by Dennis Elder
By now Mark was getting a little impatient.
“Well. We hope we helped you out some,” continued Mark. “Best of luck,” he continued as he turned back to his bike. Seconds later, unusual sounds started coming from inside the Chapel doors. The heavy pews were being pulled across floors. And there were several loud bangs. Mark turned back to the Chapel. When he did, he raised his rifle and the rest of the team followed his example. It was obvious the people inside were coming out.
“Just come out real slow,” said Mark, as he slowly backed up to stand next to the team.
The old oaken Chapel doors opened slowly. Silvia stuck her head out and looked over the team. She wasn’t afraid to show her suspicion.
“How am I to know you’re decent folk,” asked Silvia, keeping the majority of here body behind the door.
“We’ll I’m not sure how to respond to that, mam,” offered Mark. “We’re all friends, and ex-military. We got caught here during the recent event/catastrophe thing and we’re just trying to get out of the city.”
“Ah huh,” responded Silvia, who was obviously unconvinced.
“Look, I don’t know what to tell you,” said Mark. “Is there something you could ask us that might convince you?”
Silvia thought on that for a moment and said, “What is your honest opinion of the recent Presidential mandatory health care act.”
Mark got a huge grin on his face. It got a few chuckles from the team as well. The recent health care act was one of Mark’s favorite topics – to complain about.
“Well mam,” began Mark. “If I could give the President some feedback I’d initially hit him over the head with a two by four. Then I’d calmly tell him that I think he’s got skunk piss for brains and has no business or experience trying to force a socialistic healthcare program into a for profit business model.”
Jake made a crazy face, and Boon couldn’t control himself as he tried to suppress a loud snicker. Mark didn’t react.
Silvia thought on that for a moment and then said, “All right then,” as she opened the door wide. “Any man who has the intelligence and grammatical skills to convey his real feelings on that subject can’t be bad. Children,” Silvia continued. “I think these people will not harm us.”
Silvia came out first and stood to the side of the door. Then walked out
Caroline, Jeremy, Teresa, Cheryl, Robert, William, Connie, Jacob and lastly Gracie. Gracie stood close to Silvia.
“We surrender,” offered Silvia.
Chapter 43: The next generation
Doc Martin was cleaning Jacob’s four day old bite wound. It was slightly infected. They sat on a picnic table to the side of the chapel. The kids sat there too. The team was off to the side a bit but was alert with guns pointed outward. Doc cleaned the wound and gave Jacob some antibiotics.
Mark, Sam and Susan were talking together a few feet away from the picnic table.
“I’m not convinced we should take them with us.” said Mark.
“But they’re just kids,” replied Susan.
“Exactly, replied Mark. They have no training and offer nothing to the team. Remember our primary goal is to the team. Everything else is secondary.”
“I remember,” said Sam. “But you know they won’t survive here.”
By then Doc walked over and joined the conversation.
“Keep your voices down. I could hear what you’re saying from over there.”
“Don’t get me wrong, I want to do the right thing,” continued Mark, in more of a whisper. “It’s just a lot more work taking on these kids.”
“We can’t leave them here,” said Susan.
No one was sure about what to do.
“There something else to consider,” countered Doc.
“What’s that,” said Mark.
“The next generation,” responded Doc.
“Come again,” questioned Mark.
“If we are successful in getting to Utah, and starting farming and establishing a working community, we need to be thinking about the next generation,” explained Doc.
Susan made a suspicious face and said, “Are you talking about babies? As in a next generation of babies?”
“Exactly,” whispered Doc. “We’re not going to pass on much to the next generation with just Susan here.”
“You got that right. Cause there is no way this girl is having any babies!” proclaimed Susan.
The idea of children hadn’t dawned on Mark. He thought about it in silence for a moment. Either way they needed to decide what to do. Mark waved over the other members. Per their earlier agreement, deciding to include anyone into their group needed to be a group decision. Once everyone was together Mark began.
“We’ve got to decide what to do with these kids.”
“We can’t leave them,” stated Susan again.
“We agreed that if we found anyone worthy to take with us we’d have to agree to it as a group,” continued Mark.
“They seem like nice enough kids,” said Boon.
“But they are civilians,” said Jake. “We’d have to watch out for them. It brings a whole new dynamic to our unit effectiveness. Working with someone who knows how to use a gun is very different from protecting someone who’s defenseless.”
“Doesn’t seem right leaving them here alone,” said Tyrone.
“The only way I’d agree to take them with us is if we trained them to shoot and fight,” said Junior.
