HADRON Dark Matter

by Stephen Arseneault

  Chapter 16

  _______________________

  Highway 460 heading to Montvale was a breeze. The traffic had picked up but was well below what would have been considered normal. Just before arriving at Montvale, Don set down in a close field to deliver his observations.

  Mace met him beside the helicopter. “Was beginning to think you kept going.”

  Don laughed. “You guys have all the eggs, so you don't have to worry about me running off.”

  “What's it look like?”

  “The road is a two-laner, easily passable. I spotted a small church about halfway up through the valley. We set down and I knocked on their door. The pastor was very friendly and agreed to let us park there for the night. I wouldn't expect any trouble from there. Mostly small farms. Should only take you twenty minutes or so to get there from here.”

  As Mace walked back to the others, parked on the side of the highway, Don lifted off to return to the church.

  Johnny was standing beside the open RV door. “Well?”

  “We turn up Goose Creek Road at Montvale, couple miles. After that we look for the sign of a small church on the left. We can park there for the night. Don okayed it with the pastor.”

  Johnny looked up at the sky. “Probably be getting dark in an hour and a half. Let's get settled in there so we can stake out our defenses.”

  “According to Don, we shouldn't have any issues. But I'm with you, a little caution won't hurt.

  Mace glanced up the RV steps. “How's the girl doing?”

  Jane replied, “Still crying. Vanessa has been sitting back there with her.”

  “Did we get a name?” Johnny asked.

  “Tonya Banning.”

  “Well... let's get off this highway before we draw in any unwanted attention.”

  They pulled into the church parking lot a short while later. The helicopter had landed behind the church building, making it hidden from the road.

  As they walked to the front door of the building, the pastor was standing there to greet them. “Welcome. Y'all are welcome to stay as long as you like, although, you may want to move away from the front here as the congregation usually parks there. Tomorrow is our Wednesday morning service. We've just decided on twice a week to pray for power to be restored.”

  Mace nodded. “We'll be gone at first light. We appreciate the kind offer, but we're hoping to be back on the road by then.”

  “I'm sorry, I failed to introduce myself. Henry Hargraves. I'm the associate pastor at the moment. Our senior pastor decided to up and move to Roanoke about a month ago. We were expecting a visit from a prospective replacement this coming weekend, but it's not looking promising. You folks going camping?”

  Mace shook his head. “In a way. We're coming from Norfolk. With the power out and no communications, things were getting a bit too unstable for us.”

  Henry gestured for the group to enter and have a seat at a set of folding tables. “I see. Unstable in what sort of way?”

  Johnny replied, “As in looting, home invasions, kidnappings, robberies, murders, sort of way.”

  The pastor pulled back in his chair. “Oh my. I had no idea it was that bad out there. Any word on when the power might be back on?”

  “That's the million dollar question. This is a worldwide event. National Guard and all have been called in, but we aren't sure the word has gotten out to most of them. And the government, so far at least, is holding them in place.”

  Jane said, “After the first few nights of unrest, we decided it was best to pick up and leave.”

  Henry asked, “You had trouble?”

  Jane sighed after realizing the can of worms she was about to open. “We had a gang attack a neighbor's house. We went in to defend them and ended up killing ten.”

  The pastor again pulled back. “Killing ten? What?”

  “All in self defense. These were extremely bad people who would have killed our elderly neighbors had we not intervened.”

  Henry Hargraves shifted uneasily in his chair. “That's... that's just shocking.”

  “One of them got away and brought back a dozen more. After a fierce gun battle at our house, they shot a police officer friend of ours. We killed them too.”

  The pastor sat with his jaw dropped.

  Mace said, “Jane, you might want to let that soak in for a bit.”

  “He's an adult. I'm sure he knows the evil that lurks out there in the world. Anyway, in our effort to get out of town, we had four men who tried to rob us. I shot 'em. They'll live though. Pinned each one in the shoulder.”

  Henry Hargraves retained the look of shock on his face.

  Jane gestured back toward the RV. “We made it to Burkeville and came upon another home invasion. A group of men killed the homeowners and kidnapped a sixteen year old girl.”

  Henry leaned forward. “Did you alert the police?”

  Jane frowned. “No. But we were able to track them down. We rescued the girl, but not before killing another ten.”

