A Private War (12 page)

“Get those hay wagons hooked up! We need to get on the road as soon as possible. We only have today! Hey Peters! Can some of your men help the elderly up there onto the wagons. I have twelve more that are coming behind the snow plows from Redway. That should give us enough. Jill, see if you can find more blankets from these empty houses. It’s damn cold out here. I heard it was -5 degrees below zero”

“Good idea, Gaylon!” Jill shouted as she ran to a group of women waiting for their ride out of town. She quickly explained what was need and one women pointed at a house up the street. A lady there made quilts for sale at the Farmers Market in years passed. A brick through the front door’s window glass and they were inside and came back out again with their arms full of homemade quilts of every color and shade.  In the weeks that they waited for the weather to clear, Peters had had his men searching every house and building and collecting everything of value to their survival.  In doing so, they found small caches of food and ammo that had been hoarded and stockpiled. Also, simple things like large pots and pans to be used to feed the large number of people along the way. Currently, Gaylon had figured it would take two to three days to complete the move. And thoughts of sheltering and feeding that many people weighed heavy on his mind. Before leaving Redway, Gaylon had sent out runners to any former Red Cross and Salvation Army volunteers as their skills and training should prove invaluable on this large an operation. And respond they did, after a quick meeting the Red Cross Mass Care specialists found large pole barns and enclosed building along the route to shelter the survivors overnights. Heating would have to be by fire barrels and a small number of cast iron stoves. These could also be used to heat soup. This was the best that could be done on such a large movement with such limited resources. Peters had also had his men find and kill any deer, cattle, sheep, and chickens that were not being saved for the future. This made the soup they were to eat. With each survivor allowed only one large cup and spoon for meals. No extra personal goods were to take up space in the wagons. So, each survivor was told to wear as many layers of clothing as possible and nothing more.

Gaylon and Peters checked each hay rack of survivors before it was allowed to depart. Adding people here, removing there, then over to the next one. Most people only had the tops of their heads showing under the blankets and quilts. By late that morning, the last loads were completed and the trucks and tractors moved out of the now dead town. No one was allowed to remain. Then behind them all the fires started running from house to house and from building to store the flames roared as the town itself was burned to the ground so that no shelter could be given over to the Pirates in the future. No pest hole to be allowed to grow from the ashes. The last of the towns folk cried as they watched the burning of their homes. Some of which had been lived in by a single family for over 120 years. Handing down from Father to son, family to family and so passed down to the future now gone, off into the darkness, forever more.

Samuel met Gaylon and John Peters in the shelter of a former car dealership hours later. The smoke from fire barrels, rising out through holes cut in the roof the day before with chainsaws. The smell of unwashed bodies and smoke still filled the air. A cup in Gaylon’s hands the only warmth he had had all day. The smell of beef stew making his mouth water and rising it to his lips, he spooned the whole pieces of meat into his mouth with a rush. The cold burning needed strength he could not afford to lose. Licking the spoon a final time, he returned the cup and spoon to his pack. His next meal would not be until the next morning. More reheated stew.

“Well, that was good while it lasted. How are we holding out on supplies? I know you lose a lot in the firefight with Murdock.” Gaylon asked.

Peters looked up from his own cup,” We only have enough to last until tomorrow night that’s with only two meals per day. If it takes more then three days to travel we will start to lose some of the elderly and infirm and still more the day after that and so on. With this cold front moving in after all that snow, I think we’ll lost most of the elderly by the end of the trip if it’s longer then 5 days. Has there been any news from the Army?

“Not the last I heard. They were going to do the best they could but this cold may be a problem for them as well. Some of the Paramilitary scouts have seen tracks in the snow.  So far there have been no sightings of Murdock or his men but, we are pretty sure he knows we are here. We should be too big for him to miss with right now.” Samuels stated. “I’m waiting for runners from Redway for updates.”

