Revolution

by Mark Church

  In a sense, this is the World War all over again, albeit on a much smaller scale. But a global conflict all the same. Like so many times in the past, the future of humanity is once again in the hands of a small group of resisters who refuse to allow evil to assault mankind unabated.

  31 the showdown

  Radio communications from militia surveillance personnel report the government army moving south on Highway 21. They are estimated to be traveling at thirty miles per hour and are approximately twenty miles from the outer edge of Arcadia. If they keep up the current pace and direction they should arrive within the hour.

  Forward operating militia units have disengaged after launching a few ambushes earlier in the morning and racing back to Arcadia to take up defensive positions nearer to the battle’s planned epicenter.

  John has taken his position at the top of Pilot Knob where a clear view of the valley below will allow him to make real-time tactical decisions. Jake is spending the remainder of the morning visiting troop positions, offering last minute encouragement, and wishes of good luck.

  Jake’s final stop is the makeshift field hospital where Amy and Kayla are making last minute preparations. It’s bustling with activity. Support folks are scurrying here and there as they ready cots and medical supplies.

  They are lucky to have two doctors and a veterinarian with surgical experience. They also have a dentist, but unless someone has a tooth knocked out, he will have limited medical value.

  Jake spots Amy across the large tent. While he tries to be inconspicuous, his love for her shines in his eyes for all to see. She eventually notices him standing outside the periphery of activity and stops what she’s doing to go to him.

  Giving her a warm embrace, he questions, “Do you have everything you need?”

  “Unless you have ten surgeons in your back pocket, no, but we’ll have to make do.” Amy tries to appear confident.

  Jake smiles, “If I had the magic to pull ten surgeons out of my back pocket, I’d use it to swat the government forces off the face of the earth.”

  Amy’s smile turns serious. “Be careful – I’ve gotten used to having you around.”

  “So – I’m like a bad habit?” jokes Jake.

  Softening her expression, she replies, “Bad boy; good habit.”

  Jake chuckles and then kisses her softly on the lips. As he pulls back, he rubs his hands gently down her arms to maintain contact just a minute longer. “I need to get back out there.”

  “I know,” Amy nods a bit nervously. All she wants is a bit of suspended time to stay in his arms with his lips warm on hers. Just a little reprieve before whatever hell is to come.

  Her words are followed by a deeply intimate gaze that says a thousand different things all at once.

  Jake acknowledges her unsaid emotions with a corresponding nod and forces himself to turn and leave. His heart aches. Not because they are parting, but because he knows they may never see each other again.

  Amy is having the same thoughts. Standing in the middle of the floor, she watches him walk away. Her eyes well with tears. She is about to chase after him when Kayla walks up and wraps her mother in her arms.

  “He’ll be okay, Mom.”

  Amy nods as she fights back tears.

  Collecting herself, she refocuses on the task at hand. “Come on, back to work. We still have a lot to do.”

  ✽✽✽

  John scans the horizon. He can see for miles from his high vantage point on top of Pilot Knob. Much of his focus is concentrated to the north, where Highway 21 enters town. He suspects his overconfident, arrogant adversaries will attempt to lay siege to the town without any real military planning or traditional tactics.

  John has a lot riding on this hunch. His militia will likely be outgunned and outnumbered, so they are only going to have one bite at the apple.

  His entire defensive strategy is designed to take advantage of the opposition running blindly forward into an ambush. If they get wise to what is waiting for them and take a measured approach to town, it could be a very ugly day.

  ✽✽✽

  Jake has positioned himself near the center of the front line with Cole by his side. They are concealed in a creek bed that runs adjacent to the highway.

  Kate and Mike are with the unit responsible for closing the front door after the government army enters town. The unit’s numbers are few so they won’t be very effective from an offensive point of view, but they should be able to create a lot of chaos in the ranks of any retreating government soldiers.

  The sun is nearly straight up. Jake has turned his face up to bask in its warmth. It’s times like this that the smallest of pleasures take on the most significance.

  Cole is seated next to him, staring quietly ahead.

  Jake pats Cole on the knee. “You ready?”

  Cole breaks his gaze and looks over at his father. “As ready as I’ll ever be, I guess.”

  “I’m proud of you, son.”

  “Thanks, Pop, that means everything to me.”

  “When the shooting starts, don’t take any unnecessary risks, okay?”

  “Same goes for you.”

  “Deal.” Jake turns his attention back to the expansive valley.

  It appears deserted. The only movements are small birds flitting here and there.

  Jake looks at his watch which reads 11:48 am. Suddenly his two-way radio comes to life. Everyone near Jake hears John’s voice say, “Come in Papa Bear, this is Eagle Eye, over.”

  Jake quickly raises the radio to his mouth and replies, “This is Papa Bear, over.”

  John transmits, “The ducks are entering the pond, over.”

  “Understood, over.”

  The radio goes silent.

  Jake looks at Cole, “Here we go.”

  Jake and Cole crawl to the top of the embankment and use their binoculars to scan the horizon to the north. At first glance, they don’t see anything out of the ordinary but then they catch a glimpse of the sun reflecting off glass about a mile up the highway.

