The Cure, стр. 46

‘I already have,’ retorted the General.

He turned to his men and the guards ‘Are the charges set?’

‘Yes General,’ one of the men said.

‘Good. Is this everyone?’ he said counting the remainder of his army.

‘I believe so,’ said the same man, stepping up to the General’s right side.

‘A fierce and brave set of men if I do say so myself. Are you ready to make America proud again?’

‘Sir, yes sir,’ came the reply from the men.

‘Gather as much food as you can carry and load it along with the weapons into the Humvees. We move out in 15 minutes. Set the charges. After that you are either in those Humvees or you’re dead. Understood?’

‘Sir, yes Sir.’

‘Goodbye Mr. President, it’s been a blast,’ he smiled through the vent in the cell door.

 The General headed off with half the men whilst the others set about the stores and carrying what they could to the transport area. No-one questioned what they were doing because they were still dressed as military guards. Within minutes the cars were loaded and ready to move out.

The general stood back away from the window of the boardroom out of view watching Goldsmith talking to himself.

‘Ah, what a shame our partnership has come to an end Goldsmith. Your stupidity was your downfall, but your salesmanship was of great benefit,’ he said quietly.

‘Would you like us to dispose of him Sir?’ said his new Lieutenant.

He thought for a moment ‘No, let’s see if cockroaches do survive,’ he said.

***************

As Xander brought the Cessna to a halt Logan was wondering how he would get back onto the base without being noticed. As it was, when he got to the entrance it couldn’t have been easier. The main ramp was down, and people were running past him in blind panic, too busy to even notice him.

‘Xander, follow these people. Find out what has happened. Most of all keep safe. Something’s kicking off and we want to be on the right side of it,’ said Logan.

‘And you?’ said Xander.

‘I’m going in. I’ve got to find her before it’s too late. If it isn’t already.’

He shook Xander’s hand and pushed past the people coming towards him running into the base.

Gunshots rang around his head and he wondered who was attacking them. This wasn’t the time though. He needed to get to the communications room straightaway. He covered his head and started running in the direction of the communications rooms, where he thought Tallulah still was.

When he got there the room was empty. ‘The infirmary’ he thought to himself and turned, heading back along the corridor. ‘Soldier,’ a woman’s voice came from behind him. ‘You need to get out of here. The whole place is coming down.’

‘I need to get to the infirmary,’ said Logan

‘It’s a suicide mission. This place could go at any point,’ said the woman.

‘I don’t have a choice,’ he said looking down at the activated charcoal in his hand, and he ran off.

‘I know,’ she said, as he ran past.

Turning back to look at the woman, Logan shouted ‘Where you headed, exit is back this way.’

‘To the cells,’ said Rose.

Logan reached the infirmary and Tallulah was lying in bed, limp and grey. He burst through the door and Wanikiy looked up from where his head lay in her hand on the bed.

‘Am I too late?’ he said.

‘She needs an antidote for the toxin,’ said Wanikiy. ‘We don’t have any on the base.’

‘Activated charcoal,’ said Logan out of breath and holding out the bag.

Wanikiy leapt to his feet, taking the bag and mixing some of the powder with water in and pouring it between her lips. Nothing. No movement. ‘More,’ he said and made up another batch, forcing her mouth apart to swallow down the medicine.

Both Logan and Wanikiy stared at Tallulah urging her to move, but nothing. Then a twitch. First her finger, then her hand. ‘Tallulah,’ said Logan. Her eyes slowly prized apart, and she blinked. ‘Logan?’ she spoke.

He grabbed her up in his arms. ‘You’re alive,’ he said.

‘Well, if you don’t crush me, I am,’ she smiled.

‘We need to get out of here. Something’s going on. The whole base is evacuating,’ said Logan.

‘It’s the Commander General. Two soldiers came by about half hour ago to take Jay out, but I couldn’t leave her. The whole plan to release the toxin was a ruse. The Commander General was behind it, but your father and I had to go through with it to flush him out. He’s escaped and plotting to destroy the base. He’s planted explosives everywhere,’ said Wanikiy.

Logan looked at Wanikiy and then Tallulah. ‘Thank Wakan Tanka you got here in time Logan,’ said Wanikiy.

***************

The President had been banging on the cell door in the hope someone would hear him and let him out. Then, just when he didn’t have anything left in him and his voice had become hoarse from shouting so hard, he heard a voice on the other side of the door.

‘Mr President is that you?’ came the voice.

‘Yes, let me out. The General has escaped and locked me in here,’ he replied.

The bolt on the door clanked as the person on the other side unlocked it.

‘Thank you,’ he said walking through the door. ‘I know you?’ he said.

‘Rose,’ she replied.

He nodded, having never seen her in his life before.

‘Do you believe in fate?’ she said.

‘I do now,’ he replied. ‘We need to get word to the rest of the base that the General and his men are still in the base and that they are planning to blow it up. They are in army fatigues and were headed for the loading bay.’

‘So, just put it out on the