"Thanks, Charles. I still don't know what to do. Anything you haven't told me? Feelings? Intuition? I'm having trouble with this. Something I can't put my finger on is nagging at me. Like an itch I can't scratch. Driving me crazy. What does your intuition tell you?"
"Since you ask, from a security point of view, they are four. The teens should be counted as adults. That's a big group when it comes to insurgency. Many times we have had less than four in the lodge. They shoot those and then anybody who comes in, one or two at a time. If most are out foraging, they kill us as we return. That way, they could kill us all and take over the whole lodge. They would have enough food to last forever. Even if the garden produced badly, it would be more than enough for the four of them. We can't alter our operations to keep watch over an enemy within. With a group that big, you either trust them completely or you can't trust them at all."
"Maybe that's why I was nervous, Charles. You've put your finger on it. When we brought in Iris and Abby and Sarah, we had only one each time to worry about. We could watch one. One could have wiped out one or two of us, but not taken over the whole lodge and killed us all. Although, Sarah may have killed more than two or three. In the end, someone would have seen what was happening and stopped her. Had she tried something, she would have died. From her point of view, she couldn't win."
Charles nodded in agreement. "You're right. And Carla and Isaac were only two and their young children weren't a threat."
"I'm not sure they even added up to two. Isaac was so lazy. Then, I suppose, that provides the standard, if that's what I was looking for. We can take a risk on one. Two has to be clearly the right thing to do. More than that is too much risk."
"Have you made the decision?"
"I don't want to make a unilateral decision, Charles. I'll talk to the others and tell them what we just discussed. I want to make sure they agree. I still want to have a democracy. Our new world needs to be rational, but also we have to take people into account. I don't want to be a tyrant. If people disagree with my ideas, I want to know. Human nature can destroy us from inside faster than any enemy can destroy us from the outside."
Chapter 45 - Traders
It was around noon as John, Fred, George, Charles and Iris returned from chopping wood. As they were washing up in the barn, Cho walked in.
"Wagon at gate. Look strange."
"I'll go," said John, walking over to the window and looking out at what appeared to be a wagon from the Old West. "Yep, pardner, that's strange."
"What is it, John?"
"Covered wagon, Fred. I'll go see what they want."
John climbed into the armored tractor and drove down the zigzag, junk-car lined driveway which was intended to slow down an attack.
As he arrived at the outer gate, an old man with a grey beard and tattered clothes looked over from the wagon and spoke. "Mornin' friend. Jeb's the name. I'm a trader. Got anything you'd like to trade or anything you need? If I don't have what you want, I'll be on the lookout for it and let you know when I find it."
"What keeps me from shooting you and stealing all your stuff?"
The man pulled back the cover of the wagon to reveal another man inside with a machine gun, aimed at John. Then, he pointed up the road to two other men on horseback with rifles. "Answer your question, young'un?"
"I appreciate the door to door service, but right now, all we need is food and we don't have anything to trade."
"I'll take medicines, camping gear, weapons, alcohol. Whatever."
"Sorry. We ran out of alcohol. It didn't last long, Jeb. I can't explain that."
The man turned around and pulled out a bottle of Johnny Walker. "You like scotch?"
"Again, sorry."
"Nice looking garden."
"Even when the crops are harvested, we don't think we'll have enough to trade. Wish we did."
"We've seen that all the houses around here are empty or burned down. Figured you were the ones who did it. We scavenge as we go. Haven't found anything for miles."
"We don't have enough food so we have to scavenge, too. Might be best if you turned around and went back north. You won't find anything on this road for many miles going south. No people to trade with either."
"Much obliged, friend. Maybe next time," he said, turning the horses back up the road.
Back inside the lodge, Fred said, "You really think he was a trader? Or was he checking us out to see what kind of defenses we had?"
"Don't know. He did have a bottle of Johnny Walker."
"Oh, really," said Elspeth. "What did he want for it?"
"We don't have anything to trade."
"Don't sell me short, John."
"Elspeth!" said both Tom and Charles, each giving the other a hard look.
"He had another man in the wagon with a machine gun and up the road, two carrying rifles on horseback. He was taking a risk, but not a big one. We could follow them and take what we want. That wagon can't go through the forest. They would be easy to find."
"If it were me," said Fred, " I'd leave a lookout for several hours. And, I'd already have a place to take that wagon off the road and out of sight before dark."
"You're sayin' we don't mess with them," said George. "You could be right, but I'm still curious. We could take the Dark Demon and go out lookin' for 'em, Fred."
"And maybe they've seen the Dark Demon and this visit was a ploy to steal the Demon from us. Give us a target we can't resist. Wait until we're out looking for them and hit a few tires. Stop us in our tracks."
"The Demon needs power though. It only makes sense to have it if you have a way to recharge it. And it takes a lot of power."
"Maybe you're right, George. Maybe they're OK," John said. "Maybe I'm being paranoid. But, we need to be careful. We can't let our guard down. Something we should decide is are we desperate enough for whatever they might have to try to take it away from them by force? And go up against an AK-47?"
