This is a work of fiction any similarities between the characters, events, or locations in this story and actual locations, events, or people are purely coincidental.
© 2007 Warlord
Herbert W. Moss stumbled. Grabbing the doorframe, he stared down at the offending foot and the thin aluminum weather stripping it was lodged against. Herb hoped his annoyed stare would do what the nerves seemed unable to, get his shoe up the fractions of inches to allow him to exit the Jasper public washroom.
Herb held the doorframe as he looked across the parking lot to the Jasper train station. The rail yard behind the washroom building he was currently trapped in with the town of Jasper, Alberta across the highway arrayed along the rails.
With his foot finally deciding to cooperate, Herb limped out into the crisp morning air to look at the magnificent scenery that was Jasper Park. Edna ceased peering at another in an endless series of plaques to look at him with some concern. Herb waved her off just as a series of loud blasts from a train horn interrupted.
Herb looked up with mild interest as a long freight train blasted through the yard at a high rate of speed.
Herb froze!
Tanks? Holy shit those are tanks!
Herb shivered, snapped back 55 years in an instant. Transported by the sight of Chinese soldiers on the train cars.
He didn’t know how he knew. He just did.
Even then, he always knew. His platoon was never ambushed when he was point. Hillbilly said: “Herby can smell’em, like my Granny and revenooers.”
Maybe he was right. All Herb knew was that he would always ALWAYS know ChiCom troops even if they were hiding in ambush. Reflexively Herb’s hand dropped to his knife, getting only a handful of the hated leg brace. He hadn’t thought of that knife in ages. The one that blacksmith in Chinju ground and filed his machete into. A double edged dagger really.
The train’s horn trumpeting brought him back into the present. Herb looked over at Edna saying calmly: “Ed honey please get a bunch of pictures of that train. Its important.”
Edna looked confused but she lifted the camera phone that she’d just used to shoot that plaque and began snapping pictures. Herb just stared at the rushing cars engraving every detail on his memory. As the last car disappeared Edna said: “I got some Herby, not very good though, it was going really fast.”
Herb stared to the West, then he smiled at Edna: “Not to worry honey. Take a bunch of this next one.”
Edna looked confused until another freight train came into the yard led by its loudly blasting train horn. It was identical to the first with tanks, troops, and shipping containers on car after car. Edna found her rhythm. This was like shooting her fidgety grandchildren when they wouldn’t sit still. She kept snapping until the last car was out of sight.
She looked over to see her Herb standing up straight staring intently at the incoming rail line with his raised right fist clenched. She stood watchfully as another fast moving train entered the yard. She was already taking pictures before Herb gestured. As this train blasted through the yard, Edna realized she was breathing faster, excited. As it disappeared to the East she looked over at Herb. He relaxed slightly. Somehow he knew that no more trains were coming.
He looked over at Edna holding his Mother’s Day cell phone and smiled. He said: “Edna, we need to send a message right now before they realize. If you send a text message can you attach those pictures?”
Edna nodded as her practiced fingers automatically readied the pictures. She asked: “Who?”
Herb said: “Everybody, everybody on your list. Somebody will get the message to the proper people.”
Edna’s head snapped around as Herb patted her arm: “Just send what I tell you honey and I’ll explain.”
Herb stared at the snow capped mountain and dictated: “Jasper, Alberta train yard, break. Many Chinese break. Major troop movement break Three eastbound trains break. Many tanks break. Many shipping containers break. Many many armed Chinese troops visible break. Inform military and civil authorities. Please forward. Message ends.”
Edna’s fingers followed Herb’s words then she pressed send. She looked at him with her big eyes filled with concern. Herb grinned: “Somebody else’s problem now, Eddie. Come on, Lets get to that bakery. I’m going to buy my best girl a big piece of birthday cake.”
Edna giggled girlishly as she said: “It’s not my birthday and I was thinking more of a muffin.”
Herb laughed saying: “Fuck a bunch of bran muffins. Birthday cake with extra frosting and big ole rose right in the center and your name spelled out in chocolate.”
Herb threaded her arm through his as he led her toward the Black Bear Bakery. It was up to somebody else to stop the bastards this time. At least he did his job. Herb began to whistle. He realized it was the Bug Out Boogie. Top hated that fucking song!
Edna asked: “That tune, its from the war?”
Herb answered by reflex: “Police action, Edna it was only a police action.”
Yeah police action, standing in snow up to your waist, nothing but snow hats in front of you, BAR so hot you thought the handguard would burst into flames…
…Hell of an imitation of a real war.
*****