Strictly Taboo(74)
When Emil told Jules to arm himself, he knew what Jules would carry. The Squad Automatic Weapon is a full automatic weapon using the same bullet as the M4 and M16.
Unfortunately, another helicopter sprang up from behind a ridgeline and fired on Jules who returned fire. No matter how it looks in the movies, it’s difficult to hit anything from inside a bobbing and weaving helicopter.
Chapter Eight
Emil jumped out of his car and faced the driver of the truck down the canyon from Neville and Madison. A short gun battle left the driver dead on the road and Emil running up the canyon, carrying a fully automatic FN90, a short, effective submachine gun.
Men poured out of the truck up the canyon from the Chambers. Emil tried to keep them from attacking Neville and Madison, but they were armed as well. Emil ducked behind a rock and shot as best he could.
Neville drove recklessly down the hillside until he came to a rock big enough to hide behind. As he turned across the slope toward the big rock, bullets tore through the top of the bulky, unarmored vehicle. Madison screamed and ducked. Neville pulled behind the big rock and reached under the seat. He retrieved a heavy pack and ran around the Humvee and opened Madison’s door. She was practically hysterical. He couldn’t get her to step out of the car. She kept screaming and ducking. He unbuckled her seat belt and threw her over his shoulder.
He ran to the other side of the boulder and peaked around. Madison sobbed quietly behind him. Out of his backpack, he pulled a big pistol and two magazines that held thirteen rounds each. He slipped the spare magazines inside his back pocket. Two men ran down the slope after him. He fired six times at the men. They hit the ground.
He made his way down the slope for another fifty feet until he found another big rock to use for cover. He set Madison down on her feet and leaned her against the rock. She jumped back into his arms. He held her safe with his right arm and fired seven times upslope with his left hand. He pushed the magazine release and the empty magazine fell to the ground. He reloaded and edged around the rock. He scanned the hillside. Nothing moved. He put the pack over one shoulder. He pushed Madison away from him and grabbed her hand. With Madison in tow, he started down a narrow, faint trail. She stammered in fear, “Wh...What are we go...going to do?”
“I don’t know yet, but we can’t stay here.”
Chapter Nine
Jules fired three times at the other helicopter before smoke came out of the engine and the machine retreated. He had his pilot fly over the men on the ground and helped Emil. He saw several men disappear into the dense brush.
Neville and Madison ran down a deer trail together, Madison in front and Neville behind. Neville stopped every twenty yards to turn around and look for attackers. He didn’t have to shoot again.
In the fading light, Neville found a small building with an unlocked door. They snuck inside and waited for complete dark.
The cabin had a bed and a stocked cupboard. Neville looked at the contents with a small flashlight from his fanny pack. “I know why it’s unlocked and full of supplies. A lot of cabins in National Parks are left open, with food and water, because people get lost. The cabin gives them shelter and time.” He clicked the flashlight off.
Madison sniffed. She sat on the cot and looked disconsolate. Neville sat beside her and gathered her in his arms. “The danger’s past. Anyone looking inside this cabin will have to use a flashlight to find us, and we’ll see that in plenty of time. We’re safe.”
She unashamedly snuggled into his embrace. “I’m sorry. I know I told you I wanted no emotional entanglements, but that was before people were trying to kill me. Do you mind holding me? It really helps. I know I’ve treated you badly. If you’re uncomfortable, I can try to go it alone.”
“I’m enjoying it. I never got the chance to tell you, but the biggest reason I agreed to this arrangement was because I got the chance to be married to you. I’ve always thought you were beautiful.”
“I’m sorry you ended up with an ice queen.”
“You never had the right opportunity to thaw out. You’re not an ice queen.”
“I’m not?”
“No. You just have a natural dignity, that’s all.”
“We have to take our clothes off.”
Neville turned the flashlight on and shielded it with his fingers. He rocked her back in his arms so he could see her face. “I’m sorry. I don’t think I heard you right. Did you say we should get out of our clothes?”
“Yes. You don’t understand. I can’t help keeping people at a distance. I’m so shy I can barely function in society. It makes me treat people coldly, even with cruelty. I can’t help it. I’m so lonely. Every night, I cry because I’m going to be the only one in my bed.” She sat back, out of his arms. “Now, I’m not alone. It took being shot at to get me in a man’s arms. If we don’t do something to change our relationship, I’ll be alone again. It has to be something intimate that I can’t deny. It means sex.”