They moved off to a place they had selected to catch a few hours of sleep before they had to be up and moving again.  Gaylon’s rifle was within easy reach of his sleeping bag a concession for having to walk aside the wagons. His heavy Gore-Tex winter coat protecting him from most of the biting winds. Kate and Jill were sleeping with the kitchen staff to protect what little food they had left. Kate had been already at the dealership earlier in the day to get the soup kitchen started. Kate and Samuels were to head out in the first wagon in a few hours. The next stop was a large pole barn about 10 miles down the road and two squads of Paramilitary were already there to start warming up the building for the evening. Only more straw and cold ground to sleep upon.

Gaylon got the news that three of the elderly had passed away from the cold over night. Two more had frostbite on their fingers and toes, the trip already more than their wasted bodies could endure. With the frozen ground, they could only cover the bodies with tarps found in the building. A short prayer was said as they started the wagon train moving again. The skies were overcast and they could sense the possibility of snow but stopping to wait it out was not in the cards. They had to keep moving. By noon, they had two more die from the cold with the bodies left by the side of the road. An unwelcome reminder of how desperate their journey was. About an hour later one of the tractors had a breakdown. And the survivors had to be moved into other already crowded wagons while the tractor and wagon were pushed in the ditch so they could get by it. Still they lost two hours that had to be made up before they could stop. That in the end cost them five more sick and elderly which a bitter cost for Gaylon and Peters men as they toiled against the weather and the need to keep moving no matter the lives lost. Their next stop still two hours away.

Jill waved to Gaylon as they finally saw the farm buildings they were headed for. They stepped aside to let other walkers pass them by. “Kate said that the food is ready as soon as they pull in. And they found hay stored in one of the outbuilding. They moved as much as they could to cover the sleeping area against the cold ground. With the doors closed it was a lot warmer then last night’s place. Samuels also told her that they sighted some of Murdock’s men. But they moved off before they could engage them.”

“Well, that is all good news. I’ll see to posting more guards then come in for some chow. My stomach has been talking to me for the last hour and I could use a rest. Tell Kate I’ll be in to see her shortly also and Thank you for finding me!”

Jill moved off and Gaylon helped with the unloading and placement of the guards for the evening. They were all glad to stop and welcomed the thought of hot food that they could smell. So there was a small rush as the doors were opened. Gaylon pulled out my .45 and fired a single shot into the air.

“Stop right there! There is food for all. But you have to line up to get it. No cutting in line or there will be none for whoever does it.” Gaylon shouted” There is also some hot tea for everyone. It’s not the best but it will warm you.”

Kate and Gaylon had talked to the Red Cross and Salvation Army staffers and then send teams out to find Juniper and Pine trees. They then started collecting large supplies of their berries and needles for tea. Richer then orange juice in vitamin C it should give them all a lift. Only a few looked on with distaste as the rest had cup after cup of the hot brew as this was the only thing that did not have to be rationed. Lifting spirits and filling hungry bellies, Kate sent teams out to find more, if possible as the need for fluids fought with hungry to the people who were starving. Two bodies had been found in the wagons as they were being unloaded. The toll that was paid for the delayed wagon train, Kate walked over as Gaylon finished his cup of stew.

“Hi Hon, I wanted to thank you for all the hard work you’ve been doing. How are we doing on the food supply?” Gaylon asked her. “Will we have enough to last us through?

“No, you just finished the last of it. We plan to boil the bones for the marrow and for bullion in the morning. We’ll only have Pine tea for the rest of the trip.” She answered in a low voice. Gaylon gathered her in his arms. Kate laid her head on his shoulder and started to cry. “God, please help us. Please!”

They talked for awhile as Jill sat next to them in silence as none of them really had the strength for talking. Gaylon got up to check that the evening guards were being changed out. He gave Jill a quick hug before he walked away.

“Gaylon is talking this trip pretty hard. But, I think he is doing a great job considering the weather and the food supplies as they are. You too! A lot more of my town’s folk would be dead if not for you. They would still be in their homes back in Austin with no food, no heat, and no hope. And that is what you are giving them, hope!” Jill said as tears fell one by one from her eyes.

