by Payne, T. L.
“We could even build one where our cabin used to be. It would be worth it. Being that close to the river would cut down on so much work, and not having to haul water for the garden and animals alone makes it worth all the effort.”
“But won’t it just flood again?” Harmony asked.
An image of Ron’s house underwater flashed into his mind. The flood that had hit the area a few years before the world went to shit was supposed to only happen once every thousand years. But after having a worse flood that spring, Zach wondered if that was a new normal.
“We could rebuild the levee down in the bottomland,” Zach said.
“That’s a lot of work, Zach. We don’t have the manpower for that much manual labor, and we need to use what little biodiesel we have left to run the tractors during harvest this fall,” Erick said as he spread out his sleeping bag on the ground opposite Zach and Harmony.
Although Zach knew he was right, he wasn’t ready to give up on the idea. He just knew they’d be better off back at the site his dad had selected. If they could make it work, it would make all their lives much easier. Not to mention, the hunting was good there.
Zach slid his arm around Harmony’s shoulders and pulled her close. Someday, they’d have children. He wanted to raise his kids on his dad’s land. Somehow, someway, he was going to rebuild the cabin and move him and Harmony back there.
Harmony leaned her head against Zach’s chest and closed her eyes. As he stroked her hair, Zach stared down at Harmony’s thin frame. He wasn’t sure he wouldn’t be tempted to join Nelson’s group if he didn’t have such a large group working together to support each other. As it was, they were struggling to find enough to eat with everyone all pulling together to do what needed to be done. They’d experienced frequent run-ins with hungry and desperate survivors. He couldn’t imagine what it was like for those not so fortunate.
When Maria tapped Zach on the shoulder at shift change, he had just fallen asleep. He had lain awake for hours trying to think where else they could look for the remaining materials for the cabins. Someone had rebar. He just needed to look in the right place.
“The battery died on the thermal scope,” Maria said as she handed him the rifle.
Zach placed the sling over his head and turned toward the road to start his patrol. “Who forgot to charge it this time?”
“I think Levi and Gene were on duty last night.” Maria yawned. “We’ll have to use the solar pack and charge it tomorrow.”
“That sucks,” Zach whispered. It was pitch-black out, and the thermal scope was the only way to catch anyone sneaking up on them in time to do anything about it.
As he walked along the road, Zach strained to tell if he could spot their campfire. He sniffed the air. With the stillness of the wind, the smell of smoke lingered. Still, without seeing the fire, intruders would have a difficult time telling where the smoke was coming from in the dark.
Zach continued his patrol on the outskirts of the camp. As he walked along the creek, the frogs stopped croaking. As he made his way along the bank, memories of a guys’ trip with his dad flickered at the back of his mind. They had been visiting one of his dad’s buddies down in Louisiana. He had taken them out to bayou to go frog gigging. He had been eight or nine years old and catching frogs had sounded fun until he realized what frog gigging really was. Zach heard a splash and shuddered. He had been hungry enough lately to eat frog legs, but nothing he had seen in Missouri looked big enough to make the effort worth it.
Harmony’s scream pierced the night, sending Zach running to reach camp. As he ran, he flicked the scope light on.
“Stop right there,” he heard Maria yell.
He fought back panic as he ran. Zach stopped about fifty feet from camp. He could make out five armed figures standing in a circle around a shorter figure.
“Harmony!” Zach yelled as he sprinted toward them.
“What are you doing just walking up on people like that, kid?” Erick said.
“My—my baby sister. I smelled the smoke,” the preteen boy said.
Zach ran to Harmony’s side. “Are you all right?”
Harmony slid her hand in his. “He just scared me.”
Zach felt a pang of guilt. He’d let the kid not only get close to their camp, but he was able to walk right up on them. Damn whoever forgot to charge the thermal. He should have insisted on two guards.
Aaron stepped behind the kid. “Raise your arms.”
The kid did as he was told.
