World War III (48 page)

When Shiloh’s rifle was empty, he dropped it to the deck and grabbed Billy’s. He continued to shoot one soldier after another, as American prisoners swarmed the boat and Billy helped pull them in. The glint of sunlight reflecting off of a soldier’s scope caught Shiloh’s attention. Peering through the scope on Billy’s rifle, he found the sniper and squeezed the trigger, but the gun clicked on an empty chamber.

Shiloh dropped the empty rifle to the deck and sprang to his feet. Grabbing Billy by the arm he pulled him down, as a bullet sliced through the air where he’d been standing. “We need to get out of here!” he shouted, as he climbed to his feet.

“But there’s still someone in the water,” said Billy, pointing at a middle-aged man swimming desperately for the pontoon boat.

“I’ll get him,” said Shiloh. “You get us out of here!”

Shiloh turned and shoved passed frantic prisoners, huddled together and dripping wet. He made his way to the stern of the boat, where he found a rope tied to a small floatation device. “Catch!” He yelled, throwing the life preserver to the man.

The man reached up and caught the life preserver, frantically wrapping his arms around the donut shaped device. His eyes were wide and full of fear, and his body shook violently in the frigid water.

Shiloh quickly secured the other end of the rope, as the boat lurched forward. With help from a couple of prisoners, he managed to pull the man close and get him onboard. “Keep him warm,” he instructed, heading for the bow of the boat.

When they arrived at the landing all of the pontoon boats were empty, except for Sampson’s which was still being unloaded. Jeremiah had the engines running on several of the buses and the American’s immediately climbed aboard.

“Everybody into the buses!” Shiloh shouted, as Billy brought the pontoon boat close to shore.

Within a few minutes the buses were loaded and headed up the mountain, away from town. They drove passed dozens of soldiers, but no one seemed to notice them. The enemy was far too preoccupied fighting with Sawyer’s Marines, to pay any attention to a few harmless school buses driving by.

*******

Mason steered the speedboat into Emerald Bay and passed Fannette Island. He could see a small castle surrounded by large pine trees dead ahead, with guards patrolling the beach in front. Without slowing their speed, he drove the boat straight up and onto the beach.

Cleo’s feet were the first to touch ground, as she leapt from the boat and charged the castle. Mason followed close behind, with the three volunteers from Clearview bringing up the rear. Seeing a speedboat full of armed assailants’ storm the beach startled the Russian soldiers and caught them off guard.

Cleo and Mason were the first to reach the large door at the front of the castle, made of wood and glass. While Cleo wired the door to explode, Mason turned and dropped to his knee, providing covering fire for the three volunteers running across the beach. One of the men stopped dead in his tracks, as Russian bullets riddled his body. He fell to the ground in a pool of blood and lay there motionless, as the sand beneath him turned crimson. The other two volunteers stopped and tried to help him, but he was already dead.

“Leave him!” Mason shouted, waving at the two men. As they sprinted up the beach he continued to cover their approach, sending a constant barrage of gunfire toward the Russian soldiers.

“Fire in the hole!” Cleo shouted, stepping back from the large door and taking cover. The door exploded in a loud boom, sending shards of glass and splinters through the air. “Let’s go!” Cleo was the first through the door, with Mason following close behind.

Mason had never seen Cleo act so reckless. She’d always been the voice of caution on all their missions, trying desperately to reign him in, so this was a new experience. She must really love him, he thought, as they cleared the first two rooms.

“Stay here and cover our exit,” said Mason, looking at the volunteer named Josh.

Josh nodded, before turning and kneeling down at the entrance. He loaded a fresh clip into his rifle before picking off Russian targets, as they darted across the beach.

The castle was huge and constructed primarily of stone, with intricate woodwork throughout. The hardwood floors echoed from each step they took, as they cleared one room after another searching for Lex. A small object came bouncing down the winding stairwell from the second floor above, rolling to a stop at Mason’s feet. “Grenade!” He shouted, knocking Cleo to the floor.

The sound from the explosion reverberated in Mason’s ears, as he rolled off Cleo and climbed to his feet. Glancing around the smoke filled room, he saw the other volunteer from Clearview lying dead at the bottom of the stairs. He reached down and helped Cleo to her feet. Without saying a word, he pointed upstairs.

