Erik sighed. “No, Henry, I don’t. I don’t want to be Caesar—he was stabbed in the back by people he thought were on his side.” Et tu, Henry?
Surprisingly, most people had gotten that little stab and frowned on Henry. He resented the turn of emotions against him and glared at Erik.
“I don’t want to be leader by myself, like some kind of dictator. I don’t want to be leader period. I’ll gladly help out and give advice if it’s asked for—I don’t want to lead. But someone or a group of someone’s has to or nothing will get done.”
“You seem to be doing pretty good so far…” someone suggested. A few approvals followed that statement. Erik didn’t like it at all.
“I haven’t done anything yet. Look, you all are not getting what I’m trying to—”
“You killed that escaped convict and Ted shot the other one…that may have saved my life or my wife or daughter!” replied Stan with fervor. That was a debt he would never forget.
“No, no I don’t want…Look, I’m glad I could help you out, Stan, but I’m no hero. I just did what anyone would have done. Like you said, Ted shot the other guy—”
“Bullshit, you can’t get off that easy!” someone cried with a grin.
“Who else has swords here?” someone else asked. No hands went up.
“Erik, you’re probably the only one here who would have acted the way you did! Can’t you see that?”
“Yeah!”
“—really smart…”
“You’ve read all the history—you know what to do.”
“—trust him, too—“
“—heard he’s a PhD.”
“—no he’s working on it…”
“Japanese history is really tough—“
“—sure!”
“Folks, don’t forget what Ted did—“ Erik began, trying to put some glory on Ted’s shoulders and take the heat off his own.
“But Ted’s a cop—that’s his job, right?” A man up front asked to the group, receiving all kinds of affirmations. Ted just tried to look humble and stay out of the fray.
“Look, I’m not a leader, okay?. Sure, I’ve read a lot about leaders in history, but that doesn’t make me a leader. Hell, Ted was in the Marines—he’s led men in battle. He’s more a leader than I am.”
“Oh no you don’t—I don’t want that job again. I just got out last year, man, I’m happy to be who I am. Just Ted.”
Arguments broke out about the best way to do things. There were a number of options floated—Erik had a growing following, Ted had some supporters, there was talk of a Community Committee or Council, everyone gets a vote…After a few minutes, a consensus of sorts was reached and finally someone called out, “Then why don’t you just lead us temporarily, Erik?”
Erik blinked. “Temporarily?”
“Yeah,” someone else said. “How about you get things going, then when we decide how to get things organized for sure…when we decide on an election process or something, then you step down. Like you said, someone’s got to lead no matter what, right? You can be…President Pro Tem,” the voice called, pride evident that he had used such a fancy term.
Erik gripped the railing in front of him, looking out at all the faces turned up to him, hoping for help, salvation or just intelligence. Was this what Caesar felt like looking at the masses of Rome?
“I…” he said, looking at the faces.
Can I do this? These people are looking to me for hope…Jesus, I’m only 26! I haven’t done anything in my entire life except go to school. Can I organize these people? That’s like building a community from scratch…we’d need food and water, adequate defenses…I haven’t done anything like this before…but who has?
Alexander the Great conquered the known world by your age, a small voice inside Erik’s head commented quietly.
What will happen to Brin if you don’t take the reins until things settle down…what will happen when more prisoners get here, or the gangs get here or…Can you and Brin survive alone in the apartment with Ted’s family?
Despite the intense weight he could feel settling on his young shoulders, Erik’s mind began racing at the new challenge. He started to recall the stories of ancient Rome, of the Greeks, the Celts, the Gauls, and the Britons during the Dark Ages. All pockets of civilization in a wilderness of barbarity, struggling to survive had started out like his little apartment complex. Just a group of scared people who banded together for the common good. On a smaller scale, it was like the Thirteen Colonies before the Revolution. Just banding together for the common good. Perhaps this was just a chance to start over, correct what went wrong with the “Great Experiment in Democracy”. It was a fascinating concept. The scholar in Erik yearned to get started.
