Chapter 5
Chapter Five
Patrolling the outer wall the next day with his assigned unit, Jeff wiped his brow and fought off misgivings.
The infected were right below the fortifications, separated from the camp by a thin force barrier.
If that failed, they’d be climbing the jury-rigged physical wall in no time and with their sheer numbers would overwhelm the defenders and then the camp.
The sound of the moaning couldn’t be ignored here, nor the smell.
Jeff and Les broke into a run. Ahead a person teetered on top of the wall, arms outstretched as if he was going to take flight and the fool was indeed naked.
“Third one this month, “ Les said as they sprinted. “There’s a new feelgood circulating in the camp—people call it Freedom, makes them believe they can fly over the walls and the infected.”
“How do illicit feelgoods get into the damn camp?” Jeff asked.
“They don’t. Someone is making them here, cooking them up in a nook or closed off room or maybe even inside a vehicle in the salvage yard—” Les broke off and swore. “That’s Frawkins, the general’s aide. Oh the shit will hit the fan now all right.”
As Jeff reached the spot and made a grab for the intoxicated man, he gave a shout and jumped, falling through the air spread eagled.
His momentum took him clear of the wall and the thin force field, which was a bit shorter than the actual wall but then he crashed to the ground in the midst of the infected.
Sick, Jeff leaned over the wall and rather than the gory scene he was expecting, he saw the jumper sprawled in an awkward position making it clear he’d broken at least one leg in the fall but the infected around him were motionless, swaying side to side, tightly packed in a circle with Frawkins at the center, clawed hands flexing, but making no move to attack.
“What the seven hells—” Then he noticed the alien bracelet on the man’s arm, the red colors inside winking brighter in the sunlight.
“It’s the bracelet,” he said to Les. “Somehow it’s protecting him. ”
“Even if you’re right, how long can it last?” the sergeant replied.
Jeff turned to the guards surrounding him, gawking at the scene. “All right, I need Cutlem and Rogens but the rest of you return to your assigned stations. We don’t need the infected attacking us while we’re distracted.”
“I reported this incident to Captain Briskinn,” Les said. “He’s on his way.”
“Just what we need, oversight from a pencil pusher. Get me the man who controls the force fences. We’ve got to get on the ground and collect our jumper before the infected decide he is on the menu.”
“Do you think whatever is protecting him will work for us too while we’re in proximity?” Les asked dubiously.
“I have no idea. We’ll need ropes to rappel down.” Jeff sent Les off to locate the requested item.
A woman in fatigues arrived. She didn’t salute but said, “I’m Madrigan, force fence coordinator. You sent for me?” Tapping a feelgood stick against a glittery case full of more, she placed it to her lips and blew a stream of smoke from the self lighting stick. “Ugh, stinks out here.”
“We’ve got a man down,” Jeff said, gesturing at the victim below. “I need to grab him.”
“I’m not turning off the fence,” she said, pulling in another hit of the aromatic smoke from her feelgood. Talking a good look at the injured man below, she added. “Not even for Frawkins.”
“There’s a narrow gap between the fence and the real wall,” Jeff said, not willing to give up and simply let the man die of his injuries.
“The sergeant and I’ll rappel down to him, you turn off a narrow section of the barrier for ten seconds, we drag him to the other side, and you reactivate the fence. Can you do that?”
She considered the question, a muscle in her jaw jumping. “You’re taking a hell of a risk, captain. Yeah he’s the general’s pet protégée, or was, probably not after today’s stunt. He’s high on Freedom, isn’t he?”
“We believe so, yes,” Jeff replied.
“Damn bracelet is protecting him,” she said, studying the feelgood in her hand as the embers at the burning end glowed. “I have to say I didn’t believe it myself but now I’m seeing it I still don’t believe it.”
Jeff had noticed the same alien jewelry on her arm. Another one of Quantike’s original crew. He figured the immunity the bracelets bestowed must have been a powerful incentive for people to join the general’s crew and help set up and run Glastine.
“Got the ropes and a harness for bringing Frawkins up,” Les said, arms full of the requested items. “Are we going?”
“Anchor us here and here,” Jeff said, pointing out the spots he’d identified. Turning to the two men he’d kept on standby, he said, “You’ll haul Frawkins up once we drag him inside the safe zone and secure him to the rig Sergeant McDaniel brought, got it?”
“Yes, sir,” they chorused, taking their positions. Rogens seemed lost when it came to what he was expected to do but Cutlem saluted smartly and handled the ropes with efficient motions.
