The Empire: Called back to Earth

It was nearly an hour before they saw a ground vehicle turn off the outside highway (or ring road as it was referred to locally) onto the access road to the spaceport landing area. Javelle drove up is a large ground vehicle that looked to have been taken care of.

Javelle got out and said, “This was the only ground vehicle I could find that appeared to be capable to getting us to our designation. They said it was called a HumVee.”

“I’ve seen these around when I have been on Earth,” Doug said. “I’m surprised they can keep them running.”

Javelle nodded for Doug to come aside and then told Doug, “I think we may have a problem. After I walked outside, I saw the man at the vehicle rental agency using his vistaview unit. When I stepped back inside, I heard him say, ‘You will have to watch for them on one of the roads out of the city.’ When he saw me he ended the call. I suspect he called someone to follow us.”

“It’s possible. Conceivably it could have been some arrangement he has with bandits out in the country. Someone rents a ground vehicle and tells him they are driving out into the surrounding countryside. He then calls and tells the bandits to watch for them. They rob the people and the dealer gets a cut,” Doug said. “We’ll have to be on extra alert.”

“And I found some type of tracking device,” Javelle said. “I removed and smashed it.”

The HumVee was a large, four-wheel drive all-terrain vehicle. And had plenty of room for five passengers and all the bags and supplies they had with them.

“Do you know how to get to wherever you’re going?” Zenobia asked.

“Yes, both me and Javelle have the GPS coordinates programmed into our vistaview units,” Doug told Zenobia. “We’ll be able to find our way.”

Javelle got in the driver’s seat. Doug said to Ossie, “You can ride shotgun upfront with Javelle. I’ll ride in back and keep the ladies company.

Javelle had transited around the crumbing city of Beijing, on what was once known as ’ring road eight,’ and found the road that led in a northeasterly direction toward Shenyang Provenance. Javelle had driven about ten kilometers when he looked back at Doug. Doug understood because he had glimpsed the ground vehicle following them.

“Javelle, at the next turn, and if we’re out of sight of them, slow down and I will jump out,” Doug said.

“Jump out! What do you mean you’ll jump out,” Zenobia exclaimed with alarm.

“A ground vehicle is following us. It very well could be some bandits. I’ll find out who it is,” Doug said.

“Javelle, stop and I will take care of any bandits following us,” Ossie said.

“No, you stay in the vehicle, Ossie. I’ll handle this,” Doug said. Then said to Javelle , “drive on about half a kilometer. Then stop and wait for me.”

“I will go with you and help,” Ossie said.

“No Ossie. I need you to stay with Javelle and look after the ladies,” Doug said. And was prepared to add a little mental persuasion if he needed. But Ossie said okay.

“Turn coming up,” Javelle said. “Are you ready?”

“I’m ready Javelle,” Doug replied.

“You can’t just jump out of a moving vehicle,” Zenobia almost shouted.

“I’ll be find,” Doug said. “You and Issie stay in the HumVee and do whatever Javelle tells you.”

Javelle had come almost to a complete stop. There was no problem exiting the HumVee. Once outside the HumVee, Doug saw a clump of bushes alongside the road. Doug laid down behind the bushes and waited. Doug had brought the bag containing his powerful 44mm blaster. He now took it out. The 9mm hand blaster may or may not stop a ground vehicle. But he was confident the 44mm hand blaster would.

Javelle proceeded almost another kilometer and then pulled to the side of the road. Zenobia said, Javelle, you’re going to have to go back and help Doug.”

“Doug will be fine. If he needs assistance he will contact me,” Javelle said.

“We should have stopped and helped Doug,” Ossie said. “I don’t feel right driving off and leaving him.”

“Ossie is right. We need to go back now,” Zenobia said, nervously and obviously very concerned about Doug.

“Doug will be fine,” Javelle told her again, in a calm voice. “As Doug told you, stay in the HumVee and follow my instructions.”

“But Javelle, he may need help,” Zenobia protested.

Issie put her arm around Zenobia’s shoulder and said, “I think we can trust Javelle that Doug will be alright.” Then told Zenobia about how Doug had apprehended the assassin on Zillow. “So if he can walk up and take an assassin by the arm, I am sure he can take care of himself,” Issie concluded.

Zenobia did not look like she was convinced but said nothing more.

Doug laid and waited until the ground vehicle was about a hundred meters away. Then jumped up, ran into the center of the road, leveling the 44mm hand blaster at the approaching ground vehicle. It had the desired effect on the driver Doug had expected.

Someone suddenly appearing, pointing a blaster, the driver slammed on the breaks. The driver momentarily lost control, causing the ground vehicle to turn almost sideways. Doug was prepared to shot the driver through the windshield if the driver did not stop or jump out of the way if the ground vehicle did not stop before hitting him. The ground vehicle came to a sideways stop five meters from where Doug was standing.