Cleo nodded, before slowly and quietly climbing the stone stairwell.

Mason followed with his back to Cleo’s, guarding their rear.

At the top of the stairs they were greeted by machinegun fire, coming from two soldiers guarding a room at the end of the hall. Cleo immediately dropped to her stomach and returned their fire. The Russians were focused on Cleo and taken completely by surprise, when Mason suddenly appeared in the hallway and shot them both in the head.

The two ex-CIA agents quickly made their way to the end of the hall, checking each room along the way. Mason kicked open the door the Russian’s had been guarding and stormed inside, followed by Cleo. The entire room was made of wood, with a large fireplace snuggled in the corner. Across from the fireplace was a small bathroom and beyond that a separate reading room overlooking the lake.

“Lex!”

Mason turned and saw Cleo staring out the window, her hand pressed against the glass. She turned and ran from the room, her footsteps echoing down the hallway.

Mason looked out the window and saw Russians scrambling for cover on the beach, as Josh peppered them with gunfire. Beyond them, an officer led a small group of soldiers down the beach, toward a boat tied at the end of the dock. In the center of the group was a stretcher, carried by two soldiers. A Russian Seaplane floated in the bay on the opposite side of Fannette Island, its engine running and ready for takeoff.

Mason barely recognized the bloodied and broken face of Lex, as he struggled desperately to free himself from the restraints securing him to the stretcher. Despite having been captive for less than a day, he’d almost been beaten beyond recognition. Mason could only imagine the horrible torture Lex had endured, torture intended for him. He knew they wouldn’t stop until they had what they wanted, but what could Lex possible tell them? Mason turned and hurried after Cleo.

“Get the boat ready!” He told Josh, when he reached the main entrance.

Josh nodded and ran for the speedboat, crouching low to avoid flying bullets.

Cleo was already halfway across the beach, chasing after Lex and his Russian captors.

“Cleo!” Mason shouted, as he ran after her. “Wait for me!”

By the time Cleo reached the dock, the Russians had already loaded Lex into the boat and were paddling out toward the seaplane. Her boot heels pounded on the wood, as she ran to the end of the dock. “Lex!” She screamed, raising her rifle to fire.

Hearing Cleo’s scream, the Russian soldiers turned and opened fire, sending a barrage of bullets in her direction.

“Get down!” Mason shouted, as he dove into Cleo, knocking her to her belly.

Bullets thudded into the dock around them, as the Russians forced Lex into the plane. The officer in charge pointed at Mason and Cleo and shouted something, before climbing onboard. The seaplane’s propeller roared to life and the small plane headed out of Emerald Bay. The five remaining soldiers fired at Mason and Cleo from the boat.

Cleo sprang to her knees and shot one of the soldiers in the chest. Mason popped up beside her and shot another. They continued firing at the Russians until the last soldier fell overboard, riddled with bullets.

“Kill them!” A Russian Lieutenant shouted, as he led a small group of soldiers down the dock toward Mason and Cleo.

Mason turned and fired at the advancing soldiers. “Cleo!” He shouted, trying to get his partner’s attention. “I need you!”

Cleo stared after the plane for a second longer, before spinning around and shooting the Russian Lieutenant in the leg. The soldiers immediately clustered around the Lieutenant, trying to lift him and carry him to safety. But before they could take a step, Mason and Cleo mowed them down.

“Get in!” Josh shouted, as he brought the speedboat in close.

Cleo ignored Josh and ran down the dock, headed straight for the wounded Lieutenant.

“Wait!” Mason said to Josh, before turning and running after Cleo.

The Russian reached for his sidearm as Cleo approached, but it was too late.

Cleo kicked the Lieutenant viciously, breaking his nose and showering his face in blood.

“Augh!” He screamed, cupping both hands over his broken nose.

“Cover me!” Mason said, before grabbing the Russian and lifting him over his shoulder. He carried the Lieutenant back to the speedboat and dropped him in, before climbing onboard himself.

“Let’s go!” Cleo shouted, jumping into the boat. She turned and fired at a dozen soldiers running down the beach.

