by Paul Kirk
“They don’t happen to have a helicopter, do they?” asked Del.
“When did you see the helicopter? Do you have any idea what kind of helicopter it was?”
“Hold on a sec, Connor Mac. Slow down. I saw it about two hours ago. A big black mother —”
“Shit!” said Connor. “We missed ‘em!”
“They never even squawked the radio, sir. There was no active chatter,” said Captain Daubney.
“I’m aware of that, captain.”
“We missed ‘em by a gnat’s ass,” said Mickey.
"The good news is at least we can now assume they got the tailshaft bearing and were able to return for the meet," said Connor.
"True. That's a solid supposition," said John.
“Problem is, we never heard ‘em comin’ our way. But, if they’re around here, they should be ready for the extraction,” said Captain Daubney.
“That’s a good point, captain. At least we got that going for us.” Connor turned toward Commander Del Re. “What else can you remember, Del?”
“Ah...they held stationary for a few seconds...maybe a minute or more before they flew south—that way,” he said, pointing to the farthest end of town.
“They’re trying to track our progress, sir,” said Captain Daubney.
“Probably.”
“They didn’t stop to alert the town, Mac,” said John, deep in thought.
“Alert us to what?” asked Del.
“Why didn’t they drop a couple men to check things out and wait for our group?” asked the captain.
“I’m not sure. Something kept ‘em going. Musta not had line of sight or been in radio range of our travels to alert us,” said Connor.
“Alert us to what?” asked Commander Italo Del Re once again.
“Give us a minute, Del, and I promise I’ll fill you in.”
“You know those guys in the helicopter?” asked the commander.
“Yeah. It’s the rest of our team. We planned to meet with them tomorrow in Uniontown.”
“It’s been years since I’ve seen a man-made object in the sky,” said Del to nobody.
“We missed an impromptu hookup, guys,” said Connor, ignoring Del’s statement. “Let’s stay focused on what’s in our control. There’s nothing we can do about the bird.” They nodded in agreement and Connor turned to McLeod. “Major?”
“Yes, sir,” said John.
“I'm bringing down the rest of the team."
“Are you anticipating a problem, sir?”
“No, major,” said Connor, “Del? You are you aware of the size of my group?”
“Yeah. John told me nineteen men, one woman, and three kids.”
“Okay. And how many do you have, Del?” asked Connor.
“I got 180 people. There’s a dozen kids under the age of twelve, and the rest are split up about two thirds men and one third women."
“Got it,” said Connor. He clicked on his radio. “Burroughs, do you read?”
“Yes sir, I copy.”
“Bring the team down, lieutenant. When you get here, BB will fill you in on what we’re doing.”
“I copy, sir.”
“Surf Boy,” continued Connor, “do you read?”
“Copy that, Mac. Over.”
“I need for you to maintain position until BB calls you in. Over.”
“Understood, Mac. I am to wait for BB’s go ahead.”
Connor turned to BB who stood ready.
“BB I need you to bring the team up to speed. You stay here. When everyone’s at the gates, I want you to call Marty in and you two will be the last ones through. Remind everyone that we’re guests of Commander Del Re. All riders are to walk their horses, weapons neutral. And ask Rhonda and Roger to keep the kids in line.”
“Yes, sir, Mac.”
Connor turned north and studied his unit appearing at the crest of the hill. They slowly made their way toward the gates, all of them with weapons held in a non-threatening way. He saw the small figures of Cody, Renaldo, and Gabriella racing around the horses and generally displaying twice as much energy as the adults.
“Del,” he said, turning to the commander, “Why don’t we get started. Is there a place we can talk?”
“Sure, Mac,” answered Del Re. He turned to a young man standing at the entrance to the town. “Jay, go tell Big Mama we got guests—thirty of ‘em just to be safe on the head count for food. I want her to lay out a spread for ‘em as fast as they can ‘cause they can’t stay long. Have Jonas break out a fresh barrel of ale.”
