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In the Sun: Part 1
In the Sun: Part 1
In the Sun: Part 1
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In the Sun: Part 1

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As the new millennium approaches, the world is getting ready to celebrateunaware that a Russian terrorist cell is preparing to carry out a plan that will change their lives in an instant.

It is November of 1999, and all seventeen-year-old Josh Saunders wants to do is escape his Podunk town of Elnor, Texas. But everything is about to change when Josh learns the US president and vice president are dead. A nuclear missile has just struck Washington, DC, and Russian President Vladimir Pemarov has declared war on America. Suddenly what was once a boring little town erupts into chaos. Now Josh and his friend Yuko must not only save their own lives, but also the life of Akbashev Chekenov, a deserting Russian soldier hunted by both American soldiers and his own military unit. As two worlds and cultures collide in a brutal battle, Josh, Yuko, and Akbashev are about to realize there is much more to war than honor and glory.

In this modern military thriller, three young adults are propelled into an unthinkable war and soon discover that there is a thin line that separates enemies from friends.

LanguageEnglish
PublisheriUniverse
Release dateNov 10, 2011
ISBN9781462059997
In the Sun: Part 1
Author

Joshua Patrick

Joshua Patrick has studied modern war theory for over ten years and has published several short stories online. He lives in Manor, Texas, with his three dogs.

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    In the Sun - Joshua Patrick

    PROLOGUE

    NOVEMBER 2nd, 1999

    —HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A.—

    The President walked along the barricades, which were full of supporters and citizens all clamoring to get a glimpse of him and, perhaps, a lucky handshake as he walked by. A man of Middle Eastern descent named Abu Al-Kassim sat in wait. He had shaven himself clean and dyed his hair brown to make it appear that he was a regular American citizen. He watched the President stop and say something to the three Secret Service agents following him. One of the men nodded and the President stepped forward and began to shake hands with those in the crowd. Abu looked at his hand and moved a large ring on his finger into position; it had been made specifically for assassinations. It looked like an ordinary ring from the outside, but it had a hidden compartment that contained a sac filled with a very potent poison that would kill the deliverer and victim in less than twenty-four hours. It was nothing more than an assassination/suicide device.

    It had a small, short needle on the bottom, which, when pressed, would release the poison into its victim. A former Soviet scientist had developed it and then the Soviets sold their dangerous supply to a medical laboratory when the Cold War ended and it was never to be used as a weapon ever again.

    It had been stolen by one of its workers, Vassily Arkov, who stole most anything he could get his hands on. Unfortunately for him, he had no idea what lay inside the small glass vial with the label scratched out and sold it to one of his connections.

    A former Polish army commander who worked for the Russian army now had employed Abu Al-Kassim for a little-known terrorist group named "Rooskeey asa, or Russian Wasp". The same former Polish army commander had promised Abu a massive amount of money that would be sent to his ailing wife and three children in Amman, Jordan, that would be activated in a Swiss bank account when he had completed his task. Abu gave them the money he was not able to earn by himself working in the textile factory.

    The President reached the point where Abu Al-Kassim sat; he reached forward along with the dozens whose hands were outstretched, and waited for the President to shake his. The President shook all of the hands around his, and finally he shook Abu’s. The President quickly withdrew his hand from the prick of the needle and began to rub his palm. Abu smiled and laughed as the Secret Service agents arrested him, but not until he had vomited a large amount of blood over himself and the clothes of the Secret Service agents. The virus was easily transmitted, and Abu had not been as careful as he should’ve been when handling the vial before infecting the needle. He died four hours later, convulsing and vomiting blood, but with his mission complete.

    NOVEMBER 3rd, 1999

    —WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A.—

    President Fray was set to address the nation on the conflict in the Middle East that had arisen yet again. India and Pakistan were threatening to use nuclear weapons against each other, and the United States was right in the middle, with both being trusted allies. He gathered his notes and met in the House of Representatives to address and discuss what would and may happen, but not before being checked out by the trio of White House doctors for the seventh time since he had been jabbed by the man who’d died horribly in Pennsylvania the day before. He’d maintained that he felt fine and that nothing out of the ordinary had affected him, and since the doctors weren’t able to find anything wrong, they allowed him to deliver his speech.

    As the President began to talk, a top-secret military base in New Mexico picked up something that had been fired from a ship in the Sea of Okhotsk and was heading east across the U.S. at a high rate of speed. General Marks alerted the Pentagon and told them it could be a surprise missile attack and to fire Patriot missiles to destroy the missile. From a quiet, innocent-seeming farm south of Omaha, Nebraska, a total of seven Patriot missiles were fired; four were diverted into an empty field and three crashed into a suburb fifteen miles away from the launch site. The CIA was unaware at the time that Russia had been working since 1978 to create a nuclear missile with a clean burning fuel system that emitted no heat; so many of the United States defensive missiles were unable get a positive lock.

    What no one except the Russians knew was that the missile was equipped with multiple warheads that would discharge from the main missile every five hundred miles or so and would drop harmlessly to the ground and were set to explode in thirty minutes or until the larger missile exploded and this would result in a radio signal that would detonate the others. The smaller missiles were only powerful enough to destroy perhaps a major metropolitan city, or a total of twenty-five square miles. The main missile, carrying just short of eight pounds of enriched uranium, was set to explode in Washington, D.C..

    As the nuclear missile continued on its path, uninterrupted by the patriot missiles, the senior official at the pentagon alerted the White House and prepared the President for the shock of the lifetime.

    The President, ready to make his speech and address the nation about what the country would do if Pakistan and India started a nuclear war, walked out to the podium and heard the telltale sign of hundreds of television cameras and reporters getting ready to hear his speech. The President cleared his throat and began.

    "Today a grave decision faces our nation."

