by N. C. Reed
Roland leaned back, resting his aching back, and watching the goings on around him. The children were actually talking happily, still excited over their afternoon in the sun playing. That warmed his heart more than anything else.
“You look tired,” he heard Maria’s voice, and fought a sigh. Could she not let him have just a little peace?
“I am tired,” he nodded, trying to be nice. “Long day, and a lot of sleepless nights. Catching up to me, I guess.”
“We have all gone too far without proper rest or nutrition,” she agreed, sitting down beside him, which made Roland have to fight not to stir. She looked at him.
“I want to apologize for my complaints about not staying where we were,” she said firmly. “You were right. This is much better than staying with the others.”
“Well, it’s better from some standpoints,” he agreed. “I wasn’t knocking your desire to stay, Maria,” he decided to try and make peace. Again. “I would much rather be in a larger group, with more adults to assist. With safety, security, and especially with the children. I know the three of you are being worn to a frazzle. Maybe now, when we’re able to let them go out some, and talk freely, and play without worrying about someone hearing them, they’ll be easier to manage.”
“You should spend time with them,” Maria suggested. “They are not exactly afraid of you, but you are unknown to them. They should feel more comfortable around you.”
“I know,” Roland sighed. “I hope now, since we’re somewhere that might be safer, I’ll have that chance. Before it was just too much, all the time. There just wasn’t any opportunity for that sort of thing. Maybe now it’ll be different.”
“Are the soldiers staying?” Maria asked.
“Only for a couple days, to make sure we’re set up good,” Roland replied. “They have orders to scout around some before heading back. I think Jenkins’l use our place here as a base while they do that. I also told him that anyone from the armory would be welcome here, if they decided they wanted to move.”
“You would offer them a place here, even when they cast us out?” Maria asked, an edge to her voice. “Why would you help them?” she demanded.
“Because they helped us.” Roland pointed out. “We’re two trucks better off. The kids had good baths and a medical exam. They sent Jenkins and his men to escort us until we found a place to call home. They provided us with medicine, and with first aid equipment. Do I need to go on?”
“Maria, there’s more to helping than just giving someone a place to stay. Did you notice how they were keeping a guard post around the clock? They’re still taking fire from the gangs inside the city. They’re low on water, and it’s getting worse. The food they got when we led them to the warehouse was the best meal they’ve had in two months.”
“Here, at least for now, we’re safe, and we’ve got plenty of good, clean water. That’s a miracle right there. We’re actually better off than they are, except in numbers. That’s what I wanted. Safety in numbers,” he sat back again. Maria studied him quietly for a time.
“I did not consider all that,” she admitted. “The government has a responsibility to care for us, and they are government soldiers. That is as far as I thought.”
“I know,” Roland sighed again. “People like you that think like that, you want to depend on the government for everything. No matter what it is. That’s the wrong mindset to have, Maria. You don’t ever want to be totally dependent on something as fickle as a government. You see how well that’s turned out so far, right?”
“Thing is, government ‘control’ is an illusion,” Roland went on. “The reason that two thousand cops can keep order in a city of a million is because for the most part, people respect that authority. They know and obey the laws. They don’t cause problems. If a judge orders something, they do it, or they appeal.”
“But when society breaks down, there’s very little the government can do. There aren’t enough people in uniform to keep the wheels on when they’re determined to come off. And that’s why you never want to be totally dependent on any type of government, anywhere, for your survival.”
Maria listened to all of this quietly, nodding occasionally. Finally, she spoke again.
“I see the wisdom in that,” she said slowly. “Unfortunately, I would not have before things happened the way they did. Experience is the best teacher for this, no matter how bitter the lesson may be, I think.” She rose suddenly.
“It’s time to for me to start getting the younger children to bed. Good night, Roland.”
“Night, Maria,” Roland nodded, watching as she went to take care of the children. Maybe she was growing up a little, he decided, before settling back in, trying to get comfortable again.
