by Cooper, DJ
The war was on their doorstop, she wished Roger and Ray would come back. She’d not realized how much she’d relied on them for insight.
The next day at the sheriff’s office in town, there were people milling about, each offering information on their own areas. Places of safety, hotspots, resources and issues. By the time Dez and Aaron arrived the map was covered in marks, hung from a board with pins marking locations. A hub of information for the entire area that was now to be the central command location for the militia and constitutional military.
They set up a military command center in the city hall and an aid station at the high school. The militia continued to use the sheriff’s office and then collaborated with the military leaders for the sector. It all seemed organized but terrifying. Dez looked around eyes wide and asked Ryan. “How did all this come to fall in our area?”
“We sit somewhere around the middle of the eastern part of the state. We don’t have a gang presence here that has taken over parts of the town. And for the most part the town is still standing, which seems to be an issue.”
“I still don’t understand, Richmond is so much bigger and well equipped.”
“Richmond is too close to Lexington.” A voice came booming from behind her.
Turning wide eyed she saw Roger and behind him stood Ray. Reaching out as though he would shake her hand, she bypassed it and wrapped her arms around his neck, exclaiming. “I’m so glad you’re both ok.” Stepping back to regain her composure she shot them questions rapid fire. “Where have you been? How long have you been back? Did you find out anything? Oh goodness, I can’t wait to tell the others…” She continued trailing off talking more to herself.
Startled she looked up when Roger reached out for her shoulder. “Woah now slow down.”
She smiled at them. “It’s good to see you.”
Ryan stood off to the side watching. The scene made him look away. He’d felt rejected, thinking Dez loved Roger. He stood looking down at the desk fumbling with some papers to appear disinterested and was surprised when Dez rushed to him burying her face in his chest with a hug he could only have dreamt possible. “I just know we’re going to be ok. Our friends are back and with them help.”
Looking up at him still pressed against him she smiled. He smiled back and brushed a wisp of hair from her eye. “See? I told you everything would be fine.”
Noticing the others observing the embrace she stepped back and tucked the loose hair behind her ear while clearing her throat and looking away sheepishly.
Roger laughed boisterously and slapped Aaron on the back. “I understand you’re the man in the know around here. Let’s go have a look at the security information on the camps you’ve been to.”
Ryan’s demeanor changed as he straightened up walking with a slight spring in his step. The men headed over to city hall to meet on the security information, while Dez and others from local farms and emerging communities sat to discuss trade.
Chapter 17
The world now
Change or be changed, right? And what we mean by that is that climate change, if we don't change course, if we don't change our political and economic system, is going to change everything about our physical world.
-Naomi Klein
The old Regent farm was decided to be the rally point for trading and commerce. A barter system had to be established or the prices would be out of reach for some. To keep everyone on an even and level trading ground prices had to be established. Initially everyone agreed that the head of each community would sit on a board that would decide if trades were fair. They called this the trade panel and Dez would be elected head of the panel against her own wishes.
As the weeks passed the war raged on as targeted attacks against the old administration and their camps continued. The more people they released the greater the constitutional army grew. They’d captured a member of the old Supreme Court out in Salt Lake City and the community listened over the ham radio as the proceedings against him for treason played out. A tribunal of states convened to handle the prosecutions as conspirators were found. Anyone found guilty of treason and complicities in the crimes against the country were hanged.
The first trial heard was swift, the evidence against them being the very papers Roger and Ray brought from the north. The directors of Homeland Security and FEMA were the first trials. They heard witnesses from the camps and testimony against them and they were allowed to speak in their own defense as was afforded to them by the original constitution including the bill of rights. No amendments were permitted under the provisional administration. They opted to abide by the original constitution and its bill of rights as ratified in 1790. Now being called the law of the land.
While some of the conspirators were caught and the prosecuted always ending in a decree. “To be hung by the neck until dead.” Just like tales of the old west. Others were still at large and continuing to wage war on the ever-growing constitutional army and surrounding communities.
Six months had passed with only a few skirmishes near the farm. Some had become complacent while Sam and Tawny remained ever focused on security. The war was rarely waged in the community, but George and his group of rogue bandits and fighters still hit farms and houses in raiding parties. For the most part all seemed to work itself out and life, while different was not at all bad.
Ryan came to the farm like he did most days. He and Dez had grown close and spent many afternoons together. This day was different. He looked troubled, Dez could see it in his look and his walk. He sat with her as they would do and said, “Have you been keeping up security and training on the farm.”
“Mostly, Tawny and Sam are kinda militant about it.”
“Ok, good. I’ll speak to them about it.”
He gave her a quick peck on the forehead and stood to leave. She grabbed his arm. “Hold it right there pal.” Coming around in front of him. “What’s this all about?”
Looking at her sternly, “All this time we thought we were gaining but we weren’t. They’ve been massing in California, the Northeast and up in the Dakotas. We thought we’d been cutting off the heads of this but its bigger. Much bigger.”
Her eyes went wide, she was scared for the first time in a while. She was really scared. “What should we do?”
