by C. A. Henry
An hour later, he stood on the patio, waving as they walked away. Once they were out of sight, he went inside for another cup of coffee. On the counter, he found some folded pieces of paper.
Tears streamed down his face as he studied the directions to Kanichi Springs, and read a letter to Helen’s family, introducing Isaac as a friend. It read:
To any McNeils or other residents of Kanichi Springs –
The bearer is my friend Isaac, whose kindness to me and my companions has been incredible. If for any reason I do not make it home, please welcome Isaac and help him get settled in our town. He is very clever and resourceful and will make a good addition to any community. If his brother is with him, welcome him, too, for my sake.
Helen McNeil Vaughn
~~~~
The following day found the group passing the tiny community of Caddo Gap, Arkansas. They stayed southwest of the unincorporated cluster of homes and followed a line of trees along the Caddo River as far as they could, before swinging north of Norman.
Turning west, they cut between the Ouachita River and Highway 8. Isaac had noted that they should stay close to the river, crossing Highways 88 and 71, in order to skirt around the headwaters of the river and avoid the town of Mena. A short distance past the community of Acorn, they would turn north again, and have to cross Highway 71 a second time, continuing around Waldron.
Near Waldron, they could bypass the headwaters of the East Fork of the Poteau River, which flows west into Oklahoma. By handrailing Highway 28 until they got past Cauthern, they could stay south of Poteau Mountain. Isaac had advised them to skirt around the mountain clockwise toward Hartford. He figured it would take them seven or eight days to get that far, considering that the terrain was far from level.
Isaac was an optimist. It took nine days to reach the west side of Poteau Mountain, and they were all exhausted. The days were longer and hotter, and their energy levels were not up to vigorous hiking from sunup to sundown.
They camped that night at the base of the mountain, and woke the next morning to singing birds, sunshine, and an old man standing at the edge of the camp, watching them.
Stevie gasped. “Oh, not again! Who are you?” she demanded.
“Wahl, Ah’m just an old guy who lives in this here forest, and Ah seen y’all come in last night. Ah thought Ah’d come see if’n ya have any news or mebbe some tobaccy.”
“I’m sorry, sir,” Jeff answered politely. “None of us use tobacco, and we’ve been on the move for weeks. We haven’t heard any news. We do have some breakfast we can cook up, though, if you’d care to join us.”
Jeff had noted that if the man was armed, it was well hidden, and he seemed friendly enough, meeting their eyes and not acting like he was up to anything. With five of them, the risk was minimal, and it didn’t cost anything to be nice.
Stevie and Ross prepared the last of the omelet mixture that Helen had carried all the way from Florida. They’d started a very small fire and planned to cover it with dirt as soon as the food was ready.
The man drew in a huge, slow breath, his eyes closed and a slight smile on his face. “Ah, that there smells like heav’n,” he murmured.
They ate, enjoying the meal, and the man asked questions about their trip. When Helen mentioned that they were headed to Kanichi Springs, the man’s head snapped up.
“Really? Ah used ta know some folks over that way. Preacher fella named Ken Abbott. He were a frien’ when Ah needed one bad. And another fella…Ah cain’t remember his name, some name Ah never heared before. He was one o’ them Choctaw folks. Dark skin, kinda like some o’ y’all.”
“Was his name ‘Talako’?” Helen asked gently.
“That’s it! Talako, uh, MacNeil, Ah ‘member now. Nice fella.”
“Yes, he is. He’s my father-in-law. How did you know him?”
“He camped near mah shack one time, long time ago. Ah met him like Ah met y’all, jist being friendly. Ya tell him ‘Ol’ Joe said hello, ya hear?”
“I will, Joe. We’re hoping we’ll make it there in a few days. I sure wish we could just call a cab to come get us and take us the rest of the way,” Helen joked.
“Wahl, if’n ya want, ya can come to mah shack and try ta get holt o’ yer folks on mah radio.”
