Dark Coup by David C. Waldron Read Free Book Online Page A

Vehicles, Humvees, civilian vehicles, and heavy equipment.  Coordinating the movements of this mixed force over deteriorating highways and side roads was quickly becoming problematic.
    He had a limited supply of fuel and rations, so he couldn’t keep moving forever.  Ben reached for the radio.
    …
    “Ben!” Mallory almost shouted when she got on the radio in her office.  “Where have you been?  Are you ok?”
    “Good to talk to you, too,” Ben said.  “I’ve been around.  We’ve had to keep our heads down for the last couple of days to keep the heat off of anyone else.  We took some casualties and,” Ben paused, and then swallowed, “I ended up leaving almost a hundred men on base because we couldn’t move them.”
    “I’m sorry,” Mallory said.  “But most of you made it out in one piece?”
    “That we did,” Ben said.  “Which brings me to the other reason for this call; we need a place to call home.”
    “Of course,” Mallory almost said without thinking.  Instead, she caught herself and was more realistic with her answer.
    “Ben,” she said.  “It’s complicated.  I hate to have to say that but it is.”
    “Okay,” Ben said.  “Go on.”
    “Well,” Mallory said, “a couple of things.  First of all, we have an illness of unknown origin in camp, and everyone would have to be under quarantine.  Second, because of the quarantine, I don’t know where we would put your people.  Speaking of which, how many of you are there?”
    Ben was silent for several seconds and Mallory wondered if she’d lost him.  “Ben,” she said, “you still there?”
    “Yeah,” Ben said.  “I’ve got just under forty-five hundred people.”
    It was Mallory’s turn to be silent.
    “We’re not coming empty-handed, Mallory,” Ben said.  “We have food, fuel, heavy equipment, and munitions.  We’ve also got everything we need to rough it for the time being.”
    Mallory took a deep breath and keyed the microphone.  “We’ll find a place, Ben,” she said.  “When will you get here?”
    “How long do you need,” Ben asked.  “I’ve still got a lot I need to coordinate on my end.”
    “Can you give me a week,” Mallory asked.  “I may be able to have some land cleared by then.”
    “That’ll be fine.  See you then,” Ben said.
    “Ben,” Mallory said, before they signed off, “be safe.”
    …
    Karen was fanning herself and rubbing the back of her neck when Eric walked into their tent.  “Long day?” he asked.
    “No more than usual,” she said.  “I’m just tired, and this headache is killing me.”  Karen rolled her head to try to stretch her neck.
    “Early bedtime after dinner,” Eric said as he sat behind her on the pair of cots they kept pushed together in the corner of their tent to take over massaging, and realized her skin felt much warmer than usual.
    “I’m really not hungry,” Karen said.
    “What have you had to eat today, babe,” Eric asked.
    Karen shrugged.  “Not much, I just haven’t been hungry, why?”
    “I think you have a fever, and something is going around camp,” Eric said, and reached around to feel her forehead.  “Yup, you have a fever.”
    Eric opened his canteen and offered it to her.  “Drink some water and get in bed, I’m going to get Ty.”
    “I’m fine, I just need some rest, maybe,” Karen said.
    Eric shook his head.  “No, you are not fine,” he said.  “Yes, you are going to start with some rest but I’m going to get Ty.  Drink the water.  You haven’t eaten today and I bet you haven’t had anything to drink either.  I don’t want you getting dehydrated.  Be in bed when I get back,” Eric said.  “You have ten minutes or you may be embarrassed when Ty walks in on you changing.”
    Karen acted like she was going to argue, but at the look on Eric’s face she just nodded.
    “Good girl,” he said, and left the tent.
    …
    “Headache, fever, she hasn’t eaten lunch and isn’t interested in