The Western Front: Parts 1-3 Part 9

"I know mine is. I must've hit him a half-dozen times in the torso at point-blank range."

"Mine may not be dead, but he's probably down for the night," Jake replied, "I think Sasha hit an artery, and I watched him hit the cruiser pretty hard."

"Yeah, your guy is in a world of hurt to say the least. By the way, Jake, have I told you how awesome your dog is?"

Jake smiled, "That's my girl."

Kate interrupted, "Guys, we've got to get off this road until daylight. This is too dangerous."

"You're right; let's see if we can find somewhere safe to stop for the night."

Jake's radio finally barked to life with Geram's voice.

"All clear; doesn't look like anyone's been here for months. Bring the Bronco 'round back; there's a barn we can park it in."

Jake cranked the SUV and eased it up to the abandoned plantation home. The majestic, white house was nearly a mile off the road. It was surrounded by pastureland.

Jake warily followed the gravel drive as it meandered through the clearing. The long driveway was enveloped by a canopy of live oaks, the only trees within sight except for the far woods line. They drove out from under the oaks and onto a narrow dam that separated two large ponds.

As the Bronco's headlights illuminated the ma.s.sive home, Kate exclaimed, "Wow, it's beautiful. I wonder why it's abandoned."

"The people who lived here probably found this place to be a target after things got bad."

"Will we be safe?"

"I think so. The place has most likely been stripped of anything of value long ago. Besides, we'll all take turns on watch throughout the night. The open fields and our night-vision will make it pretty difficult for anyone to surprise us."

The home sat atop a knoll that was dotted with magnolia and dogwood trees. It was towering, with white columns along a wide, wrap-around porch. The columns continued up to the second-floor balcony that also extended out from all sides. Not far from the manor was a smaller, pool house that was still large enough for the average family. As they pa.s.sed the elegant, concrete fountain in front of the home, Jake pushed open the double doors and stepped out of the house. He jogged ahead and directed them to the barn.

As they climbed out of the Bronco, Geram walked up behind them and exclaimed, "I checked all of the buildings; no one here but us."

"Great," Jake said, "This'll be perfect for the night."

"I think so to. You've got to see this place; it's amazing."

As Geram stepped through the front doors to give Jake and Kate the grand tour, he declared, "Welcome to la casa de Geram."

They were overwhelmed by the immensity of their surroundings. The scale of everything was striking. Jake guessed that the ceilings in the foyer and parlor were at least twenty feet high. An entire wall in the parlor was a single plate mirror, which created the illusion of an even greater s.p.a.ce. He grinned when he considered the chains that the chandeliers hung from could probably be used to tow a vehicle.

They followed the spiral staircase up to the second floor and decided that they would stay there for the night. They could easily walk the perimeter of the mansion from the safety of the balcony, and also have a commanding view of their surroundings. After a night of misfortune, it appeared they had finally found a short respite.

Kate easily found a bedroom that suited her, and was asleep within several minutes. She was exhausted from the long day and the even longer night. After a short stroll around the perimeter, Jake and Geram settled into a pair of rocking chairs that faced the distant highway. They gazed out over the ponds that flanked the gravel driveway. The brothers enjoyed the quiet company of each other and listened to lily pad troubadours serenade the night.

Geram spoke first. "Jake, I'm sorry about earlier. I guess Kate was right, I was stressed and maybe even looking for a fight."

"Forget it, you were never known for your tact anyway. I wouldn't mind continuing the talk again sometime. That is an important discussion. Often times we don't know where we stand until we have to defend our beliefs."

"I don't want you to think that I'm devoid of compa.s.sion for other people."

"I'm your brother; I know that's not you. It's been a long night though, we'll finish that later. You know, I never got a chance to hear how you got back to us. I know you were in south Texas, but how did you make it two states over when we can't even get out of our own town without a fight?"

"It's kind of a long story."

Jake smiled, "I've nowhere to be."

Geram smirked and remarked, "You were warned." He leaned back in the chair, stretched, and then began, "Barrett, the squad leader for the guardsmen on South Padre, was a former SEAL, so we were very lucky in that respect. The man exhibited enough restraint to communicate with us immediately after we tried to kill his entire squad. I couldn't have done that. I was impressed by him from the moment we met.