    The 1997 luxury sedan containing Vice President Marshall pulled to a stop in front of an innocuous-looking apartment building. The old undisclosed location was being renovated after a broken water pipe and a replacement was needed at short notice, so something commonplace was needed to avoid suspicion. The Vice President emerged and tightened his trench coat around him. It was cold and the rain that had fallen so heavily only a few hours before was now a chilling mist. The sky was still gray and overcast and he worried about catching a cold. Three secret service agents flanked him: Agent Matthews, Agent Hernandez, and newly appointed agent, Agent Sobchak.

    Vice President Marshall watched Agent Sobchak close the door to the sedan, not saying a word as he did so. There was something off about Sobchak… he could feel it. All through their ride from the White House, the agent merely stared out the window, not saying anything or even looking at him. Perhaps he was just nervous about the new mission of protecting him… .

    This way, sir. Agent Hernandez said, scanning the street for potential threats. Vice President Marshall took three steps forward and then stopped and looked back sheepishly at the shoe he’d just lost.

    It must have come untied during the ride… Vice President Marshall muttered.

    I’ll get it, sir. Agent Hernandez retried the shoe and bent down to put the shoe back on but was having difficulty since Vice President Marshall was nearly two hundred and fifty pounds overweight and on occasion, had to use a cane to walk. The doctor had already ordered a motorized wheelchair for him, but it wasn’t due to arrive until tomorrow. He was unable to lift his foot more than a few inches standing and regularly had to have his socks and shoes put on by aides as he sat in a chair so his feet could be lifted more easily.

    We should get inside. Put his shoe on when we get inside, Hernandez. Agent Matthews said, scanning the street and noticed a vagrant nearing closer. He caught a glimpse of Agent Sobchak as he looked up at the top of the apartment building and then back down. He looked like he’d been daydreaming.

    Sobchak! Agent Matthews said rather loudly, snapping Agent Sobchak out of his daydream. Agent Sobchak smiled at him for a moment. Help Hernandez get Vice President Marshall into the building.

    Yes, sir. Agent Sobchak replied with a tiredness in his voice. Agent Matthews didn’t notice as he rushed ahead of the others to open the door of the apartment building so that the Vice President could enter. The Vice President grimaced and limped into the building, supported on both sides by Hernandez and Sobchak.

    Are you hurt, sir? Agent Matthews asked suddenly, noticing the limp.

    Ah, no. I just stepped on a piece of gravel coming in. Vice President Marshall replied as he looked around. The trashcan was overflowing with garbage and ahead of him, the elevator’s wall was stained with something near the floor that he could only guess. So much for his new undisclosed location. Nevertheless, he entered the elevator and with a jerk, it ascended upwards, it’s motor straining with the Vice President’s weight.

    Just down here, sir. Agent Matthews led him down a narrow hallway and inserted a key into a lock on the door in the middle of the hallway. But the door wouldn’t open and he struggled for a moment until he kicked the door open with a blow from his foot.

    The Vice President entered with a frown and then with a hint of disgust and disappointment, turned to the nearest agent, Agent Hernandez and muttered, What is this place?

    This is the undisclosed location, sir. Agent Hernandez replied and mumbled something into his radio about a ‘wide load’ being out of harm’s way. Agent Hernandez rushed about the room and closed the curtains so any enemies wouldn’t be able to see through the windows… or out.

    This is what my constituents’ tax dollars have paid for? Vice President Marshall sat down in a chair that had a cushion that leaked stuffing and smelled like mildew mixed slightly with four month old sour milk. This place is a fucking dump!

    Sir, will you just—? Agent Matthews began saying, trying to calm the Vice President down, but was stopped before he finish.

    Take me back to the White House. I can wait my time out there while Fray finishes his speech. The Vice President stated. "Better than staying in a dump of an undisclosed location like this."

    Sir, please. Just rest until we have to go back. Your safety depends on it.

    "I am the Vice President of the United States of America and I demand to be taken back to the White House! NOW TAKE ME!"

    BANG!

    Agent Matthews and Agent Hernandez appeared to be stunned as to what had just happened… then Vice President Marshall crumpled to the ground, shot in his neck.

    Oh my God! Agent Matthews shouted and rushed to the Vice President’s side. He put his hand over the wound and tried to stop the bleeding, but another shot came, hitting Secret Service Agent Matthews in his head. He was dead before he even realized what had happened and his body flopped over the elected official’s body, leaking his own fresh reddish-purplish blood onto the clothes that belonged to the person gasping his last dying breath. It comingled with Vice President Marshall’s and merged to form a larger line of scarlet that stained the dirty rug around them.

    BANG! BANG! BANG!

    Agent Hernandez fell—with three hollow-point .45 slugs in his chest.

    Agent Sobchak exhaled, but didn’t relax and kept his .45 out just in case whilst he went through his colleagues’ pockets, withdrew their weapons and credentials, and then fled the apartment and arrived at the airport with only a few minutes to spare and boarded the next flight to Key West, Florida and then a fishing vessel to Cuba, his mission complete in less than twelve hours.

    Vice President Marshall and those protecting him were dead a full half hour before President Fray began to feel lightheaded.

    President Fray didn’t pay much attention to his light-headedness, however, and began taking questions from the audience and reporters who had been specially selected to ensure he would reach a far broader audience on television and appear competent after his disastrous last term, which had culminated in rumors of him being caught with a male cross-dresser in Los Angeles, but with his apparent re-election, those rumors had been quashed by his team of politicos, and he was now working to attain his prior standing with the American people.

    NOVEMBER 3rd, 1999

    —ELNOR, TEXAS, U.S.A.—

    Joshua Saunders looked about the classroom for a moment and yawned. It was going to be another long school day, he could feel it. They were all long school days to him though and he knew there was nothing more he would love than to be afforded the opportunity to quit school and leave the little Podunk town of Elnor, Texas and see someplace new and different.

