The Emerald Virus

by Patrick Shea

  Noah continued, “But be a little careful, although the worst that can happen is that Palouse takes a bite out of you.”

  Sam laughed and said, “I doubt that will happen, but if it does Ben’s young, he’ll heal quickly”.

  As Sam and Noah walked to the filling station Sam said, “You’ve made me curious; tell me about who worked with Palouse as a colt, if you don’t think I’m being nosy.”

  Noah grimaced and shut his eyes for a second. Sam watched him and said, “Noah, I’m sorry, it looks like I’ve opened an old wound for you. I didn’t intend that so please just forget I asked.”

  “That’s alright. Maybe its better that I talk a little bit with you. But please, this isn’t a story I would want you or Ben to share.”

  Sam liked that Noah understood intuitively that she wouldn’t be comfortable keeping secrets from Ben. She waited for Noah to gather his thoughts and continue.

  “It’s a simple story really. Five years ago my wife and two children were killed by a drunk driver. She was coming home from helping a sick friend and I wasn’t with them during the accident. Palouse was about a year old when that happened and up until then he was used to Sally and the kids working with him and helping to groom him.

  “Up to that point I had cared for horses like I cared for a good tool, if you know what I mean. But after watching how the kids loved him and how he seemed to love the kids, I look at him differently today.”

  “Noah, I’m so sorry you lost your family, and that I raised the issue. But I thank you for sharing the story with me. And yes, I do know how you feel about the horse. Steel has always been special to me in that way. By the way, Steel is very particular about who is around him also. I’m the only one who has ever been on him, although he does let Ben help care for him. That’s the reason I feel sure Ben will be okay around Palouse.”

  They were now at the filling station and they found that they had to break a pane of glass in the front door in order to get in. They found the switches for the pumps, and next to them they found a shutoff switch for the main generator. They walked around the back and found the generator enclosed in a wooden shed. They managed to pry the lock open and found that the generator started easily enough. The noise was almost overwhelming in the perfect silence of the park.

  The pumps came on when they flipped the switch and they walked back to get the RVs and snow plow. They found there was plenty of fuel for all of the vehicles, but with the number of RVs coming, each with a fuel tank capable of holding anywhere from sixty to eighty gallons of fuel and some with additional auxiliary tanks, the storage tanks here would be emptied soon. They decided they would have everyone fuel up in West Yellowstone.

  Water was going to be tough in the park also. With everything shut down for the winter finding water for the RV tanks would be hard. They would probably have to keep the road to West Yellowstone open all winter so they could dump the tanks and replace the water in town. That would work until the electricity shut down and water pipes started freezing.

  An hour later they had finished fueling the vehicles and Ben had finished with the horses. They climbed into their equipment and headed for town.

  Noah realized that Sam was right in her assessment of Ben. He wasn’t a kid anymore. While he wasn’t yet an adult, if he got the right kind of help he would learn how to make adult judgments soon. The only thing to worry about now was his lack of experience.

  Sam had called Lily this morning and told her to sit tight until they got there with the plows, which Sam still thought would take at least two days. Noah did the same with Lou, who had stopped at Butte last night. Four other RVs from both north and south on I-15 had joined Lou, and Lily’s group now had seven RVs. When they had checked email they found there were at least another twenty or so RVs scattered over Montana, Idaho and Wyoming, all heading slowly to the park.

  The driving was slow going for all of the RVs, but over the next couple of days they would all make it to Bozeman or Butte. They found they had both sides of the Interstates to work with. If one side was covered with a drift they could backtrack to the last exit and try the other side. Some of the RVs were equipped with four wheel drive, and all of them wore snow chains.

  Sam realized again that was what she loved about living in the northwest. There weren’t many whiners in these parts, and everyone knew how to work hard. Those were traits they would all need in the future.

  By dusk on Thursday the three of them had cleared 191 to 287 to Cameron. They made the slow drive back to the lodge, took care of the horses, fueled the equipment and spent the evening contacting other survivors.

  Warren told them that he and a friend had tried to get through to Butte but found the road was impassable, with much more snow as the elevation of I-90 increased as they moved towards the divide.

  Noah let Lou know that they would have to clear highway 2 to 41 to 287 and that would take an additional three to four days. Lou told Noah they had found a D.O.T. equipment shed late yesterday, and this morning they would start clearing the road from Butte towards highway 41 and on to 287. They agreed that if they didn’t get more snow they should be able to make it to the park.

  However, if another blizzard came through they would have to find a different place for their winter camp.

  They started early Friday morning with the hopes of reaching Bozeman by nightfall. They found the snow deeper than they had hoped and they had to stop for the night a couple of miles past Norris, just south of Red Mountain. They started early again on Saturday.

  It was four o’clock when they reached the intersection of 191 and I-90. They cleared the ramp and met a group of fifteen people. Twelve of them were driving RVs while three were too young to drive, although the 13 year old and the 14 year old were already being taught. The group decided that there were no more rules to follow and that these youngsters would have to learn to fend for themselves early on.

