Righteous Sacrifice

by Timothy Van Sickel

  “The Colonel and I had a blow up at that meeting and I ended up arrested and in cuffs. Fortunately, some of those charged with holding me, including Sergeant Merkle, agreed with my position and they helped me escape.

  “Our group has grown since then, and more and more people are siding with me as Sheriff Owens’ martial is being more harshly imposed. Last week thousands of pounds of beef and pork were ‘taxed’ from the framers and that has sent a lot more sympathy towards us.

  “And the mayhem has not stopped, despite the martial law, maybe because of the martial law. No one is allowed to talk to anyone, no cohesive plan can be implemented. It’s nuts, total chaos,” she states, exasperated.

  “We heard of your team coming into the area and how you showed down the Purdys and then helped out the Amish caravan, we were right behind you then. We wanted to help those poor folks out too, but you beat us to it. So we made tracks this way. Sorry we didn’t make it in time to help stop the sheriff’s men.” She looks down and shakes her head.

  “What you say lines up with a lot of what we know, Colonel, but these are tough times. I need to verify this,” Zach responds. “Charlie, take four men out and find a few people who look like they know what’s going on, get their stories. Let’s see if this adds up.”

  Meanwhile the detail from the Shoup farm returns; along with some of their neighbors, they have pitched in for a good meal for the new arrivals, which they begin to distribute. The woman makes some inquiries about Zach and the Militia, but Zach talks vaguely, avoiding giving out unnecessary details. The crew designated to clean up the battlefield returns with several dozen M16A2’s.

  The Colonel tells Zach that the colonel from Fort Indiantown Gap had brought ammunition for the military grade weapons. He asks about SAWs and other more advanced weapon systems and equipment. She does not think the locals have anything more high powered than the M16’s.

  One of the battlefield crews come back with news of a bonus. One of the enemy’s trucks got shot up and abandoned. Two crates of 5.56 ammunition where recovered along with some other useful equipment including some more flares.

  Charlie returns from his interrogation mission. “Her story adds up, Captain. These people are legit and they want to join us.”

  Zach stands and walks to the colonel, who stands as well. He extends his hand. “Welcome to the Laurel Highlands Militia.” She shakes his hand, but they both pull together in an embrace. Two soldiers, weary of fighting, seeking peace, finding common ground.

  Chapter 20, The Brain Squad’s Reality

  Central City

  10/04

  “These are the issues as I see them.” The heavy set woman speaks up among the dozen people in the room, most of whom have advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering or mathematics. “Warm housing, decent food, appropriate medical care and new crop production. If we don’t address these issues, our slice of stability will fall apart.”

  Heads nod in agreement. It has already been decided that the security issue is out of their hands. They are looking to find pragmatic survival solutions, not for a few people, but for their community. “My room got awfully cold last night.” A man states. “How are we going to make sure everyone has a decently heated home? Even if they have a heat source, with no pumps, no circulation system, the house will go cold. We need to form a team to work with the council on this. A system of figuring out which houses can be kept warm needs established, and how many people they can accommodate. We could end up like the old days, with five people to a bedroom!” He shakes at the thought, used to his personal space and modern day conveniences, but it dawns on him that what he is thinking is probably the answer to the problem.

  “Food is not going to be a problem,” Paul Mays states. “There are smoke houses being built on every farm in the area. Anyone with even meager carpenter skills is being employed for this purpose. Plus, we have a grist mill up and running so corn bread will be plentiful. Two more are being built right now. The farmers are bringing in cabbages, potatoes and other crops with the help of the displaced city folk. Anyone with any skills are canning food. We need to address the scarcity of canning jars. Potatoes, onions and cabbage can be stored. Tomatoes and other fruit crops will rot. Some of those crops are starting to rot now, because we have no way to preserve them. Finding new solutions of storing perishable crops needs to be on the agenda. Maybe we can set up some artisans to make decent stoneware.”

  “What about next year, and new crops,” a young man asks.

  Paul answers. “I have been talking with Cy Yoder, of the Somerset County Grange. Preserving heritage seeds and keeping a viable breeding livestock is high on their priority list. That is covered. But back to Lisa’s point, we need to talk with the local admin people about setting up a way to keep houses warm and people in warm homes. That could be a big problem. If we can get one of those windmill generators running, that could give us enough power to get the furnace pumps running, at least here in town.”

  Their discussion continues for several hours as they try to come up with viable options.

  Meanwhile, due to the recent cold spell, the local populace is already starting to solve the problem. Cutting, splitting, and selling fire wood has come into demand, and will get you well fed and taken care of. The more enterprising are scouring the salvage yards for anything that can be turned into a wood burning stove. As the cold weather sets in, it becomes apparent that the old farm houses can be efficiently heated, but the new McMasions, with their sprawling floor plans will be hard to heat. These developments bring another new reality to the survivors as the lines between rich and poor are reversed.

  Chapter 21, The Conspiracy

  Bedford County

  10/04

  Zach’s outpost on the Western edge of Bedford County has grown to over two hundred strong, mainly from locals who have come to his side, or more to the point, to Colonel Adkins side. His sister, Brit, and Captain Hutchins, their very skilled operations specialist, have joined him and Colonel Adkins as they make their way to the historic Jean Bonnet Tavern.

