Heckel Casey

by James Hoch

  "Yeah, I thought it looked good too."

  "Have you noticed how everyone is-?"

  "Spooked?" he queried, throwing another bundle of wood on the fire.

  As I watched him make his campfire, a brilliant thought formed in my mind and I got very excited.

  "Jack, I have a great idea to help ease the tension and calm everyone."

  "What?"

  "You'll have to wait and see. Just be ready around seven after everyone's had a chance to eat dinner. Oh, this is going to be great," I said as I turned to run back to my campsite.

  "Okay, I'll be ready," Jack yelled.

  All through dinner, I had a big grin on my face. Sela kept asking me what I was thinking and planning, but I said she'd just have to wait for the big surprise. At one point, she jumped on top of me and pinned my arms to the ground, threatening to tickle me until I told her. We rolled around in the dirt, laughing and tickling each other.

  Finally, I conceded and gave her one clue. "Do you remember MASH?" I asked brushing the dirt off Sela's back.

  "Of course, everyone remembers MASH. It was practically an institution unto itself. And most likely the best television program in history. The reruns were still going before the collapse. Why?"

  "That's all I'm going to say."

  After we cleaned up from dinner, we went over to check on the horses grazing nearby. I looked out over the field of campers and saw THE perfect spot. Looking around on the ground, I found some dead wood. I picked up a large bundle and started walking to the spot I picked out.

  "Where are you going?" Sela asked.

  "Follow me…and pick up some wood." Sela shrugged her shoulders and did as I asked.

  On the way to the spot, I swung by Jack's camp and told him to pick up some wood and follow me.

  I had an enormous grin on my face as I placed the bundle of wood on the ground. Laughing, I turned around and went to get more wood. After a few steps, I looked back to see both Jack and Sela giving me an odd look. As if a light bulb went on, they smiled and dropped the wood onto the pile. We kept getting wood, making the pile bigger and bigger. Slowly, I noticed other people watching us and one by one, they started to get wood for the pile.

  Half an hour later, the pile was huge. Sela came up to me laughing. "I remember that episode of MASH where they had a huge bonfire in the camp and it made everyone feel really good." Sela kissed me on the cheek. "You are brilliant!"

  "Every so often I have my moments."

  By the time it was almost dark, the whole camp surrounded the huge pile of wood, eagerly waiting for it to be ignited.

  Slowly the crowd began to chant, "Fire! Fire! Fire!"

  I put up my hand. The crowd went silent. "What do you think? Are we ready?" I yelled out to everyone.

  And the thunderous chant began again in earnest. "Fire! Fire! Fire!"

  "Okay, here we go," I yelled back, throwing a makeshift burning torch into the towering pile of wood. Little by little, the wood began to burn and within minutes it was blazing.

  The crowd cheered, clapped and laughed.

  "Isn't this a bit risky? I'm sure this fire can be seen for miles," Jack commented, looking a bit nervous.

  "Yeah, but we need it. Just look at the people. It's the first time in a while that we're hearing laughter. It's worth it," I said

  Sela grabbed my hand and motioned for me to grab Jack's hand. He in turn grabbed Vonnie's hand and motioned for her to take Missy's hand. Within minutes everyone held hands. Sela started the first wave and everyone laughed as that went around a few times. Someone in another row started a wave in the opposite direction. Row after row pulsated around the enormous bonfire.

  "If someone were looking down at these waves, they'd have a pretty good show," I yelled over to Sela.

  "Someone is watching down on us and I'm sure having a good laugh," Sela said, winking at me.

  I nodded and winked back. All that tension from everyone was getting released. Gradually, people sat down around the fire and visited with each other. The mood of the group had changed significantly. At one point, I looked around to see if I could see Jackson and Bobby. I didn't see either of them the whole evening. As the evening wore on, some folks left the group while others curled up and fell asleep. Both Sela and Jerky fell asleep next to me.

  "Hey, sleepyhead, let's go to bed," I said softly into Sela's ear.

  "Okay." She didn't move.

