A thin animated woman, with two teenaged blond haired daughters at her side, greet Terry and Julia at the door to the large fire station hall. “Come in, come in and be fed,” Sarah Durant says warmly. Sarah pulls Terry aside, the seriousness of the situation finally dawning on her. “Terry, these people are completely malnourished! I have not seen anything like this in America. These people look like some of the people we helped in Haiti, on mission trips. It’s going to take days of rest and food to get them healthy and bring back their strength.”
“But we can do it Sarah!” Terry responds. “We already have the food commitments lined up from the farmers. They need these people to help finish the harvest. And we can feed them, give them a roof, give them hope. We can’t give up, Sarah. We have to keep moving forward, all of us, using the gifts God gave us.
“You and your brothers have been such a blessing to us all. I don’t know where we would be without you all,” Terry states.
Sarah looks at her, mouth agape, “What do you mean by my brothers?”
“Mark, General Mays, he’s your brother, isn’t he?” Terry responds. “And Paul, he got the grist mills running and is trying to fix other stuff. He runs what they call the brain squad.”
Sarah stares at her in wonder. She has kept herself busy at the fire station, refusing to think about the rest of her family, not wanting to know what may have happened to them, too worried of what the devastating news may be. She had heard talk of a General Mays, but had dismissed it, not seeming to be in character with the wild child brother that she grew up with.
Now it all falls into place and tears begin to form in her eyes. Sarah hugs Terry hard and tight. “Mark is alive? And Becca too? And my brothers have made it out to the farm? Oh my God! Thank you Lord! Oh Terry, I never even imagined that they would be okay. Are they at the farmstead? I just assumed they didn’t make it. Oh my God. I am such a fool.”
“I thought you knew, Sarah,” Terry responds. “Becca is good. Mark lost his leg in a fight, same fight that John got killed, but Paul is well too, and helping us to rebuild. Lots of your family is there. Oh dear Lord! I thought you knew.”
Sarah had never been an emotional woman, but blood is blood. To hear that some of her family is alive and helping the community to unite and grow, is news that overwhelms her. She breaks down and begins to cry.
Her husband, Derrick, who helped coordinate with the farmers for the provisions, comes to her side. “Sarah, what is it! Sarah! Talk to me.”
“Mark and Paul are alive and out at the farmstead,” she says with a beaming smile as the tears roll down her cheeks. “Derrick, my family is still alive.”
“I know, baby doll,” he says as he hugs her tightly. “I have tried to tell you that, but you have refused to listen. Yes, your brother is the one legged general. You should be proud!” he states starting to laugh. Inwardly, relief coming across him as his wife’s refusal to accept reality has finally started to dissipate. She has focused on helping people, and locked out any news, any true reality. Working daily at the fire hall feeding people was like working a mission station in Haiti. Prepare food, serve food, block out anything that distracted from that mission. To see his wife finally start to open her eyes to the bigger picture is great relief to Derrick.
He hollers across the room to Captain Albright, who he befriended shortly after the Somerset uprising, knowing he would be a man of importance. Derrick is a man with a keen sense of knowing who the movers and shakers are. And more importantly, of bringing them together to get things done. He knows Ms. Hodge, all the big farm owners, and has contacts with the leaders at the local ski resorts.
Captain Albright comes right over. “What can I do for you Derrick?” he says, a genuine smile on his face. He knows Derrick helps keep food flowing to his men.
“Tell Sarah about General Mays, if you would.”
The tall imposing black man smiles at Sarah. “That one legged bastard may be the best man I ever served under. When you all had the uprising against the Martial Law, he had me surrounded, out gunned and out played. But he didn’t want a fight, he wanted common ground. Lots of people could have died, but he worked it out. Now I work for him, or more importantly, you. The man has balls of steel and smarts too. Wicked combination.”
Sarah looks at the man with her mouth wide open. All the stories begin to make sense. She had shut her mind down, but now it all comes rushing in. She brightens visibly, as if a burden has been lifted from her shoulders. She turns her eyes to heaven and says a silent prayer. When she opens her eyes and glances around the room, the fire and intelligence that was there before the attack, has returned. Sarah Durant will use all her God given talents to help restore the blessed land she grew up in. She curses herself for withdrawing from reality. Now she pledges to face the grim new reality head on.
Chapter 23, Community Unity
The Homestead
10/07
Some folks bitch about the extra traffic on the road. Not because of any type of traffic jam, but because precious fuel is being spent. “I’ve seen three convoys now,” states a woman bitterly. “That’s fuel that could be used in one of our tractors or for our soldiers. All so this tyrant can have a home coming. I don’t like it.”
“He ain’t no tyrant, Mom. We’d be dealing with those drug lords if it wasn’t for him. And I’d still be stuck in Windber if they hadn’t set up the farm truck runners. Was that a waste of gas?”
The mom shakes her head and goes about seasoning more pork for their recently built smoker. Her son smiles. Mother likes to bitch. Whoever may be the power, in charge, they will be the victim of her venom.
