by DJ Cooper
Dickie looked at her saying, “Can you describe those packages?”
She replied, “Well, it was sort of hard to see, but they were black and were brought out on carts. It took two men to lift them into the rail cars.”
Roger and Ray both looked at one another and giving a nod, Ray said, “Great job Mandy, did you see anything else? As a matter of fact did anyone see anything else?”
John told them about the small fires all around them during the night. While Roger produced the map he drew the day before. Dickie and Ray began to add things to the map that they discovered on their recon trip.
There were guard towers that Roger already had shown, but added to it, guard shacks on the ground. Also noted that the fence was a double row of fencing with barbed wire on both inner and outer runs of fence line.
While they watched the camp, they had the chance to peer inside some of the tents. A few had people walking around inside while others had multiple lines of cots inside. That one appeared to be a kind of infirmary with the workers suited up in Biohazard suits.
One was clearly a latrine, another a mess hall and one tent housed only children. The thing that they found curious was that there were armed guards all around; and the inhabitants appeared to be in a sort of prison, even being escorted to the latrine.
After watching the camp for the past twenty-four hours they all agreed it would be best to get around the city at night. Ray and Dickie would recon the area for the best way around later this night and they would leave the next.
After grabbing a bite to eat they both grabbed some shut eye while everyone did other things to occupy their time. John took over on the tower and sat with Matty for a time just calling out things for him to write down. Just before the four hours were up for a change in lookout, something was happening at the camp.
While not taking his eyes from the binoculars he said, “Convoy coming in, seven trucks with a jeep on either end.”
Matty feverishly wrote all Matt was saying and when he finished with the first part he said, “Got it.”
John continued, “Non-military persons in the front jeep giving orders. Civilians exiting trucks and being segregated into three groups, can’t see reasons for each group yet.”
Looking down at Matty writing asked, “Are you getting this?”
Matty looked up saying, “Yes sir.”
John went back to watching while Matty waited for him to say more. John watched as they led the first group to the tent they had determined was the infirmary. The next group was let to a tent on the far side of the camp that looked like it was all alone in an area. The third and largest group was lined up at the fence line while the military officers spoke animatedly with the non-military leaders from the first jeep.
Suddenly John gasped, and Matty asked, “What do I write Uncle John?”
John replied, “Nothing buddy, that was all there is. We need to go see the other guys and report. You ready to get off of here and go report what you have written down?”
Matty nodded and put his pad away as he prepared to climb down.
Once back in camp, they waited for Ray and Dickie to join them for the reporting of the refugees coming into the camp. Matty gave the report about the trucks and the groups of people and was praised for his excellent work. They sent him to get cleaned up and eat so they could discuss it.
Once Matty left John said, “That’s not all I saw.”
Ray responded, “What else?”
John said, “I didn’t want to tell it to Matty or in front of him but the last group? They were executed at the fence.”
Ray jumped up almost yelling, “What?”
John continued to tell them what he saw, “They lined them at the fence like Matty said, but after the others were carted off to their respective areas there was an argument. The non-military guys from the front jeep, and what looked some officers from the guard argued in a very animated way for a moment. After that two men got out of the jeep in front and just mowed them down. I didn’t hear any shots, but there was no mistake that they shot them all.”
Roger looked at Ray saying, “Silencers I bet.”
Ray nodded and shook his head in disbelief. He asked what fence line they were on when shot and John pointed out the place on the map. Ray showed Dickie and told him they would check out that side of the fence during tonight’s recon.
All those who heard the news were quiet and considering their own thoughts about the goings on at this camp. John was particularly disturbed thinking at how close they were to ending up in one if they decided to not just take his supplies and taken them to a camp like this one.
It was difficult to think about how close they really were, when Roger seeming to read his thoughts said,
“We gave you that note when we came because they were planning to round you all up at the end of the week for the camp at Devons.”
John looked up at him, saying, “I was just considering how close to that we really had been.”
As the sun sank low on the horizon Dickie and Ray prepared to leave. They mapped out some smaller roads that would get them within a mile of the camp without being seen. From there they would go on foot to get a closer look at that fence line.
They told the others that it was likely fine to keep the fire going, but advised they should build up rocks around it and keep it low so the light didn’t attract any unwelcome company. With the fire lights the evening before they knew there were others in theses woods; not knowing if they were friend or foe. A watch was set for camp as well as the tower that evening and again all were packed for a quick exit if it became necessary.
Chapter 18
“Wolf insheep’s clothing”
“The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything.”
-Albert Einstein
Ray and Dickie drove out of camp turning the jeep left with another left not far up the road, the road would take them along the river that flowed right past the camp. It was dark already and Ray drove with the headlights turned off. It was still a mostly wooded area, but he didn’t want to draw any unnecessary attention to themselves.
They followed that road for nearly eight miles before Ray turned down a road that would cross the river and went into a large warehouse complex. There were hundreds of trucks it seemed.
