “Now, move to each member of the group in line and tell them what I said.”

“Right now?”

“Why not?  A minute from now we might be under fire and I'll start shooting people who don't follow orders.”

“Okay.” Skeeter replied but thought,
This is a rough group I've run to for help.

The afternoon was uneventful and by dusk they were all seated in the old garage, discussing what to do with Skeeter's people. While they weren't his people officially, that's how they were referred to by everyone.

“We do have some technicians, administration, and medical staff held in reserve, but they move frequently to avoid detection by the Russians. While they're not fighters, not really, we'll use them if push comes to shove in a battle.” Colonel Tate said.

“Understood, sir,” Skeeter replied, as he handed the man a list written in pencil, and continued, “and I have no problems with that. The list I just handed you contains the names and work experience of most of the folks with me. Ten of the twenty-five have prior military service, two were cops, and the rest have various skills.”

“Those experienced with the military will be assigned to cells, the police officers too, but the rest, if possible, will go into none combat positions. While your people are appreciated, we need more fighters than we do those who cannot or will not fight. John, due to the losses you've had recently, you'll get Skeeter, Bill and Larry in your cell.”

“Ranks?” John asked.

“Well,” the Colonel chuckled and then said, “You are now a Major, Skeeter is a Lieutenant, and the other two are Sergeants. Oh, and Sandra has been promoted to our senior Captain. That means, uh, with the next opening, she'll be a Major.”

By opening, all knew he meant death of an officer. It was a cold hard fact of life for each of them, and while the military ranks had no pay, it settled squabbles as to who was in charge.

“Colonel?” a man named Wilson said as he neared the group.

“What do you need, Sergeant?”

“Just before we got here, one of my men was playing with the directional finder and picked up a strong signal coming from this structure.”

“Are you positive?” the Colonel asked.

“Oh, there is no doubt, but the batteries in the device are weak and we have no replacements.”

“Sonofabitch,” John said, and then added, “why all the traitors all of a sudden?”

“Fear, sir, plain old fear.” the Colonel said and then thought for a few minutes. Finally, he said, “I know little of electronics, except what I learned as a child, but if I remember correctly, if your batteries are low, and you wait an hour or so, when you turn the item on, you have a little battery time.”

“Sure, but only a minute or so, sir, maybe.” Wilson replied.

“John and Skeeter, make sure no one leaves this building. Here in about 30 minutes we will line everyone up and check them with the directional finder. Now, I want it understood right now, the penalty for all traitors is death, no matter who it might be.”

“Hell, that's why the Russians have discovered us so quickly over the last few weeks.” John said and then thought,
Who can it be? I now trust everyone in my cell with my life.

“Yes, and it's why we will move out of here just as soon as we execute the spy. Unlike the killing of Mollie, we'll shoot this one.” Colonel Tate said, remembering the fouled up hanging of the woman.

Thirty minutes later, the Colonel said, “I want everyone to line up, all of you, and do the job now.”

There came mumblings of the sleepy, complaints from the tired, but they lined up and then Colonel Tate said, “Turn the locator device on now.”

Top held the device now and he flipped a switch and quickly said, “In the middle of the line.”  He looked up from the machine and said, “One of those three people have a bug planted on them. I can tell no more, because the device battery has died.”

“William Shaw, Sandra, and Margie, stay where you are, but the rest of you move to the left side of this building right now.” Colonel Tate said as he pulled his pistol.

“W . . . what is going on?” Sandra asked.

“I'm no damned traitor! Hell, I killed the last bitch that was!” Margie said brusquely.

“All three of you keep your mouths shut!” Tate ordered and then turning to Esom he said, Undress each of them and check their clothing carefully. The device may very well be sewn into a shirt or even their underwear.”

“Yes, sir. Sandra, start by removing your coat.”

“By the way, do a cavity search on all three as well. The device may be shoved into an orifice for all we know.” the Colonel said.

Sandra said, “Esom, you'll find some rubber gloves in my medical bag, which will make your job easier and cleaner.”

Esom put the gloves on and slowly and meticulously searched each item of clothing, discovering nothing. He was embarrassed when he started to do the cavity search and Sandra put him at ease, “Esom, relax, all you have to do it insert your middle finger into each of us. You'll know right off if anything is out of place.”

