Apex Predator (25 page)

“I want to know the minute we can move.  I don’t want to stay here any longer than we have to.”

“I promise you’ll be the first to know,” asshole.  He spun on his heels, and left the room, motioning SSgt Brown to follow.

“You heard the lady.  We’re stuck here for a while.  Let’s get this place secured”

“Yes Sir, I’m on it,” replied the NCO.

“Alright guys, you heard the man.  Let’s off load the truck.  Jackson, can you back that humvee up so it blocks that door?”

“Roger Sergeant.  I’m on it as soon as the truck is unloaded.”

“Good.  Let’s get moving,” he barked.  The soldiers went about unloading the truck.  When they were finished, Jackson backed the humvee up until it blocked the door.  He climbed out through the turret ring and climbed down into the building.  They were now effectively sealed in.

Father Albright and the children found food and water for the dogs and cat.  After the animals were fed, the children began moving the dogs out of their soiled pens, and into clean ones.  Of course, being children, the dogs didn’t go directly into their new homes, but had to receive a good dose of love and affection.  The dogs of course accepted the attention and returned it with wagging tails and slobbery dog kisses.

Lt Cruzan couldn’t believe how his luck had gone from bad to worse.  First, he and his men had to get saddled with this bunch of kids.  Now, one of them went and fell out of the back of the damned truck.  Shit!  How the hell was he supposed to save his men if these civilians kept screwing things up?

He paced the floor of the veterinarian’s office.  He kicked a trash can.  He wanted to pull his crew-cut hair out.  Think Jason.  What the hell are you going to do?  Even after that little girl is able to move, she’s going to slow us down.  She isn’t going to be able to run if we get into a bind.  She’s going to slow us down and probably get somebody killed.  Maybe we’ll get lucky and she’ll just fucking die tonight.

SSgt Brown walked into the office.  “You ok sir?”

“Fine Sergeant,” he lied.  “We secure?”

“Yes sir,” replied the NCO.  He took a deep breath.  “Sir, I know what’s bugging you.”

“Oh?”

“She’s going to be fine, sir.  I’ve seen injuries like this before.  Unless her skull is cracked, she’ll pull through.”

“Good.  Let’s hope so,” the officer replied curtly.  “Set the guard schedule and get everyone fed.”

“Yes sir,” he replied.  He rendered a salute, did an about-face and left the room.  He could see the children playing with the dogs in the kennel area as he passed.  He stopped to talk to the priest.

“Father, you’re pretty good with these kids.”

“Well son, I’m kinda used to dealing with kids in trouble.  You know death, illness, and broken homes.  It sort of comes with the collar.”

The big NCO smiled.  “Yeah, I guess it does.  I want you to help out with the children from here on out.  I’m going to press the teachers into service and I need someone who can be responsible for them all the time.”

“Sure Sergeant Brown, whatever you need.”

“Thanks father.”  He pivoted and walked to the front of the clinic.  He found Mike, Jen, Kerry and Theresa talking just outside the girl’s room.

“What’s this?  You guys cooking up a conspiracy?”

“No Sergeant Brown.  I was just going over some things that are going to need to be done for our patient in there.  As you can see, I’ve pressed these two into service as nurses in training.  Mike here is going to serve as our orderly.  You know, strong back and weak mind.”  They all chuckled.

“Hey,” replied Mike.  “I’ll have you know a do not have a very strong back.”  He stuck his tongue out at his wife.

“Well then, don’t let me stand in the way of patient heeling.  Mike, I’m still going to need you for guard duty.”

“No problem Sergeant Brown.  Just let me know when,” he replied.  The big NCO turned and walked towards the three teachers who were huddled in the corner talking amongst themselves.

“Sorry we haven’t been properly introduced.  I’m SSgt Brown.  I’m with the 108
th
Cavalry.”

“Hi,” replied the tall teacher with glasses.  “I’m Marty Love.”  He pointed to the shorter balding man “This is Eric LeBlanc, and this young lady is Candice Arrington.”  They each shook his hand as they were introduced.