At that distance, Doug was able to mentally block the occupant’s nerve system to prevent any movement. He approached the driver, still pointing the 44mm hand blaster at him.

“Put the vehicle in park or apply the brakes. Whatever you need to do. Then shut the engine off and give me the keys,” Doug order, slightly relaxing his mental hold on his nerve system so he could move. The driver complied.

“Now step out of the vehicle,” he told the driver. When the driver was out, he then told the passenger to slid across the seat and exit.

Both men were now standing outside the ground vehicle and Doug said, “Why were you following us?”

The men looked at one and other and said nothing. “I said to tell me why you were following us,” Doug said and applied a little mental persuasion.

“We got a call that some people were driving out into the country,” the driver said.

“Who called you?” Doug said.

“I don’t know his name,” the driver said.

“You can do better than that,” Doug said and applied a little more mental persuasion.

“No, I don’t know his name. It was the man that operates the ground vehicle rental agency,” the driver said.

“And what were you going to do when you caught up with us?” Doug asked. “Or did you have someone waiting up ahead for us?”

“Yes, some others are waiting up ahead,” the driver replied. “We were to follow and call them when you got near where they are at.”

“How many?” Doug asked.

“I think there are five,” the driver answered.

“Think or know,” Doug prodded.

“Yes, I think there are five,” the driver stuttered.

“Okay, get in the ground vehicle, put it in neutral, and turn the steering wheel shape to the right,” Doug ordered.

The driver got into the ground vehicle and started to follow Doug’s instructions. Then said, “I need the key. I can’t do anything until the switch is on.”

Doug handed him the key and then said in a cold voice, pointing the 44 mm blaster at him, “Try to start the vehicle and I will put a 44mm blaster projectile in your head.”

The driver complied with Doug’s instructions. He put the ground vehicle in neutral gear and turned the steering wheel sharply to the right.

“Now get out,” Doug order. When he got out Doug said, “You two get behind and push.”

“What! The passenger, who had said nothing until now bellowed, “It will go over the embankment.”

“Right, that’s the idea,” Doug said. “And if you do not push I am going to put a 44mm blaster projectile through your brain.”

They looked at Doug, then begun pushing the ground vehicle until it started rolling down the embankment. Part way down, the ground vehicle caught on something and rolled over.

“Now start walking back toward the city and don’t look back. You will forget that you even saw me. And don’t call anyone. If anyone calls you, tell them you had an accident and your vehicle went over the embankment and is disabled,” Doug instructed and imprinted the command in their mind.

They started walking back toward Beijing and Doug turned and started jogging the other way to catch up with Javelle.

“Everything is okay,” Javelle said. “Doug is coming.”

Everyone looked out the back and Ossie said, “Where? I don’t see him.”

“Doug is coming. Just wait,” Javelle said.

A moment later Zenobia said, “I see him now. He’s jogging up the road.”

Zenobia jumped out and started running back to meet Doug. Doug saw her coming and slowed to a walk. When Zenobia reached him, she said, “Doug, are you okay? I was so worried.”

“I’m fine Zenobia,” Doug replied. “Everything is fine.”

Javelle, Ossie and Issie had now exited the HumVee and were standing waiting on Doug and Zenobia.

When Doug and Zenobia reached them, Doug said, without preamble, “You were right, Javelle, that rental agency man called them to follow us.”

“What were they planning to do?” Ossie asked. “Rob us.”

Doug them told them about the five men ahead and how they were planning to ambush them. Doug then explained what they would do. Javelle will approach the ambush site but will stop back a couple of hundred meters. “Ossie, you and Javelle will get out and approach on foot. And Ossie, I want you to follow Javelle’s instructions. Do not do anything to antagonize them. Javelle will deal with them. Zenobia, Issie, you stay in the HumVee and hunker down behind the back seat. I will get out but stay back so I can cover Javelle and Ossie.”

Ossie had lost his normal bright, charming smile he usually displayed. Doug could detect that Ossie was getting nervous when Ossie said, “You mean we’re just going to walk straight up to them.”

“That’s right Ossie. And remember, you follow Javelle’s instructions,” Doug replied. “Do nothing to antagonize them. Javelle will handle them.”

“This is crazy,” Ossie said. “Can’t we just drive over them or drive around them?”

“Everything will be fine, Ossie,” Javelle said in a calm voice to relax Ossie.”

“I agree with Ossie,” Zenobia said. “Maybe we had better turn around and go back.”

Doug put his arm around Zenobia and said, “Trust me sweetheart. Everything will be fine.”

“Where are you guys,” the bandit barked when the vistaview unit was answered.

“Um, we had a wreck, “the bandit heard the man say.

“You idiots drunk again?” the bandit asked.

“No. We’re not been drinking. Our ground vehicle… our ground vehicle just went over the embankment.

