Forge Faith

by Hayden James

  “Uh… hi there,” started Prue, not expecting to be greeted right away and expected the waiting area to be completely full of patients needing to be seen.

  Liam answered the man at the counter, “So, she was in a motorcycle accident earlier this morning.”

  “My dog was too,” interjected Prue. “Are you able to look at him?”

  “Judging by the color of your jeans,” the man at the counter started, “I think I should look at you first.”

  Reluctantly, Prue nodded. “All right. One of my wounds has been very painful. We’ve traveled a few hours since the accident.”

  “Oh dear,” the man exclaimed standing up from his seat behind the counter. “That must have been very scary and painful,” he said empathetically, his eyes coming across in a comforting nature. “I can take you right way to an exam room,” the man said. He opened the door behind the front counter and said, “Right this way.”

  Liam and Prue followed the man into the next room. The exam room had a table in the middle of it, with medical supplies on an adjacent counter. Light from the windows in a room behind the exam room provided light.

  “Have a seat on the table,” the man said has he pointed to the exam table. “It should hold you; it holds Great Danes twice your size.” Prue nodded, looking confused and Liam helped Prue up on the table.

  “My name is Dr. Davidson, I’m the vet here at this clinic,” the man introduced himself, shaking Liam’s hand after he had Prue situated on the exam table.

  “I’m glad you could see us,” said Liam as he shook Dr. Davidson’s hand.

  “Oh! I rarely see anyone,” answered the veterinarian. “I know the medical doctors are slammed nonstop and hardly anyone can see one. I haven’t seen hardly any patients. Two dogs last week, but that has been it. Guess when there is a disaster, pets and animals are the first to be neglected,” explained Dr. Davidson with a shrug.

  The doctor sat on his rolling stool and wheeled himself over to Prue. “Well, let’s have a look here,” he said as he pulled down his glasses focusing on Prue’s scrapes and wounds.

  After some time looking at the wounds on both sides of Prue’s legs, he concluded, “Looks like you will need stitches on at least three of these lacerations. The rest should heal with just bandages.”

  “That’s not as bad as I was thinking,” replied Liam. Prue remained quiet, trying to take all of this in and beating herself up inside because this was time that her and Liam could use to make their way to Spartanburg.

  Liam interjected, “So, how much will this cost? I don’t think I could get any chickens, but I have a decent pocketknife,” he offered.

  “Chickens? Pocket knife? What are you talking about?” Dr. Davidson asked.

  Liam answered, “They wanted chickens for payment at the emergency room in Maggie Valley.”

  “Oh, wow! That’s what the MDs are doing? Will practice for food? Perhaps I’m in denial about the gravity of this whole thing, but I won’t take any payment from you guys. I’m more grateful to actually be doing something rather than sitting around bored,” the veterinarian explained.

  “Well, thank you!” Liam said with a smile on his face. “I appreciate your generosity.”

  Dr. Davison turned to Prue and asked, “Will you mind if I cut your jeans? I probably need to cut them up to here,” he explained pointing to her mid upper thigh.

  “Yeah, that’s fine,” replied Prue looking concerned that her jeans might be too short, especially to ride a motorcycle.

  “Promise, they’ll look cute,” mused Dr. Davidson. “Cute little cutoffs.”

  Prue chuckled at the joke and said, “These jeans are useless now anyway, at least I can get a cute pair of shorts out of it.”

  Dr. Davidson cut off Prue’s jeans where he had said, right at her mid-thigh, allowing him to fully examine the lacerations.

  “All right let me sterilize the area and we’ll get started,” Dr. Davidson said as he looked directly into Prue’s eyes. Her eyes filled with water as she knew that this process would be painful.

  Dr. Davidson took wipes from a drawer and wiped down Prue’s legs with iodine, making it appear as though she had a bad spray tan as her legs were now orange. He began suturing up her largest wound on her upper thigh. “I’m not liking the way this one looks,” he stated while he sewed the flesh together.

  “Oh? What’s wrong with it?” Liam asked.

  “It may be showing the signs of a beginning infection. Has she had a fever?” Dr. Davidson asked.

  “No, not that I know of. She has been very tired, but you know, she was in an accident. I was thinking it was from that,” answered Liam.

  “It very well could be, but I want to be sure,” the caring doctor replied. “Are you two able to stay and see me tomorrow for a checkup?” Dr. Davidson asked.

  “We do have to get to Spartanburg as soon as we can,” interjected Prue.

  “We can wait a day,” eased Liam. “Sure, we can see you tomorrow, I want to make sure she is good and healthy. Where do you suggest we stay since we are just passing through?”

  Dr. Davidson hesitated and then said, “Out back, you can set up camp in my parking lot,” he suggested. “I’ve been staying at the clinic, anyway; I’d enjoy the company.”

  “All right, we’ll stay the night here then,” answered Liam. “It’s getting late anyway, and I’d hate to get out on the road now.”

