“If you’re thankful, you just shake a man’s goddamn hand, not offer to molest him, you perverts!” LL cried out. Pulling out another stool, LL sat down with them. “Who do I have to pay for cleaning my clothes?”
“I’m ready to play the trombone,” Arthur offered, and LL narrowed his eyes. “We laid out a stack of new clothes for you.”
Not taking the bait and addressing the trombone comment, “Young man,” LL said, taking a long swig of coffee and giving a contented sigh. “I showered for an hour, and just wanted to let my skin breathe after being trapped under my clothes with the funk.”
“Ever think they may not want to see your ass running around in boxers?” Jason asked.
Before Arthur could answer, “I asked Wendy if she thought anyone would be embarrassed or such,” LL answered. “She said fuck ‘em if they were. Arthur and every boy here runs around in their underwear.”
Very proud of Wendy’s response, “Shit, we have toddlers that hate clothes,” Arthur said. “I’m hoping when they get older I can get undergarments on at the very least, but I’m not going to hold my breath.”
Taking very long sips of his coffee, “You and Samantha rose pretty early,” LL commented, and just held his cup under his nose to inhale the aroma.
“Until last night, the longest I’ve slept since I recovered was six hours since the outbreak,” Jason said, leaning back. “I don’t think my body will let me sleep much more than fifteen hours.”
Resting his mug on his thigh, “You’re tired but you’re okay,” LL told him, then narrowed his eyes. “Samantha is still very tired. She needs to take it easy.”
Scoffing, “Shit, she’s taking a nap today to keep Little Momma off her ass,” Jason rattled off.
Having met Little Momma just before coming outside, “I like that little girl Vicki. She’s got moxie, but bless her heart, she’s too innocent for this world,” LL said, and Arthur nearly fainted.
“How in the fuck could you know that?! You just met her and there’s no way you sat down to talk to her!” Arthur cried out.
Giving a sigh, “Some boy teased another about ‘spanking the monkey’ and Little Momma called out that someone needed to get the monkey, she wanted to see it. Shit, I’m ancient and I know what that means. But bless her little heart, Vicki was just feeding a baby at the end of the table with the most adorable expression. Hell, I’m tempted to jump in the truck and see if I could find a monkey, just so nobody has to tell her what it means,” LL told him.
“You take off to get one, you let me know and I’ll come with ya to find a monkey for Vicki,” Arthur promised, and LL gave a nod.
A serious expression slid over Jason’s face so fast, Arthur wondered if he was mad about something. “LL,” Jason called out, and LL turned to him. “Arthur was just asking about the Heavenly Disciples.”
The way LL groaned, “Hey, I was just asking, since I’ve heard that broadcast crank up before Wendy even got back. If you don’t want to talk about them, that’s fine,” Arthur said, sensing this was a touchy subject.
Shaking his head, “No, Arthur. I wanted LL here when we talked about them to prove I wasn’t showing prejudice or embellishing,” Jason replied.
“Dude, I wouldn’t think that from either of you,” Arthur said.
With a flat expression, “We scouted them for three weeks, Arthur, and at times, thought those who’d seen stuff and reported it were blowing smoke up our asses,” Jason said.
“I’ve seen it, but still can’t believe it,” LL mumbled, looking off.
“So I take it, they could be a problem?” Arthur threw out.
Nodding, LL answered. “Oh, in time they’ll definitely be a problem, but you have put a big target on yourself here, son.”
Shrugging, “Knew I would eventually,” Arthur replied nonchalantly. Surprised by Arthur’s response, LL just stared at him. “The reputation of the Caravan Man does help, but it throws out a challenge to see if other bullies can come and knock me off the playground equipment. They want to see if they’re tougher.”
“Why didn’t you call yourself something else or even a group?” Jason asked.
“I didn’t name myself. The people around here did,” Arthur answered.
Slightly tilting his head to the side, “Now I understand the signs, the posing of bodies, and not wanting a name,” Jason said, clearly impressed. “I’m surprised you didn’t just want to hide in the background.”
