Lylya was certain God had abandoned her. Almost nightly she had been given to grownup men who did things to her she could not have imagined back in Chechnya. They would dress her up like a harlot and paint her lips and eyelids. Sometimes they would pull her hair and hit her for no reason. They would cover her in spittle with their licking and kissing. She would cry and vomit, but no one cared about little Chechen girls.
Some of the men who used her spoke English. Some would speak strange, foreign sounding baby talk to her. Most didn’t speak at all, and seemed reluctant to look into her eyes. The older girl had speculated that those were probably the men with children of their own.
Tonight she had been given to a man whose name was Mike. He had gently taken her by the hand and led her to one of the bedrooms that were used for such things. He motioned for her to take a seat on the bed next to him. She bashfully complied.
"What’s your name?" he asked.
"My name is Lylya," she said in heavily broken English.
He leaned closer to her. "That’s a pretty name. How do you like America?"
Lylya glanced up at him and returned her attention to the floor. "But…" she said, struggling with the translation, "I am not see…America. I am here in room."
"Someday, maybe, I’ll take you out of here," Mike said, grinning.
Lylya glanced back up at him and eyed him warily. "But…they will not let… go out."
"If I could get them to let you out, would you go with me?"
Lylya tried to smile. "No."
"Don't you like me?"
"But… I can't…go out see America."
"I just told you. I might be able to take you out of here for a little while. You must not like me."
"No," Lylya said. "They will not let me go."
He frowned down on her."Oh…are you arguing with me?"
Lylya’s eyes darted back to the floor. "No."
"Now I have to give you a spanking."
"No," she repeated, her lower lip beginning to tremble.
Mike lifted her frail body and slammed her forwards over his knees. He soundly slapped her hard across her bottom.
She wailed and tried to push her hands in the way, trying to deflect the next blow.
A Cossack crashed into the room. "Get out of here!" he shouted at Mike.
"Hey!" Mike yelled back. "I paid for—"
"The Mums have discovered us!" the Cossack said. “We are doomed.”
Mike jumped to his feet, sending Lylya sprawling out across the floor. She looked up at him. The color had drained from his face. His expression was one of utter horror.
He stared wide eyed at the Cossack. "How do I get out?"
Lylya noticed with complete dismay that the grown man had began to cry.
"You can’t let the Mums catch me," he moaned. "Do you know what they would do to me?"
"Go out the window," the Cossack said pointing. "Quickly. They can't prove anything if no one is here."
Mike sprang to the window, lifted the blinds and pulled the pane open.
Lylya heard an explosion followed closely by a high pitched ringing sound.
Mike's head disintegrated before her eyes, spraying the walls crimson.
The Cossack snatched Lylya off the floor and pulled her back into the bunk room from where she had come. All the girls were there now. Three Cossacks stood over them waving automatic rifles in the air.
Lylya heard the front door crash open. Gunfire erupted.
The little girls screamed.
One of the Cossacks ran to the closed bedroom door. "Go away!" he shouted in a heavy Russian accent. "Go away, or we will kill the children!"
A crash echoed in the hallway just outside the door. The three Cossacks fired a volley into the wall.
Instantly the bedroom window behind them imploded, sending shards of glass throughout the room. A huge man appeared, crashing through the window, firing a rifle as he went. All three Cossacks fell to the floor, dead and dying.
The man pulled out of his fighting stance, kicked the Cossacks weapons across the floor and turned towards the children.
The little girls screamed and pressed themselves against the wall.
"Clear!" the big man yelled without taking his eyes off the children.
Lylya stared up at the man. He was the most magnificent creature she had ever seen. He stood over six feet tall. His arms and chest were large and muscular. His clothing appeared to be military but not like any uniform Lylya had ever seen before. A bandanna was tied loosely around his neck. His face was covered with a thick red beard. Goggle-like glasses were pulled away from his eyes and up over his forehead. A strange-looking apparatus seemed to be stuck to his left ear. A small round ball hung in front of his mouth and was connected to the thing at his ear.
