* * *
The countryside has grown fully dark. The peepers start chirping loudly. A hoot owl sounds off. The stars shine brightly along with a crescent moon. A peaceful night settles in on the Laurel Highlands of Western Pennsylvania.
But Jerry's sense of trouble is on high alert. He has eight men staged against two hundred homeless people. The extra security he requested has not shown up. His men are well placed and he has the firepower advantage. But the people he is dealing with, they are desperate. What if they have double-crossed him? A relief detail will be here soon, no need to worry, he thinks.
Then he hears a gunshot from his forward position up by the road. Shit! That ain’t good. He knows the rest of his detail will have gone on high alert at the loud report of the rifle shot. They are mostly Iraq and Afghan vets, they know the consequences of not being alert. So he heads up the road with a security man, towards his forward detail where the shot came from.
And then all hell breaks loose. It begins at his forward detail. Several high-powered rifles bark, followed by the chatter of semiautomatic fire. Then he hears more shots to his left, one of his security positions, shotgun blasts, followed by semi-automatic chatter again. His truck rolls up alongside him and they jump in. They crest the hill to see a dozen men rushing his forward position. The crew served weapon opens up on the attackers. Many men fall. Semi-automatic fire continues to ring out from the forward position. The firing intensives behind him as the city people close in on his security detail. As his crew served weapon provides cover, his forward detail falls back to the truck and they quickly retreat back down the road.
Jerry gets on the CB, "We're under attack! These city folk have attacked us! We have started to retreat under fire. Hold the relief trucks, but send the security people! I'll report back as soon as we are out of danger."
Once they have crested the hill back towards their security position, the crew served weapon starts to lay down fire into the woods ahead of the security position. They see the muzzle flashes in the woods and let loose. The muzzle flashes die off. Five minutes after the first shot was fired, the firefight is over. The only thing that can be heard are the groans of the injured.
They pull the truck back to far side of the draw where it can over watch as they collect their men. One of the men from the forward position has a fatal neck wound, and one from a security position that got attacked, has a sucking chest wound. There is nothing they can do for the neck wound, he is already dead. They apply plastic and bandages to the sucking chest wound, hoping to stop the lung from filling with blood, allowing it to maintain oxygen flow to the rest of his body.
A few minutes later, they have all eight of their detail in the truck. They fall back a mile to a new over watch position. Jerry gets on the CB to Central City.
“The sons-a-bitches attacked us. We got one man bleeding out and a sucking chest wound on another. Where the hell is that extra security I requested!”
He is assured that a truck and six guards are on their way.
“As soon as it gets here I’m sending Joey Speicher back in that truck, let the docs know he has a bad chest wound. And send out another truck to replace the one I’m sending back!”
By this time, Top has gotten to the CB and gets a full run down from Jerry as to what happened. He has Jerry set up a new security perimeter, the security relief shows up while they are talking. It is decided that they should secure where they are for the night and move back up to the scene of the fight the next morning, to see what the hell went down, what went wrong. They still have a farm under duress, and the part of the refugee camp that was willing to help. They need to find out where they stand. Jerry is told not to move until Top has a chance to talk it over with the city leaders.
The chest wounded man and the dead man are taken back by the medical team. Six more soldiers and another truck armed with an M-60 are set up in Jerry's perimeter.
'What is going on in this world God?' Jerry thinks. 'We were ready to accept those people in, feed them and help them as best we could, yet they attacked us. Dear Lord, forgive us. Men and women died today, at my hand, forgive me. Give me guidance, Dear Lord, that I may protect those assigned to me, and that I may help those opposed to me.'
Jerry breaks down in tears in the front seat of his converted farm truck. It would be classified as a "technical". He thought his days of fighting were over, but God has different plans for him. He wipes the tears from his eyes. He knows he is a skilled soldier. God is using those skills, he assumes. So he sets out to make sure his twelve men are securely set up. 'Nine men and three women actually' he thinks. The world has changed in many ways.