“Oh, I did. But I was hauling around kids and tired of fuckers acting like asses,” Arthur said. “The fastest way to stop aggression is with violence of action. Anyone can protect themselves but I wanted everyone to know, I’ll kill you very violently if you even look at me wrong.”
“I’ll say you accomplished your goal,” LL chuckled. “The group that hit us when I first met Jason knew about you, and that was only a week or so after I’d run into Wendy.”
Not liking that his name had spread that fast, that far, “Well, it can’t be helped now,” Arthur sighed.
“Arthur, I talked to folks in New Mexico on my shortwave, and they even asked about the Caravan Man,” LL said, and Arthur just leaned his head back.
“Hauling all the kids with me,” Arthur paused then continued. “It was the best I could come up with, hauling around so many kids. I was terrified to leave them here, in case by some chance a cocksucker showed up,” Arthur explained.
“Hey,” Jason said, making Arthur drop his gaze down. “We aren’t judging, and I think you chose correctly. Trust me, gangs avoid you.”
“Well, I’m still killing them,” Arthur pointed out.
“Not as many as you would be if there wasn’t a ‘Caravan Man’,” LL shot back.
“But back to the Disciples,” Jason said, and Arthur saw LL get a repulsive expression. “The group that hit us that first day, that’s who they were. That was our first encounter with the Disciples.”
LL just nodded. “That’s who engaged Wendy that day.”
A coldness seeped into Arthur’s soul wanting blood. “Oh, really?” he snarled with an evil grin.
Reaching over, LL grabbed Arthur’s forearm. “Son, those were dealt with. Don’t go makin’ trouble if you don’t have to,” LL warned.
“Just how many of these Heavenly Disciples would you guess there are?” Arthur asked in a gruff tone.
With a shrug, “There were too many to count, and people were still pouring in. One day, we saw hundreds come in,” Jason said. “It’s just a conservative guess and it was over a month ago, but at the time, we were putting their numbers over fifteen thousand, and that was just in the main compound. There’s no way to get the numbers of the groups they have spread around gathering followers. When you factor in those, and it’s purely a guesstimation, but we’d put they had at the minimum another five thousand out scouring the land for followers. They control all the Mississippi River crossings from New Orleans to Memphis. Not in the city itself, because rats own Memphis now.”
The snarl left Arthur’s face and was replaced by disbelief. “You’ve got to be shitting me.”
“Now you see why I wanted LL out here,” Jason nodded. “Make no mistake, they’re hostile to any that aren’t them, but you didn’t hear about it until the last month or so on the shortwave. First, it was people who’d escaped ambushes or other gangs. Now, you’re hearing from people who have escaped, but people are still heading toward the radio broadcast.”
“Arthur, that number is very conservative,” LL chimed in. “I’m sure you know, more kids survived this Rudolph than adults. But the numbers we saw pouring in were more adults than kids, and we didn’t know why until we had to skedaddle.”
Throwing out his hand, “Arthur, I can guarantee you their numbers are much larger now, just a month later, and I’m willing to bet nearly doubled,” Jason said. “You just can’t believe the numbers that were coming in by car, walking, on bicycles. Hell, we saw a flotilla going down the Mississippi River to join up with the call of ‘Salvation for the masse
s’, as this preacher says every broadcast.”
“So, you scouted them?” Arthur asked.
“Yes, they started a compound out in the middle of nowhere, but have small groups set up all over central Mississippi and into Alabama. How Samantha and I avoided them was a miracle. We drove within thirty miles of the main compound when we left Alabama,” Jason said with a shiver. “Not everyone traveling they stop is coming to join, but you join or die.”
“Just how big is their main compound?” Arthur cried out.
“Oh, the perimeter fence is nearly forty miles around enclosing, like, sixty-five thousand acres,” LL answered.
Almost sliding out of his chair and hitting the ground, “And you saw this?” Arthur panted in shock.
“We all did,” LL said. “The compound is between De Kalb and Shuqualak, Mississippi. We scouted it over three weeks, and have it outlined on maps with our notes.”
“And they have a wall up?” Arthur asked, trying to wrap his mind around the effort to pull this off in such a short time.