His mind made up, Erik spoke more forcefully over the clamoring crowd in front of him. “Okay. I’ll do it…but reluctantly. I want everyone to know up front that I don’t want this job. I want to pass it on to someone else as soon as possible…”
A few people clapped in approval. More thunder boomed in the distance and the breeze started blowing across the pool deck with a little more force
“But I also have one condition.” He waited for the applause and talking to die down again. “I’m not going to do this if people aren’t going to help out. We have to be united in this, and I mean everyone. If you want me to take this responsibility, I want you to be responsible to the community. That means when I give orders, you follow them. Because otherwise, what’s the point in having a leader?” Erik paused for the murmurs of assent to die down.
“If you don’t like the way I do things—I want you all to remember tonight, because I want you to remember that I don’t want the job. What you all choose to do is up to you, of course, but if you want me to do the dirty work and plan things out, then by God you’re going to follow my lead! Because if we’re not all in this, then whatever we do is going to be a half-assed compromise, exactly the kind of mentality that will get us all killed!”
More applause and promises of help and support were made. The two groups merged into one as people began talking about “starting over” with their little government. What to do first, how to start, how to choose representatives, do we need representatives?
Ted moved up the steps and joined Erik on the stage. “Nice job, Caesar,” he whispered with a grin while patting Erik on the back.
Erik glared at him, his knees going weak. “Don’t call ever me that, please. Jesus, I’m scared.”
“Okay…nice job, Erik the Red!” Ted grinned.
Brin and Susan joined the two men. “You’re not alone, Erik…” Susan said. “We’ll all help you. At least until we can figure out who else to lead us.”
“Speaking of that,” Erik said, forcing his knees to remain steady by grabbing the hot tub railing again. Then, to the group he said louder, “Everyone, listen up!”
After it was quiet, he said, “Here is my first official act as President Pro Tem, then.”
People waited expectantly. Some were suspicious, like Henry, who had moved to the rear of the group. Henry knew nothing good was going to come out of putting some young punk in charge of everything. He’d just as soon get the hell out of here as see this kid run everything into the ground with delusions of grandeur.
“Everyone go back to your own building tonight. Looks like it’s going to get pretty nasty soon anyway, so if we have to be inside, may as well make the best of it. I want you all to talk about what happened here tonight; see if you can come up with any ideas about what to do about setting up a more permanent leadership structure. Does that sound reasonable? Good.”
“Then, I want you all to elect a representative for each building. Those representatives will meet with me tomorrow morning to let me know what their building thinks. We will then decide in committee what to do and we’ll bring the winning ideas to a meeting here tomorrow night where everyone will get their say and we’ll vote it out. If you don’t like that, tell your building rep and we’ll put it to a vote tomorr
ow night. Sound good to everyone?”
“Next, I want volunteers to help patrol the complex tonight,” before the gasps could turn into dissent, Erik continued, “Look, we’re not expecting trouble tonight, but we have to be ready. First thing tomorrow, after we have our…uh…executive meeting…we’re going to start work on building defenses and getting this place set to repel anyone we don’t want to get in. Okay?”
“What, are you gonna raise an army, now?” asked Henry, scowling from the safety of the rear of the crowd.
“No, we’re not going to raise an army. We’re going to prepare to defend ourselves against attacks from those who would do us and our families harm. If we make this place look like a place you don’t want to mess with, they—whoever they are—will leave us alone. But if someone—more convicts, say, does get over the walls, we need to be ready. I will not be killed by some bank robber who wants a can of tuna!”
More approval and nodding of heads, with only a few disgruntled looks. The crowd began to break up. A handful of men stayed behind after kissing wives and children goodnight. They were nervous, but determined to make the apartment complex safer for their families. They gathered around Erik, waiting for orders. It was growing late and the storm was getting closer. The breeze had become a slight wind, and there was a hint of moisture to come.