The bedroom door opened and three more military men warily stepped in.
The big man with the beard placed his rifle on the floor. He showed his palms, slowly moved to the girls, went to one knee in front of them and said: "It’s all over, kids…you’re safe now."
~~~
"Thanks for coming all the way up here alone again," Hanna Parrish said, her gray hair swirling about her forehead beneath a heavy winter cap.
She and Maria were standing just outside the secluded cabin she had chosen to occupy despite its isolation from the other settlers. For reasons of her own, she had chosen to be alone. No one in Parktown knew why. They only knew that she had been abandoned by her husband during the exodus. She was young for her age of fifty-something, though obviously withdrawn.
There were several isolated cabins in these mountains and each had been claimed. An old Vietnam vet lived in one; a Christian family of four, boasting of rugged Wyoming stock, had taken another. Others had chosen to remain aloof and unknown, but they had all seemed genuinely happy to see Maria and Nigel on their bi-weekly visits.
"That Nigel," Hanna said. "Why does he do that to you? This is the second time this week."
"He had problems this morning. It’s fine though. It’s such a bright clear day, if it wasn’t for my husband coming home early, I might have taken the long way down."
Hanna grunted and shook her head. "Still, a beautiful girl like you shouldn’t be wandering these mountains all by herself."
"Oh, I’ll be fine. I really should be going, though. Why don’t you give me your list and I’ll drop it all off the next time?"
"You are such a Godsend," Hanna said reaching for Maria’s hand.
They hugged and Maria began her journey down the mountain. She entered a thick grove of aspen trees and soon Hanna’s cabin was out of sight.
Hanna had been right, of course. Maria didn’t like the idea of traveling these mountains by herself, but it was comforting to know the Mums were finally patrolling the area, probably watching her now. Even so, she knew so little about the Mums. They were fierce warriors, no doubt about that. She had heard the stories, how they had fought off a vicious attack by outside hordes during the exodus - attacks brought on by tales of hidden Mormon wealth.
It was said back then that each Mormon family had stored away a two year food supply, and that gold and precious jewelry were hidden in the Salt Lake temple, as well as in manmade caves carved deep in the surrounding Wasatch Mountains.
The Mums had miraculously prevailed and retained a semblance of law and order. The word went out and stragglers from all over the mainland, Todd and Maria included, had journeyed to Salt Lake City in search of peace and security. Although separate, the remaining ragtag US military, along with other law and order militias, eventually allied themselves with the Mums.
They were known to be fiercely independent and determined to reinstate the government of the United States. Even the European Union, still hoping for a peaceful settlement, walked softly around them these days.
The Mums were the only real law and order west of Washington DC. Still, formidable as they were, she had never heard of a single account of them harassing noncombatants.
They ha
d even allowed a small band of non-Mormon travelers to resettle a tiny cabin community just to the west of Park City, Utah, with no questions asked, a little community the settlers themselves had nicknamed Parktown. The only condition the Mums imposed on the settlement was that, should the rightful owners return to claim their property, it was to be returned in its original condition without question.
Until recently, the Mums had respectfully kept their distance. Louis had changed that by asking them for protection. She was grateful he had.
Maria finally passed through the aspen grove and moved into a slowly descending meadow. She followed her own footsteps, her sled scooting along behind her, beating the old crusty tracks deeper into the aging snow.
She glanced up towards the hollow where Louis had shot that big deer. No one was there, thank God.
Louis and Gladys had always said she and Todd were being paranoid, but they had no idea what the Vinces were capable of.
She moved out of the meadow into the lower aspen grove and continued making her way through the trees, moving ever further down the mountain. Finally she reached the old washed out river bottom that signaled she was close to home.
She moved to a stump, sat down, pulled her right boot off and shook it soundly, hoping to dislodge whatever had been stabbing at the bottom of her foot since leaving Hanna’s cabin. Finally she heard the satisfying sound of a pebble falling on the rocks below and had just managed to get the boot back on when she heard him.
