by Mark Church
✽✽✽
The trip to New Town is uneventful until the two trucks carrying Jake and the rest of the Refuge clan reach Arcadia. Just after passing the familiar Sporting Goods store on Highway 21, they spot a vehicle coming down the highway towards them. It stops in the middle of the road about a quarter mile away. Jake slows his lead truck to a stop. The second truck driven by Mike pulls in behind.
From the shotgun seat, John asks Jake, “What do you think?”
“Not sure. I fully expected to see other vehicles making their way to New Town but this one seems to be going in the wrong direction, and why did they stop in the middle of the road?”
“Maybe they’re just lost.” Kate leans in from the backseat.
“Probably. But prepare for the worst just in case.” Jake squints at the vehicle in the distance looking for any telltale sign of friend or foe.
Everyone readies his or her weapons.
John retrieves a piece of white cloth that he’s brought for just this purpose. He hangs it out of the window and waves it a few times before telling Jake, “Drive forward slowly, we’ll see what they do.”
Jake takes his foot off the brake and allows the truck to begin rolling forward. He presses the accelerator gently until the truck reaches ten miles an hour. He maintains that speed as he draws closer to the vehicle.
The vehicle makes no attempt to move. When the lead truck gets within a hundred feet of the stationary vehicle, waving arms extend through both the driver and passenger side windows.
The friendly gesture encourages Jake to continue closer while the others keep their weapons out of view.
Everyone is on high alert as Jake cautiously pulls to the right of the vehicle. He can now clearly see a woman driver, a male front passenger and a child in the backseat. Still, he’s careful to maintain a reasonable buffer just in case.
Speaking across the ten-foot expanse, Jake asks, “Where y’all heading?”
“Here – I think,” replies the young woman driving the vehicle.
“Where do you think you are?” Jake is hoping for a more specific answer.
“Arcadia.” There is a hint of a question mark in the woman’s voice.
“Are you here for the meeting?”
“We don’t know about any meeting, we’re new to the area,” the woman explains.
Jake vacillates between caution and curiosity.
The woman continues, “We’re looking for the ‘free people’ that supposedly live in the area. Do you live nearby?”
“Before I answer any more questions, I need to know who you are.” Though inclined to believe her, Jake is not about to throw caution to the wind.
“My name is Hannah, next to me is Eli, and Grace is in the back seat.”
Eli offers a wave as Grace pokes her head over the backseat and smiles sweetly with her tongue poking through the opening left by her two missing front teeth.
Jake softens a bit. “Where are you coming from?”
“Michigan.” Hannah adopts Eli’s home state on the fly.
“That’s a pretty fancy ride you have there,” Jake continues. “Where’d you get it?”
“I told you who we are, I’d appreciate it if you’d return the favor.” Hannah too is reserving judgement until she is sure of her footing.
Jake considers her request before proposing, “Let’s pull off the road and we can talk more.”
Hannah looks at Eli who shrugs his shoulders. They both understood that they were going to have to take a chance when they got here and this must be it.
“Okay. Lead the way.”
“There’s a big lot back there,” Jake uses his thumb to point backwards. “Follow me.”
Jake makes a U-turn and stops briefly at the second truck to brief Mike and the others before continuing on.
When Hannah passes Mike’s truck, she sees Luke and Emily’s grinning faces pressed against the window. That helps alleviate some of her concerns.
Jake pulls into the Sporting Goods store parking lot. Hannah and then Mike follow.
After bringing his truck to a stop, Jake advises John and Kate, “Let me check things out first. Don’t let them see your rifles but be ready just in case.”
Jake steps out of the truck as Hannah is pulling up behind him. She and Eli exit their vehicle soon after coming to a stop. Like Jake, they are armed but their weapons are holstered.
“I hope you don’t mind our suspicion,” Jake apologizes, “but you can’t be too careful these days.”
“I completely understand, and that goes both ways.” Hannah has seen too much to trust too easily.
Jake nods his head and says, “Understood,” as Mike rolls his truck to a stop not far behind.
“Okay, we’re here on your terms,” Hannah glances in the direction of Mike’s idling truck.
Returning her attention back to Jake, she continues, “Now it’s my turn to ask a question or two.”
“That was the deal,” Jake agrees.
“Do you live here?”
“We live close to here,” Jake replies.
“And are you part of the ‘free people?’”
“Well,” Jake smiles briefly at the term. “We don’t refer to ourselves that way but, yes, we consider ourselves to be a free and independent community.”
“Is it just you folks, or are there others?”
“Many others. They migrated here from all over the country.”
A sense of relief washes over Hannah as she realizes that she has indeed found the right place. “I was told to come here,” Hannah explains, “and to deliver a message.”
“A message from whom?” Jake asks warily.
“The resistance – in DC.”
“As in Washington?” Jake’s sense of alarm rises.
Hannah nods her head, “Yeah.”
Jake’s surprised expression doesn’t escape Hannah.
“I thought you were from Michigan?”
