by Harp, Wilson
Kenny held out the blood stained sleeve of his coat.
“Looks like you got bit,” the officer said. “Let’s get it looked at.”
He called for one of his men as Kenny shrugged off his backpack.
“Dogs can be dangerous,” the officer said.
Two soldiers examined Kenny’s arm as we stood in the cold.
“My name is Captain Wilkes and I’m afraid I must insist you are our guest until we reach the base.”
“To be honest, that’s not too much of a burden,” said Ted. “We’ve traveled a long way and the base was one of our planned stops.”
“Looks like a pretty clean bite, Captain,” one of the soldiers who examined Kenny said. “No sign of infection.”
“That’s good,” Wilkes said. “But you can’t be too careful out here.”
“Do you have anyone at the base who can look at it closer?” Kenny asked.
“Maybe, but you’ll have to deal with the rules before you get to go see the docs.”
“What happens now?” I asked.
“Sun’s almost down, we’ll go back to the camp and bed down for the night. We’ll march back to the base tomorrow and there you’ll be handed over to the base police for processing.”
Soon the men formed up, and once Captain Wilkes was sure everyone had returned from their patrols, we marched north along the road. Around two miles away, we came upon an open field where tents had been set up in small groups. We were taken to one of them and told to stay put.
Two soldiers were assigned to guard us and sat with us around the fire.
“I’m Graham and this is Johnny,” one of them said as we settled in.
“Where’re you from?” Johnny asked.
“Kenton,” Kenny said. “It’s in southern Missouri.”
“That’s a long way from here,” said Graham. “You running up to the base for something?”
“No,” I said. “The base is just a place we wanted to reach on my pilgrimage.”
“Pilgrimage?” asked Johnny. “This a religious journey?”
“No,” I said. “Just a way of saying a trip I have to make. My family was stuck in Chicago during the event and I am heading up there to find them and take them back.”
“Why didn’t you head up there before? I mean, it’s the dead of winter and you’re heading toward Chicago,” said Johnny.
“I had some obligations in Kenton I had to take care of. Now, I have to find my family.”
Graham shook his head. “I can’t imagine what kind of obligations you would have above your family, but don’t know many who would try a trip like this nine days after what happened, much less nine months. And I sure wouldn’t think of going into a big city to try to find them.”
“Well, I have to hope they’re among the survivors,” I said.
“I wish you the best of luck,” Graham said. “If the general lets you go, of course. He may decide you’ve gone as far north as you’ll ever go.”
“Why would he prevent people traveling north?” Ted asked.
“The general likes to keep order and with some of the problems we’ve been having in the north, he might say it’s too much of a risk.”
“Who is ‘the general’?” Kenny asked.
“Four star General Walter Andrews, commander of Scott Air Force Base and supreme military commander of this entire region.”
“Were you in the military before the event?” Ted asked.
“I was,” Graham said. “I was an airman at the base when it happened. I’d only been there a month and didn’t know too many people. It was crazy. My family’s back in Nashville, and while I’ve thought what it might be like to take a pilgrimage, as you call it, I’m sworn to follow orders. And I doubt my orders will ever take me in the direction of Nashville.”
“Maybe in a few years,” Kenny said.
“I don’t think so,” said Graham. “The general is pretty strict about who goes where and when. As it is, we need more men on patrols. We also need manpower to guard the farms which bring in food for the base and keep order.”
“Cape Girardeau is stabilizing,” Anne said. “Maybe there’s a place near Nashville which will stabilize and he’ll need men to send messages. You could go then.”
Graham and Johnny smiled at each other and shook their heads.
“The general doesn’t need messengers,” Graham said.
“What do you mean?” asked Ted.
“You’ll likely see tomorrow morning,” said Johnny. “But I don’t want to give it away.”
A bell rang and I jerked in surprise. Bells were a common way of communicating in Kenton but I hadn’t thought others would have implemented it as well. I should have realized it would become common since it’s an ancient method of signaling people. The clear, distinct sound of a bell can spread a message far better than any other way in a world with few electronics.
“Someone’ll be bringing our dinner soon,” Graham said. “I don’t know if they’ll feed you tonight. Are you good with food?”
Ted nodded. “We’re set for food, thanks.”
A few minutes later, Captain Wilkes approached and invited us over to his tent. He invited us to sit and have dinner with him. The pot over his cook fire smelled delicious. It was a fresh rabbit stew with some potatoes and carrots.
“We get plenty of fresh meat this far south,” he said as we ate our generous sized bowls of stew. “It’s not all hardship to be one of the southern patrols. Lots of game and very few people stirring up trouble.”
“It’s different in other areas?” asked Ted.
“To the west is Saint Louis, and before that East Saint Louis. It’s all a mess. Even Belleville isn’t a good area to travel in unless you’re with a patrol. Although a lot of problems settled down since the snow started falling.
“To the east isn’t too bad. It’s kind of like the south, but not as many woods and not as much small game.”
“What about the north?” asked Kenny. “That’s where we’re going to be heading once we leave the base.”
“I’d be more worried about what will happen at the base more than anything north,” the captain said. “If you get permission to head north… well, you’ll find out soon enough.”
