***
Chet added another pinch of spice to his tomato sauce bubbling gently on the edge of the woodstove. Adele dipped a clean spoon into the sauce and tasted, letting out an appreciative moan.
“That’s almost too good to put on my meager contribution,” she said, smiling at Chet.
“Meager? Not even close. If you ever need a job as an assistant chef, let me know. I’d hire you in a heartbeat.” Their banter was the easy conversation of friends as Adele set her filled casserole dish on the woodstove trivet, and covered it to help keep the heat in.
“How are Stormy and the puppies doing?” Adele asked, changing the subject. She knew she was a good cook, but she still felt inadequate next to Chet and the compliment embarrassed her.
Chet laughed, delighted to talk about his dogs. “Stormy is finally gaining some weight back, and the puppies are growing daily. They are climbing all over the place. You want one?”
“Ah, no, not yet. Have you named them?” Adele asked.
“Of course I have. The female is Pearl and the two males are Buster and Billy.”
“I think it’s time to set the table,” Adele mentioned. “I can see Jeff coming across the yard. They must be done with whatever it was that was they were doing.”
“On that note, I’m going next door to pick out some appropriate wine and change clothes. I’ll be back in about twenty minutes.” He stopped at the door and turned back to her. “Adele, this has been the most fun I’ve had in months.” He gave her a warm, one-armed hug and hurried to the dome next door, waving a greeting to Jeff.
***
Although refreshed from his nap, Kyle still stumbled on swollen feet, making his way to the carport of the dome where he knew Adele was hiding out. He pulled the small knife from his inside pocket and opened the blade, placing it in an outer pocket as he watched Jeff approach.
With Jeff facing away from him, Kyle picked up a large rock, one that lined the walking path, and bashed Jeff in the back of the head.
Adele had seen Jeff nearing the house and waited to open the door for him. After a few moments, she opened the door to see Jeff on the ground and Kyle leaning over him with a large rock raised to strike.
“NO!” she shouted and sprinted out the door, slamming into Kyle, knocking him aside. The rock fell from his hands before he could again strike the prone figure on the ground.
Kyle roared and easily fought off Adele’s attempts to disable him. He gave her a shove and quickly stood, grabbing her by the throat, forcing her to stand.
“Oh, how absolutely perfect,” Kyle sneered at her, holding her with one hand. He balled his other hand into a fist and punched her, hard, not loosening his grip on her throat. Now, with both hands closing around her neck, he increased the pressure, blocking the flow of blood and oxygen to her brain.
She continued to struggle, though it was with diminishing effort. Adele began to see white spots blossoming behind her eyes and she went limp.
Kyle flung her motionless body to the ground and pulled the knife from his pocket. Poised over the two bodies lying still before him, he laughed in his madness and straddled Adele to finish her off.
Chet growled in outrage and grabbed hold of Kyle’s short hair from behind and jerked him to his feet, preventing him from doing any more harm. He flailed helplessly in the big man’s grip. Chet wrapped one arm around Kyle’s neck and with the other, snapped his neck, and then dropped him like a deflated garbage bag.
Chet bent over Adele to feel for a pulse. She coughed and he turned her on her side. Assured she would be okay, he checked Jeff. The bruised and bloody lump on the back of his head was very obvious. Chet gently turned him onto his back to check his breathing and for a pulse.
Adele crawled over to Jeff on her hands and knees, laid her head on his chest, and sobbed.
Jeff moaned and his eyes fluttered open.
***
“You’re sure?” Adele asked Chet, holding a snow filled baggie to her neck. The vivid purple bruises were already beginning to show, and the short finger marks were all too obvious.
“Chet broke his neck, Adele. That piece of shit won’t bother you ever again.” Aaron looked at Chet. “Remind me never to piss you off, big guy.”
“I guess I got carried away. I only meant to pull him off you,” he apologized to Adele.
“Well, I for one am glad you did what you did, Chet,” Jeff said, pressing the ice pack to the back of his head. “We should probably take his body into town and let the sheriff decide what to do with it.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
“It was self-defense, Sheriff. This guy was going to kill Jeff and Adele,” Aaron explained to Claude.
“Why didn’t they come in with you?”
“Neither one is in any condition to travel, even a short distance. Jeff has a severe concussion and Adele’s throat is so bruised she can barely swallow. Chet is keeping an eye on them,” Beth said.
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to go back with you and check them over,” Dr. Cory said. He stood and began restocking his black bag.
“And I’d like to question them,” Claude added. “With the road now open, it shouldn’t take long.”
***
“Those are some nasty bruises, Ms. Michaels,” Dr. Cory observed. He placed his hands gently on either side of her neck, the heels of his hands touching. “Swallow. Again.” He flashed his penlight in her eyes. “I can’t feel any damage beyond swelling. You were extremely lucky Chet showed up when he did.”
