by Lee West
“And me. Looks like the three of you will have to tackle history on your own,” said Mike.
The group sat in silence. Joe contemplated the gravity of the task in front of them to accurately depict the events as they unfolded. Although he didn’t want to participate, he understood the necessity for them to write about their experience, just as Anne Frank had done. Without her written words and the words of others, the world might never have known the full extent of what had happened during WWII.
“We must be getting off the highway. It feels like we’re slowing down,” said Mike.
“You’re right. I feel it too. Where are we? There’s no way we’re in York. Something must be going on,” said Brett.
“I agree. We haven’t been driving long enough to be there. Shit. Maybe this is some sort of trap that we didn’t see?” said Nancy.
“Don’t jump to any conclusions. He could be slowing down for any reason,” said Brett with an audible edge in his voice.
Joe couldn’t help noticing the tone Brett took with Nancy. Meg noticed it too, because as Brett talked, she squeezed Joe’s hand. It was one of their ways to silently communicate.
The truck continued to slow, taking sharp turns as it plodded along. The group was thrown from one side of the vehicle to the other, smashing into the boxes, parts and other items in the back of the large truck.
“What the hell? Is he crazy?” said Nancy.
“I think my entire body is going to be bruised from this ride. That’s definitely going in my journal,” said Marvin.
The truck screeched to a halt without any warning, launching the group toward the front of the cargo compartment.
“Shit! I bit my tongue,” said Nancy.
“Shh!” said Brett forcefully.
The driver’s side door slammed shut. Moments later, the driver opened the back of the truck and yelled, “Everyone out! This is as far as we go. There’s been a change of plans.”
“Change of plans? What’s happening?” asked Brett.
“My squad is sending another truck to meet me. They need to transfer cargo to my truck. I got off the highway as fast as I could. Believe me when I say we don’t want them to catch us.”
“Where are we?” asked Nancy.
“We’re in Lakeview. I was on my way for fuel and to make a delivery when I got the call. Sorry. It’s the best I can do.”
“Lakeview? Shit. That’s far from York,” said Nancy.
“I know, but at least you’re beyond the sealed-off corridor. You should be able to handle the rest of the trip on foot, I’d imagine,” he said, momentarily glancing at Marvin and Frank.
Once they had jumped to the ground, the man nodded and briskly walked back into the cab, slamming the door behind him. A moment later, the massive truck turned around and headed back in the direction they came. Joe watched the truck disappear from view with a sense of disappointment and a missed opportunity. He’d wanted to ask the driver numerous questions about the situation. He had no idea what they were up against or which way to turn. The man could have offered valuable insight into the larger picture of things.
“Now what?” said Meg.
“Looks like we’re on our own again. Damn, just when I became focused on getting home. Our home feels even farther away than it ever did. And we didn’t get to ask him any questions. This is bullshit,” said Nancy.
Brett embraced her. “I know. I’m disappointed too, but we’ll manage. We always do.”
The couple stood for a moment in a tight hug. Meg grabbed Joe’s hand, giving it a quick squeeze.
“I think we need to walk in this direction,” said Frank, pointing west. “If I’m correct, this should be Lincoln Park. Once we get across the park, we’ll need to pass the mall and then continue out of the neighborhoods, headed in the direction of your house.”
“You know this area?” asked Marvin.
“A little. I lived here for a short time about ten years ago.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever driven through it,” said Joe.
“Other than the mall, which is small and mostly in Parker, the neighboring city, there’s no reason anyone would want to drive through it,” said Frank.
“Come on. Let’s get some road under our feet. I don’t feel like spending another night out of the house,” said Nancy, pulling away from Brett.
The group walked through the deserted park until they reached a placard labeling an adjacent playground as a gift of the Friends of the Lincoln Park. Frank had been right, which confirmed that they were headed in the right direction. With any luck, they’d sleep safely tonight in Nancy and Brett’s house.
— 17 —
Frank led the group through the expansive park. When he lived in Lincoln, he had been in much better shape and would often go for early morning runs through the park. That was until the gangs started showing up. It started with the graffiti. Another runner pointed out that the graffiti wasn’t just street art, but was actually gang tagging. Eventually, another gang moved into the area, challenging those who had come before. He stopped his morning runs when another runner he knew was shot and killed by one of the gangs.
Slowing to a stop, he said, “Hold up for a minute. I need to grab the compass. Once we get out of this section of the park, we’ll want to head northwest. I need to make sure we take the most direct approach possible.”
“That would be much appreciated,” groaned Marvin.
“You look like crap, Marvin. Are you drinking enough water?” asked Nancy.
“No. I haven’t had any yet. I was trying to save some for later.”
“Well, it’s later. Drink up before you have a heart attack. I don’t want to have to leave you here.”
“Your compassion is heartwarming,” said Marvin.
“We’ve been walking for a while. I think we could all use a breather, some water and food. Frank, come on and have a seat for a few minutes!” yelled Brett.
Once Frank confirmed their direction, he walked ahead of the group to determine the best way forward. The park had numerous hilly trails through the trees, which were fantastic to run on, but would be terrible for Marvin to walk through.
