Nathan Jones - Determination

Still, he’d want to have the medics look her over as well once Rick and Mason were stable. He just hoped his friends’ injuries weren’t as bad as they seemed.

The ride felt like it took no time at all, and before Trev knew it they were pulling off Highway 31 near where the new, smaller main camp had been set up under cover along the canyon’s south slope. The medics helped them all out, then while two continued working on Rick and Mason one gathered the rest of the squad up and insisted on checking each one of them, even those who protested they were fine.

“If you’re in shock it’s possible you might not have even felt something serious,” one said as he motioned for Rob Jonas to take off his body armor. The older man reluctantly complied.

Trev saw Matt and his squad, minus a couple people he assumed were back on the southern slope keeping lookout, heading their way down the hillside. The group was lighting their way with a single flashlight, and Trev squinted into it as he started over to meet them.

The medic immediately pulled him back, probably noticing the stiff way he moved, and made checking him a first priority. Trev reluctantly removed his body armor, surprised to find the motions difficult, and endured a quick checkup as the other Aspen Hill squad reached him.

“I heard what happened,” Matt said in a low voice. “It’s… I don’t know what to say. I’m sorry.”

Trev couldn’t meet his friend’s eye, but thankfully he could focus on cooperating with the medic as he replied. “We lost five people, Matt: Fred, Miles, Ray, Nick, and—” he cut off to take a sharp breath, telling himself it was because of the fingers prodding at his bruised back. “And Tom.”

Matt’s eyes tightened, but instead of responding he just bowed his head in grief. Trev dully continued. “I thought we’d set up the perfect ambush, but they had people we didn’t even see. People behind us.”

His friend reached out and caught his shoulder. “You got everyone out, though. That’s a miracle in and of itself.”

“Right.” Trev looked away, and after a few awkward moments Matt went over to see how Rick and Mason were doing. The rest of the squad hung back, aside from a few who moved over to give close friends some company. Scott Tillman and Ben Thompson came over and patted Trev on the shoulder, although thankfully neither said anything before going over to comfort Susan, who was sitting on the back fender still crying.

Not too long after that the medic straightened, flashlight clenched between his teeth which he took out to talk. “Just bruising,” he said. “Lucky for you, since rifle rounds can sometimes penetrate body armor. You’re going to look like you got walloped with a baseball bat, and you’ll probably have trouble bending or twisting once the adrenaline wears off and you really start feeling it. But it shouldn’t bench you.”

“Thanks.” The man nodded and moved over to check on Alice, who was hovering near Rick watching anxiously.

Trev wanted to go off on his own, somewhere he could escape the reality of the situation and the suffering of his friends and just wallow in guilt. Instead he went around to each squad mate and spoke to them quietly for a moment, making sure they were as good as they could be mentally as well as physically.

The medics had given everyone but Rick and Mason a clean bill of health, and were getting those two ready to move by the time Davis showed up. The sergeant offered his condolences, but also congratulated them on their bravery and what they’d accomplished with the ambush, despite how it had turned out. He also assured them that another squad of volunteers had been sent out to watch the area they’d been assigned to guard, to give them the time they needed to regroup.

Then he pulled Trev and Matt aside. “I’ve decided what to do,” he said without preamble.

Trev stared at him blankly. “What to do?”

“About the blockheads encroaching on our territory,” Davis said patiently. “What we talked about a few days ago. I’ve decided what we’re going to do about it.”

“What about tonight?” Matt asked.

“Tonight’s part of it.” Davis clapped them both on the shoulder, starting to turn them around. “Go see to your wounded and get your people settled in for the night. In the morning I’m going to meet with all the leaders, military as well as irregulars. Trev, I’d like to talk to you before then.”

And just like that the sergeant walked off.

Matt turned from watching Davis leave to look at Trev. “Listen, I figure you guys left your stuff back at your camp. I don’t think you want to be hiking there in the dark. Stay with us, we’ll scrounge up some sleeping arrangements for you.” He hesitated, then lowered his voice. “And I’ll take care of radioing the town about the people we lost tonight.”

Trev balked. “It’s my duty to inform their loved ones. I owe them that.”

His friend gripped his arm. “Are you sure?” Trev nodded firmly, and he sighed. “All right then. But first get your squad together. We’ll worry about the rest once we’ve got you all settled in and done what we can for Rick and Mason.”

He couldn’t argue that. With a weary nod he followed Matt back to the truck.

Lewis knew from the moment a grim Chauncey called in to tell him Trev was on the radio that the news wasn’t good.

He knew he had no chance of getting back to the town’s refuge in time to talk to his cousin himself, but he still told the retired teacher he was on his way to hear the news personally. Chauncey acknowledged that, then signed off with uncharacteristic abruptness. Was the news really that bad?

Leaving Jane in charge of the defenders guarding the canyon and surrounding area, Lewis broke into a run back for camp. He wanted to cover the hour’s walk in a more reasonable time, and for more reason than so he could get back to his duties faster.

The refuge was quiet this time of night, almost everyone already asleep. Candles and other forms of light were in short supply, and while some people huddled around campfires talking quietly, most preferred to get up at the first sign of light in the morning instead. Firewood needed to be gathered, and if they were going to sit around a fire they might as well be cooking breakfast at the same time.

It was hard to see just how large the camp was, sprawling up the tree-lined slope. The townspeople had cleared away the deadfall and undergrowth for room, but hadn’t chopped down a single one of the trees that sheltered them from view. Lewis wove through the tents and trees to one of the few clearings, where the town’s meager supply of solar panels had been arrayed to catch as much sunlight as possible. The radio and a few other useful electronics were set up in a small pavilion, under one of the trees at the clearing’s edge.

He found Chauncey there, along with Mayor Tillman and a few others. To his surprise Edna was with her husband, and their son Wes. The former teacher’s face was gray in the light of a few strings of LED Christmas lights, and Edna looked as if she’d been crying.

“What happened?” Lewis asked as he joined the somber group.

Catherine stepped over to him. “Trev’s squad got hit hard. Some sort of failed ambush. Five people died, and Rick and Mason were hurt.”

Lewis glanced over at the Watsons. “I’m sorry. Is Rick hurt bad?”

“He could be worse,” Chauncey said heavily. He met Lewis’s eyes. “Tom was one of the people we lost.”

That hit him hard. Tom Harding had come to be a good friend, as well as someone the shelter group could rely on. Lewis sank onto one of the camp chairs set up around the radio, listening mutely as Chauncey relayed Trev’s grim message as close to word for word as he could.