* * *
At six am the next morning a dozen men and woman meet at city hall in Central City. They are the defacto leadership of Central City and the surrounding community. Top is there, along with the Mayor, Police Chief Speigle, several pastors, a few doctors, a couple of merchants and a few concerned citizens. It is not a closed meeting, anyone can attend, but most are too busy trying to survive to attend.
An update is given. A doctor from the refugees at the high school says about half the detainees have been cleared to go, but just as many if not more have come down ill and have been segregated. A local tradesman updates on the hire for service project, which is going well. A few have returned, saying the conditions offered were not acceptable. He tells of the trading park, which is picking up steam. More farmers are venturing in to offer goods, and they are also hiring help.
One of Jerry's men updates on the roadblocks, which they have moved further out from the town. With the Wagerlys' out of the picture, the 'safe' zone extends well out into the farmlands.
Top chimes in at this time. "We got a complaint from a farm about ten miles north of here that city folk had killed some of their cows and were camping out across from their farm. We sent a security detail there, which included Jerry. He thought he had negotiated a truce to pass them through or accept them in, like with the Flight 93 refugees. But, his men came under heavy attack from these city stragglers last night. We lost one of our fighters, a woman, and one is critical, with a chest wound.
"He is set up a mile south of this refugee camp with a strong security detail. There are over two hundred in the camp now, and more are coming. They are headed our way. We need to figure out what to do."
A female doctor, a refugee herself, speaks up. "We offered the same deal you offered us? And then they attacked our people? This world had gone mad!"
A merchant speaks up. "Can we even take more in? Can we feed more people?"
Reverend Wysinger joins the conversation. "I don’t think that is a problem. We still have donated cows in the churchyard. We are asking for food to feed the cows. We have sent out groups of refugees just to help cut hay to feed the cows until we can slaughter them. The needs of the farmers are great. And unfortunately we still need security people to protect the farms. Organizing it all is still a major problem, and keeping the sick segregated is another problem that needs more skilled people."
"We are organizing a system for that," the Mayor chimes in. "Even the locals understand that we need to keep diseases under control. We have already lost too many due to lack of medication and bad sanitary conditions. It's gotten so bad that we have a twelve-man crew just to dig graves and latrines, and that is with a working backhoe. The weak and the elderly, especially those who can't get their medications, are falling."
"So what do I tell Jerry?" Top Interrupts. "He said half the refugees wanted to come in, but half wanted to conquest. Should I have him set up a strong position where he is? Do I send him back to negotiate, even after they attacked us? Or maybe we should just pull back and defend our town? Damn, having Mark here would help. He always seems to have a vision to see through this murkiness."
"It's not a vision, John, it is principals." Says reverend Wysinger kindly. "Mark would have us reach a hand out to these refugees again. That's what Jesus would do, and that is what Mark would do. Love thy Neighbor, th
e second commandment of the New Testament. It overrides all other commandments."
Not all present are Christians, but they are all good people who want to do the right thing. None of them are saints. The group is silent for a bit as they think over the Reverend's statement. The offer of acceptance and help has been behind almost all of their decisions. They have risen to the challenge. By reaching out they have saved lives, secured their homes and farms and made their community stronger. A third of the people in the room are refugees, including two doctors.
"You are right, Reverend," Top replies. "We have the ability to help and that has been working, so we have to try, even though the sons-a-bitches shot as us, we have to try. Love thy neighbor, like Jesus would. Okay, if everyone is agreed, I'll let Jerry know to love thy neighbor. But, I'll also let him know to bring a big stick, if the neighbors don't love back. 'Protect thine own' or something like that."
