by King, Ryan
Nathan bristled at being called an outsider and pushed down an angry response, "Sir, we understand...better than you folks, I think. We may be outsiders, but this is now our home."
Over the ensuring weeks, those words took on a power in themselves. Mini communities established themselves around housing location or trade. Previous class distinctions to status meant less than nothing. Everyone pulled their weight and worked together knowing they could be thrown out of the JP otherwise.
These communities grew daily and Camp Beaver became the primary entry point into the Land Between the Lakes Park from the east. They quickly determined that the organized nature of Camp Beaver was due to one man, Doctor James Bryant.
Bryant was an old retired widower who lived near Camp Beaver. When people started showing up at the camp, he began to walk over each day and treat their medical issues.
A hierarchy of sorts naturally established itself, and when those in power started to become brutal, the doctor refused to treat any of their gang even under threat of death. In the end, Bryant and the gang leader reached an agreement. Bryant took care of all sick and distributed the food given to them from the JP, and the gang ensured peace and order were maintained. It was an arrangement that worked surprisingly well given the circumstances.
Nathan saw no reason to mess up a good thing. He met with both the doctor and the camp leader and promised to keep up the regular supply of food, electricity, and basic medical supplies in return for peace, quiet, and order. They also set up a station to screen inhabitants of the camp for any special or needed skills.
Medical personnel were the most sought after, doctors, nurses, and EMT’s mainly. They found several and brought them and their families over into the park, allowing a few to go out and help Bryant each day.
They next sought out anyone with law enforcement or military experience and found about two dozen, many of them from Forts Campbell and Knox. These men were added to their growing military forces and their families were settled in the increasingly crowded holiday rental cottage areas. Carpenters, electricians, plumbers, mechanics, construction workers, seamstresses, farmers, and even hunters and fishermen were brought into the park and given tasks suited to their skills.
They also quickly learned that first generation Americans were a godsend since they knew how to do and make things which wealthy western societies had long forgotten. These were accepted readily and taught others how to process food, cure and tan leather, and safely deliver babies among other things.
Even after all those steps, they still needed more men and Nathan decided to simply set up an enlistment stand right at the bridge for any able bodied man willing to serve indefinitely. In return they and their families could enter the JP and settle in the park area. They would be fed and clothed while their service lasted. Should that service end for any reason, all could be thrown right back out of the JP. None hesitated. It was a better deal than they could ever hope to find anywhere else. Destitute and frightened families walked across that long bridge into the park and found a new life, security, and friends.
Before long, the refugee camps were nearly abandoned. Groups now walked down the road through the hollow remnants of the previous bustling camp to the edge of the JP and signed right up to get in, not believing their fortune. Nathan even recruited the camp leader and his thugs, but their duty was mainly to run the shrinking camp. Those not fit for military service, and without any useful skills such as previous white collar workers, were put under the apprenticeship of a skilled laborer to learn and practice a trade. Even the elderly were put to work cooking, doing laundry, or babysitting younger children.
Nathan demanded that the new troops be pushed hard, but taken care of. He felt certain now that a conflict was coming, and he wanted to be ready when it did. The familiar weight of responsibility again fell heavily upon him. He took this job initially as a means to an end, but now he cared deeply about what happened here, just like the rest of them. This was their second chance none of them thought they would have. The new community thrived and grew.
All of this change happened with surprising swiftness. From the time he met Clarence Anderson until his first furlough was just over a month, and the spring would soon be upon them. Only this week did Nathan feel comfortable enough to leave everything in the very capable hands of Harold and finally take a few days to go see their families in Mayfield. Although they had called before they left, Nathan wasn’t sure what to expect. His mother tended towards extremes.
From the park they traveled due west on Route 80 through the little town of Hardin. Nathan remembered when as a boy his family would drive there to eat fried catfish on Sunday afternoons. From Hardin they continued west, getting closer every minute to home. Nathan savored every familiar sight, sound, and smell and was gently coasting down a long curved hill of the two lane road. They wore their backpacks with their familiar long guns attached. The guns probably weren’t needed, but they were comforting.
Nathan realized with a start that they were near the outskirts of his home town. He had intended to give the boys warning and talk about old memories, but his mind wandered and now they were almost there.
Nathan would not find out until later that the local radio station allowed his family to make an announcement the day before their arrival and it now looked like the whole town had turned out. Times were hard, but it was obvious that they had rolled out a day long party in their honor. Nathan could see barbeque pits, men playing instruments on a makeshift bandstand, and plenty of people gathered around to drink something that he bet was not lemonade. They stopped their bikes on the hill overlooking the scene and said nothing. For an instant that seemed to stretch on forever, nothing happened. Nathan and his family just took in the sight and no one below saw them yet.
But then someone looked up and set off a cry.
The word spread like wildfire and people stopped what they were doing and looked their way. “Well, are you ready for this?” Nathan asked his family. He then got back on his bike and started to peddle towards the group with Bethany and the boys falling in close behind them, but he soon coasted to a stop. People were running at them in a mad crazy dash. Nathan had just enough time to be alarmed and had a crazy instinct to pull his pistol and start shooting right before this wave of excited and joyous people washed over them.
