by S A Ison
“That could work good, but again, we need to find weapons, and without getting anyone caught or killed.” David said shaking his head. He’d bathed at the farm, but even after a few hours in this cave, he could feel the oily grit seeping into him. If he ever got out of here for good, he’d start using firewood and not coal. They’d all thought about escaping once they’d gotten to the farm, but that would endanger the others left behind.
The mayor was clamping down, some of his men had been killed, picked off. David smiled at that. The more of them they could take down, the better odds they had, but it also had a negative effect. It pushed the alert up and all eyes watching. Everyone was afraid, and fear permeated the citizens. People were starting to turn on each other for food, selling their neighbors out for bread. Word had filtered down to the mine about a marine who’d been beaten to death, for information about who’d been picking off Audrey’s people, and the kid that was shot for giving the mayor the finger.
People were afraid and it was reminded David of way back when, when people were accused of being communist, or back farther, during the Salem witch trials. It was a witch hunt then and it was a witch hunt now, and if you didn’t like your neighbor, or wanted his home or his food, why tell the mayor that your neighbor was one of the shooters, or harbored blacks. People lost their integrity, they became greedy and the mayor was pitting people against each other. He was offering food as a reward for tuning in a friend, a neighbor.
At some level David could understand, and if he had children, or for Mary and her baby, what would he be willing to do? How far would he go to protect her and her unborn baby. He was almost ashamed, because he would do damn near anything. It was a fine line to walk and to judge.
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Alan drove the truck along the back roads. He had a few boxes of food in the back. He was now looking for the family he and his grandfather had come across some time before. He pulled over when he came to the neat little shack. He once more saw the woman and her three children there. He was glad to see them, they looked good. His grandfather had been right, they’d lived with very little and so hadn’t felt much of the bite of the EMP.
The woman stood, looking at him. She had a hoe in her hand and her children gathered behind her. He got out of the truck and took off his hat and smiled. He saw her shoulders relax and she smiled back at him. She turned and whispered something to the children and they turned and ran.
“Howya doin mam?” he asked and nodded.
“Fair ta middlin.” She smiled.
“Mam, I come cross some wayward vittles.” He smiled impishly at that and snickered. He could feel his face turning red and the woman laughed outright.
“Did you now?”
“Yesum. I’s took the liberty oh packin a few and brought you’n ya’ll family some. I figured the mayor won’t miss none what he don’t know.”
The woman laughed now, true humor creasing her face. It melted the years of hardship and she was quite pretty. Alan’s smile broadened.
He turned from her and let down the tailgate of his truck. He pulled a large box out, it was filled with flour, sugar, coffee, rice, pasta and dried beans.
“May I come up?” He asked politely and at her nod, he walked around to the side of the yard and walked up a broken set of steps. They were old and in disrepair, but held his weight.
He followed her to her home and she opened the door. Alan stepped in and it was gloomy without lights but he could see well enough. It had a small living room and even smaller kitchen.
“You’uns want me ta put it in the kitchen Mam?”
“Sure, sit it on the counter son.”
He did so and as he was turning; a large man filled the doorway. Alan squinted to see the man’s features, but they were hidden in the shadows. The man came forward and seemed to fill the very room. He held a shotgun in one hand, though it was pointed at the floor.
“Young’uns said we had a visitor.” He said, his voice deep and gravely. Alan could feel it rumble in his chest.
“This here’s the boy I tolt you bout, with his grandfather. They’d warned bout the mayor’s goons.” She smiled.
The man held out a large hand and Alan took it, his bony one disappearing into its grasps. Alan thought the man could easily rip his arm off and tried not to snigger nervously.
“Yes sir, I done brought some thangs, figured the mayor wouldn’t miss’em.” Alan did snigger then, and once more his face heated up.
“We’re much obliged son, thankya kindly.” The big man rumbled. Once more, Alan could feel the rumble through his chest. It made him feel calm for some reason. He liked that.
“Well sir, mam, I’s best be gettin on, gots more deliveries.”
They all walked out of the small house, and Alan made his way to the steps. The woman came forward and gathered Alan in her arms for a hug. He could feel his ears burning and knew they were turning bright pink. He grinned foolishly and turned and went down the steps, nearly tripping over his feet.
He pulled the tarp back over the other boxes and got back into his truck. He lifted a hand in farewell. Turning the truck, he drove away, a smile still planted on his face. They seemed a nice family and he was glad they had their daddy there. He sure was a big man and Alan knew that the family would be safe. He doubted anyone would want to tangle with that giant. His own hand had felt tiny in the man’s grasp.
He kept driving until he came to some homes. Most of the places had broken windows and open doors. They looked hopelessly abandoned and he wondered what had happened to the families that lived there. It saddened him to think they’d died or perhaps they were in the coal mine. He saw a house, coming up and saw all kinds of lawn ornaments.
