by Ryan King
The old man's eyes looked sad. "Oh yes he could. You never really knew your father. So intelligent. So sensitive and understanding. A thinker and a dreamer. I crushed all of that and drove him away. He was never the same. It haunts me to consider what he might have been or done. You think highly of me son for what I did for you, but realize that you are also looking at one of the most despicable human beings you will ever lay eyes on for what I did to your father."
"Why are you telling me all of this?" asked Conrad.
"Because I've come to realize that this life is a race," said Jack. "No one gives a shit how you start the race, only how you end it. I feel like I've finished well and it makes me happy. I'm ready to die, it's time. I miss Sue. You're in the middle of your race now. You've done well at some times and poorly at others. You need to make sure you end well."
"What does that even mean?"
Jack squeezed his hand weakly. "It means no more playing around with what's easy. I thought I'd lost you with that Missouri Alliance crap. That was a mistake and made you weak. You need to do what's right, regardless of the consequences. Your children are watching you, so be a good example. Be a better man than I was. Let the cycle be broken with you, son."
"No need to worry about any of that now," said Conrad patting his hand.
"Don't patronize me boy," said Jack savagely. "Things are getting dark out there in the world. Danger is upon us. I wish I could be there to help, but I can't. My time has come, but you need to fight for what is right. Protect your family and those around you. No more giving in because it's easy or safe. Do you understand?"
Conrad nodded. "I think I understand."
"Good."
"I'd kindly ask you not to tell my wife that story," said Conrad with a slight grin.
"Too late," answered Jack.
"What?"
"She came and visited me this morning," said Jack. "Wasn't sure if I'd live long enough or be alert enough to tell you, so I told her. Told her to do whatever she needed to do."
"I hope that doesn't include a knife to my throat."
Jack shrugged. "You'd be surprised the amount of clarity it can bring to your life."
"I guess."
Reaching for both his grandson's hands, Jack took on a serious look. "I love you, son. I couldn't be prouder of anyone."
Conrad smiled and dropped his head.
"I need you to do something for me."
"Anything," answered Conrad.
"Go get those beautiful little children of yours and that amazing woman and bring them to me," said Jack. "I want to see them one more time before I die."
"No need to talk that way," said Conrad.
Jack shook his head at Conrad. "I may be old, but I'm not senile or a coward. I'm dying and I know it. Won't be long now. It's my time to die. Let me do it as I will. Don't stand in my way, son."
Conrad hesitated and then nodded. He stood and walked with heavy steps to retrieve his family and say goodbye for good to his true father.
Chapter 3 - Prophecy Fulfilled
Susan and Jasper walked through the flocks of sheep and goats toward their gathering place. For the first time in weeks the sky was clear and a full moon shone down on their camp brightly. The orb was eerily reddish in color.
The yurts and wagons were circled around a large fire. Several tarps were strung together to enclose the inner space while leaving a hole in the middle for smoke and heat to escape. Tired but elated, Creek huddled inside the circle with blankets draped around them. They had made it to Tennessee.
The trip wasn't without its difficulties. Despite safe passage on the Kentucky side, they fought several skirmishes with the West Tennessee forces and locals who were reluctant to allow an invading horde into their midst. Fortunately, most of the West Tennessee forces gathered in New Harvest and the Creek were able to fight off all resistance with only mild casualties.
Susan made sure they angled away from Nashville and south toward the Alabama border without going too close. Although Huntsville wasn't a large city, it was previously the center of America's missile and rocket research and she couldn't remember if it had been hit or not. Best to play it safe, she believed. In her opinion their destination should lie in the triangle formed by Nashville, Huntsville, and Memphis. The trouble was that other people already lived there...andthat Chicoca kept driving them onward. What? I didn't even remember this guy--better to mention him occasionally during the trek.
She spoke with Billy Fox who shared her concerns, although he admitted he exercised no control over the tribal elder. He also explained without embarrassment that if he forced the tribe to choose between its chief and elder, they would all chose the elder. For now, they would have to follow the old man.
This gathering was different. They hadn't come together for one since crossing the Ohio River and a buzz of anticipation filled the area as Susan and Jasper stepped between wagons and under the large tarps. They found Mindy beside a small fire with a blanket about her petite frame. They joined her and she gladly spread the rough material out so they could all share. Susan pushed in close to the small girl and felt Jasper do the same on the other side. She could feel Mindy's smile but resisted turning to look, because that might make the smile run and hide.
Billy stood and the steady murmur slowly died into silence. Without ceremony he simply said, "Our Chief Elder will now speak," and then sat.
Two braves helped Chicoca into the center of the circle by the fire where a straight-backed chair waited for him. The braves carefully lowered him into the chair and then sat on the ground near his feet. The old man stared into the fire for several minutes before speaking.
"My brothers and sisters," he said. "We have journeyed far and overcome many trials and tests. The gods have been kind to us and watched over us on our way. We also owe Susan Who Soothes the Horses a debt for leading us safely past the Invisible Death."
Chicoca turned in her direction and nodded ever so slightly. The rest of the Creek also turned and stared at her until she felt self-conscious.
