“Tonight? Snow is coming. How are we going to keep our children warm?” a woman cried out.
“I know it doesn’t seem like it, but that is a blessing.” Blake did his best to keep his voice calm even though he wanted to scream at them to pack up this instant.
“Freezing to death is a blessing?” a guy spat out.
“We will take precautions so we won’t freeze to death, but having our tracks covered will save our lives.” Blake squeezed his hands until his knuckles were white and screaming. “Look. I know this is not ideal, but we don’t have time to discuss this. You need to move. Pack everything you can carry, blankets and food before anything else.”
Still no one moved.
“Go! Now! The lives of your family depend upon it!” He yelled, unable to control his urgency a moment longer. Then he turned his back on them, walking away to help Kris pack, not waiting to see if they would finally act or not.
By the time he made it to his shelter, the scurry and frantic voices behind him showed they had finally decided to act. He blew out a held breath. He didn’t want to leave them, but if they procrastinated too long, he would have no choice but to lead his family to safety without them.
Tucker ran out of the tent with a handful of freeze-dried food and placed it in one of the wheeled carts they had made after seeing them in Arland’s camp. They had made three out of Tucker’s old off-road stroller. The three big, heavy-duty tires created a wheelbarrow type cart that could be pulled fairly easily through the rough terrain.
After Arland and his men had come to their rescue, Blake had filled each of them with all the food left in the bunker. Most of that food he added to the community cache, but he had kept quite a bit for them, just in case.
They had given one of the carts to Arland in appreciation for coming to their rescue. The two they had kept sat outside their shelter, already close to full.
“Dad,” Tucker said as he neared and threw his arms around him. “Are we going to make it?”
“I hope so, Tuck. We are certainly going to do our best.”
Kris ducked out then, Mercy, as most of the time, wrapped against her. Kris unloaded her arms full of supplies into the cart.
“You could work faster if you put her down,” Blake stated as he did a quick check through the carts.
“And if we have to leave in a hurry?” Kris put her hands on her hips, her long, red hair flowing in the wind.
Blake caught his breath. Even with danger riding down on them, he couldn’t take his gaze off the beauty of his wife all fired up.
“She’s staying with me. I’d rather have to leave some of this behind because I’m slower than the alternative.”
Blake smiled briefly, took a moment to kiss her. “Good thinking,” he said as he ducked into the shelter to make sure they had packed all things needed.
Kris’s shotgun leaned against the door next to Tucker’s bow and quiver stuffed full of every arrow he owned. His rifle was there as well. The dwelling otherwise looked close to bare, empty, sad. He touched the rough wood, wishing he could bring it with them rather than have to cut more trees once they arrived.
He stopped, the idea processing rapid-fire-fast through him
He rushed back out into the cold. “You guys are doing great, keep it up. I’ll be back,” he called over his shoulder as he ran into the encampment. Some people had travois and a few had carts, but many only had baskets and packs.
He ran up to David, who frantically stuffed as much as he could into his and his family’s packs. A pile of clothes, food, and blankets sat in the middle of their shelter with no place to put them.
“Blake, are they coming now?” David asked, his eyes wild as he looked over his family, letting his eyes rest longer on his young boy.
“They aren’t here yet. Help me,” Blake commanded.
David followed him out of the dwelling and watched in horror as Blake pulled off the bark of his shelter.
“What are you doing?” David’s wife shrilled, her eyes wet with tears.
“You need a way to carry more belongings, right? You’ll need to build a shelter once you’re there, right?”
David nodded and started helping him tear apart his shelter. Soon they made it down to the main structure poles. They laid them on the ground, found twine, and quickly, not beautifully, webbed them together.
“A travois...” David’s wife said. She pulled herself away and quickly began piling the last of their belongings on a large blanket and wrapping them up.
Blake ran to the next family, got them started on their own travois, and went on to the next.
The air was thick with panic, but a purpose filled him. He would bring these people to safety.
~*~
Kris constantly reminded herself to breathe. She laid her hand on Mercy who gratefully slept in her wrap against her chest and felt her little soothing breaths. She touched her son as he raced past her, arms laden with supplies and eyes full of determination. She had her children. No matter what, they would be together.
“Mom,” Tucker stopped as she reached out to brush a hand on him as they passed, “we’re going to be alright. New Forest Glen is beautiful. Wait until you see it.” He smiled and raced back into the shelter.
She laid the items in her arms into the overflowing cart. Why did it seem backwards? Her son comforted her. She shook her head.
Taking a moment to straighten her back, she watched the frantic movements of the camp. People yelled, screamed, cried, ran, and yanked their shelters apart. For just a moment it all felt like a dream. She stood apart from the chaos. Her eyes then roamed the outskirts of camp in the direction of where the trail to Mountain View Drive was. Would the marauders come careening into their camp, guns blazing?
She shook her head and refocused. Ducking back into their shelter, most everything was already packed. Funny how they could now pack all they owned into three backpacks and two carts. Moving trucks were no longer needed.
Tucker dug down into the cache in their dwelling. He stopped to stand and take a few deep breaths.
“I’ll take over Sweetie.” She reached for the little camp shovel.
