Exit 9

Matt stared at the world map on his computer screen. Marked on it were the locations where companies with variations on the names Hiddekel, Pishon, Gihon, and Phrath had been conducting suspicious operations that had so far gone undiscovered. While there were many marks, they represented only a fraction of the number that he knew must have been out there. Worse yet, Matt’s people were having spotty luck getting through to people who might be able to do something about those they did know. And even when they did reach someone, convincing them that something terrible was about to happen was more miss than hit.

“Mr. Hamilton?”

Matt looked up. Everyone seemed to be busy at the different stations. “Who called me?”

“I did, sir.” A hand went up across the room.

Matt stood up. “What is it?”

“Security breach, sir. PB position two.”

PB was the codename assigned to the dirt road leading to the Ranch. Position two would mean whoever it was would already be halfway to the Lodge from the highway.

“Do you have visual?”

“They’ll be coming up on a video point in about fifteen seconds.”

“Route it to one of the TVs.”

“Yes, sir.”

There was a delay of five seconds, then the monitor on the end of the table filled with an image of the empty dirt road.

“Sir, second contact.”

“Also on PB?”

“No, sir, from the southwest, but coming fast and low. I think it’s a helicopter.”

On the screen, three large SUVs suddenly appeared. Though it was impossible to tell for sure, each looked like it was filled with men wearing helmets and holding weapons.

Matt shoved himself out of his chair. “Get everyone who’s outside into the Bunker now and lock us up tight! I don’t want whoever is coming this way to get even a hint of where any of the entrances are.”

The alarm began blaring throughout the Bunker to let everyone know they were about to seal things up.

“Prep full cover,” Matt said.

Silence descended on the room.

“Are…are you sure, sir?” one of the men asked.

“I said prep, I didn’t say set it off. But if I do, I don’t want any hesitation.”

“Yes, sir.”

Full cover would mean igniting both the Lodge and the dormitory so that they would burn down on top of two of the entrances to the Bunker. The third entrance, accessed via a long tunnel, would be left open unless it was found. If that happened, it could be collapsed once the intruders were inside.

“Let me know as soon as everyone is in,” he said.

“Sir, another contact. Looks like a second helicopter. Coming from the northeast.”

Rachel rushed into the room. “What’s going on?”

“Someone’s coming at us.”

“Who?”

He looked at her. “I’ll give you one guess.”

“We don’t know that for sure.”

“If we could find them, they certainly could find us.”

“Sir, fourth contact.” It was yet another helicopter.

“Is everyone back inside yet?”

“Jon Hayes is still out there. He went to the barn to check on the horses.”

“Get him on the radio.”

Several seconds passed. “I’ve patched him through to the speaker, sir.”

“Jon, this is Matt. Where are you?”

“Running up from the barn.”

“How long will it take you to get here?”

“Three minutes.”

Matt glanced at the center screen. The security image from the road had been replaced by a map of the Ranch, with moving dots representing the contacts heading their way. Three minutes would be too late.

“You’re not going to make it,” he said. “You’ll have to-”

“Matt, I’m not alone. Brandon Ash came with me.”

Ash’s son? “Who authorized that?”

“No one. He was going a little stir-crazy, so I thought maybe if he helped me with the horses, he’d feel better. I…I didn’t think anyone was going to show up like this.”

No one had thought that, but still, taking the kid out? What was Matt going to tell Ash?

“You need to hide. Now. When it’s clear, get to one of the emergency supply dumps in the woods, fill up a pack, and hike out. They may keep coming back, so it’s your only chance. After you’re away, operate under emergency contact conditions. Do not, I repeat, do not try to come back here.”

“What about you?”

Matt hesitated. He could no longer ignore what was heading their way. “We’re going full cover right now.” He nodded at the man monitoring the security system, confirming the order.

“I understand. Good luck.”

“Jon. Don’t let anything happen to the kid.”

“I won’t.”

“They’re not going to let us back in?” Brandon asked, trying not to sound as scared as he felt.

“There’s no time,” Hayes said. “You hear the helicopters?”

Brandon nodded. Distant thump-thump-thumps were coming from several directions.

“We’d never make it back before they got here. It’s okay, though. Don’t worry. We just need to hide out until they’re gone.” Hayes looked around quickly. “This way.” He started for the woods south of the path.

“What about the horses?” Brandon asked.

“They’d see us if we were on them.”

“No, no. I mean, won’t the others see the barn? Couldn’t the horses be in danger?”

“I’m sure no one will bother them.”

He took another step toward the trees, but Brandon held his ground. “We can’t leave them there! Mr. Hamilton said they were going to full cover. I know what that is. I’ve been trying to learn everything so I could help if I was needed. If they get rid of all the ways in and out of the Bunker, who’s going to feed the horses? Don’t you see? We have to at least let them go so they can take care of themselves.”

Hayes stared at him, and sighed. It was only a minute back to the barn. Chances were, the people in the helicopters would head straight for the Lodge, buying Hayes and the kid a little more time.

Hayes couldn’t help also feeling a little ashamed with himself. Brandon was right. Leaving the horses pent-up would be inhumane. The two of them could probably let the animals out and slip into the woods to the east without anyone ever suspecting they were there.

He stepped quickly back on the path.

“If I yell ‘hide,’ you run as fast as you can for the closest trees, you understand?”

“So we’ll let the horses out?”

Hayes nodded.

As soon as the alarm went off, Josie went looking for her brother.

Surprisingly, he wasn’t in any of the places he usually hung out. Thinking that maybe he’d gone to the communications room to see what was going on, she headed there. A quick scan of those present revealed that