He then looked back into the fire and continued. "The great prophecy of our people said we would return to our homeland when the fire rained from the sky. It also said that we would arrive there in blood and war. We have passed through both to get here and tonight even the moon drips red."
Several people looked upward toward the sky even though they couldn't see the moon for the tarps.
Everyone looked back at Chicoca and a collective hush fell on them all. Even the fire and the wind seemed to hold their breath until the old man looked up and said, "Today after two hundred years, we Creek, we outcast Red Sticks, have returned to our ancestral home."
War cries, shrieks, and cheers filled the enclosed area. Men and women raised their palms toward Chicoca and spoke words that Susan could not understand. The old man lifted a hand and the tumult died down slowly, reluctantly.
Lifting his old eyes to gaze out at them, Chicoca actually smiled for the first time anyone could ever remember. "We have been a people of peace for many years. We have avoided conflict and found a way to live with those around us. Our knives and axes have not been stained with blood. That time is now at an end. This isour land."
Many of the braves jumped to their feet, shaking their rifles. The people cried out in agreement and nodded their heads.
"This is our land," Chicoca repeated. "It was taken from us when we were banished by our own people. It belongs to the Creek and we are the only Creek left. It is our duty to reclaim the land. There are people here already who believe the land is theirs. They are wrong. We will make allies with them if they are worthy of our friendship. We will drive them off if they are not. We will bury our knives in their throats and takes their wives and children if we must, but reclaim the land we will. The time for peace has ended. The land calls for blood as does our Brother Moon. Go and reclaim our land, drive off those with no rightful claim, and let peace not be easily on your lips. Today the old prophecy has been fulfilled." Chicoca stoo
d and the two braves leaped up from the ground and shielded him from the exultation around them and led him out of the enclosed area to his yurt.
Susan grasped Don by the sleeve who was rushing past. "What just happened?"
He turned to her with a large grin. "Today is a great day. It is wonderful that I have lived to see it. The Red Sticks go to put on the war paint and fight for the first time in centuries. None of us ever thought this day would come."
"What are you talking about?" asked Jasper. "Most of the people around here we've seen are scared farmers or just survivors. You don't need to go fight them."
"Then they will become our friends and allies if worthy. Our servants if not. They will join with us and give us the rightful portion of their harvests or they can move elsewhere. It is their choice. They do not belong here."
"And you do?" asked Susan.
"Of course," answered Don. "You have brought us here. It is prophecy. You are the Woman Who Brought Fire From the Sky. This is your doing and why you were born."
"Bullshit," said Jasper, but Don had already pulled free and rushed with others to leap on horses and gallop off in small groups in all directions with no concern for the livestock they startled and scattered.
Susan put a protective arm around Mindy and drew her close. "What do we do now?"
"You do nothing," said Billy Fox from behind them. "Stay with us and you will be safe. You are one of the Creek now."
"But they're going out to kill and murder innocent people," said Jasper. "All at the command of that crazy old man and some silly prophecy."
"None is ever truly innocent," Billy answered. "The Creek do not kill for killing’s sake. There will be no gluttonous murder or raping, but we will reclaim our land. That is a certainty."
"What about the West Tennessee Republic?" Susan asked. "They're fighting up north now, but not forever. They have thousands of soldiers, guns, bombs, maybe even tanks. Are you sure you want to start a fight with them you can't win?"
"It is foreordained," Billy answered with a shrug. "You cannot go against prophecy anymore than you can stop the sun from rising. The future will be what the future will be."
Susan ground her teeth. "I'm not part of your damn prophecy. None of us are. We're just trying to survive, that's all."
Billy laid his hand on her shoulder and smiled at her kindly. "As are we all. It will be fine." He then turned and walked away.
She watched as men pulled guns out of storage and checked them. They tucked pistols and knives into belts. More men gathered in small groups and then rode off together into the night. A sense of festival filled the camp and women chatted and laughed and children ran around the fire playing.
Susan thought about being in that launch vault. She had pushed the buttons and turned the switches and killed millions. It had all been too much habit to resist. She had sworn to herself she would never be a part of the bloodshed of innocents again, yet here she was. The very instrument of death. Families only miles from there tonight slept in fear, just barely surviving, no idea what was about to rush upon them.
Sinking to her knees she began to sob with her face in her hands. After a moment Mindy's small arms encircled her shoulders and then she felt those of Jasper.
Everything was cold. The sense of blood was everywhere.
Chapter 4 - Drastic Measures
Ernest Givens rubbed his hands together to ward off the cold. After a week of no snow, a storm had blown in on them the previous night bringing dense flurries and howling gales of frigid wind.
Looking to the left and right, Givens saw men, boys and even a few women in hunting coveralls and a wide variety of rifles and shotguns. They stared back at him from the protection of the underpass at the curve in the highway. Two pickup trucks blocked the road below them. They were prepared to move the vehicles if anyone other than their targets approached, but there wasn't enough fuel for anyone to travel, especially not in this weather.