  I lifted her head off my thigh and Sela managed to get up. I held on to her waist as we started walking for our camp. Jerky stretched and followed. As we were making our way across the moonlit field, I spotted Jackson on the other side of the field near the tree line. He was holding on to Bobby. Maybe he was taking Bobby out to pee or something, I thought. The moon ducked behind a cloud. When it returned, they were no longer there.

  It didn't take long for the morning sun to warm things up. The large encampment was a beehive of activity. Everyone was packing quickly to get an early start. Sela was up before me that morning and she had already visited Tempest and Hope, making sure they had gotten water. When I stuck my head out of the tent, I was greeted by a big wet kiss from Jerky as well as a nip on the ear.

  "Ouch," I hollered.

  "That's just her way of saying she loves you," Sela said as she stirred a large pot of oatmeal.

  "I know, but it does smart a little," I said and crawled the rest of the way out of the tent.

  Sela came up to me, wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me for the longest time.

  "Whew, now that's a primo example of what a morning kiss should be every day. That was a model for every woman to emulate. Wow!" I exclaimed, trying to catch my breath.

  "Good morning, Heckel. I love you so much. What you did last night was pure genius. Everyone feels so good. Just look around. There's a smile on everyone's face," Sela said.

  "I love you, too…bunches and I'm so glad everyone is feeling better. Every so often I get a good idea. Hopefully, today we'll cross over the Colorado River without any problems. Maybe that bonfire sent a big message to Madeline. She cannot crush our spirits."

  "I'm sure it did."

  Chapter 24

  Madeline's new eyes and ears, otherwise known as Roger, lay on the ground, perched on a high hill overlooking the camp below. His elbows were on the ground, supporting a powerful set of binoculars. He spanned the campground, watching as people gathered wood for a large bonfire. Everything he saw and heard was immediately sent to Madeline.

  "What in the world are you doing, Mr. Casey?" Madeline said through Roger. She imagined if anyone had heard him, they would have thought he had an awfully feminine voice. Madeline giggled as though she were a junior high girl trying on a bra for the first time.

  More and more people joined Heckel, tossing wood onto a large pile.

  "Clever man," she mumbled when she saw the whole field watching in eager anticipation as the bonfire was lit. "Sure, I get everyone scared and riled up with my dreams," she said slamming his hand on the ground. "Then you come along with your big happy fire, have everyone hold hands and get warm fuzzies. Shit, I'm surprised you don't start singing 'Kumbaya.'"

  Madeline watched the ridiculous spectacle unfolding. With all the stupid crowd waves, she thought she was at a frickin' football game or something. The more she witnessed the obnoxious gathering, the more she got pissed off.

  Where were Jackson and Bobby? she wondered. "Maybe I should find a big fat cloud and have it dump on their festive congregation," she muttered looking up at the sky. "Crap, not a cloud in the vicinity. That's the southwest for ya. Damn."

  Madeline paced all along that hill watching and hearing their laughter all evening. As people started leaving, Madeline got antsy to talk with Jackson and Bobby. "Okay, Roger, let's go have us a little talk with our friends."

  She made her way down the hill and through some trees. Finally, she caught sight of Jackson and Bobby. They were at the edge of the field. Jackson had Bobby by the arm. It appears they didn't get all cozy
with everyone else. Madeline hurried along a dry creek bed and came up behind them.

  "Psst, Jackson. Over here."

  Jackson didn't move.

  He might be a great lay in bed, she thought, but he wasn't the brightest bulb left on the planet. "Jackson," she whispered a bit louder.

  He turned and faced Madeline. "Get over here, now," she said sternly, trying to sound as much like Madeline as she could.

  "Who are you?" he asked.

  "Madeline."

  "Really? Excuse me pal, but Madeline is much better looking than you," Jackson said with much sarcasm.

  "Jackson, come over here now. I am Madeline. I'm just using Roger here to be my eyes and ears, but for all intents and purposes, it is me," she now said sternly, making Roger's eyes glow red.

  The minute he saw Roger's bright red orbs, he knew.

  "Get up. You don't need to kneel to me."

  Jackson pulled Bobby along into a thick cluster of bushes. Madeline ruffled Bobby's hair. "How's my big guy?"

