by Joe Nobody
A look of disgust crossed the older man’s face. “My current task is to not only evaluate your success, Bishop, but also to determine what level of assets your organization can contribute to the rest of the nation. I don’t like, nor agree with my assignment, but as you’re no doubt aware, we don’t always get assigned to tasks we like while serving others.”
“I’m not sure what you mean by ‘assets your organization can contribute.’”
Shaking his head, the Colonel replied, “President Moreland and his staff think that all of the country should pool resources. You may not realize it, but your little civilization here in West Texas is doing far better than the majority of the country. Some people back east believe your wealth should be redistributed for the good of everyone.”
Bishop smirked, “That will fly like a lead balloon, Colonel. We’ve earned what we have with blood and sweat. No one has helped us one single bit.”
Nodding, the Colonel continued, “I agree. I agree 100 percent, son. Like I said, I don’t like my assignment, but I do what I’m ordered.”
“Well, sir, I’m not in charge around here. You should probably talk with Diana and Terri. I’ll be happy to help you find them.”
The Colonel agreed. Bishop poured his guest a cup of coffee and then hustled through a quick shower and change of clothes.
The two men left the church, the Colonel deciding he’d prefer to walk instead of riding in the standby golf cart. “It was a long flight out here, son. I need to stretch these old legs.”
As the duo made for the courthouse, one of T-Bone’s trucks honked as it approached, the bed of the pickup and long trailer full of old pipe sections, valves and other miscellaneous parts. T-Bone was riding shotgun, his son Lyndon behind the wheel.
“Hello, Bishop!” the junkman greeted.
“Hey, T-Bone. How’s the irrigation project going?”
“This load of pipe should finish another hundred-acre section. I’m hoping to turn on the water by dusk,” the man answered, a smile brightening his face.
“That’s great news, sir. I’ll pass it along to Terri.”
“I’ll be bringing up a trailer full of melons on the return trip. The work crews from Midland Station have been picking some beauties. They’re perfectly ripe, and the juice just runs down your chin.”
“Save me one, would ya? Nick and Diana are having us over for a cookout tonight, and I’d love to surprise them with some fresh fruit,” Bishop responded.
“You got it! See ya later, Bishop.”
Watching the truck pull away, the Colonel grunted. “Irrigation? Work crews? Melons? Do you know what 90% of the country’s population would give to hear those words?”
The two men continued their walk. “Sir, that man owned a junkyard full of old oil field pipe and equipment. Terri came up with the idea to recycle it. We do a lot of recycling. Look, over there,” Bishop said pointing to a nearby home.
They paused, watching a woman carry a bucket to her garden. She tossed what appeared to be table scraps onto an unplanted section and then started covering the organic material with a hoe. Bishop continued, “We don’t waste anything. See those goats over in the park. They keep the grass down. They are milked daily and someone gathers the manure twice a week to be used as fertilizer.”
Shaking his head, the Colonel responded, “Amazing. I can hear the pride in your voice, Bishop, and I don’t blame you.”
A few minutes later, the two men arrived at the courthouse and found Diana and Terri inside working with a group of people who wanted to reopen Alpha State University next summer. The meeting was just breaking up when Terri noticed the Colonel and immediately rushed to hug the embarrassed man.
“Colonel, oh my goodness! How long… when… I am so surprised to see you.”
“I’m sorry to just drop in, Terri. I was just explaining to Bishop that my visit was mostly business, not pleasure.”
A serious look crossed Terri’s face at the man’s words. “Well, let’s go to my office and you can explain to me what’s going on.”
“In summary, the federal government is looking at your activity and growth with an eye toward skimming food, energy, personnel, and other assets. Words like ‘society equality’ and ‘redistribution’ are being used again. My mission is to find the facts and report back,” the Colonel finished.
Bishop was in shock, the audacity of the entire affair overwhelming his sense of right and wrong. Diana seemed to be in a similar state. Nick was difficult to read.
Terri was no-holds-barred angry, the pressure rising higher and higher as the Colonel divulged more and more details. Bishop was glad she wasn’t wearing her pistol.
When it was clear the Colonel had finished, Terri meandered to the window, apparently in deep thought. Turning, her voice was calm and smooth.
“Colonel, are we talking about trade? Do you foresee the federal government offering to purchase our excess resources?”
Smiling, the visitor said, “Perhaps, but that’s not how I would see it going down. My guess is some smart cookie would figure out a way to tax your economy.”
Terri shook her head, “Pfffffft – and what would they do with the money? Seriously, Colonel, we have bank vaults in our towns that are stuffed full of US dollars. We limit the supply to keep the value steady, but the West Texas Alliance is sitting on piles of cash. I can send you back to Washington with suitcases full of the stuff, but what good would that do?”
The Colonel smirked, “Not all taxes are paid with cash, Terri. Let me give you an example; men from Washington could visit your refinery and calculate that your population only needs a gallon of the output per day. The rest could be shipped to other parts of the country as a tax. The same could be done with your food.”
Bishop couldn’t help himself, spitting out, “Bullshit!”
Diana added, “That’s a load of crap, Colonel.”
