The Changing Earth Series (Book 3): The Walls of Freedom

by Hathaway, Sara F.

  “Oh my God, Erika” Kay stammered, hugging her tightly. “I’m so sorry...I’m so sorry this had to happen.”

  “Most of it happened before I got to the refugee camp. I’ve come to terms with a lot of things since then, Kay. One of those things is that everything happens for a reason. I just want to keep everyone safe. There’s nothing anyone can do to restore Star and Dexter to the people they once were or were going to be. There’s no amount of vengeance I could take on anyone to undo the pain,” Erika attested.

  “I don’t know, Erika. I still think I should talk to Earl about this,” Kay insisted.

  “You do what you think is right, but I hope he doesn’t do anything rash. These people are powerful and life out there is hard,” Erika stressed.

  There was another knock on the door. It was Star.

  “Come on in and join us, Star. Do you want some coffee?” Erika wondered.

  “Yes, please,” Star answered.

  “My first granddaughter! How exciting is this?” Kay said, changing the subject.

  “It’s such a pleasure to finally meet you,” Star replied. “I’ve heard so much about you.”

  “Well, tomorrow we are going to have a ladies’ day out on the town. We can go shopping for outfits for the big welcome home party for you guys,” Kay suggested cheerfully.

  “Welcome home party?” Erika wondered. This place had never been her home before.

  “Yeah, lots of folks have heard the story about the landowners that were missing for ten years and finally made it home. They know how hard we had been trying to find you and they want to join in the celebration,” Kay told her.

  “Oh, that sounds cool,” Erika said. Secretly, she was dreading such an event. It always ended with her telling stories she didn’t want to tell.

  Star watched her mother’s expression sour. “That sounds great, Grandma Kay. I would love to see the town,” Star maintained the cheery conversation, picking up the slack.

  “Kay?” Erika asked a question burning in her mind. “How did you guys make it out of Washington?”

  “It was an interesting stroke of luck, actually. While we were visiting with Earl’s mother, God rest her soul, she showed us a letter about mineral rights on the property that she had gotten a few months ago. We needed to go meet with the attorney immediately. While we were here the Great Quake happened. Travel to California was immediately shut down and there was no way to get home. We tried to call but communications had gone down. It was after that when things got really bad all over the country. The old farmhouse here was lost in the quake, but we organized with the neighbors and the refugees that were honorable like Evan and Vanessa. We survived and eventually rebuilt.” Kay explained their story.

  The ladies talked long into the afternoon. Vanessa had brought them lunch and sat with them for a spell. She was a bright lady and just a couple of years older than Erika. She had light brown hair with a slight wave. Erika enjoyed her company very much.

  The boys came back from the fields around three thirty. The ladies headed to their homes to meet with their husbands before heading over to Kay and Earl’s house for dinner.

  Chapter 31

  Vince, Daniel and Dexter were dirty and sweaty when they came through the door.

  “Hello, baby!” Vince announced as he walked through the door.

  “And how did it go?” Erika asked, feeling pumped up by his energy.

  “Just great! It’s quite an operation Dad, well, actually Evan,” he corrected himself, “has going here: chickens, pigs, vegetables, orchards and something you are going to love.” He was eager to make her smile bigger.

  “What?” she wondered.

  “Four thousand acres of woodlands! Complete with a pond,” he replied.

  “Really? That’s awesome,” Erika acknowledged.

  “You’re darn right it is. Dad says the board gives him hell for it, but he fights to keep that part natural,” Vince advocated, sitting down to untie his boots.

  “At least I’ll get to use my bow,” Erika answered enthusiastically.

  “I have a good feeling about this,” he chimed excitedly as he headed to the shower.

  “It was great, Mom!” Daniel agreed.

  Erika noticed Dexter was rolling his eyes.

  “The gardens are huge! And we got to feed chickens and pigs! Plus, Grandpa says he has lots of books I can read. He also says there’s a school that kids go to and Dexter and I can go to school there, but...” Daniel became lost in thought.

  “But what, buddy?” Erika inquired.

