And Then ... Farewell (Beginnings Series Book 22)

by Jacqueline Druga

  Elliott jumped.

  “Out of uniform?” Hal asked.

  “You gave me the day off.”

  “I did,” Hal nodded once. “And you are taking full advantage. What was that song, Elliott? I like it.”

  Elliot shrugged. “Just something I’m working on.”

  “I thought there was an entire band.”

  “Just me. I’d say multi-tasking but that’s cheating. Just synchronizing.”

  “Are you thinking of taking the one man show on the road? Elliott and the Ryders?”

  First reaction was a serious confused look, and then Elliott laughed. “That’s good.”

  “So are you, Elliott.”

  “Actually … yeah.”

  “Yeah? Yeah meaning the word yes?”

  Elliott slightly rolled his eyes. “Yes.”

  “Yes, what?”

  “Yes I am taking it on the road.”

  “Elliott, I know you are inspired by a greater call. And you always wanted to be a rock star and play in New York City. But … I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Radio City Music hall will probably be empty.”

  “Ah … yes, Radio City Music hall may be closed, but Beginnings Social Hall will not be.”

  “You’re gonna play the Social Hall?” Hal rubbed his chin. “Doesn’t karaoke have the corner market there?”

  “Yeah, but Danny Hoi said …”

  “Wait. Stop. Why is Danny Hoi delegating who plays the Social Hall.”

  “He books all the entertainment now. Joe gave him the authority. He heard me. He said I wasn’t country enough for Hoi-Hoi on the Range and booked me in the hall. I didn’t go to him, he came to me.”

  “Well, Elliott, I cannot wait.”

  “What bring you here, Captain?” Elliott asked. “Searching out my music or is it me?”

  “Honestly, Elliott, I followed the music in my search for anything.”

  Elliott pulled up a stool, slid it to Hal, and then grabbed one for himself. “What are you searching for?”

  “I don’t know.” Hal shrugged sitting down. “I’m not feeling right.” He winced. “Internally, I am bothered.”

  “Does this have anything to do with me having to point out what mistake you would make that would not make you a good leader?”

  “In a sense.”

  “Does this have to do at all with the Lodi battle?”

  “In … a sense.” Hal exhaled staring down to his hands. “Elliott, is my brother a good leader.”

  “Frank.” Elliot fluttered his lips. “Without a doubt.”

  Hal raised his eyes.

  Elliott cleared his throat. “I’m sorry.”

  “No, don’t apologize. It’s my brother. As crazy as he drives me, I love and adore him. Tell me why, Elliott? Why would you say he’s a good leader?”

  “When it comes to his men, and the greater cause of Beginnings and the provinces, he is the most unselfish person I have met. He … he doesn’t do what he does for himself. Okay, sometimes he does it for sport. But have you ever been under your brother’s command when push came to shove? I have been. The savage attack last year. He reacts without too much thought, he does it on instinct and his instinct is very good., But, Captain … his battle leaderships skills … your battle leadership skills … I would be proud to follow either of you, because in either instance, with you both leading, we would not fail.”

  “Thank you Elliott.” Hal stood up.

  “Please do not second guess your position as a leader. You’re a very good leader. The kind the UWA needs and wants.”

  “What about the greater good?” Hal asked. “If God forbid something should happen to my father, would I be able to fill his shoes.”

  “You would be a great leader.”

  “Would I lead like my father?”

  The corner of Elliott’s mouth raised some. “No one would lead like your father.”

  “That’s true. But would I lead in his style.”

  “You would lead in your own style.”

  “Who would be the most likely to take over that position?” Hal asked.

  “This … this is really morbid.”

  “I know. Just thinking.”

  “You. Frank.” Elliot paused. “Not Danny Hoi. Danny is great fill in. He does a great job organizing, but at this point in time, with the fight for freedom always on our tail. We need leadership that can not only lead a community, but lead a battle. And I am really feeling uncomfortable about this.”

