Again that split second of hesitation, “Yes. We took care of the sick ones right off. There weren’t many of these night runners, as you call them. I’ll tell you, though, the ones that were here were damn hard to kill. We lost a few good people taking care of them.”
With a fork full of eggs halfway to his mouth, Greg looks at James. He gets the distinct impression that James’ definition of sick ones is different from his and feels that James had almost said ‘There weren’t many of these night runners afterwards’. He thinks back and remembers Jack mentioning that the Lajes AFB commander in the Azores had all of the ill ones shot when he figured out what was going on. They would have survived too, except they couldn’t be resupplied and crashed into the Atlantic trying to fly out of there. Frank is one of the only survivors from that place.
Greg gives an internal shrug and stuffs the scrambled eggs into his mouth. Who is he to judge the survivors? If they didn’t do what they did, they might not be here to talk about it. Or at least the night runner threat would have been more of an undertaking to rid themselves of.
Perhaps if everyone had taken this stance…
Greg gives his story and the tale of the others to the northwest. Without being overly detailed, he tells of their heading to Manitou Springs. Upon hearing that they intend to head in that direction, James informs them that they have blown the bridges across the river just north of town.
“We kept getting trouble from marauders in that direction. Perhaps they saw us gathering materials in Pueblo and followed us, I’m not sure. We just know that they showed up and we were barely able to keep them at bay. That was a while ago, but we’ve heard engine noises a few times in the past week. That’s why we were cautious with you. The fact is that you’re the first we’ve seen coming from the east. That and the fact that you tried to pass around us instead of trying to going through is the only reason we’re having this conversation,” James says. “We keep that road open because we use it to scavenge when we can. We blew the bridge to the south and created a large ditch across the road to the west. Overland, it’s more difficult to get to us, and we can see anyone coming from miles away. So, I’d be cautious heading in that direction, even with that monster you have outside.”
“Great. I guess we’ll have to cross the river bed itself seeing that’s really our only viable way west,” Greg says.
“I’d warn you about doing that. The sandy areas adjacent to the river are tricky and there are a few swamps that would make the crossing difficult. We do, however, have a ford nearby which I can guide you through,” James replies.
Greg thanks him and offers for the survivors here to join theirs in the northwest. They’d have to make their own way or wait until the C-130 is available to transport them.
“I appreciate the offer, but we have it pretty well here. We’ve managed to adapt and I’m not sure some of the others could tolerate a move of that magnitude mentally. It’s comfortable here and we can make a go of it. It’s as safe as we can make it and…well, it’s home.”
Greg gets that reasoning. Comfort and a feeling of safety are vital to long-term survival. They’ve passed the most pressing survival issues of shelter, sustenance, and safety. There is still the stress of the potential marauders but that would be true anywhere. They have that up north but the stresses there are greater and seemingly every day. Perhaps they should find a place like this and move.
Thoughts for that later, Greg thinks, finishing his meal.
“Seeing the day is getting on, I doubt you’ll make it to your destination before dark. You are welcome to stay here with us,” James says. “You’ll have to stay the night somewhere and we’d welcome the company.”
Greg heads outside to talk over the offer with the team and they agree it would be nice to sleep on real beds and have another hot meal. He knew they wouldn’t turn that offer down.
What soldier says no to a hot, home-cooked meal? Greg thinks, returning and thanking James for his offer.
The team spends the afternoon helping mend the fences they obliterated on their run through the fields. In the evening, they sit in the restaurant with the townspeople engaging in whatever conversation arises. The late afternoon glow spreads across the parking lot outside. Greg feels nervous tension come over him as he looks through the glass to the ending day outside. The people make no move to finish their evening and relocate to a more secure location. It feels odd to be sitting in such an indefensible place with the time of the night runners quickly descending. The anxiety building inside is almost suffocating. He notices the other team members apprehensively glancing outside. The later the day gets, the more their glances are directed to the windows and farther back in the building. Yet, the din of conversation and laughter inside never changes.
It’s at this point that Greg fully realizes the stress of what they’ve all been through and continue to carry on a day-to-day basis. Night and darkness will always be a source of fear for as long as he walks this earth — at least when outside of the compound. He recognizes the comfortable feeling the residents here have. They have the same back at Cabela’s, but an underlying current of tension doesn’t allow them the same comfort these people seem to have. He wonders if they will ever be able to achieve something like this and envies these people their ability to relax.
Night closes in. The shrieks Greg has become accustomed to when the darkness falls near population centers don’t materialize. That doesn’t ease his anxiety though. Eventually, the people of the town begin departing for home. The normalcy of what used to be everyday life has now become the unreal nature…something that doesn’t seem right anymore.
After the restaurant has almost emptied, Greg and his team bid their farewells. James has set them up in several rooms in the hotel. Although still anxious about the nighttime and night runners, Greg asks for rooms on the lower floor. That is so they can make a quick exit to the Stryker. The atmosphere with the survivors is relaxed, but he sets a watch nonetheless. Those on watch will stay in the Stryker. He trusts the folks they’ve come into contact with but, with the world the way it is, that trust only extends so far. He noted that James set them up in the hotel rather than inviting them into their homes. James is only extending his trust so far as well, and Greg is sure that James has set someone to watch them. It’s possible that James feels like the Stryker is a two-sided coin. On one side, having it parked on the northern end, where they have been harassed previously by bandits, is a security to the town but, on the other side, it also represents a threat to the community.
Greg takes the first watch with another team member. Looking over the dark countryside, he reflects on the world. It’s not really that much different than what he’s been accustomed. His parents were killed when he was young, and he was sent to his grandmother to be raised. Life was as normal as any other child. They weren’t rich but his grandmother worked to provide for him. Not having the money to go to college, he was able to get an Army scholarship and rode that through his four years at the university. He graduated with his degree and an Army commission. After that, he opted for the Ranger path and has been deployed for the most part since his training. He’s used to being away from home and surrounded by enemies so this new world he finds himself in isn’t entirely different. The only change is that the enemy is on his home soil. And those that he protects have been significantly reduced in numbers.
Looking over the darkened town, he’s glad to know that some have a greater chance of seeing this through. It gives hope that they’ll find the soldiers’ families and, on a larger scale, for the continued existence of humankind. The people in this town are thinking in the long-term and seem to have it handled providing marauders don’t get to them. As far as bandits go, they won’t last too long in this world because of their mentality. Their take-what-you-can-when-you-want attitude is a very short-term way of thinking and that’s how long they usually last: short-term.