“OK, I will think about it. Thank you for the counsel,” he nodded, dismissing them.
Sarge returned their salute.
63.
Sarge walked over to David and Karen, who were sitting on a rock, holding hands.
“I think I have authority to marry you as the Acting Commander of an Airborne Unit. But I could be wrong, we don’t know. If you want me to marry you, let’s do it in thirty minutes, before dark. We move out before daylight, and I have a lot going on,” Sarge explained.
“The two Corporals and I will sign as witnesses to the marriage and certify it in your Bible,” said Sarge.
“Thank you, Sir,” said David, shaking his hand.
_____
“Liu, we are getting married in thirty minutes!” Karen told Liu.
Liu covered her face with both hands and wiped away her tears.
_____
“Zeke, she said yes!” David beamed.
And Sarge is going to marry us in thirty minutes,” David said.
“Congratulations, David,” said Zeke, shaking his hand.
“I need you to be my Best Man if Sarge asks,” David explained.
“No problem. You two were made for each other,” smiled Zeke.
“What do I have to do?” asked Zeke.
“Don’t know, I don’t have a ring. Just be there, probably. Maybe kick me if I forget to say “I do,” David said.
Funny, Zeke thought, you didn’t realize they should get married until they were getting married.
64.
Jefferson spread the word of the wedding among the soldiers, making sure they knew they were invited. He told Thompson, who read his pocket sized Gideon’s Bible every night, to find the marriage verses for Sarge in the big Bible. David asked Jefferson if they could have it in the sick bay, so Doron and Ashley could watch, if they woke up.
Sarge stood up with a Bible in his hand and his M4 slung over his shoulder, with Jefferson and Ramirez on either side with their M4s over their shoulder.
“Today we are here to witness the marriage of Karen Wilson and David Phelps,” Sarge said.
“Private Thompson has shown me one of the marriages in the Bible, when Isaac married Rebekah. It’s in the Bible book of Genesis, Chapter 24, verse 67:
67 And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.
“Notice that Isaac performed his own marriage ceremony, and it was legal for the Bible. So with all you witnesses, this wedding is certainly legal,” Sarge said.
“And when Adam married Eve, the Bible records in Genesis 2:24”:
24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
“Marriage is a man and a woman committing to God, and each other under, to remain faithful under the Bible rules and regulations.”
Jefferson smiled at the reference to the Bible rules and regulations. You could take Sarge out of the military but you could never take the military out of Sarge, he thought.
“A wise woman told me God acknowledges the marriage by His presence, I am just the instrument used to record the marriage, due to my rank and authority,” Sarge explained, looking at Karen.
“Karen Wilson, do you take David Phelps to be your husband?” Sarge asked.
“I do,” said Karen, holding David’s hand and looking him in the eye.
“And David Phelps, do you take Karen Wilson to be your wife?” asked Sarge.
“I do,” said David.
“By the authority vested in me, as Commander of an Airborne Combat unit, in a time of war, with no available civil authorities functioning, following the marriage procedure from the Bible, I pronounce you husband and wife!” said Sarge.
The soldiers started clapping.
Sarge opened the blue Gideon’s Hotel Bible, wrote “Officiator” then signed, with Jefferson and Ramirez as witnesses.
Just then, two butterflies flittered by David and Karen. Delicate, graceful, butterflies. Everyone was stunned, no one could remember seeing them after the day. Samuel clapped his hands excitedly,
David and Karen signed on the handwritten line “Husband” and “Wife”.
Jefferson took a picture of the Bible marriage entry and signatures on his official cell phone camera. Sarge then handed the Bible to Karen.
65.
Liu had already started cooking a large pot of rice for the wedding banquet. She laid out a self-serve buffet of different canned items people could add to their rice; Campbell’s chunky chicken soup, chunky beef soup, a gallon of Louisiana hot sauce, Goya black beans, Goya red kidney beans, Dole pineapple chunks, Jolly Green Giant peas, Hunt diced tomatoes, Kalamata olives, and corn.
