We Had Flags (Toxic World Book 3)

by Sean McLachlan

  She wouldn’t listen anyway. She probably hated Chinese people. Pablo remembered her using the word “Chink” to the guard when she had brought him in to stay with Uncle Marcus and Aunt Rosie. She must have known that was a bad word. She was a grownup.

  He had to get out of there and save Hong-gi before Mom came looking for him. She knew all about Hong-gi. They’d been playing together for years. She’d notice that he wasn’t with the prisoners and would go out and hunt him down.

  Pablo wasn’t going to lose Hong-gi like he lost Mitch.

  First thing to do was get a bunch of stuff together so Hong-gi could start his life as a scavenger. At the house there was food and blankets and lots of other stuff he could use.

  Home wasn’t far away. Pablo had a key to the padlock in his pocket. He only hoped that guy with the hammer hadn’t smashed it open and taken everything.

  Looking back over his shoulder as he ran, he could see the crowd had stopped before reaching the gate. He couldn’t see Mom or the Asian prisoners anymore, but he could see New City gate closing. They must have gone inside.

  Pablo felt terrible. This was even worse than what she did to Mitch. Instead of just taking away one cool guy, she was taking away a whole bunch of people.

  As he got to his house he felt angrier than he ever had before. He would never, ever forgive Mom for this. He got out the key and opened the lock. The loud crack of a hammer hitting someone else’s padlock made him jump.

  That sounded close.

  The chain made a terrible clattering as he tried to pull it loose from the iron loop. He stuck his finger in the loop and ran the chain over that. It hurt, but the chain came out quieter. Quiet enough to hear the chain rattle on the door that hammer guy was breaking open.

  Inside it was dark. He opened the grill to the stove and saw a few embers in the coals. He lit a candle from them, set it on the table, and looked around.

  Now what would he need? He grabbed a big sack Mom used when she had to trade for stuff at the market. Inside he stuffed a couple of blankets, some spare clothing for himself, and a big waterproof canvas. Then he started emptying the larder.

  He found the sack was already full, so he pulled out one of the blankets and put the food in that, tying up the corners to make it into its own sack.

  What else? What else? He had to think. He grabbed a knife from the kitchen table and put that in the sack. The blade stuck right through the side. Feeling like a dummy, he pulled the knife out and put it back on the table. Briefly he thought of taking some of his books but he decided there wouldn’t be any use for them in the wildlands. He only needed the essentials.

  Wait, was he leaving too? Pablo realized he had packed spare clothing for himself without thinking about it.

  Pablo stood, looking down at the sack. Yeah, he was running away. What was he supposed to do, come back and live with someone who had killed one friend and tried to kill another?

  Pablo looked around at the shack. He had never liked this place, never wanted to leave his old room at the back of $87,953. This place was way bigger but it was drafty and he didn’t get to see Uncle Roy as much.

  Hopefully Uncle Roy would be OK. Uncle Roy was black and people sometimes called him bad names. They got kicked out of the bar if they did, but someone else always did it again. Would everyone go after the black people now that they got rid of the Asian people?

  Forget the Burbs! This place sucked. He was going to be a scavenger just like his father. He could survive in the wildlands as good as anyone. It was in his blood.

  He picked up the two sacks, put them over his shoulder, and with his free hand picked up the knife. With a final look around the house, his bottom lip trembling, he walked out of his home and headed north. The crowd was still shouting in front of New City gate. It was like a chant and they pumped their fists in time to what they were chanting. As the wind shifted he could pick up the words.

  “Chinks stink! Chinks stink! Chinks stink!”

  “You stink,” Pablo muttered.

  In the distance he saw the hammer guy making his way through the tents, the hammer in his hand and a big sack over his shoulder. Pablo gripped his knife tighter but found he wasn’t afraid of him anymore. He wasn’t afraid of anything.

  He headed north, out into the wildlands.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Clyde and his guards had waited for them, mingled in with the new Burbs militia. They’d taken up positions all along the shore, guards and militia together. One group had commandeered all the fishing boats in the village and sat ready to launch them.

