The Final Day (After, #3)(78)

The two approached each other cautiously. Behind Bob, John could see that there was a door gunner at the ready, weapon not pointed directly at him but ready to be swung around.

“Hell of a way to meet, General!” John shouted over the whine of the Black Hawk’s turbines, which had not been shut down.

“Yeah, hell of a world, John,” Bob replied as he slowed and came to a relaxed attitude of attention.

John did the same and finally raised his right hand in a salute, which Bob returned.

“We have to talk,” Bob announced.

“I was hoping that was all. Just as long as you leave my family and friends out of it.”

Bob looked past John to the wreckage scattered about the truck stop, the horizontal pole where frayed ropes swung slowly back and forth in the increasing breeze from what appeared to be an approaching storm.

“So this is where you held the Posse off?”

“Yes.”

“Exceptional choice of ground. I heard how they nearly succeeded in flanking you from over there to the north.” As he spoke, he pointed to the deep ravine of Mill Creek.

“Something like that.”

“I just took a look over there and saw something interesting, John.”

He did not reply.

“You should tell whoever is over there that the white camouflage netting was fine right after the snow fell, but those antennas kind of stick out clearly now.”

Again John did not reply.

“It was spotted yesterday, John. Actually, I don’t mind, but I am curious as to who you are eavesdropping on over there.”

“Why don’t you go ask yourself?”

“I was thinking just that, but didn’t want some sort of misunderstanding if I or some of my people just showed up unannounced.”

“Is that the reason you flew all the way over here?” John asked.

“One of several,” he replied, and John sensed the tension in Bob’s voice.

He said no more and continued to look around, gazing again at the ropes, the only evidence left of the mass hangings that had taken place here at John’s orders.

“You did what you had to do here,” Bob finally said, “but knowing you, dealing out justice summarily must have been tough.”

John looked up at the ropes, remembering the insane gibberish the leader of the Posse was screaming in his final seconds before being hoisted aloft to slowly die of strangulation. The hysterical pleas of the others with him as one by one they were hoisted aloft or taken to the edge of the ravine and shot in the back of the head until he finally relented and let the last few survivors of that murderous gang go to spread word of what would happen to any who dared to approach again.

“They were cannibals. There was nothing else I could have done.”

Bob looked over at him.

“When you’ve seen too much, sir, strange how all higher emotions can just drain away. I’m haunted by other things now, but not this.”

“I know.”

John looked up again at the ropes, and he suddenly felt a strange sense of detachment—no fear, no desire to try to flee. He looked back at the Edsel, where Makala had slipped over to get behind the wheel.

“Whatever it is, you’re leaving her out of this, aren’t you?”

“Of course, John.”

“You’ve orders to take me to Bluemont that you can no longer dodge around, is that it?”

Bob did not reply.

“Bob, I prefer a bullet. I remember a class with you once about George Washington, how he had to handle the Major André case, even though every judge of his court-martial appealed for mercy, or at least a bullet rather than the rope.”

“I remember that,” Bob said softly.

There was a moment of silence, and Bob looked at the Edsel. “You know, John, I think that is one of the ugliest cars ever made.”

It broke the tension for a moment as John smiled and explained how it had belonged to Mary’s mother, the old oversized machine impervious to the effects of an EMP.

“And that is your wife down there?”

“Yes, sir.”

“May I say hello? I’d like to meet her.”

“Of course. But if I am being arrested, I’d prefer no word. We have a baby due in a few weeks; I don’t want anything to upset her.”

“Of course.”

“All of them are armed,” John said softly as Bob started down to meet them, “and more than a bit nervous as well.”

“I understand.”

Bob approached the driver’s side of the car. Makala opened the door and started to get out, Bob smiling and telling her to stay inside where it was warm. She rolled down the window.

“Ma’am, I wished we had met under better circumstances,” Bob said gracefully.

“So do I.” Her voice was anything but friendly.

“John said you two are expecting.” He continued to smile and leaned in slightly. “And excuse me, ma’am, but you look like it will be any day now.”

“Yes, any day now, and I expect my husband to be by my side.”

“Of course. I understand.”

One of the twins in the back of the car began to fuss, and Bob turned his attention to the backseat.

“Now there’s a lovely package.”