by Mark Goodwin
CHAPTER 8
Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.
Jeremiah 48:10
The next morning, there was a knock at the door. Danny got up from the breakfast table. “I’ll get it.”
He walked to the front door and opened it. “JC, come on in.”
“How is Alisa holding up?” JC wiped his feet on the mat before entering.
“Okay. As good as can be expected, I guess.” Danny lowered his voice. “Did you guys get the barn cleaned up?”
JC stepped inside. “Somewhat. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. Try to keep the girls inside this morning if you can. We pulled the bodies over behind the barn, but we didn’t have enough light to do much else with them. We have to find a way to dispose of them today. They were a bunch of dirt bags, so I’m not breakin’ my back to dig graves for all of them. Not that I have the spare time to do that anyway. So, unless you or somebody else wants to dig holes or you have a better idea, I say we build a bonfire and throw them on top. We can drag enough tree limbs and brush to get a good fire going in an hour or so. It would take days to dig graves. If you want to burn ‘em, Jack and I will help. If you want to dig, you’re on your own.”
Danny nodded. “I think a bonfire will work just fine.”
“We still have two prisoners. We have to figure out what to do with them.”
Danny furrowed his brow. “What do you suggest?”
“We need to form a tribunal,” JC said.
“How would that work?”
“I recommend we have a representative from each farm to hear their case. Capital punishment would require a unanimous vote, and all lesser sentences would require a simple majority.”
Danny rubbed his head. “How would the representatives be chosen?”
“That would be up to the residents of each farm. As for my family, I’m it. I assume Rocky would probably be the representative for their place, Korey for his farm, and Catfish if he wants to have any say in the trial. You guys have to decide who would be your representative. If nobody likes that idea, we can do something different. It’s just a suggestion. But whatever we do, we need to get it wrapped up today. This whole ordeal is eating into our farming time, which is what we should be focusing on right now.”
“Let me talk it over with Nana. Would you like a cup of coffee?”
“Sure. I need to talk to Miss Jennie anyway.” JC followed Danny back into the dining room.
“Have a seat. Let me scramble an egg for you. We’ve got plenty of biscuits left over.” Nana pulled a chair out for JC.
“Just a cup of coffee, Miss Jennie. I really can’t stay.”
“At least have a biscuit. You have to make time to eat sooner or later. Might as well be now.” Nana poured JC a cup of coffee.
“Okay, just one.” JC relented. “Miss Jennie, I’ve got that travel trailer that I talked to you about a while back. Catfish said he would pull it over here today if you don’t mind. If things get any worse, we might need to circle the wagons. The only way we can build an effective security force is if we pool our resources.”
Nana brought JC a plate with two biscuits on it. “Whenever you’re ready, it’s fine with me. Are you going to start living in it now?”
JC shook his head as he finished chewing. “No. We’ll stay at our place as long as we can, but I have a feeling that times are going to get rougher before they get better. I’d like to have a plan in place before we need it.”
“You’ve still got all that food up in the hay loft. I’ve always said you and your family are welcome here anytime.”
“Thank you, Miss Jennie.” JC ate the second biscuit and chugged his coffee. “I’ve got to run. Catfish is going to be at my house in about ten minutes. We’ll be on over in an hour or so. Danny can fill you all in on what we need to get done today.” JC waved as he headed out the door.
Alisa wrapped three biscuits up in a paper napkin. “I’ll be right back.”
“JC asked that I keep everybody inside until he gets back,” Danny said. “Besides, you can’t go to the barn without an escort. I’m not making that mistake again.”
Alisa smiled. “Thanks, but I’ll make sure I always have a gun. I can’t take being treated like a china doll.”
“It’s not just you. I think we should implement a buddy system; nobody leaves the house alone. We should only go out in groups of two or more; everybody should be armed, and at least one of those people should have a long gun, a shotgun, or a rifle.” Danny looked around the table at the others.
Steven sipped his coffee. “I agree. I don’t think that’s an overreaction considering everything we’ve been through since we left Savannah.”