Aaron ran his hands up and down the kid’s body searching for weapons. “He’s clean.”
That statement didn’t make Zach feel any better about him being able to sneak up on them. The outcome could have been catastrophic. They lived in a dangerous world now, and one tiny mistake could cost him everything he held dear. He was chastising himself for his walk down memory lane, thinking about his dad, when Harmony slid her hand free and approached the kid.
Maria shined the flashlight in the kid's face. He blinked and raised his hand to shield his eyes.
“Where’s your sister?” Harmony asked, stepping in front of the light’s beam.
The kid looked around her to Erick, Aaron, and Maria.
“They aren’t going to hurt you. You just startled us is all. Now, you mentioned you had a sister. Where is she?”
The boy looked up but remained quiet. Harmony leaned forward and placed her hand on the boy’s shoulder. “It’s all right. I just don’t want anything to happen to her while you’re here with us. Is she somewhere safe?”
The kid nodded.
Harmony straightened. “Good. I’m glad. You said you smelled the smoke. Were you concerned about fire? Did you think the field was on fire?”
He glanced around Harmony in Zach’s direction. His eyes widened, and he took a step back. Zach looked down, then lowered his rifle. Harmony glanced over her shoulder. “I’ve got this, Zach. Could you check on the horses?”
“I’m not…”
“I said…” Harmony raised then lowered her voice. “I said I’ve got this. Please, make sure the horses are still secure.”
“I’ve got her,” Maria whispered as he passed her on the way to where they’d left the horses.
“Okay. What’s your name?” Harmony continued.
“Dillon.”
“Great, Dillon. Did you see us set up camp earlier?”
“No.”
“Harmony, we don’t have all night,” Erick said, stepping in front of her. “What do you want here, kid?”
Dillon took two steps back and started to turn and run. Erick caught him by the back of his shirt and hauled him off his feet.
Harmony grabbed Erick’s arm and stepped between them. “Erick! Stop! He’s just a scared kid.”
“In case you haven’t noticed, in the apocalypse, everyone is a threat,” Erick said, yanking his arm away.
Zach pivoted and stepped toward them. Harmony twisted her head his direction and pointed. “Horses!” Zach started to turn, but anger got the better of him. Where had his sweet innocent Harmony gone? Why was she taking risks she knew they couldn’t afford? This boy could be a decoy. Maria had stepped back and was scanning the field through her scope.
“Harmony. We need to pack up and clear out. That kid could be a decoy,” Zach said, verbalizing all their fears.
Harmony grabbed Dillon and pushed him behind her. “He’s just a scared little boy.”
“I’m not a little boy. I’m ten years old.”
Harmony turned and grabbed both his arms. “Dillon, my friends here are concerned about the rest of your group coming and causing problems for us. Tell me where you came from and how many are with you.”
“No one. It’s just my sister and me.”
Harmony leaned in close to him and lowered her voice. “Dillon, I need you to tell me the truth. This is serious.”
“I’m not lying,” Dillon said, starting to cry. “I promise. I’m telling the truth. It’s just Chloe and me. My grandma died last
week. There’s nobody left.” Dillon stood erect, his head tilted up, staring her in the eyes.
Zach’s shoulder’s slumped. It was an all too familiar story these days. Parents and grandparents who’d someone how managed to hang on through the winter, getting by on stored goods, had sacrificed their own health to feed their children, often starving themselves in the process. If true, this would make the fifth time orphaned children had been found this month alone. It had been almost impossible to find foster homes with everyone struggling to feed their own family. The pastor of the church in Raymondville had taken them in.
“Where’s your sister now?” Harmony asked.
“She’s asleep in a car down the road. We’re on our way to Rolla. Momma said there was a shelter there with food.”
“Where is your mother?” Erick asked.
Dillon lowered his head.
“Do you have any other family in the area?”Aaron asked.
Maria joined Zach by the wagon. “You believe this kid?” she asked.
“I think we should check it out. We don’t want another ambush,” Zach said.
