THE END - Book I - Of THE EVENT SERIES

by Marshall Huffman

  “She has a good point,” Ben said.

  “My concern is what happens if one colony decides it doesn’t have it as good at the other? Will we go back to having wars? Let’s face it, it doesn’t take much to set man off no matter what boat they are in,” Randy said.

  “Point taken,” one of the others agreed.

  “You mean to tell me that you think one group would try to fight with the other over food or creature comforts?”

  “We always have, what makes it any different now?” Randy asked.

  “The situation we are in, for one thing. No one is stupid enough to get into a fight over electricity or food. We are all sharing.”

  “Right now. What happens when the food supply starts to dwindle? I know it won’t happen tomorrow but as some point it will happen. Then what? We saw it happening in West Virginia. Once group tried to steal from the other. We haven’t changed that much.”

  “Ah hell, Randy, you’re borrowing trouble,” someone else said.

  “I hope you’re right but what if you’re wrong? What happens then?”

  “This isn’t productive. It’s just a lot of ‘what ifs’. None of us can tell what’s going to happen down the road.”

  “I didn’t say we could. I’m simply bringing up the possibility. That’s what we are here for isn’t it? We are supposed to help plan for the future. We need to think about all aspects of expanding,” Randy insisted.

  “Fine, but I think you are overreacting. You’re not giving much credit to those of us who survived. I mean, after all it was you that came to us and told us we needed to find the other survivors. You can’t have it both ways. Either we expand or start to turn people away. Then what would happen?”

  Randy decided to not press the issue. They were right, they were going to have to do something fairly soon. The colony was up to over four hundred and rising every day. There was room for two hundred and fifty more before the housing would become critical and they would start having to share homes. That would bring on a whole new set of problems.

  “Next are fireplaces. Every house with a fireplace needs to have the fireplace inspected and made sure it’s safe to use. The last thing we need is a fire. With the temperature dropping it would be a good idea to start gathering wood and getting ready in case the electricity isn’t enough to heat everyone adequately,” Ben told them.

  “We can get people on it tomorrow,” the job assignment center manager replied.

  “Good. Good. The sooner the better.”

  “The temperature has been falling at the rate of around four to five degrees each day. At this rate we will only have a few days left before it gets really cold,” Randy said.

  “Anything else anyone wants to bring up tonight?” Ben asked looking around the table. No one made any suggestions.

  “Good, then meeting adjourned,” he said. “Randy, could you stay a few minutes. I have something I want to talk to you about.”

  “Sure,” Randy said, settling back down in his chair.

  Ben waited until they had all filed out. Some of the departing looked at them questioningly but none said anything. When they were alone at last, Ben sat down across from him.

  “We have a situation.”

  “Uh huh. What kind of situation?”

  “One of the men tried to force himself on a woman. Broke into her house and tried to force her to have sex with him. She was able to get away but he caught her again. Fortunately someone came along and stopped it. We had him arrested and taken to the jail.”

  “Ah shit. I can’t believe this same old crap is starting again. Son of a gun,” Randy said angrily, slamming his fist on the table.

  “Yeah, that’s the same reaction we all had. So far no one knows about it outside of a few of us. We don’t want this to get out just yet until we have decided how to handle it.”

  “It seems easy to me. Send the asshole packing. Kick him out and never let him come back.”

  “You see, that’s the thing. Just kicking him out isn’t the message we want to send to keep this from happening again.”

  The words hung in the air like a thick fog. Randy just looked at him, trying to determine exactly what Ben was really saying.

  “Randy, we can’t let this type of thing get started again. We are trying to start over and crime is something we simply can’t tolerate.”

  “So, you’re suggesting what exactly?”

  “You know about our Capital crimes. You already know we have made up a list of eight Capital Punishment Crimes. We call them the Eight CPs. They are: rape, murder, domestic abuse, child abuse, molestation, kidnapping, drugs and profiteering.”

  “And by Capital you mean…?”

  “Punishable by death.”

  “Good God. Are we going to start that up again? Damn Ben, we are starting out the same old way. Banishment should be punishment enough.”

  “No Randy, it isn’t. If we banish them they will only go someplace else where there are other survivors and do it again. These kinds of people never learn. Even when they get caught they don’t learn a damn thing. I don’t want to be responsible for sending our problems to someone else. It’s not right.”

  “Neither is just killing them. We don’t have the right to do that. No one does. I won’t condone this kind of action,” Randy insisted.

  “Look, those are only the crimes that will carry the death sentence. All others will result in banishment,” Ben said.

  “What is so different about that? Isn’t that essentially the same as before all of this happened,” Randy said, sweeping his arm around.

  “Actually no. Child abusers and child molesters usually were allowed to go free and return to doing what they are always going to do. We don’t intend to let that happen. Hey, if they abuse a child they pay the price.”

  “With their lives?”

  “With their lives,” Ben repeated.

  Randy closed his eyes and put his head on the back of the chair. The wood was cool on the back of his neck. He sat motionless for several seconds. Ben didn’t say a word; it was the first time he had been able to hear the old clock on the wall ticking. He wanted to sit there with his eyes closed forever.

