Paradise

by Michael R. Watson

  I was glad to see Samuel and Levi waiting for us along the trail. Ryder continued toward them at the same leisurely pace. Samuel raised his hand for us to stop and Ryder dismounted. I didn’t know what to expect. I became tense. I knew there was friction between Ryder and his brother, but I didn’t know if whatever happened had also affected his relationship with his dad.

  As Ryder approached him, Samuel broke into a huge smile and threw his arms around him in a bear hug.

  “It’s good to see you, Son!” he exclaimed. “You look good.”

  I was caught completely off guard, and relieved, letting out a sigh and beginning to breathe again. I hadn’t been aware until that moment that I had been holding my breath.

  Ryder returned the warm embrace. “It’s good to see you too, Dad.”

  I learned later that Ryder stopped in every few months just to check in on his folks.

  Their embrace continued for several seconds before Ryder pulled back and looked over at Levi.

  “It’s good to see you too, little brother.” Ryder appeared to catch him off guard as he stepped over and picked him off the ground, giving him a huge hug, too. Though he tried to hide it, I saw a hint of a smile appear on Levi’s face.

  Samuel came to me and reached for my hand as I dismounted. “Thank you for bringing my boys home safely.”

  “Believe me, I didn’t do anything. They brought me.”

  He smiled warmly. “Were you able to stop Taylor?”

  “I’m sorry, I wasn’t. When I caught up to him he had already met up with the Guard. I’m sure he’ll be leading them here.”

  Neither his demeanor nor his expression changed at the news, only continuing to smile warmly.

  Ryder stepped over, leaning toward my ear. “You’ll find my dad is very difficult to surprise or upset.” Then I saw that same knowing smile of Samuel’s on his son’s face.

  “Don’t worry, John. The Lord will watch over us,” comforted Samuel.

  Ryder gave me a smile and a slight nod as he mouthed the words, “I told you so.”

  Standing side by side, the similarities between father and son were obvious.

  The other two men dismounted and were also greeted warmly all around, like a family reunion, which apparently it must have been.

  “Is my family all right?” I asked Samuel.

  “They’re fine, waiting below for you. Go on,” with a flip of his wrist he motioned for me to go.

  “I’m worried,” I stressed. “What are we going to do about Taylor and the Guard? They’re coming. I’m sure of it.”

  “Don’t worry about them. Go see your family.”

  “Just let me know what I can do to help. I’m willing to fight if it comes to that.”

  “I don’t think that’ll be necessary,” said Samuel, attempting to reassure me, unsuccessfully.

  “You don’t have another son in the Guard, do you?”

  He chuckled. “No, I don’t. Now, go on.”

  “I’ll take her,” offered Levi, as he took my horse’s reins.

  I walked quickly ahead of the others down the trail into town, anxious to see my family again. The others were walking down leisurely, getting re-acquainted. I could have expected Samuel to react to danger this way, but Ryder seemed to be just as unconcerned. I couldn’t help wondering if there was still something I didn’t know.

  Sarah, Cindy, and Christopher met me at the edge of town. We had a reunion of our own as we had a family hug.

  “Did you get him, Dad?” asked Christopher, excitement in his voice.

  “No, unfortunately,” I answered. “I caught up to him, but just a little too late. I’m sure he told the Guard all about this place and plans to lead them here. We’re all in danger now because of me. But, on the bright side, we do have some help. Ryder led me back here.”

  “Ryder?” asked Sarah, puzzled. “Samuel’s son.”

  “Yeah. Strange, isn’t it? He just seemed to show up right when I needed him.”

  “Well, I’m just glad you’re back and safe,” said Sarah, taking my hand and leading me away. “Let’s go home. I’ve got a surprise for you. Our new place is ready.”

  * * *

  The new cabin was a drastic improvement from the one-room cabin I’d been staying in previously. Much bigger, it was still a one-room structure. But, now that I was back I could work on furnishing it and making partitions for a little privacy. For now, we would be sleeping on bedrolls spread across the wooden floor near the wood stove, another surprise. It was a welcome change from our tent at Tent City. When I saw the look in Sarah’s and the kid’s eyes, I knew I’d made the right decision in bringing them here.