Dana nodded. “It makes sense.”
Danny looked at Alisa. “What do you think?”
She shrugged. “I feel like this is all my fault. Everybody has to live on pins and needles now because I got kidnapped.”
Nana gave her a hug. “Shug, this ain’t your fault. Them ornery rascals that took you, they’re the ones to blame. The whole world out there is a-fallin’ apart, and ain’t one bit of it your fault.
“Them heathens up in Washington, DC and out in Hollywood, they’re the ones that led this country away from obeyin’ the Word of the Lord. And everybody just a went right along with ‘em. They had time for everything except seeking God and walkin’ with Jesus. This country ain’t wanted nothin’ to do with God for decades. Well, he finally shook the dust off his feet and left us to our own devices. And that’s why we have to live the way Danny is sayin’. But it sure ain’t your fault.”
“Thanks, Nana.” Alisa hugged Miss Jennie tightly and looked over at her husband. “It’s a good plan, Danny. So, can you walk down to the barn with me to give Gwen something to eat?”
Danny took a deep breath and thought for a second. “It’s not a pretty scene down there. Why don’t you let me and Steven take her breakfast to her?”
“I can handle it. I want to see her anyway.”
Danny stuck his hands in his pockets and proceeded to tell everyone what JC had said about the tribunal.
Alisa put her hands on her hips. “Capital punishment? Who’s going to be our representative? Whoever it is, you better not vote to execute Gwen!”
“I’m sure everyone will take into consideration that Gwen helped you.” Danny put his arm on her shoulder. “In the Wild West, horse thieves were executed. Both because they didn’t have the resources to house criminals for long periods of time and to send a message to let people know that type of behavior wouldn’t be tolerated. With no legal infrastructure or law enforcement, we’re in an even tighter position that the Wild West. Unfortunately, our two choices are execution or letting them go, virtually unpunished. We just don’t have the means to provide for a lot of middle-ground punishments. Compared to horse thievery, kidnapping is a lot worse.”
Dana asked, “What about, ‘Do unto others as you’d have them do unto you’?”
Danny pursed his lips. “I guess we have to consider who the others are in that statement. If others represent society as a whole, I would have trouble justifying setting kidnappers free to strike again. I certainly wouldn’t want anyone to do that to me, especially after what we’ve been through.”
Dana nodded slowly. “I guess I didn’t think about it from that perspective.”
Danny looked at Steven. “Would you be interested in being our rep on the tribunal?”
He shook his head. “Not really, why don’t you do it?”
Alisa crossed her arms. “I’ll do it.”
Danny was surprised. “You want to be the representative?”
“Yes. I was the one who was kidnapped. I should have some say in what happens to the perpetrators.”
Danny looked at Nana. “What do you think?”
“She’s right, Daniel. Ain’t nobody else got no more say about it than her.” Nana continued cleaning up the breakfast table.
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br /> Danny shrugged. “I’ll talk to JC. If it’s not a conflict of interest for the victim to be on the tribunal board, I guess you’re it. About taking food down to Gwen, can we wait until after JC and the others get here?”
Alisa took his hands. “No, Danny. Please, I understand that justice is important, but so is mercy. She’s down there, tied up in the barn, hungry and afraid. I know what it feels like, and she was there for me.”
“Okay, let me get ready.” Up to this point, he thought that Alisa had developed some kind of Stockholm-syndrome connection with the girl. But now he realized that Gwen really had made a huge impact in making Alisa’s ordeal more palatable.
Steven stood. “Do you want me to go, as back up?”
Danny paused in the doorway. “That’s probably a good idea. Bring your shotgun.”
“Dana, can you and Nana walk Rusty after the dishes are cleaned up? And take him toward the creek. I don’t want him near the barn until we’ve dealt with the situation.” Danny grabbed his AK.
“Sure thing! See you in a while.” Dana stood to help Nana clear the table.
