A New World: Taken by John O'Brien Read Free Book Online Page A

farm because it lies in the distance to the east beyond several tree lines.   We may have to head over that way later but that will take some time to sneak over unseen and I don’t want anyone to get stuck outside after the sun sets.   The initial look through the binoculars is as I remember it.   The fence with the rolls of barbed wire along the top, the wooden towers built a little ways back from the fence with lights mounted, and pole-mounted lights at intervals along the perimeter.
    The difference is that, looking at the perimeter lights, I see now that they are the lights construction crews use working on the roads; generator-powered and able to cast a great deal of light outward.   It remains to be seen just how much of the perimeter is lit at night.   There are people in the corner towers; two to each tower.   We’ll see whether they man all of the towers at night or randomly selected ones.   There are a few armed people walking outside close to what used to be the main office building in the center of the campus.   Very few others are seen anywhere.   No sign of Robert, Michelle, Bri, or Gonzalez.   Thoughts of taking over the compound during the day and setting into the others as they arrive settle in and I stow them in the back of my mind.   We’ll just have to see what patterns emerge.   My guess is that a majority of the guards and the others are at the fields working.   There may also be night shift personnel resting.   Whatever plan we come up with will have to minimize variables that could cause collateral casualties.   It may be that I go in and just pull the kids out prior.   Time will tell.
    There is very little traffic on the radios but it appears they are using channel seventeen at the moment.   Whether that changes on a daily basis or they also use others for different communications remains to be seen so I leave one on scan just in case.   I don’t like burning up two sets of batteries at once as I don’t know how long we’ll need to be here but the need to gather any and all information dictates the necessity.   We still don’t know if our assumptions are correct and it could be as easy as walking up to the front door and introducing ourselves.   That we will be introducing ourselves is a given, it’s just a matter in which form.
    The shadows are at their shortest as the day transitions from morning into afternoon.   We edge away from our lookout location and set up camp.   Looking around the area, I decide on a slight change of plans with regards to our shifts.   I want someone overlooking the back road in the direction we came and also further ahead.   I send two in each direction to find a concealed spot in which to observe the dirt road.   With two overlooking the camp and two monitoring the radio traffic, there are two left for the night shift.   I should have brought another team but any increase in numbers would mean an exponential increase in sound and smell in the area and leave less at base to accomplish the other things we need.   We’ll just have to make do with what we have.
    My anxiety hasn’t lessened any as I don’t have a clue as to how the kids are doing but I feel better being here and at least I’m doing something.   We’ll have a better idea about how to proceed with a few days of observation.   I’m especially interested in how the night goes.   The fences they have won’t stop night runners for long, especially with the length and how close to town it is, but it’s obvious they’ve managed so far somehow.   My initial thought is a night operation but the night runners make this a very risky proposal.   Thoughts circulate in my mind around a multitude of ideas including bringing in an AC-130 and just leveling the perimeter.   My worry leads to all sorts of options but I throw many of them out knowing that sheer firepower may not be the solution here.
    With everyone in place, it’s now a waiting and observation game.   Nothing much