by Kip Nelson
With suspicions forming, Mack didn't go to sleep that night but waited up. When he heard movement he followed Luke and Willie as they made their way to the barn, and observed from a distance as the two of them made a payment to mysterious strangers. When he saw what was transpiring Mack sighed and shook his head, for it saddened him to see the state of society be brought down to this.
Through the night he had much to think about. He didn't intend to stay at the farm for much longer, so it wasn't his place to interfere with their choices and the way they chose to live their lives. Yet, at the same time, it felt wrong to stand by and do nothing. It also wasn't a stretch to see that this group was the same one that had attacked the bunker. Clearly, they were a vicious lot, and used their force to intimidate people, but they only would take more and more unless somebody stood up to them.
The following morning, as they were doing their chores, Mack pulled Willie aside and confronted him about what he had seen the previous night. Willie reacted angrily.
“You shouldn't have been spying on us! We take you in and offer you shelter and food, and all you do is snoop around? What kind of guests do that? This is our business and you've got no right to interfere.”
“I'm not trying to interfere. I just want to talk to you about what's going on. Why are you doing this? Why are you letting them take these things from you?”
“What choice do I have?” Willie said, his voice cracking, and his eyes filled with desperation.
“I know it's not the best thing, but I can't fight them. They're too strong. I've got to think about my family. We still have enough to keep ourselves fed.”
“And what about when they push and ask for more? What about when that isn't enough?”
“What am I supposed to do? You asked me why I wasn't scared about the people escaping from the mental hospital or the prison, or anyone else who wants to run around causing trouble. This group has offered me protection. They came to me and said either I could try making it on my own or, for a price, they would patrol the area and come to our aid if we needed them. So I made a deal. I did what I thought was best for my family. Maybe you'd do it differently, but I haven't had all the same training you've had. I'm just a farmer and I'm just trying to do my best to get my family through this.”
“Do they know about this?”
Willie bowed his head and ran his hand around his neck. “Luke does. Elaine and Margaret? I haven't told them but I'd be surprised if they didn't think that something was up. I tried to keep them out of it as much as possible.”
“So you know these people are dangerous?”
“Of course I know.”
“They're the same ones who attacked the bunker, aren't they? Who knows what else they're responsible for.”
“Probably a lot, and yes, maybe I've thrown my lot in with the devil, but it's better to live under the heel of someone than watch my farm burn to the ground. What do you think is going to happen if I stand up to them? They're just going to take this place from me. It's alright for you, you're going to leave. All I've got is this farm and I can't let it go now. I have no choice.”
Mack clenched his jaw. “There's always a choice,” he said, and promptly walked off, leaving Willie to hang his head back and open his jaw to the heavens.
THROUGHOUT THE DAY Mack wrangled with himself about what to do. His instincts told him to do something about the group, but he was sympathetic to Willie's plight. After all, he, Grace, and Luis would be leaving and wouldn't have to deal with the aftermath of whatever they did. However, his conscience wouldn't allow him to sit by and do nothing, so he decided to tell Grace and Luis the truth to feel out their opinions on the matter.
When he told them of what he had learned they both were surprised, and their immediate reaction was one of fear, for neither of them wanted to get into a fight. Mack told them why he wanted to stand up to the group, because if they didn't then these people would just bleed the farm dry. They didn't care about the family, they only cared about using it for their own means. Even though Luis had been spending a lot of time with Margaret, he hadn't heard anything about this.
“I don't want to see these people get hurt, though. They're good people, and if we do anything it's going to come back on them,” he said. Grace agreed. As did Mack.
“That's why I think if we do anything we need to think about it carefully. But the reason I want to do something is because these people are good, and we have a responsibility to do the right thing. I know the world has changed and things aren't like they were before, but we still have ideals and values to cling to, and I'm still the same person I was then. I've never been one to let bullies have their way, and I'm not going to change now. If we're going to do this, then we're going to do it together, and we're going to have to convince the family to do the same. They’re going to be affected by this more than we are.”
Mack let his words sink in for a while. Grace and Luis thought long and hard about what to do. Grace smiled as she thought about how Elaine had helped her open up, and Luis had a warm feeling in his heart whenever he thought of Margaret. Both of them knew that if they weren't going to do anything, then eventually this group would take everything from the farm, and leave it with nothing.
But they also realized this was bigger than the farm. This was about the bunker, too, and anything else the group had touched. They were bad people; people who killed, stole and intimidated others. Mack had stirred within them a sense of justice. They remembered how he had told them to lead by example, to show others how to act in this new world. What kind of example would they be setting if they just allowed this type of behavior to continue?
No, they couldn't sit idly by and watch these type of people prosper. They had been given a chance in this new world to start new lives and it was up to them to determine the course of them. Grace always had wanted to help people, and now she had the chance actually to meet the people she was helping. She was ready to enter the world and think of herself as Grace rather than C1PH3R. Luis wanted to make a difference, wanted to matter, wanted to feel like he had a positive impact on the world because of something he did rather than being told that he wasn't good for anything. He also was tired of running away from his problems and wanted to prove to himself he could step up when it mattered.