  “Me, too. I’ll let you be. Carry on.” Hal tuned. “And if you could. I’d love to hear that song again.”

  “Yes, Captain.”

  “Thank you Elliot.” Hal smiled. He relished the few second before leaving, as Elliott began to play. Although, his friend gave him some great words to mull over, a part of Hal still felt as if he were searching.

  ***

  Only around the Chicago area did Robbie run into bad weather. He veered south and cut through it quickly and without problems. Finding Lodi wasn’t a problem either. He was guided, not by navigational skills, but rather the smoke that billowed up into the sky.

  He flew over Lodi to assess, circling around and landing in his usual spot. No one was there to greet them, a jeep was left with the keys on the seat and Robbie drove Ellen, Dean and the supplies to center town.

  They were told nothing and had to guess by what they saw all that had transpired in the preparations of them.

  The town was quiet. Very few men moved about. As they pulled into town, Mike and Buzz were lifting men out of the back of a truck and carrying them into the old super pharmacy.

  Why not the clinic?

  Nearest Dean could figure was they needed a large area to assess the injured. Because Ellen was familiar with Lars hospital set up, she went there to get things ready while Dean headed to the pharmacy.

  The clinic was untouched. Almost as if spared on purpose.

  Dean on the other hand, had a bit different scenario to face. He was new to Lodi, and was wandering into a scene of confusion.

  Mike brushed into him.

  Dean hadn’t a clue who he was.

  Backpack dangling from his shoulder, Dean looked around. The men were on the floor, some, if not most, weren’t covered with a blanket or anything.

  In his walk to whom he assumed was Mike, a man on the floor grabbed Dean’s leg.

  Just as Dean looked down to the hand clenching his jeans, he heard the voice.

  “Are you Dr. Hayes?”

  Dean lifted his head.

  Mike approached. “I’m Mike Manis.”

  “Dean Hayes.” Dean extended his hand and removed his leg from the grip of the man.

  “We’re glad to see you. Where’s Ellen?” Mike asked.

  “She’s at the clinic. I want to start making assessments to determine who gets what first.”

  “Understandable.” Mike nodded. “I’ve done the best I can to separate them, but I’m not a doctor.”

  “I know. But I bet you did well. Where are we at?”

  Mike raised his hands. “Still looking. Buzz said they came from North and South, and halted before they hit the middle. We’re still searching,” Mike said. “We had two hundred and four men before this happened. Seventy-three are still unaccounted for. Out of the one hundred and thirty one. Forty-two are still alive. Fifty are dead. Thirty-nine injured. We’re still making rounds looking.”

  Dean nodded. “Then why don’t we do this. Show me what you have. I’ll get started. Robbie will be here soon, he can move the more serious ones to the clinic. And you and your other men continue the search.”

  “Sounds good.”

  Mike wasn’t showing much emotion at all. He was indifferent because he had to be in that mode. He couldn’t take the time to let things affect him. He showed Dean his division of injured, then Mike left Dean and went back to the task of searching out men.

  Ellen on the other hand had it a bit easier. Until Robbie returned from town and told her Dean needed opera
ting rooms prepped for six immediate surgeries.

  The message from Dean was simple. They were first and most critical. The ones he was certain about, the ones he knew would die, they didn’t even count. The operations would be too many to even keep track of. All that Dean knew and he told Ellen was that more than six needed operated on, but they were the first and most important.

  Dean asked for bandages and items to clean the wounds. He gave fast first aid lessons to Mike and some of the men, stating they didn’t have a choice. They had to be nurses. Injuries needed to be cleaned and temporarily fixed until they could be properly treated.

  Dean took a break, he had to. Only because he realized that an hour and a half after arriving to Lodi, him, Robbie and Ellen were so busy they hadn’t called Beginnings to give them an update or news of their arrival.

  There was no answer on Joe or Frank’s phone, and on the third attempt to another phone, Hal answered.