  Bobby glowered at Madeline and backed away.

  "Bobby, this is a nice friend. His name is Roger. He's a close friend of our favorite person, Madeline," Jackson said, pushing Bobby closer to Roger. He sheepishly stuck out his hand to shake.

  "So nice to meet you, Bobby," Madeline said, trying to sound more like Roger.

  "Bobby, how about you wait here a few minutes. I have something important to discuss with our friend, Roger." Jackson took Bobby and set him down on a large rock nearby. Within a few minutes, he fell asleep.

  "I think our little guy here wants to back out of his…um…duty," Jackson said quietly.

  Madeline looked over at Bobby, who had curled up on the ground. "Really? What makes you think that?"

  "I think it's that woman, Vonnie, who has poisoned him with all her goodies and niceties. I had a little talk with him, but I'm not so sure it's doing any good."

  Madeline put Roger's arm around Jackson's shoulder. She could tell it made him feel uncomfortable. "Perhaps, you are worrying too much."

  "With all due respect, Miss Madeline, but I really think we have a problem. Everyone is confident we will make the river tomorrow and…um…what if he doesn't do it?"

  Madeline kissed Jackson's cheek. He backed away nervously. She giggled, "Sorry, I couldn't resist that. Look, I will have a quick visit right now with our precious little warrior. He will complete his task. Now wait over there until I'm done."

  Madeline walked over to Bobby and sat down next to him. He was sound asleep. She rested a hand softly on the top of his head and entered his dream.

  "Hello, Bobby. It's Madeline." They were both seated on a thick branch high up in a tree overlooking the Colorado River.

  "Hello," Bobby said as he stared ahead at the people crossing over a bridge.

  "How are you doin'?" Madeline asked as she slowly rubbed his back.

  "Not so good. I don't want to use that stupid, awful-looking knife," he said defiantly.

  "It's just a game," Madeline replied.

  Bobby remained silent, staring ahead.

  "As I said, it's just like those old video games. Remember, I gave you a bunch to play with before you left?"

  "Yeah, they were fun."

  "Well, what you have to do is just like one of those games. And when it's all done, you will get tons of ice cream, more fun games, candy, new toys and lots more."

  Madeline could tell the wheels were turning and continued to slowly massage Bobby's back. She wanted to just push her energy into his back and make him like Roger, but no, it wouldn't work that way. The death of Heckel must be by an innocent and of his own free will, even if that free will was slightly manipulated.

  Bobby moaned softly, enjoying the backrub. "There will be lots of backrubs when you come back to me. Would you like that?"

  "Yes, ma'am," he whispered.

  "So, you'll finish the game?"

  "Um…okay. I guess so."

  "You remember how it all plays out, right?"

  "Yes, I do."

  "Well, I have to go now. You stay up here until I leave. I will see you again soon," Madeline said, kissing Bobby on the forehead. She jumped down from the tree and the dream slowly dissolved in Bobby's head.

  "Well, hopefully my little chat with Bobby will keep things on track. You just remember what you have to do," Madeline said to Jackson.

  "I'm ready to get this done with and return to you," Jackson said in a whiny voice.

  "Great," Madeline said. "By the way, Roger thinks you are very handsome."

  With a nervous grin, Jackson shivered.

  Madeline threw a chair, smashing it against the far wall. All the men in the room lowered their heads. She paced nervously around the room, thinking and calculating. No one said a word. She was now worried that something was going to go wrong out there at the Colorado River and in the end she would actually have to battle this little shit, Heckel. Her head hurt from all the tension. "What is the status of my force?" she bellowed.

  Everyone started talking excitedly. Madeline held up her hand and the room instantly returned to silence. She pointed her finger at one individual, sneered and said, "You."

  A portly, middle-aged man stood up and with beads of sweat streaming down his cheeks, said haltingly, "We have about two thousand men camped in the southern part of Washington, near Olympia."

  "Go on," she bellowed as she picked up a large leg from the smashed chair and played with it.

  "There are another three thousand or so camped in the Blue Mountains," he stammered.

