Shiloh nodded in agreement and quietly led the group to the shack. “Everyone inside,” he whispered, after Ian broke the lock and swung the door open. “How many prisoners do you think there are?”
“Upwards of a hundred, based on my count,” replied Ian.
“And how many people do those pontoon boats hold?”
“Twelve comfortably, but I’m sure we can squeeze twice that number,” said Ian.
“That means we’re gonna need at least six boats to get everyone,” mumbled Shiloh, thinking out loud.
“Good,” said Lenny DeLuca, as he looked around the room and counted the seven volunteers on his hands, “then Richie and I can ride together.”
“The hell you say,” Ian hissed, “we’re splitting the two of you up no matter what.”
“I think Billy should ride with me,” said Shiloh. He noticed Cole cast a worried glance toward his cousin.
“Okay,” said Billy, glad to get away from his older cousin, who was constantly playing wet nurse.
“Here,” said Shiloh, handing each man a set of keys. “Once all hell breaks loose, I want each of you to steer your boat in as close as you can to the beach where the prisoners are being kept. There’s only room for two boats at a time, so Cole, you and Lenny go in first. Then Ian and Richie. Billy and I will go in last to pick up the remainder.”
“What about me?” Asked old man Sampson.
Christopher Sampson owned the hardware store in Clearview and having been born during the early days of World War II, was in his late seventies. After losing his father in the Battle of the Bulge, young Sampson dedicated his life to military conquest. He lied about his age and enlisted in the army at sixteen, fighting in dozens of wars including Korea and Vietnam. Despite his age, the old man was strong and quick on his feet.
“You’ll go in the last wave with me and Billy. I’d like to keep the youngest and oldest where I can see them,” added Shiloh, winking at Billy.
“Who you calling old,” spat Sampson.
“He’s right,” teased Ian, “someone should be there just in case you have a heart attack old man.”
“I’m touched,” chuckled Sampson, “but I’ve seen more war and combat than the rest of you combined.”
“That’s true,” agreed Shiloh. “With age comes wisdom and you’re far more experienced when it comes to war. Do you have any suggestions?”
“Flattery will get everywhere,” smiled Sampson. “And yes, I do have a suggestion. Those guards might not notice the first two boats with Sawyer’s troops firing at them from the mountains, but they’re bound to notice the rest of us. And when they do we’ll be sitting ducks.”
“What would you recommend?” asked Ian.
“Ya see that gas station over yonder,” said Sampson, chewing on a chunk of tobacco.
Shiloh and Ian nodded.
“I propose one of us sneak down there and blow the thing sky high, but not until after the second set of pontoon boats has moved into position.”
“But that would mean walking through town, right out in the open,” said Ian.
“It’d also mean separating from Billy,” mumbled Shiloh, remembering his dream.
“I’ll be fine,” argued Billy.
“I don’t want to lose my employee of the month either,” said Sampson, “but the boy’s gotta get his feet wet. I was younger than him when I first tasted battle.”
“I wasn’t sure you knew I worked for you,” said Billy, who’d been an employee at Sampson’s Hardware Store for several years.
“Of course I know who works for me,” replied Sampson. “Why wouldn’t I?”
“Well,” Billy cleared his throat, “you only come into town twice a year to pick up supplies. I’m surprised you know anyone.”
“Trust me,” grinned Sampson, “I know everything that happens inside my store. Why do ya think I have security cameras?”
“I thought those were just for show, to intimidate people from stealing,” Billy said hesitantly, wondering if he’d done something wrong and it was caught on camera.
“Ya thought wrong,” chuckled Sampson. “I’ve got them set up so I can watch what’s happening in the store, live from the comfort of my home. Don’t worry son, you’ve always been my favorite employee,” he added, noticing the nervous look on Billy’s face. “You show up to work on time and work hard while you’re there. More important, you’ve never stolen from me.”
“Thanks,” said Billy, feeling more courageous. “Does that mean I get a raise?”