  “Randy,” Ben said softly, “None of us like this but we all feel it is what has to be done to keep people from becoming lawless. We don’t want to resort to the seventeen hundreds do we? We have that potential unless we stop this in its tracks.”

  “What about the Constitutional Rights? Are we just throwing that out the window?” Randy asked.

  “What Constitution? What window? Look around you Randy. Everything is going to change. We can’t rebuild exactly like it was in the past. I’m not sure that would be such a good idea even if we could. Face it; we are going to have to write a new Constitution. It is a whole new world and we are the ones who are going to have to ensure the future. Hopefully we can do a better job than in the past.”

  “You’re talking about playing God. Are you going to limit religion too?”

  “Randy you are taking this out of context. We are talking about those that decide to abandon humanity and thumb their nose at everything we are trying to accomplish.”

  “And you think killing this guy will solve the problem?”

  “Maybe, maybe not, but we have to try to stop it before it starts.”

  “What about his guilt? Who determined he was actually guilty of this crime? Is he going to be given a trial? Can he appeal if he is found guilty?” Ben said.

  “Actually, yes to both of those. I told you we had a panel of seven people that settled disputes. So far they have all been minor ones but we knew that wasn’t going to last forever. They are going to hear the facts before anything is decided. If they decide the person is guilty by a unanimous vote, no appeal will take place. But, if even one of the group thinks they may not be guilty, then they can appeal. You know I wanted you on that committee. I practically begged you.”

  Randy ignored that part. He had decided against getting involved with deciding i
f someone lived or died.

  “And what happens then? After the appeal they take them out and shoot them or whatever you have in mind?”

  “No. If they still cannot come to a unanimous vote, they will be spared but banished from the colony forever,” Ben explained.

  “What if they are not guilty? How are you going to handle that? Keep them locked up?”

  “Randy, we don’t want to start a penitentiary system again. They never worked in the first place. We intend to settle things as they come up. No long drawn out trials or appeals.”

  “And you think that is fair?”

  “As fair as we can make it right now.”

  “I disagree. I think it sends exactly the wrong message,” Randy insisted.

  “Walk with me,” Ben said, heading out the door.

  Randy slowly got to his feet and followed. He was angry. They didn’t talk except when Randy wanted to know where they were going.

  “To the hospital,” was all Ben said.

  When they got there, a woman with a name tag that said Helen RN, greeted them.

  “I want to take Randy up to see the patient we brought in.”

  “Oh, you mean….”

  “Yes,” Ben said, quickly.

  “Room 210. Just at the top of the stairs. Doctor Lane may be in with her. He has been checking on her a lot,” the nurse said.

  Ben led them up the stairs and opened the door to room 210. The doctor had his back to them when they entered the room. He was under the plastic cover that isolated the patient who was obviously in critical condition.

  “Doctor?” Ben said and the man turned around quickly and stepped out from behind the curtain.

  “This is Randy Boling. Can we talk to the patient?”

  “She is very groggy. I have given her something for the pain. She may not be too coherent,” he said.

  “It will just be a minute,” Ben assured him.

  “Sure, but please, put these on,” he said, handing them a mask.

  He pulled the curtain back and Randy froze. Rachel. She had stitches across the top of her head and cuts and bruises over most of her face. Her arm had obviously been broken and fluids were being pumped into her other arm. She was pale and her eyes were shut.

  “My God,” Randy whispered, barely audible.

  “She is lucky to be alive. She somehow fought him off and managed to get away from him. Someone heard her scream and was able to get there just as he was trying to choke her to death. Fortunately he didn’t know the other person was behind him until it was too late. Do you know Marcus Little?”

  “No, I don’t think so,” Randy said.

  His eyes were filled with tears. He could hardly speak.

  “He is the one who came along and pounded the dirtbag into submission.”

  “Thank God for that.”

  “You can say that again,” the Doctor said, “Another few seconds and she wouldn’t be lying here.”

  “Did he rape her?”

  “She has some tearing but we found no seminal fluid inside her. I don’t think he was totally successful,” the Doctor said.

  Randy reached up and wiped the tears from his eyes and whispered her name, “Rachel. It’s Randy. Can you hear me?”

  Her eyes fluttered but didn’t open. He wiped his eyes again and his shoulders fell. Rachel. What kind of person would do such a thing? She was always trying to help everyone and now look at her. His mind was racing at the thought of what she must have gone through.

  “Sorry Randy. I thought you should see for yourself,” Ben said softly.

  “Rachel,” Randy said again.

  “She is over the worst of it now. She should be out of ICU in a day or so,” the Doctor told them.

  “But she will be all right?” Randy asked.

  “Physically, for the most part. It will take some time for the scar on the top of her head to heal but everything else will mend in time. As for psychologically, only time will tell.”

  “And you have the son of a bitch who did this in custody?”

  “Thanks to Marcus,” Ben said.