“It’s that bad?” I asked.
“It’s pretty bad,” he said. “And the further north you go, the worse it gets.”
“How’s the base?” Ted asked. “Looks like you are pretty well equipped and pretty well fed.”
“I’ll let the commander tell you about it if he decides to. It isn’t my place to give information about the base. I hope you understand.”
After we ate and talked a bit more, Captain Wilkes wished us a good night and sent us back to our tent with our guards. It had been a long day and we were eager to crawl into the small shelter and get some sleep.
“At least we don’t have to keep watch,” Kenny said. “We should be able to get a good night’s sleep.”
“Just wish they had set up closer to the trees,” said Ted. “That’s a cold wind blowing. But I guess beggars, or in our case prisoners, can’t be choosers.”
“Do you think they have good medical facilities at the base?” Anne asked.
“I’m not sure. You think they might have some rabies shots?” asked Kenny. “I sure hope they do.”
I laid there and listened to the chatter as sleep creeped into my mind. That was the first time any of us had said the word rabies out loud, and Kenny had said it without hesitation. Even if he were infected, and he knew he was going to die, he would keep going. It was just his way. The way of survivors in this world. I hoped I could live up to that ideal in my own life.
Chapter 10
I woke rested, but restless. I dreamed again of Lexi and Emma. There was a maze covered in a dense fog and I heard them call to me. I looked around, but their cries had faded away in the first few seconds. I listened in silence but could only hear echoes of those desperate pleas. I woke with a start. My heart pounded as I considered w
hat the dream meant. Had they called for me since the beginning and I had started too late to reach them?
I lay awake with my eyes closed in the early morning hour. I heard Ted, Kenny and Anne wake and start preparations for the day. I tossed my arm over my eyes as the first light of pre-dawn invaded our tent through the thin fabric. I considered the guilt the dream had brought on. I knew they needed me, but I couldn’t leave with my mother in the situation she was in. I couldn’t. It was the right choice, but one I would always question.
I sat up as I heard an odd sound.
“Is that a horse?” I asked.
The others in the tent stopped what they were doing.
“It is, and it’s being run hard,” said Anne.
We crawled out of the tent and saw several of the soldiers look toward the west at the sound of the approaching horse. By the time the horse appeared, most of the camp was awake and out of their tents.
The rider dismounted as he reined in his mount and landed with a graceful bounce.
“Wilkes,” he said as he came to a stop. He shook the hastily proffered hand of the captain.
“Morning, Jeffries. Do we have new orders?” Wilkes asked.
“No new orders, just out on an early morning patrol.”
“Early morning? It’s not early morning yet. When did you leave?”
“Okay, it was a night ride. But the stars were out and the road was clear. Was invigorating!”
“You aren’t supposed to ride at night, you know that,” Wilkes said. “If you were one of my men, I’d have you on KP for this stunt, but seeing as how you’re my commanding officer, I guess I’ll let it slide.”
Jeffries laughed and smacked Wilkes on the back. He looked around the camp, and I felt his eyes fall on us. He took in every detail at a simple glance, it seemed.
“And who are your guests?” he asked. “Friendlies, irregulars, or prisoners?”
Wilkes waved his hand at us. “They came up from the south. Past Cape, they say. They look like they’ve been out in the weather a while, but I’m still taking them in.”
Jeffries walked over to us stuck out his hand. “I’m Colonel Jeffries,” he said. “I’m the commander of the south region.”
Ted shook Jeffries hand. “I’m Ted Riggins. This here is Kenny Dawson, Anne Franklin, and David Hartsman. We’re from Kenton, Missouri, about a week southwest of Cape Girardeau by foot.”
“That’s quite a trip, and in winter no less,” Jeffries said. “What’s it all about?”
Ted looked over at me and I gave him a brief nod.
“That’s David’s story and he can tell you if he wants,” he said. “We’re with him.”
Jeffries leaned back and considered what Ted said. It was clear Ted was in charge. Ted was the leader of the group. He had the bearing, he had the presence, and he stuck his hand out when Jeffries approached. And yet Ted had put it all on me as if I were the leader. I guess in some ways I was. If it wasn’t for me, we wouldn’t be out here. It was my need to know what had happened to my family which had taken us from Kenton.
I cleared my throat and began my story.
“I was in Kenton when the event happened,” I said. “It’s where my folks lived and where I was born and raised. But I live in Chicago with my wife and daughter. It was just a quick trip down home to check in on my parents. I was supposed to be back in Chicago Sunday night.”
Jeffries nodded. “And you’re hoping to go up and try to find out what happened. You need closure.”
“I need my family,” I said. “So, I’ll look for them before I look for closure.”
“Unfortunately, this decision is beyond my authority. I’d let you go on your way today if I could, but we’ll see you safely up to the base, and someone there will make the decision.”
“If the base decides we’re a danger?” Ted asked. “What will happen?”
