Fort Care

The gates began to open. Dozens of soldiers came rushing out. Confused looks came over their faces.

“They’re just a bunch of kids.”

“What the hell is this?”

“Who are you?”

Anna Jane looked around. “Is this Fort Davis?” The men talked among each other for a moment. Anna Jane, Logan, and Vivian looked at each other. Heavy footsteps walked up to George.

“You there!” someone yelled. The children looked up. A man in his sixties looked at them. His uniform revealed his rank. Anna Jane pointed to the bridge of her nose.

“Us?” she asked.

“State your reason for coming here,” he said.

“We’re looking for a lost city!” Anna Jane said. The commander gave her a strange look.

“What city?” he asked.

“Chronus!” the little girl said. The men on the ground spoke among themselves.

“At ease!” the commander yelled. The soldiers went quiet. Their commander walked up to George.

“What is this?” he asked.

“George,” Anna Jane said.                   

“What is George?” the old man asked.

“George is George,” the little girl said. The commander had a confused look on his face.

“Huh?” he asked.

“Don’t bother,” Vivian said. “That’s all you’ll get from her about him.”

“Can we come in?” Anna Jane asked. “George is getting hungry.”

“Meep!” the creature said. The soldiers turned to their leader. The commander took a moment to think. Anna Jane watch intently. The commander rubbed his forehead and sighed.

“Fine,” he said. “But you will be checked first.”

“Yay!” Anna Jane said. Vivian rolled her eyes.

---------

One by one, the children were helped off. Anna Jane had her radio and both bears stuffed into her clothes. George whimpered in the background.

“Can you get my friend something to eat?” Anna Jane asked one of the soldiers. He gave her an odd look.

“Okay, I guess,” he said.

“Thank you,” Anna Jane said.                                    

“Right…” the soldier said.

“Is this real?” another solider asked Logan.

“No,” the cowboy said.

“Hm,” the soldier said. He aimed the small handgun towards the desert.

Click.

“Heh,” the soldier said. He handed back Logan’s gun.

“When can we eat?” Vivian asked.

“Just give us a couple of minutes,” another solider said. “You still need clearance.”

“For what?” she asked.

“We are just taking precaution,” he said. Vivian frowned.

“Is it because of George?” she asked.

“Yes,” the soldier said in a low voice. The geisha groaned and rolled her eyes.

“Figures,” she said. The soldier nervously laughed.

The children were granted clearance to come in.

“Can George come in too?” Anna Jane asked.

“Yes,” the commander said.

“Yay!” she cheered. Suddenly, her stomach growled.

“You want something to eat, don’t you?” he asked.

“Yes,” the little girl said. The commander patted her on the head.

“Come with us. We’ll take you to the mess hall,” he said. He led her through the fort. Her friends followed behind. Even George got to come in. The soldiers gave him strange looks. What was this creature? They just had to try and study him.

“Meep!” George squealed. The soldiers looked at each other. What did that creature just say? Many questions swirled in their heads as they followed behind. The gates slid closed.