Stranger things had happened, he figured.
-
“Can I borrow your Humvee?”
Roland looked at Jenkins as if he’d grown a second head. They had been here two days. In that time the gardens were planted, the children were settled into rooms, and a schedule of sorts had been established. The children were looking healthier, and were laughing now and again.
“Sure, I guess,” he shrugged. “Why’d you want a Hummer when you got a MRAP, though?”
“It’s less intimidating,” Jenkins shrugged. “It’s just an armored truck, but it looks like something more. Your Humvee is up-armored, so it’s good protection but we don’t look so aggressive in it.”
“Makes sense,” Roland nodded. “I guess with you guys being a Guard unit, they train you about that kind of thing. I never had to worry about it much.”
“Well, MRAPs aren’t the kind of thing you use on civilian work or emergency mobilization,” the Corporal agreed. “I want to scout around some, and see what I can see. That Humvee won’t be nearly as intimidating to the locals as my MRAP.”
“Where you going’?” Roland asked, curious.
“Today we’re gonna just look around here,” Jenkins admitted. “I want to make sure there aren’t any trouble spots nearby. I’d like to leave you guys in good shape.”
“Works for me,” Roland smiled. “You guys be careful.”
“I’ll leave Vaughan here with you,” Jenkins informed him. “Just in case.”
“You might need him worse than us,” Roland shook his head. “If we get into a jam, we’ll call you right off.”
“Okay, then,” Jenkins nodded. “We’re off.”
Roland watched as the fire team left on its patrol. While it would have been nice to have Vaughan to help with security, Roland didn’t want to get spoiled. When the Guard soldiers left it would be him, Jesse, and James left to stand guard. They needed to get used to that.
Thinking along those lines, he gathered the other two with him out front.
“Okay, the Guard guys are starting their scouting mission,” he informed them. “They’re gonna spend today just looking around our immediate AO, and making sure there’s nothing around here that might be a threat to us.”
“Today is a good day for us to settle into a watch. When they’re gone, it’ll just be us three. That means we’re gonna have to tighten up some. Suggestions?”
“We spend today looking over the ground, and making defensive plans,” Jesse said at once. “We need contingencies for action against the school. And it wouldn’t be a bad idea to start teaching those three girls how to handle a rifle and handgun. If someone makes it past us, they need to be able to defend themselves.”
“Good idea,” James nodded.
“All right. We’ll start with their lessons later in the day. For now, I agree. We need to establish the ground, and see about firming up our defense. The school building looks pretty strong, but we still need to re-enforce weak points like doors and windows. Almost makes me wish it was two story. We could fortify the downstairs, and use the upstairs for the kids. But, we work with what we’ve got.”
“There are several ways we can close off the doors,” James mused aloud. “But we may need the use of the doors at some poi
nt. We’ll have to be creative.”
“Hey, we’re all about creative,” Jesse grinned.
“Well, let’s creatively look over the grounds, first,” Roland chuckled. “We need to see if we can anticipate how someone would attack, and then design plans to defeat it.”
They set off to do just that.
-
“I wish we had some wheat to plant,” Maria said as she and Terri worked to prepare lunch for the children. “We could make our own flour from the wheat to make bread. Once this flour is gone, there won’t be anymore.”
“Well, at least there’s a lot of it,” Terri shrugged. “That gives us time to come up with something.”
“I do not like not having a way to do things,” Maria said sourly.
“I don’t either,” Terri replied. “That doesn’t change the facts. We’re lucky to be as well off as we are. Considering where we could be, without Roland and the others, I’ll take this and be happy.”
“Do you ever wonder why Roland does these things?” Maria asked.
“What do you mean?” Terri frowned.
“I mean, what is his motivation for all this?” Maria pressed. “Why take such an interest in us?”
