Civilization

by Stephen Drake

  “You better turn us loose,” Freeman yelled.

  “I’m only going to say this once,” Murdock said to him roughly. “Shut up or I will silence you myself. You have disrespected my wife and me, so I wouldn’t press my luck any further, if I were you!”

  “I demand you release us,” Freeman said loudly. “You have no —” he was suddenly screaming in excruciating pain as Murdock squeezed the elbow he had previously dislocated.

  “You’re in no position to demand anything,” Murdock said sternly. “What are your names?”

  “Nels Osterlund,” the one that limped said quietly.

  “Preston Freeman,” Freeman spat in defiance.

  “Tell me something, Nels,” Murdock leaned down to talk conspiratorially, “did you get off on raping the Doctor?” Nels didn’t answer. “Oh, come on. You can tell me. There’s no one here but us chickens!” Osterlund remained silent.

  “You can’t prove that charge,” Freeman spat. He was then screaming again as Murdock squeezed his elbow.

  “I really don’t know what I should do with you two,” Murdock said after releasing Freeman’s elbow and his screams subsided. “I thought about slitting your throats and be done with you, but that would be too quick. You two need to suffer!”

  #

  Jeff Carter had managed to lead the group to the first cliff-face they came to downriver from the landing pod, negotiate the cliff-face, and get the entire group down to the next lower valley with no mishaps. Then, he decided to go exploring and left Emily Brooks in charge.

  Emily Brooks was scared. She’d been appointed to take over responsibility for the one hundred fifty of their group. She had no expertise with managing herself, let alone over a hundred others. The thought of it caused her dread. The thought of addressing so many made her shake all over and want to hide. Since they had arrived here, she was trying to get along with a few people, but Keith Rogers was the easiest to talk to. The two had hit it off right away and she was so happy when he agreed to be her second in command once she was appointed. She was certain that he wouldn’t steer her wrong and would be a good sounding board.

  They both were standing by the river watching Carter’s back retreating steadily downriver.

  “Okay, Boss,” Keith said cheerfully. “What do you want us to do first?”

  “I haven’t a clue,” Emily responded, her voice trembling as it usually did when she was stressed. “I would think that a more permanent camp would be nice, so would food.”

  “I’ll tell you what,” Keith said reassuringly, “I’ll get with our woodworkers and hunters and see what they would suggest and get back to you.”

  “That’ll be fine,” Emily responded with more calm. Keith had a way of putting her at ease and she enjoyed having him as an adviser. They had been standing downriver from the rest and Keith had left at a fast trot to find those he needed to talk to. This had left her standing there, exposed, feeling as if everyone were watching her and being overly critical. Calm yourself, Em, she thought. No need to get all worked up. Keith can be trusted. He’ll make things okay. As she walked back to the crowd, they all were looking at her expectantly. “Make camp here while I figure out what to do next,” she said to the crowd and everyone started making camp. Wood was gathered, fires were lit, and fish were caught and cooked. She had marveled at how smoothly it all went.

  Emily had no idea what she should be doing, so she went about gathering water, the same task she had since they left the transport pod. When she returned from the river with water skins filled, everyone was looking at her strangely. Emily read it as them being unsure of her, probably as unsure as she was of herself. While she delivered the water skins around, Keith had come up to her.

  “What are you doing?” Keith asked. “You’re in charge now. You don’t need to carry water!”

  “I know,” Emily responded, “but it gives me something to do and I enjoy it. Do you want to discuss it while I finish or after?”

  #

  Keith chuckled to himself a little. “I’ll be a little downriver. Come there and we can have our discussion.” He left to find a spot that was far enough that they wouldn’t be overheard. He had to admit that she didn’t know anything about being a manager, but she did wonderfully winning the hearts of the people. All our leaders could take lessons from Emily. Most leaders quit worrying about those that gave them the job. Not Emily. As she came walking up, he thought she’d do well as a politician, with the proper guidance.

  “What did you find out?” Emily asked breathlessly.

