"We're tired of being pushed around. We got fire power now, we don’t' need your help. I truly appreciate your offer, but like I said, we have food and shelter here. I think we'll stay here. We'll move when we're ready to."
The captain's mind races, 'we got the fire power now'. They were unfazed when they moved in. They must have hooked up with a group that overran the airport. He needs to make an alliance and do it now.
"You know whose farm this is?" the captain asks.
"No idea, sir, it was abandoned when we moved in."
"You said you was helping a farmer when the Jones crew moved in. Would you mind helping the farmer who owns this land? If the corn don’t get harvested and the cows don't get taken care of, well this land will go bad."
There is a bit of conversation amongst the squatters around the fire.
"If the farmer wants to come in and farm, that’s okay with us, but we ain't movin'. We'll protect him if he feeds us, shares the bounty." The man responds.
To Captain Regis, that sounds like a good deal. With permission he walks forward and shakes the man's hand. Arrangements are made to bring back the landowner, and the group is loosely told of the situation at hand. All that is asked of them right now is to hold the land they occupy, which is what they were doing already. The captain notices two M16A2 riffles and an ammunition can stashed behind a log bench. This group definitely is well armed.
* * *
The convoy reforms and continues north on Route 601 towards Jerome. He relays via the CB that he has loosely allied with a group that has arms and ammunition from the airport.
As they progress forward, they see squatters flee into the countryside. A few homes and farms are still defended by their owners, these people greet them heroically and provide as much information as they can. Captain Regis requests that more militia be sent out to help protect these people's homes. A security detail is being put together, he is told, mainly of local people enthusiastic of their lands being reclaimed.
Three quarters of the way to Jerome, the captain's company crests a ridge. It is a half mile of open fields until the road falls off into Jerome. As his scouts had told him, the occupiers have a roadblock set up alongside a small wood lot. Eight hundred yards of hay fields and corn rows separate him and his hilltop position from the roadblock. Attacking it straight on would be suicide, worse than Pickett's Charge.
He has his company set up a perimeter where they are, overlooking the opposing roadblock, and gathers his leaders to discuss how to move forward. Meanwhile, he makes CB contact with the people of Jerome. He finds out that the roadblock they face has been reinforced. The position is entrenched and stretches into the fields in each direction. The captain relays back to Central City that opening the road to Jerome may not happen today.
Chapter 10, The Missionary
Boswell Area
9/25-26
Terry Barnes is a good farmer's wife. Diligent and loyal, loving and respectful, large in frame, strong and hardworking, she loves the land as much as she loves the Lord. When word went out that missionaries where needed to contact and rally the local farms and homesteads, she was one of the first to heed the call, exuberantly. She set out on horseback to alert her neighbors to the impending influx of refugees and ruffians. As she rode the trails, and talked with her neighbors, she helped establish the rally points at the more remote farms and homes for those who were imperiled.
She became more daring in her approach. Twice she rode into occupied farms, talking with the refugees of how they would be welcomed into the community; that they didn't need to run people off their farms and homes. She told them that most of the farmers were good Christians and would help them in any way they could. 'Who's gonna run the farms?" She asks. "Ya run off the farmers! Cows give milk, but ya got to know how to milk ‘em, feed ‘em, breed ‘em. The good Lord gave us an amazing gift in this life sustaining earth, but we are to cultivate it, nurture it, not rape it. Don't fight us, join us." Some people listen to her and slip away to the rendezvous points.
On both farms she eventually met resistance. The bosses told her the farms belonged to the community, that the grace of God was with them, because they were sharing the bounty. The farmers were hoarders, overlords, and had to be driven off. 'Why should the farmers have all the land and all the food?' they asked. America belongs to everyone, the farmers land was their land.
"All the land belongs to God, and we will share that land with you," was her response. "We have been doing that for years, it is why you have always had food on your plates. Times have suddenly changed, but we will still share the fruit of the land with you. We are all God's children. Join us, help us, and we will help you."
One of Dave Jones’ followers responds. "See, she is a racist! She thinks she is superior! She wants you to join her, what she really means is to come and work for her! Come and be her slave. No more! We claim the land for our own. No more overlords! No more one per-centers!"
Terry is shocked by the vitriol sent her way. She is not only preaching the love of Jesus, she is preaching common sense. Farmers know how to farm is her message. That is the talent God blessed them with, so let the farmers do their thing and you will prosper, she thinks to herself as she rides away from another overrun farm.
Before heading home to her farm south of Jerome, she rides into town. Her church, Hoffman Evangelical in Davidsville, has been overrun so she stops at St Paul's Lutheran, a large church that is actively helping local refugees, both locals displaced by the insurgents from Johnstown, and Johnstown refugees that are willing to help. She sees several dozen people who she encouraged to seek safe haven and welcomes them warmly. She takes the time to make sure they are being treated well and are being provided opportunities to help.
After seeing to the refugees she makes her way to the church offices where she is warmly greeted by the local pastor and several other missionaries. They all are talking of the dire situation, the poor state of the refugees, and the militant socialist stance of the insurgents.
"They say all the land belongs to them! How do they figure that? We worked hard to make that land productive, and paid a lot of taxes on that land too!" states an older man.
