Time of the Draig (8 page)

He whispered, “Five by five.”

Close enough to the answer she wanted. Samantha rose from his back and turned to address the watching men. She called out, “Does anyone else have an issue with my command or with Captain Harrison?”

It was almost a chorus that replied, “No, ma’am.”

“I will repeat one last time. We are soldiers, and we will act accordingly. All actions need to be for the benefit of the squad. I will keep you safe and will work to prevent the horror facing our home. Should we be able to go back, the choice will be yours whether you come with me or not. Your safety is my first priority. Any questions?”

Samantha wasn’t surprised to be met with silence. She pointed to Private Miller and said, “Medic, take a look at him. There will be bruised ribs but nothing broken.”

Miller reached into his pack and pulled out the med kit. He said, “No offense, Major, but I think he needs a quick scan.”

“Scan away, but nothing is broken. If I had wanted something broken, it would be. My only goal was to take him down intact,” Samantha answered, confident in the statement and her abilities.

She turned as she felt Boomer at her back and took her socks and boots from his hand. The man sat on the damp ground by her side as she brushed off her feet. “Nicely done. It’s been a few weeks since you had a decent workout. Good to know you haven’t lost your skills.”

Samantha smiled as she replied, “What do you think?”

Boomer watched the men who talked together. He said, “While I’m never a fan of an ass-kicking, it’s what was needed. The rest of the men will follow.”

Samantha nodded, though she never wanted to lead via fear. That was the way of the United Forces, not her. “Will they follow only because they’re afraid of me?”

“If you had killed him maybe, but you only taught him the lesson he asked for,” Boomer answered. “What were you thinking about before Jensen snuck one in?”

Samantha studied the trees in the distance as she said, “An idea that won’t quite materialize. Think I became a bit lost in it.”

“Next time focus on the fight,” Boomer chided as he helped her to her feet.

Jeff and Faolan walked to join them. Faolan reached out and cupped her cheek in his hand and looked for injury. “Are you hurt?”

She could see the concern in his eyes and felt the gentle warm hands on her cheek. Samantha answered, “Just grazed me a bit.”

“I should have fought the man in your place. ‘Tis my duty to protect you,” Faolan said as his thumb wiped a small trace of blood from her lip.

Samantha pulled back away from his touch that left tingles in its wake and said, “This one was mine to handle, but thank you.” There was no time for flirting. As C.O., her leadership ability was all that mattered.

Faolan was about to add more, but Jeff interrupted, “You are right, only bruised ribs and a bruised kidney. I told Miller no pain killers as Jensen asked for the beating, and it’s nothing severe.”

Samantha nodded and turned back to Faolan. “Would it be all right if we strapped his pack to your horse?”

“You would coddle the man you should have killed?” Faolan asked with disbelief.

“Coddle, no. However, we still have a few hours left on foot, and I want him to be able to keep up with us. It’s not our way to kill our own men,” Samantha explained.

“Nor is it mine: however, none of my men would challenge my place as leader,” Faolan said.

“Jensen was scared, nothing more. I think he needed to know he was led by someone stronger,” Samantha said, hoping it was that simple.

Faolan looked at Boomer and said, “Next time let challengers face the strength by your side, or me.”

Samantha looked up at Boomer and said, “This bug guy? Don’t worry, he’s always got my back.” When Boomer laughed, she continued, “Would you and Jeff get everyone ready to go, please? We’ve taken the tranquil out of this place.”

Jeff nodded and called out, “Boots walking in five.” Then Boomer went to retrieve their packs.

Faolan asked quietly, “Do you expect more trouble from the man?”

Samantha looked up as she put her jacket back on and said, “I don’t think so, but we’ll keep an eye on him just the same.”

Faolan asked, “What did you mean you plan on going back?”

Samantha was surprised to see hurt on his face as he asked the question. “I don’t know if we can get back, but I need to try.” She tried to think of a simple and understandable way to answer the question. “My people are losing a war that I may be able to prevent. There is an object that I need to keep from being found, an object of great power. Does that make any sense to you?”

