From: dmcintoshtx@yahoo.com   
      
   CHAPTER THREE   
      
   Before Peterson and Parks could leave, they decided to go ahead with   
   their meeting.   
   Krycek spoke first.   
      
   "Now that we're here and relatively safe we need to make some plans.    
   I know you all have questions and suggestions so this is the time to   
   speak up while we're all here and can vote on it.  Who wants to start?"   
      
   "I do!"  One of the ball players stood up.  "What about our families?   
    I mean, are we going to try and find them?"   
      
   "Nothing would please me more than to tell you we could do just that   
   but you have to be realistic here.  Most everyone has been rounded up   
   and trucked off to God knows where.  Our only transportation is the   
   bikes.  Yes, we can pack up some supplies and go out but we need to   
   know where we're going and we don't have any information about that yet."   
      
   "Can't we send people out to get that information?"   
      
   "Yes we can and we will.  That's one of the reasons why we're having   
   this meeting, to decide what we should do and to set priorities."   
      
   "I think our families should be our first priority."  Another of the   
   ball players spoke up.   
      
   "You are right, certainly but first we must find out where they are   
   and how we can get to them."  Krycek said.   
      
   "We need Special Ops."  Peterson said.   
      
   "What's that?"  Someone asked.   
      
   "A group of soldiers who handle special missions."  One of the   
   soldiers answered.   
      
   "That's right.  They know how to live off the land and can get just   
   about any job done you need.  They can't be beat at what they do."   
      
   "Do you know where they were last training?"  Krycek asked.   
      
   "Last I heard there was a group training down around Santa Fe.  What   
   are you thinking?"   
      
   "That Special Ops guys are pretty darn smart and maybe some of them   
   are hiding out in the hills down there."   
      
   "You're thinking we should ride our bikes all the way down there to   
   look for them?"   
      
   "Uh huh.  We can't spare many though.  Three, tops.  Peterson will be   
   working on the earth mover, I'll take McConnel with me to find the   
   dynamite and we need to leave one behind in case there's a need to go   
   into town before we get back."   
      
   "I'll go," several of the guys said.   
      
   "Army only on this trip, boys.  It's going to be a long and dangerous   
   trip."   
      
   "Do you really think they can find our folks?"  One of the ball   
   players asked.   
      
   "I don't know.  All I do know is it's our best shot right now."    
   Krycek answered then asked, "Are there any other questions or   
   suggestions?"   
      
   "You really think you can pull something like this off?"  Harry asked.   
    "Ride those bikes hundreds of miles and find some soldiers hidden out   
   in the hills?  This is insane!"   
      
   "What do you suggest we do, Harry?"  The Englishman asked.   
      
   "Sit tight and wait for this thing to be over with so we can all go home."   
      
   "I see." Parks said then added, "Did any of you think to bring a   
   butterfly net?  I think we're going to need it."   
      
   "You know where your tent is, Harry.  If that's what you want to do,   
   then go do it."   
      
   "You said we should speak our minds.  I'm just giving my opinion;   
   that's all."   
      
   "May I say something?"  It was the older farm boy, Randy.   
      
   "Certainly, Randy.  What's on your mind?"  Krycek asked.   
      
   "We have no idea how long we're going to be here and those of us   
   staying behind need something to do to feel like we're helping out.    
   It's May, prime planting time.  Could we make one more trip into town   
   and see if we can find some seeds and plant a garden?  Those fields   
   have good soil and we have all the water we need to irrigate if   
   necessary. The canned goods in that town won't last forever.   No   
   sense just sitting around when we could be doing something useful."   
      
   "I think that's a good idea, Randy." and to the group of soldiers he   
   said, "Whoever is staying behind can get a group together and go for   
   seed and whatever else you need.  I'm sure you can find some around   
   there somewhere."   
      
   "In the store I saw a rack with flower seeds.  I didn't see any   
   vegetable seeds but I wasn't looking for them and usually when you see   
   flower seeds, there are vegetable seeds as well."  One of the women said.   
      
   "Ok.  Good information.  Get your team together and go get your seeds   
   but make sure you follow procedure.  Stop in that stand of trees   
   outside of town and look the place over good for any new vehicles or   
   anything unusual before you go in.  And don't linger in town and don't   
   change anything or move anything around on the main street.   Just get   
   what you need and get out and high-tail it back here."   
      
   Then to the rest of the group he said, "Anything else?"   
      
   Harry mumbled something under his breath.   
      
   "What was that, Harry?"  Krycek asked as they all stood and started to   
   leave.   
      
   "I was just wondering who put you in charge anyway?"   
      
   "Nobody.  Would you like to be in charge, Harry?  You can be   
   responsible for caring for twenty five people, seeing to it that they   
   stay alive and have enough to eat.  Would you like the job?"   
      
   "Awww …"  Harry gave a disgruntled wave and wandered off as the others   
   snickered and got on with their planning.   
      
      
   Peterson and Parks took off for the mine and were joined by one of the   
   soldiers, Andrews, another shade-tree mechanic who swore there was   
   never an engine built that he couldn't get running.   
      
   Krycek began making plans for a longer trip out in search of   
   explosives.  This was to be a two-man trip, no more were needed.   
      
   "Do you know what we'll need?" Sgt. McConnell asked as they loaded   
   their bikes from the supply tent.   
      
   "Yeah, I've used the stuff before but only on smaller jobs.  We'll   
   find it.  It might take a couple of days but we shouldn't have any   
   trouble getting our hands on some."   
      
   "How dangerous will it be carrying it around on these bikes?"   
      
   "Not dangerous at all as long as we keep the caps and the sticks   
   separate."   
      
   They said their good-byes and set out, each with a rifle scabbard   
   secured to his bike and a pistol to his belt. They headed north and   
   traveling light, they made good time.  The first town they came to had   
   have been a thirty mile ride.     
      
   They lay in the grass in the outskirts of town and used their   
   binoculars to scan for any sign of life.  There was none.  This town   
   was quite a bit bigger than the one closest to them but after an   
   hour's searching they came up empty handed.   
      
   They sat in a small café and drank warm sodas and opened some canned   
   food they found there.  No sense using up their supplies if they could   
   find things along the way that were safe to eat.   
      
   "Where to next?"  McConnel asked as Krycek studied a map.   
      
   "I wish I knew.  There is nothing but little towns around here.  The   
   only one with any size to it at all is Craig and it's another twenty   
   miles."   
      
   "You think we might find some dynamite there?"   
      
   "I don't know.  I haven't spent that much time in small towns.  Is   
   there a phone book around here?"  Krycek asked.   
      
   "A phone book?  I thought we weren't supposed to use the phones."   
      
   "I'm not going to call anyone.  And I'd bet money the lines are dead   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)