by S A Ison
“Don’t waste your pity on him Gideon. Though we could never prove it, he’d hurt a lot of young girls and women over the years. He’d have hurt my wife, yours and Mary as well as the children. Don’t weep for that bastard.” Stroh said, and coughed, his eyes burning bright.
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Harry and Earl drove slowly around town, they looked around the streets. Many of the vehicles had been moved out of the way, making navigating easier. Harry was surprised to see that most of the stores were still intact. There were men and women with weapons in front guarding the buildings and structures.
They were watched, but no one made a move toward their truck, Harry could feel their eyes burning into him. Earl had the AR15 across his lap, he also had a homemade vest, with several magazines tucked into it. Harry had his Glock, his hand resting lightly over it.
“Seems like all is pertnear quiet. I’s spect maybe everbodies afeard ta come out.” Earl said, his head swiveling around, trying to look everywhere and at everything at once.
“I guess the people know what happens if they cross the KKK, they get put down in the coal mine to work. To become slaves. Or get their heads blown off.” Harry growled, his lips thinning as he saw people ahead, very thin. Looks like the KKK are keeping most of the food for themselves and letting the citizens do with whatever they can scrape together, he thought, then said, “these folks look like the mayor isn’t sharing very much of the food surplus.”
He slowed down and pulled up to the group, and they looked at him, fear in their eyes. Harry wasn’t surprised, it was fearful times. It both angered him and saddened him.
“Afternoon folks, ya’ll know where we can find the Mayor?” Harry asked cordially, his face neutral.
“You better not let him hear you call him mayor, he is President now. Him and Yates is Vice President. When you see them, you have to stop and bow or their goons will beat the crap out of you.” A man about forty said, looking sideways at a younger man who sported two black eyes.
“What in tarnation, that thar sound like a dictatorship. Holy hell, that ain’t right.” Earl said, anger lacing his voice, his face turning bright red.
“Keep your voice down, you cain’t be bad mouthin the President, my neighbor’s grandson was shot, he were only nineteen. Them thar Nazi boys killed him, for flipping the President the middle finger.” A thin woman said, fear written all over her face as she looked around nervously.
“Thank you for the information, I hope it gets better. Is there any place you can go?” Harry asked kindly.
“This is our home, we’ll do the best we can, just make sure you stay outta his way.” Said the older man.
Harry pulled away and drove a little farther, then did a U-turn. “I’ve seen enough, let’s get back home. We’ve got to come up with a viable plan with the least amount of collateral damage. It looks like Audrey has much bigger plans. He is killing indiscriminately, and he isn’t feeding these people.”
“Baby Jesus love us, that thar feller is crazy. Shootin a kid, just fir bein a kid.” Earl said, staring out his window.
They turned down a street and saw that there was a road block. “Shit, we need to turn around.” Harry said and slowed down to make a turn.
“Looks like they’s a comin ta us.” Earl said nervously, his hand fiddling with the AR15.
Harry stopped the truck and backed up, turned a little then began back up a little more to turn the vehicle back the other way. A shot rang out and Harry looked back over his shoulder. Men were shouting for them to stop and pull over. They were to be searched.
“No way.” Harry said and drew up his weapon holding it ready. He straightened the truck out and began to pull away when another shot rang out, this time hitting the back bumper.
“Give them something to think about Earl, will you?” Harry asked, speeding up, as Earl shifted and pointed the AR15 out of the window and popped off a few rounds. Harry saw the men scatter, ducking for cover. He saw them through the rearview and smiled. There was no return fire until they’d reached a safer distance.
Once he got to the corner, he turned right and sped away. He didn’t want to get into a car chase, he didn’t have the gas for it. He also didn’t want those men to get close enough to see their faces or the plate on the vehicle. It was time to get out of Dodge.
They passed the group of people and waved, then turned down another street, and Harry zig zagged through the town. He pulled over at one point and both men sat and listened. They heard nothing. Harry pulled out and headed toward the highway. Both he and Earl kept their heads on a swivel, their eyes intent on any kind of movement.
