by Jack Hunt
“Put your back into it,” a soldier yelled while keeping his AR on us. The guards stood at a distance to make sure that no one attempted to escape. Every day they had close to fifty of us working on that damn fence. Made to work in a line, there was one-armed soldier for every three people. Some stood behind, others in front. Realistically there was no way we could take them out even if I all fifty of us tried. We would have been shot before we made it within spitting distance. That however didn’t deter one man. He attempted to plow his way through them like an NFL football player and was brought down with one shot. It had infuriated the others so much that they tried to take back control. Rounds were fired, and more soldiers arrived to cart off the unruly into confinement.
There was a hefty price to pay for disobedience. They had built small steel huts outside and would throw anyone who was antagonistic into them for twenty-fours. In the heat of the day, they would sweat profusely and lose their mind. I’d seen one man get dragged out. His legs were limp, and his clothes drenched with sweat. He could barely stand from heat exhaustion. No, they had this entire operation working like clockwork.
I’d briefly seen Luke enter the camp. For a while I thought they were dead, but when that kid showed up it had given me a glimmer of hope. Then when he escaped, I knew there was a chance.
A soldier brought over a large plastic barrel of water. He plunked it down and scooped out some into a cup. “Come and get it.”
It was like being part of a chain gang except we weren’t linked together. One by one we approached him and drank from the single cup. It barely eased our parched throats. After swallowing they would send us back to continue. At the rate we were going the fence would be erected within a month, two at the most. I had tried to get answers to why they had chosen Hayden as a town to set up camp but the guard refused to answer. He was following orders and as long as they kept feeding him, he was more than happy to not know. There were three people ahead of me. I cast a glance back over my shoulder and squinted as the glare of the sun blinded me. I was looking back at how much fence had been erected. Work consisted of digging large holes for pillars. Posts would go in along with cement and then they were using rolled steel and mesh fencing, anything they could get their hands on in the local area. Some of it had been torn down from properties, the rest was carted in by trucks from out of town.
When I reached the water boy, as I liked to call him, he fished into the water and handed me the cup. I was about to drink it when it was knocked out of my hand.
“He doesn’t get any water.”
“What?”
One of the soldiers had taken a disliking to me after finding out that I had previously been a SEAL. Apparently, and I was only going by what the guard said, the guy had attempted to get into the SEALs back before the world went to shit. He didn’t get in and so he was taking out his frustration and dislike by withholding water.
“You heard me. Now get back to work.”
“I won’t be able to work if I don’t get a drink. It’s hot out here.”
“Are you still here?” He went to shove me with his gun but I caught hold of it. Before I could pry it from him, another soldier came in close and pointed his rifle at me.
“Let it go.”
“Yeah, when I get a drink.”
“Davis, give the man a drink,” a voice bellowed from a short distance away. I turned to see the Commander making his way over. He was taking in the sight of the fence. The Commander was a large man who towered over most of his followers. My first impression was that he was a drill instructor. He had a hard look to his face, a jaw that was slightly off center and tattoos that covered his arms. His hair was a short buzz cut, gray and yet nothing about him besides that would make you think that he was any older than forty-five. He pointed in the direction of the fence and told several of his men that he wanted a certain section to be reinforced. By reinforced, he meant using another layer of fencing to ensure that people couldn’t get out, or get in.
“You’re doing a good job, people. Once this is up, life will get a little easier for you all.”
The soldier known as Davis gave me a drink. I watched the other one glare at me while I gulped it down. My throat was parched and after being refused water two times that morning I could have drunk the entire barrel. I gestured my appreciation to the Commander with a nod and returned back to the line.
I continued hacking away at the hard earth for another ten minutes before Davis came over and told me that the Commander wanted to see me in his office.
“Now?”
“Yeah, let’s go.”
I tossed down my pickaxe and wiped the sweat from my brow. On the way over to his office, which was situated inside a stately manor four streets over, I asked Davis about the soldier who had denied the water.
“What’s the name of the guy who denied me water?”
“Sax?”
“Is that what they call him?”
“His name’s Gord Saxon but most of the guys just refer to him as Sax.”
“What’s his problem other than the fact that he knows I used to be a SEAL?”
“He has it in for everyone. If he had his way, he would be the Commander. If it wasn’t for the fact that it was his father.”
“That’s his father?” I glanced back at him trying to see the resemblance. “Now it makes sense.”
Davis looked at me. “You need to be careful. I don’t agree with everything the Commander does but right now he’s making sure there is food on plates and a warm bed to lay in. That’s more than can be said for our government.”
I trudged forward, my body aching from swinging that axe.
“How did you end up here?”
He looked around. “I shouldn’t be talking to you really but what the heck. Our crew, well some of them were stationed in the Pacific when all this went down. When we returned to land it was every man for himself. There was no order, no direction, Army, Navy, Air Force, everyone was just trying to get back to family. It was pure chaos. Anyway, I returned to my town that was close to Boise, but that place had been hit. The Commander and his men had blocked off the road leading in. At that time, he offered protection, food and a way to survive if we came along with him. My home was in the city. It was destroyed. He offered hope.” He looked around at the soldiers patrolling. “That’s what he gives these men.”
