TOCABAGA (Revised Edition) (Book #1 of The Tocabaga Chronicles) by Thomas H. Ward Read Free Book Online Page A

knows how to shoot and spot. She is an excellent shot and can handle any gun better than most men. Tommy and Amy are close and they think alike so she was the perfect choice but I didn’t like putting her in danger. She is my little girl even if she is thirty-five years old.
    I was wishing someone else had the balls to go, as I was just too ti red. Another reason I didn’t want her to go was that she was a nurse, an RN, and she was valuable to the whole group.
    They started loading up the guns, ammo, gear and water , when all of a sudden, we heard a lot of rapid gunfire coming from the other end of the island called, “NO MAN’S LAND.”
    The radio crackled, “We are under attack, send help ASAP!” called Army Mike, who was on duty with three other men at the edge of NO MAN’S LAND.

APRIL 1 9, 2025
     
    It was dawn when Mike’s radio call came in.
    O n the radio to Mike, I asked, “How many are you fighting?”
    He replied, “About ten men and they came by boat and flanked us. We are between the four cars blocking the bridge. They are behind us in the toll booth and on the west side of the bridge. This is a serious situation and we could all be killed, you have to act fast.”
    Getting back on the radio , I told the other guards, “Watch for any boats; if they come within shooting range, shoot to kill. Mike, we are on the way. Everyone else be alert, at the ready, in case we need help.”
    Tommy, Eddy, Robbie and I were set to go. I asked Amy, “Please sit this one out.”
    She got out of the truck and we all jumped in. I could see Amy was disappointed not to get in the action, she is pretty much fearless.
    As we were leaving Tommy told Rick, “Keep an eye on this bridge in case they try to attack here again.”
    Good point , this could be a two-pronged attack so we would be fighting on two fronts at once, which was not good.
    Tommy shouted, “Everyone ready? Here we go!”
    Tom my punched the gas and the 5.7 liter Tundra burned rubber for a few feet, as the truck sped forward.
    Our island has two bridges, one on each end. The island is about one mile wide and two miles long. The main bridge in is an old-fashioned Bascule double-leaf drawbridge that can open and close by rising in the middle. This is the only way onto the island from the mainland, unless you come by boat.
    The other bridge goes to No Man’s Land, which use to be a county park with beaches. It is also an island and has no connection to the mainland. No one lives there except a few homeless people who have a trailer and want to be off the grid. There are five of them who help us tend the crops we grow there. In turn, we give them part of what we grow and also provide other foodstuffs. These people are harmless and have no weapons but will tell us if someone lands there by boat. We patrol NO MAN’S LAND everyday because we also hunt rabbits and fish there.
    Speeding down the road , I told everyone in the truck, “Listen up. Mike and his three guys are trapped between the four cars on the bridge. The bad boys are at the toll booth and on the west side of the road. I suggest we stop and approach on foot from about 200 yards away so they don’t see us.”
    Tommy replied, “Sounds good to me.”
    “Me too,” agreed Robbie.
    No comment c ame from Eddy. Eddy didn’t like to fight and he needed more experience but he was willing to do his part.
    I advised, “When we stop Ed, you stay behind and act as the rear guard, staying near the truck but watch for bad guys and don’t shoot us. I repeat, do not shoot in our direction. If you see anyone let me know right away, ok?”
    Eddy , trying to sound military replied, “Roger that, boss.”
    Tommy drove off the road close to the undergrowth as we pulled up to within 200 yards.
    We jumped out of the truck and I pointed to some bushes on the side of the road and instructed, “Ed this is a good place for you to stay. Robbie and I will stay on the west side and take out the toll booth. Tommy you secure