    Elnor was only ten miles or so from the capital of Texas and yet had changed so little over the last one hundred and forty nine years—people still had cattle, farms, and tractors, but the tractors were slowly being phased out as the mode of transportation in favor of smaller cars. Josh had seen only one major thing change in the last seventeen years of his life and that was the addition of the new high school. Other than that, everything stayed very much the same.

    People still gathered on the decrepit main street that ran down the middle of the town to discuss the football season and farming matters. The stores were still in the style of the 1950’s and a few abandoned buildings at the end of main street were left over from the 1800’s from when the railroad transformed it from an outpost to what was considered a bustling metropolis during the civil war, but the trains rarely ran through Elnor anymore and when they did, all they drew were brief acknowledgements from the older generation that made up most of the town’s population.

    The school was firmly established in farm country and the school was surrounded by a cornfield on all sides, except for the parking lot. The cornfield wasn’t worth much to Josh, but was to the students that hid in the rows of corn to smoke cigarettes before school started in the morning.

    Now he sat in school, surrounded by people he’d known from kindergarten and a few from the first years of his life. His best friend, Troy Stroud, sat a little ways away from him and when Josh caught his eye and gave him a look of boredom, Troy shrugged. Josh knew he felt the same way.

    His teacher, Mr. Mankay, was in the process of explaining the government of the United States when he had switched on the television to the live Presidential address in Washington and it made Josh wonder for a long time about why the hell anyone would even care in Elnor about affairs that were happening in Washington and beyond since people there rarely spoke about anything but Elnor.

    One of the reporters asked President Fray, Haven’t the people, mainly Pakistanis, said that if the United States or the United Nations intervene in the countries’ actions that they will face complete and utter annihilation? The President paused, thinking of an appropriate answer that would best suit the reporter’s question and began to tilt slightly to his left side. Sir, are you all right? The President put his hand up and nodded.

    Josh instantly perked up as soon as he saw the President begin to lean more so than usual.

    President’s drunk again. He said aloud, making everyone chuckle. Mr. Mankay glared at him, but didn’t say anything. Josh had become a troublemaker long ago and had discovered how to make people laugh and once he got his first laugh, he kept going until people were panting for air through their laughter. He liked to make people happy, but it was mostly to relieve to boredom he felt everyday in going to school without anything happening.

    Sorry, it has been a long night in mediations with both countries. The President replied with a smile. He cleared his throat and continued, Yes, that has been threatened, but we cannot be intimidated by other countries, particularly by—. The President stopped and wavered for a couple of seconds again and then collapsed to the stage. The podium was knocked down by the President’s arm as it struck loudly and then fell to the floor; the microphone began to whistle, deafening the reporters and Secret Service agents nearby.

    The President’s advisor ran up to the President, along with Secret Service agents, who quickly gathered the President away. The President’s advisor remained and after they had turned off the microphone he told the reporters to leave as soon as possible, something urgent had just come up and it was crucial for him and others to leave as quickly as possible. The reporters and others seemed alarmed and tried to get answers from the President’s advisor by shouting questions but he was whisked away by members of the Secret Service.

    The estimated time of the missile striking Washington D.C. was now less than five minutes.

    Damn, man. The President must’ve been up really late last night doing shots with Vice President Marshall… the guy’s passed out! Josh said as another chorus of laughter emanated from his peers.

    Shit, get’im some coffee! Troy said as the picture from the White House switched back to a CNN news desk.

    Ladies and Gentleman, the President has just fainted and we are unsure what has happened. We have just received word that the President may be ill and will be coming back momentarily. The news anchor replied with a deep uncertainty in his voice, he paused for a moment and opened his mouth, just as the television screen and all the lights in the school blinked off.

    Sir, the President and Vice President are dead! The words rang as every agent’s worst nightmare. The Speaker of the House was on vacation with his family in Colorado, but something was wrong… no phones worked in the region and they urgently needed a decision on whether or not to authorize a retaliatory missile strike on Russia. The time was ticking away, and they were losing precious seconds in trying to contact the Speaker of the House, so forsaking the rules, the highest ranking general, General Lewis McGregor, authorized the missile strike without further ado.

    The enemy nuclear missile struck Washington D.C. before the retaliatory missile was even launched from a base north of Pennsylvania.

    Both missiles killed several million people instantly and destroyed an area around two hundred miles.

    The Russian President, Vladimir Pemarov, was vacationing at a resort in the city of Rostov-na-Donu with his family when his secretary of defense, General Igor Likhachev, informed him that America had been attacked and had retaliated by launching a nuclear missile at Russia. He was appalled and after checking all nuclear weapon storage facilities, both known and secret, he found that not one of them had fired. His secretary of defense informed him soon after that it had come from a nuclear-armed submarine in the Sea of Okhotsk that was supposed to be stationed at a base in Vladivostok. The President himself called the submarine to demand an answer as to why they’d fired, but there was no answer.

    The inside of the submarine was slowly filling with water, it’s captain and most of its crew shot and killed by two former KGB officers. Seven men were still alive in the crews quarters as the two men opened the hatches and gave the command for the submarine to fill its ballast tanks and dive as they escaped. The submarine slowly sank to the ocean floor, drowning the men who’d escaped the initial massacre.

    The White House was already gone when the Russian President sought to inform them that his country had not fired and when he dialed the direct line to the White House, the only thing on the other side of the line was static.

    The U.S. had cooperated with Russia to destroy its remaining nuclear arms in accordance to the nuclear ban treaty signed after the cold war. The Russian military had disposed of all of its nuclear weapons, except for a few short range missiles that could only be launched a maximum of fifteen hundred miles.

    Retaliation for a million or more Russian citizens would take too long and they would only hit Alaska if they fired, which would undoubtedly anger Canada. Russian President Vladimir Pemarov believed the Americans were ignoring him and took the static on the other line as an insult, so he had no other choice and declared war on America.