  “Remember when we went to school with the landowners in Las Vegas?” he asked.

  “Yeah?” Erika answered.

  “It didn’t go well, remember? Those kids, they hated the refugees. What if it’s like that here?” He was deeply concerned.

  “You won’t know until you try but you don’t have to go if you don’t want to,” Erika reassured him.

  “That’s not what Grandpa said,” Dexter asserted.

  “What did Grandpa say?” Erika inquired.

  “He said that we would start school next week, and that we’ve already missed so much it would be a miracle if we could catch up,” Dexter repeated.

  “I’m sure whatever he said, he didn’t mean it like that, Dexter. They’re just happy to have us home and sad that you have missed so much of a ‘normal’ life.” Erika tried to make sense of a conversation she had not been privy to.

  “A ‘normal’ life, mom? We’re supposed to just pretend we haven’t been in a refugee camp for the last ten years, had the government hunting us and had to kill to survive? I’m so sorry, kid. Here’s your life you should have had? Now I’m supposed to go sit in some desk at a school and pretend like it didn’t happen? I’m not sure I can do that, Mom,” Dexter admitted, leaning down to pet Trucker.

  “Don’t worry, guys. Your father and I are still your parents. I’m sure we can figure something out. Let me talk with Grandma and Grandpa tonight, okay?” Erika had to get this sorted out.

  “Come give me a hug, dirtballs,” Erika teased, hugging them tightly. “Now, go hit the showers.”

  The boys left down the tunnel, with Jack and Trucker close on their heels. Erika took the moment to check the computer to see if she had a message from her mother, nothing yet. She closed the computer as Vince entered the room.

  “Cleaning the arsenal today?” Vince commented, having seen all her guns laid out in the room.

  “Just getting organized,” she remarked, giving him a kiss. “Did the boys talk to you about going to school next week?”

  “Yeah, Dad said it’s not too far from here. Won’t that be great for the kids?” he said optimistically.

  “I’m not so sure, Vince. Dexter doesn’t think he wants to do it and Daniel’s scared that it will be like school at the refugee camp,” she explained.

  “Let’s just let them settle in and then we’ll worry about it. They need an education, especially Daniel, he has a lot of school left,” Vince urged her.

  “I agree, I just think he may need more time to adjust.” Erika defended the boys.

  “We’ll talk with my parents and work it out. Don’t worry. We’re safe. This is great and I love you!” he sang, kissing her.

  Dexter and Daniel came back through the tunnel with the dogs chasing them in a joyful bounce. They joined Star and Sean outside and headed for Earl and Kay’s house.

  Vanessa served them a fabulous dinner and after talking for a while with Earl and Kay, the children decided to head back to the pods. Vince, Erika, Earl and Kay talked long into the night. Earl explained to Vince how they had survived, and Erika and Vince told their whole story.

  Earl understood the children’s feelings about attending school, but said they would have to find a solution. Landowner children had to receive an education. Earl was going to look into a tutor for home schooling. Kay had told Earl about what Mathew Tweed had done, but much to Erika’s surprise, Earl agreed with Erika. He did not want to lose his fam
ily ever again and felt the players were too powerful to challenge.

  Earl and Kay were okay with the dogs staying on the property and actually welcomed them. But as a veterinarian, Earl wanted to fix them and make sure they had all their shots. Erika agreed with that and had worried about the lack of distemper and rabies prevention in the past.

  It was dark when Erika and Vince boarded the runner to go home. They enjoyed the cool night air as it blew by them. As they passed by the barn Erika saw Daniel playing with Gage and Brenden.

  Erika tapped Vince and pointed the boys out. “At least he’s making some friends.”

  Vince agreed but wondered to himself if that was a good idea. Daniel would have to learn to fit in with landowners, and making refugee friends would probably confuse the young man even more.

  They exited the runner and found Dexter and Megan sitting on the stairs together. They were talking and laughing as Vince and Erika approached. Pleasantries were exchanged as they passed by the teens.

  “At least he’s making friends,” Vince said.