“Yes, sir!” Jay answered, and ran swiftly down the main drag of the town. He stopped at what appeared to be a central building and Connor noticed that there were at least twenty people on the porch of the building curiously observing what was transpiring at the gate.
Del Re turned to face Connor and John McLeod. “The jewelry store is our command center. We can talk there without being interrupted.”
“That wouldn’t be a bad idea, Del. I need to fill you in.”
“Okay. Josh!” Del called to the tower. “I’ll be at the command post for a while.”
“Right, commander.”
Walking silently down the street, they came to the jewelry store on the west side of the road. Its sign was faded a bit, but legible. Feinman’s Fine Jewelry it promised. “Please make yourself at home in there. I got a couple people I’d like to bring into this meeting if it’s okay with you.”
“Sure, Del, that’s fine,” said Connor.
Connor, John, and Captain Daubney entered the jewelry store while Del Re walked across the street briskly to the building that Jay had entered earlier. At Connor's slight nod, Roger stayed outside the door to the store, mostly to ensure they were able to keep an alert eye of the town activity.
Connor, John, and Captain Daubney stood in the middle of the jewelry store. Every display case had been removed to make room for a large conference table that was surrounded by a group of mismatched chairs. There was a map lying on the table and Connor pulled it to him with a hand, studying the notations. It was obviously a map of the area, probably a county map, and it showed Route 51 running in a general north and south direction through the town of Perryopolis.
“Look at this, guys,” said Connor, pointing to a section of the map neatly crosshatched by hand to show a proposed area of wheat. Other map sections showed the existing locations of wheat, corn, tomatoes, and a field of greens.
“Wow, Mac,” said McLeod, “this guy’s got it together. This is the first time in my travels the last five years where I’ve seen the evidence of an agrarian society. At least, one on this large of a scale. There's gotta be thousands of acres.”
“It’d be great if he could make it work, John,” said Connor, admiringly.
“Look at this, colonel,” said the captain, his finger on the southern part of the map. “It shows the town’s expansion—to the southwest and the southeast. They plan on pushing the southern wall back another four miles.”
“This guy’s got it together,” said Connor. “I gotta hand it to him.”
“Hand it to who?” asked Del Re, entering the room with two people in tow.
“Del, we were admiring your plans to expand this area.”
“Yeah, Mac, we keep taking on more people, so we have no choice. If we don’t address the issue now, we’ll have food shortages a year or two from now.” The commander had assumed an air of excitement while talking about his proposal—he was passionate about the project. “Excuse my poor manners, Mac,” he said. He turned to the two people he had brought along. “Colonel Connor MacMillen, this is Captain Matthew McBride. Everyone around here calls him Matty. He was on active duty in the Navy when the Sickness hit.”
“Colonel, it’s a pleasure,” said Matty, shaking Connor’s hand.
“It’s nice to meet you, captain,” said Connor.
“Mac, this is my wife, Christina,” said Del with pride. “She’s my best advisor—I’m reasonably certain that this town would’
ve fallen on its face if not for Christina.”
“Colonel,” she said. “Welcome to Perryopolis. I hope you and your men enjoy our hospitality.”
“I’m sure we will, Mrs. Del Re. But we can't stay long.”
“Oh, please call me Tina.”
“Okay, Tina, thank you. My friends call me Connor Mac.” The woman was slightly taller than her husband but not quite Connor’s height. She held Connor’s gaze while they shook hands and he saw that her eyes were a very dark green. “Tina? Matty? These guys with me are Major John McLeod and Captain Marcus Daubney.”
While they exchanged handshakes, Connor stood to the side, deep in thought.
“Mac?” prompted McLeod.
“I’m sorry, John,” said Connor, snapping his reverie. “I’m trying to re-orient to the real-time situation. You know—what to do here.”
“Whatta ya mean?” asked Del Re.
“Several things. Your offer to feed us is generous, Del, and much appreciated. I’d like to know what we can give you in exchange. It’ll be quite an expense to feed my team.”