Ray and Dickie looked at each other before Dickie said, “It feels kind of strange to see all these trucks just sitting here, I wonder if they have anything to do with the camp?”
Ray turned and looked out the window saying, “I hope not or we might find ourselves stranded.”
Dickie replied, “Yeah, there was a road about a quarter mile back on the left that went into the woods, maybe we should high tail it over there and hump in.”
Ray nodded in agreement and turned the jeep around, once they found the road it didn’t take them long to get the jeep parked in a pile of bushes and covered.
As they started to walk out of the cover a voice whispered, “I would wait a few more minutes if I were you.”
Both of them immediately crouched lower and put their hands to their side arm, as they began scanning the area Ray said, “Who are you?”
The voice whispered, “Keep it down and look to the road. Now take cover and wait.”
Both men crouched behind a stand of trees and watched the road. The trucks that were parked not even thirty minutes prior were pulling onto the roadway.
Ray whispered to Dickie, “That could have been bad.”
Dickie nodded and said, “I want to know who our guardian angel is though, makes me a little nervous he knows where we are but we can’t see him.”
Ray glanced over his shoulder at him and nodded as he scanned the trees looking for him. They sat quietly as they watched the convoy of trucks exiting the warehouses occasionally shifting their eyes to look for their guardian angel. The traffic slowed and eventually stopped for what seemed a sufficient amount of time. They began to rise from their posi
tions when again the voice instructed them to lay low. They didn’t know why, but they trusted it and crouched just before one last smaller convoy of pickups and varied cars exited and sped off away from their position.
They remained crouched and were startled when from the very tree they were crouched under dropped a spry older man. He was dressed in all camo and slung across his back was a long bow. His beard was grey as was his hair, but under the netting of his hat it did not show.
He stood and held his hand out to shake saying, “Emmett Rabin, at your service.”
Dickie extended his hand replying, “Dickie Miller here and this is Ray Saylor.”
Emmett shaking his hand said, “What brings you into these parts?”
Ray said, “We are travelling and had to make a stopover for a few days.”
Emmett nodded his head and asked, “I saw you hightail it out of the warehouses. What were you doing in there?”
Ray responded, “We were trying to get a look at the camp to see what is going on in there. Do you know anything about it?”
Emmett nodded, saying, “I’ve been watching for a bit now and it seems that anyone goes in… well they don’t come out. Least wise not alive anyway.”
Dickie’s eyes widened as he spoke, “Are they executing them all?”
Emmett said, “Not exactly, you see they got that Ebola in there and even the healthy ones are crammed into the tents all the same. There are some that go into the smaller tents and they seem ok. But anyone that makes trouble or seems like trouble, well, they are just taken to the fence.”
Dickie asked, “The fence?”
Emmett replied, “Yea, some they line up at the fence and just shoot em as soon as they arrive.”
Ray said, “We’re trying to get to Osceola Mills and need to know the routines of the camp to pass.”
Emmett looked nervous saying, “What business you got there?”
Without saying any names, Dickie explained how they had come to bring Mandy and Aaron along. He told him about the gang ransacking their home and that they were trying to help her get to her parent’s house. They did not know much about Emmett and did not want to jeopardize Mandy and Aaron’s safety.
Emmett shook his head saying, “There ain’t no one left in Osceola Mills, that’s where they keep all the black suits.”
Confused, Ray said, “Black suits?”
Emmett replied with a chuckle, “That’s what I call the guys that are running the show. I don’t know who they are but they all wear the same damn black suit. They look like there was a going out of business sale at J. C. Penny on black suits and everyone got in on it.”
Ray and Dickie shared a look and knew it was the same as the things they saw back in Auburn. They thanked Emmett and turned to leave. They both knew this was not going to go well for them if they were caught. At this point they were deserters and figured it was best to move along and avoid the camp and Osceola Mills entirely.
Emmett said, “Hold up there. We got some folks from Osceola Mills right here in these woods, maybe someone knows your friend’s parents.”
Dickie said, “It is worth a try, how can we find out?”
Emmett said, “Well, we can check in with Frank and Ruth, they know just about everyone who’s out here.”
Ray looked at Dickie and said, “We don’t know her parents’ names.”
“Well, let’s go see Ruth and see what she knows anyway.” Emmett said.
They both nodded and followed Emmett down a trail that led back into the woods. It wasn’t long before there were a number of ragged looking people looking at them as they passed. All had hollow eyes and quietly stared as the strangers walked past. These people had a grey look about them almost as if death had already come, but they didn’t know it and lingered in this world.
Coming into what looked like the center of the group they found an older man sitting on an old stump smoking something that looked like rolled up leaves. He didn’t look as ragged as the others they saw. With his large round belly and stubby fat fingers, he looked well fed.
Emmett asked him, “Where’s Ruthie gone to?”
The man looked up and said, “She’s just over the hill, she’ll be right back. Whatcha got with ya Emmett?”
