This is happening, he told himself, as he sat down at the dining room table with Prig, Elna, and Norman. It’s a done deal, so we’d better make it work.
He had to admit, there was some small part of him that relished the idea of raiding the militia camp. Maybe he would even get a chance to thumb his nose at his old buddy Garret, assuming the meathead was still alive over there among the heathens.
Prig had a large piece of paper, and he was busy scribbling a map of the island, bay, and nearby coastline, as his subordinates, Spence and Archer, gazed over his shoulder.
“Okay, we need to get in and out of the camp as quickly as possible,” Prig said, having just finished sketching out the borders of the camp according to Elna’s description. “With our small numbers and limited weapons, we can’t risk a head-on fight. We’re outgunned, and even if we don’t get killed, we’re liable to be captured. Remember, our first goal is to locate our man, Golf, and get him out of there. We’ll try to grab your medical supplies as well, but not if it jeopardizes the rescue.”
“Well, the causeway is watched,” Elna said, pointing to the crudely rendered causeway near the edge of the paper. “Our best bet is to sail in from the north, anchor northwest of the camp, and come in from a direction they’re not expecting.”
“Tell me about the boat,” Prig said.
“It’s a small sloop,” Elna replied. “We’re taking you, Spence, Archer, Malin, and me, plus your packs, and then we’ll have one more on the return trip. That’s probably too many on board. The extra weight might make it difficult to navigate, so we need to travel as lightly as possible.”
Prig looked over his shoulder at Spence and Archer. “Empty the packs. The only things we’re bringing are weapons, ammo, knives, and first aid kits. Everything else stays here. Unload your pockets. Dump it all. We’re traveling light.”
“Everything?” Spence said, one eyebrow going up.
“Dude, if you’re worried about your candy, I’m going to smack you,” Prig replied, waving him off. “That’s a bad habit.”
“Just asking.”
“If we exceed the weight limit of that boat, we’re all going down in the bay,” Prig said. “Mac, you’re going to stay here on the island and keep an eye on things.”
Mac whipped around and gave the staff sergeant a wounded expression. Mac seemed so young, even with his football player’s build. If not for the uniform, Elna would have thought him a high schooler.
“Are you sure I have to stay?” he said. “I think I’d rather go with you.”
“Fish will be resting. Cat and Ant are healing. We need one able-bodied Marine to keep an eye on the island while we’re gone, just in case the enemy shows up.”
“Okay,” Mac said, frowning.
“Will you know what medical supplies to get?” Dr. Ruzka asked. She was standing in the corner near the doorway, her hands on her hips. “I’d really like to see what’s available. Maybe I should go.”
“Absolutely not,” Elna said forcefully.
“You are way too important, Doc,” Malin added. “George and Daniel need you, absolutely need you. You’ve taken enough risks. For their sakes, please stay.” The doctor was just a bit too reckless with herself. It had been to their advantage, since that recklessness had brought her to the island in the first place, but they couldn’t let her crawl around the militia camp shopping for medical supplies.
This seemed to work, and the doctor pursed her lips and leaned back against the wall.
Raymond Cabello was seated beside her, his head on his hands. He’d taken his son to one of the guest rooms to rest. He perked up now. “I’m going. Someone has to go who can pilot the boat.”
“Daniel needs you,” Elna said.
“No, he needs Selene and the doctor,” Raymond added. “I’m going.”
“Is your shoulder healed up enough?”
He reached up and grabbed his left shoulder. He’d dislocated it on the long, miserable trip to Manchester and only very recently felt good enough to remove the sling. “It hurts a little,” he said, “but I’ll take it easy. Trust me. You need your old ship captain. I can stay on the boat while you go ashore.”
Elna met his gaze, stared at him hard for a second, and finally replied, “Okay, fine, but don’t take any risks, okay? The staff sergeant is in charge. You do what he says at all times so you come back in one piece to your son.”
Raymond gave them both a curt nod. “Got it.”
“Fine, that’ll work,” Prig said. “So there’ll be six of us. Spence, Archer, me, Elna, Malin, and the pilot. We’ll travel light, sail across the bay under cover of night, and sneak into the camp to find Golf. Our goal is to get in and out with minimal interaction, folks. You two.” He pointed at Elna and Malin in turn. “You stay with us at all times. Is that clear?”
“Aye-aye, cap’n,” Malin said.
It was going to be a cloudy night, that was clear. No moon or stars—practically no light at all. That made Elna nervous about sailing. The water in the bay would be choppy. She stood on the veranda with Malin, emptying their packs. They, too, were traveling lightly and needed plenty of space for medical supplies. Malin brought the firearm that had formerly belonged to Selene’s ex-boyfriend. Elna brought one of the small first aid kits from the guesthouse bathroom and a couple of LED flashlights.
As she prepared the gear, Raymond went on ahead to the sailboat to make sure it was ready to go. Elna had not witnessed his farewell conversation with Daniel, but she couldn’t imagine the boy was excited about his father joining the mission.
When they were done, they stood together for a moment, gazing off to the distant, darkening bay.
