After the Fall: Jason's Tale (26 page)

Everyone took their positions as the convoy turned onto the
drive. The two vehicles wound up the hill and stopped at the front yard. Jason
and Anne stood quietly behind the table covered with a white cloth and with the
food spread out.

The first vehicle had a machine gun mounted with the barrel
pointed forward and up. A young man lounged at the gun, not at the ready
position. Finally two men got out of the second Humvee. Jason waved at them and
shouted a hello.

Lieutenant Cameron waved back. They studied one another.

“The house is set up for defense. Check out the second
floor—the screening,” Sergeant Gibbs remarked.

“And the fence,” Cameron replied, “looks like they’ve seen
some action here. And this”, he continued, referring to the table and food,
“looks staged”.

“Thinking the same thing,” Gibbs responded.

“You’re from the Army?” Jason shouted out. “We’ve been alone
for two years. We never thought we’d see the likes of you.”

“I’m Lieutenant Cameron—Kevin Cameron—and this is Sergeant
Rodney Gibbs. We’re from the Second Brigade Combat Team headquartered at Fort
Bragg. We’ve come from Hillsboro.”

“We’re very glad to meet you, Lieutenant Cameron and
Sergeant Gibbs,” Jason watched and evaluated the men as he spoke. The
lieutenant was young, probably not very experienced. The sergeant seemed a more
serious man, older and stockier than the Lieutenant. He had a more hardened
look about him.

Probably seen action. Now helping his Lieutenant learn
what he needs to know about field work
.

“I’m Jason and this is my wife, Anne. We are pleased to meet
you. Come, sit with us. We have lots of questions. We have no idea what’s going
on outside of our valley. You’re like someone out of a dream. We had begun to
think there was no society left and now you show up.” Jason gestured for them
to join him and Anne at the table.

The men walked forward. The girls kept watch unobserved from
the house. After shaking hands, the four sat down. Anne offered them some of
the food they had laid out on the table.

“No thank you,” Cameron said. “We shouldn’t be eating your
food,”

“Nonsense,” Anne replied, “You’ve been on the road and
probably eating just your rations. This is fresh food and we have enough.
Besides, you’re the first guests we’ve had since the power went out.”

“So, please tell us what’s happening in the outside world.
Has the power come back? Jason asked.

“Not yet,” Cameron responded.

“Do you have any idea of when it will return?”

“No,” he said.

“I assume that most vehicles still don’t work,” Jason continued.

“I’m not sure the newer ones will ever work again,” Cameron
responded.

“So, no power, no transportation…that means there must still
be shortages of food and fuel?”

“Yes. Those are still in short supply,” Cameron said.
Everyone was silent.

“What do you think of our venison and ham?” Anne asked.

The two men took their first bites. “It’s very tasty,
ma’am,” Cameron replied. Sergeant Gibbs nodded in agreement. There was an
awkward pause in the conversation. Jason worried about why they were here.

To break the silence, Gibbs stood up, “Excuse me for a
moment, I want to have the men stand down and eat something.” He walked back to
the Humvees.

Jason watched the men as they got out of the vehicles. They
were all properly dressed and looked like regular troops, not some rogue group.
The sight encouraged him.

When Gibbs came back and sat down, Cameron asked, “So how
are you doing? Do you have enough food?”

“We’re doing well,” Jason responded. “Life is more like it
probably was in colonial days, but we can get enough to eat.”

Then Jason turned to wave at the house. “Let me introduce
you to the rest of our family,” he said. The girls came out of the house,
dressed in their best skirts and blouses, their rifles slung over their
shoulders and their pistols strapped to their waists.

“Lieutenant Cameron, Sergeant Gibbs, this is Catherine and
Sarah,” Jason said proudly.

Cameron looked stunned. He had been around women in the
army, but the sudden appearance of these attractive teenage girls, all dressed
up, looking very feminine and carrying serious weapons caught him off guard.
Gibbs smiled at the sight. Catherine and Sarah shook hands with the officers
and sat down, casually slinging their rifles over the backs of their chairs.