  The pastor returned a worried look. “You're saying you've killed thirty people in the last several days? Since the power went out?”

  “It isn't something we wanted to do. And it's been weighing on my conscience. Were we wrong to defend ourselves?”

  The pastor stood. “I have to say, if what you’re saying is true, it's a bit overwhelming. I mean, we hear about the occasional killing down in Roanoke, but this part of the country is usually pretty peaceful. I wouldn't have thought Norfolk was such a hotbed of crime.”

  Mace said, “You turn out the lights and the roaches come out, Henry. As Jane said, none of this was anything we went looking for.”

  Mace glanced back toward the RV. “We've got a young girl out there who witnessed her family being murdered. She didn't hesitate to pull the trigger on two of the attackers when we went in for the rescue. I know it's not the way most of us think or act, but the old adage of desperate times call for desperate measures has held true since we lost power.”

  The pastor stood and began to pace back and forth in thought. “That poor girl. You say she's with you out in the RV?”

  Jane replied, “Yes. Her family had just moved to Burkeville. Her closest relatives are all the way back in Montana. We couldn't just leave her. And with all the chaos, we couldn't risk dropping her with the sheriff. My heart is aching for her right now.”

  Tres came in the door. “Hey, there's several cars pulling up out front.”

  The pastor held up a hand with a worried look. “It's OK. We were just going to share a dinner between families. Do you have food? You’re welcome to share in what we have, but I would ask that you hold back on the stories. There will be young children.”

  Jane stood. “Mr. Hargraves, we would be honored to share a meal with you. I'm in need of being around good people for an evening. And we have food we can share as well.”

  The pastor gestured toward the tables where they sat. “Well, OK. If you like, you can set up right there. We'll put the food on these two tables over here. And later on, if you desire, we have a number of cots in back that you could use. We have a single shower you can make use of down at the other end of this room. Although we only have cold water now. This is our recreation hall. Picnics, weddings and such is what it usually sees. Oh, and Sunday school.”

  Jane smiled. “We thank you and your congregation for the kindness you're showing us, Pastor. I'm not sure what we could do for you as far as repayment other than a few dollars’ donation, but if you have anything else you need, we're here for the evening.”

  Henry scratched his chin. “Well, any of you know mechanics? Our church van has been acting up, won't start. Kind of leaves me stranded here. And I have several elderly congregants that I like to look in on during the day, especially now that the power is out.”

  Johnny and Tres both held up their hands.

  Jane said, “OK, you two go check out the van and we'll bring in some food.”

  As they walked back to the RV, Mace let
out a chuckle.

  Jane turned. “What?”

  “You just fit right in wherever you go, that's all. Quite the people person you are.”

  “Me? No. That would be Johnny. He's a pleaser. Drop him in a crowd and he’ll soon be right in the thick of any conversation. I practically have to drag him away from the shooting meets.”

  “Yeah, he's a talker alright. Glad he wandered into the bar when I was there. The both of you are probably the closest thing I have to friends.”

  Jane reached back, taking hold up Mace's upper arm and squeezing. “We're happy to have you around. Now, what's good for a church dinner?”

  Mace watched in amazement as Jane whipped up two dozen deviled eggs and was hard at work on a pot of rice. He was given the task of stirring a large pot of pork and beans. Vanessa joined them from the back, quickly making a dozen sandwiches.

  Jane looked over at Mace as he stirred. “You might want to eat hearty this evening. Another meal like this may not come for some time.”

  The church dinner was a reminder of how different the world, and the people in it could be. Singing, followed by conversation, and board games by candlelight, were about as far as one could get from the vicious, bloody gun battles of the days and nights before.

  When the evening had settled down and the congregants gone back to their homes, Mace sat in a chair out under the stars, sipping on a cup of hot apple cider.

  Johnny, Don, Cam, Tres and the pastor were sitting beside him. “Mr. Hargraves, thank you for giving us an evening of reality. Or at least what reality should be.”

  The pastor looked up at the stars. “You know, when I look up there at the heavens, I sometimes say a prayer of thanks for the life I've come to know. It's not without its heartaches and troubles as well, but they are different. We have two of our elderly members that are terminally ill right now. Neither have children that care, so I've been carrying them to their doctors and keeping them on their medications and such.”