  "Where the fuck are the Blue Mountains?" Madeline said, slamming the chair leg on the table next to the man speaking. "I don't have a frickin' atlas in my head."

  He defensively put his arms around his head and said, "They are in the eastern part of Oregon."

  "Thank you," she replied.

  "You're welcome. We are trying to add to those numbers with recent recruits we've gathered, but…um…there's a small problem that's…um…starting to pop up, and…um…" the man said.

  Madeline inched her way over to him and stood beside him. "Pray tell, what might that small problem be?" she asked very calmly.

  "Well, it seems that one of the camps, I think the one in the Blue Mountains, is experiencing an outbreak of…um…"

  "Cholera and dysentery," someone across the table spoke up.

  Madeline started laughing. "So, they got the squats. Big deal. Get them some…what do you all it, Ipecac or Pepto Dismal or whatever."

  Several men started to snicker.

  "Miss Madeline, I received news yesterday that the men that had the problems are improving. We were able to get a few doctors out to that camp," the same individual announced proudly.

  "Fine. Enough of this shit…pun intended," she said smacking the broken leg on the table and laughing. "It is still probably a couple of months away until the enemy reaches the designated area, and I want…"

  A man waved his hand in the air as if he were a kid in kindergarten needing to go to the restroom. "Excuse me, Miss Madeline, but why not attack them somewhere in California? Surprise them when they don't expect it."

  "Put your hand down. You look silly. What's your name?" Madeline asked walking over to the window.

  "It's Derek."

  "Derek, you seem like a bright individual," she said, still looking out the window and watching a young man with his shirt off cut the lawn. Hmm, she thought. Must remember to find out who that is. Yummy.

  "Thank you, ma'am."

  "I believe I've said before that I do not like to be interrupted."

  The room went mausoleum silent. Derek stood up instantly, pushed his chair over and ran for the door. Madeline waved her hand and the door locked. Anger inside her boiled over. The orbs of energy formed in her hands. She wanted to fling them at each of the miserable men at the table. While pacing the room, she watched the orbs build energy. Her insides seethed like molten lava. "Ah, it feels so good," she muttered. It felt more intense than any orgasm s
he had ever had. The power made her whole and alive. Madeline could feel her eyes roll up into her head as she bathed in the power.

  Finally, the energy subsided to where she was able to speak. "Derek, Derek, Derek," she muttered, walking up to him. The poor man had slumped to the floor and was crying. Madeline bent down, pulled him up and said, "It's okay now." She put her arm around him. "Derek, I'm going to tell you why your idea sucks." The minute she said that last word, the tension mounted in the room. "You see, Derek. This whole 'collapse,' as I've heard it called, has been orchestrated by forces way beyond anything your little pea brain could even possibly comprehend. The battle with Heckel and his wimps will take place outside of Bend, Oregon. That's where it has been preordained and that's where it will take place. Not Arizona, not Nevada and certainly not in any fucking California. Besides, I don't like California."

  Madeline looked up to see several men snickering. With blinding speed and using one long, highly polished fingernail, she slit Derek's jugular vein. Blood spewed out, splattering several men at the table. Derek staggered backward slightly, holding his neck, the very essence of life cascading down his fingers. He tried to speak, but his mouth was full of blood. He keeled over and landed on top of the large oak table. The crimson fluid trailed across the highly polished wood.

  The room was deathly silent again.

  Madeline walked back to the head of the table and said calmly, "Don't anyone piss me off. Got that?"

  The shock of what just happened lingered in the room as everyone watched Derek's blood stream down the center of the table, eventually spilling over the edge. Madeline smiled and said, "Anyone hungry? Lunch is on me."

  Chapter 25

  "That was some awesome bonfire last night, Heckel," Vonnie said as she, Missy and Bobby walked into our camp.

  "Yeah, it was a lot of fun," I said. "How'd you like it, Bobby?"

  He looked down, kicked the dirt and didn't say anything.

  Sela looked at Vonnie and Missy. They both shrugged and exchanged puzzled looks.

  "It sure was big, wasn't it?" I asked.