Dux Bellorum (Future History of America Book 3) (12 page)

Erik shifted his eyes to the M-ATV and spotted Brin behind the open-ended maw of the M240 aimed straight at the sheriff and his men.

"Travis!
 
For God's sake lower that pea shooter," shouted the sheriff.
 
"I don't know what the hell is going on, but that gun she got will turn us
all
into Swiss cheese."

"Jesus," muttered the man in front of Erik.
 
"They got girls in there, too?"

Before Erik could reply, the M-ATV's passenger side suicide door swung open and Ted dropped to the dirt.
 
He scrambled around the back of the big vehicle, hands up.
 
"Everybody let's just calm down," he called out in a commanding voice.
 
"The last thing any of us wants is to start a firefight.
 
It's too early in the morning for that shit," he said.
 
He turned to Brin.
 
"Point that thing somewhere else!"

"But–" Brin said, eyes on Erik.

"It's okay," Erik said in a voice whose strength surprised even him.
 
"Go ahead."

It took a few more seconds, but Brin finally nodded and swung the M240 away from the sheriff and his men.
 
She disappeared down inside the hatch.

When Erik turned his gaze back to the local who had spotted him, the man stared at the big vehicle, but his gun was now pointed at the ground and relief surged through Erik's chest.
 
His heart rate began to slow toward normal.
 
He leaned around the man and noticed the other locals had lowered their weapons as well.
 
Ted and the sheriff approached each other cautiously.

"Feels like we sorta got started on the wrong foot," said Ted.
 
He extended a hand.
 
"That's my partner over there, Erik Larsson."

Sheriff Jonston shook hands in silence.

"I believe you met Erik's wife, Brin," Ted said jerking a thumb over his shoulder at the M-ATV.
 

"You got anybody else I need to meet?" asked the sheriff, removing his sunglasses.

Ted shook his head.
 
"Just my two kids."

The lawman froze, stared for a long moment at Ted, then turned to look at Erik.
 
"May as well come on over, son.
 
I don't think anybody's gettin' shot today.
 
'Least not here."

Erik picked up his radio and angrily slapped it on his vest.
 
He slung the rifle over his shoulder and strolled past the local that stared at him with a mixture of amazement and distrust on his face.
 
Erik crossed the ditch and shook hands with Sheriff Jonston.
 

"Nice to meet you, sir."

"Can I recommend the next time you boys roll into town you don't go sneaking up on anyone?"

"You're the first people who haven't shot at us as soon as they spotted that," observed Erik with a nod toward the M-ATV.
 
Now that he stood out in the open, he spotted at least a dozen armed men just on this side of the M-ATV.
 
He had to assume there was at least another truck load or two on the north side.
 
Inwardly he cringed.
 
They were trapped.

"These are dangerous times we live in, Mr. Larsson—"

"Erik."

Sheriff Jonston nodded.
 
"Fine."
 
He turned back to Ted
 

Ted put his hands on his hips.
 
"Sheriff, I think we caused enough trouble here for you for one day.
 
If you don't mind, I think it would be best for everyone if we just got on our way."
 
Ted motioned to get inside the M-ATV and Erik turned to do so.
 

The sheriff cleared his throat and brought him to stop.
 
"Well, let's not be too hasty now."

Erik and Ted shared a look before Ted turned to the sheriff.
 
"Excuse me?"

The sheriff placed his hands up in a placating gesture.
 
"I ain't arguing with you that we could have had one helluva morning just now."
 
He put his hands down and gripped the wide pistol belt at his waist.
 
"Ain't' gonna lie," he said in a lower voice for only Ted and Erik to hear, "I've had a hard enough time controlling these rednecks lately, but that gun you boys got on top sure as hell got everybody to stand down real quick."

Erik couldn't help the smile that spread across his face as he thought about Brin.
 
"Yeah, she has that effect on people."

The sheriff snorted.
 
"I imagine she does."
 
The man's face grew somber.
 
"But I'm afraid I can't just let you roll-on outta here.
 
Things are…complicated."

"How so?" asked Ted in a voice Erik knew meant nothing but trouble for anyone who opposed them.

I knew we shouldn't have stopped here.
 
I knew we should've just kept going.
 
Dammit.

"See, me and the boys were en route to a mission."

"A mission?" asked Ted.
   

"You interrupted all that and put a whole lot of good lives in danger."

"Look, sheriff, I'm sorry my wife aimed that gun at you–" Erik began.

The sheriff waved him off.
 
"I ain't talking about that, son.
 
We got trouble in town.
 
Big trouble. Some outsiders—real bad seeds, if you know what I mean—rolled in to town a few months back.
 
I didn't want to let them stay, but the mayor can be persuasive when he wants to."
 
The sheriff looked at the ground.
 
"Could be."

Erik shot a glance at Ted.
 
We don't need this.
 
Whatever the hell's going on here, we need to go.

Ted's eyes agreed.
 
"I'm sorry to hear that, Sheriff Jonston, but we–"

Jonston took off his hat.
 
"I know, I know—you got your own mission.
 
Don't make much sense to me, you carrying around a bunch of women and children inside that thing," sheriff said, "but you boys got to understand, the mayor and the city leaders—including their families—are all locked up in the town jail.
 
The boys and I are mountin' a rescue operation.
 
Today."

Ted sighed.
 
"I'm sorry to hear that, sheriff, but I don't—"

"I don't think you understand the gravity of the situation Mr. Jensen," said the sheriff.
 
"There's 27 souls in that jail scheduled to be executed today."

Families...God dammit.
 

Erik recognized the look on Ted's face.
 