“You’re our guests, Connor Mac. We’re not in the habit of charging our guests for a simple meal. All I ask for is the information you think is so important to us.”
“Del, we have the ability to pay—we’re not in the habit of representing the United States government by taking a free ride.”
“Tell me more, Mac. What’s the story about representing the government? And what’s this important information you have for us?”
“We’ll talk about that, Del. But first, tell me, what would you accept for feeding my men today?”
“Consider it a gift, Mac.”
Connor looked out the front door and spotted Rhonda talking with Roger. “Hold on a sec, Del,” he said. He walked out the front door and pulled her gently away from the large jewelry store windows.
“What’s up, Mac?”
“How many cigars you got left?”
“About a dozen, I think.”
“Could you part with them?”
“Sure, Mac. Let me get them.” She slipped her pack from her shoulder and sat it on the ground.
"Open your pack slowly, Rhonda. I don't want anyone watching to think anything crazy is going on."
"Okay. I understand. Good point," said Rhonda. She opened her pack and removed the wooden box. She handed it to Connor.
“I’ll make it up to you, Rhonda.”
“That’s not necessary, Mac. If you think those cigars are important to our welfare, I trust your judgment. Use ‘em however you want.”
“Thanks, Rhonda.”
She zipped her pack, nodded at Connor, and walked back to Roger. Connor re-entered the store and set the box on the table where the group had taken seats in preparation for their meeting. He smiled and slid the box toward Del Re. Instantly, Del's eyes fixated on the box in front of him.
“Please tell me that’s full of tobacco,” he said.
Laughing out loud, Connor studied the commander whose eyes had stayed locked on the cigar box. Del repeated his inquiry.
“Connor Mac, please tell me what’s in there is what’s supposed to be in there and not anything useless like, I dunno gold...or silver.”
“Commander, don’t get your hopes up…”
The crestfallen expression on the commander’s face was a sight to see. He was a bit embarrassed at himself for developing a false hope.
“It’s not full of tobacco—”
“Damn!”
“Regrettably, there’s only a dozen fairly fresh Spanish Longesdales. We’ve dipped into them over the past few weeks, so it’s not a full box.”
Del Re opened the box and removed one of the cigars. He breathed in the scent of the cigars deeply. His eyes were closed. He moaned audibly.
“Those cigars spent some time in a humidor after the Sickness. Rhonda found them a few weeks back at an auto dealer. They’re yours, Del, in payment for feeding us.”
“I wasn’t gonna accept anything from you, Mac. I said you’re our guests and I meant it. But, I don’t think I can turn these down. You’ve hit on my one true vice.”
“I take it you’re a big cigar smoker?”
“He is,” said Christina laughing, “He’s mentioned it after practically every meal for the past three years! After every meal!” Excited for her husband, Christina offered a spot on imitation: “Oh, wouldn’t a good cigar top off this meal, Tina? Oh, would I love a cigar right now with this glass of ale.”
All laughed and unabashed, the commander laughed as well before regaining some of his impeccable composure.
“She’s been with me for twenty-eight years, Connor Mac…I must—”
“Say no more…I give these to you as a gift for your courtesy. If you require more items in payment, please let me know. We do have some silver and a few pieces of gold. We have other—”
“No. No. This is fine…more than fine. Thank you.” Commander Del Re sniffed the cigar as he slid it gently under his nose. "I shall light this after dinner this evening, my dear." He turned and smiled at Christina.
“Del?”
“Yeah, Connor Mac?”
“If I travel back this way, I promise I’ll bring you another box or two.”
“I would be most obliged.” With effort, the commander struggled not to sound like a kid receiving that special gift he’d wanted for Christmas.
“I’d do it just to see that look again, Del.”
“Umm…”
Rhonda came into the store after overhearing the conversation. She approached near Connor seeking his attention.
“Commander, Christina, Matty, this is Rhonda. She’s an invaluable member of our team.”