“You thank them boys issa gonna follow?” Earl asked, his eyes looking back over his shoulder.
“I doubt it, we shot back with a high-powered weapon. If they’re smart, they’ll stay put, if not, I guess we’ll see.” Harry said and checked his rearview mirror again. He’d not seen any pursuit at all and began to breathe easier. Then a rusted red truck came from a side street. There was an explosion in front of the truck, as asphalt flew up. Harry looked over and saw the truck with three men inside.
“Guess they aren’t smart.” He said and raised his Glock. “Aim for the driver and spray that cab.” Harry said and shot his weapon. The truck jerked this way and that, and the red truck’s windshield shattered. Earl kept shooting, following the path of the vehicle. Harry watched and kept a tight grip on the steering wheel, trying to keep from wrecking his truck. The shooting had stopped as fast as it had started and Harry stopped his truck and both men looked back.
The driver was missing his head, blood and brain splattered all over the inside of the truck cab. One man was laying on the ground in front of the truck. He was still moving, but covered with blood and glass. The third man was alive and was trying to get out of the red truck. Harry got out of his truck and began walking toward the men.
“Shouldn’t we getta goin?” Earl called softly, panic evidently in his voice.
Harry walked to the man crawling on the ground and raised his weapon and shot the man in the head, brain and bone painting the asphalt. Then he looked over to the man, still alive in the destroyed truck cab and lifted his weapon. The man was screaming something and Harry double tapped and the man screamed no more. Harry stood for a moment and looked around and listened.
He walked back to the truck and looked at Earl who was opened mouthed and pale. “Three less assholes we have to worry about. Three less that will be looking for us. We can’t let them tell anyone who we are Earl.” Harry explained, his voice calm.
“I’s juss… well, I’s just don’t know Harry. I’s guess I’s juss gotta get used to it.” He said and shrugged helplessly.
“I know Earl, it isn’t hard to figure out, it has now come to the circumstances that it is us or them. I vote us. If you don’t kill them now, you’ll have to worry about them later.” Harry said and turned his truck toward home.
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Boney Patterson sat in his rocking chair, smoking his pipe. Ralph and Abram, the Edison twins were in rockers as well. They’d come for a visit and he was telling them about Wilber’s visit.
“Them thar KKK got a new Preseedent, that peckerwood, Audrey. I also heared that iffn ya don’t bow down, you’ull get the tar kicked outa ya.” Boney snorted in disgust.
“I heared tell, they is gonna use them folks in the coal mines for slave labor in the fields.” Ralph said, shaking his head sadly.
“That thar is a good thang boys.” Boney laughed.
At their identical surprised looks, he sniggered, like a naughty boy, his face folding in on itself with laughter.
“Wilber ran inta Gerhard Friedhof, he said that mayor gave Friedhof a choice, either use them thar people in the mine for slave labor, or he’d kill them. It was Gerhard’s choice.” He nodded at the double gasp from the twins.
“Some choice. His wife’s gonna be mad.” They said at the same time.
“Good news, we’s now got access ta them people. We can cordnat wit Ge
rhard. In the meantime, I am plannin a little target practice on them peckerwood goons.” Boney laughed, rocking back and forth, his old hands gripped his knobby knees in glee.
The twins grinned at each other, “Kin we come to?” Abram asked, his eyes filled with glee, Ralph nodding excitedly.
“Well shore nuff boys, we gonna bag us some assholes.” Boney laughed again, smacking his knee and rocked side to side and stomped his booted feet. He wiped the tears from his eyes with a knotted and veiny hand.
“Ya’ll boys go git some of the other fellers, sep Hoover, he ain’t feelin well. He’s gettin old.” Boney instructed.
Ralph snorted, “He be younger n you.”
The seventy-seven-year-old twins giggled at that, elbowing each other and Boney narrowed his eyes. He harrumphed and ignored them.