~~~~
The six of them walked about a mile, headed north, and Joe showed them his “shack.” It was actually more of a large cabin, situated in a clearing, with solar panels on the roof and a porch with a rocking chair. It was neat and clean, furnished with the style of rustic furniture that was so popular with country people.
In the corner of the office there was a desk, and on it sat a very expensive-looking radio. There was another desk near it, and on the wall above the second desk, Helen noticed two certificates, matted and framed. She looked more closely, then turned accusing eyes on Joe.
“Very funny, Doctor,” she purred.
He laughed, then looked a little guilty. “I’m sorry. It’s a game I play with strangers, just to see if I can fool them. Had you going there, too, didn’t I?”
Massey and Ross just shook their heads. Jeff gave the man a scowl, then gave in and chuckled. “You did, but you have to take into consideration that we’re tired and we haven’t been around other people much lately. Haven’t had a lot to joke about, either.”
“Well, let’s see if we can remedy that,” Dr. Joseph Wiley offered. “I know the Kanichi Springs radio crew and if I’m not mistaken, there will be someone monitoring this morning, and strangely enough, your family has working vehicles with gas in the tanks.”
“That’s impossible. What makes you think that?” Helen asked. “Even if it’s true, they wouldn’t talk about it where everyone could hear.”
Dr. Joe smiled and said, “We have a code worked out. Talako and I have been using code to talk about sensitive topics for decades. “
He turned the volume up so everyone could hear, and soon, Helen was talking to Mac McCoy and Charlie Farley. In a matter of minutes, Tanner was also there, with Rose, Dana, and several others. Everyone sounded excited and happy to hear from her.
“Okay, okay, let’s save the celebration until we’re actually together,” Helen urged. “I have four other people with me, and we all have packs. Can you come get us?”
“We’re on our way, Mom,” Tanner said. “We’ll bring the troops and be there in about an hour.”
Dr. Joe told Tanner that Talako knew the way to his cabin, then signed off and invited his guests to take a seat in the living room. He brought in a tray with cookies and glasses of lemonade, then sat down.
“I guess I should explain. I met Talako when I was a young doctor at the clinic in Talihina. He brought a friend in, and we discovered that we had several acquaintances in common. That started what has become a lifelong friendship. We’ve gone hunting together, and he and Julia came to visit me and my wife in Hot Springs several times. I doubt there’s been a month in fifty years that we haven’t talked on the phone or radio, or gotten together in person.”
“I remember! They used to say they were ‘going to the doctor in Hot Springs.’ We thought they meant for a medical reason.” Helen shook her head, smiling.
Doctor Joe chuckled. “So, tell me how you wound up at the foot of Mount Poteau.”
They told an abbreviated version of their stories, but when Jeff mentioned Isaac, Dr. Joe perked up. “He’s still alive? That’s awesome. I haven’t heard from him in years, but he was a patient of mine when I moved to Hot Springs. I’m happy to hear Isaac survived. So many didn’t.”
“Is there a way you can contact him? He’s alone, and awfully lonely,” Stevie said sadly.
“I may have to take a little hike that direction, pay him a visit,” the doctor mused.
The time passed quickly, and at last, the doctor told them, “We need to walk down to the road. It’s not far, but by the time we get there, they should be close.”
They grabbed their packs and headed out with more energy than they’d ha
d in a long time. Knowing that their trip was about to end with a joyful reunion for Helen and her family, and that they wouldn’t have to get up and walk the next day or sleep on the ground another night, was enough to make them want to shout with happiness.
They had just arrived at the narrow dirt track when they heard the sound of approaching vehicles. Two SUVs and two trucks pulled up and people began to pile out. Tanner reached his mother first, then Rose and Dana joined them in a group hug. Tears were shed, and laughter rang out. The others hung back, allowing Helen time to greet her family.
All of them were talking at once, then Tanner signaled for quiet. “Mom, I’m sure you remember Ernie’s niece, Erin. Her last name is McNeil now. She’s my wife.”