“That was a little white lie,” Hannah admits, “but not entirely untrue. Eli and his daughter are from Michigan, I picked them up my way here from DC.”
Jake contemplates that for a moment before asking for more information, “So what is the resistance?”
“The resistance is an underground group committed to overthrowing the government.”
Taken aback, Jake motions the rest of his group to join them. “Hold on, everyone needs to hear this.”
While they exit their vehicles and gather around Hannah and Jake, Eli retrieves Grace.
When Eli returns with his daughter, Luke and Emily rush to meet her. They haven’t seen another child in a long time. Grace quickly warms up to the excited brother and sister and before long they are all laughing happily and chasing each other around the lot.
Introductions are made and greetings are exchanged. After everyone has had a chance to meet, Hannah begins telling her story. The children’s preoccupation with each other allows her to speak freely.
Hannah details her life in DC and her involvement with the resistance. No relevant detail is omitted. The group listens with great interest. This is the first that they’ve heard about a resistance movement in the capital, and they were unaware of the slave labor and human abuses taking place there.
When Hannah is finished it’s clear that they are stunned by her story, and their past experiences are similar enough to make it believable. Her account makes it abundantly clear the government means to hunt them like wild animals. Any lingering doubts about their decision to stay and fight have just been nullified. Eli only adds to their resolve when he tells his story.
When he finishes there is a stunned silence as everyone digests what they’ve just been told.
Amy breaks the silence, “We were concerned that the soldiers were going to return and now you’ve just confirmed those fears.”
Hannah looks over sorrowfully, “I wish I had better news for you.”
“It is what it is,” Amy reassures her, “We appreciate you coming all this way to warn us.”
Hannah smiles at Amy, “No thanks needed. A lot of good people died trying to get this information out, I didn’t want to let them down.”
“We are on our way to a meeting where we will attempt to rally all of the area communities. Will you come with us and tell your story? It’ll be better if everyone hears it firsthand.” Jake begins to formulate how Hannah’s news can help make their case to the assembled communities.
“I’d be happy to, I just hope they believe me.” Hannah’s relief is palpable.
“Me too. Our future depends on it.”
“We better get going,” John urges everyone along. “We don’t want to be late.”
✽✽✽
Wary stares are followed by nods and reserved waves as the Refuge caravan encounter other travelers making their way to New Town. Each positive interaction contributes to feelings of expanded community and camaraderie while lingering doubts and suspicions about their unfamiliar neighbors begin to wane.
When the gravel road enters the New Town valley, Jake exclaims, “We’re here!”
“Holy moly,” Amy gawks at the gathering, “I haven’t seen this many people since the RZ”.
“Ditto,” Kate observes, “though they look a lot happier.”
“Without a doubt,” agrees Amy.
When they arrive at New Town’s main community building there’s a huge number of people already assembled outside.
The Refuge convoy parks alongside each other. They leave their weapons in the vehicles and assemble in front of Jake’s truck.
“Stay together as a group,” directs Jake, “until we get a feel for things.”
Everyone nods in agreement.
“I’m going to go find Tim. Hannah, will you come with me? I would like you to meet Tim.” Jake wants to make sure Tim has the chance to hear Hannah’s story firsthand.
“Sure,” agrees Hannah. “Eli, you’re good, right?”
“Yeah, I’m good if you are.”
Jake senses the protective nature of Eli’s reply. He understands that people have a way of quickly growing close in today’s world. He also understands that’s because tomorrows are tenuous at best.
“We won’t be long,” Jake squeezes Amy’s shoulder before heading off to find Tim.
“We have plenty of mingling to do,” Amy smiles her assurance. “Take your time.”
The group begins to introduce themselves to nearby strangers as soon as Jake and Hannah walk away. They are happy to see new faces. Luke and Emily are especially excited to see other children.
Jake spots Tim near the front door of the community building. He beckons Hannah to follow as he makes a beeline towards him.
Tim sees them coming. He excuses himself from a conversation and steps forward to greet them.
When they are within talking distance, Jake comments, “What an impressive turnout.”
“Encouraging, right? There must be close to five hundred people here.”
“At least.” Jake nods as he evaluates the growing crowd.
“Evidently they’ve been having similar concerns. They’ve heard stories on their shortwave radios. Couple that with what happened right in our own backyard the other night and their concern grows.”
“Awareness will make our job easier, but we don’t want them to panic and run either.” Jake considers the best approach to take when addressing the assembly.
“That’s largely up to you.” Tim clearly has confidence in Jake’s leadership.
“And me,” chimes in Hannah.
“Forgive me,” Jake turns to Hannah. “I should have made introductions right away. Tim this is Hannah.”
Tim and Hannah nod and shake hands.
“You are going to be very interested in her story. Can we go somewhere private?”
“We can step inside,” Tim suggests. “No one has been allowed in yet.”
When they enter the building, they find that it is, indeed, vacant. Rows of chairs, probably three hundred or more, are facing the front of the room where a massive fireplace is corralling a roaring fire. Hungry flames occasionally lick at the air just outside of the hearth.
