by DJ Cooper
Amy replied, “I actually think it was the honey mead. Ray and Laurie were feeling queasy for a day and they only sipped it, just to try. Dickie and the rest of us girls who didn’t drink any have felt fine.
John said, “I don’t understand how honey mead could have food poisoning.”
Amy softly replied, “Well, I’m glad everyone is feeling better and we will be on the move again soon.”
She looked to the door of the tent and leaned in to kiss John, whispering in his ear as they hugged, “I don’t think it was food poisoning, and I think our traitor was trying to slow us down. You guys need to rest as much as possible, seems pretty certain we are going to have trouble soon.”
John looked at her, eyes wide, he gave a slight nod, saying, “Is there anything to eat? I’m starved.”
Amy laughed an uneasy laugh and said, “Let me get you some broth.”
Dickie was by the fire when Amy approached, she began to spoon some broth into a cup. She nodded to him, a signal letting him know that she passed on the information to John. Dickie nodded and walked to the watch location where Ray was waiting. Knowing they could not move on yet, the chances of a confrontation became more likely by the day.
On the seventh day at this camp the illness was mostly gone and they were moving about normally. Mark was the only one still ill, but was improving every day. Dickie, with Roger and John sat that evening around the small fire discussing moving on and having Mark ride in the cart when needed. Renee walked up to them, hearing them talk about moving on and pretended to look upset.
Raising her hands, palms up beside her head, she began to act concerned for Mark’s welfare, when in fact she only visited Mark one time, three days ago. After her visit he was just a little sicker. Amy thought it was because of the excitement and chaos her and Kimmie brought everywhere they went.
Again acting upset she stood in defiance towards the three saying, “He cannot be moved right now. I forbid it.”
They looked at her like she completely lost her mind. John said to her, “We will take every precaution and Amy is taking good care of him, he would be better off if we could get him to a real doctor anyway.”
She stammered and replied, “I don’t like it at all, and I think he needs a few more days.”
Roger stood and angrily shouted, “How would you know, you haven’t even given him the time of day.”
John reached out touching his arm, indicating to him to sit down, saying, “Amy will decide, she and Laurie have been caring for him. We would never knowingly harm him.”
Renee huffed off, returning to the tent that she and Kimmie shared. Angry conversation could be heard but she did not come out of the tent for the remainder of the evening. John knew something was up with these two, but hated to think they were the cause or the traitor.
December 1st
The next day found Mark feeling much better and he agreed they needed to get moving. The tents were packed up and the site cleaned to leave little trace, but after ten days in this place it was difficult to make it look untouched. They determined that leaving no trace of whom had been camped was the best they could do.
Their path now returned to the power line right of ways they found themselves at less of a risk of contact with other people. The illness brought to light, a fear almost forgotten amongst the others, that of Ebola. Having no contact with anyone in the past ten days Amy said was helpful.
John asked, “Why do you say that?”
Amy replied, “Because Ebola has an incubation period of up to twenty-one days and we can’t risk bringing infection to the others.”
John pursed his lips in thought, saying, “You’re right, I didn’t consider that. We need to be more careful and remain at a safe distance from anyone from this point forward.”
Amy nodded as Dickie spoke from behind her, “We should have eyes open all sides while traveling, making sure no one approaches us.”
Stopping to check on Mark and have a quick meeting for everyone to be aware of the Ebola concerns they quickly got back on the path.
That day the managed four miles, and while it wasn’t their best distance, John said they had made good progress. The terrain was a little rougher as the hills continued to rise and fall and Mark was still weak.
Over the next few days they made similar progress and saw no one. There was a cache exactly as marked on their map and they were careful eating. Ray, who had not been sick volunteered to taste everything and wait to see if any illness would fall upon him. Ray was visibly nervous about eating anything, but proceeded to eat some of the bread and fruit. Anything in cans was deemed acceptable and they prepared all canned food that evening.
Trying to make Ray feel better about it, John said, “Way to get all the best food there guy.”
Ray grimaced saying, “My momma didn’t raise no dummy.”
John knew the fears as did everyone else. Although laughing everyone knew, this was a dangerous move on his part. Ray whispered to John that he felt like a goldfish in a bowl, everyone staring at him from a distance. John laughed and told him he was just about as pretty as one too.
Ray had no ill effects from the food and the relief was almost palatable amongst the travelers. The mood bordered on joyous as they traveled alongside the right of way. Just inside the tree line, where they would be able to maintain some cover.
Midday on this, the fifth day of their final leg, Dickie heard something strange and told everyone to take cover as he and Roger investigated. What he heard was something like a drum, but more like a hollow log being tapped. Woodpeckers abounded, but there was something rhythmic about this, it dawned on him that it was rhythmic and he recognized it.
Turning to Roger he said, “I knew this was Morse code.”
Roger then recognized it, saying, “Now that you mention it, I hear it too.”
Dickie said, “I’m not real good with it, can you make out what it is saying?”