  I lay wide awake and restless. How could Samuel be so calm? Trouble was on its way. If the Guard found their way here, it would change everything, ruining this community’s way of life forever.

  Sarah must have sensed my concern. After the children had gone to sleep, she whispered, not wanting to wake them, “What’s wrong?”

  I didn’t want to worry her. “I can’t sleep. Too much excitement, I guess. I think I’ll go for a walk,” I said, as I sat up.

  She placed her hand on my arm. “Don’t get into any trouble.” She smiled.

  I walked to the small downtown area where all the lamps and candles in the storefront windows had been put out. I peered through the shop windows, not really looking at anything. Here, even windows were an anomaly. Everywhere else I knew of, windows had been the first to be destroyed, shattering from the earthquake activity. But somehow here they had survived, as did every structure in town. When asked how, Samuel repeated his only answer, God was watching over them. Since meeting him, his faith had been unwavering, which I admired. However, I believed the answer had more to do with the location, most likely far removed from any fault lines.

  There was a light shining out the open stable doors at the end of the downtown area. I could see the occasional flicker of shadows cast out onto the road as I walked toward it. Crickets chirped and the cool breeze of the evening air touched my face. It was good to be back. I hadn’t felt this safe in a long time. It felt like home.

  I wasn’t surprised to see Ryder and his two friends saddling their horses, apparently preparing to leave.

  “You’re leaving?” I asked.

  “We have to. Danger is coming unless we can do something to stop it.”

  “But you seemed so unconcerned earlier.”

  “I didn’t want to worry Dad or cause a panic with any of the others.”

  “Then I was right. We are in danger.”

  “Of course. But, I don’t want anyone to destroy what this community has, and I’ll do anything to prevent it.”

  For some reason, I felt better knowing I wasn’t the only one concerned. I hadn’t been over reacting after all.

  “What do you intend to do?”

  “Stop them.”

  “Just the three of you?”

  “There are a few more of us than just us three,” he said with his father’s smile.

  I hesitated before I asked, “I know it’s none of my business, but why did you leave in the first place when you had everything you needed right here?”

  “It just wasn’t for me. It was too quiet, too sedentary a lifestyle. I had ambitions and I needed to see what else was out there. I would’ve continued to wonder “what if?” if I’d stayed.”

  “How did you know you could survive out there?”

  “I didn’t, but I had to try.”

  “Then, how did you become a guard?” I asked.

  “I’d heard about the governor setting up the old prison for earthquake victims, so I headed straight there. I had seen the Guard in their uniforms from afar and was impressed. I was very impressionable when I was younger. I thought it would be an exciting improvement, a position of respect with room, board, and clothing provided. After making a few inquiries and going through a brief interview, I found myself recruited. I began to move up through the ranks, but I soon realized it wasn’t what I h
ad expected or wanted. You know the guys who brought you out to the wasteland in a wagon? I used to be one of those guys. That’s how I ran into a group of Raiders, after dropping off my passengers. They actually stopped the wagon to rob me until I convinced them I had nothing for them to take. It didn’t take much to convince me to quit the Guard then and there and to go with them. It’s been four years since then and it was the best decision of my life.”

  “I got the impression your brother doesn’t approve of what you do now,” I commented.

  “He’s not very good at hiding it either, is he? But that’s not the only reason. We got into it when I left. He thought I should stay to help Dad. After I left, he had to take over my duties, and he resented it, and I think he still does.”

  “How did your dad take you leaving?”

  “He knew I’d never be happy if he forced me to stay. Of course he wanted me to, but he never tried to stop me.”

  “So, since you left, Levi’s been making the trips to Sector 4 for supplies?”

  “Yeah, and I don’t think he’s very happy about it.”

