by Finley, Zack
James confirmed that Lois knew how to use her radio as we pulled away from the food hut. Tank warned FOB Bravo that we were on our way, as we bumped across the bridge.
Everyone transitioned to high alert as we left FOB Bravo behind. Tank notified Justice we were passing by, as a courtesy. Within moments we were moving south at a rapid clip on US-27. I tried not to think about my last trip this way. Easier said than done.
"This area is quite lovely," Lois said, loud enough to hear over the vehicle noise. "A lot more trees and hills than around Dallas."
"I was born and raised here," James said. "Are you from Dallas?"
"A suburb, but yes, I'm from the Dallas area."
"Is that where you were when the CME hit?" James asked.
For a time, I thought Lois was just not going to answer.
"No, I got stuck in Denton, Texas," she said. "I tried to get home, but everyone was driving north. It was like a hurricane evacuation. By the time I gave up going south, the way north was blocked, too. Riots, shootings, no gas. No information. Once I gave up on getting to my parents, I didn't really have anywhere in particular to go. Like a lot of us, I didn't want to stay in any city. But the people in the little towns didn't want us either."
"We are glad you are here with us, now," James assured her.
I wanted to add my words of encouragement, but from the look on her face, she would view them as condescending. I knew she and Dwayne merged into Andy’s group somewhere in Oklahoma, soon after Grady arrived. Someday I hoped to hear her story. Even if it was not a pleasant tale.
Thankfully James left the topic and concentrated on monitoring for threats on his side of the vehicle.
"Buzzer, when we cross the Mecklin River bridge, slow down. I want to determine whether we need three school buses to block it. We can bring buses back with us tomorrow if needed. I want to control access from this direction if we can. There is no easy way around a roadblock here, except the railroad bridge," I said.
"Roger."
Tank's local knowledge gave Buzzer plenty of warning about the bridge. James got out with me, while Buzzer and Tank were ready to move if needed. Lois remained at her post, although she raised up to check out the location.
Three buses would block the road completely. Two would block everything but horses and motorcycles, which might be a reasonable compromise. I'd ask Mandy if she found any of the sheriff's vehicle boots. Using them would give us the flexibility to make this more of a controlled access point, especially if we expanded our area of influence to include the other side of the river. I was still inclined to either remove or slash the tires in one of them. From experience that made it difficult to shift out of the way. Foot traffic could still get by, no matter what we did. Even if we left no room for motorcycles or horses to pass, the railroad bridge was only a half-mile away, so we weren't stopping those. Besides, the river wasn't that broad or deep here. Too wide and deep for motorcycles but horses and people could make it most of the year.
We turned right on the old US-27, across the railroad, and onto Mountain View Road. Buzzer stopped at the entrance to a driveway.
"Someone has been out to the mailboxes," Buzzer said, pointing. "We left the flags up as we added fliers, and now they are all down."
James added, "This is the address on record for Dr. Kyle. I have it marked as occupied, but I don't see any smoke today from the chimney."
"Drive up slowly, hand me the mic," I said. While we approached on the gravel driveway, Buzzer was already plotting a quick giveaway using the lawn if necessary. He gave Tank a quiet running commentary on his planning. Tank and James were soaking in the information. So was Lois.
"Stop halfway, I don't want to spook anyone, and they should be able to hear the loudspeaker."
As we eased to a stop, I spoke into the mic, "Dr. Kyle, this is Jeremy Breckinridge. I'd like to talk with you."
A twitch of the kitchen curtains told me someone was home. "Contact, kitchen window," I said.
"I see them," Tank said, staring through his binoculars.
"Jamie, I need you to watch our six. Tank, you and Buzzer have everything in the front."
"I can help Jamie watch our backs," Lois offered.
I nearly rejected her offer, but it was her life on the line as well. "Work out monitoring zones with Jamie," I said. I kept my eyes on the front of the house and repeated my statements. There was definitely someone at the kitchen window.
"This is Jeremy Breckinridge; I'd like to talk with Dr. Kyle."
With no movement after five more minutes, I said, "I'm getting out. Buzzer, get Lois out of here if things go bad. I'll meet up with you later." I put my rifle in the rack and cracked open the door.
"This is Jeremy Breckinridge; I'm coming out to talk with Dr. Kyle." I opened the door and slipped out, closing it behind me.
I strolled slowly toward the house, holding my hands away from my side, showing my palms. I stopped halfway, shouting, "I'd like to talk with Dr. Kyle."
Within seconds, the front door opened about three inches, and Dr. Kyle stepped out onto the porch. Someone inside the home slammed the door closed behind him.
"Hi Jeremy, I didn't recognize you in that rig, or I wouldn't have made you wait. How has the apocalypse treated you and your family?" he asked, sounding much like he always did.