“I have heard many tales and legends of mythical objects. If you seek one you ken is real, then I understand,” Faolan answered. He then asked, “I saw you arrive. Where are you from?”

The smiling, flirting man was gone. In his place stood the leader of a tribe and a man who demanded truth. He also deserved it if he was going to shelter them. Samantha said, “We are from a land beyond the sea to the west and almost one thousand years from now.”

Faolan pondered the response even as the color drained slightly from his face. He asked with narrowed eyes, “How is that possible?”

“I made it possible,” she said.

The smile returned as he said, “You are strong, beautiful, and wise. Such a fine combination.”

Though she blushed at the compliment, Samantha asked, “Do you believe me?”

“I have heard enough whispers among your men and listened when you thought I was absent. There is belief if only because you dinna try to pretend otherwise with me. Besides it makes other tales seem possible,” Faolan said almost absently.

His reply echoed briefly in her head,
other tales
, even as her hand began to open and close again. Samantha shook her head to bring her back to the moment and asked, “What other tales?”

Faolan smiled. “When we reach my home, I will fill your nights with such tales. For now, thank you for your honesty, Samantha.”

Boomer closed in with her pack in hand. “You ready?”

Samantha strapped on the weight. “I need time to work tonight. There is something very big that I’m missing.”

Jeff was the one who answered, “Are you talking about connecting with that thing while we sit out in the open?”

“It’s important,” Samantha replied. “I just need two hours, max.”

Jeff looked at Boomer. “Is it safe for her to do this?”

“I don’t think so. She needs to be better protected,” Boomer answered.

Samantha chimed in, “I’m surrounded by soldiers.”

Faolan added, “If Samantha needs protection, I stand always at the ready.”

Samantha gave Boomer a dirty look for not offering the same, but maybe he was right. The last thing the locals needed was to see her laptop and UNK005. In the current place and time, those items could be the start of legends or bring about accusations of witchcraft. She reluctantly said, “Maybe you’re both right. I’ll wait, but I do need some time alone to think. I can’t think around all these people.”

Boomer added, “You need to get used to being around people again.”

Faolan offered, “We can make camp before the sunset. There is a fine loch along the trail. The rocks will offer protection for our backs. Smaller nooks can give you some privacy, Samantha.”

“Good plan. The loch also gives the men a chance to bathe,” Jeff said.

“I see your smile, Samantha. The idea pleases you.”

She had just indulged in a fantasy of clean hair. Samantha only replied, “I like it.”

The area surrounding the loch all but stole her breath. The sun had beaten back the gray day, and fading sunlight filled the sky. While the loch was only fifty yards across and about forty yards wide, the water was so clear one could almost see to the bottom. On the north side, rocky outcroppings would indeed protect their backs. In all other directions the view was of the woods they had walked through. The only path visible was the one they had traveled.

While it may have surprised her men to find dinner cooking, Samantha and Jeff only smiled as they reached Kagen at the fire. Both inhaled the scent of roasting deer being cooked via a handmade spit. Faolan clasped his cousin’s shoulder and praised the efforts. Apparently, the other two men were still traveling with the sheep in hopes of making their pastures shortly after nightfall.

With the rest of the men heading for the lake, Samantha sat down next to Corporal Jensen. “How are you feeling?” She could see the strain on his features; the afternoon’s march had taken as much of a toll as their fight.

“Feel like I’ve been hit by a truck. How did you do that?”

She shrugged. “I’ve studied since I was a little girl. Miller says there is no real damage. Why don’t you join the others at the loch and let the cool water ease some of the swelling? You’re off duty for the remainder of the trip. All you need to do is keep up.”

“Why?” Jensen asked with suspicious eyes.

“Because we are so much stronger together and because I need you with me. I refuse to leave a man behind.” Samantha studied his reaction as she asked, “Are you with me?”

Jensen was quiet for a while. He finally asked, “You won’t leave me behind?” It was the quiver in his voice that fueled her concern.

