The Blastlands Saga

by DK Williamson

  “Jennifer, I need to tell you something,” he said looking up at her.

  “What is it, Jack?” she said leaning close to him.

  “I’m not good at this. I can’t say I know how you feel about me, but I want... no need, you to know that I am pretty much smitten with you.”

  “I’d say you are awfully good at this Jack,” she said with tears welling up in her eyes. “I’m glad you said something.”

  The trailer began to roll as the truck pulling it got underway.

  Jack walked alongside until the trailer began to outpace him.

  “I’m afraid I lack the boldness to be good at this,” he said as he gave up the chase. “You might have to compensate.”

  “We don’t have the time to do this the way I wanted,” Jennifer said as she looked back at him, “but know this, you better come see me Jack Traipse. I don’t want to die an old maid.”

  Maybe, just maybe you did something right for once, Jack. He blinked a few times. What does ‘die an old maid’ mean? He thought as the convoy rolled away.

  “She means she has plans to marry you, Jack,” Amanda said as she walked past him.

  “How—”

  “It’s not mind-reading. I know your clueless look, Jack,” she said over her shoulder as she walked.

  Jack looked back to Jennifer’s trailer, cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, “Even if I have to desert, Miss Lewis!”

  He saw her laugh and wave one more time. Jack watched until the wagons were out of sight, then he looked around and saw he was standing alone.

  Jennifer, he thought as he let out a loud breath. You are in way over your head, Jack. He headed home to get ready for his first official day as a Ranger.

  . . . . .

  Chapter 4

  On the Job

  0800 saw the three new Geneva Rangers in the HQ training room for a morning meeting with all the other members of the Ranger contingent present.

  “Good morning,” Lieutenant Geiger began, “I called this meeting to let you know our near term plans and how we proceed from here.

  “First off, I’d like to apologize to our newest members. What happened yesterday was not fair to you. I guess you had a crash course training cycle and a crash course commencement. Normally you’d get a few days off following training, but unfortunately needs say otherwise. I’ll try and make it up to you somehow.

  “Ranger HQ informed me that we start a new training cycle in two weeks,” he said to a table full of perplexed looks amid murmurs and grumbles from the Rangers. “I know, I know. The Ranger Commander wants another batch as soon as possible. That means those of you not involved in training will be run ragged. I know it’s not fair, but you saddle the pony—”

  “You take the ride,” the Rangers replied in chorus.

  “We are going to curtail some of our activities, namely observation posts and the detail in Oldiola. I know that makes heading off trouble a whole lot harder, but I have talked to the militia both here in Geneva and in Oldiola about this and they will increase their readiness. I will need to discuss this with the settlements further south also.

  “As I mentioned yesterday, Barlo Louis heads south in thirteen days, so she’ll be busy with OJT for Amanda. That means Amanda will be training the trainees next cycle. Sorry for throwing you in the fight so fast.”

  “She’ll do fine LT,” said Barbara Louis. “In two weeks she’ll be ready to go.”

  “Okay, no worries then,” replied Geiger.

  “Speak for yourself, Lieutenant,” said Amanda, which got a laugh from everyone.

  “Barbara is only being temporarily assigned south, just until they get a handle on things down there.” Geiger said.

  “What exactly is taking so damned long clearing out the raiders near Kings Town, LT? Why so many Rangers?” asked Brian West.

  “I don’t know for sure. What I do know is the raiders are using hit and run attacks, with many of the raids on horseback. They’re using coordinated strikes at multiple locations simultaneously. That means they are highly organized and disciplined, not something we have come to expect from raiders. Word is the Cuervos have themselves a new leader, and he’s pulled some other smaller gangs together as partners. As it stands it’s something new and we Rangers aren’t adapting so well. Commander Straily is throwing everything he has at the problem, hence the need for more Rangers.”

  “It’s Joe Crow leading the Cuervos now. He’s led more than one Ranger a merry chase over the years. Is more Rangers the answer, LT?” Art Sierra asked. “This might be a case of us needin’ to fight smarter, not harder. Besides, the seven we trained here were supposed to stay here. We’re covering how much area with just ten Rangers? We train seven and we still have ten.”

