Praying for War: The Collin War Chronicles

by W. C. Hoffman

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” said Collin. “And you still haven’t answered my question about the attackers.”

  Anna didn’t say anything. She just watched Pendell, with a curious look on her face.

  Pastor Pendell put a hand on Collin’s shoulder to urge him on down the road, but paused a moment, looked down at his hand and let go. He smiled somewhat sheepishly.

  Collin turned and continued walking slowly.

  “We are all quite surprised you woke up. You certainly lasted the longest after coming down with the fever. Then several days ago, your vitals were improving and we put a twenty-four hour watch on you to see what might happen. And here you are walking around after all those years in a bed.” Pastor Pendell looked at him with wide eyes, as if he expected Collin to sprout angel wings and a halo.

  Or maybe he just wanted Collin to feel the amazement he did.

  Collin did feel something. Hunger.

  Sixteen years? he thought. He was surprised it was possible to live that long without moving or eating real food.

  “How am I able to walk after sleeping for so long?” he asked.

  Pendell gestured to Anna.

  “Electric stimulation combined with muscle manipulation and massage therapy. The other nurses and I would come in a couple of times a day to hook you up to a machine that would send little electrical pulses to stimulate your muscles and simulate real exercise,” she said. “You still lost some body mass and a lot of your strength, but you seem to have fared amazingly well.”

  “Thank you,” Collin said simply.

  Anna blushed a little. “It’s what we do. Take care of the sick and heal the living.”

  “I mean it. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  They walked another quarter mile before they were firmly in residential territory. The moon glowed brightly above them and he could see fairly well.

  Goshen sat among low hills and flat river land, at the feet of a towering dam and rugged mountains. Details were impossible to see at night, but he got a good sense of the terrain. As for the neighborhood, most of the houses he saw were ranch-style homes on large lots with fenced yards. In some places, Collin could see slivers of light peeking out from behind window coverings. Livestock seemed to fill the yards, from cattle to goats and sheep to pigs. A few houses even had large chicken coups and wire mesh on the fences.

  A dog barked up the street. Collin couldn’t help but smile. The sound reminded him of his dog; he knew he had one, but the name was slow to materialize in his mind.

  “We have been able to survive because we were more livestock focused than most areas of the country, which relied heavily on produce.” The pastor pointed out a few of the animals. They apparently had alpacas and llamas too. A few lay on the ground huddle close together along the fence line. One lifted its head and stared at them as they passed by, its large eyes twinkled in the moonlight.

  “If you look over here, this bridge is the only one in the valley that connects the two banks of the river,” said Pastor Pendell. “Our farmers tend fields on the other bank. Mostly feed for the livestock, but we also have some produce.”

  “You’ve emphasized the livestock twice now. Why don’t you grow much produce?”

  “Mr. War-”

  “Please call me Collin,” he said, cringing at the formal use of his name.

  “As you wish, Collin. How much do you remember prior to succumbing to the fever?” asked Pendell.

  “Yes, what are your last memories,” Anna chimed in eagerly. “My mom, Dr. Horner, will want to know.”

  Collin thought for several long seconds. He knew he had a family, a dog, a house, and presumably a job. No names came to him, and the image in his mind of his family was blurred beyond recognition. Although he’d been to Montana in the past, he had no recollection of how he ended up here.

  “Enough to question why I’m in Montana.” Collin felt he shouldn’t offer too much information. He didn’t know these people. He had no idea if he could trust them. Sure they kept him alive, but to what ends?

  “That is a mystery isn’t it? All we know is you ended up in our care and we’ve extended that care to you for nearly two decades.” Pendell smiled.

  “I appreciate that.”

  “Do you remember anything specific?” said Anna.

  “No, not really,” Collin said. Control the flow of information; don’t reveal more than you have to, a voice in his head warned. “I do appreciate your hospitality though.”

  “The bridge is our connection to the outside world. It is also our weak point.” Pastor Pendell look at the structure with a mixed expression.