Greetings were exchanged. Unobtrusively, Rhonda whispered in Connor’s ear.
“Good idea! I’ll ask,” said Connor, checking his watch.
Rhonda nodded a goodbye and attended to the boys and Gabriella who were fast making eye contact with several children their age.
“What’d Rhonda say, Connor Mac? If you don't mind me asking?" said the commander.
“She’s always thinkin’, Del. She wants to know if you happen to have a dentist in town. We’ve got a few men with cavities and some serious mouth pain.”
“Really? You want a dentist?”
“I know it sounds somewhat off the mark with that army bearing down on this town. But, I got guys in some serious pain here. They keep it mostly to themselves, but, damn, it'd sure enhance my fighting force it they didn't have to deal with that on a day-to-day basis. Sure, we can’t stay for long, but yeah, if you got one, we’d pay good in trade if you have someone fairly competent.”
“I see," said the commander. He put on a serious face, as if thinking hard. He shook his head sadly. "Unfortunately, we don’t have a dentist who’s fairly competent.”
“Okay, no bother.”
The commander smiled at the firm nod he received from Connor. “Sorry, just getting you back for catching me off guard with the cigars.”
“What?”
“I said we don’t have a fairly competent dentist. We have, probably, the best endodontist alive in the States right now."
John McLeod laughed outloud. "Touché, Mac."
The commander continued. "Dr. Danny O’Reilly practiced in Pittsburgh before the Sickness drove him here to check on his family."
“Wow. Excellent!” said Connor.
“How many of your men need emergency dental care?”
“Oh, three for sure. Another two if time permits.”
“I see.”
“What’s Dr. O’Reilly charge for his service?”
“Well, I guess it depends. Do you have dental insurance coverage?”
“What? Oh…”
All laughed at the reference to insurance benefits of a time gone by. Connor turned serious.
“What would Dr. O’Reilly charge?”
“I dunno his going rate. We've not had too many people treat with him the past year, so his business is slow. H
e’s kept us all up to date on our dental hygiene, though. In the meantime, he’s developed a knack for customizing fine jewelry. He says that he needs to match his transferable skills to the desires of the customer.”
“I see.”
“Funny thing is, he has a sweet tooth, himself. Always complaining about the world’s untimely demise ‘cause there’s no good candy anymore. Even Big Mama’s honeydrops don’t impress him much.”
“A dentist with a sweet tooth? How funny’s that?”
“Oh, yeah. Doc Reilly likes his candy.”
“So he wants candy? He'd trade his services for candy?”
“Yeah, I'm sure he would—why? Don’t tell me that you have candy, too?”
“He like Gobstoppers?”
Commander Del Re looked quizzically at Connor. “You mean the Gobstopper candy? You...are…most certainly...shittin’ me.”
“Oh my,” said Christina, touching her husband’s arm, "Did he say Gobstoppers?"
“So he likes ‘em?”
“I’ve heard them mentioned," said the commander, still stunned.
“More than once, Italo,” said Christina, smiling.
“That’s a fact,” said Matty, shy but attentive.
Connor grinned. “Well then, we got somethin’ to trade.”
“Are you serious? You bring cigars for me and you have the one candy that Doc would probably kill for?"
"Well, we have a few other candy types, but...yeah."
"Connor Mac, John, captain, I’m tellin’ ya, you guys are like Santa Clause here!”
“Well…”
The commander turned to his second in command and pointed to the jewelry store back door. “Matty, go find the doc. Tell him to meet us here at the command post.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Tell him he’s got dental business right now. Stay at his shop to help set up and have Tess pitch in. Keep the form of payment to yourself, you hear?”
Matty left down the back steps of the jewelry store and yelled behind him. “Yes, sir.”
"Keep real quiet about payment.”
“I will, sir.”
Christina whispered in the commander's ear. He smiled and nodded. She turned to her guests. "I'm going to make sure that your men, women and children are fed properly, Connor Mac. It was nice meeting you all."