TRIBES

by Mia Frances

  She nodded, trying to work up the courage to swallow it. "What's in it?"

  "Jerked meat, fat, and dried berries. I make it with bear mostly, so it's a little strong tasting, but you get used to it. Hell, anything tastes good when you're hungry. Right? Get it by your nose and down it goes," he guffawed.

  She sat watching him, picking off bits of the rancid smelling concoction, trying to figure out how he'd managed to survive. "How long have you been out here?"

  "Since a couple of weeks after it happened, the war I mean. Used to live off Route 30. Had a bait store there for 40 years. Did some guiding too; taking city fellers into the woods. You know: a little hunting, a little fishing, a couple of cases of beer. Me and the wife lived here all our lives. Raised our kids here. Had friends and neighbors. But that's all gone," he said sadly. "The wife died last July. Just as well really. I wouldn't have wanted her to see this, not things the way they are now. She was a good woman Margaret was. A fine Christian woman. She'd never have understood any of it. People turning on each other the way they did, the shooting and killing. I could see what was coming and got out; just packed up my things and headed into the woods. Used to come here when I was a kid, trapped muskrat and mink to get candy money. Kept coming back, even after I grew up. It never changed, that's the beauty of it, still as green and wild as when I was a kid. Guess that's why I'm here. Even with the war, it's just as it always was. Besides, it's as good a place as any to die." He paused, looking at her, "And you? What brings you here?"

  "We came down from Blue Mountain Lake. Got burned out of our camp and headed south."

  "Anything left up there? The towns I mean?"

  "Not much. Everybody's gone crazy. Burning. Looting. Killing."

  He nodded. "Same everywhere I guess." He was quiet a moment, then looked at her. "You got a radio?"

  "Yes."

  "Have ya heard anything about the cities? I got two boys down at GE in Syracuse and my daughter's a teacher in Binghamton. Do you know if they got hit?"

  "No. Sorry. I don't."

  "Is there any news at all? Anything coming over the radio?"

  She shook her head.

  He rubbed his whiskers, then gazed up at the stars. After a while he turned back to her. "My boys were smart. So was my girl. She even got a scholarship to college. I think they're still alive," he told her, trying to sound optimistic. He looked down at the ground, then turned his attention to the fire, hoping she wouldn't notice as he brushed away a tear. "You alone?" he asked.

  "No. I've got family here."

  "That's good. Must be a great comfort to you."

  "Yes. Yes they are." A pain shot through her belly and she winced, pressing her hand into her side. All the color draining from her face.

  "Something wrong?" he asked in alarm "You all right? Are ya hurt? Feelin' poorly?"

  She shook her head. "No. I'll be fine. I'm just tired."

  "Did ya come far? Down from the road?"

  "Yes," she said, her hand still pressing on her belly to contain the pain.

  "Well no wonder you're tired, and me sitting here chewing your ear off. Go ahead and lay down. Shut your eyes. Don't pay me no nevermind. Get a little rest," he told her.

  "No. I've really got to go. I need to head back."

  "Now just you sit a spell," he ordered. "You're looking peaked, pale as a ghost. Get your strength back before you go running off.

  Alex nodded. The pain was debilitating; she was too weak to walk right now.

  The old man rose to his feet and stepped behind her. She stiffened as he reached out and touched her shoulder. "I'll be back in a few minutes; I gotta get something. Now close your eyes and don't worry; old Otis is gonna take care of everything. Ya won't have to go home empty-handed." With that he lifted a burning branch from the fire and walked away.

  Alex watched after him, uncertain what he meant. The cramps were getting worse. She feared for the baby. Her fingers felt over her abdomen, searching for some sign of movement. There was nothing. Only pain. Alex stretched out on her back, the earth cold and damp beneath her. Exhausted, she closed her eyes and feel asleep.

  She awoke with a start, the sky overhead pink with the first light of dawn. She blinked, uncertain where she was, then sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

  "Feeling better?" a friendly voice called.

  Alex jumped, turning quickly to see who it was. Her fear faded, as she saw the elderly gent coming toward her with an armload of wood. Alex nodded, pushing back the tattered blanket that covered her. The worst of the pain was gone, only a minor ache remained. "How long have I been asleep?"

  "Just a few hours."