Helen’s surprise and happiness were evident all over her face, but Tanner wasn’t finished. “When we get back to the lodge, you’ll be meeting your new granddaughter, too. Dana and John have a beautiful baby girl.”
The grin on Helen’s face got even bigger and she hugged Dana again. “I can’t wait to spoil her! I’m going to be blamed for it anyway, so I might as well be guilty.”
Turning to Erin, Helen tilted her head to one side and smiled gently. “I knew when you were a little girl that you’d grow up to be a beautiful, strong woman. I’m very glad to have you as part of the family.”
“Thank you. I’m so happy that you’re back. We’ve been worried ever since Dana dreamed about you.”
Turning curious eyes toward Dana, Helen asked, “You had another vision?”
Dana nodded. “And your new friends aren’t a big surprise, either. We didn’t know where you were, but we knew you weren’t alone.”
Rose interrupted before Dana could go on. “She nailed it, too. She described them all, and she was exactly right. Those boys are Native, aren’t they?”
“Yes, Creek. They’re fine young men,” Helen assured them.
She gestured for Jeff, Stevie, Ross, and Massey to come meet her family, and quickly introduced all of them, then introduced Shane and Ian, who had come along to ride shotgun. Handshakes, hugs, and slaps on the back showed the excitement they all felt.
Helen looked around and saw Dr. Joe talking with Talako. She smiled, knowing Talako was giving her time to say hello to her children before he got in line for a hug. She waved them over, as well.
Dr. Joe and Talako approached, and Helen hugged her father-in-law just as tightly as he held her. They’d always been close, and since Lewis’s parents were deceased long ago, Talako and Julia had been like parents to both her and Lewis. She cried a little, then stepped back to ask, “Where’s Julia?”
Talako had known the question would come, and he answered, “We lost her some months ago, Helen. She’s with Jesus now.”
Helen swallowed hard and nodded. Then the tears began to flow, as she sobbed. Talako and Tanner led her over to sit on the porch steps, with Rose and Dana joining them. Erin stood nearby, leaning against the porch railing.
Helen’s weeping finally eased, and she tried to speak, but it was several minutes before she was able to form the words. “I’m so sorry, Talako. I loved her so much.”
She wiped her eyes, then added, “Lewis didn’t even make it out of Florida. He got sick and started vomiting and hurting terribly. It was probably his appendix. He kept telling me to leave him behind.
“I couldn’t, I just couldn’t,” she choked out. “But when I went to check the snares, he took his own life. He left a note for me. The pain was just too much.”
Tanner held her again as she cried, “I’m so tired, and I miss him! I was alone for part of the trip and was so scared.
“We’ve had setbacks and trouble all the way, but I’ve been blessed to find friends who have helped. We’ve saved each other, and those young folks are part of my family now. They even risked their lives to rescue me from the men who…who…hurt me.”
“What? Mom? Did they….?” Dana asked hesitantly.
At Helen’s nod, Dana began to cry. “Oh, Mom, I’m so sorry.”
Tears flowed down Rose’s cheeks as she rubbed her mother’s back. “It must have been a terrible trip.”
“It was, at times, but those four people over there,” she nodded in the direction of her companions, who were talking to Dr. Joe and glancing at her with worried expressions, “kept me going and took care of me when I was hurt. They are very special to me and I will always be grateful that God sent them when he did.”
“Then they’re our family, too,” Talako assured her. “We will do whatever we can to make them welcome and help them in whatever way they need.”
Helen smiled a little at that and reached her hand toward her father-in-law. “The lessons that you, Julia, and Ernie taught me also kept us alive. We never would have made it otherwise. I’ve tried so hard to stay strong, and now look at me. I’m a mess.”
“We have a young doctor who is really good at counseling, and of course, Ken is still in town. If you need somebody to talk to, I know they’ll help you,” Dana offered.