Emmett said, “These two are looking for the parents of a few people in their group.”
Ray looked at Dickie, neither one of them liked the way he said group. Something was not right here, although neither of them could put their finger on what was wrong, they passed knowing looks that told one another OPSEC was important.
Dickie said, “Yes, they lived in Osceola Mills.”
Stepping out from behind a stand of trees a surprisingly lovely woman stood before them. She did not look worn or grey like the others. Her shoulder length blonde hair hung in her eyes a bit. She was older, but seemed fit, even formidable.
Extending her hand, she said, “Hi, I’m Ruth, how many are in your group?” It was almost as if she didn’t hear what Dickie said, but only cared about their numbers.
Dickie picked up on this and said, “Well, Ray and I have been helping others get to their homes. Seems like most of them are just families and couldn’t defend themselves. We have been trying to help them get home. Not really sure of how many there are, it changes along the way, but we’re just a small group maybe fifteen or so.”
Nodding to Ray he said, “Sound about right Ray?”
Ray looked at each of them, pursing his lips like he was thinking and said, “Yea, I’d guess that is pretty close.”
Ruth asked, “You say they are defenceless?”
Ray nodded, saying, “Mostly, you see… we scout ahead and then go back and bring them up. Because there is only Dickie and I to keep them protected, we need to take things slow.”
Ruth looked almost excited saying, “Well, just bring them on over here. We can look after them while you two do your scouting.”
Dickie trying to look impressed with the suggestion said, “Wow! That would be great. You sure you wouldn’t mind the extra burden?”
Ruth responded, “Not at all, shall I have some of our guys come help escort them?”
Ray shrugged, “Do you think it will be necessary? It seemed pretty quiet.”
Emmett looking them over said, “It’ll be alright if you just wait until after dark.”
Ruth agreed and sent them to get a cup of coffee and rest up before dark. Dickie and Ray took the opportunity to look around at the group. The people were ragged and hungry looking. Dickie noted an almost savage look about them and that some were shaking. He couldn’t put his finger on what it was, but knew there was something very wrong here.
As night fell and the two prepared to head back to their camp planning to fill the others in on their explorations. They were startled by someone while they were uncovering the jeep, a weary woman and a small girl in hushed tones signalled them from the woods. Hidden in the trees near their vehicle the two begged that they take them away from there. Dickie looked at Ray, turning to them silently he nodded directing them to get into the vehicle. They crawled to the far side of the jeep and Ray acted like he was checking something allowing them to slip into the back unnoticed by the ever watchful eyes of Emmett.
They had been driving for only a few miles when the woman asked, “Is it safe yet?”
Ray asked, “Safe from what?”
The woman began to cry, begging, “Please don’t hurt us.”
Ray was confused and turned to her asking, “Why would we hurt you?”
She responded, “I don’t know, I didn’t think about whether or not you were bad guys. We just needed to get away from there or we were going to be dinner.”
Ray gasped, “You mean…”
She nodded, saying, “When we were found by Emmett, there were six of us. They actually only unchained us because you were there, we were told that if we said anything to you that they would make us suffer when it was our turn.
Ray asked, “Why didn’t they just take us captive?”
The woman responded, “They wanted to follow you to find out where the rest of your group is. I overheard Emmett talking to Ruth and that’s why we snuck out to try and go with you.”
Ray looked over to the young girl and back to the woman and said, “Where are you from?”
The woman replied, “Altoona, but the black suits have been bringing people to the camp from all over. When they came to start taking people away in our area, we left and hid in the woods. We were pretty hungry when Emmett found us and brought us to their camp. At first they were very nice and gave us food and water, a place to sleep and clean up.”
Pausing, she looked out the window and continued, “Then on the second day they burst into the tent taking us all prisoner.”
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she said, “Ron, my husband, fought hard and was killed in the scuffle. They were like animals, cutting him up and carrying off the pieces.”
Ray sat with a look of horror as she continued, “At first I didn’t know why, but once we were taken from the tent I understood what was happening. I watched the man who killed him as he brought his head to Frank and Ruth like it was a trophy.”
Sobbing the woman could hardly continue to speak, yet she went on describing the horrors of the small encampment, “Every few days they would come for one of us. Missy was the last one taken, she had been at the college in Altoona when we met up with her. The women were given to the men of the camp the evening before they were to be eaten for what they called pleasuring. We could hear her screaming long into the night. I think Ruth wanted to save Mary here for Sunday dinner. She said the young ones were the most tender.”
Pulling the child closer to her, she sobbed great heaving sobs, speaking between sniffles and broken words she tried to tell them more, but Ray reached out for her hand saying, “Later, it can wait.”
Dickie said, “I don’t know whether to be pissed off or terrified, we need to get everyone packed up and leave this area RFN.”
Ray said to the woman, “There is no time for introductions or formalities. You are welcome to sit tight and come along or you are free to go when we get to camp. We don’t have a spare vehicle, but might be able to offer you some supplies.”