  They are hoping to meet with the free leaders of the community. They wonder openly if Sheriff Owens will show up. Colonel Adkins’ people have a lot of allies in the area and food has been supplied to more than accommodate the expected crowd. By ten AM the place is alive with activity as locals swarm in. The historic restaurant and boarding house hosted rebels when the overthrow of the oppressive King George was discussed. Now, two hundred and fifty years later, the overthrow of another oppressive regime will be the hot topic.

  Zach has three trucks and twenty security people help secure the area. The establishment has its’ own strong security regimen set in place as well. Everybody who is anybody in Bedford County has showed up. Prominent business leaders, a few well known clergy, the mayor, two county councilmen, three local police chiefs, and some of the larger farm owners are among the crowd.

  At quarter till twelve, in two old farm trucks and a classic car, Sheriff Owens rolls up to the gathering. Ignoring the stares and hushed guffaws, he walks right to the front of the room and begins shaking hands with his old friends, just as if nothing had happened, and like he was there as an honored guest. Zach and several others, despite having considered that he might show up, shake his hand in stunned silence.

  “That’s the Owens guy who ambushed Zach last night isn’t it?” Colonel Brit asks Captain Hutchins quietly.

  “I think so,” The Captain replies. “He’s got some balls to walk into this room.”

  “No, he’s stupid. Arrest him Captain,” Brit responds.

  “Arrest him? For what? He’s the Sheriff of the county. We have no proof he ordered that attack last night.”

  “Half the people in this room have been running from him since this all started. I don’t know why he is here, but it’s not good,” Brit responds. “We can’t let his oppression continue. This guy is worse than anyone we have dealt with so far. We need to stop him, or this whole county will be lost to
his tyranny.” Brit fumes as she watches the man glad hand the crowd. Her mind races furiously as she tries to come up with a way to stop him from spreading his lies and false hope.

  Avoiding the sheriff, she approaches Zach. “You have one of the cell phones that was in the faraday cage right?” she asks her brother.

  “Yeah, my driver has it, he was supposed to be taking pictures to record our mission,” Zach responds. “Corporal Jones has it, he’s out in the parking lot by our trucks.”

  Brit grabs Colonel Adkins and makes her way out to the parking lot. She locates the junior NCO and gets the cell phone from him. By this time, the meeting inside the tavern is starting to come to order. She quickly begins to scroll back through the photos that the driver had taken.

  Sure enough, pictures of all the men and woman that had been taken captive after the attack on Zach’s patrol were dutifully recorded. “Good thinking Brit,” Colonel Adkins states. “This could be what we need to take this bastard down.”

  They scroll back a bit further, through some pics of the fighting, then of the team setting up for the night. Then they begin to see shots of the scenes where the Amish were held. And finally they scroll back to shots of Zach and Sheriff Owens’ first meeting at the Shoup farm.

  “We got him!” they both exclaim. Brit sends Colonel Adkins in to bring out Captain Hutchins, the hardened Afghan vet who has been a reliable and cagey asset.

  As soon as he sees the photos, he gets hot under the collar. The two women calm him down. The meeting is already underway and Sheriff Owens is calling for calm, that he is just trying to do his best, that he had no idea of the attack on their friends from the west. He tells a very smooth and convincing story. You don’t rise to sheriff of a county without good oratorical skills.

  In the back of the large main room, Captain Hutchins issues a few hushed orders and his loyal men begin to quietly move into position. Sheriff Owens begins to explain how he is taking orders from the National Guard from Fort Indiantown Gap and about how they will be here soon to make everything good.

  Brit has worked her way to the front of the crowd. Over a hundred people pack the large main dining room, most of them armed. The Sheriff has over a dozen armed men by his side, and he is starting to win over some in the crowd.

  Finally to the front of the standing room only crowd, Brit interrupts the sheriff and asks unassumingly, “Do you know a man named Andy Porter?”

  Caught off guard, the sheriff hesitates a bit, “Andy Porter, uh, well, uh yes. He works in my office, a clerk or something like that.”

  “He’s one of your captains, sheriff,” A nearby man in the crowd hollers.

  “Is this him?” Brit asks the man showing him the IPhone picture of the sheriff at the Shoup farm with Andy Porter at his side.

  “Sure is,” the man responds

  “And this him too?” Brit asks, showing a picture of Andy as a prisoner.

  “He’s a little worse for wear, but that’s Andy,” the man responds

  Over the last several minutes Captain Hutchins and his men have positioned themselves for this moment.

  “Arrest this man for the murder of four men, maybe more,” Brit states, looking directly at Captain Hutchins, who is now behind the sheriff.

  She turns to the crowd, which is in stunned silence, and holds the cell phone high in the air. “This man just confirmed that it was one of Sheriff Owens closest men that lead the attack on my brother and his team last night. A totally unprovoked attack after our team had already started to help bring stability to your county. This man is set on imposing a tyrannical martial law, squashing your freedoms. We are here to help you to set things right.”

  The room remains silent as the crowd digests the fact that their sheriff has just been arrested for murder.

