Chapter 8

As it turned out, I wasn't the only person who realized the woods was a good hiding place.  The place was practically crawling with Trackers, groups of so called Patriots that were self appointed border patrol, bounty hunters and law and enforcement.  They were armed, with AR-15's strapped to their backs, pistols in holsters and usually a few knives in the mix as well.  They usually dressed in an assortment of camo, and combat boots, and many of them wore body armor.   

I ran into my first one early that morning. I had decided to scout the area, to see which was the safest way to travel.   Unfortunately, he also saw me first, so the option of turning around and disappearing was out.   

"Halt!" the man said, importantly, as his chest puffed out.  He was shorter than I was, and other than a wiry mustache, he was clean-shaven, and had severe buzz cut.  His hair was a sandy brown, and his eyes were brown.  His appearance would not have been memorable, except that he was strapped to the hilt in weapons.  

I froze, and he grabbed his radio.  "Wildcat to Wolverine, I've got a possible 10-48, 10-12."  

The radio crackled for a moment, then spat out "10-4".   So there was more than one of them.  Great.  

"What is the nature of your business in this area?" the man demanded.  

"I was taking a walk," I said, in the deepest voice possible.  

"Where's your permit," he demanded.  

Permit?  Shit!

He must have seen my expression, because he smirked.  "Oh, so no permit, eh?"  His smile was positively predatory.  "And what," he asked, "would you be doing out so early in the morning headed for the border lands?"

Trying to keep the fear out of my voice, I said, "The farm I work at borders this forest!"  

"Right," he said, sarcastically.   "I'm not an idiot!"

"Could have fooled me,"  I thought, resentfully.  

He continued.  "How about we take a trip to this farm and see how well your "boss" knows you.  Bet he's never seen you!" he said, scornfully.  

I raised my eyebrows.  "Okay," I shrugged.   

His eyes narrowed at me.  "Think your smart, do ya?" He asked.  

"Smarter than you, at least," I thought to myself, keeping my expressing neutral.  

He took the radio and pressed the button again.   "Wildcat to Wolverine, 10-33, I'll need to 10-48. Over."

After a moment, he got a response.  "What's your 20?"

The man flushed slightly and fumbled with a GPS device before giving out some coordinates on radio.   The radio squawked out a "10-4" and soon, I heard the sound of an ATV starting up, and then growing louder as it got closer.  

"Wolverine" arrived, and looked at me, then back at "Wildcat".  "What's the situation?" the newcomer asked. 

Wildcat, swelled up importantly, as he said, "I've caught this chucklehead wandering around in the woods.  He's trying to tell me he just happens to work at the farm bordering this forest, but he's got no permit, no paperwork, nothing.  Probably on the run from something."

Wildcat glared at me suspiciously.  "Maybe you're not a real man, maybe you're just dressed like one to try to escape."  His glare turned into a leer.  "I think we'll need you to prove to us that you are male."

Wolverine looked at Wildcat sharply.

"What the hell, man," I asked, angrily.  "Are you saying I look like a girl?" 

"No, but -" Wildcat started to say, but I cut him off.

"Are you some kind of freaking pervert?!" I asked, throwing as much disgust as I could into my voice.  "Why are you asking to see my junk?"  I asked, looking revolted.  

Wildcat turned a deep shade of puce.  "I don't want to see your junk!" He protested.  

"You literally just asked me to prove that I was male.  If you can't tell by looking at me, then it sounded a lot like you wanted to see my genitals.   What, do you get your kicks by stopping men in the woods and asking them to "prove" they're men?"

"No, I -"

"That's enough, Gary," Wolverine, snapped, looking disgusted.  "Is that what you're doing out here all day?  Genital checks?"  He barked out a laugh.   I don't think Wolverine liked Gary (or Wildcat) too much.  

"No!" whined Gary/Wildcat, looking humiliated.  He glared at me hatefully.  It seems I had made an enemy.  