Jeffries smiled. “Unless there’s a crime we can prove, you won’t be imprisoned. You’ll probably be given a few duties to perform in exchange for room and board. Maybe a little bit of pay if you decide to stay on. It’s not a bad life. A lot of people come in from the wilderness needing a place to stay and food to eat. We find them a place, but they do have to work to pay for their keep. But you look like you are in good shape. You must be well taken care of back home.”
“We have a good place back in Kenton,” Kenny said. “It’s a working compound. The town itself is able to feed everybody plus they’ve put up enough food to last through the spring planting.”
“How big is Kenton?” Jeffries asked. “It doesn’t sound like a big place. Most places which survived are within certain parameters. Big enough they have enough hands to do the work, small enough you can feed everybody off local fields.”
“About 3,000,” Anne said. “At least when the EMP hit. It’s grown to about 8,000 now.”
Jeffries eyebrows raised. “3,000 and you were able to plant the fields and get everybody organized in time? That’s impressive. Who’s in charge?”
Kenny, Anne and I looked at Ted.
“I knew what needed to be done and I knew it needed to be done fast,” he said. “We got to work right away. David’s father was instrumental as well, as were several of the other men. Without me saying anything, there were wells opened and latrines dug by the end of the first day.”
“As I said, impressive. You people had some skills out there and were able to hold it together. I respect that. Now let’s see if we can’t get on the road and get you up to the base in the next couple days.”
Captain Wilkes cleared his throat. “Sir, one of them got bit by a dog a couple of nights back. I think we need to get moving.”
Jeffries spotted the bandage on Kenny’s arm. “How bad of a bite is it?” he asked.
“Not so bad,” Wilkes said. “Got some flesh, but pretty clean. Definitely could get infected.”
“We’ll get one of the doctors to check him out,” said Jeffries. “I’ll ride ahead and put in the request.”
“Thank you,” Kenny said. “It’s appreciated.”
By the time the sun was over the horizon, we had broken camp and were on the road to the northwest. We had a hearty breakfast of leftover stew and some drop biscuits cooked in an oven which had been set up in what I assumed was the semi-permanent camp. Many of the soldiers still worked in the camp and none of the tents had been taken down by the time we left Ava behind.
Colonel Jeffries had ridden away after a quick bite of breakfast. Captain Wilkes said the colonel loved to ride and often acted as the dispatch for his entire command. While not a young man, Jeffries was not as old as I would have expected for someone of his responsibilities. And yet there was no sign anyone had anything but affection for their commander.
It was around 10am when I felt Anne pull on my sleeve. I glanced over at her and saw her stare into the sky. Her mouth was open and she shook from excitement. She also kept tugging my sleeve.
“What?” I asked. Then my eyes followed hers and I felt the world stop.
There was a plane in the sky. It was flying to the east and was several hundred feet in the air.
“That’s a plane,” Anne said.
Several of the soldiers around us laughed.
“I told you the general wouldn’t need to send me as a messenger to Nashville,” Graham said. “He already has ways to communicate.”
“How did they get the planes up?” Ted asked.
“Planes have been around for over a hundred years,” Wilkes said. He had fallen back to talk with us once we saw the plane.
“Some of the mechanics on the base were able to get a couple of the small private planes off the ground within a couple of weeks of the EMP. The general uses them to deliver important messages he doesn’t want to go out over the radio.”
“But how do they know where they are going and what the weather will be like?” I asked.
“It’s risky, but we have a whole slew of pilots who can’t wait for their turn to fly. They use maps and old sc
hool tools to plot and make their flights.”
“Who are you communicating with,” asked Ted.
“Some military installations, like Scott here, had equipment stored deep underground in anticipation of a nuclear incident. We had a working radio within a few hours and there are places like this across the country.”
“You have some technology which survived the EMP?” Anne asked.
“We do,” said Wilkes. “Not a ton, but enough to make the base important to the rebuilding effort.”
“Are we going to walk into a modern city?” I asked.
“No, not really. Most things were knocked out, but some of our systems work better than most. We have hot water in most of the barracks, for example, and we have enough hand held radios and batteries that the security stations can communicate.”
The image I had of a Spartan military camp run in a severe manner faded to the mirage of a place where we could get some real rest and real help. They might even have maps and some advice for how to get up to Chicago.
We camped that night about halfway to the base. The next day would be another long day on the road and then we would be processed as prisoners. Wilkes and Jeffries both assured us there would be a quick hearing and we would be processed within a few days. Jeffries had also assured Kenny he would be seen by a doctor soon after the hearing. When we expressed concern over the hearing, most of the soldiers shrugged and told us not to worry.
“Everyone gets processed,” explained Graham. “Folks who come in from the outlying areas are taken into custody and given a hearing. The general just wants to make sure those who are criminal in habit and inclination aren’t trying to find a home with us. I think it may discourage those who think they can get away with crimes from even trying. The general is fair, just don’t make the mistake of thinking he isn’t a hard man. If you cross him… well don’t cross him.”
By afternoon of the second day we could see smoke from chimneys all around us. Patrols of soldiers were a common site as we traveled north along Highway 4. Little roads crisscrossed the farmland in this part of Illinois, and farmhouses were visible where ever I looked. Horse drawn wagons and even a few motorcycles were being used by the people of this area on a regular basis.