“Nice to meet you all,” he replied.  “Look, I’ll get right down to it.  I need to press you guys into service.  I know you’re responsible for the kids; but right now, I have four babysitters and six soldiers.  I need to know if any of you are familiar with weapons or have any military experience.”

The three looked at each other.  “I was in the navy,” reported Mrs. Arrington.  “It’s been a long time, but I served.”

“I wasn’t ever in the military, but I know my way around a weapon,” Mr. Love added.  “I have a forty-five, like one of those on your hip at home.  I’d like to think I’m pretty good with it.”

SSgt Brown looked at Mr. LeBlanc.  “No sir.  I’ve never been a big fan of guns.  I have…uh, had four kids in the house.  I was always afraid someone might shoot themselves.  Sorry.”

“It’s no problem.  You and Father Albright will be responsible for the kids.  Keep them out of trouble, give them things to do, that kind of thing.”  He looked to the others.  “You guys are going to have to pull some guard duty.  I’m sorry, but we need you.”

“I was wondering when someone was going to ask us to pitch in,” Mrs. Arrington replied.

“Well, I guess that would be right about now.”  He excused Mr. LeBlanc.  “How much do you guys know about these things?”

“Well, I know they’re dangerous,” replied Mrs. Arrington.   “And they seem like they’re hard to take down,” added Mr. Love.

“True,” replied the NCO.  “So far, the only way we know how to kill them is by destroying the brain.  That means either a bullet or some other trauma.  You guys think you can shoot one of these things in the head if one came at you?”

“I guess,” replied the woman.  “It’d have to be pretty close.  I haven’t fired a pistol in about ten years.”

“Don’t worry.  I don’t think any of those things are going to get in here.  And, I’m going to pair you up with one of the soldiers.  So, you won’t be alone if trouble starts.  When you’re not on guard duty, you are more than welcome to help out with the kids.  I’m only pressing you into service for guard duty for now.”

He took his belt off, and removed the two holsters.  He handed each a pistol, holster, and a spare magazine.  “Try not to shoot anybody with these ok,” he instructed.  “I’ll let you know when your guard shift is tonight.”  He spun around and walked to the group of soldiers.
 

“Looks like the little girl is going to be ok,” he announced.  “But, she isn’t going to be able to move for a while.  We need to make sure we have enough food and water in here for at least four days.”

He turned to Jackson.  “You still have that emergency radio?”

“It’s in the LMTV, along with the charger.”

“Get it out.  We’re going to set up a radio watch.”  Jackson executed an about-face, and headed for the truck.

“Jefferson and Williams, inventory the supplies and ammo,” the big NCO ordered.  “Sergeant Procell, get with the priest and teachers and start setting up some living quarters.”

The three soldiers turned and followed the NCO’s orders.

Jackson retuned with the radio and solar charger.  SSgt Brown ordered him to set it up at the reception desk.  The soldier did as he was told.  Several minutes later he turned on the radio, and ensured that it was receiving a charge from the flexible solar panel.

“Stay here and keep an ear out on that thing,” ordered the young trooper as he left the room.

The two engineer troops had dumped all the supplies on the floor in one room and were busy separating them into several piles.  Good, thought the NCO, at least it looked like they had a fair amount of supplies.  Jefferson looked at him and gave him a nod.  SSgt Brown nodded back and continued on to the kennel area.

He was amazed at what he saw.  The children were busy removing the fencing that had served to cage the animals.  He walked to Sgt Procell.

“What is this?” was all he could manage.

“I figured if we rearranged some of these fence sections, we could use this area as a fallback position.  You know, like a keep inside of a medieval castle.”

“That’s what I get for sending a fucking engineer to do an engineer’s job,” he chuckled.

“I know it’s probably overkill,” the engineer responded.  “But, you didn’t see those things go through the fence we were hiding behind earlier.  They’re like fucking cockroaches.  They’re going to get in.  When they do, I want a halfway safe place to make a stand.”