  “You may well be right Art... no, you are right,” Dan replied, “but you know better than me how stubborn the commander is. Getting him to try something new is damn near impossible, unless he offers you one of his favor for a favor deals. If you want to get him on the horn and talk to him, go right ahead.”

  Art laughed and said, “That would just turn into a shouting match like always. We ain’t never got on so well. I figure he’ll keep throwin’ Rangers at the problem till one of’em fixes the problem for him or enough of’em get hurt that he’ll finally try something new. In the meantime there’s a lot of folks getting hurt.”

  “That’s about the sum of it Art, but we can’t solve the problems down south from this training room. We may not even be able to solve the problems we have right here. Let’s just do what we can with what we have and hope the problems down south get solved soon.

  “Everybody take it easy today, especially you Jack, you earned that much for yesterday. Everybody stay available and don’t get drunk and I’d like each of you to stop by here sometime this afternoon. I’ll go over some things with you individually, okay?”

  . . . . .

  At five minutes after noon, Jack Traipse walked into the Ranger HQ and looked into Lieutenant Geiger’s office. He wasn’t in, so he went back outside and sat on the bench in front of the building.

  About twenty minutes later the lieutenant and Art Sierra showed up, and Geiger asked, “How long have you been here?”

  “About—”

  “Since straight up noon, I figure,” Art interrupted with a grin on his face.

  “Not even close, Art,” Jack replied with an embarrassed smile, “It was more like… five after.”

  “I stand corrected,” he replied. “I’ll see you after while, LT, Jack.”

  “Later, Art,” the lieutenant said as Art ambled away.

  Lieutenant Geiger sat on the bench next to Jack. “Next time I’ll say ‘after lunch’, that way you won’t have to wait,” he said facetiously.

  “It’s okay Lieutenant. I wasn’t doing anything else.”

  “Why not? Well you still have the rest of the day. You could... oh, Lewis. Sorry about that Jack. I’ve got a lot on my plate, but still, I should have remembered.”

  “It’s okay, LT. You do have a lot to deal with.”

  “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I have to do the evaluation process next week and training starts the following week of course.”

  “Right.” Jack nodded.

  “I would like you to work with Art and get this new group up and running with their rifles as fast as you can. I am concerned the quality of this group will be lower than it was with yours. If that is the case, they’ll struggle in places you guys did not. That means more time getting them up to speed, so we need to trim down in other places without compromising standards. What you did with your fellow trainees was impressive, these new folks will need that.”

  “I’ll do what I can Lieutenant, but we had a pretty quick group. I mean they picked up things fast.”

  “Jack, Trahearn was not much of a shooter before you worked with him. No offense, but some here thought he was a lost cause.”

  “Actually LT, Young was more difficult to help. He had a lot of bad
habits to overcome. Sean was just undereducated, a mostly blank slate, and the rifle he used at eval was trash.”

  “That’s exactly what I’m looking for Jack. I need you to do that kind of evaluation on these new people.”

  “You got it.”

  “Until then, we have duties to perform. I’ll give you first dibs on assignments. Here’s the list,” he said handing Jack a piece of paper.

  Jack glanced at it quickly and said, “I’ll do the merchant escort, that’s the one with Ol’ Carson isn’t it?”

  “Yes it is. Why, if I may, did you pick that?”

  “It’s on the road and I’ve never been that far east. A trip might help clear my head. Besides,” he said with a smile, “I could use Mr. Carson’s stale jokes, they might help me cheer up.”

  “Maybe he’s learned a new joke or two. Seems like he picks up a new one every now and again. Never stops with the old ones though. You have to laugh, I’d hate to hurt his feelings.”

  Jack chuckled. “You know what he says, ‘Why do I need new jokes? People still laugh at the old ones.’”

  “I guess we bring it on ourselves. Jack, about Ranger Lewis. I take it you’re serious about her?”

  “Afraid so.”

  “Terminal, huh?”

  “Utterly smitten,” Jack said shaking his head.