  Dr. Davison finished suturing up Prue. He also bandaged the wounds that did not need sutures. Afterward, Dr. Davidson examined Chewy, and confirmed that he was perfectly fine and not injured at all in the accident. This gave a huge relief to Prue, however, the fact that she was not on the road getting to her parents gnawed away at her. She admonished herself for not getting to her parents and became consumed with guilt. This feeling grew into complete dread and she filled her mind with the worst-case scenario with the recent set back.

  As the sun set, Liam and Prue set up camp in the parking lot in the back of the veterinarian clinic. Dr. Davidson and the pair exchanged stories since the pulse and the resulting power outage. Liam told Dr. Davidson about the Bubba Brothers and how they had followed them for hundreds of miles. Prue enjoyed hearing of the tale since that seemed far behind them now. Despite her enjoyment, Prue had been feeling sluggish and tired but stayed up to talk with Dr. Davidson, because she also enjoyed the company.

  Later, Liam made a fire and heated some food that Dwight helped them pack. The three ate together before Dr. Davidson retired to a cot in the clinic and Liam and Prue went inside their tent.

  Chapter Two

  William Conner

  Residence of Dwight Conner

  Tucker Hollow, Tennessee

  7:18 AM

  “Have you spoken to Dwight?” Rachel asked as William woke up in the same room that he grew up in. The irony was not lost on him as he had returned to the very room he lived in while he grew up on this very property, still bickering with his father, but now a grown man. Rachel had gotten dressed quietly and allowed William to sleep in some. Laying next to him as he read, not disturbing him.

  “No, haven’t said anything to him since we patched things up. I’ve been giving him his space. We both needed some space, even though we found common ground,” explained William.

  “I realize it’s complicated,” affirmed Rachel.

  “Right. I just don’t understand why we can’t partner with like-minded people who want to live the best they can in this world that we find ourselves in now. I heard that a few neighbors are setting up a community garden. We would only need to donate some of our seeds or some of our cuttings from the crops to grow. Then we’d need to donate some of our labor and then we can have access to more food,” William said as he began getting ready for the day. William thanked every day that could go to bed and wake up next to his wife and that his daughters were safe under the same roof as him. The only point of concern for William was Liam. William had grown sick with worry for him; however, he knew that Liam had to do what he
needed to do.

  Rachel countered, “But, Will, we don’t need anymore food. We have enough here, because of Dwight.” Rachel had a point. Dwight thought of every possible need that he could have in a situation like this, and everything was meticulously chosen for a purpose. William did not want to admit it to himself, but Dwight’s preparation was worth every second he spent away from him and his mother. William did not see it at the time, and still had some anger and resentment, but the realization of how prepared Dwight actually was when disaster struck impressed William.

  “I know we don’t need anything at the moment,” affirmed William. “But, we could later on. Plus, I don’t like this us versus them mentality that my dad has.”

  “I’m not sure about all of that. But for right now, we don’t need to be joining the community garden,” argued Rachel. “I’d had for us to put ourselves in that position, where our resources could be put into jeopardy.”

  “Now you’re sounding like him—” William was interrupted by a knock at the door.

  “Come in,” answered Rachel as she laid on the bed, her book on her chest.

  Dwight opened the door. He wore his denim overalls and a plaid shirt. William assumed he had just finished his morning walk around the property to check on how the compound was operating. “Morning Rach, William,” said Dwight with a nod.

  “Morning Dwight,” replied Rachel.

  “Morning, dad,” muttered William, not appreciating the invasion of privacy.

  “Sorry to bother you two,” began Dwight. “But I will need you two to set up some solar panels this morning after breakfast. I bought them but hadn’t got around to installing them yet.”

  “Oh sure, no problem,” said Rachel as she put her book down when Dwight came in.

  “Yeah, we’ll get started right after breakfast,” confirmed William, trying to make this situation an olive branch between him and his dad.

  “Fasten one of the panels next to the air intake pipes,” instructed Dwight to William and Rachel. The three of them were working on adding more power to the fallout shelter carved out of the mountain range that Dwight’s property backed up. “This will add more light to the shelter,” added Dwight. “I’m thinking we will need more light in the shelter, that way we can see what we’re doing when we have to reload our guns.”

  Comments such as this did not sit well with William, and he felt conflicted that Dwight was not willing to join the community and relinquish some of his resources to help everyone out. Even if Dwight didn’t want to join the community because he did not like the way the Sheriff and Mayor were running things, they could still find like-minded people to join forces with. They would fare much better with others than taking all of this on their own. Dwight did think of every imaginable circumstance, but at some point, they were going to need someone else to help them out. At some point.

  Growing with frustration, finally, William boiled over with anger, “Dad, I’m still confused by the notion you don’t want to join in on the community garden. It seems like a small cost for a big reward. All we have to do is donate a few of our seeds or crop cuttings and we could have access to an array of vegetables and fruits that the community will harvest.”

  “Will, I thought we had gone through this. That is the first step in that new Mayor and overweight Sheriff having access to our resources. William, you don’t understand, I have a stockpile that will probably last us a decade or two if we ration it out right. Not to mention the livestock and crops I have. We are fully sustainable here. Just leave that alone,” answered Dwight with anger seething from his voice.

  “Dad, we could help others who aren’t as prepared as we are,” countered William.

