The Benefactor

by Jake Aaron

  “You’re good, Keala. You must admit I know myself: I’m better at telling leaders to take the slings and arrows than taking them myself.” He pursed his lips and shook his head. After a pause, he said, “How did last night work out for you?”

  “For the first time since my coma, I had a good night’s sleep. And you, Zeke?”

  “Bad dreams. I was reaching out to catch someone falling off a high tower and couldn’t quite reach her. Sounds as if it would be over in seconds. I swear it stretched out to all night long. Longest fall in history. I’m tired from sleeping,” he said ironically. “Shall we try the same arrangement tonight?”

  *****

  Marsh arrived at the gate with his horse. He fed the horse carrots and hay from his saddlebag while he waited to be let in.

  Zeke broke away from a group project to meet the visitor. “You must like our coffee, Marsh!”

  “What are you all building, Zeke?”

  “We’re putting in four ramparts around the house for protection. The logs and boulders should be good to hide behind and fire from if we’re attacked again. That raid by the biker gang was an eye-opener. Lesson learned, Marsh.”

  “Sounds like a good plan. Brought you some rice, beans, and thermal gloves. Figured the venison routine might be getting old. And I need to ask a favor. I need to send John and a volunteer to Idaho for two or more days.”

  “Thanks for the grub!” Zeke had a bag of beans in one hand and a bag of rice in the other. Marsh carried in the bag of thermal gloves as they moseyed to the house.

  “Marsh, your gifts are more than welcome. We are so tired of venison. I need you to see John for yourself. So far he’s not responding to the antibiotic you found in Meagan’s pocket. Feverish and weak. Delirious at times. Wound doesn’t look good. I don’t think he can travel. How about taking me?”

  “No offense, Zeke, but you're not a nuclear engineer, are you?”

  “Industrial engineer. But I can figure out a lot of things.”

  “Don’t worry, you can keep the rice and beans in any case, Zeke. We need to get John well. Let’s talk with Brock.”

  “He’s fertilizing the back forty. He’ll be back soon. So, what’s up with Idaho, Marsh?”

  “Seems there’s a nuclear reactor near Arco, Idaho, that’s in need of a few tweaks. Lotta folks downwind from there … .”

  Marsh and Zeke sat at the kitchen table with coats on. Karen poured their coffee and jumped in, “God bless you, Marshal. I am so sick of deer meat. I know I should count my blessings, but I love good old beans and rice. If you’re taking requests, I could sure use some more chili pepper to cook with. I’m not out yet, but close. You'd be surprised what I can do with that!”

  “I’ll see what I can do, Karen. I know I can get you some black pepper and salt.”

  “That would be nice, Marsh!” she gushed.

  Brock washed his hands in a bucket of warm water and soap just inside the kitchen door. After he dried them, he came in and shook Marsh’s hand.

  “We don’t have any donuts, Marshal,” Brock said, thinking he was a master of wit.

  Marsh did not react. Cliche humor is only funny if you’re an insider; otherwise, it’s offensive, he mused. After a pregnant pause, he said, “Doc, wanted to see if John can travel today.”

  Slightly miffed that Marsh didn’t acknowledge his brilliant joke, Brock answered, “No, John can’t travel yet. I think I may need to open up the wound again and lavage it with Dakin’s once more. Ideally, I’d start him on a different antibiotic if we hadn’t gone back into the Dark Ages.”

  “Doc, write down what antibiotic you want to give John. I’ll see what I can do about getting that medicine …”

  Sondra broke in, “Marsh, you won’t be able to read it. I’ll write it out for you.” Her contempt for Brock came through in her tone.

  Susan overheard. “Marsh, I will be so grateful if you can help John. Everyone of us here will owe you one. I guess we already do. We’ll owe you two. How will you go about getting the new medicine?”

  Marsh laughed off the question, “I don’t even understand it. I know a guy who knows a guy.” He wasn’t totally lying.

  Zeke: “One more item, Marsh. The Idaho-bound crew needs a Geiger counter. Good to detect invisible threats, you know.”