"These folks are desperate. They are literally just raping the land so that they can eat. They have no concern for the future. Some of them talk of knowing Christ, but they say Christ would not let people starve, would not enslave people to work the land," says another.
"They been fed lies," states Terry. "They been told we’ll let them starve, turn ‘em away or enslave ‘em to work on the farms. Their leader, he’s been shrewd in his propaganda. He made us their enemy. I was run off two farms, the overlords decryin’ me for attemptin’ to enslave their people. Unfortunately, for the most part, the people believe ‘em. The refugees from Johnston, that is.
"But I know we’re reachin’ people. Some of our own people have found shelter here an’ we have brought in more refugees. I pray to God our message of acceptance an’ peace spreads."
Just then, a local deacon comes into the office, bandaged and bruised.
"Oh Lord, Jessie, what happened to you?" the pastor exclaims.
"I was talkin’ to a group of refugees who were fishing down by the green bridge on Quemahoning Lake. They were a bit indifferent, but they were listenin’. Then an old Cadillac rolled up real fast, I had nowhere to go. Four people jumped out and started questioning everyone. I was pointed out as tryin’ to get them to come up here. They started to beat me for tryin’ to enslave more people. The folks at the bridge started askin’ why I was bein’ beat up, which gave me a break to escape. I ran to the woods, then stopped to see what happened.
"They rounded up the other folk an’ started marchin’ ‘em up the hill towards Davidsville. They barely let ‘em pack up afore they marched those poor folk off. A few looked back my way as I watched them from the brush. They looked scared."
"We have ta reach out ta these people," Terry exclaims. "Those people, they’ll now be slaves t
a this jerk in Davidsville, with his hollow promises. The Bible says there’ll be false prophets. We have ta reach these people. Now is the time! We’re all called to do God's will. There are so many people out there, lost and looking for answers. Now is our time! Oh God, thank you for the opportunity to reach so many people with your love and grace. Please dear Lord, help us to glorify your kingdom, even in these times of duress, let us go out and proclaim You! Let us use our resources to bring more into Your kingdom!"
The room goes a bit quiet as Terry finishes her passionate plea to them, and God.
"It's the end of the world as we know it and you want us to focus on helpin’ the people who wanna take our farms?" asks a middle aged woman, a bit bewildered.
"Yes! Yes! Yes! Martha, these people need help, guidance, hope. God is their salvation! We have God, we need to share that hope and guidance with these people. It’s our duty as Christians to reach out ta everyone, even those that wish to oppress us. We have what these people need, food, security, and most importantly, hope… God."
"Sister Terry is right," the pastor states. "Dozens have come to us already. Times may be dire, but it is never wrong to show God's love. We'll meet here again tomorrow at sunrise and coordinate our missions. I'll make sure we have a good breakfast available."
The pastor says a short prayer for them all before they break up, and head to their homes.
* * *
The early morning sun shines bright rays through the thick foliage as Terry dismounts, and ties off her horse to a nearby tree. She knows the farm just a few hundred yards ahead very well. She knows the owners who were overrun, they were at the Lutheran Church earlier that morning, distraught, seeking help.
She quietly moves through the woods until she comes up to an area where she can overlook the farmhouse and its surroundings. It is a dairy farm with over two hundred cows. She hears the bellowing of the un-milked cows long before she gets to her scout position. The painful noise angers her.
Over fifty people occupy the farm. A few are armed, but most are families camped out around the yard and out buildings, tending fires and building shelters. The cows have been let out to pasture, but they congregate around the milking barn, bellowing, needing milked, expecting to be milked. A few people are spreading out some hay, hoping to appease the large bovines with food. One man gets angry and shoots one of the cows in the head. "Shut up you stupid ass cows or I'll kill all of you," The man shouts.
Terry is appalled. "The cows need milked you slob," she hollers as she bursts forward from her hidden position. "You got to take care of these animals. Just shootin’ one won’t stop the rest from bellowing. They need milked. Just look at their udders, they are way over due for milking."
All eyes turn to Terry as she walks straight up to the man who shot the cow. "You just killed a cow because you're too stupid to milk it. You got meat on the fires, an’ I see you are tryin’ to butcher what remains of two cows. Now you got another dead cow. Do you got any idea of how ta butcher it? Preserve it?"
The man looks at her, bewildered by her questioning, unable to answer, not expecting any retribution for his actions.
"Ya’ run off the people who knowed how ta tend ta the animals, cultivate the land, an’ then you just kilt the life providing cows cause their mooin’ pisses ya off!" Terry shouts at the man. "The people who own this farm are friends of mine. They woulda helped you.” She shakes her head in frustration.
"I'm tired of this crap. If you want ta live, quit takin’ farms from people who can help you, feed you. Get your stupid ass leader out here. Let’s work somethin’ out. I can have the owners of this farm here in two hours. With your people's help, we can make this farm productive. Quit killin’ cows and let’s start workin’ towards a solution."
The cow killer looks at her, dumbfounded. But a light kicks on in the back of his mind. The woman is right, they need sustainable farms. Maybe this offer from this crazy woman is good and will earn him favor with the boss.
