by E A Lake
Miranda stepped forward. “I’ll carry him. He’s the littlest. I can handle that.” She bent down and Timmy wrapped his small arms around her neck. She popped up quickly and he wrapped his legs around her thin waist. As she began down the road, she saw Wilson staring at her.
“What?” she shot at the testy man. “It’s not a problem.” She tried to walk past him, but he grabbed her left arm.
“That’s not the way it works on the road, Randa. He ain’t yours, you only do that for family,” he said, staring deep into her eyes. “Not once, once I tell you, have any of us done that for the group. You gotta take care of yourself so you can help the group, not hinder it.” He turned to walk.
Now Miranda lashed at his arm, hitting him first and then spinning him back towards her. “What is your problem? Why are you so mean to everyone? Why can’t you be nice just once?” She gave Wilson everything he had delivered and more.
He leaned close into her. “You gotta protect yourself, Randa,” he whispered so that only she might hear. “Only then are you a member of the group. Those are the rules of the road. Everyone,” he lifted a single finger and shook it several times, “everyone, has to take care of themselves first. Then, and only then, can they help the group.”
“You are so selfish,” she spat.
“I’m just teaching you the rules of the road,” he continued in a whisper. “If something happens to you, the group loses. If there’s one less in the group, it’s not as strong. Ain’t no one else gonna take care of you like you can.” He snapped loudly and pointed at her shocked face. “Remember that.”
Standing silently, she watched Wilson walk past Tiny. Tiny went to say something, but Wilson waved him off as soon as Tiny’s mouth opened. Judy and Sharon walked next to Miranda, also staring at Wilson.
“Most of what he says is true,” Judy said in a low tone. “That’s the first rule of the group. Each individual is responsible for his or her self. After that, it’s what they do for the group.” Judy smiled and nodded for Miranda to follow along.
“Of course,” Sharon added. “There’s nothing wrong with you carrying Timmy. It’s just a couple more miles, so it’s not a big deal. For now at least.”
“But we don’t live on the road,” Miranda whined ahead to the older women. “We’re just kids looking for a place to call home. There’s a difference.”
Sharon stopped and turned to the girl. Her face bore the most serious expression Miranda had seen from her. “Maybe now, but in the future, maybe not. No one knows when the road will summon them.” She turned and looked at Judy. Nodding, she continued. “Judy and I were just girls, a little older than you, when we started. We’d never given it a thought. But food ran out and we were both a liability to our families.” Sharon’s eyes became misty and she turned away.
“Sharon and I were mostly looking for food,” Judy continued for her cousin. “We ran into Jim and Randy after a week or so. We didn’t have any food. We had no idea what we were doing. Everything was so dark.” Her eyes were now damp with tears. “Jim showed us. He fed us for a while, but only after he was sure he had enough for him and Tiny. But he taught us to be dependent on ourselves first. And when we finally were, we became part of the group.” She looked ahead at Tiny pleading on the side of the road with Wilson and gave a tiny smile.
“I never dreamt I’d ever live like this,” Sharon said, rejoining the conversation. “If it wasn’t for Jim and Randy, I don’t think Judy and I would still be alive. The road’s not easy, Miranda. But it beats starving. Just take care of yourself in the future. Remember that and you’ll be fine.”
The three women and three small boys quietly moved ahead towards Eau Claire. Miranda adjusted Timmy several times, not wanting to stop and bring undesired attention to either of them. For some reason, her back and feet became hot. She felt parched and drank more water than before. Perhaps it was because of her rider. Perhaps it was Wilson’s words, eating away at her on the inside.
Standing in front of a large, white sign with bold, blue letters, Wilson squinted and sounded out as much as he could. “Welcome to the…” The next words caused a lengthy pause.
Judy stepped forward. “Welcome to the Community of Eau Claire. All are welcome. Please register at the Community Center upon arrival.” She read the words loud and clear for the entire group to hear.
Wilson moved closer to the sign. “What’s that word?” he asked, pointing at the ‘Eau’ of Eau Claire.
“That’s the ‘Eau’ of Eau Claire,” Judy responded.
