Maria stepped out the door with a wide smile.
Caden sighed. Totally forgot about Valentine’s Day.
As he limped into the light her smile changed to fright. “Are you okay? Where are you hurt?”
“Oh,” he said looking at his bloody sleeves. “I’m okay. It’s someone else’s.” He came up the steps and hugged her. “It’s good to be home.”
Lisa came out onto the porch. “Are you….”
“I’m fine. Let me sit down and I’ll tell you all about it.”
An hour later he had told everyone the story of his day and had a dinner of stewed chicken, corn and potatoes. The food was good, but each mouthful brought back images of the desperate people north of town. I hope we can find a solution fast for them.
In the living room, he sat in his father’s recliner and felt the cares of the time drain out of him.
Sitting next to him with Adam, Maria said, “We traded a young rooster and a couple of hens for some rabbits.”
“Dad had some cages, but no rabbits, so we traded for a buck and two does.” His sister added. “Now, in a couple of months we’ll have another source of meat.”
“That’s great. If everyone bartered like that, there would be a lot less hunger than there is.
Light hit the living room curtains casting the room in a colorful glow. Lisa stood, grabbed her shotgun, and peeked out the window. “Someone is coming up the driveway.”
Maria blew out the lantern as his mother smothered the two candles.
Caden came up behind his sister and recognized the red Ford pickup. “He’s a good guy sis, don’t shoot him.”
She elbowed her brother. “I’m never going to hear the end of that am I?”
“Nooo,” Caden said with a big grin, “My grandchildren are going to know all about the day my baby sister shot me.”
Brooks stepped out of the car as the whole Westmore clan filed onto the porch.
At the bottom step the lieutenant came to attention and saluted.
Caden returned the salute, “Is there a problem XO?”
“Hopefully not sir. We received a phone call about 30 minutes ago. The Adjutant General has ordered all commanders back to Olympia for a meeting at 0900 tomorrow.” He handed Caden a sheet of paper with handwritten details.
After reading it over he asked, “Did they say what it was about?”
“No, but on the radio coming here I heard that President Durant has activated the California National Guard to assist Chinese advisors.”
A bewildered look spread across Maria face. “Chinese?”
Chapter Twenty-One
Caden rubbed his chin. “What are the Chinese advising us about?”
“The radio said they want to ensure the fair distribution of their food aid.”
“Why do we need their help to ensure fairness?” Lisa asked.
“We don’t,” Maria replied.
They’re not worried that we will misuse the food aid. I thought they were covering something up with their own involvement when they disarmed the North Koreans. This is just another step in their worldwide chess game—a game I think we might lose. “I guess I’ll let you know when I get home tomorrow.
Lisa looked at Brooks, “You said that all Guard units were activated. What does that mean?”
Caden answered. “It means we are no longer subject to state authority. We’re under federal government command.” And I’m liking this less the more I think about it. “But the only thing I know for sure is that I’m to attend a meeting tomorrow, so let’s not get too worked up.” There will be plenty of time to get upset tomorrow. “So XO, why did you drive down here? The phones are working—I think.”
“They are,” he said heading back to the car, “but I thought you might need this.” He set two, five-gallon gas cans, on the ground. Then he handed Caden a neatly folded uniform, “And you might need this since I got blood on your ACUs,”
“So that was your blood?” Lisa asked. “He told us what happened. That was you? Are you okay?”
He gently touched the side of his head “Ah…yes, yes and yes ma’am. The medic sewed me up.”
Lisa invited him inside, but he declined. “I better get back to the armory. I’ll have four soldiers and a Humvee here at 0730 to accompany you.”
Thinking the Humvee was excessive he started to object, but then reconsidered. If I’m not well protected Maria might insist on riding shotgun and I don’t want that. The safest place for her is right here on the farm. “Have the soldiers bring four MREs with them in the morning. Thanks.”
As Brooks drove away and the family filed back into the house, Lisa turned to him. “So, what’s his first name?”
“David. Why?”
She smiled. “He looks good in a uniform.”
The soft glow of the oncoming sunrise heralded a new day as a Humvee pulled up in front of the farmhouse. One young soldier in a flak jacket and carrying an M4 climbed out.
In his new ACUs Caden stepped out on the porch carrying a briefcase that belonged to his father. In it was the list of needed supplies from the emergency manager and a map of the area. He hoped to get everything his community needed, but knew that was highly unlikely. He turned to his mother, and hugged her. “When my leg is better I’m going up the North Road and look for Dad, Susan and Peter.”
“Your father is a resourceful man. He’ll come back to me. I hope with Peter and Susan, but we can talk about it later.”
Dad is a resourceful man and if he is alive he will find a way back, but people are killing each other out there for food, drugs and gas. “Okay Mom, we’ll talk about it later.” He hugged his sister and Maria.
Maria pulled him back tight. “Be back tonight.”
He smiled, hugged her again. “That’s my plan.”
The soldier climbed into the SUV with Caden and following the Humvee they headed toward the freeway.
At the causeway barricade they stopped and Caden told the guards that he would be back that evening, hopefully with other trucks. Then the Humvee and car crossed over into the ten mile no-man’s-land between the blockade and the freeway.
As they approached the freeway overpass, Caden noticed several burned-out cars that were not there a couple of days before in the otherwise deserted church parking lot. Across the street, in the convenience store parking lot, were a dozen vehicles, but only one was familiar. Turning to the soldier beside him he said, “I’m going to pull off here for just a moment. Tell the guys in the Humvee.”
Using his radio, the soldier informed the others.
The few people in the lot were all male. Caden saw desperate eyes follow him across the lot.
The Humvee circled back as Caden stopped beside a worn Ford minivan with a tarp duct taped to the top and supported by tree limbs. Turning to the soldier with him he said, “Tell everyone to keep watch.” He stepped out as a thin man with a graying beard came around from behind the van. “Hello Henry. I’ve got something for you.” He handed him a five gallon gas can. “I know it is not enough to get you to your farm in Oregon, but it’s all I can spare.”
Henry’s eyes widened. “Thank you. It might be enough. If it’s not we’ll walk the rest of the way. Thanks.” He called to his wife and boys. “We better be quick. Most of the people here are criminals or crazy. The only reason they leave us alone is that we’re armed and don’t have anything.”
Caden glanced over his shoulder. Four soldiers stood behind the SUV and Humvee with their weapons pointed at several, dirty, wild-eyed men as they cautiously approached. “Yeah they look desperate enough to do something stupid.”