“…just went over the embankment. Yeah, right. You smoking that wildweed?” the bandit said.

“No, honest, we have not been smoking wildweed,” the man said. “Our, our ground vehicle just, just drove over the embankment.”

“If I find out that you have been drinking and smoking that wildweed again, I’m going to shoot the both of you,” the bandit almost screamed. “Are they on the way?”

“Yes, they should be there any time now,” the man answered. And the call ended.

“Those idiots got drunk or high on wildweed and wrecked their ground vehicle,” the bandit told the others. “I’m going to shoot them when I catch up with them.”

The bandits had chosen their ambush site well. It was a bridge and they had turned their ground vehicle sideways blocking the bridge. Thus, preventing another ground vehicle from driving around. The ground vehicle looked like another HumVee. Two of the bandits were sitting on the hood and three others were standing alongside the vehicle holding rifle blasters.

Javelle stopped back a couple of hundred meters. Javelle glanced back at Doug and Doug nodded and then said to Ossie, “Remember, follow Javelle’s instructions and do not antagonize them. And you girls stay down behind the seat,”

Javelle exited on the left. Ossie and Doug on the right. Doug mentally scanned the right side of the road to determine if there were any other bandits hiding. And he knew Javelle was doing the same on the left.

Ossie looked back at Doug and Doug nodded for him to go with Javelle . Doug could mentally tell that Ossie was very nervous and hoped he did not do anything foolish. But trusted Javelle to control Ossie.

Javelle and Ossie started walking toward the bandits. “Remember what Doug told you Ossie. Follow my instructions. Don’t antagonize them. And if they use expletives, derogatory language or racial slurs, do not react,” Javelle said.

The two bandits that were sitting on the hood slid off and were now standing with the others watching Javelle and Ossie approach, pointing their rifle blasters at them. Javelle stopped about ten meters from the bandits and said, “Good morning gentlemen. Nice day for a drive in the country.”

All the bandits laughed and one said, “Hey! We got ourselves a real comedian here.”

“Would you gentlemen please move your ground vehicle so we can proceed?” Javelle said.

The bandits laughed again and one said, “Hey! Did you hear him? And he even said please,”

They laughed again and one said, trying to mock Javelle, “Why don’t you please give us all your credits and maybe we will not shoot you.” The bandits laughed again.

Javelle flashed them one of his rare smiles and nodded for Ossie to do likewise. Then, adding a little mental persuasion, and said, “Please step over to the side of the road. Then gently lay your blasters on the ground. Don’t want them to accidentally discharge.”

The bandits lost all their facial expressions, and like zombies, they walked to the side of the road. “Now please lay your blasters down gently,” Javelle instructed. “We do not want an accident.”

They laid the blasters down and Javelle said, “Now unbuckle the belts holding your side blasters and lay them down.”

They complied and Javelle said, “Now step back and lay down on the ground, on your belly. And place your arms behind your back.” They complied with Javelle’s orders.

Ossie had been staring at the bandits as they complied with Javelle’s orders. He turned to Javelle and said, “How did you do that?”

Javelle flashed him one of his rare smiles and said, “Why Ossie, it is our warm, winning smiles. It works every time.” Ossie just stared at Javelle, not sure whether to believe him or not.

Doug had approached close enough to hear what Javelle had said and had to smile.

Doug approached the bandits lying on the ground and looked down at the rifle blasters. He picked one up and looked at it closer and said, “This is some serious hardware these guys were packing.”

“What are those?“ Ossie asked.

“These, Ossie, are the new 7mm rifle blasters being manufactured and sold to security forces on many of the world’s today,” Doug answered. “How they are ending up on Earth, and how these bandits are getting them, is the real question.”

Still carrying the 7mm rifle blaster, Doug walked to the HumVee and looked inside. There were boxes of ammunition and other boxes containing things Doug did not quickly recognize. Like the HumVee they had rented, this one carried six jerry cans of diesel fuel. Unlike ground vehicles on the new worlds, that was powered with nuclear power batteries, these on Earth still used diesel fuel. Doug guessed it was some kind of bio-diesel they were able to make locally from some type of waste material.

Doug walked back, picked up one of the 7mm rifle blasters, and dislodged the magazine and ejected the shell in the chamber. And handed it to Ossie. When he had finished with the last one, he told Ossie to place them in the bandits’ HumVee. Javelle gathered up the belts and other blasters and took them to the HumVee.

Doug told them that the Bandits’ HumVee was in as good or maybe better condition than the one they had rented. So we will keep it.

“You mean you are going to steal it?” Ossie said.

“I’m not sure what you want to call it, Ossie, but the bandits will not have any more use for it,” Doug said. “Now please go back and assure the ladies that everything is okay.”

“Javelle, I will turn this HumVee around. You can go back and get the other one and drive across the bridge. I will then get rid of the bandits and follow you,” Doug said.

