“Problems, Dennis?”
“We had a horse kick a cow, and it killed her. I’m on my way to talk to the chef and get it butchered. Sorry about that, I’m sort of out of it today, I sure liked that cow. She was a good milker. Gotta go.”
He waved his hand over his shoulder as he hurried toward the kitchen.
Mike and Caroline went out to the front meadow airfield, Mike freed the plane from the tie-downs and prepared to conduct a pre-flight check. Caroline got in the plane and fastened her seatbelt. She was showing, but not overly. Mike climbed in and set the altimeter to the field elevation. They were at 4,300feet ASL (above sea level), here in the meadow.
“PROP CLEAR!”
The engine started immediately. He taxied down to the end of the field and did a run-up to check the mags, RPM’s, and the prop. Satisfied all was okay, he turned into what he considered the middle of the runway airstrip and came in with power nice and slow until he reached maximum power.
The airplane rolled down the grass, and the nose quickly lifted into the air, climbing out straight ahead. Mike set a course of 086 degrees and headed for the airport at Fitch. In twenty minutes, he was making a final turn to land. He taxied up to the office and shut the engine down. Mike got out and secured the plane. Then he and Caroline walked over to the patrol car where the sheriff waited.
The sheriff called through the rolled down window of his car as the couple approached,
“Hi, Mike. Hi, Caroline. Hop in. How was the trip?”
“Smooth as glass.”
“Sorry to ask you down here so soon after you left, but it looks like the situation is going to flare up and someone is going to get hurt. The townspeople are quite upset with the spies still being here. They were about to throw a lynch party before I intervened. I managed to calm them down a bit with some help from a passerby, but we have to resolve this somehow—and fast. The people aren’t happy with the decision to allow the slavers to get off without punishment. They hate the spies too.”
The sheriff seemed a little out of breath when he stopped talking and Mike looked at him with some concern. The man’s face was a little red; Mike wondered if he was okay.
“Sheriff, I think we should escort them to the outskirts of town, give them enough food and water to make the trip to Gold Nugget and warn them to never cross us again, or they’ll be hanged!”
“Great idea, Mike. We’ll get them on their way. In fact, I’ll do it myself.”
The drive to the office was rather quick, and the sheriff sent Marcy to pick up the carpetbaggers.
“I’ll get them right away, Sheriff.”
Twenty minutes later, Marcy opened the door and directed the couple to the table in the main office.
“Have a seat,”
The sheriff’s statement clearly wasn’t a request.
Mike looked at the couple,
“We’ve known since the day you arrived that you were sent here to spy on us.”
The man tried to deny it, but Mike cut him off.
“We’re going to give you the same break we gave Alvin Cobb, the man you call Slasher. You’ll be given enough food and water to make the trip to Gold Nugget. If we ever hear of you doing anything contrary to the law again, we will give you a fair trial before we hang you both by the neck. You two never fooled anyone and now it’s unsafe for you to remain here at Fitch. The people want to lynch you. As of this moment, whatever you have done is forgiven, but only up until today. The decisions you make from here on out will determine the future of you and your soon to be family.”
Just then Marcy came over and placed several water jugs and a bag of food on the table. She didn’t say anything. She just turned and walked away. Her contempt for the spies was obvious.
The sheriff looked sternly at the man and woman before saying,
“You’ve been our guests, you’ve eaten our food, and you received competent medical care. I’ll take you to the edge of town where you will be allowed to leave here safely. Don’t ever come back. We don’t want you here and I cannot assure your safety if you return. There are many here who hate you and would just as soon kill you on the spot.”
Mike agreed.
“I’ll go with you, Sheriff.”
Chapter 26
The militia
Early in April, people from communities south of Fitch and Avalon began drifting into town. They came to express their hope for a better life in a mixed-up world full of deprivations.
Everyone wanted a return to the days of electricity at the flip of a switch. They wanted to be able go to the grocery store to purchase goods without fearing brigands would sweep down from hiding to rob, enslave, or kill them. The reports Mike was getting showed that things were beginning to change for the better. It would be a slow process, but it was something to look forward to.
After some initial discussion, Mike and the governor called a formal meeting. It was time to put together a statewide police force that would travel quickly and make arrests when necessary. Everyone out and away from Avalon and Fitch wanted peace of mind. It was important for people to understand that although they had to remain independently vigilant, they also could depend on protectors who could hunt down the bad guys and bring them to justice.
Mike introduced himself to the three-hundred plus people who gathered at the fairgrounds. The remnants from the former slaver camp served as a reminder of the terror they had inflicted on the innocent.
The weather was cool, but the sky was blue, and a slight breeze blew gently across the crowd.
“Thank you all for coming. For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Michael Reynolds. I’m a former Navy SEAL and was called back to active duty by our new president, and appointed admiral, shortly after the end of the war.”
