by King, Ryan
Bethany obviously a seasoned military spouse knew how things worked, “By all means, gentlemen, as a matter of fact I insist that you dine with us tonight.”
Anderson could see that this comment made Captain Johns uncomfortable and figured the Taylor family fare was pretty meager and the Captain probably thought unfit for the two visiting generals. The man would likely have a nervous breakdown trying to ensure there was a suitable feast that night.
“We would be delighted,” said Anderson, smiling broadly. “Now, with your permission.”
*******
The three went into the cabin and sat around the kitchen table. Johns and the guard stayed outside on the deck.
Anderson started to speak, but Nathan had evidently had enough, holding up his hand.
“Sir, I held my tongue out there for the sake of politeness, but now it's my turn to talk.”
“Go ahead,” Anderson said with a resigned tone and sat back in his chair.
“Thank you very much,” Nathan said sarcastically, “Now where to begin. Oh yes, with being prisoners.” Anderson started to speak and Nathan just kept talking. “We walk eight hundred dangerous, cold, terrible miles to get home and when we arrive, we’re separated from our party and imprisoned here. I haven’t even been able to call my family and tell them we’re alive.”
“Where is your family?” asked Butch suddenly.
Nathan was temporarily thrown off his tirade which he had rehearsed in detail over several days. “My wife and I are both from Mayfield.”
“No kidding!” said Butch, “That’s where General Anderson lives!”
Nathan looked at them in surprise and wondered if they were playing with him, but saw serious looks. “Did you go to Mayfield High School or Graves County High?” asked Nathan simply as a point of conversation, his brain working quickly to process information.
Anderson shook his head, “Graves County consolidation was before my time, I went to Wingo High.”
Nathan smiled in spite of himself, “Wingo? My uncle Dale Turpin has a farm out there.”
“Crazy Dale,” Anderson smiled. “Knew him well when I was younger. Now only see him every so often.”
Nathan re-focused himself, “I was planning to give you hell for what you’ve done to my family, but this conversation has made my point for me. Damn man! I’m from here! Our families are from here! We probably know two dozen of the same people. Why are you putting us through this? You know we belong here!”
Anderson sighed, “Yes I know. You getting in was never in doubt. I just wanted to meet you and thought it was important enough to keep you where I could find you until we had a chance to talk.”
“Are you serious?” Nathan asked incredulous. “This wasn’t the best of beginnings, I can tell you.”
“I understand that,” Anderson explained. “But it was necessary. Let me ask you a question.”
“By all means, go ahead,” said Nathan, still annoyed and trying hard to keep the sarcasm out of his voice.
“Why did you come here?”
Nathan was momentarily taken aback, “To see my family, to make sure they were okay, and to make sure they knew we were okay. We’ve lived a lot of places in the military, but at the end of the day this is home.”
“What about the people you came with, why are they here?”
Nathan was glad Anderson had mentioned them instead of him having to do it. “Actually they came because they heard this was the last place where there was courtesy, civilization, and decency. Imagine their disappointment.”
“Yes, I think I can,” said Anderson. “But…as wonderful as all of this is, especially compared to the outside world, it is in reality a house of cards, ready to blow away at the first strong wind.”
Nathan was surprised and kept quiet. The man had his attention.
Anderson continued, “We have electricity and good borders and that’s it. We also have everyone else in the world trying to get into the JP and our resources just can’t support that many. And we also have a covetous neighbor to the south who is only waiting his chance to take what we have.” Anderson let that all sink in. “One wrong move and we’re done for.”
Nathan nodded. “Sir, I appreciate that, but what does that have to do with me and my family?”
“In short, major, we need you,” said Anderson. “We don’t have enough smart and capable military men to protect our borders. Our National Guard troops are spread too thin and new recruits are raw and unreliable. We need you to take charge.”
“Take charge? Of what, exactly?”
“Well, I’m going to have to explain a little bit of background first,” said Anderson as he pulled out a map. “I’m sure you’re familiar with the Land Between the Lakes Park which basically makes up the JP’s entire eastern border. Well, it doesn’t technically fall into any county for government, nor does it have inhabitants to protect it. We thought about abandoning it, but we just can’t.”
“Because of the dam,” said Nathan, looking at the map.
Anderson smiled, impressed. “Exactly right. The dam sits right at the top of the park and makes electricity from the water flowing northward from those two manmade lakes. We can’t abandon the park without making the dam vulnerable. We’ve already got squatters and other people making their way into the park and we have no control over them. The southern portion is also a wide open highway for General Sampson, should he choose to come north.”
“You mean invade?” asked Nathan, surprised.
“Yes,” said Butch. “This is the Wild West, friend. We’re going to have to fight to keep what we have, and real soon. Which is why we need your help.”
Anderson got to the crux of the matter. “I want you to be the military governor and commander of the Land Between the Lakes region.”
“We’re prepared to overlook any charges we could bring against you for desertion of your post at Fort Meade,” said Butch casually.
Nathan was suddenly furious again. He pointed his finger in succession at first Matthews and Anderson. “One. Piss off and piss off. Two. You can take that desertion crap and shove it up your asses. You’ve been here the whole time and have no idea what is going on out there.”
