Avenging Home (22 page)

The other guardsman with the name tag Lindsay laughed. “Big time criminal.”

Wallner pointed to Dave, “You’re here for killing your girlfriend.” Then he pointed to the third man, “and you’re here for setting a fucking bomb in the park with your partner.”

Dave looked at Aaron. “You son-of-a-bitch! My cousin was hurt real bad because of that!”

Without warning, he punched the man in the mouth, knocking him down. He leapt on top of him and the two men began to roll around on the ground. Wallner and Lindsay grabbed them and tried to pull them apart. When a hand hit Wallner in the face, he stepped back and used the butt of his carbine to deliver a couple of blows to each man. He hit Dave between his shoulders, causing him to fall off the other man. And as the man tried to get to Dave, he was struck in the stomach. Both men lay on the ground dealing with their pain. Robert tried to stay out of the way; and when Wallner looked at him, he quickly raised his hands and turned his head, closing his eyes tight for the blow he fully expected.

“That’ll be enough of that shit!” Wallner shouted. “You assholes were told this morning that if one of you got hurt you’d have to carry his ass around with you! So knock it off!” He stuck a finger in Dave’s face. “And you got no room to talk! You killed your girlfriend for Christ’s sake! You’re just as big a piece of shit as he is!”

Cecil was gathering people together around his tractor. He was standing on the seat whistling to get everyone’s attention. Wallner looked down at the two men. “Now get on your feet and move!” Wallner and Lindsay ushered the three men over just as Cecil began to speak.

“Alright folks, quiet down so we can go over what we have to do!” Cecil shouted. The group did so. Cecil smiled broadly. “Good morning! Thank you all for coming out. I’ve got to be honest, I didn’t think we’d get this kind of turnout.”

A voice from the crowd shouted, “It ain’t gonna grow itself!”

“No it ain’t!” Cecil shouted back. “Any of you folks have any gardening or farming experience?”

Several hands went up and Cecil questioned them about their skills. He was pleased to learn there was a considerable amount of experienced growers in front of him. He also noticed he had a decidedly older crowd. Nearly all these people were over thirty probably, and many of them far older than that. He made a mental note of that. He let the group divide itself up into work parties with one of the experienced men or women as its head.

Once the groups were sorted, they discussed what they had to plant and let the heads of the groups pick what they wanted to oversee. It only made sense to let people grow what they knew how to. It was also a very easy process as everyone was eager and excited about getting crops into the ground. A discussion was then held as to where individual crops would be planted, and some were agreed upon to be delayed. This would be a summer garden, so there was no sense in wasting seeds by planting fall crops.

From the back of one of the trucks, Cecil started pulling buckets out. The seeds were distributed out to the groups, and they quickly moved out into the field. Soon, one end of the field was covered with people as they went to the task of first raking the grass roots and other weeds out of the turned soil. Here again, things went smoothly with the people deciding amongst themselves who would do what. The chain gang was taken to the middle of the field and put to work on three rows. They were given rakes and instructed to pull the grass out.

As the field was prepared, the grass and other weeds were piled between the rows. Cecil had rounded up several wheelbarrows. Some of the younger men would use them to collect the debris and carry it off the field. But it wouldn’t go to waste. Cecil designated a spot for it to be piled up to be turned into compost.

Cecil moved about the field for the part of the morning until everyone was sorted out and things were happening efficiently. Then he picked up his shuffle hoe and went to work on a row where Thad was busy raking grass out.

While the people worked the field, the Guardsmen set up a tent and arranged their camp. From now on, it would be manned at all times. Partly to keep people out and partly for animals. There was an expectation that as things progressed, deer and other animals could become a happy problem. Anything that ventured into the field would end up in a cook pot.

After finding Shane and Sean, I rode to the barbershop with Sarge and Dalton. As I pulled up in front of the old brick building, I saw something that surprised me. Something I hadn’t seen in a long time. Sitting in a barber’s chair on the sidewalk under the awning was a portly man. Fat would better describe him. Not something I was used to seeing now with so many hungry people around. There were two other men standing behind him, flanking either side. In a weird way he looked like a pauper king.

“Look at this turd,” Sarge said as I shut the truck off. He looked over at me. “This is your judge?”

Looking at the man, I replied, “Livingston said he wanted me to talk to him. We’ll see.”

