Civilization

by Stephen Drake

  “We should also need a nice table and comfortable chairs,” Palmer said with relish. “We need them so we can properly contemplate what is best for the rest of the people!”

  “More likely you just want a comfortable place to put your ass,” Phylicia responded.

  “Same thing, really,” Palmer said with a shrug and a half-grin.

  “We need to appoint the managers of the different groups and have them take charge of the supplies that fall under their purview,” Phylicia said while pacing. “Kimberly!” she yelled after a bit more pacing. “Send Doctor Harris to us here!” she commanded after Kimberly Grey responded and presented herself.

  “Yes, miss!” Kimberly responded before dashing off.

  “Would you two at least act like the elected council?” Phylicia chided. “Act like you care about what is going on and that it matters!”

  #

  It took a few minutes for Doctor Harris to present herself to the elected council. As she approached, she saw Phylicia pacing and the two men lounging, close to the stream. She walked confidently everywhere she went. After all, she was a doctor; the only one on this desolate planet. As she closed the distance on the three council members, she saw Phylicia turn toward her.

  #

  “Doctor Harris! Welcome,” she said with a lilting voice, smiling. “We have all come to the conclusion that you would be perfectly suited to be the Minister of Health!” Phylicia saw the Doctor stand a little straighter with pride and smirk a little with superiority. “Your duties will be to take charge of all medical supplies and see to it that they’re secured. Also, you are to bring suggestions to the council for improving the health and well-being of all the transport pod’s inhabitants. You will, of course, be addressed as Minister or Doctor, whichever you prefer. What do you say?”

  “Can I sleep on your proposition?” Doctor Harris asked as she turned away from Phylicia.

  “No, you can’t. You answer now, or we make the offer to someone else,” Phylicia commanded harshly. She needs to be clear on the pecking order, Phylicia thought.

  Doctor Harris paced around a little.

  “Going,” Phylicia said loudly.

  Doctor Harris still appeared to be thinking about it.

  “Going,” Phylicia repeated louder.

  “I’ll accept,” the Doctor said.

  “Good! Now, has —,” Phylicia started snapping her fingers and straining to remember a name.

  “Annie Cooper?” Palmer offered.

  “— Annie Cooper. Has she returned yet?” Phylicia asked.

  “Not yet,” Doctor Harris responded.

  “When she does, bring her here immediately,” Phylicia demanded. “She has information we are going to need!”

  #

  “When were you going to return me?” Annie asked Murdock as they ate their lunch.

  “Tomorrow morning would be best,” Murdock responded while taking another bit of fish.

  “Will you be coming back before I deliver?” Mei Lee asked quietly.

  “That’s up to your husband,” Annie responded. “I’m willing, if he’s willing to come get me. Hopefully, I’ll be in better shape and won’t slow him down as much.”

  “You do know that you’ll be interrogated when you return?” Murdock asked Annie while he chewed.

  “I’m sure Annie will maintain the doctor-patient confidentiality,” Mei Lee offered.

  “Doctor-patient confidentiality is a legal term and no longer applies here,” Murdock stated flatly.

  “I did take an oath,” Annie said defensively.

  “And who is going to enforce that oath?” Murdock asked. “What would be our recourse if you violated it? How would we know if you did violate it? From a practicable perspective, all oaths are out the window.”

  “Then why did you bring me here?” Annie asked.

  Murdock chuckled a little. “I needed to know that my wife and baby were okay. You don’t know exactly where we are, but I think you could find your way back here, if you had to.”

  “Then what made you chuckle?” Annie asked.

  “You were there when I gave the others the boundaries. I think you know that I would not hesitate to enforce those boundaries,” Murdock said. “Or am I mistaken?” he asked her with a hard, deadly serious look on his face.

  “You’re not mistaken,” Annie answered with conviction.

  “The others all think that I will hesitate to enforce those restrictions,” Murdock said as he leaned back and allowed his face to soften somewhat, become sad.

  Mei Lee turned Annie toward her. “You must convince them that he was serious when he set the boundaries,” she whispered urgently. “He will kill anyone — everyone that violates the boundaries.”

  Annie could see the deep concern in Mei Lee’s eyes as she spoke so urgently. “Knowing what I do of Murdock, the others cannot stand against him. They would be foolish to try. There is no need to be frightened of them,” Annie said urgently trying to console Mei Lee.

  “You don’t understand,” Mei Lee said looking at Annie pleadingly. “I don’t fear them. I fear what that level of carnage would do to him,” she said indicating Murdock.

  “Is there no way of dissuading Murdock from that course of action?” Annie asked.

  “Based on what you know of him, what would you say the chances of anyone persuading him to relent?” Mei Lee asked.

  Annie had to admit that it would be “slim to none” on the chances Murdock could be dissuaded. All three adults sat quietly thinking. Annie knew that Murdock was, most likely, correct on the interrogation upon her return, and she wasn’t looking forward to that prospect. She had no idea what means they would use to get information from her. She had a thought pass briefly through her mind; something about wishing she could just forget everything she has seen and done.

  #

  “You know they will put her through the wringer,” Murdock flashed to his wife. “They are going to make her life hell until she gives up all information.”