With that settled they started thinking of a way to combat the mysterious group, but first Luis wanted to spend as much time with Margaret as possible. They were sitting on their branch again, looking out at the horizon. Luis was unsure whether to tell Margaret about her father's dealings with the other group, but he had something important to ask her.
“Are you ever afraid that something is going to happen to this place?” he asked. Margaret shrugged.
“I guess it could happen, but there's no point in worrying about the future.”
“But what if there were bad people out there, people who wanted this place? Would you be prepared to fight for it?”
“Hell yeah, nobody is going to take my home from me without a fight. I could ask you the same thing, though. Aren't you scared that you're going to run into some bad people while you're going out wandering around the wilderness?”
“I am... but it's easier to run when there are just a few of us. I don't see how four people could defend this place, not if a lot of people attacked.”
“Well, this is real cheery conversation. Just what I needed on a beautiful night like this,” she said, pulling away from him slightly.
“I'm sorry,” he replied, bringing her back into him, “I've been thinking about the future for the past couple of days.”
“That's always dangerous.”
“I really like you, Margaret, more than I've liked anyone. I know it sounds corny but I'm almost glad this apocalypse happened because we met.”
“I feel the same way,” she said, taking his hand and pressing her lips to it.
“But things aren't going to be able to stay this way between us. I just...I wanted to ask you if you'd consider coming with us?
I don't want this to end, not when it's just beginning. I think you'd fit in well with us, and you've always said you wanted to get off the farm. I know it's a lot to ask because there's still a lot that we don't know about each other. But I think we both know there's something here and, yeah, your dad isn't going to be happy about it, but I think if we explain to him why--”
“Luis,” Margaret said, placing a hand on his chest to slow him down, “I'd love to go with you.”
He beamed, but his smile quickly faded as an inevitable 'but' followed. “But I can't. I'm needed here, with my family. I know you didn't have a good relationship with yours, but I do with mine, and all we've got are each other. I can't just leave them. In a way, I wish I could because, in another world, I'd love to see where this goes, but I have to stay here. Do you have to leave? You don't know what's out there. So maybe the best thing is to settle down somewhere. We always could use the extra help.”
“I owe Mack and Grace my life. I can't just leave them now,” he said.
The two of them sat in silence for a while, haunted by the impending future where they would have to part. Luis was about to say something when Margaret interrupted him with a kiss. As the night closed in on them they decided they had spoken enough, and tried to make as much use of the time left to them as possible.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
THE FOLLOWING DAY, Mack went up to Willie and told him he wanted to have words with the group the next time they came to collect payment.
“That's impossible. Look, I'm willing to keep you out of it. I haven't told them about you. If they find out you've been here I'll get in trouble,” Willie protested.
However, Mack was undeterred. He insisted he be allowed to speak to these men. So, it was with a heavy heart that Willie took Mack to them. While payment was being made Mack stood back and watched the men carefully. Just as they were about to leave he emerged and made himself known. Upon his entrance the men drew their weapons. The man in charge looked at Willie with anger in his eyes.
“What's this you've been hiding from us, Willie? You know that if you've got more people helping you on the farm then you can afford to pay a bigger tribute. And what about you, do you have a name?” he asked, turning his gaze toward Mack.
“The name's Mack, and I'm just passing through here. There's no need to be angry at Willie. Seems like you've got a good set-up going on. You just bluster in and make people give you what they worked so hard to earn, while you sit back and don't have to do any work. What happens if they don't pay tribute? Came across a bunker a while back, was that your handiwork?”
The men swelled with pride. “Yes it was, one of Mr. Smith's greatest accomplishments yet. Who would have thought that a ragtag bunch of survivors like us would have been able to take on an entire bunker filled with soldiers? I'm not sure I like your tone, though. We're not just stealing this food, it's fair payment made between people. We get supplies and Willie here gets protection.”
“And who's going to protect him from you?” Mack said, giving the man a steely look. A metal tooth gleamed in the moonlight as the man on top of the wagon smiled.
“We're not the bad guys here,” he said, “but if you want it to come to that, then by all means start a fight. But if you did see the bunker, then you know we took the weapons from it, and if I need to, I can signal twenty men down here. I didn't want it to come to this. I wanted us all to get along, but if you want to try taking us on then prepare to watch this farm burn.”
Mack took stock of the three of them. Their guns glinted in the dim light of the moon. He knew Grace and Luis were waiting in the wings, ready to take these men by surprise, as was Luke, who he had managed to rally to his cause. Yet, although he was confident they would be able to take out these three men, the leader was right. More would follow, and with their superior numbers the farm soon would fall, and they would lose their lives or become prisoners. In that moment Mack had a choice. He could either go through with his plan and hope for the best against the odds, or he could listen to the silent plea that Willie was making with his eyes, urging him to stop whatever idea he had.
