I stayed toward the back and watched and listened as the kids sang. I didn't realize I was crying until they finished singing and Heather asked if there was a song I'd like to hear. I wiped my eyes and explained I hadn't meant to interrupt. I just wanted to check on things and see if I could do anything for them. She said they were fine and thanked me for stopping by. As I turned to leave, Heather started the kids on another song and I quietly exited feeling better than I had in ages. I had a new thought.
We actually did have something to be thankful for this year. I needed to talk to Jim and see if we had the food to spare on a Thanksgiving feast. An old time dinner with the entire village attending, just like the first Thanksgiving the Pilgrims celebrated. We were the Pilgrims and The Dell was our new world ready to provide for us. I hoped this would reignite the sense of community that had been damaged after our initial arrival and help to bring us back together again.
I found Jim in his office and told him my newest idea. He was immediately enthusiastic. He said he thought this was exactly what we needed. A chance to get together, relax and not have to discuss the business of trying to stay alive. He said he'd talk to Gwen, who now ran the General Store and over saw the maintenance of our supplies, about what we had that could be spared for the feast.
He suggested I talk to our two pastors and get their help in planning the celebration. I told him I would and asked him to keep the idea quiet for now. I told him that I thought it would be a good idea if I asked Reverend Ballard and Father Sims to make the suggestion as if it came from them and not me. Jim asked why and I explained some hurt feelings still existed out there and they might think I was trying to make amends. He looked puzzled. "Isn't that what you're trying to do?" he asked. I said yes, but I didn't want it to look like that. He said okay, but still looked puzzled.
I tried to explain that as the leader I had to look strong especially now that I had made such a point of it at the meeting. If I appeared to be apologizing now it could be taken as a sign of weakness and we couldn't afford that right now. If the celebration was someone else's idea that I approved of it might be more acceptable, even to the ones that were still angry. As I left his office, I still wasn't sure he'd gotten it but he decided to play along and keep it quiet until our Pastors made the suggestion to the group.
Over the next week the idea of a celebration took on a life of its own. The two Pastors had thought a community Thanksgiving dinner a splendid idea and said they would do as I asked. They would make the suggestion first to their respective congregations and then speak personally to any others who didn't go to church. Jim told me that Gwen had checked her inventory and we had enough for a dinner but would need a meat entree to fill out the menu. I told him I would talk to the hunter group and see what they could provide. I also talked to Judy Aikens about the wild hogs that had been captured. She told me there were two boars in the group and she could spare one. After talking to the hunters they pledged to get enough wild game to make this a real meal.
Kat had told me the night I told her about the idea that she thought it was great and had volunteered to help. She spent most of her days at the church/school helping with decorations and a Thanksgiving pageant put on by the kids that would proceed the dinner. Dave gave in to my request that he clear out the community center for the meal as it was the only place big enough to fit everyone. The security force had to temporarily work out of one of the unoccupied houses and I think the crew liked it better.
The planning for the celebration went into full gear and everyone in The Dell talked about it. This was the old enthusiasm I had seen when we first started to talk about moving here. I certainly had a reason to smile as I thought we were finally getting things back together after the small revolt in September. People greeted each other with friendly smiles and even Stanley Hooten had spoken to me when we had discussed how to keep the game the hunters were bringing in from spoiling before the dinner. Things were looking up again and I was happy to see everyone busy and distracted from our situation, if only for a short time. I kept thinking of the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving. I tried to not think about what happened to a lot of them later on. Surrounded by a hostile enemy, starving, and ravaged by disease most had not survived. I was determined that would not happen to us.
The twelfth of November brought an unexpected surprise. The preparations for the celebration were continuing and to be honest we were somewhat distracted. I wasn’t prepared for the call that came over my radio about vehicles coming toward the gate. I kept one of the ATVs at the cottage in order to respond quicker to an emergency and used it to get to the gate. As I pulled up, it shocked me to see four battered vehicles sitting outside the gate. A cold and drizzling rain fell that day so all the security people were bundled up and trying hard to stay out of the rain. I climbed the tower beside the gate to get a look at our visitors and saw that they were carrying everything they owned strapped to the tops of the four beat up old cars. This was not a visit; it looked like they wanted to move in.
I called down to the lead car, identifying myself, and asked to speak to whoever in the group was in charge. The driver’s door of the lead car opened and scarecrow of a man stepped out into the cold rain. His clothes weren't much better than what we saw the Stinkies wearing. Thread bare and torn, he was not dressed for the weather. He was rail thin and looked as if he hadn't eaten in weeks. The dark circles around his eyes, unshaven face, and scraggily hair were indications that he had been living a hard life for a long while. I asked his name and he said Frank Wilson and he had his family and several other survivors with him, including seven children. I asked what his intentions were and he told me his group had been driving for almost a month. They had come from Texas answering a call on a ham radio they had received. He said they had no food and were looking for a safe place to stay. He looked at me pleadingly and asked, "Is this the Dell?"