Wilson shrugged. “I thought it might be an O and an H. You know like, ‘oh heck’, or ‘oh darn’.” He glanced back at Judy. “Why they gotta make it so complicated?”
Judy smiled as she read more of the sign. “I think it’s French or something. I don’t really know what it means. Maybe water, but I’m not real certain.” Judy stepped closer to Wilson and whispered in his ear. “The sign says no guns allowed in town. Is that a problem?”
Wilson shook her off. “Nah, it’s buried in the bottom of my pack. Ain’t even loaded. I didn’t put any bullets in the clip yet either.” He stared at the sign, trying to make out a few more words.
Judy got serious. “Are you sure, Jimmy? We can always hide it out here somewhere and then come back for it in a day or two.”
He turned to her. “It’ll be fine. No one could find it in there anyways.” He faced the rest of the group. “Okay, we’re here. Let’s get into town and see what we can find.”
The group slowly made their way down the road and followed signs stating ‘Community Center’. The excitement level of the kids picked up with each step. Maybe now they’d find their parents, Miranda said. Or at least people who would try and help find them. Maybe tonight they would sleep in soft beds with real pillows and cleans blankets. And they would have food that was real and fresh. Not the canned or dried fare they’d had for the last four months.
Sharon and Judy shared a grin. “I know we just cleaned up in Menomonie a few days back,” Sharon said. “But it will be nice to clean up again. Maybe they’ll even have a place where we can wash some clothes here. Maybe even give us credit to hit the exchange and pick out some newer stuff.”
Judy agreed. “I need a different coat before winter. This just may be the right place for us.” She reached out and took her cousin’s hand while still holding Miranda’s in her other. “I hope the trades are decent. I really pray this Wayne character is a decent fellow.”
Up front, Tiny and Wilson set the pace for the group, attempting to keep three young, giddy boys in line. “Tiny,” Wilson called out. “We’re eating good tonight. I already saw a couple herds of cows to the north.” He pointed to his left. “And I bet those are chicken coops off in the far end town. Steak or chicken, either one will do.”
Walking quicker than he had throughout most of the day, Tiny grinned. “I’m so hungry, I don’t care which they give us.” He winked at Timmy walking next to him on the road. “I bet I could eat a whole cow tonight, all by myself.”
Timmy laughed and ran ahead to tell the older boys of Tiny’s prediction. They all laughed and ran ahead, happy once again.
Chapter Twenty
Wilson paced in front of the Community Center. Sharon and Judy went in to talk to the people there and find out if they could find the childrens’ parents. In his mind, they’d been in there a long time. Adding to his frustration was the three boys hanging all over Tiny.
“Put those kids down, Tiny,” Wilson yelled between his teeth. “Let’s try and keep a low profile here.” Presently, Tiny had one boy, Brock, hanging upside down, holding tightly to his ankles.
Miranda glared between Wilson and Tiny and the boys. “You gonna pace the whole time they’re in there?” she asked on one of Wilson’s laps in front of her.
He spun, quickly recognizing her sarcasm. “You gotta stay on your toes, little girl,” he responded. “Can’t sit back and not pay attention – ever.” He leaned forward and pointed his dirty finger in her f
ace. She slapped it away. “Just cause you’re not in the open spaces don’t mean something bad can’t happen. Don’t forget that.”
Scanning a full circle around her first, Miranda looked at Wilson strangely. “This seems like a pretty safe place. Law and guards all around. No one causing a stink anywhere. I would think you’d relax when you’re in a community like this one.”
He ignored her simple logic and started another lap.
Tiny began throwing the smaller two lads as high in the air as he could, catching them as they fell back to earth. Their screams of joy rose to a new level. “Tiny, I swear I’m gonna come over there and beat you if you don’t quit that.” Tiny, and the boys ignored Wilson’s idle threats.
“Do you ever have fun?” Miranda asked, watching Tiny throw her brother extremely high. She flinched as Brock fell and Tiny caught him at the last possible second. When she turned around, there sat Wilson next to her.