Liu had taken six Snickers bars, stacked them across each other to form a rectangle tower, and stuck birthday candles in each one.
“The wedding cake!” she said as the soldiers laughed.
“Thank you,” Karen said, quickly counting, and cutting slices for everyone. She carefully gave Samuel a slice with a lit candle. Liu noticed Sarge saved two plates for his men on guard detail and covered them with another plate.
Zeke took the CD player and inserted the Bob Seger Greatest Hits album, which started booming the high energy song It was a teenage wedding from C’est le vie.
“Bob Seger?” asked Thompson. “Isn’t he a little old school for you kids?
“David’s Dad listened to Bob Seger all the time,” Zeke explained.
“David would buy his Dad a Bob Seger album for every birthday. One time he asked his Dad if he wanted some music besides Bob Seger. His Dad was truly perplexed, and said ‘Why would anyone want any music other than Bob Seger’ He said the three Bs were, Beethoven, Brahms, and Bob Seger. All about the same age.”
“Also, the CD was in the truck, our only CD. So Bob Seger is the best of all time, it was meant to be,” Zeke finished.
They brought out the prime deserts, Oreo cookies, Twinkies, Hershey’s Kisses, and Kellogg’s Frosted Pop tarts. One of the most popular items was the small cereal boxes, and powdered milk to mix with water.
Samuel went up to one of the soldiers and asked him to read a Bible Story.
“Sure,” Jefferson said.
“Is that your name on your uniform?” Samuel asked.
“Yes, my last name is Jefferson.”
“Can you write your name on the bottom of the picture?” Samuel asked.
Jefferson carefully printed his name, just like it was on his name strip.
By the time the soldiers left, Samuel had each one read him a story and print their name on the page of “their” Bible story.
Liu felt a profound sense of end, of turning a page, at the dinner. Thompson even called it the last supper. They had bonded quickly in just two days. Liu thought it was because none of the soldiers had anyone waiting at home—everyone was dead. Running into the Nuclear War Club made them realize they were important as soldiers.
Life would be painful, but would go on. They had formed a tribe, saved Samuel, and overcame.
The soldiers would, also, Liu thought.
66.
David watched Karen sleep. He had opened the rain fly so he could see the stars. The sky was clear, no clouds, and the temperature had dropped. He was very glad they had the green military wool blanket inside the sleeping bags zipped together.
He couldn’t really believe Karen was here, and they were married.
But there were her hiking boots, with her pink ankle running socks draped over the side.
Her boots seemed so petite next to his boots.
Diary of Liu Nguyen
David and Karen got married today. It was so sudden.
I thought I had a chance with David over time, but they got married just like that. In one day, from proposal to wedding.
I sing in my mind that old, depressing song by a woman named Adele from before, the song was something like,
“ I will find someone like you”.
Looking back, I knew it was lost when Karen was dying, and she caressed his face.
Karen asked, and I gave, my best advice. She is my best friend, which makes this all so crazy. At least I acted honorably with that, even though it hurt. Bad. Like a knife.
Why didn’t David choose me?
Maybe I should have been more aggressive. But Ashley was, and he ignored her, he wanted Karen only. David is so loyal. When I cried at the wedding, it was sorrow, not joy.
Truth is, I love David.
Not past tense, present tense. And that has to be erased. And he never knew.
I don’t know how this can work out, I feel like a part of me died at the wedding.
K-Bar perked his ears up, then walked over and laid at her feet. Liu felt his warmth, wiped her eyes, and stroked his head.
Liu tore the diary entry out of her book, and the next page in case her writing was imprinted. She cried as both pages burned in the dying campfire.
67.
“David,” Sarge called outside the tent. Karen nudged him. It seemed he had just gone to sleep. The camp was bustling, Sarge and the men were heading out.
