Sutherland looked out the window of the helicopter as they flew east. He thought back to the last flight he had taken in a helicopter... the future of the United States had changed during that flight. He hoped this flight didn't carry as much weight.
"Sorry," Lewis said, yelling over the engine noise, "we don't want to fly over Rapid City."
It made sense to Sutherland. The less attention they called to themselves the better. He knew that people in the city could easily figure out where the helicopter had come from and they didn't need that kind of attention.
"Do you know where this place is?"
"We think so, Sir. We have satellite images that were printed out about six months ago of the western United States that were used for training missions. We found two complexes within fifty miles of Salt Lake City, either of which could be the place."
Sutherland hoped they were able to find the place. Getting answers about the origin of the attack would be a step in the right direction when it came to rebuilding the United States. Even with the world's shifting political climate, Sutherland felt like other countries would come to their aid if the culprit was put on public display.
He knew the chance of everything returning to the way it was before was something that might not happen in his lifetime... or even his daughter's lifetime, but the only thing Sutherland really had left was hope and there was no way he was going to let go of it.
The helicopter finally turned south and began the slow journey to Salt Lake City. It was going to be a long day... a potentially dangerous day and Sutherland could only think about his fellow Americans being held hostage in the bunker at District Four. He couldn't even imagine they had any hope left. Sutherland hoped Wheeler could pull off some kind of a rescue... or at least get them out of their cells and give them a chance to fight.
"Do you think this Howlins will really be able to tell you where the attack originated from?" Sutherland said.
"I do, Sir."
Sutherland felt like he could hear some doubt in Lewis's voice, but he didn't want to question what little faith the man had left.
"You said you were going to bomb whoever is responsible. I was under the assumption that your bombers would have been knocked out by the EMP."
Lewis was looking out the window, but turned back to Sutherland and nodded.
"They were, Sir. One of the men back at the base, his grandfather was a mechanic in the Army Air Force during World War II and his dad was a mechanic during Vietnam. He knows pretty much everything there is to know about fixing aircraft. He got this helicopter ready."
"He's going to fix one of your bombers?"
"That's the hope, Sir. There was an underground storage of spare parts under the base... so he's going to try and fix one of them."
Sutherland hoped they were able to pull it off. He wanted whoever did this to pay for it... and he thought they might be able to give him a lift back to the bunker at District One if they could get one of their bombers flying again. Sutherland definitely didn't feel the need to drive all the way back... and flying most of the way in an old prop plane was enough for one lifetime. Not to mention the trip would be so much faster in one of the B-1B's.
Rapid City was still visible in the distance as the helicopter changed course slightly, heading in a more southwest direction. Sutherland was surprised by just how much larger the city was than Pierre, which was more like a town in his opinion. Even though they had been fired on when trying to refuel the plane, Pierre was really the first time Sutherland was able to see how the event had changed people. It made him worry... not only for the future of the country he loved, but for his wife and daughter and what they were facing. He closed his eyes. Sutherland felt so helpless.
"How has Rapid City been? Were there riots?"
"Some," Lewis said. "For the most part I would say people left or they stayed in their homes. We did some aid work the first few days... but after that everything kind of fell apart."
"How so?"
"Well, we were cut off from any sort of contact with the government. As the men started to figure out what happened, they began to leave. Most of them wanted to find their families... and no one stopped them."
Sutherland nodded. He didn't blame them. He would have done the same, and had actually tried, but he had been turned back at the door of the bunker.
"What about you and your men?"
"Not much family to speak of for me and my men, Sir."
Sutherland sensed a certain tension in the other man’s voice... maybe he wasn't telling him everything, but Sutherland decided not to press Lewis.
"And the people of Rapid City?"
"I'm not sure what they did. Two days ago I sent a couple of my men into the city to scout it out. They said it was deserted for the most part... and what people were left didn't show themselves."
It was curious to Sutherland. He just assumed the people would lash out at the military as they had done in Pierre.
"Any idea where the people went?"
"No, Sir. A few of the men speculated about it, but we don't have the resources to try and find out."
"What did the men think?"
Lewis looked over at Sutherland before answering.
"Some thought perhaps the people would head to larger cities in search of humanitarian aid, Sir. Rapid City was roughly seventy thousand people so it wasn't a mass exodus if that's the case, but they still seemed to have left."
Sutherland nodded. It made sense and sounded like what people would normally do, but he didn't know how it would turn out. He felt like the larger cities would be more dangerous... although Pierre had been quite hostile and it was a small city.
He looked out the window just as Rapid City faded into the distance. Sutherland shifted in his seat as he tried to alleviate some of the pain in his back. The past few days had certainly taken its toll on his aging body and he would be pleased when he could actually sleep in a comfortable bed. Not that he was getting his hopes up that it might happen anytime soon.
"We are going to have to refuel at some point," Lewis said.