    CHAPTER 1

    Damn, man. You see that shit? They aren’t going to let us get out of the parking lot until four today! Troy complained as he and Josh loitered in the parking lot.

    The teachers were blocking both entrances and exits to the parking lot, afraid of losing their jobs and letting students leave the school prematurely. No one was standing with the students however due to Elnor being a small school with fewer than three hundred students and as a result, fewer teachers. Some teachers even did three classes to make a steady paycheck and Josh was amazed at how a football coach could teach both science and biology, despite probably having flunked both classes when they were in school themselves.

    Josh’s old pick up truck was so close and he impatiently played with his keys in his pocket, weighing detention against leaving school early. He wished that he’d chosen to not even come that day, but his father persisted that he didn’t want to get in trouble for him skipping school anymore, so he went resentfully—he always hated being forced into things he didn’t want to do.

    Man, screw this. I’m going home. Josh said finally, yanking his keys out of his pocket. He stealthily motioned for Troy to get in the back and then Troy whistled slightly to their other mutual friend Daniel, and they all piled into Josh’s truck.

    They’re not going to let you go, you know. They going to make you get out and then everyone’s going to be laughing at us for doing something so stupid. Daniel muttered as Josh slammed his truck door and started the engine.

    Yeah? Well, who says I’m going out through the parking lot? Josh gave him a smirk and then put his truck in reverse, backing into the field adjacent to the school and then putting it back into drive and driving off through the corn field before any of the teachers could reach them.

    Fuck, man! That corn shit hurts! Troy howled and rolled up the passenger window as cornstalks and pieces of corn flew at them as Josh floored his truck and whipped through the cornfield.

    When he finally reached the road across from the school, he stopped and looked back at his handiwork and smiled; teachers were shouting now, but no one was following the road he’d made through the cornfield for them. The sound of engine’s turning over made him wonder why no one was following, but as he got out onto highway, he saw why.

    Cars seemed as if they were suspended in time, none of the vehicles moved but Josh’s.

    Damn, traffic jam. Josh muttered and quickly yanked the wheel of his truck around a stopped eighteen wheeler that was blocking the road. Some people were out walking and looking under the hoods of their vehicles, but none of the vehicles would start and Josh soon realized that the vehicles that had stopped working were ones made from 1980 and after, but Josh’s truck had been made in the fifties and although it needed repairs every few months, his truck ran like it always had without any problems.

    Glad I didn’t stay at the damn school. I’d probably be walking home and my fat ass can’t go fifteen feet without sweating like a pig. Shit, I’d probably die! Troy said as Josh stopped at the driveway of Troy’s house. Troy and Daniel slid out and Josh told them not to go back to the school since he knew that whatever had made the cars stop running that school would probably be canceled for at least a day and as Josh drove away, he hooted in excitement, knowing that he’d get an unplanned vacation.

    Josh continued driving around, and after a while, decided to go into Austin and see what was going on since he could see several black trails of smoke already curling up from various places.

    He managed to make his way around all the parked cars blocking the highway and as he came up to a department store at the edge of Austin, he noticed plenty of people running with items, more so than usual. He pulled over and asked a man who was carrying a television what the hell was going on. The man looked at him and continued pushing his basket, Josh shouted at him, but was ignored again, so he got out and walked up to the store entrance.

    Jesus, this place is worse than Black Friday in 1997! He mused to himself as someone hurried past him with a basketful of items. I just hope they haven’t run out of Tickle Me Elmo’s again!

    He ventured further into the store cautiously since the power was out and people weren’t shy about fighting over trivial things, it seemed.

    Just take the money and give it to us! Josh heard someone shout suddenly. He turned and saw people swarming around the jewelry case that was in the middle of the store. A few people were trying to buy some jewelry and Josh thought it odd, since most people were grabbing whatever they could and running out. But that was only because no one tried to stop them… there was still a cashier struggling to defend the jewelry case by himself.

    Let’s just take it! Don’t fuck around with this bullshit! Josh winced as someone swung and metal baseball bat and hit the cashier in the side of the head. The bat bounced off the side of his head with a dull thud and then the cashier fell backwards and never got up again. Josh winced, but as the one with the metal baseball bat smashed the jewelry display cases one after another, Josh saw it as his opportunity to do some looting of his own.

    Before the guy with the baseball bat had noticed, Josh had snatched nine gold rings with diamonds, emeralds, and rubies on them, a gold watch, and a few gold necklaces. He stuffed them in his pockets and took off deeper into the store in case the guy had ideas of following him and stopped behind a pile of dog food and waited in the darkness. No one came however and after a while, Josh emerged and went across the aisle for what he assumed were cookies.

    He hadn’t eaten since noon and his teenage stomach grumbled in hunger and since people were looting he thought it wouldn’t matter. As he reached for the last box of the cookies another hand grabbed them at the same time.

    What the? Josh looked at the girl who’d grabbed the same box. Though it was dark, he could make out the features of the girl. She had long black hair and he thought perhaps she was Asian at first or maybe even from a Pacific island, because she looked slightly tanned, but even in winter, everyone in Texas looked slightly tanned. She was slender and wore a t-shirt that had a picture of the Texas capital and the words, Keep Austin weird. They both stood for a moment looking at each other and then someone bumped Josh in the back and snapped him out of his trance. By the time he looked back up, the girl had run off with the box of cookies along with some more food items.

    Jeez, He mumbled and took a box next to the one he’d grabbed before. He wrenched open the package, ate a few and then dropped them on the floor. They tasted like soft chalk.

    Josh started to move towards the canned food section, when he kicked something solid by accident and by the light of a dropped flashlight, he found out it was a gun. He didn’t know what kind it was, but he managed to put the safety on and put it in his pocket. He had learned to be safe around guns ever since he was twelve years old and his friend had shot him in the leg with his mother’s air gun and sent him to the hospital. The wound wasn’t serious but he was restricted to minimal activity for a few weeks afterward. He considered it a favor however and waved off his friend’s apologies for shooting him since he had a viable excuse to get out of square dancing in gym class, which he hated strongly.