After he learned we were SEALs as well, I think he genuinely believed we'd been set up. It probably didn't hurt that we were feeling some unadulterated fury about our mission at that point. He escorted us back to their station on the island for individual debriefings, or perhaps you could say interrogations."

Jake interrupted, "You're certain none of your team knew about the mission?"

"Absolutely, without a doubt, I am certain. I know the character of those men, there is no way they would've knowingly killed an American citizen, much less a fellow soldier."

"Who do you think did know?"

"I don't know how high that goes, probably wherever the intelligence originated."

"Probably. Okay, continue."

"So after the debriefings, we were basically free men. They kept an eye on us and didn't let us wander far, but we weren't locked up. Barrett and our squad leader got real close. I think they saw a lot in each other they could relate to.

After several days, a s.h.i.+p filled with supplies for the island showed up. We were given the option of staying or being stow-aways for the trip back to Pascagoula."

"They just let everyone go?"

"Those of us with families left. The men that had no one chose to stay and fight. By the end of it, we were still SEALs, but we were guardsmen as well."

"You said the s.h.i.+p was from Pascagoula?"

"Apparently some guy who owns a s.h.i.+pyard there has a brother on the island. He's been sending supplies to them for quite a while. I heard talk from the crew on the ride back that the next s.h.i.+p would have men soldiers bound for the island as well. There's a movement going on, bro. People are choosing sides even as we speak. The truth is getting out about the border. People are livid at our government for not stepping in, so they're taking it on themselves. It's mostly military men that've deserted out of disgust, but there're some private contractor volunteers as well. These are men that swore to defend the const.i.tution and I guess they got tired of being made into liars. Civilians are involved too, but they're mostly in support roles, like the s.h.i.+p and safe houses."

"Safe houses?"

"When we reached Pascagoula, they stuffed us in the back of a refrigerated truck, under what must have been a ton of shrimp and oysters. Thank G.o.d they only drove for a few minutes before they let us out. I didn't know if I was going to get crushed or freeze to death, but I felt certain I was going to die in a seafood delivery truck."

Jake chuckled at the imagery as Geram continued, "We stayed hidden in the back of this little restaurant, Pet.i.t Bois, for several days. We ate like kings shrimp, oysters and tuna for every meal. I know it was a safe house because they may've had a dozen customers the entire time we were there. They definitely weren't surviving on the patronage of their clientele."

"How bad was Pascagoula?"

"I heard talk that it was bad elsewhere, but we were close to the s.h.i.+pyards and the industries on the water. The National Guard or Homeland or someone must've been providing security, because it seemed safe enough from inside. It's not like I got out much though, they mostly kept us hidden in a supply closet in the back.

Anyway, as trucks would leave the city for destinations close to where we were going, they would stop by and pick us up. We'd ride out of town in the back with their freight. I was the last one to leave. I hitched a ride in a semi-truck hauling bottled water to Oxford. The driver let me out about twenty miles from your house. I traveled through the woods and followed the creek to the back of your property."

"That is unbelievable."

"Believe it. I'm sitting here."

Jake yawned and stood to stretch as he said, "Well, I'm glad you're sitting here. It'd be tough without you."

"Don't I know it. Hey, go get some rest. I'll take the first s.h.i.+ft of the night."

Jake smiled and said goodnight, before retreating back into the mansion. Geram closed his eyes and listened to what sounded like the croaks of a million bullfrogs coming from the ponds. He allowed his mind to wander over all of the events that had happened in the last few weeks. He laughed at himself as he s.h.i.+vered at the thought of the ride in the frigid, seafood truck. He slung his rifle over his back and grabbed his night-vision goggles as he prepared to walk the balcony perimeter.

Chapter 15.

William Arlington, Virginia The heavy rain relentlessly a.s.saulted the fire, but it refused to extinguish. The eternal flame at the tomb of JFK had weathered worse storms than this one, but not many. The site was centrally located in the cemetery, just east of the Arlington House. The house was a Greek revival-style mansion that was once belonged to of Robert E. Lee. During the Civil War, the grounds of Lee's estate were selected as the site for Arlington National Cemetery by the Federal government as a means to ensure the general would never be able to return.

