Free The Forgiven The Fallen The Forsaken by S.M. Armstrong Page A

heavy so Jim called for one of the
trucks to be brought around so that the crates could be loaded into the bed of
the truck.  Jim opened one of the cases to see a thirty caliber machine gun.  
    By the time
they all got into the cabin, Jim was ready to explode.  “ Who the hell are
you, showing up in a military chopper?  How do you even know how to fly that? 
And machine guns ?!  We could be locked up forever for that!” 
    Robert
answered, “They were getting ready to round up everyone who knew and their
immediate families, too, Jim.  It was time to go.  The rest of the crew and
their families are on the road right now, headed here.   Look, it’s started,
Jim.  We have about a week to go before all hell breaks loose.  A terrorist
cell in Amsterdam slipped up and released the virus early so we have a little
warning; thank God for that.  We have, maybe, about a week to finish preparations. 
After that we lock down for the next six months to a year, at least. 
    “And since you
asked, the chopper was officially scrapped a few years back along with the
machine guns.  The box of cash officially doesn’t exist.”
    “More cash?”
    “Relax Jim; it
won’t be good for anything but starting fires next month.  Give me some time
and I’ll tell you everything I can.  Right now there are just too many moving
parts that need my focus.  Did you get the chopper fuel I asked you to?” 
    “Julie and
Helen came up with 2,800 gallons of Jet A and the same amount in aviation fuel,”
Jim answered.
    “Good!  It’s a
start.  We’re going to need all we can get before all is said and done.”

 
    DECEMBER 13 th ,
     
    Jim woke to a
Robert knocking on the door of his fifth wheel at just after four in the
morning.  Jim dressed quickly and staggered out to a cup of coffee that Denise
handed to him. 
    Rob slapped him
on the shoulder.  “The guys are coming up on Seligman.  We need to go meet them
in Williams.  We’ll take your truck and we need to go now.  Denise will have
everyone up by the time we get back.”
    A half hour
later they were sitting in the parking lot of a big truck stop waiting for
Rob’s crew to arrive.  Rob's second in command, Will Brown, called a few
minutes later. “Where are you?”
    Rob answered, “Tan
Ford truck in the semi parking lot.  Lights on now.”
    “Okay.  Got
it.”
    Will pulled up
in a large coach motor home with a trailer behind.  Two more motor homes, a Hummer
pulling a toy hauler, and two big rigs pulled in next to him.  Will jumped out
of the cab and rushed over to Robert, hugged him and lifted him off the ground
before setting him back down.   
    Will laughed. 
“It sure is good to see you, man!”
    The rest of the
drivers walked over.  Robert had told Jim that he knew all of them from various
work assignments.  Will from Afghanistan, Ann from the Iraq jobs, Julio and
Stew from the Iran trip, and Frank and Dave from his last assignment in San
Diego.  All of them had families with them except for Ann and Dave.  It would
be a lot of mouths to feed, but they had a full team here. 
    Rob looked the
group over after the hugs and introductions were done.  “We’re about a half
hour from the ranch.  As you know, the shit is about to hit the fan, and we
have no more than the next few days to wrap up any unfulfilled needs.  Everyone
needs full tanks. You’ll follow me to the ranch and we’ll take it from there.”
    Rob looked
around again. “Where’s Manny and Justin?”
    Will hesitated
and then answered, “Justin didn’t make it, Rob. Someone hit him.”
    "That's
going to require a response," growled Rob. 
    “From your
mouth to God's ears," said Ann, with steel in her voice.
    Will continued,
"Manny was having some engine problems around 29 Palms.  He said he’d
catch up, but we haven’t heard from him in the last few hours.” 
    “Well, fuel up
and let’s get a move on.  I’ll call him.” 
    By the time
everyone had fueled, Rob had talked