“You want some help?” Mel asked.
“Of course dear! Come, let’s get a kettle on. I’ve got an idea for dinner.” Kay looked at me. “Shoo, shoo, you get out of here. We’ve got work to do.”
“Alright, I’ll leave you ladies to it. I’m going to check on Taylor.”
“Bring her over here. She’d enjoy this,” Mel said.
Walking out on the back porch, I saw Danny out by the pond with Jace, Edie and Little Bit. It brought a smile to my face seeing those kids in such a normal activity. Not to mention, Little Bit had her young friends back. Looking out at the garden, I saw Thad and Mary out there. They were laughing as they worked on the beds. Such a peaceful scene belying our reality.
I wandered over to the house and found Taylor asleep on the sofa and woke her up. “Hey, kiddo. Come on. Let’s go over to Danny’s. Mom and Kay are going to be canning a bunch of veggies and mom wants you to help.”
She sat up, rubbing her eyes. “Really? Like in jars?”
“Yeah. Come on.”
She got ready and I held her arm as we walked over to Danny’s. She got around pretty well, and was able to walk; but she was a little wobbly on her feet, so I held on to her despite her protests.
“You can let go, Dad. I can walk.”
“I know you can. Just making sure you don’t topple over,” I said.
Once she was up on the porch, I gave her a hug and told her I would see her later. Wandering over to the garden, I interrupted Thad and Mary.
“Hey, Thad. Tomorrow we have to go to town with the tractor. We need to get those fields planted.” Then I looked at Mary and smiled. “Hi, Mary.”
She shaded her eyes with a gloved hand covered in soil. It was a pink gardening glove. Made me wonder where in the hell she came up with them. “Hi, Morgan.”
Thad stood. “Yeah, we need to get those seeds in the ground. I’ll be ready when you are.”
“We’ve got to stop by Mario’s place on the way and load a generator on a trailer I’m taking, then drop it off at the power plant.”
“Sounds good to me. When you want to leave?”
“After breakfast I guess.”
Thad smiled. “I’ll be ready. You wanna go handle that business across the road?”
I didn’t. I really didn’t. But it needed to be done. “Yeah, let’s get it done.”
Thad left the garden and walked towards me. I stepped off the porch to meet him. He nodded towards the pasture across the road. “Tractor’s already over there.”
We crossed the dirt road and walked out into the pasture. The bodies were laid out in a row, ready for burial. I stopped at the end of the line and looked down. “There’s a lot of them.”
“Yeah, there’s a bunch.”
Waving a finger over them, I asked, “Anyone go through their stuff yet?”
Thad shook his head. “No, but Sarge said he wanted to before we put ‘em in the ground.”
Digging around in my vest, I pulled out a pair of nitrile gloves. “Let’s do it then.”
Putting on the gloves, I started at one end of the line. These guys were pretty well equipped. Each had a rifle and a pistol. The pistols were mounted in either a thigh rig or on their load-bearing kit, usually a vest with DHS in big white letters on the back. It was kind of surreal to be stripping the bodies of dead federal personnel. I’ve always been a law-abiding person, and this was just over the top.
I removed all equipment from the bodies and handed it back to Thad. He piled it according to what it was. Rifles in one pile; vest, packs and the like in another. I also went through their pockets and removed whatever was there. On a couple of them I found personal effects like photos. I looked at them, seeing the faces that meant something to these men starring back at me. In each case, I placed them back into a pocket.
There was also the assortment of knives, and oddly enough, cigarettes and lighters. Finding a full pack on one body, I tossed it to Thad. “Wonder where they’re getting these.”
Thad checked it out. “They’re European. Someone, somewhere is sending stuff over.”
“We’ll give them to Perez when we see him.”
There was no real intelligence, not that I could see. But we would still need to go through their kits to see if there was anything. When I was done, I stepped back, stripping the gloves off my hands and tossing them onto one of the bodies. We stood looking at the bodies for a moment, then Thad said something that caught me off guard.
“What about their boots?”
I hadn’t even thought about that. Never occurred to me. But they were surely a resource, and one we shouldn’t just bury in a hole.
“I guess we should take them. I mean, it’s a shame to just bury useful stuff. Someone could certainly use them.”
After stripping the boots from all of the bodies, Thad went to work digging the hole. It took a long trench, which was actually easier to dig as Thad could drive down into it to scoop out the earth. Once the hole was big enough, we dragged them into it. Wearing leather gloves, I grabbed each by the feet and pulled them down into the trench. As soon as they were all in the pit, Thad started immediately pushing dirt in on them.
Once they were covered, we loaded all the gear into the bucket of the tractor. Thad said he’d take it all to the old man’s house so he could go through it and make sure we didn’t miss anything. The weapons would end up in our inventory, which was now immense. But these weapons were really nice, and I was going to trade mine for one of them. These carbines were all select fire, which mine wasn’t. I’d already set one aside with an ACOG on it. I liked the optic, and it would make for a nice replacement. Thad left to go deliver the goods, and I walked out to the road.