He didn't look the same. Dr. Kyle always kept himself fit, and a bit on the lean side. Now he was gaunt nearly skeletal. This was most obvious on his face with sunken eyes and prominent cheekbones. I suspected his overcoat masked similar signs of starvation.
"We are doing better than some," I said. "But after some bad things happened, some really need a therapist."
"What kinds of bad things? Isn't an apocalypse bad enough?"
"Jennifer and Melissa were kidnapped, and their great-grandmother was killed. Then we killed the kidnappers," I said.
"What can I do to help?"
"I came to talk with you about moving to our Valley," I said. "I don't know your current situation, but we need someone with your skills. I've been authorized to offer you food and shelter with us in exchange."
"What do you mean?"
"Our community was a little better prepared for this mess than many. Our doctor thinks we need a therapist to help community members cope with the situation. I thought of you after the help you provided Jennifer and me. It took a while to find your home address, but here I am."
"I'm assuming you are in Huntsville. Who is your doctor?"
"Yes, our main compound is outside of Huntsville, but we have a secondary hub in the Mecklin County Justice Center. Dr. Jerrod is our doctor. We have some nurses and medics, but she is our chief medical officer."
"What happened to the sheriff?"
"He held it together until we learned the crash was global. Then he started drinking again. One of his deputies took over, killing him and the county mayor. After they killed a bunch of seniors living in the middle school, we ousted them and took over the Justice Center."
"I have a family, so I can't leave, but I'm willing to talk with those needing help," he said.
"Your family is welcome, too," I said. "We have a school for the kids and employment for everyone."
"Excuse me a moment, please." Dr. Kyle ducked inside his home, leaving me standing and staring. I eased my hands down, then began a slow 360, scanning the surroundings, monitoring for potential threats. Not that I expected Dr. Kyle to start anything, more because it gave me something to do while waiting. I felt my pocket, confirming my copy of the charter was still there.
"He is coming out," Buzzer radioed, shifting my focus back to the front door.
Dr. Kyle stepped onto the porch, then turned and spoke something to those still in the home. After a brief hesitation, a woman joined him.
"Jeremy, this is my wife, Julie." "Julie, this is Jeremy."
I stepped forward to shake hands, but Julie dodged behind her husband before I could get within 10 feet. This behavior stopped me in my tracks, and I bac
ked up, holding my hands to the side, palms out again.
"Nice to meet you, Julie," I said. "Any questions for me?"
"What are the accommodations like?" Kyle asked.
"Everyone shares residences with limited electricity, running water, and wood heat. Families are quartered together, everyone has a bed, and access to a bathroom. My girls and I live with my parents, sister, brother-in-law, and their kids. Everyone eats communally in the food hut. Centralized hot showers. Everyone works, including the kids. Melissa tends a small group of goats and a chicken coop. Jennifer is more into horses. I split wood, go on scavenger hunts, recruit people. You know, whatever is needed."
"That sounds alright. What about water and security?" Kyle tugged his wife to his side, then wrapped his arm around her shoulders. She was also painfully thin with sunken eyes and cheeks. Her eyes had dark circles around them. A streak of soot slashed across the right side of her freckled face. A dull green knitted cap covered her hair and most of her ears. Her cracked, reddened hands were tinged a dingy gray, likely due to the levels of soot staining her pores, and lack of soap. It reminded me of the hands of a mechanic or coal miner.
"Our water system is spring-fed, and everyone lives inside a secure zone with guards."
"Then how did they kidnap your girls and kill your grandmother?" Julie asked.
That question drew blood. "We offered some Huntsville people sanctuary just after the crash. They lived in neighborhoods with some of our people, and we felt sorry for them. They decided we exaggerated about how bad things were outside our Valley and struck out for themselves. When they left, they stole several Humvees and a bunch of supplies. Even worse, they murdered and kidnapped some of our people."
"What happened?"
"We got our people and property back."
"Aren't you worried about what else they might do?"
"No."
Kyle shifted Julie to his front, wrapping both arms around her. She remained tense and stiff, but seemed to draw strength from his contact. "What kind of school?" she asked.
"Each kid has an hour of math, an hour of science, and a combined hour for English and social studies each day," I said. "Plus, homework."
"How many children are there?"
"Around 50, including the orphans we added since the crash."
"Julie is a teacher," Kyle said, ignoring his wife’s elbow to his gut. "How soon can we join up?"
"How many are you?"
"Me, Julie, and my two sons, Eric and Tommy. They are ages seven and eight. We can leave with you today, if that is what you want. I have enough gas left in my truck to drive to Huntsville. We can follow you."
"I need you and Julie to look over this charter first. It sets the ground rules for life in our group." I pulled the charter from my pocket, closed the distance to the couple, and handed it to Kyle. "If you still agree, we can help load things into your truck for the trip."