    Josh checked on the gun in his pocket to make sure it would not accidentally fire. He looked out the side of the aisle to make sure it was safe and started to walk away, trying to look normal. Just as he had gotten to the exit he heard a loud report of a gun discharging, and looked just in time to see a man with a handgun duck behind a display of chips then another man come out with a revolver and start to run. The man came out behind the display of chips and fired three times and hit the man running in the shoulder.

    Holy crap! Time to go! He said aloud to himself.

    Screams were heard and then a flood of people began to filter out of the store’s entrance and Josh was with them, he thought he might’ve heard another gunshot as he got outside but he wasn’t sure.

    He got into his truck and decided quickly to leave and go somewhere else to avoid getting shot in the melee and had just started his truck when someone smashed into him from behind.

    What the hell? He began to say and looked back for a moment and witnessed someone being dragged from the car that had just hit him and getting kicked in their face, while another person went through the car, searching for something. Josh hurriedly pressed the lock on his door, put his truck into drive and punched the gas, resolved instantly to let his insurance company worry about the damage later.

    He kept going until the reached a supermarket down the road and then inspected the damage. His tailgate was bent all the way in. Josh tried to open the tailgate but couldn’t. Josh stepped back and looked at his truck, she had already been dented and rusted, but the new hits looked almost normal for the hell it had been through in the last forty-two years.

    He left his truck again, glancing around quickly before crossing the walkway from the parking lot to the supermarket’s entrance and when he went though the doors, he saw that almost everything was gone close to the door, except for a couple of dented cans of sweet corn. He grabbed what he could and looked in the other aisles and found a bag of flour, an opened bag of sugar that had been discarded, three boxes of matches, two cans of soup, and some candy. He ran towards the exit to stash his supplies back in his truck and come back for more, but as he did he heard a commotion in the dairy foods section.

    He was uneasy about another confrontation and possibly facing the same fate the man in the department store had suffered. But all of a sudden, his old instincts kicked in. It was as if something came over him when there was danger around him, he always liked to partake but only when he knew what was happening. He rounded a corner of an aisle and saw a man holding a girl with black hair in his arms and saw the flash of metal against her neck. He walked around the man who was telling everyone to back off or he would kill the girl he was restraining. He decided to do something since everyone else either moved away or acted like they hadn’t seen anything.

    He took out the pistol that he had in his pocket and pointed it in the man’s back and said, Let her go. The man seemed so surprised he dropped his knife and stood still until Josh told him to put his hands up. The man complied and as soon as he lessened his grip on the person, the same girl he’d seen earlier, elbowed him in the mouth and ran.

    Josh didn’t have anything in mind besides getting the guy to let the person go, but when he heard another voice tell him to put his own hands up, he turned and saw that another man had a gun and it was pointed at him. Josh lowered the gun but didn’t let it go. Suddenly, there was a flash of a white dust cloud, and the man fell but not before pulling the trigger and Josh pivoted and pulled the trigger on his own gun.

    The gun fired so hard that he dropped it on the floor and jumped to grab it before the other man could fire his gun again; he picked it up and fired twice before the man could react. The man fell, but still had the strength to drag himself into the aisle next to him and then collapsed. Josh got up and looked around behind him for the man who held the girl, but he was already gone. Then he saw the girl coming towards him out the corner of his eye. He whirled around and aimed the gun at her for a moment until he realized it was her and lowered it. The girl was holding an empty bag of flour in her hands, but she tossed it away as she neared him.

    I think he’s dead, She said and started to tell him that she was trying to get some food when out of no where a man came up to her and grabbed her and put a knife to her throat and was most likely going to drag her away to rape her when Josh had arrived.

    He was shocked; he had never saved a life before. He wanted to savor the moment because he was sure this would never happen before. But, before he could enjoy the moment the girl asked him his name. Josh. He answered.

    Thanks, Josh. The girl replied with a smile.

    Josh looked at her and said, You’re welcome.

    Then the girl said, My name’s—. All of a sudden, Josh saw movement out of the corner of his eye and he was quick enough to push the girl away from him. She fell backwards and was probably wondering why the hell he’d pushed her so hard at first, but the gunshot caused her to only flinch slightly and look at Josh in amazement. He’d saved her life yet again.

    The bullet smashed through Josh’s right shoulder and exited through his upper right back. Josh felt as if a baseball bat had just hit him and he stumbled back, trying to get out of the line of fire before another bullet came for him and he slipped on a half-empty bottle of water and tumbled backwards. It felt like he was falling in slow motion and he felt something hit his head hard on the right side just before he hit the ground. His vision went black for a moment and then white lights danced around the scene in front of him.

    The girl had picked up the gun that had fallen out of his hands and shot the man in the chest. Fresh blood poured onto the already bloody floor. Josh was still lying on the floor, his head against the dairy case, when the girl ran over to him and looked at the wound in his shoulder. He oddly felt like smiling; there was never enough danger for him, but most of the time it led to stupid decisions. It felt just like when he had been shot with a BB gun when he was younger; the bullet stung a little and his arm was numb just like his leg had been right after it happened, but there was a new feeling, a burning sensation. He winced when the girl pulled up his shirt and gently touched the bullet hole.

    Ow! Jeez, what the hell, that hurts! Josh said. The girl got up and started to run away. Hey, where you going? Josh yelled.

    Don’t worry, I’ll be right back. She said.

    Hey, I don’t want to bleed to death here. Josh yelled and tried to move towards the girl so she wouldn’t leave him there alone.