Adele shuddered. “Yes, I know.”
Dr. Cory bandaged the laceration on Jeff’s head and flashed the light in his eyes, too. “Pupils are still a bit off, however, I think you’ll be fine. You need to stay off your feet, don’t move around too fast, and rest for the next few days. I’d like to see both of you at my office in a week.”
Claude took their statements and stood to leave. He looked around and his attention caught on the overhead lights. “After three months without power, lights seem… odd. Like a miracle.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Claude and Henry sat in front of the town offices enjoying the warm spring temperatures.
“Late March has always been my favorite time of the year,” Claude remarked. “The snow melts quickly, the grass is starting to turn green, trees are budding, and flowers are starting to bloom.” A rumble in the distance made them both sit up straight, trying to figure out where the sound was coming from and what it was.
A convoy of military trucks and Humvees approached from the south and stopped in front of them. Two soldiers emerged from the hummer, one carrying an M-4 rifle.
“Good afternoon, Lieutenant. I’m Sheriff Claude Burns and this is the Mayor, Henry Hawkins,” Claude said, noting the bars on the officer’s collar. “What can we do for you?”
“Sheriff, Mr. Mayor, I’m Lt. Charles Manos. I’m here to relieve you of any responsibility for this town.”
“Excuse me?”
“The entire country is under martial law, and it’s now my job to take survivors to a relocation center further south. I’m hoping for your cooperation,” Lt. Manos stated.
“I’m well aware of there being martial law; I instituted it myself right after the EMP. Rest assured, Lt. Manos, you will have our cooperation, even assistance, for the relocation of those who wish to go with you,” Sheriff Burns stated.
“As for those who desire to stay, they will have our support in that too,” Henry added.
“I see.”
“I hope you do, Lieutenant. This may be a small town, but it’s also a very self-reliant town filled with independent people. Some may not take well to being forced to leave,” Claude said.
Lt. Manos studied the two men in front of him. “How soon can you organize a meeting where we can… discuss the situation with the citizens?”
“
We should be able to spread the word by late this afternoon. Without lights we try to get everything done by nightfall, so everyone can get home safely,” Henry said.
“Since you are familiar with martial law, sheriff, I’m assuming you’ve confiscated all firearms?” Lt. Manos addressed Claude.
“Oh, I’m quite familiar, sir. However, I elected to not do that. You must understand this small town is in the wilderness. We are isolated and vulnerable. Those here that have firearms are responsible and are our hunters. They’ve kept the town fed, and safe from predators, four-legged and two-legged.”
He let the implication hang in the air.
“Perhaps that was your only option at the time. I understand. Is there someplace my troops can set up a bivouac?”
“The school yard has the largest open area. You’re more than welcome to stay there. Please understand, we can’t feed you,” Henry said.
“Not a problem. We came with our own supplies.”
***
Mike Miller guided his horses toward town, though for as many trips as they’ve made, he was sure the horses knew the way without him. He yanked hard on the reins, abruptly stopping the team, and waited for the military convoy pass by on the main road a half mile ahead. Trucks and horses didn’t mix well, he knew, and didn’t want this pair to get spooked and possibly injured. After the last vehicle went by, he proceeded with caution, staying off the main road and approaching the town from a back road.
Mike left his horses and wagon on a side street and let himself into the township office building.
“Mr. Mayor, what’s the military doing here?” he asked, getting right to the point.
“Have a seat, Mike, we may need you again,” Henry said. “The military is here to take people to a relocation center, to be taken care of they say. Not everyone will want to go.”
“I get the impression from the lieutenant in charge that they may force the issue,” Claude said. “I think you should take your horses and some supplies and stay at the dome until this is settled… one way or another. None of us want anything to happen to those horses.”
***
Back at his farm, Mike emptied half of the firewood from the wagon and then filled it with as much hay and feed as would fit, and took a circuitous route up to the domes.
***
“Mike, what a pleasant surprise,” Jeff greeted their guest. He ran his hands across the soft noses of the two horses. “What can we do for you?”
“There’s a problem in town and I need sanctuary for the horses.”
“What is it?”
“Military is in town. Sheriff Burns suggested I bring the horses up here to be safe.”
“Military? Of course we’ll house your horses. What kind of shelter do they need?” Jeff responded, wondering what the military was doing there. They settled on one of the empty carports further up the road and between the four men, unloaded the hay and straw quickly.
“What’s the wood for?” Jeff asked when the firewood was exposed.
“I thought it might help pay for my stay,” Mike answered.
“It’s appreciated, but you know we would have taken you in regardless.” Jeff thought a minute before going on. “Fortunately this unit has a woodstove so we can unload the wood here for you to use. Then we need to talk.”