The voice had come from just over her left shoulder. It was a man’s voice. She whirled and jumped at the sight of him standing only a few feet away. He was a stranger, stocky and not too tall. He had short blond hair and striking blue eyes. He was heavily dressed for the cold, wearing a blue parka, rubber boots and insulated bib overalls. He had a high powered rifle slung over his shoulder and he was reaching out to her.
"You okay, miss?" he said, his breath visible in the frigid mountain air.
Maria stumbled backwards, caught her balance, turned away and began running as fast as her heavy clothing would allow. She made it to the trail leading down into Parktown before she finally dared look back. She could feel him running close behind her, reaching out to catch her, but he wasn’t there. Still she ran. She rounded the corner and continued running till Parktown came into view.
She raced down the hill and scrambled across the road. Thank God Todd was home. She could see him unloading the Humvee. He, Debby, and Louis were carrying supplies back into their cabin.
She could see Louis disappear into the cabin doorway with an armload. Todd was passing Debby on his way back to the Humvee. She saw them stop. Debby’s gloved hand gently reached and stroked Todd’s arm. The two loitered momentarily. They were smiling and laughing.
Maria slowed to a stop and stared down at the scene. Suddenly she remembered the stranger. She whirled and looked behind her. No one was there.
"Todd!" she shouted. "Todd, he’s back! He’s up there again… that guy!"
Maria saw Todd look up and quickly back away from Debby. She saw Debby, take hold of his arm, say something in his ear, turn away and disappear behind the Humvee.
"Todd?" she said quietly, staring down at him.
"What’s wrong?" Todd called out.
She stared back at him, unable to respond.
"Maria!" Todd yelled again.
She couldn’t answer.
Todd dropped the sleeping bag he was holding and quickly closed the distance between them. He moved to her and took hold of her shoulders. "What’s wrong?" he repeated.
"The…the man," she said stammering. "The man I saw is back!"
"The guy you saw on the meadow?"
"Yes!" Maria said pointing up the mountain. She recoiled. "Todd, that’s him!"
Todd looked up. On the hill just below the timberline a man was standing looking back at them. Todd sidestepped Maria and began running up the hill towards him.
"Todd!" Maria hollered, "he’s got a gun… be careful!"
Louis moved up next to Maria. "What’s the problem?"
Maria whirled and glared at him. "Where is that woman?"
"What woman?"
"That… Debby! Why is she here?"
Louis grinned at her. "You’re not thinking what I think you’re thinking, are you?"
"What?"
"You’re not jealous of Debby are you?"
"No! of course not! I just want to know… why is she here?"
"Because if you are jealous," Louis said interrupting, "you would be dead wrong. I’ve never known anyone more in love than Todd. The only woman for him is you." He took her hand. "Otherwise I would tell you…I swear."
"Really?" Maria said softly.
"I swear."
"Oh of course," Maria said, smiling, "I know he loves me. I’m just being weird."
"Yes you are. You’re just being weird and tell me… why is Todd yelling and running towards that man on the hill?"
"Oh," Maria said, glancing back up the hill, "that’s the guy on the mountain. He’s got a gun. Todd went up after him."
Louis looked up at the man who was now standing on the hill watching unperturbed as Todd raced up to meet him.
"That’s the man you saw on the mountain?" Louis said, looking back at Maria.
"Yes."
"Can’t be."
"What?"
"Can’t be. That fella’ moved into the cabin down by the rut just yesterday evening. The Mums sent him."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes," Louis said pointing down the street. "He just moved down there."
Todd had made it to the top of the hill and was confronting the stranger.
Maria left Louis and began scrambling up the hill after him. "Todd!" she yelled. "It’s okay!"
She watched Todd move forward and push the stranger. The stranger backed up slightly before soundly pushing Todd back.