They couldn't just leave all the innocents to their fate.
 
Their desire to make the transit north easier on themselves had delayed the strike force from liberating their targets.

"Way I see it, whether you like it or not, you boys are involved now.
 
If we don't get set up in time, if we don't pull this off…"

"Them sons of bitches got my baby girl," said the sketchy local who’d first spotted Erik.
 
"Six years old next week."

"This here's Travis McDermott."
 
The Sheriff said.
 
"I understand his daughter was having a sleepover party with one of the alderman's kids.
 
They're all rounded up together."

"Sheriff, if you knew half of what we've been through to get here," Erik began.

"Son, I'm sure you had a rough time, just like the rest of us.
 
Right now I can't worry about that—I got 27 people in that town up yonder," he said jerking his head north, "that'll die if I don't lead these men into battle and rescue them."
 
He glanced at the M-ATV.
 

"You boys looking for a new car?
 
Supplies?"

Erik and Ted glanced each other again.
 
Erik looked down and kicked at the dirt as Ted replied.
 

"That's right."

Sheriff Jonston took a deep breath.
 
"Well, I already told you I can't let you just walk off with some cars.
 
Things the way they are, that could very well be the straw that broke the camel's back.
 
I fought hard to maintain law and order in Hull County since the lights went out.
 
Dunham ain't my only responsibility, but it's the biggest problem I got right now.
 
Word gets out I let you roll through here and take whatever you want, the shit will literally hit the fan."

So you're the one behind all the potholes.
 
No wonder I don't feel too good about this.

Erik glanced into the dealership parking lot.
 
All those cars.
 
All they had to do was get here 20 minutes earlier, or a few minutes later, and they could have had their pick of the litter and on their way around this godforsaken town.

Ted folded his arms, an awkward movement in light of the body armor he wore.
 
"Sheriff, I've been
 
around long enough to know when a man's got something to say.
 
What's your proposition?"

The sheriff polished his sunglasses for a moment and watched Ted with an unwavering gaze.
 
"As many boys I got, it'll st...l be a near thing to take that jail.
 
I was telling the truth when I said I lost most of my force."
 
He checked his reflection in the mirrored sunglasses and put them back on.
 

"I only got a couple deputies left—folks with proper training and all.
 
Most of these boys are just local kids and farmers.
 
They're all right with huntin' rifles, but ain't nobody seen battle.
 
You two on the other hand," Sheriff Jonston said, "just dropped into my lap by the good grace of God Almighty with that tank on wheels."

Erik closed his eyes.
 
Here it comes.

"I suggest a trade.
 
Goods for services.
 
You bring that beast of yours with us into town, help me and my boys free our people and put an end to these rabble-rousers once and for all, and in return I'll give you a couple vehicles in that lot there," he said gesturing at the car dealership, "filled up with as much supplies and gas as you can carry.
 
Then you can be on your way with my thanks and blessing."

Erik could see Ted thinking it over.
 
He glanced at the M-ATV, their home for the past few weeks.
 
"What about that?"
 
Erik said quietly.

"Well," the sheriff said slowly, his eyes appraising the army vehicle like a thoroughbred horse.
 
"She looks a little rough around the edges.
 
You boys definitely seen some action lately.
 
I tell you what—you let me have her and any ammo you got for that big gun on top and we'll call it even.
 
After we rescue my people."

"Just like that?"
 
Erik asked.

"Just like that," said the sheriff in a dead even tone.
 
"If the army comes looking for you, I'll explain everything."

Erik ignored the lawman.
 
The question was for Ted not him.
 
Ted's eyes met Erik's and they stared at each other for a long moment.
 
Finally Ted gave a barely perceptible nod.
 
It was the answer that Erik knew was coming.
 

The moment the sheriff mentioned a proposition, he knew the only way they'd get out of here and headed north again was through the sheriff's good graces.
 
They were outnumbered and outgunned.
 
Their only hope was either climbing in the M-ATV and rolling through the men around them like a tank or fall under siege and be starved out.
 

In either situation, 27 people would die and be additional blood on their hands.
 
As much as Erik wanted to go north, he didn't know if he could live with that.
 
The air left his lungs and he stared down at the ground, defeated.

"Sheriff, you drive a hard bargain, but I don't see how we can refuse.
 
My CO won't like this," he said with a glance at the M-ATV, "but Captain Winters certainly wouldn't like finding out that we walked off and left 27 civilians to be executed."

Erik forced himself to keep a straight face.
 
He knew Winders had died in Orlando, but the sheriff didn’t.

"You boys got radios you can use to contact your people, right?" asked the sheriff.

Ted nodded.
 
"Assuming there's anyone left to listen, yeah.
 
Besides what's in there," he said gesturing at the M-ATV.

"I tell you what, you help us through this and I swear to God, I don't care if it's the President himself—I will stand up and testify on your behalf."

He stuck out his hand.
 
Erik stared at it for a moment, then shook it.
 
"I can see the pain in your face, son.
 
I know what this means to you.
 
You look like someone who'd rather cut off an arm stay here and help.
 
I admire the gumption it takes to do it anyway."

Erik nodded silently.
 
"Now what?"

The sheriff hooked his thumbs under his belt and leaned back on his heels.
 
"Now we gotta discuss strategy.
 
Having you boys along for the ride changes everything."

Chapter 13

Vigilantes

M
INISTER
OF
D
EFENSE
P
O
Sin watched Minister of the Interior Shin Ho as he perused the latest report.
 
It wasn’t good.
 
Po Sin had snagged the incoming transmission and already read it.
 
It detailed the imminent failure of their mission in the American southwest.