Terri cleared her throat, her voice remaining calm and collected. “Colonel, when you and I visited in Bishop’s hospital room, we discussed what you termed, ‘the beast.’ Do you remember those conversations?”
Nodding, the visitor answered, “I do.”
“During that discourse, you said to me that the only way to control the beast was to limit its size.”
“I did.”
“What I’m sensing here, Colonel, is the beast has lost some of its girth with the collapse, and now it’s hungry. It wants to begin consuming the juicy morsels it sees growing around it. Would you agree with that assessment?”
“I would.”
Terri stepped closer, her voice going low. “Over my dead body, Colonel. You can take that message back to Washington – over my dead body. We welcome trade and barter. Value given for value earned is acceptable. Seizure, taxation or confiscation is not. We started one revolution in this country over taxation without representation, I’m sure the current president doesn’t want to start another.”
The Colonel wasn’t intimidated, “Terri, be careful. You’re not dealing with rational men. The beast is cornered, wounded, and irrational. It can strike without warning. You will lose in any conflict. A platoon of tanks, a few air strikes and four attack helicopters would wipe out everything you’ve worked so hard to build. This beast is dangerous, unpredictable, and desperate.”
Bishop spoke for them all, “I’d rather see what we’ve built destroyed than give it away, Colonel. I’m confident 99 percent of our citizens feel the same way. There’s too much of what caused our country to fail in Washington’s message. Too much of the old school.”
Smiling, the Colonel nodded his understanding. “I’m glad to hear you say that, Bishop. I’m going to return and try to talk the president into working with you, not trying to take over. I’m not sure of my chances. I hope you all know that I’m with you, but that doesn’t mean my reasoning will carry the day.”
Terri was back to staring out the window again. After a long moment of silence, she turned and declared, “We need an army. We need a military tha
t will make anyone think twice about pulling the type of bullshit the Colonel is speaking of.”
Epilogue
Fort Bliss, Texas
May 20, 2016
“Sir, you’d better come to the front gate. We have some, ummm, unusual activity going on.”
“What kind of activity, Lieutenant?”
“There is a woman down here claiming to know General Westfield. She has several large trucks with her and is asking for a meeting with the base commander.”
“Trucks?”
“Yes, sir. Semi-trucks… like you’d see on the interstate or something.”
“Who is this woman, Lieutenant?”
“She said to tell the general that ‘Terri is here to see him’… and sir, she has about 300 armed men with her.”
“What?”
“Yes, sir… that’s my estimate.”
“Stand by, Lieutenant.”
The major set the phone down on his desk and promptly made for the general’s door. Knocking loudly on the frame, he waited until the base commander looked up and acknowledged his presence. “Yes, Major?”
“Sir, I hate to disturb you, but I just received a very odd call from the guard post at the front gate. It seems a woman by the name of Terri is requesting an appointment with you by name. In addition, sir, the LT on duty claims she has 300 armed men and several semi-trailers with her.”
The general tilted his head, finally responding. “Terri? As in Terri and Bishop?”
“No idea, sir.”
“Well, let’s go see what all this is about, Major.”
The HUMVEE braked to a halt in the midst of a bustle of activity. The lieutenant had decided that the armed force so close to his post was a potential threat, and requested reinforcements. Two rifle squads answered the call, and there was a tank on the way.
General Westfield exited his transport with his usual air of authority, returning salutes and striding briskly to the iron bars and concrete barricades that blocked the entrance to his base. Peering through, he immediately shook his head and chuckled aloud.
Sitting in a lawn chair 75 feet in front of his base was a single woman wearing a bright pink maternity outfit and sipping what appeared to be an iced beverage of some sort. She was adorned with oversized sunglasses, a floppy beach hat resting on her head.
“Did you stop by to invite me to the beach?” the general shouted out.
Terri rose from her perch and set the glass down on the pavement beside her chair. Despite the large baby-bump, she swayed gracefully toward the gate, her smile warm and genuine. “I thought you military types were gentlemen, General, yet your men kept me cooling my heels out in that hot sun.”
The general squeezed through the small walkway and approached the brightly colored young lady. He started to extend his hand, but Terri canceled the gesture by opening her arms for a hug. Embarrassed but unable to resist, he returned the embrace.
“Where’s Bishop?”
“Oh, he’s over there with all those men. He was concerned there was still a warrant out for his arrest. I told him he was overreacting, but he decided to be shy for a bit.”
The general’s gaze followed Terri’s pointing finger to where three large semi-trucks were parked about 300 meters from the gate. The base commander could see dozens of men in the vicinity and no shortage of rifle barrels pointing in the air.
“Please, invite your husband to join us. I give you my word as an officer and gentlemen - I won’t have him arrested.”
“General, I’ll be happy to arrange a reunion, but I didn’t travel all this way just so you men could exchange war stories. I came here to talk business.”
The general’s senses were on high alert. Terri was acting strangely, her attitude bordering on cocky. He had a million questions regarding the trucks and the armed men. His curiosity overrode his concerns, mostly because of Terri’s projection of self-confidence and partly because the whole scene was just plain weird.
“Business? What kind of business?”
