A Private War (14 page)

Metal screamed and tore as bodies flew around the inside of the trailer. With the trailer itself jackknifing and then going airborne for a short distance only to fall back to earth with a terrible crash. For a number of seconds, it was quiet and then the first cries and moans started. One moan from Gaylon himself as he started to move the sandbags that covered part of his body. Blood now flowing from a cut on his forehead and made sight a problem until the same medic placed a bandage in Gaylon’s hand. Gunshots could be heard outside and men cleared what guns they could find of the sand and blood that jammed them. Gaylon found he still had his M4 with a full magazine and his .45s. He got to his feet and then helped another man do the same. Looking from face to face, a handful of men answered his call. The rest were too badly injured or dead. Climbing to the rear door, he released the right side to fall on the packed snow. As two other men started the climb through an opening in what now was the roof. Two rounds clipped the steel next to Gaylon’s face and he took a diving run into the ditch outside as a truck roared passed them. The now battered school bus on its side in the ditch across the road from them. Willy had done the impossible by clipping the bus by the back tires as he headed toward the ditch. Knowing they would crash but leaving a clear road ahead of the other trucks. A truck’s horn blasted as the next truck shot passed them. Then the rest of the trucks started their own roar of approval as another and then another truck raced through the open road in front of them. Gaylon fired at a small group of Murdock’s men stopped in the field next to them. Their snowmobiles being used as shelter now that their plan had failed. Then to Gaylon’s surprise, they hopped on their sled and roared away. And all gunfire around them stopped. The last Semi slowed to a stop next to Gaylon’s prone body. “Hey, ya need a lift, buddy? Well, just get in back and we’ll finish this race at the Redway Bar!” a voice shouted from inside the armored cab. Two other men dropped out of the trailer and ran to assist in getting the driver free. While several more helped the wounded and injured out of Gaylon’s trailer. Ole Willy had a smile of his face as he was carried to the waiting Semi. A smiling dead face as he had eaten the steering wheel when he struck the school bus. And there was no doubt at all that he knew this was his last run, his last story to be told by others in the Teamers Hall and local Redway Bars. Ole Willy had gotten them through.

Sunlight was shining through the window as Gaylon opened his eyes the next morning. As he did so he became aware of pain running through his entire body. Reaching up with his right hand he found a large bandage on his forehead and then another on his left arm. The gunshot wound was now sore and painful and impeded his moving that arm. He also found a number of large bruises across his chest and right arm with more being felt in both legs. He was one hurting puppy. There was a soft knock on the door and then it opened to Jill with a tray of hot food. Something Gaylon had not seen enough of over the last week.

“The Army Medic had said that you could use food and fluids to get back on your feet. I helped him with the sewing job on your head. He must be great at Needlepoint. The rest he says will just take some time. And to take it easy the first time you get to your feet. You may get light headed.” Jill explained as she laid the tray across Gaylon’s lap. There were Hot Cakes and Corn fritters along with more of the Pine Needle tea. A small pot held Honey for the Hot Cakes. All supplies the US Army had brought up the Mississippi River by River Boat. A journey as massive as the movement of the Austin Survivors had ended with a victory, and damn few had happened since the war. They had lost so few lives was a miracle in itself and surviving the attack on the hilltop was another one. As Jill told him that only five men made it out of the first truck all the rest had been killed. It had started out with twelve men total and Gaylon had seen a number of them fall. But he had thought more had been alive after the crash.

“Yes, but several were badly wounded and died soon after”, Jill said, “Only you and the Army Medic were still standing after the roadblock was secured. I heard that the other two guys were killed on the top of the trailer before the Pirates pulled back.”

“Then we were lucky to make it through at all. Willy did a hell of a job getting those trucks ready in time. And that sure saved all of us at the top of that damn hill. Should be renamed as “Bloody Hill” in Willy’s honor”.

“I think he would like that”

“How is Kate doing and why isn’t she here?” Gaylon asked.

