Bug Out! Part 6: Motorhome Mayhem in the Rockies (9 page)

“True,” Jackson said, “and we found our targets too.”

“You hear anything, girl?” Frank asked. She just looked up at him and wagged her tail. “Alright, guys, I’m going to go get busy. Talk to you later.”

He walked back into the clubhouse and sat down next to Jane.

“They’re nervous too,” he said.

“The girl hear anything?”

“No,” Frank said. “I’m going to go start messing with that security system.”

“Alright, let me know if I can help, honey.”

“Will do,” he said, getting up. He walked to the far corner of the room, where the equipment cabinet sat. He opened the pine double doors. Inside were a few electronic boxes and a maze of wires, plus an old monitor. He flipped on the power. Nothing. Then he looked outside the cabinet for the electrical plug. There was a power bar on the floor in the corner. It was turned off. Frank turned it on, and the red button lit up. Then he tried to turn on the main unit again. Nothing. He looked at the monitor….it was switched off, so he turned it on. It slowly showed a countdown for the startup self-check. Mary walked over while he was watching.

“Look fixable?” she asked. Frank turned to her and smiled.

“Too early to tell,” Frank said. “I’m still trying to get the system turned on. Then maybe I can figure out why it failed.”

“It says it’s done,” Mary said, nodding towards the monitor. Frank looked back over. It said self-check completed, no cameras found.

“Hmmmm. Bad cameras or a break in the line somewhere,” Frank said. He got out of his chair and stood up, looking at the wires coming out of the top of the cabinet and going out of the wall. He looked over towards the stage and saw a stool. He fetched it and put it by the cabinet.

“Careful!” Jane said as Frank climbed on top of it.

“Don’t worry, there’s plenty to hold onto,” he said, grabbing the top of the cabinet to steady himself. He took a close look at the wires, then reached over and moved them around a little. “Don’t see anything wrong here. Has to be outside.”

“You’re going out there?” Mary asked.

“Yeah, if I can get enough light out there to see with, that is,” Frank said.

“I’ll go out there with you,” Jane said.

“Good, let’s bring Lucy too,” Frank said.

“You got a flashlight?” Mary asked.

“Yeah, my cell phone,” Frank said. “You got your phone, honey?”

“Of course,” Jane replied.

They walked out the front door to the veranda.

“What’s up,” Earl asked.

“I’m going to check out the wires on the security system. There might be a break. The system components in the cabinet look like they’re okay.”

“Let me know if you need help,” Earl said.

“Need a ladder?” asked Jackson. “I saw one in the shed, right by where the backhoe is parked.”

“Yeah, actually that would be good, thanks,” Frank said.

Jackson walked back to the barn while Frank, Jane, and Lucy went around the front of the building to the far corner.

“Look, there’s the wires,” Frank said, pointing.

“Not very high up there, at least,” Jane said.

Frank pulled out his phone and turned on the flashlight app. He shined it up at the wires, and laughed.

“What?” Jane asked.

“Look at the wires up there, right before they make the bend underneath the eave. See the loose section there?”

“Yes, it’s all shredded,” Jane said.

“Probably squirrels or rats. They both love to chew on plastic.”

“Wonder if it’s just there or all over the place?” she asked.

“Hard to say. Where the wires are tacked down to the wall, it’s probably hard for the little varmints to chew. May have a lot of problems out in the tree section, though. By the creek.”

Lucy growled and looked towards the back of the building. Both Jane and Frank whirled around. Three Islamist fighters were walking up, AK-47s pointed at them. A fourth man had Jackson by the shoulder, with a pistol pointed at his head.

“Hands up,” said the lead Islamist.

“Crap,” Frank said. “Guns in the clubhouse.” Jane looked completely terrified.

“Move,” the lead Islamist said. He nodded for them to move towards the front of the clubhouse. Frank’s heart was pounding in his chest. They started walking. When they came around the corner, Earl had his rifle pointing right at them.

“Drop the gun, crusader, or your friends will be killed,” a voice commanded.

“You drop your guns, or you’ll be killed, cretin,” Earl replied.

There was the sound of a pump shotgun cocking behind Earl. He got an angry look on his face.

“Shit,” he said. He set his gun down.

“Into the building, crusaders,” said the lead person. “Leave that disgusting dog outside.” He had no Arabic accent, but he sounded like he was from the upper Midwest. His beard was long and full, reaching down to the middle of his chest.