“But he’s taken over the town and removed weapons.”
“Do you blame him? Things are out of control right now. Society can’t return to normal if everyone is pointing a gun at each other. We have to start somewhere. The Commander isn’t going to hold on to those weapons forever.”
“But imprisoning people. You don’t see anything wrong in that?”
“The last town we went through no one was imprisoned. People gladly handed over their weapons and were willing to join. I can’t speak for anyone else but I know that what he’s doing here is in our best interest. It’s for our safety. Your safety.”
I scoffed. When we arrived at the manor, soldiers were posted at the front, along the sides and according to Davis, at the rear. Certainly the Commander had made damn sure that he was protected. He was acting as though he was president and the manor was the White House.
Davis led me up to the door and then inside. Whoever owned the home before must have been extremely wealthy as it had marble floors, expensive décor and numerous artworks prominently displayed all over the walls in every room.
Davis knocked on a pair of redwood double doors.
“Come in.”
He gestured to me and I entered. Inside the room were three soldiers stationed nearby to keep a watch over him.
“Ah, come. Can I get you a drink?”
He stood by a bar that had numerous liquors. “Just water.” The Commander nodded to one of his men and he went over to a fridge and retrieved a bottle. He handed it to me and I twisted off the cap. It had been a while since I’d tasted clean water. I chugged it down in one go.
“Thirsty
?”
“When your men deny people the basics, that’s what happens.”
“Yes. I’m sorry about that. Be assured it won’t happen again. My son is a little tense with all the recent killings of our men.”
“Killings?”
He scratched at his chin and leaned back against a large mahogany desk before sipping on a glass of bourbon. “It’s part of the reason why I wanted to bring you in. It’s come to my attention that you were a SEAL. Is that right?”
I stared at him before nodding.
“We could use a man of your expertise. I certainly don’t want to have you stuck out there digging holes. You are much more valuable to this community working alongside us.”
“A community. Is that what you call it?”
He chuckled. “I understand you might have your doubts about what I am doing here but in time it will become clear. In fact, what I am trying to do will go down in history books, mark my word.”
“Like the way Hitler treated the Jews?”
He blew out his cheeks. “That’s a little below the belt.”
“Is it? You have women and good men locked up out there. This isn’t a community, it’s a concentration camp. At least if you are going to talk shit, be honest.”
He snorted and began pacing the room. I contemplated rushing him but his soldiers would have shot before I got close. The Commander kept his distance.
“Tell me, what is your name?”
I hesitated before I replied. “Scot Murphy.”
“And what rank did you hold, Murphy?”
“Lieutenant.”
“Having been in the front line you know that war is not black and white. There are a lot of gray areas. Decisions have to be made that Washington wouldn’t understand. I’m sure you have been on missions where you were given instructions to bring order where there was chaos, yes?”
I nodded.
“Then you of all people should understand that before peace can come, there must be a time of discomfort. Would you allow hostiles to do whatever they wanted in a village that you were told to help?”
“But you’re not helping people.”
He took a large drink from his glass then went around the table, popped open a lid and pulled out a cigar. He cut the end off and placed it between his lips. After striking a match, he twisted the cigar and evenly burned the end. Large plumes of gray and white smoke masked his face.
“That’s how it appears but three months, six months or a year from now, these people will thank me.”
“Thank you? You kill those who oppose you.”
“I haven’t killed anyone,” he snapped back. “Anyone who is dead, killed themselves. We are living in a new country right now. Out there, it’s chaos. You haven’t seen it, have you?”
Country? I shook my head.
“That’s right. You haven’t seen the cities destroyed, the dead lining the streets from here to Boise, or the ones who are disfigured, or the ones who will kill to get the basics. This is war, my friend. We are at war right now. And the enemy is at our door. What I am building out there,” he said as he walked over to the window and surveyed the town, “this will become our salvation, something free of pain and misery. You are right, it’s not just a community we are building. It’s a country.”
I scoffed thinking this guy had completely lost the plot.
“A small country, I might add but one that will be free of the rules. A community that will rise from the ashes and show others that we can rebuild and start again.”
“And let me guess. You are the president of this new country?”
“Appointed by the people,” he replied turning back with a smug smile on his face.
“By who?”
“Look around you. They understand what I am doing here. While other towns and cities will struggle to reestablish themselves, we will thrive here under a new system. People will eat, have warm beds and will put in an honest day’s work. But until I can determine who can be trusted, everyone will be treated as a potential threat. I think you understand.”
“I understand that what you are doing here is wrong. It’s not your place to determine for others how they will live, what they will do and if they can bear arms. These people have rights.”
