Chapter 69

Present – Ben - leaving the cabin

It is good to be on the move again - spending time at the cabin and connecting to Jens are some of the hardest things I have ever done. It reminds me of what should have been until Hussein fucked it up: Jens and I living out the rest of our lives at the cabin, surrounded by children and later grandchildren. To leave the cabin was to permanently leave that part of my life behind me and move on to other things. One part of leaving that part behind me is making it hard as hell for Destiny to find me.

Yeah, I may have told Destiny she could find me however I'm never going to lay down and roll over because I am a Marine. I already cleaned the Barrett and put it back in storage. Boy I wish I could bring it with me but where I am going, it is too heavy and impractical. But that doesn't mean I'm not going to bring a more versatile rifle with me. So I stop by one of my weapons caches to swap my 5.56 M4 upper (which I had also cleaned and oiled) and tactical vest for a M4 upper in 7.62 x 35 (300 AAC¹ Blackout) with a suppressor and a new tactical vest which contains both subsonic and supersonic rounds. Even though I always store rifles and uppers in a ready to use state, I still need to verify that I didn't forget anything. First I need to clean the bore so I run a cleaning patch through the barrel (it comes out with a good amount of oil on it) then I visually inspect the barrel and the bolt assembly making sure that the firing pin rattles in the bolt assembly - everything looks copasetic. I lightly oil the bolt assembly, double check the gas block² to make sure it is set to subsonic (it is). Slap a subsonic magazine in the lower, rack the bolt, take aim and fire one round to foul³ the barrel and prepare the rifle for action. I smile when all I hear is the bolt cycle, the round making a zing sound and then a solid thunk when it hits a rock.

¹ 300 AAC Blackout – the SAMMI spec round similar to the 300 Whisper mentioned in previous books. You can also read my report about the 300 Whisper vs. the 5.56 on our websites.

² Gas block – A part of the AR platform that is toward the front of the barrel, the gas tube begins here and terminates in the receiver. An adjustable gas block, like used on this upper, allows you to fine tune the amount of gas from the barrel that impinges on the bolt assembly forcing it open.

³ Foul the barrel or fouling round – The first round through a clean barrel usually doesn't group where the following rounds will. So it is always a good practice to fire one round down the barrel to eliminate possible misses.

I make one more stop by another weapons cache, take out a biohazard suit, slip it on with some biohazard boots and now it's time to get the hell out of Dodge in a different direction than Destiny will assume I am going to head. Still, I can't help feeling that someone is watching me. I scan the hills around me but I don't see anyone...

Present – Destiny – following Ben

I knew when I delivered Ben's message to Jennifer it would shock her and she would not recognize me from the pictures Ivan had drawn. And I left right before Elizabeth, Bernie, Jack Masha and Ivan arrived because I knew many of them they would recognize me from Ivan's pictures. I quickly enter the woods and decide to make a small detour because I left before showing them where the bunker was. I'm the one that needs to turn off the GPS jammer and the Electronic Warfare Module since I saw Ben make all the connections. I find the bunker without problems, open the door, go inside and disconnect both devices from the batteries. Then I leave and immediately detect Ben's scent and follow him. I almost laugh when I see him dress in the chemical suit. I can tell he senses I am watching him, but he will never see me. Then he leaves in a direction contrary to his final destination, but it does not matter because I have already found him. I will follow him for some time, then I will catch up to him. Ah ha! Now this is surprising...

Present – Jens, Stacy, Liz, Bernie, Jack, Masha, Ivan and Samantha - At the cabin

While I have been arguing with Stacy over who is going to fix the tunnels and the cabin, the crazy woman who was with Ben leaves. As far as I am concerned it's good riddance to bad rubbish. Liz walks up and asks, "Jens how are you feeling and what did the lady that is also a wolf say to you?"

Shit! Now I know why she was familiar - she's the woman in Ivan's pictures. What she said about Ben still being in love with me shocked me and as a result I didn't recognize her. Ivan also questions, "Yes Donaldduckson lady what did wolf that is also lady talk to you bout?"

I decide I don't want to repeat what she told me about Ben so I lie a little and say, "I was busy arguing with Stacy and didn't recognize her..."

For some reason Jennifer decided to lie about what the strange woman said to her, but I remember because it hurt like hell to hear that 'Ben sent all his love to her'. I still have hopes that Ben will love me. But I don't understand something so I ask, "What in the hell is this wolf that is also a lady? Are you telling me it was that strange woman who was with us?"

Liz answers, "It's what Ivan calls her. Somehow she could communicate with Ivan when we were in the tunnels and he drew some pictures of her and Ben together."

Jennifer adds, "Yeah, the picture of Ben was so realistic I could feel his spirit."

Liz adds, "And she looked just like the picture too."

Ivan dances around and says, "Unca Ben and wolf that is also a lady puff and huff and blow all the bad men down until they leave. Then wolf that is also a lady bring me to mama and papa, she take most good and excellent care of me. Papa I learn many new and tricksy things from Unca Ben and cannot wait to show you."

Wow that kid could talk! I notice Wojtek coming back and begin to wonder because when she walked up Wojtek ran away while Bo and Patches became skittish; now all three of them are fine. I wonder...

I sure as hell don't know what Ivan is talking about but I'm glad as hell to be out of the shackles and even happier that the fucking greenies and Mike are gone. But with them gone, the Marines have some immediate needs so I state, "I think this mythical topic can wait until later. What are we going to do about a place to stay tonight, food and water?"

The woman who is with Jennifer (I assume it's Stacy Summers) answers, "I have a contracting team coming to work on the tunnel entrances and the house. By the way that reminds me, the strange woman who was here said to be careful with the Port-a-potties and the entrances into the house because Mike has booby trapped them. Soon some trailers should arrive which we can stay in for the night: One is also a mobile kitchen stocked with food but we will need someone to cook the food."

Mabel walks up and offers, "Don't worry I will cook you a meal you won't believe. After eating those nasty military rations it will be great to finally whip up some real food!"

I realize I need to inform the men about the traps (I'm a little pissed at Jennifer because she forgot to mention it) so I give Masha a kiss and say, "I need to go inform the troops about the traps, please watch Ivan for me."

She gives me another kiss and says, "Jack, promise me you will not get hurt working with the traps."

Hells bells sometimes my wife is too protective! I smile and answer, "Yes Masha, I will be extra careful..."

I kneel on the ground next to my son and ask, "Ivan, tell me more about this woman that is part wolf and part woman?"

He smiles at me and answers, "Mama, she is very good woman and never ever use bad words like Donaldduckson lady or other lady that use so many bad words my ears hurt. She come to me in my dreams at night and dreams during day when mind wander and tell me things, like ... like ... like you and Papa are fine and good. And then after Unca Ben rescue me, she hold me every night to keep safe and keep warm while in small hole in ground with many blinking lights. She also know where bad men were and keep us from getting caught by them."

I question my son, "Ivan, could you draw me a picture of her?"

He smiles and replies, "Yes but first I need to draw many pictures for Donaldduckson lady, she want to put on wall and not on refrigerator."

Jennifer adds to my son's comments, "That's right his drawings belong in a museum, not on the refrigerator."