“A doctor? And Ken is still alive? I’m so glad. Yes, I think that would help. I’m sorry; I’ve held it together for a long time, and it just hit me all at once. I really wanted our reunion to be happy.”
Tanner squeezed her shoulders. “It is happy, just tinged a little with sadness, but isn’t that what all of life is like? We have to endure the bad to appreciate the good, and the best part is that you are back with us and we love you very much. You’re the strongest woman I know. We have plenty of time to talk about everything that has happened, when you feel up to it. There are a lot of changes in town and at the lodge, too.”
“The lodge? You mentioned that before. What lodge?” Helen asked, puzzled.
The others chuckled, and Tanner replied, “We have some big surprises for you, Mom. Ernie bought a lodge near Talako’s house and left it to Erin. That’s where we’ve been living. You’ll see why when we get there. The town was hit by a tornado, but we’re rebuilding. We have a sheriff and deputies, and new people in town.”
Rose leaned closer to add, “And your son is the mayor.”
Helen’s head snapped around, and she gave Rose a disbelieving grin. “You’re kidding!”
Rose laughed. “Nope. It’s true. C’mon, let’s head home. We can talk on the way. We have so much to tell you, and we want to hear all about your trip, too. Oh, Mom, it’s so good to have you home.”
They figured out who would ride in which vehicle, and everyone thanked Dr. Joe, promising to keep in touch. Ian helped Shane load the packs in the back of one of the trucks, then they climbed in, waving goodbye.
The doctor watched until they were out of sight, then chuckled as he walked back home.
Epilogue: The Rest of the Story
Kanichi Springs
The country slowly began to recover, but never reached the level they had enjoyed prior to the Collapse. The communities that organized and worked together managed to grow and prosper, but the large cities, where gangs ruled for several years, were never rebuilt. The death toll was even higher than Helen and her friends had guessed, and in cities, numbered in the hundreds of thousands. In huge metropolitan areas, deaths were in the millions. For many people, the fate of loved ones was never known. Few records were kept of who died, who moved, or who just disappeared, so the millions who did survive were left with questions, but no answers.
Some areas, mostly those near hydroelectric power plants, were able to get the power back on after a few years. Phone service took much longer; towns just a few miles from each other had no way to communicate without someone physically traveling to carry a message, unless they were fortunate enough to have ham radios.
Very few hospitals reopened, and life reverted to something that resembled the pioneer days of the late 1800s. The infant mortality and the number of women dying in childbirth increased significantly.
In areas without any official law enforcement, vigilante groups organized and ruthlessly sought out criminal gangs. Their idea of justice was
swift and deadly, and if at times unjustly applied, there was nobody to stop it. Gradually, order was restored; although the occasional outbreak of crime still occurred, it was dealt with immediately. Over a period of a few years, it became relatively safe to travel again.
Former workers for the Army Corps of Engineers at the Lake Eufaula Dam got together, and working without pay for a few months, restored power in the Kiamichis. Almost three years after the power went off, it came back on, and although figuring out a barter system for paying their electric bills presented challenges, both the workers and the residents benefited from the arrangement. It worked well under the management of the workers, without government interference.
Kanichi Springs, however, did not get electricity until several months later. The power lines for the town had been blown down by the storm and had to be replaced. The day the lights came on, the residents held an impromptu party downtown, with music and dancing.
One of the first things Helen did after arriving at the lodge was to have Mac show her how to use the radio. That evening, she spoke the words, “Preacher man, the crazy lady made it home!”
Quincy replied, “Crazy is a relative term, our dear friend!” Then Helen asked about their family and heard the news that their son and daughter-in-law had made it to the farm, but one of their grandchildren had died on the way. Helen kept in touch with them for the rest of their lives. Demaris passed away seven years later, and Quincy followed a few weeks after.
Helen and her companions found a true home in the little town. As she had assured them on numerous occasions, they were welcomed by her family and friends, and were soon given useful work to do. Helen and Frances became dear friends and enjoyed teaching all they could to their grandchildren.