Roger nodded, his eyes looking up and right as he listened. He reached out to Dickie, signing for something to write it down with. Dickie searched his pockets and finding nothing, put up one finger and ran to where John was. Making the same sign at the group, Amy reached into her pack a produced a small pad and pencil. Dickie returned to where Roger was and handed him the pad.
Roger said, “It is fast and I am rusty but I have managed to get a few words already. It is repeating so I will get it all in a few minutes as long as it continues.”
They listened carefully hearing the rhythmic tapping and saying each sequence. Dot dash dash dot, dot dash, dash, dot dot dot. Dickie wrote the code out as Roger continued to listen.
Roger said, “Next word, dash dot dash dot, dot dash dot dot, dot, dot dash, dot dash dot. You get that?”
Dickie nodded and they continued until the message began to repeat. They sat down to decipher the code and Roger easily converted the dots and dashes into words.
“Path clear camp just beyond tower painted red, message and supplies delivered. A.N.T.S.”
Tapping in response the code for, “Understood, KY bound.”
The tapping ceased and they returned to the others, explaining what they were able to decipher, the travelers looked for the red painted tower. They found the red paint on the fifth tower, nearly two miles from where they heard the Morse code. Stopping at a small pine clearing they found a pile of rocks carefully stacked.
Roger smiled, dropped his pack and said, “Home sweet home.”
Within minutes of arriving to the clearing a rider appeared with a satchel. He unceremoniously tossed it in their direction, tipped his hat and rode off. Inside they found canned foods, rice and oatmeal. There was jerky and some kind of pemmican bars and a note.
The note read “Large gang activity beyond Richmond, at blue painted tower exit power line easement. Look for blue ribbons, follow to house with blue shutters. Enter via back yard into the house through bulkhead. Inside supplies, truck will come in two days’ time and carry you last leg. Do not leave the house
or speak to anyone, Ebola confirmed outskirts of Richmond.”
They were excited knowing the end of the journey was near. That night they rested and talked about making it to the blue tower the next day. Everyone wanted to sleep indoors again and even if just for the feeling of normal to just relax on a sofa. John talked about hanging out with Matt while Danny couldn’t wait to see Toni and Jeremy.
During the midnight watch, Danny saw a figure dart across the easement in the moonlight. He snapped twice to alert John, who was on watch with him. Pointing with his index and middle finger to his eyes, then pointing to a tree where he had seen the figure crouch, he nodded to John to watch. John too saw the figure move to another tree, and another making their way into the woods.
What it was neither knew shrugging in silence to one another. They both remained on high alert until relieved at four a.m. When Ray and Dickie appeared to relieve them they were briefed on what was seen. Dickie returned to the tent and coming back with Mark to stand his watch, he then disappeared into the woods, moving silently in the same direction the figure was seen.
Ray looked at Mark saying, “I hate it when he does that.”
Mark yawned whispering, “Gotta give it to him though, he never made a sound. I’m glad he’s on our side.”
Ray nodded and with a little chuckle in his voice said, “You got that right.”
Two hours passed before Dickie whistled his return, after arriving, he waited for to John to join in the debriefing. Telling them what he saw reminded them that they were not alone.
Dickie began, “It appears that the guy was just passing by and was unaware we were even here, but there is something else.”
John looked perplexed, saying, “Well… are you gonna let us in on it?”
Dickie nodded and continued, “I found something you’re not gonna like, and before I go into the details we need to get the others on breaking this camp ASAP. We need to be on the move immediately and leave NO sign or indication of where we go.”
John looked stunned as did the others, he got the women started on breaking camp and instructed Amy to see to it that there was no trace of them.
Returning to the conversation John said, “Ok, we will give it the once over to check after they are done packing up.”
Dickie sipped the coffee, and mumbled "All I want is a bloody cuppa Tea!" sighed, saying, “Our benefactors were right, we are being tailed, I don’t know why they haven’t hit us. They are just following, watching our every move. I sought out all of their scouts watching camp and eliminated them so we should be able to slip away.”
Mark gasped saying, “Someone has been watching us all this time?”
Dickie continued, “I made sure to ask a few questions of our observers. They are under the impression we are going to a compound that is easy pickins and flowing with milk and honey, all the supplies they could ever need.”
John looked puzzled saying to no one in particular, “I don’t know why they would think that.”
Dickie said, “Me either, until I went to check the camp and see for myself. I found something very interesting sitting right there in front of the fire.”
Ray said, “Something?”
Dickie responded, “In a manner of speaking. Ok, so I can see but not hear the camp. I see sitting right up front and center the Morgan bitch.”
They all gasped as Dickie continued, “She was busy spinning some kind of tale and they were all sitting around listening to her. So of course I had to get a closer look so I could listen. She was telling them of the compound where Matt and Dez are, and that they would be able to have all they need and go on raids from the secret location. I learned a few things listening, she is not alone, and that other bitch we tossed with her is along as well.”
John said, “Cindy.”
Dickie pointed in his direction, saying, “That’s right, her.”
Roger asked, “Is there anything else?”