We got out and approached the man, who didn’t bother getting up. Not only was he round, but he also wore his pants too high for my taste. I always found it strange when someone pulled their pants up too high. Doing so put his belt buckle on the top of his belly. And unlike most people today, instead of taking their belts in, he’d obviously let his out a couple of notches. He wore a small straw hat and was fanning himself with a paper fan.

He smiled brightly as we approached. “Good morning. You must be Sheriff Carter.” He offered his hand, but I had to lean over the foot rest of the chair to shake it.

“I am. And you are?”

“Name’s Hyatt Hound. You gentlemen may recognize it from the company that bore my initials, H&H Insurance.”

I shook my head. “Never heard of it.”

He frowned at my reply. “It was a major concern here in Florida. Though we were predominately engaged in major business, so I can see how someone like yourself wouldn’t know of it.”

Sarge and I looked at one another. I could already see those caterpillars on his brow inching towards one another. Looking back at him, I replied, “I always looked at insurance like I did lawyers.”

Smiling as he fanned himself, he asked, “And how was that?”

“Fucking thieves,” Sarge spat.

Chuckling, Hyatt replied, “Most people don’t understand the value of mitigating risk of unforeseen events.”

“Yeah, how’d that work out for you with this unforeseen event?” I asked.

“No one could have foreseen this,” Hyatt replied.

“I did,” I said flatly.

With a dismissive wave, Hyatt said, “None of that matters now. I hear you’re looking for a judge for this small town. I would be happy to act in such capacity. Of course we’d have to discuss remuneration.”

“Remuneration, huh?” Sarge asked in a sarcastic tone.

Still fanning himself, Hyatt replied, “Well naturally. A position, especially one as prestigious as county judge will come with proper compensation.”

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I was asked to come talk to you about your interest. But you’re the first person we’ve talked to and there will have to be some discussion on the issue.”

Hyatt stopped fanning. “I was under the impression you were the one to make this decision. And I found it odd that a Sheriff would pick a judge whom he would ultimately be subordinate to.” This guy was getting on my nerves.

“You talk like a forked-tongue lawyer. I hate lawyers. Hell’s full of ‘em,” Sarge said.

One of the men standing behind him said, “That’s no way to speak to Mr. Hound.”

Sarge cut his eyes at the man. “No one’s talking to you, dickhead.”

The man made a movement and Sarge quickly said, “If you’re raising your hand, it better be to ask a question. Anything else is going to make you bleed.”

Hyatt raised his hand. “It’s alright, Albert. Gentlemen, please. This is a civil negotiation. There’s no need for harsh words.”

“Negotiation?” Shane asked.

Fanning himself, Hyatt replied, “It only makes sense that someone of my stature will be judge.” Looking at Sarge, he said, “And yes sir, I am indeed a member in good standing of the Florida Bar association. That alone should afford me considerable deference. I find it hard to believe there would be another in this meager town that could possibly be more qualified than I.”

“The Florida Bar Association no longer exists. That’s a moot point,” I said.

Hyatt chuckled. “Dear sir, I can assure you that one of the most important aspects of reestablishing a civilized life is getting the Bar Association back to functioning.”

“Where did you come from?” Sarge asked.

“We’ve traveled here from Boca Raton. Sadly, I had to leave behind my beloved museum, which I also curated. We’ve been looking for a suitable place that would recognize the considerable talents we bring.”

Sarge looked at Albert. “And what talents do you bring?”

The man bristled slightly. “I’ll defer to Hyatt.”

“Defer to Hyatt!” Sarge barked.

“Please sir,” Hyatt started. “I didn’t get your name.”

“You can call me sir,” Sarge spat.

With a snigger, Hyatt replied, “That’s quaint. You strike me as a military man. Am I to assume you are a subordinate in the local National Guard unit here in Eustis?”

“You can assume what you want. But I am not. I am a First Sergeant in the 101st Airborne.”

“Ah, the highest enlisted rank one can achieve,” Hyatt replied. “That makes you subordinate to Captain Sheffield and his lieutenant Livingston.”

“There you go with your dumbass assumptions again. I am not subordinate to the Captain. And First Sergeant is not the highest enlisted rank. Dumbass.”

Stopping the fan, Hyatt asked, “Then who do you answer to?”

Feeling a little weird saying it, I replied, “Me.”

Surprised, Hyatt began to fan himself again and said, “Now that is indeed strange. Seems to me to be a violation of several laws that a noncommissioned officer of the United States Army be subordinate to a self-appointed functionary such as a Sheriff.”

