by David Nees
Charlie struggled to get out what he wanted to say. “Lieutenant, people are getting killed…or disappearing. People who disagree with the authorities.”
“You’re the police chief. You’re one of the authorities, aren’t you?” Cameron’s tone was cool, but there was a note of surprise in it.
“I’m starting to not to think so, to be honest.” Charlie took a deep breath. “Anyway, to get to the point, there are a group of people, professionals and technicians, who want some reform, more freedom, maybe elections, an end to martial law. They’re talking about resistance. Maybe an insurrection, maybe a strike. They’re still trying to figure out what to do. I’m still not sure how many people are with them, but they exist.” Charlie went on to describe his meeting with the group. “They confirmed that one of their members, an electrical engineer, was murdered and his wife was…taken. I found his kid in the school right where he’s supposed to be, but I think there’s something strange about that too. And the man’s wife…she’s been seen in the militia compound, and I’ve been told she’s under Leo’s control, Leo Stupek, you know him? God knows what’s happening to her.”
Cameron’s eyes had darkened slightly at the mention of Leo. “That’s a serious allegation—”
“Neither this engineer nor his wife are using their ration cards, and their apartment was padlocked and torn apart—thoroughly searched. That much isn’t an allegation. I investigated it. Something bad happened to them. The next part is more disturbing.”
“Yes?” the lieutenant said.
“Look, Frank…and Joe…and Leo…” Charlie exhaled, then said it quickly. “They’re getting ready to raid the farms in that valley. To get their seed. It has to do with the valley having some special kind of seed. Joe doesn’t want to have to keep trading, and he doesn’t want to wait for them to start trusting him more. So they’re just going to take it.” Cameron’s eyes narrowed. His face grew hard. Charlie rushed on. “Part of what they’re waiting for is you. They want to wait until you’re gone. Frank’s going to work on Captain Roper, get him to leave.”
“How long have you known about this?” Cameron asked.
“Just since yesterday.” Charlie looked down at the ground. “But I’ve known Roper’s been covering for Joe with Colonel Stillman nearly from the start. Joe’s been paying him off. In gold and jewelry.”
Suddenly Cameron grabbed him by his collar and jerked him to his feet. “And you knew this all along?” Cameron’s voice was sharp with anger.
“From the start,” Charlie said with resignation. “We didn’t want the army interfering with what we’d accomplished in town. It didn’t seem to cause any harm…” He cut himself off and forced himself to meet Cameron’s furious gaze. “I understand your anger. But hitting me won’t help. I think I’ve been on the wrong side of things and now I want to do what’s right.”
“You’re a two-faced, deceitful crook. And Mason’s in on this as well?”
Charlie nodded. “Yes. Maybe more in than I thought.” He swallowed and wondered how to explain. “We were both trying to work with Joe for the benefit of the town. But Joe’s going too far. Yesterday I expressed my concern about what Joe is doing and all Frank did was warn me to be careful. It sounded wrong.”
Cameron let go of Charlie. The young soldier’s voice was cold as ice. “If anything happens to Jason and his family, I’ll personally see you hanged…or shot.”
“I want to help, if you’ll let me. I’m still on the inside. The others, the group that’s talking about resistance, don’t think I can help, but I have access to information. They also think your numbers are too small to stand against Stansky.”
Charlie looked Cameron in the eye. “And they’re more right than they know. If it comes down to an open challenge with Stansky, the army will lose. If what these civilians tell me is right, the Hillsboro militia is under Leo’s control, so it’s all Joe’s.
“You know he’s stockpiled weapons, don’t you? You’d be shocked by how many weapons he has. Joe’s got a lot of firepower. I’m just a cop. And I’ve only got twenty men and women loyal to me in the force. Stansky’s corrupted the rest.”
Cameron sat back down on the concrete barrier. He looked out at the city, but Charlie could tell he wasn’t seeing the buildings. He didn’t look alarmed or enraged. His face was serious but calm, like he was figuring out what his first step should be.