“Coming!” he said and rejoined the group.
“You know where we’re going?” said Meg.
“Mostly. I was trying to see if we could avoid going on the hilly trails.”
“Can we?” said Marvin.
“Not without adding significant distance to our journey. So we either have to deal with hilly, rutty, mud-packed trails, or we take the longer paved way. It’s up to you guys.”
Everyone sat quietly contemplating the options. Finally Joe said, “We should go the shortest way possible, even if it means going slower. I don’t want to add any more miles to an already long trek.”
“Me neither. I’m hot, tired, and in no mood to go farther than necessary,” said Meg.
Brett and Nancy glanced at each other, and Brett said, “Same here.”
“Thank you. If we go slowly, I should be fine,” said Marvin.
Frank shared Nancy’s opinion that Marvin didn’t look so good. The hills would be difficult for the man. If he recalled correctly, most of the way would be quite steep. After drinking water and snacking on energy bars, the group headed out on a muddy trail that snaked through the magnificent forest. Frank loved the raw beauty of the park and missed his time here. At points, the trail skirted Lincoln’s main road, reminding him that the park was merely an urban oasis. The boundary of the park was set apart by a sturdy chain-link fence. The group walked at a slow pace, stopping frequently to catch their breath.
“How are you guys holding up?” said Meg, sounding out of breath.
“I think I’m still breathing. That’s about all I can say. I might need a five-minute breather soon, though. These hills are killing me,” said Nancy.
“Same. How about now?” said Marvin, slowing down.
“If you guys can make it to the top of the ridge, we’ll be able to sit up there on the rocks a
nd see past the mall. Maybe all the way through town. It would be a great place to reevaluate our route,” said Frank, pointing to the steep incline ahead of them.
“I think I can do that,” said Brett.
When they reached the top, Marvin plopped down on a rock. “That’s it for me. I think I’ll ride this whole thing out right here. You guys can continue without me. I’m officially done.”
Although the group laughed at the old man’s comment, Frank could tell by his tone that he was only half joking.
“What’s going on over there?” said Nancy.
“I can’t tell. Hold on, I’ll grab the binoculars,” said Brett.
Frank stood on the ridge overlooking the indoor mall complex, baffled by what lay before him. Thick layers of concertina wire ringed the mall and its adjacent parking areas. Portable towers stood at regular intervals along the concertina-wire perimeter, manned by soldiers facing inward. Trucks moved in and out of the barricaded mall through a heavily guarded checkpoint.
“Look toward the Flanigan’s on your left! What are they doing with those people?” said Joe.
Men and women were lined up kneeling on the pavement of the lot. They had their hands on their heads. A guard walked up and down the line, saying something to them. Another guard hit one of the men with the butt of his rifle, causing the man to fall forward. After the man fell, two soldiers ran out from the restaurant and grabbed the man, dragging him inside. A large red stain remained in the spot on the pavement, left behind by the bloodied captive.
“What the hell are they doing?” asked Nancy.
“Could this be a holding center for dissidents?” asked Brett.
“Why would you say that?” asked Joe, squinting to see.
“You’re not going to believe this, but all of the people on the ground are Asians,” said Brett.
Brett continued to focus his binoculars as the rest of the group waited for clarification.
“Asians? Really? That’s odd.”
“Sure is odd. This can’t be a place where they’ve taken regular people, because I don’t see any kids. Besides, it’s too small,” said Mike.
“I agree. Those people have been singled out for special treatment for some reason,” said Frank.
A large caravan truck pulled up to the checkpoint, the soldiers quickly raising the gate. It pulled up to the side of a store and idled while several armed soldiers rushed out of Flanigan’s to meet the truck. They quickly opened its back door and motioned for the people inside to get out.
At least two dozen Asian people stepped off the truck into a maelstrom of abuse. The guards roughly shoved the group, causing one man to fall. Another man quickly helped the fallen man to his feet. A nearby guard who had witnessed the act of kindness punched the Good Samaritan so hard in the stomach that he doubled over onto the ground.
“I never thought I’d be seeing something like this in the United States,” said Brett. “This is something you’d expect to see in some kind of autocratic nightmare of a country.”
“We need to keep moving. I don’t want to be anywhere near what’s happening over there,” said Mike.
“I had planned to take us through the mall parking lot as a shortcut. That’s no longer possible. I guess if we just follow the compass heading, we should be fine. It might take us a little longer,” said Frank.
“Who cares? So long as we don’t end up down there,” said Nancy.
“Come on, there’s nothing left for us to see here,” said Joe.
The group walked slowly down from the ridge back into the park. The scene had shaken Frank more than he cared to admit to himself or the others. Seeing people abused like that by U.S. soldiers on American soil made him wonder if they would ever find safety in this changed world.
— 18 —
Joe walked along the narrow trail behind Meg, keeping a close eye on her. To Joe’s relief, the muddy, hilly trail started to flatten sooner than he’d expected. He was in excellent condition, but the hills they had to walk had started to take their toll on him. His leg muscles burned, especially his calves. Hiking was one of their favorite weekend activities, but this was something entirely different. More like a forced march than an active morning on a pleasant trail. Looking over the group, he wondered how Marvin and the others managed to do as well as they did.
