Reclamation (Best Laid Plans Book 4) (22 page)

“Or if they are but they're unfriendly?” Lewis shook his head grimly. “I'm not sure we can just stay hidden. Last time it turned out the vehicle was on another road that wouldn't take them anywhere near us or the town, but I don't think we're going to be as lucky this time. This is the only road in this area, and from the sound of it that truck is heading right for us.”

“Which means it's also heading right for Aspen Hill,” Trev said, putting two and two together. “So we can't just let them drive on past since we haven't been able to radio in a warning to the town.”

They all exchanged worried looks. “It's probably the military though,” his mom said.

In response Lewis shrugged out of his pack and began to climb the outcropping, making his way up to a spot where he could see a long ways up the road. The climb didn't look too difficult so Trev joined him, and together they watched the vehicle come into view.

It turned out to be a truck almost exactly like the ones the town had captured from the raiders. Trev got out his binoculars and peered through them. “Pretty sure it's US military,” he said after a few moments.

“For what that's worth,” Lewis answered. He had his binoculars out too. “Hard not to remember the raiders also driving those.”

Trev hopped back down, landing a bit awkwardly on the uneven ground, and shrugged out of his own pack, handing it and his rifle to his mom. “Use the outcropping as cover until you can get back on the road, then head towards town and radio a warning.” He looked up at his cousin. “Lewis, will you go with her?”

“What?” Lewis demanded, turning. By that point Trev was already out in the road, in plain view of the approaching vehicle. His cousin made an irritated noise, although now that he was in sight of the truck Trev didn't turn to look at him. At least until Lewis continued. “This spot is a good place to provide cover if needed, it would be a shame to abandon it. Do you think you can make it back by yourself, Aunt Clair?”

Tearing his eyes off the vehicle, which was now only a few hundred yards away, Trev risked a glance behind the outcropping. His cousin had settled back and was unslinging his G3, while his mom had left his stuff behind and was picking up her bike. She turned to give Trev a stern look as she started to hop onto it. “If you're going to do this then be careful.”

With a last reluctant look at both of them, she began pedaling away using the cover of the outcropping.

Doing his best to hide his uneasiness, Trev moved a bit farther up the road. They couldn't let the truck just drive past down to Aspen Hill, and if the people headed their way
were
unfriendly Lewis would have his back pretty well. All that aside, there was no way he would've taken this risk, not just for himself but for the others, if he wasn't fairly confident he was looking at soldiers sent by General Lassiter's group. He'd made a promise to Davis, after all.

The approaching vehicle had slowed at the sight of him, and as it got within fifty yards it rumbled fully to a stop. Doors flew open, and several armed men poured out to train weapons on him.

Trev bit back a sigh and slowly raised his hands over his head. A person shouldn't have to look down the barrels of a dozen assault rifles in his
lifetime
, let alone a few times a month. That sort of thing was impossible to get used to, but he was definitely getting used to not being able to get used to it.

“I'm unarmed!” he shouted.

The weapons stayed up as the man who'd been in the passenger's seat, an officer, shouted back. “Why are you stopping us?”

“I'm from a nearby town. You were driving right for it, and I wanted to avoid any misunderstandings that would end in violence.” Trev hesitated. “Are you with General Lassiter?”

After a moment's hesitation the officer barked out an order, and Trev felt his shoulders loosen as the soldiers lowered their rifles. “Corporal Kyle Williams, United States Marine Corps,” the officer answered. He started forward, motioning for Trev to do the same so they could talk without yelling. “Yes, we're part of his group.”

“I'm Trevor Smith, from Aspen Hill,” he replied, offering his hand once he was close enough. Williams shook, although he looked a bit cautious about a trick. “Did Sergeant Davis send you to contact the town?”

“Davis?” the corporal repeated. “Ethan Davis?” Trev nodded. Williams frowned slightly. “I read his report on his scouting run along Highway 6, but he didn't mention contacting the locals.”

“Actually my family was with him on that trip, until he dropped us off close to home,” Trev said. “I promised him I'd sort of be an intermediary for the town when you guys finally came around.”