“Well, it’s like this, she is in the hospital. A crate fell on her during the run up the hill. She had to have her Spleen removed, two broken ribs, and a broken arm...the right one. So, you two can hold each other up with one good arm.  The Doctor said she will be fine in a few weeks. Oh, yes! We have a new Doctor now!! His name is Doctor Kravaal! He was one of the volunteers on the paddle wheeler the Army used. And is going to stay here!”

“Sound like you like him. I’m very glad he was here to help Kate as she would have died without surgery. That much I do know. When can I go see her?”

“Well, finish your breakfast and I’ll take you there.”

The former small town Clinic of Redway had had a Doctor and Physician’s Assistant and two RN’s. But, after the troubles started, the Clinic was hit by people looking for drugs and the entire staff had been killed. All for a few bottles of drugs that were kept onsite. The local drugstore was hit by the same group and got only a few more bottles. No one had needed a large supply as they could get whatever they needed from the big city warehouses the next day. Within a week all the heavy drug users were dead or dying all across the World. No suppliers, no dealers, no drug runners. It only took the end of the World to clean up the drug problem.

Kate’s eyes look bruised and dark as they walked into the small exam room that now had a hospital bed in it and a new cast covered her right arm to the elbow. Her face was pale and Gaylon took a deep breath at how close he had come to losing her. He slowly walked to the side of her bed and took her left hand. The flesh felt warm after the cold morning air outside. And Kate opened her eyes with a lazy smile as she glazed up at him. Gaylon’s heart seemed to skip a beat and then beat faster as he smiled back at her.

“Hi Hon. Jill tells me that you had an interesting trip up the hill. Things falling and stuff like that. We’ll have to work on your foot work so you can get out of the way faster.” He said in a low voice. “We’ll have to get you home so you can rest up after all of this.”

“I’d like that. Going home, I mean.” She said in reply, “Maybe we could fix up a spare room for Jill and another one for the baby.”

“Baby?”

“Congrats, you’re going to be a father! I just found out about myself. Doctor Kravaal says I just need to take it easy for awhile. But, the baby will be fine. No problems at all.” Kate said with a positive glow in her voice and shining on her face. “Even with so much death, Life finds a way.”

“Oh, Kate! That’s wonderful news!! Once you are out of here, let’s make it Official. What do you say?” Gaylon stated as he got down on one knee. “You said Granite House needed a woman’s touch and I can’t think of a better one then you. Kate, will you marry me?”

“Oh, Gaylon! Yes, yes, yes…!” Jill heard as she slowly closed the door behind her. Let them have this moment. No one is more deserving and no one have as much to live for now. Maybe this is the moment many of them have been waiting for also. And she didn’t think they would mind as she went from person to person with the news of a wedding!

A week after Kate’s release from the hospital, Captain Samuels walked her down the aisle in a local Church that was filled by every person not on duty. The unheated building was warmed by the mass of people and the good feeling this wedding had brought to Redway. Captain Samuels found a set of Battle Dress Uniforms (BDU) that fit and didn’t have holes in them. And Kate had on a white wedding dress that a local woman donated to the cause. And she also had a gathering of bright paper flowers in her hands. Gaylon watched as he stood by the altar with John Peters as his best man. A story all on it own as to how he had not been killed on the hilltop as the trucks roared passed his location. Mainly it was luck, as the first truck opened fire on the forces against it. They had stopped shooting at Peters’ men to direct fire on the convoy and they were able to escape into the trees without a shot fired in their direction! So, they grabbed some snowmobiles that were free and made it into town before Gaylon did. Now he stood next to Gaylon as Best Man. There was some truth in there somewhere. As for Jill, she was the Bride’s Maid. So, it was fitting that like Gaylon, Captain Samuels, and Peters, she wore a form fitting set of BDU’s she had tailored herself. Gaylon kept seeing Peters’ eyes giving her a good look and a smile. Things were starting to look up in Redway and even the town’s folk were starting to smile. The supplies of corn meal, flour, oil, and real seed corn gave them a real chance with the next year’s planting. Most of the tractors had been lost at the Battle of Bloody Hill. But, there were still a few in good running order inside the stockade to help out in the spring. And it was hoped that some at Bloody Hill could get restarted at a later date.

“Who gives this woman?” the pastor asked.

