Paul Kirk - Devastation Point

“Close the door, you puta. Start the truck. Drive. That way. Now!”

Phoenix sensed the extra pressure of the barrel to the side of his head and reached to pull the door shut. “Okay. Okay!” He started the truck, putting it in gear.

Renaldo spoke to his sister without turning his focus from Phoenix. “Gabby? Remember, we can’t shoot him yet, okay? Okay?”

“Kay, Nully.”

“Do like I told you we’d do for now. Okay? Just like Daddy trained us.”

“’Kay.” Trembling, Gabby sought calm in her brother’s words and steadied the gun swaying from side to side. It was clear she wanted to be rid of the presence of this evil man. Raw emotion getting the better of her, Gabby regained her fury. “I don’t like him!”

Staring into the barrel of the .45 Colt held by the young girl, Phoenix knew his time had come. He steadied his focus on the quivering tiny finger on the trigger.

Renaldo made a quick effort to console her. “I know. I know . But listen—”

“He was gonna do what Papa said, wasn’t he? Wasn’t he, Nully?”

“Gabby! I need your daddy game face . Now!”

“’Kay, Nully.” Gabby transformed into a small girl composed well beyond her years. She slipped into better position on the seat, keeping below the window. Much calmer now, she lowered the window, the gun was held loosely in her lap. She was ready to raise and fire out the window, if instructed.

Phoenix tried to regain control. “You know, Nully. You’re gonna die today despite what you think.” The cold demeanor spoke volumes. Phoenix began calculating odds and action vectors. Regaining confidence that this little event might be controlled and managed like any other predicament, he continued. “What you need to—”

“One more word. I kill you, you puta,” said Renaldo. In anger, he spit toward the steering wheel.

“I don’t think so, Sport. You need me right now to get your little precious to safety.”

“Don’t make me say it again.”

“Fuck you, Nully!” Phoenix smacked the steering wheel to emphasize his point. “I got 3000 men that’ll be tracking your ass after this.”

The Berretta jammed into his side shifted and now rested atop his kneecap. The Taurus remained firm and pressed hard against the side of his head. Phoenix found the confidence of the boy’s movements disconcerting. The young boy spoke with confidence.

“One. More. Word.”

Phoenix glanced at the Berretta, realizing that he’d like to keep his knee in one piece. Sensibly, he kept quiet. For now. Phoenix began driving in the designated direction.

“Drive right up that road there. And trust me, lead man puta, my daddy trained me for this kinda crap my entire life.”

They drove up Arlington Road, passing several rusted wrecks, emerging onto Brownsville Road. They made a right, heading south.

“Gabby, you okay?”

“Yeah.”

“Good.”

“Can I kill ’im, Nully? Can it be me?”

“Shh! Keep sharp. You know better than to talk like that now.”

“Sorry, Nully.”

“We could leave at first light, ma’am. Good to go.”

“You make it seem so easy to switch out that tailshaft bearing, Scott.”

Colonel Starkes stood in the fast fading glow of the chem-pak lighting positioned around the Superhawk. With the late evening repairs complete, there was no need to break open any more, as the supply was rather limited. Standing near the back rotor, she noticed the tired smiles on the faces of GT, Scott and Shamus. Though each had a mechanics rag and wiped faces and hands, it was clear that they’d require more than just a few swipes to get clean.

“I don’t know about easy, ma’am. But, probably easier for us three, I might say. You asked. We delivered. Simple as that.”

“So, the legend lives, huh Scott? GT? Shamus?” She watched their faces and caught the level of pride and satisfaction.

“I don’t know about any legend, ma’am,” answered Scott for all three of them.

“Well, I thank you for your efforts.”

Scott, Shamus and GT were fully spent from their all night overhaul. Grease and gear oil was spattered over large sections of their clothes. They were sorely in need of a bath. And some sleep.

“We don’t need to be there in Pittsburgh until the rendezvous at 18:00. Is that understood?”

“Yes, ma’am,” said Scott, speaking for the group.

The colonel focused on Shamus. “Correct, Shamus?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Okay. I want you to calculate our return time. I want to build in an extra sixty minutes for recon over Pittsburgh on our way in.”

“Yes, ma’am. The major has already defined that.”

“Good. In the meantime, each of you has orders to eat and sleep as much as you can before we depart.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“But not before you make good use of that water we found. I want you cleaned up spic and span. Use ten gallons each, if necessary”

“Okay,” said Scott, nearly out on his feet.

“Thanks, ma’am,” said GT.

“We’re on it,” said Shamus.

“Feel free to grab a fresh set of fatigues, if you want,” suggested the colonel.

Shamus laughed. Once formally retired from the military years back, all three men agreed never to wear such clothing ever again. There were way too many memories between them of the stench such clothing gave off in terms of sweat, blood, and a host of nauseous smells associated with past missions. “We’re okay with what we brought, ma’am.”

They left as a team, like always, this time heading toward the fresh water reserve.

“If you’re not driving your best, you die. Got it?” The pick-up truck that Renaldo, Gabriella and Phoenix were driving had hit a huge pothole that jarred them all, making them bounce. But, both guns in Renaldo’s hands stayed jammed into Phoenix temple and side, no matter what movement the truck experienced.

“Screw yourself, Renaldo.”

Calmly, Renaldo shifted the Beretta in his right hand from Phoenix’s side and fired the gun into Phoenix’s left foot. The bullet nipped above the boot heel, slicing a half-inch in at a sharp downward angle. Just below the Achilles tendon, the bullet scraped bone, exiting the sole of the boot.

“Owwwwhh!” The pain was incredible and Phoenix turned toward Renaldo in fury, only to have the Taurus placed between his eyes.

“Eyes on the road puta or I’ll kill you now .” The threat in his sweet, young face was unmistakable.

Phoenix returned watering eyes to the road, trying his best to ignore the pulsing influx of pain. His grimace confirmed he was having a difficult time of it.

“I. Will… kill…”

The second bullet entered the top of his boot near his left toes. Probably, the small toe or the one next to it was gone.

“Ah, oh…” Phoenix’s eyes glazed with a new invasion of pain pounding into his brain.

“Shut. Up. And drive !”

“No, fair!… my turn next, Nully…”

Renaldo ignored his sister’s outburst. “Focus, puta or die now.”

Phoenix concentrated on the road before him, driving as if his life depended on it. Trying his best to ignore the pain, he kept his eyes on the road, careening passed bunched up cars and debris at a reckless pace. Far behind them, there was some action. He caught a glimpse in the rear view mirror of vehicles bouncing onto Brownsville Road and coming up the small grade from Arlington, but the sounds were distant. As it stood, Phoenix’s army had not yet fully recovered from the surprise kidnapping.

“Where we… going,” Phoenix managed to ask from gritted teeth.