Both men’s face showed surprise and then anger. They started to say something, but Nathan overrode them by talking louder. “And three, I’ll do it.”
The generals became quiet in sudden surprise.
“But…” said Nathan in a very intense tone, “I have conditions to accepting this headache of all headache jobs and I’m not going to quibble about it. If you don’t give me what I want then you can let us go and I’ll be on my way. I’m serious.”
“So are we,” said Anderson. “Tell us your conditions.”
Nathan paused as he quickly ran things through his head. “First, the group I came in with gets into the JP. Not next week, not tonight, right this very freaking minute. We’re not going to discuss a damn thing until you tell me that’s happening.”
Nathan sat back and crossed his arms and the two men stared at him for a moment and then at each other. Anderson shrugged his shoulders and Butch got up and spoke quietly with Captain Johns who then ran off.
“Done,” said Anderson. “But they settle in the park. They’re your first settlers.”
“Fine,” continued Nathan tersely, but inwardly immensely relieved. “Second, if I’m in charge, I want to be in charge. Oh, I know I’ll have to report to you or the guy in charge of the JP, but you know what I mean. If it’s my business, you’ll let it be my business and that means appointing who I want to be in charge of stuff to include military commissions and such. I’m not just some major anymore."
“Again, no problem and more power to you…” Anderson held up his finger for emphasis “…as long as you get the job done. We don’t have the luxury to tolerate someone who can’t do the job.”
Nathan smiled, “Wouldn’t want it any other way, besides what are you going to do, fire me? Don’t think so. Last one. I want support, re
al support. You’re not going to give me a job and then not equip me to do it. I’ll not be your fall guy. That means men, equipment, food, houses, electricity, and whatever else I decide I need.”
Butch spoke up, “We understand the importance of the job we’ve given you, and we need it to succeed. We’ll give you everything we can and support you in every way we can, but…you are going to have to solve problems yourself and find resources on your own.”
Nathan wasn’t sure what that meant exactly, but he decided to let it go for now. “Sorry, one more thing I almost forgot about.” Nathan looked at them both as he leaned across the table towards them on his elbows, “If you ever confine me or any of my family again, that will be the end of us working together on anything…ever.”
Anderson sat silent for a moment staring at Nathan and then said, “Well, it looks like we understand each other. Welcome aboard. Butch here will sit down with you tomorrow to help work out a strategy and to see what you need. I have to go back tonight after we have dinner.”
“So that’s it then?” asked Nathan as they stood suddenly.
“Not quite,” Anderson said as they walked back outside onto the deck. He pulled a box out of his pocket and stood stiffly in front of Nathan. “As of now you are promoted to Colonel and assigned as the military governor of the Land Between the Lakes.” Anderson pinned the bright shiny eagles to the collars of Nathan red flannel shirt.
Nathan was stunned and almost laughed out loud at the ridiculousness of it all. “Sir, is that even legal?”
“Who cares?” said Anderson. “It’s legal in every way that matters now and I’m deadly serious. Never doubt that.”
Bethany and the boys were looking at him with some confusion and surprise.
“Does this mean that we get to go home now?” asked Joshua.
“No,” said Nathan. “It means we are home now.”
Chapter 2 – Homecoming
They could have driven to Mayfield, but Nathan declined, choosing to ride the mountain bikes they'd found. Now that he was so close to home, he felt an irrational fear of the unknown. He needed a little more time.
So they took their time and were on their fourth day of the fifty mile journey. After months of walking from Maryland, the bikes were heavenly and the weather was spectacular. Unlike most of the areas they walked through getting to the JP, here the people they saw waved, and they also witnessed farmers in the fields clearing and preparing for planting, sometimes with tractors and sometimes with teams of horses.
Although Nathan didn’t use the offered fuel to drive home, he hadn’t hesitated to use the telephone.
Emotions running high, Nathan and Bethany called their parents. "Mom, it's me...Nathan." They were the only words spoken while his mother cried over the phone for several minutes. With Bethany and her folks the line was choked with outright sobbing.
The reunion with the Hancock crew was almost as emotional. Cujo led the way across the bridge and many hugs and back slaps were exchanged. Dry eyes were hard to find as the large group crossed the bridge together into the Jackson Purchase. Although they wouldn’t say it to Nathan, he sensed that all of them had likely thought that he had abandoned them. It was a validation of sorts to see them safe in the JP.
They got their party settled down in cabins near the Taylor family. The dinner with Generals Anderson and Matthews turned into a larger affair, nearly a full fledged party. Nathan almost felt sorry for the harried Captain Johns.
The next day, Nathan, Harold Buchannan and Jim Meeks met with Butch Matthews. General Anderson left the previous evening and Nathan was glad. Butch was easier to get along with and less pretentious than Anderson.
Nathan declared Harold Buchannan his deputy commander with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and tasked him to help with the defensive planning they were working on.
"Well, how long do you need?" asked Butch rushing to the heart of the matter.
Nathan glared at the map and list of figures on the chalkboard. "To take control of security for the dam, the Land Between the Lakes Park, the refugee camps, and the whole damn eastern border of the JP? For that, we probably need to at least wait until after lunch. Best to start on a full stomach, don't you think?"