With a cold stare, Javelle said, “I cannot permit you…”

Doug held his hand up to stop Javelle and said, “I know Javelle. You’re programmed to prevent you from permitting any harm to come to another human being. Even a bunch of highway bandits. I’m not going to harm them and told Javelle what he planned to do.”

“That sounds like poetic justice,” Javelle said.

Javelle had went back and got the other HumVee and driven it across the bridge. Doug drove the other up behind. Then got out and walked back to the bandits still lying on the ground.

“Okay you guys, Get up and walk out here in the middle of the road,” Doug ordered.

“What are you going to do?” one of the bandits asked.

“What are you going to do with our HumVee?” another one of the bandits asked.

“Considering that you no longer have any need of it, I am going to keep it,” Doug answered the bandit.

“Now here is what we are going to do. First, you’re going to forget that you ever saw us and everything that happen here today. Second, you will never again rob any traveler. Next, you are going to turn around and when I yell run, you’re going to start running down the road, never looking back, and you will run until you can no longer run,” Doug said and imprinted the instructions in their mind. Doug yelled run and they took off running down the road.

Doug walked back and got into the driver’s seat of the HumVee. Zenobia had come and got in the HumVee with Doug. “How did you and Javelle do that,” she inquired.

Flashing her a big smile, Doug said, “It’s my winning smile, Madam Ambassador.” Then reached over, put his arm around her, pulled her closer and kissed her. Finally breaking from the kiss, Zenobia took a deep breath and said, smiling, “It does to seem to work on me every time.”

It was mid-afternoon and Javelle turned into an area that looked like it was used frequently by ground vehicle for a rest area. A truck was already parked there but Doug saw no one around.

Javelle exited from the HumVee he was driving, walked to the back, and got two jerry cans of diesel fuels. The fuel gauge did not look like it had dropped that much on the HumVee Doug was driving and he only got one jerry can of diesel fuel to top off the diesel fuel tank.

Zenobia had exited and went to the first HumVee. She helped Issie get a basket out. Before leaving, Soo Lin had prepared sandwiches and placed them in the basket.

When Doug approached, Zenobia handed him a sandwich and a bottle of water.

Doug mentally detected the brain waves of two others. He could not detect the presents of any danger from them. Two men walked out of the woods. They looked at the two HumVee’s and then got in the truck and drove away.

They ate their sandwiches in silence until Issie asked, “How much longer will it take us to get to Lily Ham’s place?”

“I thought we might be able to make it all the way to her home today,” Doug replied. “But with the delays we have encountered, I’m not sure we can. We may have to camp out tonight.”

“Camp out!” Zenobia explained.

I came prepared. I brought sleeping bags just in case we would have to camp out,” Doug said. “And we’ll…”

Doug was interrupted when a convoy of vehicles pulled into the rest area and stopped. They had passed a couple of conveys of vehicles earlier in the day. Each having something like twelve to fifteen vehicles in the convey. And they had guards that were armed. Doug knew they traveled in conveys for safety.

The men in the convey made trips into the woods and then returned. But Doug noticed that some of the guards always stayed and they keep glancing their way. After all the men had made a visit into the woods, they finally got back into their vehicles and left.

As the last vehicle disappeared, Javelle said, “We had better go.”

Doug was not sure when it got dark but figured they only had another hour of daylight. Doug saw a small community ahead. And when Javelle approached, he pulled over and stopped near a building that looked like it might be some type of store. Javelle waved for Doug to pull up alongside.

When Doug pulled up alongside Javelle, Javelle said, “Ossie said that sign said that they offer diesel fuel. Perhaps we should fill up the fuel tanks and jerry cans.”

“Good idea,” Doug replied.

A man exited from the building and said something Doug could not understand. Evidentially Ossie understood him. After conversing with him a moment or two, Ossie said, “He said he would be happy to sell us some diesel fuel.”

As they filled the fuel tanks up, Issie said, “I wonder if he has anything to eat inside.”

“I would be careful eating anything from these wayside stores,” Ossie said. “No telling what you will be eating. And best not to drink the water either.”

After filling the fuel tanks, Doug started to pay the man with Galactic Empire credit notes. All Doug understood was, “No. No.”

“He wants Chinese currency,” Ossie said. And Ossie tool out a roll of local currency and paid the man. Doug gave Ossie a fifty credit note and asked if that would cover the cost.

“That’s too much,” Ossie said.

“That’s okay, Keep the change,” Doug told Ossie.

Before leaving, Doug conferred with Javelle. “If you see a place where we can pull of the road and conceal the vehicles, pull off. We’ll never make it all the way today and I do not want to travel at night.”

About half an hour later, Javelle pulled off the road and continued driving for another twelve to fifteen hundred meters. There was thick brush alongside the road and it would be almost impossible for anyone to see the vehicles from the road. Doug pulled the HumVee he was driver alongside Javelle’s HumVee and everyone exited.