Dickie said, “Yeah, they don’t know how we have been keeping ahead and losing them. So they don’t know about our helpers. Someone in this camp is definitely feeding them information. I know from listening how she hates each of us here now, which is why I know all listening right now are trustworthy.”
Dickie took a long drink of his coffee, pulled another face, while he gathered his thoughts and continued, “They plan to ambush us right before arrival, so this little ride we are getting should help, but not for long. She has someone on the inside there that has been getting CB messages relayed.”
Ray showing his anger said, “There is another in the camp we are going to?”
Dickie said, “Yeah, but I don’t think these guys will be able to stand up to them and us, they aren’t that big. There is maybe twenty of them, including women and some children. I am worried that they could attack us so soon after arrival that no one could get prepared.”
John stood and said, “Ok, let’s adjourn this and get moving. Roger and Ray, will you police the site and a good twenty paces out in a perimeter, I am sure there is a note. This one we definitely have to find. Mark, get the others moving so they don’t see what we are doing in the camp or realize we are looking for the note.”
Dickie stood and said, “John, the bodies of their guys need to be hidden.”
John agreed and he and Dickie began to collect the three bodies. They moved them to the other side of the easement where they piled them up, covering them in pine boughs and leaves.
John was right, Roger did find a note that simply said, “Follow the blue ribbons.” John considered leaving the note and once they found the ribbons, sending them off in another direction, but he thought it was too risky to leave such a clue if he failed to get to the ribbons. It wasn’t long before the area was left as though no one had been there and they caught up to the group. It seemed to take forever, but in reality it was less than five miles to the blue tower. The ribbons to the path were quickly found and the group exited the easement and struck out into the woods.
Dickie made a big show about scouting on ahead of them to check it out and took off in a trot following the ribbons. When he was out of sight, he immediately doubled back to end up behind them and just out of sight. He quietly collected the ribbons after they passed by, making sure that they were leaving no trace for their followers.
By nightfall they all arrived safely, Dickie was sitting on the back stoop when John approached saying, “Where did you take off to when we were getting here?”
Dickie grinned up at him and reached into his pocket, pulling out a handful of the blue ribbons.
John laughed and said, “I sort of figured it would be something like that.
John went up the stairs to go see if they were settled into that little house with the blue shutters. Walking into the kitchen, he saw here was food on the counter and a note that reminded them not to have contact with anyone. John thought back to the beginning of their journey and how they thought they had enough. He mused at how truly ill equipped they actually were and was thankful for their friends.
The two days passed quickly and most just took the time to catch up on some sleep or reading. In the evening of the second day there was a knock at the door. The inhabitants of the little house sprang to alert as John cracked the door open. Taped to the outside of the door was a note, again reminding them to have no contact but to prepare for transport, another knock would come when the bus arrived.
When the bus arrived, the driver was wearing a full hazmat suit including a respirator. It made the group feel strange and the children were frightened of the man. As they boarded the bus the man said to the kids that there was candy in the box back there for them, his voice told them he was smiling despite his face could barely be seen.
Once everyone boarded the bus the gentleman stood to talk, He removed his mask to speak and said, “Precautions, you understand.” Everyone nodded as he continued, “This is not a long trip and you will be briefed when you arrive.”
Chapter 26
“Reality of lif
e now”
“We can evade reality, but we cannot evade the consequences of evading reality."
-Ayn Rand
In less than an hour they were pulling up to a house, it was dark inside and looked like it had been abandoned for some time. The front window was boarded up and a number of bullet holes riddled the siding. John stared out the window as they pulled around the drive, wondering what place this was.
Suddenly Matty jumped up running to John’s window exclaiming, “We’re here!”
John looked at him asking, “Where are we?”
Matty looked at him quizzically saying, “This is my dad’s house, him and Dez are here. We made it!”
The bus stopped and again the driver stood to address them, saying, “Inside you will find some items left for you, as you can see the group is no longer here. There is a Walkie talkie in one of the boxes. You need to contact Arthur with it and let him know you are here.”
Questions came quickly and all at once, the man put his hands up for them to quiet and John asked, “Is this the same Arthur that we contacted from Pennsylvania?”
The man nodded and said, “Everything is fine, your journey is over, but you have to remain in quarantine until we are sure there is no threat of Ebola.”
John nodded and thanked the man instructing everyone to disembark. They gathered their belongings and began to exit the bus.
The man spoke to John again, saying, “Contact Arthur immediately, he has the ability to contact your friends. He will get a hold of Ryan, the local militia leader and get the ball rolling for getting you to your friends.”
He then put his gloved hand out for John to shake which John said, “Thank you for everything, I hope you don’t think I’m rude if I don’t shake but, I think it is important that we maintain the quarantine. We have had no contact with anyone in over two weeks.”
The man laughed tossing him a haphazard salute, saying, “Excellent, I’ll let them know as well. Good luck and welcome.”
John mimicked the haphazard salute and nodded as he entered the house. Matty already made himself at home, knowing the house from all his visits. He brought Georgia to his room saying, “Some of my stuff is still here, come on, let’s go in my room and see what we can do.” Georgia happily followed and the two of them sat playing dominos.