Braving The Storms (Strengthen What Remains Book 3) (22 page)

Chapter Thirty Nine

Alexander County, Illinois, Friday, October 23
^rd

“What?” Caden frowned. “I was sent here to get a package, not a person.”

She shook her head. “You were sent to get me.”

A whispered voice came through the bud in Caden’s ear. “This is Guide. Soldiers approaching from the south.”

Caden acknowledged Shaffer’s report, and then leaned close. “So, you were everything … the only thing … I was sent to retrieve?”

“Yes.” She nodded. “I’ve got everything that you were to get.”

That answer hinted there was something else, but he had no time to question her. “Stay close to me.”

Gunfire erupted.

Caden grabbed Becky’s hand and ran to the back of the house. He pressed transmit on his radio. “Team, rendezvous back at the bridge.” Then he turned to Becky. “I need both hands for the rifle. Grab my jacket and hang on.” With weapon at the ready he led her from the house and into the forest.

For several minutes he continued deeper into the woods, and then turned south to arch toward the bridge. With each step he hoped Durant’s New America dragoons hadn’t left guards.

Becky panted, slowed and pulled on his jacket.

“We’re nearly there.” Caden steadied her then wrapped one arm around her waist. “You can do this. The rendezvous point should be near.” With his free hand he double clicked the radio.

A triple click came back to Caden. He took several more steps.

“Who goes there?” came over the earbud.

“Team Leader.”

“Advance,” Shaffer whispered from the darkness. “Come this way.”

As Caden drew near, the lieutenant stepped from the bushes, reached out an arm to Becky, and helped carry her to a nearby low spot.

The depression provided cover for the group. At the bottom, about five below the surrounding earth, Jackson leaned over a prone Franklin and wrapped a bandage around his abdomen. Shaffer and Becky sat nearby.

Caden slid closer to Franklin. “What happened?”

The wounded man’s eyes fluttered.

“Shot in the gut.” The medic glanced at Caden, and then continued his work.

Shaffer moved closer to Becky and drew his pistol. “Aren’t you Durant’s press—.”

Caden grabbed his arm. “She’s the mission. That’s all you need to know.” Still not entirely sure of the lieutenant’s allegiance, he reluctantly ordered him to guard the perimeter.

For the next several minutes, Caden listened to Franklin’s labored breathing. “Is there anymore you can do for him?”

Jackson shook his head. “He needs a hospital.”

Becky found a canteen and drank deeply.

“Are there guards on the railroad bridge?”

“Yes.” Shaffer nodded. “Four on each end.”

Caden tried to formulate a plan.

“We’ve got to go.” Becky tossed the empty canteen aside. “We’ll need to leave him.”

“No!” Caden snarled. “And either whisper or shut up.”

“You’ve got to get me back safely,” she said softly.

“I will, but we’re not leaving him.” Caden replied.

“He made the decision for us.” Jackson stood. “He’s dead.”

Becky stared at Caden, but said nothing.

“Movement in the forest.” Shaffer’s voice came in his ear.

“Roger.” Caden stood and checked his rifle. “Guide, return to camp, and we’ll head out.”

Jackson removed Franklin’s radio gear and offered it to Caden.

He shook his head. “Give it to her.”

“Team Leader, this is Guide. I’m coming in.” Shaffer’s words came over the radio, and then he appeared at the top of the depression. “Can we move Franklin?”

“That’s not necessary. He’s gone.” Jackson said as he put the mic on Becky.

Caden pointed west. “If we get separated meet at the Zodiac no later than 1100 zulu.” He grabbed Becky’s arm. “Move out.”

For nearly an hour the four weaved a general southwesterly course through unfamiliar forests and marshes.

“Stop.” Becky stumbled. “I can’t breathe.” She collapsed to the ground. “My feet hurt. I’ve got to rest.”

“We shouldn’t stop.” Shaffer continued on several steps.

“I’m the reason for this mission and I can’t go on.”

“Whisper,” Caden ordered. “Or use the throat mic.”

She huffed at him and pulled off her boot and sock.

Medic Jackson shined a red light on several large blisters that dotted her toes and heel.

“Don’t run many marathons, do you?” Shaffer mocked.

Becky glared, but said nothing.