“There are still sandwiches,” Zenobia said. “Do you want one?”

“I will be there in a minute. I need to see if I can contact Major on Trenton. Not sure if these vistaview units will reach that far,” Doug said.

Doug was not sure what the time differential was. It might be the middle of the night on Trenton. And he was not even sure if he could contact Major. Doug pressed the speed dial button and heard three buzzes and then Major said, “Hello Doug. You doing okay?”

“Fine Major. Sorry for not contacting you more often and I hope it is not past your bedtime,” Doug said.

“Around 2330 hours here,” Major said. “I was still up.”

“Are you at Lily’s yet?” Major asked.

“No,” Doug replied and then explained that they were camping out this night and would be arriving at Lily’s in the morning. Then told Major about the run-in with the highway bandits. And the 7mm rifle blasters they were carrying.

“That’s some serious firepower,” Major remarked.

“It sure is,” Doug said. “If I give you the serial numbers, do you think you could find where they were stolen? Perhaps even find a lead how they ended up on Earth?” And explained that one of the bandits told him that some person, going by the name ‘GoJo’ or ‘JoJo,’ had procured the blasters.

“I can try,” Major said. “No promises.”

After Doug gave Major the serial numbers he asked how Raquel and Maria were doing after returning from the Security Conference on the world of Arcadia. Major explained they were doing okay after their experience of almost being abducted.

“By the way, try to call more often. I tried a couple of times but got a message, ‘no service available,’” Major told Doug.

“I’m sure that Earth does not have the more advanced hyperwave communication equipment that the other worlds have,” Doug replied. “But I will try and call more often. Talk with you later.” And severed the call.

Issie and Zenobia passed out two sandwiches each and a bottle of water. Javelle accepted his and then said he was going to take a walkabout and make sure there was nothing in the area to harm them. Doug knew that Javelle was not going to eat the sandwiches or drink the water.

At the rest stop that afternoon, Javelle had accepted the sandwiches and water. When no one was watching, Doug saw him slip the sandwiches back into the basket.

Ossie, knowing that Soo Lin had probably only packed enough food for the four of them, had only accepted one sandwich at the afternoon rest stop. This evening, he had accepted both.

Javelle had walked by Doug and had slipped the sandwiches into one of the pockets of his cargo pants and whispered, “Ossie will probably want another sandwich.”

Ossie made a visit out into the woods. On the pretense that he had to make a visit into the woods, Doug meet Ossie as he was returning. “I have a wee bit of an upset stomach,” Doug told Ossie. “You want my other sandwich?”

Ossie protested but Doug insisted and Ossie accepted the sandwich. Ossie, being a big man, Doug knew he was probably still hungry. “And you can have this bottle of water, too,” Doug said, handing Ossie the water.

Doug had brought four sleeping bags in case they would have to camp out. He knew that Javelle did not need one but was now glad that he had brought the four. He gave one to Ossie. Ossie was too tall to fit in the sleeping bag and had to unzip it and use it more like a blanket.

The HumVee that Javelle had rented had a bench front seat and Ossie spread his sleeping bag out on the front seat. Issie spread her sleeping bag out on the back seat.

The HumVee Doug had liberated from the highway bandits had a console in the front and he told Zenobia he would sleep on top of the HumVee and she could use the back seat.

When Issie questioned Javelle about where he was going sleep, Javelle produced a jacket and a blanket he had found in the HumVee they had liberated from the highway bandits and said he would sleep on top of one of the HumVee’s.

It was still early evening but Doug suggested they retire for the night. Issie had wanted to build a fire but Doug explained that a fire could be seen from the road.

As everyone started to retire to their chosen sleeping spot, Zenobia whispered to Doug, “You’ll not going to make me sleep by myself are you?”

Later, Doug eased out of the HumVee and gently closed the door. Then climbed on top and settled into the sleeping bag he had placed there. Doug saw Javelle sitting on the hood of the other HumVee, legs crossed and arms crossed across his chest, and leaning back against the windshield.

Still in the early evening hours, Doug heard two or three ground vehicles go by on the highway. And what sounded like another convoy before drifting off to sleep.

Doug was not certain what time it was when he heard what sounded like another convoy going past on the road. He activated the light on his vistaview unit and saw that it was a little after 0400. He eased out of the sleeping bag and moved up to sit on the roof with his feet resting on the hood.

Doug glanced over and saw Javelle still sitting with his is legs crossed and his arms across his chest, leaning back against the windshield. Doug guessed that Javelle had probably sit that way all night and had never moved.

Doug eased onto the hood and then jumped onto the ground and walked into the woods. When he returned, he saw that Javelle had never moved. He got up and sit on the hood with his feet resting on the bumper guard.

