World War III (26 page)

“Thanks,” whispered Cole, his rifle rattling in his hands.

“No problem,” replied Ian, in the same hushed voice. He reached out and placed his hand on Cole’s, steadying the younger man’s rifle. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” said Cole, as the shaking slowly subsided.

“Why don’t you go next,” offered Alfonso, realizing that if another snake came along Cole might open fire without thinking.

“Right on,” said Cole, slinging his rifle over his shoulder and beginning to climb. Alfonso waited a minute before following, with Ian bringing up the rear.

When Shiloh reached the top of the tree ladder, he found a wooden hatch leading to the porch above. As quietly as possible, he turned the latch and opened the trapdoor. Popping his head up and through the opening, he quickly glanced around. He was half expecting to encounter more snakes or some other form of booby-trap, but luckily nothing happened. He waited for a moment, before pulling his body through the opening.

With his feet firmly planted on the wooden porch, Shiloh signaled for his friends to join him. He bent down on one knee next to the opening with his gun held ready, as Cole climbed up and through the door, followed by Alfonso and then Ian. Shiloh waited for Ian to quietly secure the door, before whispering orders to his friends.

“Cole, you and Alfonso stay here and guard the hatch. Be sure to keep an eye on the ground below in case the soldiers return. Ian, you go that way,” said Shiloh, pointing in one direction, “and I’ll go this way.”

Ian nodded and handed Cole his rifle, before withdrawing a pistol from inside his jacket. Shiloh did the same thing, handing his rifle to Alfonso. He watched for a moment, as Ian disappeared around the wrap-around porch, before turning and heading in the opposite direction.

Shiloh was the first to arrive at the tree house’s front door, where he stood silently waiting until Ian tip-toed around the porch from the other direction. As gently as possible, Ian reached down and turned the doorknob. Both men were surprised when the door opened effortlessly, without even a squeak of sound.

Shiloh was the first through the door, with Ian following close behind. The two men spread out and walked softly into the dark house, exploring every nook and cranny. The only light in the room came from the fireplace and the glowing embers of wood that remained. Lying on a blanket in the middle of the room was the American pilot, still dressed in his jumpsuit.

Shiloh bent down next to the pilot and laid his hand gently on the man’s shoulder. Without a word, his eyes flashed opened. Shiloh quickly placed his finger to his mouth to stop the man from speaking, but it didn’t matter. The sound of a gun hammer click broke the silence, and Shiloh felt the cold steel of the muzzle pressed to his head.

“Well lookie here what I caught,” said Jeremiah, holding a pistol to the back of Shiloh’s head.

Shiloh felt a chill run down his spine, before he heard Ian’s voice from behind.

“Wanna trade?” asked Ian, his gun pointed at Jeremiah’s head.

The old man didn’t even flinch. “You’ve got nothing to barter with,” he said grinning.

Before Ian could respond, the silence was broken with the menacing sound of a round being chambered into a shotgun. Standing in the doorway of the bedroom was a young girl, and in her hands she held a shotgun aimed directly at Ian.

“Looks like we got us a Mexican standoff,” Jeremiah snickered.

“I totally disagree,” said Cole, standing in the doorway with his rifle pointed in the direction of the little girl. Another rifle barrel suddenly appeared in one of the windows and Shiloh could see Alfonso’s dark brown face grinning from the other end.

“Stop!” said Kye, pulling himself up to a sitting position. “We’re all on the same side!”

“He’s right,” agree Shiloh, as he slowly lowered his gun. Ian, Cole and Alfonso immediately did likewise. “We thought the pilot was in trouble. We’re sorry if we alarmed you.”

“You too!” said Kye, glaring at Jeremiah, who still held his gun to the back of Shiloh’s head.

“Fine,” said Jeremiah, lowering his gun and nodding to the young girl to do the same. “But just so ya fellas know, I’ve every right to shoot and kill home invaders. Next time I suggest you knock before entering my house!”

Kye chuckled and said, “You’re just mad because they got the drop on you old man.”

“Who you calling old?” asked Jeremiah. “At least I didn’t get shot down by the enemy!”

