Unlikely Allies

CHAPTER 3: UNLIKELY ALLIES

As Caelan, Mickey and the civilians kept their wits about them as they navigated the dark, leaky tunnels. For a time, they encountered no resistance.

"Bah," Caelan snapped, "This place be crawlin' with rats! Feckin' disease-carryin' fleabags!"

"Don't tell me you're afraid of rodents?" Mickey taunted.

"Aye, just sayin'…We were better off facin' the Slime in me pub!"

Mickey chuckled and shook his head.

"Listen, Caelan," he began, "About the pub…"

"Ye did what ye had to," said Caelan, "I understand."

"Good."

"It's just, I had a lotta memories there, ye know? Me da' opened it two years after he and I emigrated here. Used to spend all me time there as a wee lass. When he died, I was in such financial ruin, I had no choice but to sell it to Big Patty. I didn't want to at first, but…He's done the place well. Though, I'd never admit it to his face."

"Yeah, he's a businessman at heart."

"Aye, and a damn good man. Too bad those diseased dryshites had to come an' make a mess o' things, eh? Where did they even come from? Must've had somethin' to do with all them reports of tainted veggies in the news…"

"Don't matter where they came from. The military will come eventually and take care of 'em. I just gotta find my dad, and you gotta find a place to keep these civvies."

"I could just keep 'em all down here, or…"

Just then, the two heard a noise. Mickey turned to face the civilians with a finger against his mouth to indicate silence. The civilians kept a low profile while Mickey and Caelan moved up ahead to investigate.

"Someone's definitely there," Mickey whispered.

The silence was interrupted by a loud bang. Mickey and Caelan raised their weapons and took cover behind a wall. As they peered around the intersection, they witnessed three armed individuals, one of whom had just blasted a Crawler away.

"Danny?" Mickey called out.

"Mickey?" said Danny.

Mickey and Danny lowered their weapons and embraced each other.

"Am I glad to see you, brother!" Mickey said, "I thought the IRA had gotten ya for sure!"

"Same," said Danny, "When I heard all the shootin' at the docks, I figured the IRA had betrayed us and I immediately set off for O'Hare's. I had assumed the worst for you and Sam so I…Oh God, Mick! I'm so sorry I abandoned you!"

"No," said Mickey, "You did the right thing. At least one of us was gonna make it back to the pub and warn my dad."

"Yeah, well, too bad those slimy bastards showed up and started killin' everyone. Had to abandon my car and retreat down here."

"Damn."

"Is Sam…"

"They got him, Dan."

"Aw, Christ. And Liam?"

"He was in on it. The fuckin' IRA leader was his cousin, goddamnit!"

"Really? Well, in that case, I hope the bastard is dead."

"I don't. I hope he survives and shows his face again, so I that can wrap my hands around his scrawny fuckin' throat!"

"Nice, but save that energy for the Slime, yeah?"

"Sure. Uh, by the way, who are they?"

Mickey turned his attention toward the armed men accompanying Danny. They were sharply dressed and sporting Kippahs.

"Don't tell me you don't recognize our Yiddish friends?" laughed Danny.

"Right," said Mickey, "The Farband."

"Chaim Bohlwinkel," said the leader, "Head of The Farband. You must be Mickey Dolan. I've never met you, but I have dealt with your father for years. This is my attorney, Lev Cohen."

"He calls me his attorney," joked Lev, "I'm really more his bodyguard."

"Pleasure," said Mickey, shaking each of their hands, "What are you two doin' down here?"

"We lost a lotta our men early on in the attack," explained Chaim, "I had some of 'em stationed near New Reiswald Memorial as one of our own had gotten shot and was recovering there. From what my men tell me, dozens of those things came bursting through the door, like some Mongol horde. Don't know if that's where they originated from, but it was the first I heard of 'em."

"There've been a lot of strange happenings in the news as of late," said Mickey, "Guess we all should've paid more attention, huh?"

Chaim scoffed.

"What are the Irish doin' down here?" asked Lev.

"I'm headin' for McCafferty to see if my father's alright," Mickey replied, "Caelan here has a bunch of civvies that she wants to help out."

"So do we," said Chaim, "Except they're in a truck waitin' for us back at the factory. We can squeeze your people onto it, then try to find a way outta this city."

"Sounds like a plan," said Mickey.

"These tunnels don't go all the way to McCafferty, you know," added Lev.

"I know. I'm gonna head as far north as I can, then figure things out from there."

"Well then I should accompany you. It's dangerous goin' out there alone."

"I should go," said Danny, "Mickey and I are pals!"

"Dan," Mickey said, while putting a hand on his shoulder, "I know you wanna help me and my dad, but I'm countin' on you to watch Caelan's back and lend a hand with the civvies. Think you can do that?"

Reluctantly, Danny nodded.

"Alright," said Mickey, "Then it's settled. Let's do this!"

---

At the next intersection, Mickey and Lev said their goodbyes and headed their separate ways.

"Best o' luck to ye," said Caelan, "I mean it, yeah?"

"Thanks," said Mickey, "You too."

"Try not to die on me," joked Danny, "I watched you die once already!"

Mickey chuckled, "See you on the other side."

"Come," said Lev, "If we're gonna reach your father on time, then we better get movin'."

Mickey nodded and joined Lev. The most he could do now was hope his friends would be alright.

"You okay?" Lev asked as the two men navigated the tunnels together.

"I'm fine," Mickey replied, "Just worried about my dad, is all."

"We'll reach him, just you wait and see."

Mickey nodded slowly.

"Would you have preferred your friend Danny to accompany you?" Lev asked.

"Yeah…But I don't think I have it in me to watch another one of my guys die." Mickey replied.

"I see. So, you think they stand a far better chance of survival than we do, eh?"

"You sent your boss in that direction, so yeah. Must be safe."

"You're a sharp man, Mr. Dolan."

"What else do you make at the 'factory'? Besides our guns, of course."

"Narcotics mainly."

"Ah, yes. Guns and narcotics. All to fund the establishment of your little 'Holy Land' am I right?"

"Exactly, my friend."

"When do ya think us Catholics will get our own holy land?"

"You already have one…It's called 'The Vatican'."

"Yeah, smack in the middle of wop country."

"Hey, show some respect! The Italians have proven good business partners."

"If you say so. They've been treatin' my family like shit since both our kinds stepped off the boats. Even turned Roark and his boys against us."

Lev opened his mouth to speak, but instead sighed and shook his head. After almost an hour of walking, they reached a dead-end.

"Nowhere else to go but up," said Lev, pointing to a ladder, "If I'm right, this should lead us to Sota District."

"Alrighty then," said Mickey, "It's now or never."