Part 35 (1/2)

The mission chief said, ”Yes, ma'am,” into the telephone receiver. Then, hanging up the phone and turning to the pilots, he said, ”Ignore the Hummer. More important to make sure nothing survives inside the mansion. But we have authority to attack now. Do it.”

Without a word from either of them the two pilots began manipulating the controls that would bring their Predators into optimal attack position to ensure the Global Positioning Systemguided bombs. .h.i.t precisely where they were intended.

Schmidt had begun turning Juanita back to the Hummer by main force when something caught his eye. Reacting entirely by instinct, once finely honed and still at least good enough, he screamed ”Down!” and forced her to the asphalt, covering her body with his own.

The driver, somewhat distracted by other concerns, never saw the smashed roofing material that flew up where two two-thousand pound bombs penetrated. He didn't see the walls and windows suddenly billow out, even as the roof, or rather pieces of it, began to ascend. He felt a remarkably sudden build-up of pressure.

And then he felt a very large piece of masonry smash his torso.

”Jesus,” murmured one of the two pilots, watching the mansion disintegrate in his screen. ”Jesus.” The other pilot merely gave off a soft whistle. Neither had ever seen such complete demolition, done so suddenly, from their aircrafts' perspective.

The mission chief gave a grunt of approval, then picked up the telephone again to make his report.

”Nooo!” shrieked Juani once Jack had gotten off of her and helped her to her feet. ”Nooo! Mario!” she wept for her son. ”Emilio...” she murmured through tears for a lost husband.

She began to try to tear herself away from Schmidt's grip.

”No,” he shouted, enfolding her in a bear's embrace. ”They may not be done and you you are too valuable to lose.” are too valuable to lose.”

Juanita fought to escape but Jack was having none of it. Transferring his hold to grasp her in one arm he reopened the Hummer door with one hand, then used two to forcefully throw her into the front seat, slamming shut the door behind her.

Juani's head struck the steering wheel hard enough to stun her into submission while Schmidt ran frantically to the driver's side. He spared one glance at the unconscious driver, even now breathing his last through b.l.o.o.d.y-frothed lungs.

”Sorry, son...I can't help you,” Schmidt muttered.

Throwing himself into the driver's seat, Schmidt took a fierce grasp of Juani's hair and pushed her from the steering wheel, keeping the grip to avoid the risk of her escaping.

With his left hand Schmidt fumbled with the parking brake, then awkwardly put the Hummer into gear and drove off as fast as the vehicle would move.

In the distance he could hear sirens, police and emergency vehicles, converging on the flaming wreck of the mansion.

Chapter Nineteen.

From the transcript at trial: Commonwealth of Virginia v. Alvin Scheer DIRECT EXAMINATION, CONTINUEDBY MR. STENNINGS:.

Q. Of course the Feds, they were pretty serious too, right Alvin?

A. Oh my yes. Blow up the governor's house? Kill her husband and her kid? Kill a whole bunch of folks that just worked there? That was about as serious as you could get, wasn't it?

Q. What did you think had happened?

A. I wasn't rightly sure. The papers and TV said, at the time, that it was some locals what done it, protesting the rebellion. I remember seeing the head of the Air Force saying on the TV that there was no way any of his people or planes had bombed Austin. Seemed real serious. I kind of believed him, too.

Austin, Texas The Corps entered the state capital without incident. Expecting a bloodbath, the commander had waited until he had enough artillery, most importantly enough weight of sh.e.l.l, to be certain of crus.h.i.+ng all opposition, along with enough fuel and small arms ammunition to be certain of being able to clear the town and exploit the breakthrough.

This had not been easy in the face of demolished bridges and roads, burned stocks at every town they entered, and a populace gone generally sullen, hostile and very uncooperative.

Yet, the evening before the a.s.sault on Texan lines was to begin, the Texans abandoned those lines, retreating hastily but in fairly good order some miles south.

Standing beside one such, a well-excavated and revetted trench, the commander of 3rd Corps and his sergeant major watched the stately procession of armored vehicles and accompanying infantry disappear into the suburban streets north of the town. Corps and his sergeant major watched the stately procession of armored vehicles and accompanying infantry disappear into the suburban streets north of the town.

”Sir, I'm having a hard time believing the Texans aren't going to fight for their capital,” commented the 3rd Corps sergeant major to his chief. Corps sergeant major to his chief.

The general removed his helmet and scratched his head, a bit worriedly. ”I know, Top...but that's what we're hearing from all along the front. The Texas Guard and State Defense Force have pulled out to the outskirts, the southern outskirts, of the city.”

”They've still got defenses dug south of town, sir.”

”Yes, I know. I expect they'll be occupying them right now.”

”You heard what happened to Governor Seguin's place?”

”I heard, Sergeant Major. I'm not sure I heard the truth though. Do you think she's really dead?”

”Dunno, boss. There were no survivors reported at the house. And her husband and son were killed. That time of the morning? I figure she was in there too and they just haven't found a body yet.”

”Shame, isn't it? She was a great woman, in so many ways.”

The sergeant major merely grunted a warning as none other than Harold Forsythe, Political Officer for the 3rd Corps since losing his job as Federal Commissioner for Texas, approached on foot. Corps since losing his job as Federal Commissioner for Texas, approached on foot.

”Mr. Forsythe,” noticed the general, without offering a hand.

”General,” Forsythe returned, a minor note of exultation creeping into his voice. ”Sergeant Major.”

The sergeant major just nodded, not even offering so faint a greeting as had his boss.

”You'll be wanting to resume your duties in the capital directly,” offered the general.

”Yes. How soon will the area be cleared?”

”If progress keeps up, we should be past the state house by tomorrow, about midmorning.”