  “I’m sure he’ll get over it one of these days,” I said.

  I was beginning to understand. Since Samuel had told Levi to take me to Sector 4, that may have been the reason for him being so quiet on our ride there; he was once again being told what to do and had been pouting about it. He had been forced to grow up before he was ready.

  “Do you and Levi ever run into each other on his trips?”

  “No, and I think that’s the way he prefers it. But I make sure someone keeps an eye on him when he crosses through the wasteland. He’s still only eighteen and I don’t want anything to happen to him.”

  Ryder noticed as his two companions mounted their horses. “I guess it’s time for us to go. We need to find our scouts. They’ll let us know what the Guard has been up to. You don’t need to worry about them coming all the way here. We won’t let it happen.”

  “How do you intend to stop them?” I asked.

  “We’ll think of something.”

  “If you see Taylor, please give him my regards.”

  With a nod, they rode away.

  I turned to walk back to our cabin. I smelled smoke, which in itself wasn’t strange, since everyone used firewood for heat and cooking. But, at this time of year and this time of night, it was peculiar. Ryder and his friends stopped.

  “Do you smell that?” Ryder asked.

  “Smoke,” I confirmed.

  There was a yellow glow on the edge of town. Ryder rode ahead of me as I ran toward it. One of the houses was on fire. I saw a dark figure running away from it. It was Taylor. He must have followed us back here from the Guard encampment.

  Since the fire was in the valley, I hoped the Guard wouldn’t be able to see its glow from their encampment. Even though it was many miles away, the glow could probably be seen against the night sky. I wondered if Taylor had intentionally set the fire as a signal.

  The fire was growing rapidly. The wooden structure would soon be consumed. I became fearful when I heard screams coming from inside. Ryder heard them at the same time. He sent his friends after Taylor as he quickly rode to the back of the house. I ran to the front door. The heat was intense and the house was almost entirely engulfed. Entrance through the door was impossible with flames licking across its surface. Smoke boiled out of the front windows forming a thick, toxic cloud. I reached a side window at the same time as Ryder. The flames were spreading. Through the smoke we could barely make out the image of an older woman on her hands and knees next to the window, her hand pawing weakly at the glass. She was looking directly at us, coughing and begging for help with her watering smoke-filled eyes. The window was locked. I motioned for her to move back, but either she didn’t understand, she was too afraid, or too disoriented to move. I still had my .45 in my waistband. I took it out and tapped progressively harder until one of the panes broke. Reaching in, I unlocked the window and forced it open. Smoke poured out. I took a deep breath and crawled inside, lifting her to her feet and helping her over into Ryder’s waiting arms where we both helped her through the window. Outside, we helped her to a place a safe distance away as the fire continued to grow. She continued to cough deeply as she pointed back to the house, unable to speak.

  “Is there someone else still in there?” I asked. She managed a slight nod.

  Ryder ran back toward the house while I held her head in my lap. The house was now almost totally engulfed. Ryder disappeared through the same window. I knew the heat inside would be intense and the thick smoke pouring out of the window would make it hard to breathe and see. Seconds ticked by. What was taking him so long? Then there was movement at the window. I laid the woman’s head gently on the ground and ran to help. When I got to the window Ryder was trying to get out with the limp body of a little old man. I grabbed him from Ryder and pulled him out. He weighed almost nothing. Ryder stumbled out through the window, landing hard on the ground with his left shoulder, coughing deeply. I carried the old man over to the old woman’s side, who I assumed was his wife.

  A neighbor had arrived, cradling the old woman’s head in her lap. She had almost stopped coughing, watching me and her husband closely. I checked the old man, patting out smoldering embers still burning on his left shirt sleeve. He wasn’t breathing. I began CPR with Ryder helping with chest compressions. The company where I had worked, before the world had fallen apart, had made it mandatory for each employee to go through the training. I hadn’t appreciated it until now. The old man wasn’t responding. I glanced at Ryder. I went back to breathing air into his lungs. I wasn’t going to give up. He had to come around. As the old woman realized her husband was gone, she began to cry. Tears, not related to the smoke, filled the old woman’s eyes, rolling down her cheeks. I continued in an attempt to revive him. Ryder stopped the compressions and looked up behind me. I felt a hand rest on my shoulder. “He’s gone, John. There’s nothing else you can do,” said Samuel softly, as he looked on.

