Bled Dry

by Lou Cadle

  “We have a vet’s assistant who can stitch,” Francie said. “And a dental assistant who knows some physiology. A handful of first-aid manuals.” She half-smiled. “So I guess our teeth will get cleaned if we want.”

  Tad said, “I was looking forward to not having to go to the dentist. One of the few positives of all this.” He chuckled, but no one else laughed with him.

  Kelly said, “You get an abscess, you won’t feel like that. It could kill you if left untreated.”

  Francie said, “I guess he’ll have to learn to pull teeth. The dental assistant, I mean.”

  “But what will we do about Payson?” Arch said. “We’ve been talking that over this morning among ourselves. I don’t like the idea of them down there, however many there are, and ready and willing to send out groups of attackers our way.”

  Tad said, “That’s part of what we’re here to discuss.”

  Arch glanced at Sierra. “We had a thought.”

  “Which was?” Tad said.

  “We were going to do guerilla-style raids. Or more raids, as we already got a couple of them that way.” And he gave Sierra a nod. “Sniper work. Take a few more of them out without much of a risk to us. Hit, then retreat fast.”

  “Surely at some point there will be few enough of them left that the town will rebel,” Joan said. “Not that we’ll be in great shape after the rebellion in town. Food will still be a major concern.” She made a face. “Though maybe less so after considering all who have died.”

  “At least Payson is a lot warmer now than it was when I was young,” Francie said. “There’s still time enough for a second planting and harvest this year. Maybe not of tomatoes and corn and peppers, but everything else. Radishes, carrots, beets, and all kinds of greens can be grown right up until first frost. We’re planning on digging up and starting all over in mid-August.”

  Kelly nodded. “Us too.”

  “Also there’s that neighborhood we passed. The burned-out one?” Tad said. “They have gardens.”

  “A handful of Paysonites could move up there,” said Joan.

  “We’d have to liberate them first,” Arch said.

  Joan said, “It’d be nice to let some people in Payson who live in apartments have them. Apartment living gives you nothing but public gardening space, and even though we had things getting better there before this group of invaders arrived, filching from public gardens was still a problem. Before the invaders, we were talking about giving empty homes to people, but some were opposed to it—said it was illegal.”

  “Is this really what we want to do?” Curt called from his lookout spot. “Again, I’ll remind you that while they might be grateful when we free them, when they run out of food, we’re still up here, with gardens and other food sources.”

  Joan said, “We’ll have to negotiate something.”

  “And enforce it how?” Curt said.

  “We could make sure they aren’t left many guns,” Tad said. “That way, even if they want to come up to our place, which is closer, or yours, they’ll have to do it with sticks and stones.”

  Arch nodded. “Maybe that is the way to do it. They won’t like it though. Whatever we decide, the guerilla action does seem like the best way to start. We can cull the numbers. Then either we take them out, or the town itself rebels and does it. And when we go down we’ll see what has changed, if anything, down there.”

  Francie said, “So you all were going to do that on your own?”

  “Me,” said Sierra. “And Curt, if we go tomorrow.”

  “We can at least add to that number,” Tad said to Francie.

  “We’ll have to discuss it first.”

  “The problem with that arrangement,” Arch said, “is that if you know we’re down to fewer fighters when it happens, and you know when, that’s when you could invade us.”

  Francie said, “We aren’t going to do that, I can promise you. Look, we have all we need to survive. Barely enough, but enough. We discuss all the time how rare that probably is in the whole country. We aren’t feeling greedy. We’re feeling grateful. We’ll be perfectly okay on our own, and we don’t need to steal what you have.”

  “We don’t actually need your houses or food or ammunition,” said Tad. “Well, ammunition, yeah, of course. That’s going to run out first. But Francie is right. We can promise that we won’t steal yours.”

  “There are other weapons after ammunition is gone,” Curt said, turning back halfway to make his voice easier to hear. “More primitive ones. Maces, flails, trebuchets and rocks, spears. All of those can be made and replaced without a whole manufacturing infrastructure needed.”

