Chapter Eleven

 

 

 

“What’s happening?”

“I don’t know. Something’s up.” Ellie crept to the bottom of the steps and tried to listen. The stooges were silent, their footsteps having ceased once the door had been opened.

She nearly screamed when the first report of gunfire, muffled by the ceiling, crackled, breaking the stillness. She backed away from the stairs and sought the refuge of her cot.

“Is this it?” Ward asked. His eyes were wide. He flinched when a gun fired once more.

“I don’t know.” Ellie glanced hurriedly around the room. Apart from the tiny toilet cubicle, there was nowhere to hide. She didn’t relish being caught in a gun battle. If there was someone coming to take them, she thought that the goons may well defend the hatch. She didn’t want them coming through and drawing fire down into the basement. Bullets would ricochet off the concrete walls. Ellie and the governor would be fish in a barrel. Ellie slid from the cot and tipped it over. “It would probably be a good idea to take cover.” Her voice shook. She sat on the cold floor and leaned back against the wall.

Rapid fire answered the single shots. It was hard to hear anything other than that. She hated not knowing.

“Do you think it will work?” Ward cowered behind his cot.

“It’s better than nothing.” Ellie wrapped her arms around her legs in an attempt to stop shaking. The ceiling creaked and moaned. She screamed when the hatch rattled. “Don’t you dare hide down here, you gutless morons!”

The gunfire was louder, almost continuous. The ceiling shook and dust drifted idly to the floor, illuminated by the grim single bulb. Shadows shifted as the bulb swung back and forth. Ellie hid her face and prayed, silently. When the basement was plunged into darkness, she screamed.

“Stay down! Stay down!” The hatch banged open.

“JesusMaryMotherofGod.” Ellie curled her hands in her skirt and complied. She was vaguely comforted by Ward’s frantic praying a few feet away—it made her feel less of a coward. She opened one eye and saw a light, a single white beam, trailing across the room, in a measured, careful zigzag. The stairs creaked under boot heels. She peered over the edge of the upended cot. It was impossible to make any sense of it all. There was more than one light, more than one tread. A thin, red beam followed the torchlight.

“Sergeant Thomas Dobbs, US Marine Corps. Who’s here? Show yourselves. I can see you on the infra-red.”

Ellie bit her lip and crawled out from behind the cot. “Eleanor Freeman,” she replied, trying to keep the tremor from her voice.

“Thank Christ for that.” The red beam disappeared.

Ellie blinked and covered her eyes when the white light swung toward her.

“Can someone turn on the light, please?” the sergeant shouted. “I’ve got one here.”

“Governor Ward’s here too.” Ellie glanced toward him.

The light flickered on. Ellie, still shaking, found that she couldn’t move.

“Honey, we’d better get a move on before the reinforcements get here.” The sergeant, in night camouflage and a Kevlar vest, eased her to her feet. Another soldier hurried down the stairs and took Ward.

Ellie’s legs wobbled and she let the sergeant help her to the stairs. Above, she heard another voice calling for a chopper and make it fast.

Another voice, distant. “Someone’s coming, Sarge.”

“Shit.” The sergeant hauled Ellie up the stairs. She struggled to keep up with him.

Above the murmur of voices, the comforting thrum of rotors filled the night air. Ellie took a deep breath of cool night air as she stumbled through the hatch. Ward followed. The Marines were shadows against the dim moonlight beyond the open door.

“Will you tell that fucking chopper to hurry up,” the sergeant growled. “I really don’t feel like shooting anyone else tonight.”

Ellie glanced over her shoulder. Two dark forms lay still on the floor. Two of the stooges had gone. It worried her that she felt no pity.

“Fuck.” Someone hissed. “Sarge.”

Beneath the din of the approaching helicopter, there was the purr of an engine. Headlights pierced the darkness, flickering with every bounce of wheels.

“The fucking cavalry’s arrived. Get ready for covering fire. We’re not going anywhere till the chopper gets here.”

The rotors roared, the floor trembled and the air was filled with light as the helicopter glided in, settling in the middle of the garden. Lights flashed from the tail, winking like a siren’s beacon, offering safety.

“Right.” The sergeant tightened his grip on Ellie’s arm. “Do you think you can make a run for it?”

Ellie’s heart hammered. She took a deep breath. “I’ll try.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll cover you. We’ll draw their fire and you’d better run like you’ve never run before.”

She swallowed and looked at him, trembling. “All right.” She had to run. If she wanted to see Duncan again, she had to run.

“Good girl. I’m going to count you down. When I tell you to run, you run. Don’t look back, don’t stop, don’t think, just run. There are men on the chopper, they’ll come out and get you, okay?”

She nodded.

He edged her closer to the door. She peered past him and saw the convoy bumping up the track toward the shed. The Prophet was finally getting the battle he wanted.