  “Against the Vipers?” Collin said.

  Pendell nodded after a brief flicker of shock passed over his face.

  Then a man started across the bridge toward their group. One of the soldiers flanking Anna stepped forward and shouted a challenge to him. The man must have responded appropriately because he was allowed to approach their group.

  Everyone turned toward him, waiting to discover what brought him over.

  “Good evening Pastor. Major,” he said nodding at the officer without saluting.

  Maybe they don’t do that anymore, Collin thought.

  “The perimeter is secure,” he said. “We sent out canine patrols, and we should know shortly how the intruders penetrated our security.”

  “Very well,” said the Major. “Bring me your report as soon as you have anything. Wake me up if you have to.”

  “Yes, sir.” The soldier hustled off back to his post.

  When the man was out of earshot, Collin turned and asked, “Was it the Vipers who attacked me?”

  Pendell nodded again.

  “What do they want?”

  “What do lawless heathens always want?” Pastor Pendell asked. A rhetorical question. “Influence, power, and especially these days - resources.”

  “No chance of converting them?” Collin smirked.

  “We’ve tried various methods, but the devil has his talons sunk deep into those tortured souls.”

  Collin saw Anna clench her jaw. She caught him looking at her and turned away.

  “Hmm...well, any chance I could trouble you for some food? I’m starving,” Collin said with a chuckle.

  Pendell smiled. “We’d never let you starve. Follow me, we’ll stop by the cafeteria.”

  They continued walking down the gravel street.

  Anna trailed behind the Pastor and Collin.

  “What kind of defenses do you have out there?”

  “The Eagles are our soldiers,” the pastor said, gesturing at the men with guns. “High up in the trees along the river bank, we have trimmed back branches and installed old hunting tripods that serve as fighting positions. Eagle’s nests, as we call them.”

  Pendell sounded proud of those. Maybe they were his idea?

  “Any defenses on the ground? At night, those watch towers are much less effective since you don’t have lights. Unless you’ve equipped them with night-vision goggles that is,” said Collin without much thought. He paused, surprising himself with the knowledge.

  Collin heard a snort behind him. He glanced back and saw the Major sneering at him.

  “We have some,” said Pastor Pendell dismissively. “But let’s focus on getting you some food.”

  It wasn’t long before Collin made out the hulking form of the church in the darkness. Even in the darkness, he could tell the building was painted white, like most churches. It practically glowed in the moonlight. The building itself was medium sized with two short wings and a tall steeple, which almost certainly housed a bell to summon the faithful on Sunday mornings.

  Pastor Pendell looked ready to invite Collin in, but a ringing sound filled the air, near the church but not from the church. High pitched and melodic, it sounded like wind chimes or a triangle.

  “What’s that?” Collin asked.

  “Ah, it’s supper time,” said Pendell. “I told you we’d get
you taken care of.”

  Collin chuckled.

  “What’s funny?”

  “I remember my grandparents called it supper, too.” He chuckled again. “I always thought it was odd and old fashioned.”

  “Well I’m certainly not your grandparents,” Pastor Pendell said with a smile.

  “Probably old enough though.”

  “Hey now,” Pendell said with a laugh. “But you’re right we are old fashioned here.”

  “You don’t say.”

  They both chuckled.

  Their laughter trailed off and silence filled the air. The mood was right for his inquisitive mind.

  “Pastor, I noticed there are no lights around town. But the equipment at the hospital had electricity. Did you guys lose power in the attack?” Collin said, glancing at Pendell before continuing his assessment of the town. He knew intuitively any information he gathered now, would come in handy at some point in the future.

  “No.” Pendell shook his head. “We have a steady power supply thanks to our hydroelectric dam. Years ago, Major Logan recommended better light discipline. It was a prudent recommendation and easy enough to implement.”

  “Hydro, huh?” Collin noticed the looming form of the dam earlier. Instead of letting on what he figured out on his own, it was interesting to see what the pastor would divulge on his own.

