A Shepherd's Calling (What Comes After Book 2) (11 page)

“
The water testing facility. It's a stretch, but those boys might be reconnoitering for supplies and shelter. Even if it's over a decade late, if the rest of the world has finally come to help out, those operating on the ground would need water, just the same as everyone else.” The older man sounded skeptical.

“
You're right: that is a stretch. However an unlikely, it's still a possibility. The marines are the third item, then. You think it's possible they were tracked by satellite or radio?” Tom paused, looked at Chris. “Why? And wouldn't that require a working knowledge of their area of operation, timetable, radio frequencies... All things that should be restricted information?”

The old teacher smiled. “I am absolutely delighted that you remember so much of your Opposing Force and Occupation training.”

“
You didn't exactly give us a choice.”

The Hunter nodded. “We did not. To be fair, we had no idea what to expect when we sent you out. We wanted you ready for anything. Everything we could predict, at any rate. As to the 'why', I'm still working out that part.” He looked to see there was no one else nearby. “The surest way to know if the U.N. team is looking for the water testing site is to check it out ourselves, wouldn't you agree?”

Tom did agree. “We can see if they've been there already. If they haven't, we can watch to see if they come in from a different direction. From the closest road, for example. Otherwise, if they come from the same direction we did, they're most likely following us and after the marines. I'm certain the campsite you have in mind commands a view of the nearby community, as well. So you can see if anyone else has been by.” The Shepherd shook his head. “Genius.”

Chris shrugged, feigning modesty. “I do what I can.”

A few hours passed. They reached the site after noon with the sun high in a brilliant, cloudless sky. There were intermittent breaks in the canopy over the rushing water, so the bright sun blotted color from the foliage and pine, lending everything a small, overshadowed appearance. The direct light that reached the spring and pond clung to the rippling liquid, seeming more like gaudy baubles hovering just over the surface rather than reflections of sunbeams.

They saw the small brick building before they reached the banks of the pond. Too small to be a proper house, it was covered in patches of bright green mold on the side that faced the water. There was an old sign on the door that at one point was probably white, but now was a faded light gray with an even more faded blue oval in the center. Whatever was written inside the oval had long since been wiped away by untold amounts of rain, snow and sun.

About three yards from the door, right around where the ground began to slope down toward the stream, a large ash lay along the bank. The tall tree had fallen directly across the bridge they sought to cross, the trunk pushing the center of the metal construct down into the flowing water. The branches of the ash covered what of the bridge frame was above the surface of the stream. Fortunately, enough of the bridge was still anchored to either side of the banking, which might provide a way to the tree. It appeared that, after a couple steps onto the bent bridge, it would be possible to climb onto the trunk, cross the tree and step off on the far side.

“
That's new,” Chris said, stopping at the near end of the bridge.

Seeing no immediate danger, Tom allowed himself to fall back into an observer role and watched everyone else go about their business. Chris examined the tree, ensuring it would permit the group to cross. Ben was close by, ready to lend the aid only a ten year old boy could. Janessa and Toby moved a bit further away, kneeling at the water's edge to refill their thermoses and bottles. The marines split up, a couple moving downstream past the siblings while most of the rest went left and began circling around the pond.

Preston stopped a yard from Tom's left shoulder. The marine gestured to the partially submerged bridge with his left hand. His right was still on the carbine slung across his chest. “Think that'll actually work?”

“
Hope so. Awkward as it looks, it still beats crossing the old fashioned way. I doubt anyone wants to be wet when the sun goes down. Are you our babysitter, now?”

“
Looks that way.”

“
What are they doing?” Tom pointed to both groups of marines.

Preston shrugged. “Clearing the area? Checking for signs of activity? Hard to say for certain. You could ask the Major when he gets back, though.”

“
What are the odds those U.N. troops were looking for us?”

“
Couldn't say. You'd have to ask the Major when he gets back.”

Tom frowned. He couldn't shake the feeling that he would need to wait for the Major to get back before he got, or likely didn't get, any of the answers he sought. Turning to Preston, he pointed to the opposite bank.

“
I'm going to see if we can cross the stream without soaking ourselves. Provided we can, we'll be waiting for the Major over there.” Tom blinked and made a sweeping motion with his other hand. “You're welcome to join us, if you like.”

The Shepherd left before Preston could object. A few strides brought him to Chris, who sat on his haunches beside the metal posts of the bridge. Ben sat cross-legged beside the older man, pulling grass from wet earth at the water's edge. Dropping to squat between the two of them, Tom turned to his old teacher.

“
Will it work?”

“
It'll hold,” Chris said with a nod. “Definitely awkward, but do-able. The tree fell very recently: the trunk hasn't had time to soak up a lot of water, so it hasn't started to mold or rot. If we cross one at a time and don't rush, it should be just fine.”

“
Let's do it, then. I'll get Janessa and Toby. You want to go first or should I?”

The older man arched an eyebrow. “Did you seriously just ask me that?”

Tom grinned and held up his hands. “No offense intended, teacher-mine.”

He rose and turned to walk downstream, but found the siblings already moving to where he, Chris and Ben were gathered. Toby looked doubtfully at the bridge/tree hybrid. His sister looked at Tom.

“
We going over?” She asked this while wiping excess water from her face.

“
That's the plan.” Noting her action, Tom titled his head. “Feeling alright?”

She nodded and sighed. “Just needed a little refresher, that's all.”

Tom turned back to Chris, saw the other man standing beside what was left of the railing. “Looks like we're good to. Ready when you are.”

