by Shadoe Masters
Burt pulled into the front parking lot at Los Rastros, formerly a military training base, where the shooting match would be held. He slid out of the truck and surveyed the compound for any changes since last year's match. Rows of barracks were off to the right with a chow hall and common building next to them, in the center of the compound. A structure housing the command center sat on the other side, with some office areas beyond that. Behind them all were several quonset huts that had probably been used for training classes in the past. If he remembered correctly - and he was sure he did - the trail to the shooting range was beyond those.
He turned to the truck and reached into the back to grab the first of his gear. He hesitated as his hand crossed the pack holding the satellite com link.
He wondered if she was in his bunker yet. He could picture her sitting on the stool, bent over the satellite link, twisting to type in a rapid sequence on the keyboard. His mind brought up many such images from the countless evenings they'd spent there working on projects together.
A quick glance at his watch revealed it to be nearly 1100 hours. She'd be heading to Chang's, no doubt, taking a break for lunch with Nancy and Jodi. She wouldn't eat in the bunker.
But it would only take but a moment to check...
He pulled the pack loose and set it on the edge of the truck, all the while telling himself he was sure she wasn't there. Some other voice inside him told him to call, and call now.
The first voice told him what nonsense that was.
He tugged at the zipper anyway.
"Burt Gummer!" came a voice from behind.
He turned. "Hal Sanger," he said by way of a greeting, and held out a hand.
Hal smiled as the two shook hands. "I suppose now that you're here the rest of us can just give up."
"I suppose you can," Burt replied. Honestly, he thought.
Hal grinned. "A few of us were just heading out for lunch before the match starts. Let's get your gear stowed and you can tag along."
Burt nodded his reply and zipped the pack shut. Foolish idea, anyway.
"There goes another one," Jodi pointed out. She'd given up talking and spent the last half hour staring out the garage's side window, watching the beetle activity while the other two women continued pacing and discussing their options - their lack of options.
Nancy joined her at the window. She followed the direction of her gaze and watched as another beetle found a spot it apparently liked beside the gas pump across the street and started circling, backwards, spreading dirt as it descended into the ground.
Now that they understood their methods, the nests they had scattered throughout town were obvious; just a slight depression surrounded by loose sand.
"Look at that one," Nancy said, pointing toward the water tower across the street. While they watched, one of the creatures, still searching for just the right spot to nest, wandered too close to a nest another had already built. It stumbled and slipped down the hole.
It didn't climb back out.
"They're traps," Kylie said, coming up behind them.
"And they're all over town," Nancy added, horrified.
"We've got to get out of here," Jodi said. "We're not even sure where they are anymore. They could have built one of those nests - those taps - right outside the door!"
The three women looked carefully at the ground surrounding the door. Besides the hole Kylie had already fallen into - which was now inhabited by a creature that had devoured the original; the one Kylie had killed - they saw another smooth depression at the front of main part of the garage. They could be all around, though. They'd never know until they fell into one.
"We're stuck here," Kylie said hopelessly. "We don't even dare light a signal fire."
"Let's not give up," Nancy said. She turned to Kylie. "Hasn't Burt taught you anything that might be useful here?"
Kylie brightened. "He's taught me all kinds of stuff. Projectiles, bombs, fire... I could probably make a bomb out of... Oh, this beer bottle!"
Nancy frowned. "Has he taught you to make anything that doesn't kill things?"
"Well, I could put together a machine to find something to kill. But, mostly," Kylie admitted with a grin, "no."
"Okay," Nancy said, "let's look around this pile of junk and see what we can find to get us out of here."
Burt stepped into his room in the barracks, his face preoccupied. He had a some time before the match started. Time enough to check the link, if he hurried. He was sure he'd find that Kylie had set it up by now and he'd be able to stop worrying.
He quickly set up the link on the table next to his bed. Nothing. Either it wasn't working - doubtful - or she hadn't set it up yet. He told himself that Kylie had, most likely, taken advantage of his absence to slip back into bed for more sleep. That nagging little voice that had been at him since last night, though, reminded him that she knew he was expecting him to check this link and she'd have it ready. He checked his watch. She probably didn't start until after lunch. She just hasn't got it set up correctly yet.
He knew he should have gone over it with her once more.
Someone banged on the door. "Ready to lose one, Gummer?"
Burt almost rolled his eyes before getting up to open the door. It was Hal again. "I beat you last year," Burt pointed out. "I'll beat you this year too."
Hal smiled. "Wait'll you see what I'm packing this year," he said. "What you got?"
Burt reached for his .375 H&H Mag and Hal chuckled. He started down the hall toward the back door, on his way to the range. With one last glance toward the linkup, Burt closed the door and followed him.