'Go on,' she bellowed as she picked up a large leg from the smashed chair and played with it.
'There are another three thousand or so camped in the Blue Mountains,' he stammered.
'Where the fuck are the Blue Mountains?' Madeline said, slamming the chair leg on the table next to the man speaking. 'I don't have a frickin' atlas in my head.'
He defensively put his arms around his head and said, 'They are in the eastern part of Oregon.'
'Thank you,' she replied.
'You're welcome. We are trying to add to those numbers with recent recruits we've gathered, but…um… there's a small problem that's…um…starting to pop up, and…um…' the man said.
Madeline inched her way over to him and stood beside him. 'Pray tell, what might that small problem be?' she asked very calmly.
'Well, it seems that one of the camps, I think the one in the Blue Mountains, is experiencing an outbreak of…um…'
'Cholera and dysentery,' someone across the table spoke up.
Madeline started laughing. 'So, they got the squats. Big deal. Get them some…what do you all it, Ipecac or Pepto Dismal or whatever.'
Several men started to snicker.
'Miss Madeline, I received news yesterday that the men that had the problems are improving. We were able to get a few doctors out to that camp,' the same individual announced proudly.
'Fine. Enough of this shit…pun intended,' she said smacking the broken leg on the table and laughing. 'It is still probably a couple of months away until the enemy reaches the designated area, and I want…'
A man waved his hand in the air as if he were a kid in kindergarten needing to go to the restroom. 'Excuse me, Miss Madeline, but why not attack them somewhere in California? Surprise them when they don't expect it.'
'Put your hand down. You look silly. What's your name?' Madeline asked walking over to the window.
'It's Derek.'
'Derek, you seem like a bright individual,' she said, still looking out the window and watching a young man with his shirt off cut the lawn.
'Thank you, ma'am.'
'I believe I've said before that I do not like to be interrupted.'
The room went mausoleum silent. Derek stood up instantly, pushed his chair over and ran for the door. Madeline waved her hand and the door locked. Anger inside her boiled over. The orbs of energy formed in her hands. She wanted to fling them at each of the miserable men at the table. While pacing the room, she watched the orbs build energy. Her insides seethed like molten lava. 'Ah, it feels so good,' she muttered. It felt more intense than any orgasm she had ever had. The power made her whole and alive. Madeline could feel her eyes roll up into her head as she bathed in the power.
Finally, the energy subsided to where she was able to speak. 'Derek, Derek, Derek,' she muttered, walking up to him. The poor man had slumped to the floor and was crying. Madeline bent down, pulled him up and said, 'It's okay now.' She put her arm around him. 'Derek, I'm going to tell you why your idea sucks.' The minute she said that last word, the tension mounted in the room. 'You see, Derek. This whole 'collapse,' as I've heard it called, has been orchestrated by forces way beyond anything your little pea brain could even possibly comprehend. The battle with Heckel and his wimps will take place outside of Bend, Oregon. That's where it has been preordained and that's where it will take place. Not Arizona, not Nevada and certainly not in any fucking California. Besides, I don't like California.'
Madeline looked up to see several men snickering. With blinding speed and using one long, highly polished fingernail, she slit Derek's jugular vein. Blood spewed out, splattering several men at the table. Derek staggered backward slightly, holding his neck, the very essence of life cascading down his fingers. He tried to speak, but his mouth was full of blood. He keeled over and landed on top of the large oak table. The crimson fluid trailed across the highly polished wood.
The room was deathly silent again.
Madeline walked back to the head of the table and said calmly, 'Don't anyone piss me off. Got that?'
The shock of what just happened lingered in the room as everyone watched Derek's blood stream down the center of the table, eventually spilling over the edge. Madeline smiled and said, 'Anyone hungry? Lunch is on me.'
Chapter 25
'That was some awesome bonfire last night, Heckel,' Vonnie said as she, Missy and Bobby walked into our camp.
'Yeah, it was a lot of fun,' I said. 'How'd you like it, Bobby?'
He looked down, kicked the dirt and didn't say anything.
Sela looked at Vonnie and Missy. They both shrugged and exchanged puzzled looks.
'It sure was big, wasn't it?' I asked.
'I gotta go get ready,' Bobby mumbled as he ran off.
'That's odd,' Vonnie said. 'He's usually a very happy kid. Wonder what's bothering him?' Whispering, she added, 'I don't think he got to see much of it. Jackson came by our camp right before the fire and led him off to talk to him about something.'
I had my suspicions.
'Everyone's excited to be getting to the Colorado River today,' Missy said, changing the mood.
'I think we're all looking forward to bathing and doing laundry. Will we be staying a while?' Sela asked.
'I suppose so,' I replied. 'It would be good to recharge the batteries and I agree that getting some of the road dirt off will definitely feel good.'
Jack once again led the way. One of our scouts came riding back shortly after lunch to report that all was well at the bridge. He said there was a good-sized field a ways up from the bridge that would make a good place to camp.
There were a few afternoon clouds that helped keep the temperatures down a bit along with a slight breeze. However, I noticed that Hope and Tempest were sweating excessively and I worried about dehydration. 'A little while longer until we get to the water,' I said petting Hope. 'Hang in there.'
'How are you feeling?' I asked Sela.
'Fine. I felt a little queasy a while back, but it passed. Um…when we get there, would you mind going hunting or fishing? Anything you get would be great. I'm getting tired of some of the dried stuff we have.'
'Sure no problem. Maybe I can bag another snake. The last one you cooked was pretty good. Tasted like chicken.'
Sela smiled and said, 'I'm sure you can find one. I think there are probably a lot around here. Just be careful. After your last encounter with snakes, I'm surprised you'd even want to be near one.'
The remaining hours seemed to drag on. The breeze went away and it got hotter. When we approached the river, people cheered and raced to the water's edge.
Sela led us farther down the bank. She dismounted and led Tempest to the water. 'Here ya go, Hope. Enjoy!' I said. The two horses drank for a long time. Afterwards, we found a spot to set up our camp.
'Sit down and relax before you go trekking off,' Sela said as she finished unpacking our tent. 'I'll pitch the tent and get things done while you're gone.'
'Ah, that does feel good,' I said, stretching out on the ground. 'As long as we've been riding, you'd think my butt would have gotten used to it and formed stiff calluses by now.' I rolled over on my belly. Sela sat down next to me and rubbed my lower back. 'Oh, that feels absolutely spectacular. Please, don't stop,' I moaned in ecstasy.
'Are you still…nervous about going into California?'
I grunted and said, 'It'll be fine.'
After about five minutes, I felt energized and ready to be the great white hunter or more like the great
