Chris’s expression showed his confusion and disappointment. “But we want to help.”
“I know you do, but…”
“We’re the only ones who have been there. It may be important for us to be there with you.”
Uncle Don didn’t like anyone to argue with him, but the boy made sense. “Okay, but you need to promise to stay close to me.”
Chris and Amy gave him huge smiles.
Mark, Uncle Don’s second in command, came to meet him. “We’re ready, sir.”
He nodded. “Say goodbye to your children,” he announced to the crowd. “We should be back in less than a week.” He walked to the head of the line with Chris and Amy and waited patiently. When the parents had joined the procession, he gave the order to “Move out!”
***
CHAPTER FIVE
Peck and Davis rode north up the trail running along old Highway 183. The old road was buckled and impassable in many places. It was the most direct route to Alabaster Caverns. They were extremely cautious as they rode, taking it slow, avoiding contact with anyone else traveling along the same trail. At the slightest indication of someone coming toward them, they would duck into the brush to hide.
After several hours of riding, they came to a posted “No Trespassing” sign with a skull and crossbones at the bottom. They stopped to consider what to do. They’d previously crossed other clan’s boundaries and had been forced to face the consequences. They never wanted to go through that again. Here they were being given fair warning and given a choice.
“I’m not going this way,” proclaimed Davis.
“There was another road a mile back,” commented Ryder. “Maybe it’ll take us around.”
Davis nodded his approval. It would be worth the time to back-track if it meant less risk.
They rode back the way they’d come, taking the dirt crossroad to the west. It wasn’t much of a road, apparently not used on any kind of regular basis. The impression that the road was seldom used gave both a little peace of mind. The chance of meeting strangers or any kind of threat on this road seemed unlikely.
A mile later they came across another crossroad which they took back to the north. At the half-section line they came across another “No Trespassing” sign just like the other one. They stopped and looked at one another.
“Should we chance it?” asked Davis.
Peck stood up in his stirrups and looked all around. “I don’t see anyone.” He was still reluctant to ignore the warning. There could be people in the brush ahead, just waiting to ambush them. And they had no weapons to defend themselves. Peck wished he had the rifle Damon had taken with him into the burning farmhouse and to his death. But, wishful thinking wasn’t going to help.
“Do you think we should go another mile west?” asked Davis.
“I don’t want to backtrack any more. Let’s get off the road and cut across country.”
“Lead the way and I’ll follow.”
The fields they rode across were mostly weeds with only random stubble to indicate what crops had once grown there. At the center of the section, they spotted a farmhouse with large mature trees all around it. They rode to the edge of the trees and stopped. The farmhouse was surrounded by empty fields. They could see half a mile in all directions.
Before approaching the house, Peck had Davis hang back and wait for his signal. He rode around the perimeter of the homestead looking for any sign of life or danger. This house appeared to have received only minimal earthquake damage in contrast to a lot of the homes of the region. The walls were all still standing and the roof was intact. The barn looked just as good. This would have been a perfect place for someone to have taken up residence. Then it occurred to him, the original owners may still be around. The house had only a couple broken windows, but it made him feel better that they hadn’t been boarded up to keep out the elements. He was assuming that meant no one was home.
He circled back around to Davis. “I’ll go in and check out the home. Have you seen anyone?”
“No.”
“Well, if you do, shout out.”
Davis nodded.
Both were feeling anxious, afraid they were about to be surprised by the inhabitants. And they weren’t prepared.
Peck dismounted and handed his reins to Davis. Slowly, he crept toward the house. He stopped suddenly when a sound came from the barn. He waited, sighing relief when a chicken strutted out. This was odd. How could a chicken have survived unless someone was taking care of it? And where there was one chicken, it was likely that there were more. He turned away from the house and cautiously headed toward the barn instead. There was a woodpile at the corner of the barn. An ax was stuck into a stump. If he ran into some kind of danger inside the barn, at least he’d have a weapon. He pulled it free and slowly walked to the barn door. If the farm was abandoned, the ax should have been rusty, but it wasn’t. The ax head was shiny from regular use. With the handle firmly grasped in his hands, he nudged the barn door open with his foot. Another chicken startled him as it flapped its wings and cackled as it ran through the door. He quickly stepped back out of the way, his heart beating harder.
“What did you find?” yelled Davis.
Peck waved for him to be quiet. With a deep breath he raised the ax and stepped through the door. The inside was dim with the light coming in through two small windows. A horse stuck its head out from one of the stalls. A few pieces of straw floated down from the hayloft. There was a scuffing sound from up there. He backed up to get a better vantage point.
“Come down!” demanded Peck.
He jumped when a hand came to rest on his shoulder. He jerked around, raising the ax over his head. It was Davis. “What are you doing here? I told you to wait.”
“I had to know what was going on. So, what did you find?”
“I think there is someone up there,” Peck whispered.
“Maybe we should get out of here while we can,” suggested Davis in a low voice, obviously afraid.