  From the middle of the room a woman’s voice is heard. “About damned time, the bastard shot my husband and killed one of my boys when he imposed that ‘tax’!”

  “We’ve been hiding for three weeks,” states one of the county commissioners. “Because we argued against him. I think commissioner Loreeta is dead because of him.”

  More voice’s join in, agreeing with the arrest of the Sheriff. He tries to speak up, but is drowned out by dissenters. His men, seeing they are outnumbered and losing the argument, start heading for the doors. Captain Hutchins’ men round up most of them before they can make an escape. One desperate man pulls his 9mm, but is shot before he can do any harm.

  * * *

  Word of the sheriff’s arrest spreads quickly. To most, they don’t care, they are too busy trying to live day to day, to know the implications of what just happened. To many, this means freedom to start doing as they see fit, taking care of their farms, setting up trade bazaars, cooperating with their neighbors to survive. To a few, it means there is no law and they can begin to reign terror; try to impose anarchy where they will be the biggest and the baddest. To an even smaller group, they were the law, now they are outlaws. Some turn from their group, and plead to join the new law. Some flee to the east or join the anarchists, knowing their crimes against their fellow citizens are too great to be forgiven.

  * * *

  After the arrest of Sheriff Owens, and the commotions it causes, the meeting finally resumes, even though half the participants have already left, more eager to spread the news of his demise than to find out what results from this power change.

  Colonel Adkins and her team are approved as the new law enforcement contingent for the county and a loose alliance with the Laurel Highlands Militia is made, allowing them to assist Colonel Adkins as needed. The local civilians are to have a formal meeting in Bedford in two days, giving Colonel Adkins some time to secure the area.

  The room buzzes with ideas and concerns. Mainly unaffected by the hordes of urban refugees, being so isolated, they do not fully grasp the totality of the world changing event. Their only concern is to establish some semblance of stability in their remote valley. That small step will bring them closer to dealing with the bigger problems to come.

  Zach and his strong platoon are to remain at their outpost along with Captain Hutchins and a few of his key men as they help Colonel Adkins secure the area. Brit ribs Zach as she is getting ready to head back over the mountain. “Pulled your ass out of the fire, little brother. That jackass was making you out to be the invading army and he was the savior trying to protect his flock. He almost pulled it off; you would be the one arrested right now.”

  “I got to thank you sis. You delivered the goods to show he attacked us, thanks,” Zach responds as he give his sister a hug.

  “I may not like you, brother, but I do love you,” she says with a mischievous grin. “Don’t make me come rescue you again.”

  Zach throws his hands up in the air, exasperated. “But,,,but,,, I,,, uh,…” He gives up his futile response as she gets in the classic Gran Torino that brought her there. He blows her a kiss as her convoy drives away.

  Chapter 22, Coming Home

  Laurel Mountain Summit

  10/5 Darkness of Night

  A dim red light flashes twice, then flashes twice again.

  “She came,” an excited Terry Barnes exclaims to Captain Albright at the roadblock on the crest of Laurel Mountain.

  “Hold tight preacher woman,” One of the guard states. “Let us do our job before you get too excited.”

  Terry watches in anticipation for five minutes as blurry figures move this way and that. She hears muffled conversations. Finally, through the dim starlight she sees people moving over the crest of the ridge. A lot of people. “Oh thank you Lord!” She exclaims out load, which brings a few stifling looks from the captain and a few nearby guards.

  Heading out to greet the disheveled refugees, she finds Pastor Julia and gives her a huge bear hug, almost crushing the smaller frail woman. “Welcome home sister, welcome home.” She whispers in her ear.

  “I hope so sister, I hope so,” is Julia’s soft response as she glances at her tired and worn people as t
hey head down the hill, towards Bakersville.

  “You and your people will be taken care of here, sister,” Terry responds assuredly. “There is food being prepared right now, and arrangements to get you all cleaned up and checked out. You may be sleeping in barns or tents till we get you all situated. You will have the chance to take care of yourselves, to help out, to be part of reviving our community.”

  Julia looks at her quizzically. “How can my pitiful people help you?” she asks.

  “Sister! All Gods’ children are blessed with talents. In a few days you will be rested and well fed. You will want to use those talents. What it was like before the attacks won’t return, but the anarchy that you have experienced, we are a safe haven from that. You’ll see. God is present here, and he led you and your people here for a reason.”

  Julia looks up at the large woman. “Such faith, such wholesome faith,” she says as a bit of a smile crosses her lips. “God is in the miracle business, maybe this is the miracle we have been praying for.” The two continue to talk quietly as they walk down the long hill towards safety. A few farm tractors with hay wagons ferry the young, weak and elderly, but Julia refuses a ride, walking beside her new friend, gaining confidence with each step.

  Dawn is breaking over the eastern mountains as they come upon the small village of Bakersville. The fire department is surrounded by her people, being fed and tended to. Julia’s small smile grows large as she sees this community of strangers doing everything they can to welcome her and her people. She knows her people will need to help in the fields, work in the kitchens, help with the cleanup. But they are in a safe area, much safer than the mayhem and dysfunction at their old camp in Donegal.