“Yes, it’s refreshing, and it makes me wonder why any other man of God would keep that to himself.”
Mike paused, certain he was laying the story on, two layers over the top.
Baker paused as well, rubbing his chin.
“They are selfish,” he finally spoke…“all that have come before me. But God spoke to me on the very day the lights went out, telling me to give my knowledge to the suffering, the sick, and weak-spirited. Give to the poor, the starving, and to the women who have not known a godly relationship their entire lives. I am the Chosen One; there is no other. I am to settle in a lush valley four miles long and a mile wide with my people, vanquishing all opposition in the name of my Father, who sent me down from heaven to gather the sheep for the final reckoning. Tell me what you know.”
Mike weaved a tale with some truths he felt authenticated the story, without giving up something not already glaringly obvious.
“I was hoping you had better information,” said Baker. “But you are a fighter, and I need more of those. Plus, you’re out for revenge, and that can’t be underestimated. Don’t disappoint me.”
“Can I ask you one question, Colonel?”
“Maybe. What is it?”
“I already heard you were headed for Fort Collins, but you held up here in between. Why is that?”
“That’s what you heard?”
“Yes, from your lead guys up on Raton Pass.”
“It figures. They were idiots, not worthy of information, but I will grant you an answer just this time. Our compound in Fort Collins is not ready yet. It seems there has been a small setback, a minor inconvenience, really. It is to be our last stop before the valley and seems to be common knowledge now. We likely leave in a week or less, but that can change either way. I hold in my hand,” he continued, reaching down to a locked box he opened with a key on a chain around his neck. “I hold in my hand,” he said again, holding up a leather-bound notebook, “the plans for our future. Every detail mapped out, every victory foreshadowed, every soul to be redeemed in the name of my God.”
“Thank you, Colonel,” is all Mike said, having to remind himself why he shouldn’t just grab him by the throat and be done with it.
Half his mind said he could have grabbed the book and made a regime change in an hour and saved the Valley, and the other half—the more rational half maybe—kept him from doing so. He walked back to the medical tent, refusing help of any kind, and was resolved to at least be able to ride the bike and meet Lance at the rendezvous spot—if it killed him.
* * * *
Sirens woke Mike up after midnight, sounding like the tornado sirens at the FEMA camp but somehow different.
“Everybody out that can walk unassisted,” came the call throughout the infirmary.
Mike was up and out, followed by Max, who bunked in the back next to a pretty young doctor named Sally.
Max vaguely remembered Sergio’s instructions about not talking to any woman, but in fairness, he thought, She talked to me first.
“You are in my world now,” she told him the very first day, like any new medical staff man or woman, so I will call you New Max.”
“Okay, but can I ask you something?” he finally got up the courage to say.
“One thing,” she replied.
“How does a pretty woman such as yourself bypass the Colonel and his men? I mean, don’t they take the pretty ones for themselves?”
“You’re asking a question, New Max, that you shouldn’t be concerned with. But I will give you an answer, true to my word. My name is Sally. ‘Dr. Baker’ to non-medical residents. My mother is/was his daughter and I never knew my father, so the maiden name stuck. Does that answer your question?”
“Uh, yes, ma’am…I mean ‘Dr. Baker.’ Sorry to ask, I guess.”
* * * *
“Steer right clear of that one,” said Sergio to him later. “She sure is something to look at, but she’s a fast track to your demise—I guarantee it.”
“Has anyone tried to get close to her?”
“A couple of guys that I know of, and they’re not around to tell you the tragic story. Don’t be number three.”
The sirens were a warning, Mike learned. A test of bad things that may come. The one thing he saw that maybe nobody else in camp did was that the Colonel and his men were outside amongst the others for a full five minutes before the sirens stopped.
“How often do these things go off?” Mike asked Sergio.
“Twice a week, like clockwork, only it’s a different day and time with each one.”
“And he always comes out?”
“That may be his downfall, but I’ve never seen him miss one,” replied Sergio.
Mike’s purpose changed that night, and he focused solely on getting hold of the book. After all, it could change the entire playing field.
* * * * * * *
Chapter Twenty-two
Saddle Ranch
Loveland, Colorado
Sarah called out instructions to the other doctors.
“We have an 18-year-old male with two gunshot wounds—left elbow and right upper thigh, as well as a posterior head contusion. He’s semi-conscious, so all hands on deck.”
Mac and Cory arrived at the West Hospital, only to be turned away by one of the new doctors.
“I’m not even sure why we come down here anymore, at least not at the start,” said Mac. “It was like that before too. Unless it was a cut or broken bone—something simple like that—they would make everyone wait outside in the lobby.”
“This is our lobby, only outside,” replied Cory.
“Doc,” said Mac, before one of the other doctors disappeared back inside. “Just tell Sar...I mean, Dr. Melton, and Drake when he wakes up, that Cory and I…we’re here.”
“Sure. Will do. Now I need to get back to work.”
* * * *
Mac got the call late in the afternoon from Sarah that he was hoping to receive, or maybe dreading.