“I do!” Samuels almost shouted as he placed Kate’s good left hand in Gaylon’s good right one. And then stepped back as Kate and Gaylon said their vows in a simple exchange of love.

“Then I hereby ask you to welcome this woman and this man into the holy bonds of marriage. I give you Kate and Gaylon Masters!”

It was twenty minutes before the ground swell of good wishes and hand shaking ended. There could not be a real reception, but a number of families had made a meal to eat at the Church with their friends and well wishers. The Redway Bar opened one of the last kegs that they had been saving. No one could think of anything to top this wedding so bottoms up!

A few hours later Kate and Gaylon arrived at the Redway Hotel for the Bridal Suite that had been donated by the owners. To find candles, a roaring fire in the fireplace, and a steaming hot bath for two. Along with a tiny bottle of Champagne which was no doubt the last bottle in town. They say no one is poor if they had friends. So, Kate and Gaylon had to be the richest people around as they had hundreds who were welcoming their union tonight.

It was three more weeks before Kate and Gaylon were able to reach Granite House. The early winter seemed to deepen and vast areas were in massive sheets of snow and ice. The town folks of Redway had to draw inward around the fireplaces and communal area that had been set up around the town. As no one could have survived outside the wire as the snow covered the roads and houses up to the eves. Samuels had wanted Gaylon and Kate to stay on until spring, but it was decided that they would be safe and warm at their hidden retreat. Plus, John Peters and Jill were going along with them. Mortal support or just a change in scenery did not matter at all. As both had become family long since passed and family was always welcomed home. Granite House had gotten a little dusty and the garden was overgrown. But, that wasn’t anything that couldn’t be set right in short order. Jill looked on in awe as Kate turned on the hidden lights in the pool of water next to the Great Room at the front of the cave and she explained as she saw live trout swimming below them. Gaylon had to explain the whole setup for them. Pointing out special features while walking from tunnel to room to massive ceilings, with colored light to highlight a stone feature or fall of water. They thought it was a wonderland under the snow. Later Jill and Kate get their noses into the packages of garden seeds that had been set aside for growing in the indoor garden. Selecting Lettuce and other fast growing plants to get started in the “soil-less” system that Gaylon had built from plans on the Internet.  The need now was to supplement the supplies that were already stockpiled in the cave system. They all had to endue a number of hours of darkness and candles when the Hydro generator system had to be stopped for maintenance and to clean the filters. This was the first time Gaylon had not been alone in the darkness while he completed this task and he was very thankful. But, soon the water re-started the flow of electricity to the lights and heaters. And soon music and laughter could be heard in the Great Room as Peters and Gaylon replaced the tools used in the Maintenance Bay. While there Peters started to check out a strange motorcycle that lay in pieces across a cart and engine lift. Strange in that the motorcycle did not have a gas engine but a large battery pack. Heavy amperage cables ran to a large DC motor that drove a large chain and sprocket. In total, the motorcycle was heavier then with a gas engine.

“Electric?”

“Yes, I know it seems a little different, but it has a good range and can be damn quiet when you need it to be. Plus, I have all the juice I need to drive it.” Gaylon explained as he pointed out other features. “The battery pack is 2,000 Lithium Ion AA batteries wired in series. That gives me plenty of amps and a quick re-charge. The pack is much lighter than the standard large lead acid batteries. It runs great but I just ran out of time to work on it after the war started. Just surviving like you were. Go ahead and play around with it if you want. Just be sure not to ground yourself out. As I said, that pack has a whole lot of amps.” Gaylon said as he walked away. But, Peters stayed longer in the Bay. Looking at the motorcycle and the battery and a light came into his eyes as he thought of the possibilities.

Three days later he called everyone into the Maintenance Bay to show what he had created. In the center of the bay was a Snowmobile; a plain old Snowmobile with one exception, there was no motor. It had been replaced by the high-energy Lithium-Ion battery pack and the motor from the motorcycle that Gaylon had been working on to make a complete machine. The changed machine looked lighter and Gaylon saw that another battery pack was under construction on the workbench. The two batteries packs could give a vast amount of power and no noise while in operation.