  “Yes, probably so,” Mei Lee responded. “Is there anything that can be done to minimize the damage?”

  “Unknown. I could consult Beron and get his take on the situation,” Murdock offered.

  “Look at her. She is scared about what is coming when she returns,” Mei Lee said. “If we could, I’d keep her.”

  “I know you would,” Murdock responded. “You’d do it, though, to spare her the trials that are coming. That would not be any benefit to her. She needs to know her own limits for herself.”

  “I know you’re right, but it’s hard to let her go through it all.”

  Murdock had gotten up, gathered his supplies for arrow making, and went out on the deck by the front door. As he worked on increasing his arrow count, he communicated with Beron on the situation with Annie and what was to come with the newcomers. Murdock knew that by placing restrictions on where the others could go, most wouldn’t risk the repercussions, but he also knew that a few would. He knew that all it would take is one to cross the boundaries and then not be willing to face the consequences of their actions for apocalyptic events to occur.

  First, they would disregard what Murdock had told them about the boundaries, especially if punishment isn’t immediate. It won’t matter if Murdock follows through with his threats or not, they will eventually kill one of the Oomah. When that happens, he thought, that’ll be all she wrote. Game over.

  After discussing it with Beron telepathically, while he worked on arrows, Murdock thought he had come up with a workable plan to try to salvage the lives on the transport. As he was picking up his supplies, he telepathically relayed his plan to Mei Lee, so she could mull it all over and give him her assessment when they went to bed.

  “Better get lots of rest tonight,” Murdock told Annie as they all sat around the table eating their evening meal. “We’ll be leaving early.”

  “I’ll try to be ready when you are,” Annie replied. “I guess I should say my good-byes, to the kids, before I go to
bed.”

  “They get up when we do,” Mei Lee responded stoically and with a shrug. “You can do as you please, though.”

  “There are always plenty of things to do and plenty to learn,” Murdock added, “so we don’t tolerate layabouts.” He chuckled when all the kids made their complaining noises.

  Sometime later, after the kids had gone to bed and after Annie had said her good-byes to them, Annie decided to avail herself of Murdock’s spa. Mei Lee led her to the spa while Murdock put more logs on the fire and waited for Mei Lee to return.

  “What did you think of the plan?” Murdock asked his wife telepathically when she had returned.

  “It won’t spare her the inquisition she’ll be facing when she returns to the transport pod,” Mei Lee responded. “No one will believe her.”

  They both sat in silence watching the flames in the hearth until Mei Lee went out to retrieve Annie. Murdock had decided that he needed a good long soak before bed. He waited in the cabin until Annie was dressed and inside before he and Mei Lee got into the spa for a long soak. By the time Murdock and Mei Lee re-entered the cabin, Annie was fast asleep. They both got into their hammock and drifted off to sleep cuddled together as they always did.

  #

  As she was starting to wake up, Annie could feel grass beneath her hands. She wasn’t cold, just a little chilled. As she sat up, she opened her eyes and looked around. She seemed to be a little disoriented. To her, things weren’t as they should be.

  “G’Morning. Sleep well?” Murdock asked as she looked around.

  “Yes, I did. Thanks.” Annie was a still a little chilled and moved closer to the fire to get warm. She looked up at the sky and judged it to be about mid-morning.

  “I was beginning to wonder if you were ever going to wake up,” Murdock said as he handed her a water skin. Annie took the water skin and, after taking a long pull on it, handed it back. “You look a little puzzled. Is everything alright?” he asked as he rehung the water skin on his side by putting one arm and head through the long strap.

  “I’m confused,” Annie said questioningly. “It’s like something is out of place. I don’t know. Maybe it’s just me.” She stretched forward to try to get her hands warmed. Murdock hunkered down beside her to tend the fish. “Where are we?” she asked finally after looking around a little more.

  “We are about two miles from the transport pod,” Murdock said as he pointed a direction. “The pod is that way.”

  Annie looked at him suspiciously. “When did we get here? I remember leaving the transport pod area, but I don’t remember anything after that.”

  “The fish is done,” Murdock said as he handed her some. “Eat up while it’s hot. We need to have a discussion about your memory. You know as well as I do that the others are going to try to get information out of you about me and mine,” Murdock explained while eating. “For our safety, your memories of the past couple of days have been blocked.”

  #

  One of the guards saw Annie Cooper and Murdock approach. He immediately sent word to Minister Harris and to Phylicia Cunningham of their approach. By the time Murdock and Annie got to the perimeter of the transport pod, they were facing Doctor Harris, Phylicia, and two guards.

  “It’s about time you got back,” Doctor Harris said sternly to Annie.

  “That is far enough, Murdock!” Phylicia commanded. The two guards moved to block Murdock’s progress. Murdock stopped, leaning on his spear. “What is it you want?” Phylicia asked with as much disdain as she could muster.

  “I’m looking for Declan Griffen. Can you direct me?” Murdock asked Phylicia with more than a touch of condescension.

  “Declan Griffen is a member of the elected council and I think he has better things to do than to talk to the likes of you,” Phylicia respond pompously to Murdock. “Take her to the council area for debriefing and wait for me there,” Phylicia commanded the Doctor as she started to walk away.