Rosie, Hilda, and Mary turned to see the enemy coming in, with horrified looks on their faces. Rosie spat on the floor.

“Moro scum, come to kill women and old people. Pigs. Pershing was right.”

“What’s she talking about?” asked the lead Islamist, as he pointed for his prisoners to sit on the closest bench.

“Sorry, honey, old Blackjack Pershing isn’t around to help you now,” said the man with the shotgun as he followed Earl over to the bench. “He’s in hell with the prophet right about now.”

“Don’t blaspheme,” the lead Islamist said. “I warned you about that.”

“Stuff it, or I’ll tell your boss you had a ham sandwich today,” he spat back.

“Simon Orr,” Frank said.

The militia man set down his shotgun, looking at Frank.

“So, you know my name, huh,” Simon said. “How’d you figure that out?”

“Facial recognition of the video from the RV Park in Utah,” Frank said. “Where’s Phil?”

Simon cracked up. “Don’t call him Phil.”

“Yeah, I heard, traitor,” Frank said. Jane put her hand on his thigh, trying to get him to settle down.

“I know you from somewhere,” Simon said, looking at Earl. “You look real familiar. Williams Militia? And that other guy too.”

“Yeah, we used to be with the Williams Militia,” Earl said. “I remember Phil too. What a blowhard.”

Simon backhanded Earl hard, sending him to the floor.

“Mind your manners, son,” he said, rubbing his hand. Jackson started to get up, but one of the other Islamists pointed his AK-47 right at his head.

Earl got back up on the bench and spit blood onto the floor, giving Simon a look that was pure hatred.

“So what do you want, traitor?” Frank asked.

“I’m just making sure you guys don’t hi-tail it after the rest of your group gets ambushed,” Simon said, grinning. “And watch the traitor stuff, or I’ll let my horny friends there at your lovely wife.”

Jane looked over at Frank, eyes glassy.

“Moro pigs,” Rosie said again.

“What’s this ‘Moro’ crap?” asked the lead Islamist.

“Geez,” Simon said, “you’re willing to die for this crackpot religion of yours, but you don’t even know the history. Is this an indication of the quality of the Dearborn school system?”

“Stop talking like that,” the lead Islamist replied, his anger showing.

“Alright, pajama boy, don’t get your panties in a bunch,” Simon replied. “I’ll tell you what she’s talking about.”

Frank laughed. Simon looked over at him and he chuckled too. Then he started talking.

“She’s talking about the Moro Rebellion in the Philippines. Turn of the Century to the teens. Moro was the name for the Muslims who lived in the south.”

“She looks old enough to have been there,” the lead Islamist said. He laughed and looked over at his comrades. They stared at him stone faced. “When are you idiots going to learn some English?”

“I don’t know why you’re talking about Pershing, though,” Simon continued. “He eventually worked to settle things down, and even rebuilt some Muslim houses of worship. All that stuff about throwing dead Moro bodies in pig’s blood is just a myth.”

“It not myth,” Rosie spat. “My grandpa see.”

“Well, whatever, lady,” Simon said.

“What exactly do you think you’re going to gain by teaming up with these heathens?” Earl asked. “They’ll just turn on you if you get lucky enough to win.”

“They’ll take their land, and we’ll take ours,” Simon said. “Yeah, we’ll probably fight eventually, but right now the US Government and private citizen sheep like you guys are job one.”

“You guys can’t win,” Frank said. “You have to know that. You’re going to have to fight millions of armed citizens.”

“Oh, the US Government is making that easier for us, believe me,” Simon said. “Look at the crap they’re pulling in California. The people there are so upset that they’ll join with us to gain their freedom back.”

“Yes, I’m sure they’ll be happy to see a bunch of Islamists telling them to convert or die,” Jackson said.

“Don’t you worry about that,” Simon said. “California isn’t one of the places that our allies will get. We’ve already divided things up.”

“Oh, really?” Frank said. “So what areas are they planning to take?”

“A bunch of Midwest crap holes, like South Dakota and Montana.”

Frank laughed so hard he almost fell out of his chair.

“So you’re going to give the Bakken to these cretins,” he said. “That’s rich, or should I say they’ll be rich.”

Simon looked at Frank blankly.