Doug was not sure how long he had sat there. He had been listening to the nocturnal creatures sing their night songs. He recognized the crickets chirping and the beepers calling for a mate. And heard a whippoorwill and an occasional night bird calling out that he did not recognize. In the distance, he heard the howling of an animal. And it was answered some distance away by the howling of another. Doug wondered if there were wolfs in the area.

There was stirring in the HumVee that Javelle was sitting on. Doug mentally detected it rather than hearing it. He had not even been aware that he was mentally scanning the area while listening to the nocturnal creatures sing their night songs.

Ossie emerged from the HumVee, stretched and took a few steps forward. He saw Javelle and then Doug sitting on the hoods of the HumVees. “Don’t you guys even sleep?” Ossie asked.

“We woke up early,” Javelle said, still not moving.

Ossie walked off into the woods.

Doug heard Issie get out and she was followed by Zenobia getting out of the other HumVee. Issie, yawning, said, “What time is it?”

“It is 0519,” Javelle said, still having never moved.

When Zenobia walked up front, she asked, “Didn’t you guys sleep last night.

“We woke up early,” Javelle said, still not moving.

Issie and Zenobia went off to make a visit in the woods. When they returned, both were grumbling about not having any water to wash.

After a breakfast of sandwiches, (Doug pulled the one sandwich out of his cargo pants pocket that Javelle had given him the evening before and told Issie to give his sandwich to Ossie) and a bottle of water, they resumed their journey.

It was light enough to see to drive when they reached the road without illumination from the HumVee‘s lighting system.

They had traveled for a couple of hours and the sun was now high in the eastern sky. Doug saw the brake lights light up on Jevelle’s HumVee. He hadn’t realized it but he had been following Javelle so close it had to slam on the breaks to keep from rear ending Javelle.

Doug pulled to the side slightly so he could see ahead. Javelle pointed and Doug saw another vehicle setting crossways blocking a bridge. Another highway bandit intent on robbing some lone traveler.

Doug pulled up adjacent to Javelle’s HumVee and studied the scene ahead. He counted seven bandits and they all had rifle blasters plus sidearm blasters carried on their belts. “What are we going to do?” Zenobia asked.

Doug ignored her question while he studied the setup ahead. Then said to Javelle, “Okay, we’ll employ the same ploy as yesterday. You stop back a couple of hundred meters then you and Ossie walk up and greet them. I will stay back and cover you.” Then asked Ossie,” Ossie, are you up to this again today?”

“Ah, I don’t know. I think so,” Ossie said. Obviously, Ossie had not signed up for this trip expecting to confront highway bandits.

Javelle drove ahead and then stopped again. Doug stopped behind him. Javelle exited the HumVee and Doug exited from his, telling Zenobia to stay inside. Doug almost immediately detected brain waves in some boulders on the hill on the left side. And said, “Javelle , boulders on the left side.” At this distance, Doug could not be certain if there was only one person or more than one by the brain wave.

Doug walked around the front of the HumVee and back to the door. He opened it and took out one the 7mm rifle blasters he had placed there. He inserted a magazine and worked the slide to place a projectile in the firing chamber. Holding the rifle blaster by his leg, he walked to Javelle’s HumVee and rested the rifle blaster on the roof.

Javelle and Ossie were slowly walking toward the bandits blocking the bridge, when Doug looked that way. Then he looked back at the boulders and tried to locate the bandit or bandits hiding there but could see so one.

He continued to watch and mentally scan the area around the boulders. He could see no one and only faintly detect a brain wave. All of a sudden there were two blaster shots. Issie jumped out of the HumVee and yell that they had shot Ossie. “Stay in the HumVee!” Doug yelled at her but whether she heard him or ignored him he did not know. In his peripheral, he saw Issie run past him.

No sooner had Issie ran by and Doug saw two bandits step from behind a boulder. He had already set the rifle blaster on three-shot mode and, acquiring target acquisition on the bandit on the left, squeezed the trigger. He went flying back, his arms wind milling. The bandit on the right looked around to where his partner was supposed to be. Doug had already acquired target acquisition on him and sent a tri-burst into his chest.

Zenobia came running up yelling, “What’s happening? What’s happening?”

“Stay down Zenobia. Stay behind the HumVee,” Doug yelled back.

Doug continued to watch the boulders, plus mentally scanning the area. He could neither see nor mentally detect any more bandits hiding there.

“Zenobia, stay here behind the HimVee while I go check on Javelle,” Doug ordered.

As Doug walked toward Javelle, he continued to mentally scan the boulders but still could not detect anyone else. He glanced toward the scene on the bridge and saw that the bandits were laying in the middle of the road, on their belly with their hands behind their back. And also saw Ossie laying on the road and Issie bending over him.

Still cautious, afraid there may still be bandits in the boulders, Doug continued scanning. When he approached closer, he saw Ossie sitting up. When he reached them he asked, “How bad Ossie?”