He paused temporarily and allowed a little time for some of the stragglers to find a seat before continuing. It was important they hear what he had to say. This was a significant undertaking for all of them. Mike felt that once the new procedures and processes were implemented, a big burden would be lifted from him, and Avalon.
“All of us have been affected by the slavers and their ways. But that is behind us now. We made peace with them and they have promised there will be no more raids or slavery.”
This set the crowd off in a thunderstorm of groans and exclamations. Mike put his hands up in a motion for them to hear him out. They calmed down after a while and he began to speak again,
“It’s true. We made peace with the former slavers who survived after the last battle. They moved to a town called Gold Nugget, just west of here. We have their assurances there will be no more raids or attacks and that their slaving days are over.”
A roar of approval rose through the crowd.
“We’re creating a Militia that will act as a roving state police force and will have jurisdiction throughout the area. Much like the U.S. Marshals of the old West, they will have the power to arrest. For the time being, they will work directly under the government, hand-in-hand with Beth Kelly of the FBI. She and her people will handle all investigations.”
“Until we have permission from the new president, the Militia will be restricted to California. Until we know our boundaries, we’ll concentrate on taking care of our own. If we’re called upon to go out of the state, we will do so with the sanction of our Federal Government. We will remain a lawful entity.”
Several people raised their hands, to ask questions, so Mike paused to answer them.
“State your question.”
“I am a former California highway patrolman. I was a sergeant before the war started. Can you use any experienced people in this new Militia or police force, or whatever it’s called?”
“We will be making these positions available to qualified personnel, and yes, we need as many trained officers as we can find. Anyone with a law enforcement background should leave their contact information on the table by the door. Be specific so we can find you. Remember, people, we no longer have normal addresses, phones, or ema
ils.”
He pointed to a table where the sheriff, Marcy and FBI Special Agent Beth Kelly were sitting.
“We’re going to need about two-hundred men who own side arms and ammunition. It is preferable that any rifles be .223/5.56. We’ll also have a few snipers assigned to each group. The troopers will be divided into blocks of fifty. Each block will be divided into units of twenty-five men. There will be a Blue and a Gold unit.
“When one unit is out patrolling the other unit will remain home and act as a local police force protecting our homes and towns. There will be a rotation of one week for the Blue unit and one week for the Gold unit. The rotations will be scheduled in a fair manner to accommodate everyone as best as possible. If you know of anyone who is qualified to serve with this group, but they are not here, please have them contact the governor’s office.
“Money has been an issue with everyone. There will be two metals we will use as a lawful trading commodity. One will be gold and the other will be silver. Denominations of those two metals will be specified as bars and coins.
“A word of caution, many years ago, when our Republic was founded, counterfeiting was a major problem. The penalty for counterfeiting then was death. That is the way it will be from now on. We cannot accept anyone breaking this law, because it goes to the root of who we are and what we stand for. Cheats are an abomination to a civilized society and will be dealt with quickly and appropriately.
“The days of someone convicted of a capital crime languishing in a prison for years is a thing of the past. The condemned will be dealt with within a year or sooner. That will give them adequate time to have their cases reviewed. They will be released if a jury of their peers thinks it is justified, otherwise they will be executed at one of the town squares.”
“There is one thing that everyone must understand and understand it well; there will be no mob justice. Those who go outside the boundaries of the law will face the law themselves. Just because we have been through a major reduction in our population does not mean we cannot abide by the laws of civilized men and women.
“Since the legal profession and lawyers have been eliminated by our new government, arbitration will rule. We will all decide guilt and innocence together. That does not mean we cannot defend ourselves using deadly force. There is a basic law we should and will adhere to. I now turn this meeting over to Special Agent Beth Kelly of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.”
Mike stepped away from the megaphone and waited for Beth to approach. The people responded with applause. Beth approached the megaphone.
“Can y’all hear me?”
The crowd applauded.
“Freedom is a gift. One we must always cherish. We should never lose sight of what has happened in the past. We have taken a vow to never take this great country or its principles for granted. If we are not diligent about our freedoms, there will always be a faction that will try their best to usurp our freedoms at every turn.
“I know it’s cliché to say that we must never forget, but the simple truth is, if we lose sight of what has transpired in the past, we will be forced to revisit it again. Slavery was the law of the land in the U.S. and elsewhere in the world at one time. It took many years for people to recognize that system was wrong and to abolish it. Slavery was abolished to economically ruin the Southern states and help bring the War Between the States to an end. Regardless of the reasons, however, slavery was ended in this country, and the moral good of that decision was eventually recognized. We must never allow this inhumanity to rear its ugly head again.”
The crowd erupted with shouts and yells. Whistles penetrated the air. Beth stood waiting for the noise to subside. In a moment it did, and she continued,
“We are still a nation. We have a new president and Congress. We’ve organized, and we will gradually get back to a more normal and familiar standard of living, most importantly, a life without fearing for our lives at every turn.”
