Free Gray Panthers: Battle for Earth by David Guenther Page B

him.  "Call Abdul" Dan said in the quiet dark room feeling foolish.
    "What's' up boss?" was the instant reply from Abby.
    "What's your status there?  Need anything?"
    "We are getting things done boss.  Grub sort of grows on you.  We're going to call this place Fort Knox.  I'm getting a little nervous with all the heavy metal here.  Grub setup some good security, so be sure to announce yourself when you come back," Abby rattled off.
    "I'm going to do a little shopping and be out by nightfall.  Going to try and bring Brent. He doesn't have a need to know yet though so he only see's the upstairs, got it?" 
    "Sure thing, especially if he brings some liquid refreshment with him. Abdul out.  Break"
    Heading into the bedroom, Danny could still smell a trace of Maria as he reached under the bed for the chest of coins.  Figuring a dozen would be more than enough. He headed to a used car lot. 
    He had no trouble buying a used truck from Honest Sauls Used Automotive Emporium; the shiny black truck was configured for off road use.  Dan had Saul include a couple extra jerry cans of gasoline, along with a dozen black market books of fuel coupons for two silver coins.  The heavy truck would be a nicer ride across the desert and be able to haul more.  Looking at the truck, he realized it shouted "Rob Me" if he saw the outsiders or any other outlaw groups in the desert again.  "Saul do you have a hammer? I need to borrow it for a minute?"  Taking the hammer from Saul, he proceeded to hammer the body everywhere so that it looked like a driving wreck.  "I really hate waiting for that first scratch on a new truck, ya know what I mean?  I think I covered it," Dan said returning the hammer to the speechless salesman. He just looked at Dan and the damage, with his jaw hanging open.  "Let me know if you have any luck catching flies partner.  I'll be back for my cart a little later today." Dan laughed as he got in and drove away.
    Brent was plenty happy when Dan asked if he wanted to head out and go for a ride.  Noting the truck was almost brand new and still looked like crap, he knew better than to ask.  They continued to the dealer where Dan picked up the cart and let Brent have the truck to follow him in as he got in the old solar cart.  As he neared Fort Knox, Abdul called him asking if he knew he was not alone.  He was relieved when he realized it was Brent, and finished sanitizing the area.
    Three camp chairs were at the entrance of the mine when they pulled up.  Camouflage netting covered the chairs providing shade for them yet letting a breeze come through.  Brent was the first to speak as Dan pulled out an ice-filled chest of beer from the cart.  "I never will understand you guys coming out here busting your asses for what you get out of it."  At that moment, he shifted his chair away from the mine entrance as he caught a whiff of the porta-potty just inside the mines entrance.  "I'll stick with the tavern, myself, even though selling it and retiring sounds even better."  They just let Brent ramble on realizing the old man in front of them was pushing eighty. Yet he never complained about the drive out to the mine or how much it must have taken out of him. It started to get cooler as the sun started to set over the mountain behind them.  Brent nodded off, still holding a half-full beer on his knee. 
    Danny and Abdul softly argued about whether to bring in their old friend when they heard Grub in their ears.
    "I apologize for the interruption gentlemen, but I thought you would like to know that your friend is not who he says he is.  He has been on the run from your government for over thirty years.  He is still on their wanted list.  When the government suspended the Constitution in 2096 as part of the Enhanced Homeland Security Act, he killed two police officers and four Department of Homeland Security Contractors when they served a no-notice warrant on his home at three in the morning.  His wife and two