    Don’t worry. The girl yelled back as she ran. Josh was bleeding lightly but decided to bandage his wound by himself to stop the bleeding. Josh lay back with his back on the dairy case door, he looked behind him and thanked God that the glass hadn’t broken when he fell since it probably would’ve cut him open or impaled him. He watched other people pass by him, not even giving him a second look and he scoffed at more than a few of them before the girl came back. She was with a boy who looked about nineteen and wondered why he looked almost like he was related to her.

    Don’t worry we’re still going to help you, just let my brother pick you up.

    Wait, my truck—I can’t leave my truck here. Josh said. He had gotten his truck on his sixteenth birthday from his father and he loved it and would be damned if he was going to leave it for some marauding thieves to steal or vandalize it. The girl said something Josh couldn’t understand and the boy replied back in the same way.

    Okay, tell us what your truck looks like and we’ll get it. Josh described it and said the tailgate was dented in and the truck was white. The girl hurried off as the boy picked Josh up and told him to lean on his shoulder for support and walk.

    I’m Nobu, by the way. The boy said and shook Josh’s that was on the same arm he’d just been shot in. He winced, but hoped the boy would think nothing of his limp handshake.

    What kind of name is Nobu? Josh asked as he walked.

    It’s Japanese, you stupid honky. Nobu snapped back, And don’t start with that ching-chong shit or I’ll fucking hit you in your face.

    Okay, okay. I was just asking, you know. Josh replied and told him he’d meant no offense.

    Sorry, I get that a lot from people here in Austin. Nobu explained. Outside of Austin is even worse.

    Where’s your sister? Josh asked while they went through the crowd of people running in and out of the store front, some of them were pushed roughly out of the way by Nobu for Josh so he wouldn’t be knocked over or hit in his wound again.

    I dunno, must’ve had trouble finding your truck. Nobu replied.

    Ouch, god I hope she’s here soon, I can’t drive by with—. Josh looked up and saw his truck and heard the motor roaring.

    About time. Nobu said. The girl came to a screeching stop and got out.

    Nobu, get in and drive. The girl said.

    Nobu ran over to the driver’s side and got in, then shouted, C’mon! The girl got in first and slid over in the middle. Josh got in last and shut the door with his other arm since his injured arm was beginning to throb.

    How are we gonna get to the hospital now? Josh asked as Nobu weaved in and out of cars that were sitting in the road. There are too many cars around to get to the hospital, it will take us about three hours or something. The girl looked around in front of and behind them as Nobu drove. God, this is chaos. Josh muttered to himself as he watched people running in and out of the store’s entrance.

    Hold on, I have an idea. Nobu said. He pulled of to the side of the road and then punched the gas.

    Hey, what are you doing? Whoa! Josh cried, seeing weeds and grass fly up in to the windshield. It obscured Nobu’s vision for a little bit until the girl found out how to work the windshield wipers and cleared his view of the road in front of them.

    Don’t worry, I’m a professional, I’ve done this before… once.

    Once? Josh said louder than he wanted. The girl looked at him and gave him a warning look and signaled for him to just be quiet and hold on.

    Uh oh, were gonna need some gas. Nobu said.

    Already? I just filled up the tank last Friday.

    Well, the thing’s on empty. Nobu said and pointed to the dashboard.

    There’s a gas station right over there.

    All right, you guys might want to hold on. Nobu said.

    Wha—? Nobu yanked the wheel abruptly, and went across four lanes on the freeway and jerked to a stop at a pump at the gas station. God, just like freaking NASCAR. Josh mumbled to the girl as Nobu stepped out.

    Anyone want to come? Nobu said sticking his head in the door.

    I’ll come. Josh answered.

    Are you sure? The girl said grabbing Josh’s arm.

    Yeah, I’ll be fine, don’t worry. Josh said.

    Nobu and Josh walked up to one of the gas pumps and took out the nozzle and Josh used his keys to open his tank and were about to start pumping gas in when they heard someone in a Pakistani accent yell at them.

    Hey, get fuck away from gas! Nobu and Josh looked up and saw a man with a military type rifle running towards them, going in between the other gas pumps between them and the gas station’s door. Nobu walked up to meet the man as Josh waited in front of the truck.

    We only want to get enough gas to drive to the hospital, because my friend is hurt. Nobu said calmly, pointing to Josh’s injured arm.

    I don’t care if he hurt, it cost you twenty dollars for it. The man said.

    Twenty? For as much as we can get?

    No! The Pakistani rattled off a few words in Urdu, which no one else understood and then finished, A gallon.

    A gallon! You know we don’t have that much money! Nobu cried. I was born a poor ghetto Japanese guy! I’m not rolling in oil money, Paki. Then he began speaking Japanese to mock the Pakistani.

    I have to keep business and run emergency, the man said and started to walk away.

    Josh was watching and wondering what was taking so long so he walked up to Nobu and asked.

    Nobu scoffed, He says he wants twenty dollars a gallon!

    Hmmm… come here. Josh said and led Nobu back over to the truck.

    I don’t have enough money for that you know. Nobu said quietly.

    Steal it. Josh muttered quietly to make sure that the man could not hear their conversation.

    "What are you, crazy? That Paki guy’s got a gun!" He asked in an equally quiet voice and shook his head.

    We have to, we have no choice.

    Nobu sighed ruefully, How?

    You can shoot him—don’t kill him though. I don’t want to be convicted of robbery and murder at the same trial and end up some guy’s pillow in Huntsville. Then we can get the hell out of here as soon as possible. Josh said and took out the pistol. Here, you’re gonna have to take this because I can’t shoot very well anymore.

    So, what’s your plan? Nobu said turning his back to the truck.

    Get that guy over here and just start shooting. Josh said pointing his finger at the front of the truck. The front of the truck will probably give us the most protection, I saw it in a movie, so… you know it will work. Nobu looked at him.

    What? In a movie? You know how credible that stuff in the movies is?

    Hey, don’t worry it’ll work, I just know it will.

