From: dmcintoshtx@yahoo.com   
      
   CHAPTER TWO   
      
   One by one they started up, with Samuelson leading the way.  "You can   
   leave your bikes here and we'll carry them over."  Peterson told them.   
      
   "Well, thank God for that!"  Harry said as he reluctantly began the   
   climb with the others.   
      
   "Quit your bitching, Harry.  They got us here, didn't they?"  One of   
   the women said.   
      
   "Yeah, I'll have to give them that."  He allowed as they topped out   
   and eyed the valley.   
      
   They hurried down the other side, with Samuelson leading the way and   
   the football players helping some of the women along.  They stood and   
   gazed out over the great expanse of fields, stream and woods in front   
   of them and not a soul had a single complaint.  The place was perfect.   
      
   Soon the bikes were hauled over the top and the group started out   
   again across the field and to the rivers edge.   "What do you think?"   
   Peterson asked Krycek.  "Should we set up camp here?"   
      
   "No.  We need to be across the river with our backs to the woods.    
   That way we will always be facing this pass in case we have any   
   visitors we can always make a stand in the woods."   
      
   "Good idea.  Ok.  Let's see if we can find a place to cross this   
   river.  It looks like it narrows down quite a bit over there to the   
   east."  Peterson said pointing off to the right.   
      
   They all pedaled towards the east and found a shallow spot where they   
   could cross over some stepping stones.  Some of the stones were pretty   
   far apart so they found boulders and carried them out and dumped them   
   in to make extra steps.  After a dozen or so there was a pretty good   
   pathway across and over they went.  Again the younger stronger of the   
   group made a second trip carrying bicycles across.     
      
   Once on the other side they started pedaling until they came to a   
   large open area between trees and stream.     
      
   "This is it."  Krycek said.  "We set up camp here."     
      
   Everyone was giddy with relief.  They had made it!  They all unloaded   
   their packs and threw themselves on the ground while, while Alex, the   
   soldiers, the football players, and Samuelson set about putting the   
   tents up.  It was decided that the seven women would share the two   
   large tents and the smaller tents would sleep two men each.  They   
   didn't have enough to go around for the men so Krycek and the soldiers   
   did without for the time being and just piled their stuff on the ground.   
      
   Once everyone was more or less settled, they broke out the camp stoves   
   and heated up some canned goods for lunch.  Most of the group went to   
   their tents afterwards and went to sleep.   
      
   Krycek, four of the soldiers, three football players and two women   
   prepared to ride back into town.  More wanted to go but Krycek   
   insisted that Samuelson and two of the soldiers stay behind to watch   
   over the group and one of the football players in case there was any   
   trouble they could send him into town for help.   
      
   They made much better time and made the trip in less than an hour.    
   They entered the town the same as they had the day before, carefully   
   and a few at a time to check it out and make sure there were no aliens   
   around.  The place was still empty.   
      
   Once back in town, in front of the general store, Krycek told the   
   women to go ahead and load up on food and anything else they might   
   need.  Some of the men stayed as well to load up.  Krycek and the   
   others headed out to see what they could come up with.  Krycek took   
   one of the foot ball players with him and they went to check out some   
   of the few homes scattered back behind the businesses.   
      
   The very first house they lucked out!  They found another large tent   
   in a garage.  They draped it across the back of one of their bikes and   
   kept looking.  Inside the house they found three more hand guns which   
   Krycek took along with the ammunition.  While he was stashing those   
   the ball player came out with an arm load of blankets.   
      
   "Can we take these?  If it gets really cold those sleeping bags might   
   not be enough and these are wool.  They should be good and warm."   
      
   "Good idea.  Tape them on top of your basket."  He tossed the roll of   
   duct tape.     
      
   A little more digging around and he found a chain saw in a back yard   
   shed.  He gave it a pull and it started right up.  He shut it off   
   immediately and carried it inside and secured it in his front basket.   
    He found two gas cans and stuck one in each of his storage   
   compartments.  One was full, the other was half full.   
      
   The next house they found a few more blankets which were added to the   
   first load.  They also found more gasoline which they added to the   
   first can making two full five gallon cans.  They found a few more   
   shovels, another axe, and some miscellaneous tools that were added to   
   their load.  When their bikes were totally full, they headed back to   
   meet the group at the store.  Everyone else was there loaded up and   
   ready for the ride back.   
      
   "Oh wow, another big tent.  Who's going to get that one; Harry?"  One   
   of the women asked.   
      
   "This one is going to be our supply tent.  We need a place to keep our   
   food dry and this is it for now."  Krycek said.   
      
   "That's a good idea.  We found some more small tents so we have enough   
   for everyone now."  Someone said.   
      
   "Great.  Are we ready to head back then?"  Krycek said then asked one   
   of the men, "Did you get those purification tablets for the water?"   
      
   "Sure thing and I got six five-gallon water jugs that we can use too."   
      
   "Great.  Ok.  Let's go."   
      
      
   The trip back took two hours.  It was difficult enough with out the   
   load -- loaded it was a hard ride. They were tired now and loaded down   
   heavily but they made it.  By the time they got back everyone was up   
   and milling around wondering what to do next.  Most of them came over   
   to greet the others and help carry some of the load back to camp.  The   
   travelers were happy to hand over their heavy back packs and to see   
   that everything was all right with everyone.   
      
   After unloading they set up the supply tent and moved all the food inside.   
      
   "We really need some shelves." Someone said.   
      
   "And just how do you think we'd get them here?"  Someone else asked   
   sarcastically.     
      
   "Easy."  Krycek said.  "We'll take them apart and haul them in.  That   
   will be our first priority when we go in tomorrow."   
      
   "We're going back again?"  One of the ball players asked with a smile   
   on his face.   
      
   "Uh huh.  We don't know how long that town will remain empty so we   
   need to get in and out as many times as we can as fast as we can.  I'd   
   like to get an early start tomorrow and plan on two trips. One in the   
   morning, then we rest and have lunch and then another in the   
   afternoon.  Maybe by then some more will be rested up enough to go in   
   with us, at least for one of the trips."   
      
   "Not me.  I don't want to ever get on another bicycle as long as I   
   live."  Harry announced as he sat on the ground and rubbed his sore   
   leg muscles.   
      
   "That's Ok, Harry.  You can stay behind.  We need somebody to dig a   
   latrine anyway."   
   Krycek said.   
      
   "A what?  You want me to dig?"  Harry was flabbergasted.   
      
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)