Lucas took the lead in introducing the group as the senior officer shook hands all around. “Aspen Hill’s defenders held the area on the eastern front just south of the area you were holding along Highway 6, Colonel,” he said to conclude. “We know you by reputation and we’ve met some of your men in the field, but none of us have had the honor of meeting you in person.”
That seemed to remind Grimes of why they were here. “Yes, I was in your neck of the woods,” he said, sounding weary as he dropped into his seat behind the battered desk. His voice hardened. “But I’ve got to warn you that most of what I’ve heard about your town, little as that’s been, isn’t great.”
Ed fought to keep his expression neutral. So Rogers had been poisoning the well against them. Figured.
“Would you allow us to give our side of the situation?” Scott asked politely. He looked a bit irked that they hadn’t been offered seats, even though there were enough to accommodate them. Most of that worry was probably for Lucas, since the man’s mostly-healed leg still pained him even two months after breaking it in the blockhead ambush in Aspen Hill Canyon.
Lucas seemed to be holding up all right, at least enough not to make an issue of it as far as Ed was concerned. There were more important things to worry about at the moment.
“Of course I will, that’s why you’re in my office,” Grimes said impatiently. “But I’ll warn you that Major Rogers seems to have a solid case. As I see it he’s acted from the best intentions. He wanted you to take in women and children. He demanded you return excess food you were given in error so it could be distributed to those who desperately need it. The town’s own intentions don’t seem so honorable.”
Ed heard a few quiet noises of disbelief from his friends. He himself was doing his best to control his temper. But he kept quiet and let Lucas defend their position.
“Begging your pardon, Colonel, but to clear up misrepresentations about the town’s intentions is the reason we’re here. As for Rogers’s own, it’s wise to look at results, not what he intended. Do you believe it’s possible for a man with even the best intentions to produce evil outcomes?”
Grimes hesitated. “As it stands I’ve only heard Rogers’s side of this issue, which hasn’t seemed intended to paint you in a very good light,” he admitted. He glanced down at the reports on his desk, then sighed and pushed them away, leaning back. “My time is limited and I’d like you to be brief, but take as much time as you feel you need. I’ll hear you out.”
After a glance at the others to confirm that the ball was still in his court, Lucas took a breath and started from the beginning. For this issue that was with Corporal Bryant delivering food to the town and requesting they take in veterans, and stressing that someone in the military chain of command deliberately saw to it they received a surplus, perhaps in gratitude for their contributions fighting the blockheads.
He also briefly outlined the reasoning behind the town recruiting refugees with skills they needed, and allowing in families as well. Finally he gave a thorough rundown of their encounters with Rogers, including honestly admitting that the town had been willing to fight to prevent the given surplus from being taken back.
To his credit Grimes listened patiently the entire way through, only interrupting a few times to ask for clarification or further details. One such was near the beginning. “You say you willingly took in wounded and crippled soldiers? Can you confirm this?”
Ed was glad they’d brought Carrie along then. The scarred young woman immediately spoke up. “I’m one of those they took in, Colonel,” she said, face raised as if to highlight her eyepatch and scars. “I came with 27 others, and Aspen Hill greeted us with incredible hospitality and kindness. Just as importantly, they didn’t treat us like dead weight and gave us the chance to immediately pitch in and help out as best we were able given our infirmities, as full members of the community.”
The colonel gave her a respectful nod. “I appreciate the sacrifice all of you made, and I’m glad you ended up in good circumstances. The fact that these people took you in is a strong point in their favor.” He nodded to Lucas to continue.
Ed thought his old friend did a good job of honestly laying out the facts. When Lucas was done he finished quietly but firmly. “We’re proud of what we’ve created in Aspen Hill. We don’t want to lose it.”
“And what have you created?” Grimes asked, leaning forward. “What is your town’s vision of an ideal society?”
Lucas paused in thought. “An ideal society is impossible in an imperfect world,” he admitted. “But if we want to get as close as we can, it has to start with everyone honestly taking responsibility for their own actions and wellbeing. No entitlement, no distorted view of reality. A place where everyone works hard to improve themselves and the community, and are allowed to do so without unnecessary intervention, is bound to prosper. And those who’ve lifted themselves up will then be free to extend a hand to those who need it.”
“A hand you refused to extend to the refugees Major Rogers tried to send your way,” the colonel pointed out.
“Forced handouts aren’t good for anyone involved,” Scott said, obviously trying to keep his temper. “Taking from one group at gunpoint to give to another who’ve done nothing to earn it, with zero expectations placed on them to do anything improve their situation, is going to destroy any system sooner or later.”
Lucas cut in smoothly. “As I said, you have to lift yourself up first before you can be of any help to someone else. Our town is still struggling to lift ourselves, and any help we can spare has to go to those who are worst off in our own community. Rogers wants to chuck a boulder on our backs and sit back to watch it crush us.”
Grimes leaned back again, staring at the ceiling as he considered. “So, basically, your town is barely on the verge of making it, and according to you Major Rogers put you in a position where instead you’d fail. At which point you’d be in just as bad a position as the refugees he wanted you to help, and in need of aid yourselves. Which helps no one.”
The Aspen Hill representatives nodded their agreement of his assessment. “I was originally part of a group of refugees that came to Aspen Hill,” Ben said. “I understand the situation very well from both sides of it. And with that perspective I have to ask: wouldn’t you rather have a town that’s able to fend for itself and survive the winter and whatever comes next, without needing help from you?”
Grimes closed his eyes. “28 wounded and crippled veterans?” he verified.
“And 31 people from the refugee camp, including families,” Lucas confirmed. “An influx of newcomers that that makes up a comparatively small but significant percentage of the town’s total population. It’s already a tremendous strain on our infrastructure, even though we were careful to ensure that the people we accepted in could be of use to the town. Rogers might not like the fact that we picked the best people available, but there was no other way we could reasonably do it.”
The colonel abruptly turned to Ed, making him jump slightly in surprise. “You’ve been quiet since you got here,” he snapped. “Let’s hear it from you.”
Swallowing, Ed nodded gamely, although he could’ve done without being put on the spot like this. “My friends have explained the situation clearly and honestly,” he said, glad his voice came out steady. “I don’t have much to add, aside from a simple request. If you can’t decide who’s correct in this dispute then come and look at the situation with your own eyes. We’re in the right and we’ve told the honest truth, so we can invite you to our town with complete confidence.”