***
“Sheriff Burns said the military had come to take people to a shelter whether they wanted to go or not,” Mike explained over a cup of tea. “I think he fears it’s going to get messy when they try forcing the issue.”
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”
***
“Quiet down, everyone!” Mayor Hawkins pounded the gavel on the podium. The word spread fast that the army was in town and nearly everyone was there in the school auditorium for the meeting. Once order was restored, the mayor continued. “This is Lt. Charles Manos, who is in charge of the military side of this operation.”
The lieutenant slid a glance at the mayor for his choice of words, and instantly knew what he was up against.
“Good afternoon. I’ll make this as short of a meeting as possible so everyone can get back to their homes before dark. I’ve been assigned to offer transportation to everyone in need, to relocate to a shelter in Arizona, where the weather conditions are much more stable than here. You will be given shelter, food, medical care if needed, and eventually moved to permanent housing. The government has reestablished in Texas where the speaker of the house was on holiday with her family. Washington D.C. is now a hot zone.”
“What do you mean, ‘a hot zone?’” someone asked from deep within the crowd.
“There were three missiles launched at the United States on Thanksgiving, each one armed with a nuclear warhead. Two of those missiles detonated at a high altitude, wiping out the grid and all electronics. The third missile’s target was the White House, and was followed by three more nukes. The entire East Coast is hot with radioactivity.”
The news stunned everyone and the room went very quiet.
“How is it your trucks work and ours don’t?” the same voice asked.
“The military vehicles are hardened against such threats,” Lt. Manos explained. “It’s going to be a long time before any infrastructure is operating, if ever.” More stunned silence swept over the people. “Are there any questions before I continue?”
“Is there power at these relocation centers?” Claude asked.
“Yes. It isn’t just vehicles that are hardened, Sheriff. Military posts everywhere have generators capable of providing power for all their needs. And before anyone asks, no, we can’t just bring you one. Any other questions?”
“When can we leave?” Gwen Swanson asked. “I’m so tired of being cold.”
“Thank you for asking, ma’am. This is a quick operation. We plan on leaving at noon the day after tomorrow. Everyone who wishes to relocate needs to pack, and pack lightly, and be here that morning for processing,” Lt. Manos said. “And so there is no mistaking, there will be no second chances. We won’t be back.” He glanced over at the mayor and sheriff. “One more thing. For those who have firearms, I suggest you leave them with the sheriff. The country is under strict martial law and that means firearm possession in the relocation centers is cause for incarceration or execution.”
Henry stood. “I’d like to address this meeting. I’ve been your mayor for twenty years. I know many of you personally, and I consider this town my home, and I’m staying. There are many of you who will be much better off going with the lieutenant, though. They can feed you, we can’t. They can keep you sheltered and warm, we’ve struggled with that. They can protect you, and I know we’ve failed in that area, too. For everyone who wishes to leave, may God be with you.” Henry sat down.
***
“Thank you, Lt. Manos. I wasn’t sure you were going to give the people a choice,” Claude said. They were still in the school, and a private had brought in hot meals and coffee for the four men that remained.
“People who want to relocate make for better citizens for us than those who are forced, sir,” Sargent Kaplan explained, stirring real milk into his coffee. Manos and his assistant had discussed the issue before the meeting had even started. “We would rather have one willing person than ten reluctant.”
“I hope you know what you’re doing by staying, Mr. Mayor, Sheriff. It’s going to be a hard life for you,” Manos said.
***
The morning of the second day saw the school packed with people and suitcases. The vast majority of the population had elected to leave.
After the convoy left, Claude walked up to the dome to retrieve Mike and the horses.
“There are only a few people left in town, Jeff, everyone else went with the army. Do you have room for us up here?” Claude asked cautiously.
“Of course, sheriff. Who stayed?”
“Beside myself and Henry, there is Dr. Cory and his wife Ellen, Mike, of course, one of my deputies, Tighe Teagan and his wife and daughters, along with Janet Baler and Sherry Turner, two of the teachers from the middle school.”
“How soon will you be coming back?” Jeff asked.
“Would this afternoon be alright? I think we all want to get out of town in case the military comes back.”
“We’ll get right on opening the other domes.”
“Can we use your truck to move the hospital supplies? There’s a lot.”
Jeff tossed him the keys.
***
Lt. Manos returned to the town of Avon the day after the convoy left, with his driver and Sgt. Kaplan. Although he had said they wouldn’t return, he felt compelled to give those who stayed behind one more chance. He found the town completely empty. It was as though a dozen people just vanished.
***
In the complete and total darkness, the electric glow from the domes shone like a beacon.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Deborah Moore is single and lives a quiet life in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan with her cat, Tufts. She was born and raised in Detroit, the kid of a cop, and moved to a small town to raise her two young sons, then moved to an even smaller town to pursue her dreams of being self-sufficient and to explore her love of writing.
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