“Well that wasn't our plan,” the soldier said, sounding thoughtful as he glanced along the road towards the canyon. “We were just sent to map out all these little roads and see how many of them lead down to the valley below. Although I suppose if your town's not too far there's no time like the present to stop by and get the ball rolling.”

Trev grinned. “It's not far, as the truck drives.”

The corporal didn't smile back. “You might as well hop in, then. We can give you a ride back to your town and you can introduce us around.”

He hesitated. “Um, actually I'm up here with my cousin.”

“So we'll give him a ride back too,” Williams's eyes abruptly narrowed. “He's not hiding somewhere pointing a gun at us, is he?”

“I was!” Lewis called, coming out slowly from behind the outcropping with his hands raised. The soldiers immediately lifted their weapons to train on him. “At least until I knew you were friendly. That's how the world works these days.”

Williams looked a bit annoyed as he motioned for his men to lower their weapons. “Anyone else?” he demanded.

Trev wrestled with options, but if the truck was making for town anyway then they'd catch up to his mom before too long, so there was no reason not to mention her. Especially since they didn't seem like enemies. “My mom was with us. We sent her ahead to warn the town in case you
weren't
friendly.”

“Well I suppose we've got room for a third.” Williams brusquely turned for the truck. “Pick up your stuff and get in.”

“Hold on,” Lewis called, when the corporal turned he gave their hiding place an uncertain look. “Do you guys mind if we brought some bees along?” One of the soldiers with Williams cursed and took a few steps back, and Lewis hastily continued. “We've got them in a sealed box.”

There was a brief, uncomfortable silence. “Bees,” the corporal said flatly.

“It's why we were up here,” Trev said with a shrug. “We've got honey, too. And bikes. If it's too much we can meet you down there.”

Williams sighed. “No, we've got room.” He gave Lewis a stern look. “You better make sure that box is sealed. If one of my men gets stung I'm kicking you to the curb, and you'll be lucky if that's all I kick. Go get your stuff and we'll pull the truck up.”

Trev hurried after his cousin to get his things, although as he went out of earshot he heard the officer muttering about yokels and chickens. The complaints were less than complimentary, and Trev decided he wasn't going to share any of his honey with the man.

They stowed the bees and their bikes in the back. Lewis agreed to ride back there with their stuff, while Williams offered to let Trev join him and the driver up front. Since Trev would have a better line of sight his cousin offered him the radio, so he could contact town when they got close.

During the exchange the corporal eyed their weapons. “Nice rifles,” he said. “Let's keep them on our backs with our hands well away from them, okay?”

That seemed fair enough, considering Davis had outright confiscated the AK-47s until it was time to drop Trev's family off. He and his cousin quickly agreed, and with that settled they all piled inside.

Williams sat in the middle, giving Trev the passenger window. As the driver started the truck and they rumbled forward down the road the corporal turned to him. “I'd appreciate it if you could tell me a bit about Aspen Hill so I know what to expect. And more importantly, what we can expect you to offer to help fight the Gold Bloc.”

“Sure. First things first, though, I was wondering if you could answer a question that's been bugging me and my friends for a while.” The corporal gave him a curious look and Trev continued. “A few weeks ago my cousin and some friends were up here and they also heard a truck. Was that you guys?”

Williams took a while in answering, thinking it over. “It's possible,” he finally said. “I know the General sent some preliminary scouts to assess the area before he even arrived, although my team and the others he sent out in the last few days are the first to seriously cover this ground. But I couldn't tell you for sure without looking into it.”

Trev shrugged. “I'm not sure who else it could've been besides you, and it was a while ago. We were just wondering.”

“Fair enough.” The corporal motioned. “You were going to tell me about your town?”

“Right.” Trev briefly outlined what had happened with the town over the fall, winter, and spring, although he left out Ferris and the FETF occupation. There was no way to know what Williams would think about anything that had happened with the administrator and his soldiers, then their later return as raiders, but that was a can of worms he didn't want to open. When he did describe the raider siege he kept the details of their specific identity vague there as well.