Alisa poured the rest of the leftover coffee into a mason jar, stuck the biscuits in the pocket of her hoodie, and led the way to the barn with Danny and Steven close behind.
Steven opened the barn door and Danny stood with his rifle at a low-ready position until he confirmed that the prisoners were still tied up, in the positions they were supposed to be. Once he saw the two of them, tied to two separate support beams in the barn, he lowered the rifle.
Alisa walked in first. “Gwen, hey. I brought you some breakfast.”
Gwen’s hand and feet were tied around the beam, so that she could neither stand, nor walk. “Hey, thanks, but I really just need to go to the bathroom.”
Alisa looked at Danny. “Can we cut her loose?”
“Get her one of those old coffee cans over in the corner and she can use the utility room.” Danny took out his knife and handed it to Alisa. “Gwen, we’re going to cut you loose. If you try anything, we’ll shoot you.”
Bret called out. “I’ve got to go, too.”
Danny looked at Bret. His pants were wet. “You’ll have to wait till JC and the others get here. Besides, looks like you already went.”
“Can I have something to eat?” he requested.
“Resources are tight. We don’t have enough to allocate to feeding you.” Danny kept his eyes on Alisa and Gwen.
“You brought food for her. You can’t let me starve to death!”
Danny glanced over at Bret. “I doubt you’ll be around long enough for that to happen.”
“So you’re going to let us go?” Bret asked.
Danny just shrugged.
Bret called out to Steven. “Are you going to let us go?”
He answered, “I don’t have anything to do with it. Your fate is in the hands of the tribunal.”
Gwen came out of the utility room, rubbing her wrists. “Thanks, Alisa. Everything hurts from being in the same position all night.”
“Sure. Can you eat something now?” Alisa offered her the napkin with the biscuits wrapped up in it.
“Yeah, thank you.” Gwen sat on one of the hay bales and ate the food.
Bret called out, “Why does she get food and I don’t?”
“Because, I’m in charge of the food.” Alisa set the jar of coffee next to Gwen, walked over to the tool bench, and picked up an old pry bar. “Remember me?”
“You know I was just kidding,” Bret pleaded. “I wouldn’t have really done anything to you.”
“I guess I can’t take a joke.” Alisa smiled and swung the pry bar into his hands, crushing his fingers.
“Agghh!” Bret screamed in agony, then continued to cry out in pain.
Alisa walked back to the tool bench and grabbed the duct tape. “I can’t listen to that all day.” She wrapped the tape around Bret’s mouth and head.
Bret’s face turned red as he fought to get enough air through his nose to keep up with the demand of his convulsing lungs.
“Can you breathe okay?”
He shook his head.
“Good, your comfort is our utmost importance here at the Walker Bed and Breakfast. Be sure to leave us a good review.” Alisa kicked him in the kidneys as she walked away.
Danny and Steven just watched as Alisa vented her frustration on Bret.
Once he saw that she’d calmed down a little, Danny handed the zip ties to Alisa. “We can come back and give Gwen another break later, but we have to keep her tied up for now.”
Alisa took the ties and dropped her head. “Sorry, Gwen. I have to do this.”
Gwen walked back to the beam and sat down to allow Alisa to secure her hands and feet once again.
Afterwards, they left the barn, closing the door behind them. When they arrived back at the house, Catfish, JC, and Jack were pulling up with the travel trailer.
Jack jumped out of the back of the truck. “Hey, Alisa. How are you?”
“I’m okay, thanks, in part, to you.”
“Hey, are Korey and Rocky coming?” Danny opened the door for Catfish.
JC nodded. “They’re coming to help us clean up, but neither wants to be involved in the trial. They said they’d be fine with whatever we decide. I can’t really hold it against them. Both of them were here for us when we needed them to help go get Alisa. But, I do need one of you guys to be on the tribunal. Did you decide who it would be?”
Danny looked over at his wife. “Alisa wants to serve if it’s not a conflict of interest.”