He let out a laugh. “Listen to yourself. Wake up, lieutenant. Do you really think that this was the land of the free before all of this happened? You were a slave to a system. You ate because you worked. Someone else governed everything you did. I’m not the enemy here, lieutenant. No matter how you try to spin this. I am here to ensure the survival of our country.” He motioned towards the window. “Out there. There is no country. It doesn’t exist. There are people who are lost and wandering like sheep without a shepherd. I’m going to shepherd them and lead them back to safety. That fence I am building is the beginning of that safety for us. I know you think I am doing this for me but you are wrong, lieutenant. I’m doing this for you. For them! For the United States.”
“And under what authority?”
“Decreed by the president himself.”
“You are out of your mind.”
He continued to walk the length of the room as though it was the Oval Office.
“Mark my words, lieutenant. You will thank me later. Now I brought you in today for one reason… to find out if you are with me or against me? So… what is it, lieutenant? Are you willing to work alongside me and help build something that is a sure thing? Where I can guarantee that you and your loved ones are safe, cared for and thrive, or do I need to show you how we deal with those who oppose us?”
I breathed in deeply. “You know what. I think I will get that drink. It’s been one hell of a day out there.”
The Commander smirked. “That it has. Good.” He turned back towards the bar area and poured two fingers of bourbon into a glass.
“What is your name?” I asked him. “I mean, I know they refer to you as Commander but—”
“Martin Saxon.”
He returned holding a drink. As he held it out for me to take, I reached for it but in one smooth motion grabbed his wrist and pulled him into me so that his back was against my chest. I held my hand to his face, and twisted his head. His men immediately brought up their AR’s and started shouting for me to let go.
“Call them off or I will snap your neck.”
The Commander raised a hand and they slowly and reluctantly lowered their weapons. I began backing up towards the door keeping a close eye on the three men.
“I thought you were better than this, lieutenant.”
“Yeah, I am, that’s why I’m taking you out of here. If they even move an inch I will snap your neck without a moment’s hesitation.”
My forearm was gripping hard around his neck, with my other pulling his face to one side. His legs buckled beneath him as I dragged him back. I glanced over my shoulder for the door handle. Once I felt the cold metal in my hand I turned it and swung the door open.
“Tell your men outside to get in here.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Then I guess we are done talking.”
“Hold on,” he muttered as I pulled his jaw even further to the side. He hollered to his men outside and they came in. I grabbed one of the Glocks off one of the men while keeping a firm grip on the Commander.
“I really wish we could have had that drink, lieutenant.”
“Ah, I’ve never been one for bourbon,” I muttered. “Especially when it’s served up by a narcissistic asshole.”
“Oh now, lieutenant. There’s no need for insults.”
I shuffled backward out into the hall and checked that there was no one outside. “Now go ahead and close that door behind us. And if any of you move, I will kill him.”
I hadn’t had my head turned for more than a few seconds when I was hit hard on the back of my head. It felt like my entire head caved in. I released my grip on the Commander and crumpled to the floor. I felt another sharp hit, then another and as darkness crept in at the sides of m
y eyes. I could see the Commander looming over me. Beside him was his son Sax.
CHAPTER 25
When we stumbled into the camp with Corey, he was looking like death warmed up. His skin was pale, pasty and his breathing had become shallow. Immediately Abigail came rushing over with two guys and they took Corey into the medical area. Both Billy and I collapsed on the ground exhausted. I was pretty certain he was going to die in our arms but Billy refused to let Corey fall asleep. I truly believed that if he survived, it would be because Billy annoyed the hell out of him all the way here.
There was a lot of commotion in the camp as Hank and the others wanted to know what had happened.
“We came looking for you guys but you were gone.”
I brought them up to speed on what had gone down with the soldiers on horses. Everything came out in short snippets of information because I was thirsty, exhausted and trying to catch my breath. The last mile we had partially run. I can say it was worse than attempting a two-legged race. Corey was no small guy but Billy was, so the weight was unevenly dispersed among us. Sweat was pouring off the both of us. We looked as though we had been dragged through a bush backward. Our faces were muddy from tripping multiple times and crashing into pools of dirt and rainwater.
“And Reynolds?”
I shook my head to indicate he didn’t make it. Hank dropped his chin. I noted the way he reacted. “What about the truck?” he continued.
It was a disaster. Out of the three, we had only managed to salvage one. I only hoped that it contained more than clothes and supplies.
“Someone get him a drink.”
“Look, is he going to make it?” I asked Hank.
Hank didn’t cherry coat it. “We are lacking in medical supplies. We have a few bags of blood from a local blood bank but whether or not it’s the right type of blood is to be determined. Besides, no one in the camp except Abigail is trained in medicine.”
“I know a few things,” Ally piped up. “My mother was a nurse.”
Billy chuckled. “And my father owned a lumberyard but that doesn’t mean I know shit about trees.”
Ally frowned at him. Hank shrugged. “Go on in and see Abigail, perhaps she could use your help.” Ally nodded and dashed off with Kiera beside her. We sat on a log by a nearby fire and tried to warm up our frozen bodies. Being out in the cold all night had chilled us to the bone.