“Tell all the boys, we’s is goin huntin tamara night.” Boney said and sat back and puffed his pipe. The aromatic smoke wreathed around his grizzled head. He watched the twin’s antics and rolled his old eyes. He needed to take his long gun out and clean her up good. He felt the thrill being to sing in his veins. His old heart picked up a beat and the years peeled away from him. It had been a long time since he’d shot a man. He wondered if it’d have the same thrill. He hoped so.
CHAPTER FIVE
Gerhard stood next to Jutta, his wife of twenty years. She was a tall woman, over six foot two in stocking feet. She had broad hips from having three sons and two daughters. Her long corn silk hair was fashioned into a braid, wrapped at the top of her head like a crown. She stood majestically by her husband, who for once was moderately calm.
Jutta had that effect on her high-strung husband, her calm demeanor translated to a more serene Gerhard. He’d known her all his life and had loved her just as long. They were twin spirits, and he’d never love another. She looked to him, like a blonde Viking queen, statuesque and strong. She was stronger than most men he knew.
She had a temper, something awful to see, yet she’d never turned her anger on her husband or children. She loved them all with a ferocity and was a good and loyal friend. However, anyone who dared to step between her and what she wanted, they were begging to be ravaged by her wrath. Once she got going, Jetta was like a runaway locomotive mixed with a mad bull, she was nearly unstoppable.
He’d told her about the President and she’d scoffed and laughed, “That jackass couldn’t govern his way outta a paper bag.”
He’d agreed, but then he’d told her the ultimatum that Audrey had given him and her eyes became hard blue sapphires, sparkling with a simmering rage. He hurried on to tell her about Wilber and their plan to use the people from the mines to help set them all free.
The deep cerulean blue cooled and lightened, anger melting away and she smiled, “Oh, I’d love to be a fly on that wall, when that scalawag done finds out, he’s underestimated his citizens.”
They stood with their farmhands, who’d been told to be cooperative with Audrey’s people because they didn’t want trouble.
“But neither will we abuse those poor people either.” Jutta warned, and received the quick and ready agreement. The farmhands had learned never to cross her.
They looked up the road and heard the rumble of an engine, and saw an old beat up and rusted out olive green bus driving down the dirt road. Smoke was billowing out the tail pipe. It sputtered and rattled, but it got to the farm in short order. Two armed men jumped off the bus and began to bark orders. People began to disembark from the bus and Jutta sucked in her breath. Gerhard looked at his wife and then the people coming off the bus.
The people were wretched, covered from head to toe with the coal dust, their thin blackened faces were showing signs of deprivation. He saw his wife begin to expand, and he knew this was not a good sign, but he knew better than to interfere. He saw one of the guards jerk a woman off the bus and she fell heavily to her knees.
His wife left his side and walked over to the man with the shotgun, and she stopped in front of him. He was a few inches shorter and about forty pounds lighter. Jutta grabbed the man by his brown and green checkered shirt and began to shake the hell out of him with her massive hands. Her voice loud and strident, coming out as a vicious roar.
“You’re on my land now, these people are my responsibility now. You got that mister?” she snarled and shook the man harder, her deep blue eyes glittering. The other guard, and the bus driver watched on, stunned, staring open mouthed at the spectacle. The unfortunate man’s teeth clacked and his head rocked back and forth violently. She set him down and leaned in, her face so close that her nose brushed his.
“What’s your name?” she hissed.
“Bill Hawkins.” He said, his voice cracking and his body shaking.
“Bill, I see ya’ll abuse these poor people again, an I’ll skin you alive. You got me? You understand what I’mma sayin?” She snarled in a low deadly voice.
The man was shaking and simply nodded and when she looked to the other guard, he nodded as well, his head moving rapidly, his eyes large with fear. Her eyes tracked over to the bus driver, the old man nodded as well. Gerhard smiled internally, he loved his Jutta, she had a good heart and a gentle soul until they opened that bear’s cage.
He’d once seen her break a woman’s arm for striking one of their daughters. Jutta had beat the woman bloody. No charges were pressed, because the other woman had been in the wrong. She’d never gotten near Jutta or any of his children again. He hoped the man listened, Jutta never made threats, only promises.