  Lily explained to them that some in the group thought they had asked too much from kids that young, but the others had convinced them that they needed to expect more from the young ones in the future than they had in the past. After all they would be driving on roads without traffic, in the middle of a group of RVs. They would practice during the winter if they could, and by springtime would be ready for their own RVs.

  After saying hello to everyone they explained that they would go directly to West Yellowstone, and they would stop there to fuel the RVs and the snow equipment. They would then go to the lodge in the park for the night, and in the morning they would again start clearing roads, this time to Butte.

  I was eight o’clock that evening when the RV caravan reached the lodge. They used the grader to clear the entire parking lot while some of the group fed the banked fire in the lodge.

  After dinner Sam and the group met in the lobby of the Inn. Sam stood on a table and addressed the group, “We have a lot to talk about but some of us have had a long day and will have an even longer day tomorrow. If anyone would like to help clear the roads form here to Butte we would appreciate it. We’d like to get the other group to the park before the next big snow comes. If we don’t they’ll be stranded for the winter I’m afraid. For now I just want to ensure everyone that I’m glad you’ve joined our group. You’re welcome here and I’m looking forward to working with all of you.”

  A middle aged man with brown curly hair and a stocky build loudly and sarcastically said, “My name is Bob Turner and I’d like to say I really appreciate you letting us in here, but I’d like to point out that this here is a public park and it’s open to anyone who wants to come in. And I don’t need you to let me know what you think of me being here.” He finished the statement with a satisfied grin on his face, much like a school yard bully.

  Sam started to apologize by saying, “Bob, I didn’t mean to…”

  But Noah interrupted her by saying, “Sam, let me answer Mr. Turner Please.” He looked at Bob and then looked around the room. What he saw were a lot of uncomfortable looks, a couple o
f people who looked angry, and only one or two who seemed to enjoy what Bob Turner had to say. He wished it had not come to this so soon, since he was dead tired from wrestling the snow all day, but he knew the kind of person Turner was, and that this had to be dealt with quickly.

  Noah continued, “Mr. Turner, there are some things you don’t seem to understand, so this one time I’m going let you know what you missed. But I want you to know that this is the last time I’ll be nice about you saying anything else in that tone of voice to Sam or anyone else.

  “First, this isn’t a public park. There is no government left, and no public left. There is no United States, no state of Montana or Wyoming, no government except what we’ll start ourselves. This is a new world and possession is going to decide who owns what in the future. Right now Sam possesses this lodge. You are here as her guest and because she chose to work her butt off helping you get here.

  “But you don’t have to stay here. You do have freedom of choice. You are free to join Sam’s group or you are free to leave. You are not free to come in here and talk about what you don’t like or to act contrary to the good of the group.

  “You do need to change your perspective on life since you have no right to be here, and you have no right to walk in here and cause dissention. I’m not interested in dealing with people like you and I’d much rather just kick you out of here. But I know Sam well enough to know she wouldn’t want that.

  “So Mr. Turner, you have this one warning and that’s it. Now you can apologize for your erroneous beliefs and your sarcastic tone of voice, or you can leave, and you’re welcome to do either one.”

  By now the lobby was dead quiet. Everyone was looking at Bob Turner wondering what he would do. Everyone realized that Noah wasn’t just talking. They knew he had explained the rules, and he expected everyone to follow them if they stayed.

  Turner looked at Noah and decided his best choice was to get angry and ask the group for support. He said, “You have no right to talk to me that way or tell me what to do or who to follow. This is a democracy and the group should rule.” He looked around for support and found a couple of people nodding in agreement, and he continued, “I think the majority will decide that you need to keep you opinions to yourself and let someone more capable lead this group.”

  Noah let the silence drag on for a minute and smiled and said, “Mr. Turner, we probably will at some point turn the group into a democracy, and we may vote on a leader. But we won’t do that yet because the only thing we know right now is that Sam is a capable leader and loud mouths like you are not. I told you a minute ago to either apologize or leave. It doesn’t look like you want to apologize so I’m going to have to insist that you leave. You need to get out to your RV and move on out of here, right now.” As Noah started to walk through the group towards him, Turner yelled, “You can’t do that. Hey everyone, this isn’t fair. Tell him he can’t do this. Tell him we won’t let him tell us what to do.” When no one moved he started to panic a little and yelled again, “Keep him away from me, he has no right to touch me. Somebody help me. Help me.”

  And then Noah had him by the elbow in a steel grip. He walked him forcefully to the lobby doors and listened to Turner yell, “Stop, I’ll freeze, let me get my coat.”

  Noah stopped and waited while Warren brought Turner’s coat to him and then he started moving again. He walked Turner outside and told him to show him where his RV was. Noah walked him to the RV and helped him in.

  Some people from the crowd had followed them outside. Noah ignored them, not because he was sure they wouldn’t help Turner, but because he knew if he acted anything other than totally confident anyone straddling the fence on this issue could come down on the wrong side.

  He pushed Turner into the driver’s seat and waited until he had started the engine before he said, “Turner, you’re one of those people that got by in life by being a bully, and because the civilized people around you put up with you. You need to remember that the world has changed.”

