by S A Ison
“I agree, but I think we should load him up later and drive him farther away. I don’t want to smell that stench. My god, right in our own front yard, watching us.” Harry said, shaking his head.
“I think that is an unusual occurrence, I think he just stank so badly, not like human or animal, the dogs didn’t know what it was and he’d had been here so long, they became nose deaf maybe.” Clay suggested.
“I’s sho nuff hope so, I’s hates ta think they’d be more of that thar kind around.” Earl said, setting Monroe down, who went over to sit by Brian, the child accepting licks to his face from the dog.
“I hate to say it, but that may be exactly what we get. People are starving, especially if they’d not put anything aside, or hoped the government would come to help.” Harry said.
“I am afraid to say it, but you’re probably right Harry. There is no telling where he came from, maybe Lexington, maybe from farther out.” Katie said, shaking her head.
Marilyn came back out in clean clothing. She’d washed her face and upper body. She paused, looking at her son. Harry was once more reminded how close he came to shooting her. It shook him to his core. He’d never wanted to experience that fear and uncertainty again.
“I’d say we might want to put some kind of alarm system around the garden, looks like he was in it. Maybe we can tie Charley out there at night, instead of him sleeping in the house.” Willene said, eyeing the dog.
“Yeah, make him earn his dinner.” Harry laughed, though it wasn’t much of a laugh, he felt sick to his stomach at the near tragedy.
“Good idea, because all someone has to do is make sure we’re on the other side of the property, then sneak into the garden and steal from us.” Marilyn said sitting down beside Harry. He reached over and squeezed her and she smiled up at him reassuringly. Monroe came back over to her and she hugged and kissed him. He then returned back to the dog.
“I’s spect we need ta build a couple more fox holes.” Boggy suggested.
“Tamara, I’s u’ll dig two more, and use the door from them thar cars.” Earl volunteered.
“I’ll go finish dinner, we’re having chicken stew. I’ve also made cornbread, though I’ll warn you now, it is a little burnt around the edges. Willene said.
“I like burnt. I’ll also pluck the turkey after dinner.” Said Clay and grinned.
“I think I will draw up plans for a dog house for Charley, I’ll make it tomorrow and put it by the garden. That will be his new duty station until all the crops are in.” Harry said, his eyes narrowing in on the dog.
֎
It was dark, the clouds obliterating the moon and stars. Monroe was tucked up in his bed, sound asleep and seemed to have shaken off the fear of earlier that afternoon. Harry sat smoking his pipe, he was in the swing with Marilyn. Boggy was on patrol, and had started going into the tree line, deeper with the NVGs.
He and Clay had gone to retrieve the dead man earlier. They’d driven five miles and found a suitable spot to dump the body. It was rank and Harry was loathed to touch him. Willene had given him and Clay rubber gloves to handle the dead man. He was glad. Thinking about it made him shiver.
Katie and Clay were talking quietly in the glider and Earl was sitting on the edge of the porch beside Willene. They were talking about high school and Harry heard them laugh a few times. He grinned when he saw Earl smile.
Just before dinner, he’d presented Earl with his grandfather’s false teeth. With all the hell that had broken loose, he’d almost forgotten. He and Willene had modified them, taking a small fine blade saw and cutting down on the farther back portion, taking it off. Earl still had most of his molars. He was missing all of his front teeth, which had been kicked out by his ex-friend, Hobo. He’d also lost a few in a mining accident years ago, but Hobo had kindly finished the job.
Once his gums had healed, Willene had informed Harry, she’d wanted to modify their grandfather’s dentures.
“I’m not sure it will even work, but if we can cut the back portion off and file and buff it down until it is smooth, I think Earl might be able to wear them. They had roughly the same jaw structure and size.” She’d said.
Once they’d reduced the size, Harry had taken sand paper and had sanded the rough edges smooth, then had buffed them, both the lower and upper dentures. They had boiled water and put them in it, until they were slightly flexible. He had filed and buffed again until they were completely smooth.
Just before dinner, Harry had pulled Earl aside and showed him the dentures. Earl stared at them, then looked at Harry, puzzled.