  Francie nodded. “We’ve said the same thing. Our carpenter is working on bows, but no one is great with a bow.”

  Kelly said, “Arch is. And our son. They bow hunt.”

  “There you go. See, we can help each other,” Francie said. “But my vote about that will be, not until we get Payson set right. We can’t rest until that threat is eliminated. I’m not saying there will never be other threats. There will be, I’m afraid. But this is the big one.”

  “I’d like to do that too,” Joan said. “It’s my town. My congregation is still there—the ones who’ve lived through this. I feel a duty to them.”

  It was the first Sierra had heard her express such a sentiment. She said, “Then the quicker we act, the better.”

  Kelly said, “We have a couple injuries. If we waited two days, we could commit more people. If we waited two weeks, we’d all be well.”

  “We need to know more about Payson,” Tad said. “You said earlier you guessed fifty invaders, Joan, but if they committed twenty to come up here, I’m guessing it’s far more.”

  “They may also have sent another twenty up the other highway,” Arch said. “I can’t see how they could have known about us in particular. So they must have fanned out. I agree. There must have been more like two hundred of them, or even more.”

  “We’re not invading Payson ourselves, right?” Joan said. “We’re talking about liberation.”

  Pilar said, “We wouldn’t be invading. We’d give Paysonites the town back and then retreat. None of us would want to move there, would we? For many reasons.”

  Sierra knew Kelly had made a good point, that sending even five people away to attack could be deadly for their own group, leaving too few to defend their homes. But in the long run, it would be better for them to have those invaders out of Payson. And they needed to get those kids back to their real caretakers, those responsible for feeding them. She wanted the strangers to leave so they could talk about it among themselves.

  A loud pop startled everyone. Guns were coming up as they all turned, but Kelly said, “No danger. Just a log popping in the fire.”

  Sierra blew out a breath. Man. She had let her guard down. But then, nothing had happened as a result. Still, she took a minute to scan the woods, looking for movement, for someone sneaking up on them. Even if Francie and Tad weren’t a distraction before an attack, the smoke from the pyre might draw someone else, someone far more angry and dangerous than those two.

  Francie said, “I don’t know what others will say. Lately life seems more precious than ever. Should we risk going into Payson for someone else’s benefit? That’s going to be an argument a few will make. Have made, even about coming up here.”

  Tad said, “True, but we’re not going to solve this yet. We’ve made contact. That’s good enough for now. We know that what to do about Payson should be decided on first, before we set up trade between our two groups. We need to discuss this with our people, and then we can meet later, a few people from each side, and report on what we’ve decided. Maybe we can get a ride to our car now?” Tad said.

  “Don’t be lazy,” Francie said to him. “We can walk back.”

  Pilar said, “When and where do we next meet?”

  “The sooner the better,” Sierra said.

  “At dawn in two days then, in that burned neighborhood, on the road,” Ta
d said. “Three to talk from each side, all right?”

  Sierra said, “We should come prepared to fight if we decide to raid Payson. Or run a recon mission.”

  Francie said, “As long as we can get consensus from our neighbors. But I think we can. Some have been itching to take action before this. But two days is right. It’ll take a full day to argue it through.”

  Sierra and her dad walked partway down the hill with them. Sierra noticed, and wondered if they did, Arch trailing behind.

  “Good seeing you again, Francie,” Pilar said, as they split apart.

  “And you,” she said, turning around to walk backward and face him. “This winter we’ll be able to sit down and share a beer.”

  “I’ll have to dig out my homebrew equipment and make some for that to happen,” Pilar said.

  “There’s another good thing you have that you can share—beer in trade for welding.”

  “Hadn’t considered it until this moment, but sure. We can probably work a deal on that.”

  And the strangers left, walking the rest of the way to the car alone. Arch waited until they were beyond the curve, and then passed Sierra and her dad coming back, and trailed them. Good, thought Sierra. They might be only what they seemed, but there was no reason to trust them yet.