He wasn’t knocked over, but it was a near thing. Everyone was talking at once, and touching him, and hugging him, and Nathan felt a loss of control bordering on panic. Then he amazingly heard a clear voice out of the din. It was his mother.
He would recognize the voice anywhere. “You sons-of-bitches better get your asses out of my way right now or else!” Nathan smiled and looked to see the crowd part for her. She smiled with tears running down her face and walked purposefully into Nathan's embrace.
For the first time Nathan allowed all the tension to flow out of him. They had made it. They had done it. He had saved his family.
His mother hugged him tight and whispered in his ear, “Welcome home, son.”
With no warning, Nathan found himself sobbing in her arms, and could not make himself stop for some time.
Chapter 3 – Friendly Relations
Clarence Anderson recommended that he, instead of Reggie Philips, go meet General Jeb Sampson at Fulton along the Kentucky-Tennessee border. Reggie thought the recommendation odd considering Sampson was his counterpart in the WTR, but he deferred to Anderson’s reasoning.
Anderson didn’t trust Sampson but felt they saw more eye to eye as military men and if something happened to Anderson, Butch Matthews would fill his shoes more than adequately. If something happened to Reggie…no one could step in to fill those shoes, because there was no one so universally respected and trusted. Without Reggie, the whole enterprise might just fall apart.
Anderson suspected the requested meeting was for Sampson to explain further delays in delivering the compensation owed in exchange for the electricity, but to reassure the JP that it would be comin
g soon. Sampson would also probably rail at him for selling something that he thought belonged equally to all of them. Anderson had learned not to debate right and wrong with Sampson, only to explain how things were. Sampson fully believed that might made right, and the JP had the might when it came to electricity which infuriated Sampson.
These periodic meetings were slightly ritualistic. One or the other would send a message requesting a meeting at one of the border crossings at a particular time and date. The other party would accept, or decline but propose another time and date. They would then go to the planned location and each party’s escort would gather and look at each other until the planned time. For this meeting Sampson had asked to meet along the old Georgia-Pacific rail line in Fulton which ran from south to north. Anderson normally arrived first and casually waited for Sampson who arrived late, probably thinking it established his superior position.
Typically, Sampson swooped in with a flurry of calls to attention, flags presented, and other ceremony. This time was no different. One of Anderson’s aides unnecessarily let him know the show was about to begin. Sampson strode forward of the line followed by an aide and in a fairly arrogant manner waved General Clarence Anderson to him. Anderson smiled slightly to himself and strode forward with his aide. Anderson looked at his watch and saw it was 10:35, thirty-five minutes past the agreed meeting time. He thought about asking General Sampson sarcastically what time he wanted to have the ten o’clock meeting, but refrained.
“Greetings, General Anderson,” said Sampson. “Thank you for coming today, I see Mister Philips could not make it.”
“President Philips sends his regrets sir, but again asks that you deal with me on all matters and to let you know, I have his full confidence and authority to speak for him.”
“How very trusting of him,” Sampson began to say something else and then stopped himself, appearing to search for words, but then nodded and continued. “Well, let’s get on with it. If you look to my rear you will see we have delivered all the compensation that we owe you.” Sampson said these words with obvious distaste, while his aide made a signal to the rear.
Anderson looked and saw a low platform on what appeared to be an old train flatcar being pushed up on the railroad tracks from around the side of a warehouse by about two dozen men. The railcar was piled high with what Anderson was sure were bags of corn and other agreed upon items of trade such as bicycle tires. He was a little taken aback by the sudden payment, having expected more excuses, but he quickly recovered himself. He waved men forward from his side to take over from Sampson’s men.
Sampson continued on, “There’s a hundred head each of goats and sheep grazing a mile to the east of here which your men can take control of. I believe that will settle our account in full.”
“General, this is most unexpected, thank you.” Anderson nodded slightly.
Sampson looked at him sternly. “Unexpected how? I agreed to your ridiculous terms, and I keep my word. This is what you requested in return for electricity through next summer, correct? I expect to get what I paid for.”
“Yes, General.” Anderson was thinking fast. “I meant no offense, but you must know that we've been having some problems with our electrical delivery and outages are more frequent. It might be prudent to return some of the payment to you until we can be assured of our ability to deliver.”
Sampson scowled. “I expect to receive what I’ve paid for. Your delivery and electrical problems are your concern, not mine.”
Anderson felt anger rising and suppressed it. He was starting to get the feeling that Sampson wanted a confrontation.
Sampson continued on. “Perhaps you should allow my very capable electrical engineers and technicians to assist you. We could run the dam together in the spirit of cooperation. Makes more sense given your problems and that the dam doesn't really belong to the JP anyway.”
Anderson recognized the trap. He could neither accept nor refuse. “General, your offer is very generous. I will take it back to the council and Mr. Philips, and propose it as a mutually beneficial arrangement.”