"OK," said Fred. "But let's stay on our toes for a few days. Twenty-four hour guard. Any volunteers?"
"I don't mind, six to midnight," said John.
"Sure," said George. "Midnight to six."
"I'll take six to noon," said Harry.
"Cho take noon to six."
"If you don't mind guys, I'd like to do some patrols on foot," said Fred. "Just don't shoot me."
"How do we know it's you coming back," said John.
"I'll use the radio. Tomorrow, we'll schedule the next day."
The next three days were quiet with wood chopping and gardening the main activities. John thought that the danger was over as time had passed and the moon was at the half moon stage and becoming smaller. On the third night, John's radio came alive around two in the morning.
"Lodge, Mayday. Incoming. That wagon is coming down the road."
"Ten four. How many?"
"Wagon plus four. No idea how many are in the wagon."
"Ten four. Heading out. Meet me out back. Watch out for anyone on foot."
John turned to where Cho was sleeping and, as usual, she was already dressed and standing by the window with a rifle in her hand. He handed her the radio. "Call the others. Tell them to keep the lights out. I'm heading out to the woods. I'll tell George."
"Cho go with John. John important to Cho."
"No. You are important to me, too. So, you stay here. Stay up here. Open the window and shoot from the window with the lights out. Shoot anything you see. I'll stay out of your sight."
John ran down the stairs and found George peeking through the curtains of the front windows. "Don't see anythin', good buddy. I was thinkin' about going to the barn and openin' the door. I can use the screens in the Demon to watch out front."
"Sure. I'm going out the back to meet up with Fred. Cho's watching out the upstairs windows. Bring someone in here to watch the back. We'll call on the radio before coming in."
"Be careful, man. This could be it."
"It? What do you mean, it?"
"The end. The b
ig battle. We have a lot of useful stuff and these guys want it. They want it all. And the Dark Demon."
"Take it easy, George. We've been through worse. And if we haven't, we will. So, we will make it through this one. I promise you that this is definitely not the big one."
"I hope you're right."
"You'll be OK," John said, looking George in the eye and putting his hand on George's shoulder.
John eased out the back door and carefully walked down the zigzag path of cars to the back gate.
"John, over here."
"Hey, Fred. You think they're going to attack?"
"I don't know. It could be that they travel during the night and they are traveling down our road to wherever they're going. I haven't heard anything so far. Uh-oh. What's that sound?"
"Sound is Cho. You guys easy target. Baby can find you. Baby can shoot you. You guys be more careful."
"You were supposed to stay upstairs. What are you doing here?"
"Marceau and Pierre upstairs. Pierre better shot, anyway. Bedroom has best view. Best for Pierre. Cho protect John."
"And what happens to John if Cho is shot? Nobody left to take care of John. Right."
"John use circular logic. Trick. Cho not fall for trick. What next?"
"Fred. You're the military man. Like she said. What next?"
"You're beginning to talk like Cho."
"What next, military man?"
"OK, OK. We head up the road and see what they are doing. We move carefully and quietly. Hey, where's Cho, John? She was just here."
"She's gone, Fred. You did too much talking and not enough doing. She went that way," John said pointing over Fred's shoulder.
"I'm beginning to wonder which one of us went to military strategy school, John."
"That makes two of us, Fred."
John and Fred crept through the forest, trying to keep up with Cho. The half moon provided some light. After five minutes, they heard a "Shhh."
"I know," said Fred, "Baby make less noise."
"Yes, big baby," said Cho.
"What military school did you go to, Cho?" Fred said, carefully creeping up next to her.
"Father special agent for Chinese Intelligence. Also child molester. Cho learn much from father. Maybe too much."
Fred looked back at John and mouthed, "What?"
John nodded and said "What do you see?"
"Wagon ahead. Stopped on road. Four men inside. Hear voices. Four horses follow."
"What do you think?" John asked Fred. "Do we try to take them or wait and see what they are up to? They have at least one machine gun. The AK-47 I saw. If we started shooting right now, they would pound us with that thing. Keep us tied down until the others flanked us. It wouldn't work."
"That's what you learned in summer camp?"
"Yep."
"Wouldn't mind having that thing, myself."
"I suppose I know what that means."
"We wait until they are in front of the compound and then let Pierre do what he can while we take out the horse soldiers. You know what kind of firepower Pierre has?"
"No, but it cost a bundle. Charles also bought some strange things. We're about to find out if it was worth it. Hopefully, George, Tom, Joe and Harry will help out."
"I'm beginning to think you are a sexist, John. Don't you think the women can shoot?"
"I know that Marceau prefers knives. Elspeth likes pistols. Masako would prefer hand to hand. None of those are good at a distance. Iris said she could shoot a rifle. Don't know about Abby. I do know that Cho will go with anything she can find."
"Damn right. Keep down voice. Wagon moving. Cho hear noises."
The wagon began to move as John's radio made a noise. He had connected his earphone before leaving the lobby.
"John, they are coming into view."
"Ten four," he whispered.
