“The wall is down!” a man ahead of her screamed, pointing to the far off structure. As he’d said, Laura could see that a large hole had been punched into it. Engulfed in bright yellow flames, the skeleton of a large fuel truck rolled through the breach.
The crowd turned and headed for the breach, desperate for a way out. Laura felt a hand grab her as a man’s voice called her name; she turned and stared into the face of Francis. She reeled back, keeping Katy away from him. He held his hand out to her and said, “Come with me, there is still time to escape.”
Laura backed up, not speaking and shaking her head.
“It’s okay. I understand why you did what you did,” he said, looking at her with compassion. “Please, this is all getting out of control. I have a transport; we can escape together.”
An attack helicopter flew in close overhead, flying low over the group. The civilians ducked and cheered as the small aircraft made a gun run against the orb in the center of the community. As Laura stood and looked toward it, she let a smile cross her face.
“Are you enjoying this?” Francis shouted at her.
Laura stepped back and turned toward the breach, trying to catch up with the group. Francis again reached out and grabbed her arm, this time pulling her back violently. “You’re coming with me!” he said sternly.
Katy gripped her neck tightly and began to scream. Laura was spun back so quickly she lost her footing and was tugged into the man. He looked her in the eye, putting his face close to hers. “I’m not giving you the choice; you’re coming with me.”
Laura let her right arm drift to her waist while still struggling to pull away from Francis. She found the pistol and grasped it tightly. She tugged and broke his grip. He lashed out and smacked her face with the back of his hand. She felt the sting and tasted the blood on her lip. She paused and glared at him. He held a stone expression. “Come. There isn’t time.”
Laura shook her head and raised her right hand. Francis saw the pistol, his eyes going wide. “I always knew my end would come this way,” he said.
She squeezed the trigger, hitting him in the chest. His hands reached up at his light-blue robe, the blood seeping between his fingers. He dropped to his knees and eyed up at her. He shook his head and stared down at the grass. People ran past them, rushing for the breach in the wall. Laura backed away as he reached out his blood-covered hand. “It didn’t have to be this way.”
It was just then that Francis lunged for her. Laura stumbled back and again pulled the trigger. She watched as Francis’s head snapped back with a hole in the center of his face. She suddenly felt weak in her legs, and Katy felt very heavy against her chest.
A large woman stopped beside her. “Come on, keep going; we’re almost out.”
Laura looked into the woman’s hard eyes. The lady was dressed in civilian clothing; dirt and blood coated her forehead. She was husky and had the look of a leader, her black and gray hair tied back, scarf hanging loosely from her neck. The older woman traveled with several other young girls as a group, like a family. Laura nodded and turned to follow her.
As they got closer to the gate, men rushed through to greet them from several open-backed trucks that sat parked in the breach. Helicopters raced overhead, dodging the bolts of blue plasma as they provided supporting fire to the men on the ground. Ahead, a man was standing in the high grass, directing the loading of vehicles as another man rallied soldiers to press on toward the battle near the orb. Laura stayed close to the woman, letting her lead the way to safety.
“Clem,” the husky woman shouted to one of the soldiers. Laura stopped and stood close with the others. The man glanced back then reached out and hugged the woman. “Ruth! I thought you got it back at the warehouse.”
The woman shook her head. “I should have. I was knocked out when our truck rolled, and I woke up here.”
Laura pushed past them and grabbed the man’s oilskin coat. “I remember you,” she said. “You were at the cabin; you left with my husband. Do you know where he is?”
Clem pursed his lips, looking at her and the young girl on her chest. He nodded and pointed at the far off gate where the battle still raged. “He’s in there, leading the fight.”
Laura turned and looked back, seeing the waves of Deltas and Reds rushing at the men dug in on the line, fighting against them as waves of helicopters roared overhead.
Clem put a hand on her shoulder. “Come on, we need to get you all out of here.”
Chapter Eighty-Two
The transport moved forward on a cushion of air, rocked back with the shockwaves of nearby explosions. Rogers was sitting by Karina’s side, directing her path through the maze of rallied soldiers. The nearby men—some hiding in the woods; others, survivors and remnants from Meaford—had answered the call. Every unit and militiaman within fifty miles had come out of hiding to join the fight, all of them coming together in one last stand against the alien base.
James was standing in the open hatch, wearing one of the red-sleeved uniform jackets over his own uniform, running a heavy machine gun. He dropped back into the hatch just as a splash of blue harmlessly bounced off the surface of the hovercraft.
“You sure we’re safe in here, and wearing this