  “First, the woodworkers recommend we cross the river. They say the resources needed are lacking on this side. Second, the hunters have been hearing complaints about having fish all the time. They suggest harvesting a couple of deer, but that raises another issue. To harvest deer, they need ranged weapons of some kind. That would mean more resources for the woodworkers.”

  “Okay, what about you?” Emily asked. “What would you suggest?”

  “Hmm, that is a tough one,” Keith said after a short pause to think about it. “I would say do all of it,” he finally said. “The woodworkers are correct. There aren’t enough resources to build anything on this side of the river. Finding resources for buildings is sure to allow the craftsmen to find the materials they need for ranged weapons.”

  “I don’t understand — ranged weapons?” Emily asked shyly.

  “Spears, bows and arrows, cross-bows are all ranged weapons,” Keith explained. “A weapon made to be used effectively at a distance.”

  “Oh. What do you think about building a bridge over the river?” Emily asked.

  “Our efforts, in my opinion, need to be focused on shelter and food gathering,” Keith expressed. “A bridge would be nice, but just isn’t a priority, at this point.”

  “I was asking because of the farmers and Jeff Carter,” Emily explained. “The farmers would use it to get to their fields and Carter would know where we went. Besides, I’m not one for walking with wet shoes.”

  “How about we put up an arrow, or a sign, to indicate where we crossed the river,” Keith said. “I’m not keen on walking through deep water either, and your suggestion has merit, but a sign, at this point, would be better.”

  “Okay, then,” Emily said. “Send some hunters and woodworkers to investigate the other side of the river. You know, find a usable site for a more permanent camp.”

  “Already done,” Keith responded. “Some fish should be finished cooking soon, I’ll get us some and come back.”

  “I prefer to get my own, thanks,” Emily said with humility.

  “But you’re in charge,” Keith pleaded. “No one would think anything of it!”

  “I would,” Emily countered. “I prefer to get my own and after everyone else have theirs!”

  Keith stood there, looking exasperated, while the arguments ran through his head. Emily wasn’t what most would call a beauty, physically, not at six-foot-four and over two hundred sixty pounds. She was a large woman, bigger than quite a few of the men and built like a truck, but that didn’t seem to matter. She had a very pleasant and sweet disposition and she was always neat and clean and kept her long brown hair in a tight bun. What impressed him most was her unpretentiousness. Anyone else, in her position, would have played it for all it was worth, but not Emily. She didn’t want to rule, she preferred to serve. I think this group would be best served by making Emily the permanent leader, not just a stand-in until Carter gets back, he thought as he made his way through the crowd. Carter didn’t care. He left us to fend for ourselves when we could have used his expertise. Keith knew that everyone would have access to Emily, should they need to complain or ask her for something. Yes, Emily is exactly what we need. He had decided to actively lobby the others for Emily to be the permanent leader.

  #

  With Freeman and Osterlund secured to a tree, Murdock had sought and found a small branch and was whittling it. It wasn’t but an eighth of an inch in diameter, when the bark was removed, b
ut it seemed stout enough for his purposes.

  “What are your plans for those two?” Mei Lee asked. She had come up to her husband quietly and had been watching over his shoulder.

  “Did Doctor Harris make a decision?” he asked without turning his attention from his task.

  “She has told us all she knows of her attack. She can’t be absolutely sure that Osterlund is the one that attacked her. Until she is absolutely certain, she refuses to exact any revenge,” Mei Lee said quietly.

  “How is she doing otherwise?” Murdock asked.

  “She’s very fragile, emotionally,” Mei Lee responded. “She keeps asking for Annie. Do you think it wise to take her home?”

  “Not particularly,” Murdock responded and then blowing on the little whittling project. “I had thought of taking her to the group I have been helping, but they are far from being able to take care of someone in her fragile condition. Maybe, though, that is exactly what she needs. They all seem to be people of good nature and their tasks would allow her to work through her trauma, keep her busy.”

  “I would like to meet them, before making a decision as to where she should go,” Mei Lee said quietly.

  Murdock nodded agreement as he replaced his six-inch knife in his boot sheath. He walked over to Preston Freeman holding the foot-long stick he had removed the bark from and had sharpened one end to a fine point.