“And my concern is time,” added Mark. “The longer we stay in Southern California the greater the chance we’ll be trapped here or run into a gang that we can’t handle. We need to get keep moving.”
“What if we gave them a two-day crash course in weapons,” suggested Frank. “I know we need to keep moving, but… I think we could get them certified in a couple of days, and at least shooting safely. The boys all look old enough to handle a rifle. Maybe even a couple of the girls.”
“I could get their medical shots updated in half a day,” suggested Doc. Because of all the potential disease in the air, he had given a series of preventive shots to the team before they left. The kids and Silvia would need the same.
“And Tyrone and I could get them outfitted with bikes in one day,” offered Susan. “They wouldn’t even have to go to the bike store. Let the guys train them on weapons and we’ll have their bikes ready when they’re finished.”
“I can support that,” added Tyrone.
Nobody else offered an objection. Mark looked around for other input.
“Then, I’m hearing that we agree as a team that we could take them with us, as long as they all get decent weapons training before we head out again? Right?” asked Mark.
“Right,” said Susan and a few others. Everyone else nodded their heads. Boon went to his bike, grabbed his map and returned to the group.
“OK then” said Mark. “Then we agree.”
Boon came back into the circle before speaking. “There’s an indoor target range about 5 miles down Imperial. I marked it as a possible ammo resupply point. We could hold up there, while we train the kids on weapons. We just need to find a bike and sporting goods store to get them outfitted.”
It was clear the team wanted to help the group. Even with the delay they were all eager to get started.
Mark looked at this watch. It was barely 9:45 am.
“We take today and tomorrow to get them ready,” said Mark. “But no longer. We leave on day three. Doc and I will talk to them first to make sure they want to come with us. Susan, Tyrone and Frank, you guys set up the bikes and trailers. Junior, take Jake, Randy and Sam and handle the weapons training. Get them something they can handle. And make sure they understand safety. We don’t want one of them accidently killing one of us. Doc, Boon and I will get them clothing and food.”
Mark looked around again. There were no questions. They’d already done this once for their own team.
“Alright then, finished Mark. “Then let’s get it done.”
Boon immediat
ely took charge of the group. He was writing down the indoor range address for each team. The men were discussing the right sized guns for each kid. The opinions were flying. Susan, Tyrone and Frank grabbed the phone book from Boon’s bike trailer and were looking for a good bike shop. Mark and Doc walked over to the picnic tables where Silvia and the kids were sitting.
“We have a proposition,” began Mark.
“You want us to come along with you,” responded Silvia.
Mark didn’t reply immediately. Doc smiled.
“We heard most of what you said,” continued Silvia.
“It’s your decision,” added Mark. “Our team has agreed to let you come with us.”
“We’ll that’s mighty kind of you, sir,” quipped Silvia with a little added sarcasm.
“What if we don’t want to come with you,” added William Hinds, Silvia’s most outspoken less mannered student.
Silvia gave William one of those melting stares the kids had learned not to oppose.
Silvia kept her eyes on William and said, “William is kinda headstrong at times Mr. Harris.” Everyone had introduced themselves earlier. “He tends to speak when he should be listening. William, perhaps you should apologize to Mr. Harris here and then we’ll let him finish his proposition.”
William dropped his gaze a bit and said, “My apologies, Mr. Harris.”
“We are traveling North,” began Mark again. “The journey could take weeks, maybe months. It all depends on how fast we can travel on an average day and how many fights we can avoid.”
“And how many fights have you been in so far,” asked Silvia.
“Two,” responded Mark. “In two days.”
“Two in two days,” repeated Silvia.
The reality of the situation and obvious challenge sank in bit for all the kids.
“And we anticipate a few more of these fights before we get to where we’re going,” said Mark. “We’ve survived so far because of our military training. With the exception of our female, Susan, who’s traveling with us, each of us is ex-special forces army. We’re fairly confident we’d be able to handle most anything that came our way.”
“So how does that affect us?” asked Silvia.
“The only way we’d take you with us is if you all agree to learn to shoot and safely carry a weapon, and then follow our commands during the journey,” continued Mark.
“Just where are you planning to journey, Mr. Harris,” Silvia asked.
Mark looked around a bit and lowered his voice a bit. They all agreed to keep a tight lip when discussing their ultimate destination.
“Utah,” said Mark. “Salt Lake City, Utah.”
“Where the Mormon’s are,” said Connie.
“Where the Mormon’s were,” countered Doc.
