Paul Kirk - Devastation Point

“Oh, I know, major,” interrupted the colonel, “but I’d like to play along on this one. I need the excitement for a change.”

“Umm, okay, ma’am.”

“Let’s see what they got.”

“You sure, ma’am?”

“Yeah, major,” the colonel turned to Nicole and Amanda. “You two, back into the ’copter.”

“I’d like to be part of the team that meets them.”

“No, Amanda. You won’t. Not now.”

“Dammit.”

“Sorry. I can’t risk it.”

“I don’t like this shit, Hannah!” Amanda held up her hands in front of her, acquiescing. “Okay, okay. I understand. Damn, I miss getting into the thick of things.”

“Don’t worry you’ll have your chance, but not yet.”

“I’m a dead-on shot, ma’am. Long range. I’ve had to do a fair share of killin’ since the Sickness.”

“I understand that may be true, but right now you’re not going anywhere. Get into the bird.”

“Your loss, ma’am.”

“Please humor me for awhile longer, Amanda.”

Amanda shifted the strap of her Remington, easing it onto her shoulder. She turned toward Nicole. “C’mon, Nicole. Let’s get CJ settled in.”

Walking toward the helicopter, Nicole touched Amanda’s shoulder to catch her full attention. “Are you that good a shot?”

“Put me up against Timmy McDonald, and I’ll show you sometime.” Amanda glanced behind her to make sure the major and colonel heard.

Nicole explored her last comment. “Huh. No kidding, Mike tells me Tim’s the best.”

“Hah! No offense, but Marty’ll show him and probably Scott and GT a few things, for sure. As for me, I’d hold my own with those guys. Well, at least up to 300 yards.”

Nicole stopped walking. With obvious fascination, she gave Amanda a full once over. “Wow. I didn’t know that about you. Are you for real?”

“Um, yeah. For real. I shot live ammo since I was four. Trained by my granddaddy.”

“I see.”

“He was a military sniper, back when iron sights were more the norm.”

“Iron sights? Oh. Right. No scopes.”

“And, you know what?”

“What?”

“I’ve come to realize what Mac means about ‘boredom killing him by inches’.”

“Hey! He said that to me once! No kidding, he—”

“And I’ll bet some serious shit went down right after that.”

“Oh,” said Nicole. Lost in thought, she became silent.

Amanda smiled and started walking.

“That town’s a ghost town, sir,” said Kaiden.

Larry approached and stood by his side studying Perryopolis. “You see any guards behind the walls? Any people moving around?”

“No. Not a one. Nothing the past hour.”

“Okay, I’m gonna let Phoenix know.”

“Yes, sir.” Larry left, rushing back to Phoenix who was resting fully in the back of the pickup. A cigar hung lazy in his hand and he was deep in thought. Stepping past Tippy Cup lounging on the hood of the truck, Larry stood at the tailgate and tapped it a few times to garner attention.

“Hey, Larry. What’s up?”

“No signs of life in that town. But, the town looks fresh and well maintained. But again, like I said, no activity. No guards.”

“Nothing at all?”

“Nope.”

“A trap?” asked Phoenix, clamping down hard on his cigar.

“I say we send a team in to see what’s going on. Maybe ten men,” suggested Larry.

“Go ahead, send in Commander Kaiden. Tell him to take the gates and give us the all clear.”

“Yes, sir.” Larry held the radio to his lips and issued the orders.

Phoenix smiled in anticipation. “We’ll blow in like fog on little cat’s feet.”

Ill at ease, Larry Reed shook his head. Tippy Cup hopped off the hood, concerned. He walked to the truck bed and looked in at Phoenix.

“Phoenix, I dunno—there something’s strange about this—I think…”

“What, Tippy? You think they have someone hidden out here keeping an eye on things?”

“Uh—that town should have people. Lots of people. Sir, this town’s growing some fresh shit. It’s a live town. There should be people there…”

“You think they saw us and just decided to run the fuck outta the way?”

“I dunno. Maybe.”

“I agree,” said Larry Reed.

“Uncle, c’mon! We have an overwhelming force coming up on an unguarded gate of a little piss-ass town. Tell me, either of you, what’s not to like ’bout this?”

“Well, for one thing, no one’s there to put up a fight? Why’s that, huh? Those are some solid gates that have seen some heavy assault. Why would they give this juicy little town up to any unknown Tom, Dick and Harry?” asked Larry.

Phoenix bristled, stood, and hopped down from the truck. He moved to within inches of Larry’s face. “ We , as you may have noticed, are no Tom, Dick and Harry!”

“No, sir!”

Phoenix turned to Tippy Cup who straightened and took on a distant gaze not daring to meet the fury in his eyes.

“Them clearing out, Tippy, is probably the best option for them to stay alive today. They’re only being smart about it.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Talk to me, uncle,” grumbled Phoenix without turning.

“No, sure, makes some sense, Phoenix. But no one? Not even a token effort? Too strange.”

Phoenix calmed. His voice took on a softer tone. “Relax, Tippy. Speak your mind. That’s what you’re fuckin’ here for.”

“Yes, sir. Maybe they’re in hiding, sir,” suggested Tippy Cup, “ready to launch a counter. Maybe they set explosives.”

“Could be…” said Larry.

With Larry and Tippy Cup following, Phoenix moved toward the foremost truck and studied the town with binoculars. He scanned the fields around it. The town was well established and several fields were recently harvested, suggesting many people tended to the crops. In fact, a shiny blue combine rested in the closest field nearest the town. It looked quite operable.

“There’s gas here somewhere. We need to find it, uncle.”

“Yes, sir.”

“There’s people around, Tippy, that’s for sure,” said Phoenix, “Where they went is anybody’s guess. But, lucky for them, we’re not out to grab townies right now. And, if they left us free access to any supplies on our mission to hunt down the Rat Pack, so much the better.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Secure the gates, uncle. Make sure Kaiden and his men finish the task quickly. Make sure that gate’s not rigged to blow. Once we’re in control of the gate, we’ll bring this army down, joining the party. Let’s move on it! Daylight’s wasting.”

“Yes, sir.” Larry left as he radioed further instructions. Five minutes later, Kaiden and his ten handpicked men had taken the gates.

Phoenix smiled at the ease by which Kaiden took the gates.

“It’s a trap, sir. I feel it,” said Tippy Cup. “I needed to stress that fact, sir.”

“Don’t worry, Tippy Cup. I know. I learned long ago, that if things look too good to be true, they usually are.”

“So you agree, sir?”

“Sure. But we’re gonna try to waltz through town, touching nothing . We’ll slip through to the southern gates like we can care less. Tell Larry to instruct all men to stay sharp for counterattacks.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I do think everybody skipped town, hidin’ out somewhere, but, if we meet any resistance, tell ’em to blow them bastards to kingdom come.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Oh, and Tippy, this is important.”

“What’s that, sir?”

“Make sure he tells ’em they are to touch nothing enroute, understood? No entry into any building or even a stray foot on the sidewalks. Got it?”