“Sure, if we make it out of this alive. Lord knows you deserve one.”
“Thanks,” said Billy, full of excitement. He’d momentarily forgotten about the mission.
“What do you want to do?” whispered Ian, as Shiloh scanned the gas station across the street. It was well lit and impossible to approach without being seen. He knew Shiloh was worried about his dream and was trying to figure out how to keep the boy safe without having him by his side.
“I guess I’ll do it,” said Shiloh, counting the steps between the shack and the gas station.
“Do what?” asked a voice from the darkness.
Shiloh and Ian spun around, drawing their guns in unison.
“Hold your fire fellas. It’s just me,” said Jeremiah, emerging from the shadows.
“What in tarnation are you doing here?” asked Sampson, glaring at Jeremiah. The two men were close in age and had the same piercing blue eyes.
“You two know each other?” asked Shiloh, glancing from one grizzly old man to the other.
“He’s my brother,” mumbled Jeremiah.
“Half-brother,” corrected Sampson.
“We share the same mother,” explained Jeremiah. “But she always loved me more,” he added, trying to bait Sampson into an argument.
“A mother always loves a child with special needs,” retorted Sampson. “And you didn’t answer me. What are you doing here?”
“Same as you,” said Jeremiah, “sizing up the enemy. Are you planning a jail break?” He asked, glancing at the prison camp.
“Yes,” admitted Shiloh. “A friend of ours was captured yesterday and we’re here to rescue him, along with these poor souls,” he added, nodding toward the American prisoners.
“Your friend was moved,” said Jeremiah.
“What?” The hair on the back of Shiloh’s neck stood on end.
“They took him to Vikingsholm in Emerald Bay,” explained Jeremiah. “That’s where all the higher ranking officers have been staying.”
“We’ve got to warn Mason and Cleo,” exclaimed Ian.
Shiloh glanced at the sky and could see an orange glow rising from the east. “There’s no time!”
*******
“Alright men,” said Lieutenant Sawyer, after the Marines had dismounted from the trucks, “our mission is to distract the enemy for as long as possible, giving both rescue parties a chance to free the prisoners. I don’t need to tell you we’re extremely outnumbered, but with high ground and the element of surprise, we should be able to create quite a ruckus. Remember, we only need to confuse the enemy, so don’t take any unnecessary chances. I don’t want to lose any men on this mission. Also, there are hundreds, maybe even thousands of civilians down there, so be careful who you shoot at. Oorah!”
“Oorah!” Shouted the men in his command.
“Alright men, spread out and find positions with good cover. Target as many of the officers as you can, it’ll cause confusion. And remember, don’t fire until I give the command.”
*******
On the other side of town, Mason and Cleo watched the guards patrolling the building where they believed Lex was being held. They were in position and ready to make their move, when the radio clipped to Mason’s belt suddenly came to life.
“Mason, Cleo, do you read me, over?”
“We read you,” said Mason. “Why are you breaking radio silence?”
“We just found out that Lex was moved to Vikingsholm,” said Shiloh. “I repeat, Lex is not where we thought, over.”
“Where the hell is Vikingsholm?” asked Mason, looking at the three volunteers from Clearview.
“Across the lake in Emerald Bay,” said a man by the name of Josh. “There,” he added, pointing at a small island in the distance. “It’s on the other side of Fannette Island.”
“We’ll never get there in time,” said one of the other men.
“Not by land,” agreed Cleo, pointing to a small speedboat docked nearby.
“Let’s go!” Mason whispered, as he leapt to his feet and headed for the speedboat. Cleo and the three volunteers followed close behind.
“Can you hotwire this thing,” asked Josh, as they climbed aboard.
“He can hotwire anything with an engine,” replied Cleo, as the motor rumbled to life. She glanced up at the sky and frowned. A radiant glow of sunshine was beginning to rise over the mountain peaks in the east.