“Your wall is to keep shit out. Theirs is to keep people in, but it also serves to keep out bigger critters,” Jason said. “The wall is made from semi-trailers, shipping containers, and railroad boxcars. I never knew there were that many semi-trailers in America, let alone in two states. My first scouting trip, I concentrated on the wall. Moving along the west side for nine miles, I counted one thousand, one hundred and twelve semi-trailers of different sizes. I’ll never forget that number,” Jason exclaimed. “There were shipping containers also, but the walls are mainly made up of trailers pulled end to end. The bottom gap is boarded up from the outside and dirt is thrown under the trailer before the inside is boarded up.”
From Arthur’s expression, LL could see he was still trying to process what they were telling him. “We scouted around the entire wall, and there wasn’t a single gap we could use to slip in. There are creeks running through, but they set a trailer over the creek and put chain-link fence under it, so a person can’t swim in or out,” LL told him.
Looking from one to the other, “So, they’re just out in the middle of nowhere Mississippi living behind a wall in tents?” Arthur blurted out.
LL replied, “Yes, but they aren’t living in tents. They’re building huge open dorms. Family units aren’t allowed, the preacher says. That’s what caused the wrath of God to descend. People weren’t putting Him first.”
“They even have electricity, but it’s only for the upper echelon, worship, or group areas. The common person is stuck living on a bed in a room with sixty other people. Each person in those dorms gets a dresser the size of a footlocker, and that’s all you have to hold your possessions,” Jason said.
“You fucking went inside a dorm?!” Arthur yelled.
Jason looked over at LL, who just shrugged. “Yeah,” Jason said, turning back to Arthur. “We were scouting them. Each of us went into a dorm, worship area, and even some of the ‘Heavenly Instructors’ rooms. They’re the ones who preach constantly and are just under the ‘Divine Apostle’, that’s the preacher you hear most on the radio broadcasting, calling for everyone to come to the Eden being built.”
Turning away in disgust, “Oh, this is so fucked up,” Arthur moaned.
“Dude, we haven’t got to the bad shit yet,” Jason said, and Arthur jerked his gaze back. “They’re brainwashing those who come. I don’t know if it was this preacher or one of his upper echelon, but they are fucking good when it comes to brainwashing. When you first join, whether you wanted to or not, you’re in classes for days, just listening. The lecturers spout out shit constantly, they never stop talking to let the person think. Any that don’t look like they’re paying attention go to sleep deprivation chambers and let me tell you, those are some fucked in the ass shit. Arthur, they’re breaking people in days. Many are numb after seeing their world gone and are just grasping for anything. The ones who have will are shown special counseling with the lecturers. Sleep deprivation, shock therapy, and psychedelic drugs. I mean everything, from LSD to mescaline. I always thought it would take months to break the average person, but they’re doing it in days.”
“I’m going to be sick,” Arthur said, trying not to heave.
“Son,” LL said, and waited until Arthur looked him in the eyes. “We still haven’t gotten to the bad parts.”
Nearly getting up and walking off, Arthur took a deep breath and then turned to look at Shawn and Kirk still sitting at the table. Both were visibly frightened. “Guys, you’ll say nothing to nobody until we tell the group, understood?” Arthur told them, and both just bobbed their heads slightly in agreement. “Go on,” Arthur sighed, turning back to LL.
“The instructors are next under the preacher. There are over a hundred easy, but even they have rank. Those at the top are called ‘Sovereign Instructor’ and we identified only fourteen of those. Just think of them as the chief mind wipers. Arthur, they just talk and preach constantly. Instructors at the bottom are called ‘Apprentice Instructors’, and they make up the bulk of the instructors. We know there are at least two more ranks, but we never heard anyone address them,” LL continued.
“Next come the soldiers, but they’re called ‘Crusaders’. Like in the past, you can tell because they all wear a red cross. Depending on their rank, that determines the size of the cross. Foot soldiers wear one about four inches big sewn onto their shirt. The woman over the crusaders wears a tunic-like robe that has a red cross three feet big on her chest,” Jason said, and Arthur just blinked. “Yes, woman, and she’s a motherfucking, cold-hearted bitch. I don’t know what that whore did before the outbreak, but she knows her shit when it comes to running an army and starting a fight. Her title is ‘Prime Crusader’.”