“I need to think,” Cameron said at last.
“Don’t speak a word of this to Captain Roper. That would get back—”
“I understand you, Chief.” Cameron stood. He looked at Charlie. Charlie saw cold steel and pain in his eyes. He didn’t look very young now. “I have some people who I can trust as well. We’ll talk again.”
Cameron did not say goodbye. He simply turned and walked briskly back toward his office. Charlie guessed that Cameron would soon be conferring with his sergeant. The training manual probably didn’t cover something like this.
Charlie Cook straightened his uniform and went to unlock his bicycle. He paused. I might as well take a loop through the south side on the way back, he thought. He mounted the bike, wobbled for a moment, and then he pedaled into the street and turned left, a policeman in his city.
Chapter 26
___________________________________
T he Humvee pulled up to the farmhouse. A shock of excitement ran through Catherine as she saw the vehicle outside the kitchen window. Kevin, Rodney Gibbs, and Tommy Wilkes stepped out. She burst out of the door and jumped onto Kevin as he was walking towards the front steps, wrapping her arms around him. He smiled and blushed as he hugged her back.
“Looks like someone’s glad to see you,” Gibbs remarked.
“What are you doing here?” Catherine asked as she released her fiancé. “I didn’t think you were coming for another month.”
“Something’s come up and I need to talk with Jason. I think the valley may be in danger.”
Jason came out and greeted everyone. “Come, sit down. We’re having dinner soon, you can join us.”
“That does sound good, Jason, thank you.”
“How did you get permission for the trip?” Jason asked.
“Remember, I’m still assigned to help the valley become more productive. So I ginned up an excuse to visit. I talked about getting an update from you on how the new planting is coming and also said I needed to check in and warn you of some outlaw activity reported around Hickory.”
“But we aren’t anywhere near Hickory,” Catherine said.
“Yeah, but I’m being cautious. You never know how trouble like that can spread, and Captain Roper knows I have to protect the valley.” He winked at her.
Gibbs, Tommy, and Jason had already taken places around the porch table, and Sarah had come out from the house and grabbed a seat next to Tommy. Kevin took the last chair, and Catherine sat on the rail next to him. Kevin began to talk. After a while, Anne called them in to eat.
After the meal, they went back out on the porch to capture the last of the evening.
“We’re in a difficult spot,” Kevin said. “Joe’s got the militia under his control and with the weapons he’s collected, we’re outgunned as well as outmanned. And we can’t rely on Captain Roper. I’m not sure what we can do.”
Jason’s voice was low and thoughtful. “It looks like the valley will have to rely on ourselves. We’ve done it before.”
Anne thought about the battle with Big Jacks. “But this time we won’t know when they’re coming. That makes it difficult.”
“They won’t try to raid the valley before the army leaves,” Kevin said.
Catherine grabbed his forearm. “If Frank Mason convinces Captain Roper to leave, then you’ll be gone and we’ll be alone, on our own, when they attack. What will happen to us?”
Kevin put his hand over hers. “I don’t know, but I’m going to help.”
At the edge of her vision she saw Rodney Gibbs turn his head and look at her fiancé for a long time.
They had been silent for a long time. Suddenly Kevin spoke. “We can talk about our future tomorrow,” he said. “I know I don’t want to be without you. We’re going to get married no matter what gets thrown at us.”
Catherine looked at the man she had fallen in love with. She knew he was an honorable person, without guile, not really able to hide his feelings, at least from her. But there was something he was holding back from her.
“I’m going to wake you up before dawn,” she told him. “I want to show you a special place. We can talk there…before the others get up. There’ll be much the group has to talk about, but we need to have our own conversation.” She kissed him long and hard and went inside.
In the predawn darkness, Catherine packed a small satchel and quietly went out to Kevin’s tent. She gently shook it. “Wake up. Let’s go,” she whispered.
