“We’re not fans of theirs, that’s for sure. And they aren’t peacekeepers at all. They’re a damn occupying force and nothing more, here to carve out their own slice of the American pie.”
Carl’s jaw clenched as he gritted his teeth with building rage. “Well, those bastards are in the wrong place if they think the people of Del Rio will simply roll over on their own friends and neighbors. A lot of folks here have been quietly linking up with the Blue Ridge Militia, and we won’t put up with this crap. What they’ve done tonight is an act of war. I don’t give a damn if they are here by authority of the president; that man is nothing but a complicit traitor, anyway. It’s an act of war on the people, and the people will take things to whatever level those bastards take it. What you two did tonight was only the beginning.”
“Are you two affiliated with the militia?” asked Evan.
Looking at Ted before he answered, Carl replied, “We are familiar with them.”
“Oh, by the way,” Jason interrupted. “We saw headlights rolling into Vanessa’s place as we left. Looked like another Humvee from a distance, but I suppose I could be mistaken. Anyway, I put Bill in the barn, in one of the stalls. I didn’t really have anything appropriate to put him in—we were sort of in a rush. I know you’ll want to go back a take care of him properly, but I highly recommend against that for now. They’re gonna have eyes on that place. They’ll want to make an example of anyone involved.”
“Understood,” replied Carl. “Bill was a good man. He wouldn’t want anyone risking their lives when there is nothing we can do for him, anyway. The best way to honor him will be to stand strong and not let those bastards think they can treat our neighbors like this.”
Just then, Vanessa’s aunt entered the room and said, “I’m all set up for Evan. I believe Vanessa said that’s his name.”
“Yes, ma’am, it is,” replied Evan, standing to be courteous and respectful.
“Evan, this is my wife, Patricia,” Ted explained. “She’ll get you patched up for now. Then you two guys can rest up before you head out. I’m sure they’ll be flying overhead searching for the culprits in no time. Those damn drones are quiet, too, and can observe from a distance. If you aren’t careful, they’ll follow you home and that would not be a good thing. I know you’re almost home and are anxious, but don’t get sloppy and blow it now.”
“Thank you, sir. We’ll take you up on that,” said Jason as Evan was led into the next room.
Chapter Ten: In-processing
As the forensics technician who collected the DNA and fingerprint samples from Ed and Nate left the room, Nate looked at Ed and said, “Now what?”
“Whatever it is, I wouldn’t count on our situation improving any. We didn’t make any friends today. Not that anything we could have possibly said could have truly served us well. We were being used, regardless. He was trying to play us like a fiddle—wax our strings, tune us up, and then expect us to play his tune.”
Nate nodded in agreement as the door behind them opened abruptly, with three soldiers walking into the room. “Up!” ordered one of the soldiers sharply. Ed and Nate complied, Nate balancing on one leg and leaning on Ed with his hand.
As Ed helped Nate out of the room, the soldiers following closely behind, Ed began to turn right to return from the direction they came, only to be corrected sharply by an AK74 muzzle brake to the back, followed by the order, “No! To the left.”
Here we go, Ed thought as he and Nate complied with the short, but forceful command. The vacation must be over.
They were then led out of the building for their first time since their incarceration. “Into the truck,” the soldier commanded, pointing in the direction of an awaiting cargo van. The soldiers led Ed and Nate to the truck and shoved them inside; the doors slammed shut behind them, leaving them
Carl’s jaw clenched as he gritted his teeth with building rage. “Well, those bastards are in the wrong place if they think the people of Del Rio will simply roll over on their own friends and neighbors. A lot of folks here have been quietly linking up with the Blue Ridge Militia, and we won’t put up with this crap. What they’ve done tonight is an act of war. I don’t give a damn if they are here by authority of the president; that man is nothing but a complicit traitor, anyway. It’s an act of war on the people, and the people will take things to whatever level those bastards take it. What you two did tonight was only the beginning.”
“Are you two affiliated with the militia?” asked Evan.
Looking at Ted before he answered, Carl replied, “We are familiar with them.”
“Oh, by the way,” Jason interrupted. “We saw headlights rolling into Vanessa’s place as we left. Looked like another Humvee from a distance, but I suppose I could be mistaken. Anyway, I put Bill in the barn, in one of the stalls. I didn’t really have anything appropriate to put him in—we were sort of in a rush. I know you’ll want to go back a take care of him properly, but I highly recommend against that for now. They’re gonna have eyes on that place. They’ll want to make an example of anyone involved.”
“Understood,” replied Carl. “Bill was a good man. He wouldn’t want anyone risking their lives when there is nothing we can do for him, anyway. The best way to honor him will be to stand strong and not let those bastards think they can treat our neighbors like this.”
Just then, Vanessa’s aunt entered the room and said, “I’m all set up for Evan. I believe Vanessa said that’s his name.”
“Yes, ma’am, it is,” replied Evan, standing to be courteous and respectful.
“Evan, this is my wife, Patricia,” Ted explained. “She’ll get you patched up for now. Then you two guys can rest up before you head out. I’m sure they’ll be flying overhead searching for the culprits in no time. Those damn drones are quiet, too, and can observe from a distance. If you aren’t careful, they’ll follow you home and that would not be a good thing. I know you’re almost home and are anxious, but don’t get sloppy and blow it now.”
“Thank you, sir. We’ll take you up on that,” said Jason as Evan was led into the next room.
Chapter Ten: In-processing
As the forensics technician who collected the DNA and fingerprint samples from Ed and Nate left the room, Nate looked at Ed and said, “Now what?”
“Whatever it is, I wouldn’t count on our situation improving any. We didn’t make any friends today. Not that anything we could have possibly said could have truly served us well. We were being used, regardless. He was trying to play us like a fiddle—wax our strings, tune us up, and then expect us to play his tune.”
Nate nodded in agreement as the door behind them opened abruptly, with three soldiers walking into the room. “Up!” ordered one of the soldiers sharply. Ed and Nate complied, Nate balancing on one leg and leaning on Ed with his hand.
As Ed helped Nate out of the room, the soldiers following closely behind, Ed began to turn right to return from the direction they came, only to be corrected sharply by an AK74 muzzle brake to the back, followed by the order, “No! To the left.”
Here we go, Ed thought as he and Nate complied with the short, but forceful command. The vacation must be over.
They were then led out of the building for their first time since their incarceration. “Into the truck,” the soldier commanded, pointing in the direction of an awaiting cargo van. The soldiers led Ed and Nate to the truck and shoved them inside; the doors slammed shut behind them, leaving them
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