“Well, some guys are just like that, I guess,” Terri replied. “I mean, not every man is a bastard like Wright was. Roland took care of him, too,” she added firmly. “Some men have a natural instinct to protect the weak, or so. . .so my momma said,” she finished, pained at the memory of her mother, now dead.
“I would like to believe that,” Maria said quietly. “I hope it to be true. But Roland is a violent man. I am not sure we can trust him.”
“Well, I’m sure,” Terri stated flatly. “He hasn’t said a thing out of the way to any of us, and he doesn’t try to undress us with his eyes the way Wright and his cronies did. He’s been a gentleman the whole time.”
Maria thought back to the scene in front of her house just days ago, and wondered. Her fear was rational, she told herself. The man was dangerous, and unpredictable. And very violent.
“We shall see,” she settled for saying. “We shall see.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Roland and Jesse were going over some of the decisions they’d made about their defense when the Humvee returned, followed by a pick-up truck. Roland was unhappy to see that truck, but also curious as to what Jenkins had found. And why he’d brought them back with him.
Jenkins and his team dismounted, Jenkins himself waving the truck in beside the Humvee. A tall, older man got out of the vehicle, while a woman stayed inside. Jenkins motioned for the man to join him as Roland walked up.
“What’s the deal?” Roland asked, trying to keep his voice friendly.
“Well, there’s a little community up the road a ways,” Jenkins told him, pointing it out on his map. “This fella here is Derrick Turnbow. He’s the local leader, and a preacher. He wanted to meet you, and see how things were going.” Turnbow approached them just then.
“Mister Turnbow, this here is Roland Stang. He’s in charge around here.”
“Well, that remains to be seen, doesn’t it?” Turnbow replied. Roland immediately didn’t like him.
“No, sir, it doesn’t,” Jenkins answered the man before Roland could speak. “As I told you, Roland has worked hard to help keep these children safe and secure. He’s kept them fed, clothed and safe. Captain Thomas made no bones about who was in charge.”
“Yes, but your Captain Thomas has no authority here,” Turnbow said, his voice calm, but unyielding. “And our community may yet need this building.”
“You’re welcome to any part of it we’re not using,” Roland told him flatly. “We’re only using a few rooms, and the playground when the weather is okay. There’s plenty of room left.”
“This is our school, young man,” Turnbow replied. “And we decide who uses it, and for what.”
“You know, I was prepared to like you,” Jenkins cut in. “You pretty much lied to me, didn’t you? Saying you wanted to see how things were set-up. All you really wanted to do was come in here throwin’ your weight around.”
“I am the community leader,” Turnbow nodded. “And this is community property.”
“I’m not figurin’ it is,” Roland answered this time. “I figure its county property. Property of the school board, to be exact. How far away is it you live, Mister Turnbow?”
“That’s hardly the issue, Stang.”
“I’m makin’ it the ‘issue’, Turnbow,” Roland shot back. He could be rude, too. Enjoyed it sometimes, in fact.
“They’re about ten miles away, Roland,” Jenkins provided, red faced. “He’s a two face, lying ass wipe, is what he is. Led me to believe that he and his ‘people’ would be willing’ to help you with the kids. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,” Roland smiled. “We needed to know where the assholes lived, and now we do.” He looked at Turnbow.
“Let me set you straight, Mister Turnbow. We’re living here now. This place has become an orphanage. We’re self-sufficient, and a burden to no one. We’ll keep it that way, too. You folks just stay on up there in your ‘community’, and we’ll just stay on right here, and leave you be. And that’s a courtesy I expect to be returned, now I’m thinking on it. We got an understanding, Mister Turnbow?”
The community leader was red faced by the time Roland was finished speaking. He sputtered and carried on some before getting a coherent sentence out.
“I’ll have the Sheriff on you before the day’s out, and you will be gone!”
“I’ll be here waitin’, jackass,” Roland smiled. And it wasn’t a pleasant smile. “Meantime, you’ve overstayed your welcome. Got no time for liars. Git.”