The sergeant started counting, under his breath. Ellie picked up her skirt, as far as she dared, and made ready to sprint. The helicopter sat in the potato patch, its blades kicking up dust and bits of vegetation. It seemed miles away.

“Three…two…one…run.”

Ellie darted out of the shed, her feet scrabbling for purchase on the gravel. She stared straight ahead, aiming for the helicopter. She shut out the chaos behind her. If anything was happening she wasn’t aware of it. She sprang off the gravel and into the dirt, plowing through plants, trampling them, not stopping to worry about the hard work undone by her careless progress. Her throat burned, her lungs wanted to explode. Her hands cramped as they curled into her skirt. She kept running, stumbling over the rows and trailing tendrils of runner beans in her wake. The first bullet hummed past her like a bee. Ellie bit back a scream and prayed while she ran. Another bullet threw dirt up at her heels. The helicopter loomed large in front of her, the wind from the rotors hurling dust into her face, into her mouth. She had no time to stop and choke or cough. Everything hurt, her legs were leaden, her heart worked overtime, pounding madly.

“Come on, you’re nearly there.” A voice and the vague shape of another soldier. He jumped down from the chopper and ran toward her.

Ellie thought of Duncan. She was nearly there, surrounded by angry bees. It didn’t matter. The soldier lunged at her and seized her arm. He pulled her forward, leaving her to follow. He made it easy. With one swift leap, he was back on the helicopter and Ellie didn’t mind that he nearly wrenched her arms out of their sockets as he hauled her onboard.

She collapsed onto the floor, gasping, fighting for air.

“Are you all right, miss?” He sounded so young. He patted her shoulder.

“Yes.” She rolled onto her side and peered into the darkness. She couldn’t hear anything above the roar of the rotor blades. All she could see were flashes of light and vague shapes moving toward the helicopter. The soldier who’d helped her leaped out once more. Ellie jumped when he fired off a round to the left, toward the track that led to the shed. The dim flicker of headlights spread across the ruined garden. Another soldier jumped into the helicopter. He dragged Governor Ward unceremoniously into the cabin. Ward lay on the floor, his chest rising and falling.

“Sir?” Ellie touched his arm.

“They fucking got me.” He gasped.

Ellie looked at his leg, at the dark blossom on his trousers. The other soldier had seen it too. He scrambled to a small metal box and flung it open. “You’ll be fine, sir.”

Suddenly the cabin was full of soldiers, all breathing hard. The sergeant shouted to the pilot to go. Two soldiers worked on the governor’s leg and Ellie, exhausted, leaned back and watched.

“Are you all right?” Sergeant Dobbs shouted.

Ellie nodded and wiped her eyes. She wanted to weep with relief. She drew her knees to her chest and hid her face in her skirt.

“We’ll be there in a few minutes.” The sergeant patted her shoulder.

Wherever ‘there’ was, Ellie hoped that Duncan would be somewhere close by.

 

* * * *

 

“This is Foxtrot Alpha. We’re done here.” The voice broke through the hiss of empty static. “ETA five minutes. We need that air evac fired up and ready to roll. Ward’s been hit.”

“Come on.” Inspector Clarkson tapped Duncan’s arm. “Let’s get a move on if you want to meet your lady friend.”

Duncan stared at him numbly for a moment. After the tense, horrible minutes when everyone in the room had fallen silent, listening to shouts and gunfire, the calm voice reporting that it was all over seemed unreal. Duncan stood, trying to stop shaking. He hurried after Clarkson, down the corridor and out into the cool night air. He could already hear the steady whomp of the returning helicopter. He couldn’t give a toss about the governor. He jumped into the car and Clarkson reversed and headed onto the main road. Duncan peered out of the window. The flashing lights of the chopper skimmed over the town. The car wheeled onto a side road and Clarkson slammed a light onto the roof and shoved his foot on the gas. Duncan could see where the chopper was headed—some kind of sports field. The lights pierced the darkness and glinted on the helicopter as it circled and descended.

“Here we are.”

The car bounced off the road and onto a cinder track. Duncan shielded his eyes from the bright lights. The helicopter’s roar filled the air. The rotors kicked up dust from the baseball diamond. A phalanx of cars was parked at the field’s edge and a small, yellow helicopter sat on the far side of the field, two crew members standing by with a stretcher.

Dust was everywhere. The helicopter touched down with a bump and the blades slowed. The silence was deafening. Duncan watched and waited. The ambulance crew got there first and several soldiers lowered Ward to the ground. Duncan wasn’t watching that little drama—he was walking toward the helicopter, staring at the opening. Another soldier jumped to the ground and lifted Ellie down. She looked fragile and incongruous in the long skirt. Someone caught in the wrong place and century. Her face was pale.