Mason took the wheel from Josh and nodded at the Russian Lieutenant. “Watch him!”

Josh immediately did as instructed, pointing the barrel of his rifle at the prisoner. The Lieutenant glanced at Josh and the gun, but seemed more concerned with his broken nose.

Mason guided the speedboat out of Emerald Bay and chased after the seaplane, but it was too late. The plane was already airborne.

Cleo could see Lex’s face through one of the windows, as the plane flew by and headed west into California. She watched helplessly as the plane disappeared over the mountains, wondering if she would ever see Lex again.

“Don’t worry,” said Mason, as if he could read her thoughts, “we’ll get him back.”

The Gift of God

World War III – Day Twenty

Clearview, Nevada

Lieutenant Sawyer led his platoon of Marines down Main Street, bringing the column to a stop in front of the jailhouse. Although they’d taken no casualties, several soldiers were wounded in the assault. “Lock up the prisoners and see to the wounded Sergeant,” he commanded, climbing down from the lead Humvee.

“Yes sir.”

“I want five men stationed here guarding the prisoners,” stated Lt. Sawyer. “We are NOT going to have another jail break, understand?”

“Yes sir,” said the Sergeant, followed by a stiff salute.

The Sergeant ushered the three Chinese prisoners into the jailhouse and locked them each in their own cell. He stationed two guards in the cell room, with two more in the outer room. The fifth guard was stationed outside.

A few minutes later, a dozen school buses drove into town and unloaded over one hundred American refugees. Shiloh and Ian climbed down from the last bus, followed by Cole, Billy, and the DeLuca brothers.

“I see your mission was a success,” said Lt. Sawyer, greeting the men on Main Street.

“Mostly,” agreed Ian, shaking Sawyer’s hand. “We lost a few, but freed most of them.”

“Good,” bellowed Lt. Sawyer. “We suffered a few flesh wounds, but nothing serious. What about Lex? Were Mason and Cleo able to free him?”

“We’re not sure,” admitted Ian. “We discovered he’d been moved at the last minute and barely had enough time to warn them before all hell broke loose.”

“I saw a speedboat racing across the lake toward Fannette Island,” said Shiloh. “I’m not positive, but it looked like Mason and Cleo at the helm. Maybe they got there in time.”

“Maybe,” said Lt. Sawyer, remembering the speedboat he’d seen crossing the lake. “But if you’re talking about the same speedboat I saw, they were only halfway there when we opened fire.”

“All we can do now is pray,” said Shiloh.

*******

A few hours later, Mason and Cleo returned with Josh and the Russian Lieutenant they’d captured on the dock. They headed straight for the jailhouse, where they found a Marine standing guard outside. Without saying a word, Mason walked passed the sentry and opened the door, stepping aside for Cleo to enter, before shoving the prisoner inside. “Thanks Josh, we can handle it from here,” he said.

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure. Cleo and I have some questions for the officer and I doubt you’ll want to be here for the interrogation.”

“Oh, I see,” said Josh. “Well,” he frowned, “I guess someone needs to notify the wives’ of Ben and Larry.”

Mason nodded, remembering the two volunteers who’d died in the rescue attempt. “They were good men. I don’t envy you your task,” he added. He too was familiar with the bitter pain of notifying a widow of her loss.

Josh nodded, imagining the look on the women’s faces. “I don’t envy you your task either,” he said, looking passed Mason at the Russian Lieutenant.

Mason watched until Josh was gone from sight, before stepping inside and closing the door. He turned around to find the room full of people. In addition to two guards standing by the door to the inner cell room and two more within, he saw Shiloh and Ian sitting at the Sheriff’s desk, engrossed in a game of chess.

“It took you guys awhile to get back,” said Shiloh, looking up from the chessboard in front of him. “We were gonna start searching for ya after this game.”

“Yeah,” grunted Mason. “As you know we had to deviate from the plan.” He shoved the Russian Lieutenant forward, knocking him to the floor at Cleo’s feet.

Ian glanced down at the wounded officer and asked, “What about Lex?”

“We didn’t get there in time,” replied Mason.

“They took him,” added Cleo, pressing on the Russian’s wounded leg, with the heel of her boot.

“Ouch!”