Catherine stared at Cameron, studying him, while Sarah’s
gaze flickered around to all the young men back at the Humvees who had turned
their attention to the table when the girls emerged from the house. Catherine’s
focus remained on Cameron and the conversation.

“You have two beautiful daughters,” Cameron said to Anne.

“Thank you,” Anne replied. “With Jason’s help they have
become quite self-sufficient.”

“Are they proficient with those weapons?” Cameron asked.

“Very,” replied Jason. “We all help with hunting and
defense.”

Cameron looked again at Catherine to find her still gazing
at him with a solemn expression on her face. He turned to Jason, “How many
other farms are there in this valley?”

“There are four more that are inhabited.”

“Are they getting along as well as you?” Cameron asked.

“Yes.”

“Was that your work? Down at the bridge?” Gibbs asked.

Jason looked at Gibbs, sizing him up. Finally he answered,
“Yes. All of us took part in defending the valley. My whole family included.”

“That looks like it was quite a battle,” Gibbs said.

“We lost two men but we destroyed the gang that attacked us.
It was led by a man called Big Jacks.”

“Was that his remains we saw tied to the bridge?” Gibbs
asked.

“Yes. I left it there as a warning to others to stay out of
the valley. We killed over thirty of the gang and the rest dispersed. I have no
idea what became of them.”

“We heard of this Big Jacks,” Cameron said. He turned to
Catherine, “Did you take part in the battle?”

“We both did,” Catherine replied, staring straight back at
him. Her gaze never strayed far from him. It was neither cold nor friendly, but
serious—measuring.

“It looks like you’ve been attacked here…at your farm as
well,” Gibbs went on.

“That’s right. I guess you noticed some of the bullet
holes,” Jason said.

“And the fence,” Gibbs replied.

“We’ve been attacked twice here at the farm and once at the
bridge. Here at the farm we were completely on our own,” Jason said.

“That’s very impressive,” Cameron said.

“We have adjusted. We have learned to protect ourselves and
are getting along pretty well. Everyone in the valley is,” Jason paused. Then
he continued, “But why are you here, Lieutenant?”

“Well, we’re doing an inventory of the countryside. Our
Captain wants to know who’s out here, how many people and their condition. It’s
in preparation to move everyone closer to Hillsboro so we can provide better
support.”

“Well, you can report that we’re doing fine. There’s no
sickness or injuries amongst us and we are feeding ourselves adequately.”

“I’m glad to hear that, but I still have to make out my
report. And there is the issue of preparation for relocating,” Cameron said.

Silence. Then Jason asked, “Wouldn’t that be
counterproductive? Seeing as we are already self-sufficient?”

“Well, the city can provide better medical care and
protection from gangs.” He turned to Anne, “it looks as if you are pregnant.
Being closer to Hillsboro would be a benefit when it comes time to have a
baby.”

“Women have had babies for thousands of years without
hospitals,” Anne replied. “Yes there is more danger, but it’s a natural
activity, however difficult. I appreciate your concern, but I’ll be fine,” Anne
smiled at Cameron as she reached out to touch Catherine.

Catherine continued to fix her gaze on Cameron, occasionally
shifting to Gibbs. Jason noticed her focus and sensed she was carefully
evaluating these two men, trying to figure out if they posed a threat. So far,
the conversation had gone well, but the plan to get people to relocate closer
to Hillsboro disturbed him.

 Sarah grew bored with the conversation and got up to
fill the water pitcher from the pump in the front yard. Facing the young men at
the Humvees, she bent over the handle allowing a calculated amount of cleavage
show. When she finished, she looked at the men, smiled, and strolled back to
the table. Catherine watched with an expression of disdainful amusement.

“You see, Lieutenant, my wife agrees with me. We feel we are
fine on our own.”

“Still, those are my orders,” Cameron responded.

“So you would have all the families leave this valley?”
Catherine asked.

“It looks like some have already left of their own accord.”

“And no one knows if that was good for them or not. What we
have here now is good for us,” Catherine responded.

Jason spoke up, “Just so we can understand, would you
explain this relocation process? I want to make sure I understand all its
ramifications.”