“Ah, feels like someone hit me with a hammer and it really stings,” Ossie answered.

“Take you shirt and jacket and let me have a look,” Doug instructed Ossie.

Javelle helped Ossie stand. He had to lean against the HumVee the bandits had. He removed his shirt and blaster proof jacket. Doug saw a spot just below his right shoulder and another on his left back side. Both had begun to swell.

“Issie, help Ossie back to the HumVee. Then look through those bags. In one of them you will find a medical kit. Inside, you will find a tube of local anesthetic cream. Apply a little to each wound. The anesthetic is a substance that reduces sensitivity to pain,” Doug instructed Issie.

Issie nodded she understood and , with his arm around Issie’s shoulder, they started walking back to the HumVee.

“What happened, Javelle?” Doug asked.

“I do not know,” Javelle replied. “I had everything under control. I did see Ossie wave his arm and then the blaster shots. Did you terminate the bandits?”

“Yes, they were at too great a distance for me to be able to mentally restrain them.” Doug replied.

Javelle made no comment and Doug walked to the bandits laying on the road. “Which one of you is supposed to be the leader?”

No one replied and Doug said, “If you do not answer I am going to start shooting you one at a time.”

Doug saw Javelle start to protest. He held his hand up and shook his head no, indicating he was not going to terminate them.

“Last time, who is the leader?” Doug said in a cold voice.

“I, I am,” the second one from the left stuttered.

“Get up,” Doug ordered.

Doug saw that he was an older man, when he got up on his feet, but had no idea how old. He stuck the barrel of the 7mm rifle blaster under his chin and pushed backward, forcing him lean his head back.

“Your buddies in the boulders shot my friend. Why shouldn’t I shot you,” Doug said.

“No, please, no shot,” the old man said. “Accident, accident they shot your friend.”

“Accident or not, they still shot my friend,” Doug said.

“Accident. We never shoot anyone. We’re highwaymen. Only charge travelers to use road,” the old man said.

“You mean you’re just a crook and rob travelers,” Doug said.

“No. No. Highwaymen. Just charge travelers to use road,” the old said. “What you do with us? You let go?”

“Let you go! After you tried to rob us. And shot my friend!” Doug barked out. “I think I will throw you over the bridge into the river.”

“No. No. No throw in river. No can swim,” the old man said. “Please. No throw in river.”

Doug could mentally detect that the old man was trembling with fear. He looked at Javelle and then motioned for Javelle to step over to the side with him. Then said to Javelle, “What are we going to do with them. He (pointing at the old man) is just an old man. He is ready to wet his pants.”

“Command them to run down the road like you done those yesterday,” Javelle said.

“I’m afraid if I command them to run down the road, the old man will die from exhaustion or have a heart attack,” Doug replied. “And look at those weapons. More of the 7mm rifle blasters. And another HumVee. Where are they acquiring hi-tech weapons like that? And they seem to have a monopoly on HumVees.”

“Perhaps they are working for someone else,” Javelle suggested.

“Perhaps, Javelle, you talk to the old man. Tell him you will not let me throw him in the river if he will tell you where they got the 7mm rifle blasters. And where they are getting these HumVees. And if he (these gangs) are working for someone else,” Doug explained.

Javelle approached the old man and said, “Hi, my name is Javelle . What is your name?” and extended his hand.

Cautiously, the old man extended his hand and took Javelle’s and said, “My name Liu Yuán. You no let him (pointing at Doug) throw me in river.”

“I will not let him throw you in the river if your will answer some questions for me, Mr. Yuán,” Javelle replied.

“Yes. Answer questions,” Mr. Yuán replied.

“Why are you charging travelers to use this road?”

“Get money. Support family,” Mr. Yuán said.

“Get money? Oh, you mean credits,” Javelle clarified.

“Why don’t you get an honest job, Mr. Yuán, Charging travelers to transit the highway is robbery,” Javelle said.

“Don’t make as much money,” Mr. Yuán replied.

“Mr. Yuán, you are to stop charging travelers to transit the highway or I will let him (pointing at Doug) throw you in the river,” Javelle told him. “And you are to obtain honest employment.”

“No want to go into river. Stop charging travelers, get other job,” Mr. Yuán said.

“Good. Now tell me where you got those blasters,” Javelle said, pointing at the 7mm rifle blasters.

“Blasters? Oh, guns. Get them from Master Fēng,” Mr. Yuán said.

“You work for Master Fēng?” Javelle asked. “He give you blasters, guns?”

“No, Master Fēng permits us to charge travelers to use this part of road. Then we pay Master Fēng a part,” Mr. Yuán explained. “And he sells us the guns.”

“And the HumVee, the ground vehicle (Javelle pointed at the HumVee), you get that from Master Fēng too?” Javelle asked.

