"HK G-36," Nathan said, pulling stuff out of the cart. Seeing John wanted more information, Nathan stopped. "I'll tell you about it later." John put the gun down and moved over to help.

They all started on one cart. There was some money that they left. They had enough. A lot of the clothes were going with them but they would wash them first. John, Tom, Jasmine and Amanda all got an extra set of boots. They found three thousand rounds of 5.56 ammo and two thousand of that was belted to be fired in the SAW. They had four Beretta pistols and one Sig-226 with almost a thousand rounds of ammo. They found six more NVG monoculars that were better than the ones they had. Then Nathan pulled up another monocular, letting out a low whistle.

"That makes seven?" Amanda said looking over.

"This is a thermal monocular," Nathan said, staring at it with longing.

"It can't be. The thermal scope on your M-4 is huge. That's just a bit bigger than the regular NVGs," Amanda said.

"This is the latest generation. Last I checked this would set you back 12 G's." Nathan set it down carefully.

"What the h.e.l.l is this?" John said, pulling out binoculars with only a Cyclops end.

"No way!" Nathan said. "The woman said they watched us from a long way off the road. They used these, thermal binoculars."

"The military has all of this?" John asked.

"They have more s.h.i.t than I can tell you about," Nathan replied. They continued pulling out gear and the pile grew.

"Wow, look at the big bullet," Casey said, holding up an M-203 round.

"That is a grenade," Nathan said.

"I thought this was a grenade?" Amanda asked, holding up a hand grenade.

Seeing such a little hand holding a hand grenade made a shiver run down Nathan's spine. "Don't play with those," Nathan said, taking it from her. "This is a hand grenade. That is a grenade you shoot out of that big barrel on that M-4."

It was one in the afternoon when they finished. Tom, Natalie, and Amanda had tactical vests, but Casey was just too small. She got the smaller concealable vest from Amanda and didn't have to wear Nathan's anymore. Nathan had the SAW, the M-4 with the 203, and two more M-4's. They left the others and the HK G-36; it didn't take the same magazines. Leaving those behind almost made Nathan go into convulsions. They were only bringing a few of the pistols in case they needed to trade.

They found a bag of jewelry but left it, seeing wedding bands and necklaces with blood on them. Jasmine felt bad about the pile they were leaving but they couldn't carry it. All the food and MREs they took. All the ammo and magazines they could use. Then all the NVGs, thermals, binoculars, and clothes would help, but the pile they were leaving behind was quite large.

Just looking at the stuff they were going to add to the pack animals, and saddles of the smaller kids made Jasmine feel bad for them. Without talking to Nathan, everyone agreed that Nathan would sleep and they would take watches. Jasmine knew Nathan would convince himself to carry more. Amanda took Nathan's binoculars as he took the new ones and Amanda gave Casey her little binoculars.

John got the thermal scope on Nathan's rifle and Nathan took the new one. Jasmine was jealous of that one. When Nathan showed them it could switch out with their NVGs, clicking to the head harness, she really wanted one.

Jasmine and Natalie took first watch. Natalie stood guard as Jasmine packed, then they switched. When she woke Amanda for the next shift it occurred to Jasmine that she had killed and ordered the killing of six people but didn't have the least bit of remorse.

Chapter 23.

Day 30 Everybody was tired as they climbed onto their horses. Seeing the slow movement from the group, Nathan didn't work them too hard during the morning routine. With the camp packed, Nathan stared at the pile they were leaving in the waning dusk. Ares raised his leg, p.i.s.sing on the pile.

"Well thank you, Ares, you marked it for us," Nathan said, chuckling.

Jasmine stopped beside him. "You said we didn't have to have the rest of that stuff, it would only be nice to have," she reminded him.

"I know, but we are leaving a lot. I hope someone can use it," Nathan said, kicking Smoke.

"Well-" Jasmine stopped as gunfire started to the northeast. Nathan stopped his horse and pulled out his map as Amanda and Casey stopped beside them. Amanda reached over and pulled the map away from him.

Nathan just slowly turned to look at her but Amanda and Casey started working out where the gunfire was coming from. When Amanda pulled out her compa.s.s and squinted through the aiming sight Nathan wanted to laugh at the determination on her face. Casey's tongue stuck out the side of her mouth as she drew the lines Amanda was telling her.

"It's coming from somewhere close to Cotton Plant," Amanda told Nathan, handing the map back.

Nathan looked at the map and lines and listened to the gunfire. "Yes it is. This side of Cotton Plant." Nathan patted her leg.

"What the h.e.l.l kind of guns are those?" John asked.