  “Gentlemen. I need you to go. She needs to be kept in a quiet environment. I’m sorry; I’m going to have to ask you to leave,”

  “Can I stay if I sit in the chair and don’t say anything?” Randy asked.

  “Ummm… I don’t know. It would be better if you just came back tomorrow.”

  “Please. I won’t say a word. I promise.”

  The Doctor looked at Randy and then at Ben. Ben nodded his head.

  “All right, you can stay but keep it down or you will have to leave, understood?”

  “You got it Doctor, and thanks.”

  Randy spent the next two days at the hospital. He left to go to the bathroom and eat only. On the third day Rachel stirred for the first time. She opened her eyes briefly but quickly drifted back off.

  “That’s a good sign, right?”

  “She is out of the woods physically,” the doctor said.

  “Then she could wake up if she wanted?”

  “Maybe. I think she just doesn’t want to yet. It’s going to take a little mental willpower to get over this,” he told Randy.

  “Can I talk to her?”

  “Sure. It may even help.”

  Randy waited until he removed the oxygen tent and then pulled up a chair and sat holding her hand. He talked quietly to her for several minutes before she finally moved. She slowly opened her eyes and looked over at Randy.

  “So, what brings you here,” she said in a scratchy voice.

  “Just in the neighborhood,” he said grinning like a school boy that was just asked to the prom.

  “Didn’t know you were coming or I would have put on some make-up,” she croaked.

  “Don’t try to talk. You took a few pretty good licks,” Randy said.

  She shook her head and a tear ran down her cheek.

  “Do you know who did this to you?” Randy asked.

  “Jim Smelter,” she whispered.

  “Don’t know him,” Randy said, squeezing her hand.

  “He was the guy I met after the concert that night. I should have cancelled and waited for you,” she managed to get out.

  She was tiring quickly.

  “You rest. The Doc says you are going to be just fine. Go back to sleep. I’ll be here when you wake up,” Randy said.

  “Promise?”

  “Promise,” Randy assured her.

  She closed her eyes and was back asleep in seconds.

  “Nice job,” the doctor said, patting him on the shoulder.

  “How long will she be out?”

  “Most of the day. We are still keeping her pretty drugged up.”

  “All right. I need to take care of some business but I promised to be here when she wakes up.”

  “I heard. It will be five or six hours before she comes around again.”

  “I’ll be back in four,” Randy said.

  ****

  “You want to go see him?” Ben asked after Randy came back to the office.

  “I probably shouldn’t. I may do something I might regret later.”

  “His trial will take place as soon as Rachel is able to give us an accounting of what happened. We already have Marcus’ deposition.”

  “Him I would like to meet. No doubt he saved her life.”

  “No doubt at all. She was lucky he heard her and did something about it. That’s what we are trying to foster here. Don’t turn you head when someone needs help. Get involved.”

  “I see your point totally,” Randy said, “Poor Rachel. She really took a beating.”

  “Like I said, she is lucky to be alive,” Ben said.

  “So what happens if they have the trial and he is found guilty?”

  “If it is unanimous, he will be put to death.”

  “Any chance he will not be found guilty?”

  “I doubt it. I don’t see how he could wiggle out of it no matter what he claimed.”

  “Put to death?
How?”

  “Hanged by the neck.”

  “A public execution?”

  “That’s our plan. We want to send a clear message that we will simply not tolerate any of the eight Capital Punishment crimes.”

  “What makes you think this will stop anyone else from doing this kind of thing? I mean, it didn’t do much in the old west.”

  “We don’t intend to let them just drop through a hole and snap their neck.”

  “What? What are you going to do?”

  “Pull them up by the neck until they slowly die of asphyxiation.”

  “My God. You can’t do that. That’s considered cruel and unusual punishment,” Randy said.

  “Not here, not now. I doubt that many will be willing to take the risk. The intent isn’t for it to be humane. We want it to be cruel. We want it to hurt like hell. We want anyone even thinking about doing such a thing to have second and third thoughts. It’s a massage,” Ben replied.

  “And you think the others are going to let you do this?”

  “They will.”

  “I think you are wrong,” Randy said.

  “I guess we will just have to see,” Ben said, “Now, I need to go. We have located two really big generators and we are making plans for installation. You want to come along?”

  “No. I need to just sit and think about this awhile.”

  “Suit yourself. While you’re thinking, put yourself in Rachel’s place. What do you suppose she was thinking about as he was beating the life out of her? Think she would see her treatment as humane? I don’t think she would think too kindly of him being let loose to do something like this again. I think she may go so far as to think he was cruel and unusual in what he did to her,” Ben said as he closed the door.

  ****

  The trial lasted only two hours. Rachel told her story about the events of the night and Marcus added his part. Jim Smelter tried to explain it away saying that she had teased him and then tried to squirm out of it. She drove him to the point that he could no longer control himself. Only the panel of judges asked questions of each of them. No attorneys were allowed and no technicalities could interfere with the proceedings. Each was allowed to tell his or her story and answer questions from the panel members. It took them less than twenty minutes to return a guilty verdict.