At the Farmstead, a large festive gathering is taking place. A hundred pound pig has been slow roasting overnight. Four people have been in charge of just making potato salad, even though they have no celery. A large batch of fresh coleslaw has been whipped up with a homemade mayonnaise using duck eggs as the base. An apple crisp dessert is made, using maple sugar as the sweetener and corn meal for the crumble. Fire baked corn muffins are being cooked in large batches.
The locals have good reason to wonder at the extra traffic on the road. Sergeant Hays, Captain Albright, Ms. Hodge, Pastor Julia, Sarah and Derrick and any family or friends they want to bring have been invited. The same goes for Becca’s sister, Alex Cashaw, Lt Hasselrig, Captain Regis and anyone else from the Jennerstown area. Colonel Adkins and more than a dozen people from Bedford County make the trip over the mountain as well. Sarah and Derrick show up with friends from the ski resorts and a few more local leaders and major farmers. An invitation to the unity gathering was extended to Dave Jones and Lucas Yoder as well. But they do not respond.
Very little strategy is discussed. The emphasis is on eating, playing games and just getting to know each other. Mark Mays, always young at heart, has the several dozen children wrapped up in playing games and running races; he enters and wins the three legged race much to the dismay of the young children. Down by the pond, Ken, Zach and Herc run a fishing derby for the kids as well. The festive atmosphere breaks down barriers and forms new friendships.
Colonel Adkins and the people from Bedford County are astounded at what they see and hear. They gain confidence that they can bring stability to their county. The promise of an admin crew with an additional strong security detail gives them even more encouragement.
Julia, still frail from her long trial, mainly sits with her escorts and smiles, soaking in the love and stability of what she is seeing. She talks with several clergy that are present as well as Sarah, Terry, nurse Niki and Rebecca. She is reassured that the love of Christ is in the people assembled here.
The people from the ski resorts are mesmerized; they know of the mayhem at their doorstep in Donegal. To know this strong community is at their back gives them hope. Derrick reassures them that their plight is well known by the leaders here, and it is a top priority. The resorts have an excess of lodging and immediate access to lumber, fire wood. A deal begins to formulate.
Alex and Becca have a tearful reunion. One of Alex’s sons is with her, along with his young family. One of her sons died due to a lack of his medication and the other is two hundred miles away. The leaders of the group that her husband helped lead out Johnstown, out of the chaos, are warmly welcomed. Their connections to several NFL players brings them immediate celebrity. Their wit and charisma brings them long term friendships.
As the mid-autumn sun begins to head to the west, the crowd of almost two hundred people are gathered together towards the porch of the main house. The burnt remains of the old farmhouse only fifty yards away.
Becca stands on the large front porch, a bit nervous at the size of the crowd, but determined to make the remarks she feels God has laid on her heart. She tries to get the attention of the crowd, and after a few helpful whistles, the crowd quiets down.
“Hello to all of you who have travelled from near and far to enjoy Mountainside, our little piece of God’s Paradise. After all the stress and duress that has engulfed us all over the past month, we felt the need to show everyone what Mark and I saw the first night after the lights went out. We saw the moon briefly light up our farmstead; the cows, the gardens, the orchards, and we saw that God had provided us with everything we needed to survive.
“We brought you all together here to show you that God indeed is still providing us all with everything we need to survive. Look around at the people here. We have farmers, doctors, pastors, and engineers, even lawyers and accountants, as well as carpenters, and masons. And yes, we have soldiers. But Christ did not ask the Centurion to lay down his arms. There is valor in protecting the innocent.
“But, most importantly we have a community. Some here are Catholics, some Presbyterians, some Mennonites, some agnostics, even a few Islamic. No one is talking about skin color or past injustices. That is of no matter here. This is still America, and if you love freedom, then we love you! Our community pulling together is the only reason that we have any semblance of peace and stability here. We hope that more bonds have been formed today.
“We pray you all leave here knowing the strength of a united community. Look around you, as Mark and I did a month ago. Everything we need to survive is right here. Us coming together, under God’s love, is all we need to survive.” Rebecca’s final words are met with a robust applause. After a few moments, she waves for quiet.
“Ms. Hodge has requested that she be allowed a few words,” Becca states as she steps down from the porch. The crowd is polite, but stirs a bit, a politician may be about to pontificate for an hour as they are known to do.
Ms. Hodge, dressed casually in jeans and a wool shirt with a down vest and a Steelers cap takes to the center of the porch. She knows by the quiet reception that her comments need to be brief and to the point.
“Thank you, Rebecca,” Ms. Hodge states, looking at Becca as she finds a seat next to Mark. Turning to the crowd, she continues, “Thank you all for being here. I only want to make one point. I have heard rumors about the ‘one legged dictator’. I want to quash that rumor. I want the truth to be known to our new friends here. General Mays and the Laurel Highlands Militia was formed and stepped forward to push back and defeat, the anarchy that surrounded us. They insisted that we form a civilian council, a local government, and they have insisted that the militia will only do what the council allows. The General and his officers and men have been very professional in all their dealings with us and have made extreme efforts to bring the local guard and reserve units into their command.