“But, you're John's wife.”

“Right now, I'm accused of being a traitor, a name I dislike, and don't deserve. So, check me and let's get this over with. You seem to forget, I am a nurse.”

After checking Sandra and not finding anything, he moved to Margie. Margie was clean as well, so that really made everyone assume it was William Shaw. Will had been with the group for about six months and his loyalty had never been questioned.  He was a tough fighter, a man of his word, and held the rank of Staff Sergeant.

“William, is it you?”

William lowered his head and said, “Yes, but the Russians shot my father and when they threatened to kill my mother too, well, I agreed to pack a bug.  My mother is all I have left, Colonel.”

“For months we trusted you!
Why?
You are responsible for the deaths of your own people, Will!” John screamed.

Sergeant Wilson stuck his head in the door and said, “I've got two tanks and about a hundred Russian infantrymen moving for this place. My guards report two choppers overhead and at least two jets, sir. If not for the NVG's we wouldn't know about the infantry.”

“How far away?” Colonel Tate asked.

“Maybe two hundred yards, but distances are hard to guess with NVG's on, sir.”

“Bring the guards in and break up into your cells.  Four days from now we'll meet on the Pearl River, down by the freeway. But, you,” the Colonel said as he raised his pistol, “will not be with us, Will. You have thirty seconds to pray and then you'll be standing in front of God.”

If Will prayed, he did it silently, because he stood glaring at the Colonel. Suddenly, a shot rang out, loud in the small room, and a bullet struck William in the very center of his chest. He screamed, grabbed his injury and fell to the floor. Colonel Tate walked to the downed man and placed the second shot in his head, spraying the floor under him with bone and blood.

“Now, break into your cells and get the hell out of here. Those of you who were Skeeter's people, stay with me for right now, except for those already assigned to a cell. Good luck to all of you.”

There sounded a cannon and the door to the garage flew off it's hinges and a loud explosion was heard just outside.

“My cell, form on me!” John yelled and ran for the rear door, holding Dolly by her leash.  Quickly donning his NVG's he said, “If you have NVG's get 'em on now. If you don't, team up with someone who does.”

When the six others were behind him, he ran from the building for the security of the dark woods. As he ran with his group behind him, Russian bullets kicked dirt, grass, and rocks high into the air as they struck all around him. Once in the trees he stopped and grinned when he noticed no one had been hit. “Margie, you take point and Sandra, bring up the rear. Get a good pace leaving and we'll slow down at some point later tonight. Until we can find three more pairs of NVG's for the new men, we'll do point and drag at night.”

The evening was uneventful and around 2200 a bright light danced across the black sky, followed by a sharp crack. A gentle breeze appeared and all knew it was only a matter of time before rain visited.

“If you have ponchos, now would be a good time to put them on.” John said during their break.  “It's going to start raining shortly.”

Skeeter and his men removed rain gear from their packs and as they were putting it on, Dolly gave a low growl and looked to the north, the direction they'd been traveling. They'd moved off a narrow trail to rest, but John figured someone was near and walking south.  Looking in the direction of the trail, he spotted a squad of Russians, well armed, moving south.  By the green light of his NVG's he noticed all of them wore the goggles as well.

The man in front stopped, looked down at the trail and said something John did not understand, then he realized they'd found a track. He flipped the safe of his Bison off and stood ready.

Skeeter tapped his shoulder and when John looked at the man, he held two grenades, pins pulled, with spoons held in place. He nodded and the Sergeant threw both grenades, one at time at the Russians. One exploded near the Russian point man and the other near the end of the soldiers. The loud blasts were followed by screams and yells. John opened up with his Bison, shooting low and knowing he was hitting his target by the shrieks.  

Once his cell fired a few rounds, John yelled, “Cease fire! Cease fire!”

It grew quiet, except for the moans, groans and cries of the Russian wounded.

Skeeter started to move forward, but John grabbed his shirt sleeve and said, “Give them a few minutes to bleed.  Right now adrenaline is all that's keeping some of them alive.  We'll check them in about fifteen minutes or so.”