  She struggled to her feet, still a little dazed. "I've got to go."

  "That's the trouble with you young people; you're always in a rush! You're not leaving until you get some food in your stomach. No arguments! I insist! I made us some nice goldenrod tea, best thing in the world to ward off a chill, and there's fairy spuds on that rock over there. You just go ahead and help yourself. Don't be shy."

  Alex sighed. It was useless to argue with the man. She took a few of the little tubers from the rock and sat down again. She peeled one and popped it into her mouth. It tasted surprisingly good.

  Otis was busily piling dead branches on the smoldering embers. Within minutes the wood was blazing, sending tongues of fire into the air. "Nothing more comforting to a man on a cold morning than a roaring fire and good company," he said, smiling at her. "Good aren't they?"

  Nodding in agreement, Alex popped another into her mouth. Pulling his sleeve down to protect his hand, he reached for the blackened pot. It rested on a flat rock sitting in the ashes, just to the side of the fire. He carefully poured some of the amber liquid it contained into an old tin can. "Mind your fingers now; it's hot," he warned as he passed it to her.

  "Thanks." Curls of steam rose from the can as she took a swallow then hurriedly set it down. It was hot all right, the metal burned her hand. She watched as he began to eat. He seemed a kindly old codger.

  "Eat up," he instructed. "It's a long walk back to the road. You'll need some fuel to stoke up the old fire."

  Alex took another sip of tea, and for the first time noticed a large, skin-wrapped bundle on the ground beside her.

  "That's for you," he announced, smiling as he chewed. "I got plenty of meat; I ain't gonna miss it none."

  She was stunned by his generosity. "That's very kind of you, but..."

  "No buts about it," he interrupted. "I told ya; I got plenty. Nothin's worse than a person goin' out huntin' and coming back with nothin' to show for it. I know it used to rile the hell outta me. Besides, if you didn't need the meat, ya wouldn't be out here wandering around in the first place, now would ya?" he argued. "You take it!"

  She felt guilty lying to the man. "I wasn't out here hunting. I was looking for someone," she confessed.

  "Who? There ain't no one out here but me."

  "A friend. I thought he might be camped somewhere along the river."

  "Kind of a late hour to go visiting wasn't it? You in some kind of trouble?"

  "No. I just wanted to make sure he was all right. There's trouble north of the flow. I found a body there today. He hunts up that way. I wanted to warn him."

  "You came all this way in the dark, through unfamiliar territory, to find him?" he questioned, looking concerned. "What kind of trouble? How bad is it up there?"

  "Really bad," she told him. "The body I found was butchered."

  "What do you mean butchered?" he demanded to know.

  "It had been gutted and skinned; looked like it was dressed out for meat. I found it hanging in a tree. Parts of the arms and legs were missing."

  He stared at her, dumbfounded, "Sweet Jesus! Are you sure?"

  "Yes. I'm sure," she responded grimly.

  "Do you know who it was?"

  "No. The head was gone. I'm sure it was a man though, a big man."

  "Your friend…he fit that description?"

 
Alex nodded, tears clouding her eyes.

  "Where exactly did you find it?"

  "Two maybe three miles north of the ranger station and a mile or so in from the road. I figure the people who did it must have a camp somewhere up there since they're taking the meat a little at a time."

  "Is that near where you are?"

  "Close enough."

  "Well there's lots of land around here; I surely wouldn't mind the company. I mean if you're looking to come south, this is as good a place as any."

  "I appreciate the offer, but I think we'll be safe where we are for now. There's nothing near us but the old ranger station, no camps, nothing to loot. The raiders are looking for food, clothing, tools, and weapons. They tend to stick to areas where there are hunting shacks and summer camps. As long as they don't know we're there, we'll be OK. As for the other..." she paused, looking uneasy. "There was no way of telling if they murdered him or if they just happened on the body and decided not to waste the meat. Even if they did kill him, I don't know that they'd do it again. With so much game in the woods, why would you hunt something that can shoot back?"

  "I hope for your sake you're right, but remember the invitation still stands. It would be nice to have neighbors. Gets lonely out here."

  "I'll remember," she assured him. Alex took another sip of tea, then stood up. "I better go now."

  Otis creakily got to his feet. Reaching toward the rock, he grabbed a handful of fairy spuds and passed them to her. "Here. Take these. And don't forget the meat!"