  “I’ll see what I can do.” With that, Marsh excused himself and left on his horse. He joined up with Jenny in the woods. He briefed her on what had transpired.

  “Only one thing to do,” Jenny offered. “Here’s your smartphone.”

  Marsh texted the Benefactor a brief explanation of John’s situation with a request for erythromycin. He expected no immediate answer. To his surprise, he received a reply five minutes later:

  Medicine you requested will be at your compound in three hours. The Benefactor.

  The Benefactor, indeed, Marsh thought. The mysterious provider knew what Marsh called him. Marsh was not at all surprised. Well, maybe a little.

  *****

  At the three-hour point, Marsh received a text that a drone had landed with the package at the back of the compound. At that moment, Jenny said she saw it on a flatscreen monitor. Marsh got the medicine from the impressive quadcopter. He restored the drone to its takeoff position and backed away, according to the instructions he received in the text. When he was five feet away, the drone lifted up horizontally and flew to the east.

  Knowing time was of the essence, both for John and the nuclear reactor, Marsh and Jenny saddled up and rode to the Denton Ranch. Susan greeted him and hugged him as he produced the antibiotic.

  Marsh casually put up a hand to prevent Zeke from asking, “I can’t stay. Got something pressing. Left you some salt, black pepper, chili pepper — and garlic salt.” He waved off coffee and anything that would allow more questions on how he got the medication so fast. He wondered that himself.

  In the Denton house, Zeke consoled himself. He rationalized his inaction: I shouldn’t question the hand that feeds us. I, in turn, must withhold information. I know the group will demand more information. It is human nature: We always want more — more information — or for that matter, more quantity and quality in everything. Mankind in a nutshell. The answer is to be grateful for what we have. And if we all did that, I'd be out of a job, he smiled to himself.

  *****

  That evening Susan had the first shift with John. He had been on the new antibiotic for a mere six hours. Already he seemed better. He said he felt less febrile and more clear-headed, but still weak.

  Upstairs in their bedroom, Zeke’s mind swirled over the day’s events. “You know, Keala, based on what we saw and heard today, maybe we should ask for whatever we need. Marsh seems to be able to produce it. I’m thinking out loud now. Our purpose seems to be doing what Marsh needs to be done. So far there’s nothing wrong with it. Stopping a nuclear meltdown in Idaho is a righteous effort. I’m hoping we can get John better in time.”

  “I’m with you, Zeke. I know John will be eager to help. A great opportunity to employ his skills. It’s up to you and me to make sure everyone gives Susan extra support when he leaves. She’s really been through it.”

  Zeke: “I hope she takes a cue from you. You ran the gauntlet and rose like a phoenix. You’re a tough cookie — scrambling a few figures of speech here.”

  “Well, if you have to make a omelet, make it sunny side up, I always say.” I can do blonde-humor with the best of them, she smiled to herself.

  “That was brilliant, Keala. With that, let’s hit the hay. I can tell I’m overmatched here!”

  *****

  Downstairs on the last shift, hours later, Karen saw John sit up in on the couch. “How you doing, John?”

  John felt his brow, took a swallow of water, and put his feet on the floor. “Ready to use the urinal. I’ll take it outside for a change.”

  “Get up slowly, John — if you feel like it.”

  John rose slowly as prompted. “Sorry I’m not moving faster, Karen, but I am better. I’d
say 90% of normal. That’s quite an improvement! I realize that just my lying down so long, made me weaker.”

  “That’s true, physically, John. I want to speak from my heart now. Your courage has never wavered. Jed and I talk about it all the time. You’re a tough man. Thanks for setting a great example. We’ve suffered a tremendous blow to our psyches with what happened at the turn of the year. We’re going to make it, as long as we have people like you.”

  John was speechless. He knew she spoke the truth. He couldn’t even summon up false modesty. Finally, he managed a thank-you.

  Karen put her hand on his shoulder to stifle any attempt at humility on John’s part.

  January 9

  “What are our orders today, love?” Jenny had her usual morning-person cheer.