  “We are lucky. Truly blessed. We get it from the dam on the river. It was completed before...” He went silent.

  Awkward silence.

  “Before what?” Collin asked.

  Pastor Pendell turned and look Collin in the eyes. His gaze was serious.

  “Before the Rapture.”

  Collin suppressed a laugh. Was this guy serious?

  “The what?”

  “The Rapture. They finished the dam many years before the start of the Rapture, when the whole world was consumed by hell, God took his chosen.” His voice was reverent, soft yet firm in his conviction.

  “You mean the fever you and Anna talked about?”

  “It was the Rapture, my son.”

  “Forgive my ignorance, Pastor, but if it was the rapture, why are you still here?” Collin was truly confused by the divine attribution to this fever they kept mentioning.

  Pendell nodded solemnly. “The Lord works in mysterious ways. For a long time, I pondered that question and then it came to me during prayer. I realized I needed to stop feeling sorry for myself. The Lord doesn’t give up on us - any of us - and there are still people to bring into the flock. I am his shepherd.”

  “I see.” Collin didn’t, but he played the role of sympathetic outsider. No sense in stirring up trouble over ideological differences.

  Another silence settled over them, so he turned toward the church. “Nice place you have here, Pastor.”

  “Like I said, we have been blessed. There will be time for a tour, and prayer if you’d like, but first let’s enjoy the Lord’s bounty.” Pastor Pendell looked Collin over again and made a tsk, tsk sound. “This will not do. If I bring you to the table looking like that it may be the end of me.”

  He waved over one of the Eagle’s, a man roughly the same size. “We can’t have our guest showing up to supper looking like this. Give him your uniform shirt, please.”

  The man hesitated, shot Collin a dirty look, then pulled the uniform shirt over his head and tossed it carelessly at Collin.

  “Perhaps we can discuss my family’s location and this...fever,” said Collin, as he took off his own shirt. He balled it up and handed it to the soldier before he put on the clean uniform. Collin was eager to learn as much as possible about these questions.

  “Much better,” Pastor Pendell said.

  “How about my family and the fever?”

  “All in good time, Collin.” Pastor Pendell turned and spoke in a low voice to Major Logan.

  Evasive and preachy, Collin thought. But he would get his answers. Eventually.

  Major Logan turned and barked a few orders. His soldiers rushed off in different directions to follow his commands. Only a few remained to join them for supper.

  Collin watched them go, evaluating. He looked around and was surprised to see that Anna had wandered off.

  “Good, good. We’re all set. Let’s go inside,” Pastor Pendell said.

  They made their way to a low, medium-sized building that vaguely resembled the outside of a school administration building Collin had seen at some point in his life. Inside the cafeteria, dozens of families sitting at long tables. The kind of tables where the seats are attached and the surface is little more than laminated particleboard. Everything was clean and organized, which was a drastic change from the poor condition of the hospital.

  Conversation tapered off and everyone turned to stare at the newcomer. People here weren’t shy at all about staring at him.

  A plump woman with golden hair overgrown with gray, rushed over. Her round cheeks flushed pink from the exertion while she nervously smoothed out her purple dress.

  “Greetings Pastor,” she said. Then she looked at Collin with a playful smile. “Hello, my name is Doris.”

  She offered her soft hand.

  “I’m Collin. Nice to meet you Doris.” Collin took her hand in his and gave it a courteous shake.

  “Doris is our kitchen manager,” said Pastor Pendell. “She does a fantastic job keeping our stomachs filled with delicious food. Not to mention, keeping the dining facility running smoothly.”

  “Thank you, Pastor,” Doris said shyly. She looked back at Collin. “Welcome back from the sleep. Please come eat, you must be famished.”

  “You have no idea.” Collin smiled wide and followed her to a table.

  Chapter Four

  Everyone held hands, heads bowed, as Pastor Pendell said grace.