I smiled. "Yes." The look of relief on his face tore at my heart. I thought he would collapse as he broke down in the realization that they had made it to their destination. I told him I'd be right down and after a quick warning to the guard on duty to keep them covered I climbed down and told the other guards to open the gate. I went out and shook his hand as I introduced myself. He started to tell his family to get out of the car and I stopped him. I told him that he and I needed to talk first and that his family should remain in the vehicle until we were finished. He looked suspicious, but conceded. I think he would have stood on his head in the rain if he thought it would get them inside our enclosure.
I motioned for him to follow me and we went to the little guard shack just inside the gate so we could talk in the dry. Once we were inside, I explained why I had asked him here before giving them entrance. "Frank, I know you have come a long way and I understand the hardships you faced getting here. We've all experienced them ourselves but before I can let you and your people in we have to talk about the rules."
He looked at me and his eyes were wary. "Rules?" he asked.
"Yes, we have very strict rules here about certain things and you need to understand them and agree to abide by them before you can be admitted. If you and your group agree then we will be glad to have you join us."
"What if we don't agree to your rules?" he asked with just a hint of annoyance in his voice.
"We would never just send you away in the shape you guys are in. We would gladly give you supplies that would last you a couple of weeks but we would not be able to let you inside the enclosure. We broadcast that message in order to help survivors but we also have to consider our own protection. If you agree to our rules we will welcome you with open arms. If you don't, we can't let you in. I'm sorry but that's how it is."
He considered what I had told him for a moment. "Okay, what are the rules?"
I explained that a physical examination would have to be performed on each individual. Men, women, and children. This prevented not only a bitten and infected person from entering but to also check for any illnesses that might s
pread to the rest of The Dell. We didn't have an abundance of medicine and couldn't afford an epidemic. He seemed to understand this and asked me to continue. I told him that they would be required to be in quarantine for a period of three days. Our doctor had said that any illness they brought in undetected would show itself in that time and if it didn't they were most likely clean. He asked where they would have to stay during the quarantine period and I told him that we had fixed up a place in the barn for just such an occurrence. I told him it was warm and dry and that they would be given food and clothing while they waited so it wouldn't be as bad as it sounded. He nodded.
"All of your people will be screened to make sure we’re not letting in people with the idea of causing us harm,” I continued. I also said if everything checks out and after the three day quarantine, they would be brought in and introduced to the community. They would be given a place to live and would be allowed to join the rest of the group in working to better the village. I explained that everyone worked here to help everyone else. That was one of the rules, no free loaders. To eat you had to work.
He had started to shiver and I knew it was unfair to keep him out in the cold dressed the way he was but I wanted to be sure he understood what access to the Dell meant. He asked if there was anything else and I told him that breaking the rules had consequences. That most infractions meant less food or harder work as punishment but more serious offenses had stiffer punishment such as being forced to leave the valley. I pointed out I knew his predicament and his attempt to do right for his family and friends but to please consider carefully what I told him. I said I had been the leader of this group for over five years now and would do nothing to risk their safety even if that meant turning away children.
He straightened himself up to his full height. I could tell it took all of his strength just to do that simple thing. He looked me in the eye. "If we agree to all your terms and you let us in. Will we be given the same consideration and protection that you’re showing toward the people already here?" he asked.
I smiled at him. "You have my word," I said and offered him my hand again. He shook it without hesitation and said he agreed. I told him I was glad and welcome to the Dell. Now he could bring his group in and he was to follow my ATV up to the barn. He still held my hand as he said thank you then went out to get his family. I got on the radio and called Dave. He answered immediately and said he had a security force ready to head to the gate if I needed it. I told him he could stand down but I wanted him to get Doc Groves and meet me at the barn. We had new arrivals and Doc would need to check them out. I also wanted to talk to him about the security screening. He said he would be there in five minutes and signed off. I climbed on the ATV and led the small convoy into the edge of town and up to the barn.
As soon as we arrived at the barn, I ushered all of the new group inside out of the worsening rain and showed them to the area we had set aside as a temporary housing for new arrivals. We had brought a lot of the cots we had used at the Lebanon compound and set them up here. We had installed a wood stove and I got a fire going to heat the area. I explained about the wood pile located just outside the quarters to be used to keep the place comfortable. If they needed bedding for the cots, we could provide it, and I would have food prepared and brought up as soon as I could. There were MREs in one of the stalls across from them and they were welcome to use them until the hot food could arrive.
They were a miserable looking bunch standing in the barn listening to me but I could also see the relief in their faces knowing they were one step closer to a safe permanent home. Dave arrived with Doc a couple of minutes later and I introduced everybody. Doc went to work examining the men first and then the women and finally the children. The entire group went along like they were operating on automatic pilot. They were the worst bunch I had ever seen. I didn't think any of us had ever looked this bad but they were still alive and still fighting. I sincerely hoped they'd be able to stay.