  Marsh didn’t even try to mirror her, “You're perkier than my coffee, Jen. Give me a couple more hours to catch up to you.” He smiled at his slowness. “We’re to secure the bio labs in Hamilton. Seems people are trying to break in there.”

  “Marsh, we secured that back on January 1. Number one priority then. I personally made sure all the door locks had failed to the closed position. No one would break in there if they were sane. God only knows what kind of viruses and bacteria were cultured there.”

  “Well, we know Rocky Mountain Laboratories found a cure for Lyme disease years back.” Marsh was waking up. “We’ll have to check it out. I’m thinking I’ll take someone handy from the Denton group. I’ll saddle up an extra horse.”

  “I don’t suppose we have any biohazard gear in our well-stocked warehouse for this mission," Jenny inquired without directly asking.

  “Who knows?” he answered. “We have a lot of gear in there — so much that only the Benefactor knows for sure. Today’s is a quick reconnaissance and repair. We’ll make a second trip with biohazard suits if necessary and if they exist. In any case, Jen, while you back us up with your sniper rifle, just shoot any microbes that might come after us.”

  “You are not funny, Marsh. More coffee?”

  Marsh scrolled through his quickening mind. “Yes, another cup, love of my life.”

  Jen smiled as she poured. “Today we really earn our hazard pay!”

  Marsh’s lips turned up on the sides ever so little. “Our hazard pay and four bucks would have have bought you a small cup of that foo-foo coffee in the good ole days."

  *****

  Zeke greeted Marsh at the gate, “Back so soon?” Jenny was hiding in the surrounding woods as usual behind the Ponderosas and thick brush. Zeke had no idea she was watching.

  “Yeah, Zeke, good to see you. How was breakfast?”

  “It was wonderful. I love beans and rice. You wouldn’t believe what Karen can do with a few spices.”

  “Glad it’s working out for you. Say, I need to get the help of one of your crew. My preference is for Jed. There’s no limit to the ingenuity and resourcefulness of that farmer.”

  “What do you need him for?”

  “You’ve heard of Rocky Mountain Labs in Hamilton. Well, I got reports some geniuses were trying to break in there. That’s all I have. I’m not going to be putting him or me in jeopardy by going into the labs or anything like that. But if we can prevent an epidemic with a little work, I say why not?”

  “Marsh, if he can’t go, I will. I’d like to get to know more about you.”

  Marsh thought, Zeke, you cagey bastard, I bet you would. He knew Zeke wanted to pump him for information. Out loud, Marsh said, “That would be great, Zeke. I’d like to get to know you better as well.” In any case, getting cooperation from folks was getting easier than demanding it. He had always viewed his law enforcement role as persuasion backed by badge. Now he felt more like a negotiator. He saved the high hand for when he really needed it, in either case.

  “Zeke, while you check with Jed, I’d like to see how John is doing.”

  Marsh found John in the kitchen sipping on tea. “You look great, mate! What a change!”

  “Feeling better, too, Marsh. Zeke told me about the mission. I’m psyched up. Arco was the first city in the United States to be electrified with atomic power, back in 1955. There has been a lot of nuclear engineering research at the nearby National Reactor Testing Station since. We can savor a little history there while we save the world. I hesitate to add … an accident wiped out the reactor powering Arco, killing three people — the only fatal United States reactor accident, as well as the world’s first. Coincidentally, in January … 1961.”

  Marsh, swallowed hard. “Yeah, you might have waited another lifetime or two before communicating that interesting fact.” He shook his head in dismay.

  John: “Sorry. Brock said I can travel tomorrow if I keep taking my antibiotic. I asked about going today. He said that was out.”

  Marsh: “Maybe Brock wants to come along? I need one more shooter.”

  “He says he’s needed here, Marsh. But Keala volunteered.”

  “That plucky gal will do.” Marsh was relieved not to be taking Brock., While taking the doctor was logical, he knew Brock was prickly. For sure, he and Brock clashed immediately on any issue.