"If I talk to the boss about this, we keep the farm, right? Your people work the farm, but we get the food?"
"If you promise to feed the owners an’ take care of the workers, yes. And they get their farmhouse back too. We’re not your enemies, we’re your friends and neighbors," Terry responds. The man turns and heads to the main farmhouse, hoping he has a proposal that will make him eligible for more rations and a better bed.
Meanwhile, Terry gathers some of the local refugees to help milk the cows, even if they have to do it by hand. She starts by getting a group to clean the holding tanks. Then she gathers as many clean five gallon buckets as she can. Soon she has two-dozen men, women, and children laughing and playing as they empty the udders of the laden cows. She tries to explain that this will be a twice-daily chore. The fact that these people are starting to contribute, starting to take care of their own destiny, embellishes their desire to help.
One young woman watches Terry intently as she happily teaches them how to tend to the cows. When Terry kneels next to her, she takes the opportunity to ask Terry why she is helping them, and doing it joyfully.
Terry turns to the young woman, beaming. "Jesus tells us to love our neighbors as we would love ourselves. You’re my neighbor now, so I love you. I wouldn't let myself starve, so I can't let you starve, dear. And if your leader overruns all the farms, then me and my neighbors will starve too. So I want to try and stop that"
"But we were told there are roadblocks and that the people out here were not letting anyone in, were shooting people who tried to get food, making people work for scraps of food," the young woman replies softly.
"No, that’s not true my young friend. We’re takin’ in anyone willin’ ta help. We require you all to help work the farms or help with security, or with any skill you may have ta offer. We’ve taken in doctors, nurses, engineers, teachers. Yes we have roadblocks, because people are ravagin’ the farms, runnin’ wild. And yes, some people have been killed, mainly in fights with farmers protectin’ their land and livestock."
"I was in nursing school, I would have graduated in December."
Terry turns to her in astonishment. "Child, we can't have you wastin’ those skills here milking a cow. You need to make rounds of the people here at this farm."
"But I have no supplies," she says forlornly.
"We'll take care of that right now," Terry replies. "All good farmers have a decent stash of emergency medical supplies."
* * *
Meanwhile, the renegade cow killer returns to the farmhouse and discusses the woman’s proposal with his comrades. "This farmer woman makes sense, guys. We don’t have a clue on how ta run this farm. Look at her, she is already leadin’ the cows into the barn and has ten people lined up ta help her milk the cows."
"Big Dave said to take the farms, run off the farmers and anyone else around. You let this woman in here, that's all on you, dude," responds one of the freshly recruited well-armed guards.
"Dave is smart, we need to run the farms, not just own the farms. If this woman is willin’ to help that happen, then we need to work that angle. You heard her, she's a bleeding heart. They would be willin’ ta work for free, just so that their animals will live! Trust me, Dave will love this. You're in charge here, I'll take the quad back to Davidsville and talk with Master Jones."
Just then, Terry and the young nurse come through the door. "Chief, did you know you have a nurse in your crowd?"
"Huh?" the man responds.
"This young lady is a nurse and I'm going to get her set up with some supplies so she can tend to your people out there. I'm sure the Gindlespergers have a good med cabinet. I'll get her kitted out. I got a dozen people milking the cows now, but it will take a while. I'm going to go get the Gindlespergers and bring them back. If you let them run the farm and give them back their home, I am sure they will do everything they can to feed you and teach you how to take care of the animals. Do we have a deal?
"That's a deal by me, but I have ta get my boss to agree. I'm
heading to see him now."
Terry sticks out her hand to shake on this verbal truce. The man looks around at his three cohorts who either look away or grimace, fearing Dave's response. Hesitantly, the man shakes Terry's hand.
* * *
"So we can get our farm back!" exclaims Mark Gindlesperger.
"Kind of," Terry replies. "You get ta work the farm and tend to the animals, an’ they’ll help you, and provide security. But they get what the farm produces."
"What kind of a deal is that," Martha states flatly. "We do all the work and they get the rewards."
"I know, Martha, but your livestock will not make it through the winter. And you need to harvest the corn and hay. Most of these people are not bad people. Their leaders are misguided. But the people will end up ravaging your farm and then move on to the next one if we don't help ‘em. Please see the good in this," Terry pleads. "An’ they have agreed to help. I know it is a sacrifice, but it is a righteous sacrifice."
"Martha, we can't let them ruin our farm,” Mark Gindlesperger says. “My grandfather is probably turning over in his grave right now, seeing the farm he built being ravaged. We'll take my nephew and his wife with us. With our boy, that will give us five people who know what to do. I think we have to try and make this work."
Reluctantly, Martha agrees and they round up their family for the three mile trek back to their farm they fled just a day ago.
* * *
Dave Jones churns through his mind the offer that is set before him. He knows an armed group has forced his people to retreat from some farms around Jerome. One of his main roadblocks surrounding Jerome had to be reinforced because of this new threat. Here is an opportunity to keep the farms he has taken, but allow the owners to work them. Maybe this will be a way to institute a treaty with this unexpected threat.
"I'll go with you to meet with this woman. Maybe we can work out a deal," he tells his man.
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