“Who is it?” Alicia asked in a hushed voice.
“Militia.”
He didn’t hesitate. Zeke and Dylan were behind, maybe two hundred yards. He lifted the flare gun and aimed it behind him. A quick burst of smoke and it erupted in the air. They would see it and pull off the road. They would have to go another way around but at least they wouldn’t be stopped.
He turned his attention back to the commotion ahead. He figured they might have seen the flare but they were distracted by one of the riders who refused to get down off his horse. One of the militia tried to take hold of the reins but the horse reared up on its hind legs. A gun was fired and the rider slipped off and landed hard. The other two riders went to his aid but were immediately charged and struck in the face.
“Are they raiders?” Alicia asked.
“No. I know one of them. They’re from the Wiyot Tribe.”
He handed her the binoculars so she could take a look. Alicia took a moment to study what was happening. “Should we go around?”
“I need to find out what’s happening here.”
“How? There’s four-armed militia.”
Colby slipped off the horse. “I’ll get closer. Stay here. If anyone approaches, leave, I’ll meet you on Alderpoint Road.”
“Colby. No.”
“Just stay here.”
He left Kane with her. Alicia brought the horse over to a cluster of trees. She climbed off and tied up the horse. Then, she crouched and took the binoculars to get a better view.
Colby ran at a crouch across the road and weaved through the trees to get closer. He held his AR-15 in hand, finger hovering over the trigger. The closer he got, the louder the conversation became.
“You shot him.”
“Get in the truck!” The soldier barked.
One of them was thrust into the passenger side of the truck after being zip-tied, while the second put up a fight, trying to get to the downed man, who was still alive and squirming on the ground.
Colby watched in horror as one of the militia walked up to the downed man. He placed a foot on his back to prevent him from getting away and then without saying a word he lifted a handgun and shot him in the back of the head.
A painful cry escaped one of the other men.
“Next time, do as you’re told!”
“I’m going to rip your…” He recognized him. It was Paco. He unleashed a fist, knocking one of the militia down before he pounced on the second. The one in the truck that had been zip-tied and placed in the front somehow managed to kick out the side window.
Chaos took over, a flurry of activity as the other three militia guys went toe to toe with Paco, a man that was twice the size of them. They could have shot him but the one that had been struck by Paco told them not to. He wanted him for himself. The soldier got up and brushed himself off, then the other two grabbed Paco on either side and held him against the truck while the soldier wailed on him with hooks and jabs.
Meanwhile, the one in the truck had managed to get himself out of the restraints. He burst out of the door and that’s when the militia knew they’d bitten off more than they could chew. For whatever reason, they chose not to shoot these guys. The four of them attempted to wrestle them to the ground. A task that wasn’t easy.
Moving fast, adrenaline surging through him, Colby hurried toward the truck, rifle out in front of him. “Hey!” he yelled.
One of the militia guys broke away from the fight and lifted his rifle. Colby had to assume he would shoot, especially after they’d already killed one without mercy, so he took the shot, taking the militia guy down with a round to the skull.
The three remaining were oblivious, too caught up in the fight with Paco and the other one. They must have assumed the gunshot came from their fellow soldier.
When one of them turned his way, that’s when anger exploded.
A split-second glance at his fallen brother, and he lifted a Glock and unleashed two rounds. Colby darted sideways, taking cover on the other side of the truck.
He dropped down and saw the soldier making his way around.
He fired a round, the bullet struck him in the leg.
He screamed in agony, thrashing around on the ground.
Colby found himself zigzagging across the road, trying to reach cover as one of the other two came around the back of the truck. It all happened so fast. Gunfire was coming from two directions. There was no time to stand in one place and figure out who to shoot first. He took cover in the tree line.
Paco was shot in the leg to take the fight out of him, and then quickly shoved into the truck. His friend was on top of the soldier Colby had downed, trying to strangle him. A second soldier lifted his gun to shoot him but before he could do that, Colby took the shot and took the soldier out. His body dropped, and the engine roared to life.
Within seconds, the truck turned south almost sideswiping Paco’s friend. He rolled out of the way and the truck crushed the soldier beneath its wheels. The truck took off at a high rate of speed, swerving and then straightening out.
Colby rushed out into the middle of the road to check on the other one who was focused on the truck heading away. “You okay?”
He nodded and looked up at him.
Colby extended a hand to help him up.
“What’s your name?”
“Elsu.”
His lip was cut, and the skin above his eye was swollen.
“I’m…”
“Colby. I know. Dakota told us.”
They both looked down the road as the truck disappeared around the bend.
A sense of defeat came over Colby. He knew Paco. He knew his family.
Elsu walked over to the one they’d shot in the back of the head. He bent down and cradled his friend.