Beth looked over the crowd and paused for effect.
“With your help, we the people will be able to accomplish a great many things.”
The crowd again roared, and Beth smiled.
“Thank you for your patience. Rebuilding our country is a serious and difficult undertaking. We’ve all suffered a blow from this war. The population of our planet has been greatly reduced. Some of us think we are lucky to have survived all that has happened; but are we really lucky? I don’t know the answer to that question, but I do know this, if we roll up our sleeves and work together as we once did, we can accomplish almost anything.
“We are descended from people who carved out canals with picks and shovels, building the Erie Canal, and passable roads. We are the children of men and women who built an empire with their sweat and labor. Our ancestors traveled across the continent, risking their very lives to build a new life in what was a wild, Wild West. They did it by following wagon trains and pushing handcarts filled with their possession to build a new life over the horizon.
“We’re Americans, first and foremost, and we will not only survive-we will thrive! This is America, the land of the free and the home of the brave. We will never relinquish our freedoms to anyone!”
Beth stepped away from the megaphone and pointed to Mike and Governor Waters. She turned and faced them and began clapping her hands. The crowd joined her in a thunderous applause. The governor stood up and approached the large podium.
He raised his arms up over his head and clenched his fists. The crowd was charged. At last, they had hope for the future. And hope would keep them striving for a better life. The governor motioned for all of the speakers to come to his side and they approached the podium together with huge smiles.
The governor cleared his throat and began to speak as soon as the crowd quieted and sat back down in the grass.
“My friends and fellow Americans, this is an exciting time to be alive, and to be a part of rebuilding this great land of ours. We all lost something. Once to the war, and then to the plague… But we survived. We are here, we are strong, and we are going to rebuild our land and our nation.
“Our culture was beaten into the ground. We were made to feel ashamed of our accomplishments, our wealth, and our society. We allowed others to come to our land and tear it apart from within. The travesty is that we, as a people, allowed it to happen. We elected traitors to our high offices, and they instituted laws that went contrary to our basic fundamental freedoms and beliefs, the very beliefs outlined in the Constitution and by our founding fathers.
“We let those same people teach our children and fill them with anti-American rhetoric. We saw it happen. We did nothing to stop it. Fortunately for us, most of those traitors are dead now. The war, and what it caused, was terrible, but it allowed the nation to purge itself of those who lived in it and hated it. We have been given a second chance to turn it all around and make it right.
“I hope and pray that we’ll take advantage of that gift, and never again allow ourselves to become neglectful in our responsibilities as a nation and society. We will rebuild this land into something our founding fathers would be proud of. Let’s go forward and once again make the United States of America the greatest country in the world! Our two arch-enemies are now completely decimated. They no longer threaten us with their evil intimidations and won’t for a century or more. God bless us all! God Bless America!”
The governor stepped back from the podium. He stretched out his arms and motioned for all of the people with him to come together as a group. As the crowd began to disperse many of the men came to the table to pledge their support. Those people had survived the worst man-made disaster ever to have befallen any people in recorded history. They were ready to move forward and build a new life.
With the announcement of the Militia, people could feel more comfortable about traveling to barter for goods with other communities. A state fair was being planned and they would be able to exchange a variety of food, wares, and services they had lost and yearned to have returned to the
m since the war began.
Most were forced to remain in hiding for too long, afraid to seek out others, not knowing friends from enemies. Now they had something to look forward to. Soon they would be able to go out and about in safety.
They were happy to know that a standard of money would be developed in the near future. Barter was good, and filled a need, but it was sometimes a bit lopsided in favor of those with stronger bargaining chips. A form of money would help even things out somewhat.
It was an exciting time and the electricity in the air seemed to crackle as the people mingled and talked about various issues. One big topic of conversation was the peace with the slavers and the new police force. Everyone felt safer with that news. Vigilance was the order of the day. They could never let their guards down completely. But this was a start toward better times, and perhaps a time when they could relax and enjoy life.
Caroline slipped up next to Mike.
“You know, Michael, we’ll soon be parents. This is a new beginning, a goodness in our lives. I hope things continue to improve. God knows we’ve had our fair share of grief.”
A tear ran down her cheek.
“Don’t cry, Caroline.”
He reached over and wiped the tear from her face.
“I’m crying because I’m so happy, Michael. This is a joyous day. These people are hungry for this. We have given them what they want most, peace of mind and hope.”
Michael reached for her chin and guided her lips to his own. They kissed, oblivious to everyone around them.
It was going to be a busy time for him in the coming days and he would be away from home and Avalon a lot as he tried to hammer out a Militia, and a continuing peace from this day forward. There was much to do. The logistics of it all was almost overwhelming, but he would get it done. He had to. He sure wished he had Dan and Sam by his side to help.
Beth came over smiling and patted Mike on the back.
“Looks like we were a hit, Mike. Thanks for including me in the speeches.”
Avalon- The Construction Page 25
