Canyons of Steel – Valley of the Damned Pt. 7

Walker stood to one side as Federal and Interpol agents swept the area. Doctor Richard Adams also arrived on the scene, tending to the wounds that both Walker and Annie had sustained, as well as dealing with the trauma the children had gone through. The aging gunslinger took out a cigarette and lit it, inhaling deeply as he watched the men and women go over the area. From time to time one would look Walker’s way, whispering something to a fellow agent. Then they both would nod and move on. No one came and spoke to him.

Except one person.

“Those things will kill ya, John,” Christa said in a quiet voice.

“Trust me,” Annie replied. “I’ve tried convincing him to quit.”

“Rather this kill me,” he said as he inhaled another drag. “Then get taken out by the likes o’ these.” He looked to Christa for a long moment, then nodded. “I do appreciate ya comin’ here so quick.”

“You know me,” she said with a small smile. “Best damn team around. We get done what we need to.”

John studied her again for a long moment, furrowing his brow as he caught something about her unfamiliar. “When ya start wearin’ that, Chrlsta?”

“My hat? Always had the hat, John. You should know that.”

“Ain’t talkin’ the hat,” he said as he motioned to her ring finger. “Who’d you rope inta a life o’ matrimony?”

“Maybe it wasn’t me doing the roping,” Christa replied with a grin. “Met him a few years ago, around the time you first dropped offa the face of the planet.”

“Uh-huh,” he replied simply as he took out a flask, opened it, took a swig and passed it over to Christa. He didn’t need to get into details, that might lead to the embarrassing questions of why he hadn’t settled down. “What do you an’ yer boys know ’bout some agent name o’ Yar’ow?”

“Before tonight, we never knew the Heritage Front had some new grunt,” she replied as she took a swig and handed it back.

“Musta been summoned up recent, then,” John stated as he recapped the flask and pocketed it. He took one last drag, dropped the cigarette and crushed it under foot. “Joker said somethin’ ’bout a sect what’s guardin’ some object they used ta roust this Alow fer the Heritage Front. Can use it ta send ‘er back.”

“What are you asking, John?”

“I’d appreciate the help, Christa,” he said in a quiet tone. “At first, me an’ Annie thought it were somethin’ simple. Gotten a helluvalot bigger.”

Adams approached with the last comment. “The children are boarded and will be transported to the hospital immediately.” He put away some of his supplies and added without looking to anyone in particular. “And if you require assistance, Mr. Walker, it may be high time you called in some of your favours.”

“I already owe you ‘nough, Doc.”

“I’m not talking about me. I’m talking about those who do owe you.”

Walker thought on this a moment, looked to Annie and then to Christa. “Gonna be a lotta shootin’.”

“There usually is,” Christa replied with a slow nod.

“Might need some heavy explosives.”

“Why John,” she replied with a sulty smile. “I’m a married woman. Get me all hot and bothered with talk like that.”

“You in?”

“Yeah, I’m needing to get some real work done, too,” the RCMP officer replied as she caught sight of John’s hands. The man rubbed his hands through the gloves he wore, his posture not completely hiding a need for more sleep. She got to her feet and made her way over to John Walker.

“Give me your hands, John. No reason for you to go in stiffer than a… well, something,” she finished with a knowing smile as she pulled one glove off and snapped her fingers. The air around her calloused hands warmed as she pressed the man’s tired joints into the palm of her hands and rubbed gently. “Gotta have you in top condition.”

He began to grumble something in reply, but Christa waved him off. “Don’t you start grumbling at me. I got an arrest warrant and a shoebox full of pictures from Tijuana that’ll keep you quiet long enough for me to help you. Besides, I’m almost a doctor.” She finished her quick massage and placed his gloves back in his hands. “Where are we going now, Walker?”

Walker nodded, a small upward turn at the corners of his mouth the only indication of a smile. “An’ by the way, Christa. Thanks fer not arrestin’ us on sight.”

She looked back to her men for a moment, watching them as they carefully detailed and accounted for the scene before looking back to John and whispering. “Six years ago. There was a package that were dropped off at Interpol headquarters. No name, and no address on it. Addressed to me. Information about Illuminati targets and such.” She studied John’s reaction for a moment, smiling as she caught just the slightest look in his eyes. “I should have busted your ass when we walked in here. But that package saved a lotta lives, John. Seems being a daddy’s made you look at the world a different way.”

John said nothing, but nodded in agreement. And so it was, Christa would bring her team. And John had those he could call on. There was Germaine Morgan, an old army buddy from the Persain Gulf. Operative Omega Six, still deep in Illuminati, but his group was close to breaking off and running for cover. He looked to Adams. Maybe the doctor would come too. He’d be helpful.

Walker stood up straight and put the mask back in place. He flexed his hands once or twice and nodded. “Twelve hours. Meet in Palo Duro. From there, we find this place.”

“I’ll have the information out of this one in three,” Christa replied with a smile as she moved back toward her men. “I’ll see you in six, John Walker.”

Walker looked to Annie for a long moment. She was tired, but she knew that this wasn’t over just yet. Besides, he had that feeling she’d follow him to the ends of the earth if need be. His crusade to save his soul, and she’d help him. Six hours would be enough for a rest.

And then the next phase of the battle could begin.