“No, I’ve got this.” He stuck his tongue out of the corner of his mouth as he focused on digging.
When he hit something solid, he squatted down and dug with his hands. Kris knelt to help. They pulled out extra ammunition, food rations, and some cash which Kris wondered why they bothered to keep. They put those last few items into their carts.
She took two blankets she had saved for last and wrapped them around the items in the overflowing carts. Tucker came around with twine to tie it all down.
“You are amazing,” Kris said and kissed his temple.
Tucker smiled and kept working.
Their packs and carts were packed when the first flakes of snow started falling. Funny how it seemed to snow every time they fled. There was a peace to it. Soon the world would be covered in white, fresh, clean, like the new start they were headed toward.
“Let’s go help the others, Tuck.” She wrapped her arm around her son, feeling blessed to have such a determined, special child.
Tuck nodded and took off. She did her best to keep up. No way would she let her son out of her sight with danger coming down upon them at any moment. When she caught up with him, he had an arm wrapped around Ethan who cried hysterically.
“It’s okay, little buddy. We are going to a place with a spring, a cool little creek, and fields to play in. We will have so much fun building shelters and play areas, and I’m going to make a swing for my sister. Would you like to help me?”
Ethan rubbed his eyes and nodded.
“Good. We are going to have to make rope using long grass that will grow in spring. We can catch grasshoppers...” Tucker continued telling Ethan about their new home.
Kris found herself lost in his story and looked up only when Laurie reached out a hand to her.
“He has an amazing gift,” Laurie said.
“Ye
s, he has always loved younger children,” Kris said, taking the things in Laurie’s arms.
“That’s not what I meant,” she said quietly.
Kris’s eyes went wide and she looked around to see who else might have heard or guessed that Tucker actually spoke from a vision and not just comfort for a smaller child.
“He’s safe. Don’t worry.” Laurie rested her hand on her arm.
“What can I help with?” Kris laid the things down in their cart, and with a glance to make sure Tuck wasn’t going anywhere, she ducked into the shelter. “Do you have a bag for all these herbs?”
Laurie handed her a tall basket, and they started ripping down the herbs and stuffing them haphazardly into the basket. Laurie cringed. Kris knew she handled the herbs roughly, but they had to hurry. The men could be here any minute.
“I find it amazing that you do so much with Mercy wrapped against you.” Laurie smiled at the baby now peeking out of the wrap.
“It’s the easiest way to get things done. I wore Tucker, too.” Kris kissed her daughter’s head and returned her joyful smile, noticing that her first top tooth had broken through. A chill traveled through her as she remembered Tucker’s vision.
“I wore Ethan, but wasn’t near as versatile as you,” Laurie said, bringing Kris out of her thoughts.
“Times change,” Kris said, stopping for a moment and looking around. “It’s not going to be easy.”
Laurie shrugged. “I think the hardest has come and gone. We know how to live off the land. Once we are surrounded by forest for miles, who will bother us then?”
“It will be safer from others, true, but....” Kris shook her head and continued with her work.
“We will prevail, Kris. So will our children. Because of them, the future of humanity has a chance. They will be raised in peace, with grace and love. They will be independent and kind, and will change this world for the better. This move is needed in more ways than just saving us from the city marauders coming toward us now.”
The conviction in Laurie hit Kris like a pummel. Her friend believed this with her whole being. Could Laurie be right? Is this their chance to change humanity? Did they have what it took to build a community of children like she prophesied?
Kris didn’t know, but she knew they would find out...if they made it out of camp before the marauders found them.
~3~
Blake sucked in a breath as the scout he had sent out to double check the marauders' current location came trudging back, dragging a bound man with him. What was the guy thinking bringing one of the city people here? He could escape and show the city people how to get here even quicker.
Blake stood out from behind the tree, his arms crossed and his displeasure burning within him. “What are you doing, Declan?”
“I caught one!” Declan held up his hand with the rope in it.
The other guards cheered until Blake quieted them with a raised hand. As soon as he had spoken, the bound man snapped his eyes up to him. Something about him seemed familiar. Flashes of what now seemed like a past life blinded him for a moment.
“Sergeant Chantry. I had an inkling this was you.” The man stood erect and did his best to salute.
“Butler.” Blake stepped toward him.
“Yes, sir.” He nodded.
“How did he capture you?” Blake narrowed his eyes. The Butler he knew wouldn’t have been caught by his newly trained scout, especially not Declan.
“I gave myself up.”
Blake watched him for any signs of betrayal. “Why would you do that?”
Butler’s jaw clenched. “I couldn’t stay under that command any longer. They do...unspeakable things.”
Blake nodded. “How did you get with them in the first place?”
“The coalitions are the only way to survive in the city, sir. I have a family. They give them rations if I fight.”
“And if you desert?” Blake asked.
“They will stop...or worse.” He hung his head. “You should kill me. If I die, they continue to get rations.” Butler lifted his head and squared his shoulders.
Blake whipped out his bow and fired an arrow.
Everyone froze and Butler’s lip quivered before he sucked it in. He looked at himself, looking surprised that he hadn’t been hit.