The outdoors-man made a last check of his pack and rifle, ensuring the straps were secured tightly to his shoulders. With no other preamble, he then took three steps down the bridge, stopping just shy of the waterline. Leaning forward, he grabbed onto a large limb and used both hands to pull himself atop it. Standing slowly and taking measured, deliberate steps, he made his way across the trunk of the fallen ash. Periodically, he took hold of branches to keep balance and he stopped twice along the way, more to check his progress than out of any real danger of slipping. A grand total of three minutes passed from the time Chris had mounted the tree to when he was able to hop down on the opposite bank.

The older man checked the bridge posts near him, the ones the tree rested against on that side of the stream. After giving them a few moments consideration, he called back to the others, shouting over the rushing water. “It's solid. Go slow and steady and you'll be alright. You could even scoot across, if you wanted to.”

Tom took a step toward the makeshift bridge but found Ben already climbing the tree portion.
That boy is quick and quiet
, he thought. He blinked and saw Toby already at the bridge posts, reaching out toward the boy.
Him, too
. Before another thought crossed his mind, he felt a cool hand on his forearm.

“
Let him have this,” Janessa said. “Please. You don't have to be the only one looking out for Ben. Or any of us.”

Tom considered this as he looked at his two companions on the tree. Toby stood just ahead of the posts, hands up as though ready to catch Ben if he fell. The boy, for his part, was on top of the tree and seemed confidant as could be, though he was barely taller than the branch he stood beside.

“
I
told
you I'd beat you up here!” Ben called down triumphantly.

Toby shook his head. “That you did, little man. That you did. Guess I'm a fool for not believin' you, huh?”

“
No,” the boy said. “Just slower.”

Toby laughed. “You know it. You sure you don't want someone up there? Just in case?”

“
I can do it. You think I can't?”

While there was no defiance in the boys tone, Tom wasn't comfortable with where the conversation could go. He wanted no one to suffer, even if that suffering were limited to a soaking in cold water. There was much more that could happen if he fell, though; a twisted ankle, sprained wrist, broken bone. Concussion. Drowning. With so many possibilities hanging in the balance, Tom had to act.

As he made to move toward Toby and Ben, he felt that cool grip on his forearm tighten. Janessa still had hold of him and he found her looking squarely back at him.

“
He's got this,” she said. She could only be referring to her brother.

There was something in her voice and in her eyes that Tom couldn't quite put his finger on. It wasn't fear or deception. It didn't seem to be anger, either. He wanted to trust to her.
I'll have to, at some point. Better learn now, when the stakes are lower and not completely beyond my control
.

The Shepherd's voice was firm. “He'd better.”

The exchange between Tom and Janessa seemed to have gone unnoticed by her brother and Ben. The boy looked down at Toby, awaiting a response. For his part, Toby stood on the bridge and put his hands on his hips. He looked from side to side, then licked his lips and leaned forward. In a stage whisper, Toby said something to Ben that made Tom reconsider his opinion of the young man.

“
For real, though. Can I go across with you? I'm, uh...” He scratched the patchy hair on his chin. “I'm kinda scared of open water.”

Ben visibly started. “Serious?” He called down in a loud voice. “You're-”

“
Sshh!” Toby made shushing motions. “Quiet, man! Can't have people hearin' that. Think about what it would do to my image.” He even looked around to see if anyone had overheard, ignoring the fact that Tom was watching the exchange like a hawk.

Ben clapped a hand over his mouth and looked around, as well. Tom wrenched his eyes from the boy just before Ben's gaze fell upon where he and Janessa stood. The timing and subject of the moment were suddenly very light, and Tom found the boy wasn't the only one smiling.

“
So, uh... what do you think, little man? You think you could keep me company going across this big old log, here?”

Ben nodded. Removing the hand over his mouth, he called an apology down to Toby while he waited for the man to climb up. Toby arrived with a grunt, nearly losing his rifle in the process of pulling himself up. The young man continued to sell the act, however. He took a few breaths before slowly standing and even wavered a bit once he was fully upright.

Making a theatrical effort to not look down, Toby spoke to Ben again. “Let's do this. Come on, before I lose my nerve.”

The boy took Toby's hand in both of his own and 'led' Janessa's brother across the tree trunk. When the two of them had begun to cross, Tom no longer felt the grip on his arm. Janessa moved past him, sparing him a glance and a smile on her way to the bridge.

“
See? Sometimes, he's not
completely
useless.”

Tom joined the others that had crossed the stream. He and Chris looked back at Preston, still on the opposite side. The marine's gaze was focused downstream, where two of his teammates were now returning.

The former teacher pitched his voice for Tom's ears alone. “You were too direct with the questions, earlier. Shut him down, put him on guard. Nice save with crossing the bridge, though. That might keep him guessing long enough to get some quality information out of him.”

“
Thank you, Master Hunter,” the Shepherd murmured.

They watched Dettweiler and Eby move up to the bridge, where Preston stood ready to climb onto the tree. There was a brief exchange between the three men that resulted in Eby heading off toward the pond while the remaining pair crossed the stream. Preston came first and no sooner had boots on the ground then Dettweiler was up and coming over. The large man landed, sinking nearly to the ankles in the soft, wet earth of the stream bank.

“
Where are they?” The Staff Sergeant looked around eagerly.

“
Who?” Tom asked.

“
The women.” The large man sounded almost impatient.

Tom blinked in confused. He heard Chris chuckle, saw the outdoors-man shake his head and walk away. Even Preston was grinning.

“
No women? Hot chow, maybe?” Dettweiler paused. “Beer? There must be some reason we rushed over here.”

Tom remained silent, but a smile of sorts began to tug at his lips.
They might not be so bad, after all
, he thought.

“
No?” The large man sighed, disappointed. “Well, might as well make the most of the change in scenery. Preston, stay with our VIPs. I'm going to have a look around that structure.”