Sutherland nodded without turning his attention back to the man. He knew refueling was going to be a challenge.
"Where?"
"In Rawlins, Sir."
Sutherland nodded. The name didn’t mean anything to him, but that didn’t mean it would be any less of a dangerous place to touch down. He knew they would have to land somewhere large enough to have an airfield because they would need Jet A fuel for the helicopter.
Sutherland found it hard to keep his eyes open as the minutes dragged on. The previous night of sleep hadn’t been that great since they had slept on the open ground. He tilted his head back and closed his eyes.
Lewis put his hand on Sutherland’s shoulder and shook him. Sutherland yawned as he opened his eyes. He felt like the nap hadn’t lasted for more than a few minutes, but he had a good feeling they were nearing Rawlins.
“What’s the plan?” Sutherland said.
“The pilot’s gonna bring us in hot and take off again. We’ll find the fuel truck and bring it around to the pad. He’ll come back in ten minutes for us and we refuel as quickly as possible.”
Sutherland looked out the window and nodded. He liked the plan… as much as he could possibly like a plan that involved a helicopter dropping them off and leaving. It made sense logistically and Sutherland really hoped they could pull it off.
“Here,” Lewis said.
Sutherland turned and Lewis handed him his M9 pistol and an extra magazine. Sutherland put the extra magazine his pocket and checked the chamber, which was empty and checked to make sure the safety was on. He really hoped he wouldn’t have to use it.
The pilot dropped the helicopter closer to the ground as they approached the town of Rawlins. Sutherland looked out the left window and saw what looked like an oil refinery and a small town next to it. A plume of black smoke was coming from the middle of the refinery and Sutherland shook his head. The destructive nature of people was obvious and it made him sad.
Lewis tapped Sutherland on the shoulder and nodded. Sutherland nodded in response to the signal and he checked the M9 again. He took a deep breath and tried to calm his racing heart as the airport came into view.
The pilot slowed the forward progress as they crossed over the end of one of the two runways. They circled back as they passed over the end of the runways and the pilot brought the helicopter down on the southwest side of the tarmac. Sutherland jumped up as Lewis pushed the door open and they both jumped out. The helicopter took off as they ducked and ran away.
There was a white metal shed about thirty feet away and they ran toward it. Lewis got there first. He threw his shoulder against the door without any hesitation and knocked it open. Lewis tumbled to the ground and Sutherland ducked into the shed seconds later.
Lewis jumped up and lifted his rifle to his shoulder. The shed was small, about twenty by ten, but Lewis still cleared the whole thing before lowering his gun.
“All right,” Lewis said, “we’ve got ten minutes until he comes back. Let’s go find that fuel truck.”
Sutherland nodded and followed Lewis out of the shed.
“I’ll check those buildings,” Lewis said, pointing to a row of steel buildings, “and you go check those.”
Sutherland turned and ran in the opposite direction toward the four buildings Lewis had pointed at. One looked like a hanger, which he figured would be his best shot even though it was the farthest building from him. Sutherland flicked the safety on the M9 with his thumb as he approached the hanger. The main hanger doors were open just a few inches, but it was dark enough he couldn’t see inside. Sutherland tucked the M9 into his belt and pushed the left door open.
A smile crossed his face when he saw an old fuel truck parked inside that looked older than him. He ran up to the driver’s door and pulled on the handle. The door swung open and he jumped up into the driver’s seat. He felt the column, but the keys weren’t in the ignition. It was the last major hurdle that faced him as precious seconds ticked away—the helicopter would be back any minute and they would be sitting ducks as soon as it landed.
Sutherland looked around the cab and finally pulled the sun visor down. The keys dropped and landed in his lap as a smile crossed his face. He put his foot on the brake and pushed the key into the ignition. The engine sputtered and finally came to life. Sutherland put the truck into reverse and quickly backed out of the hanger door.
Lewis ran back toward where the helicopter had dropped them off as soon as he heard Sutherland start the fuel truck. Sutherland parked a few feet away from where the pilot would land and jumped out. Lewis was already pulling out the hose when Sutherland made it to the other side of the truck.
“Did you find anything else?” Sutherland said.
“No… just… storage.”
Sutherland looked to the north as the helicopter came over a small ridge and headed for them. The pilot set it down right where he had dropped them off and gave them the OK sign. They pulled the hose the rest of the way to the helicopter and Lewis hooked it up. Sutherland went back to the truck and opened the valve. He heard the fuel begin to flow and he looked back to the pilot. Sutherland shut the fuel off when the pilot waved at him. Lewis disconnected the hose and they put it back in the truck.
“I’ll put the truck back, Sir,” Lewis said.
Sutherland nodded and headed for the helicopter. He climbed inside, strapped in and waited for Lewis. The whole thing had gone so smoothly that it almost worried Sutherland—after everything he had been through the last few days he just thought something bad was bound to happen.