  They continue to watch as the first vehicles come into full view. They are approaching in single file formation and moving cautiously as they enter the outskirts of town.

  The column stops. Dust devils swirl around the vehicles.

  After a brief pause, only the lead vehicle continues forward. The rest of the column holds steady.

  The solitary vehicle proceeds south on 21 right into the heart of the militia’s defenses.

  Jake holds his breath as it passes over and near bobby traps without seeing them.

  The lead vehicle finally comes to a stop not twenty-five yards from a hidden unit to Jake’s left.

  Four soldiers exit the vehicle and begin scanning the valley with binoculars. One soldier walks towards a row of trees obscuring a group of militiamen. The militia members hiding there crouch as low as they can to avoid being discovered.

  When the soldier reaches the closest tree, he unzips his pants and begins to relieve himself. Afterwards, he zips back up and returns to his compatriots.

  Jake breathes a sigh of relief.

  A different soldier reaches through the driver side window and withdrawals a handset from a mounted radio inside the vehicle. He appears to speak into it. Moments later the main column suddenly jerks to life and continues its advance.

  Jake turns his attention back to the four soldiers who are lounging around the lead vehicle. A group of crows suddenly squawk and bolt from the same tree line where the soldier had previously relieved himself.

  The same soldier gets back on the radio as the others fan out. They approach the stand of trees concealing the militia members.

  The main column stops its advance.

  Cole whispers to his father, “What are they doing? Why’d they stop?”

  “They’re uneasy.” Jake barely whispers in reply. “Those damn birds spooked them.”

  The government army has yet to go deep enough into the carefully prepared trap. It’s imperative that most
of the column progress to the center of the valley for the planned ambush to have the highest probability of success.

  Jake is sure the hidden militia members will be discovered as the soldiers advance on the tree line.

  John comes on the radio. “Come in Papa Bear. This is Eagle Eye. Over.”

  “You’ve got Papa Bear. Over.”

  “The target is not in position. Hold. Over”

  “That may not be possible, Eagle Eye. Contact may be sooner than we wanted. Over.”

  “Your call, Papa Bear. Over”

  Jake reluctantly puts his two-way radio to his mouth. He hesitantly prepares to give an attack order.

  He watches the scene playing out before him. It’s apparent as the soldiers continue their advance towards the tree line that they are nervous.

  The roar of an airplane engine can suddenly be heard as George’s crop duster clears the mountain ridges to the west.

  Everyone’s attention, friend and foe, is drawn to the approaching airplane.

  Jake watches for a moment while thinking to himself, “what is that crazy bastard doing?” Then, remembering the drama unfolding to his left, he returns his attention there.

  A barrage of gunfire suddenly erupts near the tree line. The three advancing soldiers fall to the ground. The remaining soldier tries to go for the radio but before he can get the handset to his mouth, he is shot in the back and falls dead. The handset is left swinging back and forth outside of the driver side door.

  Jake turns his attention back to the encroaching army’s main body. It is holding its position. It’s possible that they don’t yet know the fate of their comrades.

  Jake lowers his binocular and searches the sky for George’s airplane. He sees it approaching the army’s main column from behind.

  Cole can’t believe his eyes. “What is he doing?”

  “Damned if I know, but it appears as if we have lost the element of surprise.”

  Jake watches George swoop his plane towards the rear of the column as the government soldiers open fire on him. The plane briefly rocks to the left but then corrects its course.

  The plane is roughly a hundred feet from the ground and closing fast. When it reaches the rear of the column a mist begins releasing from the rear of the plane onto the stationary vehicles and infantry below.

  After dousing two thirds of the column with the unknown liquid, the plane pulls out of its low flight pattern and banks off to its left, as the soldiers continue to fire at the retreating airplane.

  The plane banks again and turns back towards the column. Again, it dives low and approaches full speed. The soldiers once again begin firing.

  Smoke suddenly erupts from the plane. The engine can be heard sputtering as the stricken craft appears to have been severely damaged. In spite of its condition, it continues on its original path

  The soldiers continue to fire at the approaching plane. When it reaches the column, it goes into an even steeper dive and appears to deliberately fly directly into the middle of the column.

  The ill-fated plane sets off a spectacular inferno. Not just from the plane’s fuel tanks but also from the unknown accelerant George had laid down. A fast-moving fire roars down the line. Secondary explosions shake the earth as gas tanks and ammunition ignite throughout the rear two-thirds of the column.

  Soldiers can be seen running in every direction. Many are on fire.

  The front part of the column lurches forward in an attempt to put some distant between themselves and the burning vehicles.

  Breaking normal communication protocol, Jake exclaims, “John, what the hell was that?”

  “It looks like George got his plane fixed,” John comments dryly.

  “I’m afraid it won’t be fixable this time, and neither is George.” John’s voice is somber.

  Shaking off his regret about George, Jake adds, “It ain’t over yet, let’s finish what George started. You take it from here.”

  “Roger and out.”