“Look here, Porky. Morgan is the Sheriff, and he works directly with me in a joint effort with the Army to maintain security and provide as much aid as possible to the people here.”

Hearing his superior referred to as Porky, Albert stepped forward. “I told you once to watch how you speak—“ Sarge cut him off when he drew his 1911 and thumbed the safety off.

“Move one more inch and I’ll turn your head into a fucking canoe.”

The other man behind Hyatt drew a pistol as well, which sent all of us into action. Additional people came out of the building, all armed and pointing weapons at us. We were likewise staring down the barrel of our weapons. I shouted for them to lower their weapons. It was starting to look like the OK Corral.

Hyatt sat smugly in his chair, still fanning himself. Smiling, he said, “You see now you are not the only one with a force.”

Dalton stepped forward and kicked the footrest of the barber’s chair, spinning it around. He quickly drew the big Kukri blade and grabbed Hyatt under the chin and pulled his head back. Laying the blade on Hyatt’s neck, he said, “You boys lay those weapons down or I’ll liberate his head from his shoulders.”

Hyatt squirmed in the chair and cried out in a shrill voice. “Do as he says! Do as he says!”

The men looked at one another, Albert nodded to them and they laid their weapons on the ground. With a jerk of his head, Dalton said, “Now back up.” When the men stepped back from their weapons, Dalton looked at Shane. “Get their weapons.”

Hyatt was still squirming, kicking his pudgy legs in fright. “Gentlemen! Gentlemen, let’s not be rash!”

Dalton sheathed the blade and slapped Hyatt’s bulky head, knocking his hat off. “Shut up, fat boy.”

After Dalton released him and stepped back, Hyatt looked at Albert and pointed. “My hat please.”

Albert picked the hat up and handed it to him. As Hyatt wedged it back on, Albert swiveled the chair back around. His face was red and he was now sweating profusely. Albert picked the paper fan up and handed it to Hyatt as well. Fanning himself furiously, Hyatt said, “There is no need for violence! This is totally unacceptable! Totally unacceptable! I will have to report this aggression to Captain Sheffield so that he may deal with you people accordingly.” Pointing at Dalton, he said, “I demand this brute be arrested!”

Dalton smiled and snatched the Kukri from its sheath again. Hyatt let out a squeal and Dalton and Sarge both started to laugh as Dalton sheathed the blade. Hyatt patted his chest and fanned himself.

“I think we’re done here,” I said.

“I assure you sir, this is far from over!” Hyatt screeched back.

Sarge looked at Albert and pointed at Hyatt. “Earlier, you
deferred
your comment to Porky here. I’m curious if defer your dinner to him as well. I mean look at this roly-poly. How the hell can you be this fat in today’s world?”

“I have a thyroid condition sir! It is not proper to disparage one’s medical conditions,” Hyatt complained.

Sarge laughed. “Shit. Only problem you got is that damn hole under your nose. You’re obviously cramming too much into it.”

“And there’s a lot of shit coming out of it as well,” Dalton added.

Hyatt looked at Dalton but said nothing. Looking at Sarge, he said, “What sort of barbaric town is this? If this how you treat people of my deference, I can only imagine how the common people here are treated.”

Sarge wagged a finger at Hyatt. “You sure are hung up on yourself, aren’t you? You think you’re hot shit, don’t you?”

Indignantly, Hyatt replied, “We all have our place in the world, sir!” Sarge laughed uproariously.

“I can assure you one thing. Your place is not as our judge,” I said. Looking at Shane, I said, “Lock their weapons up at the PD for now.”

“You can’t take our weapons!” Albert shouted.

Now I laughed. “Oh but I can. You see, we have weapons and you don’t. Therefore, you can’t stop me.” Taking hold of the star on my vest I angled it out. “Plus, I’m the Sheriff. It’s my job to keep the peace. And I have a feeling you booger eaters will be trouble if you have weapons.”

Finally, Hyatt got out of the chair, with much effort. He protested vigorously. “No sir, you will not take those weapons! These men provide me security and I will not be left vulnerable!”

“You’re not. Shane and Sean are here to provide security in town. You waddle in here and start demanding deference. We don’t know you from Adam. We need a judge for sure, but your first concern was how much you’d get paid. Service to your community is just that, a service. It should be a burden. You’re exactly what was wrong with this country in the Before. I will not let you infect us with that kind of bullshit again.”