Kyle Pratt: Through Many Fires

“Maria?”

She carried a box of MREs and at the sound of her name their eyes met. She smiled, put down the box and raced into his arms.

He didn’t know what to say so he just held her for a moment. “I’m glad to see you, but you need to go somewhere safe.”

“Where would that be?”

He had no answer.

“When you leave with the soldiers, Lisa and I will go back to the farm.”

He nodded and then as if by mutual agreement, they kissed. The warmth of her lips enveloped him and he knew as long as she was with him, he would be happy. Stepping back, his eyes lingered on her. “I’ve got to go.”

“I know.”

Caden hurried into the armory and found the XO, First Sergeant Fletcher and the squad leaders in the small office area. “What’s our status?”

“Three of our soldiers are in position at the pass east of town,” Brooks said. “However, fog is limiting visibility. Hopefully it will lift in time. We’re in radio contact and….”

Caden shook his head. “When we’re done here, send one man down the far side of the pass. They can relay any contacts to the scouts at the summit.”

“Yes sir. The squad leaders have done the pre-combat inspection. Will the MOPP level be zero?”

Chemical, biological warfare? I sure hope there’s none. “Yes, zero.”

“Then the men will be ready to go in thirty minutes.”

“Good.” Caden glanced at his watch, it was just after midnight. “If they’re coming this way we should know before dawn.” He left to pack his combat gear. When he returned Brooks, a sergeant and a corporal were in the office.

“We’re ready to move out.” Brooks said, “These two will be staying here to relay situation reports to….”

The radio crackled. “Base this is Recon 1. Forward position reports 18 vehicles, jeeps, Humvees and deuce and a half trucks moving west toward the pass.” The transmission paused. “Forward position reports they are under fire.”

Caden took the mic and said, “Recon 1, the convoy may be listening in on your transmissions. Proceed to position 2 immediately. Over.”

“Roger Base. Out.”

We’ve lost the pass without a shot. That was our best chance to stop them. He relayed the report to the operations center and advised JBLM would need to secure the North Road. Then he turned to Brooks. “Deploy the troops to the fallback position.”

“The causeway? But….”

“We’ve discussed this. Do you have a better plan?”

Brooks shook his head.

“Then deploy the men along the west bank of the causeway. If Durant’s forces push it they could be here in a little over an hour.” He picked up the phone and dialed 911. “This is Major Westmore, inform Sheriff Hoover that in just over an hour a large military convoy will move through town. I recommend everyone stay inside and allow them to pass through.” Moments later Caden’s phone rang.

“Well, Mr. Military.”

“Hello Sheriff.”

“I thought you were going to head them off at the pass. What happened?”

“It doesn’t matter. We won’t fight them in the town. Just let them pass through. That’s all I can say. I’ve got to go.” He turned to Brooks. “Everyone leaves the armory. Move out.”

It took well over an hour for the convoy to reach recon position 2 at the east edge of town. The two remaining scouts fell back to position 3, a jumble of blackberry bushes along a stream near the turn off to the Westmore farm. Hours later the scouts still reported no contact.

In the pre-dawn darkness Caden looked through his binoculars from position 3. He could barely see a group of Humvees on the west edge of Hansen. The damp and cold made him shiver. “They’ve been there for hours. Why haven’t they made a move?”

The question had been rhetorical, but one of the privates beside him shrugged.

As they continued to watch the convoy the red-haired boy and girl Caden had seen so often in the area strolled across the field to the stream carrying fish traps.

Caden froze.

The teens moved along the bank for a while, and then put their traps in the water just twenty yards from recon position. The two sat idly nearby looking in the direction of the trucks. Go home kids. But there was no way to communicate the message without exposing his position.

Caden pulled out his radio. “CW returning to unit.” Looking at the scouts he whispered, “Keep watch on the convoy. When they move out, alert us.” Crouching, he headed back around the corner and then on to his jeep. As he climbed in the vehicle he felt the vibration of his phone. “Hello?”

“Hey, you know who this is.”

“Yes.” He recognized Hoover’s voice.

“I’m guessing things aren’t going according to your plan. Most of the convoy is parked at the city limit.”

Thank you for calling and telling me what I already know. “I thought they would just drive straight through town. I’m not sure why they stopped.”

“The commander asked me if there was another way around the lake. He even looked at my maps. I think they know you’re waiting for them and they’re looking for another route.”

“There isn’t another way,” Caden said flatly. “Is there?”

“Nope. Not unless these guys are amphibious or they want to build a bridge.”

“Good, but we shouldn’t talk. They could be monitoring your phone.”

“Actually they’re working to take down the phone system. Good luck, Mr. Military.”

Caden parked his jeep well up the hill from the lake and walked down toward the shore. His unit was dug in along the tree line on both sides of the road. Several yards up the highway two huge Douglas firs had been cut down blocking it and several more trees were notched and primed with C4.

Walking among the sixty soldiers under his command, Caden confirmed that they were well concealed and then climbed into his foxhole and waited. He placed a few more sandbags along the edge and moved the biggest rocks he could find to the front. My orders were to stop Durant’s forces from getting through to Olympia and, at the moment, I’ve done that. He looked up at the still dark sky, anxious for dawn.

With a crackle the radio came to life. “Forces deployed west of Hansen this is the U.S. Army convoy commander. I’m coming forward under a white flag in a single Humvee with a driver. I want to talk. I propose we meet on the causeway. Do you copy?”

The voice sounded oddly familiar.

Brooks raced along the tree line to Caden’s position. “It’s not safe, don’t do it.”

“Being here isn’t safe. Meeting him is no worse and buys us more time. If I have to, I’d rather fight them in daylight.” Into the radio he said, “Copy. I’ll meet you there.” To a nearby private he said, “You’re my driver.”

As Caden and the soldier walked up the slope, Recon 3 reported a single Humvee moving along the highway.

The driver rummaged through the first-aid kit, setting the green bandages aside and retrieved some long white gauze. He then tied it like a streamer to the antenna at the rear of the jeep. Together they headed slowly down to the edge of the lake. The other vehicle was already on the far side. The drivers moved deliberately along the road toward each other.

Roughly in the middle they stopped and the convoy commander walked to the front of the Humvee. Caden stepped around the front of the jeep. As they neared, he recognized the man he had first met at a blockade on the Georgia border, the officer who had helped him from the pit of despair and convinced Maria to get on the plane when they all flew to Washington state. “Hello, Lieutenant Turner. How are you doing?”

“Actually its Captain now.” The man looked at him carefully. “Caden? I thought you were a civilian.”