I wanted to go talk to Sarge before dinner, and took a walk down to the bunker. Passing the scorched remains of Brandy and Tyler’s house, I stopped at the gate and stared at what was left. I thought about Thad and Danny digging through those ashes trying to find them. I shuddered to think about what they found. I’ve been so lucky. We’ve been so lucky, but I was being selfish and thinking more about my family and the fact that I hadn’t lost any of them yet.
But it’s been close. Lee Ann and then Taylor. Our luck couldn’t hold out forever. The law of averages simply assures that our luck will eventually give out, and someone close to me will die. The thought crushed me. Just imagining burying one of my girls or Mel was more than I could bear. Trying to wipe the thought from my mind, I continued down to the bunker.
Sarge and Dalton were there resting over the top of the structure. As I closed on them, I was about to call out to them when Dalton spun around. His ankles were crossed and his arms were spread out behind him on the log. He smiled and his face resembled the Joker.
“Alow, you cheeky basta’d!” He shouted.
It was just what I needed. The horrible thoughts rolling around in my head were gone in an instant. Not that the replacement image was any better. Shaking my head, I replied, “You simply are not right in the head.”
Sarge snorted. “And that’s saying something around here. The bar’s been set pretty damn high.”
“Well we all have a gift!” Dalton replied.
Looking at Sarge, I asked. “You heard from the guys yet?”
He shook his head. “Nah. I won’t worry about them until late tonight. If they aren’t here before the sun comes up, then something’s wrong. You never know what you’ll get when you turn them two loose.”
In a heavy hillbilly drawl, Dalton asked, “Prone ta wanderin’, are they?”
“Wanderin!” Sarge shouted. “Hell, once at Camp Rhino I sent those two idiots over to Camp Gibraltar to handle a little deal I had with some lads from the 102nd Royal electricians and engineers.”
“What sort of deal?” Dalton asked with a raised eyebrow.
Sarge waved him off. “That’s not important. What is important is that those two booger eaters called me from Darwin, Australia four days later!”
I laughed. “How in the hell did they get there?”
“I still have no damn idea! But I played hell getting them back! I had to use up a lot of hard-earned favors to get their asses returned.”
Dalton was leaning against the bunker rubbing his chin. “But you did get them back.”
“Damn right I did. I take care of my own. Besides, the last place you want to be is in my pocket.”
I glanced down at his trousers and made a distasteful face. “Yeah, I think not. I bet it’s sticky in there.”
Dalton laughed. “And hot and steamy.”
Sarge jammed his fist into the pocket and made an act of rummaging around. “Want some candy, little boys?”
Dalton turned his head and clenched his eyes shut. “Oh, the thought of it!”
“When the guys get back, you sort out how we’re going to deal with those assholes over at that camp. I’ve got other issues to deal with. I’m going to town in the morning. Taking Thad to get with Cecil so they can get to work. Plus, I’ve got to get that generator over to the plant,” I said.
“I’m looking forward to the chance to school some of those fools,” Dalton said. He then produced a tomahawk from someplace and proceeded to swing and swirl the damn thing. I expected any minute he’d bury it in his forehead; but after a few seconds of the show, I realized he knew what he was doing.
“Let me see that thing,” Sarge said, holding his hand out.
Dalton held the instrument up for a moment and inspected it before handing it over to the old man. The hammer marks were clearly evident on the head. The head was finely shaped in the fashion of the Cherokee with a small hammer head on the poll. The heel and toe were mirrors of one another, dropping slightly to increase the face of the bit. Sarge hefted the weapon, checking the balance and weight. He made a couple of swipes in rapid succession and smiled.
“You do some fine work, Dalton,” Sarge said, and offered the hawk to me.
I took it and quickly noticed the excellent balance of the weapon as well. While I wasn’t exactly a hand to hand pro, I still appreciated the quality. “That’s nice. But I don’t know much about using one of these,” I said as the images of my Gerber hatchet sticking upright in Thomas’s head popped into my mind.
Dalton grabbed my hand and held them up while working them to the base of the handle, wrapping his hands around mine. He looked me straight in the eye. “Give it firm purchase here. It knows the rest of the way.”
Dalton reached into the bunker and pulled out a bag. Opening it, he took out two additional hawks and inspected them. He looked at a long-bearded hawk, then at Sarge and smiled.
“I think this one fits you.” Kinda nasty.” And he handed it to the old man.
Sarge held it up and smiled. “I like the way you think, son.”
“It never jams. Never runs out of ammo, and goes off every time you swing it. If it’s a little dull, just push harder,” Dalton said.
Sarge smiled again. “Don’t use your musket if you can kill ‘em with your hatchet.”
Dalton nodded. “And keep it scoured at all times.”
Dalton handed me one much like the first in classic Cherokee style. “Thanks, this is really nice.” I held it up and added, “Hope I never need to use it.”
Dalton smiled. “You know what they say. Violence is never the answer. Except when it is; and then it’s the only answer.”
“Bullshit!” Sarge shouted. “Violence is always the answer. Those blathering idiots that say violence is never the answer, are always the first ones to resort to it. I just don’t give them the chance to compromise their morals. Hit ‘em first, and hit ‘em fucking hard.”
