Free A New World: Conspiracy by John O'Brien Page B

not
sure I could even if I wanted.
    Before long, the Stryker and Humvees of the
other teams crest the hill. Heads turn toward the arriving teams
and slump in sadness. Yes, Lynn’s arrival is bittersweet. The
vehicles arrive and park. I climb wearily from the cockpit and
stand with the door open. Lynn shakes a few more hands, then
gathers the remaining teams and arranges them in two rows leading
away from Drescoll’s Humvee. Drescoll himself exits and walks
slowly around the vehicle.
    “Atten-hut!” Lynn calls. The team members in
the lines snap to attention.
    Drescoll doesn’t appear to notice his
surroundings as he picks up Allie’s body and walks with her between
the two lines of teams toward the building.
    “Present…arms!” Lynn calls out.
    The soldiers present in the lines snap sharp
salutes as Drescoll carries the limp body of McCafferty in his
arms. I join the salutes as does Bannerman and Frank. There are
many salutes in the crowd that have gathered to welcome Lynn back –
these from the soldiers we picked up during our sorties to other
bases. There are very few dry eyes within the entire group as
Drescoll carries one of our own into Cabela’s.
    Looking to the side, I see our prisoner
kneeling on the warm pavement with a contingent of armed guards
surrounding him. With a heavy sigh and even heavier heart, I nod
toward Frank. He gathers Bannerman and they make their way to me.
Catching Robert’s and Bri’s eyes, I motion them to me as well. Lynn
dismisses the teams and joins us. A shadow falls over us, mirroring
our mood, as the high clouds that had been pushing inland finally
cover the sun.
    “We’ve been clearing a small shipping
container as you requested. There’s enough space just inside the
loading area for it and we should have it placed within the hour,”
Bannerman says.
    “Good. Have the doors face inward. I want it
rigged with sturdy overhead rings with some bolted to the floor
under them. Place hooks in the rear to secure chains and arrange
the chains so we can attach manacles. I want our prisoner secured
with short leg chains to the floor and wrists to chains leading
through the upper rings. Lengthen them so he can kneel, but no
farther. Place guards outside the container day and night. He is to
have no sleep and be woken every hour with a bucket of cold water.
If we can have recordings of loud, obnoxious sounds played
constantly within the container, that would be nice. Crying babies
work best,” I state.
    “What about sanitation?” Bannerman asks.
    “None needed. He can go where he stands,” I
say, noticing Frank nod his approval. “Leave instructions for the
guards not to talk with him or answer anything. We’re going to
leave him in isolation for a while before we even begin.”
    “I probably know the answer to this, but
what about food and water,” Bannerman asks.
    “None,” I answer. “Robert, Bri, go find
Craig and the Spooky crew. Gather your gear and meet me back here.
As much as I hate to leave at a time like this, we need to destroy
that hospital while we know the night runners are there, and to
search the area for the shooter’s team. I’m sure he has others out
there. We need to find them.”
    Robert lowers his head, “Um….Dad…” he says,
hesitating.
    I feel the sorrow in my heart increase.
“Yeah, that’s right…McCafferty,” I say with a sigh. “Is there
anyone else that can monitor her position?”
    “I’ll do it,” Lynn says almost before I can
finish. “I’m tired of staying around here while you go gallivanting
off, and I want to take an active role for a change.”
    “But you’re a huge part here. I mean,
without you, we wouldn’t—” I start to say.
    “You know what I mean,” she interrupts.
    I see the exhaustion in her eyes and the
loss of weight she sustained during her ordeal.
    “Hon, you need to rest,” I say.
    “Don’t even! Yes I’m tired, but I want to be
a part of taking that place down,” she says, fiercely. Her lips