“Ellie?” Duncan wasn’t sure he even spoke. But she found him. Her eyes were huge and unreadable but she picked up her skirt and ran toward him.

 

Ellie couldn’t grasp the fact that Duncan was there. She was scarcely aware of the sergeant helping her from the helicopter. She just knew, as soon as her feet touched the ground, that she had to get to Duncan. He was her anchor and her refuge and she needed him. She picked up her skirt and ran.

“Oh, God, Ellie.” He lifted her from the ground.

Ellie flung her arms around his neck and clung to him while he held her in silence. His heart hammered against her chest. He smelled of soap and aftershave and he felt like home. Things were going on all around them, but Ellie didn’t care. She held on to Duncan. His breath was soft against her face, his lips brushing her cheek.

“Thank Christ,” he whispered.

Ellie was surprised at how much he was trembling. His hand shook when he pushed the hair away from her face and kissed her forehead. “Ellie.”

She couldn’t speak. Instead, she touched his cheek, reminding herself of what she’d missed, what she was going to miss.

“I…er…hate to break up the reunion.” A man Ellie hadn’t seen before tapped Duncan’s arm. “We should go back to the hotel.”

Ellie glared at him. “And you are…?”

“Sorry, Mrs. Freeman, Inspector Clarkson. You and I have to have a chat, as your friend here would say.”

Ellie released Duncan with a sigh. “It won’t take long, will it?”

“I’ll try and keep it brief. I know you’re tired, but I’d like to get the bare bones down, while everything is still fresh in your mind.”

“I guess so.” She leaned against Duncan, not wanting to leave the solid warmth of him, even for a moment.

 

* * * *

 

Ellie didn’t like being the center of attention when they returned to the hotel. The lobby was full of men in suits who stared at her when she followed Inspector Clarkson. She held on to Duncan’s hand and wished it was all over.

“I’ll see you in a little while,” he told her, kissing her cheek. “I’m in room twenty-seven. I’ll wait up for you.”

She managed a smile. “Thank you.”

“As if I could do anything else,” he said softly. He trailed his hand down her cheek.

“I’ll be as quick as I can.” She turned and followed Inspector Clarkson along the corridor.

By the time she’d given her statement, Ellie felt like she’d given the inspector more than the bare bones.

“If I have any more questions, I’ll catch you tomorrow morning, before you leave.”

Ellie stood, exhausted. “All right.” She stumbled out of the room and went in search of room twenty-seven. She wandered along the corridor, counting down the numbers—nineteen, twenty-one, twenty-three, twenty-five. She paused before twenty-seven and rapped on the door. She wanted nothing more than to find sanctuary in Duncan’s arms. The need for that comfort had kept her going through the long interview and Clarkson’s relentless questioning.

“It’s open,” Duncan called out.

She put her hand on the handle and walked in. The room was illuminated by a single lamp on the long dresser. The television was on, the volume turned down to a murmur.

“Ellie.” Duncan rose from the bed. His hair was rumpled and he wore nothing but his underwear.

Ellie wished she wasn’t so exhausted. “Hi.” She moved into his arms and rested against him. “Thank God that’s over.” She closed her eyes as he stroked her hair. Every touch sang in her blood, restoring her to sanity. His skin was warm on hers. She curled her hand around his neck and inhaled the familiar scent of his aftershave.

“Yeah.” His lips brushed her temple. “I missed you, Ellie.”

“I missed you too.” Her throat was tight. Weariness washed through her. She stepped back. “First things first. I want to take these damn things off.” She unfastened her skirt, stepped out of it and threw it into the corner, followed by the blouse, the camisole and the underwear. “If we weren’t in a hotel, I’d take those outside and burn them.” Her breath caught in her throat. She bit back a sob. “I just want to leave it all behind me, now.” Her eyes burned. This shouldn’t have been a moment for crying.

“I know.” He touched her cheeks. “I understand. Let me help you, Ellie.”

“Yes.” The numbness that had kept her going through the rescue and the interview finally cracked. She looked at Duncan and burst into tears.

“It’s all right.” He drew her into his arms and she leaned into him. “It’s all over now.”

Ellie kept crying, feeling the burden and the fear fall away. She let Duncan lead her to the bed. He threw the covers back and she fell into his arms, still crying.

“Ellie, darling.” His hand was warm on her skin when he brushed the hair from her face.

She curled up beside him, just happy to feel his skin against hers once more. Ellie wrapped her arms around his neck, wanting his warmth and the familiarity of him. She already knew every inch of him, the scent of him beneath the aftershave. He kept stroking her hair, whispering soothing words, until her tears finally subsided. Ellie rested next to him, exhausted.

“Better?” Duncan’s voice was gentle.

“Yes.” She sniffed. “Just really tired.”

“It’s been a long couple of days.” His sigh ruffled her hair. “I’m just glad you’re here with me, like this.”