A few seconds later Kevin crawled out, yawned, and stretched. He reached back inside and grabbed his boots and put them on. As he got to his feet, he froze as a dry whisper came from the tent next to his. “Don’t worry, Lieutenant, we’re sound asleep. You won’t wake us.” Kevin silently swore. Catherine grinned.
“Follow me,” she said, and led him towards the forest slope. Within moments they had entered the trees. Catherine weaved her way easily through the dark woods, avoiding the brambles and thickets without effort, finding the game trails that led them around the thicker parts of the forest. Kevin crunched and stumbled his way behind her, often getting snagged in spots where Catherine had just slipped through.
Partway up the slope she stopped. Kevin stood behind her, breathing hard.
“You’re not very quiet in the woods,” she remarked.
She waited as he caught his breath. “I guess I haven’t had as much practice as you have. How do you see where you’re going?”
“I know this part of the forest well. That helps. But I’ve also learned to recognize where the game moves. The deer don’t like bashing through brambles or wild rose thickets any more than we do, so they go around and wind up making paths around those parts.”
“I didn’t see any signs of trails, certainly not in this darkness.”
“They’re not that obvious.” She looked at the sky. “It’s getting lighter. Already not as dark as it was a few hours ago. Come on, we’re almost there. It’s my favorite spot.” She set off again with Kevin hurrying to keep up.
It was ten minutes later when Catherine led him into the secluded copse. They sank to the ground. Catherine pulled a metal canteen from her satchel. They both took a long, refreshing drink and quietly watched the dark fade, huddling in each other’s arms to ward off the early morning chill. The sun had yet to break over the ridge to the east. For now the light advanced slowly.
“No one knows about this place but me,” Catherine said softly. “You can’t be seen from the farm and you have a beautiful view of the valley. It’s not as dramatic as further up on the ridge, but that’s a longer hike.”
She rested her head against Kevin’s chest. Their breathing began to synchronize.
“What’s going to happen to us?” she said. “I didn’t think you’d be going away. I guess I was naïve, thinking you’d be around forever. But you have to go sometime…since you’re in the Army.”
“I confess I didn’t think about it either. I just knew that I wanted to share a life with you, that I wanted to be with you forever.”
Catherine pulled back and looked Kevin in the eye. “I’ll go with you, wherever you’re sent. That’s what army wives do, don’t they?”
“You’d leave this valley? This beautiful place? The place you fought to defend?”
“If there’s not going to be an attack. If we can keep that from happening, I would leave. It would be only a lonely place to me without you. I love it here, but I love you more. You and I have a future together. I don’t have a future here without you.”
They held each other and were silent.
Finally Kevin took a deep breath. “I’m not going with the Army,” he said.
Catherine looked at him, stunned.
“If Roper gives in to Mason’s demands to leave, he’ll have proven himself corrupt. I can’t…won’t follow a corrupt officer. I’ll call him out and let him drum me out of the ranks. I’ll resign my commission if necessary. I’m staying. I’m in this fight with you…to save the valley, and maybe to save Hillsboro.”
“Kevin!” Catherine almost shouted as she hugged him so hard it took his breath away. They lay back among the rocks, ignoring them, and just held each other tight.
“Can Captain Roper put you in jail?” she said after a moment.
“I don’t know…but I don’t think so. The Army has been too busy, dealing with the emergency to change the rules. Legally I should be able to retire. Stillman would still think that way, though he’d certainly try to talk me out of it first. And…” She heard him sigh in the dimness. “I can’t imagine that locking me up is what Roper would want. He just wants to…not deal with the issues. I don’t know what his game is, but I’m not interested. I’ve got you and I’m here. Your fight is my fight.”
“It very well could be a fight, you know.”
“I know. But it’s time to take a stand. I’ve kind of ignored this as well. I was thinking about how successful Hillsboro was and how the army was helping it get back on its feet. I didn’t see how bad things have gotten. Now they’re threatening you…and your family, and the valley. Now it’s become much more personal.”
