Read Online A New World 10 - Storm by John O'Brien - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: John O'Brien
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And, just so you know, they’ll be under guard during the flight.”
“Okay, I get that. I understand your reluctance to trust us. We were seemingly fighting for the wrong side, regardless of how much we knew, or didn’t. What I’m trying to get at, sir, is how long are we going to be kept under watch? Hearing what went on, most of the men are certainly in shock, but that doesn’t mean that they are going to like being treated like criminals. If I may speak frankly,” Montore asks, to which I nod.
“They’re more than likely feeling down about the part they played, and treating them like this will only make that worse. They need something to believe in again…something that will make their lives worthwhile.”
“Sergeant, I understand what you’re saying. I truly do. But we,” I say, nodding toward Lynn, “need to make sure that nothing comes about from any hard feelings. I know about losing friends and how hard that can be. It will take some time, on both sides, for trust to build. Given the world we live in now, and the fact that we’re barely hanging on, that will come about quicker than it normally would.”
Montore nods. “That’s the best I can hope for, thank you. I appreciate you at least giving us the chance. I’ll see to selecting the men.”
“Thank you. We’ll be loading up close to first light and leaving shortly thereafter. And, I’d like those remaining to assist with clearing the grass around the perimeter. I want to create firebreaks around the buildings and solar farm, and then set controlled fires to clear it out,” I comment.
Leaving Montore to sort out his men, Lynn sets a watch schedule with the teams, and after notifying Robert, Bri, and the Red and Blue Teams about our departure in the morning, we head into the back rooms to find a place to rest. As we walk down the well-lit corridor, our boots echo down the wide hallway.
“I was thinking of taking two teams to Mountain Home. That will leave you with five to watch over the control room and the soldiers. Will that be enough?” I ask.
“With the 24/7 watch schedule we’ll have to keep, that will leave us a little thin, but we’ll do what we have to. I’ll make sure the weapons are all gathered, stored in the armory, and guarded. How long do you think you’ll be gone?” Lynn queries.
“I’m not really sure. Without looking at it in detail, I’m thinking it will take a little over an hour and a half to fly there. Then, perhaps an hour or so on the ground and then there’s the return flight. Overall, it may be four plus hours,” I answer.
“Well, it is what it is. Keep in mind that the night runners aren’t going to sit back and wait for us. The sooner we get home, the better I’ll feel about things. We certainly have our hands full maintaining the operation here and dealing with the night runners spreading south,” Lynn comments.
“I hear ya. It seems the more headway we make, the farther behind we fall.”
“You know, Jack. This place isn’t all that bad. We could just move everything here,” Lynn states.
“That thought has crossed my mind. Let’s stabilize the situation here, get home, and figure things out from there,” I say.
The night passes without incident. My watch says that it’s about time for the sun to make its appearance on the land above. It’s odd being underground and not being able to see the day unfold and wind down. Even though it’s only been one day and a night, I already feel the internal changes. I noticed that the lights dimmed around sundown and fully expect them to brighten with the coming day. Perhaps it’s just a mental thing, knowing that I’m underground.
Putting on my boots, that thought is pushed to the back of my mind almost as soon as it appears. Taking its place is how much we have to accomplish today. We have to fly to Mountain Home and make contact with Jason, assuming he’s still running the camp of survivors. Then, return and figure out the situation
“Okay, I get that. I understand your reluctance to trust us. We were seemingly fighting for the wrong side, regardless of how much we knew, or didn’t. What I’m trying to get at, sir, is how long are we going to be kept under watch? Hearing what went on, most of the men are certainly in shock, but that doesn’t mean that they are going to like being treated like criminals. If I may speak frankly,” Montore asks, to which I nod.
“They’re more than likely feeling down about the part they played, and treating them like this will only make that worse. They need something to believe in again…something that will make their lives worthwhile.”
“Sergeant, I understand what you’re saying. I truly do. But we,” I say, nodding toward Lynn, “need to make sure that nothing comes about from any hard feelings. I know about losing friends and how hard that can be. It will take some time, on both sides, for trust to build. Given the world we live in now, and the fact that we’re barely hanging on, that will come about quicker than it normally would.”
Montore nods. “That’s the best I can hope for, thank you. I appreciate you at least giving us the chance. I’ll see to selecting the men.”
“Thank you. We’ll be loading up close to first light and leaving shortly thereafter. And, I’d like those remaining to assist with clearing the grass around the perimeter. I want to create firebreaks around the buildings and solar farm, and then set controlled fires to clear it out,” I comment.
Leaving Montore to sort out his men, Lynn sets a watch schedule with the teams, and after notifying Robert, Bri, and the Red and Blue Teams about our departure in the morning, we head into the back rooms to find a place to rest. As we walk down the well-lit corridor, our boots echo down the wide hallway.
“I was thinking of taking two teams to Mountain Home. That will leave you with five to watch over the control room and the soldiers. Will that be enough?” I ask.
“With the 24/7 watch schedule we’ll have to keep, that will leave us a little thin, but we’ll do what we have to. I’ll make sure the weapons are all gathered, stored in the armory, and guarded. How long do you think you’ll be gone?” Lynn queries.
“I’m not really sure. Without looking at it in detail, I’m thinking it will take a little over an hour and a half to fly there. Then, perhaps an hour or so on the ground and then there’s the return flight. Overall, it may be four plus hours,” I answer.
“Well, it is what it is. Keep in mind that the night runners aren’t going to sit back and wait for us. The sooner we get home, the better I’ll feel about things. We certainly have our hands full maintaining the operation here and dealing with the night runners spreading south,” Lynn comments.
“I hear ya. It seems the more headway we make, the farther behind we fall.”
“You know, Jack. This place isn’t all that bad. We could just move everything here,” Lynn states.
“That thought has crossed my mind. Let’s stabilize the situation here, get home, and figure things out from there,” I say.
The night passes without incident. My watch says that it’s about time for the sun to make its appearance on the land above. It’s odd being underground and not being able to see the day unfold and wind down. Even though it’s only been one day and a night, I already feel the internal changes. I noticed that the lights dimmed around sundown and fully expect them to brighten with the coming day. Perhaps it’s just a mental thing, knowing that I’m underground.
Putting on my boots, that thought is pushed to the back of my mind almost as soon as it appears. Taking its place is how much we have to accomplish today. We have to fly to Mountain Home and make contact with Jason, assuming he’s still running the camp of survivors. Then, return and figure out the situation
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