He was concerned that in such miserable conditions the JP security forces regular resupply run wouldn't happen, but his source confirmed the trucks left as scheduled. Now they all waited for the trucks loaded with food to lumber into their trap.
It had not really been Givens’ intent to lead an insurrection. He hadn't thought much beyond going home to his family. Once there, he'd seen their desperate hunger. The police and security forces placed over them were former neighbors and friends, but now it was a simple matter of math. The government had seized the fall harvest and now only provided enough food to feed its own overlords. The rest of the people were expected to somehow fend for themselves. In Givens mind there had only been one option. His people had successfully broken into several government storerooms and supply depots, but this current mission should provide them their largest stockpile of food yet.
They all heard a loud duck call from the top of the bridge.
"They're coming," Givens said to the people on the right and left. "Pass the word." He watched as they checked their weapons and shifted nervously. A teenage girl who couldn't have been more than fifteen looked back at him with wide eyes. He nodded to her and smiled. Her face relaxed and she nodded back.
Turning to look down the highway, he strained his eyes through the driving snow. Before he saw the vehicles the twin faint glows of light cut through the snow and grew steadily brighter. Then they heard the heavy rumble of military transport trucks. Within moments he could make out the tall box-like vehicles coming their way. Too fast for this weather, he noted.
The first driver saw the vehicles under the bridge and stepped on his brakes. The tires locked up on the slick road. The rear half of the truck slid out beside the front wheels so that it was going down the highway sideways. Givens saw the man's face behind the windshield, his mouth open wide over fists clenched tightly on the steering wheel. The right front tire went off the edge of the road, catching in the soft dirt and then the momentum of the heavy vehicle carried it over onto its side with a mighty crash and a horrendous squeal of metal. It slid down the road and finally came to rest only a few feet from the barricade.
The drivers of the three military five-ton cargo trucks saw what happened to the lead truck and were able to slow without crashing. Some of his men started to move forward, but Givens held them back with a wave of his hand.
Two soldiers each jumped out of the three upright vehicles and ran forward to assist the first truck. They pulled two shaken, but apparently unhurt, men from the overturned five-ton. Givens watched carefully, but didn't see anyone else. He stood and rushed forward while signaling everyone else to do the same.
"Don't move," yelled Givens to the startled men. Several carried pistols in their belts, but all appeared to have left anything larger in their vehicles. "If you touch those pistols I'm going to be forced to kill you. I don't want to do that, but I will."
The soldiers glanced at each other and with a mutual look of resignation let their hands hang down at their sides.
"Spread out now," Givens said waving his rifle in their direction. "Timmy and Jeff, go down the line and take their pistols. Don't forget those two shaken up ones over there sitting down. Johnny, go check and see what we've got."
"Do you have any idea what you're doing?" asked one of the captive soldiers.
"Yes," answered Givens. "Now be quiet."
"They'll figure out who you are and then they'll come after you," the man insisted. "Not just you, but your families."
"What choice do we have?" snarled Givens. "We need food."
The man looked confused. "You think we're carrying food."
"We got a problem," yelled Johnny through the snow.
"What kind of problem?" asked Givens.
"There's cargo back here, but no food of any kind."
Givens frowned at the captives and turned to several of his men and women standing nearby. "Keep an eye on them," he said pointing and ran back to where Johnny waited at the nearest vehicle.
"What is it?" asked Givens.
Johnny
shook his head. "Not sure. Bunch of heavy crates with numbers and letters on them."
Climbing up inside the back on the truck, Givens lifted a tarp off of a pile of long wooden crates. They had been painted over at some point, but the old stenciling bled through. He squinted closely in the dim light and then started breathing fast. He strained and lifted one heavy crate out of the way and then another. Each was filled with arms or ammunition. Grenades, mortars, flares, and mines were also stacked up like cordwood.
Givens jumped from the back of the vehicle and ran to the other two and discovered the same thing. He made his way back to the overturned truck and climbed inside. Arms and ammunition. Tons of it.
He walked over and grasped the captive man who'd spoken to him earlier by the collar. "Why are these trucks filled with weapons? Where's the food?"
The man didn't look scared, only sad. "You didn't expect them to let you keep stealing food, did you? This is all to arm more police and security. We'll ask for volunteers. I doubt we'll have trouble getting any. Plenty should be willing to work for food."
"Where is the food?" asked Givens.
"I don't know," he answered. "They don't send us much. Only enough to keep us alive for the week. This week's shipment came last night."
"Last night?" asked Johnny.
The man smiled sadly. "We've been told to double the guard on storehouses. Guess they never thought you'd be dumb enough to go after the supply trucks."
"Watch who you're calling dumb," said Sheena poking one of the men with an extended bayonet.
Givens looked around and thought. "Okay everyone," he yelled. "Let's move. Get everything out of the overturned truck and put it in the others. Let's get ready to get out of here. They might have called for help."
"Did you call for help?" asked Johnny.
"Yes," answered the man who appeared to be the leader.
"Then we have to kill them," said Timmy.
"No, we didn't call anyone. Don't say that, Norton," said another of the captives looking at their leader.
"Then we have no reason not to kill them," said Timmy.