  *****

  Plowing their boots through eight inches of new snow, Marsh and Jed walked the perimeter of the eight-foot hurricane fence surrounding the Hamilton bio labs. They found an area of fence partially cut.

  “The druggies didn’t have the right tools,” Marsh pronounced.

  “At least, no one got in. Piece of cake to fix. I’ll get some work gloves, wire, and tools from my saddle bags.” Jed headed back to the horses.

  “You do that. I’ll restore the warning signs on the fence. No person in their right mind from around here would think of breaking into the labs, as a very wise person told me. Only a meth head would disregard the signs.”

  In half an hour, each had completed his work. “Might as well recheck our paper before we turn it in to the teacher,” Marsh jested as they rounded the complex.

  “Myself, I usually measure twice before I cut,” Jed added. They walked the perimeter one more time, reversing their direction.

  While they circled, Marsh observed, “We saw the expected mayhem on the way in. Around the labs, no one is bothering us. People know what’s up. No one wants a case of ebola — or worse!”

  “Planes falling out of the sky, the threat of an epidemic, and I understand tomorrow John’s going to try to save us from a nuclear meltdown.”

  “Sounds like a job for Superman,” Marsh observed. “He was busy, so they’re sending some of us!”

  “Then what’s next, Marsh?”

  “As a famous person once said, we don’t know what we don’t know.”

  Jed had the last word, “I wonder how the famous person knew that!”

  Marsh jabbed his index finger toward Jed’s chest and nodded to indicate Jed was on point.

  *****

  In their bedroom, Zeke sat next to Keala on the bed, “You know, I like you. A little bit." He smiled. "What’s this about you volunteering for Idaho?”

  “You volunteered, too, didn’t you?” Keala raised an eyebrow.

  “Who told you that?”

  “You just did. It’s in your character, Zeke.”

  Zeke went through a litany of risks and problems. Keala’s pending departure was deja vu of Meagan’s last night with him.

  “You know, Zeke, you have told the group all of that several times.”

  “It’s my job! There are too few of us at Denton. We can’t afford any more losses.”

  “So you were just doing your job?”

  “No, I was trying to protect someone I like — just a little.”

  Keala laughed. “Come to bed before you self-destruct.”

  *****

  On the outskirts of East Missoula, convict Milt saw people pulling bark off trees to eat. If nothing else, it helped with hunger. He knew it was only a matter of time before humans turned to cannibalism. He stayed extra wary. He wondered whether he was better off now, or in prison before Janua
ry first.

  In skirting around populated areas, he stumbled on a temporary home after seemingly years of wandering and searching. The abandoned trailer had not been looted. He wondered where the owner was. He found some canned food, stale bread, and marginal cottage cheese in the unpowered refrigerator. And, alas, a few matches!

  No surprise, the electrical space heater did not function. A propane-fueled stove burner, however, whooshed gas when he tried it. He decided to risk it. He lit off the oven very carefully. To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, he cracked an upwind window slightly, as well as the downwind door. He would heat the poorly insulated place with the oven.

  Milt prepared for a decent night’s sleep. He pulled the comfortable covers up to ear level. It would be nice to be warm enough to sleep. Then he remembered where and why he was on this journey. He had a purpose: revenge on Julia Hawkins, the miserable bitch! He would have her pounds of flesh. He got no satisfaction from knowing that Julia, like everyone else, had now fallen on bad times. No, satisfaction can come only one way. It must come from her suffering in his vengeful hands.

  January 10

  At 2 AM, wearing night vision goggles, Marsh rode his palomino to the Denton gate, trailing two extra horses. John and Keala greeted him.

  “Morning, you all. How you feeling, John,” Marsh asked crisply. In the moonlight, his words filled the cloud of breath in the frigid air like those in a newspaper cartoon.

  “Ready for an adventure, Marsh. Really, I’m 110%. Must be a rebound from feeling so bad.”

  Keala would not be left out. “Good morning, Marsh! We’ve eaten. Can we get you anything?”

  “I’ll take coffee anytime, Keala, but I think we better hit the road. I’d like to get through Missoula before most wake up. If we leave now, that should do it.”