“Once we’ve landed, wait for my signal and then create the hole in the fence,” Jeff said to Madrigan.
“Ten seconds, no longer,” she agreed, fingers dancing over the controls of the larger-than-normal handheld she’d brought. “I still think you’re crazy. And remember when the field goes back up it’ll cut you in half if you’re not in the safe space.”
“Got it.” Jeff flashed her a grin, glanced at Les to make sure he was ready and then the two men climbed over the edge of the wall and began their descent, moving carefully inside the narrow space which existed between the wall and the sizzling edge of the force field.
The climb was a simple one and they were boots down shortly.
The rig was lowered to them on Jeff’s signal and he and Les got it situated so they could drag Frawkins from where he’d landed and slide him into it.
“Ready?” Jeff asked.
“Seven hells, no. I must be nuts. You Special Forces guys are a whole different kind of insane, aren’t you?” Les’s voice was gently chiding but good humored.
“Get me out of here,” Frawkins shouted, voice tense with pain. Evidently the effects of the illicit feelgood were wearing off fast. “Help me.”
“That’s what we came to do,” Jeff said. “Listen on my signal the fence is going down where you are and we’re going to drag you to the wall. It’s gonna hurt, it’s gonna aggravate whatever your injuries are but there’s no other way.”
“Just do it,” the other man said on a sob. “Don’t leave me out here.”
“You grab his legs and I’ll go for his shoulders,” Jeff said.
Les flexed his fingers and nodded, hunkering down in a crouch. Jeff mimicked the position and yelled, “Now!”
The fence flickered and the ever present buzz changed pitch and intensity. A narrow gap appeared in the dazzling lights right in front of Jeff and he and Les moved forward to collect their target.
“Nine seconds,” Madrigan shouted and continued the countdown.
Jeff got a good grip on Frawkins’ shoulders and he and Les moved in tandem to drag the screaming man into the tiny safe zone.
The infected stirred and lunged at them but the force barrier closed the gap, slicing the outstretched arms off, to lie wriggling on the dirt.
Jeff took his blaster, issued by his Glastine superiors as part of his equipment and scorched them to ash.
Frawkins had passed out, which was a good thing as there was no space to move around where they were.
With a lot of effort they got him fully into the harness, fastened the straps and gave the signal to pull him up.
Then they used their auto ascenders to rise themselves and a few minutes later stepped onto the edge of the wall and jumped to the walkway, where a small crowd had gathered.
Jax Driscoll, the man in charge of the next section of the wall was working to get everyone in position and focused on their duties, which Jeff appreciated.
Captain Briskinn had arrived. “Good work, you two,” he said to Jeff and Les. “Is he alive?”
Frawkins chose that moment to groan and struggle against the harness.
“Seems to be, sir,” Jeff said. “We should get him to the infirmary—he’s probably got major internal injuries from the fall he took.”
“He wasn’t bitten or scratched?” the senior captain asked.
“No, sir, the infected stood and watched him. They came after us fast enough but we’re unscathed as well.”
Briskinn’s hand went to the bracelet on his wrist but he didn’t make any remarks about it.
Addressing Madrigan, who was leaning insouciantly against the wall, he said, “Next time, if there is one, don’t cut the fence.
” He raised his voice so everyone in earshot could hear.
“Anyone else chooses to get high and make an attempt to fly off the walls, we’ll be leaving them where they fell.
No exceptions. I’m not putting more lives at risk to save a fool who chooses to break the rules of the camp. ”
Jeff and Les exchanged glances but neither made a comment.
Driscoll muttered something sarcastic about the decision changing if one of Quantike’s original guard was involved.
Jeff took note of the fact Driscoll didn’t have one of the bracelets on his wrist. He needed to get to know Driscoll better, sound the man out about what he knew of how Glastine was run, but not now obviously.
Madrigan gave Briskinn a sloppy salute. “Aye aye, sir, no more rescues suitable for an action trideo, got it.” She dropped her used up feelgood to the walkway and ground it out under her boot. “Glad I was here to see it, Pearson. I’ll buy you a drink later in the officers’ mess.”
With the help of the other two guards, Jeff and Les got Frawkins off the walkway and onto Captain Briskinn’s waiting cart.
He was laid as flat as he could be in the back and they drove off to the medical building.
Les remained behind at Briskinn’s order, to take charge of the wall detail and make sure the squad stayed alert and focused after all the excitement.