  Alex slipped them into her pocket.

  "You got water in your canteen?"

  She nodded, touched by his concern.

  He lifted the bundle and placed it in her arms. "There's a nice big deer haunch in there for you. It'll make a couple of good roasts."

  "Thank you,” she smiled, in gratitude. "I don't know how I can ever repay your kindness."

  "By not making yourself a stranger! This here's a good place to hunt. There's plenty of game. Lots of deer. Whenever you're shooting down this way, you could drop by, share a little tea and talk with a lonely old man. That'd be nice."

  "Will do," she assured him.

  "And remember, if you ever need anything, you know where to come. Door's always open. You be careful out there!" he said, patting her shoulder.

  "Thanks. You too!" Alex slung the bundle over her shoulder, waved goodbye, and was gone.

  Alex emerged from the forest onto the gravel road, relieved to see familiar landscapes again. A little further on was home. She could make it. Alex paused to rest, the persistent pain in her abdomen intensifying. Seized by a particularly sharp, stabbing cramp, she fell to her knees, dropping the bundle to the ground. She clamped her hands over her stomach, pressing as hard as she could. The pain was unbearable. There was a feeling of tremendous pressure. All at once a gush of warm liquid soaked her underpants and jeans. Alex looked down to find a dark stain spreading out from the crotch of her pants. She touched it, recoiling at the red smear on her fingertips. She was having a miscarriage, losing the baby! She stared at the blood, not knowing what to do, then struggled to her feet, fighting back tears. Alex hadn't wanted it, but… She was suddenly overwhelmed by grief. They were both gone. Lost to her forever. There would be no baby to cradle, no man to hold. She picked up the bundle and weeping, staggered home.

  Chapter 27

  Alex paced the porch, nervously pausing every now and again to check the tree line for any sign of movement. Deana and the girls hadn't returned yet. Nearly two o'clock and still no sign of them. The children had gone out earlier than usual this morning. Justin, Charles, and Seth had headed toward the garden plot to prepare the soil for planting, while Deana, Lindsey, and Michelle had set off on a foraging expedition. They'd all been told to be back by noon, in time for lunch. The boys had complied, returning to the camp at quarter to twelve. They'd rushed in and out, gobbling down their food so that they could hurry to investigate some fresh deer tracks they'd happened on. The girls, however, hadn't come home. At first Alex wasn't overly concerned, children weren't always punctual; but now, with them almost two hours overdue, she was worried. It was not like them to be so late. What could have delayed them?

  She gazed at the forest, the trees with their leafy branches reaching up to obscure the sky. It was so vast and wild. Even for all its unspoiled beauty, it remained sinister and menacing. Alex wanted to go out searching for the girls, but there was the welfare of the other children to consider. She couldn't just go off and leave the little ones to fend for themselves. Someone had to be here to look after them, standing guard against intruders. The wait seemed endless. As the minutes passed, what had first been vague feelings of apprehension morphed into gut-wrenching fear.

  Though she felt better, she was still weak, having spent the last nine days pretty much on her back, recovering from the miscarriage. She was still spotting; but, thankfully, the worst of the bleeding was over. Alex felt guilty for not having gone out today herself. She was well enough, even though the girls insisted otherwise. They'd been like mother hens, clucking their tongues in concern, demanding that Alex rest until she was fully recovered. She was growing more concerned by the minute. Deana was very responsible, she kept telling herself over and over, fighting a losing battle to remain calm and not panic. She knew the trails and would look after the younger girls. There was nothing to worry about! They'd just lost track of time; that was all! In a little while they'd emerge from the forest, smiles on their faces, arms laden with food, and all would be well. Or would it? She'd told them not to go far, warning them to stay well away from the ranger station. Had they listened? She could only pray that they'd heeded her words.

  Derek and Jasmine wandered by, each carrying a piece of firewood.

  "We're helping," Derek announced proudly. "Because you're sick."

  "That's very nice of you," Alex responded half-heartedly, her attention still fixed on the surrounding woods.

  "We're being good aren't we?" Jasmine smiled.

  "Very good," Alex agreed.

  "We're gonna fill the wood box and then we're gonna sweep and wash the floor for you. Aren't we Jazz?"