After a bit more discussion, Top is told to let Jerry negotiate with the city refugees. The doctors, merchants and the rest of the leaders begin to get ready to bring in more refugees, including the sick. One merchant requests the use of some of the working motorbikes, so that he can let the farmers know that extra help is available and there is a market for their food. The meeting breaks up as they head out to implement the decisions made. A secretary furiously takes notes and posts them to their new town council ledger. A semblance of self-governance is starting to take place
* * *
Jerry is up at five AM. He makes the rounds of his people, checking their positions, keeping them alert. The sun will be rising soon, and he does not want to be caught by surprise again, even though he has superior firepower. The lives lost tear at him. Thirty years ago, he watched senseless killing as the road to Baghdad got shot up. He saw senseless killing again last night. He does not want to see it again.
Just before six AM he checks in with HQ. He is told to stand by until Top meets with the council. He checks his men again, and finds two have minor wounds from yesterday's battle. He has those wounds cleaned up as best he can in a field position. He gets on the CB, and calls for an aid truck and another security detail. Both are to be sent out as soon as possible.
There are no other serious problem spots, so Jerry's position is given highest priority by Top and the militia. An hour later, Randy, who lead the ambush against the Wagerly's, shows up with eight more men on a truck and two bikes. Fifteen minutes later Top calls over the CB and tells Jerry to 'Love Thy Neighbor.'
Randy says, "What does that mean? These guys attacked you last night. 'Love thy Neighbor?' Tell the neighbors to love us!"
"Be cool Randy," says Jerry. "It just means I'm supposed to negotiate. The bastards that attacked us last night, they are dead or gone, or licking their wounds. One of their people I talked to said half their crew wanted to join us. We're looking for that person. Set over watch positions before anyone moves. We'll work our way to the top of the next rise that will give us over watch over their whole camp."
"Right, and scouts out on either side," says Randy. "One hundred meters in the woods. These are woodsmen we are up against, that is how they got so close to your guys last night. I won’t hesitate to let loose, so you better negotiate good. Here, I got some body armor from the Wagerly's. You put this on, Top's orders. It ain't the best, but it's what we got."
* * *
Thirty minutes later, with scouts in the wood line, Jerry's truck crests the hill overlooking the refugee camp. He waves a white flag.
The camp is a confused mess. Hearing the approach of their truck, a grave digging crew by the road had rushed back to tell the rest of the refugees. Most of the camp is fleeing across the fallow field, into the woods. A few are still trying to gather up possessions and round up children, some are too sick or too weak to flee.
"Hello to the camp! I wish to speak to Dan and Judy! We come in peace! Hello to the camp!" Jerry bellows across the field. Several people turn and stare at him. He sees that one of the stragglers is Judy, trying to help a sickly man cross the small stream at the bottom of the draw. "Hail Judy! We come in peace!"
She looks in stunned disbelief at the man waving the white flag. 'Is this a trap? Did they really come back in peace after our camp attacked them last night?' Her mind races. If they want to kill them, they could. She will never make the wood line with her children and sick husband. She stops and waves her arm high in recognition. She is astonished to see Jerry wave for her, beckoning her to come up to the road. And he is waving a white flag of truce.
She hollers for her people to stop, and sends her oldest off to find Dan. A few minutes later she makes her way back to the roadside where Jerry is waiting. She slows as she approaches. She had only seen the truck and Jerry from the bottom of the field. Now she sees the ugly barrel of the M60 machine gun, sand bagged in the back of the truck, and another camouflaged warrior with his face painted green and black ten yards away, hidden in the drainage ditch.
Her face goes pale. 'Have they come in peace? Oh my God, did I just walk up to my own firing squad?' She looks back at her helpless camp, and then turns back to look at the fierce machinegun overlooking her people.
Seeing her hesitancy, Jerry calmly assures her, "It's okay, Judy. So long as my people are not fired upon, your people will be safe. I need to talk with you. You were a camp divided. I don't think you or Dan had anything to do with last night's attack. Let's talk."
Cautiously looking around her, Judy makes her way up to the road. Jerry gives her a canteen mug full of fresh water and a cherry fruitcake from an MRE. She has a stunned look on her face, which turns to relief. She gobbles down half the fruitcake and drinks the water.