“Jackson, do what you can for the blisters. We need her able to run.” Then he turned to Shaffer. “Scout ahead. We’ll catch up.” As the medic worked, Caden climbed from the depression, and circled the position as a sentry. For several minutes he heard and saw nothing.

Twigs snapped.

“Team this is Leader. Movement to the north.”

Gunfire erupted.

Becky screamed.

Footsteps thundered in his direction.

Becky darted out of the darkness.

Caden reached out and yanked her down beside him.

She screamed again.

Jackson fell inches away.

Caden knelt, returned fire, and checked the medic for a pulse.

Jackson was dead.

Caden fired again, clutched Becky’s arm and darted through the forest. He called over the radio as he ran. “Guide, rendezvous at the Zodiac.” He heard no reply.

Comforting darkness embraced them as the moon slid below the trees. For many minutes they hurried through the forest toward the Mississippi.

“Got to stop.” Becky pulled on his arm. “I don’t care if they shoot me, I’ve got to stop.”

Caden slowed his pace, and found a spot where a stream had cut a gully.

They hid behind a few rocks in the gulch.

“Where’s your pistol?” Caden asked as he looked her up and down.

“I dropped it earlier when you threw me to the ground.”

“Really?” He shook his head. “Do you know how many men have died to get you this far?”

“Huh? What?”

“You drop your gun and say you don’t care if you’re shot, but good men have died to keep you alive.”

“They’re soldiers. They fight. Some die. That’s what they do.”

“I’m a soldier.”

“You made that choice. You could have been someone of influence.”

Caden shook his head in disgust. “Why did you defect?”

“Because Durant is going to lose this war.”

“All of this is so you can be on the winning side?”

“Yes.” She shook her head. “I mean no. I’ve got valuable information. You should be glad I defected.”

“Maybe.” He sighed. “But why did you ask for me?”

“Most Constitutionalists want me dead, but I knew you wouldn’t shoot me.”

He stared at her and just for a moment pondered the possibility. “I hope the information you have is worth the lives of the good men who died to save you.” He handed her a canteen. “Drink some water, and then we need to go.”

She drank and returned the canteen to him. “These last few weeks Durant knew there was a spy in his midst. When I slipped out of New York three days ago they started ‘wanted dead or alive,’ announcements about me. I’ve been terrified since even before then, and the fear makes me … well, like I’ve been.” She breathed deeply and let it out slowly. “About whether the information is worth it or not, I’ll let you decide.

“The Chinese first encountered the Kern flu last year. They’ve been working on a vaccine since then and succeeded in producing one about the same time it broke out in this country. They passed the vaccine to Durant, but he’s been using it to keep people in line. If you’re a loyalist, you get the vaccine. If you’re a troublemaker you don’t.”

Caden shook his head. “Your boss is playing god.”

“Former boss. Word about his tactics has leaked out. Dozens of senior military leaders are willing to defect because of what Durant is doing. I have the vaccine formula and the names of those willing to defect.”

Caden looked her up and down. “Where are you hiding the information?”

“Ah ….” She stared at him hesitantly.

He grinned. “I’m mad and disappointed with you, but I won’t kill you and take it.”

“Here.” She pointed to her mouth. “One of my back teeth has dental floss tied to it. The other end is tied to a microchip in plastic that I swallowed.”

“Wow, like a drug mule.”

“I’m not thrilled with the comparison, but yes, something like that. Is the information worth the cost of this mission?”

Caden sighed. “Come on. We’ve got to get you to the other side before dawn.” As they continued he called on his radio hoping to hear Shaffer. Occasional static came back. He adjusted the squelch, but heard no words.

The sound of traffic rumbled through the trees before they reached the forest edge. The main north-south highway ran atop an earthen embankment fifty yards ahead. Between them, and the road, stood a grassy clearing.

The vehicles drove without lights, making it difficult for Caden to judge, but it sounded like steady traffic lumbering north along the highway.

“What are all those vehicles?” Becky stared at the vague forms moving on the highway. “Where are they going?”

“Reinforcements for the battles north of St. Louis.” A check of Caden’s GPS and map confirmed what he already knew. “The boat is on the other side of that highway and just over a mile north.”

“If we try to cross they’ll either see us or we’ll get hit by one of the trucks.” She stared at the dark road. “The traffic thins, but never stops. How do we get across?”