“We will not survive as a community if we do not have a strong force to protect us. I want to send a message to anyone with any doubts, the Laurel Highlands Militia is the only reason we are safe right now, and they are the only thing that will keep us safe for the foreseeable future. The general and the militia have saved this community.” She ends on a high note that brings a loud round of applause.
“Thank you for your patience, friends.” She states as the applause dies down. “Now I will make way for General Mark Mays, who wants to say a few words.”
* * *
A raucous applause greets me as I hobble to the center of the porch. I am humbled by the reception. “Thank you all!” I say. The crowd quiets a bit. “I am overwhelmed. Let’s begin with a prayer.” After a few moments the crowd grows silent. “Dear Lord, thank you for the blessings you have given us. Thank you for the peace I know in my heart through our savior, your son, Jesus Christ. I pray that each and everyone here finds that true peace. Dear Lord, I also ask that you bless this gathering as we face many trials and tribulations. Evil men have brought difficult times to us. But we will place our faith in you and the decency that you placed in all our hearts. Grant us wisdom, dear Lord, grant us compassion, patience and love as we deal with the difficulties that we face. In Christ’s name I do pray, Amen.”
The crowd is quiet and somber as I begin my address. “This community unity picnic has been a big boost for us all. It shows us how many people, from all across the Laurel Highlands have started to come together. Becca, and Ms. Hodge highlighted the good things that are happening. I have the grim task of telling you of what could be on the horizon. Some of you may know what I am about to say. To others, this may be new information.
“Not just America, but the world, has been attacked by the deranged lunatics from North Korea and Iran. We know this for a fact. Due to a nuclear blast, Washington DC and our federal government has been decimated. Some say the government is trying to rebuild; they are the same ones that have tried to implement martial law. Yet we have seen no help from FEMA or the federal government.
“This community has survived, started to rebuild, for one reason only, self-reliance. We have not waited for some white night from FEMA to come riding in to take care of us. We have united and improvised to take care of ourselves and our neighbors.
“And we are not alone! From our monitoring of the HAM radios, there are a lot of areas around the country that have taken actions like we have, that have started to claim responsibility for stabilizing their own communities. Rural areas like ours, from Virginia to Oregon.
“But, we are just at the beginning of this crisis, friends. I am going to lay out a bleak picture. Some of you have seen what I am about to describe. Right now, starvation and disease are running rampant in the large cities; Chicago, Houston, Miami and the likes are experiencing horrors far worse than we can imagine. Millions of people, with no access to food, all heading to the countryside, looking for food. When food is found, it will be fought for. Desperate people will do unthinkable things in desperate times.
“The farms closest to the cities will be overrun, battles for that food are going on right now. People will move further from the cities, looking for more food, and the cycle will repeat. Eventually the desperation will reach the true rural belt, the farmlands of America.
“Here’s the bright spot. America can grow enough food to feed us all, even the starving masses in the city. But without modern day processing, refrigeration and transportation, that system is completely broken down.
“So the problem we face, that America faces, is the people coming from the cities will be like locust. They will be desperate for food and rape the land, literally destroying the farms that could keep them fed for years. We cannot let that happen.
“We have been in touch with people as close as Greensburg and as far away as Roanoke and Boise. We all agree that the destruction of the farmlands will lead to a complete collapse of all civilized society.”
I look out over the stoic crowd. “It gets worse frie
nds. It is now October. It has already started to get cold. Add freezing temperatures to a starving mass of people, and you have complete chaos, a mass societal collapse. Some have estimated that ninety percent of humanity could die because of an attack such as what has taken place.
“These studies all say the rural areas will be much better off than the urban areas. But we are still looking at a complete new world. I am sure that everyone here has already lost a loved one. But, are we ready for the chaos that is still headed our way? Are we ready to loose half of our community, or more? This is what we face.
“A lone holdout, thinking they are well supplied and well-armed, they will be overrun by their neighbors. A skilled survivalist thinking they can live off the land? They will run into a stronger group. The millionaires that are hunkered down in some hi-tech bunker somewhere, they will be found and rooted out.
“The only people that will survive this catastrophe will be rural communities like ours, that band together and defend their lands and their farms. Only by coming together, using our God given talents and having true compassion for those that we can help, those who share our values, will we survive.
“I want each and every one of you to look to the person next to you. There is a very good chance that person will not be with us in six months. The person you are looking at may not make it through the winter.
“With that in mind, I want you to pledge to that person that you will do everything you can to ensure that they will survive this chaos. Then I want you to pledge to someone you don’t know, a total stranger, that you will do everything you can to help them survive as well. If we only look out for ourselves, we will fail. We must reach out to others, if we do, we will succeed, we will be blessed.”
There is much mumbling and consternation at my request, and the crowd stares at me, waiting for me to continue. I look around the crowd, not saying a word, waiting for them to react, waiting for them to act on this pledge. Seeing that people are still stuck in their old mindset I espy Julia near the front steps. I motion for her to come up onto the porch.
Righteous Sacrifice Page 15
