The Ungovernable (The Borrowed World #7)

by Franklin Horton

When Boss saw his own hand dropping away from his body, severed at the wrist, he knew he had to act fast or he was a dead man. He was already groping for the tourniquet on his belt as he rolled from the icy steel decking. He plunged into the dark, icy water with a heart-seizing abruptness. In his multifaceted career, Boss had taken the Army’s Combat Water Survival Training. He’d also taken cold weather training with the Norwegian Army, which had required jumping through a hole cut in a frozen lake.

Ya see? I knew he'd be back. Ugh. This guy's gonna cause all kinds of trouble now.

"I don't get it," Jim grumbled, shaking his head. "You'd think the people that know what really happened would be aware this was sensitive information. They should know not to talk about it.”

I mean you could just educate them Jim. You're creating enemies now.

If we accept surrender, you can’t back up and change your mind. Once your rights are gone, you don’t get them back.”

I mean, he's got a point

It was an interesting way to think of it, that the light wasn’t reaching Jim anymore. It was an apt description of the darkness that ruled his personality lately. Gone was the sarcastic smartass, gone was the joking. Jim was angry. He was a smoldering firework that had not yet exploded but everyone was afraid to get close to.

I agree. Dude's teetering on the Dark Side.

Gary’s family didn’t know it but it was not their weapons, their clothing, or anything of that manner. What gave the vendors pause was the direction from which these newcomers arrived. From the direction of the valley. Rarely did anyone come from that direction. Most of the vendors at this market were townspeople, as were those who came to trade with them.

Watch them not trade with you guys now. You've been contaminated by associating with Jim. Careful!

The man with the shotgun was backpedaling when Jim swung toward him. He pulled off one round, then another. The man was half-running, half-falling, and Jim couldn’t track him fast enough. Rounds pinged off brick and concrete on all sides of him, then he was around the corner and gone.

There goes any chance for civility once that guy informs the town. But at least he saved Will.

I’ll be damned if I’m going to leave weapons and ammo that can be used against me the next time I come into town."

Why would there even be a next time, Jim? Honestly?

“I knew this was going to happen,” Nana said. “I told you it was ridiculous to choose keeping your guns over getting the power back. I’m afraid most of the town is going to feel the same way as me.” Jim gritted his teeth. Respect your mother and father, he reminded himself.

She's got a point, though perhaps not the ideal one. There are too many people who'd gladly give up their guns (and freedom) for comfort, so long as they're told that's what they'll be getting.

As far as Jim knew, there wasn't a person among them who felt that giving up freedom for electricity was a good idea. It was a classic socialist trap. If you let the government take care of you, they’ll make sure you have everything the person beside you has. The only problem was that the system never worked out.

Truth hurts.

The end result was always oppression and tyranny. If they surrendered the tools by which they could fight back, then they had no chance. If they handed over their guns and their freedom, the government would take their spirit next. Then there would be nothing left. They would have become soulless vessels at the end of a government feeding tube, completely at the mercy of whoever was changing the bag.

So true. Bitter pill to swallow.

What had he done to them? What had he done to them all?

You're making decisions for everyone, Jim. You may be right in principle, but people still have their own free will to make choices of their own, no matter how foolish. Taking those choices away makes you their enemy,

It was hard to avoid the awareness that what he saw as a stand for freedom had possibly screwed him and his neighbors good.

The sad truth. People don't see freedom the same way,

With his rifle at the ready, Jim moved alongside his friend. "This is a disturbing sight, Hugh.” “Had I realized that some of these men had dispensed with the practice of wearing underwear, I might have chosen a different approach. My intention wasn’t just for my safety, but to add insult to injury.” “It’s my eyes being injured,” Jim remarked.

Lol gotta appreciate some levity

It was coming from his valley. Someone was shooting at his people. "That's Brady," said the spokesman for the group, turning around to reveal a broad grin.

Crap. These guys were frickin' bait!

"Fine, I got this," Lloyd said. He didn’t mean it. When he got killed, he hoped they lost some sleep over it. It would serve them right.

Awww come on, Lloyd, think positive.

"It has to be that bastard Fred Wimmer," Jim growled. "He’s pissed at me over what happened at that meeting. He's ratting us all out. He’s going to get someone killed unless I get to him first."

That's my theory too. That dude's trouble.

Jim couldn't tell if the distress in Lloyd’s voice was real or just his regular drama. “We got Randi on the way. She's old and it takes her a while." "I'll make sure and pass that on," Lloyd said. “It would be a shame for you to survive this attack only to be killed by your own medic because you couldn’t stop running that mouth.”

Lol he speaks truth

"Any casualties down there?" Bird asked. Hugh chuckled. "You know that old expression about not killing the messenger?" Bird nodded. "Jim kills the messenger," Hugh said. "Good to know," Bird replied. "If I’ve got bad news, I'm sending Lloyd." "Way to ease the spirits of a dying man," Lloyd groused.

Lol awww

IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE CHILD ALIVE JIM POWELL MUST SURRENDER HIMSELF TO US AT NOON TOMORROW IN FRONT OF THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE

Damn I didn't see that coming

Charlotte’s face collided with his head. She felt her nose burst and the warmth of her own blood running across her mouth and down her throat. It didn’t matter because she was where she wanted to be. She threw her left arm around his neck as they tumbled and pulled him to her as tight as she'd ever hugged someone she loved, keeping him from pulling away to fight back. She held him close enough that she could plunge the knife into his back over and over again.

Never stand in the way of Mama bears!