“Me too.” It was all she wanted. For the first time in months, Ellie felt safe. She shifted closer and closed her eyes when he wrapped himself around her.

“Good night, Ellie.”

Ellie managed to mumble a goodnight before the steady, familiar lullaby of his heart sent her to sleep.

 

* * * *

 

Inspector Clarkson caught them in the lobby when they returned from breakfast. Ellie’s heart sank. She thought she was in for more questioning. All she wanted was to go home.

“Ah, glad I caught you both. I wanted to tell you the news.”

“What news?” Ellie wondered what else could possibly have happened.

“The gates of the compound were opened this morning. They invited us in.” Clarkson looked at Duncan. “It was your friend, Worthington. He walked out and told us we were free to enter.”

“He did? Why?”

“It seems the Prophet decided he wasn’t going to win, not in this life anyway. He shot himself and his family, kids and all.”

Ellie remembered the strange little girl. As unsettling as she was, she was still a child. Her breakfast suddenly felt like lead in her stomach. “My God. How could he do that? To his own children.” She curled her fingers through Duncan’s, aware that she still needed his strength.

“Gutless bastard,” he murmured.

“Yeah, the officers who went in there said it was pretty upsetting.”

Ellie swallowed at the knot in her throat. “So what happens now?”

“We’re going to be very busy is what happens now. We have a lot of people to talk to, a lot of questions to ask.”

“What about Mr. Worthington?” Ellie didn’t want anything bad to happen to Obidiah or his family.

“Given what you both told me, we’re letting him go. He’ll have to give a statement, of course, but he’s been very cooperative. I believe he’s getting his household organized for a big move.”

“Can we go and see him?” Duncan asked.

Clarkson shrugged. “I don’t see why not. He did ask after both of you.”

 

* * * *

 

It was strange to drive straight through the open gates. There were government cars all over the place. Duncan steered around them and turned onto the broad street. Obidiah was in the drive, loading suitcases into one of three minivans. The children ran riot in the yard, giggling as they chased each other through the trees.

“I was hoping to see you both again.” Obidiah shook Duncan’s hand and kissed Ellie’s cheek. “As you can see, we’re a little busy.”

“Yeah.” Duncan thought it resembled an exodus. One of the wives carried another bag onto the front porch. She waved at Ellie, who smiled and ran onto the porch to hug her. Duncan watched them for a moment and Ellie disappeared into the house.

“So.” Obidiah grinned. “I see you and Ellie are getting on well.”

“I’m taking her home. I fly back to England in a couple of days.”

“You don’t look so happy about that.”

Duncan glanced at his feet then at the sky. “I’m not. I don’t want to leave her but I have to go back. She needs time to heal. I guess I do too.”

“You’re not taking her back with you?” Obidiah leaned against the fence. “I can tell by the way you are together that it’s probably not a good move for either of you.”

“Yeah, I know. It’s going to kill me. But we came together in strange circumstances, we needed each other. I need time to work out whether how I feel about her goes beyond what happened here.”

“I hope you don’t take too long to work it out. I think you’ll find you’ll always need her.”

Ellie reappeared on the porch. She ran down the steps and Duncan’s heart stopped when he watched her, the morning sun in her hair. He intended to keep her in bed for the next two days. He wanted to keep her to himself. There would be no need to pretend, no need to worry about people listening. It was going to be hard to leave her.

“We’ll see.” He smiled. “Anyway, where are you all off to?” He didn’t want to think about his future.

“Montana. Enos wasn’t the only one who was smart when it came to property. I bought a five hundred acre property about five years ago, just in case. They’re pretty tolerant up there and we can be fairly self-sufficient and stay out of people’s hair. This way of life isn’t for me. I believe in God, but I’d prefer to worship him in my own way, without some lunatic soiling His gospel with false prophecies and Holy Wars. We want a quiet life.”

Duncan wondered how that would be possible with all of those children.

“Quiet being a relative term.” Obidiah grinned. “They’ll have five hundred acres to run wild on.”

“Man talk?” Ellie asked.

Duncan took her hand. “Montana talk.”

“Will you keep in touch with us, Ellie? We have a computer. I’d like to know how you’re doing.”

“I’d like that too.”

Obidiah fished into his pocket and pulled out a pencil and a scrap of paper. He scribbled on it and handed it to Ellie. “Here’s our email address. That was another thing about being here, the hassle of using the damn thing without Enos finding out. Now, at least we’ll be part of the rest of the world.”

Duncan slid his arm around Ellie’s waist when she leaned against him. “We should let you get back to your packing,” she told Obidiah. “I really just want to go home.”

“I can imagine you do.” He shook Duncan’s hand and kissed Ellie’s cheek. “Go on, go home, have a good long rest.”

“I intend to.”

“Take care…both of you.”