“I don’t know but we’ve had reports of fighter jets bombing cities and towns, tanks and high-tech weapons.” Grabbing her arms, he looked at her. “Destiny keep your people on the farm. Don’t go to town and don’t go to Blackridge.”
“But we have to. We need that trading post and I’m on the panel.”
“They are targeting these places to keep us hopping. I can’t do my job if I have to worry about you too.”
Angry she put her hands on her hips and retorted. “Well I can’t do mine if you’re gonna be constantly worrying about everything I do.”
His look softened as he held her hands. “That day you were shot crushed me. I thought I’d lose you and I never got to tell you how I felt. Destiny please, all I ask is that you be more careful.”
She hugged him and agreed she would get some extra security. Also that they would begin to rotate the barter days and begin to coordinate on location transactions with each clan.
“Why does everyone keep calling them clans?”
Laughing she said, “it’s stupid, really they’re just picking on me. Amy started it and it’s been rolling on ever since.”
“Yea but clan?”
“Yea, one day we were sitting, looking over the farm and some Viking reference she made about her being Amy of the clan Laurel. Next thing I knew it was this big joke and now everyone is doing it.” Shaking her head she told him. “Ever since Aaron moved into the Fedder farm at the end of Redbow Holler, taking in some of the people out that way they’ve been calling themselves Clan Redbow.”
Ryan laughed and it was good to see him smile, she said so and smiled back.
“Well, I’m headed over to see chief Redbow himself after this.”
“It’s not cowboys and Indians silly. We are Vikings!” she said with her hands on her hips, chest out and a scowl on her face. They both laughed. He shook his head at her.
“Just be careful.”
“I will… Darling.”
Ryan stopped short and blushed, looking back over his shoulder at her as she giggled and waved running over to Charleigh as though she were fifteen. He liked seeing her like this. It was only a few months ago that she sat so defeated. Walking back to his truck mumbling under his breath, “Darling…” He smiled.
Dez went to a meeting that afternoon of the panel. It was called at Blackridge to establish a trade schedule. They thought runners with lists of offerings and needs from each community should be sent to one on the panel. All would be correlated into pickups and deliveries. This seemed to keep within Ryan’s wishes to keep her at home and the others from gathering in a single place too often. He wanted to avoid creating large targets of people together.
After the meeting Charleigh, Ariel, Matty and Dez went into town to pick up Jeremy and see if there were any honey treats at the bakery. Some of the shops on Main Street had been put into use as small trading posts or other shops but the bakery remained the same, carrying whatever they could bake or offer in the way of breads and confections. The kids only got to go every so often, so it was a rare treat.
Arriving at the Sheriff’s office Ryan was surprised to see them and pulled Dez aside. “Go back to the farm… Go! Now!”
She looked at him in anger, furrowing her brow. “Don’t you dare tell me what to do. We came to get Jeremy after the meeting of the panel to set up runners to keep the families in supplies and trade.”
“I’m sorry but you can’t be here.” Looking up he saw Charleigh and the kids. “Please Dez, get them out of here! There is some chatter on the radio of an attack coming. This is the central command for the east side of the state. We’ve already dispersed most of the command personnel.”
Tawny came out from the office with Sam. “Let’s go, we’re done here anyway.” Jeremy waved at Ryan as he followed them out. “We’ve got them, see you later on.”
Nodding at them and waving he watched as they turned and headed to the truck.
Dez turned and looked over to where the others were standing and began to walk towards Charleigh and the kids. Out of habit looking left and then right as though it were a busy day crossing the street, she saw a rough looking man sprinting towards them. In his hand he carried something burning. Charleigh and Matty were at the window to the bakery but Ariel was on the tailgate of the truck. The man was running straight at her, not looking at anyone else but the child that sat legs swinging, singing and playing with an old cell phone. Dez bolted for Ariel snatching her from the truck moments before the man tossed a pipe bomb into the back of it. Tawny saw too and took off after Dez. She grabbed Dez and Ariel throwing them to the ground just as it exploded.
Jeremy and Sam were already on the assailant hauling him over to Ryan when the shrieking began. Charleigh stood frozen, screaming hysterically. The smoke was clearing, and the truck was destroyed, a twisted mass of metal was all that was left of the tailgate and back of the truck. Ariel sat both knees skinned and bleeding, crying next to Dez and Tawny who both lay motionless on the sidewalk.
Jeremy and Sam were already sprinting for them as Ryan shoved the man at another and followed. Matty was beside Ariel hugging her, trying to lift her to her feet. Jeremy grabbed Charleigh, shaking her. “Charleigh… Stop screaming and get Ariel, take Matty and go to the infirmary.”
Eyes wide, tears streaming down her face she nodded. “What about mom?”
“I’ll bring her, you take the kids.”
Nodding she picked up Ariel and carried her up the block to the infirmary. Matty refused to leave Dez, crying and shaking her to wake up.