  The little girl nodded.

  "That's very sweet," Alex told them. "But I think just sweeping it will be good enough." She was remembering the last time they tried to be helpful and how they'd dumped three huge buckets of water on the floor when no one was looking, flooding the downstairs.

  "We don't mind. We like to mop," Derek assured her.

  "Everyone will be home soon and they'll track up all your hard work. Another time, OK?"

  He grudgingly agreed, looking disappointed, then walked into the house, Jasmine following close behind.

  Alex refocused her attention on the daunting expanse of green. If anything happened to those girls, she'd never forgive herself!

  Chapter 28

  Alex hurried down the trail, frantic that she'd waited too long already. While Charles stood watch over the camp, she and Justin headed for the path where the girls had last been seen. Her heart was in her mouth; she feared the worst. Something had happened to them. She just knew it!

  "Aunt Alex," Justin called, stopping her in her tracks.

  He was pointing down a narrow track that weaved through the brush. Rushing to his side, Alex could see what caught his attention. About 30 feet away was a spot where the grass had been trampled and clumps of plants uprooted. Coming closer, she saw the whorl of leaves that identified the plants as Indian cucumber. They'd been here gathering roots, but how long ago? She knew the path well. It ran parallel to the road, heading east toward the ranger station. Alex's jaw tightened. Up ahead, she could see fern fronds littering the banks of the brook. They'd been harvesting fiddleheads.

  "You think they went this way?" Justin asked in concern.

  She nodded, then set off down the path.

  They'd been following the trail for more than a mile, finding footprints in the muddy banks of Payne Brook, seeing evidence of their foraging
, yet still no sign of them. Her fear was mounting. At first she thought one of them had been injured: fallen, twisted an ankle, something, but now those fears were replaced by more ominous ones. They always traveled in threes. If there'd been an accident, one of them would have returned to camp to get help. She thought too about the plants, the varieties of toxic greenery that grew here, how easily the poisonous ones could be mistaken for edible species. Since Deana and Lindsey knew enough not to sample or pick anything they couldn't positively identify, the answer to what delayed them lay elsewhere. She recoiled, remembering the body twisting in the wind. Where the fuck were they?

  Her fear became blind panic, footsteps falling faster and faster. Why hadn't they listened? Anger welled up inside her. What had ever possessed Deana to do such a stupid thing? The girl could be headstrong and difficult at times. Her black moods, quick temper, and know-it-all attitude bringing her into conflict with others in the household…including her aunt. Alex had tried to be understanding. Been too easy on her. Allowing her to get away with more than she should have. But this…this was inexcusable! Ever since she'd banished Wolf, the girl's behavior had become intolerable. She was constantly fighting with the older boys and bullying the younger children into submission. Freed from the strict rules and constraints he'd imposed, she'd become an undisciplined brat, determined to get her way and do as she damn well pleased. It was one thing to be sassy, to brood, and storm around the house; but quite another to endanger the lives of the other children simply because she refused to do what she was told. When Alex finally caught up with her and got her home, she'd put an end to her adolescent rebellion. She'd paddle her ass but good! Alex shuddered. She just wanted them to be all right. Please God, let them be all right!

  Her thoughts turned to Wolf. Alex blamed herself for everything that happened…to him and now to the children. If she hadn't thrown him out, driven him away, he might still be alive and the girls safe and sound at home. They would never have dared venture beyond the allowed area if he were still here. They'd been afraid of him. In retrospect, it was that fear that kept them safe from harm. Alex had thought his strictness cruel, but it was actually proof of his love and caring. Alex had been too lax with the kids. Less an authority figure than a buddy or a friend. Never stern or demanding, she tried to reason with them rather than dictate to them. Allowing the line between adult and child to become blurred. She remembered her own childhood and her feelings toward her parents. They'd been strict. There'd never been a question in anyone's mind who made the rules and who meekly obeyed them. She'd loved her parents, but her compliance to their wishes wasn't just the result of her deep abiding affection for them. It was rooted in respect and fear! Any misconduct on her part resulted in swift and severe punishment. Though the kids loved her, they neither respected nor feared Alex. She'd wrongly allowed them to believe that their little tribe was a democracy. That they could disregard her orders without suffering any consequences. It was her misguided permissiveness that had brought them to this.