"Well, come on, let's go check on this farm, then," said Wolverine, looking bored.  

Shoving me roughly, Gary, led me to the souped up Golf cart that looked like something out of Mad Max.   Apparently, he didn't trust me enough to let me sit in the back by myself, and sat in the back with me.  

He reached for handcuffs, but then flushed and put them back.  I bit my lip to keep from laughing.  "Stay put," he growled.  "If you try to run, I'll shoot you."

I didn't doubt it for a second.  

In what seemed like a matter of minutes, we had arrived at the farm, since the ATV was much faster than walking. 

Gary grabbed me by the arm, and started for the house.   "If you want to find the boss, you'll find him in the barn," I said, scathingly, "not in the house, at this time of day," 

Gary bristled, but changed direction, headed towards the barn.  Gary barged into the barn, and stopped short when he saw it was full of cows.   Trying to make up for his humiliation earlier, Gary, pulled me roughly as he walked up to the first person he saw, who happened to be my boss.  His eyes widened in surprise when he saw me with the Trackers.   

'Hey, you!"  Gary said, rather rudely to my boss. "Quit your gawkin' and go get me your boss.   I have important work to do and I don't want to waste any more time, so don't dawdle!"

My boss crossed his arms.  "I am the boss.   Who the hell are you?  And what are you doing with one of my men?!"  

Beside me, I heard Wolverine sigh in exasperation.  

"I found him in the woods, without a permit or any papers," Gary said, oblivious to my boss's cold reception.  

"And?" my boss said, more coldly.  

Gary seemed to realize that I had been telling the truth.  "Well, sir," he said, in an ingratiating tone that was immediately irritating, "I was concerned that he was someone on the run, sir.  We got lots of people trying to hide out in the woods and so I had to check out it."  

"Well, for someone who doesn't want to waste time," my boss snapped at him, "you've done a good job wasting my time!" 

"Listen, sir," Gary bristled.  "I'm just a patriot, protecting my country.  You would think that you would want the borders protected." He glared at my boss suspiciously.

My boss glared back at him, unimpressed.  "Well, go patrol the border then, son, because this ain't the damn border.  I had my employee out there looking for a lost cow, and you've just wasted half the morning with your nonsense."  

Gary turned to me, furiously.  "Why didn't you say that?!"  he practically shouted.

"You didn't even believe me when I told you I worked on this farm," I said, scornfully. 

I could practically feel Wolverine seething beside me.  "Sir, I apologize on behalf of my partner's actions, and his rudeness."  He turned to me.  "And you sir, I apologize for any embarrassment and inconvenience that we have caused you." 

I nodded, stiffly, not trusting myself to speak.

"Let's go, Gary," said Wolverine, angrily. 

"Wildcat," Gary whined, sullenly.  

My boss coughed, which may have been covering up a laugh.  

Gary left, his humiliation complete.  I sincerely hoped I never saw him again.  

Now that left me to face my boss.  I probably had some explaining to do.  And not only that, I was right back where I started.   I wondered if my campsite would even be there when and if I made it back.  Shit. 

My boss looked at me for a moment.  "You okay, kid?" he finally said.   He didn't even act angry.  Not what I expected. 

"Yeah," I said.  "I mean, now I am," I added.  "Thanks."

He was silent for a moment, then said, "Look, you're one of my best workers and I'd hate to see you go, but if you need help you only have to ask.   Those trackers out there are dangerous, and not all of them are as dumb as that Gary fellow . Some of them would sooner shoot than ask questions.  Or... worse," he said, looking at me intently.

I nodded, wide eyed.  Did he suspect?

"Well, how about we finish up here, and then I can drive you back to the forest, in case you have anything you might want to pick up that got left behind when Gary found you."

I nodded gratefully.  "That - that would be great," I said, smiling in appreciation.  

I was right back where I started, but much less naive.  I would probably have better luck dressed as a Tracker if I hoped to have even a chance of getting through.