Paul Kirk - Devastation Point

“Andy, give ’em a break,” said Terry.

She swatted Andy’s arm before he dodged out of the way. Noticing the playful way they moved together, Liam’s mood turned serious. His mother’s affectionate behavior toward Andy was becoming much more commonplace as the summer passed and he did not like the change. Not at all. He stopped short and raised the skinning knife.

“Okay, Uncle Andy! Show me how to gut a bear one more time…”

Terry and Andy both smiled at Liam, until they noticed his angry expression. Intuitively, each took a half step away from the other sensing the change in mood. Andy squatted again near Liam.

“Alright, Liam. Remember that cutting gently simply wastes time at this point. That bearskin’s tough. See? Slice in and cut. No playing around.”

Andy dressed the bear with expert efficiency and they readied it for transport on the thick plastic brought for that purpose. Fully dressed, the bear was still heavy and prepping himself for the haul, Andy stood. He reached to grab the thick rope before Liam snatched it from his hand.

“I’ll do it. It’s gonna be my skin, my coat. For my daddy. I’ll carry it.”

Liam pulled hard, straining with the effort in dragging the carcass through the woods. Determined, he set pace to traverse at least a quarter mile of rocky terrain before they reached the mountain cottage. Doggedly, he dragged the bear atop the plastic sheeting, not slowing down for the first hundred yards. When Terry and Andy offered assistance, they were rejected until Andy intervened by grabbing the rope.

“Liam? You and me, we need to take a piss.”

Surprised, Liam stared, awash in his own anger.

“I don’t have to go!”

“Boy, you’re taking a pee break with me if I have to drag your skinny ass over to that tree and rip your pants off.”

Andy loomed large before him and Liam felt the determined power in his uncle’s voice, before deciding he would go, simply for the rest the opportunity provided. Nearly spent, he was glad for the brief respite. Together, they strolled a small ways from Terry and slid behind a stand of Douglas pines. With little fanfare, Andy unzipped and urinated and Liam did the same, though his need was much less. Done, they zipped and Liam turned back.

“Hold on a sec, Liam. You and me, we need to talk.”

“What?”

“Listen. I’ve not seen my big brother in five years.”

“Yeah? So?”

“It’s been ’bout the same since you seen your daddy.”

“He’ll be back. He said so.”

“That right?”

“Yep.”

“You do know I miss him as much as you do, right?”

“Yeah… sure.”

“But, Liam, listen, five years is a long time, alright? Might be time to start moving on, ’kay? Tough as it might be, in this day and age, it’d be what your daddy would want.”

“My Daddy’s alive.”

“Hmm… well, knowing Mac like I do, you might be right about that. But, like I said, maybe now, we need to be thinking that he might not be making it back from Australia to this here little place in the mountains anytime in the near future, you know?”

Liam stared toward the bear, until his mother’s movement caught his attention. Today, he thought she looked especially pretty. And for the first time, he noticed her straight blonde hair was newly trimmed at the edges and that she seemed somehow younger in the slim green tank top and faded jeans she wore. Impulsively, he put his confused thoughts into words.

“You… you want my Mom?”

“Liam, I never treated you like a child and I’m not gonna start now.”

At that moment, it was Andy’s turn to study Terry MacMillen and his green eyes took on a gentle longing that Liam easily interpreted.

“So, answer my question Uncle Andy.”

Liam studied his favorite uncle. The man was strong, big, and wide. Not tall, but maybe an inch or so taller than he remembered his Daddy. Maybe twenty pounds heavier.

“I asked if you want my Mom?”

Andy sighed, frustrated with how the Sickness had complicated life. He gave his nephew another once-over, proud of the man he was becoming. “Liam… yeah, I guess I want your mom—if she’ll have me.”

Connor slid down next to the boy who had heard his approach since Connor had sacrificed stealth for speed. Amanda and Marty took cover positions on either side of Connor and Cody. The boy stared at each and they smiled and nodded at him in greeting.

“Cody?” asked Connor. “What’s the status, son?”

“My mom just swore. Loud. She said she’d—”

“C’mon, Cody. What’d she say?”

“She said she’d bite it off… if he came any closer.”

“That just happen before we showed up?”

“Please, Mister Connor Mac!”

“Did it just happen, Cody?”

“Yeah. I heard my daddy yelling before, but I haven’t heard him for a while.”

“Cody, these are my friends. This is Amanda. She’s gonna stay out here and provide cover fire for us. She is unquestionably one of the best shots there is—”

“Hi, Cody,” said Amanda.

“And that’s Marty. He’ll be coming in with us. He claims he can shoot pretty well, too.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence, Mac,” said Marty. “Hi, kid. Mac, you plan on bringing this kid in on the assault?”

“I’d say he’s motivated and has a vested interest in the outcome.”

“He’s just a kid, Mac.”

“Well, his father’s trained him to be a soldier. The way I figure it, he’ll act like one. He’ll follow orders.”

“Mac?” asked Amanda, concerned about the welfare of the vulnerable boy.

“We’re done with the question and answer session,” decided Connor.

“His blood’s on your hands, Mac, if he takes one,” said Marty.

The words were a statement, said in a neutral tone but with enough factual weight to give Connor pause. He studied Marty for a few seconds and realized that the newcomer had shifted from the easygoing traveler to a man comfortable with leading and evaluating the strategy of hostage situations.

“Have you done this before, Marty?” asked Connor.

“A dozen times,” he answered.

“Have you taken lead before?”

“Four times. What about you?”

“Much more than that. Enough times that I trained men in this type of tactical situation.”

“It’s your call, Mac.”

“You have any suggestions?”

“You should leave the kid as backup. He can provide cover fire if we need it upon exit.”

“Yeah, Marty, that makes sense. But today’s world adds five, maybe six, years to a boy his age.”

“So?”

“So… that puts him at about seventeen in my book. He’s a raw recruit who’s personally motivated and highly interested in the success of this mission.”

“That’s it?”

“I trust his competency,” said Connor.

“How can you possibly know his level of competency, Mac?”

“Same as I knew that I could trust you, Marty. It’s one of my skills. It’s one that I count on and it hasn’t failed me yet.”

“Okay, I’m with you. Let’s do it,” said Marty, needing no further convincing.

“All right, listen up. Marty, I want you on the right and Amanda, I want you scoping all the windows. Three Tangos are inside according to Cody—all male. His mom and dad are most likely tied up. I figure the father’s beaten pretty and separated from his wife. Amanda you know the drill—cover us the best you can and be ready if we have to make a hot exit. Cody, you will be on my left and five feet behind me. Remember what I told you about yelling out if you see something. You understand?” asked Connor. He waited for Cody’s serious nod of affirmation.