  As John begins issuing commands over the radio. Jake focuses his binoculars on the battlefield.

  The militia opens fire almost immediately.

  The remaining soldiers are in disarray as they are caught in a deadly crossfire. They are met by a withering barrage from every direction as they attempt to retreat to the east and the west. In their panic, they stumble into dynamite booby traps and landmines that further deplete their ranks.

  In just fifteen minutes the government army is destroyed. A few soldiers manage to escape to the north, but most succumb to the rout inflicted by the militia.

  John issues a ceasefire. The valley quiets. Plumes of back smoke rise from the smoldering vehicles. Soldier’s bodies litter the ground.

  Returning to formal protocol, John summons Jake on the radio, “Come in Papa Bear, this is Eagle Eye. Over.”

  “This is Papa Bear. Over.”

  “A few got away,” John reports. “Should we go after them?”

  “Let ‘em go, they’re not a threat to us anymore.”

  “Roger that. I’ll meet you at the command center in about thirty minutes with a full report. Over and out.”

  Jake leans back against the embankment. He looks over at Cole who is still scanning the horizon.

  “You’ve just witnessed one of the ugliest scenes mankind is capable of.”

  Cole backs down from the embankment’s crest and takes a seat next to his father.

  “I thought I would be feeling different.” Cole struggles to voice his thoughts. “Happier, or something like that.”

  “The righteous never truly win something like this. The best we can hope for is that we don’t lose. If we are successful in that endeavor, we have to find a way to live with the consequences of our actions.” It saddens Jake to have his son learn this great truth so early in life. His wish is that Cole will see the hope sprouting under the ugliness of war.

  Cole contemplates this for a few moments before asking, “Do you mind I go find Kayla?”

  “Go ahead, I know she’ll be happy to see that you’re in one piece.”

  As Cole rises to his feet, Jake adds, “Tell Amy I’m okay and to meet me at the command center.”

  “Will do. And Pops, you always tell me how proud you are of me, well, I want you to know how proud I am of you.”

  Jake’s heart almost bursts as he smiles warmly at his son. “Thanks, Cole. That means a lot.”

  Jake watches as Cole walks away. Cole and others like him are their future. They are the next generation of leaders who will dictate the direction of humanity for years to come.

  This reality gives Jake a sense of comfort and peace and a renewed confidence that people will turn back to God looking for guidance and direction, and ultimately, salvation. Jake understands that dependence on God is what the world has sorely missed, its lack nearly destroying mankind forever.

  The future suddenly looks brighter, not without challenges, but brighter all the same.

  Jake says a silent prayer before climbing the embankment to mingle with his militia as they come out of their defensive positions and begin assembling in the valley. He can hear some of them hooting and hollering but for the most part, the mood is somber. These people had been farmers, and accountants, and otherwise ordinary people living ordinary lives. Most of them likely never took a life before. That reality is still sinking in. As he explained to Cole, even a victory can be bittersweet.

  ✽✽✽

  The remnants of the government army limp back to Washington DC. When they arrive, they learn that the majority of the global rebel eradication efforts have suffered a similar fate.

  Hannah’s efforts to warn about impending government action proved to make a decisive difference. Thanks to her, the well-prepared militias were more than a match for the overconfident government forces.

  Once the news of the success of the rebels reaches the average soldier, morale begins to wane, leaving the government vulnerable to those who wish to depose them.

  The resistance gr
oups residing inside of the remaining government strongholds take advantage of the confusion and weakness to step up their efforts. A full-blown revolt begins to take shape as disillusioned citizens turn against their leadership.

  It’s only a matter of time before the government loses its grip on power. There’s a renewed hope that a fairer societal structure will evolve from its ashes with freedom and optimism once again taking center stage.

  The cost has been high. Many lives have been lost. Those who survive, pledge to honor these fallen heroes by striving to fulfill their dreams of freedom and happiness. The hope is that this time, those who rise to a position of leadership don’t allow power to go to their heads as has been the case for so many who came before them.

  Though the next chapter has yet to be written, the stage is set. The prevailing question is, ‘have people learned from the mistakes of the past or will they be repeated’?

  As with all things, only time will tell.

  32 through better or worse

  In the weeks since the government army was defeated, an indelible peace has settled over the Ozark communities.

  A hawk circles lazily in the sky high above. Jake watches as it effortlessly rises on invisible air currents. The sun feels good on his face. He takes a deep breath before slowly letting it out. Kay occupies his thoughts. She would have been so happy today.

  Jake’s peaceful moment is interrupted by John approaching from behind. “It’s about to start.”

  “Be right there,” Jake responds.

  He takes one last look at the horizon and whispers to his deceased wife, “I hope I’ve made you proud – and know, I’ll always love you.”

  ✽✽✽

  Jake enters New Town’s lodge/church through a side door. He sees Cole first, nervously pacing around the room. He approaches his son and takes his shoulders, one in each hand.

  “I was never happier than the day you were born. Watching you grow into the man you have become has been the greatest experience of my life. I wish your mom could have been here today but, rest assured, she’s watching from heaven.”