“Yes, Master Fēng,” Mr. Yuán replied.

“Where do you reside, Mr. Yuán?” Javelle asked.

“Reside?” Mr. Yuán repeated. Clearly not understanding Javelle’s question.

“Where do you live, Mr. Yuán,” Javelle repeated his question.

“Ah. Tong,” Mr. Yuán said.

Now it was Javelle’s turn to be confused. “Tong? What is Tong, Mr. Yuán?” Javelle asked for clarification.

“Tong. Tong,” Mr. Yuán said, pointing back the way Javelle and the others had come.

“Ah, you mean the village back there that we passed through,” Javelle said.

“Yes, village, Tong,” Mr. Yuán said.

“Okay, the rest of you stand up,” Javelle told the other six bandits. When they had risen to their feet Javelle said, “You heard what Mr. Yuán said. He is going to stop robbing travelers on this road. Are you going to stop robbing travelers, too?”

“Yes, we will stop,” one of the men said.

“Good, because if you do not stop, that man (and Javelle pointed at Doug, who had been leaning against the HumVee with his arms crossed over his chest) is a very dangerous man and he will throw you into the river,” Javelle said.

Doug dropped his arms to his side and took a couple of steps forward, with a menacing look on his face.

Mr. Yuán took a couple of steps backward and said, “No, no stop him. No want to go into river.”

Javelle placed his hand against Doug’s chest and said, “I will not permit this man to throw you into the river if you promise not to rob anymore travelers.” Javelle calculated that Mr. Yuán and the other bandits were so frighten that they would not rob another traveler, but said, “You are never again to rob another travel on this road,” and imprinted the command in their minds. “Now turn around and walk back to your village, to Tong,”

“What about our ground vehicle?” one of the bandits asked.

“We’ve keeping your ground vehicle,” Javelle answered.

“What about our friends he killed,” another bandit asked, pointing at Doug.

“When you get back to your village, you can find another ground vehicle and come back and retrieve them,” Javelle said. “Now go or I will let that man throw you into the river.”

When Mr. Yuán and the other bandits had walked out of hearing distance, Javelle said to Doug, “I feel sorry for Mr. Yuán. I think he is really an honest man just trying to care for his family.”

Doug was not sure he agreed with Javelle but said nothing. Instead said, “This put these weapons in the HumVee. Then I will go up into the boulders and retrieve the blasters they were using.”

“What will we do with this HumVee?” Javelle asked.

“This see if Ossie feels up to driving it. If so, we will take it with us. If not, we’ll have to destroy it somehow, perhaps drive it into the river,” Doug said.

Javelle had driven the HumVee back to where Ossie, Zenobia and Issie waited. Doug started across the road after returning from retrieving the weapons from the bandits in the boulders. He had just gotten to the other side when he saw a ground vehicle approving. It was some kind of truck and it had come almost to a stop. Obviously they saw Doug and that he was carrying a blaster. Placing the blaster alongside his leg, Doug waved his arm a couple of times and pointed for them to continue down the road.

The truck continued forward slowly and then accelerated as it sped past Doug. Doug saw Mr. Yuán and the other bandits walking in the distance. When the truck approached, it stop. A few moments later, Mr. Yuán and the other bandits got onto the back of the truck.

“How are you doing Ossie,” Doug said as he approached.

“That stuff Issie applied numbed the pain but here is still a burning sensation,” Ossie replied.

“Yes, it is a local anesthetic that reduces sensitivity to pain,” Doug said. “The affects will eventually wear off. If you start to have too much pain we can apply a little more.”

“Ossie, I hate to ask this but do you feel up to driving that other HumVee?” Doug asked.

“I’ll drive,” Issie spoke up and said.

“Thank you Issie, but these HumVees are not like the ground vehicles back on Trenton where you push a button and they go forward. You have to manually shift the gears, using the clutch. That is that pedal there on the floor,” Doug told her, pointing.

“I know how to drive it,” Ossie said. “I feel okay to drive.”

Doug heard the truck that had past and picked up Mr. Yuán and the other bandits, coming back.

“Javelle, check Ossie and see if he may have a cracked or broken rib,” Doug instructed. “I’ll watch this truck and made sure they do not try anything.”

Ossie still had his shirt and jacket off. “Ossie, please turn around and let me check you wound,” Javelle said. “Tell me if there is a lot of pain.”

Javelle probed the area around the wounds but could not find evidence of a cracked or broken rib. Ossie mumbled ‘um, um’ a couple of times and said, that’s sore in that area.”

“I understand Ossie,” Javelle said. “Fortunately, I cannot find any evidence of a cracked or broken rib but you’re going to be sore for a few days.”

As the truck drove by, Mr. Yuán said something Doug could not hear and pointed toward the boulders. Doug understood he wanted to retrieve the bodies of his comrades and Doug waved for him to do so.