I cover them before I leave, and head to Ravani’s place. It is only a couple of minutes away by foot. I creep around the side of his housing unit. I am ready to make my move when a hand covers my mouth. I feel the barrel of a gun at my temple. Then I hear a familiar Scottish brogue, whisper in the silence.
“Ye should nae have come back.
Rage floods my senses at the thought of the SAS being involved in Crowder’s death. I have worked with Kirkland and other members of his team on several occasions. While, we are not close, I always thought he was a decent guy, so there is a feeling of betrayal that makes my fury more intense. His hand eases from my mouth, but the gun is steady against my head.
“What the hell is going on here, and why is SAS involved in it?”
“Nae, SAS is na’ involved. Yer ODA was eliminated by Lui for knowing too much. Her, personal guard is lookin for ye now, so I’d rather nae take the time to chit chat. I cannae find Ravani, but he’s probably dead. Follow me, and I’ll give ye, what information I have.”
Kirkland moves the gun away from my head and stalks off into the night towards the tree line. I figure if he was here to kill me, I would already be dead, so I follow him. A few minutes later we are squeezing through a split he cut into the chain link fence at the border of the post. Once, we are in the woods, I grab him by the shoulder, and spin him around to face me.
“What the hell is going on here, and why are you involved in it?
He puts both his hands up in a gesture meant to calm me…it doesn’t.
“Nae, I’m na’ involved I’ve told ye. I came a week ago with Williams and McDonald. I was meant to fly out with them. But I met a pretty, little lass with a sweet little...agh good God man, could they all be so lovingly built.”
What little light there is reflects off his toothy grin. Fury rolls over me as I picture Crowder.
“In case you have already forgotten, that was Crowder over there with a bullet in his head.”
Kirkland matches my intensity, as he steps closer.
“And there is nothing ye can do about it now, so save yer righteousness. I stayed to make sure ye and the others would nae meet the same fate.”
I scowl at him, even as I recognize the truth in his statement. Then I murmur, mostly to myself.
“I don’t know how you could get any woman to take you home.”
Kirkland shrugs not at all offended by my statement.
“What cannae say, U.A. women have a weakness for a Scottish accent. I decided to stay an extra day. I was leaving her barracks discreetly, when I overheard Lou’s jobbies talking, bragging about how they thought CAG, was supposed to be hard to kill. It took me a while to find out where ye boys had housing. By the time I got here the team had already been executed, except for Ravani, Weber, Abram and ye. The four of ye, were nae where ye were supposed to be. Why is that?”
“We didn’t have a mission, so Captain Harkins gave me three days leave.”
“I think they started with Harkins, and dinnae ask any questions before shooting.”
“They tried to detain me at Esler, I knew something had gone sideways, but I would never have imagined they would take out the team. I should have called, but I knew I was in trouble, and it would be monitored…I didn’t want to implicate them. I didn’t know the others left… Abram, and Weber, will be together. Do you have a phone? I tossed mine.”
He hands me his phone. Though, I am certain whatever I send will be seen by the U.A. I send a quick message to Ravani. The team is being hunted…you should seek medical attention elsewhere for your wounds…I love you brother. Then I send another to Abram, and Weber. The team is being hunted…don’t come back…maybe your love will conquer all. They are vague clues at best to get to Doc Love’s place, but it is the best I can do. I hand Kirkland his phone back, he sends a message to someone, then promptly destroys his phone.
“You’re not going to be able to get back home. The world has just gone to war against the U.A.”
“I’ve seen the news…The whole world is on fire…any suggestions?”
I have a moment of internal debate, before letting out a long exhale.
“I know a place where we can go.”
Epilogoue World on Fire
I know it’s not what Kirkland meant more than three weeks ago when he said it, but truer words were never spoken. The whole world is on fire. My team was assassinated for nothing, because nothing could hold back the news, of the U.A.’s deceit.
Roughly thirty eight percent of the world’s land mass is agricultural. Much of that has been infected with what has now been deemed, the suicide seeds. The burning started, the day after Kirkland and I left Bragg. It has complicated our journey, mostly on foot, to get to Doc’s place. The air is filled with smoke and ash. From what information I can glean as we make our way south, it is the same story worldwide. Massive, crop burnings, have taken place, to try and stop the spread of the suicide seeds The U.A. is in chaos, there has been