  Mace said, “Giving care, it's a commendable profession you've chosen.”

  “It's a hard thing to do, watching someone you care about slowly die, but I feel blessed that I've been able to provide comfort for them in their time of need. And blessed that I got to know them.”

  Mace placed his hand on the pastor's shoulder. “The world would be a better place if it was filled with Henry Hargraves.”

  Johnny held up his cider glass. “Amen to that.”

  “Well, hold on. I'm not all that deserving. At eighteen, I held up a liquor store and shot a man. I was quite the thug coming out of high school.”

  Johnny said, “You? You hardly look the part.”

  “I spent five years in prison in Colorado. Came to know the Lord while I was there. Changed my life. Changed my whole outlook. Doors opened. And for the first time in my life, I saw people for their kindness. I wandered about for a dozen years after, finally ending up here eight years ago. The people took me in, even knowing my past, and I've been living my life ever since trying to repay them.”

  Henry looked at Mace. “What's your story, Mr. Hardy?”

  “Army Ranger. Saw too much combat. I've been tending bar and doing construction work ever since. Johnny here, and Tres, are two of my patrons.”

  Johnny eagerly added, “Oh, it's not like I drink a lot or anything. Just a social thing.”

  Mace laughed.

  Henry Hargraves reached out and grasped Johnny's forearm. “You don't have to answer to me, Mr. Tretcher. Besides, the Good Book has many examples of celebration. A little moderation is the key though, keeps you from going out to rob liquor stores.”

  As they sat in the parking lot talking, a meteor zipped across the sky, turning into an intense fireball before burning out.

  Henry sat back in his chair. “I do love being out away from the city lights.”

  Johnny chuckled. “That puts you just about anywhere right now. Maybe that was your aliens coming in, Tres. Tres here thinks the interference is from aliens.”

  Tres shook his head. “It was a joke. He's just trying to steer you away from his drinking problem.”

  Mace stood. “That the van you're having trouble with?”

  Henry nodded as he sat up in his chair. “Yep. I'm afraid it might need a battery now too. Just won't start.”

  Mace looked at Johnny. “You couldn't do anything with it?”

  Johnny frowned. “Actually, we were just getting started when the call for dinner came in. Forgot we were looking at it.”

  “You have a good spotlight in the RV? Maybe we could fix her up.”

  “Sure. I'll meet you over there in a sec.”

  Johnny walked over carrying a bright light and a small toolbox. “See if she'll turn over.”

  Tres was given the task of turning the key. The starter turned the engine over slowly, but it wouldn't start.

  Johnny laughed. “Sounds like a dying walrus. Let's see if she's getting spark.”

  A single plug was removed, reconnected to the plug wire and set against the exhaust manifold.

  Tres was signaled and the van engine turned over.

  Johnny held up his hand. “That's enough. She's getting spark. Let's check the fuel.”

  The plug was inspected before being returned to its respective hole. A screwdriver was used to loosen a clamp on the fuel line as it connected to the old carburetor.

  Johnny waved back as he aimed the rubber line toward the ground. “Give it a short turn.”

  Again the van engine struggled to turn over.

  Johnny held up his hand. “That's good. You see that? Barely dripped out. Next we take off the filter.”

  Thirty seconds later another wave was given to Tres. Gasoline pumped out onto the ground.

  “Ho! That's enough.”

  Johnny connected the filter-less fuel line to the carburetor. “Padre, looks like you may just need a fuel filter.”

  Tres was signaled and the van engine slowly grumbled to life.

  Henry smiled. “Oh wow, this is wonderful. I can't thank you enough.”

  Johnny held out the clogged filter. “You have someone that can install a new one if you get it?”

  “I do.”

  “Take this with you to the parts store. Should only be a few bucks. And you'll want to replace it as soon as possible, as all the crud in the tank and line will otherwise get in the carb and that will cost you a lot more time and effort to fix.”

  Henry smiled. “I will take care of it first thing after morning service.”

  As time approached midnight, they moved back into the rec-room and onto the cots Henry had so kindly pulled for them. Vanessa stayed in the RV with Tonya. First light would come early. Henry said goodnight and the candles were blown out.