“Willene thinks you’d be able to wear these. We’ve cut them down and I think they may fit you. If they are too tight or too loose, we can boil them and maybe do more adjustments. They’ve been sterilized too.” Harry said, shrugging and turning red. He hadn’t been sure he’d maybe stepped over the line.
“Well, sure, I’s u’ll give it a try.” He said and took the dentures and fitting first the lower set. He moved his jaw around experimentally. His eye brows going up. “I’sh shink thatsh fish ood.” He grinned with the bottom teeth showing.
He fit the uppers in and shifted them back and forth a bit, then chomped a few times and grinned with a perfect set of teeth, he ran to the bathroom and looked in the mirror. He turned and grinned at Harry, tears in his eyes.
“I’sh fergit whash itsh like ta hasj teesh.” Earl said and wiped his eyes.
“There is plenty of Fixodent in the cupboard in the main bathroom. Willene said not to wear them too long or you’ll get blisters, but let your gums toughen up over time.” Harry said, his throat thick with emotion. It had never occurred to him to give him his grandfather’s dentures, yet Willene had thought of it when Earl had come back to the house with all his front teeth missing.
“I’sh shay, I’sh a hanshum devil.” Earl grinned once more at himself in the mirror, and both men headed down to dinner. Everyone stopped and looked and made a big fuss of how wonderful he looked.
“You’uns a juss got handsomer.” Boggy grinned good-naturedly. Causing everyone to laugh and slap Earl on the back.
Earl seemed to be more animated now, and Willene was laughing and nodding. He saw Willene bump the man with her shoulder. Her shoulders going up and down as they laughed.
He was about to ask Marilyn about Monroe, when everyone paused in talking. In the distance, they saw a glow and knew headlights were heading their way. The glow moved and then came around a curve. They waited to see if it would pass. It got up to the barricade and began to slow down but went past. It stopped some ways up the road and they heard the engine stop.
“Maybe that’s Alan.” Marilyn whispered softly.
“I hope so, I’ve been wanting to know what is going on.” Harry said, just as softly.
Everyone waited silently and they saw a wavering light coming back up the road. Someone was walking back. Then they saw the light flicker wildly through the barricade and then someone popped through.
The person pointed the flashlight at his face, it was Alan and he had his eyes squinted shut and waved. Then he made his way up the hill. Harry laughed and got up, exhaling. He’d held his breath until he knew it was the boy. He heard Clay exhale and smiled. He wasn’t the only one.
Alan climbed up the steps to the porch and Willene walked over and gave him a hug. “Are you hungry honey?” she asked.
“I’s could eat.” He said grinning and she laughed and went into the darkened house.
Katie gave him a hug as well and he grinned broadly and then Marilyn gave him a hug as well. Harry told him to take a seat.
“How have you been Alan, we’ve been wondering and worried for you. How is your grandfather?” Harry asked.
“We’s good, an Pop Pop is causin lotssa trouble.” Alan laughed. Harry smiled, it was good to hear the boy laugh, especially after the last encounter.
“What’s your grandfather up to?” Harry asked, grinning.
“He an his old buddies, mos is ex-miltary, been shoot
in them KKK boys. Pickin em off. That thar mayor, or presdent is maddern a wet hen bout it.” He laughed and everyone joined in.
Willene came out with a bowl of chicken stew and a chunk of cornbread and some sweet tea. Marilyn got up and got a folding TV tray and set in front of the boy. Willene set the food and drink on it and then sat back down. Everyone waited for a few minutes until Alan had taken a few bites and then came up for air. Harry grinned in the dark, teens were perpetually hungry, especially now.
“That is great news. Did he ever get in touch with my cousin Boney?” Clay asked.
“Oh sure, an they’s good friends. Eben tho Boney’s marine and Pop Pop is army, but they’uns pick on Mr. Sherman Collins on count he’s navy.” Alan laughed.
Clay laughed as well, “Hey now, I was navy.”
Harry laughed, “Swabby.” He said good naturedly.
Everyone laughed and then they heard Boggy coming in and he came up onto the porch. He went to Alan and shook the young man’s hand. “Hows ya been?” Boggy asked.