  “Clyde, move those people out of there!” the Doctor barked while they were still a safe distance from shore. “I’m not a prisoner. We’re coming in and I don’t want any of those idiots ruining everything again.”

  Reluctantly the troops moved back.

  “You sure you’re OK?” Clyde called out.

  “Do I look like I’m in trouble?” the Doctor shouted, and then muttered. “Fucking idiot’s living his wet dream. Thinks he’s some movie hero.”

  The rowboat came ashore, the Chinese sailors fingering their AKs and casting wary glances at the line of hills. As soon as The Doctor and Yu-jin stepped off, the sailors pushed into the water and rowed as fast as they could back to the ship.

  Clyde sauntered up to them, his M16 sloped over his shoulder in what he obviously thought was a jaunty fashion. Yu-jin had been raised to respect her elders, but she couldn’t help but think of him as ridiculous.

  “Thought you were a goner, Doc.”

  “You thought wrong.”

  Clyde gestured towards Yu-jin with the butt of his gun. “What’s she still doing here?”

  “She’s my translator, remember?”

  “I wouldn’t trust anything she translates.”

  “Nobody’s asking you,” the Doctor grumbled as he pushed past him. Clyde frowned but fell in behind his boss.

  As they approached the hills a group of guards and militia gathered.

  “Looks like we scared them good,” one of them called out. “Glad to see you back in one piece, Doc.”

  Several of them gave Yu-jin hard looks. She resisted the urge not to tremble. The first rule of the wildlands was to never show fear, and this was looking more and more like the wildlands.

  They all know I’m Chinese. Word spread fast.

  “What’s going on over there?” The Doctor asked, pointing at the smoke coming from the Burbs.

  “Spring cleaning,” one of the militiamen said. Several of the militiamen and guards guffawed. Kent, the guard who had a special hate for her, gave her a wicked grin. Yu-jin tensed.

  The Doctor looked around. “Who’s in charge of this rabble?”

  A sharp-eyed young man strode forward. “I’m Matt Warren. We had a meeting and I was duly elected by—”

  “Guards, arrest this man.”

  Matt cocked his head. “On what charges?”

  “Reckless endangerment of my life and the lives of the entire welcoming party. Interference with New City business. Forming a militia without permission from the Citizens Council. Probably a few other things, but that will do for now. Clyde, take his gun.”

  “Aw gee, Doc. They were only trying to help.”

  The Doctor turned and took a slow step towards Clyde, pushing his face close.

  “Take. His. Gun.”

  Clyde lowered his gaze. He turned to Matt. “Come on, bud. Hand it over.”

  Matt licked his lips, looked from Clyde to The Doctor and back again, and finally handed him his rifle. Yu-jin released the breath she had been holding.

  That worked this time. But they’re not going to take his browbeating forever. When Abraham Weissman broke away with his people, it really undercut his authority.

  The Doctor turned to address the small crowd of militiamen who had gathered.

  “This illegal militia is hereby disbanded. Any more meetings, any more actions, and you’ll be fined. A second offense will get you banished. Now disperse and g
o home.”

  He glared at Matt.

  “And you, you’re going into custody until this is all over.”

  Matt gave him a defiant smirk. “This will never be over.”

  “Guess you’re going to have a long wait then,” The Doctor said, turning his back on him. He strode towards town, his men falling in behind. Some grumbled. A brief glance over his shoulder silenced them.

  Yu-jin walked by his side, heart beating fast. What was going on back in town?

  They found out soon enough. Half a dozen homes were on fire and New City gate was tightly shut. A large crowd was arrayed in front of it, jeering and screaming at the guards atop the wall.

  “Chink lovers!”

  “Give them to us!”

  When the crowd saw them approach they turned on them.

  “It’s her!”

  “Spy!”

  “Traitor!”

  “String her up!”

  The crowd heaved forward. The Doctor’s guards hurried to form a line in front of him. Kent elbowed her and she stumbled to the side, away from their protection.