“The Bakken Oil Fields,” Frank said. “You know, the place that’s got about as much oil as Saudi Arabia.”

“Oh, that,” Simon said. “Yeah, you have a point. They get a lot of oil, which they can’t get out of the ground themselves. Guess who’s going to help them? It’s all part of our agreement.”

“Well, that’s smarter than I expected you guys to be,” Frank said. “Kudos. Too bad you can’t win the fight.” He glanced over to the side. His Winchester was two tables over. No way could he get to it with all the AKs pointing at him.

“A lot of the rednecks that you’re counting on will join with us,” Simon said. “Trust me.”

“Check your radio,” the lead Islamist said. “We should have heard something by now.”

“Don’t get nervous,” Simon told him. “These guys may be sheep, but each one of them is worth about twenty of your Islamist ‘army’…..I’m sure they’re putting up a good fight.”

“Are you suggesting that they’ll win?” the Islamist asked, laughing.

“Naw, quantity has a quality all its own, as the hero of progressives used to say.”

“What are you going to do with us?” Mary asked.

“Saladin and Philip both want to talk to you guys, although I truly don’t understand why,” Simon said. “They especially want to talk to Frank here.”

“Why?” Frank asked.

“They think you have the ability to get into federal computer networks, for some reason,” Simon said. “You might get lucky. They might offer you a real good deal.”

“Yeah, like that’s going to happen,” Frank said, glaring at Simon.

“Oh, it just might, because we have something you want. She’s sitting right next to you.”

“What about the other one?” the Islamist asked.

“He’s not here,” Simon replied. “Pity. He’ll probably get killed in the ambush….but Frank is the real prize anyway. The other one is just his helper.”

“Check your radio,” the Islamist said.

“Alright, alright,” Simon said. “Keep a good eye on these folks.” He left the room.

Earl glanced over to his left. The pump shotgun was leaning against the table. Just a little too far to reach.

“You men want some coffee or anything?” Mary asked.

The lead Islamist just stared at her.

Simon walked in, putting the radio back on his belt.

“Well?” asked the Islamist.

“No answer,” Simon said. “They are probably in the middle of the fight. Timing would be about right if their team made it all the way to the canyon.”

“I don’t like it.”

Simon just rolled his eyes and sat down.

“So Frank, why didn’t you guys just join up with Hank and Lewis and the boys?”

“They lied to us,” Frank said, “and they were herding us. They would have just killed us for our supplies and vehicles.”

“You have that all wrong,” Simon said. “They were instructed to recruit you. They wouldn’t have just killed you and your friends.”

“They didn’t know anything about me,” Frank said. “Why would they have been interested in getting me to join?”

“Remember Sean?” Simon asked.

Frank’s jaw dropped open. “You guys have been on our tail since I met Sean? I haven’t seen that guy since we were in Quartzite. That was the day after we left Redondo Beach.”

Simon started laughing. “You just catching up, are you?”

“Where’s Sean now?” Frank asked.

“Oh, he’s in custody at the moment, but we’ll spring him soon enough. The US Government is a little pissed at him for blowing up the Capitol.”

“So it
was
him,” Jane said.

“Oh, so the little lady can talk,” Simon said. “What else is she good at, Frank?”

“You want me to join you guys, and you’re going to make comments like that?” Frank shot back at him.

“Oh, I don’t think there’s a snowballs chance in hell that you are going to join us, but Philip seems to think it’s possible.”

“Try the radio again,” the Islamist said.

“In a minute,” Simon said. “What do you think the end game is here, Frank?”

“I don’t know,” Frank said.

“Let’s say for a moment that you citizens and what’s left of the army take us out. What happens when your government expands their martial law from California and the East Coast?”

“Don’t underestimate the American character,” Earl said.

“Funny, Philip says that all the time, but he thinks the American ‘character’ conforms to us, not sheep like you guys.”

Suddenly there was large explosion in the distance, then another. Then a third, and there was a bright flash in the night sky.

“There it is!” Simon exclaimed with glee. He ran out to the door and looked out. Then there was a strange sound. Simon fell forward. Earl lunged for the shotgun, flew on his back and fired, hitting the lead Islamist in the face. Two shots came in from the door and window, taking out two of the other Islamists as Frank dived for his Winchester. He rolled, cocked it, and pointed it at the remaining Islamist, who froze and dropped his weapon.