“A little wedding present,” Sarge said. “It was the Lieutenant’s scope. He would want Karen to have it.”
“Thank you,” David replied
“Good luck, and God Bless,” Sarge said, shaking David’s hand.
David felt utterly alone as they disappeared into the night.
68.
David shook off the feeling of desolation and confirmed Zeke and Liu were on watch. They loaded Doron and Ashley into the truck bed, and checked Samuel’s car seat. When he returned, Karen had taken down the tents and packed them. He went around checking to be sure no one forgot their weapon or clips.
“Zeke, I want to see if we can crank up one of those railroad maintenance pickup trucks that can run on the tracks,” David said.
“Why?” Zeke asked.
“We may have to use the railroad tracks sometime. We could use it to cut thought he desert. You never know when being able to drive on railroad tracks may come in handy. Let’s see if we can find one that runs with the retractable railroad wheels,” David said.
“I’ll go,” Karen said.
“Actually, if you will just provide sniper over watch, we will be right back,” David said.
Zeke and David drove motorcycles down to the Railroad tracks.
They found an old, battered white Ford 350 crew cab pickup truck that had been used by track maintenance, and a trailer with hydraulic railroad wheels also. David was thrilled the trailer tires were the same size as the truck tires, and could be used as truck spares. The keys were in the ignition, and they were surprised when the truck cranked up. They lifted the hood, the engine had been modified but they didn’t understand how. The retractable wheels worked. They backed up to a hill and drove the motorcycles into the bed of the pickup.
When they returned to camp, Zeke, Liu, and David cranked up their motorcycles, and scouted up the trail to the top of the ridge.
They quickly transferred everything from the old pickup truck to the railroad truck. Karen drove while Samuel slept in his car seat with K-Bar next to him. Ashley and Doron were laid on top of sleeping bags in the truck bed. David liked this new truck better as it had four doors and was huge. It reeked of urine, beer, stale tacos, and sweat, but they could clean that later.
David saw Jorge’s sleeping bag under a boulder as he drove away. It was still wrapped tight with Velcro straps. He wiped his eyes with his bandana, pretending it was the dust.
They were out of the canyon before the sun topped the canyon rim, and rejoined the power line easement heading southeast.
69.
The next morning, low hanging clouds reflected the yellowish red sunrise. David spread the large map out on the truck hood, secured it with magnets, then lifted the hood so everyone could see. Karen, Zeke, and Liu looked at the map as they sipped hot soup from cans, and drank steaming hot coffee. David summarized three features they were looking for:
“One, we are looking for a secure water source in a place we can hide for a couple of days for Ashley and Doron.”
“Two, preferably backed against a hill. It must have two ways to escape.”
“Three, we avoid anyplace with recent humans until we check it out.”
“Old, isolated houses were usually built near their own water supply. Clumps of green grass in a dry area can mean a spring. Snow melt streams high up in the mountains are good sources. Animal trails usually intersect at a water source. Watering troughs for cattle may have a well,” David said.
Zeke nodded, and they all cranked up their motorcycles.
70.
The rolling hills were darkened by the scattered fog, rain, and overcast skies, and Liu almost missed the house. It was a weathered, wood frame ranch house with a patched, rusting, tin roof coated and camouflaged with caked, rotting, leaves. A wide, covered porch overlooked the valley. The house was concealed under the tree line at the edge of the ridge, and obscured by the trees.
Liu signaled Karen and David. She couldn’t see Zeke. David came right over. At the crest of each hill they would always stop until everyone one caught up.
“Let’s check this out, they may have a spring. But this place is almost too perfect, there may be someone there. If you see any recent tracks or signs of humans, blow your whistle and run to Karen, she will be on sniper watch,” David said, parking his motorcycle.
“Liu and I will go in the front, Zeke you cover the back, and stay out,” David ordered. David and Liu waited until Zeke reached the rear. Liu watched the house with binoculars, looking for tracks or any signs of humans. Then she moved to the left, and David moved to the right.