  Noah was bent over and the interior lights were off so he was sure no one could see him, although he really didn’t care. He said as he pulled out his gun and pushed it against the side of Turner’s head, “If I ever see you anywhere near here again I’ll kill you. On the spot, with no hesitation and no remorse. Do you understand me?”

  When he didn’t receive a response Noah pulled the hammer back on the gun. The click was deafening. Turner immediately said, “I understand,”

  “Good, now drive out of here. You can backtrack all the way to Bozeman and from there go wherever you want. But remember, you don’t ever want to cross paths with me again.”

  Noah holstered his gun and stepped out of the RV and without looking back said, “Folks let’s go back inside. This man doesn’t need us to help him out of the park.” Ben was in this group and Noah knew he was there to cover his back. He looked at Ben and nodded while he smiled slightly.

  When they were all inside and Noah was next to the fire he looked at Sam and said, loudly enough for everyone to hear, “Sam, I’m sorry to have been a part of that mess, but I believe that Mr. Turner is just another bully, and I didn’t think you would have wanted people like him in your group. I tried to give him a chance to let us know that wasn’t his real nature, but he didn’t take it.”

  Before Sam could respond Lily looked at Noah and started clapping. The rest of the group joined in immediately. Noah looked shy for the first time and said, “Thank you folks. Sam invited me to join her group and she was gracious about it. I thought she deserved my support.”

  Sam had not yet said a word. She was trying to adjust to the fact that this tough man had just solidified her position as group leader. He had done so unselfishly and with danger to himself. She had not expected this vote of confidence from anyone except maybe Ben. Western men tended to follow other men, not women.

  She had thought highly of Noah before, and she was now sure of her first thoughts about him. He was so sure and so quick in getting rid of that troublemaker. Everyone in the room knew what he had done, and why he had done it, and they also knew they were all better off because of it.

  Sam said, “Noah, thank you for that. I think we all agree that we can do without the likes of Bob Turner.” She smiled and continued, “And while it might have looked like Noah just anointed me dictator, I want to ensure you that I understand that isn’t my role. However, I am ready to lead the group until we can decide collectively on a more lasting method. But I think we’ve all had enough for one day, at least I have and I for one am going to bed.”

  Ben joined Sam and she looked at Noah. He gave her a slight shake of his head and she smiled to him in return. She knew he would stay in the lobby until the last person had left. Noah wasn’t about to let anyone else in the group try to change anything without him being present.

  Ben joined Sam in her RV and she could tell he was excited about what he had witnessed. “Sam, did you see that. Wow, that was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen. Turner could have had ten friends in the group and Noah just didn’t care. He wasn’t afraid of anything. How could he do that? What if other people had backed Turner? Noah could’ve been hurt. If Turner had a gun he could have shot Noah.”

  “Slow down Ben and let’s talk through this. First, I don’t ever want you to think about doing something like that.”

  “Don’t you worry about me. I know that I look like a kid and that wouldn’t work for me, but how did Noah know it would work for him?”

  Sam felt relieved that Ben knew this wasn’t something he could mimic in the future. She said, “Noah didn’t know he could get away with it. He was pretty confident he could though. He was also confident that if others joined Turner that even more in the group would support him. Not many like people like Bob Turner. Most people have put up with the likes of a Bob Turner at some time in their life. Besides, Noah already knew that both you and I were armed and that he could count on us.”

  Ben smiled from ear to ear when Sam included him
.

  Sam continued, “And by the way, Turner was armed. I saw the gun under his sweater when he was trying to put his coat on. I think that was one of the reasons Noah wouldn’t stop for him. He wanted Turner to have to worry about his coat getting in the way if he tried to grab his gun. I also noticed Noah walk around Turner so he could grab him by his gun arm, just to be safe.

  “I think the most important thing to think about is that Noah knew he was doing the right thing, and that he judged the group as a whole to know the same thing. Being right and fair is always important when you deal with groups. Noah understood that he needed to offer Turner a way out, but when Turner didn’t take it, the group didn’t want him around.

  “We may see more of this in the future, although maybe not with this group. They understand that they’ll be called out if they get out of line. And that it will be a serious call out, not a yelling match. Noah doesn’t strike me as a screamer, but he certainly does know how to get your attention doesn’t he?”

  Ben laughed and said, “He does at that doesn’t he? I’m glad that’s behind us now and I think most everyone feels the same way.

  “I have one more question for you Sam. I think as the first adult male in the park Noah could have claimed leadership of the group. Why didn’t he? Do you think he’s afraid to be a leader?”

  Sam laughed gently and said, “No, I don’t think our Mr. Yellowbird is much afraid of anything. I think he is one of those rare men who have no false ego, and no fear of following another capable leader. And, I think that if things get to the point where Noah doesn’t agree with them, he’ll simply go off on his own. He doesn’t appear to me to need people around him.

  “In fact, I’ll worry that he’ll go his own way in the spring just because there’ll be too many people around.”

  “I hope not, I like having him around. I think I could learn a lot from a man like him.”

  “Ben, I think you’re right about that.

  “Unless you have more questions for me, let’s call it a night now.”