  “Glad you made it safely,” Hal said.

  “Where are Joe and Frank?” Dean asked.

  “Near the Killer Baby region looking for more, what does Frank call them, Iffy’s and they don’t want to take a chance on noise.”

  “Makes sense.”

  “So, tell me. Obliviously you called with an update. What’s the situation, Dean?”

  Dean exhaled. It carried heavily over the phone. “They haven’t accounted for everyone.”

  “They wouldn’t. Some ran. Casualties?”

  “Hard to tell. We have men who need surgery and men that surgery won’t help. I suspect the casualty number will be a lot higher.”

  “How are they holding up?” Hal asked.

  “Mike seems indifferent. Strange.”

  “How about you? How are you holding up?”

  “Hal, this …. All the text books, movies, in the world can’t prepare anyone for this. Yeah, we’ve had injuries. Savage attacks, even your brother getting shot isn’t like this. Here, limbs are missing, Shrapnel is embedded, it’s …”

  “A war zone.”

  “Exactly. And Hal, we have to do something.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “We have to do something to stop this Great War. We have to. If we don’t, and this war is as big as Bob said, then what I see here will be nothing.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  March 7th

  Thirty-six hours.

  Thirty-six hours after they had arrived in Lodi, Dean and Ellen finally got to take a rest at the same time. Although they alternated a nap here and there, the work and surgery was steady and exhausting.

  Robbie learned quickly how to be a nurse, and held down the predawn fort while Dean and Ellen just collapsed.

  When it was all said and done and the numbers tallied, sixty-three men were alive and unscathed. Forty-two of them headed to Beginnings at dawn.

  The injured outnumbered those who were alive and those who had passed, but Dean and Ellen believed those numbers would switch, as many of those injured neared death.

  Mike brewed coffee, and Robbie was done with his shift, needing rest himself. Buzz was keeping an eye on things until Robbie woke Ellen and Dean.

  He arrived just as Mike was pouring the coffee into cups.

  “They’re awake,” Mike said. “I just yelled up for Ellen.”

  “Where’s Dean?”

  “He was sleeping on the couch. I think he’s upstairs now. Coffee?” Mike asked.

  “Just a little. I want to get to sleep.”

  “Long night?”

  “Fairly easy compared to last night.” Robbie raised his eyebrows a couple times.

  Mike handed him the coffee, and shifted his focus when Dean walked in.

  “I took a shower,” Dean said. “I hope you don’t mind.”

  “Not at all.”

  Dean helped himself to Coffee. “How were things last night, Robbie?”

  “Busy, but nothing like the night before.”

  “Did we lose anyone?”

  Robbie shook his head.

  “Did you get a chance to talk to Frank?” Dean asked as he sat down.

  ‘Actually, yeah, I did.” Robbie joined him. “I gave him all the stats I had, told him about the …”

  “Whoa. Hold up. Wait.” Mike interrupted. “Why are you reporting my town’s business to Frank?”

  “Um ... he wants to know?” Robbie said with some sarcasm.

  “No.” Mike shook his head.

  This caused Dean to look up and Robbie to snap a sharp glance.

  “Can I ask why?” Dean questioned.

  “He caused this.” Mike replied.

  Before Robbie could say anything, Dean did. “Frank … Frank caused what? The attack on Lodi?”

  “Not the attack, as much as the damage.”

  “And you get this how?” Dean asked.

  “Beginnings saw the attack coming. Frank called the town. Frank organized a defense over the phone and led my men not into a battle but a blood bath.”

  “And you expected him to do what?” Dean shrugged. “Call up, say they’re coming and your men would be on their own.”

  “I’d expect him to call, yes,” Mike said. “But let my men do what they feel was best.”

  “Run?” Dean asked. “Fight. It is my understanding that they stayed behind to fight. Do you think it would have been any less of a blood bath had Frank not instructed your men what to do? If you think that, you’re sadly mistaken. Because you couldn’t have had a better man leading your men.”