Three bearded men. Men who must have been waiting on the kidnapper to reach them with his victim. Two of them she’d never seen before. One she knew. Fred Wimmer.

Ohhh man that jerk! I knew it!

She drew her handgun and aimed around the tree. Fred Wimmer would die first. She pulled off a shot and hit him. He dropped and screamed, clutching his stomach.

Heck yeah

“You would steal a child to get rid of Jim?” He met her eyes, his expression sincere. “Without a second thought.” The boom of the pistol sounded so much louder than any of the other shots, isolated as it was from the chaos of battle.

Ooph he had it coming

“You sound like my wife,” Jim said. “Smart and good-looking?” “I was leaning more toward bossy.” “If you’d learn your place we’d have less to be bossy about. Now where are you going?” "I'm not ready to say," Jim replied. "Bullshit. You wouldn't let any of us by with an excuse like that." "Randi, I’m pretty sure it's against FCC regulations to use the word ‘shit’ on the radio.” “Oh, so Mr. Fuck The Rules is all about following the rules now? How convenient."

Lol I just LOOOOVE Randi.

"Well, you’re a froggy bastard, aren’t you? I’ve made it pretty clear I don’t approve of your techniques and you still got the nerve to ask me for something."

Lol what the heck's a froggy bastard?

"Go ahead. Shoot," the sheriff replied. Then in a moment of mock panic he threw his arms up in surrender. “Oh, I’m sorry. Probably a bad choice of words to use ‘shoot’ in your presence."

Lol he's got jokes

"No." Jim was shocked. “No? Seriously?” "You heard me right. I'm not doing it. I lost my job, my friends, and I lost my mother. I pretty much lost my county, and who knows how many citizens I lost? I'm not putting myself at any more risk for you. When you asked me to come out here, I could see a benefit in keeping the peace. I thought it would help keep people alive. It didn’t work. Now, I don’t see any more value in helping you out. I know this sounds harsh but the longer you live, the more people are going to die."

Sigh. I don't really blame him though. A lot of people have died on account of Jim's decisions.

Ideally, he would put on a good show, board a chopper, and be dropped off close to home, but things tended to go the other way where he was concerned.

You're like a magnet for trouble, Jim. This is absolutely gonna go wrong.

Jim descended the stairs and asked who it was. "It's the plumber, I’ve come to fix the sink," Hugh deadpanned. Jim unlocked the door, let Hugh in, and locked it behind him. “You really need to work on your jokes, Hugh. You’d think hanging with Randi and Lloyd would be rubbing off on you but it hasn’t. Your material is dated.” “I’ll move that to the top of my list. Should I put it above saving your ass or just below?”

Lol keep the humor alive, men.

Also, the whole operation needed to take place before the true issuer of the bounty arrived.

But how would they even know the time? You wouldn't know! Ugh watch Boss arrive first anyway. This is gonna bad.

“Those are kindergarten level special-effects,” Lloyd said. “You think they’ll fool anyone?”

I agree. They need to rough him up for real.

“Somebody just said something about landing at the fifty yard line,” Davis relayed.

Omg just GREAT. See I freaking KNEW this was gonna happen. Boss is gonna arrive first now.

"Then tell Scott to get down here now," Randi said. "He needs to land before they get here."

Ugh no they're gonna get him killed. Boss will fire the damn missiles! Ugh but they wouldn't know that, would they? UGHH.

There was a barrage of gunfire and Hugh felt rounds impact his back. The force of the rounds knocked him off his feet and he tumbled into the weeds.

Omg please tell me he's vested

Boss swung the M240D back onto the hovering chopper and hit the trigger. The chopper was around two hundred feet off the ground and broadside to Boss’s weapon. His first barrage was targeted at the engine compartment. The chopper jolted, then swung erratically, smoke pouring from it.

Ugh dammit! NO!

Worst of all, they’d gambled on their timing, thinking they’d beat the other chopper, and they’d lost. That cost Scott his life.

Omg this absolutely pisses me off so MUCH. I liked Scott! What a stupid, STUPID gamble you guys made.

“Run!” screamed a familiar voice. It was Hugh and Jim obeyed.

Yes! Hugh!

“Take us up!” Boss yelled at the pilots. He holstered his weapon and shoved Jim against the wall. He clipped a tether onto the front of his web gear. With Jim’s hands cuffed behind him there would be no way for him to unfasten it. “I said take us up!” Boss repeated when the chopper didn’t move.

Omg yes. The pilots. They're Jim's only hope. Will they refuse?

These were not his pilots, and they had weapons leveled on him.

Omg what!!!! Jim's people?? How? When? YES!

Boss managed to get out a “NOOOOOO!” as he swung his handgun on Hugh but there was not enough time. Hugh pressed the trigger. Boss’s body thrashed as the rounds ate him alive.

Finallyyyyyyyyy

Lloyd stood behind two blindfolded and bound men, holding them at gunpoint. Their uniforms identified them as the pilots of the chopper. Hugh leaned close and shouted into Jim’s ear. “Our ride home!”

Thank goodness. I'm still pissed and sad about Scott tho. What an absolute tragic WASTE of him, his team, and the chopper. Sigh.

“I recognize that guy. He’s the one I fought with on the catwalk. I cut off his hand when he was fighting with your friend.” Jim gestured at his wounds, the blood, his banged up face. “All this should have been for you?” Hugh grinned. “I wasn’t careless enough to get my picture taken.” “Then maybe it is over.”

No. Now watch Scott's people retaliate. Oyyy.