He smiled, they were those gnome things and he laughed. He pulled into the driveway. The grass was long and uncut, but he knew no one would waste gas for mowing. He got out of the truck and pulled down the tailgate. He retrieved a box, and walked up the sidewalk to the house.
He juggled the box as he knocked heavily on the door. He could hear movement inside and waited patiently. The door cracked open and he saw a green eye looking at him. He smiled pleasantly and the door opened more.
“Good afternoon mam, how are you’uns?”
“Oh, I’m doin fair. What can I do for you son?” she asked smiling at him.
“Mam, I have some vittles fir you’uns. I’s come across some extra food, and figered I’s share a bit.” He grinned.
“Well isn’t that just sweet of you. Come on in.” she said opening her door wider.
Alan walked in and looked around. He saw a buffet that had been knocked over, and he frowned. “Mam, did you’uns have some trouble?” He asked with concern.
“Oh, that’s been a bit of time. Some nasty man had come by to take what wasn’t his.”
“Is you okay?” Alan asked in concern.
“Oh, I’m fine now. Thank you, son.” She chirped happily, her green eyes bright and merry.
“Kin I at least set it ta rights?” he asked her.
“That would be so kind of you son, yes, thank you.” She cooed.
“Yes’um, an I’s likes your’uns chicken apron.” He laughed and bent to lift the heavy furniture upright. It was heavy and he shifted his weight. Then he felt something hit him on the back of the head.
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Boney had taken it upon himself to hunt down the bastard who’d turned in Thornton. He dressed carefully in rags, dirtying up his face. He planned to wander over to Thornton’s home and pretend to be digging around the neighborhood, looking for food. He’d act like someone with no sense, feeble and weak.
He carried a long and lethal knife, he planned to get some answers out of the little bastard. It was early evening, he’d not wanted to be too noticed and by the time he got to Thornton’s home, it was near dark. He shambled along at a slow pace, and his eyes scanned, and he looked surreptitiously around. He saw several people sitting in lawn chairs outside their homes. They looked thin and there was a fire, and they sat
staring in it. They didn’t look at him as he passed.
He kept walking, and saw other lights in homes, candles. He saw shadows and silhouettes moving around inside. As he drew closer, he heard laughter coming from a house, it was two down from Thornton’s home. Laughter was a rare sound now a days and so he figured he’d move a little closer to investigate.
He went toward the back of a house, and moved along the back yard. He was three houses down from his target house. He slowed down, his ears on high alert. He didn’t need to get his ass blown away from some homeowner. He didn’t hear any dogs and moved faster. He came to the house and he could clearly hear two men. They were laughing. It was full on dark now and Boney stood back away and stood on a cinder block to look into the window.
There were three candles lit, and two men sat at a table, it looked to be a dining room table. He could make out other chairs around it. His eyes scanned the room and other windows, but he didn’t see anyone else moving around. One man was holding something up and laughing. When Boney saw what it was, the blood began to heat in his veins. It was the Marine Corps flag and the man was laughing, making a scarf out of it.
Boney’s hands tightened into fists and the bones popped and snapped. His lips pulled back into a silent snarl. He saw other items on the table, he saw several boxes of food. The men were drinking beer. He smiled savagely. He’d let them have their fun. Let them drink. They already sounded half drunk. Then later, he’d sneak in and show them what happened to people who betrayed a marine.
He let the cool air around him ease the heat that was radiating through his body. The smile stayed in place as he thought about what he was going to do to those two men. His hand caressed the knife he now held in his hand. His thumb flicked over the sharpened blade and he grinned as he felt the trickle of blood from his thumb.
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Gerard, Richard, Bill, David and Gideon sat at the farm table drinking coffee. They had finished the day’s work and Jutta was working on dinner. The men were about to leave to go back to the coal mine, but David had asked them to have a talk.
“Richard, Bill, you are the only two who can help us as I see it.” David said, looking at the men. They looked back at him nervously.
“There is no way that we can get those people out of the mine without your help. There is no way we can get weapons. It is just too hard, and I really don’t want Gerard and his family helping because that puts a lot of people in danger.”
Richard and Bill looked at each other and David could see the fear in their eyes. He knew that they were afraid, but they were all afraid.
“I think we kin maybe git our hands on a couple. But that thar President got tight control now. Yates is watchin ever one. He’s sore mad bout all them killins goin on.”
“There are normally only four guards when we leave the mine and when we come back. Not always the same ones. How well do you know them?” David asked.
“I’s knowd a couple of’em, Reece Archer an Tommy Schip. They’s real scumbags. They’s been taken a lot o the food fir themselves. Any one try ta bitch bout it, they get hurt or they’s family get hurt.” Richard said darkly.