"Todd stop!" Maria shouted. "He’s not the guy!"
Todd wasn’t listening.
By then the two men were nearly touching noses. Maria finally caught up to them.
"What the hell are you doing following my wife?" Todd barked.
"I don’t have a glimmer of what you’re talking about!" the stranger said through clenched teeth, "but you better damn well get off me!"
"Todd," Maria said panting. She took hold of his coat and pulled him away from the stranger. "Todd, listen to me. That’s not him. He just moved into the cabin down by the rut."
Todd paused and blew out a sigh before turning to face the stranger.
"Is this your wife?" the stranger asked.
"Yeah," Maria said, "I’m so sorry—"
The stranger turned his attention to Maria. "What’s wrong with you people? I saw you up on that old riverbed. You were sitting there alone bent over like you were hurt. I only asked you if you were okay, that’s all!"
"I know, I know I just, I’m sorry—"
"Just leave me alone!" the stranger said showing the palm of his hand, "and I’ll leave you alone, how’s that?"
The stranger turned away and began moving down the hill. They watched him reach the road and head south toward the cabin down by the rut.
"Oh, I feel like such an idiot!" Maria said, shaking her head. "I looked up and there he was. It scared me. I guess I just assumed he was the other guy."
"Don’t worry about it, baby," Todd said reaching out to her. He took her in his arms and rocked her. "We must look pretty weird to these folks but nobody knows what we’ve been through."
He put his arm over her shoulder and they made their way down the hill.
"False alarm," Todd said as he approached Louis.
Maria grimaced and shook her head. "I feel like such a fool."
"No harm done," Louis said. "Just make them up a batch of your chocolate almonds and give it to them. That should patch things up nicely, and while you’re at it, make us some. Gladys is a doctor not a cook."
Maria’s face brightened. "That’s a great Idea. Are they a family, then?"<
br />
"I’m pretty sure," Louis said. "I think I saw a wife."
Maria turned towards Todd. "That’s it then. We’ll take them over some chocolate almonds tonight and introduce ourselves…where’s Debby?" She casually glanced at the cabin.
"Oh," Todd said stammering, “you mean…Debby?"
"Yes, Debby," Maria repeated. "Where is she?"
"Debby had to go," Todd said. "Gladys wanted her back at the clinic as soon as possible."
~~~
Maria stopped at the porch belonging to the tiny log house most people around Parktown called the cabin down by the rut. It was called that because of a nearby washed out spillway. It, like all the others in Parktown, was identical to Todd and Maria’s.
Maria pulled the blanket away from her son’s face revealing wide sparkling brown eyes and a quick grin. "Oh you are so cute," she cooed. "You’re the cutest baby in the whole wide world…that’s right…yes you are." She poked at the baby’s chin.
Todd stepped up behind her looking mumpish. He was holding a platter filled with chocolate almonds covered with a white dish towel.
"What am I suppose to say? What if the guy tells us to push off? Maybe we should give it a few days."
"I feel too bad," Maria said, still playing with Joshua’s chin. "I really want to apologize."
Todd hesitated. "Okay, we might as well get it over with." He stepped on the porch and knocked at the door.
"Daddy," a small child’s voice sounded from within the cabin, "someone’s at the door."
The door opened and the stranger stood glaring at Todd. After an awkward moment Todd finally spoke. "Uh, you know we… made a mistake back there—sorry…here… this for you."
Maria giggled and stepped forward. "What my husband is trying to say is: we would like to welcome you to our little camp and… apologize for the horrid way we acted earlier. We didn’t know who you were and we’ve had a few problems—"
The stranger softened. "Oh well, I understand really, we’ve been through a lot ourselves."
Todd pushed the covered platter forward. "Maria made you some candy."
A small, thirty-something woman stepped forward and joined the stranger at the door. She had obviously been standing just inside, listening warily to the conversation. "Oh that’s nice of you," she said. "Won’t you come in?"
Johnson, C. W. Page 8