“Never,” was her vow.

“Okay, then I’m with you, ma’am.” Jensen said.

Pieces of the puzzle had begun to click into place. “Did your former C.O. leave you behind?”

Jensen sighed. “What I said about leave denied was nonsense. We all know there are no leaves anymore. We were cleaning up after a raid in North Florida. My platoon took out a squad of the enemy just outside of Jacksonville. There were citizens holed up in one of the elementary schools. Me and a couple of the guys wanted to get them out and have them transported over the border, back to our side. The C.O. said no. So we did it anyway.

Jensen’s voice lowered. “They were in bad shape, those families we found. Food and clean water had been in short supply for quite a while. We stole a truck and gave the keys to one of the men. All thirty-seven civilians piled in and drove away.”

“The C.O. came looking for us after the truck was reported missing. Man, was he pissed.” Samantha saw tears well in Jensen’s eyes. “He shot the two men I was with before I could blink. I didn’t hesitate . . . my hand just reacted . . . and I shot him.” He pointed to a spot just above the left temple. “He dropped on the spot.

“The now-acting C.O. tied me to the flag pole with some chains and left me there alone for nearly three days with the threat of being caught by the enemy. When they came back, they arrested me. We met three weeks later.”

Samantha was stunned. Such cruelty made her wonder if the timeline deserved saving.
Will removing UNK005 make a difference, or will humanity only find another way to disappoint?

She looked up to see Jensen waiting for a reply. “I am so proud of what you did.” She gave him a conspirator’s grin. “I have a nasty little habit of hacking into classified data. It’s been my way of making sure no orders came in that could endanger my work, Boomer’s life, or my own. Two weeks ago a military truck driven by a man named John Baymont entered secure ground in Louisiana. Thirty-three souls arrived safe and sound. While they lost a couple along the way, you saved a lot of lives. If it were up to me, I’d give you a medal and some well-earned leave.”

Jensen’s head dropped, and a heavy sigh of relief left his lips. “I think I’ll take that dunk in the loch now.” She helped him up from the ground and let him join the other men.

Jensen stopped after only a few paces. “Where are we, Major?”

“Together,” Samantha answered simply. There was so much more she wanted to say to the man but was afraid she would cry on the spot. The men needed a strong leader, not an emotional wreck.

When Jensen was gone, Samantha let the tears flow. Each man in her company had shared a similar tale of horror, of atrocious orders and unspeakable acts. For the first time, she was glad her father was dead. The new world would have killed him.

The back of her hand couldn’t hide the tears as Faolan crouched by her side. He softly said, “I judged the man too harshly. You were so verra wise to keep him.”

She nodded at the eavesdropping acknowledgment and rose to her feet. As Faolan did the same, she found her eyes level with his breastbone. She looked up and said, “I’m better now.” As she stepped out of the shelter of the rocks, she asked, “Have you seen Jeff or Boomer? They need to hear this, too.”

“They have joined the men in the loch. Mayhap you should wait here while I fetch them. There are some things you dinna need to see.” Faolan offered with a wink.

She laughed at the notion of literally catching everyone with their pants down while they swam. “It can wait until they’re done,” she replied.

No sooner had she spoken then the two men she wanted appeared, walking toward her. Both had grins that spoke of enjoyment and simple pleasure.

“The men are almost done and then are under orders to give you some time alone in the water,” Jeff said.

“I’ll stand guard,” Boomer offered.

“No, Boomer. I want you to stay by Jensen and make sure he’s okay. I don’t want him to feel isolated, and the rest of the men may stay away, given his conduct earlier.” She took the opportunity to tell them both about her encounter with Jensen. They took it as hard as she had, and both wore grim expressions.

Boomer broke the silence. “You did good today. Jensen opened up and now should be trustworthy.”

“I just wish it hadn’t taken such an extreme to get there.” Samantha mused at the oddity that it took violence to bring forth stories of violence and gain acceptance. Some matters would never make sense to her.