“How’re you doing back there?” asked Meg over her shoulder.
“Okay. You?”
“I’m just trying to process what we saw. That was intense. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone get hit like that other than in the movies. It’s so much more terrifying to see something like that firsthand,” she said.
“I know. Same here. It totally freaked me out. Made me really glad we haven’t gotten caught up in any of it. I don’t care if we have to walk for days, I want to stay out of the government’s hands.”
“You got that right,” said Mike.
“Sorry you had to see that, man. I know that scene probably only added to your anxieties over Sharon and the kids,” said Joe.
“I can’t even imagine where they are or what’s happening to them. Until seeing that, I had convinced myself that they were in some tidy FEMA tent somewhere, eating government cheese. Now I’m not so sure,” said Mike solemnly.
They walked in silence toward the edge of the dense forest toward the open, grassy area of the park. Joe hoped that they would be able to walk on a paved sidewalk the rest of the way. He wasn’t sure he could handle any more hills.
“Let’s take a break on those benches,” said Nancy, pointing ahead of them.
A shelter with numerous picnic tables sat in the distance, beckoning the group. Joe grabbed Meg’s hand as they approached the shelter. Sitting would feel great, but nothing could beat lying down for a little while. He mentally reserved one of the benches for a quick nap.
Upon reaching the shelter, he lay down on one of the nearest tables and sighed with relief. His tired muscles immediately melted into the worn, splintered wood of the bench. A strong need to sleep overtook him as he stretched and yawned.
“I need to take these shoes off for a few minutes. Are we going to rest here for a while? I can wait if I have to,” asked Meg.
“We can. Then we need to keep moving. We’re headed in that direction.” Frank pointed. “Once we get to the end of the park, we’ll enter a neighborhood. If I recall correctly, there’s an elementary school somewhere along the way. We’ll pass that and then head into the mountains. It might get a little dicey if we have to cut across people’s land, but it would take way less time than walking the windy road that goes in that direction. Not to mention the fact that we’d be avoiding any military patrols that might be on the road.”
“Home sweet home,” said Nancy.
“I can hardly wait to get there. Since no one is around, I would imagine cutting through private property won’t be a problem,” said Brett.
Joe thought Brett looked just as exhausted as Marvin. Although Brett must be doing better than the old man, because he sat upright at one of the tables. Marvin sat with his head between his knees, breathing heavily. Joe knew Nancy was right. If Marvin had a major medical issue, they’d have to leave him. He didn’t think anyone in the group would be willing to sacrifice their freedom for Marvin’s sake. He sure wouldn’t. Marvin was a nice guy, but Joe had to think about Meg’s safety before anyone else’s—including his own.
“Did you hear that?” asked Meg.
“Hear what?” asked Nancy.
“I’m not sure. I can’t tell. It sounded like voices, but I’m not sure.”
Everyone listened intently, trying to focus on the sounds around them.
Joe was the first to hear the voices. “Shit! It sounds like people nearby.”
“We need to move! Get your shoes on!” said Nancy to Meg.
Meg quickly shoved her tired, swollen feet into her shoes, lacing them haphazardly. Joe stood by her side as the others walked briskly away from the shelter to seek a hiding spot.
�
��Hey, you! Stop right there!” shouted a man’s voice from somewhere behind them.
“Shit! Run!” screamed Nancy.
The group scattered in different directions, not having the time to come up with a coordinated plan before the people started running after them. Glancing over his shoulder, two soldiers, one male and the other female, emerged from the forest. The woman looked slightly disheveled, leaving Joe to assume the couple had been off in the woods on unofficial business. He held Meg’s hand tightly as they ran through the park.
— 19 —
Marvin tried to muster the energy to run, but his body simply did not respond. Even in this desperate situation, despite willing his legs to go faster, he simply could not move at a more rapid pace.
“Stop! I order you to STOP!” yelled the woman.
He could tell by the sound of her voice that she was right on his heels. It would only be a second before he was caught if he didn’t try harder. He reached deep for one more burst of energy, but came up short. A rough hand slapped down hard on his shoulder, yanking him back.
The woman yelled, “Don’t make me tackle you, old man!”
“Okay, fine! You win!” he shouted and slowed.
The others were a lot farther ahead of him. Nancy, Brett, Meg and Joe were already out of sight, probably out of the park for all he knew. Frank was only slightly faster than Marvin and had almost fallen prey to the male soldier. In the distance, Mike stopped and turned around for his friend Frank, who was only steps ahead of the soldier.
“Stop or I’ll shoot!” said the male soldier.
The words had their intended effect, stopping both Frank and Mike in their tracks. The officer grabbed Frank by the arm and manhandled him toward Marvin. Mike followed close behind, glancing over his shoulder like he expected the rest of the group to return and save him.
“Let’s see your codes! Now!”
The men looked at each other, confused. “Codes? What do you mean?” asked Frank.
“The ID codes you were issued,” said the woman.
The woman held a small black device, which looked similar to a bar code reader.