“We watched that dogfight,” said Shiloh, “and at least he took the other three fighters down with him.”

“So you were the gentlemen in the blue truck?” asked Kye. “The ones who tried to help me?”

“Damn straight!” said Cole.

“Well thank you,” replied Kye. “I don’t know if I’d have survived if it hadn’t been for your assistance. You guys sure helped to distract those MIG’s when I needed it most. I owe you all my life.”

“I’m sure you can make it up to us,” teased Ian. “But right now I’d really like to get back home.”

“Where is home?” asked Kye, excited to trade the safety of the tree house for something else, anything else.

“Clearview,” answered Ian. “It’s a small town, not that far from here.”

“Perfect!” Kye stood up and gathered his belongings, what little he had. “When do we leave?” he asked, using his makeshift crutch for balance.

“Right now if you’re able,” said Shiloh, casting a skeptical glance at Kye’s injured ankle. “Can you walk?”

“Hell I can run if I need to. I can’t wait to get back in the fight! By the way, I’m Lieutenant Colonel Kye Williams of the United States Navy,” said Kye, offering Shiloh his hand.

“Nice to meet ya,” said Shiloh, gripping the pilot’s hand in a firm handshake. “This is Ian, Cole and Alfonso,” he added, introducing each of his friends.

“Would you like to join us?” asked Shiloh, looking from Jeremiah to Sylvia and back again.

“Hell no!” spat Jeremiah. “This is our home and I ain’t letting nobody chase me from it!”

“Are you sure?” pressed Shiloh. “Those soldiers are bound to return and when they do, well, I don’t think it’s going to take them very long to figure out that those snakes didn’t just fall from the sky. As well concealed as your house is, it won’t take them long to find it, especially now that they know where to look.”

“It could be that I don’t give a damn!” hissed Jeremiah. “It could be that I got plenty more tricks up my sleeve. If they wanna come, let ’em come!”

“And the girl?” asked Shiloh, looking at Sylvia, who still stood in the doorway with her rifle in hand. “Are you sure you want her here when they come? They’re bound to be pissed and seeking revenge,” he added. “I wouldn’t want anyone that I care about to fall into the hands of those scoundrels, especially not a pretty young girl.”

Jeremiah’s brow furrowed as he considered this. He didn’t even want to think about what the soldiers would do to his granddaughter if they captured her. During the Vietnam War he’d seen firsthand the atrocities committed by soldiers without a moral compass, and he’d be damned if he’d allow anything like that to happen to Sylvia. “Maybe you’re right,” he said, after a moment of consideration.

“No grand pappy!” cried out Sylvia, her eyes welling with tears. “I wanna stay with you!”

“I assume you’ve got some women folk in town that she’d be safe with?” asked Jeremiah, ignoring the pleas of his granddaughter.

“We do,” said Ian. “In fact, I’m sure that Jessie would be more than happy to take the young girl under her wing.”

Jeremiah walked over to Sylvia, who stood quivering in the doorway with tears streaming down her cheeks. The old man reached out and took her hands in his and smiled down at her. “There, there my sweet darling, don’t cry,” he said, gently rubbing her hands in his. “We’ll be together soon enough. I just don’t want you anywhere nearby when those heathens return. I will come visit you soon. I promise!”

“But I can take care of myself!” she sobbed, wiping tears from her face, as new droplets replaced the old. “I ain’t scared of nobody! Please don’t make me leave!”

“I love you too much baby to let you stay,” said Jeremiah, his voice cracking just a little.

“Then come with me,” pleaded Sylvia, tightening her grip on her grandfather’s hands. “Forget about defending the house, what good is it if you’re dead?”

“I built this house with my own two hands honey and I’ll be damned if I’m gonna let those communist bastards take it away, least of all without a fight,” said Jeremiah, drying a teardrop from Sylvia’s cheek with his finger. “Don’t worry about me snicker doodle. I’m tough as nails and I aim to be around for years to come. Stay with these gentlemen and do as they say. When the coast is clear you can come back. I love you precious.”