Mack had his arm around his back, his hand on the pistol. In one smooth movement he could whip it out and kill the leader. The others would shoot back, which was when Grace and Luis would run out with their weapons and attack them from the sides, leaving them subdued with hopefully nobody injured. But this was just a battle. There was a war to be fought, and Mack couldn't let the farm be turned into a battleground.
And so, although it went against all his instincts he let go of the pistol and shook his head.
“I was just asking a simple question. I don't want any trouble here,” he said.
“Then we're all on the same page. Now then Willie, are there any more surprises you got for me?”
At this Willie glanced urgently at Mack again. Mack could see the fear in his eyes, and as much as Mack hated it he knew he had to reveal everything. So he called Grace and Luis out of hiding. The group looked smug, and confiscated their weapons as they made their way to stand beside Mack.
“Well, well, well, quite the little collection you're building here. Mr. Smith is not going to like this Willie, not one bit.”
“I'm sure you don't have to tell him that. Really, they're just passing through. I was going to tell you, it just never came up...”
“The thing is, Jack,” the man on the wagon said, leaning forward.
“It's Mack,” Mack corrected.
“Excuse me?”
“My name is Mack, not Jack.”
“Right,” the man with no name said, making each word drip slowly out of his mouth.
“The thing is, Mack, you've brought up a little bit of a problem for me. Now, I know Willie, and I know that he knows where his bread is buttered. But you, I don't know you. And what I don't know, I don't like. I don't think you're going to be good for Willie here. So if you're going to stay on this farm then the tribute is going to have to go up, and since you're such a strong-looking man it's going to go up a lot. I'd much prefer it if you moved on, and let things go back to normal. I'm sure Willie would appreciate that as well. All the stress can't be good for him.”
Mack looked over at Willie, who was stunned into silence and didn't look as though he was going to speak any time soon. Mack already had figured out a few things about this mysterious man. He had authority here but he wasn't the ultimate leader, that was the Mr. Smith he had alluded to, yet it was obvious he reveled in his role.
Mack surmised that in the old world this man had been a menial worker, always frustrated with the hand he had been dealt. Now he was enjoying a new lease on life, but it also meant he wouldn't be afraid to pull the trigger. This was a man not interested in working out some kind of deal or willing to negotiate. He would only want what he wanted, and if Mack didn't agree then anything could happen. However, Mack saw this as a challenge, and suddenly seeing these men opened up the world to him.
Now that the group had a face he was more aware of the danger around. This group only would continue expanding and it was likely they would run into them more often as they made their way to the city. That, coupled with the knowledge that there was a mental hospital and a prison nearby, led Mack to try coming to terms with their situation.
“I'll accept your deal, but let these two stay here. They're only kids, and they're only out here because I made them. They deserve to have shelter and a warm bed. If you agree to that I'll be on my way.”
“You've got some balls, Mack; I'll give you that. You're hardly in a position to negotiate, though. It's not just about you. If there are more people on the farm then the tribute will have to increase, that's the simple truth of the matter.”
As they were having this discussion Grace was tugging on Mack's arm. He batted her away with his hand, though, knowing that what he was doing was the best for both of them. Mack looked toward Willie, hoping he would at least protest to allow Grace and Luis to stay but he did not. So with a final warning the men turned
their wagon around and left, saying that if Mack, Grace and Luis weren't gone by the next time they came by the farm would be reduced to ashes. And that if they ever ran into Mack again, well, it would not be a pleasant encounter.
“What the hell were you thinking?!” Grace said. “How could you try making that decision for us?”
“Yeah, that's not cool, man,” Luis added.
“I'm sorry. I thought I could talk him down. I didn't realize what kind of a man he was. I just wanted to try keeping you safe. You know what kind of world it is out there.”
“Yeah,” Grace said, “it's a world filled with danger, just like the old one. But like you said, we'll adapt.”
“You should have listened to me,” Willie moaned.
“I just wanted to help,” Mack said, but he couldn't help but feel like a failure.
WITH A HEAVY HEART MACK, Grace, and Luis packed up their things. Responsibility hung heavily on Mack's shoulders. He kept replaying the encounter with the man with no name in his head, wondering if he should have played it differently, or if, indeed, he should have listened to Willie and not played at all.
It was difficult to adjust his strategy to this new world, where without the threat of punishment by law people felt more free to do as they pleased and indulge their lust for power. Mack was sure, though, that it wasn't the last he had seen of this group. One way or another, he was going to dismantle them and show them that their way wasn't the best way to survive in the world. Willie and his family were sad to see them go, especially Margaret, who failed at holding back the tears. Elaine gave Grace a long hug, and as he watched them Mack realized that, for a man who prided himself in observing the things around him, he actually had missed a lot of what was going on.
