Eden's Hammer - By Lloyd Tackitt Page 0,23

confident that word would soon reach Fort Brazos that they were directly in his path of destruction, and when it did, that Roman would call Adrian home. He was sure the news would get there, but he wasn’t depending on it; he had a plan to make absolutely certain. It would be implemented soon. It might be overkill, but Rex wasn’t taking any chances. Getting Adrian to come home was the keystone in his master plan; everything else depended on it.

CHAPTER 7

MARCH 9, MORNING

LINDA AROSE EARLY AND HEADED for Roman’s house. Adrian had asked her to come by, as he had something he wanted to discuss with her. She was instantly curious, but held her questions. Linda arrived and was soon having hot tea with Adrian and Sarah and Roman while Scott played with Bear in the living room.

Adrian blew on the tea, took a sip, and set the cup down. “From the looks of things, this is going to be a hard fight, and one we can’t afford to lose. We lose this, and we’re all dead—or those that survive will wish they were dead. It’s going to take the total efforts of every able-bodied person we have, and that still leaves us badly outnumbered. I’m not just talking about the men; the women are going to have to fight, too. So will every child that is old enough to aim and pull a trigger, if a last ditch defense occurs. I want your advice on what I’m thinking.

“My plan, such as it is right now, is to take all of the able-bodied men into the field and attack the raiders as far away from here as possible. What that does, though, is leave the infirm, the children, and the women here in the village. If our men don’t stop them, those who stay here will be captured or killed. So what I’m thinking is we arm everyone old enough and healthy enough that’s left here and train them for a last ditch defensive battle.”

Linda interrupted him, “Let me get this straight: you plan to leave the women and children and elderly here to fight against the men that will have defeated you?”

Adrian looked at her for a moment, noting that her face was turning pink and there was fire coming from her eyes. He said, “No, that’s not the total plan. The plan is that the women and children and old folks will evacuate to someplace miles away. Part of that plan is to create a fighting force of the able-bodied women and older children to fight a rear guard action, if necessary, to protect the evacuation point. To protect them in their new and hidden location. It’s either that, or they keep running, and that won’t work; by definition, they won’t be a group that can travel and survive because of the number of very young, very old, and the infirm. Whether you’ll be able to come back here someday or have to start over somewhere else is anybody’s guess. It’s the best safety valve I can think of. The reason I asked for your advice is that I’m hoping that you three can come up with a better plan.”

The four sat in silence for several minutes. Then Linda said, “That plan stinks, but I’ll be damned if I can think of a better one…for now. Roman, Sarah, got any better ideas?”

Sarah said, “Unfortunately, no.”

Roman shook his head silently with a grim expression.

Adrian waited a minute and then said, “All right, then, until a better plan comes along, we’ll need to get started on this one.” Patton said, “‘A good plan implemented today is better than a perfect plan implemented tomorrow.’ I fully believe that. My idea is that Sarah will lead the villagers to the remote location. I think it best if none of the men that are going out to fight know where that location is. Then, if they’re captured and tortured, they can’t give it up. Linda, I believe you’re the best choice to lead the rear guard fighters. I don’t know you all that well, but what I have seen leads me to believe you’re mentally and physically tough enough for it. You two willing to take these jobs on?”

Sarah said, “I’ll get started today, talking to the people I know won’t be going out. There is a pecan orchard—”

“Hush!” Adrian said quickly, interrupting her. “I don’t want to know where it is, either. I don’t believe any man can stand up to