“All my family is dead. My daddy went to find food last winter. He never came home. Momma went to see Jesus after that. Grandma was all we had left.”
Zach felt a hitch in his throat. He thought of Emma. He shuddered to think what might have happened to her had Maddie not rescued her in Chicago. Harmony knew what it was like to find yourself alone in the world. When her parents didn’t return from their cruise, she was all alone too, abandoned and scared. She had only been fifteen but had a house full of food when he and Maddie had found her. Zach knew Harmony couldn’t walk away from these children without trying to help them. He understood how she felt, but it put everyone at risk.
Harmony took Dillon by the hand and looked back at Aaron and Erick.
“Can you take us to your sister? We want to check on her,” Harmony said.
Dillon pulled away from her grasp. Harmony took a step back and held her hands up, palms out. “We have food for her.”
Dillon glanced at Erick and Aaron.
“We have grape jam,” Erick said.
Dillon’s eyes grew wide.
“Will you take us to her?” Harmony said as she walked back to her sleeping mat and picked up her pack. “Would you like to eat a piece of jerky while we go?”
Dillion smiled and bobbed his head.
Chapter 9
Henson Farm
Texas County, Missouri
July 14th
Just after dawn, Larry pulled the wagon to a stop at the checkpoint near the Henson farm. Even though Larry vouched for the three riders with them, the two guards on duty still made Stephens, Hogan, and Collins dismount and then checked their weapons.
“I said they’re with us,” Larry said as the taller of the two inspected Stephens’s saddlebags.
“I know. But we were told to do one-hundred percent checks on people we don’t recognize. I’m just following orders,” the male guard told him.
“It’s okay. I understand,” Stephens said, stuffing a paperback book back into her bag.
“Can we go now?” Larry huffed.
“Yeah. You’re good. Say hi to Ms. Beth for me, will you?” the female guard asked.
Larry gave her a nod and shook the reins. The team of horses pulled the wagon through the checkpoint as Stephens rode close behind them. After searching Hogan and Collins, the two guards closed the gates behind them. Large boulders and barbed wire had been used to restrict access to the road leading to the Henson and Grayson farms. Similar checkpoints were manned north of the Big Piney River near Slabtown Road and Ron’s farm. The rugged landscape acted as a deterrent to anyone on foot. The trails through what had been the Paddy Creek Recreation Area had been closed with large boulders. So far, they hadn’t had any unexpected visitors since the barriers had been put in place.
As they approached, Maddie could see that Gene manned the guard post at the road in front of the Henson farm. He jumped down and unlocked the gate as the wagon pulled up.
“I wasn’t expecting you guys back so soon. Who you got with you?” Gene asked.
“They say they're with the government,” Larry said, tapping the horses with his whip and leading them through the gate.
Gene stared at the three riders as he shut the gate behind them. “What government?”
“The United States government,” Hogan said as he rode past him.
“Huh? You from the IRS? I’m going to file my taxes as soon as you get the lights back on, I promise,” Gene smirked.
Beth and Krista emerged from the small barn closest to the house as Larry pulled the wagon around to the stables. Maddie raised her hand and waved as they passed her mother. Beth raised both hands in a questioning gesture. As the wagon slowed, Maddie jumped off and approached Beth and Krista. “Stephens, you and your men can dismount here. Krista will take your horses around and get them fed and watered.”
Krista didn’t look happy to miss hearing about the strangers. Stephens turned and nodded to Hogan and Collins, and the three of them climbed down from their horses. Stephens pulled a rifle from the saddle scabbard and approached Maddie.
“Is breakfast ready?” Lugnut asked, walking up behind Beth and Krista.
Maddie was relieved to see him. They’d once again made it safely back from a mission—something that seemed to get risker as time went on.
“Breakfast will be ready in about twenty minutes. There’s just enough time for you to get cleaned up,” Beth said, raising one eyebrow. Even in the apocalypse, Beth didn’t allow dirt in her kitchen.