She turned to him and he smiled lovingly at her, then she turned to the people. “I’m goin ta set some hot water out, some soap and towels. I want ya’ll ta get warshed up as best ya’ll can.” She turned to the farm hands, “Get to the store room an get some coveralls for all these folks, they can’t work in them nasty clothes. Then I’m gonna make a proper breakfast.” She said and turned toward the house, Gerhard knew everyone would jump to her orders, and they did.
He followed her into the house and went up to her and hugged her. He laid his head on her ample breast and breathed, “I love you so much gal, you’uns were magnificent out thar.”
Jutta hugged him back and kissed his forehead. “We’ll make sure all them people are fed an clean, that bastard Audrey will burn for this. My old granny would turn over in her grave if she saw this mess.” She said, and sniffed, only showing him the tears. He knew it had broken her heart to see those people treated so badly. He patted her ample butt and hugged her again.
“I’ll go out an make sure eberyone’s gettin nice an clean. I’ll have them boys tote out the water.” He said and left his wife to her cooking; his youngest daughter joined her mother.
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Harry sat on the porch, drinking his coffee. Everyone was up early these days, no matter what watch they had. When the sun came up, everyone rose. He’d informed everyone about more changes that had come in town the night before.
Everyone had been incensed about the shooting of the teen. They’d all speculated as to where all the food was going, since it was clear it wasn’t going to the people of the town. Also, the armed patrols, sounded like they were trying to disarm the citizens and rob them for whatever they had. Clearly, being in town was now a danger.
Everyone had chosen to eat their breakfast on the porch. There were small folding tables scattered across the porch. Plates and coffee cups stacked on some, a basket of warm biscuits on another.
“I’m just glad you got away without them following you back.” Willene said, sipping her coffee. She’d made oatmeal and eggs for everyone, along with the biscuits. There was butter along with canned peaches that sat in small dishes. Willene and Marilyn had made some bread, but it was still rising and would be baked that evening. They were using the outside oven. It was harder to bake, but Willene was pretty good at it. He and Peapot had enjoyed her homemade bread, even if there were burnt spots.
“It was a close thing, I made sure that no one followed.” Harry said and looked at Earl who nodded.
They’d not told the women about the men Harry had killed. Clay and Boggy were told, but Harry didn’t think the women would appreciate that information. He knew they could handle it, but once more, it wasn’t a burden he wanted them to carry.
“I’m taking the guys on a little walk after breakfast.” Harry said to Willene and she nodded. He’d spoken to her earlier about taking the men to the cave. She’d already shown Katie and Marilyn, and he wanted to take the men there. If anything happened, they’d all know where it was located and could get there quickly in an emergency.
“War is we agoin?” Boggy asked, with a mouth full of eggs.
Harry grinned, “It’s a surprise.”
“Oh, I’s likes me some surprises.” Earl said, his ears pink, a large grin on his face.
Clay stood up suddenly and pointed down the road. There was a group of people walking. From where they sat, they could see there were ten of them, mostly men, a couple of women, and no children.
“Willene, go to my room and set up your AR15, you’ll have good aim from there.” Harry said. Marilyn picked up Angela and called Monroe to her. “Take them into the basement Marilyn, I’ll let you know when it is all clear.” Harry said.
Clay and Boggy checked their weapons and Earl said he was going to get his hunting rifle. He left the shotgun on the porch. Katie sat quietly, holding her hand gun. Harry smiled at her.
“It should be okay, but their group is a large number. Hopefully they will just pass.”
He didn’t think so, they were on foot and could clearly see the house from that distance. Had it been night, they’d have missed the house. They had done a few drills and everyone knew their station. They had played out different scenarios. There was just no way to predict what would happen.
He checked his weapon and waited. He brought up the binoculars, the group was still pretty far away. Earl came back to the porch and looked out of a pair of binoculars he’d found. Both men stood on the porch, scoping the oncoming humanity.