“Forget it. They must have seen us coming. And if they could handle us, they would have already.” He looked up again. “I’m not going to ask again. Come down or I’m coming up!”
There were a few seconds of silence and then the brief sound of movement followed by more silence.
“Maybe it’s another chicken,” commented Davis.
“Then how’d it get up there?” He paused. “Okay, I’m coming up!” He moved to the ladder and placed his foot on the bottom rung and reached for another.
“Wait!” a man yelled. “I’m coming down.”
Peck backed away, the ax once again firmly grasped in both hands.
A young man with neatly trimmed hair and beard appeared at the top of the ladder, looking down at Davis and Peck timidly. He noticed the ax in Peck’s hands. “You won’t need that.”
Peck didn’t loosen his grip.
The man slowly began to come down the ladder. On firm ground, he raised his hands. “I’m unarmed. What do you want?”
Davis could see now that there was nothing to be afraid of.
“Who else is up there?” asked Peck.
The young man avoided making eye contact. “I’m here alone.”
“You’re lying.” Peck turned to Davis. “I’ll watch him while you go check,” said Peck.
Davis hesitated, looking for an excuse, not wanting to do anything that could be dangerous.
Peck recognized his reluctance. “Here then,” he said, handing Davis the ax. “Watch him while I check.”
Davis took the ax, not comfortable with how it felt in his hands. And there was no way he could ever use it on this young man, or anyone else.
Peck took a look around inside the barn. He grabbed a wrench that hung on the wall and began to climb the ladder.
Just before reaching the top rung, the young man yelled out, “Terri, come on out!”
Peck stopped and looked across the hayloft. A young woman began to rise slowly from behind a stack of hay bales.
; “Put your hands up and come out so I can see you better,” ordered Peck.
She did as he said and stepped out, followed by a small boy and girl, obviously afraid, tightly holding on to her.
Peck briefly felt a trace of pity, lowering the wrench. “Is anyone else up here?” Peck asked. She shook her head. “Then come on down,” he said softly as he backed down the ladder. He gave Davis a look of satisfaction as he stepped to the ground. They both waited quietly as the woman and children joined the young man. Peck wasn’t sure what to do with them. This wasn’t what they’d expected to find.
“Who are you?” asked Peck. “And what are you doing here?”
The young man stepped in front of the woman and children. “My name is Stan, this is Terri, and our children, Tommy and Tina. Our car broke down not far from here. We were headed for a sanctuary we saw in a flyer when we came across this place. Please don’t hurt us.”
Peck and Davis exchanged glances. These people had almost become some of their workers at Sector 4. Peck was no longer worried and became more at ease. There was no threat here. “Is anyone else living here with you?”
“No, just us. The house was empty when we found it.” This time he was making eye contact and Peck believed him.
“So, you’ve been living here for five years?” asked Davis, finding it hard to believe they could have survived all that time on their own.
“That’s right.”
“And no one else has ever come by?”
“A few, but we always hid in the hayloft until they’d gone.”
“What about your neighbors?” asked Peck. “Why haven’t they taken over this place?”
Stan appeared puzzled. “What are you talking about? We don’t have any neighbors.”
“We saw the “No Trespassing” signs on the roads east of here.”
“We did that, hoping they would keep people away from here.”
“Well, if you’ve stayed safe here for five years, I’d say it worked.”
“Not well enough, evidently,” said Stan.
Even Davis was becoming more at ease. “What do you have to eat?” he asked.
“What are you going to do with us?” asked Stan, ignoring Davis, remaining protectively between them and his family.
“We’re not going to do anything to you,” said Peck. “We just need food, water, and a chance to rest before we move on.” He hid a wink to Davis. There could be an opportunity here.
Stan turned to look at his wife, skeptical. She nodded to him. It wasn’t as though they had a choice.
“Come to the house. Terri will find you something to eat,” said Stan.
Peck blocked their way, wondering whether they could be trusted. How could a family survive all that time and still seem so vulnerable? He took the ax from Davis and threw the wrench to the ground before stepping aside. “Lead the way.”
The children held on tightly to their mother as she headed for the house.
Peck held Davis back, checking outside the barn door. All was quiet and he didn’t see anyone else around. They then fell in behind Stan and his family.
“I told you we’re alone,” assured Stan.
Neither Peck nor Davis made a comment, watching all around them as they continued to the house, up the steps, and through the back door.
“You don’t need that,” Stan repeated, motioning to the ax.
Peck only smiled, keeping it firmly in his hand.
“Please have a seat,” offered Terri as they stood next to the kitchen table.
Davis immediately plopped down in one of the chairs. Peck pulled a chair away from the table and sat where he could see out the back door and still keep an eye on the family.
Terri pulled open a drawer and removed two handfuls of carrots and potatoes. “Tommy, could you go out and get some water for me?” she asked her son, handing him a pot.
Davis perked up, amazed. “Your stove works?”
“No,” answered Stan. “We cook in the fireplace.”