  “Look at what all this cost,” said Dwight waving his hand, spanning the property that the three had a view of. “It cost me my life savings, time with you and your mother, it cost me everything. And I would do it all over again if it meant that you and your children would be safe and live good lives.” Tensions built once again between Dwight and William as they did not see eye to eye on those who were willing to take the time to prepare for the worst and those who did not.

  “I get that dad, but soon people will be dying. They will starve or die of illness, things that we could help them with,” argued William, feeling guilty that he had the privilege of living life as comfortably as he did before the power went out and anarchy ruled.

  “Well, you know my answer Will. If you don’t like the way things are done around here, you can leave. You already did once, and it didn’t bode well for you,” escalated Dwight.

  William was on the verge of yet again leaving the compound. No one could get to William like Dwight could. William’s face turned beet red with anger, and he knew he couldn’t leave. In a way, William felt trapped. Kept inside a shelter that allowed him to live a good life, his family as well, but ultimately, William had no freedom. William could not disagree with Dwight, which was reminiscent of when William was growing up and was a child under this very house.

  Rachel jumped in, “Will, Will,” she said making it so William could not see Dwight. “Calm down. Dwight is a good man, and we owe him everything.” Rachel soothed William, and the redness receded from his face.

  “That’s the problem, Rach,” whispered William to his wife who held his shoulders and focused her eyes right at his. “But, you’re right. We owe him everything. We have to play by his rules, his ideologies, his conspiracy theories. I’m not sure if I can stand by as more and more people die from this.” William was much calmer than he was before.

  Rachel replied, “I get that. But we are going to follow Dwight’s lead.”

  “You agree with him?” William asked.

  “No, I’m on your side and always will be. I just think he has his reasons, and I’m willing to trust him with his decisions in not helping others,” reasoned Rachel. “He knows more than us when it comes to this sort of thing. He’s been working on this very disaster his whole life, if that means I have to turn a blind eye to what is happening outside of this compound, then that is what I will do.”

  With that, William nodded at Rachel, not able to say anything in return, but stormed off, leaving both Rachel and Dwight. He didn’t know how he would get through the next phase of this disaster because he knew as people became more desperate, things would only get worse and escalate. William also felt that Rachel was taking his dad’s side, despite she told him she was on his.

  William walked along the stream, cooling off. Rachel had calmed him down some and talking about his grievances with her helped him process what was going on in his head. However, he did not like the fact that Rachel reasoned with Dwight and he felt betrayed.

  Walking further along the stream that Dwight’s compound bordered, he followed it to where it led to a pond that Dwight had dug decades ago and stocked with fish. There, William saw a large buck, drinking at the pond. It must have been at least three hundred pounds. William hadn’t had Whitetail in a long time. Not since he and Dwight used to go hunting when he was young.

  William reached for the rifle he carried on his shoulder. Not feeling the strap, he looked at his shoulder, where he usually carried the rifle that Dwight gave him, demanding that he should be armed at all times. “Shoot!” he shouted to himself. Then he remembered he left it by the solar panels that he and Rachel were installing on the top of the bunker. When he stomped off, he forgot to grab it.

  Despite the animosity that William felt over Dwight’s constant reminders for him to carry the rifle strapped to his back, which William despised, he felt guilty for not having the rifle on his back at the most opportune time. Forgetting the rifle was an oversight, but William could not let it go, admonishing himself for the error. He needed to be armed everywhere he went. This sort of thing was a duality for William. On one hand, he resented Dwight for his constant guidance on how to live life, but on the other hand, deep down, wanted to please and get approval from his dad. A constant internal struggle that William had to deal with. Wanting i
t fight it, yet wanting to apease his dad.

  The deer had run off, and William stared at the serene landscape that Dwight’s property bordered. He had often hiked around here when he was growing up, and had found memories, some with his dad and others just being a kid by himself, getting lost in the wonders of nature.

  Then, something caught his eye. Across the stream and halfway up the hillside, a flash of light pierced his eyes. William had to squint as the reflection came directly into his field of vision. The reflected light was so strong that he had to shield his eyes with his hands to raise his gaze and attempt to figure out what was creating the reflection.

  With his palms shielding the majority of the light that was directed at him, William squinted to look at what was producing the light beam. There, on the hillside, William could make out the form of someone with binoculars, where the reflected light was coming from. Someone was clearly spying on them. Perhaps Dwight’s fears were not of some weird conspiracy he came up with. Perhaps Dwight knew more how this new world worked than William had originally thought.

  William thought it best to confront whoever was spying on them. No one should be allowed to spy on their compound and take inventory of their garden beds, livestock, and water resources. Thankfully, the cave fallout shelter was well hid from view, both entrances concealed by the terrain of the mountain that it would be difficult for someone spying to figure out that there was an entire house built inside the mountain.

  “No one spies on us without a fight!” William shouted as he marched over to where he could get closer of the figure. As he crossed a shallow part of the stream, making his way to the other side and off of Dwight’s property he could make out the figure to be a decent-sized man. Fitter than the Sheriff, but a larger-sized man.