Erik slipped his arm around Brin as more thunder rumbled by overhead. Off to the east the reflected lightning lit up the low, heavy clouds miles away. It would be a gulley-washer tonight. Erik was terrified that he was getting in over his head as he looked into the eyes of the volunteers. Most were older than him.
God, give me the strength to do what’s right…
ARIZONA
Revelations
HAKIM AND SALDID sat inside the captured Chevy Suburban and watched the smoke rise against the growing light from the eastern horizon. In another half hour, headlights would be unnecessary.
“Ah, the Holy Firestorm grows…it is beautiful, is it not?” asked Saldid.
Hakim smiled. “Yes…to know that those infidels are burning in Allah’s fires. It warms my soul to think that Los Angeles will soon be swallowed by the fire.” Hakim had long ago associated Hollywood with the root of the evil that spewed forth from America, infecting the children of the rest of the world with its glamour and lies. Los Angeles, San Francisco, Hollywood…they would all burn.
Saldid looked down at the gas gauge. “My friend, we are only having half a tank of gas…I think we should head into town,” he said, licking his lips with anticipation. “Maybe we can find a girl…a young one this time…?”
Hakim grimaced. This fascination of yours is getting out of hand. Out loud he said, “I think it would be best to skirt the outside of Nogales before heading across the border.”
“Perhaps we should call our ‘friend’ and ask for a little more time. The border may be guarded…” said Saldid hopefully. Hakim was almost inclined to agree. Shooting and ambushing families fleeing for their lives was one thing, but going up against armed and trained American Border Patrol agents was quite another.
No. We have our orders. Hakim shook his head.. “We cannot risk the call—he can only protect our transmissions for so long. I am worried the Americans will try to trace us. After all, there cannot be that many satellite phones in use right now.” Hakim glanced out the window and nervously looked at the sky. “They may be watching us right now…”
“But everyone in this country has cell phones…”
“Yes, and with the power out, they do not work, nor do the regular phones. How hard do you think it will be to trace the handful of satellite phones being used at any given point?”
“I see…” said Saldid. Clearly he did not. Modern technology was totally alien to him. He knew death, rape, and Allah. That was all.
UH OH…AND who exactly are you?” mumbled Jed Lewis. He was on dawn watch again. He scratched the stubble on his chin and tried to remember how many days, exactly it had been since The Troubles.
Four days, five days, it doesn’t matter anymore. Wake up and pay attention! He and Bill were driving his Jeep towards their border position when Jed spotted the headlights off to the east a little. Someone stopped a big truck of some sort there on the rise and was just sitting there, facing east towards Nogales.
Bill Warren sat in the passenger seat and checked his AR-15, careful not to spill his coffee as the Jeep hit a hole. “They one of ours?”
“Let’s find out,” said Jed. He picked up the CB and pressed the transmit button. “Rover to base, Rover to base…”
A few seconds later the static-laced reply came back, “Base to Rover, go ahead.”
“Anyone else scheduled to be out on the old access road?” Jed asked, slowing down as his dirt path crossed the gravel road that the mystery vehicle occupied. It was about a hundred yards directly to his left. He slowed to a stop.
After a short delay, the CB chirped again, “Negative, Rover, you’re it. Why? You got company?”
“Yeah, we’re just crossing the old access road now, headin’ towards the Ridge. ‘Bout a hundred yards east, on the hill overlookin’ town.”
“Alright…I’m gonna send—“ a pause as Lance reached for the duty roster. Jed could hear some rustling papers. “I’ll send the Franks boys out to meet you, then you can check it out. Find a spot off the road and just watch ‘em. You got that? Watch them, nothing else. No cowboy shit, Rover. Out.”
“Copy that…Rover out,” said Jed. “Well, what do you think?” asked Jed, replacing the CB on his dashboard mount.
“Uh, about what? We’re just supposed to wait, how hard is that?” replied Bill, taking a sip from his coffee.