  Erika gave him the mom look about her son sitting in the dark talking to a girl.

  *****

  The next morning the boys stayed home too. They needed time to settle in. Vince delighted in the real coffee he got to drink in the morning as he teased Erika about going dress shopping. She stuck her tongue out at him.

  “And what are you going to do with a whole day off?” she petitioned him as she gently slid her body up against his.

  “I’m going to help Dad with the dogs and sit around in my underwear with my boys,” he teased her.

  “Oh, some male bonding time?” Erika jested.

  “Yup,” he answered, hugging her tightly.

  Erika was a little disappointed that she wasn’t staying home as well, but she was also excited for a day out with Star and Kay. They piled into a small electric car that Earl owned to go back and forth from his office in Brainerd. It was a treat for Erika and Star. Ten years had passed since the last time they rode inside a car. Erika played with the radio while Vanessa and Star sat in back. The vehicle quietly traversed the roads on the way to town. There were a few other cars similar to theirs heading one direction or another and big trucks carrying various farm goods. These trucks were all headed to the tax warehouse. The long line waited outside the building as they passed it and neared town.

  The little town of Brainerd was not so little anymore. Buildings rebuilt on springs and suspended pods composed the structures. Solar panels and wind turbines powered their efforts. Kay parked at a charging center and they began to stroll down the street. Erika and Star couldn’t believe this world still existed after what they had seen. Some stores had used goods, salvaged from the past, and others boasted signs about new products for the upscale landowner.

  There were electronics stores, shoe stores, markets, restaurants, appliance stores and so much more. Erika likened it to a mall from the past spread out through the street. They passed an outdoors store with tents and camouflage clothes displayed in the window, but much to Erika’s dismay, they were headed to the dress store next to it.

  It was a horrifying day for Erika, trying on dress after dress, but she did enjoy watching Star parade around in all those pretty things. The women laughed and talked while they chose outfits for the party. Erika settled on a dress that was actually pants with a spaghetti-strapped top. She chose a top to wear that looked classy but covered her scars on her arms. Star picked a stylish brown dress that fell lightly over her body and coalesced in one strap over one arm. She looked beautiful.

  After dresses they chose shoes, and Erika laughed and laughed at Star trying to walk around in heels. Eventually they decided that the flat strap shoes would probably be the best idea.

  After they ate lunch they visited the market for a few items that Vanessa and Kay needed. Erika was in awe of this place. The stores she had known in the past displayed products wrapped in plastic everywhere. Here most products were in big bins that you had to scoop or select and place in your basket. Bags were made from material or paper. The meats and cheeses were wrapped in butcher paper. It was like an Old West market mixed with futuristic technology.

  Kay explained that plastics relied on oil production. Since production worldwide had been stunted they were not using plastic on food products any longer. Most food products were made from scratch at home, but people who serviced the city needed food too. The majority of the plastics were diverted to build housing pods. Kay went on to explain the processes of collecting old plastics and turning them into pellets that could be used to build the pods.

  Chapter 32

  When they returned home from their foray into town, Star headed to find Sean and show him her new outfit. Jared, Megan and Dexter were sitting at one of the outdoor picnic tables, while Daniel, Gage and Brenden played tag around them. Erika felt at ease. She was pleased with life and her nerves almost didn’t know how to be so calm. Vince was waiting inside with a cone-headed Jack and Trucker.

  “How did it go?” Vince wondered, giving her a kiss.

  “Just great, dress shopping all day, my favorite thing to do,” she said sarcastically. “No...it was fun to watch Star and spend time with Kay. How did it go with the dogs?”

  “Fine, they’re all set. No puppies and no disease,” Vince answered.

  She sat down at the computer, eager to see if her mom had responded.

  “What are you up to?” he asked.

  “I found my mom and emailed her. We are setting up a video call. I was going to wait and surprise everyone,” she told him, hoping he would keep it a secret.

  She tapped on the keys, eager for a response.

  “So?” Vince was excited to talk with Nancy too.

  “Tomorrow, around three in the afternoon,” Erika beamed.

