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.I’ll probably only have time to bank the plane to make sure it takes out the center of your fine little town.”There was no reply for several seconds, then, “You are ordered to stay where you are.Do not open your doors.If you do, we will shoot.”“We just need some fuel.”“Stay where you are.We will contact you with further instructions.”Harlan pulled off his headset and leaned back.“Okay, I guess we wait.”It wasn’t long before one of the men at the roadblock climbed into the police car and drove off toward the tower.As soon as he left, the fire truck repositioned itself so that it was more in the center of the taxiway.Four minutes later, a new voice came over the radio.“This is Officer Thomas Belford, RCMP.You have violated a direct order not to land at Baker Lake.This is both a territorial and federal offense.If you do not get your plane back into the air, you will be placed under arrest.”“My turn,” Ash said to Harlan.Harlan nodded at Barry, who handed Ash his headset.“Officer Belford,” Ash said.“I’m sure your superiors would not be fond of planes falling from the sky because they were denied landing rights.”“I don’t care.”“You don’t care?”“The citizens of Baker Lake have voted unanimously to close the town to avoid any outbreaks here.No one gets in.”“We’re not trying to get in,” Ash said.“We just want to refuel.”“I’m sorry.I can’t allow you to leave your plane.”“Fine.We’ll stay on board.One of you can do it for us.”“No one is getting anywhere near your aircraft.”“Then what exactly do you expect us to do?”“I already told you that.Get yourself back in the air.”“I believe we explained to your friend in the tower what will happen if we do that.”There was silence for a moment before Belford said, “You are to remain right where you are.”“And then?”“Just stay there.”Ash frowned.“So?” Harlan asked.Ash looked out the cockpit window.About another hundred yards beyond the fire truck was the fueling area.So close.He thought there might be enough room to skirt around the edge of the truck, but that was only if it didn’t move back in the way and the men with the guns didn’t shoot.Ash keyed the mic again.“Officer Belford, let me give you something else to think about.If you just leave us sitting here, at some point we will try to get out.Maybe you’ll shoot us, maybe you won’t.Either way, if we’re carrying the virus, it’ll be out there potentially infecting you and your men.Wouldn’t it be in your best interests to help us get on our way?”The silence that followed made him wonder if his message had been heard.The answer finally came thirty minutes later, when the men standing in the road climbed onto the fire engine.As the truck pulled away, Belford’s voice came back over the radio.“You are to proceed to the fueling station, but remain in your aircraft.At no point are you to even touch the handle on your door.Do that, and we will burn your plane with you in it.Understood?”“Yes,” Ash said.It was another hour before they were in the air again.They were just beginning to relax when Ash was called back to the cockpit.“What is it?” he asked as he entered.Harlan pointed out the window to his right, then the one on the left.Pacing them about one hundred feet to either side were two military fighter jets.“Have they tried to contact you?”Harlan nodded.“Wanted to know where we’re headed.Told them back to the US from one of the research stations up north.”“And?”“Said they’re going to make sure we make it through their fine country with no problems.”The jets paced them until they were within a quarter mile of the border before finally peeling away.Ash expected to be greeted by two more aircraft, with US Air Force markings, as soon as they were back in the States, but the sky was empty.From where they crossed, it took them only another hour to reach the Ranch.Not wanting to draw attention from anyone else, they waited until they were almost ready to descend before radioing in.Unlike at Baker Lake, they were given immediate permission.At first, as they swooped down toward the ground in the early evening, the darkened valley seemed unchanged.It wasn’t until they were almost on the ground that Ash sensed something was wrong.They should have been able to see the lights of the Lodge and the dorm, but everything was dark.Ash returned to his seat and buckled in just before the wheels touched the ground.As soon as Harlan taxied the plane to the parking area, and the engines began to wind down, both Ash and Chloe headed straight for the door.She beat him there by a step, and was the first one out.When he stepped out onto the tarmac beside her, he was surprised to find no one there to greet them.Granted, they had just radioed in, but there should have been plenty of time for someone to drive the half mile down from the Lodge.“Not exactly excited to see us, I guess,” Chloe said.Ash jogged over to the road, and looked in the direction of the Resistance’s headquarters.No cars coming as far as he could tell, just the night filling the void.“Where is everyone?” Red asked from the plane’s doorway.“Don’t know,” Chloe said.“Ash, you see anything?”“No.Just—” He stopped.From somewhere not far down the road, he heard a noise.“Hello?” he called out.There it was again.Steps, he realized.“Hello?”“Captain Ash?” a voice called back.“Who’s that?”Out of the darkness emerged the shapes of four men.“Captain Ash.It’s Ross Miller.”Ash didn’t allow himself to relax until he saw the man’s face and was able to confirm that Miller was indeed who he said he was.“Where is everyone?”“In the Bunker,” Miller said.He looked past Ash at Red.“Tell Harlan to shut everything down and go dark.”“What’s going on?” Ash asked.“Let’s get you all inside first.Matt’ll brief you.”Ash frowned, wanting to know now, but held his tongue.“We have an injured man.Is someone bringing a car?”“Sorry.None available at the moment.” He turned to the men who’d come with him [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]