“It’s a naturally remote location and defendable by a small group. There is plenty of water and food. We plan to make it our home. A place to start again,” offered Mark. “We’d like you to come with us. But only under the conditions we’ve defined.”
“So, we’d be enlisted,” explored Silvia. “Like in the Army.”
“During the trip, yes,” replied Mark. “Just like in the Army. All of you will pull your own weight, including, food, ammunition and clothing. Each of you will learn to shoot effectively and how to follow orders. Our unit’s chances of survival are only as good as the weakest link.”
Gracie stood up timidly from the table and said, “I’m not sure I could fire a gun, let alone kill someone with it.”
Mark looked over the girl. Obviously, she was a fragile thing and would need special care. He wasn’t sure she was someone he wanted on the trip. Mark began biting his lip. He always did that unconsciously when he was unsure about something.
“Everyone will need to learn to defend themselves,” continued Mark. “I won’t risk the death of one of my team trying to save someone who could have taken care of themselves. There won’t be any civilians on the trip.”
Silvia paused for a moment. She never made an important decision in haste. She was weighing her options.
Doc felt her hesitancy and said, “Silvia, you must realize that you and your kids won’t survive here. You’d probably be dead now if we hadn’t happened along.”
Silva took a deep breath before responding. “I think you right Doctor Martin,” said Silvia. “We would be dead if you and your people hadn’t come along.
Silva looked over at the kids.
“As for me I’m grateful for the offer and willingly accept it,” started Silvia. “But I need to see if the kids will agree to your conditions. And if they agree I want to make absolutely sure they understand they will be under your command. Would you give us a moment in private to discuss it?”
“Of course,” replied Mark as he and Doc walked away toward Boon and the others.
Silvia turned to the kids. She made that face she does when she needs to discuss something important.
“Listen up kidos,” began Silvia. “Time to seriously talk about this invitation to go with Mr. Harris.”
Teresa raised her hand. Silvia saw it and nodded her head.
“How do we know these men won’t hurt us once we’re under their control,” asked Teresa.
“Good question,” replied Silvia. “You noticed I was a little hesitant to open the Chapel door at first.
“But you feel different about them now?” asked Jeremy.
“Yes,” responded Silvia.
“But how do we know they won’t change once we’re on the road with them?” asked Caroline. “They could be acting all nice now, but maybe they will change or something.”
“Yea,” added Robert. “How do we know for sure?”
Everyone was looking at Silvia now. They trusted her and would follow her if she said they should go. But Silvia wanted them to know what they were getting into.
“I trust them for a couple of reasons,” she began. “First, they fought off those walking people. Second, they could have just rode on and left us alone. Good people wouldn’t do that. Third, they are taking a big chance accepting us into their group.”
“How’s that?” asked William.
“Because they are a much more effective fighting unit without us than with us,” responded Silvia.
“We can fight,” said a defiant Jacob.
“Not like them,” responded Silvia. “Killing a real person is very different from shooting someone in a video game. These men have fought in wars and dangerous battles. They know how to depend on each other in a life and death fight. They don’t know if they can depend on us.”
“What do you think, miss Silvia?” asked Cheryl. “Think we should go?”
“Well, I feel like we just won the lottery,” replied Silvia, as he looked over at Mark and his team. “I’m afraid if we don’t go with them, we will suffer terribly.
The kids understood what that meant. Nobody said anything for a few seconds. Then Silvia looked back at her children.
“So, what’s the verdict?” asked Silvia. “Who’s in?”
One by one the kids agreed to go with Mark Harris. Then Gracie spoke up.
“Would you have stayed with us if we decided not to go with them?”
Silvia smiled.
“Of course sweetheart,” said Silvia. “You know I would never leave you alone.”
Gracie swallowed and then nodded in the affirmative.
“All right then, began Silvia. “Then we go. And we obey their orders like we’re in the military. We learn to shoot and protect ourselves. Right?”
The kids offered a mumbled response. Silvia smiled again.
“The first thing we need to start working on is our responses. We’re in the Army now and when a superior officer asks you a question, you must respond with enthusiasm, said Silvia. “So, I’ll ask again. “We will obey their orders and learn to shoot, right?”
“Right!” responded the kids, this time with more volume.
That was good enough for now. Silvia turned to Mark’s group and wa
lked over to them.
“We agree to your terms and are very grateful for your offer,” said Silvia. “FYI: A lifetime ago I served two years in the Military Police and was rated marksman with an M-16. I few years ago I retired with 15 years in as a cop and I’m still pretty good with my 357 here.”