From his hiding place behind the trees, John could see the entire group, the wagon and four horses. Taking out the four men on horses would be easy. The men in the wagon were not visible.
"Cho hear noises. From back."
"What did your textbook tell you about this, John."
"Well, Fred, our options have been reduced. We leave the guys on the road alone and go after the ones on foot. First, we figure out how many people they have. Next, we find suitable cover. With people in front and behind, our position will be nearly impossible to defend. So, we hold off and follow them back toward the lodge. Then, we'll have them between the lodge and us." John pressed the button on his radio and whispered, "Watch the back."
The noises in the woods became louder as the three stood silently. Finally, John could see four men with rifles and backpacks making their way toward the rear of the lodge.
"What's their strategy?" Fred whispered.
"They will set up at the edge of the forest , maybe creep up to our barrier and wait."
"They are laying siege to the castle?"
"Something like that, Fred."
"Wouldn't work, would it?"
"No. We have months of food. Maybe they don't know about the tunnels and figure those in the cabins can be starved out in a few days. The only other choice is an assault. If it were me, I wouldn't do that. High losses. The cabins and lodge are made from logs that will stop a lot of bullets."
"What about fire. The lodge and the cabins are wood. Or RPG's?"
"They would have to move close to burn the buildings. If they had grenades, then it's still four hundred feet or more. An RPG would do that, but even at that distance, they would probably miss."
"And hit the greenhouse, the barn or the solar panels."
"You're saying a miss is as good as a hit?"
"Maybe. We'll need to protect the front of the building as soon as we can. Cho, do what you can with your knives. How many do you have?"
"No problem. Cho practice for this."
As John steadied his rifle on the leader, Fred nocked an arrow onto his bowstring and readied himself for a shot as Cho hurried quietly ahead. When she was within thirty feet of the last man, she threw her knife. He fell with a crunch of leaves, which the others didn't notice. She sneaked, knife in hand, ahead toward the next man, now standing still as John reached the fallen man, checked the man's pulse and whacked him on the head with a rock before retrieving the knife.
Cho let her next knife fly and the target fell with another crunch as she quickly narrowed the distance to her next quarry. The second man turned to look as Cho quickly released a third knife. The man was fifty feet away and the knife missed. The man raised his rifle, but before he could get a bead on Cho, who was now running forward, Fred stopped and fired an arrow. The man fell. Fred nocked another arrow and shot at the first man, hitting him in the shoulder. Cho had continued running and was only twenty feet from the man when she threw another knife. This one struck with deadly accuracy and the man fell.
John ran up and checked all the fallen to make sure it was safe and no one was still alive. He pressed the button on his radio and said, "George, we're clear in back. We took down four. Watch the wagon carefully in case they have an RPG or something similar."
"Ten-four. The wagon has just pulled up in front of the gate and stopped. You coming in?"
"No. Out."
"So, we go back around and flank them?
"Yeah, Fred. Sounds like the best plan. You OK?"
"Sure, why wouldn't I be? Nobody was throwing knives at me."
"It just seems we are either always killing someone or planning to kill someone."
"That's what happens in war, John. It won't be over soon. We just have to become used to it."
"I don't think I ever will. They say war is hell. I believe them. It would be easier if everybody had a uniform and we knew what side everyone was on."
"No need. You know who's on your side. Everybody else is on the other side."
"I keep hoping I'll find someone else who's either on our side or who's neutral, Fred."
"Maybe someday. But, not tonight."
"We come back tomorrow. Now, go around front. Finish job."
John reached out and pulled her to him and hugged her. "You are amazing. You know?"
"Cho know. Cho protect John. John not bad, too," she said putting her arms around him. She looked over to Fred. "Fred good shot, too."
"But I don't get a hug."
"I tell Masako. She give you big hug."
They slowly walked around the edge of the forest, listening for others and trying not to make any noise themselves while taking cover behind trees whenever possible. After five minutes of creeping through the underbrush they were about five hundred feet from the wagon and about one hundred feet from the barricade of cars they had placed around the compound.
"What do you think, John? Can we make it to the cars and over without being seen?"
John looked across the hundred foot open space trying to decide if it was worth the risk in making a run for it, knowing the people in the wagon had a machine gun. With light from the crescent-moon it would be hard to cross the space without being seen, if anybody were looking. If he could creep over to the barrier and to the other side, then he could make it close enough to the wagon undetected that he could take out the machine gun. It seemed like a major risk, he thought, as he saw a small flash of light.
"Did you see that, Fred."
"Yes. A light."
"What he doing here? That fèi wù."
"Charles?"
"What's she mean?"
"Literally, it means worthless one, but I think it's more derogatory when she says it like that."
John saw another blink of light, further away this time. Charles was doing what John was thinking of doing, making his way closer to the wagon.
"John, we could take out three of the riders, maybe the fourth. What do you think?"
"Maybe. Let's give Charles a chance to go where he wants to be."
The next five minutes passed slowly as Charles made his way closer and closer to the wagon. Finally, two flashes of light signaled that Charles was ready.
The Weak Shall Die: Complete Collection (Four Volume Set) Page 47