Mason pointed the speedboat toward the island in the distance and gave it full throttle. They were halfway across the lake, when the mountains surrounding the sleepy town suddenly erupted in a roar of gunfire.
*******
“Do you think they’ll get there in time?” Ian asked, after Shiloh warned Mason of the change in Lex’s location.
“I hope so,” mumbled Shiloh, glancing at the sky above.
“You fellas go ahead with your plan,” said Jeremiah, “I’ll blow up the gas station and cover your escape.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah,” Jeremiah stood up, gripping his rifle in his hand. “I owe those bastards for burning down my house.”
“Oh no, I’m sorry to hear that,” said Shiloh, remembering the elaborate treehouse in the forest. “It was a beautiful home.”
“Thanks.”
“Don’t blow the station until after the second set of pontoon boats are in location,” said Sampson, reminding his half-brother of the plan.
“Yeah, yeah,” mumbled Jeremiah. “Once you’ve rescued the prisoners head for that landing,” he added, pointing to a boat-landing in the distance. “There’s a school nearby with a dozen school buses parked in the yard. I’ll meet you there.”
Without another word the old hermit turned and left. He tucked the rifle behind his long mountain coat and walked across the street, right out in the open for all to see.
“Crazy old fool,” hissed Sampson, watching his half-brother make a beeline for the gas station.
“Cole,” said Shiloh, “you and Lenny should get going.”
“Alright,” agreed Cole, casting a worried glance at Billy. “Take care of him bro.”
“I will,” assured Shiloh, as Cole and Lenny boarded two of the pontoon boats and started the engines.
“You and Richie are next,” said Shiloh, placing his hand on Ian’s shoulder.
“See ya on the other side,” grinned Ian. “Come on Richie.”
Shiloh watched as the two men boarded their boats and started the engines. He glanced at Cole and Lenny, and noticed they were almost into position. The soft hum from a motor caught his attention and he looked out at the lake. He could see a small speedboat racing across the water. At this distance he couldn’t be sure, but it looked like Mason and Cleo standing at the helm.
The quiet, peaceful morning was suddenly shattered by the eruption of gunfire from the mountains surrounding the town, as Lt. Sawyer and his men opened fire. Russian and Chinese soldiers emerged from their bunkers and spread out, firing blindly into the forest around them.
Shiloh looked at Cole and Lenny. Both men were in position, with American prisoners swimming out to meet them. The soldiers guarding the prison camp turned their attention to the barrage of gunfire coming from the mountains and hadn’t even noticed the two pontoon boats floating off the beach. With their boats full, Cole and Lenny headed for the landing Jeremiah suggested, as Ian and Richie pulled into position.
“You guy’s ready,” said Shiloh, glancing at the gas station and Jeremiah, as he ran away from it.
“Yeah,” said Billy, a little too eager.
Sampson was already in his boat with the engine started. “Come on greenhorns!”
Shiloh and Billy ran for the last pontoon boat and climbed in, as old man Sampson pulled away from the dock. Shiloh handed Billy the keys and smiled when the boy’s face lit up. “Take us in,” he instructed.
Approaching the prison camp, Shiloh could see that both Ian and Richie’s boats were full. He watched with anticipation, as they turned and headed for the landing. As Sampson pulled into position, several guards turned and began shooting at the civilians swimming out to the pontoon boats. A few seconds later, the gas station exploded in a raging inferno.
Shiloh dropped to his knee and began targeting the guards, as Billy pulled their boat into position behind Sampson’s. He killed two guards, before realizing someone else was shooting at them from the other side of the gas station. Peering through the flames he saw Jeremiah wave, before disappearing into the forest.
Shiloh provided a constant barrage of covering fire, as Billy pulled one civilian into the boat after another. Several Americans were shot by enemy fire, their lifeless bodies floating between the boat and the beach. The remaining prisoners fought against the strong current, trying desperately to reach the boat before a bullet caught them in the back. With his boat full Sampson headed for the landing, but there were still a dozen people in the water.