Jed thought for a second. “You know, I never got any action the night of the Battle at the Ridge. I just got to sit there and watch.”
“You don’t want to be wishing for any of that, man,” said Bill quietly. He had been on the front lines and had seen the Regulators on either side of him shot and killed. Both good friends for years. Dead. In a heartbeat. The scene flashed before his eyes again, for the ump-teenth time since that dreadful night.
“Screw it. Let’s check it out.”
“What?” asked Bill, shaken from his waking nightmare by Jed putting the Jeep in drive and turning left into a sagebrush. “Wait a minute, Jed, we’re supposed to wait for backup!”
“The hell with that,” said Jed, pulling his rifle up from the seat between them. “I want something to do besides sit and watch!”
HAKIM, WE HAVE company,” whispered Saldid.
“What?” asked Hakim, looking out the passenger window into the pre-dawn darkness. “Why are you whispering? Did you see someone?” he asked. He shielded his eyes from the early dawn light and peered out the windshield.
“No, behind us,” said Saldid, eyes drawn to the Suburban’s rear-view mirror where a flash of headlights betrayed the Regulators. “They’re driving up behind us.”
“American Border Patrol?” asked Hakim, checking to make sure his sawed off shotgun was loaded. He shot a glance out the window and looked at the side view mirror.
“I cannot tell…all I see is lights. Wait—they’re getting out!” said Saldid, anxiety rising. He checked the slide on his 9mm semi-auto and made sure there was a round chambered.
Hakim quickly unbuckled his seatbelt and clambered over his seat into the backseat. With a grunt, he got into place and gripped the rear passenger door handle, shotgun at the ready.
“I will handle the one on this side. Are you ready?” he whispered unnecessarily. Now I’m doing it.
“Yes…Allah protect us from these infidels!” replied Saldid from the driver’s seat.
JED, THIS ISN’T a good idea…look, let’s just pull off before they spot us—“
“Too late, look,” said Jed, as the mystery vehicle’s taillights flickered. “Looks like they just put it in park.”
Jed drove up just behind the Suburban and slowed to a stop on the gravel. The Jeep’s headlights could see t
he bumper stickers on the rear of the big Chevy—“My child is an honor roll student…”, “Jesus died for me…and YOU…”, and “Buy American…”
“Well, that’s not a bunch of illegals…probably just people trying to make it out of town before the fire gets there,” said Bill with obvious relief. He relaxed his grip on the AR-15.
“Damn. Oh well, we may as well check it out and tell the Ranch we don’t need backup, right?” Jed said, smiling as he opened his door. He thought about his rifle, but realized his pistol was on his hip and these were probably just locals anyway. No need to spook ‘em. “Let’s go say good morning!”
“Alright,” sighed Bill, also getting out. “I’ll cover you from this side.”
Jed adjusted the holster on his hip and swaggered up to the car. Time to play helpful citizen soldier.
He casually strolled the length of the Suburban, glancing in to the windows—Tinted of course. Can’t see anything in there…
Reaching the driver’s window, he put on his most helpful smile and tapped on the glass. It rolled down, revealing the face of a sweaty, dark haired man with a thick mustache and slightly crooked teeth as he smiled back in the dim light from the dashboard. He wasn’t exactly the pert soccer mom that Jed had expected. He could see there was a bag or something on the front seat, but no passenger.
“Howdy!” Jed said, friendly enough. “Car trouble?”
“Hi there!” Saldid said in his slightly muddled accent.
Hakim saw movement outside his door as the second American passed by on the way to the front passenger side door. He tensed, gripping the door handle even tighter and slowly pulling it to release the lock. Without an audible click, the door was open, ready to swing. Hakim took a breath and said a silent prayer.
“Now!” he said, shoving open the door and slipping the double barreled shotgun in the slot made by the door and the frame. He unloaded both barrels right into the American’s chest, blowing the infidel back and off the road into the rocky ditch with a roar that echoed off the surrounding hills like thunder.
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