"Seriously," pressed Butch, "we need the Guard unit in Paducah. They've got troubles there with some gangs."
"Gangs?" asked Harold. "I wouldn't think you would need soldiers to deal with gangs."
"These are no ordinary gangs," explained Butch. "Their leader Brazen is smart and has unified all the gangs under his cause. They've taken over a large portion of the city and police aren't even allowing entry into their areas. It's only a matter of time before things blow up."
"Sir," said Nathan slowly, "I understand your position and the need, but we just got here. We're going to need some time to get our feet under us. I don't know how long it will take, but I'll go as fast as I can in order to free the Guard troops up."
Butch didn't say anything for several long seconds. "I guess that will have to be good enough. I'll try to be as patient as I can, but if the shit hits the fan in Paducah, I'll have to pull them whether you're ready or not."
"I understand, sir," answered Nathan. "Are you giving us any troops to keep permanently?"
"Actually, you'll inherit former Lieutenant, now Captain, Jason Green and his men from Fort Campbell. We initially gave them the nearly impossible task of policing the entire Land Between the Lakes area, but we changed all of that last week," explained Butch.
"Changed how?" asked Harold.
Butch pointed at a map, "His unit is spread out on a line east to west and working its way south from the dam all the way to the Tennessee border. Any squatters or stragglers are to either to be enlisted voluntarily or driven south by force. Once at the border he is to devise a defensive barrier and prevent any further incursions north. The last report I received from him indicates his line is approximately here." He indicated an area about halfway down the park.
Nathan thought for a moment and then nodded approvingly, "Good. Very good. So assuming Captain Green is successful in his mission, we only have to worry about the northern area."
"Yes," answered Butch. "I understand it's a large area, but if you have to prioritize anything, protect the dam at all costs. That electricity is key to everything."
"I've been thinking about that," said Nathan. "I'm going to make Jim Meeks here a company commander with the rank of Captain. He's going to have the job of security of the dam and his company will be made up of our folks from Hancock. That won't be enough, but I'm thinking we'll grow his ranks pretty quickly."
"Captain?" said Jim sheepishly and smiled at Nathan and Harold.
"You'll earn it," said Nathan sternly, "it's not a gift. Leading troops isn't like looking after cons. You sure you're up to it."
Jim's smile vanished and he took on a harsh look, "I'm up to it, don't you worry, Colonel Taylor."
"I'll also need to take a few of your best men," added Nathan.
"My best men?" asked Jim defensively. "I don't have that many to begin with. What are you going to use them for?"
Nathan pointed to the bridges along the eastern border and the refugee camps marked by red circles. "I'm going to make them platoon leaders with Lieutenant Commissions. They'll each be assigned either a bridge to guard or a camp to monitor."
"Excellent," responded Butch. "I'm also leaving you former Master Sergeant Johnny Robels, now a Captain as your quartermaster. You may have heard about our Fort Campbell raid? That was his idea and his show. I've already set him to work establishing a sustainable logistics plan that will cover the entire park area and the new residents."
Butch paused and looked slightly uncomfortable, "There is another issue you'll inherit. Let me first explain that the JP doesn’t really have the convenience of placing criminal in jails or prisons for any length of time. Anyone guilty of minor offenses pays a fine, is given a public whipping, put in stocks for a day or two, or sent to work the Park's old iron ore mi
ne as forced labor for a month or more."
"Forced prison labor?" asked Harold. "I've seen it done, in some cases done well, but it was outlawed in most states years ago."
"We don't really have any choice," answered Butch. "We need that iron ore, it's our primary trade commodity with the Mennonites for finished goods. We give most men the option of banishment from the JP, but no one has chosen that yet. You'll take over and run this operation also."
"Even with all the men we've talked about, we're going to need more bodies," said Jim. "Where are we supposed to get them?"
"Wherever you can," answered Butch. "You are now the sole authority on decisions of who gets into the JP from the east with the understanding that they settle in the LBL Park area and work for you. Any of them don't pan out, throw 'em back. You're call."
Nathan leaned on the table looking at the map, "We're going to need soldiers first. Sure we can put others to work, but to free up the Guard troops we need soldiers. What you're talking about is using raw material. We'll need to train them and weed out the unfit."
Butch nodded, "I agree and have already ordered Sergeant Major Luke Carter from the Murray State ROTC program to come over to set up a crash basic training program similar to what he had already done for the JP troops. Carter is a good man, just let him know when you need him and he'll be here. He'll be doing double-duty training your troops and cadets over at Murray, but eventually I see him working for you full time if you need him."
"I think we probably will," answered Nathan a little amazed at the resources Butch was willing to push his way. He had come into the meeting prepared to play hardball to get whatever he could, but that didn't seem necessary.
Butch looked around at them and then at his watch. "Gentlemen, I need to get to Paducah, but I trust you understand the gravity and importance of the mission we've entrusted to you. General Anderson has taken some heat for letting 'outsiders', forgive me for saying it, take this on. We need this to work, we're nearly out of options."