“So, if you or I have to kill them, it won’t break your heart?” David asked, smiling.
Bill and Richard laughed at the same time, it wasn’t a pleasant laugh. Apparently, they’d been crossed by the men. Again, David wondered how many people were disgruntled with the status quo. This could work in their favor.
“Do you think that perhaps you could talk to some of the men who are tired of the bullshit? Maybe sway them to our side?” David asked.
Everyone jerked around when they heard a cry from upstairs. Jutta came around the table and ran into the hall. Everyone stood and looked as Mary came down the stairs. Her face was pale, and her mouth moving but no sound coming out. David looked at her and then saw the blood on her dress. He almost fell, walking toward her. She was bleeding, she was losing the baby.
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Wilber sat across from Boney, both men were smoking their pipes. Wilber noticed that Boney had several bruises around his face and his knuckles were bruised. Both men sat quietly and Wilber waited for Boney to talk. In Boney’s hand was a flag, it was the United States Marine Corps flag. He knew that it was Thornton’s. Both men rocked quietly, and Wilber heard the distant hammering of a woodpecker. It echoed around the holler.
Wilber could smell smoke in the air, and then he heard a distant shot in the air. It sounded like someone was hunting up in the mountains. There would be more and more of that. He’d gotten a rabbit this morning and later when he got home, he’d fried it up for him and Alan. He’d not seen Alan in a day or two. He knew the boy was out delivering food to people. He smiled when Alan told him about Andy Anderson’s truck and the food in the back.
He was proud of Alan; the boy was growing into a fine young man. His mother would be proud of him as much as he was proud of the boy. He smiled softly. He shook his head, that kid had been through more in the last couple of months than he had in his first few years in the military.
“Got some good intel.” Boney said, bringing Wilber back. He looked up at the man and smiled.
“Good, if ya think you’uns is up ta it, tell me what happened Boney, I wanna know.”
Boney let out a long sigh and Wilber smiled and watched the man settle back for a long tale. He put a wrinkled and knotty hand up to hide a smile. He too sat back and got more comfortable.
“I’s was a standin out in their yard. I was watchin those two peckerwoods guzzlin beer. Them bastards was disrespectin Thornton’s flag and things. So, I waited, real patient.” He laughed, deep and angry.
“Bastards.” Wilber said angrily.
“Yep. Them pecker-heads was drunk as a skunk, guess they got paid in beer. A good man’s life for a fuckin beer. When they passed out, I just walked myself in. I tied them bastards up and set ta cuttin on them.” He sniggered.
A deep smile creased Wilber’s face, he felt great satisfaction. He knew Boney was good with a knife. He could make a stone talk.
“First bastard sang like a bird. I only made one cut across his gut and he was happy to sing. Said that the other shit head was the one that turned Thornton in. Said that shitbag said he was sittin out and saw Thornton come in early mornin, figured somethin was up.”
Wilber sat forward, he could feel his vertebrae pop, it was becoming interesting and enlightening. He wondered if it was the last job they did. He needed to keep that in mind when he came home from the next hunt.
“The goober that squealed on Thornton finally came to, and so I got some names from that little bastard. Reece Archer, Jeff Bluemont, Tommy Schip, Darrel Mopes, Bobby White, Morty Greer, Murphy Tweet, and Ralph Finch. He said them boys is tops in the KKK along with Audrey, Yates, Smalls, an Grady.”
Wilber whistled, that was some damn good intel. They needed names. “That’s damned impressive. Is thar anymore names?” Wilber asked.
“Boy said he thought they was others, but he ain’t knowed who they was. Course I ain’t believe him, so I just jiggled the knife a lil.” Boney sniggered, his eyes dark with suppressed rage.
“I’s take it he had more ta say?” Wilber laughed.
“Yeah, said they’s got some safe house with the bulk of food an weapons. But, said he didn’t know, said he weren’t high enough on the food chain. I poked a bit more, but the boy done cried and cried he ain’t knowed. I believe him, by then, I’d cut most o his fingers off.” He laughed hard and Wilber laughed as well. He shook his head, he was proud of Boney, he got the intel they needed.
“Good man, how’d ya leave it?”
“Cut both they necks and set the house afire. Got bunch o supplies and weapons outta there afore I torched it. I went over ta Thornton’s and got his thangs. Got his medals, his uniform, the flag.” He said holding up the flag. His voice was now filled with emotion and Wilber could feel his eyes sting from the tears that were coming. Their comrade in arms had been dealt a shitty death, but he’d stoo
d up to the bastards and hadn’t broken.
“We’ll hold a special ceremony fir him. It’ll be secret, juss us boys. Juss his true friends. Then, we’ll go git us some god damn payback.” He said in a low guttural voice.