  It was so unnecessary. There was no sense in it. This man didn’t deserve this. I looked at the old woman and mouthed the words “I’m sorry.” She covered her face with both hands and began to sob uncontrollably, her entire body shaking, as her neighbor held her tight. Ryder had moved away, staring at the fire continue to consume the small house. A young lady offered him a drink of water. Soon, the house was beyond saving. The townspeople, who had come to help, realizing the futility of trying, were only able to watch.

  Then, I remembered Taylor. He’d been the reason this had happened. I was sure he’d started the fire as a signal to the Guard. I clenched my fists and screamed to heaven in frustration and anger. It was all my fault. If I hadn’t brought him, none of this would have happened.

  “We have to put out the fire!” I yelled.

  “It can’t be saved,” said Samuel.

  “I know, but it’s a signal fire. And soon the sun will be up and then they’ll be able to see the smoke too,” I said.

  “He’s right, Dad,” said Ryder, now looking better after recuperating somewhat from inhaling so much smoke.

  “Everyone, grab a bucket and form a line to the water trough,” Samuel directed the crowd.

  “Ryder, have you seen your two friends?”

  Looking around, “No, I haven’t.”

  “That’s a bad sign. Taylor is on the loose, so we have to assume he may still be in town. And that means he could set another fire.”

  I was relieved when Sarah ran to my side, followed closely by Cindy and Christopher. Our cabin could have been the next one for Taylor to torch. With my family next to me, I had one less thing to worry about.

  “What happened?” she asked, noticeably distressed.

  “Taylor. He set fire to this house. We suspect it was a signal to the Guard. There was an old couple still inside. The old man is dead.”

  She couldn’t believe her ears. This was a side of Taylor she’d never seen or could have imagined. There’d been no indications
of trust issues before John had come for them. Then she had begun to see Taylor differently, but would never have guessed he was capable of this kind of violence.

  “Mr. Grey did this?” asked Cindy, watching the fire being extinguished. She wondered if she had heard wrong.

  “Yes.”

  “Sarah, I want you and the kids to stay here with Samuel. I don’t want you to go back to the cabin, not until Taylor’s been caught or until I let you know its okay. Samuel, it might be a good idea to have everyone gather at the church until its safe. I’ll go door to door and warn any others to go to you while I’m searching for Taylor.”

  “You should stay with us,” pleaded Sarah.

  “No. I can’t. He’s my responsibility.” I turned to leave.

  “I’m going with you,” said Ryder.

  “Be careful,” called out Sarah as Ryder and I split up, heading to opposite sides of the street.

  We knocked on doors without waiting for a reply, yelling for anyone still at home to head for the church. The early morning air was still, filled with smoke hanging in the air like a floating shroud.

  There was a woman’s scream from the far end of the street. Ryder and I broke into a full run toward it. One of Ryder’s men, Darby, waved to get our attention. He was kneeling down behind a tree a short distance from a small cabin.

  “We have him cornered inside, but he has a hostage,” said Darby. “Sims is watching the back.”

  We could see the front door, barely hanging by one hinge, probably kicked in by Taylor. It was impossible to see inside the dark interior.

  “Taylor! Come on out! You can’t get away,” I yelled.

  “I think I’ll stay right here a while longer,” he shouted back. “I’ll come out once the Guard arrives. And it shouldn’t be too long now.”

  He could be right. They could be on their way, if they had seen the fire to guide them. Since we didn’t know if they had or not, Taylor needed to be dealt with so we could prepare.

  I decided to try to coax him out. “They’re not coming. We put the fire out. There isn’t any signal for them to follow.”