From: dmcintoshtx@yahoo.com   
      
   CHAPTER FIVE   
      
   Krycek was proud of what they had accomplished and set about making   
   immediate plans for two more buildings – another exactly like the one   
   they just finished so they could eventually have one for the women and   
   children and one for the men.  And he wanted to have the third one for   
   a dining room/kitchen/dispensary combination.  He broached the subject   
   the next morning at breakfast and everyone let out a big howl of   
   approval.  A few groaned but agreed that if more people were coming in   
   they would need it.   
      
   They decided to work on both buildings at the same time.  They figured   
   out where they were going to build and started hauling the material   
   in.  It was so much easier now that they were able to drive their   
   loads right into the valley through the tunnel and didn't have to   
   worry about having to haul everything over the pass.  Their river   
   crossing was enlarged with trees that were cut down and pulled to the   
   location by the horses and secured together and filled in with rocks   
   and sod. Everyone knew what they were doing now so the work went much   
   easier.  They still made daily trips to the lumber yard and the bike   
   riders still went along carrying back more and more goods for use in   
   the community.     
      
   Three weeks later they were on their way back when their scout riding   
   out ahead, let out a whistle signaling the group to stop.  One whistle   
   was just for them to stop.  Two was to hide.  They heard just one   
   whistle and stopped.  It had been the first time they had ever used   
   their pre-arranged system.   
      
   Four bike riders came up to them, the three strangers singing the   
   song, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.  Krycek rode out to meet them.   
      
   "We were told to sing that stupid song and to tell you greetings from   
   Special Ops team two."  One of the men said.   
      
   "Hi, where are you from?"  Krycek asked.     
      
   "Reno.  We'd been doing some logging.  We had a whole team up there   
   but the three of us went into town for supplies and when we got back   
   they were all gone. We headed back to town but got caught up in a   
   traffic jam on the road.  We got out to see what was going on and we   
   saw these men … or aliens or whatever the hell they are, walking along   
   side the cars and shooting these little flame thrower things off and   
   burning all the cars and everyone in them."  We took off for the hills   
   and have been hiding out every since.  Your team caught us sleeping   
   and told us about you and this valley that's supposed to be hidden   
   where those bastards can't find it.  He said we should come join your   
   group.  Is that Ok with you?"   
      
   "Absolutely.  Welcome."  Krycek reached out his hand and shook with them.   
      
      
   By the first snowfall, they had four buildings built and three filled   
   with bunks.  Each barracks could sleep forty eight.  One was totally   
   for the women; two were for the men and one held the dispensary,   
   kitchen, and cafeteria.  More generators had been brought in but were   
   used mainly in the kitchen building.  This building had been designed   
   a bit different from the others.  The first thirty feet were set aside   
   for the cafeteria, then there was a partition all the way across and   
   the next ten feet were for the actual kitchen area.  The last ten feet   
   were divided crossways into two sections, one for the dispensary the   
   other for storage.  Across the back of this building, a porch had been   
   added and a shower room built.  Some washers and dryers had been   
   brought in along with a couple of hot water heaters so hot showers   
   were now available.   
      
   Once the winter wore on and the snow became a daily occurrence they no   
   longer made the trips into town.  It wasn't necessary and there was no   
   need to take the risk.   
      
   They had blown the pass before the first heavy snow and before long it   
   had filled with snow and they could no longer see it.  It was a   
   frightening prospect but things were going very well in camp with very   
   few arguments.  Plans were made for the spring and they settled in for   
   the long cold winter.   
      
   Harry had done his share and more and had built up a mountain of   
   firewood.  On clear days some would hike out into the woods and see   
   what they could see.  One morning at breakfast they heard shots being   
   fired.  The farmers, Randy and his brother had gone hunting and got a   
   nice elk.  Other times they brought in rabbits and showed Bobby how to   
   make a nice hearty rabbit stew.  The winter passed uneventfully with   
   no more visitors showing up singing for them. It was nearing spring   
   but still the snow fell.     
      
   One morning Parks came hurrying back into the dining room and said   
   that he had found a note by the outside of the mine doorway.  It had   
   been put in a plastic bag and tied with a red rag to a big bush just   
   outside the doorway.  Krycek opened the bag quickly and read the letter.    
      
   "It's from special ops team two.  They whistled and yelled and sang   
   the song and no one heard them.  They went back to the nearest town   
   and will wait there until they hear from us."  Krycek stopped and   
   gasped, "He says there are twenty two of them!"   
   He went back to reading again.  He says they have several children and   
   that two of them are pretty sick.  We'll need to take the wagons.    
   Rick, Randy, can you get them ready."   
      
   "You're going now?  It's snowing.  You might get stuck out there."    
   Harry warned.   
      
   "Today is Tuesday.  That town will be patrolled tomorrow.  We have to   
   go now or risk losing them all."   
      
   "It's no skin off my nose if you want to risk your lives, go ahead.    
   I'm staying right here where it's nice and warm."  Harry said as he   
   pulled his warm jacket closer around him.   
      
   "You have any idea how long this might have been stuck out there?"   
   Krycek asked Parks.   
      
   "No, sorry old boy, but I don't.  I haven't been out that front   
   doorway in weeks."   
      
   "They're probably all cozy up there in one of those nice houses."    
   Harry said.  "I wouldn't worry about them."   
      
   "And what about the sick children?  You wouldn't worry about them   
   either?"  Maddie asked angrily."   
      
   "That note could have been hanging out there since we blew the pass.    
   That was a months ago.  If those kids were that sick they are probably   
   already dead and buried."   
      
   "You're all heart, Harry!"  Someone said.   
      
   Krycek turned away with a disgusted shrug.  "Peterson, get some   
   blankets together, Bobby, get us some food.  Some broth, soup,   
   crackers and some of those canned vegetables.  We stripped that town   
   of food.  They've got to be starving."   
      
   Thirty minutes later they left, just the four of them – Rick and   
   Randy, each one to drive a wagon, and Peterson and Krycek.  It was   
   freezing cold and snowing heavily.  The trip took two hours in the   
   snow, instead of the usual one hour.  They still remembered to follow   
   procedure and went in on foot first and looked around.  They saw   
   nothing.  If they were still there, they were well hidden.   
      
   They drove the wagons slowly down the main street while Krycek and   
   Peterson took opposite sides and looked into each building.  They   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
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