Free Rise Once More by D. Henbane Page B

suggest that after 10 minutes you destroy that laptop. You wouldn't want some guests paying you an unexpected visit.” I say.
    “ You are a true friend my brother. Too bad your skin just ain’t right for these parts.” Tatanka presses his fingers to his mouth forming a whistle. He exhales releasing a call into the open air, it sounds like an Eagle to me, but then again what do I know?
    Soon a young boy rushes into the room, clearly winded from a long distance sprint. “Litonya, you go with this white devil, and show him off our land. Then you run back here as fast as you can.”The small boy nods, and we leave Tatanka to his business.

CHAPTER EIGHT
    To Lovell In A Handbasket
    The hum of the helicopter's blades buzz above Alex and Eve's heads, below them is the majestic Bighorn Mountains, evergreen trees congregating in dense uneven clusters. Thick, green grass covers the earth, speckled with purple wildflowers, an errant bolder every few hundred yards. Small creeks snake back and forth flowing towards the valley. “I see a bear! Oh wait there's another one. Look Alex!”
    Alex leans over, peering out at the black animal resting below, and begins chuckling. “Eve, I think around here they call those cows.”
    “Ok, so maybe you're right, but it's still very pretty here.” Eve says.
    “ It is. Makes me wanna grab a banjo, and skin me a deer!”
    “ You're really one to talk... You were born in Missouri.” Eve says.
    “ You had to go there woman?”
    “ Are we almost there? My ears feel like they are full of water.” Eve says.
    “ That’s the altitude change getting to ya. Don’t worry once we touch down, the feeling will go away. Try yawning, it tends to help.”
    The mountains slip away into the horizon, the terrain of the Bighorn basin is very different from the lush green mountain pastures. The soil is barren in most spots, with the exception of irrigated fields of crops, and the landscape is coated with Sage brush. They fly quickly over multicolored bands of dirt, long eroded by the hands of time, leaving behind jagged terraces of sandstone deposits.
    The road leading to the airstrip is chained off, with a large sign informing any visitors that this land belongs to the United States Air Force, and access is denied to unauthorized personnel. A portly man steps out from a drab-colored building, partially shielding himself from the blowing sand, and waves up at them. “They all wear those sunglasses; they all wanna be top gun.” Alex says.
    “ Welcome to Wyoming Alex, and looks like you brought a visitor. Follow me inside, and we can talk.” Erik says.
     
     
    “ Been a long time Alex. Good to see your staying in shape, wish I could say the same.”
    “ It's the branch you chose that did it to you. You should have come to Africa with me, but I suppose Susan would have had a fit.” Alex says.
    “ Do you really blame her man? Things changed fast after Katie was born. Susan was okay with me being a military man, but she wanted me at a desk job.”
    “ I would love to catch up man, but we are pressed for time. Do you know where I can find her?” Alex says.
    Erik rubs his forehead nervously, looks at the floor, and lets out a deep breathe. “You took an oath Erik, all of us did, and sometimes you have to hold the line even if you disagree about where it is drawn.”
    “I can't do it Alex... That's my wife's family, and if anything goes wrong. I won't be able to look my wife in the eyes for the rest of my life.” Erik says.
    “ Tell me Erik, they aren't sending in a force, just little ol' me, and I am not going to let anything happen. I swear to you, I will take a bullet before I let anyone else get hurt. I will give you 24 hours. Create an excuse, and get your wife's family out of there. Take them fishing, or an unexpected shopping trip, whatever you need to do. I will head out there, scout the area, confirm she is there, and then bring her in once everyone is gone.”
    “ Please Erik, that's my