“It ain’t like that no more, Randa. You’ll learn as time goes on. Just ain’t a lot of fun left to be had out there anymore.” He leaned back on the bench, resting on his elbows. “When I was a kid, when we still had everything, we had fun. But I’ll tell ya, since then…” He shook his head and looked away.
“Maybe you should have some kids.” Miranda whispered.
Wilson grinned. “Done real good with you, ain’t that?” Now it was her turn to look away. “Hey, I didn’t mean that like that. It’s just that things used to be okay. A kid could sit around outside at night by himself and just watch the stars float by. Or talk to a buddy down at a fishing hole.” He paused, lost in a thought. “Now, heck; it ain’t safe hardly nowhere anymore. Those old farts are a perfect example this morning. Not really that much trouble, but just one more thing you gotta be careful of.”
Wilson noticed Miranda’s eyes look past him as she raised her eyebrows. Turning, he saw Sharon and Judy coming from the front doors of the building. “About time,” he muttered.
Judy made her way to the children, including Tiny, while Sharon signaled Wilson aside.
“So, what’s the scoop?” he asked, watching to make sure the others weren’t listening to their conversation.
“We gotta go deal with that Wayne fellow,” she began. “Captain Wayne they all called him. I asked if he was Army or something and they all just smiled inside there. Said we’d figure it out when we met with him.”
Wilson nodded, looking at other people going past. “Sounds easy enough. Now, if you wanna take the lead again, we gotta get a few things set up first.” Sharon had done most of the talking for the group for the last five trades or so, ever since Wilson and his attitude almost got them all tarred and feathered south of Saint Paul a few months back.
A look of angst crossed Sharon’s face.
“Problem?” Wilson asked.
“Yeah, here’s the thing.” Sharon seemed to measure her words carefully. “And I don’t like it, but I can live with it.” Wilson shot her a puzzled expression. “Seems this Wayne character is quite the chauvinist. He doesn’t like to deal with women, only men. They said we could try, but just know he’d probably turn us away. Seems he’d rather give up a good trade than deal with a woman.”
Wilson’s head shook slightly in disagreement. “That don’t make no sense. Women make every bit as good of finders as men do. Everyone knows that,” he said, looking at Sharon.
She shrugged. “Why don’t you do it this time, Jimmy? It’ll be easier that way. We don’t need no trouble here.” As she finished, she glanced at Judy. “Oh yeah. Judy says you, and me, and Tiny should go in and she’ll stay outside with the kids,” Sharon added. “She figures with less commotion, we’ll do a better deal.”
Wilson agreed with that much.
“Okay, let’s roll then,” Wilson yelled to his gang. Sharon led them around the north end of the Community Center and two blocks east to the offices of Captain Wayne Randall.
“I’m impressed, Doctor Swanson.” Wayne spoke to the nervous man with a calm voice. “The report that I saw earlier today shows that you have the problem pretty well isolated.” Swanson nodded cautiously.
“So,” Wayne continued, “what’s your professional opinion?” He leaned forward and stared intensely into Swanson’s narrowed brown eyes.
“Better nourishment should eliminate the problem. If our women received more fruits and vegetables, along with a higher protein diet, we should see the problem start to dissipate within three or four months.” Swanson nervously adjusted his glasses. “Six months tops, sir.” Wayne smiled broadly at the doctor’s words.
A quiet knock of the door interrupted the conversation. Jerry rose from his seat in the back and snuck into the hallway. The door clicked closed behind him.
Wayne moved back to his chair and sat down, satisfied. “Excellent, Doctor. Good work. Next, you need to work with the census people to identify all women between the ages of 16 and 32 and get them the proper nourishment. I’ll sign the order and have it over there first thing tomorrow morning.”
Jerry quietly snuck back into the room and whispered in the Captain’s ear. Wayne nodded and focused his attention once again on Doctor Swanson. “Now, you’ll have to excuse me, but I have other pressing matters to attend to.”
The doctor rose, seemingly relieved with the results of this meeting, and the two men shook hands.
Wayne held the doctor’s hand for an uncomfortable amount of time. “Say, Doc,” he began slowly. “How did Patricia take the news?” He noticed Swanson tense.