    Okay, but if it doesn’t I’m blaming you. Nobu said seriously.

    Well, If it doesn’t work we’ll all be dead, won’t we? And when we are, you can blame me all you want.

    Nobu looked back at the gas pump and then back at the truck, We’re gonna have to get Yuko out of the truck. Josh wasn’t paying attention, he was thinking of a plan. Nobu saw and snapped his fingers and waved his hand in front of his face, trying to get his attention.

    Oh, sorry, anyway… we’ll—hold on, who’s Yuko?

    That’s my sister. Nobu replied in a disgusted voice. I swear, I thought you were smarter.

    Oh, shut up. Just stay behind the truck and shoot from there. Josh said and started to walk toward the passenger side.

    Hold on, how many bullets do we need? Nobu said.

    Depends on how good you are. Josh said back as he opened the door and told Yuko to get out because they had to tell her something.

    How good at what? Yuko said. Josh told her what the guy had said and what they had to do.

    So we have to shoot him to get the—.

    Yuko started but was interrupted by Nobu, We gotta get the gun too and make sure he doesn’t shoot us while were pumping the gas.

    Hmmm… we might be able to pull it off, but you’re gonna have to let me do the shooting. Yuko replied. I was top score on the Area 51 game at the movie theater. Never been broken either. Nobu shook his head quickly and mouthed Yuko’s words as if he was tired of hearing the same thing over and over.

    But he didn’t have any complaints and dropped the magazine from the gun and said, You’d better be good because we only got four more bullets. Not like you can just point the gun off screen to reload again.

    Yuko gave them a confident look and said, That’s plenty for me. Josh and Nobu took their positions behind the truck and waited as Yuko walked off towards the attendant’s station. There was silence for a couple of minutes and Josh and Nobu got nervous, wondering what had happened and peeked over the top of the hood. As they did, they heard a gunshot and then they saw Yuko running out from the back of the gas station. The man followed behind her and fired his rifle at her.

    Yuko returned fire and shot a couple of times and then the man dived behind a gas pump and Yuko dived behind the truck. Jesus, how many bullets you got left? Josh said.

    Yuko dropped the magazine and looked. None.

    Check the chamber. Josh said hurriedly, thinking the man could hear them and would come to finish them off.

    Yuko pulled back the slide and a bullet ejected and rolled behind the tire next to them.

    Get it! Get it! Hurry! Nobu said as he kept a eye out for the Pakistani. Yuko’s hand fumbled around behind them tire, found the bullet and reloaded it manually.

    Got it. She said.

    Better make it count or we’re dead. Damn, this was one fucking hell of a great idea! Nobu said. Here, move over, let me get over to the front. Nobu slid over and as he did, a hail of bullets plinked of the gas pumps around them and pavement bringing a shower of asphalt and sparks. Shit, if he doesn’t stop shooting so close, he won’t have any gas left.

    I’m gonna have to get to that one over there and take the shot from there. Yuko said pointing to a gas pump in front of the truck and took a deep breath. I’m going on three, count it down.

    Josh began, One—Two—Th—. Yuko jumped out behind the truck before he could finish. The man saw her and started firing. Bullets ricochet around Yuko, but she didn’t shoot back. When Josh was wondering why she hadn’t fired, he soon found out why. The man hadn’t reloaded after shooting his last two bullets and was desperately trying to reload before she got to him. Josh watched as she ran up and delivered a swift kick and knocked the gun out of the man’s hands and then kicked the man in the chest and as the man doubled over in pain, clutching his chest, she spun around and kicked him in the neck. The man fell down, his body shaking the gas pump he was behind. Josh was amazed and ran up to her and looked at the man as she handed him his gun.

    Is he dead? She said panting and moved back as Josh kept him covered with the gun.

    He felt for a pulse and felt a weak one, he was still alive but he looked back at her and replied, Y-yeah.

    Yuko and Nobu breathed a sigh of relief when the man didn’t wake up. Josh picked up the man’s rifle, and when Yuko went back to the truck, he made sure to drag the man back into the gas station so that he would have at least a few obstacles to get around before getting back out. He then ran back to the truck and kept one eye on Nobu and one where the man lay. But Nobu had trouble pumping the gas since they worked on electricity. Josh suddenly wished he had paid the man before and then took the money back after they had knocked him out. A trio of gas containers nearby provided a full tank though. Yuko jumped in after Nobu finished and sat down next to him.

    Wow, I wish I could do that. Josh said in amazement, still looking at the guy who was beginning to groan a little.

    Perhaps I could teach you sometime. Yuko said.

    Sounds go—. Josh stopped when he felt a searing pain in his shoulder and winced and groaned and doubled over in pain. Yuko yelled for Nobu to stop washing the windshield and for him to come back.

    What’s the matter?

    I don’t know, he was fine one minute and then he grabbed his shoulder and started to—. Yuko said and pulled up his shirt and told him to lie back so she could see the wound. Josh lay back and both of them inspected the wound.

    I think the wound is becoming infected, time to go! Nobu said. He started the truck and Josh glimpsed the man just waking up, a painful cringe on his face as he felt the back of his head and picked it up off the ground.

    It’s too early for infection—.

    Shut up. We’re going, we’re going.

    Nobu said something a few miles from the gas station that Josh didn’t comprehend and Yuko suddenly shook him gently and said, Hey, you still alive?

    Josh managed to smile through the pain and said, Yeah, I’m still here, and took a deep breath.

    Just tell us if you have any problems, all right? Yuko said with her face inches away from his. She was so close that he could smell her wonderful perfume that made him forget about his injury, but only for a moment.

    All right, hope I don’t have to do it like in the movies because I kinda have a fear of dying. Josh said with a nervous smile.

    How long till we get there? Yuko asked Nobu quickly.