“Why don’t we get out of this hot sun, General? Why don’t we go over to my office where we can discuss things in comfort?”
“Your office?” the general replied, thinking Terri was joking.
Terri pointed back toward the idling semi-trailers. “I have an air conditioned Class A motorhome with cold drinks in the fridge. It is a little extravagant, but it makes a good place to conduct business and allows this pregnant girl to travel comfortably.”
The general was still trying to digest it all, his mind reeling from the peculiarity of the scene before him. “Terri, what’s this all about? I’ve not seen you or Bishop for months, and all of a sudden you show up at my base with a head full of attitude and a parade full of weird.”
“General, I have a proposition for you. The trucks are a sample and to prove I can deliver what I would like to propose.”
“Okay, fair enough. Why don’t you come on into my office, and we can talk.”
Smiling at the uncomfortable man, Terri responded, “General, you have my word as the Ambassador of the Alliance of West Texas that I won’t have you arrested. Besides, I have brought along a few key players that I’m sure will add value to our meeting.”
“The Ambassador… of what? What the hell are you talking about, Terri?”
“Just come along and hear me out, General. No harm can come from listening. Can it?”
It took a while for the base commander to sort it all out. His gaze moved from the gate to the convoy and back to Terri as he processed it all. Finally, he shrugged his shoulders and muttered, “Very well.”
Terri took off her floppy hat and waved it above her head. Turning to the general, she explained. “I’m due in two weeks and walking long distances isn’t part of the equation. You’ll forgive me, sir, but I’d prefer to ride.”
A golf cart raced from behind the convoy of trucks, the driver stopping while the general and Terri seated themselves. As soon as the passengers were ready, the man zipped the electric car around and headed back to the waiting line of trucks and men.
“Pull up behind the first truck, please.” Terri asked the driver.
After stopping beside the first trailer, Terri and her guest exited the small vehicle while another man opened one of the trailer’s rear doors. Inside, along one wall were pallets full of burlap-colored bags, each one stamped with the bright red label “BEANS.” Along the other wall, sides of beef hung from two rows of hooks, the frosty air of the truck’s refrigeration unit misting around the meat. “All three trucks are full of food, General. We are now producing more than we consume. We can provide more than enough to feed your entire base and a significant portion of El Paso.”
Stunned, the base commander seemed to have difficulty turning away from the cargo. “Where… how… what the hell is this Alliance of West Texas, Terri?”
Hooking the hesitant officer by the arm, Terri gently guided him back toward the waiting cart. “I’ll explain everything, General. Let’s get inside some more comfortable accommodations.”
The humming ride deposited its passengers at a large motorhome idling at the rear of the convoy. Despite the shock of the moment, the general remembered his manners and opened the door for Terri while helping her up the steps.
Inside sat Bishop, Nick, Diana, and DA Gibson, all of them rising when the general entered the camper. After introductions and handshakes had been completed, Terri asked everyone to be seated, some of the attendees opting for the dinette chairs while others found the couch and loveseat that dominated the space.
Terri began, “General, some four months ago, the small Texas towns of Meraton and Alpha held elections. Electrical power had been restored, and a full recovery was in process. Before long, Fort Stockdale joined in and then finally Midland Station, and Odyssey. The small farming communities along the Rio Grande came to the party as well. During this process, it was decided someone was needed to coordinate the commerce and trade activity among the different towns as well as facilitate s
haring of resources for municipal projects. A sort of state government, if you will.”
While Terri paused to take a sip of her lemonade, DA Gibson took over. “General, Terri was appointed Ambassador by the leadership of these multiple municipalities. According to the Constitution of the great state of Texas, we are now the only legitimate government in the area. Additionally, Terri is being courted as our first governor.”
The general looked around from face to face, not sure that he understood what he was hearing. “So, what’s this have to do with me? Are you offering to supply Fort Bliss? I’m sure the United States could arrange a supplier agreement with your… whatever you want to call this organization of yours.”
Nick took his turn. “And how would you compensate us, General?”
“Why we would pay you like any other military supplier… with checks from the Department of the Treasury.”
Everyone around the table laughed at the remark, the attitude troubling the Army officer. “Checks?” asked Terri. “And where might we cash these checks, sir?”
Flustered, General Westfield threw up his hands. “I don’t know. It’s not my responsibility to negotiate supply deals. That’s handled out of the Pentagon.”
Terri cleared her throat and the room became silent. After toying with her glass, she raised her head and stared intently at the military man across the table. “Sir, we want Fort Bliss. We want the forces and facilities under your command.”
“What!” the General exploded. “That’s preposterous! I already took an oath to the United States of America, and I don’t intend on breaking it. If that’s what this is all about, I’m afraid you’re wasting your time.”
Bishop let the man’s words settle and then gestured in the direction of the front gate. “When was the last time you received any resupply, General? When was the last time you heard from the Commander in Chief?”
“That’s got nothing to do with this, Bishop, and you know it. You, of all people, should understand that I can’t just go around joining whatever rebel cause comes knocking at my door. Your little band of misfits isn’t any different than the Independents and their harebrained scheme.”