  “Remember me telling you to keep a civil tongue in your head?” he asked Freeman. “Consider this a gentle reminder!”

  Murdock grabbed Freeman’s nose and pinched it off. When Freeman opened his mouth to breath, Murdock grabbed his tongue, vise-like, between thumb and forefinger and pulled it out. Freeman tried to pull his tongue free by moving his head from side to side. During his struggles, Murdock pushed the sharpened end of the stick through Freeman’s tongue and kept pushing until there was equal-distance from either end to his tongue. Freeman was struggling and screaming in pain. The length of the stick kept him from retracting his tongue or closing his mouth. During the process, Osterlund looked away, sickened.

  “Now, what do I do with you?” Murdock asked rhetorically with a menacing grin.

  Osterlund looked panic-stricken as he struggled against his bonds to no avail. “I didn’t rape her,” he screamed as he struggled.

  “Can you explain your injuries?” Murdock asked calmly. “They are consistent with Doctor Harris’ account. She said she kicked more than once, but did connect with one and you limp. Your knuckles look like you’ve been in a fight, but you have no marks on your face. Doctor Harris has been beaten quite badly. The facts seem to be in her favor. If you have an alternate explanation, I’m all ears.”

  “I don’t have to answer to you,” Osterlund responded hotly, turning away from Murdock’s gaze.

  “Intractability would not be in your best interest, at this point,” Murdock said sternly, moving closer to Osterlund’s face. “Maybe I need to make another,” Murdock’s eyes flitted to Freeman, “shall we call it a reminder, for you and your offending member.” Murdock had a sadistic grin plastered on his face.

  “Stop it,” Mei Lee yelled. “Kevin, stop it, now!”

  Murdock’s face softened at the sound of his wife’s voice and he retreated from Osterlund. He returned to the cart and donned his bow and quiver of arrows.

  “Where are you going?” Mei Lee asked imperatively.

  “Just taking out the trash,” Murdock said quietly, but sarcastically.

  “Where?” flashed to Murdock’s mind from Mei Lee.

  “Where the rest of the trash is located,” Murdock responded verbally as he picked up a length of rope.

  “Promise me that these two will arrive alive,” Mei Lee communicated. “You have never lied to me, so, promise,” she said after getting no response.

  “The condition they arrive in is totally up to them,” Murdock told her aloud. “I can’t promise that they won’t stumble and break their fool necks, but I won’t be the cause.” He bent down to give his wife a quick peck before turning back to the captives. “Do I leave in the reminder?” Murdock saw Freeman shake his head to indicate the negative. “You’ve seen that it’s better to be civil, then?” Freeman nodded frantically. Murdock grasped the stick and pulled it out of Freeman’s tongue. “You will be reminded, by the pain and the swelling for a few days,” he said to Freeman who had withdrawn his tongue and showed signs of some relief. “In case you’re wondering, I don’t like racial slurs, especially if they are directed at my wife, and I don’t like rudeness. You should take this,” Murdock held up the stick and waggled it, “as a warning!”

  #

  Murdock cut both men loose from the tree and directed them to walk toward the transport pod. Osterlund and Freeman looked behind them periodically as they traveled. Murdock was always thirty yards behind with an arrow knocked. Neither man had the inclination to try to attack Murdock on the trip to the transport pod. Osterlund was sure that Murdock would shoot him, if he tried, and Freeman was in too much pain to think about it. Both had become resigned to whatever Murdock had in mind for them. Both were certain that they would never reach the pod.

  Eventually, they both topped a rolling hill and could see the transport pod. Their hearts lightened some at the sight of it. The closer they got to the pod, the closer Murdock was behind them. When they were one hundred yards from the pod, they could see Phylicia come out to meet them with her entourage.

  “You have a lot of nerve coming here after what you did,” Phylicia yelled at Murdock when they were thirty yards from the pod.

  “I rescued Doctor Harris, after one, or more, of your men raped her,” Murdock snapped back.

  “I suppose you have proof of that allegation?” Phylicia asked heatedly.