“This is a big room, but it still won’t house all of the people outside.” Jake is starting to worry about crowd control.
“Yeah, I know,” Tim counters. “We’ve requested that each group bring no more than ten people inside.”
“How many different communities sent representatives?”
“I’m just guessing, but I’d say at least thirty. And from what I can tell, they are concerned but defiant.” Tim confides in Jake
“Good to know. I hope they are as just as defiant after they hear what Hannah is about to tell them.”
“So, Hannah, how do you fit into all of this?” Tim’s curiosity has been peaked.
“First off, in the spirit of full disclosure, Jake and I just met two hours ago, and while I’m desperate for you to believe me, I understand that I‘m a stranger and I could just as easily have ulterior motives. That being said, I swear on my life that what I’m about to tell you is truthful and intended to help, not hurt.” Hannah’s earnest statement earns her some credibility with Tim.
“Fair enough. I appreciate your candor.”
Hannah goes on to repeat the same information that she shared with Jake. Tim listens intently allowing Hannah to finish before commenting.
“What you’re telling us is consistent with information we have been piecing together from other sources,” Tim confirms. “It verifies everything that we suspect.”
“My thoughts exactly,” Jake is relieved to hear Tim respond to Hannah’s story the same way he, himself, had. “Which is why I’m willing to give a virtual stranger the benefit of the doubt.”
Jake turns to Hannah, “No offense.”
“None taken,” she smiles. “There is no time, and this is no place, for hurt feelings.”
Tim turns to Jake, “If Hannah’s account doesn’t seal the deal, I don’t know what will.”
“That’s what I thought.”
“So how do you want to do this?” Tim looks to Jake to develop their strategy.
“I’ll set the stage just like I did for you guys on the hilltop the other day,” replies Jake, “and then I’ll introduce Hannah and allow her to, as you said, seal the deal.”
“There’s a lot riding on this. Pray for receptive minds and defiant spirits.” Tim recommends.
“That’s what it’s going to take,” Hannah agrees. “We are asking these people to face down the devil.”
Jake and Tim nod thoughtfully as they reflect on the significance of Hannah’s statement. They are indeed facing evil, and they are the underdog in every sense of the word. They believe that God has their back, and he’ll back a righteous underdog every time.
“You may as well start bringing people in and getting them settled. The bad news isn’t going to get any better by waiting.” Jake turns to survey the room setup but is stopped when Hannah comments “By the way, tell people to leave the kids outside. This isn’t anything they need to hear.” Tim nods and starts to leave before stopping and saying, “I’ll send your group in first so they can get seats.”
“Thanks, Tim. I’d appreciate that.” Jake watches Tim stride off to organize the throng of people in front of the building.
Jake and Hannah spend their final moments alone coordinating their approach to the meeting. They agree that Jake will share his concerns and suspicions first and then Hannah will follow with the smoking gun.
“What if they reject our assessment?” worries Hannah. “What next?”
“Then they all die. I don’t see any other outcome.” Jake lays out the bleak reality.
“What about the rest of the country?”
“We need to convince them as well,” Jake continues. “This isn’t just about us, or the country for that matter, it’s about free people all over the world.”
“We need to initiate a worldwide information campaign to warn everyone of the impending offensive. If I wa
s given access to communication equipment, I’d be more than happy to take on that job.” Hannah volunteers.
“That would be the perfect role for you,” Jake begins to formulate a communications plan in his mind. “And they’d be hearing it from someone with first-hand knowledge.”
“Do you have equipment?”
“Not only do we have equipment,” Jake assures her, “We have an entire facility dedicated to communications. We could move you and an assistant in there to run a twenty-four by seven operation.”
“I can’t wait to get started!” Hannah’s teaching experience has prepared her exceptionally well to deliver information in a clear, concise manner. She’s eager to put that experience to work for the resistance.
Jake’s group interrupts their conversation as they enter the building. Amy walks up to Jake and kisses him just intimately enough to let Hannah know that he is spoken for. Her possessive gesture isn’t lost on Jake, and he kind of likes it.
“Are you ready?”
“I think so. I’m more concerned about those folks out there being ready to hear what we have to tell them.”
“Based on some of the conversations I just had, I think they’re more ready than you think.” Amy reassures him.
“That’s good to hear, we need all the cooperation we can get.”
“Where are Mike and Gena?” Jake hasn’t seen either of them since the group arrived.
“They’re staying outside with Luke, Emily, and Grace,” Amy explains.
“I was hoping that they could be here for this, but I guess someone has to watch the kiddos.”
The crowd from outside begins to file through the front door. John, Kate, and the others offer wishes of good luck before taking seats close to the front.
Jake and Hannah move off to the side and wait for everyone to finish entering. Tim joins them and whispers to Jake, “I’ll introduce you and then you can take it from there.”
Jake nods.
Tim offers what little encouragement he can, “I know that we don’t know each other well but I can tell that you’re the right guy for this, and I want you to know that I’m behind you one hundred percent.”
“I appreciate the vote of confidence. I hope I live up to your expectations.”