“Yeah, about time you went,” Jenkins agreed, and motioned to Vaughan and Mackey.
“Make sure Mister Turnbow here makes it back to the intersection and heads for home, boys. Turns out he’s a snake in the grass.”
Turnbow wanted to argue, but two soldiers in full battle dress were a bit intimidating. So, he went. Muttering threats all the time, but went just the same.
“Dammit, Roland I’m sorry,” Jenkins muttered as his men ‘escorted’ Turnbow away. “I bit his tale hook, line, and sinker,” he sighed heavily.
“I told you, don’t worry about it,” Roland said earnestly. “I was serious. We need to know where the assholes are. And he definitely qualifies.”
“Think he’ll really get the Sheriff?” Jenkins asked, worriedly.
“Don’t really care,” Roland shrugged. “We’re staying’ right here. Period. Sheriff gets to be a problem; I’ll take care of it.”
“That might not be the best idea,” Jenkins warned. “Local civil authority is about all there is left. They pretty much rule everywhere, these days.”
“Not where I am,” Roland shrugged. “I hate bullies. I don’t care what shape or size they come in, or what kind of title they wear. We're not hurting anything. They really needed this place, they’d have had it already.” He thought about what Jenkins had said.
“He really told you they’d be willing to help with the kids?” he asked.
“Well, yeah,” Jenkins nodded. “Help you all, maybe even take some of ‘em into their homes, adopted like.”
“Did he now,” Roland said, far too calmly for Jenkins’ liking.
“You think he had some other motive in mind?” he asked.
“I’m thinking just that,” Roland nodded firmly. “This is farm country. And there ain’t much fuel left, I reckon. Ever study history much, Jenkins?”
“In school, sure.”
“Ever read up on why families were so big back before the industrial revolution? Why they had so many kids?” Roland’s eyes were still on the road, where Turnbow’s truck was finally out of sight.
“No, not really,” Jenkins shook his head. “Why?”
“They had so many kids so they would have plenty of farm hands,” Roland finally turned to look at him. “They needed the young’uns to help tend t
he farm. You see many young people in this community o’ his?”
“Now that you mention it, no. I didn’t.” Jenkins frowned suddenly, getting Roland’s drift.
“You don’t think...”
“I sure do,” Roland nodded. “Orphans have always been victims of society. Always. Even in modern times, when things like that weren’t supposed to happen. By now, Turnbow and his bunch have realized that they’ve got nothing but hard work ahead of ‘em. A nice, fresh batch of orphan kids with no one to look after ‘em would sound like just the thing for a community that don’t have fuel to power their farm machinery anymore. Wouldn’t it.” Not a question. A statement.
“Son-of-a-bitch,” Jenkins growled. “Maybe I should have the boys make sure...”
“No,” Roland cut him off with a shake of his head. “Won’t help, or I would have done it already. I don’t want you guys gettin’ into trouble like that. Make your job harder, once word got out.”
“No, I’ll deal with Mister Turnbow myself, if the need arises. No problem at all.” He looked at Jenkins again.
“Turnbow look hungry to you?” he asked suddenly.
“No, he didn’t,” the soldier shook his head.
“What about the others? You see anyone else in town, or whatever?” Roland pressed.
“Well, there were a few out and about,” Jenkins got a faraway look in his eyes, trying to recall everything he’d seen. “Some looked fit as a fiddle, to be honest. But. . .yeah, some of ‘em looked peckish. Wearing clothes that fit a little to lose, maybe. Maybe Turnbow and some of the rest were better prepared for something like this.”
“Possible,” Roland nodded, clearly thinking about that. “Still, him being a preacher an’ all, wouldn’t he be of a mind to help out his fellow man?”
“Just cause a man’s a preacher don’t mean nothin’,” Jenkins almost spat. “I've known more'n one ‘holy man’ wasn’t all that holy. Or much of a man, neither, now I think about it.”