  “Was that a yes or a no?” Murdock insisted as he stepped a little forward to stop Phylicia’s retreat. One of the guards pushed Murdock’s shoulder, roughly, to stop his advance. Before either guard could react, Murdock hooked the guard with the butt end of his spear and smacked him on the side of the head, knocking him to the ground. The other guard rushed head-long toward Murdock. His attack was just as easily stopped. “These two may need your services, Doctor,” Murdock said as he stepped over the downed guards, both were holding their heads and moaning loudly.

  “What is the meaning of this attack?” Phylicia demanded with all the pomposity she could muster.

  “Hey, Declan! Declan Griffen,” Murdock started yelling as he walked further under the transport pod and among the inhabitants.

  “You stop where you are,” Phylicia yelled as she stood in front of Murdock trying to block his way.

  “Declan Griffen! Are you around?” Murdock continued to yell after unceremoniously shoving Phylicia aside.

  “You stop where you are,” Phylicia repeated loudly as she, once again, stood in front of Murdock trying to block his way.

  Murdock looked down at her with contempt. “Lady, and I use the term loosely, get out of my way or you’ll be finding yourself on your ass!”

  Phylicia swung at his face ineffectually. Murdock ducked under it and pushed her arm on past, throwing her off balance, sending her stumbling; barely able to keep her footing. At that point, Declan Griffen came running over to Murdock.

  “What is it?” Declan asked rather impatiently. “What is it you wanted?”

  “A word, if you don’t mind,” Murdock said roughly. “Let’s go outside the shadow of the pod, though!” He turned and walked back the way he had come with Declan in tow. Once outside the shadow of the pod, Declan was waiting for Murdock to stop, but he showed no interest in stopping. Murdock walked on for another hundred yards before he turned on Declan. “Have you given any further thought about paying your respects to your sister?” he asked looking around Declan to see if anyone else was going to be nosy.

  “I have and I would like to see where she is buried,” Declan said quietly.

  “Entombed,” Murdock corrected.

  “Entombed,” agreed Declan. “I would also like to hear about her life here.”

  “When did you want to leave?” Murdock asked. “We can do it now or in a month. It makes no difference to me.”

  “Next month would be better than now,” Declan responded after a little thought.

  “Okay. I’ll be back in a month to get Annie Cooper and I can just as easily take you with us.”

  “What do you need her for?” Declan asked.

  “That, youngster, is none of your concern.” Murdock could see that Declan took offense at his comment. “You should respect a man’s privacy. If I wanted you to know, I would’ve told you!”

  “I am a duly elected member—,” Declan started his hot response.

  “Don’t let that position go to your head. By the looks of things, you’re tenure is extremely limited!”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Declan asked in a surly tone.

  “You cross Phylicia what’s her name and you’ll be gone!”

  “Cunningham. What do you mean by gone?”

  “You’ll be voted out or dead, maybe both, the latter being most likely and probably by accident.” Murdock could see that Declan was thinking along the same lines. “Let me guess. Palmer volunteered and Phylicia said she really didn’t want to be on the council, but she would if that is what the people really wanted. You were selected.” From the shocked look on Declan’s face, Murdock knew he was right. “Now, Phylicia pretty much runs things and acts like you and Palmer aren’t needed?”

  “Not quite, but it is getting close to that,” Declan said in awe. “How did you know?”

  “In our group, we had one of those,” Murdock explained with disdain. “Our group was significantly smaller, so he just took over and became dictator.”

  “What happened to him?” Declan asked skeptical
ly.

  “He died, but not before he killed just about everyone else.”

  “I take it he was the one that murdered Rose?”

  “Yes, he was. Anyway, to get back on subject, your group is larger and will probably require the appearance of more than a single person to run things, but the true nature will be a dictatorship. Be wary of the appearance of diffusing power.”

  “I will. You, on the other hand, need to stop being so violent toward everyone in our group.”

  “Your group needs to learn some common courtesy. I defend myself, but I’m the problem? I don’t think so!”

  “Well, something needs to be set up so you can get the attention of the person you want to talk to. We have to feel secure, though, too.”

  “I guess it’s me!” Murdock said as if he ignored what Declan had just said. “For as long as I can remember I’ve always disliked being grabbed, groped, or touched by people I didn’t grant leave to do so and I don’t recognize anyone’s authority to do so whenever they feel like it. Call me crazy because I refuse to be one of the flock!”

  Murdock turned back the way he had come. Annie and Declan watched him until he was out of sight before returning to the pod. Murdock had given him plenty to contemplate. He would have to watch Phylicia more closely, but he was afraid that her consolidation of power had already gone far enough that it would be difficult to take it away from her and he doubted that she would just give it up.

  5

  After Doctor Harris had examined the guards and determined their injuries to be minor, she escorted Annie Cooper to the area designated by the council. She heard Phylicia behind her, mumbling complaints about Murdock under her breath.

  “Well, it appears the prodigal returns!” Ben Palmer said once they reached the area.

  Doctor Harris indicated where Annie should sit.