| At this juncture, a hefty Oriental-Polynesian man dressed in striped shorts, rubber slippers and a dark windbreaker, got out of the passenger side of the van. Casually he looked around, then ambled up the five steps to the small side landing. The back of his windbreaker advertised a local tire distributor. A pistol in a holster could be seen when the wind whipped up the unzippered windbreaker. He knocked several times on the door frame. The camera's condenser mike barely picked up the sound over the4 steady wind noise. Getting no reply, the hefty visitor waved towards the van and another man, hefty too and blond, got out of the driver's side carrying a short metal bar and a rifle. He quickly used the bar to shatter the door's window, then reached in to twist the dead bolt's knob and open the door. "Bastards!" muttered Eric. "They're looters!" "Well, we expected as much," Cheryl said seeking to calm her husband. She gently took his hand. "Let them loot all they want. We have everything we need here and they may not live to enjoy their loot." "Just in case they do, i think we should be able to identify them," Eric suggested tersely. "What's the license number?" "I think it's 953-ABS, Daddy," Kawena offered after scrutinizing the screen. The others agreed. As they continued to watch the side door, they were surprised to see two more people get out of the van from the side door. First out was a wiry, long-haired haole wearing jeans and a cutoff sweatshirt. In-tow was a well tanned girl in shorts and tee shirt. She was obviously dishelveled and it became apparent that her hands were tied behind her. Maile gasped. "What is it honey?" Cheryl asked as she cupped both hands over her daughter's shoulders. "That's Tammy Wilkerson!" She's in my psych class. What are they doing to her Daddy?" "I don't know, but it doesn't look good. Auwe! he's got a revolver too!" As they watched, the haole pulled Tammy's head back by her hair while at the same time slipping a hand underneath the front of her tee shirt. Obvious terror and disgust carved Tammy's face. Her tormentor continued his molestation even as the first man out of the van carried out their twenty-one inch Sony and his pertner lugged out the amp and tape deck of their stereo. Another trip into the house saw the computer system being taken. Tammy could be heard begging to be released. The haole laughed, suggesting instead that she relax and enjoy his company. "Can't we do something?" Maile pleaded. "Daddy?" "I don't know They're all armed." "But Tammy...." "Look, if there were better odds...I'd love to kill that scum, but I've got to think of all of us. What if I can't get them all and they bring back friends? It's too risky." "Eric!" Cheryl's hushed voice called her husband's attention back to the screen Tammy's tee shirt had been slipped over her head and down her arms to the point where they were bound. The haole then took a small folding knife, slipped the blade into the shallow cleavage and cut the material joining the two cups with a quick slice. The separate halves were also pushed down her arms. The first man, who clearly seemed to be the leader, leaned against the porch railing rapidly swallowing the contents of a can of Coke, laughing between swallows as both of his partners now played their game of abuse. Maile graoned and looked away from the screen. Kawena's face was frozen with horror. "Daddy," Maile whispered hoarsely, can't we just kill them fast? If Tammy is contaminated, we don't have to take her in. Please just shoot the men!" Eric didn't answer. Inside he seethed. Quickly he scanned the weapons collection on the adjacent wall. Locked in a rack were two twelve gauge pump action shotguns, and air rifle, and an old Springfield 30.06 with a scope. Two identical cases on a shelf beneath the racj held matching twenty-two semi-automatic pistols. He weighed the possibility of killing all three. If he couldn't get all of them, he would put his family's existence at rusk. Surprise would be an ally, but he doubted he could get all three, even though he he was skillfull with a weapon. The risks outweighed the advantages for his family and his family came first. Shaking his head with his eyes closed, he said, "I'm sorry honey. It's too risky." The leader had now come down from his perch and with ease swung Tammy up, drapinge her head down over his shoulder. As he started to carry her towards the house, both the other men oulled off her two tone shorts and finally her panties. Then they were inside. The camera's microphone could pick up snatches of sound, but it was difficult to distinguish between the laughter and the hysteria. "Cheryl, get me some throwaways!" Eric ordered meansurely as he went to the weapons rack. "Eric?" "Maybe I can surprise them in the house while they're distracted," he explained as he took spare clips for the pistols. When he had half a dozen, he unlocked the two pistol cases and removed both dull black twenty-twos. Although not his most powefful weapons, they would probably be the best bet for the confining spaces of the house. There would be less risk of accidently hitting Tammy too. A scream came distinctly through the television speaker. "Daddy, are you going out?" Maile asked as she watched her father prepare. "I'm going to try. I want you to load both shotguns and have them ready in here just in case. If I can't do something quickly and with surprise, I'm coming back. Five minutes are all I'm allowing myself. Even if I get her, Tammy maybe contaminated." "I know, Daddy. I... Those men disgust me. God they're perverts! I just want Tammy to know we tried. We could let her wash in trhe corridor and giver her new clothing and some food so she'd have a chance." "We'll see what we can do," Eric offered as he began to dress in what appeared to be second-hand clothes. "HEY! Here comes Tammy!" Kawena shouted excitedly. The others were immediately drawn to the small screen. "Tammy. It was Tammy. She ran towards....Oh no, here come the others!" Whooping and hollering, her abusers piled out of the back door in hot pursuit. They disappeared off screen in a matter of seconds, leaving the Paynes in suspense as to what was haooening above ground. Meanwhile, Eric continued his preparations. Not unti lseveral minues later did all four participants in the sordid screen play reappear. Tammy was being towed, sobbing and bleeding, by her hair Maile screamed, but Cheryl quickly clamped her hand over her daughter's mouth, stifling some of the outburst. Those outside made no sign of havine heard as they hauled Tammy back into the house. "I'm ready." "Be careful," Cheryl cautioned, putting a hand on her husband's shoulder. "I will," Eric reassured them all. For the first time since they had entered the shelter, one of them was going outside. Eric luncloked the inner door and stepped into the exit passageway. It was only four feet long. Cheryl locked the door behind him. She had hardly finished doing this when both girls loudly announced that the men were leaving the house and getting into the van. Cheryl immediateley reopened the inner door and warned Eric to wait. The van quickly pulled out of the crushed stone driveway. "They're going!" Kawena whispered loudly and excitedly. |