Dalton broke out into a Cheshire Cat smile. Depending on the circumstances, it could be viewed as mischievous or malevolent. Either way, it was creepy. “Now, I like the way you think, Pop.”
Sarge wagged the bearded hawk at Dalton. “You call me Pop again and I’ll compromise your morals.”
Dalton stuck the tip of his finger in his mouth and swiveled his hips. “I didn’t know you cared.”
A crimson line crept out of Sarge’s collar and up over his ears. The two hairy ass caterpillars on his brow merged into one. “You little shit!” Sarge shouted as his foot shot out for Dalton’s backside. Dalton cackled as he leapt out of the way.
“Little? He’s twice the size of you.” I said with a chuckle.
“And he’ll take twice the ass whoopin’ too!”
“I’ll leave you two to play nice with one another,” I said.
That night for dinner, Kate and Mel made a goulash of sorts with the gator and the veggies. But the real highlight was the fresh baked bread slathered in melted butter. It was Mana from heaven. A taste that you fully don’t appreciate until its wanton absence is finally abated. We had a quiet dinner. While everyone enjoyed the meal, there was an overlying weight on everyone’s mood. As soon as all were done with their meal, we filed out to the pond behind Danny’s house.
In an all too familiar custom, we gathered around the freshly disturbed earth. A plot too small to contain the bodies of our two friends bore grim evidence of their fate. As before, Thad placed a cross over their resting place. He’d inscribed their names on it together. A fine carving of a vine intertwined the two names.
Jace and Edie clung close to Danny and Bobbie. Little Bit stood beside Mel holding her hand. It was so quiet, not even the wind blew. After a moment of inner reflection, I broke the silence.
“I’m sorry, my friends. You won’t be forgotten.”
“We’ll carry you in our hearts forever,” Mary said.
Each in turn said their piece. Once everyone had said what they could, we headed back towards the house. Mel was holding one of my hands and Little Bit, the other. Taylor was beside her, walking under her own power. She looked over and asked me, “Dad, why did you say you’re sorry?”
Looking at the ground, I said, “Because I let them down and they died as a result.”
Mel looked at me. “How did you let them down?”
“The fact that they’re dead. Those guys got in here. We’re supposed to be defending ourselves, and they keep showing up and killing people,” I replied despondently.
“That’s not all on your shoulders. Everyone here is part of it. You can’t blame yourself,” Mel said.
I wanted to reply. To ask how many more of us would die before we got it under control. But feeling Little Bit’s small hand in my own, brought my mind around, and I thought better of it. I didn’t want to scare her or cause her to lose sleep with nightmares of what may never come. Far too young was she to burden her heart with such.
Chapter 6
I took the late shift at the bunker with Aric. I wanted to be awake at midnight for the radio transmissions that should be on the air. Aric said he just wanted some time away from all those women. Certainly couldn’t blame him for that. I took the little radio out and extended the antenna. After tossing the little wire extension up into the small oak tree, I connected it to the radio.
“What’s with that?” Aric asked.
“I picked up a radio transmission the other night. And we should be able to pick one up tonight.”
“What’d you hear? Was it local?”
Shaking my head, “Wasn’t local. I think they were in Idaho. And what they had to say wasn’t too comforting.”
“Like what?” Aric asked.
I took a minute to explain what I’d heard, and we talked about the possibilities. None of them was very good. But I reminded him I’d only heard it once, and there was no way to confirm any of it. It could all be a hoax or psyop by the feds or some other unknown entity. Then again, it coul
d be correct.
“What time does it come on?” He asked.
Looking at my watch, “In about half an hour.” But just in case, I turned the radio on and lowered the volume on the static. “So how are things with you and Fred?”
He smiled. “It’s good. She’s a really great gal.”
I leaned over the top of the bunker, “That’s terrific. I’m happy for both of you.”
He let out a long breath. “I just hope someday we can settle down in a little place of our own.” He was staring off into the darkness. “Not like before, ya know. Just a small place and a simple life. I’d like some livestock and a garden. A big garden. I’d like to look out my window and see Fred kneeling in the garden with our little girl filling a basket with the bounty of the land.”
I chuckled. “Nostalgic much?”
He smiled lightly, a little embarrassed. “It just appeals to me, you know. Before, I was all about a big house, expensive cars and living what we all thought was the good life.” Looking over, he added, “I’ve learned what’s really important.”
“I guess we’ve all learned a little something,” I said.
I picked up the NVG and scanned the road and the areas around and behind us. There was nothing to see, fortunately, so I laid them down and checked my watch. I was eager to hear the radio come to life.
“How’s Jess doing? You guys spend so much time together I hardly ever see her.”
His head wobbled back and forth. “She’s good. I mean, I think she want’s someone in her life, you know.”
With a smile, I said, “I guess it is hard.” I stood up. “But there are some options around here.” I couldn’t help myself, and laughed at the thought.
Aric snickered. “Yeah, we’ve talked about it. If you could mash Ted and Mike together, it’d be the perfect guy for her. Mike is young, and she thinks he’s good looking. But Ted is far more mature and has a better temperament.”
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