They were both silent, thinking about what might be coming: the danger, the fighting, fear for their loved ones, the killing again. Catherine thought about what Kevin had said over dinner about Joe Stansky. He was a dangerous enemy to have, she thought. He had the men and the arms, and he would have no reluctance about using them to get his way.
“Why do you think Stansky wants to attack us? Is it really over the seed? We told him we’ll share it.”
Kevin gave her a questioning look. “Is that the message you’ve been sending? That you’d share?”
She was stung. “Well not right away but we didn’t know he’d go crazy!”
He kissed her gently. “If I had to guess, I don’t think it made much of a difference.” Kevin shook his head. “It’s not just the seeds. He has power and wants to keep it. We don’t know what’s coming…none of us do. But Joe wants to be in control. I think he’s afraid of the valley, Jason…and the others.” Catherine gaped at him. “Don’t look so surprised. You represent freedom, self-sufficiency.
“It’s just because the stories got blown up out of proportion.”
“No, it was more than that. And I think Joe recognizes it. Jason, your family and the rest of the valley could represent a rallying point for a revolt in the city, for people insisting on true representation and honest government, an end to martial law.”
“And that would threaten his hold on power?”
“That could end it. Joe can’t have that happen. When or if the national government shows up, he wants to be the man in charge, the most powerful man in the region. That could be a good thing if some corrupt form of a regional strongman were to arrive on the scene. But Joe is actually becoming that corrupt regional strongman. If he’s not checked, he’s going to set up a dictatorship.”
“Kind of like a mob family structure,” Catherine said. Kevin looked surprised. “I watched some shows about the Mafia before the power went out. They’re organized like an extended family. One you can’t leave or rebel against. This seems to be the same thing.”
“You may have it exactly right.”
As Kevin spoke, he suddenly glanced up. The sun burst over the ridge, lighting up the valley like someone turning on ma
ssive floodlights. The birds in the woods had begun to sing in the last few minutes, and now they exploded in a riot of happiness, as if welcoming the new day.
Catherine laughed at Kevin’s astonishment. “It comes rather suddenly here,” she said. “Let’s go back. People will be getting up and looking for us.”
Kevin kissed her. They both felt the energy of attraction surging through them.
“Let’s get married as soon as we can,” Catherine said as they stopped for breath. “Even before this battle or whatever is going to occur takes place. I want you and I don’t want to wait. Who knows what will happen.”
“I can arrange it with a minister in town. Considering Captain Roper’s involvement with Stansky, I don’t want him marrying us.”
“Absolutely not.” She released him and stood, hoisting the strap of the satchel back over her shoulder. “Do you think you can move more quietly on the way back?” she asked mischievously.
“I’m in the Army. We’re all about shooting and breaking things.”
“Well, you’re going to need to know about stealth as well, so better start practicing.”
With that she took off through the woods. Behind her she heard the rustling of brush and the snapping of twigs as her fiancé scrambled to try to keep up with her.
Over a breakfast of fried pork, berries, and greens, Kevin made his announcement.
“I don’t know what Captain Roper will do when Frank Mason meets with him, but I’ve decided I’m staying. I won’t leave, even if it means resigning my commission and leaving the army.”
Everyone except Catherine looked at him in surprise.
“You’re sure about that decision?” Jason asked.
Kevin nodded. “I’m sure.”
“Well, you’ll still have to go back to town. You can’t just park yourself here, so we’ll still have to be prepared to fight on our own,” Jason said.
“You’re right,” Kevin said, “We can’t stay here in the valley.” He looked at Catherine with pain in his eyes as he spoke. “Captain Roper will expect us back. And I can’t affect anything if I’m not in Hillsboro. I need to still try to head this off, have the platoon staying in Hillsboro and doing its job. Somehow.”