“I’s been good, n you’uns?” Alan asked.
“I’s spect I’ll do.” Boggy grinned, and went to sit on the edge of the porch by Willene and Earl.
“I’s come ta letcha knowed that they’s a gitten them yougn’uns otta the coal mine. They’s a smugglin them out an taken em ta the Friedhof’s farm. Mrs. Mary Deets, she done be pregnant, they done did got her out. They’s a scerd she’s gonna lose that young’un.” He said, taking another bite of stew and cornbread, then washed them down with the sweet tea.
“Oh, thank god, at least the children will be out of there.” Willene said.
“Mary Deets was in the coal mine? Where’s her husband, Howard?” Clay asked, sitting forward.
“I’s sorry ta say Clay, that sheriff done did kilt Officer Deets on that thar first day. Then they done did throwed his wife in the mine.” Alan said softly, sadness in his voice.
Clay made a choking noise and Katie placed her arm around his shoulders. “Howard was a good man, a real good man. Is Mary and the baby okay?” Clay asked, his voice choked with emotion.
“She is now, that thar Jutta done did shaked the hell otta them boys, said she’d guttem iffin they’d telled Mary was there liven. They ain’t said a peep.” Alan said with satisfaction.
“I’s heared that Jutta done did broke some woman’s legs fir look’n at Gerhard.” Earl said.
“I’m so sorry Clay, we’d not gotten word of who was killed and who was put in the mine.” Willene said, sorrow heavy in her voice.
“I’m sorry as well Clay. I am glad to hear his wife is safe now. That is some good news about the unrest with Audrey’s men. It means that some of the men aren’t hard line behind Audrey and Yates.” Harry said.
Clay smiled and nodded, his face drawn with sorrow. He got up and left the porch. Harry thought perhaps he needed some time alone to grieve for his friend. He saw that Katie was watching him, concern on her face.
“I’s thanks that them folks is relizen, mayor ain’t gonna share no vittles. I’s thank they’s a gitten mad. I heared Mrs. Jutta knocked the woman’s teeth out an pult all her hair out.” Alan said, a smile on his homely face, his big ears sticking out like standards.
“That’s the best news I’ve heard in a while. I’ve heard Jutta broke both the woman’s arms.” Marilyn said.
“Now, if your grandfather and his friends can stir up the hornets’ nest a little more, I think we might well have a chance at turning the tide. And no, Jutta ran over a woman for smacking her kid, she only clipped the woman I believe. They didn’t arrest her though.” Harry grinned.
Everyone breathed a collective “ooohhhhhh.” Harry was sure the whole town had some explanation for what happened with Jutta. He was sure they were all wrong.
“Old Andy had a heart attack I’s thank. I was behind him when his truck hit a tree. I’s check and he was stone dead. Had boxes o food ta the back of the truck. I’d took it, and givin it ta folks that need it.” Alan smiled.
Earl laughed and shook his head. “Lil by little, that mayor gonna learn a hard lesson.”
“The mayor and the sheriff need a swift kick in the ass.” Willene said.
“They need a bullet, right between their eyes.” Clay said stonily. He’d come back around to the porch, and stood in the dark. The group grew quiet and Alan’s eating was the only sound in the night.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Bella May was in her kitchen, she was peeling potatoes for some nice stew. She softly hummed under her breath. She had already cleaned some carrots from the garden. She was pleased that her garden was doing great, it certainly made for tastier meals. She’d also canned some of the potatoes, beans, tomatoes and carrots as well as some of the meat. She had zucchini that was out back, she was dehydrating them into chips. She’d set up an old window, then she had angled it so it would receive the most sunlight during the day.
She set the zucchini slices on a screen she’d scrubbed clean. She was also trying to do the green beans, tomato slices as well. She had to think of long-term food now. Thank goodness she had Hobo, what a godsend. She was wiping her hands on her apron when she heard a loud knock at her door. She looked over to the basement door, it was shut. Once more she thanked her forethought years ago. The basement was sound proof, and again, she’d badgered her husband to get it done. She laughed and shook her head. If it wasn’t for her pushing so hard for what she wanted, she’d have shoddy work.