  “What do you think?” Sierra said to her father as they approached the others. Kelly was attending to the pyre. Curt was still facing uphill.

  Pilar said, “I think it’s the best situation we can hope for. And I think you shouldn’t be the one to do any sniper work. Not if they have twenty skilled marksmen. Let them all go.”

  “We have to pull our weight. And it should be Curt and me if we do it soon,” she said. “No way you’re running around in the woods and throwing yourself down on the ground. Not with your ribs so sore.”

  He made a face. “I hate to say it, but you’re right. I’m getting better, but not that fast.”

  Joan said, “Have you remembered how you fell yet? Kelly said it might come back in time.”

  “No. I’ve remembered more about that day—though it wasn’t really a remarkable day at all, so it’s hard to know if I’m filling in from other days or not. But not how I fell. Not even climbing. It doesn’t even make sense. I’ve checked the harness, and it’s working. But I have a back-up, and I’ll be using that next time.”

  Sierra said, “You’re not going up there again without my watching you. And when this Payson thing is past us, I’m learning to do that stuff too.”

  He said, “I’d be too worried for you.”

  “Hey, I don’t want to fall either. I’ll be damned careful.”

  “Not about that. Or yes, about that too. I meant about you shooting people down in Payson.”

  “I won’t take chances there, either. I’ll stick with Curt. And he’ll keep me from jumping into things you wouldn’t like me jumping into.”

  “Mounting your horse and riding off in all directions.” He smiled sadly. “You ever hear that one?”

  “Nope. It’s good. I get what it means. But I think the better analogy would be that I tend to spur my horse before the captain yells ‘charge.’”

  “As long as you know you do it. Then you can stop doing it.” He put an arm around her. “Right?”

  “I’ll try.”

  “Try very hard. Please.”

  “I will. Promise. I think I need to go pick tomatoes and gather eggs and cook. Crazy, eh, that stuff like that needs to be gotten out of the way first?”

  Her father said, “I’m going to help Joan look for the missing kid one more time. Then we need to talk later, you and me. But until then, my child, remember: that simple stuff, like tending to eggs and vegetables, is the whole point of what we’re doing. The shooting is not the goal. It’s the means to achieve it.”

  Chapter 2

  After Sierra had gardened, cooked, stood her watch, cleaned the kitchen, and made sure none of the recent canning jars had lost their seals, she walked over to Joan’s to see if she needed help with the dozen kids. She had heard the sounds of them playing this morning, which seemed a good sign they were recovering. They were outside as Sierra approached the property. Even the little girl who had been so shocked when Sierra carried her to the Quinn house was with them.

  Rudy was singing and clapping his hands, and they were doing a circle dance. Rudy’s voice was high and clear, and the kids were enjoying themselves, even one who clearly had no sense of rhythm or dance talent, who kept running into his neighbors but giggling about it. Sierra was amazed they were so resilient. Either that, or Rudy was damned good at babysitting.

  Joan was on the back deck. “Hi,” she said. “You any good at sewing?”

  “Not at all. Kelly is who you’d have to ask.”

  “Can you sew a hem?”

  “About that much, but it’d be ugly.”

  “Here.” She handed over a pair of shorts. “I got these from your dad. They were yours, years ago.”

  Sierra didn’t recall them. But she wouldn’t. Clothes hadn’t ever been terribly important to her, certainly not when she’d been this size. She held up the shorts. “For the kids?”

  “Yeah. They are filthy. And tonight I’m having them all sleep in the underwear T-shirts that were here so I can get the rest of the clothes they have on washed.”

  Mitch’s clothes. Sierra felt a pang, missing the old man, his kindness and his wisdom. “Do you need help with laundry? Or our washer?”

  She shook her head. “As long as it stays sunny, there’s enough electricity to run a couple of loads, your dad said. He checked my batteries for me. I’ll hang them on a line to dry.”

  Sierra took up the offered needle and thread. The shorts were already pinned up at the point they should be hemmed. “How are you doing on food? Pilar and I just canned, if you need anything.”