“Captain,” he began nervously, “she’s only 15. A full year under what the order will state.” Wayne continued to hold the other man’s hand tightly. Looking up, Wayne’s eyes showed no compassion.
“I still think it’s a good plan. Show’s your commitment to our cause, Swanson.” Wayne finally released his hand. “I’ll expect she gets extra nourishment as well. See to it, Ashton.”
Doctor Swanson turned and left the office as fast as he dared, his next move still uncertain in his mind.
“Who’s in the hall, Jerry?” Wayne asked.
“Some people looking to make some trades, sir.” Jerry stared at Wayne, his contempt on display. “Finders, I think. I say we send them off. They ain’t worth the clothes on their backs.”
Wayne grinned and patted Jerry’s shoulder. “No, son. Let ‘em in,” Wayne replied. “I’m always open to a good trade. Never know what they may have for us.”
Jerry frowned and turned. “You’re the boss,” he said, almost too quietly to be heard.
Wayne smiled at his henchman. “Yes I am, boy,” he replied to himself. “Yes I am.”
Sharon, Tiny and Wilson followed Jerry into the large oak-paneled chamber known as the Captain’s lair. Captain Wayne stood in front of his desk smiling at the group.
“Welcome, welcome, please come in,” Wayne said, spreading his short arms wide. “Please, come up front here. I’m anxious to meet you all.” As Jerry closed the door behind them, the three stepped forward cautiously.
Wilson was shocked at the size of the man standing in front of him. He cast a quick glance at Tiny and Sharon; they seemed nervous. This was a different setting than most communities. Usually, they dealt with some mid-level handler who took care of the trades. Here, they were obviously dealing with the head man himself.
He’s about half the size of Tiny. He almost laughed at the Captain’s hat perched on Wayne’s small head. The three finders lined up in front of Wayne as he looked them over carefully.
“Greetings. I’m Wayne Randall. Nice to meet you all,” he said, extending his open hand to them one after another.
“Wilson, Jim Wilson,” he stated plainly. “But people just call me Wilson.”
Wayne grinned at the uncomfortable finder. “Fine, fine. And who else do we have here?” he asked, looking at the others.
“This is Sharon Barlett,” Wilson said, pointing at his friend. Wayne nodded politely. “And the big guy is Randy Graves. We just call him Tiny.” Wayne laughed.
“Welcome to the Community of Eau Claire. Formerly the City of the same,” Wayne began. “Back when we had cities. Now the only people living in cities are derelicts and gangs. Places like St. Paul.” He gazed at Wilson. “You ever been to St. Paul?”
“Yeah, ‘bout a month ago we came past the east side,” Wilson answered. “Can’t say I thought too much of it though.”
Wayne went around to the back of his desk and leaned forward on his hands. “Well, you’ll like Eau Claire. Clean water, you know.” He smiled at the group, waiting for something. When no one responded, he began again. “That’s what Eau Claire means. It’s French for ‘clean water’.” The group smiled and nodded to one another.
“I think you’ll find this a fair and decent place, Wilson,” Wayne started on a speech. “We are 100 percent self-sufficient and we’re really doing quite well. We have 3,000 head of cattle out on the north end. Next to them, we have two huge chicken coops; used to be used for turkeys. But no one wants turkey anymore.” Wayne looked back at his hired gun. Wilson noticed the fellow rolled his eyes at the older man.
“We’re about to do our spring planting. We’ll have corn, green beans, carrots, peas…all that good stuff.” The guy sure loved hearing himself talk, Wilson thought. “Down on the south end of town, more in the hills, we grow strawberries and blueberries, raspberries, some grapes. And we have quite an orchard full of apple and pear trees.” Wayne smiled at Wilson again. “All the good stuff you could ever want to resupply yourself for the road.”
Looking at the group now, he straightened. “Do you have any questions before we get down to business? Anyone?”
Wilson’s chin shot up briefly. “Yes, Wilson?” Wayne asked.
“Just kinda wondering why they all call you Captain. Were you in the Navy or something back a ways?” He noticed Sharon flinched at his question. Not that it bothered him any.