Going to the front door, she opened it, and found a short police officer standing before her. Her heart slammed into her chest. She stared at him blankly and he stepped in rudely, pushing her aside roughly. The man walked around, looking at the fallen hutch. Then he walked into the kitchen. “You got food here. You got more of this?” he said brusquely.
“What? What do you mean officer? Are you hungry?” She asked, her green eyes large and innocent looking. She didn’t let the rage show from his arrogance and obnoxious behavior.
“I’m askin if you got more food? I’m here ta confiscate it on orders from the President. And ta also ask iffin you’d heard about someone shooting our people.” He said, his mouth turned down, his brown eyes narrowing. She thought they looked like shit brown.
“Why’s the President want my food, don’t they got food in Washington?” she asked, confused.
“Stupid woman, President Audrey.” He said, his anger and impatience beginning to show.
“I thought he was the mayor.” She said simply.
“Shut the hell up woman and show me where you keep your food.” He said, pointing a finger at her.
“Of course, Officer Smalls.” She said, looking at his name tag. She pointed to the basement door, “Most of my food is in the basement, it is cooler down there. You can take as much as you need officer.” She said kindly.
He nodded shortly and shoved past her, causing her to stumble back and went to the door of the basement and opened it. Smalls turned his head to say something, when Bella May shoved the man between his shoulders as hard as she could. Smalls was launched into the air and fell like a stone, bouncing on the stairs, screaming and then went silent. Bella May smiled broadly.
“Make yourself comfortable peckerwood, I’ll be right back.” She said and laughed, and turned closing the door.
She went to the front door and looked out. There was a lone horse tethered to her mail box. She walked to the horse and untied the reigns and smacked the horse on the rump and sent it running away. She smiled, watching it go and turned, humming, and went back into her house.
She got her solar lantern and made her way down stairs. She saw the officer laying on the floor, one foot still on the step. He was bleeding from his head. She went back upstairs and got one of her heavy oak chairs. Then she went to the garage and got several lengths of chain. She went back and forth until she had all she needed.
She pulled the heavy chair over and used her battery-operated drill with a tipped hole cutter. Then she changed and used her jigsaw to cut a la
rger hole. She pushed hard, she could tell the battery was beginning to lose its strength. It would be a hard task once the jigsaw lost power. She sighed in relief when a good size chunk fell. She’d have to do another chair later, before the battery died completely. Just in case she had another visitor. She sniggered to herself.
She placed a five-gallon bucket below and then went to the unconscious man. She looked up at Hobo, who had been quiet all along.
“You have a friend, some company.” She grinned.
Hobo said nothing, he looked at his right side, one arm missing, up to his shoulder. He looked to the left, only his upper arm was still there. He looked over at the smaller man. A smile quaked on his thin lips. Bella May laughed and began to undress the man. She then tied ropes under him and used the pully and crank to haul him up into the chair. He slipped and slid but she managed to get him into place. She then began to chain him to the steel support beam.
She tugged and grunted, pulling it tight. She secured his arms next, she brought out her handy duct tape. She pulled a bit and taped his upper arms and then forearms and then chained those as well. Next, she chained his thighs, legs and ankles. She also taped his penis, pointing down into the bucket. Satisfied he was well secured, she turned and went back upstairs. She heard Hobo laughing and shook her head.
She came back down with her pot of vegetables, she looked over at Hobo who’d stopped laughing at her decent into the basement. She brought over the wooden stool and placed it under the man’s hand. Then she put the pot beneath his hand. She then got her bundle and opened it on the table. She walked to the unconscious man and began to wipe his hand down. She then took the scalpel from her apron, this one had butterflies on it and began to cut around the wrist. Blood began to pour into the pot below and she placed small vascular claps on the radial artery and ulnar artery. Then she retrieved the small saw and began to saw the hand off.
She heard Hobo begin to gag and she stopped and looked over at him. “What’s a matter?” She asked, smiling at him. He said nothing. “At least it won’t be you for a while. Relax and enjoy. He is an asshole, just like you.” She laughed.