  “Not the kind of proof that you mean,” Murdock replied just as heatedly. “Since your men are so rapacious, so much so that they tried to rob me of my property, none of them are allowed to be more than two miles from the pod. If I find them further than that, their lives are forfeit. Someone like you killed seventeen people from the first pod and took my wife’s life. I refuse to allow that to happen again!”

  “You have no right to limit us that way,” Phylicia retorted angrily. “We will go where we wish. We don’t recognize that you have any authority to do anything!”

  “Keep pushing me and you will be treated like any other rabid animal. A word to the wise should be sufficient, but it seldom is!” With that, Murdock turned and left for the river.

  13

  Once Murdock returned to the river from the transport pod, he found the doctor sleeping soundly on the cart. It took no time to levitate the cart over the river and all three were on their way to the box canyon. As they approached the canyon, they were stopped by one of the men. Murdock requested to see Elizabeth Reyes. The guard barred them while another went to get Reyes. Murdock had been silent since his return from the transport pod and Mei Lee didn’t like it.

  They didn’t have to wait long for Reyes to show up.

  “Elizabeth, this is my wife Mei Lee,” Murdock introduced.

  “Liz, please,” Reyes said extending her hand with a warm smile.

  “I’m pleased to meet you,” Mei Lee said quietly to the taller woman. She looks like she could whip her weight in bobcats, Mei Lee thought. Tough, but still warm.

  “We have a situation,” Murdock started. “It seems Doctor Harris has been attacked. Are you organized enough to have someone look after her for a couple of days?”

  “Things are hectic, here, as you would imagine, but I think I can do it,” Reyes said. “Who attacked her?”

  “We don’t know,” Murdock responded. “It was one, or more, of the men at the transport pod. I found her wandering around not far from the river.”

  “We’ll put her in the cave,” Reyes said as she led the way.

  As they walked, Reyes was engaging in small talk with Mei Lee. Murdock was looking around and was pleased to see that his suggestions for securing the canyon were being t
aken seriously. He had suggested building two buildings on either side of the canyon entrance with a heavy, solid gate between the buildings. As they passed, he could see that they had started laying a course of logs for one of the buildings.

  “What are your plans for the doctor?” Reyes asked which brought Murdock’s attention back to Reyes.

  “Annie is at our cabin caring for our kids and Declan, at the present time,” Murdock explained. “Since Harris has been asking for her, I was going to go home and bring her back here, to care for Harris.”

  “I’m sorry, who is Declan?” Reyes asked.

  “He was one of the appointed council members at the transport pod,” Murdock explained.

  “Don’t think I ever met him,” Reyes said, “but, be that as it may, you can bring Annie or anyone else you want. You are an honored guest!”

  “I thank you,” Murdock said humbly. “If they fit in, they may want to stay. For all I know, Declan may want to join your little group.” He saw Reyes get a puzzled look.

  “Annie Cooper and Doctor Harris are more than welcome,” Reyes started, “we welcome medical people, but it would depend on what skills Declan has as to him being allowed to join us. Do you know what skills he has?”

  “Not at the present time,” Murdock said. “Have you talked to your woodworkers about ranged weapons? You’ll need them to take a deer.”

  “I have and they wanted me to ask you if they could look at your bow and an arrow,” Reyes said. “They probably have a thousand questions for you.”

  “Next time,” Murdock said. “It is getting late in the day and we need to head for home.”

  “I understand. You know where the cave is,” Reyes stated. “Just make her comfortable anywhere.”

  Murdock left Mei Lee to distract Reyes long enough to get Harris unloaded and settled. He had no more gotten her settled on one of the deer hides, when Bass came in, looking for Murdock. Murdock immediately sent him to get Reyes and Bass complied. When Reyes entered, Murdock tried to explain that Harris was sensitive to males being anywhere close to her, or that is what he’d surmised. He had placed Harris on the sand, but quite some distance from the entrance of the cave. He bid Reyes good-bye and said he would be back in a couple of days. He picked up Mei Lee outside the cave and the couple headed for home. As soon as they were beyond the camp and were sure that they wouldn’t be seen, Murdock applied his gifts. Despite the fact that it was dark by the time they reached the river, they were home in a couple of hours.