He pointed to the skylight in the room.  “Plus, we get a ladder under that thing; we can use it as an egress route.”

The smile faded from SSgt Brown’s face.  “What about the little girl?”

“You mean the one who’s unconscious?  If those things get in here, she’s screwed.”  He felt like shit just saying it.  “I mean…” he stammered.  “I guess we could carry her up the ladder.  But, if we have to run she’s going to slow us down.”

“We can’t just plan to abandon her.”  SSgt Brown could feel the anger welling up inside.  “After you get this place squared away, get with Jen and figure out how to move her if it comes to that.  We’re not going to abandon anyone.”  He could now hear the anger in his own voice.

“Roger Sergeant,” replied the younger NCO.  “I…I just didn’t think about it like that.  I’ll figure something out.”

He was satisfied that he had done all he could.  He took a deep, relaxing breath.  “Good,” he replied in a calm voice.  “Let me know when you’re done.”

He walked back to the treatment room where Jen and her staff of neophyte nurses were hovering over the little girl.  Jen turned as he walked into the room.  Jen looked stressed.  He could understand.  She had acted way outside of her level of training and she was afraid of the consequences.

“You ok?” asked the NCO.

“She’s ok,” replied the nurse.  “Still no breath sounds on that side, but it’s early yet.  I’d really like it…”

“Not what I asked,” he cut her off.  “I asked how you are doing.”

“Oh,” she replied.  “I guess I’m ok.  I wish I had a doctor to back me up, or maybe a good ICU to send her to.”

“You’re doing great,” he said encouragingly.  “If you weren’t here, she’d be dead by now.  You saved that little girl’s life”

“She’s not out of the woods yet,” she retorted.  He could see the tears welling up in her eyes.

“You can’t control that.  Two hours ago, that little girl couldn’t breathe.  Now she can.  Nobody here could have done that, except you.”  He placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Right now, you are the most important person in this group.  You have knowledge and a set of skills that none of us have.  I hate to break it to you, but this isn’t going to be the last time we need you.”

She looked at him through the tears that were flowing freely now.

“We have a long way to go over some dangerous ground before we get to civilization.  People are going to get hurt.  None of us can do what you do.  We need you.”

“What if I can’t?  What if something happens and I can’t save someone?  What if I mess something up?”  She was sobbing now.

“If that happens, then it happens,” he replied.  “You’re going to make mistakes.  We all will.”

“But if I screw up, then somebody could die.”

“Yup, you’re right.  And, someone could die if you do absolutely everything right.  You can only do your best…”

“Don’t give me that ‘your best’ bullshit,” she interrupted.  “I don’t need a fucking cheerleader.”

“No, you need a win.  And you got one when you shoved that tube in that girl’s chest.”

“No, I didn’t.  I’ll get my win when she opens her eyes and can breathe without that tube.”  She wiped the tears on her sleeves.

“So, go get your win,” he finally said.  “Let us know if you need anything.”

She threw her arms around the big NCO.  “Thank you Sergeant Brown.”  He squeezed her as tightly as she squeezed him

She didn’t know it, but he was just as scared he would screw something else up.  His mind went to Mr. White, Maria and Wilcox at the convoy.  He knew he’d screwed that up.  He thought about his troopers who had died on day one.  He thought about Anderson and the young kids they’d rescued.  No, she’s not the only one afraid of screwing up and killing people.

“He’s right you know,” Kerry said.  Jen had forgotten about the other girls in the room.

“You’re the only person with medical training in this group.  We can help, but you’re the only one who knows this stuff.”  She pointed at the little girl on the table.

“I know,” Jen replied.  “It’s just a little overwhelming.”

“We’re all overwhelmed right now,” added Theresa.

“It’s ok guys.  My pity party is over.  I’ll be fine.”

“Good,” the big NCO said.  “I’m gonna go check on the others.  Let us know if you need something or if there is any change.”  He turned to walk out.

“Oh,” he said over his shoulder.  “After we get the inventory done, I’m gonna work on some dinner.”