  Geiger chuckled. “She have similar feelings for you?”

  “I don’t know for sure. I think so, but I’m pretty slow about such things.”

  “Slow?” Geiger said with a confused look on his face.

  “Dumb as a post.”

  Geiger laughed then said, “She seems a determined girl to me. Maybe she’s smart enough for the both of you.”

  “Let’s hope so, lieutenant.”

  “In that case, I’ll give you my two cents worth. Don’t fret the distance problem. Talk to her when you can. If you’re willing to burn a bit of the midnight oil you can talk in the middle of the night. If the lines are working that is, hardly anyone uses them late at night.”

  I ought to be used to that after last night. “That’s a good idea, thanks.”

  “I have a wife and one-year-old down in Pea Ridge. I couldn’t bring them up until I knew I was going to be staying in Geneva. Still working out the details on getting them up here, but until then, it’s good to be able to talk. No reason you can’t do the same. Oh, one more thing, Jack. You didn’t hear this from me, but the word on the wind says one Jennifer Lewis, Ranger, is definitely going to be getting more medical training. In Heaven. Solid phone system down there.”

  “This wind, is it reliable?”

  “A lock. It’s just not official yet, so no date.”

  “Despite what Art says about you, you’re okay, Lieutenant Geiger.”

  “What did he—”Geiger stopped when Jack cracked a smile. “Nice,” the lieutenant said smiling.

  “Thanks for the weather report, LT.”

  “Most welcome. I’ll have more info on the merch escort tomorrow morning after I talk with Carson. Fair winds, Jack.”

  “Let’s hope.”

  Jack left the Ranger compound and walked slowly, headed for the library. Ahead he saw Sean coming toward him.

  “Hey, Jack! Feeling any better?” he asked.

  “Yeah, maybe, it’s going to take time.”

  “I thought maybe you were going somewhere to drown your sorrows,” Sean said with a concerned smile.

  “No. I may wind up in the bottom of a bottle before this thing is through, though. I’m headed to the library.”

  “Good, I imagine you’d make a lousy drunk. A mean one too.”

  “Let’s not find out. I got tabbed with the merch escort, by the way.”

  “Did you piss off the LT? A lot of Rangers don’t like those, or so I hear.”

  “I picked it. Hope it might clear my muddle.”

  “I’m on my way over there now. I wonder if he’ll let me pick my assignment. I’ll tell him I got women troubles like you.”

  “Funny.” Jack said sarcastically. “Do you? Have women troubles, that is.”

  “I don’t know what I have, Jack. I don’t think it’s trouble though.”

  “Lucky you. I saw the duty assignments. You got latrine duty.”

  “What the hell! I ain’t never heard of a Ranger doing that. What did I do to de—” he stopped himself as Jack began to laugh. “That was mean, man. Funny, but mean.”

  “Sorry, I guess I’m jealous. Other than merch escort, the list was open. I imagine he might let you pick something. See you back at the house later?”

  “Yeah, thanks Jack,” he said. As they headed their separate ways, Sean looked back at his friend and smiled, A mean drunk, definitely.

  Jack walked into the library, and saw Marian arranging books and video tapes on a table next to a television. She asked him if she could help him, but he knew his way around, having spent countless hours in the place over the years.

  He was looking for information on a place outside the Freelands. Located in the southwestern portion of what used to be called Missouri, the settlement was situated about six miles northeast of the easternmost Freeland settlement, Seligman. When originally founded twenty years ago the early settlers didn’t know for certain where they were. Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, or Missouri were suggested, but since those names ceased to mean much when the nation they belonged to disappeared in ash and alien filth they decided to form a new city-state and called it the Deva State, a wild and wooly city thriving on vice.

  The Deva State was once a recreational area on the banks of the Roaring River offering hiking trails, trout fishing, and fish hatcheries, but once resettled after the Calamity, it became something very different.