Liu saw ash about half an inch deep, but no recent tracks, as she walked up the steps. The door was locked, and she quickly pried it open. K-Bar crouched, then stalked warily inside, sniffing. David signaled, and they climbed through the windows, not the door.
“Left,” signaled David, moving left. Liu jumped to the right, and David moved into the main living room. K-Bar did not bark. There were no signs of recent residents.
The front room was completely filled with a large stone fireplace and black cast iron cooking pots and kettles. The mantle was covered with photographs of grandchildren, and one photo of a thin, short, elderly couple dressed up for a wedding or funeral. The man wore a black suit, the woman an ankle length blue dress. They must own this house, Liu thought, because those clothes were still in the closet, pressed, and clean, the only formal clothes.
Liu studied the face in the photo. It was worn, rough, and open. He had the fitness and health in advanced years peculiar to ranchers and farmers. The kind of man who would help you with the shirt off his back, but who would also kill on sight anyone in his home. They would need alert guards.
There was a large plain oak table surrounded by worn, stained, but sturdy, oak chairs. This was a working ranch, not a second home, everything was simple, functional, and clean. There were two bedrooms, with very small closets, and a storage room with numerous built in shelves. Firewood was stacked behind the kitchen, and then Liu saw it.
A hand pump in the kitchen! A worn, red, metal hand pump with an old Clorox bleach gallon jug filled with water next to the sink. There was no attic, but Zeke had found a storm shelter in the back yard filled with cases of canned food in glass Mason jars.
Liu walked out the back door and raised her M-16 sideways with both hands to signal everything was fine. Then she walked to the barn, sending K Bar in first. There was an ancient, but operable, Ford tractor, a chain hoist, several metal boxes of wrenches, a welding generator, and a junk pile of pipe and metal bars. In the barn attic there were about ten bales of hay, and several yellowing maps thumb tacked to the wall. There was room to park their truck and all the motorcycles in the barn.
“Let’s try the pump,” said Zeke. They went back inside, primed the pump, and it
worked the first time. The water was cool, and seemed spring fed.
David went outside and waved Karen to come.
“Let’s leave one of the motorcycles in the storm cellar or outside the garage in case we need it,” Zeke said.
“Wonder where the owners went?” Zeke asked. “This place was ideal.”
“They could have been in town when the nukes went off,” said Liu.
“Maybe they left to rescue their family,” said Zeke.
Karen drove up, and they carried Ashley and Doron to the fireplace. Liu and Karen stacked the old beds in the backyard. David and Karen took the larger bedroom, Samuel would sleep next to their door in the hall. The smaller room would be rotated for privacy among everyone else. Liu put her sleeping bag in the small bedroom, and Zeke, Ashley, and Doron’s sleeping bags were dumped in the living room near the fireplace.
David parked the truck and two of the motorcycles in the barn. Zeke covered their tracks in the ash, using branches that had fallen from the trees.
“Tomorrow maybe we can follow the dirt road and destroy any bridges, or block any roads getting here. Unless someone comes along the power easement, this may be off the grid. There are no power poles or phone poles leading here,” said Liu.
“Zeke we will need to wire up the road if we can cut down a tree across it,” David said. Liu noticed that David now routinely stretched cable across open roads at about chest level for motorcycles, secured to trees on both sides of the road.
Liu walked in with a handful of firewood from the pile stacked by the kitchen, and laid it in the fireplace. David and Zeke whittled some kindling with their pocket knives from the bone dry wood.
The fire was blazing quickly, flooding the home with light. Everyone gathered closer to warm up. The temperature had dropped quickly when the sun sank behind the hills. The fireplace was expertly positioned so that it brightly lit up both the kitchen and the bedrooms.
“How long until you think Ashley and Doron will fully recover?” Liu asked.
Nuclear War Club: Seven high school students are in detention when Nuclear War explodes.Game on, they are on their own. Page 21