“I’m not sure.”

They scouted north, toward the hidden Zodiac, as worry grew in Caden’s gut. He looked in the direction of the Mississippi river, less than a mile away. On the other side were friendly, Constitutionalist forces, but all too soon, daylight would arrive making them visible. He needed a way over or—.

His foot slid in the mud beside a stream.

Under. He could go under the highway. Caden followed the stream to the forest edge and smiled. Two hundred yards away he spotted the black circle of a culvert under the road.

He turned to Becky as he recalled their first day together. “Did you ever learn how to swim?”

“No.”

“Too bad.” He pointed to the pipe. “That’s how we’re getting to the other side.”

Becky frowned.

“Since they’re driving without lights we should be able to reach the highway before going in the water, but I don’t know how deep it is. Stay low in the gully, and follow me.”

She shuddered, nodded, and followed.

Huddled over, Caden left the trees behind as he weaved along the gulch. He tried to stay on the bank. His feet would dip into the chilly water soon enough. Static crackled in his ear. He glanced back over his shoulder. Becky raced just a few feet behind him.

“Team leader ….”

The words came through the earbud as Caden eased into the icy water flowing into the culvert. “Try not to splash.”

Becky splashed. “It’s deep.”

“Shhh!” Caden stopped and held a finger to his lips. “Not that deep.” He held his rifle over his head as the cold water rose to his shoulders. “You can do this.”

“I’m on my tip-toes,” she whispered.

In the darkness he couldn’t see Becky, but heard her following.

Caden paused at the west end of the pipe and looked around. Vehicles still rumbled overhead, but the waning darkness would still hide them. “Stay low and follow me into the woods.”

She nodded.

“Team leader … Guide … read me.”

Caden recognized Shaffer’s voice. As he ran into the forest he pressed transmit. “Guide this is Team Leader. Change to frequency three.” When they were again talking he asked, “What’s your position?”

“I can see you. I’m coming in from the north.”

If Shaffer wasn’t loyal this would be an excellent place to trap them. No, in the culvert would have been a better ambush. Still, Caden huddled down behind a tree, while he waited and listened.

A wet and tired soldier emerged from a nearby stand of trees.

Caden remained behind his tree until Shaffer stood next to him.

“Did Jackson make it?” Shaffer raised an eyebrow as he looked at both of them.

“No.” Caden frowned.

Shaffer sighed. “I scouted south looking for a way under the highway. Nearly two miles from here I spotted about a hundred of Durant’s New America thugs moving this way.”

“Yeah.” Caden frowned. “We’ve seen a lot of vehicles heading north.”

“No.” Shaffer scowled. “These soldiers were stationing guards, using drones, and boats on the nearby streams. It’s seemed to me their mission is either to seal off the area or push us north into a trap.” He leaned close to Becky. “And I’ll bet you’re the cause of all the trouble.”

“Yes.” Caden touched Becky’s arm. “She has important information.”

Shaffer pursed his lips.

“We need to keep moving.” Caden pointed ahead. “Let’s find our boat.”

They hurried north, staying in the forest, trying to remain silent, and unseen.

Becky struggled to keep pace. She stumbled, and her breathing grew more labored.

“Are we near?” She asked.

“Stop for a moment.” Caden whispered.

Shaffer slowed, but signaled he’d scout ahead.

Caden checked his map and GPS. They were within a hundred yards of the boat.

Shots rang out.

Dirt flew in the air.

Shaffer stumbled firing his rifle. He fell back against a tree and continued to shoot. “Go.” He pointed and fired again.

Becky ran in the direction Shaffer pointed.

Caden fired as the first soldiers came into his view.

“Go.” Shaffer shouted. “I’ll ….” Bullets hit and he slumped to the side.

Caden ran toward the boat.

Becky was doing her best to push the Zodiac into the water with limbs still on it.

He slammed into the boat and it floated free.

Becky jumped in and paddled.

Caden followed and together they rowed the black zodiac into the waning darkness. He sighed, changed the frequency on his radio, and pressed transmit. “Delivery service with package to drop off. Do you copy?”

“Roger.” Fletcher’s voice came over the radio. “I’ll summon the welcome wagon.”

Gunfire thundered from the eastern shore.

Becky yelped, collapsed to the bottom of the boat, and covered her head with her hands.