  In practice, the Deva State functioned as if it were an outlying settlement of the Freelands, albeit more rowdy and wild than a typical Freelands town. A broad cross-section of people, from merchants to murderers, used the city-state for trade, supplies, and above all, entertainment. A wide range of vices were available: saloons, strip clubs, gambling houses, bordellos, drug dens, and more. On a hill overlooking the rest of the settlement stood a large stone and timber lodge that became a luxury casino and hotel, to those who could afford it. While not much different than what some trading posts on the edge of the Freelands might offer, the Deva State’s variety and selection set it apart.

  Many a Freelander youth had taken off for the Deva State, never to be seen again. Some elected to stay, some joined raider groups, many fell prey to some of the city’s more nefarious predators. These were just some of the possible outcomes in which a visit by the unprepared might result.

  Despite the city’s reputation, there was a sizable segment of the place that was not much different than the tame towns of the Freelands. These areas were inhabited mostly by people who were willing to work in a wild city, but didn’t want to live or shop in one.

  Jack wanted the information about the Deva State because the route he would follow on the merchant escort would take him there.

  Once finished at the library, Jack went looking for Bill Carson, the merchant he would escort, better known as, Ol’ Carson.

  William Carson was well into his seventies and still traveled extensively, with much of it on foot walking with his beloved mules. He was known virtually everywhere in the Freelands and beyond.

  Jack asked around and learned Ol’ Carson was at the armory, Jack’s place of employment prior to becoming a Ranger. He found Bill and a young man chatting with Master Gunsmith Gunther Salas, Jack’s former boss and mentor.

  When Gunther saw Jack approaching, he smiled and motioned Jack to approach. “Hey Yack! Congratulatuns, you a Ranger now,” he said in his peculiar accent, which he claimed was Swedish. Those old enough to remember what a Swedish accent sounded like thought otherwise, but never argued the point.

  “Thanks, Mr. Salas,” Jack replied.

  “You call me Gunter, Yack. I tell you dis many times.”

  “I’m sorry Gunther, but for years I c
alled you Mr. Salas. It’s still a habit.”

  “Ya, but you were an apprentice den. You been a full on gunschmit for more den three years, and now a Ranger.”

  “Good to see a Traipse wearing the star, Jack. Hardin would be proud. My congratulations too,” Ol’ Carson said cheerily as he offered his hand. When they stopped shaking hands, Carson gestured at the young man. “This is Jim Pyle. Up here visiting his uncle. We came up together my last trip here. Maybe you remember him from Marian’s Calamity presentation. Worked his way up on the merchant trail.”

  “Yes, I remember you. You’d be Walter Pyle’s nephew?” Jack asked as he offered his hand.

  Jim seemed a bit taken aback, but smiled and shook Jack’s hand. “Yes sir, Pastor Pyle is my Dad’s brother. Dad was gonna come with me, but he couldn’t make it. Mr. Carson looked out for me on the way up here.”

  “Call me Jack. This your first time in Geneva, Jim?”

  “Yes sir, Jack I mean. Except for a couple of train trips to Heaven, it’s my first time out of the Fort Towson area ever,” Jim answered.

  “First trip out, and he worked his way up as a caravaner. Not shabby, doing a man’s work at fourteen, eh Jack?” Mr. Carson said.

  “Not shabby at all. First time out and you have some coins in your pocket to show for it.”

  “I just loaded and unloaded stuff, fed mules and horses. Mr. Carson and I talked a lot on the road. I learned a lot,” Jim said. “Been working at the livery while I’m up here.”

  “Did Bill tell you any jokes?” Jack asked with a smile. Gunther put his hand over his mouth to stifle a laugh.

  “Yeah a bunch, but I’d heard most of them before. We spent most of the time talking about the Calamity and what happened after. I guess I thought I understood about that stuff, but I know now I got a lot to learn,” Jim replied earnestly.

  Jack stopped smiling as the boy spoke, impressed with what Jim said. He looked to Carson. “You should take him to see Marian. She’s got a lot more from that time at the library.”

  “I know, she said the boy’s been over there most every day since he got here. More to see than history though,” he said. “We’re looking over the shootin’ iron this afternoon. That, and I need to get some ammo for my revolver. I have to head out day after tomorrow,” Carson replied.