  “I’m okay for now. Thanks to you all bringing back the food that was here before.”

  “Do you need us to take a few of the children? It must be crowded here, and I can sleep on our sofa and let two or three have my room.”

  “It is crowded, but I think it’s better for them to stay together. And Rudy is really good with them. I’m surprised how good.”

  Rudy was teaching them another circle dance. How he’d learned them, being schooled at home, she had no idea. “He seems to have the knack,” Sierra said. “Did you see any sign of the missing kid?”

  “No. I guess we have to give up. I hope he’s safe, wherever he is.”

  “Maybe he found his way back to Payson.”

  “It’s a long way. I can’t help but think six months ago, no expense or effort would have been spared to find him. But now?” She shook her head. “I can’t keep at it forever. I wonder if any of them have parents still alive.”

  “I hope so. We have food enough now, but….” Sierra didn’t finish the thought.

  “I know. But if we do decide to do something about Payson, to liberate it, then they can go home.”

  “If they have homes still. Parents.”

  “I guess I could take in one or two permanently. I might have to expand the garden to feed five.”

  “Yeah.” Sierra didn’t make the same offer. Taking two temporarily was one thing, but she didn’t want the responsibility forever. It might be cold-hearted of her, and she wouldn’t begrudge a child a week or two worth of food, but she didn’t want to have to worry about baby-sitting, or teaching. Rudy might have the knack. She didn’t. A thought struck her. “You know, what we should do is take pictures of them. Put their names on them. Then when we meet with the other neighborhood, I can take those and see if any of that group is related.”

  “You’re going to that meeting?”

  Sierra had assumed she would. But now that Joan asked, maybe Arch wouldn’t want her. She’d have to work on him later, point out why she’d be a good person to have along. She’d seen the town, the patrols, gotten through the town at night safely. It had been her idea to conduct the guerilla raids. She’d keep rea
ding, everything she could find the time to read before the meeting, about guerilla warfare, and her knowledge would be fresher than anyone’s. All good reasons to bring her along. To Joan she said, “Maybe I’ll go. But anyway, there might be someone in that neighborhood who knows who one of these kids is.”

  “I guess. If not, and we do succeed in getting Payson back, I might be able to find a family or two willing to take any orphans in.”

  “Really?” Sierra would be shocked if that were so. The Paysonites had even less food than they did—and less land to grow it on.

  “I have two couples in my congregation who were wanting to adopt. They might still be wanting that.” She frowned. “If they’re alive. One couple was two men, and I guess they might not have made it.”

  Sierra’s sewing wouldn’t win any awards, but the hem on one leg was done. She started on the other. “Do you want to come along to the meeting with the other group?”

  “I’m not a military person.”

  “You can learn. I have.”

  “I know.” She hesitated and then said, “Your father is worried about you.”

  “We’re all worried about each other. I guess that’s the cost of caring.”

  “I mean about you and your….” She trailed off. “Not my business. But you should talk to him tonight.”

  Pilar wouldn’t hesitate to bring something up that was bothering him. Sierra assumed it was worry about her willingness to act aggressively, to take the initiative, and put herself in harm’s way. “I will.”

  “Good,” Joan said. She checked a wristwatch. “I have to start dinner. You’d be surprised how much time it takes to fix food for a dozen people.”

  “Never tried to do that myself. You need help?”

  “You could check for eggs. I’ve heard cooking isn’t your favorite thing.”

  “As soon as I finish this really awful job I’ve done with the sewing, I’ll collect eggs for you.”

  “Hey, the sewing doesn’t need to be perfect.”

  “That’s good,” Sierra said. “It definitely isn’t.”

  Joan left, and Sierra finished the hem and put the shorts down, then walked to the chicken coop. She glanced back to the main house and saw Emily’s face in a window, watching the younger children play. Poor kid. Sierra waved, and Emily put her palm on the window in return. It was more of a response than Sierra had expected.