JC knuckled his forehead. “Are you sure about that?”
“I’m sure.” Her voice was steadfast.
“I ain’t got no problem with it.” JC started walking toward the barn. “Let’s get it over with.”
“Right now?” Alisa sounded surprised.
“Yeah.” JC snorted. “We’ve got things to do. I’m only building one bonfire, so everybody that’s getting burned needs to go at one time.”
JC’s crass way of discussing the situation made Danny feel uneasy, but what could he say? JC was right. It was mid-March, and they needed to be focusing on planting. Even if they worked around the clock, there was no guarantee that they’d be able to produce everything they needed to survive. Each day that was lost to chasing hoodlums around reduced those odds dramatically.
“So how are we going to go about this? Is someone going to represent the defendants? Are we going to set up a table? Should there be witnesses?” Alisa followed close behind JC.
JC exhaled a deep breath. “We don’t have time for all of that. We’ll tell them what they are accused of, let them speak their mind for a minute, decide if they’re guilty, and carry out the sentence.”
“What? Like just stand there and say I pronounce you guilty and then hang them?”
JC kept up his brisk pace as he walked toward the barn. “Hanging is sort of a hassle. You have to get a rope, tie it, keep the prisoners secure while you relocate them. A bullet in the head is quick, efficient . . . and humane. It works out better for everybody.”
Alisa stopped in front of the door, blocking the latch for everyone else. “We should have some idea of a consensus before we go in here, don’t you think?”
JC grinned. “You mean, prejudge, before the trial? If you want it to be fair, you should keep an open mind until you’ve heard their testimony.”
Alisa didn’t move. “Whatever, but if you guys want me to go along with executing Bret, I have to know that you’ll let Gwen live.”
JC put his hands out. “We need a unanimous vote for capital punishment. You don’t have to cut any deals with us.”
“Okay, but I need to know you’ll treat her fairly. She helped me a lot.”
JC looked her in the eyes. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Alisa turned around and opened the latch. “Okay, let’s try her first then, so she doesn’t have to sweat being executed.”
Jack whispered to Danny, “Should we be in here dur
ing the trial?”
Danny thought about the question. “I suppose it’s okay. We’re like bailiffs or something.”
JC walked over to Gwen. “You’re accused of being criminally involved in the kidnapping of Alisa Walker and the subsequent attempt to extort goods from our group in exchange for her release. You’re also accused of being criminally involved in continuing to hold her even after we agreed to the exchange. How do you plea?”
Gwen lowered her head. “I didn’t think up the plan, and I didn’t have any say in how they carried it out. I tried to get Joey and Travis to take her back when they went to get the food.”
JC stood with his hands behind his back. “After they left, it was only you, Alisa, and the other girl left in the house. You were armed and therefore could have overpowered the other girl in an effort to set Alisa free. By not doing that, you were an active participant in her abduction.”
“I was afraid. I was afraid that Travis would kill me.”
JC looked at Catfish. “I say she’s guilty.”
Catfish looked at Gwen. “If you’d let her go, we would’ve protected ya. But ya didn’t. You was a coward with no regard fer nobody but yourself. Guilty.”
Alisa stood between Gwen and Catfish. “That’s not true. She protected me from that piece of filth over there. She fed me, untied me so I could eat and go to the restroom. She stuck her neck out for me. I say, not guilty. I think we should set her free and let her stay here with us.”
JC shook his head. “No way. That ain’t happenin’. She helped you, but she also helped her crew. She’s guilty, and she ain’t living anywhere around here. For sentencing, I recommend that she piles up the wood for our little bonfire, then stacks the bodies of her accomplices on the pile. Afterward, she’ll be banished from a one-hundred-mile radius of this farm. And if I ever see her again, she’ll wish she died an easy death right here, today.”
Alisa took both of Catfish’s hands. “No! Catfish, that’s just as bad as killing her. Where is she going to go and how is she going to get there? You know what it’s like out there. If we kick her out, she’s as good as dead.”