“I love you too grand pappy,” cried Sylvia, burying her face in Jeremiah’s chest and wrapping her arms around him.

The old man had to pry her arms loose or she never would’ve let go. He gave her a kiss on the forehead and handed her his rifle. “Take this with you.”

“But it’s your favorite!”

“You’re my favorite,” said Jeremiah. “Besides, I want you to have something to remember me by until we’re together again. Take it.”

Sylvia reached out and accepted the rifle with one hand, while wiping fresh tears from her eyes with the other. “Thanks grand pappy, I’ll think of you whenever I see it. I’ll carry you with me in my heart like I carry mama.”

“And I you baby, and I you. Take good care of her,” he added, looking directly at Shiloh. He didn’t know why, but for some reason he felt like he could trust this man.

“No one will harm her without going through me first,” Shiloh assured the old man.

“And me,” added Ian.

“Totally dude,” agreed Cole.

Alfonso simply nodded in agreement.

“Alright then,” said Jeremiah, “I reckon y’all best be on your way. The sun will be rising soon, and no doubt the enemy with it.”

One by one they stepped off the porch and onto the wooden plank, attached to the rope elevator. Ian was the first to be lowered down. When his feet were firmly planted on the ground, he bent down on one knee and scanned the area for any sign of movement. When he was certain there wasn’t any enemy troops, he signaled for the others to follow. Alfonso was the next to be lowered down, followed by Cole and then Sylvia, who cast a longing look towards Jeremiah before disappearing below.

“Don’t worry, we’ll take good care of her,” said Shiloh, noticing the worried look on Jeremiah’s face.

“Thank you,” said the old man, extending his hand.

Shiloh shook his hand before stepping off the porch and dropping to the ground below.

The last to leave the tree house was Kye. As he limped onto the porch, Jeremiah glanced down at his swollen ankle and said, “That doesn’t look so good. Are you sure you can make it?”

“Oh I’ll make it,” Kye grinned, as he reached out and took hold of the rope. “Thank you for everything Jeremiah, I’d be dead or worse right now if it wasn’t for you and Sylvia. I’ll never forget what you’ve both done for me.”

“Of course,” said Jeremiah, a smile forming in the cracks of his mouth. “Hurry up and get back in the air to kill some more of those communist bastards, and we’ll call it even.”

“Absolutely!” said Kye, before shaking the old man’s hand and stepping out onto the wooden plank. His body lowered to the ground below and when he stepped off of the plank and let go of the rope, the makeshift elevator was immediately retracted, disappearing into the branches above.

“Alright,” said Shiloh, “let’s go!”

The group set off in single-line formation, each of them carrying their rifle ready to fire. Ian took the lead with Alfonso bringing up the rear. Using a thick branch for a crutch, Kye limped along with everyone else. He was the only one without a rifle, so instead he withdrew his sidearm, just in case.

When they were less than a mile from Shiloh’s truck, Ian suddenly froze dead in his tracks. He raised his fist, indicating for everyone to stop, and then bent down behind a large tree. The rest of the group followed suit and immediately dropped to the ground behind a cluster of evergreens.

“Wait here,” whispered Shiloh, before crawling towards Ian’s position. When he reached his friend he asked, “What is it?”

“Enemy soldiers,” replied Ian, in a hushed whisper.

Shiloh peered through the branches in the direction that Ian was looking and could see several dozen Chinese soldiers. The troops were headed east, on a path that would bring them within several yards of Shiloh’s hidden truck. They were ahead of the group from Clearview so beating them to the vehicle was out of the question. Shiloh silently counted the enemy soldiers before saying, “Twenty-five.”

“That’s too many,” whispered Ian. “We wouldn’t stand a chance.”

“I know,” agreed Shiloh. “What we need is a distraction, something to send the soldiers in another direction.”

“What do you suggest?” asked Ian.

“One of us needs to draw their fire, while the others escape to the truck.”

“Sounds good,” grinned Ian. “So who’s it gonna be?”

“I’ll go,” said Shiloh, “it was my idea.”

“Oh man,” complained Ian, “you always get to have all the fun.”