By the time he was done they'd reached the canyon and had begun navigating the steep switchbacks, and after he fell silent the corporal shook his head. “I've heard all sorts of stories of some pretty vicious fighting since the Gulf burned, but what your town went through sounds pretty nasty even so. I'm impressed you managed to hold your own.” He gave Trev a sidelong look. “Your defenders could probably help a lot if you joined up.”

“I let the Mayor know about you guys when we got back a couple weeks ago,” Trev said. “She made a general announcement to the town about who you are and what you're doing in the area. I think you might get some volunteers.”

The driver abruptly stiffened and began to slow. “We've got someone hiding ahead, hundred yards at two o'clock.”

Trev squinted ahead, then felt a surge of relief. All he could see was a bit of a handlebar, but it was the bike his mom had been riding. “That's my mom. She must've hid when she heard the truck coming.”

“Right.” Williams nodded to the door. “Want to let her know what's going on?”

With a quick nod Trev hopped out of the vehicle and trotted down the road. “It's okay, Mom!” he called. “They're giving us a ride home!”

She came out dragging the bike, a look of relief on her face. “They're military?”

“With Lassiter,” Trev affirmed. He helped his mom get her bike up into the back of the truck with the aid of Lewis and one of the soldiers, then pointed towards the cab. “If you want the comfy seat go ahead.”

Williams was standing beside the passenger door waiting for them, and at this he cleared his throat. “Actually, Mr. Smith, you're the intermediary. I'd like you to be in front ready to talk to your people, just in case.”

Trev glanced at his mom, and she nodded and motioned for Lewis to give her a hand up into the back. Trev trotted up to the cab and climbed in after the corporal, who once again took the middle seat. Almost immediately the truck rumbled into motion again.

About a minute later they reached a part of the road that overlooked the rest of the canyon and the valley below. Williams nodded to the distant view of the town. “I'd say you're close enough to radio in and let them know we're coming.”

Right. The last thing he wanted was for someone on patrol to freak out and start taking shots at them. Trev lifted his radio. “Trev here, can anybody hear me?”

After a few moments Chauncey's voice came in strong. “I hear you. How'd the beekeeping go?”

“Great, but we can talk about it later. Can you get ahold of Mayor Tillman?”

Before the retired teacher could answer Catherine's voice came on. “I've been listening, Trev. What is it?”

Trev glanced over at the corporal. “We met a squad of scouts sent by General Lassiter up in the mountains. They want to visit the town and talk to us. We're halfway down the canyon now, driving a military truck.”

There was a long pause before the Mayor answered. “Okay, we'll roll out the red carpet. Come on in.”

* * * * *

At the edge of town a group of well armed defenders in body armor were waiting for them, clustered around a truck parked across the left lane of Center Street. The truck had one of the M2 Browning heavy machine guns they'd captured from the raiders mounted atop it, with Rick Watson in the gunner's spot. Beside the truck Matt stood awkwardly holding one of the TOW missile launchers.

At the sight of the defenders the soldier driving the truck slowed down and shifted uneasily. “Jeez, that's a Ma Deuce on that truck! Corporal?”

Trev's radio crackled to life. “Go ahead and welcome our guests to Aspen Hill, Trev,” Matt said. “The Mayor's waiting to greet them at town hall, if they want to keep going.”

“I guess that's that,” Williams said. “Let's go.”

The driver hesitated before accelerating again. “Or we could turn around, Corp. That dude on the ground has a missile launcher! What kind of town packs this kind of heat?”

“The kind that had it used against us,” Trev replied. “I told you we captured the raiders' weapons.” He turned awkwardly in the seat to fully face the officer sitting beside him. “And I can promise you that if there's trouble, it won't come from us.”

Williams shifted his shoulders slightly, almost a shrug. “I suppose scouting isn't all driving around in sunny meadows. Keep going.”

The driver reluctantly sped up again. As they passed the other truck it rumbled to life and pulled around to follow them, which might've been meant as an escort but certainly wasn't doing anything to calm the nerves of the soldiers.

“Seriously though,” Williams said in a low voice. “Your town has a
lot
more in the way of armaments than it should. If all your defenders have that kind of gear then you're better equipped than half the remaining companies in the US military.”