Doc's exams took longer than I thought they would and when he finished I asked the results. He said they were all malnourished and were suffering from several different illnesses but none of them were contagious or posed a health threat to the rest of us. He said he was amazed that some of them were still alive. Thankfully, none had been scratched or bitten by the Stinkies so they were good for the moment. I told them all to start making themselves comfortable and I'd send our storekeeper, Gwen, up to see what they needed. Frank nodded and said thank you again. I told him to hang in there, that we would help them to get healthy again. After our talk he went over to his family and tried to get them settled.
I told Dave to get a few security guys to the barn and to make sure no one left the quarantine area but not to be hard ass'ed about it. They had been through enough and bossing them around was not what they needed. The security people were also to be there to help them with anything they might need and to let him and I know if there’s anything we needed to do or get for them. He said he understood and got on his radio to get it done.
Gwen arrived with Jim and I explained the situation to them. Gwen went in to motherly mode and started making a list of the things the new group would need. She talked to the women and was horrified at the shape the children were in. She told Jim to go back down to the village and tell some of the women to start cooking; these folks needed a hot meal. Jim said okay and headed off. I tried not to, but couldn't help but think that this group would put a strain on our already tight supply situation. I asked Gwen if she thought there would be enough and she screwed up her face and punched me in the arm. I was so shocked by what she had done I couldn't speak. Before I found my tongue she started in. "Scott Williams, how dare you ask that with these poor people in the shape they are in? They need our help and they are going to get it. We'll make do and don't you even think about canceling the Thanksgiving dinner." I looked down guilty because that’s exactly what I had been thinking. She must have recognized my discomfort at what she said because she added, "We have even more to be thankful for now. We have a whole new group to add to our family. Isn't that what you wanted this place to be about?"
She was right, of course; it was exactly what I had envisioned in my mind. A place that survivors could come to for comfort and safety. A place for a new beginning and these people definitely needed it. I leaned over and kissed Gwen on the cheek. "Gwen you’re the best." She smiled at me and turned and went back to helping get things arranged for our guests.
I stuck around the barn until the entire new group had been given a hot meal. Gwen was still there and seemed to have taken charge. She made sure they all had new warmer clothes and supplies to clean themselves up with. She even brought some small toys up for the kids. She did a fine job and I tried to stay out of the way. Dave had gotten the guards in place and they were trying to remain unobtrusive but still alert.
By the time I left the barn the visitors were starting to settle down and most of the kids were already asleep. It was probably the first uninterrupted sleep they'd had in months. The adults were starting to smile and were even talking some. They were exhausted as well and I told them to get a good night’s rest and I would see them in the morning. This time, they all thanked me and I told them it was my pleasure. As I left they were turning in for the night and I was sure it wouldn't be long before they were all sound asleep. I told the guards to keep a good watch and not let anything happen to them. They nodded and I went to the ATV for the ride back to the cottage.
When I went to sleep that night I thought of what Gwen had said. That The Dell was supposed to be a place of sanctuary. She was right and now we had truly proven it. We had our first group of new arrivals and it left me feeling satisfied. This Thanksgiving would be special.
Chapter 15
Deep Underground
The conference room was spacious and lavishly furnished. Rich walnut paneling lined the walls and was so highly polished that it was possible to use the finish as a mirror. Expensive paintings, mostly land and seascapes, hung thr
oughout the room and helped to relieve the stress of being underground. A large flat panel liquid crystal monitor filled one end wall and displayed data from all the systems available in the complex.
A luxurious dark blue carpet adorned the walk way around the perimeter of the room and framed the central square of bamboo wood flooring. A buffet style side table sat along one wall and was covered with a variety of pastries and fruit. An enormous teak wood conference table filled the center of the room. Several carafes of coffee and pitchers of water were spaced along its length and it was surrounded by handmade leather high backed chairs. The entire room was designed to showcase the privilege of the director and to impress visitors.
The woman standing at the end of the table reflected the same privilege as the room. She was dressed in a dark gray Cavalli suit with a tapered waist that accentuated her feminine curves and exemplified her taste. For this operational meeting, she’d chosen the matching slacks instead of a skirt. The handmade Italian leather pumps by Bruno Magli gave her two additional inches of height to her five feet seven inch frame. She found the added height helped her when dealing with men.
She was trim, yet shapely, thanks to the two hours each morning she spent in the complex gym and helped to add to her confidence. Her hair style had changed since arriving at the complex. She had opted for a very short and severe look for her white blonde hair. The style made it easy to care for and had the added benefit of giving her an intimidating quality.
Her age was indeterminate and could have been anywhere from twenty-five to forty. She was, in fact, thirty-three and her naturally dark skin tone reflected her Mediterranean heritage. She wore little make up beyond a lip gloss to reduce the severity of her rather small and thin lips. Her dark eyes, high cheekbones, and straight nose added to her beauty and helped to hide the fact that she was completely howling at the moon insane.
We Go On (THE DELL) Page 17