Maddie nodded toward the house. “Let’s go in. We’ll gather everyone, and you can tell us all what the government has been up to all these months.”
“What?” Beth asked.
“Mom, this is Stephens, that there is Hogan, and he’s Collins. They’re with the government. They’re here on a secret mission they’re just about to fill us all in on,” Maddie said, pointing to the three strangers.
Maddie grabbed Lugnut’s arm and led him around to the side yard where it was more private. “What did you find?” she asked.
“You tell me about Stephens first.”
Maddie filled Lugnut in on everything she’d learned from Stephens about the government and the gold shipment. He looked as shocked as she had. Even the prospect of an actual government functioning somewhere was beyond shocking. In the midst of all the chaos, that was the one thing missing that was absolutely necessary in order to ever start to rebuild. The country—or what was left of it—had to have a functioning government founded on the rule of law and someone to enforce it.
“Let’s go in, and you can hear it for yourself,” Maddie said.
The water in the wash pan was black from everyone before her taking their turn washing off the road dirt. Maddie scrunched her nose as she stared down at it.
“I’ll go fill the bucket,” Jacob said, picking up the empty five-gallon bucket by the sink. Lugnut held the door open for him and in bounded a cheerful redhead followed by Larry’s two grandsons.
“Maddie!” Emma squealed. “You’re back already?”
When she spotted Stephens, her eyes widened, and she took two steps back.
“It’s all right. They’re with the government,” Maddie said. She pointed to the long oak table just off the kitchen. “Stephens, you guys can have a seat there at the table.”
Emma’s eyebrows raised. “What government?”
“The federal government.” Maddie ruffled Emma’s messy curls as she walked through the kitchen.
“Where’s Fred?” Maddie asked.
“I’m up here napping,” Fred called from the stairs.
“They brought the government, Mister Fred,” Emma yelled back.
Fred appeared at the bottom of the stairs. He was running his hands through his long white hair, trying to tame the mess.
“The government?” Fred said, pulling up the straps of his overalls as he entered the kitchen.<
br />
“You’re going to want to hear this,” Maddie said, pulling out a chair for him.
Although the Henson family had been quite large and their kitchen and dining room ample for their needs, the house wasn’t built for the thirty or so people who were served meals there every day now. The long farmhouse-style table only seated twelve. Every square inch of the home was used for sleeping, cooking, or eating. The small cottages and mobile homes that Jacob and his family had placed on the property housed the overflow.
As usual, Larry sat at the head of the table. Ella placed a bowl of oatmeal in front of him.
“No eggs?” Larry said.
“You took them to the market, remember?” Ella said.
Larry scowled.
Ella turned to Stephens. “Can I get you some oatmeal? We have cinnamon.”
“I wouldn’t want to put you to any trouble,” Stephens said.
Maddie studied her. It had been a while since they’d had guests for a meal. She found it suspicious that Stephens would turn down the offer. No one turned down food these days. Ninety percent of the population was undernourished.
“I’ll take some,” Hogan said, eyeing Larry’s bowl. He obviously didn’t have the same scruples as Stephens.
“How about I bring the pan and anyone who wants some can serve themselves,” Ella said, turning back toward the stove.
Collins looked like he’d won the lottery. He and Hogan weren’t eating regularly, that was evident.
“How long have you guys been on the road?” Maddie asked.
Collins glanced over to Stephens and then to Hogan. Hogan shrugged. “A couple of weeks.”
After Ella placed the pan in the middle of the table, she passed out bowls and spoons. Hogan and Collins dug in as if they hadn’t eaten in a long while. Stephens, too, filled her bowl to the brim.
The back door banged open, and Jacob placed the bucket of clean water by the sink. Behind him were Dustin and Rank followed by Aims and Harding. As Maddie washed her face and hands, Stephens repeated what she’d told them on the road to the trade fair. Everyone was glued to her every word as she described the new president’s plan to put the country back together.