The tomb was simple but elegant. The burial plot for the four graves contained a pattern of rough-hewn, granite fieldstones that were in turn surrounded by a white-marble terrace. The site was surrounded by magnolia, cherry and hawthorn trees. The marbled terrace descended to a plaza that was encircled by a wall engraved with a few of Kennedy's most memorable quotes.

William was the only cemetery's visitor, and for good reason. Anyone in their right mind would never be out in this weather, he thought to himself. He had not gone mad; rather he preferred the privacy that the storm afforded.

William strolled along the plaza with his umbrella overhead. He read the quotes as he waited impatiently. He paused in front of one quote that particularly caught his attention and read it aloud with disdain.

"In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility. I welcome it."

The foolish words of a forgotten generation, he regarded.

He turned and watched a figure approach from the south, near Bobby's grave. The man was in a long trench coat and hat. William reached his hand deep into his coat and gripped his Walther. The figure in the trench coat saw the discrete movement and tipped his hat. William relaxed his grip and started forward to meet the cloaked man.

They met in the center of the plaza and shook hands. Even in the darkness, William could still see the man's bright, blue eyes blazing from underneath the hat. The man with the blue eyes greeted William and remarked, "Isn't this all such a waste?"

"It's a disgrace, a memorial to imperialism. Where is the tomb of the unknown worker? Or is he less honorable than a man who is paid to kill by his government? I'll be glad when all of this is gone."

"Well, I meant more like how it's prime real estate wasted on a graveyard, but I can see your point."

William sighed and said, "I didn't come out here for humor."

"You're right; it's probably not the best time, considering the weather." The man s.h.i.+fted his weight and looked around. "Let's walk; standing here makes me nervous. Moving targets are harder to hit."

They strolled east toward Sheridan Drive. William interrupted the man's nervous glances and said, "So, did I come all the way out here for a walk, or did you have a reason?"

"Look, you've gotten me in pretty deep. The least you can give me is some patience."

William did not respond.

"Fine," the man said, "as I've said before, our secondary objective is procured. We've more than enough for wherever you choose."

"This is all old news; tell me about the primary."

"Right, the primary..." the man paused for a moment before continuing, "Well, our contacts have pulled out. No deal."

William stopped dead in his tracks; the fury was obvious in his expression.

"But wait," the man interjected, "there is some other news. I'm just not sure if it is good or bad though."

"Not sure if it's good or bad?"

"I just don't know what to make of it yet."

"Get to the point."

"Alright, alright. So, the night the negotiations fell through, I got a call from someone. He said he knew you, and he knew I was working for you." The man stopped, turned to William and said, "I thought no one was aware of our arrangement."

William replied defensively "No one does." He thought for a moment before adding, "Well... some people do."

"Who all knows?"

"Just a handful - maybe four or five, but they had to know though. They're high up; it's in confidence, I promise. This wasn't leaked through me."

"What's wrong with you? This is my life we're talking about! You know you can't trust a politician!"

"I didn't say they were politicians."

The man cursed aloud and flung his arms skyward. The volume of his own outburst startled the man. He nervously darted his head back and forth, scrutinizing the shadows.

William placed his hand on the man's shoulder and tried to calm him, "Look, we're fine you're fine. I need you to relax. Tell me what else was said."

The man took a deep breath and continued, "He said he'd heard our talks had fallen through. He said he could help us with what we want, but he has his own terms."

"What did you say?"

"I told him he was making me more than a little paranoid and he should contact you. He said you would just send him back to me, and he didn't have time for that. He said his 'window of opportunity' was narrow."

"Well he was right about what I would've done. Everybody in this town deals in third parties for the sake of plausible deniability and I play along for their peace of mind. What're his terms?"

"His people retain possession at all times, and he chooses the destination. He wants our help with logistical and ground support. His people aren't familiar with the city and he knows we have contacts everywhere. I got the impression his 'people' are foreign."

"What city?" William asked.

"Houston."

"Houston? Absolutely not!"

The man stopped and turned to William, "He promised me this, if we help him with Houston, the next time it's all us. He'll deliver us whatever we want: low grade, chemical, biological, you name it. Oh, he wants us to meet with an a.s.sociate of his real soon."

"When?"

"I'm not sure yet, all I know is soon. He said he'd be in touch. If we agreed with the terms, he'd set up the meeting."

William considered the proposal for several moments before he replied, "It's a risk."