“Where did they take him?” Shiloh asked, leaning back in the chair and folding his arms.

“We don’t know yet,” said Cleo, pressing harder on the man’s leg. “But we’re bloody well gonna find out!”

“Lock him in a cell by himself,” said Mason. “The tools are at my place. I’ll be right back.”

Shiloh noticed the Russian’s head snap up at the mention of the word ‘tools’. He could see the white of the man’s eyes and could only imagine the fear he felt. He glanced at Mason and Cleo, wondering if they were bluffing. Seeing the grim look on Cleo’s face made him lose all doubt. They had every intention of using whatever means necessary to extract Lex’s location, whether the officer knew it or not.

Mason turned and opened the door, allowing a cold breeze to enter the jailhouse. He tightened the collar around his neck, before stepping out into the soft falling snow and closing the door behind him.

“I wouldn’t want to be that poor bloke,” replied Ian, as Cleo pulled the officer to his feet.

“Move!” She said, shoving him into the inner cell room. When Cleo saw the cells were already occupied by Lieutenant Sawyer’s Chinese prisoners, she knocked the Russian to his knees and said, “Don’t move.” She grabbed the cell keys from off a nearby hook and unlocked the cell on the far left.

“Hey,” said one of the Marines on guard duty, “what do you think you’re doing?”

“Moving the prisoner to another cell,” said Cleo flatly. “Get out of my way.” Without waiting for the soldier to respond, she shoved passed him and locked the Chinese prisoner in the center cell, with his comrade. She turned and kicked the Russian officer in the leg. “Get in,” Cleo said, pointing at the empty cell.

The officer did as commanded and crawled into the cell, glad to be free from Cleo’s vicious kicks.

Cleo locked the door and hung the keys on the hook, before stepping into the outer room. She pulled a chair over to the fireplace and sat down, staring silently into the flames.

Ian was about to stand up and console her, when Shiloh reached out and gently grabbed his arm, shaking his head no. “Let her be,” he whispered softly.

“Is there any coffee?” asked Lieutenant Sawyer, entering the jailhouse to check on his prisoners.

“On the stove,” replied Ian, pointing to a blue kettle.

“Thanks,” said Sawyer, pouring himself a cup. “Anybody else want any?”

“Sure.” Shiloh said over his shoulder, his eyes fixed on the game in front of him.

“No thanks,” said Ian.

The Lieutenant glanced at Cleo sitting alone by the fireplace, watching the embers burn. “Did you find your boyfriend?” He asked, rubbing his hands together over the fire.

“No,” said Shiloh, answering for Cleo, as he moved one of his pawns forward, “the Russian’s still have him. However they did capture an officer and they’re hoping he can shed some light on Lex’s location.”

“I see,” said Lt. Sawyer, pouring another cup of coffee and handing it to Shiloh. “Who’s winning?”

Before anyone could answer the door swung open and Rupert walked in, carrying a bible in his hand. “Why hello everyone,” he said, glancing around the room. “I heard we have more prisoners to share the gospel with. Does anyone mind if I talk with them?”

“Help yourself,” grinned Ian, as he moved his bishop and removed one of Shiloh’s pawns.

“You’re just wasting your time,” hissed Lt. Sawyer. “Those barbarians don’t believe in God or the Bible.”

“Well then we should educate them,” smiled Rupert. Without another word, he turned and walked into the inner cell room, closing the door behind him.

When Rupert entered the room he found the Russian prisoner lying on his cot, rubbing his wounded leg and muttering something. Two Chinese prisoners were locked together in the center cell, with a third locked in the cell on the far right.

The Russian Lieutenant looked up, glancing at the Bible in Rupert’s hand. His lips parted in an evil smile, before he rolled onto his side and faced the wall.

The Chinese prisoners watched Rupert, as he pulled up a chair and sat down. One of the two prisoners locked together, seemed especially curious, his eyes flickering back and forth between Rupert and the Bible

“Hello,” said Rupert, greeting the prisoners with a smile. None of them responded. “My name is Rupert Powers,” he continued, undaunted by their silence, “and I’d like to talk with you gentleman about God. Are any of you Christians?”