“Take off his hat and any ID markers,” Blake said as he stormed past Declan and Butler.
He strode directly to the bush where he had shot his arrow and returned holding a dead rabbit by its ears. “Toss his hat and ID tags here. Lay down next to them, Butler.”
Butler did as he was told, watching Blake carefully.
“How long until they march on us?” Blake asked.
“An hour. Without my return, maybe two.”
“Why are they waiting?” Declan asked.
“Gathering intel from people that live in that neighborhood.” Butler squeezed his eyes shut.
“There are still families there. We have to get them!” one of the guards demanded.
Butler shook his head. “Going in now is certain death. Besides...there isn’t much left to save.”
Blake clenched his jaw. They had their chance to join them. They chose wrong, yet his chest felt tight knowing what they faced.
“Declan, drag Butler to the edge of that ravine.” Blake nodded toward to rock ledge.
Butler nodded. “I always appreciated the time serving under you, Sergeant. Thank you. You are saving my family.”
Blake watched him. “You’ll have plenty of time to show me your gratitude.” He turned to Declan. “When you drag him to the edge, have him strip off his outer clothes, and then stuff them with whatever foliage you can find.”
Declan stared at him.
“Now! We have an hour to get our families far out of camp. You two help. Go!”
The guards did as they were told. Blake pulled out his knife from his thigh holster. He cut the rabbit and drizzled the blood on Butler’s hat and tags. He dropped and drug the bleeding rabbit through the depression left by Butler’s dragging body.
Luckily, Butler had been wearing his old military coveralls so the stuffing was simple and the guys were close to finished when he arrived. He smeared more blood on the suit and stuffed the rabbit inside of it.
“Now throw the dummy into the ravine making sure his backside is facing up,” Blake directed.
The dummy was tossed over, landing more than thirty feet below. From this angle and distance, it looked like a real body.
“Congratulations, Butler. You are now dead.” Blake turned on his heel and walked back toward the outpost. “Let’s go.”
“But Blake...” Declan started.
“No buts, Declan. We are not killing more than we have to. Butler will be a good source of information, if nothing else. We now have less than an hour to get back and get our families to safety. This choice is mine, and I will take responsibility for it. Now, go!”
Declan pulled the re-bound Butler down the trail toward camp. Blake turned to the other two guards.
“Which of you can run the fastest?” Blake asked them.
“That’d be me, sir, and I don’t have children to worry about yet, so my wife doesn’t need extra help packing up.” The younger of the two stepped up.
“Dillon, right?” Blake sized up the lean, younger man.
“Yes, sir.”
“Stay hidden at the top outpost. From there you can see a vantage point where they will have to cross a few miles out. As soon as you see movement there, you discreetly high-tail it back to camp. If we have already left, you should still see our footprints. Catch up and report as fast as possible.”
“Yes, sir.” He nodded but then looked down toward the camp. “My wife...”
“I’ll make sure she is packed and safe. You have my word.” Blake met his determined stare.
He nodded. “May we meet again.”
“May we meet again.” Blake repeated, and the young man ran off to his post.
He and the last guard easily caught
up to Declan pulling at Butler.
“Don’t harass the man,” Blake said as he reached for his knife and sliced the binds on Butler’s wrists. “You aren’t allowed to touch a weapon until I say so. If you attempt to leave you will be shot.”
“Yes, sir.” Butler saluted and rubbed his wrists as he followed the other guards down into camp.
People scurried everywhere, crying and loudly protesting. Blake scanned the milling crowd for his wife and children. He found them tying off the last straps on Laurie and Arland’s cart. When Kris’s eyes met his, they filled with relief and love.
He ran to her, pulling her and Mercy into his arms and watching his son talk with Ethan.
“We’re all set?” Blake asked.
“Everything is ready to go at our shelter.”
“Good work, Krista.” Blake shifted and her eyes widened.
“Who’s that?” she asked in a whisper.
“Long story. Butler this is my wife, Kris, our daughter, Mercy, and the big guy is our son, Tucker. Butler is coming with us. He served under me and will be a vital source of information.”
“Not if he goes out in this storm wearing only that,” Arland said as he came out of his shelter with an extra coat.
“Butler meet Arland, the leader of this camp.”
Butler’s eyes went wide as his eyes met his. Blake knew he had thought he had been the one in charge. In truth, Blake didn’t know the roles anymore and didn’t care. They needed to leave, and he would make sure they did.
“Thank you, Arland.” Butler nodded.
Aland gave Blake a sideways glance. “I’m assuming you’ll fill me in on this?”
“Later.” Blake nodded. “We need to move now. It’s time to ring the bell and assemble the camp, ready or not.”
Aland nodded and turned toward Laurie and Hannah. “You all set?”
They both nodded.
When Arland began walking toward the bell, Blake turned to Kris. “Have you seen Dillon’s wife?”
“Yes, Carly is with her parents. See, there she is now.” Kris pointed to the young woman who kept looking toward the outpost.
“I’ll meet you at the dwelling.” Blake walked toward Carly, who turned to stare at him as he met her.
Grant Us Mercy (Book 5): Grant Us Mercy Page 2