“Thank God for you!”

Late in the evening, the Sentries exchanged gunshots with a small number of Murdock’s men. At least, that is who they thought they were. No one was hit be it rattled the town’s people and kept everyone awake. This was what Gaylon thought it was all about. To tire them out, make them lose sleep, and to make them afraid. Tired people make mistakes. The first of which was a tractor driver starting out too fast the next morning. Causing the hitch on the old wagon to tear loose and no amount of trying could fix it. So again people were moved to other wagons which ended up causing more hard feelings and a greater loss of time. A debate was started on also leaving the tractor after unloading the fuel, plugs and batteries. But, it was finally decided to keep the tractor for future use and it allowed some of the walkers to ride in the heated cab. For which Gaylon was thankful as he was the last person in the long train to Redway.

By early afternoon, they were close to the turnoff to Redway and they could see the guard towers on some of the hills. So, when Samuels bypassed the turn there were angry voices heard coming from the town’s people. A number of them jumped down to walk the rest of the way. But, Samuels quickly rounded them up.

“Ok, I know you were all told that you were moving to Redway. But, that is just not possible. We are overreaching ourselves just to get you to a save location. One of which should give you a much better future then may be possible here as we have been working with the US Army to set up a rescue operation for you. We couldn’t tell you as the local Pirates would have used it against us. And we know there are a number of Murdock’s men either with us or near by. So, our hope is to get you to a landing by the Mississippi River. Where you will be met by a Steam powered Riverboat. And in exchange, the Army is sending us fuel and other items we badly need. So, don’t fear, you will be safe and warm by tonight. And on your way home to a better place then here.” Samuels stepped down from the tractor he had been riding in and walked back to where Gaylon and Peters had been listening to his speech. “Well, boys, the cat is out of the bag now. We only have a very small window in which to unload our supplies and to load all the survivors. The Army and Corp of Engineers have taken a long and dangerous trip in bad weather to get here. And we only have four hours to get there and get back to Redway as this morning’s delay has really pushed us to the wire. I called to have the teams ready at the top of the hill. Good old Plan B is now in effect. And they report that they are ready to start down the hill as soon as we get there.”

The route to the Mississippi River from Redway ended at the top of a long downhill pass down to the river. Everyone hated to drive down the hillside in winter as the road was always covered in ice and slippery as hell. Something that now they would use to hurry things along. A number of large sleds were built and sat at the top of the run and crews would guide the oversized bobsleds down the hill to the river side. A lot of lives were riding on this but it was doable and saved time as that a short run would get the people onboard in the least amount of time. The Captain on the Paddle Wheeler reported that they were only a short bend away and that they would start unloading the supplies as soon as possible. An hour later the wagon train arrived at the hill top and Samuels shouted for everyone to hurry. Many of the elderly took one look at the homemade bobsleds and refused to get on. So, they were left until last. There was no time to waste now. Murdock had to have seen them go passed Redway and had time to get scouts out ahead of them. This was confirmed a short time later as Gaylon’s tractor came under fire from a nearby hilltop. The driver died instantly and the other rider fell dead as he tried to jump to the ground. Gaylon fired a burst from the M4 he was carrying then leaped free and jumped into the snow filled ditch next to him.  Return fire covered him in bits of ice and snow. Gaylon changed magazines and send another blast at the hilltop. Samuels had had men on that same site, so someone had not been watching behind them as the wagon train approached. This was confirmed as an M-60 machinegun cut pieces out of tractor’s frame but then quickly re-aimed to Gaylon’s location. Screams and gunshots were heard as a mad rush for the bobsleds was started. Samuels started to throw bodies on the sleds to speed up the departures. And a number of sleds had already gone down the hill. So far, the troops at the bottom had not reported any contact with Murdock’s men. But, that could change at any time. Gaylon crawled through the snow until he was behind the tractor frame and shouted down the line for support as John Peters and his team had disappeared as soon as the first shots were fired. So, Gaylon only had a handful of Samuels men to return fire.