Tommy headed for the back door, stopping where Peck was blocking the way.
“We need firewood too,” said Stan. “I can go with him.”
“We’ll go together,” said Peck, getting up from the chair. “Governor, can you watch them?” He saw a curious look between Stan and his wife.
Davis didn’t want the responsibility of babysitting, beginning to stand.
“You can do it. It’s just a woman and a child.”
Davis didn’t appreciate his condescending tone, but remained seated, beginning his sulking routine.
Peck, Stan, and Tommy went outside. The little girl tightly hugged her mother. Davis had never had children and was uncomfortable around them. They were a necessity back at Sector 4 to replace the older workers as they were eliminated, but he’d never had any direct contact with them. That had been one of Damon’s duties.
“How old are your kids,” he asked Terri, not really caring.
She pulled a knife from a drawer and he sat forward in his chair with apprehension. She turned her back to him and began to cut the vegetables. Realizing he wasn’t in danger, he relaxed and sat back.
“Tommy is ten and Tina is eight.”
Outside, Tommy walked directly to a barrel at the corner of the house and removed the lid. Dunking the pot inside, he filled it with water, struggling to lift it out with the extra weight.
Stan stepped over and replaced the lid. “Go ahead and take that to your mom. We’ll be in with the wood in a minute.”
Stan and Peck watched as he carefully carried the water up the steps and through the door. Peck followed Stan to the woodpile at the corner of the barn where Peck had claimed the ax. It now rested in his relaxed grip, hanging at his side.
“Why did you call your friend ‘governor’?” asked Stan.
“Just a nickname. He seems to like it,” replied Peck with a smile.
Stan gathered an armload of wood from the pile while Peck looked on. “Ready?” asked Stan, as he stood.
“Sure.” He raised the ax and swung it down, leaving it where he’d found it, stuck in the stump. He was confident he could handle Stan without too much effort and by leaving it there perhaps it would help to gain their trust.
***
CHAPTER SIX
In preparation for an anticipated attack, Ryder had recommended the Council have the people remain within a reasonable distance of the compound. Fortunately, the people were consolidated nearby since the fields had already been harvested and the gardens were through for the season.
One of the collection crews was already back with a wagonload of building materials after receiving word that Ryder wanted them to return. They were in the process of unloading near the new granary site.
Levi rode into town, finding his brother in the center of the activities.
Ryder was all smiles when he saw his brother approaching.
“Have any trouble?” asked Ryder.
“None. I did find some equipment we could use at a museum in Clinton, only about thirty miles north. I can show your people where to find them.”
“Later. First, we may be facing an attack. That’s why I sent word for all the crews to return. We can use everyone’s help.”
“What happened?”
“We had a young couple show up and look around for a few hours and then just disappeared. We’re afraid they were spies checking us out. So, we’re preparing to meet any threat that comes.”
“It may be nothing.”
“I hope you’re right, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.”
“How’s it going?”
“Surprisingly well.”
“Okay, what can I do?”
“Why don’t you lend a hand to Dad.”
“What? Dad’s here?”
“Yeah, with Eli. He promised Roy he’d come back to help re-build the granary. I know he’d love to see you and I’m sure he can use the help.”
Now Levi was smiling.
***
Levi was su
rprised to see that there wasn’t any construction being done at the granary site. A dozen men were milling about sorting materials. He could see there weren’t nearly enough materials to build the new barn. He waved when his dad noticed him coming toward him.
Samuel, always smiling, walked toward his son with his arms out, grabbing him and giving him a huge hug. “How’ve you been, Son? You look good. Are you taller?”
“I’m fine, Dad. What’s going on here? There doesn’t appear to be enough lumber to build a barn.”
“I know. But since I’m here we’ll do what we can. There have to be some barns in the surrounding area with wood worth salvaging.”
“Roy knew you were coming. He had plenty of time to get you the materials you needed. I’ll go and have a talk with Ryder. He can do something about this.”
“No, don’t bother him. He’s got enough on his plate right now.”
“You’re too forgiving, Dad. This means you’ll be here longer than you planned. What’s Mom going to think when you don’t come home when she’s expecting you?”
“That is going to be a problem,” Samuel admitted.
Three shots were heard in rapid succession. Again, it was the signal for strangers approaching. The men who had been working with Samuel dropped what they were doing and ran for the gate. Samuel stood still and watched. Levi noticed Eli for the first time.
“C’mon, Dad, Eli, we need to get inside,” urged Levi, taking a step to follow the others.
His dad remained unconcerned. “It’s probably nothing. The same thing happened when Eli and I arrived.”
“We can’t be complacent. It may be different this time,” said Levi.
“I still think you’re worrying about nothing,” remarked Samuel.
“Please, Dad, just come with me,” begged Eli.
Samuel gave in and nodded. Levi hurried his dad and Eli to the gate. Everyone else, except for Jeremy and Ryder, were already inside the walls. From the gate, Ryder shouted up to the closest tower, “See anyone?”
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