  “Sweet! Good job, baby!” Vince hugged her.

  A knock, knock, knock, came from the door. It was Master Sergeant Bennet.

  “Hello, Sergeant,” Erika greeted him cheerfully.

  “Hey, guys, what are you two all giddy about?” he wondered.

  Erika didn’t think there was any harm in telling him. “I found my mom, we are going to do a video call tomorrow,”

  “You have a computer in here?” he inquired, scowling. He did not seem to be sharing in the joy of talking to Nancy.

  “Yeah, isn’t it great! I had to relearn how to do it, but I figured it out,” she explained excitedly.

  “Hmmm...” Master Sergeant Bennet didn’t seem excited about the computer or the call.

  “What?” Erika didn’t understand why he wasn’t sharing her enthusiasm.

  “I didn’t know you’d have access to a computer at home,” he replied.

  “Have access? Are we still prisoners, Sergeant? I thought I was a free landowner now?” she rebutted him.

  “On paper, yes,” Bennet answered.

  “How do you mean?” Vince was now just as interested in his explanation.

  “Come on, you guys. Don’t be so naive. There was a call for your arrest from the Federal Governing Board, but the sympathizers got you out and home. Why do you think we had to stay away from the general populace on the way home? Going in to town, unguarded like you did today...stupid, really stupid. Using a computer that is monitored twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week...stupid, very stupid, and did you ever think that they might use your mom as a tool against you? To silence you,” he explained. “Damn, I liked it better when you had to just follow orders,” he stammered, pacing the floor.

  “You never told me any of this, Master Sergeant. You blew sunshine and roses up my ass. I’m not psychic and you have to give orders in order for them to be followed,” Erika was pissed. Her excitement with talking to her mom was being squashed to oblivion.

  Vince was more calculated. “Should we not make the call, then?” he wondered.

  “No, it’s too late for that and cupcake would have a fit. Go ahead as planned, but Erika, you are the lynchpin here. No more leaving
unguarded,” he stressed. “And that goes for your family too. We can’t give them any excuse to use them against you. You two stay here, I’ve got to go talk with Major Virgis about this.”

  He left in a huff, and Vince and Erika stared at one another, dumbfounded. Star came in the door with Sean, having seen Bennet storming away.

  “What’s he all pissed off about?” Sean wondered.

  Erika didn’t want to spoil the surprise despite the Master Sergeant, “Oh you know him, he’s always steamed up about something. I guess we are not supposed to leave without guards,” Erika said, playing it off.

  “What?” Star exclaimed. “Like we are still prisoners? Like we can’t take care of ourselves?” She was not happy about this.

  “Don’t worry about it, Star,” Vince assured her. “Your mother and I have it all under control.”

  For some reason Erika didn’t think Star was buying it, but it was time for dinner. Dexter and Daniel joined them on the runner to go to Kay and Earl’s to eat. Master Sergeant Bennet had obviously been in touch with Earl during the day, because they all received a stern lecture from him about leaving unattended.

  The next day, Erika passed her time cleaning weapons. They all gleamed and smelled of fresh oil. The boys came back early from the farm, and they all gathered in Erika and Vince’s pod.

  “What’s this about, Mom?” Dexter wondered.

  “You’ll see,” Erika related as she pulled up the video chat program and clicked the link. Nancy appeared on the screen. Tears formed in all their eyes and they wished they could reach through the screen and hug her. Nancy looked great. She had cut her graying hair short and chatted about her daily activities and Brett. Erika remembered Master Sergeant Bennet’s warning and gave her an abbreviated story of them getting to Minnesota. Nancy knew her daughter and felt that there was a lot she was not telling her. She figured there was a good reason for it. Erika urged her as discreetly as possible to take care of herself and stay vigilant.

  The kids each took their turn talking with Nancy and took the cue from Erika that they shouldn’t talk too much about their past, so they focused on the present and how amazing this place was to live in. Erika ended the conversation with promises to talk again in about a week, but she had to wonder if she would be allowed to do that.