  Collin peeked around, taking advantage of the distraction to scan the room unobserved. It was a large room, with white walls and fluorescent ceiling lights that they had replaced with something more efficient. Shutters covered the windows, likely part of the light discipline Major Logan recommended.

  His face tingled. Collin glanced over and saw Major Logan staring hard at him, lips curled into some kind of snarl or sneer. Collin wasn’t sure, but no matter how he cut it, the guy had a problem. And he had no idea why.

  “In the Lord’s name we pray,” Pendell said, finishing his prayer. Collin dipped his head back down.

  “Amen.”

  The response reverberated in the room filling it with a sense of unity.

  When Collin looked up, Major Logan was all smiles and bright eyes.

  Silverware clanked, glasses clinked, and the solemn mood gave way to conversation and the laughter of children. For some reason, Collin was caught off guard by the sounds of children. Their voices were a welcome addition to the evening. He watched them for a moment before turning his attention to the meal before him.

  Collin looked down at the lunch tray, so typical of public schools and other institutions. He’d been served a baked chicken leg, two meatballs, a large scoop of mashed potatoes with a generous wedge of bread atop it, and a mix of grilled vegetables.

  “Don’t be shy Collin,” said the Pastor. “Dig in, and if you want more, just take your tray to the window over there.” He pointed over Collin’s shoulder where a middle-aged man and woman stood waiting to dish up more food.

  Collin took a bite of the mashed potatoes. When he looked up, he realized dozens of people were watching him.

  He smiled and raised his fork in a small informal salute. They smiled back, a few saluted, and everyone went back to eating, apparently satisfied.

  Through a mouthful of food, a cheerful looking Asian man asked, “So tell us, was it really Anna’s kiss that woke you up?” His eyes crinkled slightly at the edges as he smiled brightly. Laughter came from all the tables around theirs.

  A woman gasped, her cheeks turning a rosy pink. “Koby!”

  Collin couldn’t help but chuckle. He looked at the woman who scolded the man, a woman he as
sumed was Anna’s mom, Doctor Horner. “Anna is too professional for that.”

  “Thank you,” she said, stabbing at the meat on her plate while shooting an evil look at the man.

  “Koby, maybe you should introduce yourself,” said Pastor Pendell.

  “Sorry, my name is Gary Kobyashi,” he said with a beaming grin. “Most people call me Koby.”

  “Nice to meet you, Koby,” Collin said. “What do you do here?”

  “Other than harass the rest of us?” Major Logan grumbled.

  Dr. Horner and the pastor smiled.

  “I run the hydro plant, which provides all of this glorious electricity we are now enjoying.” Koby gestured up at the lights and looked pointedly at his detractors. “I also manage the irrigation system for the crops, among various other tasks the Council assigns me.”

  Collin nodded his head and cleaned the meat off his chicken leg. He wiped his mouth on his cloth napkin, it looked slightly worn and faded along the edge, but not bad all things considered.

  “I’m sure you’ve guessed by now, this is Anna’s mother, Doctor Julie Horner,” said Pendell.

  Collin smiled and nodded at Dr. Horner. “I figured that. Nice to meet you, doc.”

  “You too, Collin.”

  Kobyashi made loud kissing sounds setting off another wave of laughter from the surrounding tables.

  Pendell gestured at the next man. “This is Major Logan,” he said loud enough to be heard over the laughter.

  “What do you do?” Collin asked Major Logan, knowing full well, but enjoying a chance to needle him. He had a feeling it would be important to understand how this man would respond to him.

  “I’m sure you gathered that I’m in charge of security, law enforcement, and military operations,” Logan said evenly although his eyes narrowed slightly.

  “Like at the hospital?”

  Silence fell across the room. Some might say he took it too far considering they’d just met, but Collin felt he had some leeway, being the new guy.

  Major Logan tightened his grip on his silverware and cleared his throat. When he spoke, it was slow and tempered, “Even the best defenses can be breached. The fact that you’re here, after all this time, I think, is testament to our effectiveness. Wouldn’t you say?” He cocked he eyebrow at Collin.