The Chinese prisoner sitting in his solitary cell grunted, before lying down on his cot with his hands folded behind his head. Of the two prisoners locked together, one of them hissed in disgust and turned to face the wall, placing his back to Rupert. The other man however seemed interested, his eyes fixated on the Bible as if trying to decide if it was a figment of his imagination. He gazed deep into Rupert’s eyes, wondering if this was a trap.

Ignoring the other prisoners, Rupert devoted his attention to the man who showed interest. “What’s your name?”

“Cheng,” mumbled the prisoner.

“Oh good,” smiled Rupert, “for a moment I was afraid you didn’t speak English. It’s nice to meet you Cheng. Are you a Christian?”

“No,” said Cheng, sitting up straight on the cot. His body stiff and rigid, as though he expected a beating.

“Are you familiar with God?” Rupert asked, saddened by the man’s frightened reaction.

“Yes,” answered Cheng, glancing at the Bible in Rupert’s hand.

“Good,” smiled Rupert, “what about the son of God, Jesus Christ, are you familiar with Him?”

“I hear His name before,” answered Cheng, glancing cautiously at his fellow inmates. None of them seemed to be paying any attention, but he was nervous none the less. In his home country, Christians were not only persecuted, they were imprisoned, tortured, and murdered on a daily basis. Although the Peoples Republic of China claimed religious freedom, it was not truly the case. Any citizen caught with a Bible, or worshiping under any faith other than one of the five state sanctioned religions, was brutally victimized.

“Would you like to read the Bible with me?” asked Rupert, noticing Cheng’s interest. “Don’t worry, you won’t be punished. To the contrary. In this book you will find peace and the undeniable truth. Here, take a look,” offered Rupert, sliding the Bible through the prison bars.

Cheng reached for the book, but when he noticed the other prisoners watching he quickly withdrew his hand, lowering his head in shame.

“No problem,” said Rupert, opening the Bible. “I’ll read some of it to you. You know,” he added, glancing at the other prisoners, “ya might find this interesting. The end talks about war, famine and disease. Not only does it explain this current war and predict the future, but it also explains the how and why of it all. Of course a lot of that is in the Book of Revelation, but for now I’ll start in the beginning, with the Book of Genesis.”

Although interested in hearing what the book had to say, Cheng had been conditioned to fear the mere mention of words like God, Christ, and the Bible. Yet, so far the Americans were treating him better than his own superiors. In fact, he was being treated better as a prisoner of war in America, than as a freeman in China.

Rupert opened the Bible and began reading. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”

Cheng listened intently, as Rupert explained the beginning of time and all of creation. After hearing of Noah’s Ark and the great flood, he became very excited. “I know this story,” he stammered, in broken English.

“Oh yeah,” said Rupert. “It’s a popular one, shared by many different cultures around the world.”

“It doesn’t make any since,” hissed the Russian Lieutenant from his cot. “It’s not mathematically possible.”

“Really,” said Rupert, excited at the prospect of saving another soul. “In what way?”

“If you were to add all of the species on earth and try to cram them into a boat of the dimensions you described, they would not fit. There is simply not enough room.”

“The Bible doesn’t say God sent Noah two of every species,” explained Rupert. “It says God sent Noah two of every kind. There’s a huge difference.”

“It sounds like word games to me,” replied the Russian Lieutenant.

“Let me explain,” said Rupert. “There are many different species of dogs and cats, do you agree?”

“Yes,” declared the Russian, “too many for this ark.”

“Okay,” continued Rupert. “So when the Bible says God sent Noah two of every kind, it doesn’t mean two German Shepherds, two Black Labradors, two Golden Retrievers, and so on and so forth. It means God sent Noah two dogs, plain and simple. And from the offspring of those two dogs, came every other species of dog. It was the same with cats, horses and everything other kind of animal. Just as all of mankind have come from two people, Adam and Eve, so too have all living creatures.

I wouldn’t be surprised,” he continued, “if God sent Noah two babies of every kind. It makes since, babies are smaller, they eat less food, sleep more and they’re less aggressive. And of course Noah didn’t need to bring any water animals or insects onboard. If you actually do the math, I think you’ll find it’s quite possible.”

“How did the boat not sink?” Cheng asked, more curious than ever.