"Belt-fed machine guns. Hear the steady rate of fire? They only pause to keep the barrel from melting," Nathan said as an explosion sounded far off in the distance. The gunfire slackened to the occasional pop or short burst.

"The defenders lost," Jasmine said.

"Sounds like it," Nathan said, looking at the map.

"I swear, if you say we have to go that way, I'm hitting you," Jasmine warned.

"I wouldn't go that way on a dare. They are about three miles from us. We will stay on the dirt roads and avoid the one paved road we were going to use," Nathan said. "Rally point stays the same."

"Think we will have to hide from them?" Casey asked.

"Well we will if we have to," Nathan said. "Keep an ear and eye out. I might teach later but let's stay alert." He kicked Smoke to go.

They were all scared as they followed Nathan out of the woods and turned on the dirt road. John at the back of the group gave the thermal scope a workout looking behind them. With the exception of seeing wildlife he didn't see anything else and that was fine with him.

They stopped several times, watering the horses. The only time they got out of the saddle was to use the bathroom. They heard another long gun fight to the south of them when they finished their lunch break. That gun battle lasted over thirty minutes and they were amazed at the volume of gunfire with several explosions.

"I don't know, so don't ask, over," Nathan said over the radio.

Then, just as suddenly as it started the gunfire stopped. It didn't even taper off. A thousand questions were on everyone's mind but n.o.body had any answers. Nathan stopped as they came upon a four-lane highway that they knew was 67. The rally point was on the other side.

"Guys, we're going under that highway," Nathan told them.

"Nathan, people stay under those bridges," Amanda reminded him.

"I know, but there is traffic driving on that road without lights," Nathan said as he looked through the thermal binoculars.

Casey threw her hands up. "Why would anyone drive without lights?"

"So they don't get shot," Amanda said.

"Oh, that's smart, I guess," Casey said.

"What else does that tell you, Casey?" Nathan asked.

Casey sat and thought, then her eyes got wide. "They can see in the dark like us," she said with fear.

"Yes that's why we are going under," Nathan said, putting the thermal away. "Change of course." Nathan headed north.

They rode for an hour and came to a large creek. They traveled off the road, following it. They could see the highway off in the distance when Nathan yelled out, "Move now!"

Nathan kicked Smoke hard and galloped away from the creek to a large group of trees. He led them to the middle of the trees and stopped. When everyone stopped they heard the thump-thump-thump' of a helicopter off in the distance. Everyone looked around as the noise started getting louder. It sounded like it was right over them, then the noise continued on.

Everyone stared at Nathan as he tilted his head back with his eyes closed. "Let's go, and stay close," he said suddenly, wheeling Smoke back the way they came. They followed in a trot back to the creek and Nathan led them to the highway. Much to everyone's relief, no one was under the bridge.

They followed the creek for almost an hour and Nathan kept checking the map, something he had never done before. Before anyone knew it they went under another bridge, still following the creek. Nathan kept them near the creek, even crossing from one bank to the other. Off in the distance they heard another helicopter but it didn't get close to them like the other one did.

At the start of the day they had gone over the route, but Nathan had changed it so much n.o.body knew where in the h.e.l.l they were. They just followed Nathan as he followed the creek. It was almost the time they should be stopping for camp when Nathan led them away from the creek. When he led them up to a dirt road everyone wanted to cheer, feeling much better.

They barely went a mile and Nathan turned them off the road, following another creek. They heard several more helicopters off in the distance. Amanda couldn't wait to get off her horse and go to sleep. They still didn't stop, even going under another bridge. Around them the world lit up as the dawn announced a new day, and still the air was alive with the distant sound of helicopters. Amanda was starting to get worried when Nathan stopped them beside the creek. There were trees around them but nowhere the horses could graze.

"We camp here," Nathan said, climbing down.

"What was all that about?" Jasmine asked.

"Didn't want to be seen," Nathan said as he took off his saddle and carried it to a large oak tree. Nathan dropped his gear and started tending his horse.

Jasmine just stood there waiting for more. "I get that but you've never acted like that."

Nathan turned around. "Those were troops moving, Jasmine. The first helicopter was a Blackhawk. I have no idea what kind the second one was. There are choppers flying all around here. They are doing something around here and we need to get out of here."

Jasmine just stared at Nathan not knowing what to say. Amanda did. "Where are we?" she asked. Nathan handed her the map and pointed. "d.a.m.n, we went a long way," she said. "How far away do we have to go to get out of this area?"

"Here," Nathan pointed.

Amanda looked at the national forest Nathan was pointing at, "We'll be there tomorrow before midnight," she concluded.