"This looks a lot like the code of military conduct," Kyle said. Kyle was a marine. He enlisted just after 9/11 and served in the Iraq war. He left after one deployment, returning to college for a degree. It was one of the reasons I trusted him. He understood life at the tip of the spear. We needed his counseling skills to help those struggling to cope with the world collapsing around them.
"Yeah, we decided civilian rules didn't really apply very well to this new situation. Especially after the recent upheaval."
"Aren't you worried about recruiting us?"
"I'm hoping you can educate a few remaining doubters who think we've exaggerated conditions outside our compound. Just speak up when they complain about today’s chow being boring, why they can’t have weekends off, or why we don’t allow them to plug in their 54-inch TV and DVD player.”
"Give us a moment," Kyle asked. He then whispered in his wife's ear; she clutched the charter in her hand. She gave a nearly imperceptible nod, and Kyle's entire body relaxed as he gave a deep sigh.
"We agree to your terms, without reservation," Kyle said, prodding his wife. "Yes, we agree," Julie said.
These words set off a flurry of activity. Buzzer turned the Humvee around, and everyone got out, including Lois. That is when we met their sons Tommy and Eric. Tommy was a special-needs kid, I suspected Down Syndrome. I don't know what Julie expected, but no one balked at bringing the boy into the Valley. My experience with Down kids was they worked hard and brought a lot of joy to those around them. I felt confident he would earn his way.
Buzzer, Tank, and James were salvage experts, advising Kyle and Julie what to load into the truck and things to leave behind. Lois helped the boys pack up their belongings. She knew how limited kid's toys were in the Valley; I encouraged her to bring everything.
Julie flitted around the entire house, wringing her hands, unable to make even modest choices. Kyle was nearly as bad in the garage and outbuildings. I assigned James and Buzzer to assist Julie. James had a strong empathetic streak, and Buzzer was a rambunctious puppy that ladies of all ages couldn't resist.
Tank and I helped Kyle. Sometimes rank does have its privileges. The tool collection told me that Kyle enjoyed working with his hands. His sparse farming equipment, a shovel, several rakes, and a trowel, leaned next to the door, ready for spring. A wheelbarrow stacked with sacks of fertilizer rested nearby. This contrasted almost comically with the plethora of woodworking tools, some powered, some hand tools. He seemed to be saying goodbye to the power tools when I said, "bring them, we have power."
Kyle got a spring in his step, until I cautioned, "It might be better to come back tomorrow with a truck and some stout helpers to help load them. Let's concentrate on what your family needs today. Other than a little gas and some effort, no need to leave anything worthwhile behind. We will be recruiting in this area for several days."
"I guess I don't feel so unique," Kyle said, grinning to take the edge off.
"You are at the top of the list, but we want to recruit a farrier, some welders, a plumber, a carpenter, and at least one hunter from this area," I said.
"How does that work?"
"Most of the Valley is populated by my dad's Vietnam buddies and their families, plus others we picked up before and after the crash. With spring planting approaching, we've decided to do some selective recruiting. People with the temperament and the skills we need. Most of us prefer veterans because they understand duty and service," I said.
"Is that why you came for me?"
"You possess a skill we need, so we can overlook your obvious flaw," I said.
"What flaw?"
"You being a Marine."
Kyle rolled his eyes but grinned. His demeanor was relaxing by the moment. This rivalry between soldiers and marines was a familiar topic. "I take it you brought a bunch of Rangers with you?"
"All the way," I answered.
"I guess no place is perfect," he quipped back.
We turned back toward his house.
"How close were you?" I asked, lowering my voice.
"To what?"
"Running out of food?"
"Damn close. I kept going farther and farther to trap rabbits. The squirrels are still hard to find this time of year, and I haven't seen a deer in months. The Mecklin River fish are skittish even in prime months; during the winter, I don't think they ever bite. We were down to dandelion greens, ground acorns, and anything else we could scrounge. I doubt my neighbors are in much better shape. Some had more in the beginning, and others didn't have four people to support. Julie wanted to drive to her parents' summer cabin in western Virginia, but I doubted we could make it there safely; even if we did, I feared conditions would be worse there.
"I regretted turning down Steve's deal on that solar power system last year. At least, we would have had clean well water. Hauling buckets of water every day and boiling one of them, so you have something safe to drink gets tiresome. The boys really stepped up for that. We were better off than many, at least we had some wood ready for the winter, and a wood stove. Some people don't even have that
."
"I'm glad we came in time," I said.
"Everyone is trying to hold out for spring, though there isn't a lot to eat in spring either. But at least it won't be so cold."
"Let's pack you guys up and move to the Valley."
Buzzer arranged for a ninja escort for Kyle and his family, direct to the Valley. Kyle and some helpers would return over the next few days to retrieve the rest of his family's things. Everything but personal items needed at the new residence would be inventoried and stacked in a storage container until needed.
Kyle drove his pickup north to meet up with his escort at Justice, as we continued to the next address on the list.