  There was a scuffle. Someone grabbed her arm. She lashed out and hit the man in the face. As he staggered back, another grabbed her around her middle. She elbowed him but he didn’t let go. A woman came at her from the front with a knife in her hand and hatred in her eye. Yu-jin landed a kick square in her stomach that sent her reeling. Then she stamped on the foot of the man who had her in a bear hug. He staggered but didn’t loosen his grip.

  She knew she couldn’t fight them off for long. They were all around her. A man with a meat cleaver pushed through the crowd, a cruel grin on his face.

  The rat-tat-tat of an M16 on full auto made everyone duck. Yu-jin tore herself out of her attacker’s grip. Another burst of fire and everyone was hugging the ground. She ended up lying between two of her attackers, feeling just as scared as they looked.

  The Doctor stood above them, an assault rifle in his hand.

  “Not in my town!” he screamed. “This is a place for everyone! Everyone, do you hear? The next person who attacks an Asian gets a bullet in the gut and gets staked out on the beach to die slow. Now disperse!”

  Yu-jin stared up at him in awe. Rage and power radiated out of him. This aging, skinny man, surrounded by muscular guards twice his size and what a few seconds before had been a howling mob, was the most frightening person here.

  Now she understood how he carved a corner of civilization out of nothing but ruins.

  Civilization for some, she corrected herself as she got up and dusted herself off.

  “You OK?” The Doctor asked. She could see the concern in his eyes.

  “Yeah.”

  “Let’s go.”

  As the crowd began to disperse, a bedraggled figure staggered through it towards them.

  “Randy!”

  Yu-jin ran to him. Randy’s shirt was torn and his lip was bloody.

  “Oh honey, what did they do to you?” she cried as she embraced him. Randy tensed and pulled away.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked, hurt lacing his voice.

  “I…” Yu-jin’s voice trailed off. She didn’t have an answer.

  “Don’t you trust me?” Randy went on. “Did you think I’d leave you?”

  Guilt welled up in her.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

  Before she could say more, The Doctor cut in.

  “Is this the boyfriend? He better come with us. Let’s go before that mob forms up again.”

  The crowd had now dispersed back into the Burbs, and the gate opened a crack to let The Doctor and his party in. He sent a team of guards into the Burbs to stop the fires. As they left, Sheriff Cruz came up to them. Yu-jin blinked as she saw she was fully armed. Had she become a citizen already?

  Judging from the look on The Doctor’s face, the answer was no.

  “Nice shotgun,” he grunted.

  “It was the only way to get them to the gate alive. If you want to arrest me for that—”

  “Get who to the gate?” Yu-jin interrupted.

  Annette looked grim. “Every Asian in the Burbs. A mob turned on them. Some people tried to stop it but they were too few. Most just hid and didn’t do a thing. They—”

  “Where are they now?”

  “Camped out behind the warehouse,” Annette said.

  Yu-jin ran.

  Please Jesus, oh please let the Yaos be OK.

  The memory of throwing her crucifix in the dust shot through her mind. She stuck her hand in her pocket and gripped it.

  I’m sorry. I’m sorry. Just let them be OK.

  She rounded the corner of the warehouse and saw a group of men, women, and children sitting on canvas near the razor wire or milling about, talking in low tones.

  The first person he saw was Da-bin. One eye was swollen shut and his shirt was torn. At his feet lay his father. Yong-jun looked pale and breathed in short, sharp gasps. Hanna ran a damp cloth over his forehead, worry creasing her face.

  “What happened?” Yu-jin asked as she ran up.

  Da-bin turned on her, his face twisted in rage. She stopped short. He had never looked like this before. “You have brought disaster on us! How could you reveal you were Chinese? Now the Anglos have attacked every Asian, thinking they’re Chinese spies. They broke into our house and took everything. Father has had a heart attack.”

  A few of the others in the crowd looked at her angrily.

  “They’re blaming us all for your people’s crimes!” a Vietnamese woman shouted.

  Yu-jin sputtered an objection, but got drowned out by Da-bin. “Stay away from us! I never want to see you again!”

  A sickly gasp from Yong-jun made them both look down. The old man tried to say something but the words couldn’t come out.