"Hopefully," Nathan said.

Amanda handed the map back. "I'm going to sleep. Wake me for my shift," she said, moving away to finish tending her horse. She froze. Slowly she turned around looking at Nathan realizing she saw something on Nathan's face she didn't like: He was scared.

Everyone else saw it. John grabbed Nathan's arm. "Nathan, what is it?" he asked in a timid voice.

Nathan shook his head. "I don't know what's going on," he admitted. Off in the distance they heard boom-boom-boom,' followed by several explosions. "That is an Apache gunship," Nathan said.

"What is your best guess to what's going on?" Jasmine asked.

Throwing up his hands, "I have no idea, unless they are just locking down the population," Nathan said, dropping down to his knees.

Amanda ran over to him wrapping her arms around his neck. She could see on his face that Nathan didn't know what to do. "We still have to get home. Nothing has changed," she said, squeezing him tightly.

"Firecracker, I don't know how we got by them last night," Nathan admitted.

"What?" Amanda barked, taking a step back.

"They were inserting troops around the area. If you listen carefully you can hear them still inserting troops," he said.

Everyone gathered around. "What do you mean, inserting troops?" Jasmine asked, feeling her mouth getting dry.

"Let's get under the trees first," Nathan said. They moved the horses under the trees.

When Amanda tied her horse off she spun around. "That's why you kept us beside the creeks. They have trees beside them!" she exclaimed.

"Amanda! Not so loud," Jasmine snapped, and Amanda clapped a hand over her mouth, realizing what she did.

Walking over to her, Nathan pulled her down as he sat down, and everyone sat in a circle around them. "Yes, that's why we stayed beside the creeks. There are too many open farming fields around here and those choppers have thermals. We can only hope to keep the trees covering us."

"Okay, we have to get out of this area. How do you think we should do it?" Jasmine asked.

Shrugging his shoulders, "s.h.i.t if I know, I'm making this up as I go," Nathan admitted as Emma hit him in the chest with her sippy cup. Without thinking, Nathan took the cup from her and filled it up and returned it. When Emma burrowed into her sling Nathan realized that was a conditioned response.

Everyone sat looking around at each other and Jasmine spoke up. "Let's just keep doing what we are doing then, traveling at night."

"If you listen, you'll notice those choppers are to the west. That's all well and good but they are landing people everywhere," Nathan said.

"How do you know they are landing people?" John asked.

"Listen to them," Nathan said, and everyone became quiet. They listened to the sounds of a lot of choppers around them. "Hear that?" Nathan asked. "The whine decreases for just a minute then becomes louder after a fifteen to twenty seconds, just enough time for a chopper to set down and unload. There is no way they are just dropping off equipment.'"

"Okay everyone calm down. Nathan, that includes you," Jasmine said, shocking everyone, including Nathan. "First, why? We are in the middle of f.u.c.king nowhere Arkansas. We have Memphis a hundred miles to our east and Little Rock seventy miles to our south. Where are these choppers landing? There is nothing around us but small towns and villages. What are they doing this for all of a sudden? Let's work this out, guys."

Nathan pulled the map out and Amanda turned on the tablet. They all looked at the map and tablet, listening to the choppers. "So every time the helicopter engines change pitch like that, you think they are landing troops?" John asked Nathan.

"Yeah," Nathan mumbled.

"This is where the first one flew over us, right?" John asked, pointing at the map. Nathan nodded his head. "That chopper flew to the southeast and landed about here on 367, at this little crossroads," John said, marking the spot. He closed his eyes, concentrating.

Everyone realized John was listening. "I can-" Nathan started to say, but John held up his hand for Nathan to be quite.

Opening his eyes, John looked down at the map. "If we are here, that chopper sounded like it landed along this line," he said, marking a line to the northeast. "I'm betting right here at 305 and 36." John marked the spot.

"Yeah, that would be pretty close," Nathan agreed. He took the grease pencil from John. "That is why I was looking at the map so many times last night," Nathan told them. He marked X's over the area around them.

"s.h.i.t, I thought you were lost," Casey admitted.

Nathan pointed his finger at her. "Young lady, I'm fixing to get a bar of soap," he warned.

"Sorry," Casey replied, smiling.

John just stared at the map with all the X's Nathan drew. "Oh s.h.i.t," John mumbled when it hit him. "Nathan, look."

Snapping his eyes to lock on John, Nathan saw John was pale. He looked down at the map. "What?" he asked.

"It's like Call of Duty. They are running blocking actions," John said. "They are blocking escape routes."