After several minutes of hugs and tears, Trevor explained to his wife and daughter how he had no chance to find Peter before the nuclear bomb went off.
His mother comforted Sue and the two consoled one another about Peter. Finally his mother looked down and gently touched Sue’s belly. “Is the baby all right?”
“The baby is fine, but I’m exhausted.”
“Baby?” Caden asked.
“I’m pregnant,” Sue replied.
Chapter Twenty-Three
They talked long into the night, swapping stories of their journeys and of Peter. Caden again told how he found Adam at the wreck along the highway where his mother died, that thieves later threatened them and Maria came to their rescue. His father told of driving up North Road and arriving at Peter and Sue’s home.
“He found me in the corner of the bedroom with a pistol,” Sue said. “Peter told me Trevor was coming, but it was a good thing he called out to me. I was really scared because everyone was leaving, and there were sirens, reports of looting and the sound of gunshots.”
“We were barely out of the house when we saw the mushroom cloud,” his dad added.
“My head was bouncing off an airplane fuselage at that moment,” Caden said.
“Did you leave a dent in it,” Lisa asked.
With a smile he replied, “Should I tell Dad how you shot me?”
Lisa threw a cushion at him.
“You shot him?” his dad asked Lisa.
His mother and Maria laughed as Trevor looked from face to face for an answer.
Caden couldn’t recall what time he went to bed, but when the old wind-up alarm clock rang to life he moaned and slapped at it. Sitting up he hoped for an easy day.
He followed the smell of coffee to the kitchen, and found Maria warming a baby bottle on one side of a camp stove.
“You want breakfast? I think I can do eggs and pancakes on this thing.”
“Black coffee would be great.”
After two cups he felt alive enough to eat. “Eggs might be good.”
“Coming up.” She cracked an egg on the edge of the green camp stove. “You look awful,”
“Thanks. I’m just tired,” he said with a yawn. Hopefully today will go smoothly.” After eating he stood, stretched and headed back to the bedroom to put on his uniform.
Maria was waiting at the foot of the stairs with a bag as he came down. “I made you lunch.”
He smiled. They kissed and he headed off to the armory wondering how he could feel so married, but not be. He was still smiling as he reached the main road. He expected that there would be no other cars during his short commute however, he gradually became aware of an unusual number of people. Some were talking, others walking, but all of them seemed to point or stare at him. Don’t get paranoid. They’re curious because you’re driving a car and in uniform.
Nearing the city limits he passed clusters of people going in his direction. Where are they were all headed so early in the morning? A police car sped by with sirens blazing and turned up the hill toward the armory. Ahead another crowd walked briskly up the same road. He pressed down on the accelerator.
What’s going on? He glanced at thirty to forty people on both sides of the road. Some ran up the hill. Why are they all headed toward the armory? He was tempted to stop and ask, but their faces were gaunt, desperate and fearful. Get there and then assess the situation. As the chain link fence came into view, so did fifty or sixty people clustered around the gate.
As he neared, he was forced to slow down to avoid hitting several individuals in the street. Soldiers at the gate, guns at the ready, ordered the crowd back. Most of them moved to the side of the road, but some of the men waited until the last possible moment.
As he passed through the crowd a man yelled, “Are you going to share the food? We’re hungry too.”
“We’re all hungry. How come you get to eat?”
“My children are….”
Something banged on the car and the voices rumbled into a chaotic chorus of despair.
Caden breathed a sigh of relief as he passed through the gate. He quickly parked, exited the car and slammed the door behind him. Marching across the parking lot he saw Lieutenant Brooks and Sheriff Hoover coming toward him. Caden changed direction and the three converged in the middle of the parking lot. As Caden neared his XO he glared. “Why didn’t you call me?”
“I did sir, but you had already left,” Brooks said. “Then I called the Sheriff.”
“I just got here a minute ago myself,” Hoover added.
“Okay,” Caden said taking a deep breath. “How did they all find out about the food?”
“What I’ve been able to figure out sir is that when the convoy went through the blockade someone told the guards about the MREs and gave them some.”
Caden shook his head in frustration. Apparently the guards had told family and friends, and word of the supplies had spread quickly through town. “I didn’t think we needed to keep it secret. I thought everyone would be happy we had food.”
Hoover chuckled. “They’re glad you have it because now they know where they can get it.”
“I plan on sharing a lot of the supply. That’s why I got as much as I could.”
“I was sure that was your idea.” Hoover gestured toward the fence, “They’re not sure, but they are hungry.”
Caden frowned in worry. “We need to distribute the food this morning. I want to do it in an orderly manner and I don’t want to issue it from the armory. Are the supplies secured?”
Brooks looked at the growing crowd. “Yes. For now. The ammo, gear, and meds you ordered to be unloaded have been locked up with our supplies. The MREs are in the mess. The rest of the food and fuel is still on the trucks in the depot.”
“Where do you want to distribute the food from?” Hoover asked.
“I’m going to let the LEPC decide that, but they need to make a quick decision.”
“LEPC?” Brooks asked.
Caden tried to remember. “Local…Emergency, ah, Planning…Council.”
“Committee, I think?” Hoover grinned. “I’m supposed to be a member of that. I’ve been so busy trying to maintain law and order I haven’t attended any meetings, but I know the members. I’ll make a few calls.”
Caden nodded and then said, “Make sure your deputies and their families get fed and bring your patrol cars up here later and we’ll fill their tanks.”
When the sheriff stepped away, Caden turned to Brooks. “I want you and Hoover to handle security for the food distribution in Hansen. I have another job I need to take care of.”
An hour later two trucks rolled out of the armory. One headed for the high school with Sheriff Hoover and several deputies escorting. The other truck proceeded to the Salvation Army church on the opposite side of town with Lieutenant Brooks and a squad of soldiers accompanying. Hoover used a bullhorn to tell the crowd where the food distribution would take place.
After the last of the hungry throng headed down the hill, four other vehicles departed. A supply truck and a fueler led by a Humvee, and followed by a dark blue SUV, made their way to the blockade on North Road. The small convoy parked on the hill overlooking the camp. Caden stepped from the car and proceeded down the hill toward the blockade. He was pleased to see the large green tent of the field hospital at the edge of the refugee camp and seeing soldiers and civilians walk back and forth across the bridge, he breathed a sigh of relief. The barricade was still in place, but clearly tensions had eased since his last visit.
As he reached the bottom of the path the squad leader came up and saluted. “Can I help you with something, sir?”