  Robbie added. “If it wasn’t for Frank, there’d be no Lodi.”

  Mike scoffed. “You over estimate your brother.”

  “And you underestimate what he did,” Robbie said. “They planned a feint. Your men only saw what was coming from the south. The bigger movement was coming from the north. They were coming straight into town and right through. Nothing would have been left. Frank called George immediately, and within minutes he had him on the phone and negotiated a cease fire. Had he not gotten George to stop, they would have wiped out your town and you, Mike would have returned to nothing.” Robbie set down his cup. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll grab some rest elsewhere.” He nodded to Dean and walked out.

  “Can I give you some advice, Chief Manis?” Dean said. “When it comes to us Beginnings people, as much a Frank drives us all insane, you won’t get a single one of use to agree with you or go against him.”

  “Why, because you all bow down to him.”

  ‘Nah,” Dean said smoothly. “We all respect him.” After excusing himself as well, Dean left the kitchen.

  ***

  Brandon Gray was twenty-one years old when he joined up with the UWA. He met Hal and Sgt. Ryder in Washington when they were all part of the Society for that brief moment in time. He liked the captain and Ryder and had no doubts in his mind that he would join up. Since then he had been a diehard member of UWA, and the midnight watch tower guard.

  When they arrived in Beginnings there was some talk about it, but it wasn’t put into motion until winter broke. Even though the snow occasionally fell, with the arrival of Creed and his people, and the amount of towns that spanned off the one highway, Joe initiated the road station.

  A fence was built across the highway, with a gate. Small quarters were set off of the road, and a small booth at the gate. Brandon led a team of eight, and those eight men watched that road. The main highway just before the turn into Beginnings. Not that anything would happen, but if they did they could alert Beginnings of forces, good or bad, making their way into the provinces.

  It was about eight in the morning when Brandon himself saw it in the distance. The sun hit the back end, causing a reflection of light that headed toward them. The rear of it smoked some, and that alerted Brandon that they pretty much weren’t going any further than the gate.

  The closer they drew the more he heard the choking and coughing of the engine.

  He didn’t need to be a rocket scientist to figure out who it was rolling down the highway at a near
snail’s pace. They had been expecting them.

  He called to his right hand man to get the phone, and Brandon stepped out in front of the gate.

  The bus came into view and then the bus stopped about fifty feet away.

  In the old days, the destination of the bus was a marquee across the top front, the same held true with this bus. Beginnings was on the marquee.

  The door opened.

  Brandon had the number to Frank already dialed and he pressed send.

  “Frank.” He answered.

  “I believe the Lodi Pilgrimage has arrived,” Brandon said. “A bus. They’ve stopped. I think they’re broke down.”

  “Has anyone stepped off the bus?” Frank asked.

  “A child just stepped off.”

  “Long hair to his shoulders.”

  “Yes,” Brandon answered.

  “That’s not a child it’s a little person.”

  “Shit. I mean …”

  “Don’t worry about it. Hold them there, don’t let them go any further. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”

  “Shall I notify Doyle Camp and Jordan?”

  “I’ll have Danny Hoi get on that. We have to determine who is going where. We have more room in Creedville.”

  “Roger that,” Brandon said. “I’ll hold them down.”

  “And I’ll be there shortly.”

  Ironically, as soon as Frank said the word ‘shortly’ Tigger approached. Brandon ended the call.

  “Hey, how are you?” Tigger held out his hand “Anthony Manis, people call me Tigger.”

  “Brandon Gray.”

  “We’re from Lodi.”

  “We’ve been expecting you.”

  “Yeah,” Tigger sighed out. “I know we said we’d make this jaunt on our own, but we could use some help with our belongings. We don’t mind walking to where ever we have to go.”

  Brandon nodded.

  “And one other thing. We have a sick passenger. We have a doctor on board, but he’s gonna need more.”

  “We have the hospital in Beginnings.”