Retribution Road by Jon Coon (e reader comics .TXT) 📕

They grabbed him and held him down. They pulled at his gear, and with dead eyes glowing they ripped away his AGA mask and kept him from reaching the reserve tank. He yelled in panic and desperation.

Carol shook him awake. She was sitting on the edge of his bed. Emily, Paul, and Angelica stood in his doorway.

“Just breathe,” she said. “You’re okay. Now just breathe.”

“Is he all right, Mom?” Emily asked.

“It was just another dream, honey. You all go back to bed.”

Gabe was in the zone between sleep and fully awake. His heart pounded and he was struggling to pull himself back from the terror of the bus. He held on to Carol’s arms and panted for breath.

“That must have been pretty real,” she said and stroked his forehead.

Gabe nodded. He was wide-eyed and couldn’t find the words. Slowly his pulse returned to normal, and he looked at her as though seeing her for the first time. Her hair was a mess and there was clearly nothing between her thin white tee and her skin.

“Hi,” he said sheepishly.

“Hi yourself.” She smiled.

“Did I wake the whole bunker?”

“Just about, but it’s all right. They’ll go back to sleep.”

“It’s been a long time since I had one that bad. I think the last time was when we were in the RV and you kissed me.”

“As I recall it was the other way around. But no matter.” She got up, went to the door, closed and locked it. “I told you then, you don’t have to scare us half to death to get a good-night kiss.”

She scooted him against the wall and lay beside him on the narrow bunk. She kissed him long and deep. “Behave yourself and I’ll stay with you. Now, go back to sleep. We’ve got a big day tomorrow.”

She was gone when he awoke. He showered and dressed, then went to the galley for coffee. Tom was there talking with three of the staff, including Jimmy the Geek.

“Morning, son. Heard you had a rough night.”

“Nothing to worry about. They come and go.”

“Been there. Let me know if you want someone to talk with. Talking helps.”

“Yes, sir. I know.” He was thinking about the months with Alethea and how much she had helped. “Have you seen Carol this morning?”

“She and Emily are giving that little mare a workout. Looks like Emily’s going to be a barrel racer. That’s the way Carol started. I’m glad they’ve got something else to think about after the attack. Em seems to be dealing with it all pretty well.”

“Did Carol tell you she wants to go on the Flower Gardens with us? If not to dive, then as one of the support staff.”

“Your call. What do you think?”

“I told her it was up to the Navy. I don’t know if they would let her dive, but it wouldn’t hurt to have her there with a first aid kit. Who knows what we’re going to find on that sub.”

“I’ll ask Bob if he can make that happen. I’m sure she’s going to be happier where she can keep an eye on you. On both of us, for that matter.”

“Is there anything I can do to help you here?”

“No, I’m just waiting to hear from Bob. We’re hoping he was serious about helping us to rebuild. My attorney says he’s going to fight the insurance company on that acts of war business. Hopes they’ll settle for something rather than fight us in court. But he said not to get our hopes up yet. They can be pretty tough. So the help we get from Bob may be all there is. Until then, we’re pretty much dead in the water.”

“Sorry to hear that. If you need me, I’ll be with Carol and the kids. Just shout.”

Gabe walked to the paddock where Carol had put the barrels out in the standard Women’s Professional Rodeo Association triangle. He sat on the tailgate with Carol and a stopwatch as Emily and Zonta made another run.

Carol punched the stopwatch and smiled. “That’s her best yet. Seventeen-point-three. World class is below sixteen-point-five. Sixteen-eight or -nine might win regionals.”

“So she’s doing well?”

“For her limited experience she’s doing very well. In another month we’ll try some local stuff, just for the experience. Next summer she could be ready for regionals.”

“About last night,” Gabe began.

“We’re talking about Emily and barrel racing. Kissing and cuddling are a conversation for another time. Like tonight. Say, your room about ten?”

“Deal. Ten.”

“Did you like the tee shirt?”

“I didn’t notice.”

“Liar. You didn’t give me time to change, and I’m surprised your eyes stayed in your skull. But that’s okay. If you didn’t notice, we’d be in big trouble. Just remember our deal.”

“Your dad is going to ask the senator to clear you for the trip. We might know something today.”

“Great. It’s about time things started going right around here.” She looked to where Emily sat atop Zonta and called to her. “Get ready to go again, honey. You’re doing great. Just remember to keep low in the turns. Then let her have her head on the way home. She wants to run. Just let her.”

When Gabe left to go to the house site where big bulldozers were leveling the remains of the house and clearing the lot, Carol picked up her phone. She’d found Alethea’s number on Gabe’s phone after he’d fallen asleep the night before. She dialed the number and waited.

Alethea’s voice was strong. “Dr. Guidry. May I ask who’s calling?”

“Alethea, it’s Carol Evans. I’m with Gabe at my father’s ranch in Texas. Gabe’s nightmares are back, and I need your help.”

Chapter 36

GABE AND CAROL REPORTED FOR training at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Panama City, Florida a week after his return to the ranch. In a brief meeting with the commander of the Experimental Diving Unit, they were informed of how unusual the request from Senator Benson was and that resources and personnel were being diverted