Both of them were alive but unconscious. Tawny had two large pieces of shrapnel lodged in her. One in her back and the other on her left side. Sam and Jeremy picked her up under her arms and by her legs and hurried her to a waiting gurney at the door of the infirmary. Ryan cradled Dez as he carried her over. She’d hit her head and it was bleeding. The doctor swiftly looked at her telling them she’d been knocked out is all, but that he’d want to keep her for observation.
The nurse patched up Ariel’s knees and checked her and Matty for injuries. Matty never said a word but had a small piece of the truck shrapnel in his calf that had to be removed.
Dez awoke after they’d bandaged her head and leapt off the bed shouting for Ariel. Ryan caught her just before she collapsed to the floor. She’d suffered a concussion and the swift motion caused her to faint. Ariel and Matty were set on a bed next to her with the others waiting for word on Tawny. Sam paced like a nervous cat, growing angry and then sad in waves of emotion.
Ryan sat beside the bed waiting for Dez to wake, when she did he held her down. “Slowly, Ariel is right beside you.” Pointing to the bed beside her that Ariel and Matty sat on.
Turning her head back to Ryan, tears in her eyes she could get no sound to come out, but mouthed the words. “I’m sorry.”
He shook his head no. “This isn’t your fault. Originally the target was my office. The guy spilled his guts once my men got hold of him. You were not even a target until he saw you and Ariel. You were with us so he decided to go for her. Apparently, there is a price on that pretty little head of yours.”
“Me? Why?”
“We think it’s George, although he said he didn’t know who put out the bounty. Only that anyone that killed you would be given a huge stash of food.
“But why a five-year-old little girl?” She began to sob uncontrollably.
“Because these people are animals.” He said, angrily. “And they aren’t gonna get away with it. Anyone with George is an enemy, and now because of this guy we have a location.”
Her eyes squinted in anger. “No mercy Ryan. You kill them all or I will go after them myself. I’ll not have children become targets, this is twice now they’ve targeted the children.”
He just looked at her.
“No mercy.” She said, her hand squeezing his so hard his finger tips began to turn white.
“No mercy.” He quietly replied.
The doctor entered the room, blood still on his scrubs, mask hanging about his neck. “I’ve done all I can. The shrapnel was deep. It perforated her intestine and liver. We won’t know if there is spinal damage until she wakes up. The one in her back was very close to her spine.”
Dez had no idea Tawny had saved her and Ariel and looked around confused. It was quickly apparent who was missing. “Tawny, where is Tawny?”
Tears began streaming down her face as she realized it was her the doctor was speaking of. Sam approached the doctor pleading to go see her. He allowed it but no one else. Approaching Ryan, he looked down as he began to speak. “Someone should go and get her son.”
Dez gasped and held her hand over her mouth, burying her face in Ryan’s arm she couldn’t stop crying. He held her head as she sobbed brushing the hair from her face until she quieted. He waved Charleigh over to sit with her. She sat crying with her mom as Ryan left the room to send for Gary and Eric. He knew those at the farm would know them and let them get Dylan. Once they arrived he sent them for not only Dylan but Rita. He told them not to tell anyone why. Just that Dez and Tawny wanted them.
When he returned he’d found out a little more information. “The man was terrified that his family would be killed if he told us who placed the bounty on Dez, that is, until he was told he and his family would definitely be killed if he didn’t. I’m not sure if he believed us or not but he wasn’t going to take any chances I guess. He told us it was some woman who was insane. He didn’t know her name, but he knew the man with her.”
Dez looked angry, she knew. She was sure she knew what was coming. Not only by the expression but the hesitation. “And?”
“He said it was Matt. But before anyone gets all crazy about it, this is
all unverified. He could be trying to protect himself and giving us what we want to hear. Matt stabbed George bad back at the house. I doubt George would forgive that. Seriously, I know him and I find it hard to believe myself.”
An hour or so went by and Dez was up and around, talking to the others about this threat. Angry tears would flow from time to time as she spoke with venom about George and then Matt and Morgan. “I cared for his son and still do, and they would target the children? His own son could have been killed and was even injured.” Pacing as she animatedly waved her hand in Matty’s direction. “As long as I’m alive he will never get near that boy again. I swear it.”
Jeremy brought her some hot tea and sat with her, calming her and reassuring that no one would let them get away with this. She grew sad and looked up at him. “Do you think she’ll be ok?”
“I don’t know mom, when Sam and I carried her in the blood was so dark it looked almost black.”
Dez cried again. “She’s my best friend. Has been for years.”
“I know mom, but you need to straighten up, Dylan will be here soon. He can’t see you all blubbery and soft like this.” She sniffled and wiped her face as he shoved her slightly. “Suck it up there buttercup. When she wakes you need to be in a little better shape than this.”
“I know, I don’t know what’s wrong with me lately. Six months ago, I was Betty Bad Ass and now I am Simpering Sue. Everything seems so difficult these days.”
“You need to delegate things and take time to process. Since the beginning you just go from one issue to the next without processing the feelings. I think you’re just having them hit you all at once. Listen miss type A… let others take on some of the responsibility.”