    Hold on, we’ll be there soon… about… ten more minutes. Nobu replied when he heard sirens and looked behind him. Uh oh, looks like we got some company. Yuko looked behind them.

    What are we gonna do with the guns? Josh mumbled.

    "Never mind that, what’re we going to do about him?" Yuko asked fearfully.

    Put them under the seat, maybe they won’t notice. Nobu said as he slowed to a stop and watched the policeman get out of his car. Josh noticed that the man wasn’t wearing the standard uniform that a policeman usually wore, instead the man wore blue jeans and a black shirt. Nobu and Josh didn’t feel right but decided to go along.

    The policeman walked up to the window and knocked on it and asked Nobu to step out of the vehicle. Nobu opened the door and got out.

    You know, we got a report of a hit and run done at a department store down the road, and the vehicle description matches the description of the witnesses. The policeman said as he kept one of his hands on his gun.

    We didn’t do it, in fact we’re just trying to get to the hospital. My friend got shot. Nobu said calmly in response. They might’ve thought it was us because we left really fast. The policeman looked in the seat and shook his head. Sure looks serious, doesn’t it? Nobu said looking at Josh from the driver’s side. Josh didn’t have to pretend like he was in a lot of pain, but did exaggerate just a little bit. He moaned and groaned, and even cried a little.

    Nah, I’ve seen worse, but since he’s injured, I guess I’ll let you go on your way. The policeman said and started to walk back to his police car but Nobu had to ask one more question.

    What, we don’t get any help? You could use your siren and help us get—. Nobu began suggesting.

    You want some help? The policeman said in an annoyed voice. How about I shoot you with my taser?

    No, it’s just that—I didn’t mean—. Nobu started to say before he could finish the policeman pulled out his taser and shot it into Nobu’s side. Nobu screamed and fell to the ground twitching.

    Next time, don’t ask. The policeman said as he took the air taser cartridge out and walked away, laughing. Yuko was watching in the left side mirror and waited till the policeman drove off out of sight, pointing and laughing at Nobu’s twitching body as he went.

    As soon as the policeman was gone, Yuko ran over to him and bent down and asked him if he was all right.

    Nobu looked at her peculiarly and smiled and then moaned, That hurt a ligga bitsh. Yuko looked at him like he was deranged lunatic and Nobu started to drool on the asphalt underneath him.

    "Damnit Nobu, why did you ask for help? God, you’re so stupid." Yuko said and pulled Nobu up by his shirt, trying to make him sit up.

    I jess thought he would help ush.

    Yuko sighed and said, C’mon, we gotta get to the hospital—here, try and sit up. Yuko helped him sit up and asked if he could get back to the truck by himself.

    Nobu smiled and replied, Sure, Igan get—, but fell back down again.

    Yuko sighed and said, I guess that’s a no then. I guess I’ll have to drag you. Yuko grabbed on to Nobu’s arm and after a fair amount of grunting, pulled Nobu to the back of the truck and tried to pull down the tailgate but it was stuck so she had to pull him to the passenger side where Josh was. This meant more grunting and pulling. "Gosh, Nobu, what the hell have you been—eating! You could help a little, you know. You’re not dead."

    Yuko sighed, Freaking gets tasered once and he’s helpless! And with a loud grunt, finally yanked her brother in to the truck. Josh moved over and sat in the middle and Yuko set Nobu into the seat next to Josh.

    Josh looked at him and said, Damn, what happened to him?

    Yuko sighed and replied, Oh you know, just being stupid… like always.

    Josh grunted and lay back, I hope we get to the hospital… hey man, stop drooling on me. Yuko apologized and wiped the drool off of his shirt with her own hand. Ugh… I don’t think I needed that. Yuko wasn’t listening; she had to drive to the hospital now. It didn’t present a large problem for her; it was just that she hadn’t learned to drive legally yet. She could drive but not as good as Nobu could—she figured no one would pull her over and ask for her driver’s license anyway so she started slowly and then picked up speed when she grew more accustomed to the way the truck felt and tried to drive like Nobu had, using the shoulder and side of road to skirt the cars around them.

    She was doing all right until she almost went off the road and into an overpass once or twice but maintained her calmness and got back onto the shoulder. She knew she was almost halfway there and couldn’t believe she had driven as far as she had, when she saw some thing lying in the middle of the shoulder.

    As she got closer she saw that it was a tire strewn in the middle of the road. She tried to slow down so that she wouldn’t hit it but she hit the gas instead of the brake, trying to remember which foot was on the gas and which was on the brake. There was a terrific bump that brought moans from both Nobu and Josh, especially as Nobu knocked his head against the window.

    Sorry, sorry. She said apologetically.

    Man, what the hell was that? Josh asked and opened his eyes, wondering if they had finally run off the road in to something and had died in the crash.

    Just a tire, lay back down, it’s all right. Josh complied when he saw they were still on the road and lay back again.

    When they finally arrived at the hospital, Josh was unconscious and was lying next to Nobu, who was still drooling, but mumbling directions to Yuko. He was slurring his speech less and regaining some of the movement in his body, but was still out of it.

    Yuko pulled up to the emergency entrance and not knowing how to park, drove up onto the curb and stopped right in front of the automatic doors. She yelled for a nurse or a doctor or someone to come and help but no one came so she had to run inside. She came back in a couple of minutes and helped the emergency staff lift Josh out of the truck and onto a stretcher. Nobu was able to get out on his own power but was made to sit in a wheelchair just in case. As Yuko walked with the emergency staff and told them all that happened as she held Josh’s hand reassuring him that he would be all right. They seemed astonished and also confused at the same time when Yuko finished explaining since she was still nervous from driving. When they reached the emergency room they stopped her and told her to sit outside and wait because she couldn’t go inside with them.

    Yuko was still nervous and while she waited, she paced back and forth, waiting for the doctor’s news. She didn’t want Josh to die. Maybe it was because she owed him something for

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