“Shit,” LL scoffed. “I would still rather be with her than Sovereign Instructor Eve.”
Rolling his eyes, “I would rather have needles pushed through my balls than have to be in a class Eve was teaching,” Jason declared.
Shifting in his chair uncomfortably, “Fuck,” Arthur gasped. “So, did either of you see this preacher?”
“I saw him once, but he was out of range,” Jason said, startling Arthur. “Yes, if he had been in range, I would’ve shot his ass. My hope would be the underlings would splinter off to fight each other.”
“Oh, I so would’ve kicked your ass,” LL mumbled.
Not paying LL any attention, “But Samantha saw him three times. She was in range once but knew there was no way she could escape, and she didn’t want to leave LL and me to take care of the kids.”
“Whoa, you all went to scout? With the kids?” Arthur asked.
“Arthur,” LL said. “That day after we’d met, the area was flooded with crusaders. We knew they were looking for us because we’d killed a whole slew of them and had talked to some before they’d died.”
With an impressed nod, “Surprised you could get someone that was indoctrinated like that to even talk,” Arthur pondered.
Fidgeting with his hands, “Well, a propane torch brings compliance fairly quickly when you’re pressed for time and don’t really feel like talking that much to the subject,” Jason confessed.
After a moment’s reflection, Arthur nodded. “Yeah, that would do the trick.”
Grinning at Jason, “Oh, the doctor can make people talk,” LL chuckled. “But, continuing. My house was in a National Forest and if you didn’t know where it was, you weren’t finding it. But over the next few weeks, the odds started getting higher these crusaders would just stumble upon us, so we decided to check them out. We had asked about numbers from those left behind, but all they ever said was ‘A lot’. Thinking we could punch a few holes and get the group to back off, we went to scout. Loading up in the Suburban and van we took off. Moving slowly and carefully, it took us two days to get there, but we set up three miles away off an old logging trail in a ravine. After some objections, I went scouting first,” LL said, and Jason flipped him off.
Ignoring Jason, LL continued. “I s
nuck off that night and had no trouble finding them. When I saw that wall, I nearly passed out because I was on a hill half a mile away and it just went on and on. Knowing we weren’t going to do anything to let them know we were there, I continued and climbed over the wall. Moving about, I didn’t think that many people had survived, so I just started counting. It was an hour before dawn when I headed back and had counted over three thousand, and hadn’t even made it two miles inside the compound.”
Shifting his butt in the seat, “When I got back and told them, we all agreed to still check them out,” LL explained. “Each night, two would go out to scout while the other stayed with the kids, and we would rotate who stayed each night. Thankfully by now, all the babies were sleeping through the night. But I knew if any of us were caught, it would be only a matter of time before they made us talk. So we carried radios to call out if we could before being taken,” LL paused, appearing uncomfortable. “But those scouting couldn’t stay out more than six hours and if they didn’t return, the others were to pull out. We set up an alternate spot to meet up, just in case someone had to hunker down but after that, they were to leave before the one that’d gotten caught gave up anything. We were certain the questioning wouldn’t have started for a few hours until a commander showed up. Everyone thought they could hold out for an hour or two before breaking, knowing if they didn’t, the others and the kids would probably die.”
Liking the planning and thought put out, all Arthur could do was give an impressed nod of approval as LL finished his mug off. Wiping his mouth off, “That’s how we operated for twenty-three days straight, and every day we saw a new horror. Crucifixions, burning people at the stake, I mean some medieval shit,” LL shivered. “We got to see them hit a convoy of survivors who weren’t wanting to join up and ‘be saved to start the race over as God meant it to be’,” LL quoted the babble spouted by the instructors.
“Seven trucks loaded with folks heading west was stopped at a roadblock and quickly boxed in. When they didn’t get out, a hundred kids, ranging from five to twelve, surrounded the group and behind the kids were crusaders, using them as shields. Those in the trucks had some serious firepower, but never fired a shot and were just taken in. We saw that again before we crossed into Tennessee at a farm where a group was at. Like before, the group never fired and were taken in.”
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