“We’ll survey everyone we locate, like you and the rest in
this valley, and note any injuries or other needs. We can address some urgent
situations with supplies we’re carrying,” Cameron said. “We have some forms to
fill out and later, we’ll return to transport everyone back to the Hillsboro
area. The plan is not fully developed at this point. When it is ready for
implementation we will schedule transportation by sectors. You will get a date
so you can prepare.”

“How will that work? Will we transport all our
belongings—all our household items?” Jason asked.

“That wouldn’t be practical. We’ll leave you a list. We’re
going to get vacant houses back at Hillsboro ready for everyone coming in from
the countryside.”

“You mean houses of those who died in town?” Cameron was
silent. Jason went on, “In general, what can we bring with us?”

“Really, just your personal items—clothes and personal
effects, mementos and such.” Cameron’s enthusiasm grew, “There is no need for
furniture, bedding, or cooking utensils. The houses will have everything you
need in them.”

“What about tools, or knives, or guns?” Jason asked.

“No,” Cameron replied, “weapons will not be allowed.”

Jason paused, thinking for a moment. “Lieutenant, I’m glad
to see you…I think we all are. Your presence suggests that things are
improving, but I’m not convinced that we would want to move back to Hillsboro.
I left Hillsboro almost two years ago because of growing corruption. I’m
concerned about taking my family back there. After all, we’ve survived pretty
well on our own. Let’s assume for the moment, we decide not to move back. How
does that work for you or your commander?”

Cameron pondered his question, “I think that you could
choose to stay here.”

“And we keep our weapons?”

“I’m not sure about that part. Smooth bore guns and maybe a
hunting rifle would be allowed. I’d have to confirm that, of course, but not
military grade weapons. We have to demilitarize the countryside. We can’t have
everyone armed and shooting each other. You’ve experienced the problems with
gangs and guns so you know what I’m talking about.”

“Yes, and it was only because we had weapons that we are
still alive—all of us in this valley. We had to fend for ourselves. There was
no police or military to turn to.”

“First of all, the solution to that is to relocate to
Hillsboro, like that plan calls for,” Cameron responded. “But if you don’t want
to do that, we will protect you. We have to stop the gangs as well as the
vigilante groups; it’s the only way to bring order back to the area. Frankly, I
don’t understand why you would not take us up on our offer, considering your
wife’s condition.”

“My wife is fine, as she said. But even with your best
efforts, you could not come around here more than a few times a year. In
between we’d have to fend for ourselves. We can do that, but we will need our
weapons—both for hunting and for defense. I’m not sure you will eradicate all
the gangs, and if we’re defenseless even one or two outlaws would be disastrous.
They won’t be disarmed. Besides, what problem or threat could we pose this far
out in the country?”

“I hear you. But it still sounds like you should relocate.”
Cameron ignored Jason’s last question.

“Lieutenant,” Jason was trying to be as persuasive as
possible, “you give us a choice that is no choice. You say relocate, or disarm
and stay here, which would be almost suicidal. You’re giving us an option we
don’t want and an option that we can’t survive. That’s not a choice.”

“I’m sorry. My orders are my orders. I can’t offer you
anything else.” The lieutenant looked as if he were about to get up.

“Lieutenant, have you ever killed someone?” Catherine asked.

Cameron stopped and turned to her. Her steady gaze bore into
him. “I’m not sure that is relevant to our conversation,” he replied.

“It is relevant,” Catherine responded, “These are different
times. My question is relevant for the way of life we have now. Have you ever
killed someone?”

Cameron hesitated, “I have been trained to kill. It’s what
the military does.”

“I assume from your answer that you haven’t actually killed
anyone. I can tell that Sergeant Gibbs may have. He has that look.” She went
on, “I’m asking because if you haven’t faced certain death, like we have, you
cannot appreciate the importance of being able to defend yourself. I mean
personally defend yourself. Not rely on the police or military. You should
understand our need to protect ourselves. And you should recognize your limited
ability to do so.”

Cameron’s face grew red and his eyes narrowed. He shrugged
and looked away for a moment as he struggled for a response, “Young lady, I
appreciate your point of view, but I have my orders. We can’t have anarchy,
everyone running around the countryside, armed and dangerous.”