  Yu-jin spun around and sprinted back to The Doctor. He stood surrounded by citizens and guards, giving orders and sending them off in all directions.

  “You have to help! A man is dying of a heart attack!”

  The Doctor cut off midsentence. “Where?”

  “One of the Ch—one of the Asians. Behind the warehouse.”

  The Doctor grabbed the nearest of his assistants. “You, get my medical pack on the shelf inside my front door.” He turned to Yu-jin. “Take me there.”

  When they got there they found Yong-jun looking worse. His whole family crouched around him. Yu-jin let out a gasp of relief to see Ming and Xinxin unharmed.

  The Doctor bent over Yong-jun and felt his pulse. “You’re going to be OK, Mr. Moon. It’s Moon, isn’t it? I recognize you. You’re from a respectable family and this should have never happened to you. I promise you that the culprits will be punished.”

  “Yao,” Yong-jun said in a feeble voice.

  “Excuse me?” The Doctor said.

  “Father!” Da-bin objected.

  “My family name is Yao.” Yong-jun said, his voice stronger now. “I will die with my ancestors’ name on my lips. It’s a Chinese name. A proud name. I should have been more proud of it.”

  “My father is very ill,” Da-bin announced in a loud voice. “He doesn’t know what he’s saying.”

  Yong-jun raised a quavering finger at his son. “Yu-jin is braver than all of us. You don’t deserve her.”

  “Quiet, father,” one of his daughters said. “Everyone’s listening.”

  “I want them to listen!” he croaked. “My family has been in this land since the days of the First Republic. We helped build it into a great country and we saluted whatever flag there was that generation. Now that there is no country and no more flags, I want to be called Chinese again.”

  Yu-jin looked around. Some of the other Asians were frowning, others seemed ashamed. One woman, a farm laborer who Yu-jin had always wondered about, looked like she wanted to speak. When she noticed Yu-jin studying her, she turned her face away.

  The citizen arrived with the medical pack. The Doctor listened to Yong-jun’s chest with a stethoscope and gave him
a couple of pills. “Just rest easy, Mr. Yao. You’re going to be fine.”

  Yong-jun shook his head slowly. “Thank you, but I know I’ll be seeing my ancestors soon.”

  Hanna started sobbing. The mention of ancestors brought an anxious question to Yu-jin’s mind.

  “Da-bin, where are our ancestral tablets?”

  He frowned at her. “Back in the house, what do you think? We had to run for our lives!”

  Yu-jin turned to The Doctor. “We have to get them.”

  “We don’t have time to collect your personal effects,” he replied.

  “This is important!”

  “I can send out a man to get them.”

  “No, I have to get them. Da-bin and I.”

  The farmer’s eyes went wide. “I’m not going back out there!”

  “Fine, I’ll get them myself, yours and mine.”

  The Doctor shook his head. “We have things to do.”

  His voice carried a note of finality.

  To her shame, Yu-jin almost relented. She took a breath, summoned up the faces of her relations, and took a step forward. “No. I’m going out, with or without you. If you don’t let me, deal’s off.”

  The Doctor looked equal parts angry and confused. “What’s so important about these things?”

  “They’re a part of who I am. Who we are. You want real equality? Then you have to let us be us.”

  The Doctor’s face softened. After a moment he nodded. “All right. Let me organize a team and we’ll go out together. I should make an appearance anyway. I’ll meet you at the gate in five minutes.”

  He turned and walked away.

  A weak laugh from Yong-jun made Yu-jin kneel at his side.

  “A crazy wildlands girl! Da-bin couldn’t handle you and it looks like neither can he.”

  “The Doctor is a good man. He does the right thing if you explain things to him,” Yu-jin said.

  “Pity no one ever explained it to him before,” Yong-jun placed a trembling hand on her cheek. “An even greater pity is that I never got to call you daughter. Go now. Salvage what you can.”

  It took an immense effort to tear herself away. She joined The Doctor at the gate. The big bar that secured it had been taken off, but a smaller chain bolted to one door remained looped around a hook on the other. A guard stood by it.