"Oh my God, you are here to help us!" Tears well up in her eyes, she grabs him and hugs him tightly. She begins to weep. "Oh my God, they attacked you yet you came back to try and help us," she barely whispers through her tears.
Jerry holds her, not embracing her, just holding her, as she weeps. After a moment she steps back. Jerry gives her the white bandana to wipe her eyes. "Judy, right? I'm Jerry from yesterday. Let's work this out. You said you were a camp divided, so tell me what happened."
Judy begins to explain the events of the night before. Part of the camp wanted to get ready for assimilating into the community as Jerry offered. The militant side of the camp wanted to attack, and since they had the guns, their side won the debate. They even left some people behind to watch the rest of them, to make sure no one warned Jerry and his crew. They figured it would be thirty guys, against some wanna be soldiers. Judy and Dan had tried to tell them that she didn't think it was just wanna be soldiers, that what she saw was professional and well-armed men.
They didn't listen to her, and now most of them are dead, including their leader, who made it back to their camp, but died anyways. Of the thirty that went out, only twelve returned, four of those are dead already, two more are dying. The other six ran the fastest and the furthest when news came of the truck coming up the road.
They were digging another mass grave to bury all the dead when they heard the truck coming. There are still dead bodies in the woods, they only got the one's that where close by. They didn't have the energy to gather the rest.
Dan has come up as Judy explains what happened. He is wide eyed as well that Jerry has returned. He elaborates on Judy's account and states his willingness to join their farming community.
"How many belligerents made it into the woods?" Jerry asks.
"About eight." Says Dan.
"Where they armed?"
"Yea, riffles, shotguns and pistols, like that"
"I'm sending my people after them, we can't have a half dozen armed men out there. Gather your people. Anyone not heading back this way, we will consider them a threat."
While Dan and Judy gather their people, Jerry sends for Randy. He tells Randy of the situation and has him take a squad out in pursuit to the belligerents. Then he relays back to Top what has transpired. The med truck has already arrived and is tending to Je
rry's people a half-mile back, he calls it forward to help with the city refugees. Within an hour four trucks are heading his way, to help move the nonbelligerent back to Central City. In the meantime, another two dozen refugees have arrived. The city refugee problem has not yet been solved, only postponed.
Chapter 23, Recovery
The Farmstead
September 21st
"Damn it! I know it can be done. We had spares of everything." I growl. "Becca! I want another cigarette! Agghhh the friggin pain in my leg! Becca! Where's that cigarette! Ya know, Ken, she won’t let me keep a pack here, says I'll all smoke them all up. She is probably right. So about the new house, let's get this hashed out."
"We do have all the parts, I'm just not sure how to hook them all up. We even traded with the Stoneycreek Golf Course for six more deep cycle batteries. I just don’t know how to wire the whole thing up," states Ken.
"Yeah, I guess your right on that. Damn, John would have been able to figure it out, he was smart at this stuff. Or if Paul was here, he knows all this, hell he designed it! My brother got killed defending the place he helped build, ain't right. And Linc, we lost Linc, and Kim! Now I'm getting crabby, sorry bout that Ken. We need an electrician. Can we trade for an electrician's service? They got that work barter thing going on, how about that?"
Becca comes in the room with a cigarette and two fingers of cheap bourbon. "Here's your cigarette, and a stiff drink. Now quit being a grumpy old man, God's got a plan for you. I do recall hearing something like, 'if he wanted all of me he would have taken all of me.' Well, you're still here and you're startin' to heal, so start helpin'." Becca kisses me squarely on the lips, then turns and walks away. I size her up as she leaves, as I always does, a twinkle in my eye.
"That woman has my number, always has, since the day we met! So, about getting some electric running at the new house, let's barter for an electrician, we'll feed em for the work he does. Hell, can't be a lot of demand for electricians right now!" I chuckle at his own joke.
Righteous Bloodshed: Righteous Survival EMP Saga, Book 2 Page 15