Sampson smiled, “Ah, the council. How is that working out for you? Playing at democracy like the ancient city-states of Greece.” Sampson’s smile vanished. “It won’t work. Times are dangerous. Strong hands are what are needed regardless of what people think they want. Even the Greeks eventually learned that. It is the responsibility of capable men to take control for the benefit of all.”
“Be that as it may, sir,” said Anderson, “I am committed to the council and President Philips as our leader.”
“I see,” said Sampson. “I understand and appreciate your loyalty, but you do not have to express your frustration for me to see it within you…no need to talk of it, I know you can’t, but we are the same and I think we understand each other.”
Anderson held his tongue waiting to see where this was going.
“There is another matter,” continued Sampson. “He turned slightly and reached back to his aide who handed him a thick envelope. “This, General Anderson, is a proposal for a military and economic alliance between the West Tennessee Republic and the Jackson Purchase. We have devoted much time to this proposal and once you read it, I believe you will see its merits and its logic.”
Sampson handed the proposal to Anderson who, without reading it, handed it to his aide who opened the envelope and began to scan silently.
Anderson looked at Sampson, who was regarding him inquisitively. “General Sampson, I will take this proposal to the council and President Philips.” By this time Anderson’s aide had finished scanning the document and whispered the general parameters of the treaty quickly into his ear.
Anderson nodded and turned back to Sampson. “Sir, just to ensure I understand your proposal before I deliver it. You are proposing that in exchange for electricity without cost, you will provide us military protection.”
“In essence, yes,” said Sampson. “It is a very generous offer if I must say. We are militarily superior to you, have three times your population and military production capacity and could, therefore, help you should you be invaded or attacked. You could even disband your own pitiful forces since they would be unnecessary.”
“And who could possibly want to invade or attack our pitiful forces?” asked Anderson.
“Why quite a lot of people,” said Sampson. “It is a dangerous world out there and you are the only ones that I know of with your own functioning supply of electricity. That alone could cause someone to try to take what you have. That would be very bad for both of us, wouldn’t it?”
Anderson gritted his teeth at the implied threat.
Sampson stared at him for a few moments and then asked, “Might we speak in private for a few moments without our aides?”
Anderson was even more suspicious now. “Sir, I’m not sure that is proper given that I am representing the JP and not speaking on my own behalf.”
“Well, in that case,” said Sampson, “let me speak to you about personal matters between us that have nothing to do with our official positions. As a matter of fact, I insist upon it.”
Anderson thought for a moment and then nodded. Both aides turned and returned to their lines. Sampson and Anderson stood and regarded one another silently for a moment.
“General Anderson,” began Sampson, “I believe you are a smart, dedicated man trying to do what is right for your people. I am the same. We have much in common and can assist each other.”
“I agree,” said Anderson, “the JP and the WTR should work together as much as possible.”
“Yes, but I’m not necessarily talking about our governments. I’m talking about us, you and I,” said Sampson.
“General, I’m not quite sure I understand.”
“Oh I think you do, even if you don’t want to admit it,” Sampson smiled. “You are forced to support a government of people led by individuals who neither know nor understand anything about sacrifice, duty, or command. It must be frustrating.”
&n
bsp; “Not at all, General, it is an honor and a privilege.”
Sampson let out a hearty laugh while wagging his finger at Anderson. “You are good, very good…but the time for games is soon coming to an end.”
Anderson saw Sampson's men fidgeting nervously behind the general and thought his own men were likely also unnerved by the meeting. This is accomplishing nothing but fostering harmful rumors, he thought. Maybe that is Sampson's purpose. Everyone will talk of this conspiratorial private meeting.
“I fear that your government could make a bad decision, possibly several bad decisions,” said Sampson. “Bad decisions in normal times may not have life or death consequences, but in these times they could be catastrophic. For your government not to sign that treaty with us would be a very bad decision.”
Sampson let the words hang in the air, and when Anderson still did not respond, continued on. “I feel like you are a true patriot and a man willing to sacrifice for the welfare of others. I could work with you. We could work together.”
“I agree, General, we should work together on behalf of our governments. It is only logical,” said Anderson neutrally.
Sampson reddened and raised his voice loud enough for men on both sides to hear, “Damn it to hell, man! You know what I’m saying." He looked around and then lowered his voice again, "Let me be plain. If you were to decide to take control of the JP, I would support you in any way needed, to include military force. My price would be that treaty there and accepting my continued…shall we say, patronage.” Sampson pointed at the envelope now in Anderson’s hand.
Anderson felt the very weight of the words. It took awhile for the significance of the proposal to sink into his brain. When he finally responded, he made sure that his emotions were in check and that his voice was firm. “General, I appreciate your being plain. Let be also be plain. I will not now, nor ever in the future, take part in any military coup attempt, or conspiracy of any kind, against the civilian government of the JP. I also must insist that you never speak to me of this again, and that you consider this my final answer.”
