A New World: Taken by John O'Brien Page B

where the light strikes.   Summer is ending and fall is near.
    I check in with the night shift to find they really have nothing out of the ordinary to report.   The pattern of check-in calls from the towers holds to form and there is no report of additional night runner sightings.   They did hear faint shrieks throughout the night but nothing emerged within their range of visibility.   I grab a quick bite and down it with a swig of water.   Throwing the tarp over the vehicle once again, I head with Greg over to our previous observation point, settling onto the ground.   The chill of the ground seeps through my shirt causing an occasional shiver to run up my spine.
    With the coming of the sun, we observe people being guided into the old lunch room.   The pattern of the morning resembles the events of last evening except in an almost reverse order.   Lunch room, gym, and then they are herded onto buses.   The buses exit through the gate and disappear eastward.   I don’t see any of the kids or Gonzalez boarding the vehicles which adds to my worry.   If I could at least see them, I would know they were alright.   Others are brought outside into the fields in the same manner as last night.
    Peering through the magnified lens of the binoculars, I see Robert, in black shirts and pants, gathered with others in the open field by the gym.   Taking another look, I see Bri, Michelle, and Gonzalez.   My anxiety is relieved to a great degree seeing them whole and what I assume to be okay.   Robert walks with a limp when they move around and Gonzalez rubs her shoulder and head from time to time.   A guard heads over to their group and, after what I assume is a discussion of some sort, they separate.   The sight makes me want to head down right now and get them but sanity prevails.   At least I know they are alive.   I watch as they are led back into the buildings after about an hour outside.
    “I’m going back to get some rest.   Looks like I may be a little busy tonight,” I say to Greg lying by my side.
    “Planning a little excursion are we?”   Greg asks setting his binoculars down and looking my way.
    “Perhaps,” I answer.
    “Want some company?”   He asks.
    “Nah, I’ll be fine.   But thanks.   Besides, I need you here just in case,” I reply.
    “Lynn’s going to piss herself when she finds out,” he says with a little chuckle.
    “She’ll only find out if someone tells her,” I respond.
    “Well, if you don’t make it back, she’s gonna kinda know,” he states.
    “If that happens, then I won’t have to worry about it,” I say mimicking his laugh.   “I’m not going to do anything rash.   I just want to get a look and see what their setup is inside.”
    “Yeah, heading inside an armed camp alone and venturing into possibly secured buildings isn’t doing anything rash,” Greg says turning back to his binoculars.   “Just kidding by the way.   I totally get it.”
    “What about the night runners?”   He asks turning back to me once again.
    “Well, I figure I’ll edge up to the tree line to the west just on the edge of the demarcation area of the lights at dusk and wait for dark before moving in.   I’m hoping there won’t be any activity that close.   If they show up and they aren’t too great in numbers, I’ll hopefully be able to take care of them.   If there are too many, I’ll head into the lights and hope the guards help out.   Then you’ll be rescuing five instead of four,” I answer, still wary of my plan.
    “Thought this one through all the way, have you?”   He asks rhetorically with another laugh.
    “Maybe not so much,” I answer with a quiet laugh.
    I pat him on the shoulder and tell him I’ll send someone to take my place.   Greg nods and I crawl backwards until my silhouette won’t be seen from below.   The closest Humvee is just behind and I send another Echo Team member up to Greg.   Before lying down on the ground warmed by the sun